Induction of histamine release from rat mast cells by bradykinin analogues

Independently of their agonistic or antagonistic activity on different isolated tissue preparations, the kinin analogues investigated induce histamine release on rat peritoneal mast cells. The effectivity of most compounds is 10 to 100 times higher than that of bradykinin. Beside the positively charged amino acids, the elongation at the N-terminus with hydrophobic amino acids and the replacement of amino acids in the bradykinin sequence (especially at position 7) with aromatic residues is important for a high histamine-releasing activity.     

AT4 receptor structure-binding relationship: N-terminal-modified angiotensin IV analogues

The effect of structural changes in the N-terminal amino acid of AIV, with respect to AT₄ receptor binding, was examined by competition with [¹²⁵I]AIV in bovine adrenal membranes. Analogues with modifications of the first residue α-amino group possessed lower affinities than the primary amine-containing parent compound. Peptides with a residue 1 α-carbon in the d conformation exhibited poor affinity for the AT₄ receptor. Modifications of the residue 1 R-group demonstrate that a straight chain aliphatic moiety containing four carbons is optimal for receptor-ligand binding, as evidenced by the extremely high affinity of [Nle¹]AIV (K_i = 3.59±0.51 pM). Replacement of the 1–2 peptide bond of AIV with the methylene bond isostere Ψ (CH₂-NH), increased the K_i approximately fivefold, indicating that the peptide bond may be replaced wihle maintaining relatively high-affinity receptor binding.     

AT4 receptor structure-binding relationship: N-terminal-modified angiotensin IV analogues

The effect of structural changes in the N-terminal amino acid of AIV, with respect to AT₄ receptor binding, was examined by competition with [¹²⁵I]AIV in bovine adrenal membranes. Analogues with modifications of the first residue -amino group possessed lower affinities than the primary amine-containing parent compound. Peptides with a residue 1 -carbon in the conformation exhibited poor affinity for the AT₄ receptor. Modifications of the residue 1 R-group demonstrate that a straight chain aliphatic moiety containing four carbons is optimal for receptor-ligand binding, as evidenced by the extremely high affinity of [Nle¹]AIV (K_i = 3.59±0.51 pM). Replacement of the 1–2 peptide bond of AIV with the methylene bond isostere Ψ (CH₂-NH), increased the K_i approximately fivefold, indicating that the peptide bond may be replaced wihle maintaining relatively high-affinity receptor binding.     

Creatine metabolism and the consequences of creatine depletion in muscle

Currently, considerable research activities are focussing on biochemical, physiological and pathological aspects of the creatine kinase (CK) — phosphorylcreatine (PCr) — creatine (Cr) system (for reviews see [1, 2]), but only little effort is directed towards a thorough investigation of Cr metabolism as a whole. However, a detailed knowledge of Cr metabolism is essential for a deeper understanding of bioenergetics in general and, for example, of the effects of muscular dystrophies, atrophies, CK deficiencies (e.g. in transgenic animals) or Cr analogues on the energy metabolism of the tissues involved. Therefore, the present article provides a short overview on the reactions and enzymes involved in Cr biosynthesis and degradation, on the organization and regulation of Cr metabolism within the body, as well as on the metabolic consequences of 3-guanidinopropionate (GPA) feeding which is known to induce a Cr deficiency in muscle. In addition, the phenotype of muscles depleted of Cr and PCr by GPA feeding is put into context with recent investigations on the muscle phenotype of gene knockout mice deficient in the cytosolic muscle-type M-CK.Abbreviations Cr creatine - Crn creatinine - PCr phosphorylcreatine - CK creatine kinase - M-CK cytosolic muscle type CK isoenzyme - Mi-CK mitochondrial CK isoenzyme - AGAT L-arginine: glycine amidinotransferase - GAMT S-adenosylmethionine: guanidinoacetate methyltransferase - Arg arginine - Met methionine - GPA guanidinopropionate=-guanidinopropionate - PGPA phosphorylated GPA - GBA 3-guanidinobutyrate=-guanidinobutyrate - CPEO chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia     

Stereoselectivity of the Inhibition of [3H]Hemicholinium-3 Binding to the Sodium-Dependent High-Affinity Choline Transporter by the Enantiomers of a- and β-Methylcholine

Abstract: In a previous report, we showed that the enantiomers of α- and β-methylcholine inhibited choline uptake with Stereoselectivity, but that their transport by the choline carrier of nerve terminals showed stereospecificity. The present experiments used the same choline analogues to determine if either of the above characteristics pertains to their ability to interact with the [³H]-hemicholinium-3 binding site present on striatal membranes and synaptosomes. [³H]Hemicholinium-3 binding to striatal membranes could be inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of β-methylcholine, but R (+)-α-methyl-choline was little better than its enantiomer in this test. However, [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding to striatal synaptosomes was inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of both α- and β-methylcholine. This difference between the properties of [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding to membranes or to synaptosomes appears related to the presence of two ligand binding states. The [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding site could be shifted to a low-affinity state by ATP treatment and to a high-affinity state by EDTA washing. When the [³H]hemicholinium-3 binding site existed in its low-affinity state, binding was inhibited stereoselectively by the enantiomers of both a- and β-methylcholine, but when shifted to its high-affinity state, it was inhibited stereoselectively only by the enantiomers of β–methylcholine. We conclude that hemicholinium-3 interacts with the substrate recognition site of the high-affinity choline transporter, but that the Stereoselectivity of this site changes depending on its affinity state.     

