Stereospecificity of the hydrogen transfer catalyzed by human placental aldose reductase.

Placental aldose reductase (EC 1.1.1.21) was incubated with glucose in the presence of [4A-2H] NADPH prepared in the oxidation of [2-2H] isocitrate by isocitrate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.42) or [4B-2H] NADPH prepared in the oxidation of [1-2H] glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49). The sorbitol formed from [4A-2H] NADPH contained deuterium and from [4B-2H] NADPH it did not. Therefore, aldose reductase in an A-type enzyme.     

Properties of beta-adrenergic receptors of cultured mammalian cells. Interaction of receptors with a guanine nucleotide-binding protein in membranes prepared from L6 myoblasts and from wild-type and cyc- S49 lymphoma cells

The radiolabeled agonist [3H]hydroxybenzylisoproterenol ([3H]HBI) and antagonist [125I]iodopindolol ([125I]IPIN) were used to investigate the properties of beta-adrenergic receptors on membranes prepared from L6 myoblasts and S49 lymphoma cells. The high affinity binding of (-)-[3H]HBI to membranes prepared from L6 myoblasts was stereoselectively inhibited by the active isomers of isoproterenol and propranolol. The density of receptors determined with (-)-[3H]HBI was less than that determined with [125I]IPIN. The binding of (-)-[3H]HBI was inhibited by guanine nucleotides, suggesting an agonist-mediated association of the receptor with a guanine nucleotide-binding protein, presumably the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Ns) of adenylate cyclase. Results obtained in studies with membranes prepared from wild-type S49 lymphoma cells and the adenylate cyclase-deficient variant (cyc-) were similar to those obtained in experiments carried out with membranes prepared from L6 myoblasts. Thus, the high affinity binding of (-)-[3H]HBI to membranes prepared from wild-type and cyc- S49 lymphoma cells was stereoselectively inhibited by the active isomers of isoproterenol and propranolol, and was inhibited by GTP. Moreover, the density of sites determined with (-)-[3H]HBI was less than that determined with [125I]IPIN. These results suggest either that cyc- cells contain a partially functional Ns, or alternatively, that the inhibitory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Ni) is capable of interacting with beta-adrenergic receptors.     

A novel 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside derivative, sulfate-O-3- xylosylbeta1-(4-methylumbelliferone), isolated from culture medium of human skin fibroblasts, and its role in methylumbelliferone-initiated glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis

Human skin fibroblasts were incubated in the presence of 4- methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside (Xyl-MU). The culture medium was recovered and Xyl-MU derivatives which were initiated by the Xyl-MU acting as a primer were purified. As a result, a novel Xyl-MU derivative was isolated, in addition to previously reported Xyl-MU derivatives such as glycosaminoglycan-MU, Gal-Gal-Xyl-MU, Gal-Xyl-MU, SA-Gal-Xyl-MU, Xyl-Xyl-MU, GlcA-Xyl-MU, and sulfate-GlcA-Xyl-MU. This Xyl-MU derivative was subjected to carbohydrate composition analysis, enzyme digestion, ion-spray mass spectrometric analysis, and Smith degradation. The results indicated that it was sulfate- O -3-Xyl-MU. When Xyl-MU was incubated with [35S]PAPS using a homogenate prepared from the same cultured skin fibroblasts, [35S]sulfate- O -3-Xyl-MU was produced. Moreover, when Xyl-MU was incubated with UDP-[3H]Gal, [3H]galactose was transferred to Xyl-MU, but when sulfate- O -3-Xyl-MU was incubated with UDP-[3H]Gal, [3H]galactose was not transferred. These results indicate that chain elongation from Xyl-MU is inhibited by sulfation of Xyl-MU, and that Xyl-MU sulfation is involved in the control of Xyl-MU-initiated glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis.      

Substrate stereochemistry of the enoyl-CoA hydratase reaction.

