Effect of a peri fluoro substituent on the conformation of dihydrodiol derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

$\text{Trans}$-3,4-, 5,6-, 8,9-, and 10,11-dihydrodiols formed from the metabolism of 7-fluorobenz[a]anthracene by rat liver microsomes were isolated by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Ultraviolet absorption, mass, and NMR spectral analyses indicated that the 5,6- and 8,9-dihydrodiols were preferentially in quasi-diaxial conformations, whereas the 3,4- and 10,11-dihydrodiols were preferentially in quasi-diequatorial conformations. CPK space-filling models suggest that the quasi-diaxial conformation is primarily the result of electronic repulsion between the fluorine and the $\text{peri}$ hydroxyl oxygen. These findings provide a structural basis in the interpretation of the carcinogenic potencies of some fluorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Mutagenicity of reactive derivatives of carcinogenic hydrocarbons: evidence of DNA repair

The ability of cellular DNA repair enzymes, which are active on ultraviolet light-induced lesions in DNA, to recognize and repair damage induced in DNA by exposure to carcinogenic polycylic hydrocarbons was investigated and the effect of such repair processes on the mutagenicity of the hydrocarbons determined. The carcinogenic hydrocarbos, 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMeBA) and 7-bromomethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMe-12-MeBA), chosen for this study because they form well characterized, stable products with DNA, were dissolved at various concentrations in acetone, added under mild conditions to biologically active DNA isolated from Bacillus subtilis, and the reaction stopped by ethanol precipitation. The hydrocarbons were determined by specific radioactivity to be covalently linked to DNA at a frequency of from 1–5 per 1000 nucleotides. An increased frequency of bound hydrocarbon molecules was directly correlated with a decrease in the buoyant density of the DNA as measured in analytical CsCl centrifugation studies. The samples of hydrocarbon-bound DNA were tested for survival of biological activity and for the frequency of induced forward mutations in two recipient strains (hcr⁺ and hcr^?) of Bacillus subtilis which differ in their ability to repair ultraviolet light-induced lesions in DNA. The survival of the biological activity was significantly higher in the repairing strain (hcr⁺). A higher frequency of mutations was detected in the repairing strain as well. The loss of transforming activity and the increase in the frequency of mutations (up to 20-fold) was directly proportional to the amount of hydrocarbon bound to the DNA samples. The majority of these mutations proved unable to revert spontaneously. Finally, the ability of highly purified rat liver endonuclease, shown to recognize lesions in UV-irradiated DNA, to recognize such hydrocarbon lesions was investigated. Tritiated 7-BrMeBA-treated DNAs exposed to the enzyme were found to sustain single-strand nicks in proportion to the amount of hydrocarbon bound while untreated DNA remained substantially intact. The action of the endonuclease appeared to result in an increase in the biological activity of DNA containing hydrocarbon residues when this was assayed in the hcr^? mutant.     

Isolation and Characterization of Opioid Peptides from Rabbit Cerebellum

The rabbit cerebellum has been shown to contain significant quantities of opioid receptors consisting of both mu- and kappa-subtypes. To determine the nature of the endogenous opioid ligands in this tissue, extracts from rabbit cerebellum were separated by various chromatography techniques and fractions were assayed initially for opioid peptides with a radioimmunoassay capable of detecting all peptides with an amino-terminal Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe sequence. This sequence is common to all mammalian opioid peptides and is critical for recognition by all known opioid receptors. Each of the three immunoreactive opioid peptide peaks detected was purified to homogeneity and subjected to amino acid composition and sequence analysis. One peak was analyzed further by mass spectrometry. This identified the major opioid peptides in the cerebellum as [Met5]enkephalin, [Leu5]enkephalin, and heptapeptide [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg6-Phe7. The comprehensiveness of this initial detection scheme in identifying biologically active opioid peptides was substantiated through subsequent analysis. Using specific radioimmunoassays for representative opioid peptides of the three opioid systems currently known, no other peptides of either the proenkephalin, proopiomelanocortin, or prodynorphin series were detected in any appreciable amounts. Collectively, these results are consistent with the position that rabbit cerebellar opioids are derived from proenkephalin. However, given that no appreciable quantities of either [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg6-Arg7-Val8-NH2 (metorphamide) or [Met5]enkephalyl-Arg6-Gly7-Leu8 were detected suggests that rabbit proenkephalin may have a slightly altered sequence and/or is differentially processed relative to other mammalian species studied.     

