Antifeedants against Locusta migratoria from the Japanese Cedar,Cryptomeria japonica

(1S,6R)-2,7(14),10-bisabolatrien-1-ol-4-one and (+)-7(14),10-bisaboladien-1-ol-4-one were isolated and identified from Cryptomeria japonica as antifeedants against Locusta migratoria L. which is well known as a serious pest to cereals throughout the world. These compounds strongly inhibited the feeding of L. migratoria only when they were combined, but each compound alone did not show any activity.     

Antifeedants against Acusta despesta from the Japanese Cedar,Cryptomeria japonica II

The hexane-soluble fr. was found to be as intense in antifeeding activity as the crude methnol extract of Cryptomeria japonica against Acusta despesta. This hexane soluble-fraction was used to isolate and identify two sesquiterpenols, (?)-cubebol and (+)-2,7(14),10-bisabolatrien-1-ol-4-one, as the active compounds. Both compounds strongly inhibited the feeding behavior of A. despesta at 120 μg/cm² and 80 μg/cm² concentrations, respectively.     

Repellents in the Japanese Cedar,Cryptomeria japonica,against the Pill-bug,Armadillidium vulgare

Sandaracopimarinol and (1S,6R)-2,7(14),10-bisabolatrien-1-ol-4-one were isolated and identified from Cryptomeria japonica as repellents against Armadillidium vulgare which is well known as an unpleasant pest in the house and as vegetable pest in Japan. These compounds strongly repelled A. vulgare when they were combined, although each compound alone did not show any activity.     

Catabolism of 2,7-dichloro- and 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran by Sphingomonas sp strain RW1

Due to their physicochemical and toxicological properties, polychlorinated dibenzofurans are regarded as a class of compounds providing reason for serious environmental concern. While the nonhalogenated basic structure dibenzofuran is effectively mineralized by appropriate bacterial strains, its polychlorinated derivatives are not. To elucidate the ability of the strain Sphingomonas sp RW1 to metabolize some of these chlorinated derivatives, we performed turnover experiments using 2,7-dichloro- and 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran. As indicated by the oxygen-uptake rates determined for these two chlorinated dibenzofurans, Sphingomonassp RW1 can catabolize these chlorinated dibenzofurans yielding small quantities of oxidation products, which we isolated and subsequently characterized employing GC/MS and ¹H- as well as ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. In the case of 2,7-dichlorodibenzofuran, two metabolites accumulated, which we identified as 6-chloro- and 7-chloro-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one. The single metabolite isolated from the turnover experiments performed with 2,4,8-trichlorodibenzofuran was unequivocally identified as 6,8-dichloro-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one. Received 26 April 1999/ Accepted in revised form 23 July 1999     

Potential Inhibitors of Angiogenesis. Part II: 3-(Azolylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new 3-(imidazol-4(5)-ylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones 8-10 and 3-(3,5-dimethylpyrrol-2-ylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-one 11, analogues of SU-5416, as potential inhibitors of angiogenesis, are reported. Compounds 8 and 11 were prepared by a Knoevenagel reaction starting from 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 2 and 4-formylimidazole 5 or 2-formyl-3,5-dimethylpyrrole 7, followed by acid-catalysed cyclodehydration. For compounds 9 and 10, an alternative method was used; it consisted in carrying out the Knoevenagel reaction with the 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones 3 and 4. The antiangiogenic activity of these compounds was evaluated in the three-dimensional in vitro rat aortic rings test at 1 μM. At this concentration, compound 11 induced a decrease of angiogenesis comparable to that observed with SU-5416; the vascular density index at 1 μM of 11 and SU-5416 were 30±10 and 22±4% of control, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization, antiamoebic activity and cytotoxicity of new pyrazolo[3, 4-d]pyrimidine-6-one derivatives

A new series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine-6-one derivatives (2a–2j) were prepared by using the Biginelli multicomponent cyclocondensation of 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5(4H)-one (1a), different aromatic aldehydes, and urea with a catalytic amount of HCl at reflux temperature. These compounds were characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and Mass spectral data. In vitro antiamoebic activity was performed against HM1:IMSS strain of Entamoeba histolytica. The results showed that the compounds 2b, 2i, and 2j with IC₅₀ values of 0.37 µM, 0.04 µM, and 0.06 µM, respectively, exhibited better antiamoebic activity than the standard drug metronidazole (IC₅₀?=?1.33 µM). The toxicological studies of these compounds on human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line showed that the compounds 2b, 2i, and 2j exhibited >80% viability at the concentration range of 1.56–50 µM.     

Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and biological activity on newly synthesized copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes incorporating bidentate oxygen-nitrogen hydrazone ligands

We report the synthesis of the hydrazone ligands, 1-(phenyl-hydrazono)-propan-2-one (PHP), 1-(p-tolyl-hydrazono)-propan-2-one (THP), 1-[(4-chloro-hydrazono)]-propan-2-one (CHP), and their Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal complexes. The structure of the ligands and their complexes were investigated using elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance and spectral (IR, UV, and EPR) measurements. IR spectra indicate that the free ligands exist in the hydrazo-ketone rather than azo-enol form in the solid state. Also, the hydrazo-NH exists as hydrogen bonded to the keto-oxygen either as intra or as intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In all the studied complexes, all ligands behave as a neutral bidentate ligands with coordination involving the hydrazone-nitrogen and the keto-oxygen atoms. The magnetic and spectral data indicate a square planar geometry for Cu²⁺ complexes and an octahedral geometry for Ni²⁺ complexes. The ligands and their metal chelates have been screened for their antimicrobial activities using the disc diffusion method against the selected bacteria and fungi. They were found to be more active against Gram-positive than Gram-negative bacteria. It may be concluded that the antimicrobial activity of the compounds is related to cell wall structure of bacteria.Protonation constant of (PHP) ligand and stability constants of its Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ complexes were determined by potentiometric titration method in aqueous solution at ionic strength of 0.1 M sodium nitrate. It has been observed that the hydrazone ligand (PHP) titrated here has one protonation constant. The divalent metal ions Cu²⁺ and Ni²⁺ form with (PHP) 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. The insolubility of (THP) and (CHP) ligands in aqueous medium does not permit the determination of their protonation constants and formation constants of the corresponding complexes in aqueous solution.     

Absolute stereochemistry of methanopterin and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin

The configuration at the C-9 of methanopterin (MPT) has been determined by comparing the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of MPT and its hydrolytic fragment, 1-[4-[[1-(2-amino-7-methyl-4-hydroxy-6-pteridinyl)-ethyl]amino]phenyl]-1-deoxy-D -ribitol (HP-1), with the CD spectra of a series of model compounds of known stereochemistry. These compounds included (S)-6-[1-(4-carboxymethylanilino)ethyl]pterin, (S-6(1-hydroxyethyl)-7-methylpterin, (S-6-(1-hydroxyethyl)pterin, (R)-6-(1-phenoxyethyl)pterin, D (+)-neopterin, and L -biopterin. From this comparison it was concluded that MPT has the R configuration at C-9 and is thus configurationally related to D (+)-neopterin, which has the S configuration at C-1. From previous work establishing the relative stereochemistry at C-6, C-7, and C-9 of N⁵-N¹⁰-methenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethanopterin (N⁵-N¹⁰-methenyl-H₄MPT) as R, S, and R, respectively, it is clear that the remaining asymmetric carbons at C-6 and C-7 of H₄MPT have the S and S configuration, respectively. Comparison of these latter two positions to the equivalent carbons in 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (H₄folate) show that the steps involved in the biological reduction of MPT to H₄MPT occur with the same stereochemical outcome as those involved in the biological reduction of folate to H₄folate. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Purine nucleoside phosphorylase (Np) in the mouse: Linkage relationship of Np-2 to esterase-10 (Es-10) and Np-1 on chromosome 14

An improved method for detecting four Np-1 (purine nucleoside phosphorylase) alleles in mouse erythrocytes by cellulose acetate electrophoresis is described. The previous linkage of Np-1 and Es-10 (esterase-10) was confirmed, with a map distance of 13.0±2.6 cM. Np-2 was detected by either specific activity assay or starch gel electrophoresis and shown to be linked to Es-10, 15.9 ± 3.1 cM, on chromosome 14. No recombinants between Np-1 and Np-2 were observed in 52 offspring, indicating either that these loci are either closely associated or that Np-2 represents simply a property of existing allelic products of the Np-1 locus.This research was supported by Medical Research Council of Canada grants to F.G.B. and F.F.S.     

Evaluation of 3-(4′-(4″-fluorophenyl)-6′-phenylpyrimidin-2′-yl)-2-phenylthiazolidin-4-one for in vivo modulation of biomarkers of chemoprevention in the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis

A new bis heterocycle comprising both bioactive 2-aminopyrimidine and thiazolidin-4-one nuclei namely 3-(4′-(4″-fluorophenyl)-6′-phenylpyrimidin-2′-yl)-2-phenylthiazolidin-4-one 3 was synthesized, characterized with the help of melting point, elemental analysis, FT-IR, MS, one-dimensional NMR (¹H, ¹³C) spectra and we evaluated the chemopreventive potential of 3-(4′-(4″-fluorophenyl)-6′-phenylpyrimidin-2′-yl)-2-phenylthiazolidin-4-one based on in vivo inhibitory effects on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Administration of 3 effectively suppressed oral carcinogenesis initiated with DMBA as revealed by the reduced incidence of neoplasms. Lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) were used to biomonitor the chemopreventive potential of 3. Lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly decreased, whereas GSH, GPx, GST, and GGT were elevated in the oral mucosa of tumor-bearing animals. Our data suggest that 3 may exert its chemopreventive effects in the oral mucosa by modulation of lipid peroxidation and enhancing the levels of GSH, GPx, and GST.     

