Formation of electrophilic N-acetoxyarylamines in cytosols from rat mammary gland and other tissues by trans-acetylation from the carcinogen N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl

The 105 000 × g supernatant fractions of various rat tissues catalyze the transfer of the N-acetyl group of certain carcinogenic aromatic acethydroxamic acids to the O atom of aromatic hydroxylamines. The resulting N-acetoxyhydroxylamines are strongly electrophilic and have been detected and analyzed through their reaction with N-acetylmethionine to yield methylmercaptoaminoarenes.Of the rat tissues studied the liver had the highest activity; kidney and small intestinal mucosa were about 15–20% as active. The transacetylase activities of these tissues were similar with respect to their ability to use either N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-hydroxy-AAF or N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-hydroxy-AABP) as acetyl donors, their stability on storage at 2–3°C, and their elution patterns from Sephadex G-100 columns. Low transacetylase activity was found in spleen and muscle.Mammary tissue from 16–21 day pregnant rats had 20% of the transacetylase activity of rat liver when N-hydroxy-AABP was used as acetyl donor and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl (N-hydroxy-ABP) was the acetyl acceptor. This enzyme system from mammary tissue did not utilize the fluorene derivatives as either acetyl donor or acetyl acceptor, was much more labile than the liver, kidney, or intestinal mucosa systems, and had a pH optimum at 7.5, as compared to pH 6.8 for liver. The mammary tissue system was similar to the hepatic system in being inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents; it required a source of reduced pyridine nucleotides for maximum activity.     

A Convenient Method for the Synthesis of (Prop-2-Ynyloxy)Benzene Derivatives via Reaction with Propargyl Bromide,Their Optimization,Scope and Biological Evaluation

A highly convenient method has been developed for the synthesis of (prop-2-ynyloxy) benzene and its derivatives. Differently substituted phenol and aniline derivatives were allowed to react with propargyl bromide in the presence of K₂CO₃ base and acetone as solvent. The compounds were synthesized in good yields (53–85%). Low cost, high yields and easy availability of compounds helped in the synthesis. Electron withdrawing groups favor the formation of stable phenoxide ion thus in turn favors the formation of product while electron donating groups do not favor the reaction. Phenol derivatives gave good yields as compared to that of aniline. As aprotic polar solvents favor S_N2 type reactions so acetone provided best solvation for the reactions. K₂CO₃ was proved to be good for the synthesis. Antibacterial, Antiurease and NO scavenging activity of synthesized compounds were also examined. 4-bromo-2-chloro-1-(prop-2-ynyloxy)benzene 2a was found most active compound against urease enzyme with a percentage inhibition of 82.00±0.09 at 100 µg/mL with IC₅₀ value of 60.2. 2-bromo-4-methyl-1-(prop-2-ynyloxy)benzene 2d was found potent antibacterial against Bacillus subtillus showing excellent inhibitory action with percentage inhibition of 55.67±0.26 at 100 µg/ml wih IC₅₀ value of 79.9. Based on results, it can be concluded that some of the synthesized compounds may have potential antiurease and antibacterial effects against several harmful substances.     

Deacetylation of N8-acetylspermidine by subcellular fractions of rat tissue

The in vitro deacetylation of N⁸-acetylspermidine by an enzyme activity in rat tissues is described. This deacetylase activity occurs as a soluble, cytoplasmic enzyme in rat liver and was detected in the 100,000g supernatant fraction of all tissues examined. The highest specific activity was found in liver. Spleen, kidney, and lung were found to contain 20–50% of the activity in liver, while heart, brain, and skeletal muscle exhibited from 2 to 10% of the activity in liver. Serum contained only barely detectable levels of activity, much lower than any of the tissues studied. The in vitro metabolism of N¹-acetylspermidine differed from that observed for N⁸-acetylspermidine and does not appear to involve a simple deacetylation reaction.     

Molecular Characterization of a Novel N-Acetyltransferase from Chryseobacterium sp.

