DNA liquid crystals as a possible system of testing the interactions between DNA and biologically active compounds of platinum (II) and various antibiotics

DNA liquid crystals forming in water-salt solutions containing polyethylene glycol were used as a system for testing consequences of reactions of antitumor compounds belonging to two different groups with molecules of nucleic acids. It was found that with due account of the level of DNA molecule filling with daunorubicin it was possible to form two cholester phases characterized by the textures of "finger prints" and CD spectra with intensive bands of unlike signs, as well as the nematic phase characterized by the texture of the "black twisted fiber" system and the absence of the CD spectrum intensive band. Modification of the DNA molecules resulting from the reaction with cysdichlorodiamine platinum (II) led to formation of a new liquid crystalline phase with properties differing from those of the liquid crystalline phases of the cholester or nematic type.     

Effects of sulphydryl compounds on the radiation damage in biologically active DNA

The effect of sulphydryl compounds on the induction of alkali-labile sites and on the contribution of such sites to the inactivation of single-stranded phi X174 DNA was studied. Cysteamine is capable of reacting with DNA radicals, thereby modifying the radiation damage in such a way that the induction of immediate and latent breaks is reduced. This depends on the pH of the solution. With cysteine only, a pH dependent protection, against lethal alkali-labile potential breaks could be observed. The damage other than breaks is not influenced by the presence of sulphydryl compounds.     

DNA interaction with biologically active divalent metal ions: binding constants calculation

In our previous work we have shown that under the action of Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions DNA is able to transit into a compact state in aqueous solution. In the present work we carried out calculations of binding constants for divalent metal ions interacting with DNA in terms of the macromolecule statistical sum. The formula for calculation of the binding constants and cooperativity parameters was proposed. It was shown that on the “coil state”–“compact (globule) state” transition a single DNA molecule may undergo the first-order phase transition while the transition of the assembly of average DNA chains is of sigmoidal character typical of the cooperative and continuous transition.     

Effect of platinum(II) chemotherapeutic agents on properties of DNA liquid crystals

We have investigated the X-ray and optical properties (CD spectra and polarization microscopy) of liquid-crystalline phases and dispersions formed on pretreatment of low molecular weight DNA with the platinum(II) coordination complexes, cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum(II) (DDP), 2,2'-bipyridinedichloroplatinum(II) (1) and 2,2'-bipyridineethylenediammineplatinum(II) (2). It is demonstrated that the platination of DNA leads to the ordering of neighbouring molecules of DNA in liquid-crystalline phases being diminished. The intense bands observed in the CD spectra of liquid-crystalline dispersions prepared from DNA pretreated with 1 or 2 can be used to determine the orientation of the latter compounds with respect to the helical axis of the DNA and to detect distortions in the secondary structure of DNA. The possible causes of the appearance of the intense bands in the CD spectra of liquid-crystalline phases and alterations in the manner of packing of the molecules of DNA within them are discussed.     

Optical properties of DNA complexes with antitumor compounds of bivalent platinum

The optical properties of the DNA complexes with the compounds of bivalent platinum were studied. The compounds differed by the nature of the anionic and neutral ligands and their spatial arrangement about the platinum atom. It was shown that the same as cis-[Pt (NH3)2Cl2] the platinum compounds with the biological activity, i.e. [Pt (en) Cl2], cis-[PtNH3 (Bz) Cl2] and cis-[Pt (NH3)2NO2Cl] induced at low values of r (a ratio of the number of the platinum moles added to the number of the DNA nucleotide moles in the solution) an increase in the amplitude of the positive band in the spectrum of the circular dichroism (CD) of the linear DNA and a marked decrease in the amplitude of the negative band in the spectrum of the CD of the liquid crystalline microphase of DNA formed in the presence of polyethyleneglycol. By the character of the action on the CD spectrum of the linear and condensed DNA [Pt (tetrameen)Cl2] which had no selective antimitotic effect might be referred to the above platinum compounds. Trans-[Pt (NH3)2NO2Cl], [PtNH3PyCl2], cis-[Pt (NH3)2(NO2)2] and [Pt (NH3)3Cl]Cl having no biological activity either induced only a decrease in the amplitude of the positive band in the CD spectrum of the linear DNA or had no effect on the CD spectrum. The effect of these compounds on the CD spectrum of the liquid crystalline microphase of DNA was slightly pronounced or not observed.     

Pyrimidine as constituent of natural biologically active compounds

This review describes the various manifestations of the pyrimidine system (alkylated, glycosylated, benzo-annelated.). These comprise pyrimidine nucleosides as well as alkaloids and antibiotics--some of them have been discovered and isolated from natural sources already long time ago, others have been reported very recently. A short overview on pyrimidine syntheses (prebiotic synthesis, biosynthesis, and metabolism) is given. The biological activities of most of the pyrimidine analogs are briefly described, and, in some cases, syntheses are formulated.     

