New leads for selective inhibitors of alpha-L-fucosidases. Synthesis and glycosidase inhibitory activities of [(2R,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidin-2-yl]furan derivatives.

Readily derived from D-glucose, 5-[(2R,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidin-2-yl]-2-methyl-3-furoic esters and amides are selective and competitive inhibitors (K(i)> or = 3 microM) of alpha-L-fucosidase from bovine epididymis and from human placenta.     

Synthesis and biodistribution of [(11)C]R116301, a promising PET ligand for central NK(1) receptors

N1-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-2-(4-{(2R,4S)-2-benzyl-1-[3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)[carbonyl-(11)C]benzoyl]hexahydro-4-pyridinyl}piperazino)acetamide ([(11)C]R116301) was prepared and evaluated as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for investigation of central neurokinin(1) (NK(1)) receptors. 1-Bromo-3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)benzene was converted in three steps into 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)[carbonyl-(11)C]benzoyl chloride, which was reacted with N1-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)-2-{4-[(2R,4S)-2-benzylhexahydro-4-pyridinyl]piperazino}acetamide providing [(11)C]R116301 in 45-57% decay-corrected radiochemical yield. The total synthesis time, from end of bombardment (EOB) to the formulated product, was 35 min. Specific activity (SA) was 82-172 GBq/micromol (n=10) at the end of synthesis. N1-([4-(3)H]-2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-2-(4-{(2R,4S)-2-benzyl-1-[3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]hexahydro-4-pyridinyl}piperazino)acetamide ([(3)H]R116301) was also synthesized (SA: 467 GBq/mmol). The B(max) for [(3)H]R116301 measured in vitro on Chinese hamster ovary cell membranes stably transfected with the human NK(1) receptor was 19.10+/-1.02 pmol/mg protein with an apparent dissociation constant of 0.08+/-0.01 nM. Ex vivo, in vivo and in vitro autoradiography studies with [(3)H]R116301 in gerbils demonstrated a preferential accumulation of the radioactivity in the striatum, olfactory tubercule, olfactory bulb and locus coeruleus. In vivo, the biodistribution of [(11)C]R116301 in gerbils revealed that the highest initial uptake is in the lung, followed by the liver and kidney. In the brain, maximum accumulation was found in the olfactory tubercules (1.10+/-0.08 injected dose (ID)/g 20 min post injection (p.i.)) and the nucleus accumbens (1.00+/-0.12ID/g 10 min p.i.). Tissue/cerebellum concentration ratios for striatum and nucleus accumbens increased with time due to rapid uptake followed by a slow wash out (1.29 and 1.64, respectively, 30 min p.i.). A tissue to cerebellum ratio of 1.33 and 1.62 was also observed for olfactory bulb and olfactory tubercules, respectively (20 min p.i.). In summary, [(11)C]R116301 appears to be a promising radioligand suitable for the visualization of NK(1) receptors in vivo using PET.     

Synthesis of (-)-methyl shikimate via enzymatic resolution of (1S*, 4R*, 5R*)-4-hydroxy-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-7-one.

The synthesis of methyl (-)-shikimate [(-)-2] was achieved via lipase-catalyzed optical resolution of (1S*, 4R*, 5R*)-4-hydroxy-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-7-one (3). Transesterification of (+/-)-3 and vinyl acetate with lipase MY and subsequent hydrolysis gave optically pure (-)-3. This compound was converted to (-)-2 in two steps.     

Design, structure-activity relationship, and highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of 3-phenyl-4-benzylaminopiperidine derivatives as novel neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists

We synthesized a series of novel 3-phenyl-4-benzylaminopiperidine derivatives that were identified as potent tachykinin NK(1) receptor antagonists by structural modification of the 3-benzhydrylpiperidone derivative through high-throughput screening. N-{2-[(3R,4S)-4-({2-Methoxy-5-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]benzyl}amino)-3-phenyl-1-piperidinyl]-2-oxoethyl}acetamide ((+)-39) was found to be one of the most potent tachykinin NK(1) receptor antagonists with high metabolic stability. Highly efficient asymmetric synthesis of (+)-39 was achieved via dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Preparation of glycosides of 2-deoxy-2-methylamino-D-mannose, 2-deoxy-2-methylamino-D-glucose,and 2-deoxy-2-methylamino-D-galactose: observations on N-methylation of amides

