COMPARISON OF THE LETHAL EFFECT OF 5-IODOURACIL INCORPORATED INTO BACTERIOPHAGE T4 IN THE PRESENCE AND ABSENCE OF NEAR-VISIBLE LIGHT

Abstract— Bacteriophages T2 or T4 containing 5-iodouracil (IUra) substituted for thymine in their DNA are inactivated by near-visible light, with fluorescent lamps as the source of near-visible light. Inactivation increases with the dose of near-visible light and follows first order kinetics. Relative inactivation rates are linearly proportional to percent substitution. Equivalent per cent substitution by IUra or 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine (IdUrd) results in equivalent sensitization to inactivation with both T2 and T4. However, incorporation of IUra into T4 and T2 also is lethal in the absence of light. The lethal effect of IUra substitution differs from the lethal effect of IUra substitution plus near-visible light irradiation in at least three respects: (1) IUra substitution is lethal for T4 under conditions where the residual viability is stable and where environmental light cannot account for the inactivation. (2) The hit curve for IUra lethality, as a function of per cent IUra substitution, has a large shoulder while the hit curve for sensitization to inactivation by near-visible light, as a function of per cent IUra substitution, has no shoulder. (3) At equivalent extents of inactivation. IdUrd substitution in the absence of light has a greater effect on phenotypic expression of T4 than either near-visible light irradiation alone or IUra substitution plus near-visible light irradiation, as measured by either delay in appearance or decrease in total amount of two induced enzyme activities (dihydrofolate reductase and deoxycytidylate hydroxymethylase).     

Syntheses， Structuresand Reactivity of Incomplete Cubane－like Compound［｛W_3S_4｝｛S_2P（OEt）_2｝_4（H_2O）］and Its Derivates

Ｓｙｎｔｈｅｓｅｓ,ＳｔｒｕｃｔｕｒｅｓａｎｄＲｅａｃｔｉｖｉｔｙｏｆＩｎｃｏｍｐｌｅｔｅＣｕｂａｎｅ－ｌｉｋｅＣｏｍｐｏｕｎｄ［｛Ｗ_３Ｓ_４｝｛Ｓ_２Ｐ（ＯＥｔ）_２｝_４（Ｈ_２Ｏ）］ａｎｄＩｔｓＤｅｒｉｖａｔｅｓ￥ＷｕＸｉｎ－Ｔａｏ;ＷａｎｇＱｕａ...     

“Normal” and “cine” substitution in the thioalkoxy-dehalogenation of halogenobenzofuranzans—II: Sensibility of each pathway to the change of alkanethiolate ion

Thioalkoxy-dehalogenation of 4-halogenobenzofurazans affording “normal” and “cine” substitution products has been more extensively investigated. Evidence for a partial intervention of AEa-type mechanism in NS product formation is now available. The competition of this pathway increases with the bulkiness of thiolate ion. Kinetic data for different thiolates are reported indicating a sensitivity to steric effects not only in the “normal” substitution but also in the “cine” substitution pathway.     

Ab initio studies of the intramolecular amide hydrolysis in N-methylmaleamic acids

The intramolecular amide hydrolysis reactions of N-methylmaleamic acids (NMMA) are studied at the MP2/6-31G**//RHF/4-31G level of theory as model reactions of peptide bond cleavage by a proteolytic enzyme. In contrast to the previously reported results for a bimolecular reaction model of peptide hydrolysis, the unimolecular reactions studied here proceed via the concerted pathway in which the C–O bond formation and the release of methylamine occur simultaneously in preference to the stepwise one. The determination of an intrinsic reaction coordinate shows that the reaction is facilitated by the intramolecular proton transfer from the undissociated carboxyl group to the nitrogen of the leaving amine group. Mainly because of the increase in activation energy, methyl substitution at the 2-position retards the hydrolysis reaction rate by a factor of 14 compared to the reaction of the unsubstituted molecule. In contrast, additional methyl substitution at 3-position leads to 35-fold increase in the reaction rate. These variations of reactivity are caused by the charge redistributions in the amide group induced by methyl substitutions and the resulting changes in electrophilicity of the aminocarbonyl carbon.     

