Assay of Δ1-piperideine-2-carboxylate and synthesis of l-[14C]pipecolate from dl-[14C]pipecolate

Four assay methods were tested for the measurement of Δ¹-piperideine-2-carboxylate, a proposed alicyclic ketimino acid intermediate in the pathway of lysine metabolism to l-pipecolate, and the product of d-amino acid oxidase on d-pipecolate. The method using Δ¹-piperideine-2-carboxylate reductase from Pseudomonas putida was found to be most sensitive and specific. Measurement of Δ¹-piperideine-2-carboxylate by reduction with NaBH₄ and ninhydrin assay of the resultant pipecolate, by direct acidic ninhydrin assay, and by o-aminobenz-aldehyde assay were less desirable because of lower sensitivity and specificity. Two synthetic methods for preparing l-[¹⁴C]pipecolate from the racemic dl-[¹⁴C]pipecolate were investigated. Incubation of dl-[¹⁴C]pipecolate with a combination of d-amino acid oxidase and Δ¹-piperideine-2-carboxylate reductase or d-amino acid oxidase and NaBH₄ totally inverted the d-isomer to the l-isomer, with $\text{Δ}{}^1\text{-[}{}^{14}\text{C]piperideine-2-carboxylate}$ as an intermediate in each cycle of interconversion. No purification except desalting through a Dowex 50 (H⁺) column was necessary in order to recover l-[¹⁴C]pipecolate in pure form. The yield was 95–97% compared to <50% in the conventional method.     

Conformational Studies of Dextran [α-(1⇒6)-D-Glucan]

Abstract

A theoretical conformational study of dextran, a (l?6)-linked α-D-glucan polysaccharide, has been made to allow an explicit comparison with earlier results on pustulan, the corresponding (1 ?6)-linked β-D-glucan. The nonbonded, torsional and hydrogen bond contributions to potential energy were calculated as a function of rotational angles φ, ψ, and ω The (φ, ψ, ω)-space of the disaccharide and of helices contain many local energy minima with very small energy differences. A comparison of (1?6)-α-D-glucans with (1?6)-β-D-glucans indicates significant differences in conformational behavior. Specifically, our results shed light on the fact that dextran does not gel, whereas pustulan does. The difference in tendency to gel may be related to the fact that dextran has no particularly favored conformations with structural regularity whereas pustulan does.     

Incorporation of [14C]glucosamine and [14C]leucine into mouse kidney β-glucuronidase induced by gonadotrophin

Male BALB/C mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2.5 i.u. of gonadotrophin. After the injection, increase of β-glucuronidase activity was first observed in the microsomal fraction. By 36h 45–50% of the total homogenate activity was found in the microsomal fraction compared with 20–25% in the control microsomal fraction. From 36 to 80h not only microsomal β-glucuronidase but also lysosomal β-glucuronidase increased progressively. After 69h stimulation with 2.5 i.u. of gonadotrophin, d-[1-¹⁴C]glucosamine or l-[U-¹⁴C]leucine was injected intraperitoneally. After a further 3h the kidneys were homogenized and five particulate fractions were prepared by differential centrifugation. The β-glucuronidase in the microsomal and lysosomal fractions was released respectively by ultrasonication and by freezing and thawing treatment. The enzyme was purified by organic-solvent precipitation and by sucrose-density-gradient centrifugation. The results demonstrated the incorporation of these two labels into the mouse renal β-glucuronidase. The microsomal β-glucuronidase was much more radioactive than the lysosomal enzyme and approx. 80% of the newly synthesized enzyme appeared in microsomes and approx. 20% of that was found in lysosomes at this period. These results suggest that the mouse renal β-glucuronidase is a glycoprotein and that the newly synthesized enzyme is transported from endoplasmic reticulum to lysosomes.     