Field trapping of male Phyllonorycter ringoniella using variable ratios of pheromone components

The sex pheromone of Phyllonorycter ringoniella (Matsumura) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) has been identified to be a blend of (Z)‐10‐tetradecenyl acetate (Z10‐14:OAc) and E4,Z10‐tetradecadienyl acetate (E4,Z10‐14:OAc) in Japan, Korea, and China. However, the commercial product based on previous results is not attractive enough to be used for monitoring and controlling apple leafminer populations in the field. We re‐investigated the attractiveness of the two pheromone components, singly and in blends, in apple orchards in Shangdong and Shaanxi, the main apple‐growing provinces in China. Our results revealed that Z10‐14:OAc alone was not attractive to P. ringoniella male moths in the field, but E4,Z10‐14:OAc alone not only was strongly attractive but caught more males than any of the blends of Z10‐14:OAc and E4,Z10‐14:OAc tested. The most attractive blend ratios differed slightly for the two locations. No clear dose–response relationship was obtained for the 2:8 blend of Z10‐14:OAc and E4,Z10‐14:OAc. However, the dose–response field study of E4,Z10‐14:OAc alone showed that 1 mg per lure achieved the highest moth catch. These findings differ from the previous report of the best pheromone blend in China. Our data showed that E4,Z10‐14:OAc is the major component of the pheromone of P. ringoniella.     

Germacrane and eudesmane derivatives from Calea reticulata

Calea reticulata afforded in addition to known compounds two new sesquiterpenes. These were germacrane and eudesmane derivatives, identified as germacra-4(15),5,10(14)-trien-1-one and 6-epi-β-verbesinol coumarate, respectively.     

Synthesis and immunosuppressive activity evaluation of substituted N-imidazolidin-2-ones and N-tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones

Seventeen compounds with either an imidazolin-2-one or a tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one scaffold were synthesized and evaluated for their immunosuppressive activity in a concanavallin A (ConA)-stimulated mouse splenocytes proliferation test. Three of these molecules exerted a significant activity at 90 μM. All the compounds of the tetrahydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one series have turned out to be inactive showing the crucial role of the imidazolidin-2-one scaffold in the induction of an immunosuppressive activity.     

Determination of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in urine of smokers and non-smokers

Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) include 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N′-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N′-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) and N′-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and are found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. TSNA are of interest for biomonitoring of tobacco-smoke exposure as they are associated with carcinogenesis. Both NNK and NNN are classified by IARC as Group 1 carcinogens. Samples of 24?h urine collections (n?=?108) were analysed from smokers and non-smokers, using a newly developed and validated LC-MS/MS method for determining total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL, the major metabolite of NNK), and total NNN, NAB and NAT. TSNA levels in smokers’ urine were significantly higher than in non-smokers. In smokers, urinary excretion of total TSNA correlated significantly (r?>?0.5) with markers of smoking dose, such as daily cigarette consumption, salivary cotinine and urinary nicotine equivalents and increased with the ISO tar yield of cigarettes smoked. The correlation between urinary total NNN and the smoking dose was weaker (r?=?0.4–0.5). In conclusion, this new method is suitable for assessing tobacco use-related exposure to NNK, NNN, NAB and NAT.     

Identification of Des-methyl-DIF-1 Methyltransferase in Dictyostelium purpureum

For the production of D-amino acids using stable N-carbamyl-D-amino acid amidohydrolase (DCase) in an immobilized form, the DCase gene of Agrobacterium sp. KNK712 was mutagenized to increase its enzymatic thermostability. In a search for thermostability-related amino acid sites besides the two known sites of DCase, i.e., the 57th and 203rd amino acids, the new mutant enzyme found, in which the 236th amino acid, valine, had been changed to alanine, showed a 10°C increase in thermostability. These known three thermostability-related amino acids were changed to other amino acids by the PCR technique, and it was proved that the thermostability of the DCase increased when the 57th amino acid of DCase, histidine, was changed to leucine, the 203rd amino acid, proline, to asparagine, glutamate, alanine, isoleucine, histidine, or threonine, and the 236th amino acid, valine, to threonine or serine, in addition to the known mutations.     

