Modification of the sesquiterpene lactone arteannuin B and antimicrobial activities of the products obtained

A number of amino derivatives have been synthesized from the sesquiterpene lactone arteannuin B, and quaternary salts have been obtained from them with alkyl halides. The results are given of a study of the antimicrobial activities of the modified derivatives.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 714–717, September–October, 1997.     

Chemical synthesis and enzymatic assembly of fragments of the DNA coding immunodominant epitopes of human immunodeficiency virus

More than twenty 13- to 55-membered oligo(poly)nucleotides have been synthesized by the H-phosphonate solid-phase method in the manual variant using an original procedure. From the oligonucleotides obtained, seven DNA duplexes coding immunodominant epitopes of HIV-1 proteins have been formed: 598–609 and 737–748 gp41, 91–115 and 105–115 gag, and 940–951 pol and a number of its mutants. The ligase assembly and polymerization of the DNA duplexes obtained has been carried out. The efficiency of ligation amounted to from 60 to 90%. The possibility of their directed polymerization was determined by the flanking of the duplexes by partially completed half-sites of restrictases BamHI and XhoI.Abbreviations adopted: HIV-1 — human immunodeficiency virus, type 1; (+)-chain — the coding chain — and (–)-chain the chain complementary to the coding chain of the DNA duplex; CPG — controlled-pore glass; PAAG — polyacrylamide gel; Py — pyridine.D. I. Ivanovskii Institute of Virology, USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow. V. A. Engel'gardt Institute of Molecular Biology, USSR Academy of Sciences, Moscow. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 393–399, May–June, 1990.     

Chemiluminescence detection of superoxide anion release and superoxide dismutase activity: modulation effect of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Pulsatilla chinensis</Emphasis>

A novel flow-injection chemiluminescence-based method has been developed for determination of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. An in-vitro superoxide anion generation xanthine/xanthine oxidase stable source was established on line with FIA/CL-detection apparatus, for measuring SOD activity. This method can detect SOD in the linear range of 0.002–2.00 U mL^–1 with a detection limit of 0.001 U mL^–1. Another method for detection of superoxide anion is based on the luminol–FeCl₃ chemiluminescence (CL) reaction. This method was used to evaluate superoxide release and SOD activity in rats treated with the traditional Chinese herb Pulsatilla chinensis, which resulted in high clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) after treatment of a hepatitis B patient. Interestingly, we found that treatment with Pulsatilla chinensis can specifically increase superoxide release by liver tissues and, at the same time, slightly increase extracellular SOD (ECSOD) activity in plasma; in particular it can markedly increase MnSOD activity in mitochondria in liver tissue. This work revealed a possible mechanism whereby Pulsatilla chinensis prevents possible infection (for example HBV) by specifically increasing superoxide release in the liver and increasing MnSOD activity to minimize superoxide-mediated toxicity.     

Analogs of oxytocin with L- and D-pentafluorophenylalanines in the second position

Summary 1. The separation of pentafluorophenylalanine into optical antipodes has been effected.2. Two new analogs of oxytocin — [2-L-pentafluorophenylalanine]oxytocin and [2-D-pentafluorophenylalanine]oxytocin — have been synthesized and their uterotonic activities have been studied.3. It has been shown that donor — acceptor interaction plays a fundamental role in the stimulation of the biological effect.A. A. Zhdanov Leningrad State University. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 392–398, May–June, 1977.     

Crystal and molecular structure of salvicin — A diterpenoid acid of the clerodane series

The spatial structure of the diterpenoid salvicin has been determined by x-ray structural analysis. The trans-linkage of rings A/B proposed previously has been confirmed. This indicates that rings A and B in related diterpenoids — salvin and salvinin — also have the trans-linkage.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 63–68, January–February, 1988.     

Functionalization of the ω-chain of prostanoids by the selective opening of the heterocycle in 3-isoxazolylcyclopentanone derivatives

The reaction of reducing agents with functionalized isoxazole derivatives has been studied; 13-amino-15-ketoprostanoids have been synthesized.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 389–393, March, 1992.     

Kinetics of the hydrolysis of mixed cellulose derivatives

By acetylating weakly substituted Na and H carboxymethylcelluloses and methylcellulose we have synthesized acetone-soluble highly substituted mixed derivatives of cellulose — acetocarboxymethylcellulose and acetomethylcellulose. Water-soluble products have been obtained from these esters by subsequent deep hydrolysis. The kinetics of the hydrolysis of the acetyl groups in the mixed derivatives obtained have been studied. Rate constants of the hydrolysis reactions have been calculated. The influence of the substituted groups on the acetylation and hydrolysis reactions has been determined.Tashkent Institute of Chemical Technology. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 102–106, January–February, 1997.     

Crystalline and molecular structures of the alkaloid delcosine

The molecular and crystalline structures of the diterpene alkaloid delcosine (iliensine) have been investigated by x-ray structural analysis. It has been confirmed that the OH group in ring A is located at C(1) and has the orientation. The rings in the molecule have the following conformations: A, B, and D — boat; C and F — envelope; E — chain. The ring linkages are: A/B — trans; A/E — cis; B/C — cis; B/D — cis; B/F — cis. The conformations and linkages of the rings are identical with those observed in lycoctonine.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 754–758, November–December, 1983.     

