The naphthoquinol oxidizing cytochrome bc1 complex of the hyperthermophilic knallgasbacterium Aquifex aeolicus: properties and phylogenetic relationships

Phylogenetic analysis of constituent proteins of Rieske/cytochrome b complexes [Schütz et al. (2000) J. Mol. Biol. 300, 663-675] indicated that the respective enzyme from the hyperthermophile Aquifex (A.) aeolicus is closely related to proteobacterial counterparts, in disagreement with positioning of its parent species on small subunit rRNA trees. An assessment of the details and possible reasons for this discrepancy necessitates a thorough understanding of the biochemical and biophysical properties of the enzyme in addition to the bioinformatic data. The cytochrome bc(1) complex from A. aeolicus, which is part of the "Knallgasreaction" pathway, was therefore studied in membranes and in detergent-solubilized, isolated complex. Hemes b(L) (E(m,7) = -190 mV; g(z)= 3.7), b(H) (E(m,7) = -60 mV; g(z )= 3.45), and c(1) (E(m,7) = +160 mV; g(z )= 3.55) were identified by EPR and optical spectroscopy in combination with electrochemical methods. Two electrochemically distinct (E(m,7) = +95 mV; E(m,7) = +210 mV) Rieske centers were detected in membranes, and the +210 mV species was shown to correspond to the Rieske center of the cyt bc(1) complex. The gene coding for this latter Rieske protein was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and the resulting protein was characterized in detail. The pool quinone of A. aeolicus was determined to be naphthoquinone. The redox poises of the individual electron-transfer steps are compared to those of other Rieske/cyt b complexes. The Aquifex enzyme was found to represent the only extant naphthoquinol oxidizing true cyt bc(1) complex described so far. An improved scenario for the phylogenetic positioning of the Aquifex cyt bc(1) complex is proposed.     

Orderly pattern of development of the autoantibody response in (New Zealand White x BXSB)F1 lupus mice: characterization of target antigens and antigen spreading by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry

Immunoblots of a two-dimensional PAGE-separated HL-60 cell proteomic map and mass spectrometry were combined to characterize proteins targeted by autoantibodies produced by male (New Zealand White x BXSB)F(1) (WB) mice that develop lupus and anti-phospholipid syndrome. Analysis of sera sequentially obtained from seven individual mice at different ages showed that six proteins, vimentin, heat shock protein 60, UV excision-repair protein RAD23, alpha-enolase, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L, and nucleophosmin, were the targets of the B cell autoimmune response, and that autoantibodies to them were synthesized sequentially in an orderly pattern that recurred in all the male WB mice analyzed: anti-vimentin first and anti-nucleophosmin last, with anti-RAD23 and anti-heat shock protein 60, then anti-alpha-enolase and anti-heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L Abs occuring concomitantly. Anti-vimentin reactivity always appeared before anti-cardiolipin and anti-DNA Abs, suggesting that vimentin is the immunogen initiating the autoimmune process. The pattern of HL-60 proteins recognized by female WB sera differed from that of male sera, indicating that the Y chromosome-linked autoimmune acceleration gene is not an accelerator but a strong modifier of the autoimmune response. Thus, 1) combining two-dimensional PAGE and mass spectrometry constitutes a powerful tool to identify the set of Ags bound by autoantibodies present in a single serum and the whole autoantibody pattern of an autoimmune disease; 2) the diversification of the autoimmune response in male WB mice occurs in a predetermined pattern consistent with Ag spreading, and thus provides a useful model to further our understanding of the development of the autoantibody response in lupus.     

Comparison of donor-site healing under Xeroform and Jelonet dressings: unexpected findings

