Polyphenols from peanut skins and their free radical-scavenging effects

Separation of the water-soluble fraction of peanut skins led to the isolation of five proanthocyanidins. Based on the spectroscopic investigation and partial acid catalyzed degradation, their structures were determined to be epicatechin-(2beta-->O -->7, 4beta -->6)-[epicatechin-(4beta-->8)]-catechin (1), epicatechin-(2beta-->O -->7, 4beta-->8) epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin-(4alpha-->8)-epicatechin (2), and procyanidins B2 (3), B3 (4) and B4 (5). The absolute configuration of the new compounds was determined from their circular dichroism curves and the (1)H NMR spectra of analysis of flavan-3-ols formed by thiolytic degradation of 1 and 2 in the presence of a chiral dirhodium complex (dirhodium tetra-(R)-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl acetate).     

Enzymatic enantioselective transcyanation of silicon-containing aliphatic ketone with (S)-hydroxynitrile lyase from Manihot esculenta

(S)-Hydroxynitrile lyase from Manihot esculenta (MeHNL) was shown for the first time to be able to catalyze the enantioselective transcyanation of acetyltrimethylsilane (ATMS) with acetone cyanohydrin to form (S)-2-trimethylsilyl-2-hydroxyl-propionitrile in an aqueous/organic biphasic system. To better understand the reaction, various influential variables were examined. The most suitable organic phase, optimal buffer pH, aqueous phase content, shaking rate, temperature, concentration of ATMS, acetone cyanohydrin and crude enzyme were diisopropyl ether (DIPE), 5.4, 13% (v/v), 190 rpm, 40°C, 10 mM, 20 mM, and 35 U/ml, respectively, under which the initial reaction rate, substrate conversion and product enantiomeric excess (e.e.) were 19.5 mM/h, 99.0% and 93.5%, respectively. A comparative study demonstrated that silicon atoms in the substrate had a great effect on the reaction, and that ATMS was a much better substrate for MeHNL than its carbon analogue 3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone (DMBO) with respect to the initial reaction rate, substrate conversion and product e.e. MeHNL has greater affinity towards ATMS than its carbon analogue as indicated by the much lower K_m. The activation energy of MeHNL-catalyzed transcyanation of ATMS was also markedly lower than that of DMBO. The silicon effect on the reaction was rationalized on the basis of the special characteristics of silicon atoms and the catalytic mechanism of MeHNL.     

Structural basis of a flavivirus recognized by its neutralizing antibody: solution structure of the domain III of the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein

The flavivirus envelope protein is the dominant antigen in eliciting neutralizing antibodies and plays an important role in inducing immunologic responses in the infected host. We have determined the solution structure of the major antigenic domain (domain III) of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) envelope protein. The JEV domain III forms a beta-barrel type structure composed of six antiparallel beta-strands resembling the immunoglobulin constant domain. We have also identified epitopes of the JEV domain III to its neutralizing antibody by chemical shift perturbation measurements. Site-directed mutagenesis experiments are performed to confirm the NMR results. Our study provides a structural basis for understanding the mechanism of immunologic protection and for rational design of vaccines effective against flaviviruses.