Biological activity of some synthetic gibberellin glucosyl esters

Four gibberellin (GA₁, GA₃, GA₄ and GA₃₇) glucosyl esters were synthesized and found to be as active as their respective free acids in the rice seedling bioassay. The rapid hydrolysis of the glucosyl esters in rice seedlings was demonstrated by feeding experiments with glucosyl esters of [³H]GA₁ and [³H]GA₄.     

Antagonism of thromboxane actions in the isolated perfused rat heart

The effects of SQ-29,548, a novel thromboxane A₂ (TxA₂) receptor antagonist, were studied in the isolated perfused rat heart. SQ-29,548 at concentrations of 2.5 to 50 ng/ml antagonized the increase in coronary perfusion pressure (CPP) in response to the thromboxane agonist, 9,11-methanoepoxy PGH₂. Increases in CPP induced by arginine vasopressin and leukotriene D₄ were not altered by SQ-29,548. We conclude that SQ-29,548 is a very potent and specific TxA₂ receptor antagonist in the coronary vasculature of the rat heart.     

Electrochemistry of some substituted pteridines

Some substituted 4(3H)-pteridones have been investigated by classical polarography, cyclic voltammetry, and controlled potential electrolysis; based on these results, the following reaction path for substituted 2-amino-4(3H)-pteridones seems likely. In neutral and slightly alkaline solution the first step is a reversible two-electron reduction to the unreducible 5,8-dihydro derivative, which tautomerizes into a reducible 7,8-dihydropteridone at a rate depending on the substituents. At a more negative potential the 7,8-dihydro derivative is reduced in a two-electron reaction to the unreducible 5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteridone. This compound can be oxidized in a reversible reaction to a 6,7-dihydropteridone, a “quinonoid” form, which tautomerizes into the 7,8-dihydropteridone. The data from cyclic voltammetry favour the formulation of the “quinonoid” form as the 6,7-dihydropteridone, an “o-quinonoid” structure.     

Synthesis and fungitoxicity of some pyrimidine derivatives

A series of 12 pyrimidine derivatives were prepared and testedin vitro against growth, sporulation and nucleic acid content ofFusarium oxysporum f. sp.lycopersici andHelminthosporium oryzae. Introduction of a thiazole ring together with two aryl groups into 2-aminopyrimidine brought about drastic toxicity for both fungi. Pyrimidine derivatives with aryl groups alone were less toxic. Nitro groups were found to enhance the toxicity of the pyrimidine derivatives especially when substituted in the ortho-position of the aryl groups. Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis of both fungi was attributed mainly to the presence of the thiazole ring.     

Antagonism against Rhizoctonia solani and fungitoxic metabolite production by some Penicillium isolates

A number of Penicillium isolates were recovered in association to Rhizoctonia solani strains pathogenic on tobacco and from soil on plates pre-colonized by the pathogen itself. Their antagonism toward R. solaniAG-2-1 was evaluated in dual cultures in vitro. Inhibition of growth was evident to some extent in most pairings, while hyphal interactions referable to mycoparasitic relationships were not observed. However, the occurrence of plasmolysis and/or vacuolisation and the induction of monilioid cells were indicative of the release of bioactive compounds. Therefore, production of fungitoxic metabolites was tested by adding concentrated culture filtrates of each Penicillium isolate to the growth medium of R. solani. Complete and lasting inhibition was incited by culture filtrates of some isolates belonging to P. brevicompactum, P. expansum, and P. pinophilum. Three purified compounds, respectively mycophenolic acid, patulin and 3-O-methylfunicone, which were extracted from culture filtrates, were able to inhibit R. solani in vitro. Their production was also detected in dual cultures of the same Penicilliumstrains with R. solani prepared in sterilized soil and when the Penicilliumstrains were cultured directly on R. solani mycelium harvested from liquid cultures. The possible role of such metabolites in antagonism of the above-mentioned Penicilliumspecies against R. solani is discussed.     

Synthesis and SAR of pyridothiazole substituted pyrimidine derived HCV replication inhibitors

Introduction of a nitrogen atom into the benzene ring of a previously identified HCV replication (replicase) benzothiazole inhibitor 1, resulted in the discovery of the more potent pyridothiazole analogues 3. The potency and PK properties of the compounds were attenuated by the introductions of various functionalities at the R(1), R(2) or R(3) positions of the molecule (compound 3). Inhibitors 38 and 44 displayed excellent potency, selectivity (GAPDH/MTS CC(50)), PK parameters in all species studied, and cross genotype activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of some substituted triazoloquinazolines

Fifteen substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-c]quinazolines were tested for antibacterial and antifungal effects. The most effective derivatives had the triazoloquinazoline skeleton substituted with the pharmacologically active chromophores--morpholine, chlorine and nitro group. The broadest antimicrobial activity was found with 5-morpholin-4-yl-3-(5-nitrothien-2-yl)[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]quinazoline in concentration of 10 mg/L for B. subtilis, 50 mg/L for S. aureus and 100 mg/L for C. tropicalis. The highest tested concentration of derivative caused 83% growth inhibition of R. nigricans.     

