Synthesis of novel nucleotide analogues possessing a difluoromethylenephosphonato group. Evaluation of the inhibitory activity for purine nucleoside phosphorylase.

Novel nucleotide analogues 1-6 were prepared as "multi-substrate" analogue inhibitors for purine nucleoside phosphorylases (PNPs). The cyclopropane and the tetrahydrofuran moieties of the alkyl spacer connecting a nucleobase and difluoromethylene phosphonic acid were found to be effective for good inhibition of PNPs.     

Inhibition of mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyl transferase by 2-tetradecylglycidic acid (McN-3802) (Preliminary Communication)

The oral hypoglycemic agent, 2-tetradecylglycidic acid (McN-3802), which has been reported to inhibit the oxidation of long chain but not short chain fatty acids in isolated rat hepatocytes and muscle preparations, inhibited the oxidation of palmitoyl CoA and palmitic acid by rat liver mitochondria. The drug itself, which is a fatty acid analog, was not oxidized by mitochondria. Evidence is presented that 2-tetradecylglycidic acid (or its coenzyme A ester) inhibits fatty acid oxidation by irreversibly inhibiting mitochondrial carnitine palmitoyltransferase. The drug did not inhibit mitochondrial palmitoyl-CoA synthetase.     

Effects of amino acid analogues on protein degradation in isolated rat hepatocytes

Analogues and derivatives of six of the amino acids which most effectively inhibit protein degradation in isolated rat hepatocytes (leucine, asparagine, glutamine, histidine, phenylalanine and tryptophan) were investigated to see if they could antagonize or mimic the effect of the parent compound. No antagonists were found. Amino alcohols and amino acid amides tended to inhibit protein degradation strongly, apparently by a direct lysosomotropic effect as indicated by their ability to cause lysosomal vacuolation. Amino acid alkyl esters and dipeptides inhibited degradation to approximately the same extent as did their parent amino acids, possibly by being converted to free amino acids intracellularly. Of several leucine analogues tested, four (L-norleucine, L-norvaline, D-norleucine and L-allo-isoleucine) were found to be as effective as leucine in inhibiting protein degradation. None of the analogues had any effect on protein synthesis. Since leucine appears to play a unique role as a regulator of bulk autophagy in hepatocytes, the availability of active leucine agonists may help tj elucidate the biochemical mechanism for control of this important process.     

General methods for the synthesis of glycopyranosyluronic acid azides

Per-O-acetylated D-glycopyranoses derived from both mono- and disaccharides were first converted to glycosyl iodides and subsequently reacted with an azide source to achieve the stereoselective synthesis of beta-D-glycosyl azides after deacetylation. Low-temperature (4 degrees C) TEMPO oxidation of the monosaccharides provided the corresponding uronic acids, which were purified as the free acids. Oxidation of the lactosyl- and cellobiosyl azides resulted in diacid formation. However, 4',6'-O-benzylidene protection enabled selective oxidation of the C-6 hydroxyl. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glycopyranosyl azides were also prepared and converted to uronic acids completing the library synthesis.     

Endogenous inhibitors of human placental prostaglandin dehydrogenase.

The presence of endogenous inhibitors of NAD(+)-dependent 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH) has been indicated by increasing total activity after the initial purification step of PGDH in human placenta. Based on this observation, we tried to characterize and analyze endogenous inhibitors of PGDH in human placenta in this study. The inhibitors were extracted from the supernatant by precipitation at pH 5.2 and partially purified by acetone precipitation and by thin layer chromatography. The inhibitors were stable to heating at 100 degrees C for 10 min, and to trypsin digestion. The pattern of inhibition was competitive with regard to PGE2 and uncompetitive with regard to NAD at pH 8.0. The Ki value for PGE2 was 18.9 microM. Analysis by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry indicated that the inhibitors consisted of fatty acids which were palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acids. Myristic, palmitic and stearic acids were confirmed to exert an inhibitory action on PGDH and showed a competitive inhibition pattern. Stearic acid was less potent in inhibition than other fatty acids. These findings suggest that intracellular fatty acids may play a unique role in the control of PGDH activity.     

The effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites on osteoclastogenesis in vitro

Bone homeostasis is maintained by active remodeling through the balance between resorption (by osteoclasts) and synthesis (by osteoblasts). In this study, we examined the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and their metabolites on sRANKL-induced differentiation of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) into osteoclasts in vitro. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) strongly inhibited osteoclastogenesis; however, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) enhanced it. The enhancement effect of PUFAs on osteoclastogenesis was mediated predominantly by cyclooxygenase (COX) products, because the effect was inhibited by a COX inhibitor. It was also found that COX products of PUFAs, prostaglandin E₁, E₂, and E₃, clearly increased in osteoclastogenesis. The inhibitory effect of DHA on osteoclastogenesis was reversed by treatment with a lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitor. Furthermore, resolvin D1, a LOX product of DHA, significantly inhibited osteoclastogenesis. Quantitative analysis of specific mRNA levels revealed that DHA-mediated attenuation of osteoclastogenesis might be due to a decrease in DC-STAMP expression. These results suggested that the effect of DHA on osteoclastogenesis is, at least in part, mediated by lipoxygenase products. This study showed a distinct mechanism of the effect of PUFAs on osteoclastogenesis and will provide evidence for therapeutic treatment with DHA in osteoporotic patients.     

Synthesis and biological activity of isopentenyl diphosphate analogues

A series of analogues of isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) having a dicarboxylate moiety in place of the diphosphate were synthesized and investigated as inhibitors of undecaprenyl diphosphate (UPP) synthase and protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase). PFTase is involved in control of cell proliferation and is known to be inhibited by certain maleic acid derivatives bearing long alkyl substituents (> or =12 carbons, e.g., chaetomellic acid). UPP synthase is a potential target for antimicrobial agents and utilizes isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) as a substrate. A number of dicarboxylate-containing IPP analogues were prepared in 2-5 steps from commercially available starting materials with good overall yield (20-78%). These syntheses involved the conjugate addition of an organocuprate to dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate (DMAD) followed by basic ester hydrolysis. The E-pentenylbutanedioic acid 32 showed inhibition of UPP synthase with an IC(50) of 135 microM. Compound 30 displays competitive inhibition of PFTase with a K(i) of 287 microM.     

RANKing intracellular signaling in osteoclasts

RANKL plays a pivotal role in the differentiation, function and survival of osteoclasts, the principal bone-resorbing cells. RANKL exerts the effects by binding RANK, the receptor activator of NF-kappaB, in osteoclasts and its precursors. Upon binding RANKL, RANK activates six major signaling pathways: NFATc1, NF-kappaB, Akt/PKB, JNK, ERK and p38, which play distinct roles in osteoclast differentiation, function and survival. Recent studies have not only provided more insights into RANK signaling but have also revealed that several factors, including INF-gamma, IFN-beta, and ITAM-activated costimulatory signals, regulate osteoclastogenesis via direct crosstalk with RANK signaling. It was recently shown that RANK contains three functional motifs capable of mediating osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, although both IFN-gamma and IFN-beta inhibit osteoclastogenesis, they exert the inhibitory effects by distinct mechanisms. Whereas IFN-gamma has been shown to block osteoclastogenesis by promoting degradation of TRAF6, IFN-beta inhibits osteoclastogenesis by down-regulating c-fos expression. In contrast, the ITAM-activated costimulatory signals positively regulate osteoclastogenesis by mediating the activation of NFATc1 through two ITAM-harboring adaptors: FcRgamma and DAP12. This review is focused on discussing the current understanding of RANK signaling and signaling crosstalk between RANK and the various factors in osteoclasts.     