Benzyl 2-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)methylamino]-2-deoxy-α-D-mannopyranoside (10) and its furanose isomer (9), the derived N-methyloxazolidinones 11 and 6, benzyl 2-[(benzyloxycarbonyl)methylamino]-2-deoxy-β-D-glucofuranoside (15) and methyl 2-deoxy-2-methylacetamido-β-D-galactofuranoside (20), were prepared from appropriate diethyl dithioacetals. They were considered the most suitable starting materials for synthesis of O-methyl-2-deoxy-2-methylamino-hexoses because of their ease of preparation and the presence of suitable blocking groups. Oxazolidinones were prepared from N-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-mannose by using methanolic sodium methoxide. Their use in preparation of 2-deoxy-2-methyl-amino derivatives is discussed. The Kuhn reagent was used in these syntheses for N-methylating amides. However, certain amides containing comparatively bulky substituents in the vicinity of the NH group are resistant to methylation.     

Microbial transformation of spirolaxine, a bioactive undecaketide fungal metabolite from the basidiomycete Sporotrichum laxum

Incubation of (+)-spirolaxine (= (3R)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-{5-[(2R,5R,7R)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-7-yl]pentyl}-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one; 1a) with Bacillus megaterium afforded two new mono- and one new dihydroxylated metabolite(s), all OH groups being introduced on the non-activated six-membered ring. In contrast, exposure of 1a to Cunninghamella echinulata gave rise to hydroxylation on the five-membered ring of the parent structure. The structures and absolute configurations of the new products 1b-e were deduced on the basis of MS and NMR data. The metabolite 1b was investigated, in comparison to 1a, for its cytotoxicity (sulforhodamin-B test) and for its antiproliferative activity towards bovine microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC).     

Novel tirucallane-type triterpenoids from Aphanamixis grandifolia

Phytochemical investigation on the stem bark of Aphanamixis grandifolia afforded five novel tirucallane-type triterpenoids, (13α,14β,17α,23Z)-25-methoxy-21,23-epoxylanosta-7,20(22),23-triene-3,21-dione (1), (13α,14β,17α,23Z)-21,23-epoxylanosta-7,20(22),23,25-tetraene-3,21-dione (2), (3R,5R, 9R,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-{(2R,3S,5R)-5-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyloxiran-2-yl]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-2,5-dimethoxyfuran-3-yl}-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-2,3,4,5,6,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-ol (3), (5R,9R,10R,13S,14S,17S)-17-{(2R,3S,5R)-5-[(2S)-3,3-dimethyloxiran-2-yl]-2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran-3-yl}-1,2,4,5,6,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17-tetradecahydro-4,4,10,13,14-pentamethyl-3H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-one (4), and (3α,13α,14β,17α,20S,23R)-23-ethoxy-3-hydroxy-21,23-epoxylanost-7-en-24-one (5). The (1) H- and (13) C-NMR spectra of all compounds were fully assigned using a combination of 2D-NMR experiments, including HSQC, HMBC, and ROESY sequences. The structure of 1 with the absolute configuration was determined by ECD calculation. Compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activities against human MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cells.     

Further characterization of beta3-adrenoceptors in the guinea pig gastric fundus: stereoselectivity, beta-adrenoceptor alkylation, and structure-activity relationship

The stereoselectivity of beta3-adrenoceptors, the effect of a beta-adrenoceptor alkylating agent, and the structure-activity relationship at beta3-adrenoceptors were investigated on the guinea pig gastric fundus. Isomeric activity ratios ((+)/(-)) for isomers of isoprenaline and noradrenaline were 20.9-fold and 43.7-fold, respectively, and were less than those obtained for activation of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors in the guinea pig atria and trachea, respectively. The concentration-response curves to the catecholamines ((-)-isoprenaline, (-)-noradrenaline, and (-)-adrenaline), the selective beta3-adrenoceptor agonist BRL37344 ((R*,R*)-(+/-)-4-[2-[(2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl)amino]propyl]phenoxyacetic acid sodium), and the nonconventional partial beta3-adrenoceptor agonist (+/-)-CGP12177A ((+/-)-[4-[3-[(1,1-dimethylethyl) amino]-2-hydroxypropoxy]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one] hydrochloride) were resistant to blockade by (+/-)-pindobind (10 microM), the beta-adrenoceptor alkylating agent. Furthermore, (+/-)-nadolol, which belongs to the aryloxypropanolamine class and has beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptor antagonistic characteristics, displays agonistic activity at beta3-adrenoceptors. These results indicate that pharmacological characteristics of the beta3-adrenoceptors of guinea pig gastric fundus differ from those of beta1- and beta2-adrenoceptors. (-)-Noradrenaline and (-)-adrenaline were more potent than dopamine and (-)-phenylephrine, respectively. In addition, dobutamine was 22-fold more potent than dopamine. These results suggest that the 4-hydroxyl group at the catechol ring and the beta-hydroxyl group and the large moiety on the alkylamine chain characterized efficacy at beta3-adrenoceptors.     

