Specific and dual antagonists of alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(7) integrins.

N-(3,5-Dichlorophenylsulfonyl)-(R)-thioprolyl biarylalanine 10a has been identified as a potent and specific antagonist of the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin. Altering the configuration of thioproline from R to S led to a series of dual antagonists of alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(7), and the N-acetyl analogue 8b was found to be the most potent dual antagonist. A binding site model for alpha(4)beta(1) and alpha(4)beta(7) is proposed to explain the structure-activity relationship.     

Collagen-like triple helix formation of synthetic (Pro-Pro-Gly)10 analogues: (4(S)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10, (4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-4(R)-hydroxyprolyl-Gly)10 and (4(S)-fluoroprolyl-4(R)-fluoroprolyl-Gly)10.

For the rational design of a stable collagen triple helix according to the conventional rule that the pyrrolidine puckerings of Pro, 4-hydroxyproline (Hyp) and 4-fluoroproline (fPro) should be down at the X-position and up at the Y-position in the X-Y-Gly repeated sequence for enhancing the triple helix propensities of collagen model peptides, a series of peptides were prepared in which X- and Y-positions were altogether occupied by Hyp(R), Hyp(S), fPro(R) or fPro(S). Contrary to our presumption that inducing the X-Y residues to adopt a down-up conformation would result in an increase in the thermal stability of peptides, the triple helices of (Hyp(S)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (fPro(S)-fPro(R)-Gly)(10) were less stable than those of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) and (Pro-fPro(R)-Gly)(10), respectively. As reported by B?chinger's and Zagari's groups, (Hyp(R)-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10) which could have an up-up conformation unfavorable for the triple helix, formed a triple helix that has a high thermal stability close to that of (Pro-Hyp(R)-Gly)(10). These results clearly show that the empirical rule based on the conformational preference of pyrrolidine ring at each of X and Y residues should not be regarded as still valid, at least for predicting the stability of collagen models in which both X and Y residues have electronegative groups at the 4-position.     

Effects of 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-OOH-CP) and 4-hydroperoxydechlorocyclophosphamide (4-OOH-deCICP) on the cell cycle of post implantation rat embryos.

In this study, we used preactivated forms of cyclophosphamide (CP) and dechlorocyclophosphamide (deClCP) to examine the effects of phosphoramide mustard (PM) and acrolein, respectively, on the cell cycle of postimplantation rat embryos. The percentage distribution of cells in the G1/G0, S, and G2/M phases of the cell cycle was determined by flow-cytometric analysis. At embryotoxic concentrations, 4-OOH-CP (PM) induced major cell cycle perturbations whereas 4-OOH-deClCP (acrolein) caused no major perturbation of the cell cycle. These data support the hypothesis that the mechanism of the embryotoxic action of PM involves alkylation of DNA, whereas the mechanism of action of acrolein does not. The primary effect of PM on the cell cycle was an initial delay in the S phase followed by a G2/M arrest. At low embryotoxic concentrations of 4-OOH-CP, there was apparent reversal of the G2/M arrest; at higher embryotoxic concentrations there was little recovery from the G2/M arrest. The high level of cell death found at higher drug concentrations suggests that prolonged G2/M arrest leads to cell death. Using radiolabeled CP and cell sorting, it was determined that PM predominantly alkylated DNA in the S phase of the cell cycle. Overall, the data from this study support the hypothesis that DNA cross-links, induced by the alkylation of DNA by PM, induce cell cycle perturbations. Furthermore, these cell cycle alterations may be one of the early steps in the mechanism leading to the embryotoxicity of PM.     

Production of beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol and beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid by Candida species.

Two crystalline compounds were isolated from the culture filtrates of Candida species grown in synthetic medium supplemented with L-tyrosine as the sole source of nitrogen. These compounds were characterized as beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol (HOPEA) and beta-(4-hydroxyphenyl)lactic acid (HOPLA). The production of these compounds in five species (both pathogenic and non-pathogenic) was compared and marked differences were revealed. Experiments using L-[14C]tyrosine indicated that both HOPEA and HOPLA are synthesized from L-tyrosine.     

