海洋微生物中二酮哌嗪类化合物的研究进展

二酮哌嗪类化合物的基本结构是由两个氨基酸缩合而成的环二肽, 因其骨架具有稳定的六元环结构, 且有两个氢键给体和两个氢键受体, 使得DKPs具有较强的生物活性和药理活性, 在药物化学中成为一个重要的药效团。近年来从海洋微生物中发现一系列环二肽类化合物, 研究表明其功能不局限于抗菌、细胞毒活性等方面,在群体感应调控机制中也充当着信号分子的重要角色, 已成为化学生态学的研究热点。本文综述了近年来二酮哌嗪类化合物在海洋微生物代谢产物中的研究进展, 并对其研究方向进行了讨论和展望。     

Quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on cyclic cyanoguanidines acting as HIV-1 protease inhibitors

A quantitative structure-activity relationship study has been performed on some cyclic cyanoguanidines that inhibit the enzyme HIV-1 protease (HIV-1-PR) and exhibit antiviral potency, and the results have been compared with those of cyclic urea derivatives. Both the enzyme inhibition activity and antiviral potency in cyclic cyanoguanidines as well as in cyclic urea derivatives are found to be primarily governed by hydrophobic property of substituents attached to nitrogen (P2/P2') and further enhanced by OH or NH2 group, if any, present in the substituents. However, aromatic substituents are found to be unfavourable to both the activities of cyclic cyanoguanidines but not to any activity of cyclic urea derivatives. Cyclic urea derivatives are indicated to be more potent than cyclic cyanoguanidines. A model for the interaction of cyclic cyanoguanidines with the receptor is proposed.     

Effects of cyclic nucleotides on the conformational states of the alpha core of the cyclic AMP receptor protein.

The alpha core gragment produced by limited proteolysis contains the cyclic AMP binding domain and the two buried sulfhydryl groups of the cyclic AMP receptor protein. The buried sulfhydryl groups of the alpha core react with 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) after denaturation by 3 M urea or digestion with subtilisin. The rate of sulfhydryl modification in the presence of 3 M urea or subtilisin is markedly decreased in the presence of cyclic nucleotides which are proposed to tighten the conformation of the alpha core. Incubation of the alpha core in 3 M urea or dithionitrobenzoic acid does not affect cyclic AMP binding while dithionitrobenzoic acid plus 3 M urea inhibits cyclic AMP binding suggesting a role for the buried sulfhydryls in cyclic AMP binding or their proximity to the cyclic AMP binding domain of the alpha core. The data are consistent with a ligand-induced conformational change in the alpha region of the native cyclic AMP receptor protein that is required for DNA binding.     

Effect of metabolic inhibitors on vasopressin-stimulated transport systems in the toad bladder

Vasopressin increases the permeability of receptor cells to water and, in tissues such as toad bladder, to solutes such as urea. While cyclic AMP appears to play a major role in mediating the effects of vasopressin, there is evidence that activation of the water permeability system and the urea permeability system involves separate pathways. In the present study, we have shown that inhibitors of oxidative metabolism (rotenone, dinitrophenol, and methylene blue) selectively inhibit either vasopressin-stimulated water flow or vasopressin-stimulated urea transport. There was no inhibition, however, when exogenous cyclic AMP was substituted for vasopressin, and little to no inhibition when the potent analogue 8-bromoadenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP) was employed. Rotenone had no effect on adenylate cyclase activity or cyclic AMP levels within the cell; dinitrophenol decreased adenylate cyclase activity minimally. Additional studies with vinblastine and nocodazole, inhibitors of microtubule assembly, demonstrated an inhibition of vasopressin and cyclic AMP-stimulated water flow but showed no effect on urea transport. We would conclude that water and urea transport, as examples of hormone-stimulated processes, have different links to cell metabolism, and that in addition to cyclic AMP, a non-nucleotide pathway may be involved in the action of vasopressin.     

