Steroid structural requirements for high affinity binding to human sex steroid binding protein (SBP)

The sex steroid binding protein (SBP) which binds androgens circulating in the blood of man has been examined to determine the structural requirements for high affinity binding. SBP was purified partially and the ability of each of more than 150 steroids to compete with [³H]dihydrotestosterone (17β-hydroxy-5α-androstan-3-one) for binding to SBP was assessed.Binding was enhanced by reduction of the Δ⁴ double bond to 5α-dihydro, addition of a methyl group at C-4 and in one case unsaturation at C-14, 15. Affinity was always reduced by modifications of the C-17β hydroxy. Binding was also severely decreased by deletion of the keto moiety at C-3; however, relatively high affinity was retained by an alcohol or an unsubstituted pyrazole group at C-3. Certain alpha surface substitutions such as 17α-ethinyl had limited effects on binding; whereas, other modifications such as 7α-methyl or 17α-methyl caused significant reduction in binding. Most modifications at C-2, 6, 9 or 11 also impaired affinity, and the 5β steroids had reduced affinity.     

A surprising C-4 epimerization of 5-deoxy-5-sulfonylated pentofuranosides under Ramberg-Bäcklund reaction conditions

Treatment of methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-(benzylsulfonyl)-β-d-ribofuranoside with CBr₂F₂-KOH/Al₂O₃ afforded the corresponding olefinic sugar. The methyl- and the isopropyl-analogues in contrast underwent epimerization at C-4 to generate the α-l-lyxo derivatives.     

α and β-solamarine in kennebec Solanum tuberosum leaves and aged tuber slices

Two major steroid glycoalkaloids, in addition to α-solanine and α-chaconine, were isolated from leaves and aged tuber slices of potato, Solanum tuberosum L. var Kennebec. They are glycosides of tomatidenol and have been identified as α- and β-solamarine. The compounds were not found in tuber peel or freshly sliced Kennebec tubers or in 20 other cultivars.     

Steroidal inhibitors of prostatic 5α-reductase: Structure-activity relationships

Several novel synthetic androgen analogs have been evaluated for their in vitro inhibitory activity towards 5α-reductase of the rat ventral prostate. The influence of various structural alterations of the steroid molecule on the inhibitory activity was assessed. It was confirmed that the Δ⁴-3 keto group is essential. Substituents at C-17 influence the degree of inhibitory activity. The presence of the C-19 methyl group is not essential for activity. Ring A appears to interact with the entire active site of the enzyme. Affinity for the enzyme is enhanced by the addition of a methylene group at C-6. Inhibitory activity is completely lost when a large radical, such as an iodomethylene group, is introduced at C-7.     

The crystal structure of 6-epi-desacetyllaurenobiolide,a germacra-1(10),4-diene-12,8α-olide from Montanoa grandiflora

A chloroform extract of Montanoa grandiflora afforded a novel 6β-hydroxy-germacradien-8,12-olide. Its structure was shown to be 6-epi-desacetyllaurenobiolide by spectral studies, chemical transformations and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The X-ray data demonstrate that the ten-membered ring exists in the crystal in the highly unusual [₁₅D⁵,₁D¹⁴] conformation, in which the methyl group at C-4 is α-oriented and the methyl group at C-10 is β-oriented. The two double bonds are approximately parallel rather than crossed.     

A Keto Reductase Involved in Steroid Degradation in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum

Phytosterols can be used by microorganisms as carbon and energy sources and completely degraded into CO₂ and H₂O. The catabolic pathway of phytosterols was well characterized in many microorganisms. Blocking the steroid core ring degradation by deletions of fadE30 and fadD3 genes, two important steroid intermediates, 3aα-H-4α-(3’-Propionic acid)-5α-hydroxy-7aβ-methylhexahydro-1-indanone-δ-lactone (sitolactone, or HIL) and 3aα-H-4α-(3’-propionic acid)-7aβ-methylhexahydro-1,5-indanedione (HIP) can be accumulated. They are currently used to synthesize nor-steroid drugs with an α-methyl group or without the methyl group at the C₁₀-position, such as estrone and norethindrone. In this study, a key gene involved in the bioconversion of HIP to HIL was identified in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum. Through heterologous expression, gene hipR was found to be involved in the reduction of the C₅ keto group of HIP to a hydroxy group, leading to spontaneously lactonization into HIL in vitro. Through gene complementation and knockout, HipR functions were verified and two HIP degradation pathways in vivo were elucidated. The finding of this research facilitated the understanding of the metabolic pathway of sterols, and was directly applied to engineering robust production strains by overexpression or knockout of related genes.     

