Discovery and anti-inflammatory evaluation of benzothiazepinones (BTZs) as novel non-ATP competitive inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) has been identified to promote inflammation and its inhibitors have also been proven to treat some inflammatory mediated diseases in animal models. Non-ATP competitive inhibitors inherently have better therapeutical value due to their higher specificity than ATP competitive ones. In this paper, we designed and synthesized a series of new BTZ derivatives as non-ATP competitive GSK-3β inhibitors. Kinetic analysis revealed two typical compounds 6j and 3j showed the different non-ATP competitive mechanism of substrate competition or allosteric modulation to GSK-3β, respectively. As expected, the two compounds showed good specificity in a panel test of 16 protein kinases, even to the closest enzymes, like CDK-1/cyclin B and CK-II. The in vivo results proved that both compounds can greatly attenuate the LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and diminish inflammation response in mice by inhibiting the mRNA expression of IL-1β and IL-6. Western blot analysis demonstrated that they negatively regulated GSK-3β, and the mechanism of the observed beneficial effects of the inhibitors may involve both the increased phosphorylation of the Ser9 residue on GSK-3β and protein expression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). The results support that such novel BTZ compounds have a protective role in LPS-induced ALI, and might be attractive candidates for further development of inflammation pharmacotherapy, which greatly thanks to their inherently high selectivities by the non-ATP competitive mode of action. Finally, we proposed suggesting binding modes by Docking study to well explain the impacts of compounds on the target site.     

Zinc-mediated Reversible Multimerization of Hsp31 Enhances the Activity of Holding Chaperone

Hsp31 protein, belonging to the DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI superfamily, increases the survival of Escherichia coli under various stresses. While it was reported as a holding chaperone, Hsp31 was also shown to exhibit the glyoxalase III activity in subsequent study. Here, we describe our finding that Hsp31 undergoes a Zn^+ 2-mediated multimerization (HMW_Zinc), resulting in an enhanced chaperone activity. Furthermore, it was shown that the formation of HMW_Zinc is reversible such that the oligomer dissociates into the native dimer by EDTA incubation. We attempted to determine the structural change involving the transition between the native dimer and HMW_Zinc by adding Ni^+ 2, which is Zn^+ 2-mimetic, producing a potential intermediate structure. An analysis of this intermediate revealed a structure with hydrophobic interior exposed, due to an unfolding of the N-terminal loop and the C-terminal β-to-α region. A treatment with hydrogen peroxide accelerated HMW_Zinc formation, so that the Hsp31^C185E mutant rendered the formation of HMW_Zinc even at 45 °C. However, the presence of Zn^+ 2 in the catalytic site antagonizes the oxidation of C185, implying a negative role. Our results suggest an unprecedented mechanism of the enhancing chaperone activity by Hsp31, in which the reversible formation of HMW_Zinc occurs in the presence of heat and Zn^+ 2 ion.     

牛樟芝中一个新型还原型聚酮合酶基因的克隆及表达分析

为了研究牛樟芝中PKS基因与化合物之间的关系,该研究通过对牛樟芝基因组分析获得牛樟芝聚酮合酶基因,以此序列为模板设计含有起始密码子和终止密码子的特异引物并以牛樟芝c DNA为模板克隆获得一个高度还原型PKS(HR-PKS)基因全长,命名为AcPKS2;对AcPKS2基因进行生物信息学分析,并比较该基因在不同培养基上的表达量。结果表明:AcPKS2全长7 842 bp,有24个内含子,其外显子共编码2 613个氨基酸,该蛋白的相对分子质量为293.5 kDa,理论等电点pI为5.78。用CDD分析其结构域显示,该基因属于HR-PKS,其结构域组织排列为KS-AT-DH-MT-ER-KR-ACP-TE,8个结构域其活性位点分别为β-酮基合成酶(DTACSSSL)、酰基转移酶(GHSIGETA)、脱水酶(RNDGSTSPL)、甲基转移酶(SFDIITAFDV)、烯酰还原酶(HAGVSSPAA)、酮基还原酶(GSPGQANYTAA)、酰基转移酶(YGLDSLTSVRL)、硫酯酶(KQPNGPY)。系统发育树显示AcPKS2与其他化合物未知的HR-PKS蛋白聚为一支,结构域和系统进化树分析显示该基因可能编码一种新的含TE结构域高度还原型聚酮合酶;表达分析结果显示葡萄糖和果糖能够诱导该基因的表达。     

