Nucleotide sequence analysis of the C.AKR Lyt-2 agene: structural polymorphism in alleles encoding the Lyt-2.1 T-cell surface alloantigen

The Lyt-2 ^aallele of the C.AKR strain of mice (genotype Lyt-2 ^a, Lyt-3 ^a) was cloned, and its complete nucleotide sequence as well as that of 2 kb of 5 flanking DNA was determined. The sequence was comapred with the partial sequence of the Lyt-2 ^aallele of DBA/2 (genotype Lyt-2 ^a, Lyt-3 ^b) and the nearly complete sequence of the B10.CAS2 Lyt-2 ^ballele reported by Liaw and coworkers (1986). The coding regions of the two Lyt-2 ^aalleles differ from each other by two nucleotide substitutions in the three exons over which they could be compared, resulting in two amino acid substitutions in the leader and transmembrane segments. The coding region of the C.AKR Lyt-2 ^aallele differs from the Lyt-2 ^ballele by two nucleotide substitutions in the extracellular V-like domain, one of which is silent and the second of which leads to substitution of valine for methionine at amino acid position 78 giving rise to the Lyt-2.1 allotypic specificity. The coding region of the DBA/2 Lyt-2 ^aallele shares with C.AKR the allotypic substitution at position 78 and differs from Lyt-2 ^bby three additional nucleotide substitutions in the coding regions, two of which lead to amino acid substitutions in the leader and transmembrane segments. It would therefore appear that the Lyt-2 alleles of the three strains analyzed are distinct, and the nomenclature Lyt-2 ^a1 and Lyt-2 ^a2 is suggested to distinguish the alleles of C.AKR and DBA/2, respectively. These alleles share a common difference from the Lyt-2 ^bgene product at position 78, and since the amino acid substitutions which distinguish them from each other are in the leader and transmembrane segments, their mature Lyt-2 gene products appear antigenically identical.     

Structural studies of gangliosides from the YAC-1 mouse lymphoma cell line by immunological detection and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry

YAC-1 cells were propagated in bioreactors in 11 and 7.51 volumes. The cells were metabolically labelled withd-[1-¹⁴C]galactose andd-[1-¹⁴C]glucosamine. The ganglioside fraction, purified by DEAE-Sepharose and silica gel column chromatography, showed on thin layer chromatography four major bands with mobilities between G_M1 and G_D1a. Gangliosides, obtained by further purification steps including high performance liquid chromatography on silica gel 60 columns with a gradient system of isopropanol:hexane:water, and preparative high performance TLC were characterized by (1) immunostaining of corresponding asialogangliosides obtained by mild acid hydrolysis and neuraminidase treatment and (2) fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of native and permethylated samples and methylation analysis of G_M1b ganglioside. As well as small amounts of G_M2 and G_M1, the major gangliosides found in the complex mixture were G_M1b and GalNAc-G_M1b. The structural heterogeneity of these gangliosides was cased by (a) substitution of the ceramide moiety by fatty acids of different chain length and degree of unsaturation (C_16:0, C_24:0, C_24:1) and (b) N-substitution of the sialic acid moieties with either acetyl or glycolyl groups. Disialogangliosides were detected only in low amounts and will be the subject of further investigation. A polyclonal chicken antiserum was raised against IVNeuAc-GgOse₅Cer. The antiserum was highly specific for gangliosides (IVNeuAc and IVNeuGc) and asialogangliosides with a GgOse₅Cer backbone. No cross-reaction with G_M1b or GgOse₄Cer was observed. Abbreviations: FAB-MS, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry; GSL(s), glycosphingolipid(s); HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography, HPTLC, high performance thin layer chromatography; NK, natural killer; SIM, selective ion monitoring; TIC, total ion current. NeuAc,N-acetylneuraminic acid; NeuGc,N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The designation of the following glycosphingolipids follows the IUB-IUPAC recommendations. GgOse₃Cer or gangliotriaosylceramide or asialo G_M2, GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer; GgOse₄Cer or gangliotetraosylceramide or asialo G_M1, Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer; GgOse₅Cer organgliopentaosylceramide, GalNAc1-4Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer; II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_M1; IV³NeuAcGgOse₄Cer or G_M1b; IV³NeuAc-GgOse₅Cer or GalNAc-G_M1b; IV³NeuAc, II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1a; II³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1b; IV³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1c; IV³NeuAc,III⁶NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1a; IV³NeuAc,II³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₄Cer or G_T1b;Vibrio cholerae and Arthrobacter ureafaciens neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18).     

