The metabolism of cis- and trans-decalin

1. The metabolism of cis- and trans-decalin in the rabbit has been investigated. 2. Both hydrocarbons were oxidized to racemic secondary alcohols and excreted as ether glucuronides in amounts equal to about 60% of the dose administered. The principal glucuronides were isolated as triacetyl methyl esters and as sodium salts. 3. cis-Decalin gave rise mainly to (+/-)-cis-cis-2-decalol, together with a little cis-trans-2-decalol, and trans-decalin mainly to (+/-)-trans-cis-2-decalol and a small amount of trans-trans-2-decalol. 4. These results suggest that biological oxidation of the decalins does not occur via a free-radical mechanism. An attempt is made to explain why racemic alcohols are obtained, rather than the more typical optically active products of enzymic reaction, and a mechanism is proposed. It is suggested that enzymes similar to steroid hydroxylases are involved.     

The metabolism of the isomeric tert.-butylcyclohexanones

1. (+/-)-2-, (+/-)-3- and 4-tert.-Butylcyclohexanone are reduced in the rabbit to secondary alcohols, which are excreted extensively conjugated with glucuronic acid. 2. The major metabolite of (+/-)-2-tert.-butylcyclohexanone is (+)-cis-2-tert.-butylcyclohexanol, which has been isolated from the urine as [(+)-cis-2-tert.-butylcyclohexyl beta-d-glucosid]uronic acid. The minor metabolite is (+)-trans-2-tert.-butylcyclohexanol. 3. (+/-)-3-tert.-Butylcyclohexanone is reduced mainly to (+/-)-cis-3-tert.-butylcyclohexanol, and to a smaller extent to (+/-)-trans-3-tert.-butylcyclohexanol. 4. 4-tert.-Butylcyclohexanone yields mainly the trans-alcohol, which is excreted in conjugated form and has been recovered from the urine as (trans-4-tert.-butylcyclohexyl beta-d-glucosid)uronic acid. The cis-alcohol is formed to a minor extent and excreted in conjugated form. 5. The ratios of the amounts of cis- to trans-alcohols produced by the three ketones differed from the relative amounts of cis- and trans-alcohols produced by the corresponding methylcyclohexanones. 6. From these findings the suggestion is made that two orientations of ketone relative to coenzyme occur: alcohols with an equatorially orientated hydroxyl group are thought to be produced as a result of a ;face-to-face' interaction with NADH, and alcohols with axially orientated hydroxyl groups as a result of a ;perpendicular' interaction. Which will predominate is thought to depend on steric factors, particularly the size and position of alkyl substituents in the substrate.     

The metabolism of tetralin

1. [1-(14)C]Tetralin was synthesized and fed to rabbits. 2. Of the radioactivity, 87-90% was excreted in the urine within two days and 0.5-3.7% on the third day. The faeces contained 0.6-1.8%. No radioactivity was found in the breath and negligible amounts were retained in the tissues. About 90-99% of an administered dose was accounted for. 3. The main metabolite in the urine was the glucuronide of alpha-tetralol (52.4%). Other conjugated metabolites were beta-tetralol (25.3%), 4-hydroxy-alpha-tetralone (6.1%), cis-tetralin-1,2-diol (0.4%) and trans-tetralin-1,2-diol (0.6%). 4. beta-Tetralone, alpha-naphthol, 1,2-dihydronaphthalene and naphthalene, previously reported as metabolites, are artifacts, and tetralin, alpha-tetralone, beta-naphthol, 5-hydroxytetralin, and 6-hydroxytetralin are not metabolites. 5. The major metabolite of tetralin, alpha-tetralol and alpha-tetralone is the glucuronide of alpha-tetralol, which was isolated as methyl (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl tri-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucosid)uronate; the major metabolite of beta-tetralol and beta-tetralone is the glucuronide of beta-tetralol, which was characterized as methyl (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl tri-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucosid)uronate. 5-Hydroxytetralin is conjugated with glucuronic acid, and was characterized as methyl (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-naphthyl tri-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucosid)uronate. 6-Hydroxytetralin is conjugated with glucuronic acid, and was characterized as methyl (5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl tri-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucosid)uronate. 6. A metabolic sequence accounting for the observed biological transformation products is proposed.     