Mucin 4 (MUC4) gene: regional assignment (3q29) and RFLP analysis.

The use of a probe (JER64) containing a mucin 4 (MUC4) cDNA insert of 1.83 kb allowed to assign by in situ hybridization, the MUC4 gene to 3q29. This probe detected RFLPs with all restriction enzymes used (BamHI, HindIII, PstI, EcoRI, and TaqI). Particularly numerous alleles were observed with PstI, EcoRI and TaqI, in a small sample of unrelated DNAs (25 digested with PstI, 8 with EcoRI and 8 with TaqI). The PIC values were 0.69, 0.63 and 0.70 for PstI, EcoRI and TaqI respectively. The polymorphisms observed of variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) type are in relation with the presence of tandemly repeated nucleotide sequences in MUC4 gene.     

Photosynthesis in Flaveria brownii A.M. Powell : A C(4)-Like C(3)-C(4) Intermediate

Leaves of Flaveria brownii exhibited slightly higher amounts of oxygen inhibition of photosynthesis than the C₄ species, Flaveria trinervia, but considerably less than the C₃ species, Flaveria cronquistii. The photosynthetic responses to intercellular CO₂, light and leaf temperature were much more C₄-like than C₃-like, although 21% oxygen inhibited the photosynthetic rate, depending on conditions, up to 17% of the photosynthesis rate observed in 2% O₂. The quantum yield for CO₂ uptake in F. brownii was slightly higher than that for the C₄ species F. trinervia in 2% O₂, but not significantly different in 21% O₂. The quantum yield was inhibited 10% in the presence of 21% O₂ in F. brownii, yet no significant inhibition was observed in F. trinervia. An inhibition of 27% was observed for the quantum yield of F. cronquistii in the presence of 21% O₂. The photosynthetic response to very low intercellular CO₂ partial pressures exhibited a unique pattern in F. brownii, with a break in the linear slope observed at intercellular CO₂ partial pressure values between 15 and 20 μbar when analyzed in 21% O₂. No significant break was observed when analyzed in 2% O₂. When taken collectively, the gas-exchange results reported here are consistent with previous biochemical studies that report incomplete intercellular compartmentation of the C₃ and C₄ enzymes in this species, and suggest that F. brownii is an advanced, C₄-like C₃-C₄ intermediate.     

Degree of C(4) Photosynthesis in C(4) and C(3)-C(4)Flaveria Species and Their Hybrids : I. CO(2) Assimilation and Metabolism and Activities of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and NADP-Malic Enzyme

The degree of C₄ photosynthesis was assessed in four hybrids among C₄, C₄-like, and C₃-C₄ species in the genus Flaveria using ¹⁴C labeling, CO₂ exchange, ¹³C discrimination, and C₄ enzyme activities. The hybrids incorporated from 57 to 88% of the ¹⁴C assimilated in a 10-s exposure into C₄ acids compared with 26% for the C₃-C₄ species Flaveria linearis, 91% for the C₄ species Flaveria trinervia, and 87% for the C₄-like Flaveria brownii. Those plants with high percentages of ¹⁴C initially fixed into C₄ acids also metabolized the C₄ acids quickly, and the percentage of ¹⁴C in 3-phosphoglyceric acid plus sugar phosphates increased for at least a 30-s exposure to ¹²CO₂. This indicated a high degree of coordination between the carbon accumulation and reduction phases of the C₄ and C₃ cycles. Synthesis and metabolism of C₄ acids by the species and their hybrids were highly and linearly correlated with discrimination against ¹³C. The relationship of ¹³C discrimination or ¹⁴C metabolism to O₂ inhibition of photosynthesis was curvilinear, changing more rapidly at C₄-like values of ¹⁴C metabolism and ¹³C discrimination. Incorporation of initial ¹⁴C into C₄ acids showed a biphasic increase with increased activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzyme (steep at low activities), but turnover of C₄ acids was linearly related to NADP-malic enzyme activity. Several other traits were closely related to the in vitro activity of NADP-malic enzyme but not phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The data indicate that the hybrids have variable degrees of C₄ photosynthesis but that the carbon accumulation and reduction portions of the C₄ and C₃ cycles are well coordinated.     

