Novel indolizine derivatives with unprecedented inhibitory activity on human farnesyltransferase

The rational structural modification of new substituted indolizin-3-yl(phenyl)methanones 1a–i, 2a–i and 3a–i has greatly improved human farnesyltransferase inhibition. The para-bromophenyl analog 2f bearing an ester unit on the indolizine ring demonstrates the highest inhibition potential, with IC₅₀ value of 1.3 ± 0.2 μM. The amidic series 1a–i proves to be the most promising for future modulations, particularly at the triple bond level.     

Synthesis and structure activity relationships of glycine amide derivatives as novel Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 inhibitors

Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 (VAP-1) is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of several inflammatory-related diseases including diabetic microvascular complication. We identified glycine amide derivative 3 as a novel structure with moderate VAP-1 inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship studies of glycine amide derivatives revealed that the tertiary amide moiety is important for stability in rat blood and that the position of substituents on the left phenyl ring plays an important role in VAP-1 inhibitory activity. We also found that low TPSA values and weak basicity are both important for high PAMPA values for glycine amide derivatives. These findings led to the identification of a series of orally active compounds with enhanced VAP-1 inhibitory activity. Of these compounds, 4g exhibited the most potent ex vivo efficacy, with plasma VAP-1 inhibitory activity of 60% after oral administration at 1 mg/kg.     

Design,synthesis and antistaphylococcal activity of marine pyrrole alkaloid derivatives

Abstract

A novel set of 16 hybrids of bromopyrrole alkaloids with aroyl hydrazone were designed, synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; ATCC 43866), methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA; ATCC 35556) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE, S. epidermidis ATCC 35984). Of the 16 tested hybrids, 14 exhibited equal or superior antibiofilm activity against MSSA and MRSA relative to standard vancomycin. Compound 4m showed highest potency with antibiofilm activity of 0.39?µg/mL and 0.78?µg/mL against MSSA and MRSA, respectively. Thus, this compound could act as a potential lead for further development of new antistaphylococcal drugs.     

Effect of metal ions on the activity of the catalytic domain of calcineurin

Calcineurin (CN) is a heterodimer, composed of a catalytic subunit (CNA) and a regulatory subunit (CNB). There are four functional domains present in CNA, which are catalytic domain (CNa), CNB-binding domain (BBH), CaM-binding domain (CBH) and autoinhibitory domain (AI). It has been shown previously that the in vitro activity of calcineurin is relied primarily on the binding of metal ions. Mn2+ and Ni2+ are the most crucial cation-activators for this enzyme. In order to determine which domain(s) in CN is functionally regulated by metal ions, the rat CNA alpha subunit and its catalytic domain (CNa) were cloned and expressed in E. coli. The effects of Mn2+, Ni2+ and Mg2+ on the catalytic activity of these purified proteins were examined. Our results demonstrate that all the metal ions tested in this study activated either CNA or CNa. However, the activation degree of CNa by the metal ions was much higher than that of CNA. In term of different metal ions, the activating extents to CNA and CNa were different. To CNA, the activating order from high to low was Mg2+ > > Ni2+ > Mn2+, but Mn2+ > Ni2+ > > Mg2+ to CNa. No effect of CaM/Ca2+ and CNB/Ca2+ on the activity of CNa was observed in our experiments. Moreover, a weak interaction (or untight coordination binding) between metal ions and the enzyme molecule was also identified. These results suggest that the activation of these enzymes by the exogenous metal ions might be via both regulating fragment of CNA (including BBH, CBH and AI) and catalytic domain (CNa), and mainly via regulating fragment to CNA and mainly via catalytic domain to CNa. The activating extents of metal ions via catalytic domain were higher than that via regulating fragment. The results obtained in this study should be very useful for understanding the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between calcineurin and metal ions, especially Mn2+, Ni2+ and Mg2+.     

Involvement of prostaglandins in the effect of cupric ions on the human uterus

The effect of cupric ions on the human uterus and the involvement of prostaglandins (PGs) in mediating this effect was studied by recording of isometric contractions of isolated myometrial strips and pieces of uterine arteries, and by intrauterine pressure recordings in women before the onset of menstruation. , CuCl₂ in concentrations of 10⁻⁴ M and higher caused a significant inhibition of myometrial contractile activity, but no effect on the artery preparations was seen. Furthermore, the contractile response of myometrial strips to PGF_2α and PGE₂ (10 ng/ml) decreased in the presence of CuCl₂ in concentrations of 5 and 50 μmol. , instillations of 0.3, 1.0 and 2.0 mM of CuCl₂ in 0.7 ml of saline solution into the uterine cavity caused a dose-dependent stimulation of uterine activity, but after pretreatment with naproxen, 500 mg orally, the effect of these substances was abolished. After naproxen treatment, but during infusion of PGF_2α (5 μg/min), the response to the CuCl₂ solutions was partially restored. It is suggested that cupric ions, at high concentrations, have an inhibiting effect on myometrial activity. The stimulatory effect of low doses of CuCl₂ seen after installation into the uterine cavity is largely exerted via initiation of synthesis and release of endometrial PGs.     

