Determination of two neuropeptide growth factor antagonists, [d-Arg,d-Phe,d-Trp,Leu]-substance P and [Arg, d-Trp,N-MePhe]-substance P(6–11), by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

n-MePhe⁸]-substance P(6–11) (G) are currently undergoing preclinical evaluation as potential anticancer agents and clinical trials are planned for G in the near future. A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic separation has been developed which is both sensitive (limit of detection 250 pg/263 fmol for G; 500 pg/330 fmol for D) and selective, based on electrochemical detection of the two tryptophan residues present in each peptide. Two ion-pairing agents were included in the isocratic mobile phase to eliminate adsorption of the peptides onto the analytical column. Extensive sample clean-up procedures have been developed for plasma, tissue and tumour based on solid-phase extraction. Precision and accuracy of each assay was 91.3 ± 16.9% (between-day) for G and 99.3 ± 16.9% (between-day) for D. The assays were able to detect the intact peptides and a number of their metabolites in plasma, liver and the WX 322 SCLC human xenograft in nude mice for at least 6 hr after administration of therapeutic and pharmacological doses.     

Construction and co-expression of polycistronic plasmid encoding d-hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase for the production of d-amino acids

d-Hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase genes from Agrobacterium radiobacter TH572 were cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The plasmid pUCCH3 with a polycistronic structure that is controlled by the native hydantoinase promoter was constructed to co-express the two genes and transformed into Escherichia coli strain JM105. To obtain the highest level of expression of the d-carbamoylase and avoid intermediate accumulation, the d-carbamoylase gene was cloned closer to the promoter and the RBS region in the upstream of it was optimized. This resulted in high active expression of soluble d-hydantoinase and d-carbamoylase that is obtained without any inducer. Thus, by the constitutive recombinant JM105/pUCCH3, d-p-hydroxyphenylglycine (d-HPG) was obtained directly with 95.2% production yield and 96.3% conversion yield.     

d-Glucose- and d-mannose-based antimetabolites. Part 2. Facile synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-halo-d-glucoses and -d-mannoses

Modified d-glucose and d-mannose analogs are potentially clinically useful metabolic inhibitors. Biological evaluation of 2-deoxy-2-halo analogs has been impaired by limited availability and lack of efficient methods for their preparation. We have developed practical synthetic approaches to 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-, 2-chloro-2-deoxy-, 2-bromo-2-deoxy-, and 2-deoxy-2-iodo derivatives of d-glucose and d-mannose that exploit electrophilic addition reactions to a commercially available 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal.     

Guinea pig serum l-asparaginase: Purification, and immunological relationship to liver l-asparaginase and serum l-asparaginases in other mammals

l-asparaginase, an enzyme used in the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia, is found in the serum of only a few mammalian groups, including the guinea pig and its close relatives in the superfamily Cavioidea. This report describes the purification and characterization of l-asparaginase from guinea pig serum. Antiserum against the purified enzyme cross-reacted with sera from other Cavioidean species but not with mouse serum. Relatively weak cross-reaction with unpurified l-asparaginase in guinea pig liver indicates a significant degree of evolutionary divergence.     

Single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and solid-state C NMR of p-nitrophenyl glycopyranosides, the derivatives of d-galactose, d-glucose, and d-mannose