1. A specimen of stereospecifically 2-tritiated 3-hydroxybutyric acid was prepared by hydroboration of ethyl crotonate. It was assumed that the hydroboration reaction took a syn course and hence that (2R,3S) plus (2S,3R)-3-hydroxy[2 minus 3H1]butyric acid was formed after oxidation and hydrolysis. 2. 3RS-3-Hydroxy[2 minus 3H2]butyric acid, symmetrically tritiated at C-2, was prepared by isotopic exchange of ethyl acetoacetate in tritiated water, followed by reduction and hydrolysis. 3. The 3R-enantiomers of the acids listed under paragraphs (1) and (2) were destroyed enzymically by use of 3R-specific 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase and the residual 3S-enantiomers were isolated. 4. The resulting specimens of 2R,3S-3-hydroxy[2 minus 3H1]butyric acid and 3S-3hydroxy[2 minus 3H2]-butyric acid were converted chemically to the acyl-CoA derivatives. These were incubated with enoyl-CoA hydratase. 5. In the presence of the enoyl-CoA hydratase symmetrically labelled 3S-3-hydroxy[2 minus 3H2]BUTYRYL-CoA lost nearly 50% of its tritium label; 2R,3S-3hydroxy [2-3-H1]butyryl-CoA lost about 78%. 6. It was concluded that the elimination of the elements of water from 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA on the hydratase occurs stereospecifically with syn geometry.     

Kinetic isotope effects on the oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate by the flavoprotein methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase

Previous work from this laboratory has established that the NADPH-menadione oxidoreductase reaction catalyzed by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase from pig liver proceeds by Ping Pong Bi Bi kinetics and that the reductive half-reaction is rate limiting in steady-state turnover. We have now shown that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase stereo-specifically removes the pro-S hydrogen from the 4-position of NADPH. During the oxidation of [4(S)-3H]NADPH, we observed a kinetic isotope on V/KNADPH of 10.8 +/- 0.4. When comparing the rates of oxidation of [4(S)-2H]NADPH and [4(S)-1H]NADPH, we measure kinetic isotope effects on V of 4.78 +/- 0.15 and on V/KNADPH of 4.54 +/- 0.59. When oxidation of [4(R)-2H]NADPH and [4(R)-1H]NADPH is compared, the secondary kinetic isotope effect on V is 1.04 +/- 0.01. When the NADPH-menadione oxidoreductase reaction is catalyzed in tritiated water, no incorporation of solvent tritium into residual NADPH is observed. We conclude from these observations that the oxidation of NADPH is largely or entirely rate limiting in the reductive half-reaction and, hence, in NADPH-menadione oxidoreductase turnover at saturating menadione concentration. In the presence of saturating NADPH, the flavin reduction proceeds with a rate constant of 160 S-1, which is at least 29-fold slower than estimates of the lower limit for the diffusion-limited rate constant characterizing NADPH binding to the enzyme under physiological conditions. Albery & Knowles have defined criteria for perfection in enzyme catalysis [Albery, W. J., & Knowles, J.R. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 5631-5640].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Stereochemically controlled transformations related to pyrimidine nucleosides and their analogues

The diastereoisomeric differentiations and anomerizations of 5,6-dihydrothymidine and its anhydro derivatives were studied. In particular, the oxetane ring opening of (5S)-1-(3,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-beta-D-threopentofuranosyl)-5,6-dihydr othymine under acid catalysed conditions substantiated a number of the configurational modifications at the sugar moiety. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to the pyrimidine C(5), C(6)-double bond was intramolecularly facilitated by the activation of 1-(3-azido-2-hydroxypropyl)uracil. (E)- and (Z)-1-Prop-enyl- and properly functionalized 1-propyl-uracil derivatives were also prepared and used for the synthesis of the tetrahydro-oxazolo[3,2-c]pyrimidine-5,6-(4H, 6H)dione and 9,3'-cyclo-3-propyl (or prop-1-enyl)-8-azaxanthine derivatives.     