Autophagy protects neuron from Aβ-induced cytotoxicity

Autophagy is a degradation pathway for the turnover of dysfunctional organelles or aggregated proteins in cells. Extracellular accumulation of β-amyloid peptide has been reported to be a major cause of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and large numbers of autophagic vacuoles accumulate in the brain of AD patient. However, how autophagic process is involved in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity and how Aβ peptide is transported into neuron and metabolized is still unknown. In order to study the role of autophagic process in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, EGFP-LC3 was over-expressed in SH-SY5Y cells (SH-SY5Y/pEGFP-LC3). It was found that treatment with Aβ_25-35, Aβ_1-42 or serum-starvation induced strong autophagy response in SH-SY5Y/pEGFP-LC3. Confocal double-staining image showed that exogenous application of Aβ1-42 in medium caused the co-localization of Aβ_1-42 with LC3 in neuronal cells. Concomitant treatment of Aβ with a selective α7nAChR antagonist, α-bungarotoxin (α-BTX), enhanced Aβ-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. On the other hand, nicotine (nAChR agonist) enhanced the autophagic process and also inhibited cell death following Aβ application. In addition, nicotine but not α-BTX increased primary hippocampal neuronal survival following Aβ treatment. Furthermore, using Atg7 siRNA to inhibit autophagosome formation in an early step or α7nAChR siRNA to knockdown α7nAChR significantly enhanced Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Confocal double-staining image shows that nicotine treatment in the presence of Aβ enhanced the co-localization of α7nAChR with autophagosomes. These results suggest that α7nAChR may act as a carrier to bind with eAβ and internalize into cytoplasm and further inhibit Aβ-induced neurotoxicity via autophagic degradation pathway. Our results suggest that autophagy process plays a neuroprotective role against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Defect in autophagic regulation or Aβ-α7nAChR transport system may impair the clearance of Aβ and enhance the neuronal death.     

The microbiological transformation of some ent-beyerene diterpenoids by Gibberella fujikuroi to beyergibberellins and beyerenolides

The microbiological transformation by Gibberelia fujikuroi of ent-beyer-15-ene into the beyergibberellins A₉ and A₁₃, 7β-hydroxy- and 7β,18-dihydroxybeyerenolides, and of ent-beyer-15-en-19-ol into beyergibberellins A₄, A₇, A₉, A₁₃ and A₂₅,and 7β-hydroxy-and 7β,18-dihydroxybeyerenolides is described. In contrast, ent-beyer-15-en-18-ol gave _ent-7α, 18,19-trihydroxybeyer-15-ene, 7β,18-dihydroxybeyerenolide and _ent-7α,18-dihydroxybeyer-15-en-19-oic acid again revealing the inhibitory effect of an 18-hydroxyl group on oxidative transformations at C-6β by Gibberella fujikuroi.     

Determination of Stereochemistry at C-16 of Dihydrogibberellin A1 Methyl Ester (Methyl Tetrahyclrogibberellate) and Its 16-Epimer

Stereochemistry at C–16 of dihydrogibberellin A₁ methyl ester (methyl tetrahydrogib-berellate, III) and its 16-epimer was elucidated. NMR analysis employing a shift reagent, Eu(thd)₃ or Eu(fod)₃, was found to be very effective for settling this stereochemical problem.     

Identification of a Unique Radical S-Adenosylmethionine Methylase Likely Involved in Methanopterin Biosynthesis in Methanocaldococcus jannaschii

Methanopterin (MPT) and its analogs are coenzymes required for methanogenesis and methylotrophy in specialized microorganisms. The methyl groups at C-7 and C-9 of the pterin ring distinguish MPT from all other pterin-containing natural products. However, the enzyme(s) responsible for the addition of these methyl groups has yet to be identified. Here we demonstrate that a putative radical S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) enzyme superfamily member encoded by the MJ0619 gene in the methanogen Methanocaldococcus jannaschii is likely this missing methylase. When MJ0619 was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, various methylated pterins were detected, consistent with MJ0619 catalyzing methylation at C-7 and C-9 of 7,8-dihydro-6-hydroxymethylpterin, a common intermediate in both folate and MPT biosynthesis. Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys77 present in the first of two canonical radical SAM CX₃CX₂C motifs present in MJ0619 did not inhibit C-7 methylation, while mutation of Cys102, found in the other radical SAM amino acid motif, resulted in the loss of C-7 methylation, suggesting that the first motif could be involved in C-9 methylation, while the second motif is required for C-7 methylation. Further experiments demonstrated that the C-7 methyl group is not derived from methionine and that methylation does not require cobalamin. When E. coli cells expressing MJ0619 were grown with deuterium-labeled acetate as the sole carbon source, the resulting methyl group on the pterin was predominantly labeled with three deuteriums. Based on these results, we propose that this archaeal radical SAM methylase employs a previously uncharacterized mechanism for methylation, using methylenetetrahydrofolate as a methyl group donor.     

