Biologic properties of homogeneous interleukin 3. I. Demonstration of WEHI-3 growth factor activity, mast cell growth factor activity, p cell-stimulating factor activity, colony-stimulating factor activity, and histamine-producing cell-stimulating factor activity

Interleukin 3 (IL 3) was initially defined as a factor in conditioned media from concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes (Con A CM) that induces the enzyme 20-alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20 alpha SDH) in cultures of nu/nu splenic lymphocytes. To determine the spectrum of additional "biologic" activities, IL 3 was purified to homogeneity and its properties were assessed. The protein preparation was judged to be homogeneous IL 3 by the following criteria: 1) elution of a peak of IL 3 with a constant specific activity in the last step of purification, 2) presence of a single protein by SDS-PAGE analysis, 3) receptor-binding activity against IL 3-dependent cell lines, 4) a specific activity of congruent to 0.2 ng/ml required for 50% of maximal biologic activity, and 5) the presence of a single amino terminal sequence. With the use of this preparation of IL 3, the dose-response curves for 20 alpha SDH induction were identical or similar to the dose-response curves for the activities of 1) WEHI-3 growth factor, 2) mast cell growth factor, 3) P cell-stimulating factor, and 4) histamine-producing cell-stimulating factor. In addition, homogeneous IL 3 had colony-stimulating factor activity, although only approximately 2% of the total CSF activity found in Con A CM was associated with IL 3. The major peak of CSF activity could be resolved from IL 3 by DEAE column chromatography and lacked many of the biologic activities associated with IL 3.     

Hydrogen peroxide inhibits activation, not activity, of cellular caspase-3 in vivo

Oxidants such as H(2)O(2) can induce a low level of apoptosis at low concentrations but at higher concentrations cause necrosis. Higher concentrations of H(2)O(2) also inhibit the induction of apoptosis by chemotherapy drugs. One theory is that, at higher concentrations, H(2)O(2) causes direct oxidative inactivation of caspase-3 activity, thus preventing the apoptotic pathway from being used. We find that treatment of recombinant caspase-3 with H(2)O(2) can partially reduce its enzymatic activity: However, the following findings show that this does not occur in the cell. (1) The inhibition by H(2)O(2) of VP-16-induced apoptosis and cellular caspase-3 activity can be overcome by adding inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) at sub-stoichiometric concentrations. (2) Delayed addition of H(2)O(2) to VP-16-treated cells prevents additional caspase induction but does not inhibit the caspase activity that has already been generated. (3) H(2)O(2) is a poor inhibitor of caspase-3 activity in cell lysates. (4) Addition of H(2)O(2) to cells inhibits activation of caspase-9, which is required for activation of caspase-3. We conclude that inhibition of caspase-3 activity in the cell occurs indirectly at a step located upstream of caspase-3 activation. H(2)O(2) acts in part by inducing DNA strand breaks and activating PARP, thus depleting the cells of ATP. When this pathway is blocked, even high concentrations of H(2)O(2) can induce caspase-9 and -3 activation and cause apoptosis.     

Synthesis, tuberculosis inhibitory activity, and SAR study of N-substituted-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole derivatives

The aim of this work was to describe the synthesis, the in vitro anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis profile, and the structure–activity relationship (SAR) study of new N-substituted-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbaldehydes (3a–l). The reactions of aromatic amine hydrochlorides with diazomalonaldehyde (1) produced several N-substituted-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbaldehydes (3a–l) in moderate-to-good yields. In order to investigate the influence of the difluoromethylene group on the anti-Mycobacterium activity of these compounds, fluorination of triazoles with DAST converted the corresponding carbaldehyde compounds into new difluoromethyl derivatives (4a–l) in excellent yield. Characterization of all compounds was achieved by spectroscopic means and additional for 1-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbaldehyde, 3k by X-ray crystallography. Compounds (3a–l) and (4a–l) have been screened for the inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain (ATCC 27294) and all of them were able to inhibit the growth of the bacterium. Interestingly, 3a and 3k exhibited the best inhibition with MIC values of 2.5 μg/mL, similar to pharmaceuticals currently used in the treatment of tuberculosis. Our SAR study indicated the importance of the hydrogen bond acceptor subunit (3a–l), the position in the aromatic ring, the planarity of triazole and phenyl rings in these compounds, and a correlation between the uniform HOMO coefficient distribution and the anti-tubercular activity. The significant activity of 3a and 3k pointed them as promising lead molecules for further synthetic and biological exploration.     

