Mutagenic activity of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic nitrofurans and of urine of rats fed these compounds

The nitrofurans, 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF-2), N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT), nitrofurantoin, 5-nitro-2-furoic acid, 5-nitro-2-furamidoxime, 5-nitrofurfurylidene diacetate and the urine of rats fed these compounds, were assayed for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA100FR1. All the nitrofurans were mutagenic in the order: AF-2 and FANFT > nitrofurantoin > 5-nitro-2-furamidoxime > 5-nitrofurfurylidene diacetate > 5-nitro-2-furoic acid. Strain TA100 was more sensitive than TA100FR1 to the mutagenic influence of these nitrofurans. Only the urine of rats fed AF-2, FANFT and nitrofurantoin had mutagenic activity. Again, TA100 was more sensitive than TA100FR1. The mutagenicity of the urine was not increased by treatment with β-glucuronidase. AF-2, 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (deformylated product of FANFT) and nitrofurantoin were excreted in the urine of rats fed these compounds; whereas the other nitrofurans were not excreted.     

Isolation and identification of urinary metabolites of AF-2 (3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide) in rabbits

After oral administration of AF-2 (3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide) to rabbits, the two unique metabolites, M-I and M-II, were isolated from the urine. M-I, yellow needles of mp 117°, was identified as a new type metabolite of nitrofuran derivative, 2-(β-carboxypropionyl)-3-(5-methylthio-2-furyl) acrylamide by its mass, ir and nmr spectrometries. M-II, yellow solid, appears to be cis-trans isomer of M-I considering from its uv and mass spectral data, and the behavior on tlc.     

Deacylation of carcinogenic 5-nitrofuran derivatives by mammalian tissues

The deacylations of N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] fonnamide (FANFT), N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] acetarnide (NFTA) and formic acid 2-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl] hydrazide (FNT) by liver, kidney, small intestines and stomach of mouse, rat, hamster and guinea pig were investigated. FANFT was deformylated to 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT). FANFT formamidase activity was higher in the liver and small intestines of mouse, hamster and guinea pig, and small intestines and stomach of rat. There was no detectable FANFT formamidase activity in the stomach of the mouse and hamster. Neither NFTA nor FNT was deacylated by the rodent tissue homogenates studied. It is suggested that (1)4 ANFT is a metabolite of FANFT but not NFTA; (2) 2-hydrazino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (HNFT) may not be a metabolite of FNT; and (3) the induction of tumors by FANFT, NFTA and FNT may not be due to a common carcinogenic metabolite, although these chemicals demonstrate similar organ specificities in some of these rodents.     

Desmutagenic actions of ascorbic acid and cysteine on a new pyrole mutagen formed by the reaction between food additives; Sorbic acid and sodium nitrite

Mutagenicity of 1,4-dinitro-2-methyl pyrrole, a new mutagen isolated from the reaction mixture of sorbic acid and sodium nitrite, was found to be destroyed by treatment with ascorbic acid or cysteine. Chemical studies revealed that the loss of mutagenicity was due to reduction from the C-nitro to C-amino group.     

Mutagenic effect of orally given AF-2 on embryonic cells in pregnant Syrian hamsters

Pregnant hamsters were given various doses of AF-2 by stomach tube; then the cells of their embryos were isolated and cultured in normal medium. Chromosome preparations were made within 24 h after the start of primary culture, and examined for chromosomal aberrations. Marked chromosomal abnormalities were observed in cells of embryos of animals treated with AF-2 at over 20 mg/kg. Samples of surviving cells were also cultured in normal medium for 48 h, and then selected in medium containing 8AG or 6TG. This treatment with AF-2 caused marked dose-dependent induction of 8AG- or 6TG-resistant mutations: mutant colonies were even obtained after a single treatment with 2 mg of AF-2 per kg. These results show that this is a sensitive and useful mammalian system for detecting environmental mutagens.     

Mutagenesis in cultured human diploid cells. III. Induction of 8-azaguanine-resistant mutations by furylfuramide.

