Constituents of Limonia acidissima inhibit LPS-induced nitric oxide production in BV-2 microglia

The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fraction of the 85% ethanol (EtOH) extract of the dried bark of Limonia acidissima potently inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated BV-2 cells, a microglial cell line. Bioassay-guided column chromatography separation afforded a new stereoisomer of neolignan, (7’E)-(7R,8S)-4-hydroxy-3,5’-dimethoxy-4’,7-epoxy-8,3’-neolig-7’-en-9,9’-diyil diacetate (1), together with two known lignans, (+)-yangambin (2) and (+)-syringaresinol (3), three known triterpenoids, hederatriol (4), basic acid methyl ester (5), and 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-11-one (6), and four known fatty acid derivatives, cascarillic acid (7), (+)-α-dimorphecolic acid (8), 8(R)-hydroxylinoleic acid (9), and (6Z,9Z,12Z)-pentadecatrienoic acid (10). The structure of the new compound 1 was elucidated by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Compounds 1, 3-6, and 8-10 isolated from L. acidissima significantly reduced NO production in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia cells.     

New Aromatic Esters of Progesterone as Antiandrogens

The in vivo and in vitro antiandrogenic activity of four new progesterone derivatives: 4-bromo-17α-(p-fluorobenzoyloxy)-4-pregnene-3,20-dione 1,4-bromo-17α-(p-chlorobenzoyloxy)-4-pregnene-3,20-dione 2, 4-bromo-17α-(p-bromobenzoyloxy)-4-pregnene-3,20-dione 3 and 4-bromo-17α-(p-toluoyloxy)-4-pregnene-3, 20-dione 4 was determined. These compounds were evaluated as antiandrogens on gonadectomized hamster prostate and reduced the weight of the prostate glands in gonadectomized hamsters treated with testosterone 5 (T) or dihydrotestosterone 6 (DHT) in a similar manner to that of commercially available finasteride, thus indicating a potent in vivo effect. The in vitro studies showed that steroids 1–4 have a weak inhibitory activity on 5α-reductase with IC50 values of: 280 (1), 2.6 (2), 1.6 (3) and 114?μM (4). The presence of Cl and Br atoms in the C-17 benzoyloxy group tends to increase the inhibitory potency of the compounds.

The binding efficiency of the synthesized steroids 1–4 to the androgen receptor of the prostate gland is also evaluated. All compounds form a complex with the receptor and this explains the weight reduction of the seminal vesicles in the animals treated with DHT plus steroids 1–4.     

An Improved Synthesis of 1-(2-Deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)quinazoline-2,4(3H)-dione and Its Incorporation Into G-Rich Triple Helix Forming Oligonucleotides

Abstract

A convenient synthesis of 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)quinazoline-2,4(3H)-dione ( 6 ) has been accomplished. The structural conformation of ( 6 ) was derived by 2D NMR, COSY and NOESY experiments. Nucleoside ( 6 ) was incorporated into G-rich triplex forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) by solid-support, phosphoramidite method. The triplex forming capabilities of modified TFOs (S2, S3 and S4) has been evaluated in antiparallel motif with a target duplex (duplex-31) 5′d(GTCACTGGCCCTTCCTCCTTCCCGGTCTCAG)3′-5′d(CAGTGACCGGGAAGGAGGAAGGGCCAGAGT)3′ (D1) at pH 7.6. The parallel triplex formation of a shorter TFO (S6) containing Q has also been studied with a target duplex-11 (D2) at pH 5.0.     

Preparation of a Fludarabine Intermediate via Selective Alkylation of 2-Fluoroadenine

The reaction between 2-fluoroadenine (3) and 1,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-1-α-d-chloroarabinofuranose (4) with potassium t-amylate was evaluated in various solvents to afford 9-β-d-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-arabinofuranosyl)-2-fluoroadenine (5) and the corresponding α-anomer (6). In addition, 7-β-d-(2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-arabinofuranosyl)-2-fluoroadenine (7) and an unusual “bis-fluoroadenine” nucleoside (8) were isolated as by-products. The highest anomeric ratio (β/α > 10) and conversion (>80%) were observed with the highly polar solvent sulfolane. This reaction was demonstrated on gram scale as a practical laboratory synthesis of 5, a known intermediate in the synthesis of fludarabine.     