The ganglioside GD1α, IV3Neu5Ac,III6Neu5Ac-GgOse4Cer,is a major disialoganglioside in the highly metastatic murine lymphoreticular tumour cell line MDAY-D2

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ganglioside expression of the highly metastatic murine lymphoreticular tumour cell line MDAY-D2. Cells were propagated under controlled pH conditions and oxygen supply in bioreactors of 1 and 7.5l volumes by repeated batch fermentation. Gangliosides were isolated from 2.7×10¹¹ cells, purified by silica gel chromatography and separated into mono- and disialoganglioside fractions by preparative DEAE anion exchange high performance liquid chromatography. Individual gangliosides were obtained by preparative thin layer chromatography. Their structural features were established by immunostaining, fast atom bombardment and gas chromatography mass spectrometry. In addition to gangliosides of the G_M1a-pathway (G_M2, G_M1a and G_D1a) and G_M1b (IV³Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer) and GalNAc-G_M1b of the G_M1b-pathway, the dis8aloganglioside G_D1 (IV³Neu5Ac, III⁶Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer) was found in equal amounts compared to G_D1a (IV³Neu5Ac, II³Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer). All gangliosides were substituted with C_24:0,24:1 and C_16:0 fatty acids, sphingosine andN-acetylneuraminic acid as the sole sialic acid. Abbreviations: FAB-MS, fast atom bombardment-mass spectrometry; GC-MS, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; GSL(s), glycosphingolipid(s); HPLC, high performance liquid chromatography; HPTLC, high performance thin layer chromatography; Neu5Ac,N-acetylneuraminic acid; Neu5Gc,N-glycoloylneuraminic acid [57]. The designation of the following glycosphingolipids follows the IUPAC-IUB recommendations [58] and the nomenclature of Svennerholm [59]. Gangliotriaosylceramide or GgOse₃Cer, GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; gangliotetraosylceramide or GgOse₄Cer, Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer gangliopentaosylceramide or GgOse₅Cer, GalNAc1-4Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4Glc1-1Cer; G_M2, II³Neu5Ac-GgOse₃Cer; G_M1a, II³Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer; G_M1b, IV³Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer; GalNAc-G_M1b, IV³Neu5Ac-GgOse₅Cer; G_D1a, IV³Neu5Ac, II³Neu5Ac-GgOse₄Cer; G_D1b, II³(Neu5Ac)₂-GgOse₄Cer; G_D1 or G_D1e, IV³Neu5Ac, III⁶Neu5AcGgOse₄Cer; G_D1e, IV³(Neu5Ac)₂-GgOse₄Cer; G_T1b, IV³Neu5Ac, II³(Neu5Ac)₂-GgOse₄Cer.     

Comparison of the 13C-n.m.r. spectra of gangliosides GM1 with those of GM1-oligosaccharide and asialo-GM1

The ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of asialo-G_M1 and G_M1-oligosaccharide are completely assigned and compared to those previously found for intact G_M1 and for the series G_M4, G_M3, G_M2, G_M1, G_D1a, G_D1b, and G_T1b. Removal of the ceramide residue from G_M1 liberated a free, reducing aldehyde group, which was reflected in a doubling of the ¹³C-n.m.r. signals assignable to the d-glucose residue because of α,β equilibrium. The spectrum of asialo-G_M1 lacks the resonances from the sialic acid residue, as expected; in addition, several resonances from the neutral gangliotetraglycosyl residue shifted to different field positions after removal of sialic acid from G_M1. These resonances include that of C-4 of the inner β-d-galactosyl residue, and C-1 of the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-galactosyl residue that is near the site of attachment of the sialosyl residue. The differences between the chemical shifts of the carbon resonances of oligomeric and monomeric saccharides, termed linkage shifts, provide a quantitative assignment aid. They are ～ $\text{1}\text{3}$ of those for residues linked to sialic acid than those for residues linked to the neutral hexose chain. Correlations among linkage shifts for pairs of glycosidically-linked carbon atoms for asialo-G_M1 and G_M1-oligosaccharide were compared with those for the series of gangliosides G_M4 to G_T1b, and differences are noted for resonances for carbon atoms near the sialic acid residue. The spectrum of ganglioside G_M1b, a positional isomer of G_M1 whose ¹³C-n.m.r. spectrum has not yet been observed, is predicted.     

