Utilization of Bacterial Xanthine Oxidase for Inorganic Phosphorus Determination

Two host-specific phytotoxic metabolites, AK-toxin I and II, were isolated from a culture broth of Alternaria alternata Japanese pear pathotype, the fungus causing black spot disease of susceptible Japanese pear cultivars. From chemical, spectral and X-ray crystallographic data, AK-toxin I was characterized as 8-(2′S, 3′S)-2′-acetylamino-3′-methyl-3′-phenyl-propionyloxy]-(8R,9S)-9,10-epoxy-9-methyl-deca-(2E,4Z,6E)-trienoic acid. The structure of AK-toxin II was also assigned to be 3′-demethyl derivative of AK-toxin I by comparing the spectral data with those of AK-toxin I.     

Binding affinity of the methyl ester of AK-toxin I to membrane fractions from Japanese pear leaves

The binding site of AK-toxin, a host-specific toxin against Japanese pear, was searched for in the membrane fractions of the pear leaves, using 3H-labeled AK-toxin I methyl ester. Binding activity, which was displaceable by the unlabeled ligand, was observed for microsomal fraction from a toxin-susceptible cultivar, Nijisseiki. However, the binding was also observed for those from toxin-resistant cultivars, Kosui and Hosui. Detection of the specific binding failed for the plasma membrane fraction which was prepared from microsomal fraction of the toxin-susceptible cultivar by aqueous two-phase separation, and the hitherto presumed model of the AK-toxin receptor in the plasma membrane could not be verified.     

Enantioselective enzymatic hydrolysis of racemic drugs by encapsulation in sol–gel magnetic sporopollenin

Candida rugosa lipase was encapsulated within a sol–gel procedure and improved considerably by fluoride-catalyzed hydrolysis of mixtures of octyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane in the presence of magnetic sporopollenin. The catalytic properties of the immobilized lipases were evaluated into model reactions, i.e., the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenylpalmitate (p-NPP), and the enantioselective hydrolysis of racemic naproxen methyl ester, mandelic acid methyl ester or 2-phenoxypropionic acid methyl ester that were studied in aqueous buffer solution/isooctane reaction system. The encapsulated magnetic sporopollenin (Spo-M-E) was found to give 319 U/g of support with 342% activity yield. It has been observed that the percent activity yields and enantioselectivity of the magnetic sporopollenin encapsulated lipase were higher than that of the encapsulated lipase without support. The substrate specificity of the encapsulated lipase revealed more efficient hydrolysis of the racemic naproxen methyl ester and 2-phenoxypropionic acid methyl ester than racemic mandelic acid methyl ester. It was observed that excellent enantioselectivity (E > 400) was obtained for encapsulated lipase with magnetic sporopollenin with an ee value of S-Naproxen and R-2 phenoxypropionic acid about 98%.     

APPLICATION OF MITSUNOBU REACTION TO SOLID-PHASE PEPTIDE NUCLEIC ACID (PNA) MONOMER SYNTHESIS

ABSTRACT

PNA type I monomer backbone with a reduced peptide bond was synthesized on a Merrifield resin in Mitsunobu reaction of Boc-amino ethanol with resin-bound o-nitrobenzenesulfonylglycine. The pseudo dipeptide secondary amine group was deprotected by thiolysis and acylated with thymin-1-ylacetic acid. The monomer was released as a methyl ester. The procedure seems to be of general applicability and allows various modifications of PNA structure by using diverse alcohols and amino acid esters.     

Biosynthetic relationship between tetrahydroanthracene and anthraquinone in Aloe saponaria

The incorporation of Me¹⁴COONa into aloesaponol I, laccaic acid D methyl ester and aloesaponarin I was demonstrated. The biosynthetic relation between aloesaponol I and aloesaponarin I was established, but incorporation of aloesaponol I into laccaic acid D methyl ester, or vice versa was not demonstrated and this result was confirmed by an investigation using labelled laccaic acid D methyl (¹⁴CH₃) ester. It was possible to show that aloesaponol I and laccaic acid D methyl ester were biosynthesized in parallel in Aloe saponaria.     

The Synthesis of Some 5-Vinyluracil-Nucleoside Analogues

Abstract

The reaction of 5-iodouridine with esters of acrylic acid in the palladium-catalysed Heck reaction was used to generate a series of esters of the acid (E) -5- (2-carboxyvinyl)uridine in poor to moderate yield. An alternative method starts from the acid by protection of the sugar moiety followed by in situ generation of the acid chloride then ester formation followed by simultaneous sugar deprotection. Treatment of the methyl ester with ammonia and methylamine gave the corresponding amides, while treatment with dimethylamine gave 5-(1-dimethylamino-2-carboxy)ethyluridine as the major product.     