Synthesis and evaluation of multisubstrate analogue inhibitors of purine nucleoside phosphorylases

1,1-Difluoro-2-(tetrahydro-3-furanyl)ethylphosphonic acids (+/-)-cis-4a and (+/-)-trans-4a possessing a (purine-9-yl)methyl functionality at the ring as well as their homologues (+/-)-cis-4b and (+/-)-trans-4b were synthesized and tested as 'multi-substrate analogue' inhibitors for purine nucleoside phosphorylases. Radical cyclization of allylic alpha,alpha-difluorophosphonates 8a,b was applied to construct the alpha,alpha-difluorophosphonate-functionalized oxacycles 9a,b. The IC50 values of the nucleotide analogues (+/-)-cis-4a and (+/-)-cis-4b were 88 and 38 nM, respectively, for human erythrocyte PNP-catalyzed phosphorylation of inosine in the presence of 100mM orthophosphate. The stereochemistry of the inhibitors was found to affect significantly the inhibitory potency. The transisomers (+/-)-trans-4a and (+/-)-trans-4b were ca. 4-fold less potent than the corresponding cis-isomers. At an intracellular concentration of orthophosphate (1 mM), (+/-)-cis-4b, the most potent compound of this series, was shown to have IC50 and Ki values of 8.7 and 3.5 nM, respectively.     

The biochemistry of aromatic amines. 2-Formamido-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate, a metabolite of 2-naphthylamine

1. 2-Formamido-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate is excreted by dogs and rats dosed with 2-naphthylamine or with 2-amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate and was isolated from dog urine. 2. 2-Formamido-1-naphthol, naphtho[2,1-d]oxazole and N-formyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine are excreted as (2-formamido-1-naphthyl glucosid)uronic acid. 2-Formamidonaphthalene is converted into conjugates of 2-amino-6-naphthol and 2-amino-8-naphthol, but 2-methylaminonaphthalene is excreted as 2-amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate and its N-methyl and N-formyl derivatives and (2-amino-1-naphthyl glucosid)uronic acid. 3. 2-Methylamino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate is converted into 2-formamido-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate and 2-amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate on charcoal. 2-Amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate and formaldehyde react on charcoal to yield 2-methylamino- and 2-formamido-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate. 4. 2-Formamido-1-naphthol, 2-formamido-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate, N-formyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine and N-formyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid were synthesized.     

Microbial Resolution of (±)-1 and 2-Decalols

By microorganisms or esterase they produce, (±)-1 and 2-decalyl acetates were asymmetrically hydrolyzed to (?)-1-(R)-trans,cis-1-decalol (IIa), (+)-1-(S)-cis,cis-1-decalol (IIIb), (+)-1-(R)-cis,trans-1-decalol (IVa) and (+)-1-(S)-trans,trans-2-decalol (VIIb), (?)-cis,cis-2-decalol (IXb) with the acetates of their antipodes, whereas the axial acetates of (±)-decalols were scarecely hydrolyzed.     

Stereochemistry of catalysis by the ketoreductase activity in the first extension module of the erythromycin polyketide synthase

Multiple ketoreductase activities play a crucial role in establishing the stereochemistry of the products of modular polyketide synthases (PKSs), but there has been little systematic scrutiny of catalysis by individual ketoreductases. To allow this, a diketide synthase, consisting of the loading module, first extension module, and the chain-terminating thioesterase of the erythromycin-producing PKS of Saccharopolyspora erythraea, has been expressed and purified. The DNA encoding the ketoreductase-1 domain in this construct is flanked by unique restriction sites so that another ketoreductase domain can be readily substituted. The purified recombinant diketide synthase catalyzes, at a very low rate (k(cat) equals 2.5 x 10(-3) s(-1)), the specific production of the diketide (2S,3R)-2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoic acid. The activity of the ketoreductase domain in this model synthase was analyzed using as a model substrate (+/-)-2-methyl-3-oxopentanoic acid N-acetylcysteaminyl (NAC) ester for which k(cat)/K(m) was 21.7 M(-1) s(-1). The NAC thioester of (2S,3R)-2-methyl-3-hydroxypentanoic acid was the major product and was strongly preferred over other stereoisomers as a substrate in the reverse reaction. The bicyclic ketone (9RS)-trans-1-decalone, a known substrate for ketoreductase in fatty acid synthase, was found also to be an effective substrate for the ketoreductase of the diketide synthase. Only the (9R)-trans-1-decalone was reduced, selectively and reversibly, to the (1S,9R)-trans-decalol. The stereochemical course of reduction and oxidation is exactly as found previously for the ketoreductase of animal fatty acid synthase, an additional indication of the close similarity of these enzymes.     

