Nicergoline, an anti-aggregating agent which inhibits release of arachidonic acid from human platelet phospholipids

Nicergoline is an inhibitor of human platelet aggregation induced by many agents. It inhibits platelet prostaglandin production induced by thrombin or collagen but not by arachidonic acid. It abolishes the decrease of platelet phospholipid induced by thrombin. Nicergoline appears as a drug with an antiphospholipase activity of human platelets.     

Interaction of oncodazole (R 17934), a new antitumoral drug, with rat brain tubulin.

Oncodazole (R 17934), methyl [5-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl] carbamate (I), a new synthetic drug with anti-tumoral activity, inhibits the polymerization of rat brain tubulin $\text{in vitro}$. It has no depolymerizing effect on preformed microtubules $\text{in vitro}$. Binding studies by means of molecular sieving and equilibrium dialysis indicates that the drug binds to purified rat brain tubulin in a mole to mole ratio. Finally the drug competitively inhibits colchicine binding to purified rat brain tubulin. From these results the conclusion may be drawn that oncodazole is a true microtubule inhibitor.     

Ultraviolet and magnetic-circular-dichroic spectroscopic studies of Gd(III) complexed with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. A contrast agent for NMR imaging

Sensitive probes are required for studying the biochemistry of Gd(III) contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging. We show that complexation of Gd(III) by diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N',N"-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) in aqueous solution can be readily determined from the sharp 4f-4f bands for free and bound Gd(III) in the range 270-282 nm, and, with greater sensitivity, from the associated magnetic-circular-dichroic spectra.     

Targeted disruption of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR alpha) and RAR gamma results in receptor-specific alterations in retinoic acid-mediated differentiation and retinoic acid metabolism.

F9 embryonic teratocarcinoma stem cells differentiate into an epithelial cell type called extraembryonic endoderm when treated with retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of retinol (vitamin A). This differentiation is presumably mediated through the actions of retinoid receptors, the RARs and RXRs. To delineate the functions of each of the different retinoid receptors in this model system, we have generated F9 cell lines in which both copies of either the RAR alpha gene or the RAR gamma gene are disrupted by homologous recombination. The absence of RAR alpha is associated with a reduction in the RA-induced expression of both the CRABP-II and Hoxb-1 (formerly 2.9) genes. The absence of RAR gamma is associated with a loss of the RA-inducible expression of the Hoxa-1 (formerly Hox-1.6), Hoxa-3 (formerly Hox-1.5), laminin B1, collagen IV (alpha 1), GATA-4, and BMP-2 genes. Furthermore, the loss of RAR gamma is associated with a reduction in the metabolism of all-trans-RA to more polar derivatives, while the loss of RAR alpha is associated with an increase in metabolism of RA relative to wild-type F9 cells. Thus, each of these RARs exhibits some specificity with respect to the regulation of differentiation-specific gene expression. These results provide an explanation for the expression of multiple RAR types within one cell type and suggest that each RAR has specific functions.     

Assessment of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) efficacy as a single agent in primary lymphoid neoplasia

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is currently widely used in the therapy of acute promyelocytic leukimia and is being testedin vitro andin vivo on several other malignancies. Previously ATRA has been shown to inhibit the growthin vitro, of established human myeloma cell lines as well as cultured primary myeloma cells from patients. ATRA acts by down-regulating IL-6-receptor-alpha or gp130 on the surface of the myeloma cells. However, despite itsin vitro effects on myeloma cells, ATRA therapy on advanced stage multiple myeloma (MM) patients has so far largely been ineffective. In current studies, we have assessed the efficacy of ATRA therapy against primary murine plasma cell tumors, which are an animal model for human MM. These tumors are induced at about 50% incidence in pristane-primed BALB/c mice by injection ofv-raf/v-myc-containing retroviruses and are IL-6 dependent. Using this animal model, we assessed the effect of ATRA as a therapeutic agent against primary tumors at two early time points in disease development. ATRA was administered in liposomal vesicles (ATRAGEN?), since liposomal-ATRA has been shown to circumvent clearance mechanisms by hepatic microsomes, which normally occur with free ATRA. In addition, ATRAGEN? was previously shown to be less toxic in mice than free ATRA. ATRAGEN? was administered beginning on day 25 or day 45 after virus injection and continued twice weekly for 8–11 weeks. ATRAGEN? administration begun at either time point did not alter the incidence or the latency of plasma cell tumors compared with control animals. These results suggest that ATRA may not be an effective sole therapy against early MM.     