Insecticidal activity of synthetic amides on Spodoptera frugiperda

The phytochemistry of the genus Piper (Piperaceae) has been widely studied due to the biological properties of amides from these plants. In this work, we have synthesized and evaluated the toxic effect of 11 amides against the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda larvae. The naturally occurring piperine was also evaluated. The most active amide was N-[3-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-(E)-propenoyl]piperidine with a LD50 of 1.07 microg mg(-1) larvae. This amide was also evaluated by ingestion.     

Design,synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of quinazolinone derivatives as EGFR inhibitors for antitumor treatment

Abstract

In this paper, a series of novel 3-methyl-quinazolinone derivatives was designed, synthesised and evaluated for antitumor activity in vitro on wild type epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR^wt-TK) and three human cancer cell lines including A549, PC-3, and SMMC-7721. The results displayed that some of the compounds had good activities, especially 2-{4-[(3-Fluoro-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenoxymethyl}-3-methyl-3H-quinazolin-4-one (5?g), 2-{4-[(3,4-Difluoro-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenoxymethyl}-3-methyl-3H-quinazolin-4-one (5k) and 2-{4-[(3,5-Difluoro-phenylimino)-methyl]-phenoxymethyl}-3-methyl-3H-quinazolin-4-one (5?l) showed high antitumor activities against three cancer cell lines. Moreover, compound 5k could induce late apoptosis of A549 cells at high concentrations and arrest cell cycle of A549 cells in the G2/M phase at tested concentrations. Also, compound 5k could inhibit the EGFR^wt-TK with IC₅₀ value of 10?nM. Molecular docking data indicates that the compound 5k may exert inhibitory activity by forming stable hydrogen bonds with the R817, T830 amino acid residues and cation-Π interaction with the K72 residue of EGFR^wt-TK.     

Effect of nitrogen-containing derivatives of the plant triterpenes betulin and glycyrrhetic acid on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM, and Hep G2 tumor cells

Derivatives of the available plant triterpenes glycyrrhetic acid and betulin (betulin succinates and amides of betulonic and 18beta-glycyrrhetic acids containing fragments of long-chain amino acids and a peptide) were synthesized. The inhibitory action of these compounds on the growth of MT-4, MOLT-4, CEM. and Hep G2 tumor cells and their effect on the apoptosis of these cells were studied. It was shown that betulonic acid amides are more effective inhibitors of the tumor cell growth than the corresponding amides of glycyrrhetic acid. It was also found that betulonic acid amides containing fragments of caprylic, pelargonic, and undecanoic acids are more effective inhibitors of tumor cell growth than betulinic acid. The 17-dipeptide derivative of betulonic acid N-{N-[3-oxo-20(29)-lupen-28-oyl]-9-aminononanoyl}-3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid exhibited the maximum inhibitory activity toward the tumor cells studied. Data on the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells by betulin derivatives at a concentration of 10 microg/ml were obtained by flow cytometry. The amides of betulonic acid proved to be the most effective inducers of apoptosis.     

Facile, alternative route to lubeluzole, its enantiomer, and the racemate

Lubeluzole [(S)-9] has been synthesized by a convergent synthesis, alkylation of N-methyl-N-piperidin-4-yl-1,3-benzothiazol-2-amine (4) with (+)-(R)-1-chloro-3-(3,4-difluorophenoxy)propan-2-ol [(+)-(R)-8] being the key step. Alcohol (+)-(R)-8 was obtained from commercially available (R)-epichlorohydrin [(R)-6], while the thiazole derivative 4 was easily obtained starting from N-protected piperidin-4-one (1) in a three-step procedure. The same method was used in order to obtain both the (R)-stereoisomer of lubeluzole [(R)-9] and its racemate [(RS)-9]. Overall yields ranged from 20% to 35%. The enantiomeric excess values for (S)-9 and (R)-9 were 97% and 94% respectively, as analyzed by chiral HPLC.     

