The penetration of local anesthetics into the red blood cell membrane as studied by fluorescence quenching.

The local anesthetics procaine and tetracaine were found to quench the fluorescence of the probes N-octadecyl naphthyl-2-amine 6-sulfonic acid and 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid in the presence of erythrocyte membranes. This quenching was shown to be due to the aromatic amine of the procaine and tetracaine molecules. Lidocaine, an active anesthetic that does not contain an aromatic amine in the same position as does procaine and tetracaine did not quench either of the fluorophores. The preferential quenching of the fluorescent probes by procaine and tetracaine indicated a greater accessibility of tetracaine than of procaine to the hydrocarbon region of the membrane and a greater accessibility of procaine than of tetracaine at the membrane's surface. The addition of calcium was found to reverse the quenching of 12-(9-anthroyl)stearic acid by tetracaine in the presence of red cell membranes.     

Inhibition of topoisomerase I by heparin

DNA topoisomerase I isolated from mouse mammary cacinoma cells was shown to be inhibited by heparin, the dose giving 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) being 0.20 μg/ml. Other chemically related acid mucopolysaccharides including heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate etc. were more than 500 times less active than heparin. When the amount of enzyme was doubled relative to the substrate the inhibition was reversed. Addition of heparin to assay mixtures after the initiation of the reaction immediately inhibited the enzyme reaction.     

Defective phospholipid metabolism in the retinular cell membrane of norpA (no receptor potential) visual transduction mutants of Drosophila

The phosphorylation of photoreceptor phospholipids in the three alleles of Drosophila visual mutants (norpA: no receptor potential A gene) was studied. In the normal strain, the gamma-32P of ATP was transferred mainly to phosphatidic acid (PA) and diphosphoinositide (DPI), while, in the mutants, we found that the phosphorylation of PA was drastically reduced, but that of DPI was not. The radioactivity incorporation into PA closely parallels with the degree of the mutant genes' expressivity among the three alleles of norpA tested. Therefore, the abnormality found in the phosphorylation of diglycerol to PA may be closely related to the primary mutant defect in the phototransduction mechanism.     

Transmission and expression of mutations to nalidixic acid resistance among products of protoplast fusion crosses of Candida albicans

Earlier studies suggested that heritable resistance to nalidixic acid (Nal) induced in the asexual, pathogenic yeast Candida albicans by growth on Nal results from mitochondrial mutation. To determine conclusively whether mutations to Nal resistance are cytoplasmic or nuclear, several stable Nal-resistant (Nalr) mutants exhibiting distinctive differences in degrees of Nal resistance were obtained from each of two doubly auxotrophic strains (Ade-, Thr- and Arg-, His-), both derived from the same wild-type stock. Inheritance of Nal resistance was then assessed in a series of protoplast fusion crosses between complementing auxotrophs. The initial, intact cellular products of a fusion cross are prototrophic heterokaryons which frequently assort single parental nuclei into monokaryotic blastospores containing biparental cytoplasms. Occasional karyogamy within heterokaryons also yields prototrophic hybrid monokaryons which can undergo recombinations for chromosomal markers through spontaneous or induced mitotic crossing-over. Segregation and expression of Nal resistance among non-hybrid, parental-type monokaryons from Nalr X Nals heterokaryons showed that Nalr mutations are nuclear and that their expressions are not noticeably affected by admixture of cytoplasms of sensitive and resistant parental strains. Analyses of heterokaryons and hybrid monokaryons from Nalr X Nals and Nalr X Nalr crosses demonstrated that Nal resistance is recessive to sensitivity, and that independent Nalr mutations arise at one gene in the Ade-, Thr- strain and at a separate, complementing single gene in the Arg-, His- strain. Prior work demonstrated that induction of Nalr mutations in wild-type C. albicans depends profoundly on the (i) carbon and nitrogen, (ii) growth temperature, (iii) contact with particular metabolic inhibitors and (iv) division stage of cells during exposure to Nal. The present observations indicate that the character of cellular auxotrophies can determine the genetic loci at which Nalr mutations can be recovered.     

Further immunochemical studies on the combining sites of Lotus tetragonolobus and Ulex europaeus I and II lectins

A series of 2-O-benzoyl-4,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl halides carrying either a second benzoyl group (8a, 12a) or a selectively removable, temporary protecting group (8b–d, 12b) at position 3 was synthesized from allyl α-d-galactopyranoside (1). The key intermediate was 1-propenyl 4,6-di-O-benzyl-α-d-galactopyranoside (5), prepared from 1 via the 4,6-O-benzylidene-2,3-di-O-crotyl derivative 2. The successive incorporation of the 2-O-benzoyl group, by selective acylation at low temperature, and of various 3-substituents gave fully substituted 1-propenyl α-d-galactopyranosides 6a–d. These were converted into the glycosyl halides by published methods. An improved preparation of allyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-(15) and 2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-(19) α-d-galactopyranoside was achieved. The direct acetonation of 1 to the 3,4-O-isopropylidene derivative 13, followed by benzylation and mild acid hydrolysis, gave 15 in 56% yield. The transient protection of O-3 in 15 was accomplished by the alkylation of the dibutylstannylene derivative 16 with (2-methoxyethoxy)methyl chloride. Successive benzylation and mild acid hydrolysis of the product 17 efficiently furnished 19.     