Potential Inhibitors of Angiogenesis. Part I: 3-(Imidazol-4(5)-ylmethylene)indolin-2-ones

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new 3-(imidazol-4(5)-ylmethylene)indolin-2-ones, analogues of SU-5416, are reported. The final compounds 20-51 were obtained by Knoevenagel coupling between the substituted indolin-2-ones 1-15 and either the formylimidazole derivatives 16-18 or 2-formyl-3,5-dimethylpyrrole 19. Methylation at the nitrogen atom of the indolin-2-one and/or imidazole moities was carried out in the presence of the couple NaH/DMF. A Mannich reaction afforded the 1-dimethylaminomethyl derivatives 43 and 48. The antiangiogenic activity of these compounds was evaluated in a three dimensional in vitro rat aortic ring assay. In this test, compound 20 induced a decrease of angiogenesis comparable to that observed with SU-5416; the vascular density indexes at 1 μM were 30±18 and 22±4 % of control, respectively. The compounds were also evaluated, in an independent manner, as inhibitors of the human EGF-receptor tyrosine kinase activity. As expected, only minor activities were observed with four compounds, out of thirty-one, exerting inhibitory effects in the range of 40-55 % at 10 μM concentration.     

21-Acetoxy-pregna-4(5),9(11),16(17)-triene-21-ol-3,20-dione conversion by Nocardioides simplex VKM Ac-2033D

The conversion of 21-acetoxy-pregna-4(5),9(11),16(17)-triene-21-ol-3,20-dione (I) by Nocardioides simplex VKM Ac-2033D was studied purposed selective production of its 1(2)-dehydroanalogues—value precursors in the synthesis of modern glucocorticoids starting from 9-hydroxyandrostenes. 21-Acetoxy-pregna-1(2),4(5),9(11),16(17)-tetraene-21-ol-3,20-dione (II), pregna-4(5),9(11),16(17)-triene-21-ol-3,20-dione (III) and pregna-1(2),4(5),9(11),16(17)-tetraene-21-ol-3,20-dione (IV) were revealed as metabolites, and the structures were confirmed by mass spectrometry and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The metabolic pathways of I by N. simplex included 1(2)-dehydrogenation and deacetylation. The sequence of the reactions was shown to depend on the transformation conditions. The presence of both soluble and membrane associated steroid esterases in N. simplex was demonstrated using cell fractionation. Unlike inducible 1(2)-dehydrogenase, steroid esterase was shown to be constitutive. The conditions providing selective accumulation of II from I by whole N. simplex cells were determined.     

Identification of new differentiation inducing factors from Dictyostelium discoideum

Developing Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae form a stalked fruiting body in which individual cells differentiate into either stalk cells or spores. The major known inducer of stalk cell differentiation is the chlorinated polyketide DIF-1 (1-(3,5-dichloro-2,6-dihydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)hexan-1-one); however a mutant blocked in the terminal step of DIF-1 biosynthesis still produces one of the prestalk cell subtypes – the pstA cells – as well as some mature stalk cells. We therefore searched for additional stalk cell-inducing factors in the medium supporting development of this mutant. These factors were purified by solvent extraction and HPLC and identified by mass spectroscopy and NMR. The mutant lacked detectable DIF-2 and DIF-3 (the pentanone and deschloro homologues of DIF-1) but four major stalk cell-inducing activities were detected, of which three were identified. Two compounds were predicted intermediates in DIF-1 biosynthesis: the desmethyl, and desmethyl-monochloro analogues of DIF-1 (dM-DIF-1 and Cl-THPH, respectively), supporting the previously proposed pathway of DIF-1 biosynthesis. The third compound was a novel factor and was identified as 4-methyl-5-pentylbenzene-1,3-diol (MPBD) with the structure confirmed by chemical synthesis. To investigate the potential roles of these compounds as signal molecules, their effects on morphological stalk and spore differentiation were examined in cell culture. All three induced morphological stalk cell differentiation. We found that synthetic MPBD also stimulated spore cell differentiation. Now that these factors are known to be produced and released during development, their biological roles can be pursued further.     

Imidazolylchromanones containing alkyl side chain as lanosterol 14α-demethylase inhibitors: synthesis,antifungal activity and docking study

Abstract

Previously, 2-alkylchromans have been introduced as non-azole inhibitors of 14α-demethylase. Accordingly, we incorporated imidazole ring on the 3-position of 2-alkylchromanones to design new inhibitors of 14α-demethylase and potential antifungal agents. Thus, a series of 2-alkyl-3-imidazolylchromanones were synthesized starting from 2-hydroxyphenacyl bromide. The trans-configuration of compounds was confirmed by NMR-spectroscopy. The antifungal activity of title compounds were evaluated against different fungi in comparison with fluconazole and miconazole. trans-2-(1-Pentyl)-3-imidazolylchroman-4-one (4d) showed the most potent activity against yeasts comparable to fluconazole. The experimental data based on ¹H NMR spectroscopy revealed that 2-alkyl side chain and 3-imidazolyl moiety in compound 4d exist predominantly in the di-equatorial conformation. While docking study with 14α-demethylase demonstrated that the di-axial form of compound 4d can be considered as active conformation.