Platelet-activating factor analogs. II. Synthesis of the 1-O-(4-decyloxymethylphenyl)- and 1-O-(4-decyloxyphenylmethyl) analogs

1-O-(4-Decyloxymethylphenyl)- and 1-O-(4-decyloxyphenylmethyl)-2-O-acetyl-glycero-3-phosphorylcholin e were synthesized from 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol. The utility of a 2-O-tetrahydropyranyl ether as a protecting group and its facile removal in the presence of a 3-phosphorylcholine is illustrated.     

Molecular modelling of (A4T4NN)n and (T4A4NN)n: sequence elements responsible for curvature.

The molecular modelling program JUMNA has been used to investigate the origins of the strikingly different curvature of the two sequences, (A4T4NN)n and (T4A4NN)n. Gel electrophoresis and cyclisation studies have shown that only the former of these two sequences is significantly curved. By developing novel superhelical symmetry constraints we were able to study the energetic and structural aspects of polymeric DNA having a controlled curvature. The results obtained (which do not take into account specific hydration effects) correlate well with the experimental data and offer a molecular level explanation of curvature. Although curvature is found to be initiated by specific dinucleotide junctions, deformations spread to surrounding dinucleotide steps and, moreover, sequence effects beyond the dinucleotide level are observed.     

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin released platelet factor 4 (HR-PF4) in diabetes mellitus. Effect of the duration of the disease

Several investigators have reported an altered platelet function in diabetes mellitus as measured by elevated levels of platelet specific proteins platelet factor 4 (PF4) and B-thromboglobulin (BTG). We studied 20 insulin dependent (IDD), 20 non insulin dependent (NIDD) diabetic males without overt clinical symptoms of cardiovascular disorders and 30 normal controls. We evaluated PF4, BTG and heparin released platelet factor 4 (HR-PF4) as measured 2.5 minutes after a bolus injection of 5,000 I.U. of a commercial mucous heparin. The patients showed normal levels of both PF4 and BTG. Furthermore HR-PF4 failed to show statistically significant variation between patients and controls. However when the diabetics were divided on the basis of the duration of the disease, the IDD had an increased HR-PF4 mean level and the trend became statistically significant when diabetes existed more than 17 years (patients HR-PF4 149.1 ng/ml, range 17.3-194; controls HR-PF4 110.9 ng/ml range 50-160, less than p less than 0.05). NIDD failed to reveal the same pattern. Although the significance of HR-PF4 is unknown, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus after many years could cause a potentially dangerous, silent vascular damage with enhanced platelet vessel wall interaction as measured by an elevated HR-PF4.     

Degree of C(4) Photosynthesis in C(4) and C(3)-C(4)Flaveria Species and Their Hybrids : II. Inhibition of Apparent Photosynthesis by a Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Inhibitor

Hybrids have been made between species of Flaveria exhibiting varying levels of C₄ photosynthesis. The degree of C₄ photosynthesis expressed in four interspecific hybrids (Flaveria trinervia [C₄] × F. linearis [C₃-C₄], F. brownii [C₄-like] × F. linearis, and two three-species hybrids from F. trinervia × [F. brownii × F. linearis]) was estimated by inhibiting phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in vivo with 3,3-dichloro-2-dihydroxyphosphinoylmethyl-2-propenoate (DCDP). The inhibitor was fed to detached leaves at a concentration of 4 mm, and apparent photosynthesis was measured at atmospheric levels of CO₂ and at 20 and 210 mL L⁻¹ of O₂. Photosynthesis at 210 mL L⁻¹ of O₂ was inhibited 32% by DCDP in F. linearis, by 60% in F. brownii, and by 87% in F. trinervia. Inhibition in the hybrids ranged from 38 to 52%. The inhibition of photosynthesis by 210 mL L⁻¹ of O₂ was increased when DCDP was used, except in the C₄ species, F. trinervia, in which photosynthesis was insensitive to O₂. Except for F. trinervia, control plants with less O₂ sensitivity (more C₄-like) exhibited a progressively greater change in O₂ inhibition of photosynthesis when treated with DCDP. This increased O₂ inhibition probably resulted from decreased CO₂ concentrations in bundle sheath cells due to inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. The inhibition of photosynthesis by DCDP is concluded to underestimate the degree of C₄ photosynthesis in the interspecific hybrids because increased direct assimilation of atmospheric CO₂ by ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase may compensate for inhibition of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase.     