Trans-2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylamide (furylfuramide: FF or AF2) was tested for ability to induce 8-azaguanine (8AG) resistant mutations in cultured human diploid cells. FF had a relatively severe cytotoxic effect on the cells. From the concentration-survival curve, the D0 value for 2-h treatment with FF was estimated to be 11 mug/ml. When cells were treated with FF at various concentrations for 2 h, cultured in normal medium for 48 h, and then selected in medium containing 8AG at 30 mug/ml, the induced mutation frequency increased gradually with increase in concentration of FF. When cells were treated with FF at 10 mug/ml for 2 h, cultured in normal medium for various periods of mutation expression time, and selected with 8AG at 30 mug/ml, the highest induced mutation frequency was obtained with 48 h of mutation expression time. Microscopic examination of the numbers of cells in colonies indicated that the total number of cells increased by half during this mutation expression time of 48 h.     

Mutagenic effect of orally given AF-2 on embryonic cells in pregnant syrian hamsters

Pregnant hamsters were given various doses of AF-2 by stomach tube; then the cells of their embryos were isolated and cultured in normal medium. Chromosome preparations were made within 24 h after the start of primary culture, and examined for chromosomal aberrations. Marked chromosomal abnormalities were observed in cells of embryos of animals treated with AF-2 at over 20 mg/kg. Samples of surviving cells were also cultured in normal medium for 48 h, and then selected in medium containing 8AG or 6TG. This treatment with AF-2 caused marked dose-dependent induction of SAG- or 6TG-resistant mutations: mutant colonies were even obtained after a single treatment with 2 mg of AF-2 per kg. These results show that this is a sensitive and useful mammalian system for detecting environmental mutagens.     

The action of AF 2 on cultured hamster and human cells under aerobic and hypoxic conditions

AF 2 (2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-furyl)acrylamide) was toxic to Chinese hamster V 79 cells and normal human fibroblasts in aerobic media. However, the toxicity of the drug was increased many times by hypoxia. Similarly, the frequency of AF 2-induced azaguanine- and ouabain-resistant mutants of V 79 cells was much higher in hypoxia than under aerobic conditions. Both hamster V 79 cells and human fibroblasts metabolized AF 2 and other nitrofurans rapidly only under hypoxic conditions. Human fibroblasts were more sensitive to AF 2 both under aerobic conditions and in hypoxia than were V 79 cells under similar conditions. The Chinese hamster cells consistently gave survival curves with marked shoulders while human cells did not. Aerobic cultures of fibroblasts derived from xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patients were markedly sensitive to AF 2 while fibroblasts from two ataxia telangeictasia patients had normal sensitivity. Under hypoxic conditions the sensitivity of both types of cells was increased but the XP line remained 5--10-fold more sensitive than normal or ataxia cells. These results suggest that the DNA lesions produced by AF 2 may be regarded as similar to those produced by ultraviolet light, at least in terms of their repairability in human cells.     

Enzymic cis-trans isomerization of nitrofuran derivatives: isomerizing activity of xanthine oxidase, lipoyl dehydrogenase, DT-diaphorase and liver microsomes.

Xanthine oxidase (xanthine:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.3.2) supplemented with an electron donor could catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide, 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-phenylacrylamide and 3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylonitrile. The direction of isomerization (cis leads to trans, cis in equilibrium trans or trans leads to cis) is dependent on the chemical structure of these nitrofuran derivatives. Lipoyl dehydrogenase (NADH:lipoamide oxidereductase, EC 1.6.4.3), DT-diaphorase (NAD(P)H:(quinone-acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2) and liver microsomes could also catalyze the conversion of cis-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-(2-furyl)acrylamide to its trans isomer in the presence of an appropriate electron donor. Such isomerizing activity of these enzymes is much higher than their nitro-reducing activity. In addition, the cis-trans isomerization of some nitrofuran derivatives was demonstrated with the liver slices and the small intestines of rats. A new cis-trans isomerization mechanism which is based on transfer of a single electron by an enzyme system to a nitrofuran derivative to give the radical-anion was proposed. This postulated mechanism was supported by the preliminary experiments using pulse radiolysis technique.     