Split-thickness skin grafts remain central to the strategy of burn wound treatment. The dressing used to cover the donor wound site has a significant effect on healing parameters. The purpose of this study was to compare split-thickness skin graft donor site reepithelialization under Xeroform and Jelonet dressings. A dermatome was used to cut two consecutive strips of skin from 25 paired donor sites on the thigh, calf, or back of 19 participants. Standardization of the harvest method was achieved by using the same surgeon to harvest the compared skin graft strips, with attention to consistency of dermatome skin-thickness setting, downward pressure, and angle of dermatome approach. A strip of Xeroform or Jelonet was applied to one of each pair of wounds. Epidermal and dermal thickness was measured from biopsy specimens cut at the midpoint of each split-thickness graft strip. The day of final dressing separation was declared the day of complete donor reepithelialization (healing). The mean healing time for Xeroform and Jelonet was 10.4 +/- 2.6 days (n = 25) and 10.6 +/- 2.8 days (n = 25) (p = 0.76) at sites cut to a mean depth of 0.23 +/- 0.08 mm and 0.23 +/- 0.09 mm (p = 0.89), respectively. There was no correlation between graft thickness and healing time for sites dressed with Xeroform (r = 0.17) or Jelonet (r = 0.02). Donors sites reharvested 10 to 21 days after a prior harvest healed an average of 3.1 days earlier than virgin sites (8.4 +/- 1.6 versus 11.5 +/- 2.6 days, p < 0.001), although reharvested grafts were on average 0.05 mm thicker (p = 0.10). The mean thickness of reepithelialized donor-site epidermis (0.13 +/- 0.04 mm, n = 30) was found to be twice the thickness of virgin epidermis from the same sites (0.06 +/- 0.02 mm, n = 38, p < 0.001). Thirty-six grafts harvested with dermatomes set to cut 8/1000 inch (0.20 mm) deep ranged from 0.12 to 0.42 mm thick, with only eight of these grafts measuring within +/-10 percent of the desired thickness setting. Before donor dressing separation, Xeroform and Jelonet dressings were judged to be more comfortable by nine patients and one patient, respectively, whereas no difference was detected by six patients. The authors now use Xeroform as the preferred donor dressing.     

Synthesis of some N-galactosides of 3-aryl-5-benzyl (or substituted benzyl)-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-/ones or thiones of expected biological activity

The 1-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-galactopyranosyl)-3-aryl-5-benzyl (or substituted benzyl)-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-/ones or thiones were prepared via galactosidation of 3-aryl-5-benzyl (or substituted benzyl)-1,2,4-triazin-6(1H)-/ones or thiones with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-galactopyranosyl bromide. The structure of the new galactosyl derivatives was based on both spectroscopic and chemical evidences.     

Synthesis of some new 2-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-1,2,4-triazines as potential antitumor chemotherapeutics

Synthetic routes towards different 2-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-3-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-/ones or thiones were investigated. Primary human anticancer screening of two selected compounds resulted in an active compound against SF-268 (CNS) cell line.     

Discovery of a novel class of biphenyl pyrazole sodium channel blockers for treatment of neuropathic pain

A series of novel biphenyl pyrazole dicarboxamides were identified as potential sodium channel blockers for treatment of neuropathic pain. Compound 20 had outstanding efficacy in the Chung rat spinal nerve ligation (SNL) model of neuropathic pain.     

Inhibition of p38 MAPK enhances ABT-737-induced cell death in melanoma cell lines: novel regulation of PUMA

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is constitutively activated in the majority of melanomas, promoting cell survival, proliferation and migration. In addition, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins Mcl-1, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 are frequently overexpressed, contributing to melanoma’s well-documented chemoresistance. Recently, it was reported that the combination of MAPK pathway inhibition by specific MEK inhibitors and Bcl-2 family inhibition by BH3-mimetic ABT-737 synergistically induces apoptotic cell death in melanoma cell lines. Here we provide the first evidence that inhibition of another key MAPK, p38, synergistically induces apoptosis in melanoma cells in combination with ABT-737. We also provide novel mechanistic data demonstrating that inhibition of p38 increases expression of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein PUMA. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PUMA can be cleaved by a caspase-dependent mechanism during apoptosis and identify what appears to be the PUMA cleavage product. Thus, our findings suggest that the combination of ABT-737 and inhibition of p38 is a promising, new treatment strategy that acts through a novel PUMA-dependent mechanism.     

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new (2E,6E)-10-(dimethylamino)-3,7-dimethyl-2,6-decadien-1-ol ethers as inhibitors of human and Trypanosoma cruzi oxidosqualene cyclase

New dimethylamino truncated squalene ether derivatives containing a different aromatic moiety (phenyl, naphthyl, and biphenyl) or a simple alkyl (n-hexylic) group were synthesized as inhibitors of the oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) and of the sterol biosynthetic pathway. The activity against human OSC was compared with the activity against the OSCs of pathogenic organisms such as Pneumocystis carinii and Trypanosoma cruzi. The phenyl derivative was the most potent inhibitor of T. cruzi OSC.     

The discovery of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable hNK1 antagonists derived from pyrrolidine

SAR studies on amides, ureas, and vinylogous amides derived from pyrrolidine led to the discovery of several potent hNK(1) antagonists. One particular vinylogous amide (45b) had excellent potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetic profile, and functional activity in vivo. An in vivo rhesus macaque brain receptor occupancy PET study for compound 45b revealed an estimated Occ(90) approximately 300 ng/ml.