Biological activity of gibberellin analogues

In order to determine the significance of the C-6 carboxyl group for the biological activity gibberellin A₃, 6-epigibberellin A₃, 7-norgibberellin A₃, 6-methyl-7-norgibberellin A₃, and 7-homogibberellin A₃ were studied using dwarf pea, dwarf maize, dwarf rice, dwarf barley and -amylase bioassays. All gibberellin A₃(GA₃)derivatives tested were considerably less active than GA₃. In all biossays, 6-epi-GA₃ showed a low activity of the same order, whereas 6-methyl-7-nor-GA₃ was inactive. Surprisingly, 7-nor-GA₃ had some activity in the dwarf rice (root application), dwarf barley, and -amylase bioassay, in contrary to its low potency in the dwarf pea, dwarf maize, and dwarf rice (micro drop) bioassay. 7-Homo-GA₃ was primarily active in the dwarf maize, dwarf barley and dwarf rice bioassay. It also caused antigibberellin effects in dwarf rice. The results demonstrate that the C-6 carboxyl group is not absolutely essential for biological activity of gibberellins. The different activities of 7-nor-GA₃ observed in the various test systems may indicate that the C-6 carboxyl group is a structural requirement more for uptake and/or transport processes than for receptor affinity.Abbreviation GA₃ gibberellic acid     

Antimutagenic activity of new analogues of fluphenazine

Fluphenazine (FPh) exhibited antimutagenic activity in lymphocyte cultures, markedly decreasing genotoxic effects of standard mutagenic agents present in cell cultures. However, the strong pharmacological activity of this neuroleptic drug, together with its serious side effects on the central nervous system, limits its use as an antimutagenic compound. In this paper we describe a route of chemical synthesis of FPh analogues that are more hydrophilic than the model compound, thus probably penetrate more weakly through the blood-brain barrier. These new analogues were tested for their antimutagenic and pro-apoptotic activities in human lymphocyte cultures, genotoxically damaged in vitro with benzo[a]pyrene [40 microM, 30 min] and subsequently cultured for 48 h in the presence of the tested compounds. The fluphenazine analogues enhanced apoptosis in genotoxically damaged lymphocytes more strongly than the model compound did. The increase of apoptotic cell frequency was the highest with compound 4a [2-(trifluoromethyl)-10-[3-(diethanolamino)-2-hydroxypropyl] phenothiazine]--a 35% higher effect than that of fluphenazine. The cytotoxicity of derivative 4a was the lowest among the tested compounds; it was 60% lower than that of fluphenazine. The antimutagenic effect of 4a was about 10% stronger than that of fluphenazine. Compound 4a also had the highest hydrophilicity of the new FPh analogues. Compound 4a was chosen for further study as a potentially usable antimutagen that would only weakly penetrate the central nervous system.     

Pulse radiolysis studies of some aza analogues of nucleic acid components

The technique of pulse radiolysis has been utilized to study the reactions of some aza analogues of nucleic acid components with hydrated electrons and OH radicals. The absorption spectra of the transient free radical adducts which result from these reactions and their decay kinetics were determined. The 5-aza analogues gave similar results to those of pyrimidine bases. The 6-aza analogues also showed similar kinetics, however, transient spectra were different. The presence of the sugar moiety in these aza analogues changed the rate law of the OH adduct transient decay from second order to first order kinetics. This finding may have implications for the understanding of the radiation chemistry of DNA.     

Enhanced pneumocystis carinii activity of new primaquine analogues

New analogues of the venerable antimalarial drug primaquine have been synthesized and bioassayed in vivo against Pneumocystis carinii, a life-threatening infection common among immunosuppressed patients. Two of these new compounds are significantly more active than primaquine itself, and provide new information for future drug design and development in this area.     

Biological activity of silylated amino acid containing substance P analogues.

The need to replace natural amino acids in peptides with nonproteinogenic counterparts to obtain new medicinal agents has stimulated a great deal of innovation on synthetic methods. Here, we report the incorporation of non-natural silylated amino acids in substance P (SP), the binding affinity for the two hNK-1 binding sites and, the potency to stimulate phospholipase C (PLC) and adenylate cyclase of the resulting peptide. We also assess the improvement of their stability towards enzyme degradation. Altogether, we found that replacing glycine with silaproline (Sip) in position 9 of SP leads to a potent analogue exhibiting an increased resistance to angiotensin-converting enzyme hydrolysis.     