N-Acetyltransferase from Chryseobacterium sp. strain 5-3B is an acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the enantioselective transfer of an acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to the amino group of l-2-phenylglycine to produce (2S)-2-acetylamino-2-phenylacetic acid. We purified the enzyme from strain 5-3B and deduced the N-terminal amino acid sequence. The gene, designated natA, was cloned with two other hypothetical protein genes; the three genes probably form a 2.5-kb operon. The deduced amino acid sequence of NatA showed high levels of identity to sequences of putative N-acetyltransferases of Chryseobacterium spp. but not to other known arylamine and arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferases. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NatA forms a distinct lineage from known N-acetyltransferases. We heterologously expressed recombinant NatA (rNatA) in Escherichia coli and purified it. rNatA showed high activity for l-2-phenylglycine and its chloro- and hydroxyl-derivatives. The K_m and V_max values for l-2-phenylglycine were 0.145 ± 0.026 mM and 43.6 ± 2.39 μmol · min⁻¹ · mg protein⁻¹, respectively. The enzyme showed low activity for 5-aminosalicylic acid and 5-hydroxytryptamine, which are reported as good substrates of a known arylamine N-acetyltransferase and an arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase. rNatA had a comparatively broad acyl donor specificity, transferring acyl groups to l-2-phenylglycine and producing the corresponding 2-acetylamino-2-phenylacetic acids (relative activity with acetyl donors acetyl-CoA, propanoyl-CoA, butanoyl-CoA, pentanoyl-CoA, and hexanoyl-CoA, 100:108:122:10:<1).     

Activation of the renal cortical and hepatic guanylate cyclase-guanosine 3′,5′-monophosphate systems by nitrosoureas divalent cation requirements and relationship to thiol reactivity

Streptozotocin, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and N-methyl nitrosourea, compounds with both oncogenic and cytotoxic properties, increased guanylate cyclase activity in the 100 000 × g soluble fractions of rat renal cortex and liver 35- to 65-fold over basal values. Particulate enzyme activities of these tissues were increased 2- to 4-fold by a maximally effective concentration of the nitrosoureas. In the presence of the cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, maximally effective concentrations of these nitrosoureas increased cyclic GMP accumulation of hepatic and renal cortical slices to peak levels 7- to 10-fold over control in 30 min. By contrast, with the structurally related carcinogen N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) peak increases occurred in 5–10 min and were 40- to 70-fold over control levels in renal cortex and liver, respectively. Unlike the Ca²⁺-dependent actions of cholinergic stimuli on cyclic GMP, the nitrosoureas and MNNG increased cyclic GMP in either the presence or absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Moreover, while basal soluble guanylate cyclase of renal cortex was highly Mn²⁺-dependent and decreased 85% when either Mg²⁺ or Ca²⁺ was employed as sole divalent cation in reaction mixtures, the actions of nitrosoureas on enzyme activity were well expressed with either Mn²⁺ or Mg²⁺, but not with Ca²⁺, as sole divalent cation. Improved utilization of Mg²⁺ by guanylate cyclase in the presence of nitrosoureas would favor enhanced enzyme activity under cellular conditions where Mg²⁺ is abundant. In the presence of maximally stimulatory concentrations of streptozotocin or BCNU, high concentrations of Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ further increased soluble guanylate cyclase, suggesting important differences in metal and nitrosourea stimulation of enzyme activity.Preincubation of supernatant fractions with nitrosoureas plus dithiothreitol inhibited the action of the N-nitroso compounds to increase renal cortical guanylate cyclase. Glutathione and cysteine were also inhibitory, but less effective than dithiothreitol. Initial incubation of nitrosoureas with dithiothreitol in buffer alone similarly suppressed the subsequent action of the N-nitroso compounds on guanylate cyclase, and implicated direct chemical interactions. Prior incubation of renal cortical supernatant fractions with the SH blockers N-ethylmaleimide or maleimide significantly suppressed guanylate cyclase activation mediated by streptozotocin or BCNU. Direct drug interactions seemed unlikely, since effects of the inhibitors were optimally expressed by initial exposure of the supernatant fraction of tissue to the SH blockers and were not potentiated by a 30 min preincubation of the SH blockers and nitrosoureas in buffer alone.Thus, nitrosoureas activate and alter the metal requirements of soluble guanylate cyclase and increase cellular cyclic GMP in the presence or absence of extracellular Ca²⁺. Activation of soluble guanylate cyclase by nitrosoureas may involve an interaction of these agents with tissue SH groups, and possibly SH to SS transformation. Stimulation of the guanylate cyclase system by nitrosoureas could be related to the oncogenic actions of these agents.     