Mutational spectra for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the supF target gene

An SV40-based shuttle vector system was used to identify the types of mutational changes and the sites of mutation within the supF DNA sequence generated by the four stereoisomers of benzo[c]phenanthrene 3,4-dihydrodiol 1,2-epoxide (B[c]PhDE), by racemic mixtures of bay or fjord region dihydrodiol epoxides (DE) of 5-methylchrysene, of 5,6-dimethylchrysene, of benzo[g]chrysene and of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and by two direct acting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens, 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMeBA) and 7-bromomethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMe-12-MeBA). The results of these studies demonstrated that the predominant type of mutation induced by these compounds is the base substitution. The chemical preference for reaction at deoxyadenosine (dAdo) or deoxyguanosine (dGuo) residues in DNA, which is in general correlated with the spatial structure (planar or non-planar) of the reactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is reflected in the preference for mutation at AT or GC pairs. In addition, if the ability to react with DNA in vivo is taken into account, the relative mutagenic potencies of the B[c]PhDE stereoisomers are consistent with the higher tumorigenic activity associated with non-planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their extensive reaction with dAdo residues in DNA. Comparison of the types of mutations generated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other bulky carcinogens in this shuttle vector system suggests that all bulky lesions may be processed by a similar mechanism related to that involved in replication past apurinic sites. However, inspection of the distribution of mutations over the target gene induced by the different compounds demonstrated that individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce unique patterns of mutational hotspots within the target gene. A polymerase arrest assay was used to determine the sequence specificity of the interaction of reactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the shuttle vector DNA. The results of these assays revealed a divergence between mutational hotspots and polymerase arrest sites for all compounds investigated, i.e., sites of mutational hotspots do not correspond to sites where high levels of adduct formation occur, and suggested that some association between specific adducts and sequence context may be required to constitute a premutagenic lesion. A site-specific mutagenesis system employing a single-stranded vector (M13mp7L2) was used to investigate the mutational events a single benzo[a]pyrene or benzo[c]phenanthrene dihydrodiol epoxide–DNA adduct elicits within specific sequence contexts. These studies showed that sequence context can cause striking differences in mutagenic frequencies for given adducts. In addition, these sequence context effects do not originate only from nucleotides immediately adjacent to the adduct, but are also modulated by more distal nucleotides. The implications of these results for mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are discussed.     

Longitudinal analysis of VP7 gene of group A human rotavirus G2P[4] strains circulating in the pre‐vaccine era in Sapporo,Japan from 1991 to 2011

Sequence analysis of the VP7 gene in 23 group A human rotavirus G2P[4] strains obtained during 1991–2011, that is, the pre‐vaccine era, in Sapporo, Japan showed considerable genetic diversity, mainly in variable regions. Recent G2P[4] epidemic strains were located in sublineage IVa with a distinctive substitution of D96N. This study provides background data on the genetic variability of G2P[4] rotavirus‐VP7 gene prior to the widespread use of rotavirus vaccines in Japan.     

Combination of high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography separation of five adducted nucleotides isolated from liver resulting from intraperitoneal administration with 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole to mice

7H-Dibenzo[c,g]carbazole, DBC, is a potent environmental liver carcinogen. Liver DNA from mice treated with DBC exhibited seven distinct DBC-DNA adducts as detected by ³²P-postlabeling using multidimensional TLC. To improve quantitation and chemically characterize the adducts, DNA samples were hydrlyzed, ³²P-postlabeled and the adducts were separated from the unadducted normal nucleotides on TLC using a D1 solvent, 0.65 M sodium phosphate (pH 6.8). Adducts were eluted from the TLC plates with 4.0 M pyridinium formate, concentrated, resuspended in 50% aqueous methanol and injected onto the HPLC; five individual adduct peaks were resolved and collected by this method. This approach will prove useful to decrease analysis time and improve chemical characterization of tightly clustered DNA adducts generated in vivo.     

Neodihydrothebaine and bractazonine,two dibenz[d,f]azonine alkaloids of Papaver bracteatum

Two new dibenz[d,f]azonine alkaloids, neodihydrothebaine and bractazonine were isolated from Papaver bracteatum. Their possible biosynthesis from thebaine is discussed. The structures of both new alkaloids are proven by synthesis. An isomeric dibenz[d,f]azonine compound was also prepared.     