C-26 vs. C-27 Hydroxylation of insect steroid hormones: Regioselectivity of a microsomal cytochrome P450 from a hormone-resistant cell line

Hydroxylation of steroids at one of the side chain terminal methyl groups, commonly linked to C-26, represents an important regulatory step established in many phyla. Discrimination between the two sites, C-26 and C-27, requires knowing the stereochemistry of the products. 26-Hydroxylation of the insect steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone by a microsomal cytochrome P450 was previously found to be responsible for hormonal resistance in a Chironomus cell line mainly producing the (25S)-epimer of 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone. Here, we studied the 25-desoxy analog of 20-hydroxyecdysone, ponasterone A, to elucidate the stereochemistry of the expected 26-hydroxy product, inokosterone, which occurs as C-25 epimers in nature. We identified the predominant metabolite as the C-25 R epimer of inokosterone on comparison by RP-HPLC with the (25R)- and (25S)-epimers the stereochemistry of which was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. (25R)-inokosterone was further oxidized to the 26-aldehyde identified by mass spectroscopy, borohydride reduction and metabolic transformation to 26-carboxylic acid. The (25S)-epimers of inokosterone and its aldehyde were minor products. With 20-hydroxyecdysone as substrate, we newly identified the (25R)-epimer of 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone as a minor product. In conclusion, the present stereochemical studies revealed high regioselectivity of the Chironomus enzyme to hydroxylate both steroids at the same methyl group, denoted C-27.     

Synthesis of 3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)hexoses for G.L.C.-M.S. identification of Rhizobium lipopolysaccharide components

A direct synthetic route from methyl α-d-glucopyranoside to 3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)hexoses having the d-gluco, d-galacto, and d-manno configurations has been developed. Methyl α-d-glucoside was converted into the 4,6- <O-benzylidene-2,3,-di-O-tosyl derivative, which has then transformed into the 4-O-benzyl-6-deoxy 2,3-ditosylate (5) by successive reductive cleavage of the acetal ring, iodination, and reduction. The intermediate 5 was readily converted into the allo 2,3-epoxide, which yielded the pivotal intermediate methyl 4-O-benzyl-3,6-dideoxy-3-(methylamino)-α-d-glucopyranoside (7) by cleavage of the oxirane ring with methylamine. The amino compound 7 can be directly converted into the derivatized galacto and manno derivatives for mass-spectrometric identification by selective inversion at C-4 and C-2, respectively, followed by hydrolysis, reduction, and acetylation.     

Synthesis of methyl 3-O- and 2-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranosides and carbamoyl-group migration between them

Methyl 3-O- and 2-O-carbamoyl-α-D-mannopyranosides, (2 and 3), were synthesized from methyl α-D-mannopyranoside via ammonolysis of a cyclic carbonate or a p-nitrophenoxycarbonate, as shown in Charts 1 and 2. Carbamoyl-group migration between the C-2 and C-3 hydroxyl groups, in methyl α-D-mannopyranoside under alkaline conditions, was also studied.     

The extraction and hydrolysis of steroid monoglucuronides

1. A method in use for the extraction of urinary steroid conjugates has been applied to study the recovery of synthetic steroid monoglucuronides from aqueous solution. 2. In the presence of dissolved ammonium sulphate (50g./100ml.), ether–ethanol (3:1, v/v, 3×0·5vol.) extracted the monoglucuronides of steroids of the C₁₈, C₁₉ and C₂₁ series, quantitatively at values pH2–9. 3. The hydrolysis of the synthetic steroid monoglucuronides by β-glucuronidase (Patella vulgata) has been examined with reference to the pH value of the medium, enzyme concentration and substrate concentration. 4. The rate of hydrolysis of steroid monoglucuronides was dependent upon steroid structure and upon site of conjugation. 5. The rate of hydrolysis of the monoglucuronides decreased in the order C-3 (phenolic) >C-3β>C-17β>C-3α.     

Studies on the stereoselective synthesis of a protected α-d-Gal-(1→2)-d-Glc fragment

A novel 1,2-cis stereoselective synthesis of protected α-d-Gal-(1→2)-d-Glc fragments was developed. Methyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-3-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside (13), methyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (15), methyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-3-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-β-d-glucopyranoside (17), and methyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (19) were favorably obtained by coupling a new donor, isopropyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-allyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (2), with acceptors, methyl 3-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-d-glucopyranoside (4), methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (5), methyl 3-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-β-d-glucopyranoside (8), and methyl 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (12), respectively. By virtue of the concerted 1,2-cis α-directing action induced by the 3-O-allyl and 4,6-O-benzylidene groups in donor 2 with a C-2 acetyl group capable of neighboring-group participation, the couplings were achieved with a high degree of α selectivity. In particular, higher α/β stereoselective galactosylation (5.0:1.0) was noted in the case of the coupling of donor 2 with acceptor 12 having a β-CH₃ at C-1 and benzoyl groups at C-4 and C-6.     