Ligand-binding specificity of an invertebrate (Manduca sexta) putative cellular retinoic acid binding protein

Intracellular lipid-binding proteins (iLBPs) are small cytoplasmic proteins that specifically interact with hydrophobic ligands. Fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs), cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABPs) and cellular retinol-binding proteins (CRBPs) belong to the iLBP family. A recently identified insect (Manduca sexta) iLBP has been reported to possibly represent an invertebrate CRABP mimicking the role of CRABPs in vertebrate organisms. The presence in this protein of the characteristic binding triad residues involved in the interaction with ligand carboxylate head groups, a feature pertaining to several FABPs and to CRABPs, and the close phylogenetic relationships with both groups of vertebrate heart-type FABPs and CRBPs/CRABPs, makes it difficult to assign it to either FABPs or CRABPs. However, its negligible interaction with retinoic acid and high affinity (K(d) values in the 10(-8) M range) for fatty acids have been established by means of direct and competitive binding assays. As shown by phylogenetic analysis, the M. sexta iLBP belongs to a wide group of invertebrate iLBPs, which, besides being closely related phylogenetically, share distinctive features, such as the conservation of chemically distinct residues in their amino acid sequences and the ability to bind fatty acids. Our results are in keeping with the lack of cellular retinoid-binding proteins in invertebrates and with their later appearance during the course of chordate evolution.     

A linoleic acid (8R)-dioxygenase and hydroperoxide isomerase of the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. Biosynthesis of (8R)-hydroxylinoleic acid and (7S,8S)-dihydroxylinoleic acid from (8R)-hydroperoxylinoleic acid.

The fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis metabolized linoleic acid extensively to (8R)-hydroperoxylinoleic acid, (8R)-hydroxylinoleic acid, and threo-(7S,8S)-dihydroxylinoleic acid. When G. graminis was incubated with linoleic acid under an atmosphere of oxygen-18, the isotope was incorporated into (8R)-hydroxylinoleic acid and 7,8-dihydroxylinoleic acid. The two hydroxyls of the latter contained either two oxygen-18 or two oxygen-16 atoms, whereas a molecular species that contained both oxygen isotopes was formed in negligible amounts. Glutathione peroxidase inhibited the biosynthesis of 7,8-dihydroxylinoleic acid. These findings demonstrated that the diol was formed from (8R)-hydroperoxylinoleic acid by intramolecular hydroxylation at carbon 7, catalyzed by a hydroperoxide isomerase. The (8R)-dioxygenase appeared to metabolize substrates with a saturated carboxylic side chain and a 9Z-double bond. G. graminis also formed omega 2- and omega 3-hydroxy metabolites of the fatty acids. In addition, linoleic acid was converted to small amounts of nearly (65% R) racemic 10-hydroxy-8,12-octadecadienoic acid by incorporation of atmospheric oxygen. An unstable metabolite, 11-hydroxylinoleic acid, could also be isolated as well as (13R,13S)-hydroxy-(9E,9Z), (11E)-octadecadienoic acids and (9R,9S)-hydroxy-(10E), (12E,12Z)-octadecadienoic acids. In summary, G. graminis contains a prominent linoleic acid (8R)-dioxygenase, which differs from the lipoxygenase family of dioxygenases by catalyzing the formation of a hydroperoxide without affecting the double bonds of the substrate.     