Combinatorial design of nonsymmetrical cyclic urea inhibitors of aspartic protease of HIV-1

The aspartic protease (PR) of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is an important target for the design of specific antiviral agents dedicated to treatment of HIV-1 infection. We have employed computer-assisted combinatorial chemistry methods to design a small focused virtual library of nonsymmetrically substituted cyclic urea inhibitors of the PR. Nonsymmetrical compounds with decreased peptidic character were namely found to inhibit the PR with comparable inhibition potencies as their C2-pseudosymmetric counterparts and to possess superior pharmacokinetic properties. To generate the virtual library of fully nonsymmetrical cyclic urea analogs, diverse reagents were selected from databases of available chemicals with characteristics similar to those of the building blocks of known potent PR inhibitors. The X-ray structure of the protease-inhibitor complex PR-XV-638 was used as the receptor model in the structure-based focusing and in silico screening of the virtual library. A target-specific LUDI-type scoring function, parameterized for a QSAR training set of known cyclic urea inhibitors and validated on a set of compounds not included into the training set, was used to predict the inhibition constants (Ki) of the generated analogs toward the HIV-1 PR. The fragments most frequently occurring in the analogs with the highest predicted inhibition potencies (Ki*<10 pM) were then selected to constitute a highly focused library subset containing novel nonsymmetrical cyclic ureas with predicted Ki*s 1 order of magnitude lower than the most potent known cyclic urea inhibitors. ADME properties calculated for the most promising analogs suggested that the cyclic ureas are endowed with a wide range of favorable pharmacokinetic properties, which may favor the discovery of a potent orally administrable antiviral drug.     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of C11, C12-cyclic urea analogues of ketolides

C11, C12-cyclic urea analogues of ketolides were designed and synthesized by use of a novel ketene acetal intermediate. This intermediate enabled introduction of an amino group at C12 stereospecifically and in high yield. The resulting cyclic urea ketolides appear to have in vitro activity similar to that of telithromycin which contains a C11, C12 cyclic carbamate moiety. Some of the C2 fluorinated compounds have improved potency against erm-containing Streptococcus pyogenes.     

Urea, a specific inhibitor of catabolite sensitive operons.

Low concentrations of urea inhibit specifically the expression of operons sensitive to catabolite repression. This inhibition is not relieved by cyclic AMP. It is suggested that the promoter of catabolite sensitive operons may be the target of the urea effect.     

Properties of soluble cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity of renal inner medulla

Studies of the chromatographic distribution of soluble protein kinase in rat kidney demonstrated that the type I isoenzyme predominates in cortex, whereas activity in outer and inner medulla is almost exclusively the type II form. The type II isoenzyme also predominates (95% or greater) in human, canine, bovine, porcine and rabbit inner medulla. Compared to soluble type I activities from rat renal cortex or medulla, type II activity of inner medulla demonstrates a marked resistance to activation by NaCl and/or urea in subcellular preparations. However, with respect to solute activation, the resistance of the type II enzyme of inner medulla does not differ from that of type II activities from other tissues. In contrast to the effects on basal activity, NaCl and urea potentiated inner medullary type II activation by cyclic AMP and also delayed the rate of subunit reassociation after chromatographic removal of cyclic AMP. Incubation of inner medullary slices in high osmolality buffer (NaCl and urea) did not alone activate soluble protein kinase, an observation which implied that the enzyme was also resistant to solute activation in the intact cell system. Moreover, at 1650 mosM, vasopressin activation of soluble protein kinase was enhanced compared to responses at 750 mosM despite comparabel levels of cyclic AMP accumulation at the two osmolalities. However, a cyclic AMP-independent action of high osmolality to reduce the rate of inactivation of arginine vasopressin-stimulated protein kinase was not demonstrable in inner medullary slices.The present data suggest the possibility that the resistance of inner medullary protein kinase to solute activation could be related to the isomeric form of enzyme (type II) present in this tissue. The high concentrations of NaCl and urea routinely found in inner medulla during hydropenia also influenced protein kinase responses to arginine vasopressin, and may do so in part by directly potentiating the action of cyclic AMP on subunit dissociation.     

Repression of arginase and agmatine amidinohydrolase by urea in the lichen Evernia prunastri

Two forms of arginase (EC 3.5.3.1) have been found in Evernia prunastri: (1) a light-arginase (M_r, 180 000) induced by l-arginine—urea causes repression which is reversed by cyclic AMP; (2) a constitutive heavy-arginase (M_r, 330 000) which is not affected by cyclic AMP. Agmatine amidinohydrolase (EC 3.5.3.11) is also repressed by urea but this effect is carried out at catabolite concentrations higher than those required to prevent the synthesis of the light-arginase. This repression is also relieved by cyclic AMP.     

