Intramolecular cross-linkage of lysozyme. Imidazole catalysis of the formation of the cross-link between lysine-13 (epsilon-amino) and leucine-129 (alpha-carboxyl) by carbodiimide reaction

The salt bridge between Lys-13 (epsilon-NH3+) and Leu-129 (alpha-COO-) in lysozyme was converted to an amide bond by 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) reaction in the presence of imidazole (0.3-1 M) at pH 5 and room temperature, followed by dialysis at pH 10. Absence of imidazole under a similar condition did not give this intramolecularly cross-linked lysozyme derivative (CL-lysozyme) but resulted in the formation of intermolecularly cross-linked lysozyme oligomers. From the mechanistic studies on the formation of CL-lysozyme, imidazole was suggested to play the following three roles. (1) Some carboxyl groups activated by EDC in lysozyme were converted to acylimidazole groups which protected them from the reaction with amino groups in other lysozyme molecules at pH 5. These could be hydrolyzed at pH 10 to regenerate free carboxyls. (2) High concentrations of imidazole (pH 5) increased the ionic strength of the solution which weakened the salt bridge in lysozyme and facilitated the activation of the alpha-carboxyl group by EDC. (3) The alpha-carboxyl group activated by EDC was converted to an acylimidazole group which could react with the epsilon-amino group of Lys-13 in the same molecule to form an amide bond. The last step may involve some conformational change of the backbone of lysozyme and be slower than the hydrolysis reaction of the alpha-carboxyl group activated by EDC itself. However, acylimidazole groups are stable against hydrolysis at pH 5. This may afford enough time to allow the epsilon-amino group of Lys-13 to attack the acylimidazole group of Leu-129.     

Fibrin membrane endowed with biological function. IV. Formation of cross-links between fibrinogen (or fibrin) and ribonuclease by transglutaminase.

Transglutaminase from guinea pig liver catalyzed the formation of cross-links between fibrinogen (or fibrin) and ribonuclease. Using transglutaminase, immoblized ribonuclease was prepared by two separate methods: (1) fibrinogen-ribonuclease conjugates formed by transglutaminase were treated with thrombin to make fibrin membrane bound covalently to the enzyme; (2) fibrin polymer formed from fibrinogen with thrombin was covalently bound to ribonuclease by transglutaminase to make fibrin-ribonuclease conjugates.     

Characterization of bis(levuglandinyl) urea derivatives as products of the reaction between prostaglandin H2 and arginine

Levuglandins are gamma-keto aldehydes formed by rearrangement of prostaglandin (PG) H(2) in aqueous solution. Levuglandins are highly reactive with primary amines. We had previously characterized adducts formed after reaction of levuglandin E(2) (LGE(2)) or PGH(2) with lysine. In this study, we assessed whether reaction of PGH(2) with arginine yielded covalent adducts. Using N(alpha)-acetylarginine and both PGH(2) and synthetic LGE(2), we discovered a novel series of levuglandinyl adducts derived from reaction of two levuglandin moieties with the guanidino group of arginine. Subsequent spontaneous hydrolysis of the adducted amino acid yields bis(levuglandinyl) urea and the corresponding ornithine residue. Using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, we characterized the molecular structure of these novel adducts and demonstrated their formation after coincubation of PGH(2) with synthetic peptides and proteins. The soluble characteristic of these molecules provides a potential strategy for development of biological markers of lipid modification of proteins following cyclooxygenase activity or lipid peroxidation.     

Response of native and denatured hen lysozyme to high pressure studied by (15)N/(1)H NMR spectroscopy.

High-pressure (15)N/(1)H NMR techniques were used to characterize the conformational fluctuations of hen lysozyme, in its native state and when denatured in 8 M urea, over the pressure range 30--2000 bar. Most (1)H and (15)N signals of native lysozyme show reversible shifts to low field with increasing pressure, the average pressure shifts being 0.069 +/- 0.101 p.p.m. ((1)H) and 0.51 +/- 0.36 p.p.m. ((15)N). The shifts indicate that the hydrogen bonds formed to carbonyl groups or water molecules by the backbone amides are, on average, shortened by approximately 0.02 A as a result of pressure. In native lysozyme, six residues in the beta domain or at the alpha/beta domain interface have anomalously large nonlinear (15)N and (1)H chemical-shift changes. All these residues lie close to water-containing cavities, suggesting that there are conformational changes involving these cavities, or the water molecules within them, at high pressure. The pressure-induced (1)H and (15)N shifts for lysozyme denatured in 8 M urea are much more uniform than those for native lysozyme, with average backbone amide shifts of 0.081 +/- 0.029 p.p.m. ((1)H) and 0.57 +/- 0.14 p.p.m. ((15)N). The results show that overall there are no significant variations in the local conformational properties of denatured lysozyme with pressure, although larger shifts in the vicinity of a persistent hydrophobic cluster indicate that interactions in this part of the sequence may rearrange. NMR diffusion measurements demonstrate that the effective hydrodynamic radius of denatured lysozyme, and hence the global properties of the denatured ensemble, do not change detectably at high pressure.     

