Dihydrochalcones in Sweet Tea: Biosynthesis,Distribution and Neuroprotection Function

Sweet tea is a popular herbal drink in southwest China, and it is usually made from the shoots and tender leaves of Lithocarpus litseifolius. The sweet taste is mainly attributed to its high concentration of dihydrochalcones. The distribution and biosynthesis of dihydrochaldones in sweet tea, as well as neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo tests, are reviewed in this paper. Dihydrochalones are mainly composed of phloretin and its glycosides, namely, trilobatin and phloridzin, and enriched in tender leaves with significant geographical specificity. Biosynthesis of the dihydrochalones follows part of the phenylpropanoid and a branch of flavonoid metabolic pathways and is regulated by expression of the genes, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, 4-coumarate: coenzyme A ligase, trans-cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA double bond reductase. The dihydrochalones have been proven to exert a significant neuroprotective effect through their regulation against Aβ deposition, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.     

Stabilisation of Methylene Radicals by Cob(II)alamin in Coenzyme B12 Dependent Mutases

Coenzyme B₁₂ initiates radical chemistry in two types of enzymatic reactions, the irreversible eliminases (e.g., diol dehydratases) and the reversible mutases (e.g., methylmalonyl‐CoA mutase). Whereas eliminases that use radical generators other than coenzyme B₁₂ are known, no alternative coenzyme B₁₂ independent mutases have been detected for substrates in which a methyl group is reversibly converted to a methylene radical. We predict that such mutases do not exist. However, coenzyme B₁₂ independent pathways have been detected that circumvent the need for glutamate, β‐lysine or methylmalonyl‐CoA mutases by proceeding via different intermediates. In humans the methylcitrate cycle, which is ostensibly an alternative to the coenzyme B₁₂ dependent methylmalonyl‐CoA pathway for propionate oxidation, is not used because it would interfere with the Krebs cycle and thereby compromise the high‐energy requirement of the nervous system. In the diol dehydratases the 5′‐deoxyadenosyl radical generated by homolysis of the carbon–cobalt bond of coenzyme B₁₂ moves about 10 Å away from the cobalt atom in cob(II )alamin. The substrate and product radicals are generated at a similar distance from cob(II )alamin, which acts solely as spectator of the catalysis. In glutamate and methylmalonyl‐CoA mutases the 5′‐deoxyadenosyl radical remains within 3–4 Å of the cobalt atom, with the substrate and product radicals approximately 3 Å further away. It is suggested that cob(II )alamin acts as a conductor by stabilising both the 5′‐deoxyadenosyl radical and the product‐related methylene radicals.     

Catalytic electrooxidation of NADH for dehydrogenase amperometric biosensors

The developments in the techniques of NADH catalytic oxidation relevant for incorporation in amperometric biosensors with dehydrogenase enzymes are reviewed with special emphasis in the years following 1990. The review stresses the direct electro-catalytic methods of NAD⁺ recycling as opposed to enzymatic regeneration of the coenzyme. These developments are viewed and evaluated from a mechanistic perspective of recycling of NADH to enzymatically active NAD⁺, and from the point of view of development of technologically useful reagentless dehydrogenase biosensors. An effort is made to propose a method for the standardization of evaluation of new mediating and direct coenzyme recycling schemes. A perspective is given for the requirements that have to be met for successful biosensor development incorporating dehydrogenase enzymes that open the analytical possibilities to a number of new analytes. The intrinsic limitations of the system are finally discussed and a view of the future of the field is presented.     

Combined high-performance liquid chromatographic-continuous-flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric analysis of acylcoenzyme A compounds

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of coenzyme A thioesters which employs continuous-flow fast atom bombardment mass spectrometric detection is presented. The chromatographic system utilizes gradient elution with reversed-phase conditions using ammonium acetate-acetonitrile from both standard analytical (3.9 mm I.D.) and microbore (1 mm I.D.) columns. Applications to coenzyme A thioesters of various acyl group chain length (C2-C18) and functionality (-COOH, -OH, -C = C-) are described. The system is also applied to an in vitro enzyme reaction (crotonase) to directly follow the disappearance of substrate and appearance of product. The mass spectrometry of coenzyme A thioesters, their chromatographic behavior, system stability, and sensitivity of detection are discussed.     

Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis of malonyl‐coenzyme A in breast cancer cell cultures applying online solid‐phase extraction

Cofactors such as coenzyme A and its derivatives acetyl‐coenzyme A and malonyl‐coenzyme A are involved in many metabolic pathways. Due to trace level concentrations in biological samples and the high reactivity of cofactors, a fast, sensitive, and selective method for quantification is mandatory. In this study, online solid‐phase extraction was coupled successfully to hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for isolation of analytes in complex matrix and quantification by external calibration. Online solid‐phase extraction was carried out by application of a weak anion‐exchange column, whereas hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography separation was performed on an amide modified stationary phase. Sample preparation of the extracts before the analysis was reduced to a centrifugation and dilution step. Moreover, the applied online solid‐phase extraction significantly reduced matrix effects and increased the signal‐to‐noise ratio. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were in the lower nanomolar range. Finally, the applicability of this method was demonstrated on MCF‐7 breast cancer cell cultures, a commonly used model system, where acetyl‐coenzyme A and malonyl‐coenzyme A were determined using standard addition procedure in concentrations of 1.98 μM and 41 nM, respectively.     

Simvastatin inhibits osteoclast differentiation by scavenging reactive oxygen species

Osteoclasts, together with osteoblasts, control the amount of bone tissue and regulate bone remodeling. Osteoclast differentiation is an important factor related to the pathogenesis of bone-loss related diseases. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) acts as a signal mediator in osteoclast differentiation. Simvastatin, which inhibits 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, is a hypolipidemic drug which is known to affect bone metabolism and suppresses osteoclastogenesis induced by receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL). In this study, we analyzed whether simvastatin can inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis through suppression of the subsequently formed ROS and investigated whether simvastatin can inhibit H2O2-induced signaling pathways in osteoclast differentiation. We found that simvastatin decreased expression of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), a genetic marker of osteoclast differentiation, and inhibited intracellular ROS generation in RAW 264.7 cell lines. ROS generation activated NF-κB, protein kinases B (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways such as c-JUN N-terminal kinases, p38 MAP kinases as well as extracellular signal- regulated kinase. Simvastatin was found to suppress these H2O2-induced signaling pathways in osteoclastogenesis. Together, these results indicate that simvastatin acts as an osteoclastogenesis inhibitor through suppression of ROS-mediated signaling pathways. This indicates that simvastatin has potential usefulness for osteoporosis and pathological bone resorption.     

Manipulation of carrier proteins in antibiotic biosynthesis

Engineering biosynthetic pathways into suitable host organisms has become an attractive venue for the design, evaluation, and production of small molecule therapeutics. Polyketide (PK) and nonribosomal peptide (NRP) synthases have been of particular interest due to their modular structure, yet routine cloning and expression of these enzymes remains challenging. Here we describe a method to covalently label carrier proteins from PK and NRP synthases using the enzymatic transfer of a modified coenzyme A analog by a 4'-phosphopantetheinyltransferase. Using this method, carrier proteins can be loaded with single fluorescent or affinity reporters, providing novel entry for protein visualization, Western blot identification, and affinity purification. Application of these methods provides an ideal tool to track and quantify metabolically engineered pathways. Such techniques are valuable to measure protein expression, solubility, activity, and native posttranslational modification events in heterologous systems.     

辅酶Q10的合成方法研究进展

介绍了采用侧链直接引入法、侧链延长法和母体与侧链同时增碳法合成辅酶Q10的研究进展。参考文献18篇。     

Capillary electrophoretic assay of human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2

Human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 catalyzes the carboxylation of acetyl coenzyme A to form malonyl coenzyme A, along with the conversion of magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex to magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex. A simple off‐column capillary electrophoresis assay for human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 was developed based on the separation of magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex, magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex, acetyl coenzyme A and malonyl coenzyme A with detection by ultraviolet absorption at 256 nm. When Mg²⁺ was absent from the separation buffer, the zones due to magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex and magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex both split and migrated as two separate peaks. With Mg²⁺ added to the separation buffer, magnesium‐adenosine triphosphate complex and magnesium‐adenosine diphosphate complex produced single peaks, and the reproducibility of peak shape and area improved for human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 assay components. The final separation buffer used was 30.0 mM HEPES, 3.0 mM MgCl₂, 2.5 mM KHCO₃, and 2.5 mM potassium citrate at pH 7.50. The same buffer was used for the enzyme‐catalyzed reaction (off‐column). Inhibition of human acetyl‐coenzyme A carboxylase 2 by CP‐640186, a known inhibitor, was detected using the capillary electrophoresis assay.     