柯拉斯那沉香的生物活性成分研究

为了解柯拉斯那(Aquilaria crassna)的化学成分,从其所产沉香中分离得到10个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为:6,8-羟基-2-(2-苯乙基)色酮(1),6,8-二羟基-2-[2-(4-甲氧基苯)乙基]色酮(2),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl)-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(3),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(4),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-[2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(5),oxidoagarochromone B(6),oxidoagarochromone C(7),(5S,6R,7S,8R)-2-[2-(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(8),6,7-cis-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(9),N-trans-feruloyltyramine(10)。化合物3~5和8~10为首次从柯拉斯那沉香中分离得到。化合物1,3,6,7,9和10对乙酰胆碱酯酶具有一定的抑制活性,化合物4对人慢性髓原白血病细胞株K-562和人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901均具有较小的抑制作用,化合物1和3对人肝癌细胞株BEL-7402也有抑制活性。     

Coronin7 forms a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase complex to promote the degradation of the anti-proliferative protein Tob

Tob belongs to the anti-proliferative Tob/BTG family. The level of Tob throughout the cell cycle is regulated by the SCF (Skp1/Cullin/F-box protein)^Skp2 ubiquitin ligase (E3) complex. Here, we show that Coronin7 (CRN7) is also involved in Tob degradation. We identified CRN7 as a Tob-interacting molecule. A sequence containing two of the six WD motifs in the middle of CRN7 was responsible for the interaction. CRN7 enhanced the polyubiquitination of Tob in vitro, and overexpression of CRN7 promoted proteasome-dependent degradation of Tob. Furthermore, CRN7 interacted with Cullin1 and Roc1 to form a novel SCF-like E3 complex, suggesting that Tob protein is regulated by multiple ubiquitination machineries.

Structured summary

Cullin1physically interacts with CRN7: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)Roc1physically interacts with CRN7: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)CRN7physically interacts with Tob1: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)CDC34physically interacts with CRN7: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)Tob1 and CRN7colocalize: shown by fluorescence microscopy (view interaction)Elongin Bphysically interacts with CRN7: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)Elongin Cphysically interacts with CRN7: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)Tob1physically interacts with CRN7: shown by two hybrid (view interaction)     

Effects of Trialkyltin Chlorides on Escherichia coli Spheroplasts

Valsa ceratosperma, which is the pathogenic fungus of apple canker, was grown in a synthetic medium. The neutral extract from the culture filtrate was chromatographed on a silica gel column to give five isocoumarins. Their structures were determined by MS, UV, IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and CD spectra. Three of them were known compounds; ( ? )-5-methylmellein (1), ( ? )-5-carboxylmellein (2) and ( ? )-5-hydroxylmethylmellein (3). Since the absolute configurations at C-3 in 2 and 3 were not known until now, both were determined to be R by chemical correlations. The two were new compounds; ( + )-(3R,4S)-trans-4-hydroxy-5-methylmellein (4) and ( ? )-(3R,4R)-cis-4-hydroxy-5-methylmellein (5). All the five compounds showed phytotoxicity in a bioassay using detached apple shoots and lettuce seedlings.     

铁皮石斛内生真菌次生代谢产物研究

为了解铁皮石斛(Dendrobium officinale)内生真菌Phyllosticta aristolochiicola的次生代谢产物,从该真菌中分离得到15个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为N-methyl-2-pyrolidinone (1)、环-(甘氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(2)、环-(D-丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(3)、环-(L-缬氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(4)、环-(L-亮氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(5)、cyclo-(L-Leu-D-4-hydroxyprolinyl)(6)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(7)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-4-羟基脯氨酸)(8)、环-(L-酪氨酸-L-脯氨酸)(9)、环-(L-苯丙氨酸-L-亮氨酸)(10)、啤酒甾醇(11)、对羟基苯乙醇(12)、对羟基苯乙酸(13)、(2S,3R)-1-(4-羟基苯基)丁烷-2,3-二醇(14)和(2R,3S)-1-苯基丁烷-2,3-二醇(15)。采用MTS法检测抗肿瘤活性表明,化合物2、10和14对HL-60、A-549、SMMC-7721、MCF-7和SW-480细胞株具有一定的抑制活性。     