A continuous spectrophotometric assay for arylsulfatase activity,dependent on the formation of complexes between cupric ions and nitrocatechols

The nitrocatechols 2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenol and 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-nitrophenol formed strongly colored complexes with cupric ions, the dissociation constants of these complexes being 1.61 and 1.74 × 10^?4m, respectively. Complex formation with 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-nitrophenol was independent of pH between pH 5.4 and 7.2. The aryl-sulfate sulfohydrolase (EC 3.1.6.1) from the New Zealand mollusk, Haliotis iris, was not inhibited by low concentrations of cupric ion so that the enzymatic hydrolysis of sulfate esters of the above nitrocatechols could be monitored continuously in the presence of cupric ions, by following the formation of the yellow complexes. Assay methods based on this phenomenon gave results identical with those obtained by the discontinuous method of alkaline development. Rate measurements were linearly related to enzyme concentration whichever assay method was used. At very high pH, cupric ions decreased the intensity of color of the nitrocatechol anions.     

Effects of acetyl-L-carnitine on the formation of fatty acid ethyl esters in brain and peripheral organs after short-term ethanol administration in rat

Increasing evidence suggests that Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) play a central role in ethanol induced organ damage. In the current study we measured FAEE formation in rats after short-term oral administration of ethanol, in the presence and absence of pre-treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine. Ethanol treatment caused a significant increase in the levels of FAEE, particularly in the brain and heart, but also in the kidney and liver. Increases in FAEE were associated with a significant increase in FAEE synthase activity, GSH transferase activity, and lipid hydroperoxide levels. Pre-treatment with acetyl-L-carnitine resulted in a significant reduction of FAEE accumulation, decrease in FAEE synthase and GSH transferase activities, and lipid hydroperoxide levels. Administration of acetyl-L-carnitine greatly reduced the metabolic abnormalities due to non-oxidative ethanol metabolism, through an increment in lipid metabolism/turnover and by the modulation of the activities of enzymes associated with FAEE synthesis. These results suggest a potentially important pharmacological role for acetyl-L-carnitine in the prevention of alcohol-induced cellular damage.     

Toxicity of cupric ions to micro-organisms: effects on ATP concentrations

Abstract

Toxicity of cupric ions to micro-organisms was investigated by measuring variations in the intracellular ATP concentration. A laboratory produced tolerant strain of Plectonema boryanum was grown to be less sensitive to cupric ions than was the non-tolerant strain, which was affected by metal concentrations below 10^?9 M. The use of ATP as an indicator of both toxicity and of biomass is evaluated.     

Effects of metal ions on activity of plasmin

The effects of some metal ions on amidolytic and fibrinogenolytic activities of highly purified human plasmin were investigated in vitro. In the presence of Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺, and Au⁺ in the incubation mixture at the concentrations of 1×10⁻⁵−1×10⁻³ M, the anidolytic plasmin activity was strongly inhibited, whereas Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ at the same concentrations were not effective. The analysis of the kinetic study has shown that Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ acts as mixed-type inhibitors of plasmin activity. The inhibition of amidolytic plasmin activity by Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ was reduced in the presence of EDTA, histidine, or albumin. Incubation of plasmin with Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ (at the concentration of 5×10⁻⁴ M) resulted in complete loss of its proteolytic action on fibrinogen, whereas Cd²⁺ and Au⁺ under the same conditions only partially inhibited this process.     

Effects of hydroxystilbene derivatives on tyrosinase activity

Synthesis of melanin starts from the conversion of L-tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa) and then the oxidation of L-dopa yields dopaquinone by tyrosinase. Therefore, tyrosinase inhibitors have been established as important constituents of depigmentation agents. Recently, polyhydroxystilbene compounds, which are trans-resveratrol (3,4('),5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) analogs, have been demonstrated as potent tyrosinase inhibitors. However, their detailed inhibitory mechanisms are not clearly understood. In the present study, a variety of synthesized hydroxystilbene compounds were tested for their inhibitory effects against murine tyrosinase activity. The inhibitory potencies of the hydroxy-trans-stilbene compounds were remarkably elevated by increasing number of phenolic hydroxy substituents. Methylated hydroxy-trans-stilbene lost the inhibitory activity. Furthermore, hydrogenated hydroxystilbene or hydroxy-cis-stilbene exerted little or no inhibitory effect compared with hydroxy-trans-stilbene on tyrosinase activity. The structure-activity relationships demonstrated in the present study suggest that the phenolic hydroxy groups and trans-olefin structure of the parent stilbene skeleton contribute to the inhibitory potency of hydroxystilbene for tyrosinase activity.     

