Biological active metabolite cyclo (l-Trp-l-Phe) produced by South China Sea sponge Holoxea sp. associated fungus Aspergillus versicolor strain TS08

Sponge-associated fungi represent the single most prolific source of novel natural products from marine fungi. Cyclo (l-Trp-l-Phe) exhibits biological functions such as plant growth regulation, moderate cytotoxicity and thus has the application potential in pharmaceutical and agricultural biotechnologies. In this study, a fungal strain TS08 was isolated from sponge Holoxea sp. in the South China Sea and identified as A. versicolor according to its 18S rRNA gene and morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics. Meanwhile, cyclo (l-Trp-l-Phe) was found to be produced by A. versicolor strain TS08 mainly in the exponential growth phase. The highest yield of cyclo (l-Trp-l-Phe), 13.24 mg/g (per crude extract of EtOAc), 2.51% of cell dry weigh, was obtained on the tenth day of the fungal cultivation. It was the first time to find the biological active cyclo (l-Trp-l-Phe) in sponge-associated microorganism.     

Synthesis of the Optically Active Carbocyclic Analogs of the Four 2′-Deoxyribonucleoside Monophosphates

Abstract

The (+)-enantiomer of the carbocyclic analogs of the four 2′-deoxyribonucleoside monophosphate constituents of DNA, C-dAMP² (1: A), C-dGMP (1: G), C-dCMP (1: C), and C-TMP (1: T) have been synthesized via the Mitsunobu coupling reaction. Two new N³-protected thymines were developed en route.     

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. 192. Toward the Total Synthesis of Cyclic ADP-Carbocyclic-Ribose. Formation of the Intramolecular Pyrophosphate Linkage by a Conformation-Restriction Strategy in a Syn-form Using a Halogen Substitution at the 8-Position of the Adenine Ring

Abstract

The synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2), as a stable mimic for cyclic ADP-ribose, was investigated. Construction of the 18-membered backbone structure was successfully achieved by condensation of the two phosphate groups of 19, possibly due to restriction of the conformation of the substrate in a syn-form using an 8-chloro substituent at the adenine moiety. SN2 reactions between an optically active carbocyclic unit 8, which was constructed by a previously developed method, and 8-bromo-N ⁶-trichloroacetyl-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine 9c gave N-1-carbocyclic derivative, which was deprotected to give 5′,5′-diol derivatives 18. When 18 was treated with POCl₃ in PO(OEt)₃, the bromo group at the 8-position was replaced to give N-1-carbocyclic-8-chloroadenosine 5′,5′-diphosphate derivative 19 in 43% yield. Treatment of 19 with 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride gave the desired intramolecular condensation product 20 in 10% yield. This is the first chemical construction of the 18-membered backbone structure containing an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage of a cADPR-related compound with an adenine base.     

N6-Alkylthiomethyl and N6-Arylthiomethyl Derivatives of Adenosine and Their Cytokinin Activity

Five new derivatives of adenosine, N⁶-[(1-methylethyl)thiomethyl]-(1), N⁶-methyithiomethyl-(2), N⁶-phenylthiomethyl-(3), N⁶-[(3-amino-3-carboxypropyl)thiomethyl]-(4), and N⁶-[(2-amino-2-carboxyethyl)thiomethyl]adenosine (5), were synthesized and their cytokinin activity was tested in the Amaranthus betacyanin assay and the soybean callus growth.

1, 2, and 3 were active in the former assay and all five compounds were active in the latter assay. The activities of the compounds were, however, weaker than those of the reference derivatives, in which Sulfides were replaced by methylenes, N⁶-isopentyl-, N⁶-n-propyl-, N⁶-benzyl-, and N⁶-(5-amino-5-carboxypentyl)adenosine. This fact indicates that the sulfide structure introduced into the N⁶-side chains had the effect of reducing cytokinin activity.     

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF CYCLIC ADP-CARBOCYCLIC-RIBOSE AND ITS ANALOGS

An efficient synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2), as a stable mimic for cyclic ADP-ribose, was achieved. Treatment of N ¹-carbocyclic-ribosyla-denosine bisphosphate derivative 10 with AgNO₃ in the presence of molecular sieves 3A in pyridine gave the desired cyclic product in 93% yield, which was deprotected to give the target cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2).     