Inhibition by prostacyclin and carbacyclins of endothelin-induced DNA synthesis in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells

Effects of prostacyclin and carbacyclins on endothelin-induced DNA synthesis were investigated in vascular smooth muscle cells. DNA synthesis was estimated by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Five carbacyclins used in this report were 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-3-hydroxy-1-octenyl]bicyclo [3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl) pentanoic acid (TEI-7165), methyl 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-3-hydroxy-1-octenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3- yl]pentanoate (TEI-9090), 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(3S, 5S)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-1-nonenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl)penta noic acid (TEI-9063), methyl 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(3S, 5S)-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-1- nonenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl)pentanoate (TEI-1324), 5-[(1S, 5S, 6R, 7R)-7-hydroxy-6-[(E)-(S)-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1- octenyl]bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-2-en-3-yl] pentanoic acid (TEI-3356). Prostacyclin and the carbacyclins inhibited the endothelin-induced DNA synthesis within the nanomolar range. These results suggest that prostacyclin and carbacyclins are possibly effective in inhibiting the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells under some situations in vivo.     

Antifungal amides from Piper arboreum and Piper tuberculatum

In continuation of our study of the Piperaceae we have isolated several amides, mainly those bearing isobutyl, pyrrolidine, dihydropyridone and piperidine moieties. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of extracts from leaves of Piper arboreum yielded two new amides, N-[10-(13,14-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7(E),9(Z)-pentadienoyl]-pyrrolidine (1), arboreumine (2) together with the known compounds N-[10-(13,14-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7(E)-pentaenoyl]-pyrrolidine (3) and N-[10-(13,14-methylenedioxyphenyl)-7(E),9(E)-pentadienoyl]-pyrrolidine (4). Catalytic hydrogenation of 3 yielded the amide N-[10-(13,14-methylenedioxyphenyl)-pentanoyl]-pyrrolidine (5). We also have isolated six amides (6-11) and two antifungal cinnamoyl derivatives (12, 13) from seeds and leaves of Piper tuberculatum. Compounds 1-11 showed antifungal activity as determined by direct bioautography against Cladosporium sphaerospermum while compounds 3-4 and 6-13 also showed antifungal activity against C. cladosporioides.     

Synthesis and stereostructure-activity relationship of three asymmetric center pyrethroids: 2-methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether and cyanohydrin ester

2-Methyl-3-phenylcyclopropylmethyl 3-phenoxybenzyl ether 2 and cyanohydrin ester 3, a couple of pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers, were synthesized. Of each of the four diastereomers of 2 and 3, only the (1R*,2R*,3R*)-2a and 3a showed significant insecticidal activities. Dual sets of enantiomers [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-2a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a] and [(1R,2R,3R)-(-)-3a and (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-3a] were synthesized through the asymmetric cyclopropanation using the Aratani catalyst. Significant separations of insecticidal activities were observed between both the enantiomers against the tobacco cutworm (Spodoptera litura) and the common mosquito (Culex pipiens pallens); (1S,2S,3S)-(+)-2a and (+)-3a showed higher activities than their antipodes (1R,2R,3R)(-)-2a and (-)-3a. This result is the second example of such synthetic pyrethroids with three asymmetric centers.     

Versatile precursor to ruthenium-bis(phosphine) hydrogenation catalysts

The known complex trans-RuCl2(NBD)Py2 (1, NBD is norbornadiene, Py is pyridine) reacts with either (R)-BINAP ((R)-2, 2'-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1'-binaphthyl), (S;S)-Chiraphos ((2S;3S-(-)-2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane), (S;S)-Skewphos ((2S;4S)-(-)-2,4-bis(diphenylphosphino)pentane), (R)-(S)-Josiphos ((R)-(-)-1-[(S)-2-(diphenylphosphino)ferrocenyl]ethyl-dicyclohexylpho sphine), (R;R)-Norphos ((2R;3R)-(-)-2, 3-bis(diphenylphosphino)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene), or (R;R)-Me-DUPHOS ((-)-1,2-bis((2R;5R)-2, 5-dimethylphospholano)benzene) to generate in high yields the crystalline complexes trans-RuCl2(P-P*)Py2 (P-P* is the corresponding chiral bis(phosphine)). The complexes trans-RuCl2(P-P*)Py2 are active enantioselective hydrogenation catalysts for ketoesters and noncarboxylic olefins in the presence of small amounts of HBF4 (aq.). They are active for hydrogenation of carboxylic substrates in the presence of Et3N. Reaction of trans-RuCl2(P-P*)Py2 with (rac)-1,2-diphenylethylene-diamine (N-N*, either enantiomer) forms in good yields the corresponding compounds trans-RuCl2(P-P*)(N-N*). Representative hydrogenations with these catalysts are presented.     

