Inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizin on polypeptide phosphorylation by polypeptide-dependent protein kinase (kinase P) in vitro

The anti-viral mechanism of glycyrrhizin (GL) has been investigated by considering in vitro effects on polypeptide phosphorylation. It was found that GL (i), at low doses, selectively inhibits protein phosphorylation by Kinase P, but has not significant effects on the activities of other kinases (Kinase A, Kinase C and histone kinase); (ii) binds directly to Kinase P and reduces kinase activity in a dose-dependent manner; and (iii) inhibits vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-associated kinase activity. These observations strongly suggest that direct binding of GL to the virus causes the direct inactivation of virus-associated kinase and the reduction of the viral infectivity.     

Inhibitory effect of flavonoids on mutant H-Rasp protein

Mutant form of H-Ras (Harvey-Ras) proteins are found in almost 10%-25% of human tumours. Mutational activation transforms it into an oncogenic form, which results in the loss of intrinsic GTPase function and therefore the protein is constitutively in the active, GTP-bound state and is continuously sending signals for cell growth and proliferation. In the present insilico study, the inhibitory effect of different flavonoid compounds on mutant H Ras protein p21 has been assessed. In addition, inhibitory effect of flavonoids is compared with 3 known anticancer drugs. Upon docking, it was found that flavonoids such as Naringenin, Daidzein, and Hesperetin showed highest affinity (most negative ΔG), while Rutin showed no affinity towards mutant H Ras. The 3 clinical anticancer agents (Erlotinib, Letrozole and Exemestane) showed binding energies in the range of -1.11 to -5.51 kcal/mol which is comparatively lower than the flavonoids indicating efficacy of flavonoids in the treatment of cancer with little or no cytotoxicity. Our study demonstrates that flavonoids (particularly Naringenin, Daidzein, and Hesperetin) are the effective drugs to inhibit function of mutant H-Ras P21 protein, which in turn arrests the process of cell growth and proliferation of the cancer cell.     

A rapid posttranslational myristylation of a 68-kD protein in D. discoideum

Cells incubated with [3H]myristate were shown to rapidly and specifically acylate a 68-kD protein, p68, in a developmentally-regulated manner. The fatty acid incorporated into p68 was identified as myristate, and is linked to the protein via an amide bond, apparently to an NH2-terminal glycine. The acylation of p68 in D. discoideum displays some unusual properties. Unexpectedly, myristylation of p68 is a posttranslational event and occurs in the presence of inhibitors of protein synthesis. Another unusual finding was that although p68 is a stable protein, the acyl moiety is removed with a half time of approximately 15 min.     

Inhibitory effect of copper(II) on zinc(II)-induced aggregation of amyloid beta-peptide

Aggregation of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta), a key pathological event in Alzheimer's disease, has been shown in vitro to be profoundly promoted by Zn(II). This fact suggests that some factors in the normal brain protect Abeta from the Zn(II)-induced aggregation. We demonstrate for the first time that Cu(II) effectively inhibits the Abeta aggregation by competing with Zn(II) for histidine residues. The Raman spectrum of a metal-Abeta complex in the presence of both Zn(II) and Cu(II) shows that the cross-linking of Abeta through binding of Zn(II) to the N(tau) atom of histidine is prevented by chelation of Cu(II) by the N(pi) atom of histidine and nearby amide nitrogens. The inhibitory effect is strongest at a Cu/Abeta molar ratio of around 4. Above this ratio, Cu(II) itself promotes the Abeta aggregation by binding to the phenolate oxygen of Tyr10. These results emphasize the importance of regulation of Cu(II) levels to inhibit Abeta aggregation, and are consistent with an altered metal homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease.     

Inhibitory effect of iron on the uptake of lead by erythrocytes.

It is well known that more than 90% of the lead found in blood is associated with the erythrocytes. The present $\text{in vitro}$ experiments show that the uptake of lead-203 by rabbit erythrocytes is inhibited by the presence of non-radioactive lead or iron or by reduction of the incubation temperature. The inhibitory effect of iron on radioactive lead uptake by erythrocytes is also demonstrable $\text{in vivo}$.When lead-203 is incorporated into erythrocytes $\text{in vitro}$, about 10% of the radioactivity is attached to the membrane and the remainder is found in the cytoplasm associated with hemoglobin and an unidentified low molecular weight intracellular component. In the presence of 25 μg/ml of added iron (Fe⁺⁺⁺) the uptake of radioactive lead by erythrocytes is reduced to 21.7±5.1% and membrane binding accounts for approximately 5% of this total. Chromatographic analyses of hemolysates show that the reduction in cytoplasmic labeling is directly related to decreased lead binding to the low molecular weight component, since hemoglobin binding remains unchanged.This work suggests that in addition to the interaction between iron and lead which occurs during the biosynthesis of heme, these metals may directly compete for specific erythrocyte binding sites.     