Biomonitoring of arylamines: haemoglobin adducts of aniline derivatives

Aromatic amines are important intermediates in industrial manufacturing. They are used in a large number of products, such as pesticides, dyes, plastics and pharmaceuticals. The parent arylamines can be metabolically released from these arylamine-based compounds and form DNA and protein adducts after N-oxidation to N-hydroxy arylamines. Aromatic amine derivatives, including the industrial intermediates acetoacetanilide, acetoacet-m-xylidide and N-ethylaniline, were examined for their ability to form Hb adducts in rats as potential biomarkers of exposure. The haemoglobin binding indices (HBI=binding [mmol mol^-1 Hb]/dose [mmol kg^-1 body weight]) of the arylamines were determined 24 h after oral administration to female Wistar rats. The precipitated haemoglobin was dissolved in 0.1 M sodium hydroxide in the presence of internal standards. After hexane extraction the released arylamines were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For aniline released from acetoacetanilide an HBI of 15 and for 2,4-dimethylaniline released from acetoacet-m-xylidide an HBI of 0.129 were determined. The HBIof aniline released from N-ethylaniline was 45.     

Partial characterization of N-acetyltransferase activity from cerebral ganglia and malpighian tubules of Periplaneta americana

Octopamine-N-acetyltransferase (NAT) activity from Malpighian tubules and cerebral ganglia of Periplaneta americana was studied using high performance liquid chromatography with coulometric electrochemical detection. The enzyme from these tissues is highly soluble and temperature-resistant with maximal activity demonstrated at 50°C. The pH profiles of enzyme activity from Malpighian tubules and cerebral ganglia differ markedly although, in both tissues, strong activity is evident under alkaline conditions. Kinetic analyses indicate that the enzyme present in Malpighian tubules has a K_m for octopamine of 0.40 mM with a maximum velocity of 37.9 nmol N-acetyl-p-octopamine (N-acOA) produced/mg protein/min; the equivalent values for acetyl CoA were determined as 0.32 mM and 36.9 nmol N-acOA/mg protein/min. NAT from cerebral ganglia showed K_ms for octopamine and acetyl CoA of 0.33 and 0.19 mM, respectively, and the maximum velocity with octopamine was 6.8 nmol N-acOA/mg protein/min. Analysis of NAT activity from a variety of cockroach tissues indicates that the enzyme is widely distributed, with the gut and associated Malpighian tubules, conglobate gland and salivary glands showing the greatest activity.     

Characterization of a Pseudomonas sp. Capable of Aniline Degradation in the Presence of Secondary Carbon Sources

Pseudomonas strain K1 is a gram-negative rod which grows aerobically on minimal media containing aniline with a doubling time of 2 h at 30°C. The half-saturation parameter for aniline metabolism by aniline-grown cells was 3.8 μmol · liter⁻¹. Concentrations of aniline as low as 50 nM were metabolized. Neither substituted anilines nor other aromatic compounds (other than aromatic amino acids) supported growth. Cells grew as fast on aniline as on nonaromatic substrates such as lactate. The aromatic ring was cleaved via the meta pathway. Catechol 2,3-oxygenase activity was induced by aniline, even in cultures containing alternative carbon sources such as lactate. Cultures grown on a mixture of aniline and lactate mineralized aniline in the presence of the second substrate. Lactate-grown cultures lacked catechol oxygenase activity, and resting cells from these cultures did not respire aniline. Resting cells from aniline-grown cultures exhibited high respiratory activity upon the addition of aniline or catechol, some activity with toluidine, and no activity after addition of a wide variety of other aromatic compounds, including dihydroxybenzylamine, chloroanilines, ethylanilines, aminophenols, aminobenzoates, and dihydroxybenzoates. Although substituted anilines were not metabolized, 3-or 4-chloroaniline did induce the enzymes for aniline oxidation.     

