Purification and properties of methyl sulfoxide reductases from rat kidney

Two kinds of enzymes (tentatively designated methyl sulfoxide reductases I and II) responsible for the reduction of the methyl sulfoxide group on various xenobiotics have been purified about 223- and 155-fold, respectively, from rat kidney cytosol. The molecular weight was determined to be 12,000 +/- 1000 for methyl sulfoxide reductase I and 24,000 +/- 1000 for methyl sulfoxide reductase II. Thioredoxin or dithiothreitol is essential in order for the reducing activity to occur. The respective Km values of p-bromophenylmethyl sulfoxide were 2.75 and 1.30 mM for methyl sulfoxide reductases I and II. Replacement of the methyl group on the sulfur atom with a longer alkyl group or phenyl group caused a markedly low or negligible substrate activity.     

Synthesis and SAR studies of bis-chromenone derivatives for anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cells

A novel family of 3-((4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (bis-chromone) derivatives were designed, synthesized and studied for their anti-cancer activity using the XTT assay for the growth inhibition against various human cancer cells. Among them, 3-((5-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one and 3-((5-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one showed micromolar level of in vitro anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. The SAR studies indicated bis-chromone as a basic scaffold to design anticancer agents. The 5-cyclohexylmethoxy on the first chromenone ring and electron donating group such as CH₃, OCH₃ or hydrogen bonding group (OH) on the other chromenone ring of bis-chromone increased the activity. However, saturation of one of chromenone to chromanone in bis-chromones decreased the activity.     

STUDIES ON PLANT GROWTH-REGULATING SUBSTANCES

A study has been made of the growth-regulating activity of a number of phenoxy acids possessing halogen or methyl substituents in the 2:6- or 33- positions of the nucleus. The pea curvature, Avena cylinder elongation and tomato-leaf epinasty tests have been used for assessing biological activity. The results show that in general 3:s- is more closely associated with inactivity than 2:6- substitution. The introduction of a further halogen atom into the 4- position does not enhance activity in the 2:6- compounds but does so in the 3:s- derivatives. Although the 2:4:6-trichloro- and 2:4:6-tribromo-phenoxyacetic acids are almost inactive, a:4-dichloro-6-fluoro- and 2:4-dibromo-6-fluoro- phenoxyacetic acids are very highly active. When a methyl group is substituted into the side-chain of certain phenoxyacetic acids possessing 2:6- substituents, growth-promoting activity is increased. Some of these findings conflict with recent theories on mode of action of phenoxy acids which are discussed in relation to the present work.     

Synthesis and activity of 1-aryl-1'-imidazolyl methyl ethers as non-thiol farnesyltransferase inhibitors

A series of imidazole-containing methyl ethers (4-5) have been designed and synthesized as potent and selective farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) by transposition of the D-ring to the methyl group on the imidazole of the previously reported FTIs 3. Several compounds such as 4h and 5b demonstrate superior enzymatic activity to the current benchmark compound tipifarnib (1) with IC(50) values in the lower subnanomolar range, while maintaining excellent cellular activity comparable to tipifarnib. The compounds are characterized as being simple, easier to make, and possess no chiral center involved.     

Synthesis of novel 6-substituted acyclouridine derivatives and their anti-HIV-1 activity

To improve the anti-HIV activity of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT), a variety of its analogues were synthesized. Introduction of SR group to the C-6 position was carried out based on LDA lithiation followed by the reaction of aryl- or alkyl disulfide. An addition-elimination reaction of a 6-phenylsulfinyl derivative was used for synthesizing the analogues having OR or NHR group at the C-6 position. The C-5 modified derivatives were synthesized mainly based on LTMP lithiation of a 6-phenylthio derivative. Modification at the 2- or 4-position was also carried out. Some compounds prepared in the present study showed higher activity than HEPT.     

