Polycationic gramicidin s analogues with both high antibiotic activity and very low hemolytic activity

The substitution of each constituent amino acid residue of gramicidin S (GS), cyclo(-Val(1,1')-Orn(2,2')-Leu(3,3')-D-Phe(4,4')-Pro(5,5')-)(2) with Lys residue indicated that each side chain structure of the constituent amino acid residues affect largely the antibiotic activity and hemolytic activity of GS. Further, the substitution of D-Phe(4,4') and Pro(5,5') residues with basic amino acid residues as a Lys residue results the high antibiotic activity and the very low hemolytic activity. Thus, we have found novel positions on the scaffold of GS at D-Phe(4,4') and Pro(5,5') residues whose modification will significantly increase the therapeutic index.     

Synthesis of novel fatty-acyl gratisin derivatives

To find candidates with high antimicrobial and low hemolytic activities, many gratisin (GR) analogues have been designed and synthesized. In the present account, we synthesized novel derivatives of GR having both the polycationic and fatty acyl groups, cyclo{-Val(1)-Orn(2)-Leu(3)-D-Phe(4)-Pro(5)-D-Lys(6)(X)-Val(7)-Orn(8)-Leu(9)-D-Phe(10)-Pro(11)-D-Lys(12)-} {X=-CO(CH(2))(6)CH(3) (1), -Lys-CO(CH(2))(6)CH(3) (2), -(Lys)(2)-CO(CH(2))(6)CH(3) (3), and -(Lys)(3)-CO(CH(2))(6)CH(3) (4)}, and examined the biological activities. Among them, we found that 2-4 have differential ionic interaction against the prokaryotic membrane and eukaryotic membrane. In other words, the dissociation with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity is caused by the addition of D-Lys(6)-{(Lys)(n)-CO(CH(2))(6)CH(3)} residues at position 6 of [D-Lys(6,12)]-GR. Our findings should be helpful in finding drug candidates with high antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity that are capable of combating microbial resistance.     

A New Cyclic Peptide from Schnabelia tetradonta

A new cyclic octapeptide (schnabepeptide B) was isolated from the aerial part of Schnabelia tetradonta (Sun) C. Y. Wu et C. Chert (Lamiaceae). Its structure was elucidated as cyclo-(NH-Trp-Gly1-Leu1-Gly2-Pro1-Pro2-Leu2-Pr03-CO) on the basis of extensive 2D NMR and MS spectra.     

抗菌肽SAMP1及其类似肽的构效关系

以人工合成抗菌肽1(Synthetic antimicrobial peptide 1, SAMP1)为研究模板, 采用氨基酸序列重排、 不同的带正电荷氨基酸残基和疏水性氨基酸残基取代等方法, 设计合成了8条SAMP1类似肽. 利用生物信息学软件预测了SAMP1及其类似肽的理化性质; 采用圆二色光谱(CD)技术测定其在不同环境下二级结构的变化; 采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法测定其抗菌活性; 通过红细胞溶血实验评估了这些多肽的溶血性. 结果表明, 大部分类似肽具有较低的溶血毒性和较高的广谱抗菌活性. CD光谱分析结果显示, 大部分类似肽二级结构以α螺旋和无规则卷曲为主, 在体积分数为50%的2,2,2-三氟乙醇(TFE)溶液中, α螺旋结构比例增加. 与母肽SAMP1相比, 经序列重排后得到的SAMP1-A1, SAMP1-A2和SAMP1-A3的抗菌活性变化不大, 但序列中正电荷氨基酸残基均匀分布的类似肽SAMP1-A2的溶血毒性增加. 用精氨酸(Arg)取代SAMP1序列中的赖氨酸(Lys)得到的类似肽SAMP1-A4的抗菌活性增强, 同时溶血毒性降低. 用疏水性较强的异亮氨酸(Ile)和缬氨酸(Val)取代SAMP1中的疏水性氨基酸残基, 得到的类似肽SAMP1-A5和SAMP1-A7的抗菌活性急剧降低; 用疏水性较弱的色氨酸(Trp)取代SAMP1中的疏水性氨基酸残基, 得到的类似肽SAMP1-A8的抗菌活性增强, 同时溶血毒性提高.     

