Phosphatase-inhibitory activity and activation of murine macrophages by new 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors, NPF-86IA, NPF-86IB, NPF-86IIA and NPF-86IIB

New 5'-nucleotidase-inhibitory polyphenols named NPF-86IA, NPF-86IB, NPF-86IIA and NPF-86IIB were isolated from the seeds of Areca catechu L. The ability of the inhibitors to precipitate gelatin was investigated by microturbidimetry. These inhibitors produced weak turbidity. As 5'-nucleotidase is a kind of phosphatase, we examined the effects of these inhibitors on alkaline and acidic phosphatases. While they showed moderate inhibitory effects on the activity of acidic phosphatases, they did not have any significant effect on the activity of alkaline phosphatase. Therefore, they showed a higher inhibitory effect on the 5'-nucleotidase than the other phosphatases, Murine macrophages were directly stimulated by the 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors.     

Novel negatively charged cyanocuprate(I) host [Cu4(CN)7]3− built of tetrahedral Cu(I) coordination centers: Crystal structure of [{NH2(CH2CH2)2NCH2CH2NH2}2H][Cu4(CN)7]

The title inclusion compound [{NH₂(CH₂CH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂NH₂}₂H][Cu₄(CN)₇] was obtained as single crystals from an aqueous solution containing CuCN, KCN, andN-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space groupP2/n,a = 12.3829(9),b = 8.5970(9),c = 12.6633(7) Å, = 109.984(5)°,z = 2,R = 0.035 for 2921 independent reflections. The inclusion structure is composed of the hydrogen-bonded dimeric onium guest [{NH₂(CH₂CH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂NH₂}₂H]³⁺ and the negatively-charged three-dimensional host [CU₄(CN)₇]^3– in which the CN-bridged framework Cu(I) atoms are all tetrahedral. A polyacene-like one-dimensional array of hexagons cornered by Cu(I) atoms and edged by -CN- linkages is arrayed in parallel to theb axis and stacked approximately along the c axis. The Cu(I) corner shared in the one-dimensional array extends an N-coordinate CN group along the c axis to a pair of unshared Cu(I) corners for which the C end behaves as a bifurcated ligand to build up the three-dimensional host structure. The cavity is composed of two networks of the hexagons at the top and bottom and pillared by six >CN- groups and accommodates a dimeric guest ofN-(2-aminoethyl)piperazinium cations protonated at each 4-N with the cations being hydrogen-bonded to each other through the 2-NH₂ groups sharing another H⁺.Presented at the Sixth International Seminar on Inclusion Compounds, Istanbul, Turkey, 27–31 August, 1995.     

The crystal structures of α,ω-diaminoalkanecadmium(II) tetracyanonickelate(II)-aromatic molecule inclusion compounds. IV. (1,6-Diaminohexane)cadmium(II) tetracyanonickelate(II)-m-toluidine(1/1),-p-toluidine(1/1), and-2,4-xylidine(1/1) clathrates,and the coordination complex bis(p-toluidine) (1,6-diaminohexane)cadmium(II) tetracyanonickelate(II)

The crystal structures of the four title compounds have been analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods at room temperature. Three with a general formula Cd[NH₂(CH₂)₆NH₂]Ni(CN)₄·G (G=m-toluidine,Im;p-toluidine,Ip; and 2,4-xylidine,Ix) are the inclusion compounds of the respective aromatic molecules in the three-dimensional metal complex host (1,6-diaminohexane)cadmium(II) tetracyanonickelate(II). The remaining one is a coordination complex ofp-toluidine, bis(p-toluidine) (1,6-diaminohexane)cadmium(II) tetracyanonick-elate(II),II, Im, Ix, andII crystallize under similar experimental conditions;Ip is obtained using thep-toluidinemesitylene mixture at higher dilution than that used forII. Im crystallizes in the tri linic space group \(P\bar 1\) , witha=9.725(2),b=7.598(1),c=7.177(1) Å, α=90.44(1), β=98.80(1), γ=95.70(1)^o, andZ=1 (the final conventionalR=0.037 for 3526 reflections);Ip: monoclinic,P2/m,a=9.540(2),b=7.611(1),c=7.120(1) Å, β=100.95(1)^o, andZ=1 (R=0.027 for 1700 reflections);Ix: monoclinic,P2/m,a=9.628(2),b=7.613(1),c=7.122(1) Å, β=100.01(1)^o, andZ=1 (R=0.049 for 2704 reflections);II: monoclinic,P2₁/n,a=12.107(3),b=10.117(2),c=12.471(3) Å, β=113.67(2)^o, andZ=2 (R=0.037 for 2616 reflections). The structures ofIm, Ip andIx are similar to that of theo-toluidine inclusion compound of the same metal complex host. InII atrans pair of thep-toluidine molecules to the cadmium atom in the two-dimensional network formed by thecatena-μ-linkages of ?Cd?NH₂(CH₂)₆NH₂?Cd? and ?NC?Ni?CN?Cd?NC?Ni?CN?intersecting at each Cd atom; two cyanide groups of the tetracyanonickelate(II) moiety have free N-ends.     