Discovery of 4-aryl-4H-chromenes as a new series of apoptosis inducers using a cell- and caspase-based HTS assay. Part 5: modifications of the 2- and 3-positions

As a continuation of our efforts to discover and develop apoptosis inducing 4-aryl-4H-chromenes as novel anticancer agents, we explored modifications at the 2- and 3-positions. It was found that replacement of the 3-cyano group by an ester, including methyl and ethyl ester, resulted in >200-fold reduction of activity. Conversion of the 2-amino group into an amide or urea resulted in 4- to 10-fold drop of activity. Similarly, converting the 2-amino group into a hydrogen resulted in 4- to 10-fold reduction of activity. Compound 3d was highly active with an EC(50) value of 29 nM and a GI(50) value of 6 nM in T47D cells. Importantly, the 2-H analog 3d was found to be much more stable under acidic conditions compared to the 2-NH(2) analog 3b, suggesting that 2-H analogs might have better bioavailability than the 2-NH(2) analogs.     

Studies of the action of symmetrical and mixed disulphide thiol-modifying reagents on the esterase activity of cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase

The effect of various thiol-modifying reagents on the esterase activity of sheep liver cytoplasmic aldehyde dehydrogenase is reported here. Both symmetrical reagents (disulfiram, 2,2'- and 4,4'-dithiodipyridines) and unsymmetrical reagents (methyl diethylthiocarbamyl disulphide, methyl 2- and 4-pyridyl disulphides) were investigated. The results suggest that all the modifiers react to varying extents with a pair of enzymic thiol groups ('A' and 'B'), and that the more specifically group 'A' is modified, the more the enzyme is inactivated. This supports the idea that group 'A' may be the essential nucleophile in the reaction catalysed by aldehyde dehydrogenase. Modification of group 'B' may or may not reduce the esterase activity depending on the nature of the label introduced. The results of the present experiments and of previous similar experiments concerning the dehydrogenase activity of the enzyme are consistent with the proposal that a common active site is responsible for both esterase and dehydrogenase activities.     

Substituted 2-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzoyl)-benzo[b]thiophene derivatives as potent tubulin polymerization inhibitors

The central role of microtubules in cell division and mitosis makes them a particularly important target for anticancer agents. On our early publication, we found that a series of 2-(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzoyl)-3-aminobenzo[b]thiophenes exhibited strong antiproliferative activity in the submicromolar range and significantly arrested cells in the G2–M phase of the cell cycle and induced apoptosis.In order to investigate the importance of the amino group at the 3-position of the benzo[b]thiophene skeleton, the corresponding 3-unsubstituted and methyl derivatives were prepared. A novel series of inhibitors of tubulin polymerization, based on the 2-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-benzo[b]thiophene molecular skeleton with a methoxy substituent at the C-4, C-5, C-6 or C-7 position on the benzene ring, was evaluated for antiproliferative activity against a panel of five cancer cell lines, for inhibition of tubulin polymerization and for cell cycle effects. Replacing the methyl group at the C-3 position resulted in increased activity compared with the corresponding 3-unsubstituted counterpart. The structure–activity relationship established that the best activities were obtained with the methoxy group placed at the C-4, C-6 or C-7 position. Most of these compounds exhibited good growth inhibition activity and arrest K562 cells in the G2–M phase via microtubule depolymerization.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems with C-3′ or C-7 catechol or related aromatics

A series of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems with C-3′ catechol-containing (pyridinium-4-thio)methyl groups and 2-isocephems with C-7 catechol related aromatics have been prepared and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. It turns out that these compounds have highly potent activity against Gram-negative bacteria, especially resistant pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most active compound of the series was (6S,7S)-7-[2-(2-aminothiazol-4-yl)-2-[(Z)-[(1,5-dihydroxy-4-pyridon-2-yl)methoxy] imino]acetamido]-3-[[[(4-methyl-5-carboxymethyl)thiazol-2-yl]thio]methyl]-8-oxo-1-aza-4-thiabicyclo [4.2.0] oct-2-ene-2-carboxylic acid which exhibited potent in vitro activity against clinically isolated P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumanii which is also resistant to many anti-infectives, and good in vivo efficacy against clinically isolated P. aeruginosa.

A series of cephalosporins, 2-isocephems, and 2-oxaisocephems and C-3′ or C-7 catechol or related aromatics have been prepared and evaluated for antibacterial activity.     