Synthetic analogs of histones and protamines

Conclusions We prepared the polytri- and polytetrapeptides (mol.wt. 2000–9000) containing the sequence: -Ala-Ala-Lys(Cbo)-;-Lys(Cbo)-Lys(Cbo)-Ala-; -Lys(Cbo)-Lys(Cbo)-Gly-; -Ala-Ala-Ala-Lys(Cbo)-; Lys(Cbo)-Lys(Cbo)-Lys(Cbo)-Ala-; -Orn(Cbo)-Orn(Cbo)-Ala-Ala-;-Orn(Cbo)-Orn(Cbo)-Gly-Gly-; -Lys (Cbo)-Lys-(Cbo)-Ala-Ala-;-Lys(Cbo)-Lys (Cbo)-GIy-Gly-.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 2, pp. 435–439, February, 1973.     

Beta-turn modified gramicidin S analogues containing arylated sugar amino acids display antimicrobial and hemolytic activity comparable to the natural product

This paper describes the design and synthesis of gramicidin S (GS) analogues 10a-c containing arylated sugar amino acids (SAAs) as a replacement of one of the two (D)Phe-Pro beta-turn regions. The cyclic, amphiphilic peptides adopt a beta-sheet conformation featuring an unusual reverse turn induced by the SAAs. The altered turn region induces a slight distortion of the antiparallel beta-sheet, as compared to GS; the overall geometry however closely resembles that of the nonarylated GS analogue 1. GS analogues 10a-c proved to be as active as the parent GS itself as antibacterial agents and are equally efficient in lysing red blood cells. These properties are in sharp contrast to the diminished biological activity displayed by 1. We conclude that the presence of aromaticity in the turn regions of GS derivatives is required for biological activity, whereas the native conformation of the beta-hairpin is not. Our findings may guide future research toward efficient and nonhemolytic GS analogues for combating bacterial infections.     

Gramicidin S Derivatives Containing cis‐ and trans‐Morpholine Amino Acids (MAAs) as Turn Mimetics

The cyclic decapeptide gramicidin S (GS) was used as a model for the evaluation of four turn mimetics. For this purpose, one of the D ‐Phe‐Pro two‐residue turn motifs in the rigid cyclic β‐hairpin structure of GS was replaced with morpholine amino acids (MAA 2 – 5 ), differing in stereochemistry and length of the side‐chain. The conformational properties of the thus obtained GS analogues ( 6 – 9 ) was assessed by using NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray crystallography, and correlated with their biological properties (antimicrobial and hemolytic activity). We show that compound 8 , containing the dipeptide isostere trans‐MAA 4 , has an apparent high structural resemblance with GS and that its antibacterial activity against a panel of Gram positive and ‐negative bacterial strains is better than the derivatives 6 , 7 and 9 .     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of gramicidin S dimers

The design and synthesis of analogues of the cyclic beta-sheet gramicidin S (GS), having additional functionalities in their turn regions, is reported. The monomeric GS analogues were transformed into dimers and their activities towards biological membranes, through antimicriobial and hemolytic assays, were evaluated. Finally, conductivity measurements have been performed to elucidate ion channel forming properties.     

New Minor Cyclopeptides from Arenaria oreophila （Caryophyllaceae）

New minor cyclic peptides, named arenariphilin C 1 and arenariphilin D 2, were isolated from the whole plants of Arenaria oreophila (Caryophyllaceae). Their structures were determined as cyclo(Pro1-Pro2-Leu1-Leu2-Phe-Ser-Gly-Thr) and cyclo (Ser-Cys) on the basis of spectroscopic data, especially by two-dimension NMR (2D NMR) technologies.     

Synthetic studies of vitamin D analogues. XI. Synthesis and differentiation-inducing activity of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D3 analogues.

Six analogues of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxy-22-oxavitamin D3 (OCT) (2), 26,27-dimethyl OCT (5), 26,27-diethyl OCT (6), 24-norOCT (7), 24-homoOCT (8), 24-dihomoOCT (9), and 24-trihomoOCT (10) were synthesized from the 20(S)-alcohol (11) as the common starting material. In the activity inducing differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells (HL-60) into macrophages, 26,27-dimethyl OCT (5) and 24-homoOCT (8) showed the highest activities. The binding properties of these analogues to the chick embryonic intestinal 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1) receptor are also described.     

蜂毒肽类似物的合成和生物活性研究

Melittin(GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ-NH₂)是蜂毒中含26个氨基酸残基的多肽,具有抗菌和溶血等生物活性,是典型的阳离子抗菌肽.本文设计合成了蜂毒肽C端15残基肽片段(GLPALISWIKRKRQQ-NH₂)及其类似物(15残基).研究了Melittin及这些合成肽的抗菌活性、溶血活性、疏水性及二级结构.结果表明,合成的类似物的溶血活性明显降低,抗菌活性基本保留,且与其疏水性相关.类似物中与碱性氨基酸簇(KRKR)距离较远的残基的疏水性对其抗菌活性有较大的贡献.多肽溶血与抗菌机理不同.类似物的抗菌活性和溶血活性与其二级结构(α-螺旋结构)没有明显的相关性.     