Electron spin resonance spectra observed in the course of grafting iron carbonyls on sodium-Y zeolites

The adsorption and/or decomposition pathway of Fe₂(CO)₉ or Fe₃(CO)₁₂ on hydrated or dehydrated NaY zeolites has been studied by an ESR technique. The adsorption resulted in the formation of three paramagnetic species withg _iso=2.0450, 2.0378, and 2.0016, which were attributable to Fe₃(CO)₁₁ ^–, Fe₂(CO)₈ ^–, and Fe(CO)₄ ^– anion radicals, respectively. These radicals have been suggested as intermediates in the formation of HFe₃(CO)₁₁ ^– on the hydrated NaY zeolite and Fe₃(CO)₁₂ on the dehydrated NaY zeolite.     

The growth inhibition of Streptococcus mutans by 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors from Areca catechu L

New 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors named NF-86I, NF-86II were recently isolated from the seeds of Areca catechu L. NF-86I and NF86II showed inhibitory effects on the growth of Streptococcus mutans MT8148(c) and Streptococcus mutans MT6715(g), respectively. In addition, these inhibitors could inhibit insoluble glucan formation from sucrose. NF-86I and NF-86II were found to be polyphenolic substances. Some polyphenols such as tannic acid bind non-specifically to proteins (tannic activity). The 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors that we isolated did not show any such activity. However, the growth inhibitory activity and the inhibitory effect on water-insoluble glucan production were equal to tannic acid. It is therefore considered that these inhibitors bind specifically to the bacterial cell surface. Our findings suggest that the 5'-nucleotidase inhibitors NF-86I and NF-86II may be useful anti-plaque preventing agents.     

Structure elucidation of dicarboxylate complex of Sn porphyrin with a ring current effect model

A new simple model of porphyrin ring current effect was proposed based on a line current approximation. It can reproduce the porphyrin-induced shifts for several Sn(IV)(tpp) and Sn(IV)(oep) dicarboxylate complexes quite satisfactorily. Perpendicular arrangement of the aromatic rings in the diaromatic-carboxylate complexes of Sn(IV)(tpp) and Sn(IV)(oep) was clarified with this porphyrin ring current effect model. There are two structures, exo and endo, in solution in dinaphthalene-1- and 2- carboxylate complexes of Sn(IV)(tpp) and Sn(IV)(oep). The exo conformer is in dynamic equilibrium with the endo form in solution. Thermodynamic data of these conformational equilibria are given.     

Conformational studies of poly(N5-Ω-hydroxyalkyl-L-glutamine)s in reversed micelles

The molecular conformations of poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) and poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) were investigated in reversed micelles of AOT as well as in aqueous solutions. Both poly(-amino acid)s assume disordered structures in pure water. The conformation of poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethylaminopropyl-L-glutamine) transits into-helix in the reversed micelles as the molar ratio of water to AOT (w₀=[H₂O]/[AOT]) becomes smaller. A similar conformational transition was also observed in aqueous solutions when a certain amount of AOT was added. Under these conditions, however, poly(N⁵-dihydroxyethyl-L-glutamine) did not undergo a conformational transition into-helix.     

Mutagenicity tests with a permeable mutant of yeast on carcinogens showing false-negative in Salmonella assay

The mutagenicity (Trp+ reversion) of procarcinogens such as N-nitrosodimethylamine, 3,4-benzpyrene and 2-acetylaminofluorene has been detected with the permeable mutant of yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae C658-K42. The original strain C658, however, showed a positive response only to N-nitrosodimethylamine with S9 mix. The permeable mutant C658-K42 was employed for mutagenicity tests on 12 carcinogens which had been reported to be non-mutagenic in Salmonella/microsome tests. It was found that phenobarbital, thiourea, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and 4-aminoantipyrine were mutagenic in the presence of S9 mix. Benzene, o-toluidine and thioacetamide were weakly mutagenic. Negative results were obtained for diethylstilbestrol, safrole, acetamide, urethane and ethionine at the concentrations used. Caprolactam did not show any mutagenic effect on C658-K42 at concentrations up to 20 mg/ml. Sodium azide, which is unlikely to be carcinogenic but is strongly mutagenic in the Ames test, showed a very weak mutagenic effect on C658-K42.     

Orientational order in binary mixtures of hard Gaussian overlap molecules

Based on a standard constant-pressure Monte Carlo molecular simulation, we have studied liquid crystal phases of binary mixtures of nonspherical molecules. The components of the mixtures are two types of hard Gaussian overlap (HGO) molecules. The first type of molecule has a small molecularelongation parameter (short HGO molecules) and cannot form stable liquid crystal phase in the bulk by themselves. The second type of molecule has a large elongation parameter (long HGO molecules) and can form a liquid crystal phase easily. In the mixtures, the short HGO molecules can form an orientationally ordered phase because the long HGO molecules form confining surfaces to induce the alignment of the short molecules. We also study the isotropic-nematic phase transition in different mixtures composed of short and long HGO molecules with different elongations and concentrations. The obtained result implies that small anisotropic molecules can show liquid crystal behavior.