Inhibition of Poxvirus Maturation by Rifamycin Derivatives and Related Compounds

The effect of a number of rifamycin derivatives and related compounds on the reversibility of the rifampin-induced virus maturation block was studied by using BHK-21 cells infected with vaccinia virus. All of the derivatives of 3-formyl rifamycin SV maintained this block, the required concentration varying from 100 to 1,000 mug/ml. These compounds vary only in the nature of the side-chain attached to the 3C atom on the naphthohydroquinone moiety; no obvious correlation between the nature of this side-chain and antiviral activity was found. Streptovaricin complex and tolypomycin R also maintained the maturation block; tolypomycin also produced marked alterations in the appearance of the viroplasm contained in rifampin-induced inclusions and immature virus particles.     

Rifamycin derivatives: specific inhibitors of nucleic acid polymerases

Rifampicin and three rifamycin SV derivatives with different lipophilic side chains were tested as inhibitors of a number of purified enzymes including the α and αβ forms of RNA-directed DNA polymerase of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). $\text{AF}\text{ABDMP}$ (2,5-dimethyl-4-N-benzyl demethyl rifampicin), $\text{AF}\text{013}$ (O-n-octyloxime of 3-formyl rifamycin SV) and C-27 (rifamycin SV with a dicyclohexylalkyl substituted piperidyl ring at the 3-position) at concentrations less than 20 to 40 μg/ml completely inhibited the RNA- and DNA-directed DNA polymerase and RNase H activities of both AMV enzymes. Rifampicin was inactive at 100 μg/ml. When used against a variety of non-polymerizing enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase, DNase I, and RNase A, these derivatives were inactive at drug concentrations between 100 and 200 μg/ml. Polynucleotide phosphorylase was inhibited slightly by all three derivatives. These results support the idea that rifamycin SV derivatives with appropriate 3-substituted side-chains are specific inhibitors of nucleic acid polymerizing enzymes.     

Interruption by Rifampin of an Early Stage in Vaccinia Virus Morphogenesis: Accumulation of Membranes Which Are Precursors of Virus Envelopes

Assembly of vaccinia virus envelopes and immature vaccinia particles was interrupted in HeLa cells treated with rifampin (rifampicin). The primary action of rifampin on vaccinia morphogenesis appeared to occur during the stage of envelope formation. When envelopes and immature particles were already present, maturation could continue, even in the presence of rifampin. It was demonstrated that the trilaminar membranes of irregular contour which accumulate in the presence of rifampin are precursors of virus envelopes. When rifampin was removed under controlled conditions, synchronous transitions were observed as the precursor membranes rapidly converted into uniformly curved envelope units with a 10- to 12-nm coat on the convex surface. These experiments provided an opportunity to examine the sequence of some early events in vaccinia morphogenesis. Initially, nascent envelopes remained in clusters around dense viroplasm. Large numbers of single immature particles appeared within 10 min. Nucleation of immature particles was the first evidence of core differentiation and began within 5 to 10 min. Development of lateral bodies and modeling of the biconcave cores was observed within 30 min, and structurally mature virions were present by 2 hr after the removal of rifampin. High resolution autoradiography showed that viral deoxyribonucleic acid, which labeled with (3)H-thymidine during rifampin treatment, was incorporated by the mature vaccinia which formed after rifampin was removed. Concentration of the viral deoxyribonucleic acid in core material evidently occurred after envelope assembly, probably coincident with nucleoid formation. Cytoplasmic crystalloid bodies accumulated during rifampin treatment; they appeared morphologically identical to vaccinia nucleoids and were heavily labeled by (3)H-thymidine.     

Inhibition of poly(A) polymerase by rifamycin derivatives

The effect of several rifamycin derivatives on poly(A) synthesis in vitro was tested using purified rat liver mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase assayed with an exogenous primer. When used at a concentration of 300 μg/ml, derivatives AF/013, PR/19, AF/AETP, M/88 and AF/ABDP completely inhibited activity corresponding to 50 μg of enzyme protein. Under similar conditions, derivatives DMAO and AF/MO failed to inhibit enzyme activity. Studies with PR/19 showed that the drug interacted directly with the enzyme molecule and did not affect the enzyme-primer complex formation. The inhibition by the drug could be reversed by increasing the substrate (ATP) concentration. It is concluded that some rifamycin derivatives can specifically inhibit template-independent nucleotide chain elongation reactions.     