Contribution to the determination of the chemotherapeutic drug G1 in biological fluids

A sensitive gas chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of the new antibacterial and antifungal drug G1, 1-(5-bromofuran-2-yl)-2-bromo-2-nitroethene, has been optimized. The method involves a fast and single extraction step from spiked serum and urine samples. The G1 drug was quantified using an internal standard method and by means of a nitrogen-selective detector. The results are statistically significant and show that mean levels of G1 as low as 1 μg ml⁻¹ can be measured accurately.     

Study of the protein-ubiquinone interaction in succinate-cytochrome C reductase with azido-ubiquinone derivatives

Several azido-ubiquinones have been synthesized for the study of protein-ubiquinone interaction in succinate-cytochrome $\text{c}$ reductase. In the absence of light, azido-ubiquinones are partially effective in restoring enzymatic activity to ubiquinone- and phospholipid-depleted reductase and the binding of azido-ubiquinones can be partially reversed by 5-(10-bromodecyl)-ubiquinone. When 2-azido-3-methoxy-5-geranyl-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone reactivated reductase is illuminated with long wavelength UV light, a complete and irreversible inhibition is observed. This specific photo-inactivation, exerted only by 2-azido-3-methoxy-5-geranyl-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, and not by other azido-ubiquinone derivatives, is evidence for the existence of a specific benzoquinone ring binding site in the enzyme.     

Reduction of nitrofuran derivatives by xanthine oxidase and microsomes: Isolation and identification of reduction products

An investigation was carried out to identify the reduction products of nitrofurazone and AF-2 (2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide by milk xanthine oxidase, rat liver xanthine oxidase, and rat liver microsomes. Data obtained from mass spectrometry and other methods indicated that the ethyl acetate-extractable major product of each nitrofuran derivative should be the corresponding amine derivative or the equivalent compound. This conclusion was further confirmed by an examination of stoichiometry. The reduced nitrofurazone was finally identified as 5-amino-2-furfural semicarbazone by comparative studies with the authentic specimen. The reduced AF-2 was tentatively identified as 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-oxo-2-pyrrolin-2-yl)acrylamide. A reduction pathway for this conversion is postulated.     

Potential Inhibitors of Angiogenesis. Part II: 3-(Azolylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones

The synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new 3-(imidazol-4(5)-ylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones 8-10 and 3-(3,5-dimethylpyrrol-2-ylmethylene)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-one 11, analogues of SU-5416, as potential inhibitors of angiogenesis, are reported. Compounds 8 and 11 were prepared by a Knoevenagel reaction starting from 2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 2 and 4-formylimidazole 5 or 2-formyl-3,5-dimethylpyrrole 7, followed by acid-catalysed cyclodehydration. For compounds 9 and 10, an alternative method was used; it consisted in carrying out the Knoevenagel reaction with the 2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]furan-2-ones 3 and 4. The antiangiogenic activity of these compounds was evaluated in the three-dimensional in vitro rat aortic rings test at 1 μM. At this concentration, compound 11 induced a decrease of angiogenesis comparable to that observed with SU-5416; the vascular density index at 1 μM of 11 and SU-5416 were 30±10 and 22±4% of control, respectively.     

Further phloroglucinol derivatives in the fruits of Mallotus japonicus

Two new rottlerin-like phloroglucinol derivatives were detected from the fruits of Mallotus japonicus and identified as 3-(3,3-dimethylallyl)-5-(3-acetyl-2,4-dihydroxy-5-methyl-6-methoxybenzyl)-phlorobutyrophenone and -phloroisobutyrophenone by spectral studies. 2,6-Dihydroxy-3-methyl-4-methoxyacetophenone was also isolated     

Novel derivatives of chitosan and their antifungal activities in vitro

Three kinds of Schiff bases of carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS) were prepared, and their antifungal activities were assessed according to Jasso de Rodríguez's method. The results indicated that 2-(2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-6-carboxymethylchitosan (HNCMCTS) and 2-(5-chloro-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-6-carboxymethylchitosan (HCCMCTS) had better inhibitory effects than those of chitosan or CMCTS against Fusarium oxysporium f. sp. vasinfectum, Alternaria solani, and Valsa mali.     

