Asymmetric synthesis and effect of absolute stereochemistry of YCZ-2013, a brassinosteroid biosynthesis inhibitor

The four stereoisomers of 2RS,4RS-1-[[2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-(2-(2-propenyloxy)phenoxymethyl)-1,3-dioxolan-2-yl]methyl]-1H-1,2,4-triazole (YCZ-2013), a novel brassinosteroid biosynthesis inhibitor, were prepared. The diastereomers of 2RS,4R-5 and 2RS,4S-5 were prepared by using the corresponding optically pure R and S toluene-4-sulfonic acid 2,3-dihydroxypropyl ester (R-4,S-4). The enatiomerically and diastereomerically pure acetonide (5) was obtained by a method involving diastereoselective crystallisation of the tosylate salt, followed by re-equilibration with the mother liquor and chromatography. The optical purity of four target compounds (YCZ-2013) was confirmed by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and NMR. The effects of these stereoisomers on Arabidopsis stem elongation indicated that the cis isomers of 2S,4R-YCZ-2013 and 2R,4S-YCZ-2013 exhibited potent inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of approximately 24 ± 3 and 24 ± 2 nM, respectively. The IC₅₀ values of the trans isomers of 2S,4S-YCZ-2013 and 2R,4R-YCZ-2013 are approximately 1510 ± 50 and 3900 ± 332 nM, respectively. Co-application of brassinolide (10 nM), the most potent BR, and GA₃ (1 μM) to Arabidopsis seedlings grown in the dark with 2R,4S-YCZ-2013 and 2S,4R-YCZ-2013 revealed that brassinolide recovered the induced dwarfism of Arabidopsis seedlings, whereas GA₃ showed no effect.     

Structure–activity studies on the side chain of a simplified analog of aplysiatoxin (aplog-1) with anti-proliferative activity

We have recently developed a simplified analog of aplysiatoxin (aplog-1) as an activator of protein kinase C (PKC) with anti-proliferative activity like bryostain 1. To identify sites in aplog-1 that could be readily modified to optimize therapeutic performance and to develop a molecular probe for examining the analog’s mode of action, substituent effects on the phenol ring were systematically examined. Whereas hydrophilic acetamido derivatives were less active than aplog-1 in inhibiting cancer cell growth and binding to PKCδ, introduction of hydrophobic bromine and iodine atoms enhanced both biological activities. The anti-proliferative activity was found to correlate closely with molecular hydrophobicity, and maximal activity was observed at a log P value of 4.0–4.5. On the other hand, an induction test with Epstein–Barr virus early antigen demonstrated that these derivatives have less tumor-promoting activity in vitro than aplog-1 regardless of the hydrophobicity of their substituents. These results would facilitate rapid preparation of molecular probes to examine the mechanism of the unique biological activities of aplog-1.     

Continuous ATP Regeneration Using Immobilized Yeast Cells

Arthrobacter simplex was screened as an α-keto-δ-guanidinovalerate (ketoarginine) assimilating organism. A characteristic feature was its growth on ketoarginine as a carbon source; it began to grow after an extremely long lag. Its growth was stimulated by addition of 0.02% yeast extract to the medium.

The results indicated the transamination of arginine-α-ketoglutarate (α-KGA) and the hydrolyzing reaction of ketoarginine into α-keto-δ-aminovalerate and urea. Two intermediates, ketoarginine and α-keto-δ-aminovalerate, were isolated and identified by various procedures. Coupling of the two reactions was demonstrated in cell-free extracts of arginine-grown cells; ketoarginine formed from arginine by transamination with α-KGA was hydrolyzed directly to α-keto-δ-aminovalerate and urea. The metabolic routes of arginine in microorganisms were discussed.     

Anti‐barnacle Activity of Isocyanides Derived from Amino Acids

Creation of new potent antifouling active compounds is important for the development of environmentally friendly antifouling agents. Fifteen isocyanide congeners derived from proteinogenic amino acids were synthesized, and the antifouling activity and toxicity of these compounds against cypris larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite were investigated. All synthesized amino acid‐isocyanides exhibited potent anti‐barnacle activity with EC₅₀ values of 0.07 – 10.34 μg/ml after 120 h exposure without significant toxicity. In addition, seven compounds showed more than 95% settlement inhibition of the cypris larvae at 10 μg/ml after 120 h exposure without any mortality observed. Considering their structure, these amino acid‐isocyanides would eventually be biodegraded to their original nontoxic amino acids. These should be useful for further research focused on the development of environmentally friendly antifoulants.     