Coenzyme B induced coordination of coenzyme M via its thiol group to Ni(I) of F430 in active methyl-coenzyme M reductase

Methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) catalyzes the reaction of methyl-coenzyme M (CH3-S-CoM) with coenzyme B (HS-CoB) to methane and CoM-S-S-CoB. At the active site, it contains the nickel porphinoid F430, which has to be in the Ni(I) oxidation state for the enzyme to be active. How the substrates interact with the active site Ni(I) has remained elusive. We report here that coenzyme M (HS-CoM), which is a reversible competitive inhibitor to methyl-coenzyme M, interacts with its thiol group with the Ni(I) and that for interaction the simultaneous presence of coenzyme B is required. The evidence is based on X-band continuous wave EPR and Q-band hyperfine sublevel correlation spectroscopy of MCR in the red2 state induced with 33S-labeled coenzyme M and unlabeled coenzyme B.     

Investigation of enzyme-substrate complexes by affinity chromatography. Application to pig heart citrate synthase

The relative affinities of Sepharose gels, to which coenzyme A (CoA-SH) and CoA-SH analogues were bound through a well defined site, for citrate synthase were determined. The relative eluting power of coenzyme derivatives for the CoA-SH-gel and the Matrex Gel Blue-bound enzyme was measured, and the influence of oxaloacetate on the binding of the enzyme investigated. From the results, the contributions of different parts of the coenzyme to its binding in the active site and kinetic concepts are derived and found to be in complete agreement with corresponding data for citrate synthase obtained from kinetic measurements reported in the literature. It is demonstrated for some other CoA-SH-specific enzymes that affinity chromatography is of value as an additional tool for the comparative investigation of binding sites of enzymes which depend on the same coenzyme.     

Study on the properties of dextran-linked adenine nucleotide derivatives

A simple method is described for the preparation of dextran-linked coenzyme derivatives. Several different 8-(6-aminohexyl)amino-adenine nucleotide coenzymes and their derivatives were covalently attached to dextran by incubation with bromohydroxypropyl derivatives of dextran at room temperature in an alkaline medium. The polymer-linked adenine nucleotide derivatives were separated from the free coenzyme derivatives by a Sephadex G-50 column. The prepared dextran derivatives have ligand densities ranging from 20 to 100 μmol/g of dextran derivatives depending on the conditions of coupling and derivatives. NMR studies revealed that proton resonances of the polymer-linked coenzymes exhibit short transverse relaxation times (T₂) but long longitudinal relaxation times (T₁) This phenomenon was interpreted in terms of the anisotropic motions of the dextran-bound coenzyme derivatives in which the fast axial motions and slow restricted transverse motions of the bound coenzyme derivatives are postulated. These observations could properly explain why the polymer-linked coenzymes exhibit lower biological activity, but similar binding affinity to most enzymes.     

Stabilisation of methylene radicals by cob(II)alamin in coenzyme B12 dependent mutases

Coenzyme B12 initiates radical chemistry in two types of enzymatic reactions, the irreversible eliminases (e.g., diol dehydratases) and the reversible mutases (e.g., methylmalonyl-CoA mutase). Whereas eliminases that use radical generators other than coenzyme B12 are known, no alternative coenzyme B12 independent mutases have been detected for substrates in which a methyl group is reversibly converted to a methylene radical. We predict that such mutases do not exist. However, coenzyme B12 independent pathways have been detected that circumvent the need for glutamate, beta-lysine or methylmalonyl-CoA mutases by proceeding via different intermediates. In humans the methylcitrate cycle, which is ostensibly an alternative to the coenzyme B12 dependent methylmalonyl-CoA pathway for propionate oxidation, is not used because it would interfere with the Krebs cycle and thereby compromise the high-energy requirement of the nervous system. In the diol dehydratases the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical generated by homolysis of the carbon-cobalt bond of coenzyme B12 moves about 10 A away from the cobalt atom in cob(II)alamin. The substrate and product radicals are generated at a similar distance from cob(II)alamin, which acts solely as spectator of the catalysis. In glutamate and methylmalonyl-CoA mutases the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical remains within 3-4 A of the cobalt atom, with the substrate and product radicals approximately 3 A further away. It is suggested that cob(II)alamin acts as a conductor by stabilising both the 5'-deoxyadenosyl radical and the product-related methylene radicals.     

Synthetic Studies on Coenzyme Q10. Part 2

An improved route to coenzyme Q₁₀ ( 1 ) starting from commercially available coenzyme Q₁ is described. The key steps in this synthesis are the SeO₂‐mediated oxidation of the protected isoprenylhydroquinone 3 into the (E)‐allyl alcohol 5 without the formation of undesired stereoisomer and the one‐pot reductive elimination of the phenylsulfonyl and dibenzyl groups in 7 by using naphthalenyllithium.     