Formation of bis(phosphatidyl)inositol and phosphatidic acid by phospholipase D action on phosphatidylinositol.

Phosphatidylinositol is readily attacked by phospholipase D. Although some phosphatidic acid is produced by hydrolysis, the main products are bis(phosphatidyl)inositols most likely formed by a transphosphatidylation reaction between two substrate molecules.     

The metal-binding properties of ovotransferrin. An investigation of cobalt(II) derivatives

Cobalt(II) ovotransferrin bicarbonate and oxalate ternary complexes were prepared and investigated in the pH range 7-10.5. Cobalt(II) provides an excellent and unique spectroscopic probe to monitor subtle structural differences in solution between the two sites of ovotransferrin and to investigate the structural dependence on pH. CD spectroscopy on one side and 1H NMR spectroscopy of isotropically shifted signals on the other are extremely sensitive techniques and are particularly suited for high spin cobalt(II)-containing compounds. In the case of the oxalate derivative the metal-binding ability of the protein is different at the two binding sites and is pH dependent; the CD spectra reveal two different sites, one of which is clearly pH dependent with a pKa of 9.5. On the contrary the bicarbonate analogue does not show any spectral difference between the two sites; both of them change with pH, the pKa being again 9.5. 1H NMR spectra of the oxalate derivatives at pH 7-8 reveal the presence of conformers, the distribution of which depends on the H2O/D2O ratio. Such conformers are not revealed in the bicarbonate system; at pH around 10 the NMR spectra of both systems show inequivalence between the two sites and/or the presence of different conformers for each site. Such differences are discussed in terms of the possible implications in mechanism and function. The overall spectral data are consistent with the donor groups being two histidines, two tyrosines, the synergistic anion, and possibly a solvent molecule.     

Characterization of DNA-protein cross-links formed by treatment of L1210 cells and nuclei with bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (nitrogen mustard)

Proteins cross-linked to DNA after nitrogen mustard (HN2) treatment of cells or isolated nuclei were purified in CsCl gradients. The protein-DNA cross-links could be cleaved by incubation in dilute acid and could be stabilized by alkali pretreatment. These results indicate that proteins cross-linked to DNA by HN2 are bound to alkylated purines. Analysis of the DNA-bound proteins on NaDodSO4-polyacrylamide gels showed that primarily large nonhistone proteins are cross-linked to DNA in cells treated with HN2. Very little if any histone is cross-linked to the DNA. Comparison of DNA bound proteins from HN2-treated cells and HN2-treated nuclei showed that in general the same proteins are linked to DNA in both cases, but some qualitative and quantitative differences exist.     

Pseudoarginine: synthesis and properties of derivatives of delta-(1-imidazolyl)norvaline.

An analogue of arginine has been synthesized in which an imidazole ring occupies the position of the guanidino group of the natural amino acid. It was expected that peptides containing this amino acid when protonated might bind at enzymic sites specific for arginine, but that the pK of the imidazole ring, near 7, would facilitate entry of such peptides into cells, in contrast to peptides containing arginine. Other analogues of arginine can be visualized with a low side-chain pK, including isomers of the imidazole derivative which is the subject of this paper. These are viewed as 'pseudoarginines'. Our initial observations concern the properties of delta-(1-imidazolyl)norvaline in which a ring nitrogen atom is attached to norvaline, which thus becomes comparable to the guanidino delta-nitrogen. Its synthesis is described along with several derivatives examined as substrates or inhibitors. Potential ligands containing delta-(1-imidazolyl)norvaline (ImNva) did not give evidence of interaction with trypsin or plasma kallikrein, serine proteinases which bind arginine derivatives. However, clostripain, a bacterial cysteine proteinase specific for arginine, was readily inactivated by Cbz-Phe-ImNva-CH2F and the rate of inactivation showed an acid pH-dependence not observed, for example, in the inactivation of clostripain by Bz-Phe-LysCH2F.     

Solubilization and deaggregation of cobalt bis(dicarbollide) derivatives in water by biocompatible excipients

In the field of medicinal chemistry, cobalt bis(dicarbollide) derivatives are promising therapeutic agents. The potential pharmaceutical utilization of metallacarboranes is complicated due to spontaneous self-assembling in water. This problem can be solved by using suitable deaggregating agent. We present here the comprehensive screen of substituted cobalt bis(dicarbollide) derivatives with cyclodextrin derivatives, classical surfactants and amphiphilic copolymers to find general biocompatible excipients. Preliminary results are obtained by using UV/Vis spectroscopy as the technique with the best ratio of applicable information to time and source dependence.     