The X-ray diffraction patterns, ¹³C CP MAS NMR spectra, and powder X-ray diffraction analyses were obtained for selected p-nitrophenyl glycosides: α- and β-d-galactopyranosides (1 and 2), α- and β-d-glucopyranosides (3 and 4), and α- and β-d-mannopyranosides (5 and 6). In X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 and 2, characteristic shortening and lengthening of selected bonds were observed in the molecules of 1 due to anomeric effect, and in the crystal lattice of 1 and 2, hydrogen bonds of complex network were detected. In the crystal asymmetric unit of 1 there were two independent molecules, whereas in 2 there was one molecule. For 1 and 3–6 the number of resonances in solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra exceeded the number of the carbon atoms in the molecules, while for 2 there were distinct singlet resonances in its solid-state NMR spectrum. Furthermore, the powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) performed for 1–3 and 5 revealed that 1, 3, and 5 existed as single polymorphs proving that the doublets observed in appropriate solid-state NMR spectra were connected with two non-equivalent molecules in the crystal asymmetric unit. On the other hand 2 existed as a mixture of two polymorphs, one of them was almost in agreement with the calculated pattern obtained from XRD (the difference in volumes of the unit cells), and the subsequent unknown polymorph existed in small amounts and therefore it was not observed in solid-state NMR measurements.     

l-Xylose and l-lyxose production from xylitol using Alcaligenes 701B strain and immobilized l-rhamnose isomerase enzyme

Xylitol was used as a raw material for production of l-xylose and l-lyxose using Alcaligenes 701B strain and immobilized l-rhamnose isomerase enzyme. Alcaligenes 701B converted xylitol to l-xylulose with a yield of 34% in the bioreactor. l-Xylulose was converted to l-xylose and l-lyxose using immobilized l-rhamnose isomerase enzyme. The final equilibrium between l-xylulose, l-xylose and l-lyxose was 53:26:21. The enzyme assays indicated that Alcaligenes 701B strain has an NAD-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase enzyme responsible for l-xylulose production. Furthermore, NAD(P)H-dependent l-xylulose reductase enzyme was active during conversion of xylitol to l-xylulose. The highest l-xylulose production rate corresponded with the highest growth rate. The Alcaligenes 701B strain used d-xylose for biomass growth, but xylitol was used only for l-xylulose production during conversion phase.     

CNDO/2 calculations of the relative stability of poly (l-proline I) and poly (l-proline II)

The CNDO/2 method using the tight binding approximation for polymers was applied to poly(l-proline I) and poly(l-proline II). The calculations were also carried out for poly(l-alanines) and model molecules which have the same backbone geometrics as those of poly(l-prolines). The results obtained show that both forms of poly(l-proline I) and poly(l-proline II) have nearly the same energy in agreement with experimental results. From the analysis of the total energy, it was found that the intrasegment energy of poly(l-proline II) was lower than that of poly(l-proline I) while the intersegment energy of poly(l-proline I) was lower than that of poly(l-proline II). This result can be considered to correspond well with the experimental fact that poly(l-proline II) is more stable in good or polar solvents and poly(l-proline I) in poor or non-polar solvents. The analysis of the total energy of poly(l-proline) leads us to the conclusion that the α and β carbons play an important role in determining the relative stability between poly(l-proline I) and poly(l-proline II) and the γ carbon does hvae a marked effect on the electronic structures of the polymers in question. This conclusion was also confirmed by comparison of the electronic structures of poly(l-prolines) with those of poly(l-alanines) and model compounds concerned.     

Growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata on l- and d-malic acid

d-malate replaced l-malate in supporting both photosynthetic (anaerobic, light) and heterotrophic (aerobic, dark) growth of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. Growth rates and cell yields were nearly equivalent with both enantiomorphs. Addition of glucose to malate culture media increased the growth rate and doubled the cell yield of heterotrophic cultures, but had little effect on photosynthetic cultures. Aerobically-grown cells showed a higher level of substrate-dependent oxygen uptake with l-malate than with d-malate. This preference for l-malate occured even in cells grown on d-malate. No malic racemase activity was detected in extracts of heterotrophically- or photosynthetically-grown cells.     