The chemical constituents of Piper kadsura and their cytotoxic and anti-neuroinflammtaory activities

The n-hexane and CHCl₃ soluble fractions of the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Piper kadsura were found to potently inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-activated BV-2 cells, a microglial cell line. From the active fractions, a new stereoisomer of guaiane sesquiterpene, 1α,5β-guai-4(15)-ene-6β,10β-diol, kadsuguain A (1) and a new cyclohexadienone, kadsuketanone A (2), together with twelve known compounds (3–14) were isolated. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive NMR spectral studies. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by circular dichroism (CD) spectra. Compounds 2, 6, and 11–14 significantly inhibited both nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production in the LPS-activated microglia cells. In addition, compounds 4, 6, and 11–14 exhibited cytotoxicity against the A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 human tumour cells.     

Semisynthesis and cytotoxic activities of andrographolide analogues

Andrographolide 1, a diterpenoid lactone of the plant Andrographis paniculata, known to possess antitumour activity in in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models was subjected to semisynthesis leading to the preparation of a number of novel compounds. These compounds exhibited in vitro antitumour activity with moderate to excellent growth inhibition against MCF-7 (breast) and HCT-116 (colon) cancer cells. Compounds 3,19-(2-chlorobenzylidene)andrographolide(5), 3,19-(3-chlorobenzylidene)andrographolide(6), 3,19-(3-fluorobenzylidene)andrographolide(7), 3,19-(4-fluorobenzylidene)andrographolide(8), 3,19-(2-fluorobenzylidene)andrographolide(10), 3,19-(2-chloro-5-nitrobenzylidene)andrographolide (21), 3,19-(4-chlorobenzylidene)andrographolide(30) and 3,19-(2-chloro-4-fluorobenzylidene) andrographolide(31) were also screened against 60 NCI (National Cancer Institute, USA) human tumour cell lines derived from nine cancer cell types.     

A revision of Casimirella,including Humirianthera (Icacinaceae)

Casimirella Hassler (1913) is accepted and Humirianthera Huber (1914) considered a synonym. Casimirella diversifolia and C. lanata from Brazil are described as new species. Casimirella ampla (Miers) based on Leretia ampla Miers, C. crispula (Howard) based on Humirianthera crispula Howard, and C. rupestris (Ducke) based on Humirianthera rupestris Ducke are new combinations.     

Phylogenetic relationships of species in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoroegneria</Emphasis> (Poaceae: Triticeae) and related genera inferred from nuclear rDNA ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequences

To evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of species in Pseudoroegneria and related genera, the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences were analyzed for eighteen Pseudoroegneria (St), two Elytrigia (E ^e St), two Douglasdeweya (StP), three Lophopyrum (E ^e and E ^b ), three Agropyron (P), two Hordeum (H), two Australopyrum (W) and two Psathyrostachys (Ns) accessions. The main results were: (i) Pseudoroegneria gracillima, P. stipifolia, P. cognata and P. strigosa (2x) were in one clade, while P. libanotica, P. tauri and P. spicata (2x) were in the other clade, indicating there are the differentiations of St genome among diploid Pseudoroegneria species; (ii) P. geniculata ssp. scythica, P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera, Elytriga caespitosa and Et. caespitosa ssp. nodosa formed the E ^e St clade with 6-bp indel in ITS1 regions; and (iii) Douglasdeweya wangii, D. deweyi, Agropyron cristatum and A. puberulum comprised the P clade. It is unreasonable to treat P. geniculata ssp. scythica and P. geniculata ssp. pruinifera as the subspecies of P. geniculata, and they should be transferred to a new genus Trichopyrum, which consists of species with E ^e St genomes. It is also suggested that one of the diploid donor of D. wangii and D. deweyi is derived from Agropyron species, and it is reasonable to treat tetraploid species with StP genomes into Douglasdeweya.     

