Phosphorylation and anti-leishmanial activity of formycin B

The inosine analog formycin B (1–10 μM) inhibited the $\text{in vitro}$ growth of $\text{Leishmania}$ promastigotes and amastigotes. When administered to Syrian hamsters infected with $\text{Leishmania}\text{donovani}$, formycin B (10 mg qd × 5) decreased by greater than 90% the number of liver amastigotes, with a concomitant reduction in hepatosplenomegaly. Both extracts and intact cells of $\text{Leishmania}$, unlike mammalian cells, effectively phosphorylated formycin B. The resulting formycin B monophosphate inhibited dose dependently the conversion of IMP to adenylosuccinate in parasite extracts. This effect may be related to the potent anti-leishmanial activity of formycin B.     

Structure-activity relationships of estrogens. Effects of 14-dehydrogenation and axial methyl groups at C-7, C-9 and C-11

Thirty compounds were evaluated in the rat for uterotropic effects, inhibition of gonadotropin release, and competitive displacement of (3H) estradiol-17 beta from uterine cytosolic preparations. 7 alpha-Methylestradiol-17 beta was 150% as active as estradiol-17 beta as an uterotropic agent. Estradiol-17 beta was the most active inhibitor of gonadotropin release. 11 beta-Methylestradiol-17 beta had 124% of the activity of estradiol-17 beta in displacing (3H) estradiol-17 beta from the "estrogen receptor." The 9 alpha-methyl group considerably decreased the potency of estrogens in any of the three assays. The 14-dehydro modification was advantageous only in the estradiol-17 beta 3-methyl ether series. Uterotropic activities and inhibition of gonadotropin release did not parallel. The best compound for inhibiting gonadotropin release, as compared to uterotropic activity, was estrone. The "estrogen receptor" assay data correlated fairly well with uterotropic assay data, but only for compounds having free 3-hydroxyl groups; even so, some exceptions were noted.     

On the side-chain conformation of N-acetylneuraminic acid and its epimers at C-7, C-8, and C-7,8

The side-chain conformation of N-acetylneuraminic acid and analogs has been studied by n.m.r. spectroscopy. The results of the 1H-, 13C-n.m.r.-, and 1H-nuclear-Overhauser-enhancement measurements were used to distinguish between different local-minima conformations suggested by hard-sphere calculations. Attempts were made to correlate the major conformation determined for each compound with the behavior towards activation with N-acetylneuraminic acid-CMP-synthetase.     

Interaction of uridine diphosphate glucose with calf liver uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase. Significance of hydroxyl groups at C-3, C-4 and C-6 of hexosyl residue.

Analogs of uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPGlc) with a modified hexosyl residue which contained a deoxy-unit at C-3 or C-4 were tested as substrates of calf liver UDPGlc dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22). The 3-deoxyglucose derivative was found not to serve as a substrate for the enzyme whereas the 4-deoxyglucose analog was able to participate in the reaction. The apparent Km of the latter was 5.3 times that of UDPGlc and the relative V was 0.04. The reaction product was identified as uridine diphosphate deoxyhexuronic acid. UDP-deoxyhexoses were non-competitive inhibitors of UDPGlc enzymic oxidation, inhibition increased in the sequence: 2-deoxy-less than 3-and 6-deoxy-less than 4-deoxyglucose derivative. The significance of different HO-groups in hexosyl residue for interaction of UDPGlc with the enzyme is discussed.     

Complex formation between polyadenylic acid and formycin B

Polyadenylic acid forms a 2:1 complex with the C-nucleoside formyein B at both pH 7.0, 0.15 m-Na⁺ and pH 6.0, 0.15 M-Na⁺. The formation of this complex has been followed by equilibrium dialysis, and by optical rotatory dispersion measurements in the range 333 to 450 nm. At pH 7, melting curves for thermal dissociation of the complex (followed by the optical rotation at 345 nm) show a strongly co-operative helix-coil transition. From the variation of T_m with the free formyein B concentration at this temperature, the partial molar enthalpy of formation of the complex, at the mid-point of the transition, has been calculated as -12.8 kcal./mol of formyein B. Viscometry and optical rotatory dispersion measurements indicate that the structure of the complex at pH 6 is the same as at pH 7, and that it may be formed in preference to the double-helical acid form of poly (A). The structure and properties of the complex are discussed.     

Polynucleotides. XXVI. Complex formation of polynucleotides derived from formycin and laurusin with cyclonucleoside oligonucleotides

Poly(formycin phosphate) and poly(laurusin phosphate) were synthesized by polymerizing formycin and laurusin 5′-diphosphate by means of E. coli polynucleotide phosphorylase. The complex formation of these polynucleotides with cyclonucleoside polynucleotides were investigated. While poly(formycin phosphate) did not form the complex with an octanucleotide of 6,2′-anhydro-6-oxy-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyluracil, poly(laurusin phosphate) did form a 1: 1 complex with octanucleotide of 8,2′-anhydro-8-mercapto-9-β-D-arabinofuranosyladenine in the presence of 0.15M Na ion at neutrality and 3^o. CD spectrum of this complex showed a couple of a trough at 286 nm and a peak at 262 nm. This fact suggests that the complex has a left-handed helical conformation, which is opposite to the natural double helical polynucleotides. The cause of this phenomenon was discussed in connection with the complex of cyclonucleoside oligonucleotides.     