Enzymatic epimerization of d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate to l-threo-dihydroneopterin triphosphate

An enzyme has been discovered in Escherichia coli that catalyzes the conversion of the triphosphate ester of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(d-erythro-1′,2′,3′-trihydroxypropyl)-7,8-dihydropteridine, (i.e. d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate) to an epimer of this compound, l-threo-dihydroneopterin triphophate. The enzyme, which is here named “d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate 2′-epimerase,” needs a divalent cation (Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ is most effective) for maximal activity. Its molecular weight is estimated at 87 000–89 000. Little or no activity can be detected if either the monophosphate or the phosphate-free form of the substrate is incubated with the enzyme. Evidence is presented to establish that all three phosphate residues of the substrate are retained in the product and that the product is of the l-threo configuration.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of new d-seco and d-homo androstane derivatives

Starting from 3β-hydroxy-17-oxo-16,17-secoandrost-5-ene-16-nitrile (1), the new 16,17-secoandrostane derivatives 4–9 were synthesized. On the other hand, 3β-hydroxy-17-oxa-d-homoandrost-5-ene-16-one (10) yielded the new d-homo derivatives 12, 13 and 15. In vitro antiproliferative activity of selected compounds against three tumor cell lines (human breast adenocarcinoma ER+, MCF-7, human breast adenocarcinoma ER−, MDA-MB-231, prostate cancer AR−, PC-3, and normal fetal lung fibroblasts, MRC-5) was evaluated. Compounds 3 and 12 showed strong antiproliferative activity against PC-3 cells, the IC₅₀ values being 2 μM and 0.55 μM, respectively. Compounds 6 (10 μM) and 14 (9 μM) showed moderate activity against MDA-MB-231 cells. The synthesized compounds 1–3, 5–8, 10 and 12–15 were not toxic to normal fetal lung fibroblasts cells, MRC-5.     

Enzymatic synthesis of d-xylulose 5-phosphate from hydroxypyruvate and d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

An enzymatic method for obtaining d-xylulose 5-phosphate has been developed, based on the irreversible reaction catalyzed by transketolase: hydroxypyruvate + d-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate → d-xylulose 5-phosphate. The preparations of sodium d-xylulose 5-phosphate, obtained using this approach, were 88% pure and contained no aldehyde admixtures.     

Enzymatic conversion of N carbamoyl-d-amino acids to d-amino acids

An enzyme isolated from Agrobacterium radiobacter was shown to catalyse the following reaction: H₂O + N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid→ d-amino acid + NH₃ + CO₂ Some properties of this new enzyme, N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase, are presented in this paper. The potential application of this enzyme for the preparation of some d-amino acids used as pharmaceutical intermediates is discussed.     

Isomerization of d-fructose by base: Liquid-chromatographic evaluation and the isolation of d-psicose

Several bases have been evaluated as catalysts for the production of d-psicose (d-ribo-2-hexulose) from d-fructose. The hexose levels in the isomerized mixtures were quantified by l.c. on a μBondapak/Carbohydrate column. The most effective and convenient base was found to be pyridine, and mixtures produced by boiling concentrated solutions (1 g/mL) of d-fructose in pyridine under reflux contained 12.4% of psicose, lesser proportions of glucose and mannose, and 25.8% of the starting material. Following removal of solvent, fermentation with bakers' yeast removed most hexoses other than d-psicose, which was isolated by chromatography on cellulose. The entire procedure required three days, and d-psicose was obtained in gram quantities in 6.8% of the theoretical yield.     

d-Amino acid production by E. coli co-expressed three genes encoding hydantoin racemase, d-hydantoinase and N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase

Three genes respectively encoding d-specific hydantoinase (DHHase), N-carbamoyl-d-amino acid amidohydrolase (DCHase) and hydantoin racemase (HRase) were co-expressed in E. coli in a system designed for the efficient enzymatic production of d-amino acids via a combination of hydantoin hydrolysis and hydantoin racemization. With the use of whole cells, the d-forms of eight amino acids – d-phenylalanine, d-tyrosine, d-tryptophan, O-benzyl-d-serine, d-valine, d-norvaline, d-leucine and d-norleucine – were efficiently converted from the corresponding dl-5-monosubtituted hydantoin compounds.     