Systematic synthesis of four epicatechin series procyanidin trimers and their inhibitory activity on the Maillard reaction and antioxidant activity

A systematic synthesis of four natural epicatechin series procyanidin trimers [[4,8:4",8"]-2,3-cis-3,4-trans: 2",3"-cis-3",4"-trans: 2,3-trans-(-)-epi-catechin-(-)-epicatechin-(+)-catechin, [4,8:4",8"]-2,3-cis-3,4-trans: 2",3"-cis-3",4"-trans: 2,3-cis-tri-(-)-epicatechin: procyanidin C1, [4,8:4",8"]-2,3-cis-3,4-trans: 2",3"-trans-3",4"-trans: 2,3-trans-(-)-epicatechin-(+)-catechin-(+)-catechin: procyanidin C4, and [4,8:4",8"]-2,3-cis-3,4-trans: 2",3"-trans-3",4"-trans: 2,3-cis-(-)-epicatechin-(+)-catechin-(-)-epicatechin] is described. Condensation of (2R,3R,4S)-5,7,3'4'-tetra-O-benzyl-4-(2"-ethoxyethyloxy)flavan derived from (-)-epicatechin as an electrophile with the dimeric nucleophiles in the presence of TMSOTf followed by deprotection yielded trimers. Inhibitory activities on the Maillard reaction and antioxidant activity on lipid peroxide of the synthesized oligomers were also investigated.     

Do rat hepatic microsomes contain multiple NADPH-supported fatty acid chain elongation pathways or a single pathway?

[2-14C]-trans-2-hexadecenoyl CoA (16:1) and [2-14C]-trans-2-cis-8,11,14-eicosatetraenoyl CoA (20:4) were chemically synthesized and employed as competitive substrates for the liver microsomal trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase component of the fatty acid chain elongation system. Both 7.5 microM and 15 microM 20:4 competitively inhibited the reduction of 16:1 CoA to palmitoyl CoA. In addition, the reduction of both substrates was identically inhibited to the same extent by the acetylenic derivative, dec-2-ynoyl CoA. Furthermore, trypsin, chymotrypsin and subtilisin inhibited trans-2-enoyl CoA reductase activity when three different substrates were employed--16:1, 20:4 and trans-2-cis-11-octadecadienoyl CoA (18:2). These results are consistent with the hypothesis of multiple condensing enzymes connected to a single elongation pathway.     

The metabolism of cis- and trans-indane-1,2-diol

1. The metabolism of cis-indane-1,2-diol, trans-indane-1,2-diol, indene epoxide and 2-hydroxyindan-1-one in rats has been studied. The substances were administered to the animals by subcutaneous injection. 2. The urine of the dosed animals was examined for the presence of free and conjugated cis- and trans-dihydrodiols, and for each compound it was possible to isolate both cis and trans forms of indane-1,2-diol from the urine. 3. The urines were also examined by paper chromatography for ketones and two ketonic metabolites were detected in the urine of rats dosed separately with cis-indane-1,2-diol, trans-indane-1,2-diol, 2-hydroxyindan-1-one and indene epoxide. The ketones were provisionally identified as (1-oxoindan-2-yl glucosid)uronic acid and 1-oxoindan-2-yl sulphuric acid. 4. (1-Oxoindan-2-yl glucosid)uronic acid was isolated as the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone from the urine of rats dosed separately with cis-indane-1,2-diol and trans-indane-1,2-diol. 5. Possible mechanisms for the interconversion of cis- and trans-indane-1,2-diol are discussed.     

Gram-scale synthesis of (+)- and (-)-trans-10-amino-9-hydroxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene by enzymatic hydrolysis

The enzymatic resolution of (+/-)-trans-10-azido-9-acetoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene by Candida cylindracea lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis was achieved on the gram-scale with excellent yield and enantiomeric excess. The resulting (+)- and (-)-amino alcohols were derivatized to alpha-hydroxy-N-benzenesulphonamides.     