Optical resolution of two isomeric naphthylalanines by immobilized enyzmes

Optical resolution of β-(1-naphthyl)alanine and β-(2-naphthyl)alanine have been efficiently carried out through enzymatic hydrolysis of their methyl ester and/or N-acetyl ester derivatives by immobilized enzymes. Difficulties related to the lipophilic character of these amino acids were overcome by using emulsions of n-butyl acetate–water as reaction medium. The use of an automatic recirculating apparatus allowed reproducible and repetitive use of the immobilized biocatalysts.     

Enzymatic synthesis of sialic acid derivative by immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica

The effects of important reaction parameters on the enhancement of sialic acid derivative lipophilic properties through the lipase-catalyzed esterification of N-acetyl neuraminic acid methyl ester are investigated in this study. It is found that the lipase Novozym 435 from Candida antarctica is particularly useful in the preparation of sialic acid methyl ester monononanoate (SAMEMN). The optimum temperature for the SAMEMN synthesis reaction using Novozym 435 is 60 °C, and nonanoic anhydride is found to be the best substrate among all acyl donors. The Novozym 435-catalyzed esterification of N-acetyl neuraminic acid methyl ester gave a maximum yield of 87.7% after 6 h in acetonitrile at 60 °C. Because the novel method developed is simple, yet effective, it could potentially be used industrially for the production of sialic acid derivatives.     

Solvent effect on the stereoselective addition reaction of optically active amines to N-methylphenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride

The effect of solvent on stereoselectivity in the nucleophilic addition reaction of various optically active amines to N-methylphenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride has been investigated. In m-dimethoxybenzene as solvent, (S)-valine, (S)-leucine, and (S)-phenylalanine ethyl esters reacted preferentially with (R)-N-methylphenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride, but the stereoselectivity decreased considerably in nitrobenzene and dimethylacetamide as solvents. In the latter solvents, the dipolar interactions between an amine and an N-carboxyanhydride and the orientation of the substituent of N-carboxyanhydride were seriously affected, hence the stereoselectivity decreased. As a consequence, the enantiomer selection by the terminal amine of a growing chain in the nucleophilic addition-type polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydride can be controlled by the choice of solvent. (S)-Proline ethyl ester and (S)-α-phenylethylamine reacted preferentially with (S)-N-methylphenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride in m-dimethoxybenzene, and this type of selectivity did not change in nitrobenzene. But in dimethylacetamide the stereoselectivity decreased. In the transition state of the reaction of these amines and N-methylphenylalanine N-carboxyanhydride dipolar interactions are operating, which should be destroyed by dimethylacetamide but may not be affected by nitrobenzene.     

Simultaneous quantitation of indole 3-acetic Acid and abscisic Acid in small samples of plant tissue by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry/selected ion monitoring

Indole 3-acetic acid (IAA) was analyzed in apple, orange, and prune tissue by GC-MS by monitoring the protonated molecular ion of its methyl ester at mass to charge ratio (m/z) 190 together with the major fragment ion at m/z 130 and the corresponding ions from the methyl esters of either [²H₄]IAA (m/z 194, 134) or [²H₅]IAA (m/z 195, 135). Abscisic acid (ABA) was analyzed by monitoring the major fragment ions of its methyl ester at m/z 261 and m/z 247 and the corresponding ions from the methyl ester of [²H₃]ABA (m/z 264, 250). Detection limits for IAA and ABA were 1 and 10 picograms, respectively using standards and 1 nanogram per gram dry weight for both phytohormones in plant tissue.     

A mutant leucine aminopeptidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces cinnamoneus</Emphasis> with enhanced <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-aspartyl <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-amino acid methyl ester synthetic activity

l-Aspartyl l-amino acid methyl ester was synthesized using a mutant of a thermostable leucine aminopeptidase from Streptomyces cinnamoneus, D198 K SSAP, obtained in previously. A peptide of high-intensity sweetener, l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester, was selected as a model for demonstrating the synthesis of l-aspartyl l-amino acid methyl ester. The hydrolytic activities of D198 K SSAP toward l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine and its methyl ester were, respectively, 74-fold and fourfold higher than those of wild type. Similarly, the initial rate of the enzyme for l-aspartyl-l-phenylalanine methyl ester synthesis was over fivefold higher than that of wild-type SSAP in 90% methanol (v/v) in a one-pot reaction. Furthermore, other l-aspartyl l-amino acid methyl esters were synthesized efficiently using D198 K SSAP. Results show that the substitution of Asp198 of SSAP with Lys is effective for synthesizing l-aspartyl l-amino acid methyl ester.     