Design and synthesis of methyl 2-methyl-7,7-dihalo-5-phenyl-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-4-carboxylates with calcium channel antagonist activity

A group of methyl 2-methyl-7,7-dihalo-5-(substituted-phenyl)-2-azabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-3-ene-4-carboxylates were prepared by reaction of dihalocarbenes (:CX2, X = Br, Cl) with methyl 1-methyl-4-(substituted-phenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylates. In vitro calcium channel antagonist activities were determined using a guinea pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle assay. The title compounds exhibited weaker CC antagonist activity (10(-5)-10(-6)M range) than the reference drug nifedipine (1.4 x 10(-8)M). Structure-activity relationship studies showed that the position of a nitro substituent on the C-5 phenyl ring where the relative potency order was ortho > meta > para, and the size and/or electronegativity of the C-7 geminal-dihalo substituents (Br > Cl), were determinants of calcium channel antagonist activity. This class of compounds did not exhibit any inotropic effect on guinea pig left atria. A dihalocyclopropyl moiety is a potential bioisostere for the 2-methyl-3-methoxycarbonylvinyl moiety present in the calcium channel antagonist nifedipine.     

Synthesis of the methyl thioglycosides of deoxy-N-acetyl-neuraminic acids for use as glycosyl donors.

Methyl 2-thioglycoside derivatives of 4-, 7-, 8-, and 9-deoxy-N-acetylneuraminic acids have been prepared as glycosyl donors for the synthesis of sialoglycoconjates. Reduction of a (phenoxy)thiocarbonyl group, selectively introduced at the 4 position of methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-8,9-O-isopropylidene-D- glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (1), gave the 4-deoxy compound, which was transformed via O-deisopropylidenation, acetylation, selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, subsequent acetylation, and displacement of the 2-acetoxy group by a methylthio group, into methyl (methyl 5-acetamido-7,8,9-tri-O-acetyl-3,4,5-trideoxy-2-thio-D-manno-2- nonulopyranosid)onate (17). Methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-8,9-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl- 3,5,7-trideoxy-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from 1 in five steps, and methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-4,7,9-tri-O-acetyl-3,5,8-trideoxy-alpha-D-galacto-2- nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from 1 in six steps, were converted via selective removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, O-acetylation, and displacement of the 2-acetoxy group by a methylthio group as described for 17, into the corresponding methyl 7- and 8-deoxy-2-thioglycosides. Reductive dechlorination of methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-4,7-di-O-benzoyl-9-chloro-3,5,9-trideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-g alacto- 2-nonulopyranosid]onate, prepared from methyl [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 5-acetamido-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-alpha-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid++ +]onate by selective 9-O-tert-butyldimethylsilylation, benzoylation, removal of the 9-silyl group, and selective chlorination, gave a 9-deoxy compound. This was transformed, via O-debenzoylation, O-acetylation, selective removal of the 2(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, 2-O-acetylation, 2-chlorination, displacement with potassium thioacetate, selective S-deacetylation, and S-methylation, into the methyl 2-thio-alpha-glycoside of 9-deoxy-N-acetylneuraminic acid.     

Drug metabolism-based design, synthesis, and bioactivities of 1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamino)propane hydrochloride (DDPH) analogs as α₁-adrenoceptors antagonists

1-(2,6-dimethylphenoxy)-2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenylethylamino)propane hydrochloride (DDPH) is a potent α?-adrenoceptor antagonist that is currently under Phase II clinic trials. However, the fast metabolism has restricted its further use. In this paper, 11 DDPH analogs were designed according to the probable metabolism pathways of DDPH, and featured the structures of halogen, methyl, and cyano groups at the 3-, or 4-position of aromatic ring A to block the hydroxylation, and one hydroxyl group at the 3-, or 4-position of aromatic ring B to extend the duration time. These compounds were synthesized in moderate to good yields from the reductive amination of substituted phenoxyacetones with substituted phenylethylamines, and fully characterized with 1H NMR, IR, and HRMS. Biological evaluation indicated that most of the compounds exhibited strong blocking and moderate to good antihypertensive activities. It is clear that the compounds having 4-OH/3-OMe on group B exhibited higher blocking activities and longer duration time than their corresponding analogs having 4-OMe/3-OMe (and also 3-OH/4-OMe). Among them, compound 13 having bromo group at the 4-position of ring A and 4-OH/3-OMe on group B, exhibited the highest blocking activity, whereas compound 17 that had a methyl group at the 4-position of ring A and a hydroxyl group at the 4-position of ring B, was more active than potent DDPH in terms of both blocking and antihypertensive activities. In addition, the possible correlations between the blocking and antihypertensive activities are also briefly discussed.     