Transamination of LTE4 by cysteine conjugate aminotransferase

Leukotriene E4 (LTE4) was transaminated to 5(S)-hydroxy-6(R)-S-(2-keto-3-thiopropionyl)-7,9-trans-11,14-cis- eicosatetraenoic acid (tentatively designated as LTG4) by cysteine conjugate aminotransferase I purified from rat liver supernatant in the presence of alpha-ketoglutaric acid or alpha-keto-gamma-methiolbutyric acid. The transamination activity was present in the kidney as well as in the liver, but not in the lung or leukocytes.     

Metabolism of perhydroanthracenes in the rabbit

1. The metabolism in rabbits of several perhydroanthracenes was investigated. All compounds were to different degrees excreted in the urine as glucuronides. 2. The aglycones of the glucuronides were found to be racemic secondary alcohols, having the hydroxyl group at a beta-methylene carbon. Where determinable, the hydroxyl group was shown to have an equatorial configuration. 3. These results suggested that hydroxylation was enzyme mediated, and, when compared with the results from studies on other alicyclic hydrocarbons, that the same enzyme system participated generally in the hydroxylation of such hydrocarbons. 4. A model for the enzyme active site is proposed to accord with the pattern of hydroxylation observed.     

Lipoxin A. Stereochemistry and biosynthesis

Lipoxin A (LXA) was prepared by incubation of either (15S)-15-hydroxy-5,8,11-cis-13-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) or (15S)-15-hydroperoxy-5,8,11-cis-13-trans-eicosatetraenoic (15-HPETE) with human leukocytes stimulated by either the ionophore A23187 or the chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe. Comparison with four trihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids prepared by total synthesis showed that biologically derived LXA is 5S,6R,15S)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,13-trans-11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid. Three isomers of LXA were also identified in extracts of leukocytes utilizing an improved isolation procedure. These were (5S,6S,15S)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,13-trans-11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (6S-LXA), (5S,6R,15S)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid (11-trans-LXA), and (5S,6S,15S)-5,6,15-trihydroxy-7,9,11,13-trans-eicosatetraenoic acid (6S-11-trans-LXA). 18O2-labeling studies indicated that formation of LXA and its isomers occurred with incorporation of 18O at their C-5 but not C-6 positions. These results suggest that 15-hydroxy-5,6-epoxy-7,9,13-trans-11-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid or its equivalent may serve as one intermediate in the biosynthesis of LXA and 6S-LXA. When added to guinea pig lung strips LXA provoked contractions which were slow in onset and long lasting. In addition, dose response studies showed that biologically derived LXA and synthetic LXA were indistinguishable in this bioassay whereas synthetic 6S-LXA and biologically derived 6S-LXA did not share this activity. Taken together, these results suggest that activated leukocytes utilize exogenous 15-HETE to generate lipoxins which in turn can modulate cellular responses.     

Excitation of rat hippocampal neurones by the stereoisomers of cis- and trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate

Intracellular recordings were obtained from rat hippocampal neurons during the microiontophoretic ejection of the stereoisomers of cis- and trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate into the dendritic region (stratum radiatum) of the impaled cells. L-(+)-cis-1-Amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate, D(+)-trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate, and L-(-)-trans-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate all evoked patterns of excitation resembling that elicited by kainate. All of these responses were unaffected by D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate but were antagonized at comparable currents by kynurenate. The excitation produced by D-(-)-cis-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate was similar to that evoked by N-methyl-D-aspartate. At low ejection currents a slow depolarization triggered rhythmic burst firing, each burst consisting of a depolarizing shift in membrane potential upon which were superimposed four to five action potentials. These responses were antagonized both by D-(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate and by kynurenate. The results are discussed with respect to the conformational requirements considered to be necessary for interaction at the kainate and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on CA1 pyramidal neurones. It is important to note that the isopropylene side chain of kainate is absent from the 1-amino-1-3-cyclopentane dicarboxylate molecule.     