NMR observations of 13C-enriched coenzyme B12 bound to the ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii

The 13C NMR resonance and one-bond 1H-13C coupling constants of coenzyme B12 enriched in 13C in the cobalt-bound carbon have been observed in the complex of the coenzyme with the B12-dependent ribonucleotide reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii. Neither the 13C NMR chemical shift nor the 1H-13C coupling constants are significantly altered by binding of the coenzyme to the enzyme. The results suggest that ground-state Co-C bond distortion is not utilized by this enzyme to activate coenzyme B12 for C-Co bond homolysis.     

Coenzyme F430 from Methanogenic Bacteria: Complete Assignment of Configuration Based on an X-Ray Analysis of 12,13-Diepi-F430 Pentamethyl Ester and on NMR Spectroscopy

The structure of a derivative of coenzyme F430 from methanogenic bacteria, the bromide salt of 12,13-diepi-F430 pentamethyl ester ( 5 , X = Br), was determined by X-ray structure analysis. It reveals a more pronounced saddle-shaped out-of-plane deformation of the macrocycle than any hydroporphinoid Ni complex investigated so far. The crystal structure confirms the constitution proposed for coenzyme F430 ( 2 ) and shows that in the epimer 5 , the three stereogenic centers in ring D, C(17), C(18), and C(19), have the (17S)-, (18S)-, and (19R)-configuration, respectively. Deuteration and 2D-NMR studies independently demonstrate that native coenzyme F430 (2) has the same configuration in ring D as the epimer 5 . Therefore, our original tentative assignment of configuration at C(19) and C(18) [1] has to be reversed. This completes the assignment of configuration for all stereogenic centers in coenzyme F430, which has the structure shown in Formula 2 .     

维生素B12及其衍生物的电化学研究

评述了维生素Ｂ１２及其衍生物的电化学研究，讨论了电化学在理解Ｂ１２生理功能方面的重要性，阐述了有关Ｂ１２电化学研究的最新进展，预测了研究的前景。     

A highly selective and instantaneous upconversion fluorescent nanoprobe for ascorbic acid detection in biological samples

A novel turn-on fluorescent nanoprobe using lanthanide-doped up-conversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and hexagonal cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanofl akes were prepared for monitoring ascorbic acid in fruit samples.     

Understanding Palladium Acetate from a User Perspective

The behavior of palladium acetate is reviewed with respect to its synthesis, characterization, structure (in both solution and solid state), and activation pathways. In addition, comparisons of catalytic activities between pure palladium acetate and two common byproducts, Pd₃(OAc)₅(NO₂) and polymeric [Pd(OAc)₂]_n, typically present in commercially available material are reviewed. Hence, this minireview serves as a concise guide for the users of palladium acetate from both academia and industry.     

Mechanisms of water oxidation catalyzed by ruthenium diimine complexes

(18)O-isotope-labeling studies have led to the conclusion that there exist two major pathways for water oxidation catalyzed by dimeric ruthenium ions of the general type cis, cis-[L2Ru(III)(OH2)]2O(4+). We have proposed that both pathways involve concerted addition of H and OH fragments derived from H 2O to the complexes in their four-electron-oxidized states, i.e., [L2Ru(V)(O)]2O(4+), ultimately generating bound peroxy intermediates that decay with the evolution of O2. The pathways differ primarily in the site of addition of the OH fragment, which is either a ruthenyl O atom or a bipyridine ligand. In the former case, water addition is thought to give rise to a critical intermediate whose structure is L2Ru(IV)(OH)ORu(IV)(OOH)L2(4+); the structures of intermediates involved in the other pathway are less well defined but may involve bipyridine OH adducts of the type L2Ru(V)(O)ORu(IV)(OH)(L(*)OH)L(4+), which could react further to generate unstable dioxetanes or similar endoperoxides. Published experimental and theoretical support for these pathways is reviewed within the broader context of water oxidation catalysis and related reactions reported for other diruthenium and group 8 monomeric diimine-based catalysts. New experiments that are designed to probe the issue of bipyridine ligand "noninnocence" in catalysis are described. Specifically, the relative contributions of the two pathways have been shown to correlate with substituent effects in 4,4'- and 5,5'-substituted bipyridine complexes in a manner consistent with the formation of a reactive OH-adduct intermediate in one of the pathways, and the formation of OH-bipyridine adducts during catalytic turnover has been directly confirmed by optical spectroscopy. Finally, a photosensitized system for catalyzed water oxidation has been developed that allows assessment of the catalytic efficiencies of the complex ions under neutral and alkaline conditions; these studies show that the ions are far better catalysts than had previously been assumed based upon reported catalytic parameters obtained with strong oxidants in acidic media.