Bile acids. XLVII. 12alpha-Hydroxylation of precursors of allo bile acids by rabbit liver microsomes.

Rabbit liver microsomal preparations fortified with 0.1 mM NADPH effectively promote hydroxylation of [3beta-3H]- or [24-14C]allochenodeoxycholic acid or [5alpha,6alpha-3H2]5alpha-cholestane-3alpha,7alpha-diol to their respective 12alpha-hydroxyl derivatives in yields of about 25 or 65% in 60 min. Minor amounts of other products are formed from the diol. The requirements for activity of rabbit liver microsomal 12alpha-hydroxylase resemble those of rat liver microsomes. Of a number of enzyme inhibitors studied only p-chloromercuribenzoate demonstrated a marked ability to inhibit the reaction with either tritiated substrate. There was no difference in the quantity of product produced from the tritiated acid or the 14C-labeled acid. No clear sex difference was found in activity of the enzyme, nor was an appreciable difference noted in activity of the enzyme between mature and immature animals.     

Metabolism of C26 bile alcohols in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Metabolism of C26 bile alcohols in the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was studied. [24-14C]-24-Dehydro-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol (3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-trihydroxy-27-nor-5 beta-cholestan-24-one) was chemically synthesized from [24-14C]cholic acid and incubated with bullfrog liver homogenate fortified with NADPH. 24-Dehydro-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol was shown to be converted into both 26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol and 24-epi-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol [(24S)- and (24R)-27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24-tetrols] in addition to 5 beta-ranol [(24R)-27-nor-5 beta-cholestane-3 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha,24,26-pentol], which is the major bile alcohol of the bullfrog. [24-3H]-26-Deoxy-5 beta-ranol and [24-3H]-24-epi-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol were prepared from 24-dehydro-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol by reduction with sodium [3H] borohydride and administered respectively to two each of four bullfrogs by intraperitoneal injection. After 24 h, labeled 5 beta-ranol was isolated from the bile of the bullfrogs that received [24-3H]-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol. In contrast little if any radioactivity could be detected in 5 beta-ranol or its 24-epimer after administration of [24-3H]-24-epi-26-deoxy-5 beta-ranol.     

Stereospecificity of the products of the fatty acid oxygenases derived from psoriatic scales

The principal in vivo oxygenase products of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid in psoriatic skin scales are 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (R/S ratio = 5.7), 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (S/R = 1.9), and 9-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid (R/S = 2.4). Definition of the enzymatic origin of these fatty acid derivatives is an important step in assessing their possible role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Psoriatic skin scales were incubated with radiolabeled arachidonic acid and linoleic acid and the monohydroxylated derivatives produced in vitro were characterized. The products of incubation with [3H]arachidonic acid were an enantiopure 15(S)-[3H]hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and a nonracemic mixture of the 12-[3H]hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid steroisomers (R/S ratio = 4.5). An enantiopure 13(S)-[14C]hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid was produced from [14C]linoleic acid. No radiolabeled products were derived from incubations with heat-denatured scales. These results provide evidence for two distinct oxygenase activities that are preserved in psoriatic skin scales. One is that of an omega-6 oxygenase with strict (S) stereospecificity, consistent with the activity of a lipoxygenase. This enzyme activity appears to be similar to that of the 15-lipoxygenase which has been described in cultured human keratinocytes. The second activity is that of an arachidonic acid 12(R)-oxygenase that has not been observed in normal human epidermis but which appears to be expressed in psoriatic epidermis.     