Magnetic resonance studies of the interaction of divalent metal cations with 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate

The binding of Mg²⁺ to intracellular 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate in the human red blood cell is significant to the function of the cell. We have studied interactions of Mg²⁺ and Mn²⁺ with 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results of this study reveal the presence of two independent divalent metal cation binding sites of similar affinity (K_D = 3.0 ± 0.5 mM) in the 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate molecule, one on each phosphoryl group, contrary to the assumption of one metal ion binding site made in the previous literature. Over the range of their intracellular concentrations, ATP and ADP, however, possess only one metal ion site in spite of the presence of multiple phosphoryl groups. These results are consistent with the chemistry of metal-chelation which requires the formation of 5- or 6-membered rings for the stability of chelate structures.     

Characterization of 2,3-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone induced mitochondrial swelling

Mitochondrial swelling induced by 2,3-bis(chloromethyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (CMNQ) was found to be a non-energy linked, oxygen and sulfhydryl-dependent, substrate-independent, osmotic process, that lacks cation specificity. Swelling was inhibited by cysteine and DTNB, and the CMNQ induced swelling resulted in a decrease in mitochondrial reactive sulfhydryl groups; thus, mitochondrial sulfhydryl interaction was mandatory in the CMNQ swelling process. The non-enzymatic reaction of CMNQ with cysteine but not cystine resulted in the consumption of oxygen, implicating sulfhydryl redox activity in the swelling process. High levels of tocopherol and histidine depressed the CMNQ induced swelling, suggesting that free radicals and singlet oxygen are important in the CMNQ induced swelling process.These findings support the proposition that CMNQ interacts with mitochondrial reductase systems and sulfhydryl groups in such a way as to generate superoxide radical which subsequently may dismute to H₂O₂ and produce ·OH and possibly singlet oxygen. These toxic oxygen species may be responsible for the CMNQ-promoted sulfhydryl depletion and mitochondrial swelling.     

毕赤酵母不对称合成阿托伐他汀中间体

阿托伐他汀可通过抑制HMG-CoA还原酶与底物的结合来抑制胆固醇的合成,而 (R)-3-羟基-5-邻苯二甲酰亚胺基戊酸乙酯是阿托伐他汀合成的重要中间体。通过对实验室保藏菌种进行筛选,得到一株巴氏毕赤酵母X-33可将5-邻苯二甲酰亚胺-3-氧代戊酸乙酯还原为 (R)-3-羟基-5-邻苯二甲酰亚胺基戊酸乙酯。在磷酸盐缓冲液体系中考察了初始底物浓度、反应时间、辅助底物、葡萄糖添加量、pH、温度等因素对产物收率和对映体选择性的影响,获得了较佳的反应条件。选择底物投料量为7 g/L时,当菌体浓度120 g/L,葡萄     

A Pitfall of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) Assay due to Evaporation in wells on the Edge of a 96 well Plate

The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) calorimetric assay is replacing the traditional 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as a fast, one-step assay of cell viability. We have observed that evaporation of the outer wells of a 96 well plate increases the absorbancy by 52% compared to the inner wells. Filling the outer 2 rows of wells with media and replacement of the media prior to addition of the MTS reagent will, however, correct this inaccuracy.     

Photodesmosine,an isomer of desmosine obtained by photolysis of this amino acid in ultraviolet light

Desmosine and isodesmosine are two isomers representing the main cross-links of elastin. We describe a new isomer, photodesmosine, which is produced by the photolysis of desmosine at 254 nm. The mechanism of this photolysis is described and is shown to consist of two competing paths. After opening of the pyridium ring to give a tetrasubstituted aminoketone, this compound can either be hydrolysed to give lysine and a trisubstituted analogue of glutaconic aldehyde or undergo a recyclisation and rearomatisation to give a pyridium compound substituted in positions 1, 2, 3 and 4. An understanding of this mechanism is important in order to use photolysis as a specific method to break elastin cross-links. Although only desmosine and isodesmosine have been reported in purified elastin, the chromatographic properties of photodesmosine suggests that if other natural isomers exist in this protein they could be eluted from an ion-exchange resin at much earlier times than those observed in the case of the two already described cross-links.