SAFB1 interacts with and suppresses the transcriptional activity of p53

A significant amount of nuclear p53 is found associated with the nuclear matrix in cells that were exposed to genotoxic stress. In this study we identified Scaffold attachment factor B1 (SAFB1), a nuclear matrix-associated protein that binds the scaffold or matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) of genomic DNA, as a novel p53-interacting protein. SAFB1 was able to associate with p53 through its C-terminal domain, while significant co-localization of the two proteins was observed in cells treated with 5-fluorouracil or mithramycin. Binding of p53 to SAFB1 had a significant functional outcome, since SAFB1 was shown to suppress p53-mediated reporter gene expression. These data suggest that nuclear matrix-associated proteins may play a critical role in regulating p53 localization and activity.

Structured summary

p53physically interacts with SRPK1a: shown by two hybrid (view interaction)p53physically interacts with SRPK1a: shown by pull down (view interaction)p53physically interacts with SRPK1a: shown by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)p53physically interacts with SRPK1a: shown by anti tag coimmunoprecipitation (view interaction)SAFB1physically interacts with p53: shown by pull down (view interactions 1, 2)SAFB1physically interacts with p53: shown by anti bait coimmunoprecipitation (view interactions 1, 2)SAFB1 and p53colocalize: shown by fluorescence microscopy (view interaction)SAFB2physically interacts with p53: shown by pull down (view interaction)     

Enzyme mediated resolution of alcohols

Summary The racemic cis and trans isomers 1a and 1b of 2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-cyclohexanol were subjects of an enzyme mediated resolution via esterification in organic solvents, in which the chiral esters 2a and 2b of the corresponding alcohols 4a and 4b, and the chiral alcohols 3a and 3b were obtained. The chemical yield and enantioselectivity of this enzymatic reaction have been found to depend mainly on (a) the structure of the substrate (cis or trans), (b) temperature, (c) the nature of the enzyme selected, and (d) the nature of the solvent.     

Microbial Allyl Rearrangement and Resolution of Acetates of Unsaturated Cyclic Terpene Alchols by Pseudomonas sp. NOF-5 Strain

Microbial hydrolysis of the acetates of unsaturated cyclic terpene alcohols by Pseudomonas sp. NOF-5 isolated from soil was investigated. (±)-trans-Carveyl acetate ((±)-trans-3) was enantio-selectively hydrolyzed with NOF-5 strain to give ( – )-trans-carveol (( – )-trans-2 of 86.6% optical purity). However, the hydrolysis of (±)-cis-3 was less enantioselective, while (±)-piperitylacetate ((±)-6, a cis and trans mixture) was hydrolyzed to give the ( – )-trans- and ( – )-cis-piperitols (( – )- trans-5 and ( – )-cis-5) in a poor optical yield. In this case, other tert-alcohols, ( + )-trans- and ( – )- ds-2-p-menthen-1-ols ((±)-trans-7 and ( – )-cis-7), were also produced. Furthermore, microbial and enzymic allyl rearrangements of ( + )-trans-6 and ( – )-trans-verbenylacetate (( – )-trans-11) were studied. Biological treatment of (+)-trans-6 and ( – )-trans-11 with NOF-5 or its esterase gave (+)-trans- and (-)-cis-1 and ( + )-cis-3-pinen-2-ol (( + )-cis-12), respectively.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of novel 1-benzhydryl-piperazine sulfonamide and carboxamide derivatives

A series of novel substituted 1-benzhydryl-piperazine sulfonamide 8(a–f) and benzamides 9(a–h) were synthesized and their antimicrobial activities evaluated in vitro by paper disc diffusion and micro dilution method against standard strains of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25953, Staphylococcus epidermis 25212, Bacillus cereus 11778, Bacillus substilis 6051) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 2853, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 2853 and Salmonella typhi ATCC 9484) bacteria. Among the synthesized new compounds 8d, 8e, 9c, 9e, 9f and 9 h showed potent antimicrobial activities compared to the standard drug streptomycin.     