Selective depolymerisation of dermatan sulfate: production of radiolabelled substrates for alpha-L-iduronidase, sulfoiduronate sulfatase, and beta-D-glucuronidase

Radiolabelled disaccharide substrates for alpha-L-iduronidase, beta-D-glucuronidase, and sulfoiduronate sulfatase have been prepared from dermatan sulfate by application in sequence of N-deacetylation, deaminative cleavage, and reduction with NaBT4. The yield of disaccharides was approximately 87% of the total oligosaccharide fraction. Five disaccharides were isolated and tentatively identified. The major disaccharide, O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 leads to 3)-2,5-anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol 4-sulfate (IdoA-anT4S), represented approximately 75% of the total disaccharide fraction. The other disaccharides were O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid 2-sulfate)-(1 leads to 3)-2,5-anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol 4-sulfate (IdoA2S-anT4S), O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 leads to 3)-2,5-anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol 4-sulfate (GlcA-anT4S), O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 leads to 3)-2,5-anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol 6-sulfate (GlcA-anT6S), and O-(alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid)-(1 leads to 3)-2,5-anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol (IdoA-anT), which represented approximately 4.5, 11.2, 1.0, and 1.8%, respectively, of the total disaccharide fraction. When incubated with cultured skin-fibroblasts from normal controls, IdoA-anT4S was shown to be a sensitive substrate for alpha-L-iduronidase to produce 2,5-anhydro-D-talitol 4-sulfate (anT4S). Activity toward IdoA-anT4S was not observed with fibroblast homogenates from alpha-L-iduronidase-deficient patients (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I). Similarly, normal-fibroblast homogenates degraded GlcA-anT6S to anT6S, and GlcA-anT4S to anT4S, at a rate 6 to 8 times greater than found for fibroblasts from beta-D-glucuronidase-deficient patients (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII). IdoA-anT4S was hydrolysed by alpha-L-iduronidase at a rate 365 times greater than that for IdoA-anT. Sulfation of the anhydro-D-[1-3H]talitol residues is an important structural determinant in the mechanism of action of alpha-L-iduronidase on disaccharide substrates. IdoA2S-anT4S was degraded to IdoA-anT4S and then to anT4S by normal-fibroblast homogenates, whereas fibroblasts from alpha-L-iduronidase-deficient and sulfoiduronate sulfatase-deficient (Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II) patients produced considerably decreased levels of anT4s and IdoA-anT4S (and anT4S), respectively.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new mitonafide derivatives as potential antitumor drugs

A series of potential DNA-binding antitumor agents, 2-[omega-(alkylamino)alkyl]-6-{[omega-(alkylamino)alkyl]amino}-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-1,3(2H)-diones and 1,7-bis{6-[(omega-(dimethylamino)alkyl)amino]-1,3-dioxo-1H-benzo[de]isoquinolin-2(3H)-yl}-4-methyl-4-azaheptanes, have been prepared as mitonafide derivatives. Their DNA-binding ability and cytotoxic activity have been evaluated. Some of the target compounds have shown high DNA affinity as well as relevant cytotoxic properties.     

Molecular orbital study of complexes of zinc(II) with sulphide, thiomethanolate, thiomethanol, dimethylthioether, thiophenolate, formiate, acetate, carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, iminomethane and imidazole. Relationships with structural and catalytic zinc in some metallo-enzymes.