Synthesis of polypyrrole within the cell wall of yeast by redox-cycling of [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4−

Yeast cells are often used as a model system in various experiments. Moreover, due to their high metabolic activity, yeast cells have a potential to be applied as elements in the design of biofuel cells and biosensors. However a wider application of yeast cells in electrochemical systems is limited due to high electric resistance of their cell wall. In order to reduce this problem we have polymerized conducting polymer polypyrrole (Ppy) directly in the cell wall and/or within periplasmic membrane. In this research the formation of Ppy was induced by [Fe(CN)₆]³⁻ions, which were generated from K₄[Fe(CN)₆], which was initially added to polymerization solution. The redox process was catalyzed by oxido-reductases, which are present in the plasma membrane of yeast cells. The formation of Ppy was confirmed by spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy. It was confirmed that the conducting polymer polypyrrole was formed within periplasmic space and/or within the cell wall of yeast cells, which were incubated in solution containing pyrrole, glucose and [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻. After 24 h drying at room temperature we have observed that Ppy-modified yeast cell walls retained their initial spherical form. In contrast to Ppy-modified cells, the walls of unmodified yeast have wrinkled after 24 h drying. The viability of yeast cells in the presence of different pyrrole concentrations has been evaluated.     

Synthesis and anti-HCV Evaluation of 4′(α)-ethyl and 2′(β)-methyl-carbodine Analogues

Novel 4′(α)-ethyl-2′(β)-methyl carbocyclic nucleoside analogues have been prepared and evaluated for inhibition of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA replication in cell culture. The construction of cyclopentene intermediate 12β was successfully made via sequential Johnson-Claisen orthoester rearrangement and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) starting from Weinreb amide 5. Selective dihydroxylation and desilylation gave the target carbodine analogues. The synthesized nucleoside analogues mentioned above 18 and 19 were assayed for their ability to inhibit HCV RNA replication in a subgenomic replicon Huh7 cell line (LucNeo#2). However, the synthesized nucleosides neither showed any significant antiviral activity nor toxicity up to 50 μM.     

A procedure for the synthesis of p-fluorosulfonyl[14C]-benzoyl-5′-adenosine with [14C] in the benzoyl moiety

Carboxy-p-fluorosulfonyl[¹⁴C]benzoyl-5′-adenosine has been synthesized with the radiolabel ultimately derived from carboxy-p-amino[¹⁴C]benzoic acid by a synthetic route employing four reaction steps. Starting with 1 mmol of p-amino[¹⁴C]benzoic acid, p-fluorosulfonyl[¹⁴C]benzoyl-5′-adenosine is obtained with an overall yield of 25–30%.     

Absolute configuration of 2′(R)-acetylmontrifoline and 2′(R)-montrifoline,furoquinolines from the fruits of Teclea nobilis

A phytochemical study on the alkaloids from Teclea nobilis yielded five furoquinolines, including the new acetylmontrifoline. The structures were elucidated from extensive 2D-NMR and MS experiments. The absolute configuration of the chiral center of montrifoline and of acetylmontrifoline was established as R by analysing the Mosher's derivatives and chemical modifications, respectively. All the five furoquinolines showed weak in vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, montrifoline being moderately active (56 μg/ml) and not cytotoxic.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 6H-pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5(6H)-ones as antimitotic agents and inhibitors of tubulin polymerization

A series of 6H-pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5(6H)-ones have been synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activities. Among them, compounds 2j and 4d displayed potent cytotoxic activities in vitro against HeLa cell line with IC₅₀ values of 0.07 and 0.06 μM, respectively. In general, the antiproliferative activities are correlated with the inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization and binding property of the colchicine binding site. In addition, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis revealed selected compounds caused G2/M phase arrest of the cell cycle and disruption of the mitotic spindle assembly, which had correlation with proliferation inhibitory activity.     

Interaction of α-cyano[14C]cinnamate with the mitochondrial pyruvate translocator

The binding of α-cyanocinnamate to rat-heart mitochondrial membrane was investigated using α-cyano[¹⁴C]cinnamate. The binding was correlated to the inhibition of pyruvate transport. The results obtained demonstrate that both these functions reach saturation at the same titre of the inhibitor. Quantitative parameters of α-cyano[¹⁴C]cinnamate binding have been determined. The binding can be prevented by pyruvate and other substrates of the carrier but not by acetate. Pyruvate decreases the affinity of α-cyanocinnamate binding, leaving the maximum number of binding unchanged. It is concluded that rat-heart mitochondria contain a specific site at which α-cyanocinnamate binds which is directly involved in the inhibition of pyruvate transport.     