Novel steroidal saponins from Liriope graminifolia (Linn.) Baker with anti-tumor activities

Phytochemical investigation of the underground parts of Liriope graminifolia (Linn.) Baker resulted in the isolation of two new steroidal saponins lirigramosides A (1) and B (2) along with four known compounds. The structures were determined by extensive spectral analysis, including two-dimensional (2D) NMR spectroscopy and chemical methods, to be 3-O-{β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-spirost-5-ene-3β,17α-diol (1), 1-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-xylopyranosyl]-(25R)-ruscogenin (2), 1-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(25S)-ruscogenin (3), 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-1-O-sulfo-(25S)-ruscogenin (4), methylophiopogonanone B (5), and 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-6-methyl-chroman-4-one, (ophiopogonanone B, 6), respectively. Compound 1 has a new (25S)-spirost-5-ene-3β,17α-diol ((25S)-pennogenin) aglycone moiety. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against Hela and SMMC-7721 cells.     

Biotransformation of gallic acid by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Beauveria sulfurescens</Emphasis> ATCC 7159

Preparative-scale fermentation of gallic acid (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid) (1) with Beauveria sulfurescens ATCC 7159 gave two new glucosidated compounds, 4-(3,4-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-5-methoxy-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yloxy)-3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-benzoic acid (4), 3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxy-benzoic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-5-methoxy-tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl ester (7), along with four known compounds, 3-O-methylgallic acid (2), 4-O-methylgallic acid (3), 3,4-O-dimethylgallic acid (5), and 3,5-O-dimethylgallic acid (6). The new metabolite genistein 7-O-β-D-4″-O-methyl-glucopyranoside (8) was also obtained as a byproduct due to the use of soybean meal in the fermentation medium. The structural elucidation of the metabolites was based primarily on 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRFABMS analyses. Among these compounds, 2, 3, and 5 are metabolites of gallic acid in mammals. This result demonstrated that microbial culture parallels mammalian metabolism; therefore, B. sulfurescens might be a useful tool for generating mammalian metabolites of related analogs of gallic acid (1) for complete structural identification and for further use in investigating pharmacological and toxicological properties in this series of compounds. In addition, a GRE (glucocorticoid response element)-mediated luciferase reporter gene assay was used to initially screen for the biological activity of the 6 compounds, 2–6 and 8, along with 1 and its chemical O-methylated derivatives 9–13. Among the 12 compounds tested, 11–13 were found to be significant, but less active than the reference compounds of methylprednisolone and dexamethasone.     

Inhibition of Real-Time PCR in DNA Extracts from Aquifer Sediment

Variation in inhibition of real-time PCR was investigated with DNA extracts from 50 aquifer sediment core samples of 5 cm length collected through a 2.5 meter vertical profile across a landfill leachate plume. The inhibition was quantified using an internal control of the green fluorescent protein ( gfp ) gene, which was spiked into the real-time PCR reactions. The inhibition was investigated at two gfp gene concentrations: at 1.7 · 10 ⁷ gfp gene copies/g sediment (5.1 · 10 ⁴ gfp gene copies/PCR reaction) and at 1.7 · 10 ⁵ gfp gene copies/g sediment (5.1 · 10 ² gfp gene copies/PCR reaction). Despite the low TOC content of the sediment (average 0.4 mg C/g dw) the average real-time PCR response was partially inhibited, compared to a reference (pure water), at both high and low gfp concentrations. The relative amplification (reference = 1) was 0.85 ± 0.20 (high) and 0.66 ± 0.23 (low), showing significantly (P < 0.05) stronger inhibition at the lower target gene concentration. The inhibition of the real-time PCR did not show a systematic variation in the vertical profile related to plume position but variations were significant on a small scale of 5–15 cm depth intervals. One of the 50 samples failed to produce a signal with either concentration of the gfp internal control and three other samples inhibited real-time PCR at both high and low gfp concentration. These 4 samples, which were the samples with the highest inhibition, were the only DNA extracts with a visible brown colouration, indicating contents of humic-like substances. Elevated absorbance at 400 nm of these samples also indicated that humic-like substances were responsible for inhibition. However, other factors not associated with either absorbance or TOC may have contributed to the inhibition in less inhibited samples since the variation in real-time PCR response could not be sufficiently explained by absorbance or TOC. The results of this study suggest that an internal control is needed in real-time PCR reactions with DNA from environmental samples due to variation in inhibition to correctly quantify the number of target genes, especially at low target gene concentrations, when dilution of DNA extracts is not practical.