Biological Control of Phytopathogenic Fungi by Fatty Acids

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of fatty acids against phytopathogenic fungi. Two pot experiments were conducted by mixing palmitic and oleic acids in the soil in which poor plant growth was observed. In addition, the antifungal activities of nine fatty acids (butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid) against four phytopathogenic fungi: Alternaria solani, Colletotrichum lagenarium, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cucumerinum, and Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, were assessed by measuring mycelial growth and spore germination via Petri dish assay. The results of the pot experiments showed that the mixture of palmitic and oleic acids enhanced the growth of the seedlings of continuous-tomato and continuous-cucumber. Except for oleic acid, in the Petri dish assay, the fatty acids tested were observed to inhibit the mycelial growth of one or more tested fungi. In addition to the suppression of mycelial growth, butyric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, lauric acid, and palmitic acid showed an inhibitory effect against spore germination and the extent of inhibition varied with both the type of fatty acids, and the fungi. In particular, capric acid displayed strong inhibitory effect against C. lagenarium on the mycelial growth and spore germination. The saturated fatty acids, i.e. palmitic acids, showed stronger antifungal activity than the unsaturated fatty acids, i.e. oleic acid. It suggests that fatty acids might be applicable to exploring for alternative approaches to integrated control of phytopathogens.     

Antiprotozoal activities of symmetrical bishydroxamic acids

Symmetrical bishydroxamic acids along with their sodium salts containing an alkyl spacer between two aromatic rings were synthesized, and their antiparasitic activities were evaluated. Bishydroxamic acids were conveniently prepared from the alkylation of methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate with various dihalo-alkane, -alkene, and -ether followed by reaction with hydroxylamine. Surprisingly, the bishydroxamic acids and their sodium salts possess strong inhibitory activities against Plasmodium falciparum parasites with IC50 values in the range of 0.26-3.2 microM. Bishydroxamic acid 3 and its sodium salt 12 also inhibit the growth of Leishmania donovani, albeit at higher concentrations. The corresponding biscarboxylic acids and bismethyl esters are inactive. Presumably, the ability of bishydroxamic acids to complex with metallic iron in hemoglobin may be responsible for antimalarial activity of these compounds.     

On the Role of Long-Chain Aldehydes in Mammalian Plasmalogen Biosynthesis

Abstract: [1-³H, 1-¹⁴C]Palmitaldehyde(³H:¹⁴C= 15) was injected intracerebrally to 18-day-old rats and incorporation of radioactivity into brain lipids was followed over a 24-h period. The substrate was metabolized primarily by oxidation to palmitic acid with loss of tritium and, to a lesser extent, by reduction to hexadecanol. The alkyl moieties of the ethanolamine phospholipids showed considerably lower ³H:¹⁴C ratios than the substrate, indicating a substantial participation in ether lipid synthesis by tritium-free alcohols derived from ¹⁴C-labeled fatty acids. Virtually no ³H radioactivity was found in alkenyl moieties, indicating stereospecificity of both reduction of aldehyde and dehydrogenation of alkyl to alkenyl glycerolipid. The data are consistent with the general concept that plasmalogen biosynthesis proceeds exclusively through fatty alcohols and alkyl glycerolipids and that fatty aldehydes cannot be utilized directly.     

Liver fatty acid binding protein expression enhances branched-chain fatty acid metabolism

Although liver fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) is known to enhance uptake and esterification of straight-chain fatty acids such as palmitic acid and oleic acid, its effects on oxidation and further metabolism of branched-chain fatty acids such as phytanic acid are not completely understood. The present data demonstrate for the first time that expression of L-FABP enhanced initial rate and average maximal oxidation of [2,3-3H] phytanic acid 3.5- and 1.5-fold, respectively. This enhancement was not due to increased [2,3-3H] phytanic acid uptake, which was only slightly stimulated (20%) in L-FABP expressing cells after 30 min. Similarly, L-FABP also enhanced the average maximal oxidation of [9,10-3H] palmitic acid 2.2-fold after incubation for 30 min. However, the stimulation of L-FABP on palmitic acid oxidation nearly paralleled its 3.3-fold enhancement of uptake. To determine effects of metabolism on fatty acid uptake, a non-metabolizable fluorescent saturated fatty acid, BODIPY-C16, was examined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). L-FABP expression enhanced uptake of BODIPY-C16 1.7-fold demonstrating that L-FABP enhanced saturated fatty acid uptake independent of metabolism. Finally, L-FABP expression did not significantly alter [2,3-3H] phytanic acid esterification, but increased [9,10-3H] palmitic acid esterification 4.5-fold, primarily into phospholipids (3.7-fold) and neutral lipids (9-fold). In summary, L-FABP expression enhanced branched-chain phytanic acid oxidation much more than either its uptake or esterification. These data demonstrate a potential role for L-FABP in the peroxisomal oxidation of branched-chain fatty acids in intact cells.     

