17-dehydrolimonoate A-ring lactone: A possible metabolite of limonoate A-ring lactone in Citrus fruits

A new limonoid, 17-dehydrolimonoate A-ring lactone (III), was isolated from orange peel, juice and lemon seeds and seedlings. This compound which is non-bitter appears to be an initial product of limonoate A-ring lactone (II) metabolism. As such it may be the initial intermediate in at least one debittering pathway in citrus fruits.     

Biosynthesis of limonoids in Citrus seedlings

Radioactive tracer work showed that nomilinoate A-ring lactone was the predominant, if not the only, limonoid biosynthesized and accumulated in seedlings of lemon, Valencia orange, grapefruit and tangerine. Lemon seedlings were excellent tools for biosynthetic preparation of [¹⁴C]nomilin.     

Steroidal seven-membered A-ring epoxy lactones by oxidation of the corresponding Delta 4-3-ketosteroids

Treatment of Delta 4-3-ketosteroids with m-chloroperbenzoic acid at 0 degrees C produced the corresponding steroidal seven-membered A-ring epoxy lactones. The adopted procedure allowed for efficient recovery and separation of the products with definite stereochemistry.     

Insights into the myosin II inhibitory potency of A-ring-modified (S)-blebbistatin analogs

Myosin II is an interesting target for therapeutic intervention, as it is involved in a large number of motility-based diseases. (S)-Blebbistatin is a known micromolar inhibitor of this protein. A new series of (S)-blebbistatin derivatives with a modified A-ring was synthesized and the myosin II inhibitory properties were evaluated in vitro. In this way, we gained insight into the influence of structural modifications in this part of the scaffold on myosin II inhibitory potency. Our results indicate there are few possibilities for potency enhancement via ring A modification of the blebbistatin scaffold.     

Crystal structures of a quorum-quenching antibody

A large number of Gram-negative bacteria employ N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signaling molecules in quorum sensing, which is a population density-dependent mechanism to coordinate gene expression. Antibody RS2-1G9 was elicited against a lactam mimetic of the N-acyl homoserine lactone and represents the only reported monoclonal antibody that recognizes the naturally-occuring N-acyl homoserine lactone with high affinity. Due to its high cross-reactivity, RS2-1G9 showed remarkable inhibition of quorum sensing signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common opportunistic pathogen in humans. The crystal structure of Fab RS2-1G9 in complex with a lactam analog revealed complete encapsulation of the polar lactam moiety in the antibody-combining site. This mode of recognition provides an elegant immunological solution for tight binding to an aliphatic, lipid-like ligand with a small head group lacking typical haptenic features, such as aromaticity or charge, which are often incorporated into hapten design to generate high-affinity antibodies. The ability of RS2-1G9 to discriminate between closely related AHLs is conferred by six hydrogen bonds to the ligand. Conversely, cross-reactivity of RS2-1G9 towards the lactone is likely to originate from conservation of these hydrogen bonds as well as an additional hydrogen bond to the oxygen of the lactone ring. A short, narrow tunnel exiting at the protein surface harbors a portion of the acyl chain and would not allow entry of the head group. The crystal structure of the antibody without its cognate lactam or lactone ligands revealed a considerably altered antibody-combining site with a closed binding pocket. Curiously, a completely buried ethylene glycol molecule mimics the lactam ring and, thus, serves as a surrogate ligand. The detailed structural delineation of this quorum-quenching antibody will aid further development of an antibody-based therapy against bacterial pathogens by interference with quorum sensing.     

Production of limonoate A-ring lactone by immobilized limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase

Summary Limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase, the enzyme catalysing the reversible lactonization/hydrolysis of D-ring in limonin, has been purified from Citrus seeds and immobilized on Q-Sepharose to produce homogeneous limonoate A-ring lactone solutions. The immobilized limonin D-ring lactone hydrolase showed a good operational stability and was stable after sixty-seventy operations and storing at 4°C for six months.     

Isodehydrocostus lactone and isozaluzanin C,two guaianolides from Saussurea lappa

Two new guaianolides have been isolated from Saussurea lappa as minor components and have been named isodehydrocostus lactone and isozaluzanin C. A structure has been assigned to isodehydrocostus lactone on the basis of spectral data and correlation with estafiatin. The ¹H NMR data and dehydrogenation studies show that the other highly crystalline guaianolide is isomeric with zaluzanin C. Earlier 3β-H-zaluzanin C has however been reported to occur as a colourless oil.     