Effect of substituents of the benzoquinone ring on electron-transfer activities of ubiquinone derivatives

The effect of substituents on the 1,4-benzoquinone ring of ubiquinone on its electron-transfer activity in the bovine heart mitochondrial succinate-cytochrome c reductase region is studied by using synthetic ubiquinone derivatives that have a decyl (or geranyl) side-chain at the 6-position and various arrangements of methyl, methoxy and hydrogen in the 2, 3 and 5 positions of the benzoquinone ring. The reduction of quinone derivatives by succinate is measured with succinate-ubiquinone reductase and with succinate-cytochrome c reductase. Oxidation of quinol derivatives is measured with ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase. The electron-transfer efficacy of quinone derivatives is compared to that of 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-decyl-1,4-benzoquinone. When quinone derivatives are used as the electron acceptor for succinate-ubiquinone reductase, the methyl group at the 5-position is less important than are the methoxy groups at the 2- and 3-positions. Replacing the 5-methyl group with hydrogen causes a slight increase in activity. However, replacing one or both of 2- and 3-methoxy groups with a methyl completely abolishes electron-acceptor activity. Replacing the 3-methoxy group with hydrogen results in a complete loss of electron-acceptor activity, while replacing the 2-methoxy with hydrogen results in an activity decrease by 70%, suggesting that the methoxy group at the 3-position is more specific than that at the 2-position. The structural requirements for quinol derivatives to be oxidized by ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase are less strict. All 1,4-benzoquinol derivatives examined show partial activity when used as electron donors for ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase. Derivatives that possess one unsubstituted position at 2, 3 or 5, with a decyl group at the 6-position, show substrate inhibition at high concentrations. Such substrate inhibition is not observed when fully substituted derivatives are used. The structural requirements for quinone derivatives to be reduced by succinate-cytochrome c reductase are less specific than those for succinate-ubiquinone reductase. Replacing one or both of the 2- and 3-methoxy groups with a methyl and keeping the 5-position unsubstituted (plastoquinone derivatives) yields derivatives with no acceptor activity for succinate-Q reductase. However, these derivatives are reducible by succinate in the presence of succinate-cytochrome c reductase. This reduction is antimycin-sensitive and requires endogenous ubiquinone, suggesting that these (plastoquinone) derivatives can only accept electrons from the ubisemiquinone radical at the Qi site of ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase, and cannot accept electrons from the QPs of succinate-ubiquinone reductase.     

Synthesis and antibacterial study of 10, 15, 20-triphenyl-5-(4-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)methyl)phenylporphyrin as models for combination of porphyrin and alkylating agent

10, 15, 20-Triphenyl-5-(4-hydroxy-3-(trimethylammonium)methyl)phenylporphyrin 4 and its zinc complex 5 have been synthesized and antibacterial activities have been studied for 4 and its derivative. Compound 4 showed stronger inhibition than that of 10, 15, 20-triphenyl-5-(4-hydroxy-3-(dimethylamine)methyl)phenylporphyrin (2) and 10, 15, 20-triphenyl-5-(4-methoxy-3-(trimethylammonium)methyl)phenylporphyrin (6). It is possible that antibacterial activity of compound 4 involved in photoinducing both o-quinone methide intermediate and singlet oxygen formation.     

Pyrazole related nucleosides 5. Synthesis and biological activity of 2'-deoxy-2',3'-dideoxy- and acyclo-analogues of 4-iodo-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-3-carboxymethyl pyrazole (IPCAR)

Continuing our studies on the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of 4-iodo-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-3-carboxymethyl pyrazole (IPCAR), the ribofuranosyl moiety has been substituted with acyclic chains, namely 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]- and 1-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]-pyrazole derivatives (4, 5 and 8, 9 respectively), with the 2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl group (12 and 13) and finally with the 2',3'-dideoxy-D-glycero-pentofuranosyl-moiety (16 and 17). None of the new compounds display any interesting biological activity.     