Cloning of adeno-associated virus type 4 (AAV4) and generation of recombinant AAV4 particles.

We have cloned and characterized the full-length genome of adeno-associated virus type 4 (AAV4). The genome of AAV4 is 4,767 nucleotides in length and contains an expanded p5 promoter region compared to AAV2 and AAV3. Within the inverted terminal repeat (ITR), several base changes were identified with respect to AAV2. However, these changes did not affect the ability of this region to fold into a hairpin structure. Within the ITR, the terminal resolution site and Rep binding sites were conserved; however, the Rep binding site was expanded from three GAGC repeats to four. The Rep gene product of AAV4 shows greater than 90% homology to the Rep products of serotypes 2 and 3, with none of the changes occurring in regions which had previously been shown to affect the known functions of Rep68 or Rep78. Most of the differences in the capsid proteins lie in regions which are thought to be on the exterior surface of the viral capsid. It is these unique regions which are most likely to be responsible for the lack of cross-reacting antibodies and the altered tissue tropism compared to AAV2. The results of our studies, performed with a recombinant version of AAV4 carrying a lacZ reporter gene, suggest that AAV4 can transduce human, monkey, and rat cells. Furthermore, comparison of transduction efficiencies in a number of cell lines, competition cotransduction experiments, and the effect of trypsin on transduction efficiency all suggest that the cellular receptor for AAV4 is distinct from that of AAV2.     

Complex formation of double-stranded DNA (6-4) photoproducts and anti-(6-4) photoproduct antibody Fabs.

DNA (6-4) photoproducts are major constituents of ultraviolet-damaged DNAs. We prepared double-stranded (ds) (6-4) DNA photoproducts and analyzed formation of their complexes with anti-(6-4) photoproduct antibody Fabs. Elution profiles of the mixtures of ds-(6-4) DNAs and Fabs from anion-exchange and gel-filtration columns indicate that Fab 64M-2 deprives 14mer ds-(6-4) DNA of single-stranded (ss) (6-4) DNA and shows no interaction with 18 mer ds-(6-4) DNA (A18). Fab 64M-5 with an approximately 100-fold higher affinity than Fab 64M-2 forms a complex with the ds-(6-4) DNA (A18), but partly dissociates another 18 mer ds-(6-4) DNA (A18-3), with a lowered G-C content, into ss-DNAs. From these results, antibody 64M-5 possibly accommodates the T(6-4)T photolesion moiety of the ds-(6-4) DNA (A18) by flipping out the moiety from its neighboring segments.     

Formation of (4R)- and (4S)-4-hydroxyochratoxin A from ochratoxin A by liver microsomes from various species.

Two metabolic products were formed from ochratoxin A by human, pig, and rat liver microsomal fractions in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. They were isolated from the incubation mixture in the presence of pig liver microsomes by extraction, thin-layer chromatography, and high-pressure liquid chromatography Their structures are suggested to be (4R)- and (4S)-4-hydroxyochratoxin A on the basis of mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Km and the maximum velocity for the formation of the two metabolites by human, pig, and rat microsomes were determined. Their formation was inhibited by carbon monoxide and metyrapone. The results indicate that the microsomal hydroxylation system is a cytochrome P-450 and that different species are involved in the formation of the two epimeric forms of 4-hydroxyochratoxin A.