Reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide regulate mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and autophagy in evodiamine-treated human cervix carcinoma HeLa cells

The redox environment of the cell is currently thought to be extremely important to control either apoptosis or autophagy. This study reported that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) generations were induced by evodiamine time-dependently; while they acted in synergy to trigger mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by induction of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization (MMP) through increasing the Bax/Bcl-2 or Bcl-x_L ratio. Autophagy was also stimulated by evodiamine, as demonstrated by the positive autophagosome-specific dye monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining as well as the expressions of autophagy-related proteins, Beclin 1 and LC3. Pre-treatment with 3-MA, the specific inhibitor for autophagy, dose-dependently decreased cell viability, indicating a survival function of autophagy. Importantly, autophagy was found to be promoted or inhibited by ROS/NO in response to the severity of oxidative stress. These findings could help shed light on the complex regulation of intracellular redox status on the balance of autophagy and apoptosis in anti-cancer therapies.     

Effects of Parenteral Lipid Infusion on DNA Damage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants

Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are known to have poorly developed antioxidant system and may be at increased risk for radical damage. Previous studies have reported higher levels of lipid peroxide products in lipid emulsion used for parenteral nutrition. To examine the direct effects of parenteral lipid infusion on DNA damage in VLBW infants, we measured urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in VLBW infants before, during, and after the parenteral lipid infusion. In both the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups, urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels at 14 days old were significantly ( p <0.01) lower than those at 2 and 7 days old. However, there were no significant differences in urinary 8-OHdG excretion levels between the lipid-infused and lipid-free groups at 2, 7, and 14 days old. Our results suggest that parenteral lipid infusion does not cause oxidative DNA damage, but irrespective of the infusion DNA damage during the first week of life is enhanced when compared with 14 days after birth in VLBW infants.     

New Neplanocin Analogues. V. A Potent Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase Inhibitor Lacking Antiviral Activity. Synthesis And Antiviral Activity Of 6″-Carboxylic Acid Derivatives Of Neplanocin A 1

Abstract

The 6′-carboxylic acid derivative of neplanocin A 3 was synthesized from NPA, and was converted to the corresponding methyl ester 4 and amides 5 and 6. These were evaluated for their anti-RNA-virus activities. Of the derivatives synthesized, only 5 was active against RNA viruses within the concentration range of 0.14-4.88 μg/mL. Compounds 3 and 5 showed a potent inhibitory effect on S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase from rabbit erythrocytes. Although a close correlation between the inhibitory effect of adenosine analogues on AdoHcy hydrolase and their antiviral potency has been demonstrated, 3 did not show any anti-RNA-virus activities.

     

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. 125. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2′,3′-Dideoxy-3′-fluoro-2′-methylidene Pyrimidine Nucleosides

Abstract

Reaction of 2′-deoxy-2′-methylidene-5′-O-trityluridine (1) with diethylamino-sulfur trifluoride (DAST) in CH₂Cl₂ resulted in the formation of a mixture of (3′R)-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-fluoro-2′-methylidene derivative 3 and 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxy-2′-fluoromethyl derivative 4 (3:4 = 1:1.5) in 65% yield. A similar treatment of 1-(2-deoxy-2-methylidene-5-O-trityl-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)uracil (19) with DAST in CH₂Cl₂ afforded (3′S)-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-fluoro-2′-methylidene derivatives 20 and 4 in 38% and 17% yields respectively. Transformation of the uracil nucleosides 4, 12, and 20 into cytosines followed by deprotection furnished the corresponding cytidine derivatives 29, 18, and 25, respectively. The corresponding thymidine congener 27 was also synthesized in a similar manner. All of the newly synthesized nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against HIV and for their antiproliferative activities against L1210 and KB cells.     

The Structure of Neplanocin C

Abstract

The molecular and crystal structure of neplanocin C(3), C₁₁H₁₃N₅O₄ M.W. = 279.26, has been determined by X-ray anlys?s. The space group is P2₁ with a=16.381(2), b=8.210(1), c=9.127(1) Å, β=105.31(1)° and z=4. The structure was solved by direct method, and least-squares refinement using 2093 reflections with |Fo|>3σ(F) led to the final R value of 0.0772. The sugar puckering of the two crystal-lographically independent molecules is C(2′)-exo-C(3′)-endo, and the torsion angles about the N(9)-C(1′) bond are 22.8(6) and 28.7(6)°, respectively (anti conformation).     

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. 192. Toward the Total Synthesis of Cyclic ADP-Carbocyclic-Ribose. Formation of the Intramolecular Pyrophosphate Linkage by a Conformation-Restriction Strategy in a Syn-form Using a Halogen Substitution at the 8-Position of the Adenine Ring

Abstract

The synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2), as a stable mimic for cyclic ADP-ribose, was investigated. Construction of the 18-membered backbone structure was successfully achieved by condensation of the two phosphate groups of 19, possibly due to restriction of the conformation of the substrate in a syn-form using an 8-chloro substituent at the adenine moiety. SN2 reactions between an optically active carbocyclic unit 8, which was constructed by a previously developed method, and 8-bromo-N ⁶-trichloroacetyl-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine 9c gave N-1-carbocyclic derivative, which was deprotected to give 5′,5′-diol derivatives 18. When 18 was treated with POCl₃ in PO(OEt)₃, the bromo group at the 8-position was replaced to give N-1-carbocyclic-8-chloroadenosine 5′,5′-diphosphate derivative 19 in 43% yield. Treatment of 19 with 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride gave the desired intramolecular condensation product 20 in 10% yield. This is the first chemical construction of the 18-membered backbone structure containing an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage of a cADPR-related compound with an adenine base.     

Genome-Wide Association Studies Using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers Developed by Re-Sequencing of the Genomes of Cultivated Tomato

With the aim of understanding relationship between genetic and phenotypic variations in cultivated tomato, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers covering the whole genome of cultivated tomato were developed and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed. The whole genomes of six tomato lines were sequenced with the ABI-5500xl SOLiD sequencer. Sequence reads covering ∼13.7× of the genome for each line were obtained, and mapped onto tomato reference genomes (SL2.40) to detect ∼1.5 million SNP candidates. Of the identified SNPs, 1.5% were considered to confer gene functions. In the subsequent Illumina GoldenGate assay for 1536 SNPs, 1293 SNPs were successfully genotyped, and 1248 showed polymorphisms among 663 tomato accessions. The whole-genome linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis detected highly biased LD decays between euchromatic (58 kb) and heterochromatic regions (13.8 Mb). Subsequent GWAS identified SNPs that were significantly associated with agronomical traits, with SNP loci located near genes that were previously reported as candidates for these traits. This study demonstrates that attractive loci can be identified by performing GWAS with a large number of SNPs obtained from re-sequencing analysis.     

Hsp90 facilitates accurate loading of precursor piRNAs into PIWI proteins

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) defend the genome against transposon activity in animal gonads. The Hsp90 chaperone machinery has been implicated in the piRNA pathway, but its exact role remains obscure. Here, we examined the effect of 17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG), an Hsp90-specific inhibitor, on the piRNA pathway. In the silkworm ovary-derived BmN4 cells, 17-AAG treatment reduced the level of piRNAs and PIWI proteins. In vitro, the 5′-nucleotide preference upon precursor piRNA loading was compromised by 17-AAG, whereas 3′-end trimming and 2′-O-methylation were unaffected. Our data highlight a role of Hsp90 in accurate loading of precursor piRNAs into PIWI proteins.