(N-methylpyridinium)insulins. Modification at the A19- and B16-tyrosines

Reaction of 2-iodo-N-methylpyridinium iodide with insulin gave, amongst others, A19- and B16-(N-methylpyridinium)insulin derivatives in which the phenolic groups of the respective tyrosines had been modified. Under carefully controlled conditions the A19 derivative gave small rhombohedral crystals, whereas the B16 derivative failed to crystallize. Both these derivatives had low biological activities.     

A crystalline A14-(2-nitro-4-trimethylammoniophenyl) derivative of bovine insulin

[O-(2-Nitro-4-trimethylammoniophenyl)-TyrA 14]insulin (bovine) is a product formed on reaction of bovine insulin with the hydrophilic reagent 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-trimethyl-ammoniobenzene iodide (TAN-F) in an aqueous buffer at pH 8.00. The derivative was isolated and its purity established by standard procedures. The identity of the derivative was determined by degrative studies with alpha-chymotrypsin. The addition of zinc to the above reaction decreases the yield of the title derivative, but increases the yield of the [N alpha-TAN-GlyA1] derivative. [N alpha-Boc-GlyA1]insulin was also reacted with the above mentioned reagent in an attempt to improve the yield of the A14-tyrosine derivative. The biological activity of this microcrystalline derivative was found to be 12.4 units/mg as measured by the mouse convulsion assay.     

Evaluation of 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-trimethylammoniobenzene iodide, a protein-solubilizing reagent

The new protein reagent 1-fluoro-2-nitro-4-trimethylammoniobenzene iodide reacts with model amino acids to give derivatives that are very stable to hydrolysis. In a dimethyl sulphoxide-water medium it reacts rapidly (3h) with bovine insulin, and substitution occurs quantitatively at the N-terminal amino groups and at the in-amino groups of lysine residues. Two of the four tyrosine residues react, and it is assumed that these are the exposed groups leaving the buried groups unattacked. Unlike 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and related reagents, it imparts hydrophilic properties to the protein derivative, thus facilitating structural and other studies on the derivative. Circular-dichroism spectra of the modified insulin suggest that no conformational changes have occurred during reaction. These spectra also reveal the presence of an extrinsic Cotton effect at 410nm.     

An electron spin resonance study of high spin forms of cobalt(II) bovine carbonic anhydrase

The ESR spectra of bovine Co(II) carbonic anhydrase at 7 K at low and high pH and of the iodide derivative have been analyzed. The spectrum of the low pH form shows axial symmetry whilst that at high pH is rhombically distorted. This anisotropy is still more accentuated in the iodide derivative. The high pH (hydroxyl) form and the iodide derivative are thought to have a tetracoordinate trigonal pyramidal structure, with a fifth more distant axial ligand. The low pH form is consistent with a pseudotetrahedral geometry previously postulated.     

Substitution of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-mannitol derivatives by reactions with iodide

Reaction of 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-2,5-di-O-mesyl- and -tosyl-D-mannitol with sodium iodide gave a 1:1 mixture of 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-diiodo-D-glucitol (12) and -L-iditol (22). 1,4:3,6-Dianhydro-2-deoxy-2-iodo-5-O-mesyl-D-glucitol (13) and the corresponding D-mannitol derivative (9) are formed as intermediates. Both 9 and 13, as well as 12 and 22, are rapidly isomerized to a mixture of the two in the presence of iodide, proving a fast iodo-iodo substitution reaction. This is restricted to starting materials having the mannitol configuration, as the corresponding 2,5-di-O-mesyl-D-glucitol derivative gives only the known 5-deoxy-5-iodo-L-iditol derivative. The possible mechanism of the unusual isomerization reactions is discussed.     

BAY-K-8644, a calcium channel agonist, induces a rise in cytoplasmic free calcium and iodide discharge in thyroid cells

BAY-K-8644, a calcium channel agonist, induces a rise in cytoplasmic free calcium and iodide discharge in cultured porcine thyroid cells. The cytoplasmic free calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, was measured using aequorin, a calcium-sensitive photoprotein. BAY-K-8644, a dihydropyridine derivative, acts as a Ca channel agonist and induces a rise in [Ca2+]i and iodide discharge; 0.5 nM BAY-K-8644 is a minimal dose to effect a rise in [Ca2+]i and iodide discharge and 50 nM BAY-K-8644 produces the maximal effect. The data indicate that BAY-K-8644-induced iodide discharge is mediated by a rise in [Ca2+]i.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 7-O-[2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-5-C-(trifluoromethyl)-alpha-L-talopyranosyl]- daunomycinone and -adriamycinone.