Membrane pathways for water and solutes in the toad bladder: I. Independent activation of water and urea transport

Summary Vasopressin activates a number of transport systems in the toad bladder, including the systems for water, urea, sodium, and other small solutes. Evidence from experiments with selective inhibitors indicates that these transport systems are to a large extent functionally independent. In the present study, we show that the transport systems can be separately activated. Low concentrations of vasopressin (1 mU/ml) activate urea transport with virtually no effect on water transport. This selective effect is due in part to the relatively greater inhibitory action of endogenous prostaglandins on water transport. Low concentrations of 8-bromoadenosine cyclic AMP, on the other hand, activate water, but not urea transport. In additional experiments, we found that varying the ratio of exogenous cyclic AMP to theophylline activated water or urea transport selectively. These studies support the concept of independently controlled systems for water and solute transport, and provide a basis for the study of individual luminal membrane pathways for water and solutes in the accompanying paper.     

Novel method for the synthesis of urea backbone cyclic peptides using new Alloc‐protected glycine building units

Cyclization of bioactive peptides, utilizing functional groups serving as natural pharmacophors, is often accompanied with loss of activity. The backbone cyclization approach was developed to overcome this limitation and enhance pharmacological properties. Backbone cyclic peptides are prepared by the incorporation of special building units, capable of forming amide, disulfide and coordinative bonds. Urea bridge is often used for the preparation of cyclic peptides by connecting two amine functionalized side chains. Here we present urea backbone cyclization as an additional method for the preparation of backbone cyclic peptide libraries. A straightforward method for the synthesis of crystalline Fmoc‐N^α [ω‐amino(Alloc)‐alkyl] glycine building units is presented. A set of urea backbone cyclic Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 analogs was prepared and assessed for protein kinase B inhibition as anticancer leads. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Role of Some Hormones in Protein Sparing Action of Dietary Fat

Feeding rats with a fat meal caused marked reduction in the level of plasma urea and urinary output of urea and total nitrogen. Experiments were carried out to examine the possible intervention of some hormones in these phenomena. Protein sparing action of fat was exerted even in the alloxan-diabetic, adrenalectomized, hypophysectomized and thyroidectomized rats. Feeding rats with a fat meal caused no appreciable change in the level of cyclic AMP in liver and gastrocnemius muscle. The overall results obtained here are through! to suggest that the action of fat may be exerted independently of any hormones examined; insulin, glucocorticoids, cyclic AMP and other hormones excreted from adrenal, hypophysis and thyroid gland.     

Optimization of a privileged structure leading to potent and selective human melanocortin subtype-4 receptor ligands

Design and synthesis of potent MC4 selective agonists based on cyclohexylpiperidine derived cyclic urea, oxazolidinones, and sulfonamide based privileged structures are disclosed.     

8-P-Chlorophenylthio-cyclic AMP: a potent partial simulator of antidiuretic hormone action.

In the toad urinary bladder 8-p-chlorophenylthio-cyclic AMP mimics the stimulatory effects of antidiuretic hormone on osmotic water permeability, 3H2O diffusion, and transepithelial sodium transport; but unlike the hormone does not cause an increase in urea permeability. Trheshold activation for the hydroosmotic response is observed at 1 micrometer and full activation at 100 micrometer. These results suggest that cyclic AMP may not mediate all the physiological effects of antidiuretic hormone and that this highly potent cyclic AMP analog may be useful in elucidating the precise role of cyclic AMP in other biomediate hormone action.     

Role of adenosine 3′:5′-cyclic monophosphate in the action of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) on hepatic and renal metabolism