Cytogenetic studies of Lucilia cuprina dorsalis R.-D. (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Standard photographic maps of the trichogen cell polytene chromosomes are presented. Polytene chromosome locations of 39 mutations have been determined by genetic mapping of autosomal duplications, inversions and translocations. Homologies between the polytene chromosomes of L. cuprina, other Calliphoridae, and Sarcophagidae are noted; genetic linkage groups may have been conserved largely intact during the evolution of the higher Diptera.     

The 18-kDa mouse epididymal protein (MEP 10) binds retinoic acid.

Mouse epididymal protein (MEP) 10 has recently been characterized in our laboratory. Amino acid sequence analysis of the N-terminal of MEP 10 revealed an 86% similarity in sequence with rat proteins B and C, characterized by Brooks and Higgins [J Reprod Fertil 1980; 59:363-375]. Proteins B and C, have been recently shown to possess retinoic acid-binding ability [Newcomer ME, Ong DE. J Biol Chem 1990; 265:12876-12879; Ong DE, Chytil F. Arch Biochem Biophys 1988; 267:474-478]. Therefore, it was of interest to determine whether MEP 10 possessed the same ability to bind retinoic acid. Mouse caudal fluid was trace-labeled with 3H-retinoic acid and applied to a DEAE ion-exchange column. Analysis of the fractions for both the presence of radioactivity by scintillation counting and MEP 10 by ELISA revealed that the peak of radioactivity corresponded to the peak of MEP 10 immunoreactivity. These peak fractions were pooled and used for subsequent binding analysis and SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed that the peak fractions were enriched for a protein of 18 kDa and that this protein was MEP 10. Competitive binding assays revealed that all-trans-retinoic acid was effective in inhibiting binding of labeled retinoic acid, but that the 13-cis isomer of retinoic acid was only moderately effective in inhibiting binding of the labeled ligand. All-trans-retinol was ineffective in the binding inhibition assay. Similar ligand specificity has also been described for the rat proteins B and C by Ong and Chytil [Arch Biochem Biophys' 1988; 267:474-478].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Biochemical studies on a reovirus-like agent (rotovirus) from lambs.

Ten polypeptides were detected in double-capsid lamb rotavirus; four of these appeared to be associated with the outer capsid. Lamb rotavirus RNA, which consisted of 11 or 12 segments, differed from pig rotavirus RNA in the electrophoretic mibility of one of the genome segments.     

SC-41930 inhibits neutrophil infiltration of the cavine dermis induced by 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

Psoriasis is a disease state characterized by epidermal proliferation, neutrophil infiltration, along with release of the proinflammatory mediators leukotriene-B4 (LTB4) and 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [12(R)-HETE]. LTB4 and 12(R)-HETE are chemoattractant to the neutrophil, the latter approximately 1000X less potent. LTB4 and 12(R)-HETE are present in psoriatic scale, the latter in quantities so much greater than LTB4 that it is proposed as a primary mediator of neutrophil infiltration in psoriasis. 12(R)-HETE, synthesized in optically pure form by a new, shorter route, was injected into the cavine dermis. At a dose of 25 micrograms m per intradermal site, 12(R)-HETE was a significant chemoattractant to the neutrophil (as assessed by dermal myeloperoxidase levels). SC-41930, 7-[3-(4-acetyl-3-methoxy-2-propylphenoxy)-propoxy]- 3,4-dihydro-8-propyl-2H-1-benzopyran-2-carboxylic acid, given intragastrically inhibited 12(R)-HETE-induced neutrophil infiltration of the cavine dermis with an ED50 value of 13.5 mg/kg. Compounds such as SC-41930 may well have utility for treating human psoriasis.     

Expression of cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) in Escherichia coli. Characterization and evidence that holo-CRABP is a substrate in retinoic acid metabolism.