Enzymes in cancer: Asparaginase from chicken liver

1. A procedure for partial purification of asparaginase from chicken liver is presented. 2. The bulk of the enzyme is located in the soluble fraction of chicken liver. 3. Molecular weights of chicken-liver asparaginase and of the guinea-pig serum enzyme, estimated by gel filtration, were 306000 and 210000 respectively. The Michaelis constants (K_m) at 37° and pH8·5 were 6·0×10⁻⁵m and 7·2×10⁻⁵m respectively. 4. At 50° the chicken-liver enzyme was moderately stable, some activity being lost by aggregation; in dilute electrolyte solutions the activity rapidly diminished. 5. The anti-lymphoma effect of guinea-pig serum in mice carrying the 6C3HED tumour was confirmed. Chicken-liver asparaginase also showed an effect but in this case the enzyme preparation had to be administered repeatedly. 6. Guinea-pig serum asparaginase was stable for several days in mouse blood, after intraperitoneal injection, whereas chicken-liver asparaginase rapidly disappeared. 7. Aspartic acid β-hydrazide was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of chicken-liver asparaginase with K_i approx. 5·6×10⁻⁴m. In mice it produced an anti-lymphoma effect, as reported previously.     

Purification and Characterization of Leu-Proteinase, the Leucine Specific Serine Proteinase from Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Leaves

The leucine specific serine proteinase present in the soluble fraction of leaves from Spinacia oleracea L. (called Leu-proteinase) has been purified by acetone precipitation and a combination of gel-filtration, ion exchange, and adsorption chromatography. This enzyme shows a molecular weight of 60,000 ± 3,000 daltons, an isoelectric point of 4.8 ± 0.1, and a relative electrophoretic mobility of 0.58 ± 0.03. The Leu-proteinase catalyzed hydrolysis of p-nitroanilides of N-α-substituted(-l-)amino acids as well as of chromogenic macromolecular substrates has been investigated between pH 5 and 10 at 23 ± 0.5°C and I = 0.1 molar. The enzyme activity is characterized by a bell-shaped profile with an optimum pH value around 7.5, reflecting the acid-base equilibrium of groups with pK_a values of 6.8 ± 0.1 and 8.2 ± 0.1 (possibly the histidyl residue present at the active site of the enzyme and the N-terminus group). Among the substrates considered, N-α-benzoyl-l-leucine p-nitroanilide shows the most favorable catalytic parameters and allows to determine an enzyme concentration as low as 1 × 10⁻⁹ molar. In agreement with the enzyme specificity, only N-α-tosyl-l-leucine chloromethyl ketone, di-isopropyl fluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, among compounds considered specific for serine enzymes, strongly inhibit the Leu-proteinase. Accordingly, the enzyme activity is insensitive to cations, chelating agents, sulfydryl group reagents, and activators.     

Effects of pH and temperature on the wild-type and a mutant form of Neurospora glutamate dehydrogenase

1. We confirm the observation of Bürk (1965) that Neurospora crassa NADP-linked glutamate dehydrogenase normally exists in an inactive form below pH7·0 and in a fully active form above pH8·0 in either tris or orthophosphate buffer. At pH7·4 the enzyme is about half activated at 25°. 2. The variety of the enzyme produced by the mutant am^2l shows a similar behaviour except that the transition is shifted about one pH unit in the alkaline direction. 3. The am^2l enzyme has previously been reported to be activated by brief warming to 30° in phosphate buffer at pH8·0. The wild-type enzyme shows a similar effect at pH7·0. In tris buffer this effect is much less pronounced. 4. The am^2l enzyme is extremely unstable at 47° at pH7·0; its stability is somewhat greater at lower pH, and is markedly increased by increasing the pH in the range 7·0–8·7. The wild-type enzyme also shows an indication of a stability minimum at pH7·0, but a temperature of 60° is needed for a measurable rate of inactivation. 5. The inactive form of the enzyme is much more subject to thermal irreversible denaturation than is the active form.     

Pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile based potential anticancer agents as apoptosis inducers through PI3K/AKT axis inhibition in leukaemia K562

A novel series of 4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-2-(methylthio)pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile was developed linked to an aromatic moiety via N-containing bridge and then evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 and K562 cell lines. Seven compounds exhibited the highest activity against both cell lines where compounds 4d and 7f were the most active against K562 cell line. Exploring their molecular mechanisms by enzyme inhibition assay on PI3Kδ/γ and AKT-1 showed that compound 7f was promising more than 4d with IC₅₀ = 6.99 ± 0.36, 4.01 ± 0.55, and 3.36 ± 0.17 uM, respectively. Also, flowcytometric analysis revealed that 7f caused cell cycle arrest at S-phase followed by caspase 3 dependent apoptosis induction. Mechanistically, compound 7f proved to modulate the expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, Cyclin D1, and NFΚβ. Furthermore, in-vivo toxicity study indicated good safety profile for 7f. These findings suggest that the trimethoxy derivative 7f has strong potential as a multi-acting inhibitor on PI3K/AKT axis targeting breast cancer and leukaemia.     

A comparative study of the effects of cadmium and nickel on liver microsomal drug metabolizing enzymes of guinea-pig in vitro

1. In vitro addition of cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) or nickel chloride (NiCl₂) to an incubation mixture produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of liver microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase activity of male guinea-pig. The inhibitory effect of CdCl₂ on the enzyme activity was stronger than that of NiCl₂.2. While CdCl₂ also caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of liver microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity, NiCl₂ increased the enzyme activity between the concentrations 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻³ M and caused a rather abrupt decline at higher concentrations.3. When the liver 10,000 g supematants were preincubated in the presence of metals, metal-induced inhibitions increased as the time of preincubation progressed and attained their maximal rates at about 5 and 15 min for microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities, respectively. However, no change was noted by NiCl₂ on liver microsomal ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity as the time of preincubation progressed.4. After preincubations, the concentration-dependent inhibitions produced by metals on liver microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme activities were found to be stronger and in favour of CdCl₂.     

Effectors of rat-heart hexokinases and the control of rates of glucose phosphorylation in the perfused rat heart

1. The kinetic properties of the soluble and particulate hexokinases from rat heart have been investigated. 2. For both forms of the enzyme, the K_m for glucose was 45μm and the K_m for ATP 0·5mm. Glucose 6-phosphate was a non-competitive inhibitor with respect to glucose (K_i 0·16mm for the soluble and 0·33mm for the particulate enzyme) and a mixed inhibitor with respect to ATP (K_i 80μm for the soluble and 40μm for the particulate enzyme). ADP and AMP were competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP (K_i for ADP was 0·68mm for the soluble and 0·60mm for the particulate enzyme; K_i for AMP was 0·37mm for the soluble and 0·16mm for the particulate enzyme). P_i reversed glucose 6-phosphate inhibition with both forms at 10mm but not at 2mm, with glucose 6-phosphate concentrations of 0·3mm or less for the soluble and 1mm or less for the particulate enzyme. 3. The total activity of hexokinase in normal hearts and in hearts from alloxan-diabetic rats was 21·5μmoles of glucose phosphorylated/min./g. dry wt. of ventricle at 25°. The temperature coefficient Q₁₀ between 22° and 38·5° was 1·93; the ratio of the soluble to the particulate enzyme was 3:7. 4. The kinetic data have been used to predict rates of glucose phosphorylation in the perfused heart at saturating concentrations of glucose from measured concentrations of ATP, glucose 6-phosphate, ADP and AMP. These have been compared with the rates of glucose phosphorylation measured with precision in a small-volume recirculation perfusion apparatus, which is described. The correlation between predicted and measured rates was highly significant and their ratio was 1·07. 5. These findings are consistent with the control of glucose phosphorylation in the perfused heart by glucose 6-phosphate concentration, subject to certain assumptions that are discussed in detail.     