Differential effects of veratridine and calcium on the release of [3H]noradrenaline and [14C]α-aminoisobutyrate from rat brain cortex slices

The efflux of [³H]noradrenaline (NA) and of the non transmitter, non metabolizable, amino acid [¹⁴C]α-aminoisobutyrate (AIB), was followed simultaneously from superfused rat brain cortex thin slices, that had been preloaded with those substances. Short (2 min) “pulses” of increasing veratridine concentrations were applied at 10 min intervals. When calcium in the superfusion fluid was 1 mM, [³H]NA efflux increased progressively with pulses of 1, 3, 10 and 30 μM veratridine, but further increase to 100 μM resulted in a decrease of the induced ³H-efflux. Veratridine-enhanced [³H]NA efflux decreased considerably in 0.1 mM calcium and was virtually suppressed when no calcium was added to the superfusion fluid. In 1 mM calcium, the efflux of [¹⁴C] AIB was increased progressively by pulses of 10, 30 and 100 μM veratridine, but no increase in efflux was seen with 1 or 3 μM drug. In 0.1 mM, or without added calcium, the induced efflux of [¹⁴C]AIB was markedly increased. Similar findings were seen when a long (10 min) pulse of 10 μM veratridine was given. After such long pulses there was a rapid return of AIB efflux to pre-veratridine levels if calcium was 1 mM, but in the absence of added calcium, the return to baseline levels of both [³H]NA and, especially, that of [¹⁴C]AIB efflux, was greatly impaired. The veratridine enhanced efflux of both NA and AIB was entirely blocked by 1 μM tetrodotoxin.     

Incorporation of label from d-β-hydroxy-[14C]butyrate and [3-14C]acetoacetate into amino acids in rat brain in vivo

The metabolism of ketone bodies by rat brain was studied in vivo. Rats starved for 48h were given either d-beta-hydroxy[3-(14)C]butyrate or [3-(14)C]acetoacetate by intravenous injection and killed after 3 or 10min. Total radioactivity in the acid-soluble material of the brain and the specific radioactivities of the brain amino acids glutamate, glutamine, aspartate and gamma-aminobutyrate were determined. A group of fed animals were also given d-beta-hydroxy[3-(14)C]butyrate. In the brains of all animals (14)C was present in the acid-soluble material and the specific radioactivity of glutamate was greater than that of glutamine.     

The metabolism of N6(Δ2-isosopentenyl) [3H]adenine by different stem sections of Pisum sativum

Serial segments of internodal stem tissue were isolated from Pisum sativum L. shoots and incubated in a medium containing N⁶(²-isosopentenyl) [³H]adenine. The recovery of radioactive derivatives separated using HPLC indicated a gradient of cytokinin metabolic activity in the stem. This gradient of activity was found to be greatest at the basal node in young seedlings but was high both at upper and lower nodes in older plants. An attempt to correlate this phenomenon with the basipetally decreasing concentration of indole-3-acetic acid in the stem led to an experiment in which stem segments were pretreated in indole-3-acetic acid solutions before incubating in a medium containing N⁶(²-isosopentenyl) [³H]adenine. Indole-3-acetic acid was found to have a marked effect on cytokinin metabolism in isolated stem segments. These results are discussed in relation to apical dominance in the shoot.     

P[4]、P[6]和P[8]型轮状病毒VP8*核心区蛋白的表达和纯化

为进一步深入研究我国人群中轮状病毒主要流行的P[4]、P[6]和P[8]型毒株的受体结合特点及结构基础,本研究将P[4]、P[6]和P[8]型毒株VP8*核心区(VP8*core)基因分别构建到原核表达载体pGEX4T-1和pET30a中,利用大肠杆菌表达获得轮状病毒P[4]、P[6]和P[8]型毒株VP8*核心区蛋白,并通过亲和层析分别纯化得到VP8*core-GST融合蛋白和VP8*-his标签蛋白,SDS-PAGE显示蛋白大小分别为46kDa和20kDa。综上,本研究成功构建了pGEX4T-1-VP8*core和pET30a-VP8*core重组质粒,利用原核表达系统得到VP8*coreGST融合蛋白和VP8*core-his蛋白,为VP8*蛋白的功能和结构研究提供基础。     

An Efficient Method for the Synthesis of [4–15N]Cytidine, 2′-Deoxy[4–15N]Cytidine, [6–15N]adenosine,and 2′-Deoxy [6–15N]adenosine Derivatives

Abstract

Nucleophilic substitution reactions of 4-azolyl-1 β-P-D-ribofuranosylpyrimidin-2(1H)-one and 6-azolyl-9-β-D-ribofuranosyl-9H-purine derivatives, which were converted from uridine and inosine, with [¹⁵N]phthalimide in the presence of triethylamine or DBU gave N ⁴-phthaloyl[4-¹⁵N]cytidine and N ⁶-phthaloyl[6-¹⁵N]- adenosine derivatives, respectively, in high yields. Similar reactions of those azolyl derivatives with succinimide afforded N ⁴-succinylcytidine and N ⁶-succinyladenosine derivatives in high yields. The corresponding 2′-deoxyribonucleosides were also synthesized efficiently through the same procedure.