Identification, Development, and Regional Distribution of Thymidylate Synthetase in Adult Rabbit Brain

Abstract: The development and regional distribution of thymidylate synthetase (TS) (EC 2.1.1.45) in rabbit brain were determined. After optimization of the assay for brain, TS activity in brain was measured by a nonspecific (³H₂O release) and specific method. The specific method involved the conversion of [6-³H]deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) to [³H]thymidine phosphate and the subsequent identification of [³H]thymidine. The specific activity of the enzyme in whole brain of newborn rabbits declined from 10.35 ± 1.17 units/mg protein to 0.71 ± 0.09 units/mg protein at 10–12 weeks of age. Two-year-old rabbits had 0.81 ± 0.04 units/mg protein. The decline in specific activity with age was not due to an inhibitor of TS activity or a change in the K_m for dUMP. The K_m for dUMP of the unpurified enzyme in the brains of both 10-day-old and young adult rabbits was 0.8 μ m . In young adult rabbits (3 months) the specific activity of TS was similar in the various regions of the brain tested except for the cerebellum, which had 40% higher specific activity than the whole brain. The results show that TS is widely distributed in adult rabbit brain, and, although the activity declines with age, it stabilizes at adult levels at 3 months of age.     

Regulation of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity by human chorionic gonadotropin, androgens, and anti-androgens in cultured testicular cells

delta 5-3 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is a key enzyme for testicular androgen biosynthesis and a marker for the Leydig cells. The hormonal regulation of this enzyme was studied in cultured rat testicular cells. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increased testosterone production in vitro while time course studies indicated a biphasic action of the gonadotropin on 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. An initial stimulation (51%) of the enzyme was detected between 3 and 12 h of culture when medium testosterone was low. This is followed by an inhibition of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity on days 2 and 3 of culture when medium testosterone was elevated. Concomitant treatment with a synthetic androgen (R1881) inhibited 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and testosterone production in hCG-treated cultures while an anti-androgen (cyproterone acetate) increased 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and testosterone biosynthesis. Addition of 10(-5) M spironolactone, an inhibitor of 17 alpha-hydroxylase, blocked the hCG stimulation of testosterone production but increased medium progesterone. In the absence of the secreted androgen, hCG stimulated 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in a time- and dose-related manner. Furthermore, hCG stimulation of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and progesterone accumulation in spironolactone-supplemented cultures was decreased by concomitant treatment with R1881 but was not affected by cyproterone acetate. The inhibitory effect of R1881 was blocked by the anti-androgen. In the absence of hCG, treatment with testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, or R1881, but not promegestone, alone also inhibited 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity while the inhibitory effect of testosterone was blocked by cyproterone acetate. Thus, hCG stimulates 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in cultured testicular cells. The androgenic steroidogenic end products, in turn, inhibit this enzyme. The hormonal regulation of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity may be important in the ultrashort loop autoregulation of androgen biosynthesis.     

Effect of flutamide on 5 alpha-reductases, 5 beta-reductases, and 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases in rat liver

Flutamide (0.5 mM) decreased in vitro the activity of NADH-5 alpha-reductase (substrate testosterone) in liver homogenate of male and female rats, whereas no change of activity of NADPH-5 alpha-reductase was observed. NADH- and NADPH-5 beta-reductase activity increased only in liver of female, but not of male rats. NAD+-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and NAD+-3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (substrate 5 alpha-dihydro-testosterone) in liver homogenate from female rats were inhibited by flutamide (0.5 mM), whereas the activity of NADP+-3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (substrate 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone) and of NAD+-3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (substrate 5 beta-dihydrotestosterone) increased in presence of flutamide. The activity of NADH- and NADPH-5 alpha-reductase decreased after flutamide administration to female rats at a dose of 5 mg per day for 7 days.     

Design,synthesis, biological activities and DFT calculation of novel 1,2,4-triazole Schiff base derivatives

Series of 1,2,4-triazole Schiff bases (2a-2d, 2f-2h and 3a-3h) have been designed and synthesized. The structure of title compounds was confirmed on the basis of their spectral data and elemental analysis. All the target compounds were screened for their in vitro antifungal activity and antibacterial activity. Two of the tested compounds (2a and 2b) exhibited significant antifungal activity against most fungi, especially compound 2a showed better antifungal activity than triadimefon. Meanwhile, the antibacterial activity assay also indicated compound 2a exhibited excellent antibacterial activities comparable to chloramphenicol. The SAR manifested no substitution at position 5 of the triazole ring caused an increase in activity, and 3-phenoxy phenyl group introduced in 1,2,4-triazole scaffold can enhance the antibacterial activity. The DFT calculation indicated triazole ring, S atom and benzene ring in both of the 2a and 3a make a major contribution to the activity.     