Cyclic AMP dependent regulation of mitosis in human lymphoid cells

Intracellular levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP), cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase activity, and adenylate cyclase activity are examined in an established line of human lymphoid cells synchronized by either excess thymidine or by colcemid treatment. cAMP levels and adenylate cyclase activities during the two G periods are high when compared with the values in M. cAMP-dependent phosphodiesterase activity, which is low during early G 2, is shown to increase during G 2 and reach a maximum activity during M. Agents such as dibutyryl cAMP, 1-methyl-3-isobutyl xanthine, noradrenaline, and isopropyl noradrenaline, which increase the levels of intracellular cAMP were examined to determine their effects on mitosis and on DNA synthesis. In thymidine-synchronized cells the onset of mitosis is prevented by increasing or maintaining high levels of cAMP during G 2. The specificity of inhibition of DNA synthesis or mitosis by dibutyryl cAMP is a function of the time, during the cell cycle, when the analogue is added. The elevation of cAMP by methyl xanthine results in a more general inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis and mitosis. Although both catecholamine hormones inhibit mitosis, isopropylnoradrenaline also inhibits DNA synthesis while noradrenaline treatment does not result in such inhibition.     

Synthetic studies on amino-alpha-glycosides of aminocyclitols. Synthesis of kanamycin analogues

A diastereoisomer of Kanamycin C has been synthesized by a modified Koenigs—Knorr reaction of 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-2-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide with 4-O-(3-acetamido-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl)-N,N′-di[(benzyloxy)carbonyl]-2-deoxystreptamine. Several Kanamycin analogues were synthesized by a similar condensation reaction. Each of the condensed products was isolated as its crystalline tetra-N-acetyl derivative and was proved by n.m.r. spectroscopy in D₂O to have the α-configuration.     

Oligosaccharide synthesis by the thioglycoside scheme on soluble and insoluble polystyrene supports

The solid-phase synthesis of a disaccharide via the thioglycoside approach is described. Treatment of (chloromethyl)polystyrene, either cross-linked (1-X) or linear (1-L), with the 1-thio sugar 4 gave resins (6-X, 6-L) carrying thioglycosidically bound 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-D-glucopyranosyl groups. Alternatively, the conversion of 1-X into (mercaptomethyl)polystyrene (3-X) and reaction of this with the glucosyl chloride 5 gave 6-X. By repeated treatments with 6-O-acetyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl bromide, a second D-glucose residue was coupled to 74–92% of the first sugar residues. The action of methyl iodide—benzyl alcohol in refluxing benzene quantitatively cleaved the sugars from the polystyrene support, forming benzyl glycosides (13, 7) and, from the unreacted monosaccharide residues, the 1,6-anhydro sugar 9. The coupling product was 92–95% α-linked. Deprotection and purification gave isomaltose.     

O-Benzylated thioglucoses, intermediates for the synthesis of (1→6)- and (1→4)-linked oligosaccharides: S-benzylation, coupling, and thioglycoside cleavage

The use of the chloroacetyl group as a protecting group has been studied for a 2-methylglyco-[2′,1′:4,5]-2-oxazoline. The reaction of chloroacetyl chloride or chloroacetic anhydride with 2-acetamido-1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyra-nose provided 2-acetamido-1,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-O-(chloroacetyl)-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranose which, on treatment with anhydrous ferric chloride in dichloromethane, produced the desired oxazoline. The glycosylating capability of the oxazoline has been investigated with aglycon hydroxides, to give the corresponding 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosides. The chloroacetyl group can be selectively removed by treatment with thiourea, and migration of O-acetyl groups was not observed under these conditions.     

Studies of lipopolysaccharides from Yersinia pseudotuberculosis subtypes VA and VB

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from various strains of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis type V have been isolated and characterised. Differences in sugar composition and serological activity of LPS from various strains within the same subtype of Y. pseudotuberculosis have been revealed.     

3-desoxyhex-2-enono-1,4-lactone aus D-hexofuran(osid)- urono-6,3-lactonen

The yield of 2-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-L-threo-hex-2-enono-1,4-lactone by reaction of 5-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranurono-6,3-lactone with sodium borohydride was improved by variation of the aprotic dipolar solvent and temperature. The general validity of this elimination—reduction reaction was ascertained by conversion of eleven other D-hexofuran(osid)urono-6,3-lactones into various 3-deoxy-hex-2-enono-1,4-lactones by treatment with sodium borohydride in hexamethyl phosphoric triamide.     

Aminoglycosides of D-pinitol. The 3-amino-3-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranoside,THE 3-acetamidino analog,and the 3,6-dideoxy-3,6-epimino-α-D-glucopyranoside

3-Azido-2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-α-D-glucopyranosyl chloride (7), prepared conventionally from the azido precursor 2, was coupled with “diisopropylidene-D-pinitol” (8) to give the α-D-glucoside 9 in good yield, together with some β anomer. Removal of the O-benzyl groups from 9 and reduction of the azido group to ?NH₂ were accomplished simultaneously. Further deprotection yielded 11, a 3-amino-3-deoxy-α-D-glucoside of D-pinitol (1a). Compound 11 was converted into the (impure) 3-acetamidino hydrochloride 12. The synthesis of 3,6-epimino-D-glucosides was accomplished by ring closure of the 3-N-tosyl-6-O-tosyl intermediates 17 and 13. The products, after deprotection, were methyl 3,6-dideoxy-3,6-epimino-β-D-glucopyranaside (20) and the novel 3,6-epimino analog 15 of the pinitol D-glucoside 11.