Selective 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime formation in steroidal 3,20-diones for hapten immunospecificity

The direct one-step synthesis of 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oximes of representative C₂₁-4-pregnen-3,20-diones is reported. The method requires the preparation of a 3-enamine derivative which, serving as an intermediate product, is readily converted to the 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime upon addition of one molar equivalent of O-(carboxymethyl)hydroxylamine hemihydrochloride. The reaction appears to be generally applicable for selective 3-(O-carboxymethyl)oxime formation in steroids possessing multi-carbonyl groups, thus facilitating the coupling of steroidal haptens to protein at the C-3 position of the steroid molecule for enhanced immunospecificity. In this manner, antisera to 16α-hydroxyprogesterone and 17α-hydroxy-progesterone were obtained from immunized rabbits and specificity was established by radioimmunoassay.     

Prostaglandin IX - synthesis of (±)-15-methyl-11-deoxy PGE1 (doxaprost) - a potent bronchodilator - and its C-15-epimer

The communication describes the total synthesis of (±)-15-methyl-11-deoxy PGE₁ and its C-15-epimer. The synthesis of (±)-15-methyl-11-deoxy PGF₁ and (±)-15-methyl-11-deoxy PGF_1β is also reported. Preliminary data for the bronchodilator activity is presented.     

A concise synthesis of methyl 2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-β-l-talopyranoside

The 4,6-benzylidene acetal of methyl 2-deoxy-2-fluoro-α,β-d-glucopyranoside underwent inversion at C-3 via an oxidation–reduction sequence, and treatment of the derived 3-acetate with N-bromosuccinimide in carbon tetrachloride gave methyl 3-O-acetyl-4-O-benzoyl-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-2-fluoro-α-d-allopyranoside (6). Dehydrobromination of 6 and reduction of the resultant 5,6-ene gave the 5-epimer of 6, which after removal of the ester substituents, afforded the title compound in good overall yield.     

Recent Developments in Nematode Steroid Biochemistry

Current knowledge of steroid nutrition, metabolism, and function in free-living, plant-parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes is reviewed, with emphasis upon recent investigation of Caenorhabditis elegans. A number of 4-desmethylsterols with a trans-A/B ring configuration can satisfy the steroid nutritional requirement in C. elegans, but sterols with a cis-A/B ring configuration or trans-A/B sterols with a 4-methyl group cannot. C. elegans removes methyl or ethyl substituents at C-24 of the plant sterols sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, stigmastanol, and 24-methylene-cholesterol to produce various sterols with structures partially dependent upon that of the dietary sterol. Additional metabolic steps in C. elegans include reduction of Δ²²- and Δ⁵-bonds, C-7 dehydrogenation, isomerization of a Δ⁷-bond to a Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾-bond, and 4α-methylation. An azasteroid and several long-chain alkyl amines interfere with the dealkylation pathway in C. elegans by inhibiting the Δ²⁴-sterol reductase; these compounds also inhibit growth and reproduction in various plant-parasitic and animal-parasitic nematodes. A possible hormonal role for various steroids identified in nematodes is discussed.     

Synthesis of esters of saturated and unsaturated sixteen-carbon acids deuterated at the terminal or penultimate carbons

General syntheses of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, specifically trideuterated at the terminal carbon or dideuterated at the penultimate carbon, from ω-hydroxy esters, have been developed. Methyl [16-²H₃]hexadecanoate was synthesized from methyl 16-hydroxyhexadecanoate. The hydroxyl group was protected as the tetrahydropyranyl ether and the ester group reduced with lithium aluminum deuteride, first to an alcohol and then, by way of the derived mesylate, to a trideuteromethyl group. The new ester group was formed by oxidation of the hydroxyl group. Methyl 16-hydroxy[2-²H₂]hexadecanoate was prepared, from 16-hydroxy-hexadecanoate, by exchange of the α protons and, by the reductive route above, with lithium aluminum hydride, gave methyl [15-²H₂]hexadecanoate. Methyl 16-hydroxy-7-hexadecynoate was synthesized from 6-chlorohexanol and was converted, by means of the above reactions, to methyl [16-²H₃]- and [15-²H₂]-9-hexadecynoates. Lindlar reduction gave methyl [16-²H₃]- and [15-²H₂]cis-9-hexadecenoates. Overall yields ranged from 30% to 38%.