Antitumour benzothiazoles. Part 10: the synthesis and antitumour activity of benzothiazole substituted quinol derivatives

The synthesis of a series of new antitumour agents, the benzothiazole substituted quinol ethers and esters, is reported via the hypervalent iodine mediated oxidation of hydroxylated 2-phenylbenzothiazoles. The products were found to be active in vitro against human colon and breast cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the nanomolar range.     

Effect of cupric ions on the permeability of erythrocyte membrane to non-electrolyte spin labels

The addition of cupric ions caused decreased permeability to hydrophilic molecules and increased permeability to hydrophobic molecules. These results suggest that TEMPOL penetrates the erythrocyte in a different way than TEMPO. Penetration of TEMPOL is controlled by-SH groups, while TEMPO probably diffuses through the lipid bilayer. Cupric ions increase the permeability of erythrocyte membranes to both non-electrolytes in vivo.     

人参皂甙的抗肿瘤研究进展

人参是我国传统的名贵中草药材,人参皂甙是人参抗肿瘤作用的主要有效成分。对人参皂甙,特别是人参皂甙-Rg3和人参皂甙-Rh2在抗肿瘤方面研究的进展给予了综述,深入讨论了人参皂甙的抗肿瘤活性构效关系。详细讨论从其它人参皂甙通过糖基改造制备具有高的抗肿瘤活性的人参皂甙-Rg3和人参皂甙-Rh2的方法,对人参皂甙研究状况做了展望。     

Effects of amino acid substitutions at glycine 420 on SR-BI cholesterol transport function

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) facilitates the uptake of HDL cholesteryl esters (CEs) in a two-step process involving binding of HDL to its extracellular domain and transfer of HDL core CEs to a metabolically active membrane pool, where they are subsequently hydrolyzed by a neutral CE hydrolase. Recently, we characterized a mutant, G420H, which replaced glycine 420 in the extracellular domain of SR-BI with a histidine residue and had a profound effect on SR-BI function. The G420H mutant receptor exhibited a reduced ability to mediate selective HDL CE uptake and was unable to deliver HDL CE for hydrolysis, despite the fact that it retained the ability to bind HDL. This did not hold true if glycine 420 was replaced with an alanine residue; G420A maintained wild-type HDL binding and cholesterol transport activity. To further understand the role that glycine 420 plays in SR-BI function and why there was a disparity between replacing glycine 420 with a histidine versus an alanine, we generated a battery of point mutants by substituting glycine 420 with amino acids possessing side chains that were charged, hydrophobic, polar, or bulky and tested the resulting mutants for their ability to support HDL binding, HDL cholesterol transport, and delivery for hydrolysis. The results indicated that substitution with a negatively charged residue or a proline impaired cell surface expression of SR-BI or its interaction with HDL, respectively. Furthermore, substitution of glycine 420 with a positively charged residue reduced HDL CE uptake as well as its subsequent hydrolysis.     

胍丁胺对大鼠穹隆下器神经元电活动的影响

应用细胞外记录单位放电技术,在73个大鼠穹隆下器脑片上观察了胍丁胺(agmatine,Agm)对神经元电活动的影响。实验结果如下：(1)在28个穹隆下器脑片上灌流Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,有24个单位(85．7％)自发放电频率明显降低,4个单位(14．3％)无明显变化：(2)预先用L-谷氨酸(0．3mmol／L)灌流,24个放电单位中有19个单位(79．2％)放电频率明显增加,表现为癫痫样放电,5个单位(20．8％)的变化不明显,在此基础上灌流Agm(1．0gmol／L)2min,有15个单位(78．9％)的癫痫样放电被抑制,另外4个单位(21．1％)无明显变化：(3)灌流L型钙通道激动剂Bay K-8644(0．1μmol／L),在12个神经元放电单位中有10个单位(83．3％)的放电频率明显增加,另外2个单位(16．7％)变化不明显,然后灌流Agm(1．0μmol／L)2min,有8个单位(80％)的放电频率被抑制,其余无明显变化;(4)9个单位在灌流一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂N^G-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester(L-NAME,50μmol／L)后,其中6个单位(66．7％)放电频率明显增加,另外3个单位(33．3％)放电频率变化不明显,在此基础上再给予Agm(1．0μmol)2min,增加的放电频率被抑制。上述结果提示：胍丁胺可抑制大鼠穹隆下器神经元自发放电以及由L-谷氨酸,Bay K-8644和L-NAME诱发的放电,这一效应可能与胍丁胺阻断了神经元的NMDA受体,从而减少钙离子内流有关。