The biochemistry of aromatic amines: The metabolism of 2-naphthylamine and 2-naphthylhydroxylamine derivatives

1. 2-Naphthylhydroxylamine and 2-nitrosonaphthalene were present in urine of dogs but not of guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits or rats dosed with 2-naphthylamine. N-Acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine and its O-sulphonic acid and O-glucosiduronic acid were not detected in the urine of any of these species. 2. Bile from rats dosed with 2-naphthylamine contained (2-naphthylamine N-glucosid)uronic acid and 6- and 5,6-substituted derivatives of 2-acetamidonaphthalene. 2-Amino-1-naphthyl and 2-acetamido-1-naphthyl derivatives, 2-naphthylhydroxylamine and its N-acetyl derivative or conjugates of these were not detected. Bile from a dog dosed with 2-naphthylamine contained no 2-amino-1-naphthyl derivatives. 3. 2-Naphthylhydroxylamine was metabolized by the dog, rat and guinea pig to the same products as those formed by these species from 2-naphthylamine. Rabbits formed mainly 2-amino-1-naphthyl derivatives; these are minor metabolites of 2-naphthylamine in this species. 4. (N-Acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine O-glucosid)uronic acid was excreted in the urine and the bile of rats and in the urine of guinea pigs and rabbits dosed with N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine. 5. After the administration of 2-acetamidonaphthalene, (N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine O-glucosid)uronic acid was detected in the urine of dogs, but not in the urine of other species. The dog excreted an acid-labile cysteine derivative of 2-acetamidonaphthalene, but only traces of the corresponding mercapturic acid. 6. After dosing with N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid, rats excreted derivatives of 2-amino-1-naphthol. 7. 2-Nitrosonaphthalene, N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine, N-acetyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid, 2-naphthylhydroxylamine-N-sulphonic acid, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid were synthesized.     

Therapeutic agent for treating dysuria (NC-1800): absolute configuration of the enantiomers

The absolute configuration of an enantiomer of the title compound, (+/-)-1. fumaric acid salt, was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis of (+)-1 [salt of (+)-tartaric acid [(+)-2]]. This salt for X-ray crystallographic analysis was prepared by a simple method. The analysis of (+)-1 [salt of (+)-2] showed that this enantiomer has the 5-S and 1-R absolute configuration. The final R and Rw values were 0.0614 and 0.0713, respectively.     

Effect of fluorine-containing ethers of permetrinic acid on inactivation kinetics of sodium influx into neuroblastoma cells (NEURO-2(alpha)]

A synthesis of a number of esters of (+/-)-cis, trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl) -2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid with polyfluorinated alcohols was carried out. Their effect on kinetics of inactivation of sodium current in neuroblastoma (Neuro-2a) cells by the patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell configuration was investigated.     

Synthesis and characterization of stereoisomers of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-thymidine

Six products were isolated by reverse phase HPLC from the reaction of thymidine with osmium tetroxide. Four of the products were identified as stereoisomers of 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-thymidine (TG). The absolute configurations of these four compounds (from the shortest to the longest HPLC retention times) were determined by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to be (-)-trans-5S,6S-, (+)-trans-5R,6R-, (-)-cis-5R,6S-, and (+)-cis-5S,6R-5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-thymidine. The other two products were dimers with unknown linking sites. Parameters of the mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra are reported and discussed.     

L-Altruronic acid formed by epimerization of D-galacturonic acid methyl esters during saponification of citrus pectin

While searching for oligosaccharides containing rhamnose residues in the endopolygalacturonase (EPG) digest of saponified citrus pectin, we found several oligomers containing, in addition to galacturonic acid, a sugar previously unreported in pectin. The 1- and 2-D 1H NMR spectra of the oligosaccharides were consistent with the sugar being a uronic acid with its 2- and 3-hydroxyls being axial and 4-hydroxyl being equatorial. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that the oligomers consisted solely of uronic acids. Reduction of the uronic acids in the oligosaccharides converted them to galactose and altrose. The altrose was found to be the L enantiomer by comparison of its trimethylsilyl (-)-2-butyl glycosides to those of authentic D-altrose and a racemic mixture. The sugar was not found in oligosaccharides prepared from EPG digestion of citrus pectin deesterified with pectin methylesterase rather than saponification. Thus, it appears that during saponification, a small proportion of the methylesterified galacturonic acid residues in pectins is epimerized at C-5 leading to formation of L-altruronic acid residues.