Chiral Discrimination by Ionic Liquids: Impact of Ionic Solutes

Chiral ionic liquids hold promise in many asymmetric applications. This study explores the impact of ionic solutes on the chiral discrimination of five amino acid methyl ester‐based ionic liquids, including L‐ and D‐alanine methyl ester, L‐proline methyl ester, L‐leucine methyl ester, and L‐valine methyl ester cations combined with bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) anion. Circularly polarized luminescence spectroscopy was used to study the chiral discrimination by measuring the racemization equilibrium of a dissymmetric europium complex, Eu(dpa)₃^3? (where dpa = 2,6‐pyridinedicarboxylate). The chiral discrimination measured was dependent on the concentration of Eu(dpa)₃^3? and this concentration‐dependence was different in each of the ionic liquids. Ionic liquids with L‐leucine methyl ester and L‐valine methyl ester even switched enantiomeric preference based on the solute concentration. Changing the cation of the Eu(dpa)₃^3? salt from tetrabutylammonium to tetramethylammonium ion also affected the chiral discrimination demonstrated by the ionic liquids. Chirality 27:320–325, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Mass spectrometry of pertrimethylsilyl nueraminic acid derivatives

The mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of the methyl and trideuteriomethyl esters of N-acetylneuraminic acid, the methyl ester of N-glycolylneuraminic acid, the methyl ester methyl β-glycoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid, the trideuteriomethyl ester trideuteriomethyl β-glycoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid, and the methyl esters of the (2→3)- and (2→6)-linked isomers of N-acetylneuraminic acid—lactose are discussed. The characteristic fragmentation patterns of the sialic acid derivatives can be used for the identification of this type of carbohydrate. The (2→3)- and (2→6)-linked isomers of N-acetylneuraminic acid—lactose can be differentiated.     

Determination of 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid methyl ester in Lathyrus, Vicia and Pisum by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry

4-Chloroindole-3-acetic acid methyl ester was identified unequivocally in Lathyrus latifolius L., Vicia faba L. and Pisum sativum L. by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The gas chromatographic system was able to separate underivatized chloroindole-3-acetic acid methyl ester isomers. The quantitative determination of 4-chloroindole-3-acetic acid methyl ester in immature seeds of these three species was performed by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry using deuterium labelled 4-chloro-indole-3-acetic acid methyl ester as an internal standard. P. sativum contained approximately 25 mg kg^-1, V. faba 1–2 mg kg^-1 and L. latifolius 2 mg kg^-1 dry weight.     

Adverse effects of extracts of Artocarpus altilis Park,and Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) on the reproductive physiology of the adult female tick,Boophilus microplus (Canest.)

Summary

Adverse effects of extracts from the plants Artocarpus altilis and Azadirachta indica on egg laying and hatching in the tick Boophilus microplus were quantified. A 50% inhibition of egg laying was achieved by a dose of 0.54 and 0.46 μg crude ethanol extract per tick, respectively. These doses also caused a 65% and 80% hatching failure, respectively. Extracts, particularly those of A. indica, inhibit protein and lipid sequestration by ovaries and oocytes. GC-MS analyses revealed reductions in the quantities of four methyl esters sequestered from the ovaries into the oocytes oviposited on the 12th day of engorgement by the treated ticks in the order of (A. indica effects are in parentheses): undecanoic acid 10-methyl-,methyl ester 40% (100%); tetradecanoic acid, methyl ester 100% (100%); tetradecanoic acid, 12-methyl-,methyl ester 100% (100%) and pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-,methyl ester 30% (75%).     

