Isolation and characterization of a novel 2-<Emphasis Type="Italic">sec</Emphasis>-butylphenol-degrading bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> sp. strain MS-1

A novel bacterium capable of utilizing 2-sec-butylphenol as the sole carbon and energy source, Pseudomonas sp. strain MS-1, was isolated from freshwater sediment. Within 30 h, strain MS-1 completely degraded 1.5 mM 2-sec-butylphenol in basal salt medium, with concomitant cell growth. A pathway for the metabolism of 2-sec-butylphenol by strain MS-1 was proposed on the basis of the identification of 3 internal metabolites—3-sec-butylcatechol, 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylnona-2,4-dienoic acid, and 2-methylbutyric acid—by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Strain MS-1 degraded 2-sec-butylphenol through 3-sec-butylcatechol along a meta-cleavage pathway. Degradation experiments with various alkylphenols showed that the degradability of alkylphenols by strain MS-1 depended strongly on the position (ortho ≫ meta = para) of the alkyl substitute, and that strain MS-1 could degrade 2-alkylphenols with various sized and branched alkyl chain (o-cresol, 2-ethylphenol, 2-n-propylphenol, 2-isopropylphenol, 2-sec-butylphenol, and 2-tert-butylphenol), as well as a dialkylphenol (namely, 6-tert-butyl-m-cresol).     

Degradation of 2-sec-butylphenol: 3-sec-butylcatechol,2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylnona-2,4-dienoic acid,and 2-methylbutyric acid as intermediates

Pseudomonas sp. strain HBP1 Prp, a mutant of strain HBP1 that was originally isolated on 2-hydroxybiphenyl, was able to grow on 2-sec-butylphenol as the sole carbon and energy source. During growth on 2-sec-butylphenol, 2-methylbutyric acid transiently accumulated in the culture medium. Its concentration reached a maximum after 20 hours and was below detection limit at the end of the growth experiment. The first three enzymes of the degradation pathway — a NADH-dependent monooxygenase, a metapyrocatechase, and ameta-fission product hydrolase — were partially purified. The product of the the monooxygenase reaction was identified as 3-sec-butylcatechol by mass spectrometry. This compound was a substrate for the metapyrocatechase and was converted to 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylnona-2,4-dienoic acid which was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of its trimethylsilyl-derivative. The cofactor independentmeta-cleavage product hydrolase used 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-7-methylnona-2,4-dienoic acid as a substrate. All three enzymes showed highest activities for 2-hydroxybiphenyl and its metabolites, respectively, indicating that 2-sec-butylphenol is metabolized via the same pathway as 2-hydroxybiphenyl.     

Synthesis and antioxidative activity of metalloporphyrins bearing 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol pendants

The novel metalloporphyrins (M = HH, Fe, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn) bearing 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol pendants as antioxidant substituents, and a long chain hydrocarbon palmitoyl group have been synthesized. The oxidation of compounds by PbO₂ leads to the formation of the corresponding 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxyl radicals studied by EPR. The activity of porphyrins in lipid peroxidation has been examined using (1) in vitro lipid peroxidation induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide in respiring rat liver mitochondria, (2) in vitro lipid peroxidation in liver homogenates of Wistar strain rats, and (3) a model process of peroxidation of (Z)-octadec-9-enic (oleic) acid as a structural fragment of lipids. The activity of these compounds depends dramatically on the nature of metal and might be changed from antioxidative (M = HH, Mn, Cu, Zn) to indifferent (M = Co), and to pro-oxidative one (M = Fe). The anti- or pro-oxidative action of these compounds may be derived from the concurrence between the involvement of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol pendants acting as radical scavengers and redox active metal center promoting oxidation processes. The results of this study suggest that the polytopic compounds combining in one molecule 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol pendants, metalloporphyrin moiety, and a palmitoyl group, are membrane active compounds and might be studied in an effort to find novel pharmaceutical agents.     

Anaerobic co-metabolic oxidation of 4-alkylphenols with medium-length or long alkyl chains by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thauera</Emphasis> sp., strain R5

A 4-alkylphenol-degrading facultative anaerobic bacterium, strain R5, was isolated from paddy soil after enrichment with 4-n-propylphenol, 4-n-butylphenol and 4-hydroxybenzoate (4-HBA) under nitrate-reducing conditions. Strain R5 is a Gram-negative rod bacillus grown on phenolic compounds with short alkyl chains (≤C2), organic acids and ethanol. The sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed that the strain is affiliated with Thauera sp. In the presence of 4-HBA as a carbon source, the strain transformed 4-n-alkylphenols with a medium or long-length alkyl chain (C3–C8) to the corresponding oxidised products as follows: 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-alkenes, -(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-alkanones and/or 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-alcohols. The strain also transformed 4-i-propylphenol and 4-sec-butylphenol to (4-hydroxyphenyl)-i-propene and (4-hydroxyphenyl)-sec-butene but not 4-alkylphenols with tertiary alkyl chains (4-t-butylphenol or 4-t-octylphenol). The biotransformation did not proceed without another carbon source and was coupled with nitrate reduction. Biotransformation activity was high in the presence of p-cresol, 4-ethylphenol, 4′-hydroxyacetophenone and 4-HBA as carbon sources and low in the presence of organic acids and ethanol. We suggest that strain R5 co-metabolically transforms alkylphenols to the corresponding metabolites with oxidised alpha carbon in the alkyl chain during coupling with nitrate reduction.     

