Concurrent determination of ezetimibe and its phase-I and II metabolites by HPLC with UV detection: quantitative application to various in vitro metabolic stability studies and for qualitative estimation in bile

Simultaneous separation and quantification of ezetimibe (EZM) and its phase-I metabolite i.e., ezetimibe ketone (EZM-K) and phase-II metabolite i.e., ezetimibe glucuronide (EZM-G) in various matrices was accomplished by gradient HPLC with UV detection. The assay procedure involved deproteinization of 500 microL of either incubation or bile sample containing analytes and internal standard (IS, theophylline) with 75 microL acetonitrile containing 25% perchloric acid. An aliquot of 100 microL supernatant was injected onto a C18 column. The chromatographic separation was achieved by gradient elution consisting of 0.05 M formic acid:acetonitrile:methanol:water at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection of analyte peaks were achieved by monitoring the eluate using an UV detector set at 250 nm. Nominal retention times of IS, EZM-G, ezetimibe ketone glucuronide (EZM-KG), EZM and EZM-K were 9.39, 24.23, 27.82, 29.04 and 30.56 min, respectively. Average extraction efficiencies of EZM, EZM-G and IS was >75-80% and for EZM-K was >50% from all the matrices tested. Limit of quantitation (LOQ) for EZM, EZM-K and EZM-G was 0.02 microg/mL. Due to the lack of availability of reference standard of EZM-KG, the recovery and LOQ aspects for this metabolite were not assessed. Overall, the method is suitable for simultaneous measurement of EZM, and its phase-I and phase-II metabolite (EZM-G) in in vitro and in vivo studies.     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus infection affects the expression of proteins related to professional antigen presentation in bovine monocytes

The complete annotation of the cattle genome allows reliable protein identification by tandem mass spectrometry (MS(2)) and greatly facilitates proteomics. Previously, we reported that differential detergent fractionation (DDF) analysis of bovine monocytes reveals proteins related to antigen pattern recognition, uptake and presentation to immunocompetent lymphocytes. Here we have identified 47 bovine proteins, involved in immune function of professional antigen-presenting cells (APC) that have been significantly altered after cytopathic (cp) Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) infection. In particular, proteins related to immune responses such as cell adhesion, apoptosis, antigen uptake, processing and presentation, acute phase response proteins, MHC class I- and II-related proteins and other molecules involved in immune function of professional antigen presentation have been significantly altered after BVDV infection. Our data suggest that cp BVDV, while promoting monocyte activation and differentiation, is inhibiting their antigen presentation to immunocompetent T cells, thus resulting in the uncontrolled inflammation mediated by activated macrophages, enhanced viral spread, and impaired anti-viral defense mechanisms in the host.     

Effects of subminimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the Pasteurella multocida proteome

Subminimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibiotics can be therapeutically effective, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are not well-characterized. We analyzed the Pasteurella multocida proteome response to sub-MICs of amoxicillin, chlortetracycline, and enrofloxacin using isotope-coded affinity tags (ICAT). There were parallel effects on inhibition of growth kinetics and suppression of protein expression by clusters of orthologous groups (COG) categories. Potential compensatory mechanisms enabling antibiotic adaptation were identified, including increased RecA expression caused by enrofloxacin.     

Entrainment pattern between sympathetic and phrenic nerve activities in the Sprague-Dawley rat: hypoxia-evoked sympathetic activity during expiration

Sympathetic and respiratory motor activities are entrained centrally. We hypothesize that this coupling may partially underlie changes in sympathetic activity evoked by hypoxia due to activity-dependent changes in the respiratory pattern. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) expresses a short-term potentiation in activity after hypoxia similar to that expressed in phrenic nerve activity (PNA). Adult male, Sprague-Dawley (Zivic Miller) rats (n = 19) were anesthetized (Equithesin), vagotomized, paralyzed, ventilated, and pneumothoracotomized. We recorded PNA and splanchnic SNA (sSNA) and generated cycle-triggered averages (CTAs) of rectified and integrated sSNA before, during, and after exposures to hypoxia (8% O(2) and 92% N(2) for 45 s). Inspiration (I) and expiration (E) were divided in half, and the average and area of integrated sSNA were calculated and compared at the following time points: before hypoxia, at the peak breathing frequency during hypoxia, immediately before the end of hypoxia, immediately after hypoxia, and 60 s after hypoxia. In our animal model, sSNA bursts consistently followed the I-E phase transition. With hypoxia, sSNA increased in both halves of E, but preferentially in the second rather than the first half of E, and decreased in I. After hypoxia, sSNA decreased abruptly, but the coefficient of variation in respiratory modulation of sSNA was significantly less than that at baseline. The hypoxic-evoked changes in sympathetic activity and respiratory pattern resulted in sSNA in the first half of E being correlated negatively to that in the second half of E (r = -0.65, P < 0.05) and positively to Te (r = 0.40, P < 0.05). Short-term potentiation in sSNA appeared not as an increase in the magnitude of activity but as an increased consistency of its respiratory modulation. By 60 s after hypoxia, the variability in the entrainment pattern had returned to baseline. The preferential recruitment of late expiratory sSNA during hypoxia results from either activation by expiratory-modulated neurons or by non-modulated neurons whose excitatory drive is not gated during late E.     