Formation of several stable complexes between the minor components of the cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo-(-Pro1-Ala2-D-Phe3-Leu4-) and some specific Boc-amino acids

The cyclic tetrapeptide cyclo(-Pro¹-Ala²-D -Phe³-Leu⁴-) was modeled and synthesized to be used for molecular interactions and chiral discrimination studies in CDCl₃. Total correlation spectroscopy and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy spectra of the cyclic tetrapeptide showed the presence of one dominant stereoisomer— 1 —and three minor ones— 2a , 2b , and 2c —in a relationship of 92:6:1:1. They formed three- to five-hydrogen bond complexes with Boc-D -Ser, Boc-L -Ser and Boc-L -Thr (Boc: t-butyloxylcarbonyl). These three Boc-amino acids interact more strongly with 2a , 2b , and 2c than with 1 , altering their relative concentrations to 48:40:6:6. In the complex between the cyclic tetrapeptide and Boc-D -Ser, the stereoisomer 2a exchanged chemically with 1 , 2b , and 2c , while 1 did not exchange with either 2b or 2c . This chemical exchange is due to cis-trans isomerization of the peptide bonds. The chiral discrimination of 2a , 2b , and 2c was stronger than that of 1 . No complexation occurred with Boc-L -Ala or Boc-L -Trp. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Altitudinal variation in leaf mass per unit area,leaf tissue density and foliar nitrogen and phosphorus content along an Amazon-Andes gradient in Peru

Background: Leaf traits are important in determining the capacity for a plant to acquire carbon, but few data are available for montane cloud forests in the Andes.

Aims: To investigate the changes in leaf traits along a large altitudinal transect (220–3600 m) from lowland to montane cloud forest in Peru.

Methods: We determined leaf mass per area (LMA, g m^?2), leaf tissue density (L _d, g cm^?3), and foliar nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content, both on a mass (N _m and P _m, %) and area (N _a and P _a, g m^?2) basis for the most abundant species locally.

Results: LMA increased with altitude (62.8–169.4 g m^?2), though overall, LMA was lower than in comparable tropical elevation gradients. N _m declined significantly with altitude (2.39–1.25 %, P < 0.05), but N _m contents were higher than in comparable studies. The relatively high N _m and low LMA values are consistent with published global leaf trait datasets. No altitudinal trend for P _m was found; rather, our data highlighted the spatial variability in P _m (and P _a) within and among sites at different elevations. Foliar N:P ratios did not show a trend with altitude and did not indicate N limitation except at 3000 m altitude.

Conclusions: Though leaf traits showed altitudinal trends similar to other studies, contrary to the general hypothesis, our data suggest that the tropical montane forests presented here are not N limited.     

Octanuclear iron(III) complexes supported by Kemp’s tricarboxylate ligands

Reactions of FeCl₂·4H₂O and diimino ligand (L) with H₃kta (cis,cis-1,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid) in the presence of [ⁿBu₄N][OH] afforded a series of octanuclear iron(III) complexes formulated as [Fe₈O₅(kta)₂(Hkta)₄(L)₂] (L = bpy (1), 5,5′-Me₂bpy (2), 4,4′-Me₂bpy (3), phen (4), 4-Mephen (5), 4,7-Me₂phen (6), and 3,4,7,8-Me₄phen (7)). The structure of 4 was determined by X-ray crystallography to consist of a planar {Fe₈(μ₄-O)(μ₃-O)₄}¹⁴⁺ core supported by two kta³⁻ tricarboxylates, where the inner four Fe^III ions form a {Fe₄O₅} square plane, of which apex μ-oxo atoms are further connected to the outer four Fe^III ions. The peripheral part of the Fe₈ core is bridged by four Hkta²⁻ ligands and chelated by two phen ligands. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra of 2 at 290 K and 77 K indicated the presence of high-spin octahedral Fe(III) ions, and the temperature dependent dc magnetic susceptibility data for 1, 2, and 4 showed strong antiferromagnetic exchange in the {Fe₈O₅} moiety.     