Geometry optimization and energy calculations have been performed at the density functional B3LYP/LANL2DZ level on hydrogen sulfide (HS-), dihydrogensulfide (H2S), thiomethanolate (CH3S-), thiomethanol (CH3SH), thiophenolate (C6H5S-), methoxyde (CH3O-), methanol (CH3OH), formiate (HCOO-), acetate (CH3COO-), carbonate (CO3(2-)), hydrogen carbonate (HCO3-), iminomethane (NH=CH2), [ZnS], [ZnS2]2-, [Zn(HS)]+, [Zn(H2S)]2+, [Zn(HS)4]2-, [Zn(CH3S)]+, [Zn(CH3S)2], [Zn(CH3S)3]-, [Zn(CH3S)4]2-, [Zn(CH3SH)]2+, [Zn(CH3SCH3)]2+, [Zn(C6H5S)]+, [Zn(C6H5S)2], [Zn(C6H5S)3]-, [Zn(HS)(NH=CH2)2]+, [Zn(HS)2(NH=CH2)2], [Zn(HS)(H2O)]+, [Zn(HS)(HCOO)], [Zn(HS)2(HCOO)]-, [Zn(CH3O)]+, [Zn(CH3O)2], [Zn(CH3O)3]-, [Zn(CH3O)4]2, [Zn(CH3OH)]2+, [Zn(HCOO)]+, [Zn(CH3COO)]+, [Zn(CH3COO)2], [Zn(CH3COO)3]-, [Zn(CO3)], [Zn(HCO3)]+, and [Zn(HCO3)(Imz)]+ (Imz, 1,3-imidazole). The computed Zn-S bond distances are 2.174A for [ZnS], 2.274 for [Zn(HS)]+, 2.283 for [Zn(CH3S)]+, and 2.271 for [Zn(C6H5S)]+, showing that sulfide anion forms stronger bonds than substituted sulfides. The nature of the substituents on sulfur influences only slightly the Zn-S distance. The optimized tetra-coordinate [Zn(HS)2(NH=CH2)2] molecules has computed Zn-S and Zn-N bond distances of 2.392 and 2.154A which compare well with the experimental values at the solid state obtained via X-ray diffraction for a number of complex molecules. The computed Zn-O bond distances for chelating carboxylate derivatives like [Zn(HOCOO)]+ (1.998A), [Zn(HCOO)]+ (2.021), and [Zn(CH3COO)]+ (2.001) shows that the strength of the bond is not much influenced by the substituent on carboxylic carbon atom and that CH3- and HO- groups have very similar effects. The DFT analysis shows also that the carboxylate Ligand has a preference for the bidentate mode instead of the monodentate one, at least when the coordination number is small.     

The stereospecificity of the enzymic reduction of 21-dehydrocortisol by NADH.

(21R)-[21-3H]cortisol and (21S)-[21-3H]cortisol were synthesized by reduction of 21-dehydrocortisol by NADH in the presence of 21-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. The stereochemistry at carbon 21 was established after cleaving the side chain and oxidizing the resulting two epimers of tritiated glycolate with glycolate oxidase of known (2-pro-S) stereospecificity. From the distribution of radioactivity in the water and glyoxylate produced in this reaction, it was concluded that the reaction of 21-dehydrocortisol with (4S)-[4-3H]NADH catalyzed by 21-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase results in a transfer of tritium from the 4S position of the nucleotide to form (21S)-[21-3H]cortisol, and that (21R)-[21-3H]cortisol resulted from the enzyme-catalyzed reduction of 21-dehydro[21-3H]cortisol with NADH. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies on both epimers at position 21 of [21-2H]cortisol and of [21-2H]cortisone prepared enzymically identify the transferring 21-pro-S hydrogen as the relatively downfield of the two 21-hydrogen atoms.     

Stereochemistry of the dTDP-glucose oxidoreductase reaction.

The stereochemical course of the dTDP-glucose oxidoreductase (EC 4.2.1.46) reaction was studied using enzyme partially purified from Escherichia coli and dTDP-(6R)- and (6S)-[4-2H, 6-3H]glucose as substrate. The latter was prepared enzymatically by reduction of (3R)- and (3S)-3-P-[3-3H]glycerate to the 1-deuterated 3-P-glyceraldehyde with (4S)-[4-2H]NADH, followed first by conversion to glucose-1-P with the glycolytic enzymes, and then by transformation into the dTDP derivative. The stereospecifically labeled dTDP-glucose samples were mixed with nonlabeled carrier material and converted to dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxyglucose, which contained a chiral methyl group as shown by chirality analysis of the acetic acid resulting from Kuhn-Roth oxidation of the sugar nucleotide. These results confirm that the hydrogen transfer from C4 to C6 is intramolecular and show that the migrating hydrogen replaces the 6-hydroxyl group with inversion of configuration. Assuming that the hydrogen transfer, since it is intramolecular, must be suprafacial, it follows that the elimination of water from C5 and C6 is formally syn, whereas the reduction of the resulting delta5,6-double bond formally involves an anti addition of H+ and H-.     