Stimulation of microsomal production of reactive oxygen intermediates by rifamycin SV: effect of ferric complexes and comparisons between NADPH and NADH.

Rifamycins are antibacterial antibiotics which are especially useful for the treatment of tuberculosis. Reactive oxygen intermediates are produced in the presence of rifamycin SV and metals such as copper or manganese. Experiments were carried out to evaluate the interaction of rifamycin SV with rat liver microsomes to catalyze the production of reactive oxygen species. At a concentration of 1 mM, rifamycin SV increased microsomal production of superoxide with NADPH as cofactor 3-fold, and with NADH as reductant by more than 5-fold. Rifamycin SV increased rates of H2O2 production by the microsomes twofold with NADPH, and 4- to 8-fold with NADH. In the presence of various iron complexes, microsomes generated hydroxyl radical-like (.OH) species. Rifamycin SV had no effect on NADPH-dependent microsomal .OH production, irrespective of the iron chelate. A striking stimulation of .OH production was found with NADH as the reductant, ranging from 2- to 4-fold with catalyst such as ferric-EDTA and ferric-DTPA to more than 10-fold with ferric-ATP, -citrate, or -histidine. Catalase and competitive .OH scavengers lowered rates of .OH production (chemical scavenger oxidation) and prevented the stimulation by rifamycin. Superoxide dismutase had no effect on the NADH-dependent rifamycin stimulation of .OH production with ferric-EDTA or -DTPA, but was inhibitory with the other ferric complexes. In contrast to the stimulatory effects on production of O2-., H2O2, and .OH, rifamycin SV was a potent inhibitor of microsomal lipid peroxidation. These results show that rifamycin SV stimulates microsomal production of reactive oxygen intermediates, and in contrast to results with other redox cycling agents, is especially effective with NADH as the microsomal reductant. These interactions may contribute to the hepatotoxicity associated with use of rifamycin, and, since alcohol metabolism increases NADH availability, play a role in the elevated toxic actions of rifamycin plus alcohol.     

Mechanism of action of rifamazine, a member of a new class of (dimeric) rifamycins.

1. Rifamazine (AF/RP) a dimeric rifamycin, is active against bacterial DNA-dependent RNA polymerase and against viral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. 2. Rifamazine is active also against DNA-dependent RNA polymerase extracted from rifampicin-resistant mutants of Escherichia coli. It does not interfere with enzyme-template interaction or with RNA elongation. It blocks initiation. 3. A comparison is made between the mechanism of action of rifamazine and that of rifampicin, and of AF/013 (octyloxime of 3-formylrifamycin SV), a C-class rifamycin. Our results show that the mechanism of action of rifamazine is more similar to that of rifampicin than to that of the octyloxime derivative. 4. Activity of rifamazine against RNA polymerase from rifampicin-resistant mutants is thought to be due to binding of the dimer to both the rifamycin-specific binding site and to a second weak site.     

Effect of uracil on rifamycin SV production by Amycolatopsis mediterranei MV35R

The effect of different organic nitrogen compounds on the production of rifamycin SV by Amycolatopsis mediterranei MV35R and their optimum concentrations have been described. Results obtained indicate that rifamycin SV production increased from 4020 mg l-1 to 4575 mg l-1 when organic nitrogen compound uracil was added at 0.2% (w/v) concentration to the fermentation medium by A. mediterranei MV35R. The rifamycin SV yield was enhanced by 505 mg l-1 using uracil (2 g l-1) when compared with barbital.     