Biosynthesis of lipid A in Escherichia coli: identification of UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-alpha-D-glucosamine as a precursor of UDP-N2,O3-bis[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-alpha-D-glucosamine

The lipid A disaccharide of the Escherichia coli envelope is synthesized from the two fatty acylated glucosamine derivatives UDP-N2,O3-bis[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-alpha-D- glucosamine (UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN) and N2,O3-bis[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-alpha-D-glucosamine 1-phosphate (2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P) [Ray, B. L., Painter, G., & Raetz, C. R. H. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 4852-4859]. We have previously shown that UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN is generated in extracts of E. coli by fatty acylation of UDP-GlcNAc, giving UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-GlcNAc as the first intermediate, which is rapidly converted to UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN [Anderson, M. S., Bulawa, C. E., & Raetz, C. R. H. (1985) J. Biol. Chem. 260, 15536-15541; Anderson, M. S., & Raetz, C. R. H. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5159-5169]. We now demonstrate a novel enzyme in the cytoplasmic fraction of E. coli, capable of deacetylating UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-GlcNAc to form UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]glucosamine. The covalent structure of the previously undescribed UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl] glucosamine intermediate was established by 1H NMR spectroscopy and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. This material can be made to accumulate in E. coli extracts upon incubation of UDP-3-O-[(R)-3- hydroxymyristoyl]-GlcNAc in the absence of the fatty acyl donor [(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-acyl carrier protein. However, addition of the isolated deacetylation product [UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl] glucosamine] back to membrane-free extracts of E. coli in the presence of [(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-acyl carrier protein results in rapid conversion of this compound into the more hydrophobic products UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN, 2,3-diacyl-GlcN-1-P, and O-[2-amino-2-deoxy-N2,O3- bis[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1----6)-2-amino- 2-deoxy-N2,O3-bis[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-alpha-D- glucopyranose 1-phosphate (tetra-acyldisaccharide-1-P), demonstrating its competency as a precursor. In vitro incubations using [acetyl-3H]UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]-GlcNAc confirmed release of the acetyl moiety in this system as acetate, not as some other acetyl derivative. The deacetylation reaction was inhibited by 1 mM N-ethylmaleimide, while the subsequent N-acylation reaction was not. Our observations provide strong evidence that UDP-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxymyristoyl]glucosamine is a true intermediate in the biosynthesis of UDP-2,3-diacyl-GlcN and lipid A.     

Proteasome inhibition can induce an autophagy-dependent apical activation of caspase-8

Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins are often highly expressed in chemotherapy-resistant cancers and impair mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation (MOMP), an important requirement for caspase activation via the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Interestingly, although Bcl-2 overexpression in HeLa cervical cancer cells abrogated caspase processing in response to intrinsic apoptosis induction by staurosporine, tunicamycin or etoposide, residual caspase processing was observed following proteasome inhibition by bortezomib ([(1R)-3-methyl-1-({(2S)-3-phenyl-2-[(pyrazin-2-ylcarbonyl)amino]propanoyl}amino)butyl]boronic acid), epoxomicin (N-acetyl-N-methyl-lisoleucyl-L-isoleucyl-N-[(1S)-3-methyl-1-[[(2R)-2-methyloxiranyl]carbonyl]butyl]-L-threoninamide) or MG-132 (N-(benzyloxycarbonyl)leucinylleucinylleucinal). Similar responses were found in Bcl-2-overexpressing H460 NSCLC cells and Bax/Bak-deficient mouse embyronic fibroblasts. Mild caspase processing resulted in low DEVDase activities, which were MOMP independent and persisted for long periods without evoking immediate cell death. Surprisingly, depletion of caspase-3 and experiments in caspase-7-depleted MCF-7-Bcl-2 cells indicated that the DEVDase activity did not originate from effector caspases. Instead, Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-dependent caspase-8 activation was the major contributor to the slow, incomplete substrate cleavage. Caspase-8 activation was independent of death ligands, but required the induction of autophagy and the presence of Atg5. Depletion of XIAP or addition of XIAP-antagonising peptides resulted in a switch towards efficient apoptosis execution, suggesting that the requirement for MOMP was bypassed by activating the caspase-8/caspase-3 axis. Combination treatments of proteasome inhibitors and XIAP antagonists therefore represent a promising strategy to eliminate highly resistant cancer cells, which overexpress antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family members.     