Imidazole derivatives of binuclear copper (II) and nickel (II) complexes incorporating bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononan-1-yl) ligands

A series of new binuclear copper (II) and nickel (II) complexes of the macrocyclic ligands bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononan-1-yl)butane (L^but) and bis(1,4,7-triazacyclononan-1-yl)-m-xylene (L^mx) have been synthesized: [Cu₂L^butBr₄] (1), [Cu₂L^but(imidazole)₂Br₂](ClO₄)₂ (2), [Cu₂L^mx(μ-OH)(imidazole)₂](ClO₄)₃ (3), [Cu₂L^but(imidazole)₄](ClO₄)₄ · H₂O (4), [Cu₂L^mx(imidazole)₄](ClO₄)₄ (5), [Ni₂ L^but(H₂O)₆](ClO₄)₄ · 2H₂O (6), [Ni₂L^but(imidazole)₆](ClO₄)₄ · 2H₂O (7) and [Ni₂L^mx (imidazole)₄(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₄ · 3H₂O (8). Complexes 1, 2, 7 and 8 have been characterized by single crystal X-ray studies. In each of the complexes, the two tridentate 1,4,7-triazacyclononane rings of the ligand facially coordinate to separate metal centres. The distorted square-pyramidal coordination sphere of the copper (II) centres is completed by bromide anions in the case of 1 and/or monodentate imidazole ligands in complexes 2, 4 and 5. Complex 3 has been formulated as a monohydroxo-bridged complex featuring two terminal imidazole ligands. Complexes 6-8 feature distorted octahedral nickel (II) centres with water and/or monodentate imidazole ligands occupying the remaining coordination sites. Within the crystal structures, the ligands adopt trans conformations, with the two metal binding compartments widely separated, perhaps as a consequence of electrostatic repulsion between the cationic metal centres. The imidazole-bearing complexes may be viewed as simple models for the coordinative interaction of the binuclear complexes of bis (tacn) ligands with protein molecules bearing multiple surface-exposed histidine residues.     

Synthesis, conformation and enzymatic properties of 1-(beta-D-allofuranosyl)uracil and some derivatives.

A new route for the synthesis of 1-(beta-D-allofuranosyl)uracil ("allo-uridine") and the corresponding 6'-deoxy-derivative ("6'-deoxy-allo-uridine") as well as for 1-(beta-D-altrofuranosyl) uracil ("altro-uridine") is described. NMR studies of allo-uridine revealed a preferred conformation with the base in anti-position, C-2'-endo-pucker of the sugar moiety, the 5'-OH-group above the furanose ring and the 5'-CH2OH-group in a gt position with the OH-group in the plane of the furanose ring. The same conformation is found for the 5'- and 6'-phosphate, indicated by the influence of the phosphate group on the H-6 signal. Allo-uridine is phosphorylated by the phosphotransferases from carrot and from malt sprouts only in the 6'-position. The phosphate ester is hydrolysed by unspecific phosphatases but not by 5'-nucleotidase. A (3' leads to 6')-dinucleoside phosphate is formed by pancreatic ribonuclease with 2',3'-cyclic cytidylic acid and allo-uridine. It is split by nuclease S1, but not by snake-venom phosphodiesterase. It has no primer activity for polynucleotide phosphorylase. All-uridine 6'-diphosphate could not be prepared enzymatically by nucleotide kinase or by chemical methods, where 5',6'-cyclic phosphates are formed, which are hydrolysed exclusively to 6'-monophosphates.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and properties of substituted-pyridyl functionalized bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene derivatives and their corresponding Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes

Three substituted-pyridyl functionalized bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) derivatives 1-3 and their corresponding Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Their electrochemical properties in CH₂Cl₂ solution have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and two reversible single-electron oxidation waves for the TTF moiety are observed. Crystal structure analyses were carried out for compound 2 as well as for the Co(II) complex of 1 (7).     

Structure and properties of two polymorphs of tetra-n-butylammonium bis(maleonitriledithiolato)platinate(1−)

Structural determination of tetra-n-butylammonium bis(maleonitriledithiolato)platinate(1−), a polymorphic compound, revealed that one polymorph consists of a columnar arrangement of dimers of the anion and is isomorphous with a corresponding nickelate complex. In contrast to the nickelate complex, the complex exhibited no spin-Peierls transition; strong antiferromagnetic interactions were observed between the anions due to dimerization in the column. The other polymorph consists of a tetramer unit of the anion.     