Cellular retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) has been expressed efficiently in Escherichia coli from the cDNA of bovine adrenal CRABP and characterized, especially with respect to affinity for endogenous retinoids and a role for it in retinoic acid metabolism. The purified E. coli-expressed CRABP was similar to authentic mammalian CRABP in molecular weight (approximately 14,700), isoelectric point (4.76), absorbance maxima (apo-CRABP, 280 nm; holo-CRABP, 350 and 280 nm with the ratio A350/A280 = 1.8), and in fluorescence excitation (350 nm) and emission spectra (475 nm). The equilibrium dissociation constant, Kd, of E. coli-derived CRABP and all-trans-retinoic acid was 10 +/- 1 nM (mean +/- S.D., n = 4) by retinoid fluorescence and 7 +/- 1 nM (mean +/- S.D., n = 3) by quenching of protein fluorescence, but neither retinol nor retinal bound in concentrations as high as 7 microM. All-trans-cyclohexyl ring derivatives of retinoic acid (3,4-didehydro-, 4-hydroxy-, 4-oxo-, 16-hydroxy-4-oxo-, 18-hydroxy-) had affinities similar to that of all-trans-retinoic acid, whereas 13-cis-retinoic acid and 4-oxo-13-cis-retinoic acid had approximately 25-fold lower affinity. Holo-CRABP was a substrate for retinoic acid catabolism in rat testes microsomes by three criteria: 1) the rate of retinoic acid metabolism with CRABP in excess of retinoic acid exceeded the rate supported by the free retinoic acid; 2) increasing the apo-CRABP did not decrease the rate as predicted if free retinoic acid were the only substrate; and 3) holo-CRABP had a lower Michaelis constant (1.8 nM) for retinoic acid elimination than did free retinoic acid (49 nM). These data indicate a direct role for CRABP in retinoic acid metabolism and suggest a mechanism for discriminating metabolically between all-trans- and 13-cis-retinoids.     

Upscale production of (R)-mandelic acid with a stereospecific nitrilase in an aqueous system

(R)-Mandelic acid (R-MA) is a key precursor for the synthesis of semi-synthetic penicillin, cephalosporin, anti-obesity drugs, antitumor agents, and chiral resolving agents for the resolution of racemic alcohols and amines. In this study, an enzymatic method for the large-scale production of R-MA by a stereospecific nitrilase in an aqueous system was developed. The nitrilase activity of the Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pET-Nit whole cells reached 138.6 U/g in a 20,000-L fermentor. Using recombinant E. coli cells as catalyst, 500 mM R,S-mandelonitrile (R,S-MN) was resolved into 426 mM (64.85 g/L) R-MA within 8 h, and the enantiomeric excess (ee) value of R-MA reached 99%. During the purification process, pure R-MA with a recovery rate of 78.8% was obtained after concentration and crystallization. This study paved the foundation for the upscale production of R-MA using E. coli whole cells as biocatalyst.

     

An antiovulatory decapeptide of higher potency which has an L-amino acid (Ac-Pro) in position 1.

Ac-[Pro¹, $\text{D}\text{-}\text{Phe}{}^2$, $\text{D}$-Trp³, $\text{D}$-Trp⁶]-LH-RH completely inhibited ovulation in cycling rats at 200μg/rat and is comparable in activity to the corresponding D-1-analogue. This Ac-Pro¹-analogue is the most potent antiovulatory peptide yet known having an $\text{L}$-amino acid residue in position 1. This result shows that for the design of potent inhibitors of ovulation, a $\text{D}$-amino acid residue is not essential in position 1. The corresponding Ac-$\text{D}$-Pro¹- and Kic¹-analogues completely inhibited ovulation at 750μg/rat, but not at 200μg/rat, and the Cpc¹-analogue was inactive at these dosages.     