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of andrographolide analogues as novel cytotoxic agents

Andrographolide 1, the cytotoxic agent of the plant Andrographis paniculata was subjected to semi-synthetic studies leading to the preparation of a number of potent and novel analogues. Of the analogues synthesized, while 8,17-epoxy andrographolide 6 retained the cytotoxic activity of 1, ester derivatives of 6 exhibited considerable improvement in activity. Lower activity was observed when the epoxy moiety in the triacetate 9, derived from 6 was modified. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

A dynamically tuned double-stranded RNA binding mechanism for the activation of antiviral kinase PKR

A key step in the activation of interferon-inducible antiviral kinase PKR involves differential binding of viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to its two structurally similar N-terminal dsRNA binding motifs, dsRBM1 and dsRBM2. We show here, using NMR spectroscopy, that dsRBM1 with higher RNA binding activity exhibits significant motional flexibility on a millisecond timescale as compared with dsRBM2 with lower RNA binding activity. We further show that dsRBM2, but not dsRBM1, specifically interacts with the C-terminal kinase domain. These results suggest a dynamically tuned dsRNA binding mechanism for PKR activation, where motionally more flexible dsRBM1 anchors to dsRNA, thereby inducing a cooperative RNA binding for dsRBM2 to expose the kinase domain.     

Purification of a stereospecific 2-ketoreductase from Gluconobacter oxydans

The 2-ketoreductase from Gluconobacter oxydans (SC 13851) catalyzes the reduction of 2-pentanone to (S)-(+)-2-pentanol. The 2-ketoreductase was purified 295-fold to homogeneity from G. oxydans cell extracts. The purified 2-ketoreductase had a molecular mass of 29 kDa with a specific activity of 17.7 U/mg. (S)-(+)-2-pentanol was prepared on a pilot scale (3.2 kg of 2-pentanone input) using Triton X-100-treated G. oxydans cells. After 46 h, 1.06 kg (32.3 M%) of (S)-(+)-2-pentanol of >99% enantiomeric excess (ee) was produced. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 25, 171–175. Received 01 May 2000/ Accepted in revised form 28 June 2000     

Programmed bending reveals dynamic mechanochemical coupling in supported lipid bilayers

In living cells, mechanochemical coupling represents a dynamic means by which membrane components are spatially organized. An extra-ordinary example of such coupling involves curvature-dependent polar localization of chemically-distinct lipid domains at bacterial poles, which also undergo dramatic reequilibration upon subtle changes in their interfacial environment such as during sporulation. Here, we demonstrate that such interfacially-triggered mechanochemical coupling can be recapitulated in vitro by simultaneous, real-time introduction of mechanically-generated periodic curvatures and attendant strain-induced lateral forces in lipid bilayers supported on elastomeric substrates. In particular, we show that real-time wrinkling of the elastomeric substrate prompts a dynamic domain reorganization within the adhering bilayer, producing large, oriented liquid-ordered domains in regions of low curvature. Our results suggest a mechanism in which interfacial forces generated during surface wrinkling and the topographical deformation of the bilayer combine to facilitate dynamic reequilibration prompting the observed domain reorganization. We anticipate this curvature-generating model system will prove to be a simple and versatile tool for a broad range of studies of curvature-dependent dynamic reorganizations in membranes that are constrained by the interfacial elastic and dynamic frameworks such as the cell wall, glycocalyx, and cytoskeleton.     

Xanthine Oxidase Mediates Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-2α Degradation by Intermittent Hypoxia

Sleep-disordered breathing with recurrent apnea produces chronic intermittent hypoxia (IH). We previously reported that IH leads to down-regulation of HIF-2α protein via a calpain-dependent signaling pathway resulting in oxidative stress. In the present study, we delineated the signaling pathways associated with calpain-dependent HIF-2α degradation in cell cultures and rats subjected to chronic IH. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers prevented HIF-2α degradation by IH and ROS mimetic decreased HIF-2α protein levels in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell cultures, suggesting that ROS mediate IH-induced HIF-2α degradation. IH activated xanthine oxidase (XO) by increased proteolytic conversion of xanthine dehydrogenase to XO. ROS generated by XO activated calpains, which contributed to HIF-2α degradation by IH. Calpain-induced HIF-2α degradation involves C-terminus but not the N-terminus of the HIF-2α protein. Pharmacological blockade as well as genetic knock down of XO prevented IH induced calpain activation and HIF-2α degradation in PC12 cells. Systemic administration of allopurinol to rats prevented IH-induced hypertension, oxidative stress and XO activation in adrenal medulla. These results demonstrate that ROS generated by XO activation mediates IH-induced HIF-2α degradation via activation of calpains.