The tRNA “WOBBLE POSITION” Uridines. III.1 the Synthesis of 5-[S-Methoxycarbonyl (Hydroxy)Methyl] Uridine and its 2-Thio Analogue

Abstract

The diastereoisomers 2a, 2b and their 2-thio analogues 4a and 4b were obtained by three-step transformation of uridine and 2-thiouridine, respectively. The absolute configuration at C-5¹ in 2a and 2b was established by CD, while for 4a and 4b the configurational assignment was based on the chemical correlation. The acids 1 and 3 were obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of 2a and 4a, respectively.     

Pyrazolo[3,4-d)Pyrimidine 2′-Deoxyribo and 2′,3′-Dideoxyribo-Furanosides: Synthesis and Application to Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Abstract

The synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine 2′-deoxyribo-nucleosides with various substituents at C-4 and C-6 (1 4) is described employing either liquid-liquid or solid-liquid phase-transfer glycosylation. From 1a (Z⁸C⁷A_d) and 2b (Z⁸C⁷G_d) the phosphoramidites 12a, b and 15a, b were synthesized. They were used in automated solid-phase synthesis resulting in the oligonucleotides 16 - 25. Deoxygenation (3′-OH) of 1a and 2b yielded pyrazolo[3,4-d]-pyrimidine 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides isosteric to ddA, ddG, and ddI.     

Ganglioside alterations in YAC-1 cells cultivated in serum-supplemented and serum-free growth medium

Gangliosides of the G_M1b-pathway (G_M1b and GalNAc-G_M1b) have been found to be highly expressed by the mouse T lymphoma YAC-1 grown in serum-supplemented medium, whereas G_M2 and G_M1 (G_M1a-pathway) occurred only in low amounts [Müthing, J., Peter-Katalini, J., Hanisch, F.-G., Neumann, U. (1991)Glycoconjugate J 8:414–23]. Considerable differences in the ganglioside composition of YAC-1 cells grown in serum-supplemented and in well defined serum-free medium were observed. After transfer of the cells from serum-supplemented medium (RPMI 1640 with 10% fetal calf serum) to serum-free medium (RPMI 1640 with well defined supplements), G_M1b and GalNAc-G_M1b decreased and only low amounts of these gangliosides could be detected in serum-free growing cells. The expression of G_M1a was also diminished but not as strongly as that of G_M1b and GalNAc-G_M1b. These growth medium mediated ganglioside alterations were reversible, and the original ganglioside expression was achieved by readaptation of serum-free growing cells to the initial serum-supplemented medium. On the other hand, a new ganglioside, supposed to represent GalNAc-G_D1a and not expressed by serum-supplemented growing cells, was induced during serum-free cultivation, and increased strongly after readaptation. These observations reveal that the ganglioside composition ofin vitro cultivated cells can be modified by the extracellular environment due to different supplementation of the basal growth medium. Abbreviations: BSA, bovine serum albumin GSL(s), glycosphingolipid(s); HPTLC, high-performance thin-layer chromatography; LDL, low density lipoprotein; NeuAc,N-acetylneuraminic acid; NeuGc,N-glycoloylneuraminic acid. The designation of the following glycosphingolipids follows IUPAC-IUB recommendations. GgOse₃Cer or gangliotriaosylceramide, GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer; GgOse₄Cer or gangliotetraosylceramide, Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gla1-4GlcCer; GgOse₅Cer or gangliopentaosylceramide, GalNAc1-4Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer; GgOse₆Cer or gangliohexaosylceramide, Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-3GalNAc1-4Gal1-4GlcCer or GgOse₆Cer; II³NeuAc-GgOse₃Cer or G_M2; II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_M1 or G_M1a; IV³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_M1b; IV³NeuAc-GgOse₅Cer or GalNAc-G_M1b; IV³NeuAc-GgOse₆Cer or Gal-GalNAc-G_M1b; IV³NeuAc, II³NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1a; II³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1b; IV³NeuAc, III⁶NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer or G_D1a; IV³NeuAc, II³NeuAc-GgOse₅Cer or GalNAc-G_D1a. Enzymes: Vibrio cholerae andArthrobacter ureafaciens neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18).     