Plant hydroperoxide-cleaving enzymes (CYP74 family) function as hemiacetal synthases: Structural proof of hemiacetals by NMR spectroscopy

Hydroperoxide lyases (HPLs) of the CYP74 family (P450 superfamily) are widely distributed enzymes in higher plants and are responsible for the stress-initiated accumulation of short-chain aldehydes. Fatty acid hydroperoxides serve as substrates for HPLs; however, details of the HPL-promoted conversion are still incompletely understood. In the present work, we report first time the micropreparative isolation and the NMR structural studies of fatty acid hemiacetal (TMS/TMS), the short-lived HPL product. With this aim, linoleic acid 9(S)?hydroperoxide (9(S)?HPOD) was incubated with recombinant melon hydroperoxide lyase (CmHPL, CYP74C2) in a biphasic system of water/hexane for 60?s at 0?°C, pH?4.0. The hexane layer was immediately decanted and vortexed with a trimethylsilylating mixture. Analysis by GC–MS revealed a major product, i.e. the bis-TMS derivative of a hemiacetal which was conclusively identified as 9?hydroxy?9?[(1′E,3′Z)?nonadienyloxy]?nonanoic acid by NMR-spectroscopy. Further support for the hemiacetal structure was provided by detailed NMR-spectroscopic analysis of the bis-TMS hemiacetal generated from [¹³C₁₈]9(S)?HPOD in the presence of CmHPL. The results obtained provide incontrovertible evidence that the true products of the HPL group of enzymes are hemiacetals, and that the short-chain aldehydes are produced by their rapid secondary chain breakdown. Therefore, we suggest replacing the name “hydroperoxide lyase”, which does not reflect the factual isomerase (intramolecular oxidoreductase) activity, with “hemiacetal synthase” (HAS).     

Inhibition of pannexin-1 channel activity by adiponectin in podocytes: Role of acid ceramidase activation

The pannexin-1 (Panx1) channel has been reported to mediate the release of ATP that is involved in local tissue inflammation, obesity, and many chronic degenerative diseases. It remains unknown whether Panx1 is present in podocytes and whether this channel in podocytes mediates ATP release leading to glomerular inflammation or fibrosis. To answer these questions, we first characterized the expression of Panx channels in podocytes. Among the three known pannexins, Panx1 was the most enriched in podocytes, either cultured or native in mouse glomeruli. Using a Port-a-Patch planar patch-clamp system, we recorded a large voltage-gated outward current through podocyte membrane under the Cs⁺in/Na⁺out gradient. Substitution of gluconate or aspartate for chloride in the bath solution blocked voltage-gated outward currents and shifted the reversal potential of Panx1 currents to the right, indicating the anion permeability of this channel. Pharmacologically, the recorded voltage-gated outward currents were substantially attenuated by specific Panx1 channel inhibitors. Given the anti-inflammatory and intracellular ATP restorative effects of adiponectin, we tested whether this adipokine inhibits Panx1 channel activity to block ATP release. Adiponectin blocked Panx1 channel activity in podocytes. Mechanistically, inhibition of acid ceramidase (AC) remarkably enhanced Panx1 channel activity under control conditions and prevented the inhibition of Panx1 channel by adiponectin. Correspondingly, intracellular addition of AC products, sphingosine or sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), blocked Panx1 channel activity, while elevation of intracellular ceramide had no effect on Panx1 channel activity. These results suggest that adiponectin inhibits Panx1 channel activity in podocytes through activation of AC and associated elevation of intracellular S1P.     

Carbon-free production of 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose (DOI) in cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942

Owing to their photosynthetic capabilities, there is increasing interest in utilizing cyanobacteria to convert solar energy into biomass. 2-Deoxy-scyllo-inosose (DOI) is a valuable starting material for the benzene-free synthesis of catechol and other benzenoids. DOI synthase (DOIS) is responsible for the formation of DOI from d-glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) in the biosynthesis of 2-deoxystreptamine-containing aminoglycoside antibiotics such as neomycin and butirosin. DOI fermentation using a recombinant Escherichia coli strain has been reported, although a carbon source is necessary for high-yield DOI production. We constructed DOI-producing cyanobacteria toward carbon-free and sustainable DOI production. A DOIS gene derived from the butirosin producer strain Bacillus circulans (btrC) was introduced and expressed in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. We ultimately succeeded in producing 400 mg/L of DOI in S. elongatus without using a carbon source. DOI production by cyanobacteria represents a novel and efficient approach for producing benzenoids from G6P synthesized by photosynthesis.