Synthesis of the Stereoisomeric Mixture of the Compound Having the Proposed Structure for “Auxin b Lactone”

The composed having the proposed structure for auxin b lactone (XVIII) was synthesized by formic acid hydrolysis of 4-ethoxy-6-(3,5-di-sec-butyl-1-cyclopenten-1-yl)-5,6-dihydro-2-pyrone (XVII) which was, in turn, prepared by the Reformatsky reaction of 3,5-di-sec-butyl-1-cyclopentenealdehyde (XVI) with ethyl γ-bromo-β-ethoxycrotonate.     

Synthesis of dimeric phenol derivatives and determination of in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging activities

In this study, di(2,6-dimethylphenol) (Di-DMP), di(2,6-diisopropylphenol) (Di-DIP, dipropofol) and di(2,6-di-t-butylphenol) (Di-DTP) were synthesized by the reaction of monomeric phenol derivatives with catalytic CuCl(OH). TMEDA and Na₂S₂O₄. Their antioxidant capacity and radical scavenging activity were examined using different in vitro methodologies such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH·) free radical scavenging, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant activity by ferric thiocyanate, total reducing power by potassium ferricyanide reduction method, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging and ferrous ions chelating activities.     

Inhibition of peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine by aminophenols

Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) was inhibited by o-aminophenol (AP), 2-amino-4-tert-butylphenol (ATBP), 2-amino-4,6-di-tert-butylphenol (ADTBP), and 4-tert-butylpyrocatechol (TBP). Inhibitors were characterized by inhibition constant K _i and stoichiometric coefficient f, the number of radicals terminated by one inhibitor molecule. The most efficient inhibitor is ADTBP characterized by K _i = 36 µM in 0.015 M phosphate citrate buffer, pH 6.0, at 20°C. According to their antiradical efficiency, the studied inhibitors can be arranged as follows: ADTBP > ATBP > AP > TBP. The role of the NH₂ group in the inhibitory capacity of aminophenols is discussed. Using gas-liquid chromatography, kinetics of consumption of the initial components and accumulation of the reaction products on peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of the TMB-TBP pair was studied; the data clarify the stages of a complex process of co-oxidation of amines and phenols.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 70, No. 3, 2005, pp. 397–405.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Naumchik, Karasyova, Metelitza, Edimecheva, Sorokin, Shadyro.     

A New Lignan (Polonilignan) and Inhibitors of Nitric Oxide Production from Penicillium polonicum,an Endophytic Fungi of Piper nigrum

Inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) or its production is found to be of therapeutic benefit. To discover natural small molecule inhibitors of NO production, a bioassay- and LC/MS-guided chemical investigation was done on the metabolites of endophytic fungus isolated from fresh Piper nigrum fruits. The isolated pure strain was identified as Penicillium polonicum by 16S rDNA sequence comparison. The culture broth extract of P. polonicum (EEPP) exhibited a significant reduction of NO production (Griess method) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (P<0.0001). To understand the chemical constituents of bioactive EEPP, column chromatography and p-TLC studies were carried out, which yielded eight pure compounds. They were characterised as botryosphaeridione ( 1 ), 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxy)phenylpropionic acid ( 2 ), variabilone ( 3 ), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol ( 4 ), indole-3-carboxylic acid ( 5 ), tyrosol ( 6 ), ethyl ferulate ( 7 ) and a new lignan ( 8 ) based on the spectral analysis. The structure elucidation of the new lignan, named polonilignan ( 8 ), was based on HR-MS, ¹H- & ¹³C-NMR, H−H COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectra. Compounds 2 , 4 , 5 and 6 showed a significant decrease (P<0.0001) in the production of NO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Tyrosol ( 6 ) and indole-3-carboxylic acid ( 5 ) controlled nitrite release with IC₅₀ values of 22.84 and 55.01 μM, respectively. This is the first report of (i) P. polonicum as an endophytic fungus of pepper fruits, (ii) isolation of compounds 1 – 8 except 6 from P. polonicum culture broth extract and (iii) NO inhibition effect of 2 , 4 , 5 and 6 .     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of human erythrocyte isozymes I and II with a series of antioxidant phenols

The inhibition of two human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I and II, with a series of phenol derivatives was investigated by using the esterase assay, with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. 2,6-Dimethylphenol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol), 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, vanillin, guaiacol, di(2,6-dimethylphenol), di(2,6-diisopropylphenol), di(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), and acetazolamide showed K_I values in the range of 37.5–274.5 μM for hCA I and of 0.29–113.5 μM against hCA II, respectively. All these phenols were non-competitive inhibitors with 4-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. Some antioxidant phenol derivatives investigated here showed effective hCA II inhibitory effects, in the same range as the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors possibly targeting other CA isoforms which have not been yet assayed for their interactions with such agents.     