Organometallic indolo[3,2-c]quinolines versus indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines: synthesis, structural and spectroscopic characterization, and biological efficacy

The synthesis of ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene complexes with the closely related indolo[3,2-c]quinolines N-(11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-yl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L ¹ ) and N′-(11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinolin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (L ² ) and indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines N-(7,12-dihydroindolo-[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6-yl)-ethane-1,2-diamine (L ³ ) and N′-(7,12-dihydroindolo-[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethane-1,2-diamine (L ⁴ ) of the general formulas [(η⁶-p-cymene)M^II(L ¹ )Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (4) and Os (6), [(η⁶-p-cymene)M^II(L ² )Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (5) and Os (7), [(η⁶-p-cymene)M^II(L ³ )Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (8) and Os (10), and [(η⁶-p-cymene)M^II(L ⁴ )Cl]Cl, where M is Ru (9) and Os (11), is reported. The compounds have been comprehensively characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, spectroscopy (IR, UV–vis, and NMR), and X-ray crystallography (L ¹ ·HCl, 4·H₂O, 5, and 9·2.5H₂O). Structure–activity relationships with regard to cytotoxicity and cell cycle effects in human cancer cells as well as cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibition and DNA intercalation in cell-free settings have been established. The metal-free indolo[3,2-c]quinolines inhibit cancer cell growth in vitro, with IC₅₀ values in the high nanomolar range, whereas those of the related indolo[3,2-d]benzazepines are in the low micromolar range. In cell-free experiments, these classes of compounds inhibit the activity of cdk2/cyclin E, but the much higher cytotoxicity and stronger cell cycle effects of indoloquinolines L ¹ and 7 are not paralleled by a substantially higher kinase inhibition compared with indolobenzazepines L ⁴ and 11, arguing for additional targets and molecular effects, such as intercalation into DNA.     

Synthesis of DNA-(3′)-PNA Chimeras with Conformationally Restricted Linkers Based on 4-Hydroxyproline

Abstract

The synthesis and evaluation of DNA-(3′)-PNA chimeras containing rigid linkers based on (R/S)-4-hydroxy-D/L-proline are described. It is shown that installment of the trans-L-linker using the tetrabutylammonium salt of (R)-4-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityloxy)-N-(thymin-1-yl)acetyl-L-proline (2) leads to a DNA-(3′)-PNA chimera which hybridizes efficiently with complementary RNA.     

Synthesis,DNA/BSA binding studies and in vitro biological assay of nickel(II) complexes incorporating tridentate aroylhydrazone and triphenylphosphine ligands

Abstract

Two new nickel (II) triphenylphosphine complexes derived from tridentate aroylhydrazone ligands [H₂L¹ = 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazone and H₂L² = N′-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone] and triphenylphosphine were prepared and their molecular structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Both nickel(II) complexes showed slightly distorted square planar geometry with one tridentate aroylhydrazone ligand coordinated through ONO donor atoms and one triphenylphosphine ligand coordinated to the nickel center through the phosphorus atom. DNA interaction studies indicated that both complexes possessed higher affinity to herring sperm DNA (HS-DNA) than the corresponding free aroylhydrazone ligand. Molecular docking investigations showed that both complexes could bind to DNA through intercalation of the phenyl rings between adjacent base pairs in the double helix. Meanwhile, bovine serum albumin (BSA) binding studies revealed the complexes could effectively interact with BSA and change the secondary structure of BSA. Further pharmacological evaluations of the synthesized complexes by in vitro antioxidant assays demonstrated high antioxidant activity against NO· and O₂˙^? radicals. The anticancer activity of each complex was assessed through in vitro cytotoxicity assays (CCK-8 kit) toward A549 and MCF-7 cancer cell and normal L-02 cell lines. Significantly, the Ni(II) complex derived from H₂L¹ ligand was found to be more effective cytotoxic toward MCF-7cancerous cell with the IC₅₀ value equaled 9.7?μM, which showed potent cytotoxic activity over standard drug cisplatin.