An Alternate Synthesis of 2-(4-Isobutylphenyl)-propionic Acid

2-(4-Isobutylphenyl)-propionic acid, which is known to have a high anti-inflammatory activity and has widely been used in the treatment of diseases caused by inflammation, such as rheumatism, was synthesized from methyl 3-methyl-3-(4-isobutylphenyl)-glycidate, via methyl 2-hydroxy-3-(4-isobutylphenyl)-3-butenoate (VI) in four steps.     

The 7[prime]-Methyl Group of Abscisic Acid Is Critical for Biological Activity in Wheat Embryo Germination

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) embryo germination is inhibited by natural (S)-(+)-abscisic acid (ABA). In this report we have determined critical structural features of the ABA molecule, particularly the methyl and ketone groups of the ABA ring, required for inhibitory activity. To examine the ring residues a series of new optically active ABA analogs have been synthesized in which the 4[prime]-keto, 7[prime]-, 8[prime]-, or 8[prime]- and 9[prime]-carbons have been replaced with hydrogen atoms. Each of the analogs was tested over a range of concentrations as a germination inhibitor. Enantiomers of the analogs altered at the 4[prime]-keto or 8[prime]- and 9[prime]-methyl groups were active, but less so than ABA. Both enantiomers of 7[prime]-demethylABA were inactive as germination inhibitors. The results show that the 7[prime]-methyl group is absolutely required for activity, but that the other residues are less critical for hormone recognition.     

Comparative Effects of Ancymidol and Its Analogs on Growth of Peas and Ent-Kaurene Oxidation in Cell-Free Extracts of Immature Marah macrocarpus Endosperm

The plant growth retardant alpha-cyclopropyl-alpha-(4-methyoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidine methyl alcohol (ancymidol) and a series of analogs of this substance in which one or more of the substituents were varied were tested for their comparative biological activity. The compounds were tested as inhibitors of internode elongation in peas and as inhibitors of the oxidation of ent-kaurene catalyzed by microsomal preparations from the liquid endosperm of Marah macrocarpus seeds. The relative effectiveness of a substance was generally the same as an inhibitor of the two processes. Ancymidol was the most effective. Substitution of the alcohol group of ancymidol by either methoxy or hydrogen groups reduced the activity only slightly. Substitution of the cyclopropyl group by an isopropyl moiety also had little effect on the activity. However, substitution of the cyclopropyl group with a phenyl or other aryl substituent greatly reduced the effectiveness of the analog as an inhibitor. Replacement of the 4-methoxyphenyl substituent with a similar substituent such as 4-chlorophenyl had little effect on activity, but replacement with a 2-methoxyphenyl group greatly reduced activity. Analogs in which the pyrimidyl moiety of ancymidol was modified were inactive in whole plants, but moderately active in the cell-free ent-kaurene oxidation system. The application of gibberellic acid can overcome the growth inhibitions due to treatment of the test plants with 10(-5)m or lower concentrations of the inhibitors. However, the inhibitory effects of 10(-4)m or higher concentrations of inhibitors on test plants were not overcome by the applications of exogenous gibberellic acid. These results support the idea that the effects of low concentrations of these substances on plant growth are primarily a consequence of their ability to inhibit ent-kaurene oxidation and gibberellin biosynthesis. Other modes of inhibition may operate at higher inhibitor concentrations.     

Specificity of the glutathione S-transferases in the conversion of leukotriene A4 to leukotriene C4

We have synthesized the 5,6-LTA4, 8,9-LTA4, and 14,15-LTA4 as methyl esters by an improved biomimetic method with yields as high as 70-80%. We have investigated the catalytic efficiency of the purified cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) isozymes from rat liver in the conversion of these leukotriene epoxides to their corresponding LTC4 methyl esters. Among various rat liver GST isozymes, the anionic isozyme, a homodimer of Yb subunit, exhibited the highest specific activity. In general, the isozymes containing the Yb subunit showed better activity than the isozymes containing the Ya and/or Yc subunits. Interestingly, all three different LTA4 methyl esters gave comparable specific activities with a given GST isozyme indicating that regiospecificity of GSTs was not the factor in determining their ability to catalyze this reaction. Surprisingly, purified GSTs from sheep lung and seminal vesicles showed little activity toward these leukotriene epoxides, indicating a lack of the counterpart of rat liver anionic GST isozyme in these tissues.