Analogs of the dihydroceramide desaturase inhibitor GT11 modified at the amide function: synthesis and biological activities

Dihydroceramide desaturase is the last enzyme in the biosynthesis of ceramide de novo. The cyclopropene-containing sphingolipid GT11 is a competitive inhibitor of dihydroceramide desaturase. The biological effects of chemical modification of the GT11 amide linkage are reported in this article. Either N-methyl substitution or replacement of the amide alpha-carbonyl methylene by oxygen result in inactive compounds. In contrast, both urea (3) and thiourea (4) analogs of GT11, as well as three alpha-ketoamides (5-7), did inhibit the desaturation of N-octanoylsphinganine to N-octanoylsphingosine, although with significantly lower potency than GT11. Furthermore, the alpha-ketoamides 5-7 inhibit the acidic ceramidase with similar potencies (IC50 52-83 microM). Inhibition of the neutral/alkaline ceramidase by these compounds requires around 20-fold higher concentrations. Structure-activity relationships and the biological interest of these compounds are discussed.     

Substitution reactions of [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2-) with Bu(t)NC or Et(2)NCS(2)(-): trapping intermediates and detecting new pathways

Kinetic studies on the substitution reaction between [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2-) and Bu(t)NC or Et(2)NCS(2)(-) are reported. The binding of small molecules and ions to Fe-S clusters is a fundamental step in substitution reactions but can be difficult to follow directly because these reactions are rapid and often associated with small spectroscopic changes. A novel kinetic method is reported which allows the time course of molecule and ion binding to Fe-S clusters to be followed by monitoring the lability of the cluster. Using a stopped-flow, sequential-mix apparatus, [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2-) and L (L = Et(2)NCS(2)(-) or Bu(t)NC) are rapidly mixed, and after a known time (delta) the resulting solution is mixed with a solution of PhS(-). The thiolate substitutes for the chloro ligands on the cluster, in a reaction which is easy to follow because of the large change in the visible absorption spectrum. The rate of this substitution is extremely sensitive to whether L is bound to the cluster or not. By correlation of delta with the rate of the reaction with PhS(-), the time course of the reaction between [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2-) and L can be mapped out. In studies where L = Bu(t)NC this technique has allowed the detection of an intermediate ([Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)(CNBu(t))](2-)) which cannot be detected spectrophotometrically. In further studies, the substitution reactions of [Fe(4)S(4)Cl(4)](2-) with PhS(-), Et(2)NCS(2)(-), or Bu(t)NC are all perturbed by the addition of Cl(-). In all cases a common pathway for substitution is evident, but with Et(2)NCS(2)(-) an additional, slower pathway becomes apparent under conditions where the common pathway is completely inhibited by Cl(-).     

A study of the enzymic degradation of CMC and other cellulose ethers

Accelerated enzymic degradation of a series of six sodium carboxymethylcelluloses (CMC) varying in degree of substitution (DS) from 0.41 to 2.45 demonstrated that stability improves with increasing substitution, the DS 2.45 sample being essentially refactory to enzyme attack. The concentration of completely unsubstituted anhydroglucose (AHG) units in these samples, determined by acid hydrolysis followed by a glucose assay, is less at all substitution levels than would be expected from the relative etherification rates of the C₂, C₃, and C₆ hydroxyls reported in the literature. Assuming random distribution of the unsubstituted AHG units, the frequency of single (IU) and multiple adjacent (xU) sequences can be predicted. Consideration of the extent of enzymic degradation, expressed in terms of the decrease in average molecular chain length deduced from [η] measurements, indicated that in CMC chain scission occurs only at xU sites. A limited comparison of the performance of methyl-, hydroxyethyl-, and hydroxypropylcelluloses under identical conditions revealed that, by contrast, in these ethers enzyme-induced chain scission is possible not only at xU but also adjacent to 1U. The hydroxyalkyl and methyl groups appear to offer approximately equivalent protection against enzyme attack.     