Hydrophobic transmembrane-peptide lipid conjugations enhance membrane binding and functional activity in T-cells

Application of different delivery methods for therapeutic peptides has gained much attention in recent years. In this paper we conjugated a transmembrane hydrophobic peptide (core peptide; CP) derived from the T-cell antigen receptor alpha-chain sequence with either one (LP1), two (LP2), or three (LP3) palmitic acids through a Tris linkage. The effect of these lipopeptides (LPs) were compared to CP's activity both in vitro and in model membrane binding experiments using surface plasmon resonance. The influence of charged amino acids, arginine and lysine, within the CP sequence was examined by synthesizing analogues where arginine and lysine were replaced by the neutral amino acid alanine and these analogues were subsequently Tris-lipid conjugated with either one (XP1), two (XP2), or three (XP3) palmitic acids through a Tris linkage. The results indicated that the amount of irreversible binding for LPs were all greater than that of the underivatized CP in model membranes. None of the LPs could be dissociated from the liposome membranes, even after prolonged washing. Binding results for the neutral conjugates showed that only the XP1 bound to model membranes. This binding was 20% as efficient compared to LP1. In biological assays it was found that LP1 and XP1 were toxic to cells. LP3 inhibited IL-2 production more effectively than CP. Control lipopeptides (XP2, XP3) did not inhibit IL-2 production. These results demonstrate that the number of lipids conjugated to peptide, and the charged amino acids of CP, are both essential factors for peptide function and activity that can be enhanced by lipidation.     

Adrenoleukodystrophy: impaired oxidation of fatty acids due to peroxisomal lignoceroyl-CoA ligase deficiency

Very long chain fatty acids (lignoceric acid) are oxidized in peroxisomes and pathognomonic amounts of these fatty acids accumulate in X-adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) due to a defect in their oxidation. However, in cellular homogenates from X-ALD cells, lignoceric acid is oxidized at a rate of 38% of control cells. Therefore, to identify the source of this residual activity we raised antibody to palmitoyl-CoA ligase and examined its effect on the activation and oxidation of palmitic and lignoceric acids in isolated peroxisomes from control and X-ALD fibroblasts. The normalization of peroxisomal lignoceric acid oxidation in the presence of exogenously added acyl-CoA ligases and along with the complete inhibition of activation and oxidation of palmitic and lignoceric acids in peroxisomes from X-ALD by antibody to palmitoyl-CoA ligase provides direct evidence that lignoceroyl-CoA ligase is deficient in X-ALD and demonstrates that the residual activity for the oxidation of lignoceric acid was derived from the activation of lignoceric acid by peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA ligase. This antibody inhibited the activation and oxidation of palmitic acid but had little effect on these activities for lignoceric acid in peroxisomes from control cells. Furthermore, these data provide evidence that peroxisomal palmitoyl-CoA and lignoceroyl-CoA ligases are two different enzymes.     

Estrogen directly attenuates human osteoclastogenesis, but has no effect on resorption by mature osteoclasts

Estrogen deficiency arising with the menopause promotes marked acceleration of bone resorption, which can be restored by hormone replacement therapy. The inhibitory effects of estrogen seem to involve indirect cytokine- mediated effects via supporting bone marrow cells, but direct estrogen-receptor mediated effects on the bone-resorbing osteoclasts have also been proposed. Little information is available on whether estrogens modulate human osteoclastogenesis or merely inhibit the functional activity of osteoclasts. To clarify whether estrogens directly modulate osteoclastic activities human CD14+ monocytes were cultured in the presence of M-CSF and RANKL to induce osteoclast differentiation. Addition of 0.1-10 nM 17beta-estradiol to differentiating osteoclasts resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) activity reaching 60% at 0.1 nM. In addition, 17beta-estradiol inhibited bone resorption, as measured by the release of the C-terminal crosslinked telopeptide (CTX), by 60% at 0.1 nM, but had no effect on the overall cell viability. In contrast to the results obtained with differentiating osteoclasts, addition of 17beta-estradiol (0.001-10 nM) to mature osteoclasts did not affect bone resorption or TRACP activity. We investigated expression of the estrogen receptors, using immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. We found that ER-alpha is expressed in osteoclast precursors, whereas ER- beta is expressed at all stages, indicating that the inhibitory effect of estrogen on osteoclastogenesis is mediated by ER-alpha for the major part. In conclusion, these results suggest that the in vivo effects of estrogen are mediated by reduction of osteoclastogenesis rather than direct inhibition of the resorptive activity of mature osteoclasts.     