Biotransformation of 4-sec-butylphenol by Gram-positive bacteria of the genera Mycobacterium and Nocardia including modifications on the alkyl chain and the hydroxyl group

The environmental pollutant 4-sec-butylphenol (4-sec-BP) which possesses estrogenic properties was transformed by the aerobic Gram-positive bacteria Mycobacterium neoaurum and Nocardia cyriacigeorgica into three main products (P1–P3) which were isolated and structurally characterized in detail. Two of them were products of a process resembling anaerobic metabolism of alkylphenols based on modifications of the alkyl side chain of 4-sec-BP. The first product (P1) was identified as 4-(2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl)-phenol. The second product P2 was isolated as a mixture of at least four structures which could be identified as I 4-sec-butylidenecyclohexa-2,5-dienone; II 4-(1-methylenepropyl)-phenol; III 4-(1-methylpropenyl)-phenol; and IV 4-(1-methylallyl)-phenol. In contrast to P1 and P2, the third product (P3) resulted from a modification of the hydroxyl group of 4-sec-BP. This product was only formed by M. neoaurum and was identified as the glucoside conjugate 4-sec-butylphenol-α-d-glucopyranoside. Since in general, fungi synthesize sugar conjugates to detoxify hazardous pollutants, the formation of this conjugate is a peculiarity of M. neoaurum. Thus, altogether, six products were formed from 4-sec-BP and different transformation pathways are introduced. The hydroxylating and glucosylating capacity of the characterized bacteria open up applications in environmental protection.     

Isolation and characterization of fenobucarb-degrading bacteria from rice paddy soils

Forty-five fenobucarb-degrading bacteria were isolated from rice paddy soils, and their genetic and phenotypic characteristics were investigated. The isolates were able to utilize fenobucarb as a sole source of carbon and energy. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that all the isolates were related to members of the genera Sphingobium and Novosphingobium. Among 45 isolates, 21 different chromosomal DNA fingerprinting patterns were obtained. All these strains exhibited similar growth and degradation patterns on fenobucarb. 2-sec-butylphenol was identified as an intermediate during fenobucarb degradation by HPLC analysis. All of the isolates were able to degrade another carbamate insecticide, carbaryl, and 2-sec-butylphenol, but not other fenobucarb related compounds such as aldicarb and fenoxycarb. Representative strains of the different repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence PCR fingerprint types had one to six plasmids. The plasmid-cured strains lost their degradation abilities, suggesting that fenobucarb degradative genes were on their plasmid DNAs in these strains. When analyzed with PCR amplification using the primers targeting for the previously reported carbamate hydrolase genes, most of the isolates did not exhibit any positive signals for different genes involved in carbamate degradation such as mcd, cahA and cehA genes. This is the first report that microorganisms involved in the degradation of fenobucarb have been isolated and the intermediate of fenobucarb biodegradation was identified.     

Synthesis of 2,2′-Anhydro Nucleosides with a Modified Sugar Side-Chain

Abstract

2,2′-Anhydro-1-(5,6-di-O-benzoyl-β-D-altrofuranosyl)thymine 6 and uracil derivative 7 are prepared by transformation of the corresponding 5′,6′-di-O-benzoyl-3′-O-mesyl-β-D-glucofuranosyl nucleosides 4 and 5 into the 2,2′-anhydro derivatives 6 and 7 using DBU.     

Unsaturated sugars I. Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid to methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-Pent-4-enopyranoside

Decarboxylative elimination of methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid (1) with N,N-dimethylformamide dineopentyl acetal in N,N-dimethylformamide gave methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (3). Debenzylation of 3 was effected with sodium in liquid ammonia to give methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pent-4-enopyranoside (4). Hydrogenation of 3 catalyzed by palladium-on-barium sulfate afforded methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (5), whereas hydrogenation of 3 over palladium-on-carbon gave methyl 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-pentopyranoside (6). An improved preparation of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside is also described.     