Receptor interactions of the position 4 side chains of angiotensin II analogues: Importance of aromatic ring quadrupole

A triad of interacting group (TyrOH? His$ \underline\ominus$O₂C) in angiotensin II (ANG II) has been postulated to create the tyrosinate anion pharmacophore (tyanophore) responsible for receptor activation/triggering (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1991, 1065, 21). In the present study we investigated the effects on bioactivity of substituting the Tyr⁴ residue in [Sar¹]ANG II with other anionic or electronegative amino acids, and with a number of aromatic amino acids lacking a hydroxyl group. [Sar¹ Nva(δ-OH)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Nva(δ-OCH₃)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Met⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Gln⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Glu⁴]ANG II and [Sar¹ DL -Alg⁴]ANG II had agonist activities in the rat isolated uterus assay of 4, 3, 19, 10, > 0.1 and > 0.1%, respectively, of that of ANG II. [Sar¹ Nal⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Pal⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ DL -Phg(4′-F)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Phe(4′-F)⁴]ANG II, [Sar¹ Phe(F₅)⁴]ANG II and [Sar¹ His⁴]ANG II had agonist activities of 4.5, 7, < 0.1, 0.2, 1 and 0.6%, respectively. All peptides investigated were devoid of measurable antagonist activity except [Sar¹] Phe(4′-F)⁴ ANG II (pA₂ = 7.7). These findings illustrate that anionic or electronegative aliphatic side chains replacing tyrosinate at position 4 can partially activate the angiotension receptor. For ANG II analogues containing an aromatic amino acid other than Tyr at position 4, ligand binding and agonist activity are not dependent on the electronegativity or dipole moment of the aromatic ring, or on the ability of the 4′ ring substituent to accept a proton. Modelling based on ab initio calculations of aromatic ring multipoles illustrate that the apparent binding affinity (PA₂) of ANG II analogues is associated with a perpendicular electrostatic interaction of the position 4 aromatic ring with a receptor-based group. In addition, intramolecular interactions providing for the conformation of the ligand as it approaches its receptor appear to have a role in determining agonist vs antagonist activity.     

Functional binding of cardiolipin to cytochromec oxidase

Bovine cytochromec oxidase usually contains 3–4 mol of tightly bound cardiolipin per cytochromeaa ₃ complex. At least two of these cardiolipins are required for full electron transport activity. Without the tightly bound cardiolipin, cytochromec oxidase has only 40–50% of its original activity when assayed in detergents that support activity, e.g., dodecyl maltoside. By measuring the restoration of electron transport activity, functional binding constants for cardiolipin and a number of cardiolipin analogues have been evaluated (K _d,app=1 µM for cardiolipin). These binding constants agree reasonably well with direct measurement of the binding using [¹⁴C]-acetyl-cardiolipin (K _d <0.1 µM) when the enzyme is solubilized with Triton X-100. These data are discussed in relationship to the wealth of data that is known about the association of cardiolipin with cytochromec oxidase and the other mitochrondrial electron transport complexes and transporters.     

腺苷及其类似物对猪血小板肌动蛋白聚合的抑制作用及可能机理

凝血酶和ADP刺激血小板肌动蛋白的聚合,腺苷、5′-氯-5′-脱氧腺苷及2′-脱氧腺苷抑制凝血酶和(或)ADP诱导的肌动蛋白聚合;腺苷和5′-氯-5′-脱氧腺苷对磷脂酰肌醇的磷酸化有抑制作用,且呈剂量效应关系;腺苷对凝血酶刺激的血小板中肌醇二磷酸的生成有抑制作用。本实验提示腺苷及其类似物对肌动蛋白聚合的抑制作用可能与它们对肌醇磷脂转换的抑制有关。     

BIOACTIVITIES AND MECHANISM OF SPIRO ENOL ETHER ANALOGUES AGAINST PIERIS RAPAE

Abstract  Nineteen kinds of spiro enol ether analogues were screened with larvae of Pieris rapae for antifeedant activity. The results showed that the antifeedant activity of compounds No.20 and No. 12 was higher than others. In non-choice test, AFC50 values within 24 h of compounds No.20 and No. 12 against 3rd instar larvae of P. rapae were 226.93 μg/mL and 370.00 μg/mL, and that in choice test against 4th larvae were 280.54 μg/mL and 398.88 μg/mL, respectively. Compd. No.20 could prolong the eggs hatch time and reduce the haemolymph content and the protein content in haemolymph of 4th instar larvae obviously. Compd. No.20 could protect tested leaves and control larvae of P. rapae effectively.     

Conformational analysis of cyclic angiotensin II analogues

Summary Conformationally restricted cyclic analogues of angiotensin II (ANG II), Asp¹-Arg²-Val³-Tyr⁴-Val⁵-His⁶-Pro⁷-Phe⁸, with a link between positions 3 and 5 have considerable biological activity. It is proposed that the spatial arrangement of the pharmacophore groups of Tyr⁴, His⁶ and Phe⁸ side chains and the C-terminal carboxyl group in ANG II and active analogues is similar. Conformational analysis of ANG II and two cyclic analogues c[Sar¹, Lys³,Glu⁵]ANG II and c[Sar¹,Hcy³,Mpt⁵]ANG II was performed, and a geometrical comparison of the low-energy conformations of these compounds allowed one to propose a model of receptor-bound conformation in terms of the spatial arrangement of the pharmacophore groups. This model is characterised by the close spatial location of the His⁶-Phe⁸ side chains and the Tyr⁴ C-terminal carboxyl group and is stabilised by the electrostatic interaction of Arg² and the C-terminal carboxyl group.Abbreviations ANG II angiotensin II - Hcy homocysteine - Mpt trans-4-mercaptoproline