In Vivo Differences between Two Optical Isomers of Radioiodinated o-iodo-trans-decalinvesamicol for Use as a Radioligand for the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter

Purpose

To develop a superior VAChT imaging probe for SPECT, radiolabeled (-)-OIDV and (+)-OIDV were isolated and investigated for differences in their binding affinity and selectivity to VAChT, as well as their in vivo activities.

Procedures

Radioiodinated o-iodo-trans-decalinvesamicol ([¹²⁵I]OIDV) has a high binding affinity for vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) both in vitro and in vivo. Racemic [¹²⁵I]OIDV was separated into its two optical isomers (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV and (+)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV by HPLC. To investigate VAChT binding affinity (Ki) of two OIDV isomers, in vitro binding assays were performed. In vivo biodistribution study of each [¹²⁵I]OIDV isomer in blood, brain regions and major organs of rats was performed at 2,30 and 60 min post-injection. In vivo blocking study were performed to reveal the binding selectivity of two [¹²⁵I]OIDV isomers to VAChT in vivo. Ex vivo autoradiography were performed to reveal the regional brain distribution of two [¹²⁵I]OIDV isomers and (-)-[¹²³I]OIDV for SPECT at 60 min postinjection.

Results

VAChT binding affinity (Ki) of (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV and (+)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV was 22.1 nM and 79.0 nM, respectively. At 2 min post-injection, accumulation of (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV was the same as that of (+)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV. However, (+)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV clearance from the brain was faster than (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV. At 30 min post-injection, accumulation of (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV (0.62 ± 0.10%ID/g) was higher than (+)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV (0.46 ± 0.07%ID/g) in the cortex. Inhibition of OIDV binding showed that (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV was selectively accumulated in regions known to express VAChT in the rat brain, and ex vivo autoradiography further confirmed these results showing similar accumulation of (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV in these regions. Furthermore, (-)-[¹²³I]OIDV for SPECT showed the same regional brain distribution as (-)-[¹²⁵I]OIDV.

Conclusion

These results suggest that radioiodinated (-)-OIDV may be a potentially useful tool for studying presynaptic cholinergic neurons in the brain.     

Dapagliflozin,a Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 Inhibitor,Acutely Reduces Energy Expenditure in BAT via Neural Signals in Mice

Selective sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) treatment promotes urinary glucose excretion, thereby reducing blood glucose as well as body weight. However, only limited body weight reductions are achieved with SGLT2i treatment. Hyperphagia is reportedly one of the causes of this limited weight loss. However, the effects of SGLT2i treatment on systemic energy expenditure have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the acute effects of dapagliflozin, a SGLT2i, on systemic energy expenditure in mice. Eighteen hours after dapagliflozin treatment oxygen consumption and brown adipose tissue (BAT) expression of ucp1, a thermogenesis-related gene, were significantly decreased as compared to those after vehicle treatment. In addition, dapagliflozin significantly suppressed norepinephrine (NE) turnover in BAT and c-fos expression in the rostral raphe pallidus nucleus (rRPa) which contains the sympathetic premotor neurons responsible for thermogenesis. These findings indicate that the dapagliflozin-mediated acute decrease in energy expenditure involves a reduction in BAT thermogenesis via decreased sympathetic nerve activity from the rRPa. Furthermore, common hepatic branch vagotomy abolished the reductions in ucp1 expression and NE contents in BAT and c-fos expression in the rRPa. In addition, alterations in hepatic carbohydrate metabolism, such as decreases in glycogen contents and upregulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, manifested prior to the suppression of BAT thermogenesis, e.g. 6 hours after dapagliflozin treatment. Collectively, these results suggest that SGLT2i treatment acutely suppresses energy expenditure in BAT via regulation of an inter-organ neural network consisting of the common hepatic vagal branch and sympathetic nerves.     

Cold tolerance of invasive freshwater snails,Pomacea canaliculata,P. maculata,and their hybrids helps explain their different distributions

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Comparisons of the transferability of plasmids pCAR1, pB10, R388, and NAH7 among Pseudomonas putida at different cell densities

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