Forskolin alters sensitivity of the cAMP-generating system to stimulatory as well as to inhibitory agonists. A study with intact human platelets and guinea pig myometrium

1. In both the intact guinea pig myometrium and human platelets, cAMP accumulation was enhanced by prostaglandin I2 (prostacyclin, PGI2) and forskolin with potentiated responses in the simultaneous presence of both effectors. Under basal conditions, forskolin caused rises in platelet cAMP concentration through a single low-affinity interaction (Kapp = 90 microM) while in myometrium, activation involved both a low-affinity (Kapp = 10 microM) and a high-affinity (Kapp = 0.8 microM) component. The contribution of the high-affinity component could be reduced when endogenous PGI2 was decreased. In both tissues, the synergistic effect of forskolin in the presence of PGI2 was mediated by a single high-affinity interaction (Kapp = 0.3 microM). The data were consistent with a low-affinity interaction of the diterpene with the cyclase catalytic unit C generating the C...forskolin state and with a high-affinity interaction of the diterpene with the activated complex (stimulatory regulatory protein) and C generating the potentiated Gs-C...forskolin state. 2. Both norepinephrine in platelets and carbachol in the myometrium (via Gi, the inhibitory regulatory protein) inhibited PGI2-mediated cAMP accumulation (EC50 = 100 nM and 8 nM respectively). The persistently activated cAMP-generating system induced by cholera toxin in the myometrium was also susceptible to inhibition but the EC50 for carbachol was increased to 50 nM and the extent of inhibition was decreased. Forskolin-mediated effect in platelets was inhibited by norepinephrine as was the PGI2 response. By contrast, the synergistic state of the cyclase resisted the inhibitory action of norepinephrine and carbachol in platelets and myometrium respectively. In the myometrium, where the cAMP response due to forskolin alone partially involved some synergistic Gs-C ... forskolin species, carbachol at 50 microM elicited no more than 30% inhibition. Inhibition was partly improved (60% inhibition at 1 microM carbachol) when the contribution of the Gs-C species was decreased by lowering the concentration of local PGI2. Partial inhibition by norepinephrine was similarly observed in platelets under partial synergistic conditions. The data suggest that receptor-mediated inhibition of cAMP generation could be differentially expressed depending on the nature of the active species of the cyclase involved in the stimulatory responses.     

Lignans in flowering aerial parts of Linum species – Chemodiversity in the light of systematics and phylogeny

The aerial parts of 54 accessions representing 41 Linum species and four species of related genera were analysed for lignans by means of HPLC-ESI/MS–MS-UV/DAD. In total, 64 different lignans of the aryltetralin-, arylnaphthalene-, aryldihydronaphthalene-, dibenzylbutyrolactone-, and furofuran type were identified. According to their lignan profile, the Linum species can be divided in two groups accumulating as major lignan types either cyclolignans of the aryltetralin-series on one hand, or aryldihydronaphthalenes/arylnaphthalenes, on the other. Five of the investigated Linum species did not contain any detectable amounts of these lignans under the chosen analytical conditions. Furthermore, none of the lignans identified in Linum species was detectable in representatives of three related genera, namely, Reinwardtia (Linaceae, Linoideae), Hugonia and Indorouchera (Linaceae, Hugonioideae).The two species groups differing in the types of the dominating cyclolignans comprise representatives of the major taxonomic sections. Representatives of sections Syllinum, Cathartolinum and Linopsis accumulate mainly aryltetralins while those of sections Linum and Dasylinum were found to contain mainly aryldihydronaphthalenes/-naphthalenes. These phytochemical data correlate very well with a recent study on the molecular phylogeny of Linum/Linaceae, where a subdivision of Linum into two major clades comprising representatives of the two mentioned groups was found. Thus, the distribution of lignans apparently reflecting phylogenetic interrelations at the infrageneric level, a plausible scenario for the evolution of lignan biosynthesis in the genus Linum can now be presented.     

Differential expression of the FAK family kinases in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis synovial tissues

The focal adhesion kinase (FAK) family kinases, including FAK and proline-rich kinase 2 (Pyk)2, are the predominant mediators of integrin αvβ3 signaling events that play an important role in cell adhesion, osteoclast pathology, and angiogenesis, all processes important in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using immunohistochemical and western blot analysis, we studied the distribution of phospho (p)FAK, pPyk2, pSrc, pPaxillin and pPLCγ in the synovial tissue (ST) from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA) and normal donors (NDs) as well as in RA ST fibroblasts and peripheral blood differentiated macrophages (PB MΦs) treated with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) or interleukin-1β (IL1β). RA and OA STs showed a greater percentage of pFAK on lining cells and MΦs compared with ND ST. RA ST fibroblasts expressed pFAK at baseline, which increased with TNFα or IL1β stimulation. Pyk2 and Src were phosphorylated more on RA versus OA and ND lining cells and MΦs. pPyk2 was expressed on RA ST fibrobasts but not in MΦs at baseline, however it was upregulated upon TNFα or IL1β activation in both cell types. pSrc was expressed in RA ST fibroblasts and MΦs at baseline and was further increased by TNFα or IL1β stimulation. pPaxillin and pPLCγ were upregulated in RA versus OA and ND lining cells and sublining MΦs. Activation of the FAK family signaling cascade on RA and OA lining cells may be responsible for cell adhesion and migration into the diseased STs. Therapies targeting this novel signaling pathway may be beneficial in RA.     