Synthesis and Potato Cell Expansion-inducing Activity of the Stereochemically Restricted Bicyclic Analogue of 7-Epi-jasmonic Acid

The stereochemically restricted bicyclic analogue of 7-epi-jasmonic acid was synthesized from a known bicyclo[3.3.0]octane derivative. The enol triflate derived from the bicyclic compound was subjected to palladium-catalyzed coupling with allyltributyltin to give the desired carbon skeleton. Selective catalytic hydrogenation and subsequent acidic hydrolysis gave a new bicyclic analogue of 7-epi-jasmonic acid. The ACC conjugate of the bicyclic analogue was also synthesized. This ACC conjugate exhibited only slightly weaker potato cell expansion-inducing activity than that of the JA standard.     

Synthesis of aminocyanopyrazoles via a multi-component reaction and anti-carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity of their sulfamide derivatives against cytosolic and transmembrane isoforms

A convenient protocol for the multicomponent reaction (MCRs) between malononitrile with an orthoester and hydrazine derivatives, under acid catalyst is described. A series of aminocyanopyrazoles 4 was prepared, isolated and characterized. These pyrazoles reacted with sodium nitrite followed by secondary amine reagent and with formic acid to lead pyrazolotriazines 6 and pyrazolopyrimidinones 7. Some of the aminopyrazoles were converted to the corresponding sulfamides by reaction with sulfamoyl chloride. The aminopyrazoles incorporating phenyl and tosyl moieties were tested as inhibitors of four carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, the human (h) hCA I, II, IX and XII. Many of them showed low micromolar or submicromolar inhibition of these enzymes. The corresponding sulfamides were low nanomolar CA inhibitors.     

Synthesis,GluN2B affinity and selectivity of benzo[7]annulen-7-amines

Due to their beneficial side effect profile, NMDA receptor antagonists interacting selectively with the allosteric ifenprodil binding site of the GluN2B subunit are of major interest for the treatment of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. A series of benzo[7]annulen-7-amines 6 was designed by conformational restriction of ifenprodil (1). At first the benzo[7]annulen-7-one 11 was prepared in a three-step synthesis comprising of a double Knoevenagel condensation of phthalaldehyde (7) with dimethyl 3-oxoglutarate (8), hydrogenation of 9 and saponification/decarboxylation of 10. Reductive amination of the ketone 11 with primary amines and NaBH(OAc)₃ led to the secondary amines 6a–d, cis-6h and trans-6i. The tertiary amines 6e–g were obtained by S_N2-substitution of the nosylate 13. Although H-bond forming substituents in 2- and 5-position are missing, the amines 6 exhibit high affinity towards GluN2B containing NMDA receptors. A distance of four to five bond lengths between the basic amino moiety and the phenyl ring in the side chain appears to be optimal for high GluN2B affinity. The phenylcyclohexylamine cis-6h and the 4-benzylpiperidine 6g show the highest GluN2B affinities (K_i = 2.3 nM and 2.9 nM, respectively). With respect to selectivity against the PCP binding site, σ₁ and σ₂ receptors the phenylpiperazine 6f is the most promising GluN2B antagonist.     

A comparison of phase-related shifts in behavior and morphometrics of an albino strain,deficient in [His(7)]-corazonin,and a normally colored Locusta migratoria strain

The albino Okinawa strain of Locusta migratoria is deficient in the neurohormone [His⁷]-corazonin. This peptide induces darkening of the cuticle, one of the typical features of gregarious locusts. As part of a broader study on the possible role of [His⁷]-corazonin in phase transition, we explored whether corazonin-deficiency might be associated with differences in behavior and morphometrics between albino and normal phenotypes of L. migratoria. Using a modification of the logistic-regression assay of behavioral phase state previously derived for Schistocerca gregaria, we found that there were strain dependent behavioral differences between crowd-reared nymphs of the albino Okinawa and the normally colored African strain, with no evidence of the albino strain being obligatorily solitarious. However, upon isolation, a shift towards more solitarious behavior occurs in both strains, even more profoundly in the Okinawa albinos. A shift could also be recorded in morphometrics. The conclusion is that the albino strain, although showing some solitarious features even when crowd-reared, is not, as has been suggested, obligatory solitarious and, as a consequence, the complete absence of corazonin is not sufficient to bring about the solitarious state.     

