Novel palladium(II) and Zinc(II) Schiff base complexes: Synthesis,biophysical studies,and anticancer activity investigation

BackgroundSchiff base metal complexes are considered promising chemotherapeutic agents due to their potential application in cancer therapy.MethodsThe current work sought to synthesize a brand-new Schiff base ligand obtained from 2-hydroxybenzohydrazide and (E)− 1-(2-(p-tolyl)hydrazono)propan-2-one with metal ions which included Pd(II) and Zn(II) ions. Elemental analyses, FT-IR, mass spectra, 1H NMR, UV-Vis spectrometer, and computational analysis characterized the compound's structure. In vitro, the breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was tested for its sensitivity to Schiff base (HL) and its Pd(II) and Zn(II) complexes. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC₅₀ of the compounds was determined and used to perform the comet assay, which was carried out to reveal the photo-induced DNA damaging ability of the compounds of individual cells. Moreover, the compounds' effects on antioxidant defense systems of enzymes in cells: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and oxidant Malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined in MCF-7 cells.ResultsThe Pd(II) complex displayed approximately the same IC₅₀ as Cisplatin, while Zn(II) complex had better activity than Cisplatin with very low IC₅₀, 1.40 μg/ml. Significant alterations in SOD, CAT, GPx, and MDA production were discovered, inducing oxidative stress, enlarging ROS production, and reducing the antioxidant amount. This change was approximately similar in most compounds. Consequently, it promoted apoptosis, particularly the Zn(II) complex, which demonstrated an improved impact because of its ability to influence the antioxidant defense systems of enzymes, mostly SOD and GPx, besides increasing MDA levels.ConclusionIt can be concluded that Zn(II) complex is the most effective anticancer drug since it induced a very similar genotoxic effect as Cisplatin and has a very low IC₅₀ value.     

A histidine binding protein ofEscherichia coli: a component of cystine binding protein ofEscherichia coli

Summary Commercially obtained cystine binding protein (CBP), an osmotic shock protein ofEscherichia coli, was studied in an effort to determine its binding characteristics. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE) analysis of commercially obtained CBP showed three protein bands. N-terminal amino acid microsequencing and subsequent computer search revealed that the sequence of one of these proteins (25-kDa) was nearly identical to histidine binding protein (HisJ) ofSalmonella typhimurium. Purification of CBP by HPLC yielded four protein peaks, of which one bound histidine exclusively. Binding was maximal at pH 5.0 to 6.0, at 4°C, did not require calcium or magnesium ions and was not inhibited by reduction of CBP disulfide bonds. Amino acids other than histidine or cystine did not bind to CBP. These data show that commercially available CBP is not a homogenous protein; it contains a histidine as well as a cystine binding component.     

The CD95 (Fas/APO-1) receptor is phosphorylatedin vitro andin vivo and constitutively associates with several cellular proteins

Different CD95 (Fas/APO-1) isoforms and phosphory lated CD95 species were identified in human T and B cell lines. We had shown previously that the CD95 intracellular domain (IC), expressed as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein in murine L929 fibroblasts, was phosphorylatedin vivo. GST-CD95IC was phosphorylatedin vitro by a kinase present in extracts from the human lymphocytic cell lines Jurkat and MP-1 and from murine L929 cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis indicated that phosphorylation occurred at multiple threonine residues and also at tyrosine (Tyr232 and Tyr291) and serine. Amino acids 191 to 275 of CD95 were sufficient for phosphorylation at threonine, tyrosine and serine and also mediated interaction with a 35 kDa cellular protein. Immuno-precipitation of CD95 and chemical cross-linking revealed CD95-associated proteins of approximately 35, 45 and 75 kDa. GST-CD95IC affinity chromatography detected binding of the 35 and 75 kDa protein species. The 75 kDa species may correspond to the CD95-associated proteins RIP or FAF1 and the 35 kDa protein may represent a TRADD analogue. These data indicate that several cellular proteins interact with CD95, possibly in a multi-protein complex, and that a kinase activity is associated with CD95 not onlyin vitro but alsoin vivo. Therefore, receptor phosphorylation may play a role in CD95 signal transduction. This work was in part supported by a grant from the Health Research Council of New Zealand (to JW).     