Synthesis of 7-Deazatriacanthine and Restricted Rotation of Amino Groups in Pyrrolo[2,3-d]Pyrimidines

Abstract

Isopentenylation of 7-deazaadenine results in the formation of 7-deazatriacanthine (2a) and its corresponding isomer 5a. Chromatographic separation was difficult, but after Dimroth rearrangement of 5a into the exocyclic compound 3a, 7-deazatricanthine could be isolated. Similiar to its parent purine compound, 3a cyclizes in the presence of strong acid to give the tricyclic system 4. NMR data reveal that 7-deazatriacanthine exists as the amino tautomer 2a. Protonation of N-1 alkyl-ated 7-deazaadenine occurs at N-7 to give compound 6 which exhibits restricted rotation of the amino group. The rotational barrier was determined from temperature dependent proton NMR spectra and found to be about 70 kJmol^?1.     

Interaction of gangliosides with plasma low density lipoproteins

The role of gangliosides in the reception of low density lipoproteins (LDL) was studied using as targets mouse ascites hepatoma 22a (MAH) cells which bind LDL through a specific high affinity receptor. Low density lipoprotein binding and uptake by MAH cells decreased after brief treatment of the cells with neuraminidase to partially remove surface sialic acid residues. The LDL uptake capability of the neuraminidasetreated MAH cells was fully restored after incorporation of exogeneous G_M1- and G_D1a-gangliosides into the cell surface. In contrast, free (extracellular) gangliosides inhibited LDL uptake by native MAH cells. This inhibitory effect was seen at ganglioside concentrations corresponding to the ganglioside content of serum and was most pronounced with gangliosides whose sialic acids were linked to a terminal galactose residue (G_M3, G_D1a, G_T1b) but was smaller or absent with gangliosides whose sialic acids were attached to an internal galactose (G_M1, G_M2). The binding of gangliosides to LDL was structure and concentration dependent, saturable and trypsin sensitive. The LDL-ganglioside interaction was further investigated by steady state fluorescence spectroscopy. Changes in the LDL fluorescence polarization were observed with as little as 0.01 M concentrations of the gangliosides. The magnitude and nature of the effect depended on the type of ganglioside. We conclude that the LDL surface possesses sites recognizing specific carbohydrate sequences of glycoconjugates and that changes in the cell surface concentrations of sialic acids significantly modulate the LDL uptake. It is postulated that shedding of gangliosides into the blood stream may be a factor involved in regulation of cholesterol homeostasis.Abbreviations MAH mouse ascites hepatoma 22a - LDL low density lipoprotein - ASM anthrylvinyl-labeled sphingomyelin [N-12-(9-anthryl-trans-dodecanoyl-sphingosine-1-phosphocholine] - RITC rhodamine isothiocyanate. The designation of gangliosides follows the IUPAC-IUB recommendation [1]: G_M3, II³NeuAc-LacCer, II³-N-acetylneuraminosyllactosylceramide - G_M2 II³-NeuAc-GgOse₃Cer, II³-N-acetylneuraminosylgangliotriaosylceramide - G_M1 II³-NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer, II³-N-acetylneuraminosylgangliotetraosylceramide - G_D1a, II³ IV³(NeuAc)₂-GgOse₄Cer, II³, IV³-di(N-acetylneuraminosyl)gangliotetraosylceramide - G_T1b II³(NeuAc)₂, IV³ NeuAc-GgOse₄Cer, II³-di-N-acetylneuraminosyl, IV³-N-acetylneuraminosylgangliotetraosylceramide     

Synthesis of Certain 4-Substituted-1-β-D-Ribofuranosyl-3-Hydroxypyrazoles Structurally Related to the Antibiotic Pyrazofurin