Measurement of Methionine-Enkephalin [Arg6,Phe7] in Rat Brain by Specific Radioimmunoassay Directed at Methionine Sulphoxide Enkephalin[Arg6,Phe7]

Abstract: A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay procedure for Metenkephalin[Arg⁶,Phe⁷] which allows its measurement in regions of the rat brain is described. The antiserum was raised against the methionine sulphoxide derivative of the peptide, and all samples and standards were oxidized with hydrogen peroxide prior to use in the assay with chloramine T-oxidized ¹²⁵I-labelled Met(O)-enkephalin[Arg⁶,Phe⁷]. The only significant cross-reactivity was 30% with the reduced heptapeptide Met-enkephalin[Arg⁶,Phe⁷]. The assay showed less than 0.15% cross-reactivity with fragments of the heptapeptide and with leucine-enkephalin-containing peptides. Acid acetone extraction of rat striatum followed by Sephadex G-50 chromatography and reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography showed that essentially all immunoreactivity co-chromatographed with Met-enkephalin[Arg⁶,Phe⁷]. This confirmed the specificity of the assay and showed that the striatum does not contain a high concentration of larger molecular weight forms with the heptapeptide at the COOH terminus. Distribution of the heptapeptide followed that of methionine enkephalin, with highest concentrations in the globus pallidus, intermediate levels in caudate-putamen and hypothalamus, and low levels in cortex and cerebellum.     

产γ_内酰胺水解酶菌株的筛选及发酵条件研究

(-)γ-内酰胺是合成两种抗艾滋病药物(-)carbovir和(-)abacavir的重要原料,具有重要的应用价值,微生物酶法拆分( /-)γ-内酰胺生产(-)γ-内酰胺的方法具有良好的应用前景。以N-乙酰苯丙氨酸为唯一碳源,从土壤中筛选得到了69株具有酰胺水解酶活性的菌株,利用液相色谱分析方法确定了其中20株有较高的酰胺水解酶活性,利用手性色谱分析的方法进一步得到了一株具有较高立体选择性,能拆分( /-)γ-内酰胺而获得(-)γ-内酰胺的菌株L29-9,对该菌株的产酶培养基的碳、氮源及初始pH值等进行了研究。结果表明:当选择碳源柠檬酸2g/L、氮源酵母提取物5g/Lp、H 7.0、培养时间40h时,通过完整细胞转化,在30℃下经过12h的反应,产物(-)γ-内酰胺产率达40%,ee值99.5%。     

G9型人A组轮状病毒LL52696与LL52727株的主要基因及其编码蛋白特征的分析

人A组轮状病毒(Human rotavirus,HRV)是引起世界范围婴幼儿重症腹泻的最主要病原,也是导致发展中国家婴幼儿死亡的主要病因之一[1-3],世界卫生组织统计每年大约引起611 000婴儿和儿童死亡,特别是发展中国家[4].HRV感染广泛,且改善营养状况和卫生条件对HRV发病危险影响不大,因此在发达国家和发展中国家HRV感染率接近.HRV引起的腹泻至今无特效药,发展疫苗对控制HRV感染的作用就显得特别突出.     

Phosphoinositide hydrolysis increase by angiotensin-(1--7) in neonatal rat brain

Angiotensin (Ang)-(1–7) is an endogenous peptide hormone of the renin–angiotensin system which exerts diverse biological actions, some of them counterregulate Ang II effects. In the present study potential effect of Ang-(1–7) on phosphoinositide (PI) turnover was evaluated in neonatal rat brain. Cerebral cortex prisms of seven-day-old rats were preloaded with [³H]myoinositol, incubated with additions during 30 min and later [³H]inositol-phosphates (IPs) accumulation quantified. It was observed that PI hydrolysis enhanced 30% to 60% in the presence of 0.01 nM to 100 nM Ang-(1–7). Neither 10 nM [D-Ala⁷]Ang-(1–7), an Ang-(1–7) specific antagonist, nor 10 nM losartan, an angiotensin II type 1 (AT₁) receptor antagonist, blocked the effect of 0.1 nM Ang-(1–7) on PI metabolism. The effect of 0.1 nM Ang-(1–7) on PI hydrolysis was not reduced but it was even significantly increased in the simultaneous presence of [D-Ala⁷]Ang-(1–7) or losartan. PI turnover enhancement achieved with 0.1 nM Ang-(1–7) decreased roughly 30% in the presence of 10 nM PD 123319, an angiotensin II type 2 (AT₂) receptor antagonist. The antagonists alone also enhanced PI turnover. Present findings showing an increase in PI turnover by Ang-(1–7) represent a novel action for this peptide and suggest that it exerts a function in this signaling system in neonatal rat brain, an effect involving, at least partially, angiotensin AT₂ receptors.     