In situ andin vivo studies on the breakdown ofNymphaea alba L. (Nymphaeaceae)

Summary The breakdown of floating leaves ofNymphaea alba was studied with litterbags in two aquatic systems,viz., an alkaline, eutrophic former riverbed (Oude Waal) and an acid, oligotrophic pool (Voorste Choorven). It was found that the floating leaves from the Oude Waal decomposed at a faster rate than those from the Voorste Choorven when they were incubated in their natural system. In order to get insight in the parameters which determine the observed differences in the field, laboratory experiments were performed. Leaf discs ofN.alba were incubated in staged concentration gradients of some important chemical parameters (bicarbonate, ammonium, nitrate, orthophosphate, sulphate, pH, combinations of nitrate and phosphate; nitrate and bicarbonate, and bicarbonate and sulphate). It appeared that the differences in decomposition rate as observed in the field could be largely explained by the pH and alkalinity of the system-water, and the chemical composition and physiological state of the plant material.Contribution nr. 36 of the nymphaeid project.     

Oleanolic acid (OA) as an antileishmanial agent: Biological evaluation and in silico mechanistic insights

Although a worldwide health problem, leishmaniasis is considered a highly neglected disease, lacking efficient and low toxic treatment. The efforts for new drug development are based on alternatives such as new uses for well-known drugs, in silico and synthetic studies and naturally derived compounds. Oleanolic acid (OA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid widely distributed throughout the Plantae kingdom that displays several pharmacological activities. OA showed potent leishmancidal effects in different Leishmania species, both against promastigotes (IC_{50 L. braziliensis} 30.47 ± 6.35 μM; IC_{50 L. amazonensis} 40.46 ± 14.21 μM; IC_{50 L. infantum} 65.93 ± 15.12 μM) and amastigotes (IC_{50 L. braziliensis} 68.75 ± 16.55 μM; IC_{50 L. amazonensis} 38.45 ± 12.05 μM; IC_{50 L. infantum} 64.08 ± 23.52 μM), with low cytotoxicity against mouse peritoneal macrophages (CC₅₀ 235.80 ± 36.95 μM). Moreover, in silico studies performed to evaluate OA molecular properties and to elucidate the possible mechanism of action over the Leishmania enzyme sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) suggested that OA interacts efficiently with CYP51 and could inhibit the ergosterol synthesis pathway. Collectively, these data indicate that OA is a good candidate as leading compound for the development of a new leishmaniasis treatment.     

A protein from Ustilago which forms an acid-soluble complex with deoxyribonucleic acid.

A protein which can render DNA largely acid-soluble has been purified 1600-fold from high salt extracts of Ustilago maydis. The activity is unusual in that substrate DNA is not made acid-soluble through hydrolysis to small oligomers. Rather, the protein appears to bind to DNA to form a complex which itself is acid-soluble. The activity of conversion of DNA to an acid-soluble form is cold-labile, but the inactivation by cold is reversible by brief heat treatment. Divalent cations stimulate the activity; phosphate is inhibitory. Optimal activity is observed at pH 6.0 and again at pH 9.0. Nucleoside triphosphates and diphosphates stimulate activity at low protein concentrations but are not hydrolyzed during the course of reaction. The protein behaves anomalously on gel filtration columns and is completely excluded by Sephadex or agarose gels. When analyzed by sedimentation velocity, the protein was found to sediment at 5.3 S, the same rate at which a globular protein of 65,000 daltons would sediment. Dependence of activity upon protein concentrations is sigmoidal. K+ and to a lesser degree NH4+ are partially effective in abolishing the lag in the concentration curve. The protein displays a saturation curve when exposed to increasing DNA concentrations. Such a curve could only result from a non-random or cooperative mode of binding of the protein to DNA. A mutant sensitive to gamma and ultraviolet radiation with an abnormally high level of the protein has been found. Haploid populations of the mutant grow slowly and contain a large proportion (10 to 20%) of inviable cells. Diploids are defective in mitotic allelic recombination and fail to complete meiosis. It is speculated that the protein may be important in the regulation of chromosome condensation.