Synthesis of Glycoglycerolipids: 3-O-Mannooligosyl-l,2-di-O-tetradecyl-sn-glycerol

Synthetic routes for the following mannooligosylglycerolipids of biological interest were developed by using regioselectively protected monosaccharide synthons and l,2-di-O-alkyl-sn-glycerol; 3-O-(2-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-l,2-di-O-tetradecyl-sn-glycerol; 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-α-D-mannopyranosyl]-l,2-di-O-tetradecyl-sn-glycerol; 3-O-(6-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-l,2-di-O-tetradecyl-sn-glycerol; and 3-O-(3,6-di-O-α-D-mannopyranosyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl)-1,2-di-α-tetradecyl-sn-glycerol.     

A Rennin-like Enzyme from Penicillium expansum

dl-(1,3/2)-3-Acetamido-1,2-di-O-benzylcyclohex-4-enediol (IIIa) and dl-(1,3/4)-1-acetamido-3,4-di-O-benzylcyclohex-5-enediol (IIIb) were synthesized from dl-trans-1,2-di-O-benzylcyclohex-3-enediol (I) via the corresponding azide derivatives (IIa-b) prepared by bromination and subsequent treatment with sodium azide in N,N-dimethylformamide. Compounds (IIIa and IIIb) were converted into a variety of deoxyinosamine and deoxyinosadiamine derivatives via epoxides (VIII and IX) or by cis-hydroxylation with osmium tetroxide. Hexaacetyl-rac-inosamine-1 (XVIIIc) was synthesized from dl-(1,3,4/2,5)-3-acetamido-1,2-di-O-benzyl-5-bromocyclohexanetriol (VIa) via conduramine derivatives (XVIIa-c). Conformationai analysis of partially O-benzylated aminocyclitol derivatives were studied by means of NMR spectroscopy.     

Comparison of the Preventive Activity of Isorhamnetin Glycosides from Atsumi-kabu (Red Turnip,Brassica, campestris L.) Leaves on Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, which was contained together with isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside in atsumi-kabu leaves, suppressed increases in the plasma ALT and AST activities of mice with liver injury induced by the injection of carbon tetrachloride, but no suppression by isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was apparent. This result indicates that the release of glucose at the 7-position in isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was very important to mitigating liver injury.     

Regioselective allylation of cyclomaltoheptaose (β-cyclodextrin) leading to per(2,6-di-O-hydroxypropyl-3-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin

The selective modification of cyclodextrins remains a real challenge to obtain well-defined structures. The targeted cycloheptakis-(1→4)-2,6-di-O-hydroxypropyl-3-O-methyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl [per(2,6-di-O-hydroxypropyl-3-O-methyl)-β-CD] was obtained by a three-step procedure. The selective allylation of the hydroxyl functions at the positions 2 and 6 was used as a first step. This reaction was revisited then enlarged to α and γ-CDs to determine new conditions for a one-step synthesis in high yield. The per(2,6-di-O-allyl)-β-CD derivative was then reacted with iodomethane to provide per(2,6-di-O-allyl-3-O-methyl)-β-CD. Oxidative hydroboration of the allyl functions was then carried out in order to obtain a new CD derivative with seven primary hydroxyl functions on each side of the truncated cone, having a similar reactivity.     

Glucosylation of Quercetin by a Cell Suspension Culture of Vitis sp.

A cell suspension culture of a Vitis hybrid converted quercetin to six glucosides. Their structures were identified as quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, quercetin 3,7-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside by UV, FD-MS, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy and TLC analysis.

The course of conversion was also investigated and it was shown that quercetin 3-O-glucoside reached the maximum yield of 31% in 24 hr and then gradually disappeared accompanied by the production of quercetin 3,4′- and 3,7-di-O-glucosides. Although the same rise and fall relationship was observed between isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside and isorhamnetin 3,4′- or 3,7-di-O-glucoside, their conversion ratios were much lower than those of quercetin glucosides.     

Synthesis of 5-Azacytidine Nucleosides with Rigid Sugar Moiety as Potential Antitumor Agents

Abstract

The bicyclic 3′-O,5′-C-methylene-linked and 2′-O,5′-C-methylene-linked 5-azacytidine derivatives were readily synthesized from 1,2;5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-glucose and evaluated against several cancer cell lines.     

Sequential synthesis and C-N.m.r. spectra of methyl β-glycosides of (1→4)-β-d-xylo-oligosaccharides

The reaction of 2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-α,β-d-xylopyranosyl bromide (2) with methyl 2,3-di-O-acetyl-β-d-xylopyranoside gave methyl O-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-4-O-benzyl-β-d-xylopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3-di-O-acetyl-β-d-xylopyranoside (22). Catalytic hydrogenolysis of 22 exposed HO-4′ which was then condensed with 2. This sequence of reactions was repeated three more times to afford, after complete removal of protecting groups, a homologous series of methyl β-glycosides of (1→4)-β-d-xylo-oligosaccharides. ¹³C-N.m.r. spectra of the synthetic methyl β-glycosides (di- to hexa-saccharide) are presented together with data for six other, variously substituted, homologous series of (1→4)-d-xylo-oligosaccharides.