A new class of Gd-based DO3A-ethylamine-derived targeted contrast agents for MR and optical imaging

Synthetic bifunctional probes based on [4,7-bis-carboxymethyl-10-(2-aminoethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraaza-cyclododec-1-yl]-acetic acid (DO3A-ethylamine) preloaded with gadolinium were prepared for applications in targeted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging. A convenient route of synthesis is reported, which allowed conjugation of this probe with biomolecules for the preparation of model MR contrast agents for targeted imaging. The conjugated probes have the following interesting properties: GdDO3A-ethylamido-biotin (Gd-9) can be used for targeted imaging using an avidin-biotin system. The fluorescent probe GdDO3A-ethylthiourea-fluorescein (Gd-12) is a bimodal compound, which can be used for both MR and optical imaging. The precursors, DO3A-ethylamidopropyl-maleimide and DO3A-ethyl-isothiocyanate contain a highly reactive moiety, which can interact with free SH-terminals and N-terminals of biological molecules, respectively. In vitro MR relaxivity studies were performed at 300 MHz using different concentrations and chemical environments. MR relaxivity for ligand Gd-9 at pH 7.4, r1 was (3.32 +/- 0.03) s(-1) mM(-1) and r2 was (5.02 +/- 0.14) s(-1) mM(-1). For the mixture of Gd-9 with avidin, at pH 7.4, relaxivity increased linearly with the avidin concentration. A relaxivity enhancement of 45% for r1 and more than 400% for r2 with respect to the unbound biotinylated Gd3+ complex was found at a ratio of 4:1. MR relaxivity for ligand Gd-12, r1 was (5.36 +/- 0.05) s(-1) mM(-1) at pH 7.4. Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy of Gd-12-labeled 3T3 mouse fibroblasts showed a concentration-dependent intracellular uptake, accompanied by a slight dose-dependent increase in toxicity up to 150 microM. MR studies on labeled cells indicated a contrast enhancement in both T1- and T2-weighted images by the internalized compound, with the effect being more pronounced in T2-weighted images. Our results indicate that DO3A-ethylamine is a multipurpose precursor, from which various targeted contrast agents can be synthesized after a single-step conjugation with organic/bioorganic molecules.     

In vitro degradation of wheat straw by anaerobic fungi from small ruminants

Anaerobic ruminal fungi may play an active role in fibre degradation as evidenced by the production of different fibrolytic enzymes in culture filtrate. In the present study, 16 anaerobic fungal strains were isolated from ruminal and faecal samples of sheep and goats. Based on their morphological characteristics they were identified as species of Anaeromyces, Orpinomyces, Piromyces and Neocallimastix. Isolated Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen showed a maximum activity of CMCase (47.9 mIU ml(-1)) and filter paper cellulase (48.3 mIU ml(-1)), while Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen showed a maximum xylanolytic activity (48.3 mIU ml(-1)). The cellobiase activity for all the isolates ranged from 178.0-182.7 mIU ml(-1). Based on the enzymatic activities, isolated Anaeromyces sp. from sheep rumen and Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen were selected for their potential of in vitro fibre degradation. The highest in vitro digestibility of NDF (23.2%) and DM (34.4%) was shown for Neocallimastix sp. from goat rumen, as compared to the digestibility of NDF and DM in the control group of 17.5 and 25.0%, respectively.     

Synthesis and antifungal activity of substituted-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indoles

Series of substituted-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indoles derivatives have been synthesized and examined for their activity against pathogenic strains of Aspergillus fumigatus (ITCC 4517), Aspergillus flavus (ITCC 5192) Aspergillus niger (ITCC 5405) and Candida albicans (ITCC No 4718). All synthesized compounds showed mild to moderate activity, except for 2-substituted-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indoles 6a-d. The most active 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole 4c exhibited a MIC value of 5.85 microg/disc against A. fumigatus and 11.71 microg/disc against A. flavus and A. niger in disc diffusion assay. Anti-Aspergillus activity of active compound 4c by microbroth dilution assay was found to be 15.62 microg/ml in case of A. fumigatus and 31.25 microg/ml with A. flavus and A. niger. The MIC90 value of the most active compound by percent germination inhibition assay was found to be 15.62 microg/ml against A. fumigatus. The MIC90 values of substituted-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indoles against C. albicans ranged from 15.62 to 250 microg/ml. The in vitro toxicity of the most active 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-10-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrazino[1,2-a]indole 4c was evaluated using haemolytic assay, in which the compound was found to be non-toxic to human erythrocytes up to a concentration of 312.50 microg/ml. The standard drug amphotericin B exhibited 100% lysis at a concentration of 37.5 microg/ml.     