Inhibitory effect of prostacyclin (PGI2) on neutropenia induced by intravenous injection of platelet-activating-factor (PAF) in the rabbit

Intravenous injection into rabbits of 1-O-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (synthetic Platelet-Activating Factor (PAF)) or PAF derived from rabbit basophils caused acute thrombocytopenia and neutropenia which was consequent to the formation of intravascular polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) aggregates and to their sequestration in the microvasculature, primarily of the lung. Infusion of prostacyclin (PGI2; 10 ng/Kg/min to 50 ng/Kg/min) inhibited in a dose-dependent manner PAF-induced thrombocytopenia and neutropenia as well as the sequestration of PMN in the pulmonary capillary network.     

Inhibitory effect of tannin on poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase from human placenta

Tannin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, was found to inhibit the activity of purified poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase from human placenta. The inhibition was dose-dependent and half maximal with 2.8 micrograms/ml of tannin. The inhibitory effect of tannin was two and three orders of magnitude more than those of ADP-ribose and cAMP, respectively. Kinetic analysis revealed that the inhibition by tannin was competitive with respect to the substrate poly(ADP-ribose).     

Inhibitory effect of novel tetrahydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thiones on melanogenesis

The series of imidazoldine-2-thiones 2 and tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thiones 3 were discovered as inhibitor of α-MSH-induced melanin production in melanoma B16 cells. The primary bioassay showed that 1-(4-ethylbenzyl)-tetrahydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione 3e (>100% inhibition at 10 μM, IC₅₀ = 1.2 μM) and 1-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)-tetrahydropyrimidine-2(1H)-thione 3f (>100% inhibition at 10 μM, IC₅₀ = 0.76 μM) exhibited potent inhibitory effect against α-MSH-induced melanin production. Compounds 3 inhibit the biosynthesis of tyrosinase without affecting its catalytic activity in melanogenesis.     

Inhibitory effect of naked neural BC1 RNA or BC200 RNA on eukaryotic in vitro translation systems is reversed by poly(A)-binding protein (PABP)

Regulated protein biosynthesis in dendrites of neurons might be a key mechanism underlying learning and memory. Neuronal dendritic BC1 RNA and BC200 RNA and similar small untranslated RNAs inhibit protein translation in vitro systems, such as rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Likewise, co-transfection of these RNAs with reporter mRNA suppressed translation levels in HeLa cells. The oligo(A)-rich region of all active small RNAs were identified as the RNA domains chiefly responsible for the inhibitory effects. Addition of recombinant human poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) significantly compensated the inhibitory effect of the small oligo(A)-rich RNA. In vivo, all BC1 RNA appears to be complexed with PABP. Nevertheless, in the micro-environment of dendritic spines of neuronal cells, BC1 RNPs or BC200 RNPs might mediate regulatory functions by differential interactions with locally limited PABP and/or directly or indirectly, with other translation initiation factors.     

Inhibitory effect of Bunium persicum on histamine (H1) receptors of guinea pig tracheal chains.

The antihistaminic effects of aqueous and macerated extracts, essential oil, 20 nM chlorpheniramine, and saline were tested by performing the cumulative log concentration-response curves of histamine-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig tracheal chains incubated with three different conditions including: (1) 1.4 microM indomethacin, (2) indomethacin, 1 microM propranolol, and 10 nM atropine, and (3) indomethacin and propranolol (for each group n = 8). The results showed clear parallel rightward shifts in histamine-response curves obtained in the presence of macerated extract in group 2, aqueous extract in group 3, and essential oil in groups 2 and 3 experiments compared with the curves obtained in the presence of saline. The EC50 (effective concentration of histamine causing 50% of maximum response) obtained in the presence of essential oil, extracts, and chlorpheniramine in all three sets of experiments were significantly higher than that of saline (P<0.05 to p<0.001). The maximum response obtained in the presence of aqueous extract in group 3 compared to group I and that of macerated extract in group 2 compared to the other two sets of experiments were improved. These results indicated a competitive antagonistic effect of Bunium persicum at histamine H1 receptors.     

Inhibitory effect of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on HIV-1 transmission from lymphocytes to trophoblasts.

It has been demonstrated that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) inhibits HIV production in vitro, suggesting that this soluble placental glycoprotein can control viral replication and spread in vivo. hCG--the major product of fetal trophoblasts--was tested on an in vitro model consisting of choriocarcinoma-derived ENAMI trophoblasts exposed to HIV-infected MOLT-4 lymphocytes. The results show a U-shaped antiviral dose-effect and suggest that hCG may contribute to protection against intrauterine transmission of HIV-1.