Production of N-acyl Homoserine Lactones and Virulence Factors of Waterborne Aeromonas hydrophila

Aeromonads are inhabitants of aquatic ecosystems and are described as being involved in intestinal disturbances and other infections. The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signal molecules and some virulence factors, including hemolysins, proteases, extracellular nucleases production and cytotoxicity by waterborne Aeromonas hydrophila. A total of 24 strains isolated from fresh-water or diseased fish were used in the study. The majority A.hydrophila strains produce two AHL molecules (21/24), one is N-butanoyl homoserine lactone (BHL), and the other is N-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (HHL) according to thin-layer chromatography analysis. Among the virulence factors tested, more than 83 % of the isolates produced β haemolysin when inoculated on sheep blood agar, only 50 % of the isolates displayed DNase activity, 75 % of the isolates shown proteolytic activity on skimmed milk plate, and cytotoxic activity was detected in 20 of 24 of the isolates. The strains producing AHLs possessed one or more virulence factors. In conclusion, the production of quorum sensing signal molecules is common among the strains that we examined, and there seems to some relationships between quorum sensing signal production and virulence factors in A. hydrophila.     

The structure and stereochemistry of phlogantholide-A,a diterpene from Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus

The structure and stereochemistry of phlogantholide-A, a new diterpene lactone isolated from the leaves of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorus has been determined as 2β,15,18-trihydroxy-ent-labd-8(17),13-dien-16-oic lactone by chemical and spectroscopic means.     

Purification and characterization of limonoate dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus fascians.

Limonoate dehydrogenase from Rhodococcus fascians has been purified to electrophoretic homogeneity by a procedure that consists of ion-exchange, hydrophobic, and affinity chromatography. The native enzyme has a molecular mass of around 128,000 Da and appears to be composed of four similar subunits (30,000 Da each). The isoelectric point is 4.9 as determined by isoelectric focusing. The homogeneous enzyme was used to determine the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence. The enzyme was purified from cells grown in either fructose or limonoate as a carbon source. Limonoate dehydrogenase activity was higher in limonoate-grown cultures. Additionally, the enzyme preparations differed in their affinity for limonoids but not for NAD+. In all cases limonoate dehydrogenase exhibited a higher catalytic rate and stronger affinity for limonoate A-ring lactone than for disodium limonoate, the limonoid traditionally used for in vitro activity assays. Our data confirm previous reports proposing that limonoate A-ring lactone is the physiological substrate for limonoate dehydrogenase. The increase in limonoate dehydrogenase activity observed in limonoate-grown cultures appears to be caused by a rise in protein levels, since chloramphenicol prevented such an effect.     

Quorum quenching enzyme activity is widely conserved in the sera of mammalian species

Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing signals play a key role in synchronizing virulence gene expression in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which could cause fatal bloodstream infections. We showed that AHL inactivation activity, albeit with variable efficiency, was conserved in the serum samples of all the 6 tested mammalian animals. High-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses revealed that mammalian sera had a lactonase-like enzyme(s), which hydrolyzed the lactone ring of AHL to produce acyl homoserine, with enzyme properties reminiscent of paraoxonases (PONs). We further showed that the animal cell lines expressing three mouse PON genes, respectively, displayed strong AHL degradation activities.     

Indolizino[1,2-b]quinolines derived from A-D rings of camptothecin: synthesis and DNA interaction

Camptothecin consists of a lactone E-ring adjacent to a tetracyclic A-D ring planar chromophore which are essential for topoisomerase I inhibition and DNA interaction, respectively. The A-D ring system can be exploited to develop DNA-binding molecules. Indolizino[1,2-b]quinoline derivatives substituted with a piperidinoethyloxy side chain on the A-ring and an aminomethyl function on the D one were synthesized and their DNA-binding properties and in vitro cytotoxicity investigated.     

银杏黄酮苷和萜类内酯含量的季节变化

以银杏（Ginkgo biloba L.)2年生实生苗和大树为试材,分析根、茎和叶中银杏黄酮苷及萜类内酯含量的季节变化规律。银杏叶中萜类内酯含量从春季起逐渐增加,至夏末秋初达最高值,随后逐渐减少;根和茎中萜类内酯含量的季节变化与叶中相类似,但在冬季休眠期维持较高含量,进入春季伴随叶的萌发生长降低到全年的最低点。银杏茎中萜类内酯含量最低,相当于叶含量的1／3和根含量的1／2。叶中白果内酯含量在总萜类内酯中所占比例较高,而在根和茎中所占比例则较低。随着树龄增加,银杏叶萜类内酯含量下降,这可能与萜类内酯合成能力下降有关。银杏黄酮苷含量在春季幼叶中最高,夏季和秋季相对较低且变化不明显;长枝叶中槲皮素较多,而短枝叶中山柰黄素较多。对不同季节和不同部位的不同成分含量的相关机理进行了讨论。     