Whole‐cell biocatalytic of Bacillus cereus WZZ006 strain to synthesis of indoxacarb intermediate: (S)‐5‐Chloro‐1‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐hydroxy‐1H‐indene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester

In this study, a newly isolated strain screened from the indoxacarb‐rich agricultural soils, Bacillus cereus WZZ006, has a high stereoselectivity to racemic substrate 5‐chloro‐1‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐hydroxy‐1H‐indene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester. (S)‐5‐chloro‐1‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐hydroxy‐1H‐indene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester was obtained by bio‐enzymatic resolution. After the 36‐hour hydrolysis in 50‐mM racemic substrate under the optimized reaction conditions, the e.e._s was up to 93.0% and the conversion was nearly 53.0% with the E being 35.0. Therefore, B cereus WZZ006 performed high‐level ability to produce (S)‐5‐chloro‐1‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐hydroxy‐1H‐indene‐2‐carboxylic acid methyl ester. This study demonstrates a new biocatalytic process route for preparing the indoxacarb chiral intermediates and provides a theoretical basis for the application of new insecticides in agricultural production.     

Synthesis of N-protected peptides by the o-nitrophenylsulfenyl group using o-nitrophenylsulfenyl N-carboxy α-amino acid anhydrides

N-protected peptides, which are important intermediates as a carboxyl component in the fragment condensation method, have been prepared in high yields by the reaction of o-nitrophenylsulfenyl (Nps) N-carboxy α-amino acid anhydrides with unprotected peptides and amino acids in aqueous organic systems. An Nps hexapeptide ester was prepared by the fragment condensation of an Nps tripeptide with a tripeptide ester. It was demonstrated that the synthesis of unprotected peptides by the NCA method, followed by N-protection by the Nps-NCA, is a rapid and very useful method for preparing Nps peptides.     

Synthesis of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) : III. The sequence 7–13

The protected heptapeptide derivative t-butyloxycarbonyl- -threonyl-β-benzyl- -aspartyl- -asparaginyl-O-benzyl- -tyrosyl- -threonyl-nitro- -arginyl- - leucine methyl ester was prepared by stepwise chain lengthening. The protecting groups on the side chains of arginine, tyrosine, and aspartic acid residues were removed by hydrogenolysis and the partially deprotected heptapeptide ester converted to the hydrazide, an intermediate in the synthesis of the (porcine) vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).After the removal of the tert-butyloxycarbonyl group, the heptapeptide ester was exposed to the action of trypsin which split off its C-terminal residue, -leucine methyl ester. The hexapeptide was then exposed to chymotrypsin, which cleaved it into an acidic, and a basic fragment. The former was, under the conditions used, indistinguishable on paper chromatography and paper electrophoresis from the tetrapeptide threonyl-aspartyl-asparaginyl-tyrosine which had previously been isolated from natural VIP, of which it comprises the sequence 7–10. Similarly, the basic fragment was indistinguishable from threonyl-arginine, the sequence 11–12 of VIP. This intestinal peptide increases visceral blood flow and reduces blood pressure in the dog, and also causes relaxation of different smooth muscle preparations, e.g., the trachea of guinea pigs. The principal aim of the present synthesis is to provide independent evidence for the sequence of (porcine) VIP.     

Effects of methanol on the synthesis of aspartame precursor catalysed byPseudomonas aeruginosa elastase

Summary Pseudomonas elastase was found to be efficient in catalysing the reaction betweenN-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-aspartic acid and L-phenylalanine methyl ester producing the aspartame precursor in aqueous and aqueous methanolic solutions. 25% (v/v) methanol was most favourable for the synthesis where about 100% increase in yield was obtained compared to that in aqueous solution.Abbreviations N-cbz-L-Asp N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-Aspartic acid - L-Phe-OMe L-phenyl alanine methyl ester - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography. All the % of methanol is a volume % in water unless otherwise specified     

Chemo-enzymatic epoxidation of oleic acid and methyl oleate in solvent-free medium

Chemo-enzymatic epoxidation of oleic acid (OA) and its methyl ester has been performed using hydrogen peroxide and immobilized lipase from Candida antarctica (Novozym® 435). The purpose of the study was to characterize the reaction under solvent-free conditions. The reaction temperature had a significant impact on epoxidation of OA. At lower temperatures, the substrate conversion was hindered by the formation of solid epoxystearic acid product. Nearly 90% conversion of OA to the epoxide product was obtained after 6?h at 50°C. Longer reaction times at 40°C and above resulted in by-product formation and eventually lowered the product yield. In contrast, the reaction with methyl oleate (MO) was less influenced by temperature. Almost complete epoxidation was achieved at 40–60°C; the higher the temperature the shorter was the reaction time. The main epoxidation product obtained was epoxystearic acid methyl ester (EME), and the remaining was epoxystearic acid (EA) formed by the hydrolytic action of the lipase. Recycling of the lipase for epoxidation of MO at 50°C indicated that the immobilized enzyme was prone to activity loss.