Abstract

Several 4-substituted-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-3-hydroxypyrazoles were prepared as structural analogs of pyrazofurin. Glycosylation of the TMS derivative of ethyl 3(5)-hydroxypyrazole-4-carboxylate (3) with 1-0-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-0-benzoyl-D-ribofuranose in the presence of TMS-triflate gave predominantly ethyl 3-hydroxy-1-(2,3,5-tri-0-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazole-4-carboxylate (4a), which on subsequent ammonolysis furnished 3-hydroxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-carboxamide (5). Benzylation of 4a with benzyl bromide and further ammonolysis gave 3-benzyloxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-carboxamide (8a). Catalytic (Pd/C) hydrogenation of 8a afforded yet another high yield route to 5. Saponification of the ester function of ethyl 3-benzyloxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-carboxylate (7b) gave the corresponding 4-carboxylic acid (6a). Phosphorylation of 8a and subsequent debenzylation of the intermediate 11a gave 3-hydroxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-carboxamide 5′-phosphate (11b). Dehydration of 3-benzyloxy-1-(2,3,5-tri-0-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazole-4-carboxamide (8b) with POCl₃ provided the corresponding 4-carbonitrile derivative (10a), which on debenzylation with Cl₃SiI gave 3-hydroxy-1-(2,3,5-tri-0-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (13). Reaction of 13 with H₂S/pyridine and subsequent deacetylation gave 3-hydroxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-thiocarboxamide (12b). Similarly, treatment of 13 with NH₂OH afforded 3-hydroxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylpyrazole-4-carboxamidoxime (14a), which on catalytic (Pd/C) hydrogenation gave the corresponding 4-carboxamidine derivative (14b). The structural assignment of these pyrazole ribonucleosides was made by single-crystal X-ray analysis of 6a. None of these compounds exhibited any significant antitumor or antiviral activity in cell culture.     

Relation of amino acid composition and the Moffitt parameters to the secondary structure of proteins

A statistical analysis of the relation between the amino acid composition of proteins and the amount of helical secondary structure as characterized by the Moffitt b₀ parameter has shown a high degree of correlation of the b₀ parameter with those amino acids whose homopolymers can form helical structures. Using the data for 107 proteins, a linear relation was found between b₀ and the sum of the residue percentages of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, leucine, andlysine. A statistical analysis of the Moffitt a₀ parameter, on the other hand, showed no statistically significant grouping of amino acids in relation to the amount of secondary β structure in a protein. A plot of b₀ versus a₀–a, where a represents the a⁰ parameter for a fully denatured protein, for 55 proteins showed distinct nonlinearity. This nonlinearity was postulated to be due to presence of β structure, and a nomagram was constructed which allowed a semiquantitative estimate of the amount of helical and β-type secondary structures from the b₀ versus a₀–a plot.     

5′-O-[N-(Amnoacyl)Sulfamoyl]Nucleosides. Synthesis and Antiviral and Cytostatic Activities

Abstract

5′-O-[N-(Aminoacyl)sulfamoyl]-uridines and -thymidines 4a-12a and 4b-12b have been synthesized and tested against Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and as cytostatics. Condensation of 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-sulfamoyluridine and 3′-O-acetyl-5′-O-sulfamoylthymidine with the N-hydroxysuccinimide esters of Boc-L-Ser(Bzl), (2R, 3S)-3-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbuta-noic acid [(2R, 3S-N-Z-AHPBA], (2R, 3S) and (2S, 3R)-N-Boc-AHPBA gave 4a,b-7a,b, which after removal of the protecting groups provided 1Oa,b-12a,b. A study of the selective removal of the O-Bzl protecting group from the L-Ser derivatives 4a,b, without hydrogenation of the pyrimidine ring, has been carried out. Only the fully protected uridine derivatives 4a-7a did exhibit high anti-HSV-2 activity, and none of the synthesized compounds showed significant cytostatic activity against HeLa cells cultures.     

Construction and properties of new Lyt-congenic strains and anti-Lyt-2.2 and anti-Lyt-3.1 monoclonal antibodies

Hybridomas producing mouse monoclonal IgM antibodies specific for Lyt-2.2 and Lyt-3.1 T-cell surface alloantigens have been constructed. Cytotoxic titers of ascites fluids were found to be 10^–6 or greater and no lysis of thymocytes of congenic strains bearing the alternative allele was observed at the lowest dilutions tested (12). The anti-Lyt-2.2 monoclonal antibody (HO-2.2) specifically precipiated from extracts of Lyt-2.2-positive thymocytes molecular species indistinguishable from those precipitated by conventional anti-Lyt-2.2 sera. However, by immunoprecipitation criteria (though not by cytotoxicity), the anti-Lyt-3.1 antibody (HO-3.1) demonstrated some cross-reactivity with similar molecular species from Lyt-3.1-negative thymocytes.In addition, three new strains of mice differing from existing strains in the region of theLyt-2 and4Lyt-3 loci have been constructed. They are: C.C58-Lyt-2^a, Lyt-3^a and C.AKR-Lyt-2^a, Lyt-3^a, congenic with Balb/cAn and bearingLyt-2 ^a andLyt-3 ^a alleles of C58/J and AKR/J, respectively; and AKR.C-Lyt-2^b, Lyt-3^b, congenic with AKR/J and bearing theLyt-2 ^b andLyt-3 ^b alleles of Balb/cJ.Abbreviations used in this paper DMSO dimethylsulfoxide - NP40 Nonidet P-40 detergent - SaCI Staphylococcus aureus, Cowan I strain - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoreses - NP-NET buffer 0.15 M NaCl, 0.005 M EDTA, 0.05 M Tris, 0.02% sodium azide, pH 7.4, containing 0.5% or 0.05% NP40 as stated in text     

