Transformation of glycyrrhizic acid. Synthesis of glycopeptides of glycyrrhizic acid monomethyl ether, having anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating action

Three triterpene glycopeptides, glycyrrhizic acid monomethly ester derivatives containing peptide fragment of N-acetylmuramoyldipeptide and its analogues, are synthesized. They possess high prednizolone-like antiinflammatory activity and display pronounced stimulative effect on humoral factors of immunity.     

The development of a complex Leptospira antigenic erythrocyte diagnostic agent

Blood-sensitive activity of antigenic extracts obtained from leptospiras using the supersound and sodium dodecyl sulphate has been studied. Erythrocytic diagnostica, obtained on the basis of the mentioned sensitines, possess the genus and serogroup specificity, which expands their diagnostic spectrum. New diagnostica are shown to possess higher sensitivity as compared with the previously developed leptospirosis genus-specific erythrocytic diagnostica. The data are presented confirming the prospects of development of erythrocytic diagnostica based on antigens of leptospiras obtained by means of a supersound and sodium dodecyl sulphate. These preparations may be used in the diagnosis of human and animal leptospirosis.     

HAEMOPOIETIC STEM CELL (CFU) KINETICS IN THE CULTURE

Haemopoiesis continued for over 2 months in organ culture of embryonal mouse liver, and haemopoietic stem cells (CFU_s) capable of DNA-synthesis were found in it all that time. Between the 10th and 40th day the number of stem cells in the culture was sustained in a steady state. Both in normal and in regenerating adult bone marrow haemopoiesis ceased within a short time in the culture. Induction of proliferation in haemopoietic stem cells combined with undamaged or improved micro-environment resulted in a little better maintenance of CFU_s in the adult bone marrow culture, The results are discussed in the light of current concepts of haemopoietic stem cell regulation.     

Direct modification of low density lipoprotein by the spin trap 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulfonic acid.

We have previously reported that the spin trap alpha-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) inhibited the oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) (Kalyanaraman, B., Antholine, W.E. and Parthasarathy, S. (1990) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1035, 286-292). In the present study, we report that 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzenesulfonic acid (DBNBS), a water-soluble spin trap, also inhibited the oxidation of LDL as measured by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). However, when compared with LDL incubated without DBNBS, the DBNBS-incubated LDL showed increased negative charge on agarose gel electrophoresis and was avidly degraded by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Despite the suggestion of biological modification, there was no decrease in lysine-amino groups in DBNBS-incubated LDL. Furthermore, reductively methylated LDL in which more than 85% of the amino group of lysines was blocked, was also modified by DBNBS. A sulfonic acid analog of PBN failed to modify LDL in a similar manner, suggesting that the presence of sulfonic acid alone does not ensure modification. When LDL was incubated with DBNBS, radical adducts associated with both lipid and protein were detected by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique. It is suggested that DBNBS may bind to the apoprotein B100 and lipids of LDL by a lysine-independent mechanism resulting in increased recognition and degradation by macrophages. The present work offers a novel approach for rapid modification of LDL.     

Phylogeny of the a genomes of wild and cultivated wheat species

Diploid species of the genus Triticum L. are its most ancient representatives and have the A genome, which was more recently inherited by all polyploid species. Studies of the phylogenetic relationships among diploid and polyploid wheat species help to identify the donors of elementary genomes and to examine the species specificity of genomes. In this study, molecular analysis of the variable sequences of three nuclear genes (Acc-1, Pgk-1, and Vrn-1) was performed for wild and cultivated wheat species, including both diploids and polyploids. Based on the sequence variations found in the genes, clear differences were observed among elementary genomes, but almost no polymorphism was detected within each genome in polyploids. At the same time, the regions of the three genes proved to be rather heterogeneous in the diploid species Triticum boeoticum Boiss., T. urartu Thum. ex Gandil., and T. monococcum L., thus representing mixed populations. A genome variant identical to the A genome of polyploid species was observed only in T. urartu. Species-specific molecular markers discriminating the diploid species were not found. Analysis of the inheritance of morphological characters also failed to identify a species-specific character for the three diploid wheat species apart from the hairy leaf blade type, described previously.     

The synthesis and antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid conjugates with alpha-D-glucosamine and some glycosylamines

Glycyrrhizic acid and its 30-methyl ester were conjugated with 2-amino-1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranose, 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl amine, 2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-apha-L-arabinopyranosyl amine, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl amine, and beta-D-galactopyranosyl amine using N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and its mixtures with N-hydroxybenzotriazole. Structures of the conjugates were confirmed by IR, UV, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The glycoconjugate with the residues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosyl amine in the carbohydrate part of its molecule exhibited antiviral activity (ID50 4 microg/ml) toward the herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) in the VERO cell culture. Two compounds demonstrated anti-HIV-1 activity (50-70% inhibition of p24) in a culture of MT-4 cells at concentrations of 0.5-20 microg/ml. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 3; see also http://www.maik.ru.