Mefloquine-oxazolidine derivatives, derived from mefloquine and arenecarbaldehydes: In vitro activity including against the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis strain T113

Ten new mefloquine-oxazolidine derivatives, 4-[(1S,8aR)-3-(aryl)hexahydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,4-a]pyridin-1-yl]-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinoline (1: aryl=substituted phenyl) and 4-[(1S,8aR)-3-(heteroaryl)hexahydro[1,3]oxazolo[3,4-a]pyridin-1-yl]-2,8-bis(trifluoromethyl)quinoline [2: heteroaryl=5-nitrothien-2-yl (2a); 5-nitrofuran-2-yl (2b) and 4H-imidazol-2-yl) (2c)], have been synthesized and evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Compounds 1f (aryl=3-ethoxyphenyl), 1g (Ar=3,4,5-(MeO)(3)-C(6)H(2)) and 2c were slightly more active than mefloquine (MIC=33μM) with MICs=24.5, 22.5 and 27.4, respectively, whereas compounds 1e (aryl=3,4-(MeO)(2)-C(6)H(3)) and 2a (MICs=11.9 and 12.1μM, respectively) were ca. 2.7 times more active than mefloquine, with a better tuberculostatic activity than the first line tuberculostatic agent ethambutol (MIC=15.9). The compounds were also assayed against the MDR strain T113 and the same MICs were observed. Thus the new derivatives have advantages over such anti-TB drugs as isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and ofloxacin, for which this strain is resistant. The most active compounds were not cytotoxic to Murine Macrophages Cells in a concentration near their MIC values.     

Measurement of testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone 16alpha-hydroxylase activities by a tritium exchange method.

A new isotopic method, based upon the stereospecific replacement of a proton (3H) by a hydroxyl group has been developed for the measurement of rat liver testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone 16alpha-hydroxylase activity. Specifically 16-tritiated substrates were prepared by microbiological (Cylindrocarpon radicicola) transformation of the [16-3H]progesterone and [16-3H]pregnenolone. The incubation medium consists of a phosphate buffer (pH7; 150mM), NADPH (0.1 mM), nicotinamide (10mM) and magnesium chloride (4 mM). Tween 80 (1 mg/ml) is used to solubilize saturating concentrations of [16-3H]testosterone (50 micron) or [16-3H]dehydroepiandrosterone (100 micron). The enzymatically released tritium is recovered in the incubation medium as tritiated water which is distilled under reduced pressure and counted by liquid scintillation. The method is easy to perform, very sensitive (50 pmol of 16alpha-hydroxylated metabolites) and is independent of any further metabolism of the 16alpha-hydroxylated products.     

Studies on the mechanism and regulation of C-4 demethylation in cholesterol biosynthesis. The role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate

1. An assay for demethylation has been developed based on the release of tritium from 4,4-dimethyl[3alpha-(3)H]cholest-7-en-3beta-ol (II). 2. The maximum release of (3)H from 3alpha-(3)H-labelled compound (II) in a rat liver microsomal preparation occurs in the presence of NADPH and NAD(+) under aerobic conditions. 3. Incubation of 3alpha-(3)H-labelled compound (II) with NADPH under aerobic conditions leads to the formation of a 3alpha-(3)H-labelled C-4 carboxylic acid. This compound undergoes dehydrogenation on subsequent anaerobic incubation with NAD(+). 4. The (3)H released from the steroid was located in [4-(3)H]nicotinamide and the medium. Incubation with synthetic [4-(3)H(2)]NADH gave a similar result. 5. In the presence of glutamate dehydrogenase and alpha-oxoglutarate part of the (3)H released from the steroid was transferred to glutamate. 6. A series of 3-oxo steroids were reduced equally well by [4-(3)H(2)]NADH and [4-(3)H(2)]NADPH. The reduction of 5alpha-cholest-7-en-3-one was shown to use the 4B H atom from the nucleotide. 7. 3':5'-Cyclic AMP was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of the 3beta-hydroxy dehydrogenase enzyme in the demethylation reaction.     