Ganglioside changes in the chicken optic lobes and cerebrum during embryonic development

Summary The developmental profiles of 15 different gangliosides of the optic lobes and cerebrum of the chicken were followed from the 6 th day of incubation to hatching and correlated to morphological development. Five of these gangliosides appearing in both structures between the sixth and tenth day, have not been reported previously in higher vertebrates. Three chromatographed on TLC-plates similarly to G_T3, G_T2, and G_T1c gangliosides, which have been demonstrated in fish brain. One fraction moved just below G_Q1b and is suggested, to contain G_Q1c. These novel gangliosides, which are possibly related to a recently proposed separate and probably phylogenetically older biosynthetic pathway, contained up to 20% of total ganglioside sialic acid. The fifth novel fraction, containing up to 16% of total ganglioside-sialic acid, moved below the penta-sialoganglioside G_P1 and is suggested to contain hexa-sialogangliosides.There were two main changes in ganglioside synthesis, which were identical in both structures.The first occurred from the sixth to the eleventh day, parallel to decreased proliferation, maximal cell migration and neuroblast differentiation, G_D3 and G_D2 decreased rapidly in favour of G_Q1b, G_P1, and to the novel fractions, described above.The second occurred from the eleventh to the eighteenth day, parallel to increased growth and arborization of dendrites and axons as well as functional establishment of synaptic contacts, there was a sharp rise in the amount of G_D1b, G_T1b, and G_D1a. Concomitantly the novel gangliosides decreased. At hatching G_D1a was the predominant ganglioside. G_M3, G_M2, and G_M1 were always minor fractions, each accounting for less than 4% of total ganglioside-sialic acid. G_M4 was never detected, indicating neglegible myelinisation until hatching.Abbreviations NeuAc N-Acetylneuraminic acid - G_M4 I³NeuAc-GalCer - G_M3 II³NeuAc-LacCer - G_M2 II³NeuAc-G_gOse₃Cer - G_M1 II³NeuAc-G_gOse₄Cer - G_D3 II³(NeuAc)₂LacCer - G_D1a IV³NeuAc, II³NeuAc G_gOse₄Cer - G_T3 II³ (NeuAc)₃LacCer - G_D2 II³(NeuAc)₂G_gOse₃Cer - G_D1b II³(NeuAc)₂G_gOse₃Cer - G_D1b II³(NeuAc)₂G_gOse₄Cer - G_T2 II³(NeuAc)₃G_gOse₃Cer - G_T1b IV³NeuAc, II³(NeuAc)₂G_gOse₄Cer - G_T1c II³(NeuAc)₃G_gOse₄Cer - G_Q1b IV³(NeuAc)₂ II³(NeuAc)₂G_gOse₄Cer - G_Q1c IV³NeuAc, II³(NeuAc)₃G_gOse₄Cer - G_P1 IV³(NeuAc)₂, II³(NeuAc)₃G_gOse₄Cer - G_H(?) IV₃(NeuAc)₃, II³(NeuAc)₃G_gOse₄Cer     

Polymorphisms in the coding and noncoding regions of murinePgk-1 alleles

The mouse X-linkedPgk-1 gene encodes phosphoglycerate kinase. When transfected into human cells, thePgk-1^b allele causes the appearance of mouse PGK-1^b enzyme activity. We describe here cloning of mousePgk-1^a, an allele ofPgk-1 which encodes an enzyme, PGK-1^a, with distinct electrophoretic mobility. We constructed recombinants between the DNA encodingPgk-1^b andPgk-1^a and transfected these constructs into human to assess the electrophoretic characteristics of each recombinant. In this way the charge variation between the two proteins was localized to exons 4 or 5. Sequencing of these exons revealed a single base-pair difference between the two alleles at codon 155, which predicts the amino acids lysine and threonine in PGK-1^b and PGK-1^a, respectively. A number of other DNA sequence polymorphisms exist betweenPgk-1^b andPgk-1^a including part of an L1 repeated element unique toPgk-1^a. This work was supported by the Medical Research Council of Canada, the National Cancer Institute of Canada, and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 304.     