Regioselective Formation of Substituted Indoles: Formal Synthesis of Lysergic Acid

A Diels–Alder reaction-based strategy for the synthesis of indoles and related heterocycles is reported. An intramolecular cycloaddition of alkyne-tethered 3-aminopyrones gives 4-substituted indolines in good yield and with complete regioselectivity. Additional substitution is readily tolerated in the transformation, allowing synthesis of complex and non-canonical substitution patterns. Oxidative conditions give the corresponding indoles. The strategy also allows the synthesis of carbazoles. The method was showcased in a formal synthesis of lysergic acid.     

The Thioesterase of the Erythromycin-Producing Polyketide Synthase: Influence of Acyl Chain Structure on the Mode of Release of Substrate Analogues from the Acyl Enzyme Intermediates

The production of genetically engineered polyketides depends critically on thioesterase activity for product release. In vitro studies with the thioesterase from the erythromycin polyketide synthase (PKS) have demonstrated that the ability of this enzyme to act as a universal decoupler is limited, but stereochemical variation is readily tolerated. Synthetic analogues with all four stereochemical configurations of the natural substrate's 2-methyl-3-hydroxy substitution pattern ( 1 – 4 ; X=p-nitrophenoxy) were substrates for the enzyme.     

Substitution of the Catalytic Metal and Protein PEGylation Enhances Activity and Stability of Bacterial Phosphotriesterase

Phosphotriesterase, a pesticide-degrading enzyme, from Flavobacterium sp. was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The catalytic zinc ions were replaced by cobalt atoms increasing the catalytic activity of phosphotriesterase on different pesticides. This metal substitution increased the catalytic activity from 1.4 times to 4 times according to the pesticide. In order to explain this catalytic increase, QM/MM calculations were performed. Accordingly, the HOMO energy of the substrate is closer to the LUMO energy of the cobalt-substituted enzyme. The chemical modification of the enzyme surface with poly(ethylene glycol) increased the thermostability and stability against metal chelating agents of both metal phosphotriesterase preparations.     

Studies on methoxylation in the 7H-naphtho[1,2,3-I,j][2,7]naphthyridin-7-one system

Studies on methoxylation in the 7H-naphtho[1,2,3-i,j][2,7]naphthyridin-7-one (sampangine) system represented by 3-bromo- and 4-bromosampangine as well as sampangine itself are described. We have found that regioselectivity of nucleophilic substitution in the sampangine system can be directed by reaction conditions. Under kinetic control (lower temperatures) substitution at C-4 is the predominant reaction, regardless of whether 3-bromo or 4-bromosampangine were used. At higher temperatures, when the reaction is thermodynamically controlled, substitution of the bromine atom at C-3 predominates. This is the first reported example of nucleophilic substitution in ring A of the 7H-naphtho[1,2,3-i,j][2,7]naphthyridin-7-one system.     

Study of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase: synthesis and evaluation of fluorinated substrate analogues

[reaction: see text] 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate (DXP) reductoisomerase is a NADPH-dependent enzyme catalyzing the conversion of DXP to methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP). In this study, each of the hydroxyl groups in DXP and one of its C-1 hydrogen atoms, were separately replaced with a fluorine atom and the effect of the substitution on the catalytic turnover was examined. It was found that the 1-fluoro-DXP is a poor substrate, while both 3- and 4-fluoro-DXP behave as noncompetitive inhibitors.     

Direct, regioselective, and chemoselective preparation of novel boronated tryptophans by Friedel-Crafts alkylation

A facile synthetic approach to the direct preparation of various novel unnatural boronated protected tryptophans using a regio- and chemoselective electrophilic substitution of 4- and 5-boronated indoles with N-protected dehydroalanine is described. The gram-scale synthesis of two free tryptophan boronic acids is also reported.     