7-O-[2,6-Dideoxy-2-fluoro-5-C-(trifluoromethyl)-alpha-L-talopyranosyl]- daunomycinone and -adriamycinone have been prepared by the coupling of 3,4-di-O-acetyl-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-5-C-(trifluoromethyl)-alpha-L- talopyranosyl iodide with daunomycinone. The key steps in this synthesis are the regioselective fluorination of methyl alpha-D-lyxopyranoside to give the 4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-L-ribopyranoside and the C-trifluoromethylation of the aldehydo-L-ribose derivative to give the 1,1,1-trifluoro-5-monofluoro-L-altritol derivative. Antitumor activities of the synthetic products were compared with those for the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro and 2',6'-dideoxy-5'-C-trifluoromethyl analogs.     

Facile synthesis of sulfonium ion derivatives of 1,5-anhydro-5-thio-L-fucitol as potential alpha-L-fucosidase inhibitors

Five sulfonium ion derivatives with 1,5-anhydro-5-thio-L-fucitol as a core structure were efficiently synthesized as potential alpha-L-fucosidase inhibitors. The key unit, the tri-O-benzyl derivative of L-fucitol, was readily synthesized from methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside. Alkylation with methyl iodide or 5-methoxycarbonyl-1-pentyl iodide in acetonitrile containing AgBF4 afforded the corresponding alkylated sulfonium tetrafluoroborates. Alternatively, ring opening of three 1,3-cyclic sulfates in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) containing K2CO3 afforded the corresponding zwitterionic sulfonium sulfates.     

A new class of sugar analogues for use in the investigation of sugar transport

d-Mannose derivatives have been synthesised which are crosslinked through their C-4 hydroxyls to propyl-2-amine. Coupling to the amino group gave a fluorodinitrobenzene derivative, a nitroazidophenyl derivative and an azidosalicylamide derivative. Each of these derivatives was shown to have high affinity for the human erythrocyte sugar transport system. The affinity constant for the nitroazidophenyl derivative was not altered by temperature changes. In rat adipocytes treated with insulin, the affinity constants for the derivatives were up to 1000-fold lower than for the parent sugar. In the absence of insulin the affinity constants for the derivatives, but not for d-mannose, were 3-times higher than in insulin-treated cells. By preparation of radiolabelled derivatives we have shown that the compounds are not transported either by erythrocytes or by adipocytes. Thus the crosslinked sugars are good outside-specific analogues.     

The Alkylation of 2-Cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one and Cyclotene through Their Ketimine Derivative

A new synthetic method of cyclotene (3-methyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one) (I) and its derivatives has been investigated. The reaction of 2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one and aniline in toluene gave the corresponding ketimine derivative (V) in good yield. The methylation of (V) afforded (I) and 5,5-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one (II) as the major reaction products, and 3,5-dimethyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one (III) and 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one (II) as the minor products. Similarly, ketimine derivative of (I) was alkylated with methyl iodide and ethyl iodide to yield the corresponding (II), (III), and 5-methyl-5-ethyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one (VII), 3-methyl-5-ethyl-2-cyclopenten-2-ol-1-one (VIII), respectively, as the major products.     

Photoinduced electron transfer and chemical alpha-deoxygenation of D-galactono-1,4-lactone. Synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexofuranosides

Two simple procedures for the synthesis of 2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hexono-1,4-lactone are described. Reductive cleavage of a 2-O-tosyl derivative of D-galactono-1,4-lactone in the presence of sodium iodide afforded the 2-deoxy derivative. On the other hand, alpha-deoxygenation of D-galactono-1,4-lactone was easily achieved by photochemical electron transfer deoxygenation of HO-2 as the 3-(trifluoromethyl)benzoate. Methyl 2-deoxy-beta-D-lyxo-hexafuranoside ('methyl 2-deoxy-beta-D-galactofuranoside') was synthesized and tested as substrate for exo beta-D-galactofuranosidase from Penicillium fellutanum. The reaction was followed by HPAEC, showing that methyl 2-deoxy-beta-D-galactofuranoside was not hydrolyzed by incubation with the enzyme. Neither the 2-deoxy lactone, nor the 2-deoxy-beta-D-galactofuranoside acted as inhibitors of the reaction with the 4-nitrophenyl beta-D-galactofuranoside. The present and our previous results show that the hydroxyl groups at C-2, C-3 and C-6 of the galactofuranoside are essential for interaction with the exo beta-D-galactofuranosidase.     

On the mechanism of iodination of tyrosine

Existing data contain proof that the iodinating species of tyrosine and its derivatives contained in mixtures of iodine and iodide is hypoiodous acid, HOI. It appears likely that the peroxidase-catalyzed iodination reaction with hydrogen peroxide, tyrosine or a tyrosine derivative and either iodide or iodine as substrates involves enzyme-activated HOI.     

A study of some factors that influence the iodination of ox insulin

1. The influence of carrier iodide, iodine monochloride and pH on the labelling of ox insulin with ¹³¹I by the iodine monochloride method have been studied. 2. The quantitative effect of the iodide in the radioactive iodine preparation was that predicted from a calculation of its specific activity. No other interfering factors were detected in the [¹³¹I]iodide solutions used. 3. Increasing the molar ratio of iodine monochloride to insulin resulted in an increase followed progressively by a decrease in the proportion of ¹³¹I bound, while the total iodine bound increased to an amount characteristic of pH and thereafter remained constant. 4. The influence of pH on the iodination of insulin with iodine monochloride was complex and the pH curve showed two maxima, at pH2·8 and 6·4. At pH2·8 it was not possible to exceed 8 atoms of iodine bound per molecule by increasing the molar ratio of iodine monochloride. Similarly, at pH6·4 the substitution value of 11·5 atoms of iodine per molecule could not be exceeded. 5. Iodinated insulins containing an average of 1·96, 2·74, 6·0 and 7·0 atoms of iodine per molecule fully retained the ability to bind guinea-pig anti-(ox insulin) serum, and the ability to compete with unlabelled insulin for antibody sites only became significantly changed in the most highly substituted preparations and in the presence of large concentrations of unlabelled insulin. 6. The method for the iodination of insulin with 98% incorporation of ¹³¹I by using chloramine-t is described. 7. ¹³¹I-iodinated insulin prepared with graded quantities of chloramine-t in excess of that required for efficient labelling was less efficiently bound by guinea-pig anti-(ox insulin) serum than insulin labelled by the iodine monochloride method.     

酵母羧甲基化及光照甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶在碘化钾溶液中荧光发色团的形成

CM-GAPDH在碘化钾溶液中,NAD~+的存在下,形成发射波长为383nm的荧光物。对照的NAD~+与碘化钾溶液混合不产生荧光物。全位及半位修饰光照酶的内源荧光在碘化钾溶液中的变化与天然酶的有明显不同。两者在碘化钾中都形成383nm的荧光,但全位修饰光照酶形成383nm荧光的最适碘化钾浓度为1.0M;半位修饰的为0.8M。以上结果暗示:383nm荧光物的形成需要GAPDH和NAD~+同时存在,并且与活性部位巯基修饰的多少有关,该荧光物可能位于GAPDH的活性部位。     

酵母羧甲基化及光照甘油醛-3-磷酸脱氢酶在碘化钾溶液中荧光发色团的形成

CM-GAPDH在碘化钾溶液中,NAD~+的存在下,形成发射波长为383nm的荧光物。对照的NAD~+与碘化钾溶液混合不产生荧光物。全位及半位修饰光照酶的内源荧光在碘化钾溶液中的变化与天然酶的有明显不同。两者在碘化钾中都形成383nm的荧光,但全位修饰光照酶形成383nm荧光的最适碘化钾浓度为1.0M;半位修饰的为0.8M。以上结果暗示:383nm荧光物的形成需要GAPDH和NAD~+同时存在,并且与活性部位巯基修饰的多少有关,该荧光物可能位于GAPDH的活性部位。     