Synthesis and Anti-HCV Activity of 4-Methoxy-7H-Pyrrolo[2,3-d] Pyrimidine Carbocyclic Nucleosides

The present study includes the exploration of new possible nucleoside mimetics based on 4-methoxy-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine carbocyclic nucleosides (4a–g), which were synthesized by 10–15 synthetic steps and characterized adequately. We report the anti-HCV activities and cytotoxicities of 4a–g. Compound 4a was analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction which showed some puckering in the cyclopentene ring with a 2′-endo conformation and anti-base disposition (χ = ?125.7°).     

A Novel Tropoloisoquinoline Alkaloid,Neotatarine, from Acorus calamus L.

A novel tropoloisoquinoline alkaloid, neotatarine ( 1 ), was isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the rhizome parts of Acorus calamus L. The chemical structure was unambiguously elucidated by spectroscopic and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Neotatarine ( 1 ) exhibited significantly inhibitory activity against Aβ_{25 – 35} induced PC12 cell death with 2, 4 and 8 μm comparing with the assay control (P < 0.01).     

Biosynthesis of [3H]7 alpha-hydroxy-, 7 beta-hydroxy-, and 7-oxo-dehydroepiandrosterone using pig liver microsomal fractions

Current research on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is limited due to lack of radiolabeled metabolites. We utilized pig liver microsomal (PLM) fractions to prepare [(3)H]-labeled 7 alpha-hydroxy-DHEA (7 alpha-OH-DHEA), 7 beta-hydroxy-DHEA (7 beta-OH-DHEA), and 7-oxo-DHEA substrates from 50 microM [1,2,6,7-(3)H]DHEA (specific radioactivity 60-80 mCi/mmol). The metabolites were separated by preparative thin-layer chromatography (TLC) using ethyl acetate:hexane:glacial acetic acid (18:8:3 v:v:v) as the mobile phase, extracted with ethyl acetate, and dried under a stream of nitrogen. Metabolites assayed by TLC and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were observed to be pure. In the presence of an reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-regenerating system initiated with 1 mM NADPH alone, 1 mg/ml PLM produced 7 alpha-OH-DHEA with minor amounts of 7-oxo-DHEA (68 and 14 nmol/2h/2 ml, respectively; 82% conversion), while in the presence of 1mM NADPH and 1 mM oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP(+)), more 7-oxo-DHEA than 7 alpha-OH-DHEA (58 and 11 nmol/2 ml/120 min, respectively; 69% conversion) was formed. When longer reaction times were used with NADPH and NADP(+), a mixture of 7 alpha-OH-DHEA, 7 beta-OH-DHEA, and 7-oxo-DHEA was produced (19,14, and 35 nmol/180 min/2 ml, respectively; 62% conversion). Using pig liver microsomes, the radiolabeled metabolites of DHEA can be prepared in stable, pure form at 10mM concentrations and >0.5 mCi/mmol levels of radioactivity for biochemical studies.     

L-NUCLEOSIDES CONTAINING MODIFIED NUCLEOBASES

The synthesis of base modified l-nucleosides is described with pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, pyrazolo[3,4-d)pyrimidines, benzimidazoles and imidazo[1,2-a]-s-triazines as nucleobases. The conformation of the nucleosides is studied and the antiviral activity is evaluated.     

Age-dependent response of adults of a homochrome grasshopper, Oedipoda miniata, to the dark-colour-inducing neurohormone (DCIN) of locusts

Abstract The effect of the dark-colour-inducing neurohormone (DCIN = [His⁷]-corazonin) of locusts was investigated in field-collected young and old adults of the grasshopper, Oedipoda miniata (Pallas) (Orthoptera: Acrididae). This species shows homochromy, but neither green-brown, nor phase-dependent colour polymorphism. By injecting graded doses of synthetic DCIN in 2 µL of olive oil, young adults were tested within a week of their last moult, and old adults 3.5 months later, a few weeks before natural termination of their reproductive summer diapause. Colour changes were followed for 28 days after injection. Darkening of the young adults was considerable, but their response to DCIN is more moderate than that of conspecific nymphs, by exhibiting a higher threshold, slower response and weaker maximal response. Old adults also show a clear effect, but their response is even slower and less marked than the response of the young adults. It is concluded that the response to DCIN decreases from nymphs to young adults and it is further decreasing with ageing of the adults.