甘油对利福霉素SV生物合成的影响

利福霉素SV脂肪链桥部分的合成是以乙酸单位（由丙二酰CoA提供）和丙酸单位（由甲基丙二酰CoA提供）为延伸单元经过缩合、环化和后修饰而形成的,一些短链碳前体对二碳或三碳延伸单位的合成具有调节作用。研究发现添加一定量的甘油对利福霉素SV的生成具有明显的促进作用,其最适添加量为3％,添加时间以72h为宜,并且分批补加效果更好,最高提高效价21％以上。有机酸分析结果显示,甘油的加入导致乙酸和琥珀酸在胞外积累的增加,促进了EMP和TCA代谢途径,有利于利福霉素SV合成前体的积累。     

等离子体作用结合氧限制模型选育利福霉素SV高产菌株

利福霉素SV毒性低、疗效高、抗菌谱广,主要由地中海拟无枝酸菌发酵生产,其发酵过程属于耗氧发酵,供氧直接影响产物形成.为减少发酵过程氧限制影响,进一步提高利福霉素发酵产量,通过构建定向氧限制模型,将常温常压等离子体诱变和无水亚硫酸钠氧限制筛选模型相结合,建立了利福霉素生产菌株24孔板快速培养的高通量筛选方法,高效选育出能...     

Effect of metal ion catalyzed oxidation of rifamycin SV on cell viability and metabolic performance of isolated rat hepatocytes

The effect of rifamycin SV on metabolic performance and cell viability was studied using isolated hepatocytes from fed, starved and glutathione (GSH) depleted rats. The relationships between GSH depletion, nutritional status of the cells, glucose metabolism, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) production in the presence of rifamycin SV and transition metal ions was investigated. Glucose metabolism was impaired in isolated hepatocytes from both fed and starved animals, the effect is dependent on the rifamycin SV concentration and is enhanced by copper (II). Oxygen consumption by isolated hepatocytes from starved rats was also increased by copper (II) and a partial inhibition due to catalase was observed. Cellular GSH levels which decrease with increasing the rifamycin SV concentration were almost depleted in the presence of copper (II). A correlation between GSH depletion and LDH leakage was observed in fed and starved cells. Catalase induced a slight inhibition of the impairment of gluconeogenesis, GSH depletion and LDH leakage in starved hepatocytes incubated with rifamycin SV, iron (II) and copper (II) salts. Lipid peroxidation measured as MDA production by isolated hepatocytes was also augmented by rifamycin SV and copper (II), especially in hepatic cells isolated from starved and GSH depleted rats. Higher cytotoxicity was observed in isolated hepatocytes from fasted animals when compared with fed or GSH depleted animals. It seems likely that in addition to GSH level, there are other factors which may have an influence on the susceptibility of hepatic cells towards xenobiotic induced cytotoxicity.     

Inhibition of isolated yeast and mycelial phase RNA polymerases of Histoplasma capsulatum by rifamycin derivatives

Various derivatives of rifamycin were shown to inhibit the RNA polymerases of the yeast and mycelial phases of Histoplasma capsulatum. The relative potency of each of the derivatives against the isolated polymerases was the same as the potency of each against the viable organism. RNA polymerase PC III from the yeast phase was more susceptible to the rifamycin derivatives than yeast phase polymerases PC I and PC II and the biggest differences in susceptibility were seen with the derivative AF/ABDP (2,6-dimethyl-4-benzyl-4-demethyl-rifamycin). The susceptibility pattern of the mycelial polymerase activity was identical to the yeast polymerase PC III.     

Oxygen Enhancement of bactericidal activity of rifamycin SV on Escherichia coli and aerobic oxidation of rifamycin SV to rifamycin S catalyzed by manganous ions: the role of superoxide