Breast cancer cell line MDA-MB 231 exerts a potent and direct anti-apoptotic effect on mature osteoclasts

Cancer cells metastasized to bone stimulate osteoclastogenesis resulting in bone destruction. However, the influence of tumor cells on fully differentiated osteoclasts is much less known. We postulated that breast cancer cells directly stimulate the survival of mature osteoclasts. We thus tested the effect of conditioned media (CM) prepared from MDA-MB-231 cells on the activity and apoptosis of osteoclasts isolated from 10-day-old rabbit long bones. First, we demonstrated that CM increased the bone resorbing activity in our cell model of rabbit mature osteoclasts. Using a highly purified osteoclast cell population, we found that MDA-MB-231 CM dramatically inhibited osteoclast apoptosis. In the presence of 20% CM, apoptosis was decreased by approximately 60%. LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, strongly prevented the CM anti-apoptotic effect. Neutralizing experiments with human antibody revealed that macrophage-colony stimulating factor originating from MDA-MB 231 cells was possibly involved in the CM anti-apoptotic effect. These results suggest that breast cancer cells, in addition to stimulating osteoclastogenesis, potently inhibit mature osteoclast apoptosis, a mechanism which may greatly contribute to their osteolytic potential.     

Efficient scavenging of hydroxyl radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by novel analogues of 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid.

New water-soluble analogues of 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid with N-1 methyl replaced by various groups were prepared and evaluated for their ability to scavenge hydroxyl radicals as well as their protective potential against lipid peroxidation in erythrocyte membranes. The deoxyribose degradation method indicates that all the analogues tested effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals and some of them show better activity than uric acid and methyluric acids. These effects are shown to be concentration dependent and are more potent at low concentrations (10-50 microM). Among the analogues tested, 1-butenyl-, 1-propargyl- and 1-benzyl-3,7-dimethyluric acids show high hydroxyl radical scavenging property with a reaction rate constant (Ks) of 3.2-6.7 x 10(10) M(-1) S(-1), 2.3-3.7 x 10(10) M(-1) S(-1) and 2.4-3.7 x 10(10) M(-1) S(-1), respectively. The effectiveness of these analogues as hydroxyl radical scavengers appears to be better than mannitol (Ks, 1.9-2.5 x 10(9) M(-1) S(-1)). With the exception of 1-pentyl- and 1-(2'-oxopropyl)-3,7-dimethyluric acids, all other analogues tested are effective inhibitors of tert-butylhydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation in human erythrocyte membranes. All the analogues tested are susceptible to peroxidation in the presence of hemoprotein and hydrogen peroxide. The present study has pointed out that it is possible to significantly enhance the antioxidant property of 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid by structural modification at N-1 position. Such compounds may be useful as antioxidants in vivo.     

Synthesis of N-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)- and N-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl) amides as inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase

2,3,4,6-Tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl azides were transformed into the corresponding per-O-acetylated N-(beta-D-glycopyranosyl) amides via a PMe(3) mediated Staudinger protocol (generation of N-(beta-D-glycopyranosyl)imino-trimethylphosphoranes followed by acylation with carboxylic acids, acid chlorides or anhydrides). The deprotected compounds obtained by Zemplén deacetylation were evaluated as inhibitors of rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase b. The best inhibitor of this series has been N-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl) 3-(2-naphthyl)-propenoic amide (K(i)=3.5microM).