Biosynthesis of thiamin. Precursor of C-5, C-6, and hydroxymethyl carbon atoms of the pyrimidine moiety in a eucaryote

We studied the incorporation of radioactive glucose into the pyrimidine moiety of thiamin in the eucaryote Candida utilis. Three carbons of glucose were incorporated into the pyrimidine, and the C-2 of glucose into the C-6 of the pyrimidine. We concluded that the C-5, -6, and hydroxymethyl carbon atoms of the pyrimidine in this eucaryote originate from the C-2, -3 and -4 of glucose via ribose.     

Elementary steps of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase mechanism, studied with formycin nucleotides.

1. Formycin triphosphate (FTP), a fluorescent analogue of ATP, is a substrate for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3), with properties similar to those of ATP. 2. FTP and formycin diphosphate (FDP) bind to the enzyme with high affinity and, on binding, the nucleotide fluorescence is enhanced 3-4-fold. It is therefore possible, with a stopped-flow fluorimeter, to measure the rates of binding and release of FTP and FDP under conditions in which turnover does not occur. 3. When the enzyme-FTP complex is exposed to conditions permitting turnover (Mg2+, Na+ +/- K+), changes in fluorescence occur which can be explained by supposing that they reflect the interconversion of states with or without bound nucleotides. A rapid fall in fluorescence, that we attribute to the rapid release of FDP from newly phosphorylated enzyme, is followed by a steady state in which low fluorescence suggests that little nucleotide is bound. Eventually, exhaustion of FTP allows rebinding of FDP to the enzyme, which is signalled by a rise in fluorescence. 4. The estimated rate of FDP release from newly formed phosphoenzyme is unaffected by the presence of K+ (0-2 mM) or the concentration of FTP (1-20 micron). 5. Experiments with [gamma-32P]FTP show that about 1 mol of 32P is incorporated per mol of enzyme. The rate of phosphorylation of the enzyme by [gamma-32P]FTP has been measured with a rapid-mixing-and-quenching apparatus. 6. Kinetic data from the fluorescence and phosphorylation experiments show that the behaviour of the enzyme, at least at the low nucleotide concentrations employed, is consistent with the Albers-Post model, and is difficult to reconcile with models in which K+ acts at or before the step in which FDP is released during turnover.     

Interaction of formycin A-5'-triphosphate with pyruvate carboxylase

Formycin triphosphate (FTP), a fluorescent analogue of ATP, is a competitive inhibitor of chicken liver pyruvate carboxylase with respect to ATP. The chicken liver enzyme is unable to utilise FTP as a substrate at a measureable rate, but FTP is a poor substrate for the sheep liver enzyme. When FTP binds to the enzyme, its fluorescence is enhanced and in this way the formation of enzyme-FTP complexes can be monitored. Using this property of FTP, the effect of Mg2+ and acetyl-CoA on the binding of nucleoside triphosphates to the chicken liver enzyme was examined. Mg2+ was found to enhance the binding of FTP whilst acetyl-CoA reduced the fluorescence intensity of a mixture of Mg2+, enzyme and FTP. Most probably, this was caused by a conformational change in the enzyme which changed the environment of the fluorophore.     

21-Hydroxylation of C-11-oxygenated and C-11-deoxysteroids by perfused dog adrenals.

The left adrenal of two female dogs were perfused with either 3 muCi [4-14C]cpd. S (2) and 45 muCi [1, 2-3H] 21-deoxycortisone (Dog I), or with 1 muCi [4-14C] 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 65 muCi [1,2-3H] 21-deoxycortisone (Dog II). In Dog I, 40% of the perfused 21-deoxycortisone was converted to cortisone and 23% of cpd. S was converted to cortisol. In Dog II the percent conversion of 21-deoxycortisone to cortisone and of 17- hydroxyprogesterone to cortisol was 24% and 15% respectively. The results demonstrate that the dog adrenal has the capability of hydroxylating an 11-oxygenated steroid at C-21.     

Polynucleotides. XXXI1. Synthesis of AUG analogs containing 8,2''-S-cycloadenosine, 8,5''-S-cycloadenosine, 8-bromoadenosin, 8-oxyadenosine and formycin in the first position of the codon.

Five AUG analogs having 8,2'-S-cycloadenosine (I), 8,5'-S-cycloadenosine (II), 8-bromoadenosine (III), 8-oxyadenosine (IV) and formycin (V) in the first position of ApUpG W were synthesized. 3'-Phosphates of I, II and V were synthesized by phosphorylation using cyanoethylphosphate and DCC. In the case of II, 2', 3'-cyclic phosphate was directly obtained. 3'-Phosphates, thus obtained, were properly protected on the 2'-OH and/or the N6-amino group and condensed with U(OBz)pGiBu(iBu)2 using DCC to give ApUpG analogs. Some properties on paper chromatography and electrophoresis, and the UV and CD spectra of these trinucleoside diphosphates are reported.