New chemical constituents from the endophyte Streptomyces species LR4612 cultivated on Maytenus hookeri

From solid cultures of the biologically important endophyte Streptomyces species LR4612, cultivated on Maytenus hookeri, four new and two known compounds were isolated. The new compounds were identified as (2S*,3S*)-5-amino-3-hydroxy-5-oxopentan-2-yl 3-(formylamino)-2-hydroxybenzoate (1), N-[(3R*,4R*)-3-amino-3,4-dihydro-4-methyl-2,6-dioxo-2H,6H-1,5-benzodioxocin-10-yl]formamide (2), (5beta,6alpha)-6,11-dihydroxyeudesmane (3), and 5-(6,7-dihydroxy-6-methyloctyl)furan-2(5H)-one (4); the known compounds were elucidated as sorbicillin (5) and N-acetyltyramine (6). The structures were established by HR-ESI-MS and in-depth NMR analyses.     

Membrane actions of vitamin D metabolites 1alpha,25(OH)2D3 and 24R,25(OH)2D3 are retained in growth plate cartilage cells from vitamin D receptor knockout mice

1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) regulates rat growth plate chondrocytes via nuclear vitamin D receptor (1,25-nVDR) and membrane VDR (1,25-mVDR) mechanisms. To assess the relationship between the receptors, we examined the membrane response to 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) in costochondral cartilage cells from wild type VDR(+/+) and VDR(-/-) mice, the latter lacking the 1,25-nVDR and exhibiting type II rickets and alopecia. Methods were developed for isolation and culture of cells from the resting zone (RC) and growth zone (GC, prehypertrophic and upper hypertrophic zones) of the costochondral cartilages from wild type and homozygous knockout mice. 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) had no effect on [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation in VDR(-/-) GC cells, but it increased [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation in VDR(+/+) cells. Proteoglycan production was increased in cultures of both VDR(-/-) and VDR(+/+) cells, based on [(35)S]-sulfate incorporation. These effects were partially blocked by chelerythrine, which is a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), indicating that PKC-signaling was involved. 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) caused a 10-fold increase in PKC specific activity in VDR(-/-), and VDR(+/+) GC cells as early as 1 min, supporting this hypothesis. In contrast, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) had no effect on PKC activity in RC cells isolated from VDR(-/-) or VDR(+/+) mice and neither 1beta,25(OH)(2)D(3) nor 24R,25(OH)(2)D(3) affected PKC in GC cells from these mice. Phospholipase C (PLC) activity was also increased within 1 min in GC chondrocyte cultures treated with 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3). As noted previously for rat growth plate chondrocytes, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) mediated its increases in PKC and PLC activities in the VDR(-/-) GC cells through activation of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)). These responses to 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) were blocked by antibodies to 1,25-MARRS, which is a [(3)H]-1,25(OH)(2)D(3) binding protein identified in chick enterocytes. 24R,25(OH)(2)D(3) regulated PKC in VDR(-/-) and VDR(+/+) RC cells. Wild type RC cells responded to 24R,25(OH)(2)D(3) with an increase in PKC, whereas treatment of RC cells from mice lacking a functional 1,25-nVDR caused a time-dependent decrease in PKC between 6 and 9 min. 24R,25(OH)(2)D(3) dependent PKC was mediated by phospholipase D, but not by PLC, as noted previously for rat RC cells treated with 24R,25(OH)(2)D(3). These results provide definitive evidence that there are two distinct receptors to 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3). 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)-dependent regulation of DNA synthesis in GC cells requires the 1,25-nVDR, although other physiological responses to the vitamin D metabolite, such as proteoglycan sulfation, involve regulation via the 1,25-mVDR.