Abbreviations A549 human lung carcinoma cell

BSA bovine serum albumin

CCK-8 Cell Counting Kit-8

DFT density functional theory

DNA deoxyribonucleic acid

DPPH˙ 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl

H₂L¹ 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)benzohydrazone N′-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone

H₂L² N′-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-2-hydroxybenzoylhydrazone

HOMO highest occupied molecular orbital

IC₅₀ the 50% activity

L-02 human normal liver cell

LOMO lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO)

MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cell

NO˙ nitric oxide

O₂˙^? superoxide anion

SOD superoxide dismutase

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Synthesis of a Base-Protected xylo-LNA Adenine Nucleoside

Abstract

Synthesis of (1S,3R,4R,7R)-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3-(6-N-benzoyl-adenin-9-yl)-2,5-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (2), a base-protected xylo-LNA adenine nucleoside, has been accomplished using a convergent synthetic strategy starting from 1,2-di-O-acetylfuranose 3.     

Stereoselective Reactions OF 1-(4,6-O-Benzylidene-2,3-Didehydro-2,3-dideoxy-3-nitro-β-D-hexopyranosyl)uracil with some Nucleophiles¶

Abstract

Michael addition of benzylamine, piperidine, morpholine, pyrrolidine, cyclohexylamine, allylamine and dimethylmalonate to the nitroolefin (5) generated in situ from 1-(4,6-O-benzylidene-3-deoxy-3-nitro-β-D-glucopyranosyl)uracil (4b) gave the corresponding 2-(substituted-amino)-3-deoxy-3-nitro-β-D-glucopyranosides (6a-f and 6h). Reaction of 4b with N,N-carbonyldiimidazole directly gave 6g. Compound 4b was converted into the 2-deoxy analogue (8), which was reduced to the 3-amino (9) and 3-hydroxylamino analogue (10).

     

Biosorption of Malathion using dry cells of Bacillus species S14 in a packed bed column reactor

Abstract

The ability of dried bacterial strain Bacillus sp. S₁₄ to adsorb Malathion in a packed bed column reactor was studied. The effects of important design parameters such as bed height, flow rate and influent Malathion concentration on Malathion removal from an aqueous solution was studied using a packed bed column reactor. The optimised conditions for maximum Malathion removal were found to be: flow rate: 5 mL min^-1, bed height: 6.0 cm and influent Malathion concentration: 25 mg L^-1. The Adams-Bohart model, Wolborska model, Thomas model, Yoon and Nelson Model were employed to determine characteristic parameters such as N₀ (saturation concentration, mg L^-1), β_o (external mass transfer coefficient, min^-1), k _Th(Thomas rate constant, mL min^-1mg^-1), q₀ (maximum solid phase concentration of the solute, mg L^-1), k_YN (rate constant, min^-1) and τ (time required for 50 % adsorbate breakthrough time, min) which are useful for process design. Data were fitted with Adams-Bohart model at lower region of (C/C₀) values but more accurately fitted with Wolborska and Thomas model.     

A Facile Synthesis of the Phosphoramidites of 2-N-Methyl-2′-deoxy (or 2′-O-allyl)-ψ-isocytidine, 1, 3-Dimethyl-2′-deoxy-ψ-uridine and N1-Methyl-2′-O-allyl-ψ-uridine as Synthons Suitable for Oligonucleotide Synthesis

Abstract

An efficient and facile syntheses of 5′-O-(4, 4′-dimethoxytrityl)-3′-[2-cyanoethyl bis(1-methylethyl)]phosphoramidites of 2-N-methyl-2′-deoxy-ψ-isocytidine (6), 2-N-methyl-2′-deoxy-α-ψ-isocytidine (13), 2-N-methyl-2′-O-allyl-ψ-isocytidine (11), 1, 3-dimethyl-2′-deoxy-ψ-uridine (4) and N1-methyl-2′-O-allyl-ψ-uridine (19) have been accomplished in good overall yields. The pyrimidine-pyrimidine transformation reaction was found to be useful for the preparation of 2-N-methyl-2′-O-allyl-ψ-isocytidine (10). The utility of these novel phosphoramidites is demonstrated by their incorporation into oligonucleotides via solid-support, oligonucleotide methodology.     

Synthesis of a Base-Protected α-L-LNA Guanine Nucleoside

Abstract

Synthesis of (1R,3R,4S,7R)-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3-(2-N-isobutyroylguanin-9-yl)-2,5-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (12), a protected α-L-LNA guanine nucleoside, has been accomplished using a convergent synthetic strategy starting from 1,2-di-O-acetylfuranose 4.     