Hemi-synthesis and biological activity of new analogues of podophyllotoxin

Various 4-analogues of podophyllotoxin and epipodophyllotoxin were obtained via the formation of the corresponding 4-keto derivatives. Methyloximation of podophyllotoxone, followed by subsequent catalytic hydrogenation, gave stereoselective access to 4-alpha-amino-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin and from there, to the corresponding acetamido and formamido derivatives. Base-catalyzed isomerisation of 4-alpha-amino-4-deoxypodophyllotoxin led to the corresponding picropodophyllin isomer while the 4-beta-amino afforded a neopodophyllotoxin-like derivative. On the other hand, oxirane and hydroxymethyl-containing analogues were prepared from podophyllotoxin and 4-epi-4'-demethyl-podophyllotoxin, using a Takai olefination strategy. In the latter series, carboxaldehyde- and carboxylic acid-containing derivatives were also synthesized.     

Synthesis and biological activity of some new leucine-enkephalin analogues

The opioid pentapeptide leucine-enkephalinamide and eleven of its analogues have been synthesised by the solid phase technique employing mostly 9-fluoroenylmethyloxycarbonyl amino acid active esters in the presence of 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. Both the conventional chloromethylated copolystyrene-2% divinylbenzene resin as well asp-alkoxybenzyl alcohol resin were employed and it was observed that yields were uniformly better with the latter resin. The analogues were made by affecting single or multiple replacements of amino acids involving positions 1,2 and 5. Some of the analogues were found to be more potent than morphine in the guinea pig ileum assay.     

Biological activity of new N-oxides of tertiary amines

Potential biological properties of newly synthesized single and double alkyl chain N-oxides of tertiary amines (NTA) were studied. Individual compounds in each of the series had alkyl chains of different length. Various experiments were performed to determine a mechanism of the interaction between NTA and model and biological membranes. These were measurements of hemolytic efficiencies of NTA (pig erythrocytes), their influence on the transition temperatures (DPPC liposomes), on potassium leakage from cucumber, its growth and chlorophyll content (Cucumis sativus cv. Krak F1), and on the resting membrane potential in alga cells (Nitellopsis obtusa). Also, prevention of erythrocyte membrane lipid oxidation induced by UV irradiation was studied. Potential antioxidative properties of NTA were additionally tested in radical chromogen (ABTS) experiments in which antioxidative efficiencies of NTA were compared to that of the standard antioxidant Trolox. It was found that NTA readily interacted with erythrocyte membranes. Their hemolyzing efficiency increased with the alkyl chain length. Slightly more intensive interaction was found for double alkyl chain compounds. Similar results were obtained in DSC experiments, where incorporation of NTA into liposomal membranes shifted the main transition temperatures and caused a broadening of the main transition peaks depending on the alkyl chain length. Double alkyl chain compounds were also found more efficiently influencing the growth of cucumber. Influence of NTA on the resting membrane potential of algae cells was not quite following the alkyl chain length rule found in erythrocyte and liposome experiments. Also potassium leakage and chlorophyll content determined in physiological experiments were not following the increase of lipophilicity of compounds. Most efficiently influencing those parameters were NTA having shorter alkyl chains, and efficiencies of single alkyl chain compounds were evidently stronger. Both methods used to test the antioxidative properties of NTA showed that they depended on the alkyl chain lengths of compounds within each series, but double alkyl chain ones exhibited markedly greater efficiency.     

Biological activity in human neutrophils of di-tripeptides, analogues of the chemotactic fMLP

for-Met-Ser(for-Met-Leu-Phe)-Phe-OMe 1 and for-Met-Lys(for-Met-Leu-Phe)-Phe-OMe 2 were synthesized in order to investigate biological activities on human neutrophils of crosslinked di-tripeptides. Our results seem to highlight that the tested di-tripeptides (i) do not step up chemotaxis, (ii) can elicit superoxide anion production which is dependent on the nature of the residue at position 2, chosen in the tripeptide that is crosslinked to the fMLP-OMe.     

Synthesis and anti-enterovirus activity of new analogues of MDL-860

A series of twelve novel compounds, analogues of antiviral agent MDL-860 were synthesized and their antiviral activity was evaluated in vitro against enteroviruses poliovirus 1 (PV1), Coxsackieviruses B1 (CVB1) and Coxsackieviruses B3 (CVB3). Compounds 14, 24 and 25 manifested strong antiviral effects against CVB1 and PV1 (SI values of 405 and 118 for CVB1 and PV1 respectively). In contrast to the wide anti-enteroviral activity of MDL-860, these three compounds were inactive against CVB3. Compounds 14, 24 and 25 along with MDL-860 were tested in vivo in mice infected with CVB1. Marked protective effects of compounds 14 and 24 were established, PI values of 50% and 33.3%, respectively. In addition, almost all of the tested compounds manifested very low toxicity.     