Purification and properties of diaminopimelate decarboxylase from Escherichia coli

1. Diaminopimelate decarboxylase from a soluble extract of Escherichia coli A.T.C.C. 9637 was purified 200-fold by precipitation of nucleic acids, fractionation with acetone and then with ammonium sulphate, adsorption on calcium phosphate gel and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose or DEAE-Sephadex. 2. The purified enzyme showed only one component in the ultracentrifuge, with a sedimentation coefficient of 5·4s. One major peak and three much smaller peaks were observed on electrophoresis of the enzyme at pH8·9. 3. The mol.wt. of the enzyme was approx. 200000. The catalytic constant was 2000mol. of meso-diaminopimelic acid decomposed/min./mol. of enzyme, at 37°. The relative rates of decarboxylation at 25°, 37° and 45° were 0·17:1·0:1·6. At 37° the Michaelis constant was 1·7mm and the optimum pH was 6·7–6·8. 4. There was an excess of acidic amino acids over basic amino acids in the enzyme, which was bound only on basic cellulose derivatives at pH6·8. 5. The enzyme had an absolute requirement for pyridoxal phosphate as a cofactor; no other derivative of pyridoxine had activity. A thiol compound (of which 2,3-dimercaptopropan-1-ol was the most effective) was also needed as an activator. 6. In the presence of 2,3-dimercaptopropan-1-ol (1mm), heavy-metal ions (Cu²⁺, Hg²⁺) did not inhibit the enzyme, but there was inhibition by several amino acids with analogous structures to diaminopimelate, generally at high concentrations relative to the substrate. Penicillamine was inhibitory at relatively low concentrations; its action was prevented by pyridoxal phosphate.     

Properties of mouse α-galactosidase

α-Galactosidase has been examined in various murine tissues using the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-α-galactoside. Mouse liver appears to contain a single major form of the enzyme, as judged by chromatography and electrophoresis. The enzyme was purified 467-fold with a yield of about 40% by a method involving chromatography on Concanavalin A-Sepharose. It has maximal activity at pH 4.2, a K_m value of 1.4 mM, an energy of activation of 16 400 cal/mol, and a molecular weight of 150 000 at pH 5.2. It is inhibited at high concentrations of myoinositol and appears to contain N-acetylneuraminic acid. In these characteristics it resembles human α-galactosidase A.The enzyme from various tissues differs in electrophoretic mobility. After treatment with neuraminidase, however, the enzyme from all tissues comigrates as a single band of activity. By this criterion the α-galactosidase of liver is most heavily sialylated and that from kidney the least. As estimated by gel filtration, the enzyme from liver and kidney exists as species of molecular weight 320 000, 150 000 and 70 000, depending upon pH and ionic strength. This appears to be the result of aggregation of the enzyme, since the forms are interconvertible and under some conditions a single molecular weight species is observed. The liver enzyme is primarily lysosomal, while the kidney enzyme is distributed approximately equally between lysosomal and microsomal fractions.     

Effects of lysosomal collagenolytic enzymes, anti-inflammatory drugs and other substances on some properties of insoluble collagen

1. An enzyme system present in a rat liver lysosome-rich fraction was found to liberate soluble hydroxyproline-containing products from insoluble collagen, with maximum activity at pH3·45. It was concluded that a form of cathepsin D was involved since synthetic substrates specific for trypsin were not hydrolysed. Collagenolysis was enhanced by thiol compounds and inhibited by Cu²⁺ ions and the anti-inflammatory drugs phenylbutazone and ibufenac. 2. The possibility that behaviour of collagen and collagenolysis were modified by various substances, either by destruction of intramolecular and intermolecular bonds in tropocollagen or by electrostatic interactions, is discussed. Insoluble collagen was found to bind electrostatically to chondromucoprotein. This interaction was inhibited by some anti-inflammatory drugs. 3. Possible roles of the lysosomal collagenolytic enzyme system in experimental lathyrism in rats given penicillamine, and in erosion of cartilage in rheumatoid arthritis, are considered. 4. Collagenolysis in vivo, which may depend on complex interrelationships between collagen, chondromucoprotein and metal ions, is discussed in relation to possible effects, both harmful and beneficial, of anti-inflammatory drugs used in rheumatoid arthritis.     