Naphthalene Derivatives and Quinones from Ventilago denticulata and Their Nitric Oxide Radical Scavenging,Antioxidant, Cytotoxic,Antibacterial, and Phosphodiesterase Inhibitory Activities

New naphthalene derivatives ( 1 and 2 ) and a new isomer ( 3 ) of ventilagolin, together with known anthraquinones, chrysophanol ( 4 ), physcion or emodin 3‐methyl ether ( 5 ), and emodin ( 6 ), were isolated from vines of Ventilago denticulata. The isolated compounds exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values of 1.15 – 40.54 μg/ml. Compounds 1 – 3 selectively exhibited weak antibacterial activity (MIC values of 200.0 – 400.0 μg/ml), while emodin ( 6 ) displayed moderate antibacterial activity with MIC value of 25.0 μg/ml. The isolated compounds showed nitric oxide and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Compounds 1 – 3 and 6 exhibited weak xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity, while emodin ( 6 ) acted as an aromatase inhibitor with the IC₅₀ value of 10.1 μm . Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 8.28 μm and 6.48 μm , respectively.     

Anion channels, including ClC-3, are required for normal neutrophil oxidative function, phagocytosis, and transendothelial migration

NADPH oxidase activity, phagocytosis, and cell migration are essential functions of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in host defense. The cytoskeletal reorganization necessary to perform these functions has been extensively studied, but the role of cell volume regulation, which is likely dependent upon anion channels, has not been defined. Mice lacking the anion channel ClC-3 (Clcn3(-/-)) died from presumed sepsis following intravascular catheter placement, whereas Clcn3(+/+) littermates survived. We hypothesized that ClC-3 has a critical role in host defense and reasoned that PMN function would be compromised in these mice. Clcn3(-/-) PMNs displayed markedly reduced NADPH oxidase activity in response to opsonized zymosan and modestly reduced activity after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Human PMNs treated with the anion channel inhibitors niflumic acid or 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid had a very similar defect. ClC-3 protein was detected in the secretory vesicles and secondary granules of resting PMNs and was up-regulated to the phagosomal membrane. Clcn3(-/-) PMNs and human PMNs lacking normal anion channel function both exhibited reduced uptake of opsonized zymosan at 1, 5, and 10 min in a synchronized phagocytosis assay. Niflumic acid-treated PMNs also had impaired transendothelial migration in vitro, whereas migration in vivo was not altered in Clcn3(-/-) PMNs. Selective inhibition of the swelling-activated chloride channel with tamoxifen profoundly reduced PMN migration but had no effect on NADPH oxidase activity. In summary, PMNs lacking normal anion channel function exhibited reduced NADPH oxidase activity, diminished phagocytosis, and impaired migration. ClC-3 was specifically involved in the respiratory burst and phagocytosis.     

Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity of new N-1',N-3'-disubstituted-2'H,3H,5'H-spiro-(2-benzofuran-1,4'-imidazolidine)-2',3,5'-triones

Thirteen new N-1',N-3'-disubstituted-2'H,3H,5'H-spiro-(2-benzofuran-1,4'-imidazolidine)-2',3,5'-triones were synthesized and their pharmacological activity determined with the objective to better understand their SAR for anticonvulsant activity. The anticonvulsant effects of these compounds were evaluated by standard pentylenetetrazol (scPTZ test) and maximum electroshock seizure (MES test) models in mice. Most of the compounds showed ability to protect against the pentylenetetrazol-induced convulsions. Compound 3o (the N-1'-p-nitrophenyl, N-3'-ethyl derivative) in the N-1'-aryl, N-3'-alkyl disubstituted series exhibited maximum activity with ED(50) of 41.8 mg/kg in scPTZ convulsion model.     