Oxygen enhanced the bactericidal activity of rifamycin SV to Escherichia coli K12. Anaerobically grown cells, which had a low level of superoxide dismutase, were more susceptible to the bactericidal activity than aerobically grown cells, which contained a high level of superoxide dismutase. Oxygen also enhanced the inhibition of RNA polymerase activity of rifamycin SV, when Mn2+ was used as a cofactor. Rifamycin S was reduced to rifamycin SV by NADPH catalyzed by cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli K12. These results indicate that the inhibition of bacterial growth by rifamycin SV is due to the production of active species of oxygen resulting from the oxidation-reduction cycle of rifamycin SV in the cells. The aerobic oxidation of rifamycin SV to rifamycin S was induced by metal ions, such as Mn2+, Cu2+, and Co2+. The most effective metal ion was Mn2+. In the presence of Mn2+, accompanying the consumption of 1 mol of oxygen and the oxidation of 1 mol of rifamycin SV, 1 mol of hydrogen peroxide and 1 mol of rifamycin S were formed. Superoxide was generated during the autoxidation of rifamycin SV. Superoxide dismutase inhibited the formation of rifamycin S, but scavengers for hydrogen peroxide and the hydroxyl radical did not affect the oxidation. A mechanism of Mn2+-catalyzed oxidation of rifamycin SV is proposed and its relation to bactericidal activity is discussed.     

Optimization of culture medium for rifamycin SV production by<Emphasis Type="Italic">Amycolatopsis mediterranei</Emphasis> MM2 using statistical designs

In this paper, we conducted a statistical optimization of the medium components for the production of rifamycin SV byAmycolatopsis mediterranei MM2. In order to maximize the yield of rifamycin SV, a Plakett-Burman experimental design (PBD) was initially utilized in the screening of the medium components among 11 nutrients. Glycerol and yeast extract were determined to influence significantly the yield of rifamycin SV. Then, a central-composite experimental design (CCD) was utilized in order to optimize the concentrations of the screened components accqired using the PBD and to predict the mutual interactions occurring between the screened components. The predicted optimal glycerol and yeast extract concentrations were determined to be 43.8 and 9.5 g/L, respectively. At this optimum point, the predicted rifamycin SV yield was 490.5 mg/L, whereas the corresponding experimental yield was 480.3±43.8 mg/L.     

Production of rifamycin SV using mutant strains of Amycolatopsis mediterranei MTCC17

Production of rifamycin SV using mutant strains of Amycolatopsis mediterranei (MTCC17) has been studied. Attempts were made to increase the productivity of rifamycin SV by ultraviolet radiation and specific screening programmes for selection of superior producers. Among 20 morphologically variant mutants of A. mediterranei MTCC17 isolated, four mutants showed increased resistance to the rifamycin SV. These selected mutant isolates increased the yield of rifamycin SV from 2000 to 3250mg/l.     

Rifampin and vaccinia DNA.

The effect of rifampin on the replication of vaccinia DNA was studied in mouse L cells by a cytochemical techinque and by alkaline sucrose sedimentation analysis of newly synthesized viral DNA molecules. By the use of a fluorescent DNA-binding compound (Hoechst 33258), the sequential appearance, size, and location of the viral "factories" in rifampin-treated, virus-infected cells were found to be indistinguishable from those observed in untreated, infected cells. Sedimentation analysis in alkaline scurose gradients of the viral DNA molecules labeled in pulse-chase experiments showed that formation of small fragments, elongation into "intermediate"-sized molecules, and maturation into full-length viral DNA and, finally, into cross-linked viral DNA molecules occurred in the absence or presence of rifampin. The results support the view that the primary effect of the drug is related to assembly or morphogenesis.     

An oligoribonucleotide polymerase from SV40-infected cells with properties of a primase

A transient decaribonucleotide (iRNA) is covalently linked to nascent eukaryotic DNA chains at their 5' end. Searching for the putative iRNA polymerase (primase), we detected in extracts from SV40-infected cells a DNA-dependent incorporation of UMP residues from UTP into free and DNA linked deca- or similarly sized ribonucleotides. Denatured salmon sperm DNA served as the standard template in this reaction. SV40 FIII DNA was also an effective template, SV40 FII DNA was ineffective while FI yielded mainly free decaribonucleotides. The incorporation depended on the other rNTPs and was resistant to high concentrations of alpha-amanitin and rifamycin AF/013, drugs inhibitory to RNA polymerases I, II and III. The results implicate the decaribonucleotide polymerase in the priming of nascent DNA chains and suggest that the unique size of iRNA is encoded within its primase.