Investigation of enzyme activity by SERRS using poly-functionalised benzotriazole derivatives as enzyme substrates

New methods of measuring biologically relevant concentrations of enzymes are necessary to allow greater understanding of biological systems. We have previously shown that aryl azo benzotriazolyl alkyl esters can act as enzyme substrates, with the progress of the reaction being monitored using SERRS (see Nat. Biotechnol., 2004, 22, 1133, ref. ). This is a wholly novel analytical application of SERRS, and the low detection levels of the technique allow for an ultra-sensitive enzyme assay. Masked enzyme substrates are used that are invisible to SERRS until enzymatic hydrolysis. Turnover of the substrate by the enzyme leads to the release of the surface-seeking dye necessary for SERRS, and intense signals are produced. Here we report an improved synthesis of 2H-benzotriazolyl alkyl esters via nucleophilic substitution of a chloromethyl ester by benzotriazolyl azo dyes, giving up to a ten-fold increase on previously reported yields. Introduction of electron-withdrawing groups to the benzotriazole ring allows control over the SERRS properties of the compounds. This is of great significance in expanding the synthetic flexibility and subsequently the fundamental use of these compounds as ultra-sensitive and selective reporters of enzyme activity.     

Consecutive nucleophilic substitution and aza Diels-Alder reaction—an efficient strategy to functionalized 2,2′-bipyridines

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of functionalized 2,2′-bipyridines is reported. The strategy is based on readily available 3-pyridyl-1,2,4-triazine 4-oxides and uses a reaction sequence of nucleophilic substitution of hydrogen and aza Diels-Alder reaction.     

Anion recognition by alpha-arylazo-N-confused calix[4]pyrroles

The first example of substitution reaction in the free alpha-position of N-confused calix[4]pyrroles is reported: azo-coupling with various arenediazonium salts. The obtained azocompounds were used for studies of their anion-binding properties by UV-Vis spectroscopy.     

Radical nucleophilic substitution of 2-(4-halophenyl)-2-methyl-1-chloropropane with enolate ions of ketones

The photoinitiated reaction of 2-(4-halophenyl)-2-methyl-1-chloropropane 2a,b (halogen=Br, I, respectively) with the anions of pinacolone (3a) and acetophenone (3b) either in DMSO or in liquid ammonia are reported. In DMSO, the main reaction is the SRN1 nucleophilic substitution at the aromatic (Csp2-halogen) center with substitution or reduction at the aliphatic (Csp3-Cl) one. In liquid ammonia, the main reaction is substitution at the aromatic C-halogen site. This difference in product distribution is ascribed to modifications in the rate constant of Csp3-Cl dissociation of the radical anions proposed as intermediates in going from DMSO (rt) to liquid NH3 (-33 degrees C).     

Relationship between the crystal structures of LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 and LiMn1.5Ni0.45Fe0.05O4 and their internal resistances as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - It has been reported that the partial substitution of Fe for Ni in LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 improves the rate capability of batteries wherein it is used as a cathode...     

Adamantylation of Imidazoles and Benzimidazole

For the first time is reported on substitution of a hydrogen atom in position 4 of the imidazole ring with an aliphatic substituent occurring in reaction between 1-bromoadamantane and imidazoles. The reaction proceeds alongside the substitution in position 1 at heating in excess imidazole. In o-dichlorobenzene solution adamantylation of benzimidazole afforded 1-(1-adamantyl)benzimidazole and 1,3-di(1-adamantyl)benzimidazolium bromide. The specific features of the reactions course are described. The structure of compounds obtained is proved by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Regioselectivity in the iodolactonization of 1,6-heptadien-4-carboxylic acid derivatives

Electronic control, as a consequence of differential olefin substitution, and a comparison of conformational versus electronic control in the iodolactonization of 1,6-heptadien-4-carboxylic acid derivatives are reported.