Modifications of membrane lipids in response to wounding of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves

Mechanical wounding of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves results in modifications of most membrane lipids within 6 hours. Here, we discuss the lipid changes, their underlying biochemistry, and possible relationships among activated pathways. New evidence is presented supporting the role of the processive galactosylating enzyme SENSITIVE TO FREEZING2 in the wounding response.     

A Small Multidrug Resistance-like Transporter Involved in the Arabinosylation of Arabinogalactan and Lipoarabinomannan in Mycobacteria

The biosynthesis of the major cell envelope glycoconjugates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is topologically split across the plasma membrane, yet nothing is known of the transporters required for the translocation of lipid-linked sugar donors and oligosaccharide intermediates from the cytoplasmic to the periplasmic side of the membrane in mycobacteria. One of the mechanisms used by prokaryotes to translocate lipid-linked phosphate sugars across the plasma membrane relies on translocases that share resemblance with small multidrug resistance transporters. The presence of an small multidrug resistance-like gene, Rv3789, located immediately upstream from dprE1/dprE2 responsible for the formation of decaprenyl-monophosphoryl-β-d-arabinose (DPA) in the genome of M. tuberculosis led us to investigate its potential involvement in the formation of the major arabinosylated glycopolymers, lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and arabinogalactan (AG). Disruption of the ortholog of Rv3789 in Mycobacterium smegmatis resulted in a reduction of the arabinose content of both AG and LAM that accompanied the accumulation of DPA in the mutant cells. Interestingly, AG and LAM synthesis was restored in the mutant not only upon expression of Rv3789 but also upon that of the undecaprenyl phosphate aminoarabinose flippase arnE/F genes from Escherichia coli. A bacterial two-hybrid system further indicated that Rv3789 interacts in vivo with the galactosyltransferase that initiates the elongation of the galactan domain of AG. Biochemical and genetic evidence is thus consistent with Rv3789 belonging to an AG biosynthetic complex, where its role is to reorient DPA to the periplasm, allowing this arabinose donor to then be used in the buildup of the arabinan domains of AG and LAM.     

Discovery of XL888: A novel tropane-derived small molecule inhibitor of HSP90

With structural guidance, tropane-derived HTS hits were modified to optimize for HSP90 inhibition and a desirable in vivo profile. Through an iterative SAR development process 12i (XL888) was discovered and shown to reduce HSP90 client protein content in PD studies. Furthermore, efficacy experiments performed in a NCI-N87 mouse xenograft model demonstrated tumor regression in some dosing regimens.     

C-N bond formation under Cu-catalysis: Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of N-aryl substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones against chorismate mutase

A series of novel N-aryl substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones were designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of chorismate mutase. Synthesis of this class of compounds was carried out by using Cu-mediated C-N bond forming reaction between thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones and aryl boronic acids. The reaction can be performed in an open flask as the conversion was found to be not sensitive to the presence of air or atmospheric moisture. A range of compounds were prepared by using this method and single crystal X-ray diffraction study was performed using a representative compound. In vitro pharmacological data of some of the compounds synthesized along with dose response studies using active molecules are presented. In silico interactions of these molecules with chorismate mutase are also presented.     

AlCl3 induced (hetero)arylation of 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline: a one-pot synthesis of mono/disubstituted quinoxalines as potential antitubercular agents

A direct and single-step method has been developed for the synthesis of mono and 2,3-disubstituted quinoxalines by using a AlCl(3) induced (hetero)arylation of 2,3-dichloroquinoxaline. Both symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,3-disubstituted quinoxalines can be prepared conveniently by using this method under appropriate reaction conditions. The reaction proceeds via C-C bond formation and can be utilized for the preparation of a variety of quinoxaline derivatives from readily available starting materials and reagents. The molecular structure of a representative compound was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction study. Some of the compounds synthesized were tested for chorismate mutase inhibitory properties in vitro and one compound showed promising activity representing one of the few examples of chorismate mutase inhibition by a heteroarene based small molecule.     

C-C bond formation at C-2 of a quinoline ring: synthesis of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives as a new class of PDE4 inhibitors

A number of 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)quinoline-3-carbonitrile derivatives were synthesized via AlCl(3)-mediated C-C bond forming reaction between 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbonitrile and various indoles. The methodology does not require any N-protection of the indoles employed and provided the corresponding products in good yields. The molecular structure of a representative compound was established unambiguously by single crystal X-ray diffraction and structural elaboration of a compound synthesized has been demonstrated. Many of these compounds synthesized showed PDE4 inhibitory properties in vitro. A brief structure-activity relationship studies within the series along with docking results of a representative compound (EC(50) ～0.89 μM) is presented.