Optical resolution of some biologically active compounds by chiral liquid chromatography on BSA-silica (resolvosil) columns

Optical resolution on the analytical scale of a number of racemic pharmaceuticals and some other biologically active compounds has been studied using immobilized bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the stationary phase. For some of the compounds the elution order was determined by the use of optically enriched fractions obtained from a preceding passage of a sample through a preparative column containing microcrystalline triacetylcellulose (MCTA). The reversal in the sign of optical rotation shown in the polarimetric elution profile from the latter, combined with the integrated peak area ratio obtained on resolution on the analytical column, gave directly the order of elution. For one of the benzothiadiazines studied (bendroflumethiazide), increasing the pH of the mobile phase produced opposite effects on the retention of the two enantiomers, leading to a large effect on the separation factor. For many of the compounds studied, high separation factors (α > 2) could be achieved.     

Conformational properties of biologically active melanostatin analogs

On the basis of the two-dimensional 1H NMR studies the conformation of melanocyte inhibiting hormone (HCl.Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2, MIF) and its five analogues with p-substituted phenylalanine has been determined. Structure-antidepressant activity relationship (examined by the Porsolt test) of MIF and its analogues has been estimated by means of the multivariate statistical analysis, the vicinal spin coupling constants, which determine phi and chi dihedral angles of the second amino acid and phi and dihedral angle of glycine, being selected as structural parameters. It is shown that a biologically active conformation (10-membered beta-turn II) is realized for the considered peptides.     

Synergistic antimicrobial properties of active molecular chitosan with EDTA‐divalent metal ion compounds

The aim of this study was to elucidate the synergistic antimicrobial activity of chitosan hydrolysates derived from hydrolysis of high molecular weight chitosan (HMWC) with various kinds of divalent metal ions‐EDTA compounds against Penicillium italicum. Amongst hydrolysates, active molecular chitosan (AMC) ranging of molecular weight approximately from 0.8 to 3.0 kDa has been newly researched and demonstrated that it has great antimicrobial activity. Copper, manganese, magnesium, cobalt and zinc ions were used to manufacture chelates with EDTA using a microwave apparatus. Inhibitory effect of AMC or chelates on growth of P. italicum was investigated for up to 72 hr. As the results, AMC showed the highest growth inhibitory activity in the presence of Zn‐EDTA compound compared to the other ion chelates. According to these results, we demonstrated that although Zn‐EDTA‐chelating ligand alone does seem to have a little antimicrobial activity against P. italicum, however, it has synergistic effect against the fungal species when it combined with AMC. Taken together, we suggest that AMC‐EDTA‐Zinc combination (AEM‐Zn) can be a great candidate as natural pesticide for defending postharvest decay of citrus fruits by the fungi.     

Protein aggregates as depots for the release of biologically active compounds

Protein misfolding and aggregation is one of the most serious problems in cell biology, molecular medicine, and biotechnology. Misfolded proteins interact with each other or with other proteins in non-productive or damaging ways. However, a new paradigm arises that protein aggregation may be exploited by nature to perform specific functions in different biological contexts. From this consideration, acceleration of stress-induced protein aggregation triggered by any factor resulting in the formation of soluble aggregates may have paradoxical positive consequences. Here, we suggest that amorphous aggregates can act as a source for the release of biologically active proteins after removal of stress conditions. To address this concept, we investigated the kinetics of thermal aggregation in vitro of yeast alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) as a model substrate in the presence of two amphiphilic peptides: Arg-Phe or Ala-Phe-Lys. Using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and turbidimetry, we have demonstrated that under mild stress conditions the concentration-dependent acceleration of ADH aggregation by these peptides results in formation of large but soluble complexes of proteins prone to refolding.     

9,10-Anthraquinones and other biologically active compounds from the genus Rubia

The secondary metabolites isolated from Rubia species, their biological activities, and colouration properties have been reviewed. Over 150 chemical constituents belonging to different classes of bioactive compounds such as anthraquinones and their glycosides, naphthoquinones and glycosides, terpenes, bicyclic hexapeptides, iridoids, and carbohydrates are listed together with their source(s) and corresponding references.     