Synthesis and structures of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene catalysts: effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes on the catalytic activity for ethylene polymerization

A series of cycloalkylidene-bridged cyclopentadienyl metallocene complexes, [(CH(2))(n)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti, n = 4 (4), 5 (5), 6 (6); M = Zr, n = 4 (7), 5 (8), 6 (9); M = Hf, n = 4 (10), 5 (11), 6 (12)), have been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization after activation with methyl aluminoxane (MAO). The cycloalkylidene-bridged titanocene catalysts exhibit much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene and hafnocene analogues, and have the highest activities at higher temperatures. In comparison, the silacyclopentylidene-bridged metallocene complexes [(CH(2))(4)Si(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (13), Zr (14)) and isopropylene-bridged metallocene complexes [Me(2)C(C(5)H(4))(2)MCl(2)] (M = Ti (15), Zr (16)) have also been synthesized and applied to ethylene polymerization. In both cases, the titanocene complexes show much higher activities than the corresponding zirconocene analogues, especially at a lower temperature. The molecular structures of complexes 4-9 have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The structure-activity relationships, especially the effects of the bridges of ansa-metallocene complexes, are discussed.     

Two new steroidal saponins, hylodoside A and novaeguinoside Y, from the starfish Leptasterias hylodes reticulata and Culcita novaeguineae (juvenile)

New steroid glycosides, hylodoside A (1) and novaeguinoside Y (2), along with previously known polyhydroxylated steroids (3-7) were isolated from the ethanolic extracts of the starfish Leptasterias hylodes reticulata and Culcita novaeguineae (juvenile). The structures have been elucidated using 1D and 2D NMR spectra (1H, 13C, DEPT, COSY-45, 1D-TOCSY, HSQCGP, ROESY, HSQC and HMBCGP) and mass spectrometry. Compound 3 was shown to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus up to 10% from the control at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Steroids 1, 2 and 5 showed moderate hemolytic activity in the mouse erythrocytes assay. Compounds 3, 4 and 6 displayed pH-depended hemolytic properties.     

Two Series of Synthetic Territrem B Analogues and their Biological Activities

Two series of territrem B analogues (6, 11) were designed and synthesized from jujubogenin 2. Compound llc inhibited AChE with the ratio of 70% at 10^-4 mol/L. Compounds5a, 5b, 6a and lib showed moderate cytotoxicity on cultured KB cells at 10^-6 mol]L.Compounds 5c and 6b alleviated injury arising from oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).     

7-(2-fluorobenzyl)-4-(substituted)-7-H-imidazo[4,5-d −1,2,3-triazines and −7H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]-1,2,3-triazines. Synthesis and anticonvulsant activity

The imidazo[4,5-d]-1,2,3-triazine and pyrazolo[3,4-d]-1,2,3-triazine analogues of the potent anticonvul-sant purine, BW 78U79 (9-(2-fluorobenzyl)-6-methylamino-9H-purine, 1 ), were synthesized and tested for anticonvulsant activity. The imidazo[4,5-d]-1,2,3-triazines 11–13 were prepared in four steps from 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (2) and the pyrazolo[3,4-d]-1,2,3-triazines 18–21 were synthesized starting with 5-amino-1-(2-fluorobenzyl)pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (14) . The intermediate 1,2,3-triazin-4-ones 6 and 16 were converted to the 4-substituted targets via the 4-(4-dimethylaminopyridinium) salts 10 and 17 . Imidazotriazine 11 had potent anticonvulsant activity against maximal electroshock-induced seizures, but its propensity to cause emesis precluded further development.     

Drug resistance modulation in Staphylococcus aureus, a new biological activity for mesoionic hydrochloride compounds

Two salts of the mesoionic compounds 1,4-diphenyl-5-(5-nitro-2-furanyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazolium-2-thiol chloride (MC-1) and 4-phenyl-5-(5-nitro-2-furanyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazolium-2-phenylamine chloride (MC-2) were synthesized utilizing 1,4-diphenyl-thiosemicarbazide and 5-nitro-2-furoyl chloride as starting materials. Their structures were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and elemental analysis. These compounds were analyzed for their influence on the effectiveness of norfloxacin, tetracycline, and erythromycin (standard antibiotics) against resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. MC-1 and MC-2, at sub-inhibitory concentrations of 16 μg/mL, favourably modulated the antibiotic activity of tetracycline by 16- and 32-fold, respectively (MIC), and that of erythromycin by 4-fold.     