The possibility whether alterations in the cyclic AMP-adenylate cyclase-phosphodiesterase system play a role in the action of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) on hepatic and renal carbohydrate metabolism was investigated. Administration of exogenous cyclic AMP (10mg/100g) was found to mimic the action of DDT which enhanced the activities of pyruvate carboxylase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, fructose 1,6-diphosphatase and glucose 6-phosphatase in both liver and kidney cortex, elevated the concentration of blood glucose and urea and decreased the amount of hepatic glycogen. Treatment with theophylline augmented the effects of a submaximal dose of this halogenated hydrocarbon on serum urea and glucose as well as the key gluconeogenic enzymes in liver and kidney cortex. Addition of DDT in vitro to liver and kidney homogenates resulted in a significant enhancement of adenylate cyclase activity. Hepatic and renal slices from rats already treated with DDT displayed an increased ability to convert [(3)H]adenosine into cyclic [(3)H]AMP. Whereas kidney-cortex slices excised from rats given caffeine and DDT produced an even greater amount of cyclic [(3)H]AMP, imidazole, propranolol and hydrazine prevented the insecticide-stimulated rise in cyclic nucleotide production. In contrast, prostaglandin E(1) failed to exert any significant effect on DDT-induced increases in cyclic [(3)H]AMP synthesis from radioactive adenosine. The present study and our previous findings (Kacew & Singhal, 1973e) support the concept that the DDT-induced alterations in carbohydrate metabolism of liver and kidney cortex may be related to an initial stimulation of the cyclic AMP-adenylate cyclase system in these tissues.     

Changes in electrolyte excretion following intraperitoneal injection of dibutyryl cyclic AMP in the brattleboro rat

Intraperitoneal injection of 40 μg of dibutyryl cyclic AMP to homozygous Brattleboro rats fasted for 12 hours but having free access to water resulted in an increase in urine flow and in the rates of excretion of Na, K, PO₄ and urea. Similar results were obtained in Brattleboro rats having free access to food and water which received 200 μg of nucleotide. The injection of 20 μg of dibutyryl cyclic AMP or 40 μg 5′-AMP to homozygous Brattleboro rats with free access to food and water or the administration of 40 μg of 5′-AMP to homozygous rats fasted for 12 hours but with free access to water did not alter renal excretion patterns. These results indicate that dibutyryl cyclic AMP may depress tubular reabsorption of water, Na and PO₄ as has been shown to be the case in the intact dog.In homozygous Brattleboro rats fasted for 24 hours but allowed free access to water, 40 μg of dibutyryl cyclic AMP resulted in a tendency to reduced urine flow and diminished excretion of Na, K and urea. The explanation for these results is not apparent from these data.     

Urea effects on protein stability: Hydrogen bonding and the hydrophobic effect

The effects of urea on protein stability have been studied using a model system in which we have determined the energetics of dissolution of a homologous series of cyclic dipeptides into aqueous urea solutions of varying concentration at 25°C using calorimetry. The data support a model in which urea denatures proteins by decreasing the hydrophobic effect and by directly binding to the amide units via hydrogen bonds. The data indicate also that the enthalpy of amide hydrogen bond formation in water is considerably higher than previously estimated. Previous estimates included the contribution of hydrophobic transfer of the α-carbon resulting in an overestimate of the binding between urea and the amide unit of the backbone and an underestimate of the binding enthalpy. Proteins 31:107–115, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Peptidyl transferase activity of tRNA: a quantum chemical study

The mechanism of protein synthesis is still unknown due to inability to detect the so-called enzyme "peptidyl transferase" even after elucidation of high-resolution crystal structure of ribosome. We have recently shown by model building and semi-empirical energy calculation that the tRNA molecule at P-site of ribosome may act as peptidyl transferase (Das et al. (1999) J. Theor. Biol. 200, 193-205). We proposed that the tetrahedral intermediate formed from nucleophylic attack of CO of P-site amino-acylated tRNA by NH2 of A-site amino-acylated tRNA is converted to a six-member ring intermediate by conformational change. This ring intermediate produces a free tRNA and a tRNA covalently linked to a peptide. However, energy of the six-member ring intermediate was calculated to be quite high. We show here that the energy values of all the reactants, intermediates and products are within the expected range when they are calculated using high level ab initio quantum chemical methods.     

The ornithine requirement of urea synthesis. Formation of ornithine from glutamine in hepatocytes.

In hepatocytes, urea synthesis from glutamine is independent of added ornithine, even when rates are high after stimulation of glutamine metabolism by dibutyryl cyclic AMP, phenylephrine or vasopressin. Incubation with glutamine increases tissue [ornithine]. The increases parallel those of [N-acetylglutamate] under different conditions. The ornithine requirement of urea synthesis increases with increasing supply of ammonia. A function of the unique, highly regulated, glutaminase of liver may be to regulate ornithine synthesis.