The cellular pathway of sucrose transport in developing cotyledons ofVicia faba L. andPhaseolus vulgaris L.: a physiological assessment

The cellular pathway of sugar uptake in developing cotyledons of Vicia faba L. and Phaseolus vulgaris L. seed was evaluated using a physiological approach. The cotyledon interface with the seed coat is characterised by a specialised dermal cell complex. In the case of Vicia faba cotyledons, the epidermal component of the dermal cell complex is composed of transfer cells. Sucrose is the major sugar presented to the outer surface of both cotyledons and it is taken up from the apoplasm unaltered. Estimated sucrose concentrations within the apparent free space of Vicia and Phaseolus cotyledons were 105 and 113 mM respectively. Rates of in-vitro uptake of [¹⁴C]sucrose by cotyledon segments or by whole cotyledons following physical removal or porter inactivation of the outer cells demonstrated that, for both Vicia and Phaseolus cotyledons, the dermal cell complexes are the most intense sites of sucrose uptake. Accumulation of [¹⁴C]sucrose in the storage parenchyma of whole cotyledons was directly affected by experimental manipulation of uptake by the outer cell layers and plasmolytic disruption of the interconnecting plasmodesmata. These findings indicated that sucrose accumulated by the dermal cell complexes is transported symplasmically to the storage parenchyma. Overall, it is concluded that the dermal cell complexes of the developing legume embryo, irrespective of the presence or absence of wall ingrowths, are the major sites for the uptake of sucrose released from the maternal tissues to the seed apoplasm. Thereafter, the accumulated sucrose is transported radially inward through the symplast to the storage parenchyma.Abbreviations AFS apparent free space - CF 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein - CFDA 5-(6)-carboxyfluorescein diacetate - Mes 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - PCMBS p-chloromercuribenzenesulfonic acid - SRG sulphorhodamine G The investigation was supported by funds from the Research Management Committee, The University of Newcastle and the Australian Research Council. One of us, R. McDonald, gratefully acknowledges the support of an Australian Postgraduate Research Award. We are grateful to Stella Savoury for preparing the photomicrographs.     

Genetic variation at storage protein-coding loci of common wheat (cv ‘Chinese Spring’) induced by nitrosoethylurea and by the cultivation of immature embryos in vitro

Electrophoretic patterns of seed storage proteins, the high-molecular-weight glutenins and gliadins, were studied in 468 plants of the common wheat cultivar Chinese Spring regenerated from callus culture of immature embryos, in 115 plants grown from seeds treated with nitrosoethylurea and in 260 control plants. From 5 to 21 single grains were analysed from each plant. In these three groups, the frequency of inherited mutations causing the loss of all proteins controlled by a locus (null-mutations, probably caused by a chromosomal deficiency) was 0.69%, 2.07%, and 0.05% per locus (the differences were statistically significant), respectively, while that of mutations causing the loss of a single protein band was 0.11%, 0.33%, and 0.05%, respectively. The loss of all of the gliadins controlled by Gli-B1 or GH-B2 (mutations were probably caused by a deletion of satellites of the corresponding chromosomes), was significantly higher than the loss of gliadins controlled by genomes A and D. Gene mutations altering the electrophoretic mobility of a single protein band in the pattern were found only in the second group of plants (0.44%). Therefore, chemical mutagenesis which produced not only more mutations than cultivation of immature wheat embryos in vitro, but also a higher ratio of mutations that altered DNA sequences, can be considered as an easier and comparatively more promising way for obtaining new improved variants of loci controlling biochemical characteristics in wheat. Somaclonal variation, on the other hand, was probably mainly caused by chromosomal abnormalities and could therefore hardly be considered as a useful tool in wheat breeding.     