Life without tRNAArg–adenosine deaminase TadA: evolutionary consequences of decoding the four CGN codons as arginine in Mycoplasmas and other Mollicutes

In most bacteria, two tRNAs decode the four arginine CGN codons. One tRNA harboring a wobble inosine (tRNA^Arg_ICG) reads the CGU, CGC and CGA codons, whereas a second tRNA harboring a wobble cytidine (tRNA^Arg_CCG) reads the remaining CGG codon. The reduced genomes of Mycoplasmas and other Mollicutes lack the gene encoding tRNA^Arg_CCG. This raises the question of how these organisms decode CGG codons. Examination of 36 Mollicute genomes for genes encoding tRNA^Arg and the TadA enzyme, responsible for wobble inosine formation, suggested an evolutionary scenario where tadA gene mutations first occurred. This allowed the temporary accumulation of non-deaminated tRNA^Arg_ACG, capable of reading all CGN codons. This hypothesis was verified in Mycoplasma capricolum, which contains a small fraction of tRNA^Arg_ACG with a non-deaminated wobble adenosine. Subsets of Mollicutes continued to evolve by losing both the mutated tRNA^Arg_CCG and tadA, and then acquired a new tRNA^Arg_UCG. This permitted further tRNA^Arg_ACG mutations with tRNA^Arg_GCG or its disappearance, leaving a single tRNA^Arg_UCG to decode the four CGN codons. The key point of our model is that the A-to-I deamination activity had to be controlled before the loss of the tadA gene, allowing the stepwise evolution of Mollicutes toward an alternative decoding strategy.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of 5-halo-2-Pyrimidinone 3′-Azido-2′,3′-Dideoxyribosides

Abstract

The synthesis of two nucleosides, 1-(3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-iodo- and -5-bromo-2(1H)-pyrimidinone, 1a and 1b, is described. Neither 1a nor 1b exhibited significant inhibition of T, lymphocyte growth. However, both compounds were unable to protect T, lymphocytes from the cytopathic effects of HIV.     

Synthesis of Certain 5′-Substituted Derivatives of Ribavirin and Tiazofurin

Abstract

The synthesis of several 5′-substituted derivatives of ribavirin (1) and tiazofurin (3) are described. Direct acylation of 1 with the appropriate acyl chloride in pyridine-DMF gave the corresponding 5′-O-acyl derivatives (4a-h). Tosylation of the 2′, 3′-O-isopropylidene-ribavirin (6) and tiazofurin (11) with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride gave the respective 5′-O-p-tolylsulfonyl derivatives (7a and 12a), which were converted to 5′-azido-5′-deoxy derivatives (7b and 12b) by reacting with sodium/lithium azide. Deisopropylidenation of 7b and 12b, followed by catalytic hydrogenation afforded 1-(5-amino-5-deoxy-β-D)-ribofuranosyl)-1, 2, 4-triazole-3-carboxamide (10b) and 2 - (5 -amino- 5-deoxy- β-D-ribofuranosyl) thiazole-4-carboxamide (16), respectively. Treatment of 6 with phthalimide in the presence of triphenylphosphine and diethyl azodicarboxylate furnished the corresponding 5′-deoxy-5′-phthaloylamino derivative (9). Reaction of 9 with n-butylamine and subsequent deisopropylidenation provided yet another route to 10b. Selective 5′-thioacetylation of 6 and 11 with thiolacetic acid, followed by saponification and deisopropylidenation afforded 5′-deoxy-5′-thio derivatives of 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1, 2, 4-triazole-3-carboxamide (8a) and 2-β-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide (15), respectively.     

N4-(3-Methyl-2-Butenyl)-2-(Methylthio)Tubercidin and Its α-Anomer - 7-Deazapurine Nucleosides with Potential Anticytokinin Activity

Abstract

Phase-transfer catalysis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine 4a with the halogenose 5 yields the anomers 6a and 7a. Deprotection with boron trichloride gives the chloro nucleosides 6b and 7b, which are converted into the potential anticytokinin 2 and its α-anomer 3.