     

双链核糖核酸免疫化学研究 Ⅰ.双链多聚[I]:多聚[C]的抗原性

用国产多聚肌苷酸和多聚胞嘧啶核苷酸(简称多聚[I]:多聚[C])制备成双链核糖核酸特异性抗血清,用环状沉淀和~3H标记的番茄花叶病毒双链核糖核酸测得抗血清效价分别为1:128和1:6400。用免疫琼脂双扩散、对流免疫电泳和放射免疫测定可测定出多聚[I]:多聚[C]的最低浓度分别为391ng、12.2/ng和10pg/ml抗血清和酵母、TMV、PVX 的单链核糖核酸、小牛胸腺DNA不反应。试验证明用国产多聚[I]:多聚[C]制备的抗血清,可有效地用干双链核糖核酸的免疫化学鉴定。由于在免疫双扩散和对流免疫电泳中抗血清能和微量双链核糖核酸反应并产生可见沉淀线,从而有可能利用这两种简便灵敏的方法测定病毒的双链RNA,单链RNA病毒的RF型RNA,以及双链RNA真菌病毒的筛选。     

Investigation of antioxidant properties of some 6-(α-aminobenzyl)thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazole-5-ol compounds

Promising antiinflammatory activity together with low ulcerogenic properties of some Michael addition products of thiazolo[3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazole-5(6H)-ones which have been synthesized in our previous study, prompted us to investigate their antioxidant properties. Since compound Ib has both antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities beside the lowest ulcerogenic incidence, it was selected for investigation of its inhibitory effect on various cyclooxygenase ezymes. It was found that while it did not inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme, there was a small inhibitory effect (17%) on COX-2 enzyme. We concluded that the diminished harmful effects on the stomach of this novel antiinflammatory compound were related to its antioxidant properties since it is ineffective on COX-1 enzyme. In conclusion, the compounds having both antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities with a lack of COX-1 enzyme inhibitory effect may improve the gastrointestinal safety profile of such compounds.     

Studies of the interaction of tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril and 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl hydrochloride

The interaction between tetramethylcucurbit[6]uril (host) and 5,5'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl hydrochloride (guest) was studied by 1H NMR, X-ray crystallography, electronic absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectra and quantum chemistry calculations. This experimental-computational study that indicated the host can orientationally encapsulate the guest with a moderate association constant value. Computation qualitatively explained the split UV-visible absorption peak of the inclusion complex.     

Synthesis of novel spiro[pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidinones and spiro[benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,3′-indoline]-2′,4(3H)-diones and their evaluation for anticancer activity

An efficient and novel method for the preparation of spiro[pyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin]-7′(1′H)-ones by the condensation of 4-amino-1-methyl-3-propylpyrazole-5-carboxamide with ketones under mild conditions using catalytic InCl₃ was reported. This method has been extended for the synthesis of novel spiro[benzo[4,5]thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,3′-indoline]-2′,4(3H)-dione which are having potential applications in medicinal chemistry. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-proliferative properties in vitro against cancer cell lines and several compounds were found to be active. Further in vitro studies revealed that inhibition of sirtuins could be the possible mechanism of action of these molecules.     

Discovery of novel 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine derivatives as γ-secretase modulators (Part 2)

γ-Secretase modulators (GSMs), which lower pathogenic amyloid beta (Aβ) without affecting the production of total Aβ or Notch signal, have emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A novel series of 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridine derivatives was discovered and characterized as GSMs. Optimization of substituents at the 8-position of the core scaffold using ligand-lipophilicity efficiency (LLE) as a drug-likeness guideline led to identification of various types of high-LLE GSMs. Phenoxy compound (R)-17 exhibited especially high LLE as well as potent in vivo Aβ₄₂-lowering effect by single administration. Furthermore, multiple oral administration of (R)-17 significantly reduced soluble and insoluble brain Aβ₄₂, and ameliorated cognitive deficit in novel object recognition test (NORT) using Tg2576 mice as an AD model.