Synthesis and characterization of biologically significant 5,5'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(1-N-alkoxyphthalimido-3-aryl-2-pyrazoline) derivatives

A facile synthesis of 5,5'-(1,4-phenylene)bis(3-aryl-2-pyrazolines) 4a-g has been achieved by the cyclo-addition reaction of hydrazine hydrate with bis-substituted chalcones 3a-g, which in turn were prepared by the Clasien-Schmidt condensation of p-substituted acetophenones 1a-g with terephthaldehyde. Condensation of 4a-g with omega-bromoalkoxyphthalimides 5a-b afforded the titled compounds 6a-n, some of which exhibited significant antimalarial as well as antimicrobial activity.     

Synthesis of novel bis(pyrimido[5,4-c]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione) and its derivatives: Evaluation of their antioxidant properties

One pot cyclocondensation reaction of barbituric/thiobarbituric acid with aromatic aldehydes and p-phenylenediamine/2,6-diaminopyridine by refluxing in glacial acetic acid afforded novel bis(pyrimido[5,4-c]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones)/pyrido bis(pyrimido[5,4-c]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones. All the synthesized compounds were screened for their antioxidant activities using FRAP and DPPH methods. Compounds with chloro substituents showed relatively good antioxidant properties.     

An efficient method for the synthesis of [2-(15)N]guanosine and 2'-deoxy[2-(15)N]guanosine derivatives.

Nucleophilic substitution reaction of 6-chloro-2-fluoro-9-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-9H-purine derivative, prepared from guanosine, with potassium [15N]phthalimide at 40 degrees C for 9 h in DMF, followed by hydrolysis, afforded [2-(15)N]guanosine derivative efficiently. The corresponding 2'-deoxy derivative was also synthesized through a similar procedure.     

Oxygen equilibrium properties of highly purified human adult hemoglobin cross-linked between 82 beta 1 and 82 beta 2 lysyl residues by bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl) fumarate

We investigated oxygen equilibrium properties of highly purified human adult hemoglobin cross-linked between lysine-82 beta 1 and lysine-82 beta 2 by a fumaryl group, which is prepared by reaction of the CO form with bis(3,5-dibromosalicyl) fumarate. The cross-linked hemoglobin preparation isolated by the previous purification method, namely, gel filtration in the presence of 1 M MgCl2 followed by ion-exchange chromatography, was found to be contaminated with about 20% of an electrophoretically silent impurity that shows remarkably high affinity for oxygen. This impurity was separated from the desired cross-linked hemoglobin by a newly developed purification method, which utilizes a difference between the authentic hemoglobin and the impurity in reactivity of the sulfhydryl groups of cysteine-93 beta toward N-ethylmaleimide under a deoxygenated condition. After this purification procedure, the oxygen equilibrium properties of purified cross-linked hemoglobin in the absence of organic phosphate became very similar to those of unmodified hemoglobin with respect to oxygen affinity, cooperativity, and the alkaline Bohr effect. The functional similarity between the cross-linked hemoglobin and unmodified hemoglobin allows us to utilize this cross-linking for preparing asymmetric hybrid hemoglobin tetramers, which are particularly useful as intermediately liganded models. Previous studies on this type of cross-linked hemoglobin should be subject to reexamination due to the considerable amount of the impurity.     

Synergism between PGE1-metabolites(13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E1, 15-keto prostaglandin E1, 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E1) and nitric oxide (NO) on platelet aggregation.

A synergistic antiplatelet effect between prostaglandins (PG), cAMP-stimulators and nitric oxide (NO), a cGMP-stimulator, has already been described. Data on a synergism between NO and the metabolites of PGE1, however, are lacking so far. We therefore tested the antiplatelet activity of the metabolites of PGE1 alone and their synergism with NO on human platelets of 8 healthy volunteers in vitro. 13,14-DH-PGE1 (ID 50 = 10.8 ng/ml platelet rich plasma (PRP)) was the only PGE1 metabolite inhibiting the ADP-induced platelet aggregation, its efficacy being 76.4% of the parent compound PGE1 (ID 50 = 8.25 ng/ml PRP). NO (ID 50 = 0.52 microM) also inhibited platelet aggregation. The combined addition of 13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin E1 (13,14-DH-PGE1) and NO caused an additive effect. The other PGE1-metabolites tested, 15-keto prostaglandin (15-K-PGE1) (ID 50 = 16.2. micrograms/ml PRP) and 15-keto-13,14-dihydro-prostaglandin(15-K-13,14-DH-PGE1) (ID 50 = 14.8 micrograms/ml PRP), neither had any relevant antiaggregatory capacity themselves nor a synergistic effect with NO. These findings could be of clinical relevance as a NO-synergism may occur not only with therapeutically administered PGE1 but also with its biologically active metabolite 13,14-DH-PGE1.