Pyridofuran substituted pyrimidine derivatives as HCV replication (replicase) inhibitors

Introduction of nitrogen atom into the benzene ring of a previously identified HCV replication (replicase) benzofuran inhibitor 2, resulted in the discovery of the more potent pyridofuran analogue 5. Subsequent introduction of small alkyl and alkoxy ligands into the pyridine ring resulted in further improvements in replicon potency. Replacement of the 4-chloro moiety on the pyrimidine core with a methyl group, and concomitant monoalkylation of the C-2 amino moiety resulted in the identification of several inhibitors with desirable characteristics. Inhibitor 41, from the monosubstituted pyridofuran and inhibitor 50 from the disubstituted series displayed excellent potency, selectivity (GAPDH/MTS CC(50)) and PK parameters in all species studied, while the selectivity in the thymidine incorporation assay (DNA·CC(50)) was low.     

Metabolism of gibberellin a(12)-7-aldehyde by soybean cotyledons and its use in identifying gibberellin a(7) as an endogenous gibberellin

The level of gibberellin(GA)-like material in cotyledons of soybean (Glycine max L.) was highest at mid-pod fill—about 10 nanograms GA₃ equivalents per gram fresh weight of tissue, assayed in the immersion dwarf rice bioassay. This amount is about 1000-fold less than levels in Pisum and Phaseolus seed, other legume species whose spectrum of endogenous gibberellins (GAs) is well known. The metabolism of [¹⁴C]-GA₁₂-7-aldehyde (GA₁₂ald)—the universal GA precursor—by intact, mid-pod-fill, soybean cotyledons and their cell-free extracts was investigated. In 4 hours, extracts converted GA₁₂ald to two products—[¹⁴C]GA₁₂ (42% yield) and [¹⁴C]GA₁₅ (7%). Within 5 minutes, intact embryos converted GA₁₂ald to [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ and [¹⁴C]GA₁₅ in 15% yield; 4 hour incubations afforded at least 22 products (96% total yield). The putative [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ was identified as a product of [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ald metabolism on the basis of co-chromatography with authentic GA₁₂ on a series of reversed and normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) systems, and by a dual feed of the putative [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ and authentic [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ to cotyledons of both peas and soybeans. The [¹⁴C]GA₁₅ was identified as a metabolite of [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ald by capillary gas chromatography (GC)-mass-spectrometry-selected ion monitoring, GC-radiocounting, HPLC, and TLC. By adding the [¹⁴C] metabolites of [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ald to a different and larger extract (about 0.2 kg fresh weight of soybean reproductive tissue) and purifying endogenous substances co-chromatographing with these metabolites, at least two GA-like substances were obtained and one identified as GA₇ by GC-mass spectrometry. Since [¹⁴C]GA₉ was not found as a [¹⁴C]metabolite of [¹⁴C]GA₁₂ald, soybean embryos might have a pathway for biosynthesis of active, C-19 gibberellins like that of the cucurbits; GA₁₂ald → GA₁₂ → GA₁₅ → GA₂₄ → GA₃₆ → GA₄ → GA₇.     

Purine and pyrimidine contents of some desoxypentose nucleic acids

The distribution of purines and pyrimidines in desoxypentose nucleic acids prepared from a variety of animal and plant sources has been studied. 1. The nucleic acids were prepared from calf thymus, calf kidney, sheep spleen, horse spleen, chicken erythrocyte, turtle erythrocyte, trout sperm, shad testes, sea urchin sperm, wheat germ, and Pneumococcus Type III. 2. Separate hydrolyses were carried out for the determination of purines and pyrimidines. These procedures permitted nearly quantitative recovery of nucleic acid phosphorus in many of the preparations examined. 3. In the case of those preparations where a quantitative recovery was obtained it can be concluded that no bases other than adenine, guanine, thymine, and cytosine were present in appreciable amounts. 4. The distribution of purines and pyrimidines in all the nucleic acids studied renders the tetranucleotide hypothesis untenable. 5. The results of the analyses have indicated no great differences in the composition of these nucleic acids with respect to purines and pyrimidines.