Chiral mono and diamide derivatives of calix[4]arene for enantiomeric recognition of chiral amines

Novel chiral mono and diamide derivatives of calix[4]arene have been prepared from the aminolysis reaction of 5,11,17,23-tetra-tert-butyl-25,27-diethoxycarbonyl-methoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene 1 and 25,27-diethoxycarbonyl-methoxy-26,28-dihydroxycalix[4]arene 2 with chiral (S)-(-)-1-phenylethylamine (PEA) and (1S,2S)-(+)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediol, respectively. Spectrophotometric titrations have been performed in CHCl(3) at 20-30 degrees C in order to obtain the binding constants (K) and the thermodynamic quantities (DeltaH and DeltaS) for the stoichiometric 1:1 inclusion complexation of various chiral amines with these new host compounds. Preliminary experiments were undertaken to confirm the complexation properties of receptors 9 and 13 with PEA by (1)H NMR in CDCl(3) at room temperature. The molecular recognition abilities and enantioselectivities for guests (R and S)-alpha-PEA and (R and S)-cyclohexylethylamine (CHEA) are discussed from a thermodynamic point of view.     

Licodione Synthase,a Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenase Catalyzing 2-Hydroxylation of 5-Deoxyflavanone,in Cultured Glycyrrhiza echinata L. Cells

Cultured Glycyrrhiza echinata L. (Leguminosae) cells produce a retrochalcone echinatin (4,4[prime]-dihydroxy-2-methoxychalcone) and its biosynthetic intermediate licodione [1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-propanedione, a dibenzoylmethane (keto form) or its enol tautomer ([beta]-hydroxychalcone)], when treated with elicitor-active substances, e.g. yeast extract. A microsomal fraction (160,000g pellet) prepared from yeast extract-induced suspension cultures of G. echinata catalyzed the formation of licodione from (2S)-liquiritigenin (7,4[prime]-dihydroxyflavanone) in the presence of NADPH and air. This licodione synthase activity was shown to be dependent on cytochrome P450 by its microsomal localization, requirement of NAD(P)H and O2 for activity, and inhibition by typical cytochrome P450 inhibitors. Licodione synthase activity transiently increased in the cells after treatment with yeast extract. When (2S)-naringenin (5,7,4[prime]-trihydroxyflavanone) and NADPH were incubated with the same microsomal preparation, a polar compound, which further converted into apigenin (5,7,4[prime]-trihydroxyflavone) when treated with acid, was produced. The reaction mechanism of licodione synthase is likely to be 2-hydroxylation of the flavanone molecule and subsequent hemiacetal opening and is possibly the same as the previously suggested mechanism of flavone synthase II from soybean and, furthermore, closely related to isoflavone synthase from Pueraria lobata.     

Stereospecific abstraction of epsilon-pro-R-hydrogen of L-lysine by L-lysine epsilon-dehydrogenase from Agrobacterium tumefaciens

The stereochemical aspects of the L-lysine epsilon-dehydrogenase reaction were examined with (6R)-L-[6-3H]lysine and (6S)-DL-[6-3H]lysine. When (6S)-DL-[6-3H]lysine was used as a substrate, the tritium was found in the product, delta 1-piperideine-6-carboxylate. In contrast, the radioactivity from (6R)-L-[6-3H]lysine was not retained in the product. Thus, the pro-R hydrogen at the prochiral C-6 carbon of L-lysine is specifically abstracted by the enzyme: the enzyme behaves stereochemically as an amino acid D-dehydrogenase.