Processivity, substrate binding, and mechanism of cellulose hydrolysis by Thermobifida fusca Cel9A

Thermobifida fusca Cel9A-90 is a processive endoglucanase consisting of a family 9 catalytic domain (CD), a family 3c cellulose binding module (CBM3c), a fibronectin III-like domain, and a family 2 CBM. This enzyme has the highest activity of any individual T. fusca enzyme on crystalline substrates, particularly bacterial cellulose (BC). Mutations were introduced into the CD or the CBM3c of Cel9A-68 using site-directed mutagenesis. The mutant enzymes were expressed in Escherichia coli; purified; and tested for activity on four substrates, ligand binding, and processivity. The results show that H125 and Y206 play an important role in activity by forming a hydrogen bonding network with the catalytic base, D58; another important supporting residue, D55; and Glc(-1) O1. R378, a residue interacting with Glc(+1), plays an important role in processivity. Several enzymes with mutations in the subsites Glc(-2) to Glc(-4) had less than 15% activity on BC and markedly reduced processivity. Mutant enzymes with severalfold-higher activity on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were found in the subsites from Glc(-2) to Glc(-4). The CBM3c mutant enzymes, Y520A, R557A/E559A, and R563A, had decreased activity on BC but had wild-type or improved processivity. Mutation of D513, a conserved residue at the end of the CBM, increased activity on crystalline cellulose. Previous work showed that deletion of the CBM3c abolished crystalline activity and processivity. This study shows that it is residues in the catalytic cleft that control processivity while the CBM3c is important for loose binding of the enzyme to the crystalline cellulose substrate.     

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from wheat sprouts. Purification, properties, effect of systemic fungicides

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase from wheat sprouts was isolated and partially purified. The molecular weight of the enzyme is about 83 000. The enzyme activity sharply rises as the inhibiting factors present in the homogenate are separated. The pH optimum of the enzymatic reaction is 4,8. Divalent cations (Mg2+, Mn2+, Cu2+) within the concentration range of 1--5 mM and complexons (EDTA, EGTA) at the concentration of 1 mM do not affect the PDE activity. The temperature optimum for the reaction is 60 degrees. The enzyme hydrolyzes 3' : 5'-AMP, 3' : 5'-GMP and 2':3'-AMP. The Km value for cAMP is 4 . 10(-3) M. The enzyme activity is inhibited by chemical agents possessing the fungicide activity, the strongest effect being exerted by anylate.     

Species comparison in P450 induction: effects of dexamethasone, omeprazole, and rifampin on P450 isoforms 1A and 3A in primary cultured hepatocytes from man, Sprague-Dawley rat, minipig, and beagle dog

Induction of P450 isoforms 1A (CYP1A) and 3A (CYP3A) by model inducers dexamethasone, omeprazole and rifampin was evaluated in primary cultured hepatocytes from man and laboratory animals. Inducer-specific species-differences were observed. Results with human hepatocytes from six human donors consistently show that both rifampin and dexamethasone were inducers of CYP3A activity (measured as testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity), with rifampin being more potent. Conversely, in rat hepatocytes, dexamethasone was a potent CYP3A inducer while rifampin was not an inducer. Rifampin but not dexamethasone induced CYP3A in minipig and beagle dog hepatocytes. Omeprazole was a potent inducer of CYP1A activity (measured as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity) in human, beagle dog and minipig hepatocytes, and not an inducer in rat hepatocytes. The species-differences observed suggest that human hepatocytes represent the most appropriate preclinical experimental system for the evaluation of P450 induction in human.     

Mild Obesity,Physical Activity,Calorie Intake,and the Risks of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Cervical Cancer

Objective

We investigated whether obesity, physical activity, and calorie intake are associated with the risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer.

Methods

We enrolled 1125 women (age, 18–65 years) into a human papillomavirus cohort study established from 2006 to 2012. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and multivariate odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), and to assess whether body mass index (BMI), height, weight, total calorie intake, and physical activity were associated with the risks of CIN and cervical cancer.