The plant pathogen Erwinia amylovora produces acyl-homoserine lactone signal molecules in vitro and in planta

We report for the first time the production of acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) by Erwina amylovora, an important quarantine bacterial pathogen that causes fire blight in plants. E. amylovora produces one N-acyl homoserine lactone [a N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-homoserine lactone or a N-(3-hydroxy-hexanoyl)-homoserine lactone] quorum sensing signal molecule both in vitro and in planta (pear plant). Given the involvement of AHLs in plant pathogenesis, we speculate that AHL-dependent quorum sensing could play an important role in the regulation of E. amylovora virulence.     

Pigments from Nectria haematococca: Anhydrofusarubin lactone and nectriafurone

The structures of anhydrofusarubin lactone and of nectriafurone, two new naphthoquinone pigments isolated from the fungus Nectria haematococca, are     

Studies on the Allergic Principle of Lacquer

A new six-membered α,β-unsaturated lactone, lacquer allergic lactone, was isolated from the nonphenolic portion of chinese lacquer. Based on the result of clinical test on human bodies, it was an allergenically active volatile compound. The structure of this lactone was identified by means of IR, MS, NMR and chemical reaction. The urushiols was not the unique allergic principle since the actone was isolated.     

褪黑素对马桑内酯致痫大鼠海马内SP水平的影响

目的探讨褪黑素（melatonin,MT）对马桑内酯致痫大鼠海马内P物质水平的影响,以探讨褪黑素的抑痫作用机制。方法随机将健康成年雄性SD大鼠40只分为A、B、C、D 4组,每组10只。A组：生理盐水组;B组：马桑内酯组;C组：褪黑素＋马桑内酯组;D组：Luzindole＋褪黑素＋马桑内酯组。观察并记录行为学变化,然后分别采用免疫组织化学方法进行SP免疫组织化学染色,实时荧光定量PCR方法检测海马内SP mRNA含量变化。结果B组和D组大鼠均有不同程度的癫痫发作,而C组大鼠癫痫发作不明显,A组几乎均无发作;免疫组化结果显示,四组大鼠海马各区均有SP免疫反应阳性神经元,B组、D组与A组、C组比海马内SP免疫阳性反应明显增强（P〈0.05）,而A组与C组比无明显差异（P〉0.05）;RT-PCR结果提示,B组、D组与A组、C组相比,大鼠海马内SP mRNA明显升高（P〈0.05）,而A组与C组比无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论MT能通过下调海马内SP水平抑制癫痫发作。     

Structural basis for natural lactonase and promiscuous phosphotriesterase activities

Organophosphates are the largest class of known insecticides, several of which are potent nerve agents. Consequently, organophosphate-degrading enzymes are of great scientific interest as bioscavengers and biodecontaminants. Recently, a hyperthermophilic phosphotriesterase (known as SsoPox), from the Archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus, has been isolated and found to possess a very high lactonase activity. Here, we report the three-dimensional structures of SsoPox in the apo form (2.6 Å resolution) and in complex with a quorum-sensing lactone mimic at 2.0 Å resolution. The structure also reveals an unexpected active site topology, and a unique hydrophobic channel that perfectly accommodates the lactone substrate. Structural and mutagenesis evidence allows us to propose a mechanism for lactone hydrolysis and to refine the catalytic mechanism established for phosphotriesterases. In addition, SsoPox structures permit the correlation of experimental lactonase and phosphotriesterase activities and this strongly suggests lactonase activity as the cognate function of SsoPox. This example demonstrates that promiscuous activities probably constitute a large and efficient reservoir for the creation of novel catalytic activities.     

朝鲜蓟叶中一个新的倍半萜内酯

从朝鲜蓟（Cynarascolyrnus）叶中分离得到2个倍半萜内酯,其中一个是新化合物,通过波谱学方法确定其结构为3β,8α,11α,13-四羟基-10（14）-愈创木烯-1α,4β,5α,6β氢-6α,12-内酯（1）。     

Quorum Sensing Signaling Molecules Involved in the Production of Violacein by Pseudoalteromonas

The production of violacein by Pseudoalteromonas sp. 520P1 has many features of quorum sensing. Signaling molecules were extracted from bacterial culture and subsequently identified as N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone and N-tetradecanoyl-homoserine lactone. The former but not the latter induced the production of violacein in strain 520P1. We conclude that N-(3-oxooctanoyl)-homoserine lactone is a signaling molecule involved in the production of violacein.