Cholinesterase inhibitory triterpenoids from the bark of Garcinia hombroniana

Abstract

Context: Garcinia hombroniana Pierre, known as manggis hutan in Malaysia is a rich source of xanthones and benzophenones.

Objectives: This study was aimed to isolate and characterize potential cholinesterase inhibitors from the extracts of G. hombroniana bark and investigate their interactions with the enzymes.

Materials and methods: The dichloromethane extract afforded five triterpenoids which were characterized by NMR and mass spectral techniques. Cholinesterase inhibitory assay and molecular docking were performed to get insight of the inhibitory activity and molecular interactions of the compounds. The compounds were also tested for their antioxidant capacity.

Results: The isolated triterpenoids were identified as: 2β-hydroxy-3α-O-caffeoyltaraxar-14-en-28-oic acid (1), taraxerol (2), taraxerone (3), betulin (4) and betulinic acid (5). Compound 1 was the most active dual inhibitor of both AChE and BChE. Compound 1 also showed good antioxidant activities.

Conclusion: Compound 1 had dual and moderate inhibitory activity on AChE and BChE worthy for further investigations.     

Facile Method for the Preparation of 7-Methyl-8-oxoguanosines as an Immunomodulator¶

Abstract

Reaction of 9-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-7-methylguaninium iodide (2a) with hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid gave the corresponding 7-methyl-8-oxoguanosine derivative (3a) in good yield. Deprotection of 3a easily gave 7-methyl-8-oxoguanosine (1), which is well-known as an immunomodulator. Substitution of acetyl group at the N-position of guanine ring accelerated the oxidation reaction of the 7-methylguaninium iodide.

     

Cation-binding cyclic peptides with lipophilic tails

We have synthesized and characterized a series of cation-binding cyclic octapeptides which may function as potential ionophoric substances. The materials contain varying degrees of hydrophobic character, which was controlled systematically through the incorporation of N-alkylglycine residues where N-alkyl = methyl, n-hexyl, cyclohexyl, or n-decyl. The peptides reported include cyclo(Phe-Sar-Gly-Sar)₂, cyclo(Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-Sar-Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-(N-decyl)Gly), cyclo(Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-(N-decyl)Gly)₂, cyclo(Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-(N-hexyl)Gly)₂, cyclo(Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-(N-cyclohexyl)Gly)₂, and the corresponding free diacid forms of the Glu-containing compounds. Using ¹³C- and ¹H-nmr spectra, we demonstrated that the mixture of cis/trans peptide bond-isomer conformers, characteristic of the free-peptide benzyl esters in solution, was converted to unique C₂-symmetric, presumably all-trans conformers on complexation with calcium ions. Cation-transport experiments, using the thick-liquid model of transport in a Pressman cell, established that these compounds transport a variety of cations and that one peptide examined in detail, cyclo(Glu(OBzl)-Sar-Gly-(N-decyl)Gly)₂ (selectivity Ca²⁺ > Na⁺ > K⁺ > Mn²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > Co²⁺ > Zn²⁺), transports calcium about an order of magnitude more efficiently than magnesium.     

Solvolysis of charged active esters of carboxylic acids with cyclo (l- or d-Glu-l-His)

Cyclic dipeptide cyclo(l- or d-Glu-l-His) carrying an anionic site and a nucleophilic site has been synthesized and used as a catalyst for the solvolysis of cationic esters in aqueous alcohols. In the solvolysis of 3-acyloxy-N-trimethylanilinium iodide (S⁺_n, n = 2 and 10) and Cl^?H₃N⁺(CH₂)₁₁COOPh(NO₂), no efficient nucleophilic catalysis was observed. On the other hand, in the solvolysis of Gly-OPh(NO₂)·HCl, Val-OPh(NO₂)·HCl and Leu-OPh(NO₂)·HCl a very efficient general base-type catalysis by cyclo(l-Glu-l-His) was observed. In particular, with the latter two substrates the catalysis by cyclo(l-Glul-His) was more efficient than that by imidazole, although the catalysis was not enantiomer-selective. The diastereomeric cyclic dipeptide cyclo(d-Glu-l-His) was almost inactive under the same conditions. Confomation of cyclo(l- or d-Glu-l-His) in aqueous solution was investigated and the structure/catalysis relationship is discussed.