Synthetic inhibitors of glucocerebroside β-glucosidase

The glucocerebrosidase of human placenta was studied with various potential inhibitors. Several compounds that resemble the lipoidal product of enzyme action, ceramide, proved to be excellent inhibitors, acting by mixed modes (primarily noncompetitively). These were N-decyl-dl-erythro-3-phenyl-2-amino-l, 3-propanediol and several p-substituted derivatives. These compounds were also highly effective in rat spleen toward glucocerebroside and p-nitrophenyl β-glucoside as substrates. The compounds were inactive toward the analogous enzyme, galactocerebrosidase of rat brain, and were slightly stimulatory toward the rat brain enzyme which makes galactocerebroside. Longer and shorter N-alkyl groups proved to be less effective. Decanoic acid amides of phenylaminopropanediol and related compounds proved to be relatively inert, although some were stimulatory. Deoxycorticosterone β-glucoside was a moderately effective noncompetitive inhibitor and is apparently hydrolyzed by a different glucosidase. p-Nitrophenyl β-glucoside was also a moderately effective inhibitor, acting by mixed modes. p-Chloromercuribenzenesulfonate was a good inhibitor, presumably acting on a sensitive cysteine residue. It is concluded that cerebrosidase contains two sensitive sites, one catalytic and the other allosteric, each containing an important anionic group and able to bind glucosides and ceramide-like compounds.     

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of some new substituted pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]-pyrimidinone derivatives

A series of new 3-substituted-7-(2-chloro-6-ethoxypyridin-4-yl)-9-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-methylpyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one derivatives were synthesized as antimicrobial agents using 7-(2-chloro-6-ethoxypyridin-4-yl)-9-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-methyl-4H-pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]thieno[3,2-d]-[1,3]oxazin-4-one as a starting compound. Its condensation with substituted aniline derivatives or phenyl hydrazine gave the corresponding N-substituted derivatives. Treatment of the starting compound with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding N-amino derivative, which was reacted with substituted phenylisocyanate and phenylisothiocyanate derivatives to give the corresponding semicarbazides and thiosemicarbazide derivatives. All the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities in comparison to streptomycin and fusidic acid as positive controls. The structure assignments of the new compounds are based on chemical and spectroscopic evidence.     

Unique Hepatic Cytosolic Arginase Evolved Independently in Ureogenic Freshwater Air-Breathing Teleost,Heteropneustes fossilis

Hepatic cytosolic arginase (ARG I), an enzyme of the urea cycle operating in the liver of ureotelic animals, is reported to be present in an ammoniotelic freshwater air-breathing teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis which has ureogenic potential. Antibodies available against mammalian ARG I showed no cross reactivity with the H. fossilis ARG I. We purified unique ARG I from H. fossilis liver. Purified ARG I is a homotrimer with molecular mass 75 kDa and subunit molecular mass of 24 kDa. The pI value of the enzyme was 8.5. It showed maximum activity at pH 10.5 and 55°C. The Km of purified enzyme for L-arginine was 2.65±0.39 mM. L-ornithine and N^ω-hydroxy-L-arginine showed inhibition of the ARG I activity, with Ki values 0.52±0.02mM and 0.08±0.006mM, respectively. Antibody raised against the purified fish liver ARG I showed exclusive specificity, and has no cross reactivity against fish liver ARG II and mammalian liver ARG I and ARG II. We found another isoform of arginase bound to the outer membrane of the mitochondria which was released by 150–200 mM KCl in the extraction medium. This isoform was immunologically different from the soluble cytosolic and mitochondrial arginase. The results of present study support that hepatic cytosolic arginase evolved in this ureogenic freshwater teleost, H. fossilis. Phylogenetic analysis confirms an independent evolution event that occurred much after the evolution of the cytosolic arginase of ureotelic vertebrates.