Depeptidization efforts on P3-P2' alpha-ketoamide inhibitors of HCV NS3-4A serine protease: effect on HCV replicon activity

Depeptidization efforts of the P(3)-P(2) region of P(3) capped alpha-ketoamide inhibitor of HCV NS3 serine protease 1 are reported. We clearly established that N-methylation of the P(2) nitrogen and modification of the P(2)' carboxylic acid terminus were essential for activity in the replicon assay.     

Diarylacetylene piperidinyl amides as novel anxiolytics

N-Phenyl-2-[1-[3-(2-pyridinylethynyl)benzoyl]-4-piperidine]acetamide (9) and related piperidine acetamide derivatives have good oral activity in the elevated plus maze, an animal model predictive of clinical efficacy for the treatment of anxiety. Modest affinity was observed for the neurokinin NK-1 and 2 receptors, which are known to be involved in the regulation of mood and emotion.     

Identification of non-furan containing A2A antagonists using database mining and molecular similarity approaches

Database searching led to the identification of potent A(2A) antagonists which do not contain the privileged furan moiety and which show selectivity over A(1) receptors. Simple substructure searching on a proprietary database identified compounds with activities in the low nM range. A targeted approach to the identification of non-furan containing compounds resulted in the identification of two novel series, with potency, selectivity and directional SAR from screening 113 compounds.     

Lysine methylation as a routine rescue strategy for protein crystallization

Crystallization remains a critical step in X-ray structure determination. Because it is not generally possible to rationally predict crystallization conditions, commercial screens have been developed which sample a wide range of crystallization space. While this approach has proved successful in many cases, a significant number of proteins fail to crystallize despite being soluble and monodispersed. It is established that chemical modification can facilitate the crystallization of otherwise intractable proteins. Here we describe a method for the reductive methylation of lysine residues which is simple, inexpensive, and efficient, and report on its application to ten proteins. We describe the effect of methylation on the physico-chemical properties of these proteins, and show that it led to diffraction-quality crystals from four proteins and structures for three that had hitherto proved refractory to crystallization. The method is suited to both low- and high-throughput laboratories.     

Photo-induced hole transfer from base to sugar in DNA: relationship to primary radiation damage

This work presents the hypothesis that photo-excitation of G.+ in DNA and model systems results in the same electronic states expected from direct ionization of the sugar phosphate backbone and that these states lead to specific sugar radicals on the DNA sugar phosphate backbone. As evidence we show that visible photo-excitation of guanine cation radicals (G.+) in the dinucleoside phosphate TpdG results in high yields (about 85%) of deoxyribose sugar radicals at the C1' and C3' sites. Further, we have calculated transition energies of hole transfer from G.+ in TpdG using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level in gas phase as well as in a solvated environment. These calculations clearly predict that visible excitation of G.+ in TpdG causes transitions from only inner-shell filled molecular orbitals (MOs) to the singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO) that effectively result in hole transfer from guanine either to the sugar phosphate backbone or to the adjacent base, thymine. The hole transfer is followed by rapid deprotonation from the sugar to form C1' and C3' radicals. These experimental and theoretical results are in agreement with our previously published experimental and theoretical results that photo-excitation of G.+ results in high yields of deoxyribose sugar radicals in DNA, guanine deoxyribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleotides. Photo-excitation of G.+ therefore provides a convenient method to produce and study sugar radicals that are expected to be formed in gamma-irradiated DNA systems unencumbered by the many other pathways involved in direct ionization.     

Purification and characterization of a trehalase-invertase enzyme with dual activity from Candida utilis

Trehalose and sucrose, two important anti-stress non-reducing natural disaccharides, are catabolized by two enzymes, namely trehalase and invertase respectively. In this study, a 175 kDa enzyme protein active against both substrates was purified from wild type Candida utilis and characterized in detail. Substrate specificity assay and activity staining revealed the enzyme to be specific for both sucrose and trehalose. The ratio between trehalase and invertase activity was found to be constant at 1:3.5 throughout the entire study. Almost 40-fold purification and 30% yield for both activities were achieved at the final step of purification. The presence of common enzyme inhibitors, thermal and pH stress had analogous effects on its trehalase and invertase activity. Km values for two activities were similar while Vmax and Kcat also differed by a factor of 3.5. Competition plot for both substrates revealed the two activities to be occurring at the single active site. N-terminal sequencing and MALDI-TOF data analysis revealed higher similarity of the purified protein to previously known neutral trehalases. While earlier workers mentioned independent purification of neutral trehalase or invertase from different sources, the present study reports the purification of a single protein showing dual activity.