Dynamic properties of biologically active synthetic heparin-like hexasaccharides

A complete study of the dynamics of two synthetic heparin-like hexasaccharides, D-GlcNHSO3-6-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHSO3-6-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHSO3-6-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-1-->iPr (1) and -->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHAc-6-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHSO3-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-1-->iPr (2), has been performed using 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation parameters, T1, T2, and heteronuclear nuclear Overhauser effect (NOEs). Compound 1 is constituted from sequences corresponding to the major polysaccharide heparin region, while compound 2 contains a sequence never found in natural heparin. They differ from each other only in sulphation patterns, and are capable of stimulating fibroblast growth factors (FGFs)-1 induced mitogenesis. Both oligosaccharides exhibit a remarkable anisotropic overall motion in solution as revealed by their anisotropic ratios (tau /tau||), 4.0 and 3.0 respectively. This is a characteristic behaviour of natural glycosaminoglycans (GAG) which has also been observed for the antithrombin (AT) binding pentasaccharide D-GlcNHSO3-6-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcA-beta-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHSO3-(3,6-SO4)-alpha-(1-->4)-L-IdoA-2-SO4-alpha-(1-->4)-D-GlcNHSO3-6-SO4-alpha-1-->Me (3) (Hricovíni, M., Guerrini, M., Torri, G., Piani, S., and Ungarelli, F. (1995) Conformational analysis of heparin epoxide in aqueous solution. An NMR relaxation study. Carbohydr. Res., 277, 11-23). The motional properties observed for 1 and 2 provide additional support to the suitability of these compounds as heparin models in agreement with previous structural (de Paz, J.L., Angulo, J., Lassaletta, J.M., Nieto, P.M., Redondo-Horcajo, M., Lozano, R.M., Jiménez-Gallego, G., and Martín-Lomas, M. (2001) The activation of fibroblast growth factors by heparin: synthesis, structure and biological activity of heparin-like oligosaccharides. Chembiochem, 2, 673-685; Ojeda, R., Angulo, J., Nieto, P.M., and Martin-Lomas. M. (2002) The activation of fibroblast growth factors by heparin: synthesis and structural study of rationally modified heparin-like oligosaccharides. Can. J. Chem,. 80, 917-936; Lucas, R., Angulo, J., Nieto, P.M., and Martin-Lomas, M. (2003) Synthesis and structural studies of two new heparin-like hexasaccharides. Org. Biomol. Chem., 1, 2253-2266) and biological data (Angulo, J., Ojeda, R., de Paz, J.L., Lucas, R., Nieto, P.M., Lozano, R.M., Redondo-Horcajo, M., Giménez-Gallego, G., and Martín-Lomas, M. (2004) The activation of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) by glycosaminoglycans: influence of the sulphation pattern on the biological activity of FGF-1. Chembiochem, 5, 55-61). Fast internal motions observed for the less sulphated compound 2, as compared with 1, may be related to their different behavior in stimulating FGF1-induced mitogenic activity.     

Microalgae as sources of pharmaceuticals and other biologically active compounds

In the last decade the screening of microalgae, especially the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), for antibiotics and pharmacologically active compounds has received ever increasing interest. A large number of antibiotic compounds, many with novel structures, have been isolated and characterised. Similarly many cyanobacteria have been shown to produce antiviral and antineoplastic compounds. A range of pharmacological activities have also been observed with extracts of microalgae, however the active principles are as yet unknown in most cases. Several of the bioactive compounds may find application in human or veterinary medicine or in agriculture. Others should find application as research tools or as structural models for the development of new drugs. The microalgae are particularly attractive as natural sources of bioactive molecules since these algae have the potential to produce these compounds in culture which enables the production of structurally complex molecules which are difficult or impossible to produce by chemical synthesis.     

Preparation and properties of biologically active fluorescent heparins

Hog mucosal heparin (N-sulfate, 0.84 mol; O-sulfate, 1.55 mol; N-acetyl, 0.12 mol; anticoagulant activity assayed by the method of U.S. Pharmacopeia, 161 USP units/mg) or its partially N-desulfated heparin (N-sulfate, 0.71 mol; O-sulfate, 1.47 mol; N-acetyl 0.12 mol; anticoagulant activity, 117 USP units/ mg) was reacted with 5-isothiocyanatofluorescein in 0.5M carbonate buffer (pH 8.5) at 35°C for 6 h to yield the corresponding N-fluoresceinylthiocarbamoyl heparins (λ_em 516 nm, λ_ex 491 nm; degree of substitution 0.006 and 0.013, respectively, anticoagulant activity, 174 and 140 USP units/mg, respectively).The fluorescent heparin (degree of substitution, 0.006; 174 USP units/mg) was injected into rabbits intravenously. The half-life of the fluorescent heparin determined by fluorometry was 24 min, that determined by the clotting time assay was 39 min. The time-course of concentration and the half-life of the fluorescent heparin and of the starting heparin obtained by the clotting the assay were virtually identical.