A short synthesis of d-glycero-d-manno-heptose 7-phosphate

d-glycero-d-manno-Heptopyranose 7-phosphate—an intermediate in the biosynthesis of nucleotide-activated heptoses—has been prepared in good overall yield from benzyl 5,6-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-d-lyxo-(Z)-hept-5-enofuranoside by a short-step synthesis. Phosphitylation using the phosphoramidite procedure followed by in situ oxidation afforded the corresponding 7-O-phosphotriester derivative in high yield. Subsequent osmylation proceeded in good diastereoselectivity (4:1) to furnish the d-glycero-d-manno-configured derivative, which was separated from the l-glycero-l-gulo-isomer by chromatography. Hydrogenolysis led to simultaneous removal of the benzyl and isopropylidene groups and afforded the target compound in high yield, which serves as a substrate of bacterial heptose 7-phosphate kinases.     

Efficient synthesis of d-xylo and d-ribo-phytosphingosines from methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-d-hexopyranosides

A general and flexible synthetic approach to biologically important 5,6-unsaturated C₁₈-phytosphingosines was developed via olefin cross-metathesis employing truncated C₆-phytosphingosines as the key intermediates. These were efficiently prepared in high yields by zinc-mediated reductive opening of methyl 2-amino-2-deoxy-β-hexopyranosides.

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Hydroxylation of l-proline to cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline by recombinant Escherichia coli expressing a synthetic l-proline-3-hydroxylase gene

A synthetic gene encoding a Streptomyces l-proline-3-hydroxylase was constructed and used to produce the hydroxylase protein in recombinant Escherichia coli. A fermentation process for growth of this recombinant E. coli for enzyme production was scaled-up to 250 L. A biotransformation process was developed using cell suspensions of the recombinant E. coli and subsequently scaled-up to 10 L for conversion of l-proline to cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline. A reaction yield of 85 M% and d.e. of 99.9% was obtained for cis-3-hydroxy-l-proline.     

Overproduction of d-xylose isomerase in Escherichia coli by cloning the d-xylose isomerase gene

The Escherichia coli d-xylose isomerase (d-xylose ketol-isomerase, EC 5.3.1.5) gene, xylA, has been cloned on various E. coli plasmids. However, it has been found that high levels of overproduction of the d-xylose isomerase, the protein product of the xylA gene, cannot be accomplished by cloning the intact gene on high copy-number plasmids alone. This is believed to be due to the fact that the expression of the gene through its natural promoter is highly regulated in E. coli. In order to overcome this, the xylA structural gene has been fused with other strong promoters such as tac and lac, resulting in the construction of a number of fused genes. Analysis of the E. coli transformants containing the fused genes, cloned on high copy-number plasmids, indicated that a 20-fold overproduction of the enzyme can now be obtained. It is expected that overproduction of the enzyme in E. coli can still be substantially improved through additional manipulation with recombinant DNA techniques.     

Modification of optimal pH in l-arabinose isomerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus for d-galactose isomerization

l-Arabinose isomerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus (GSAI; EC 5.3.1.4) has been genetically evolved to increase the reaction rate toward d-galactose, which is not a natural substrate. To change the optimal pH of GSAI for d-galactose isomerization (pH optimum at 8.5), we investigated the single point mutations influencing the activity based on the sequences of the previously evolved enzymes. Among the seven point mutations found in the evolved enzymes, mutations at Val⁴⁰⁸ and Asn⁴⁷⁵ were determined to be highly influential mutation points for d-galactose isomerization activity. A random mutation was introduced into sites Val⁴⁰⁸ and Asn⁴⁷⁵ (X408V and X475N), and candidates were screened based on non-optimal pH conditions. Among the mutations of X408V and X475N, mutations of Q408V and R408V were selected. The optimal pH of the both mutations Q408V and R408V was shifted to pH 7.5. At the shifted optimal pH, the d-galactose isomerization activities of Q408V and R408V were 60 and 30% higher than that of the wild type at pH 8.5, respectively.