Ursolic acid and its derivative inhibit protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B, enhancing insulin receptor phosphorylation and stimulating glucose uptake

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a key element in the negative regulation of the insulin signaling pathway and may play an important role in diabetes and obesity. We identified ursolic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid that occurs widely in traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, as an inhibitor of PTP1B by screening an extract library of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbs used a diabetes clinic. By modifying urosolic acid, we designed and synthesized a derivative with a K(i) of 283 nM. As competitive inhibitors of PTP1B, ursolic acid and its derivative also inhibit T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase and src homology phosphatase-2 but not leucocyte antigen-related phosphatase or protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha and epsilon, which are all possibly involved in the insulin pathway. The ursolic acid derivative enhanced insulin receptor phosphorylation in CHO/hIR cells and stimulate glucose uptake in L6 myotubes.     

X-ray structure of an unusual Ca2+ site and the roles of Zn2+ and Ca2+ in the assembly, stability, and storage of the insulin hexamer.

Metal ion binding to the insulin hexamer has been investigated by crystallographic analysis. Cadmium, lead, and metal-free hexamers have been refined to R values of 0.181, 0.172, and 0.172, against data of 1.9-, 2.5-, and 2.5-A resolution, respectively. These structures have been compared with each other and with the isomorphous two-zinc insulin. The structure of the metal-free hexamer shows that the His(B10) imidazole rings are arranged in a preformed site that binds a water molecule and is poised for Zn2+ coordination. The structure of the cadmium derivative shows that the binding of Cd2+ at the center of the hexamer is unusual. There are three symmetry-related sites located within 2.7 A of each other, and this position is evidently one-third occupied. It is also shown that the coordinating B13 glutamate side chains of this derivative have two partially occupied conformations. One of these conformations is two-thirds occupied and is very similar to that seen in two-zinc insulin. The other, one-third-occupied conformation, is seen to coordinate the one-third-occupied metal ion. The binding of Ca2+ to insulin is assumed to be essentially identical with that of Cd2+. Thus, we conclude that the Ca2+ binding site in the insulin hexamer is unlike that of any other known calcium binding protein. The crystal structures reported herein explain how binding of metal ions stabilizes the insulin hexamer. The role of metal ions in hexamer assembly and dissociation is discussed.     

Photoaffinity labeling of insulin receptor of rat adiopocyte plasma membrane

A photosensitive insulin derivative was synthesized by reacting radioactive iodinated bovine insulin with N-hydroxysuccinimide ester of 4-azidobenzolic acid. The photo-sensitivity and specificity of this insulin derivative were established by its covalent nonspecific cross-link to albumin and its covalent specific cross-link to the heavy and light chains of anti-insulin immunoglobulin. Plasma membrane preparations of rate adipocytes were incubated with the photosensitive insulin derivative and irradiated with light. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of these plasma membrane preparations after solubilization with sodium dodecyl sulfate and reduction with beta-mercaptoethanol showed that a protein having a molecular weight of 130,000 was specifically labeled by the radioactive photosensitive insulin, suggesting that this protein may be the insulin receptor.     

Stereospecific synthesis of α-methylated amino acids

Summary. Both 2,5-trans and 2,5-cis disubstituted 2-tert-butyl-5-(indol-3-yl)methylimidazolidin-4-ones were synthesised and their enolates were prepared using LDA. While the enolate of the 2,5-trans disubstituted derivative could not be methylated, the enolate of the cis-2,5-disubstituted derivative was successfully methylated with methyl iodide to a product which on hydrolysis gave enantiomerically pure α-methyl-L-tryptophan. Received October 31, 1998, Accepted July 23, 1999     

Inhibition of E. coli growth by fullerene derivatives and inhibition mechanism

Cationic ammonium fullerene derivatives (C60-bis(N, N-dimethylpyrrolidinium iodide) and C60-bis(N-methylpiperazinium iodide)) suppressed E. coli growth, whereas an anionic derivative (C60-dimalonic acid) did not. Both cationic derivatives inhibited E. coli dioxygen consumption. Inhibition of energy metabolism is concluded to be a mechanism of the growth inhibition effect of fullerene derivatives.