Optimization of endochin-like quinolones for antimalarial activity

Our prior work on tricyclic acridones combined with a desire to minimize the tricyclic system led to an interest in antimalarial quinolones and a reexamination of endochin, an experimental antimalarial from the 1940’s. In the present article, we show that endochin is unstable in the presence of murine, rat, and human microsomes which may explain its relatively poor antimalarial activity in mammalian systems. We also profile the structure–activity relationships of ≈30 endochin-like quinolone (ELQ) analogs and highlight features that are associated with enhanced metabolic stability, potent antiplasmodial activity against multidrug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, and equal activity against an atovaquone-resistant clinical isolate. Our work also features an ELQ construct containing a polyethylene glycol carbonate pro-moiety that is highly efficacious by oral administration in a murine malaria model. These findings provide compelling evidence that development of ELQ therapeutics is feasible.     

Biological activity of trisporoids and trisporoid analogues in Mucor mucedo (-)

In the course of their sexual interactions, zygomycete fungi communicate via an elaborate series of carotene-derived compounds, namely trisporic acid and its biosynthetic progenitors. A novel building-block strategy allowed the systematic generation of structurally modified trisporoids along with putative early biosynthetic precursors for physiological tests. The impact of discrete structural elements was documented by the ability of individual compounds to induce sexually committed hyphae in Mucor mucedo. The activity screening contributed to establish general structure-function relationships for trisporoid action. Most crucial for activity were the dimension of the longer side chain, the polarity of functional groups at C(4) and C(13), and the number of conjugated double bonds in the side chain. The presence of an oxygen substituent at the cyclohexene ring is not essential for function. The overall biological activity apparently results from the combination of the various structural elements.     

Solid-phase synthesis of new saphenamycin analogues with antimicrobial activity.

An array of 12 new saphenamycin analogues modified at the benzoate moiety was synthesized on solid support. Synthesis commenced with a chemoselective anchoring of saphenic acid through the carboxyl group to a 2-chlorotrityl functionalized polystyrene resin. The secondary alcohol was acylated in parallel with a series of differently substituted benzoic acid derivatives. Treatment with TFA-CH(2)Cl(2) (5:995) released the expected saphenamycin analogues into solution. These new analogues were purified, characterized and screened for antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Proteus mirabilis. Eight analogues exhibited MIC values against B. subtilis ranging from 0.07 to 3.93 microg/mL, comparable to the activities of previously reported saphenamycin analogues.     

Biological and structural characterization of new linear gomesin analogues with improved therapeutic indices

Gomesin (Gm) is a potent antimicrobial peptide isolated from the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana. The two disulfide bridges Cys(2,15) and Cys(6,11) facilitate the folding of the molecule in a beta-hairpin structure, conferring on the peptide a high stability in human plasma. We report herein biological and structural features of new linear Gm analogues, obtained by combining the removal of both disulfide bridges and the incorporation of a D- or L-proline. Regarding their biological properties, two analogues, namely, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm and [Thr(2,6,11,15), D-Pro(9)]-Gm, are as potent as Gm against Candida albicans and only fourfold less against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, at 100 microM they are approximately threefold less hemolytic than Gm. The best therapeutic indices were found for [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm and for [(Des-pGlu(1), -Thr(2), -Arg(3)), Thr(6,11,15), D-Pro(9)]-Gm with a 32-fold increase of their activity against bacteria, and from 128- to 512-fold against yeast when compared with Gm. Regarding the stability, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm appeared to be the most resistant in human serum, along with [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(8)]-D-Gm and [Thr(2,6,11,15), D-Arg(4,16), D-Pro(9)]-Gm. When evaluating their conformation by CD spectroscopy in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), most linear analogues display beta-conformation characteristics. Moreover, considering its high therapeutic index and stability in serum, [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm was further analyzed by NMR spectroscopy. (1)H NMR experiments in SDS micelles demonstrated that [D-Thr(2,6,11,15), Pro(9)]-D-Gm presents a conformation very similar to that of Gm. In our search for Gm analogues with enhanced potential for drug development, we demonstrated that designing cysteine-free analogues can improve the therapeutic index of Gm derivatives.     

Biological activity of synthetic tetranuclear iron-sulphur analogues of the active sites of ferredoxins.

Two water-soluble tetranuclear iron-sulphur clusters have been synthesised which are stable under anaerobic conditions in the presence of excess thiol in aqueous solution. In such a solution, in the presence of sodium dithionite, they undergo a reversible one electron reduction to the trianion. These two clusters can replace ferredoxins in a hydrogen evolving system using $\text{Clostridium pasteurianum}$ hydrogenase with dithionite as the electron donor; we believe this is the first demonstration of such biological activity.     

Biological activity of a new series of tertiary alcohols

The in vitro antimicrobial activity of a new series of synthetic fluorine-substituted triaryl alcohols against the human pathogens Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans was studied with the aim of overcoming multiple drug resistance and improving the clinical usefulness of antimicrobial drugs. The nature and positions of substituents attached to aromatic rings, as well as their electronegativities and sizes, seem to affect the preferred molecular conformations and, hence, the binding of the compounds to the corresponding cell receptors.