Purification and partial characterization of an acidic ribosomal protein kinase from maize

Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of ribosomal proteins have been suggested to participate in the regulation of protein synthesis in eukaryotic organisms. The present research focuses on the purification and partial characterization of a protein kinase from maize ribosomes that specifically phosphorylates acidic ribosomal proteins. Ribosomes purified from maize axes were used as the enzyme source. Purification of ribosomes was performed by centrifugation through a 0.5 M sucrose, 0.8 M KCl cushion. A protein kinase activity present in this fraction was released by extraction with 1.5 M KCl and further purified by diethylaminoethyl cellulose column chromatography. A peak containing protein kinase activity was eluted around 400 m M KCl. Analysis of this fraction by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed one band of 38 kDa molecular mass, which cross-reacted in a western blot with antibodies raised against proteins from the large ribosomal subunit. This enzyme specifically phosphorylates one of the acidic ribosomal proteins (P₂). Its activity is inhibited by Ca²⁺ and Zn²⁺ and is activated by Mg²⁺, polylysine and spermine. The relevance of this protein kinase in reinitiating the protein synthesis process during germination is discussed.     

Detection of a 65 kDaras binding protein in rat and sheep brain cytosol using a chemical cross linking agent

The ability of aras protein to associate with proteins present in rat brain cytosolin vitro was investigated using chemical cross-linking agents and the¹²⁵I-labelled v-H-ras protein. Two iodinated protein complexes with apparent molecular weights of 40 and 85 kDa were observed when a mixture of rat brain cytosol and [¹²⁵I]ras was treated with the cross-linking agent disuccinimidyl suberate and subjected to SDS-PAGE. Formation of the [¹²⁵I] 85 kDa complex was enhanced by a high concentration of EDTA while generation of the 40 kDa species was abolished by this treatment. Formation of the [¹²⁵I] 85 kDa complex was inhibited by unlabelledras protein, GTP, GTPS, and GDP but not by ATPS and GMP.Chromatography of the cross-linked brain cytosol-[¹²⁵I]ras mixture on DEAE cellulose partially resolved the [¹²⁵I] 85 kDa complex from the [¹²⁵I]ras protein. The [¹²⁵I] 85 kDa complex (formed using ethyleneglycolbis (succinimidylsuccinate) as the cross-linking agent) could be immunoprecipitated using a rabbit anti-ras polyclonal antibody. Treatment of the immunoprecipitate with hydroxylamine to cleave the cross-link yielded [¹²⁵I]-labelledras. A substantial enrichment of the proportion of the [¹²⁵I] 85 kDa complex in the cross-linked extract was achieved by preparative SDS-PAGE. It is concluded that thein vitro chemical cross-linking approach employed here has detected tworas binding proteins in rat brain cytosol: a 65 kDa heat-sensitive and a 20 kDa heat-stable protein. The possibility that the 65 kDaras binding protein is aras regulatory orras effector protein which has not so far been characterised is briefly discussed.Abbreviations DSS disuccinimidyl suberate - EGS ethyleneglycolbis (succinimidylsuccinate) - GTPS guanosine 5-[-thio] triphosphate - ATPS adenosine 5-[-thio] triphosphate     

Novel findings on the copper catalysed oxidation of cysteine

Summary The oxidation of cysteine (RSH) has been studied by using O₂, ferricytochrome c (Cyt c) and nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) as electron acceptors. The addition of 200M Cu^II to a solution of 2mM cysteine, pH 7.4, produces an absorbance with a peak at 260 nm and a shoulder at 300 nm. Generation of a cuprous bis-cysteine complex (RS-Cu^I-SR) is responsible for this absorbance. In the absence of O₂ the absorbance is stable for long time while in the presence of air it vanishes slowly only when the cysteine excess is consumed. The neocuproine assay and the EPR analysis show that the metal remains reduced in the course of the oxidation of cysteine returning to the oxidised form at the end of reaction when all RSH has been oxidised to RSSR. Addition of Cu^II enhances the reduction rate of Cyt c and of NBT by cysteine also under anaerobiosis indicating the occurrence of a direct reduction of the acceptor by the complex. It is concluded that the cuprous bis-cysteine complex (RS-Cu^I-SR) is the catalytic species involved in the oxidation of cysteine. The novel finding of the stability of the complex together with the metal remaining in the reduced form during the oxidation suggest sulfur as the electron donor in the place of the metal ion.Abbreviations RSH cysteine - RS^– cysteine in the thiolate form - RS^· thiyl radical of cysteine - RSSR cystine - Cyt c cytochrome c - SOD superoxide dismutase - NBT nitro blue tetrazolium - NBF nitro blue formazan - DTNB 5,5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid - DTPA diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid Dedicated to prof. A. Ballio ob the occasion of his 75th birthday.