Results

Cervical cancer risk was positively associated with BMI and inversely associated with physical activity. When compared with women with a normal BMI (18.5–23 kg/m²), the multivariate ORs (95% CIs) for those overweight (23–25 kg/m²) and mild obesity (≥25 kg/m²) were 1.25 (0.79–2.00) and 1.70 (1.10–2.63), respectively. When compared with women with the lowest tertile of physical activity (<38.5 MET-hours/week), the ORs (95% CIs) for cervical cancer were 0.95 (0.61–1.48) and 0.61 (0.38–0.98) for women with medium physical activity (38.5–71.9 MET-hours/week) and those with high physical activity (72 MET-hours/week), respectively (p for linear trend  = 0.03). The CIN2/3 risk was inversely associated with physical activity after adjustment for confounders. Compared with women with low physical activity (< 38.5 MET-hours/week), the ORs (95% CIs) for CIN2/3 were 0.64 (0.40–1.01) and 0.58 (0.36–0.93) for the medium and high physical activity groups, respectively (p for linear trend  = 0.02). Total calorie intake was not statistically associated with the risks of CIN and cervical cancer after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that in addition to screening for and treatment of CIN, recommendations on the maintenance of an appropriate BMI with an emphasis on physical activity could be an important preventive strategy against the development of cervical cancer.     

Pyridazinone derivatives: design, synthesis, and in vitro vasorelaxant activity

In an attempt to identify potential vasodilator-cardiotonic lead compounds, three series of pyridazinones were designed using three-dimensional pharmacophore developed with CATALYST software from a set of potent cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase III, cAMP PDEIII inhibitors. The features of the target compounds were based on the structures of many biologically active lead compounds with cAMP phosphodiesterase III inhibiting activity such as Milrinone and others. Compounds with higher fit scores to the developed pharmacophore were synthesized namely; 6-(3-ethoxycarbonyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinolin-6-yl)-4,5-dihydro-3(2H)-pyridazinones (3a and 3b), 6-[4-(2,6-disubstituted-quinolin-4-ylamino)phenyl]-4,5-dihydropyridazin-3(2H)-ones (5a-f), and 6-[3-(5-cyano-6-oxo-4-aryl-1,6-dihydro-2-pyridyl)phenylamino]-3(2H)pyridazinone (8a and 8b). The vasodilator activity of the newly synthesized compounds was examined on the isolated main pulmonary artery of the rabbit. Some of the tested compounds showed moderate vasorelaxant activity compared with standard drug, Milrinone.     

Subcellular distribution and some properties of alanine aminotransferase in striated muscles of the crayfish, trout, carp, frog, pigeon and rabbit.

Subcellular distribution and some physicochemical properties of alanine aminotransferase in striated muscles of the crayfish, trout, carp, frog, pigeon and rabbit were studied. It was established that: (1) Alanine aminotransferase activity in all mentioned animals occurred almost entirely in the cytosolic fraction of the muscles. Total activity and activity per mg protein were highest in crayfish and pigeon muscles and lowest in carp and trout muscles. (2) The pH optimum for the muscles of homoiotherms and poikilotherms ranged from 7.5 to 8, Km values for L-alanine were of the order 10(-3)--10(-2) M and those for alpha-ketoglutarate 10(-4) M. (3) A 10 degree C temperature increase of the incubation medium was accompanied by a 70--90% increase in activity. (4) The higher the alanine aminotransferase activity of the muscles, the relatively higher their alanine production during electrical stimulation. (5) From the above results it is concluded that alanine aminotransferase in striated muscles regulates the rate of glycolysis and energy production under conditions of anaerobiosis through the formation of alanine.     

Site-directed mutagenesis studies of bovine liver cytosolic dihydrodiol dehydrogenase: the role of Asp-50, Tyr-55, Lys-84, His-117, Cys-145 and Cys-193 in enzymatic activity

A previous report on the cloning, bacterial expression and purification of bovine liver cytosolic dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DD3) cDNA (1,330 bp in full length) using pKK223-3 expression vector characterize the properties of the recombinant DD3 in the aspects of substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity (Terada et al., Adv. Exp. Biol. Res. 414 (1997) 543-53). The nucleotide sequence of this DD3 cDNA completely matches that of bovine liver-type prostaglandin F synthase (PGFS) (Suzuki et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274 (1999) 241-8). In the present study, a large amount of recombinant DD3 (rDD3) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) with a pET28a expression vector. The recombinant DD3 (rDD3) was easily and quickly purified to an apparent homogeneity with one step column chromatography of Ni(2+)-affinity resin. The rDD3 showed essentially the same substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity as purified liver DD3 (DD3). To analyze the role of amino acid residues of DD3 in its enzymatic activity, site-directed mutagenesis of DD3 with PCR method was performed. The results of the analyses of these mutants in the aspects of substrate specificity and cofactor-binding suggested a variety of functions in the enzymatic activity: as an active site Tyr-55 may act as a general acid and Asp-50, Lys-84 and His-117 may play an important role in the control of protonation of Tyr-55 as a general acid in the dehydrogenase activity under higher pH conditions, though these residues may not be involved in reductase activity under lower pH conditions. Though the mutated DD3s (Cys to Ser) did not show significant differences in their substrate specificities, these mutants showed different sensitivities to SH-reagents. Present results indicate that Cys-193 may play an important role in the modulation of enzymatic activity under redox conditions generated with GSH+GSSG among five cysteines in DD3.     