Column chromatography of methylthiohydantoin derivatives of amino acids in the investigation of the primary structure of porcine pepsin

Summary 1. MTH--Aminobutyric acid has been synthesized and has been used as an internal standard in the column chromatography of MTH-(amino acid)s.2. The column chromatography of MTH-(amino acid)s has been used in the analysis of short peptides isolated from a thermolysin hydrolyzate of the B2 fragment of porcine pepsin.All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of the Genetics and Breeding of Industrial Organisms. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 770–775, November–December, 1974.     

Synthetic and modified isoflavonoids. XI. Synthesis of analogues of maxima isoflavone A and xanthocercin

Analogues of maxima isoflavone A and of xanthocercin containing benzodioxolane, benzodioxane, and benzodioxepane fragments in rings A and B of isoflavone have been synthesized. The structures of the compounds obtained have been confirmed by analytical and spectral characteristics.KIEN, Karakalpak Division, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Nukus. Taras Shevchenko Kiev University. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 337–343, May–June, 1994.     

Isolation and purification of biopolymers by affinity chromatography. VI. Preparation and properties of an affinity adsorbent with a polysaccharide spacer for the purification of proteolytic enzymes

A new affinity sorbent has been synthesized — soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI)-amylopectin-hydrazidosuccinyl-Sepharose — and its properties have been studied in comparison with those of an analogous adsorbent without the spacer STI-Sepharose. The STI-amylopectin-hydrazidosuccinyl-Sepharose adsorbent has been used for the purification of trypsin from porcine pancreas and of callicrein from human blood plasma.For Communication V, see [1].Institute of Biological and Medicinal Chemistry, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. I. M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical Institute. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 556–560, July–August, 1980.     

Interaction with cholinesterases and conformational analysis of analogs of acetylcholine containing the alkaloids ephedrine and pseudoephedrine

Acetyl--methylcholine analogs of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine have been synthesized. The kinetics of their interaction with cholinesterases have been studied. To explain the differences in the sensitivity of the enzymes to conformers, a conformational analysis of the compounds synthesized has been made by the NMR method.A. S. Sadykov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Uzbek SSR Academy of Sciences, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 654–658, September–October, 1988.     

Dimeric stilbenes of the wood of Maackia amurensis

Dimeric stilbenes have been isolated from the wood of Amur maackia for the first time. Two of them have been identified as the known scirpusins A and B. The structure of a new dimeric stilbene with a dioxane linkage, which has been called maackinin, has been established. The PMR and¹³C NMR spectra of the substances isolated have been studied in detail.Pacific Ocean Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 468–476, September–October, 1992.     

Search for methods of synthesizing 1,9,10-trimethoxy-2,3-methylenedioxyaporphine. I

Several possible methods of obtaining 4-methoxy-2,3-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde have been considered. A method ensuring the synthesis of this aldehyde with a yield of 35–40% has been developed which consists in the bromination of isovanillin followed by the replacement of the halogen by a hydroxy group and methylation. A number of substituted benzylidene- and benzyltetrahydroisoquinolines have been synthesized. It has been shown that the irradiation of these substances leads to N-dealkylation accompanied by oxidative processes.Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 6, pp. 818–823, November–December, 1985.     

Interaction of carboxyl-containing polymers with deoxypeganine

Polymeric complexes of deoxypeganine hydrochloride with a number of carboxyl-containing polymers have been synthesized and investigated. It has been found that in the interaction of polymers with deoxypeganine both hydrogen bonds and electrostatic bonds arise.Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 33, No. 1, pp. 87–90, January–February, 1997.     

Principles of modeling in the study of conformations of histones

A study has been made by the CD method of the conformational potentialities of the polypeptides (Gly-Lys-Gly)_n and (Ala-Lys-Ala)_n and fragments of the terminal sections of histones H4 (the sequence 1–16), H2B (1–21), and H1 (152–184), and they have been used as models of histones in complex formation with DNA under various conditions of the medium.V. I. Nikitin Institute of Chemistry, Tadzhik SSR Academy of Sciences, Dushanbe. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 391–398, May–June, 1989.     

Primary structure of stellin B

Stellin B, a protamine fromAcipenser stellatus, has been subjected to thermolysin hydrolysis. Eight peptides have been isolated by chromatography on CM-Sephadex, and their structures have been determined by dansylation and by hydrolysis with carboxypeptidases A and B and with trypsin. From the results obtained, the complete amino acid sequence of stellin B has been established.M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 700–704, September–October, 1979.     

Synthesis of a decapeptide with the sequence 1–10 of human calcitonin with minimum protection of the amino acids

A decapeptide with sequence 1–10 of human calcitonin has been synthesized by a 5+5 scheme with the minimum protection of the side-chain functional groups of the amino acid.All-Union Scientific-Research Institute of the Technology of Blood Substitutes and Hormonal Preparations, Moscow. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 381–387, May–June, 1985.