Trichogin GA IV: a versatile template for the synthesis of novel peptaibiotics

Trichogin GA IV, isolated from the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum, is the prototype of lipopeptaibols, the sub-class of short-length peptaibiotics exhibiting membrane-modifying properties. This peptaibol is predominantly folded in a mixed 3(10)-/α- helical conformation with a clear, albeit modest, amphiphilic character, which is likely to be responsible for its capability to perturb bacterial membranes and to induce cell death. In previous papers, we reported on the interesting biological properties of trichogin GA IV, namely its good activity against Gram positive bacteria, in particular methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains, its stability towards proteolytic degradation, and its low hemolytic activity. Aiming at broadening the antimicrobial activity spectrum by increasing the peptide helical amphiphilicity, in this work we synthesized, by solution and solid-phase methodologies, purified and fully characterized a set of trichogin GA IV analogs in which the four Gly residues at positions 2, 5, 6, 9, lying in the poorly hydrophilic face of the helical structure, are substituted by one (position 2, 5, 6 or 9), two (positions 5 and 6), three (positions 2, 5, and 9), and four (positions 2, 5, 6, and 9) Lys residues. The conformational preferences of the Lys-containing analogs were assessed by FT-IR absorption, CD and 2D-NMR techniques in aqueous, organic, and membrane-mimetic environments. Interestingly, it turns out that the presence of charged residues induces a transition of the helical conformation adopted by the peptaibols (from 3(10)- to α-helix) as a function of pH in a reversible process. The role played in the analogs by the markedly increased amphiphilicity was further tested by fluorescence leakage experiments in model membranes, protease resistance, antibacterial and antifungal activities, cytotoxicity, and hemolysis. Taken together, our biological results provide evidence that some of the least substituted among these analogs are good candidates for the development of new membrane-active antimicrobial agents.     

Bioactive aromatic derivatives from endophytic fungus, Cytospora sp

Two new benzyl gamma-butyrolactone analogues, (R)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (1) and its 6-acetate (2), and a new naphthalenone derivative (8), together with eight additional known aromatic derivatives, (S)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3), (S)-5-benzyl-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (4), 5-phenyl-4-oxopentanoic acid (5), gamma-oxo-benzenepentanoic acid methyl ester (6), 3-(2,5-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-phenyl-2-furyl)propionic acid (7), (3R)-5-methylmellein (9), integracins A (10) and B (11) were isolated from Cytospora sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from Ilex canariensis from Gomera. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, comparison with reported data, and chemical interconversion. The absolute configurations of the new compounds (1, 2, 8) were established on the basis of optical rotation or CD spectra analysis. Preliminary studies showed antimicrobial activity of these compounds against the fungi Microbotryum violaceum, Botrytis cinerea and Septoria tritici, the alga Chlorella fusca, and the bacterium Bacillus megaterium.     

Limonoids from Meliaceae with lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity

In this study the antioxidant activity of natural limonoids from Meliaceae swietenolide (1), 3,6-O,O-diacetylswietenolide (2), swietenine (3), swietemahonin G (4) and 2-hydroxyswietenine (5) were investigated along with the semi-synthetic analogues (6-25) of compounds 1, 3-4. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) inhibitory assays revealed 85.6, 13.3, 77.3, 61.2 and 24.6% inhibition for the natural compounds 1-5. Excellent antioxidant activity was seen for the semi-synthetic analogues 10 (98.3%), 16-17, 21-22 and 25 (100%), which were more active than the positive controls BHA (91.3%) and TBHQ (95.7%).     

A practical route to 3'-amino-3'-deoxyadenosine derivatives and puromycin analogues

3'-aminoacylamino-3'-deoxyadenosines, analogues of the antibiotic puromycin, have been synthesized from adenosine. They key 3'-azido derivative 10 was obtained through a 3'-oxidation/reduction/substitution procedure. A modified purification protocol on a larger scale was developed for the oxidation step using the Garegg reagent. The coupling reaction between an Fmoc-l-amino acid and the fully protected form of 3'-amino-3'-deoxyadenosine 11 furnished the aminoacylated compounds 12 in high yields. The puromycin analogues were obtained in 10 steps and up to 23% (14c) overall yield.