A mouse cell line, which is unprotected by interferon against lytic virus infection, lacks ribonuclease F activity

A mouse cell line, NIH 3T3, does not respond to some of the activities of interferon. Even after treatment with high concentrations of interferon the replication of lytic viruses, such as encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is not inhibited in these cells. In contrast, interferon treatment of these same cells results in the inhibition of Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMuLV) production. We have analyzed enzymatic pathways which are induced by interferon in these cells. After interferon treatment, the level of the (2'-5')oligoadenylate [(2'-5)An] synthetase activity and the phosphorylation of the 67000-dalton protein (P1) are enhanced in NIH 3T3 cells to approximately the same level as interferon-sensitive mouse L-cells. Moreover, NIH 3T3 and L-cells, contain approximately the same levels of enzymes which inactivate (2'-5')An. Both exogenously added (2'-5')A3 or double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) failed to inhibit protein synthesis in NIH 3T3 extracts even though they were potent inhibitors of L-cell extract-directed protein synthesis. Direct measurements of the (2'-5')An-dependent ribonuclease F (RNase F) failed to detect such activity in NIH 3T3 cells. Our results, therefore, suggest that the presence of RNase F activity is necessary for the interferon-induced antiviral activity against EMCV and against VSV. The induction of protein kinase activity by interferon treatment of NIH 3T3 cells appears to have no direct effect on EMCV and VSV replication.     

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of derivatives of the phthalide-containing antibacterial agents spirolaxine methyl ether, CJ-12,954, CJ-13,013, CJ-13,102, CJ-13,104, CJ-13,108 and CJ-13,015

The naturally occurring phthalide-containing antibiotics spirolaxine methyl ether, CJ-12,954, CJ-13,013, CJ-13,015, CJ-13,102, CJ-13,103, CJ-13,104 and CJ-13,108, have been reported to exhibit anti-H. pylori activity. However, the exact stereochemistry of spirolaxine methyl ether, CJ-12,954 or CJ-13,013, contributing to this observed activity has not been confirmed. The anti-H. pylori activity of several analogues of spirolaxine methyl ether, CJ-12,954 and CJ-13,013 of defined stereochemistry together with the anti-H. pylori activity of several indole analogues of the simpler phthalide-containing antibiotics CJ-13,102, CJ-13,104, CJ-13,108 and CJ-13,015 is reported herein. A 1:1 mixture of spiroacetals 5b and 6b in which the phthalide substituent exhibited (3R)-stereochemistry was sixty times more active than the corresponding 1:1 mixture of spiroacetals with (3S)-stereochemistry. Notably, the unnatural (2'S)-diastereomer of spirolaxine methyl ether exhibited more potent anti-H. pylori activity than the natural product spirolaxine methyl ether. The 4,6-dimethoxyindoles 9, 10, 11 and 13 were all found to be less active than their parent compounds 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Chain-shortened 4,6-dimethoxyindole analogue 12 of CJ-13,108 3 and 4,6-dimethoxyindole-spiroacetal 13 exhibited weak anti-H. pylori activity thus providing future opportunity for drug discovery programs.     

Design, synthesis, computational and biological evaluation of new anxiolytics

New anxiolytics have been discovered by prediction of biological activity with computer programs pass and derek for a heterogeneous set of 5494 highly chemically diverse heterocyclic compounds (thiazoles, pyrazoles, isatins, a-fused imidazoles and others). The majority of tested compounds exhibit the predicted anxiolytic effect. The most potent activity was found in 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-phenylpiperazinomethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 8, 1-[(4-bromophenyl)-2-oxoethyl]-3-(1,3-dioxolano)-2-indolinone 3, 5-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonyl-1-phenylpyrazole 5 and 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-3-(4-methylpiperazinomethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 7. The application of the computer-assisted approach significantly reduced the number of synthesized and tested compounds and increased the chance of finding new chemical entities (NCEs).