Prediction of the activity of β-lactam antibiotics

The pharmacological properties of penam, 3-cepheme, and semisynthetic penicillins were predicted by means of the ORAKUL automated system. A comparative evaluation of the similarity between the structures of these compounds and the structures of 8800 biologically active substances in the data base of the system made it possible to uncover the high probability of the manifestation of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumorigenic, antiallergic, and anticoagulant activity by structural analogs of -lactam antibiotics.Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 555–564, April, 1992.     

Inhibition of cyclodextrins on the activity of α-amylase

α-amylase activity influences both flour fermentation process and the quality of the fermented products due to its ability of breaking starch into smaller units. The inhibition of cyclodextrins on α-amylase activity was investigated in this paper. Experiment results showed that hydrophobic cavity size was an intrinsic factor during the inhibition processing. Among three types of cyclodextrin (α-, β- and γ-), β-type exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity toward α-amylase. The optimal inhibitory parameters were indicated to be pH 5.9, concentration of β-cyclodextrins 1 mmol/L, reaction temperature 45 °C and reaction time 60 min. Results suggested that the endogenous fluorescence of α-amylase was inhibited by cyclodextrins. Circular dichroism spectrum indicated that the secondary structure of α-amylase, including α-helices, β-sheets and random coils, was changed by cyclodextrins. All the results in this paper aim to provide a further understanding for α-amylase in the industry application.     

Kinetics of the radical scavenging activity of β-carotene-related compounds

To clarify the non-enzymatic radical-scavenging activity of β-carotene-related compounds and other polyenes, we used differential scanning calorimetry to study the kinetics of radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) or benzoyl peroxide (BPO) in the absence or presence of polyenes under nearly anaerobic conditions at 70°C, and analyzed the results with an SAR approach. The polyenes studied were all-trans retinol, retinol palmitate, calciferol, β-carotene and lycopene. Polyenes produced a small induction period. The stoichiometric factor (n) (i.e. the number of radicals trapped by each inhibitor molecule) of polyenes was close to 0. Tetraterpenes (β-carotene, lycopene) suppressed significantly more of the initial rate of polymerization (R ^inh) than did diterpenes (retinol, retinol palmitate). The inhibition rate constants (k ^inh) for the reaction of β-carotene with AIBN-or BPO-derived radicals were determined to be 1.2–1.6?×?10⁵ l?/?mol?s, similar to published values. A linear relationship between k ^inh and the kinetic chain length (KCL) for polyenes was observed; as k ^inh increased, KCL decreased. KCL also decreased significantly as the number of conjugated double bonds in the polyenes increased. Polyenes, particularly β-carotene and lycopene, acted as interceptors of growing poly-MMA radicals.     

Determination of the copper activity of liquid CuLa alloys

The thermodynamic activities of liquid CuLa alloys were obtained at 1549 K by Knudsen effusion experiments. The experimentally known concentration and temperature dependences of thermodynamic properties of liquid CuLa alloys are explained on the basis of an association model. These results are discussed in comparison with the enthalpy of crystallization and the crystallization temperature as well as the enthalpy of melting and the melting temperature of lanthanum-rich glassy and crystalline alloys respectively.     

Role of saturability of noncovalent interactions in the analysis of the three-dimensional structure—opioid activity relationship

The effect of the saturability of noncovalent interactions on the character of opioid activity of opioid receptor ligands belonging to different structural classes was investigated. A three-dimensional model for an opiate pharmacophore was used to show that the involvement of pharmacophore elements, which are responsible for the agonist ligand binding to opioid receptors, in intramolecular interactions gives rise to antagonistic properties.     

Effect of magnesium cations on the activity and stability of β-galactosidases

It was shown that the presence of magnesium cations in the reaction mixture increases, approximately twofold, the activity of bacterial Escherichia coli and yeast Kluyveromyces lactis β-galactosidases but does not affect the activity of bovine liver and fungous Penicillium canescens β-galactosidases. The catalytic constants for E. coli and yeast K. lactis β-galactosidases in the presence of 0.01 M and in the absence of Mg²⁺ cations were determined (490 and 220 s^?1 and 59.8 and 37.4 s^?1, respectively). It was shown that the Michaelis constants for these two enzymes are higher in the presence of Mg²⁺ cations, that the thermal stability of E. coli and K. Lactis β-galactosidases is higher in the presence of 0.01 M Mg²⁺, and that the effective rate constants of thermal inactivation of the enzymes are two-to eightfold lower, depending on conditions, in the presence of Mg²⁺ cations. The maximum stabilizing effect of magnesium cations was observed at weak alkaline pH values (7.5–8.5).     

Influence of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin on the photostability and antiradical activity of Trolox

Trolox (6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid), a derivative of vitamin E, can undergo photolysis upon UV irradiation. In the present study the photodegradation kinetics of Trolox were thus investigated in different systems in the absence and in the presence of titanium dioxide, a physical sunscreen present in several cosmetic products, that can act as photocatalyst. In all the considered media Trolox degraded under UVB light following pseudo-zero order kinetics, probably by a mechanism of photooxidation. The rate of Trolox photodegradation was lower in O/W emulsions than in aqueous solution and in gel; furthermore it was significantly influenced by the presence of TiO₂. Aiming to increase Trolox stability, it was complexed with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: the inclusion complex was characterized by phase solubility studies, spectrophotometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The irradiation experiments indicated that complexation with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was effective in reducing the photodegradation rate of Trolox. Moreover the host molecule favored the uptake of Trolox into the porcine skin, as shown by in vitro permeation studies. Nevertheless the assay of peroxidation, based on the reaction of malondialdehyde with thiobarbituric acid, indicated that the antioxidant activity of Trolox was maintained even after inclusion in cyclodextrin.     

Assessing the activity concentration of β-emitters by means of the end-window g.m. tube

The activity concentrations of β-emitters including ³⁵S (0.15 MeV) and presumably also ¹⁴C (0.14 MeV) may be determined with satisfactory accuracy using an end-window G.M. counter. For single preparations (if weighed), the described procedure warrants that the standard error will not exceed 0.8%, if the amount of substrate is kept below 0.2 mg/cm², and if carrier-free solutions are avoided. With a minimum of 4 preparations per sample solution, the error of the mean should not exceed 0.4%,     

A new potentiometric sensor for the determination of α-amylase activity

A platinum redox sensor for the direct potentiometric determination of α-amylase concentration has been described. The sensor measured the amount of triiodide released from a starch-triiodide complex, which was correlated with the α-amylase activity after biocatalytic starch degradation. The composition and stability of the potassium triiodide solution was optimized. The starch-triiodide complex was characterized potentiometrically at variable starch and triiodide concentrations. The response mechanism of the platinum redox sensor towards α-amylase was proposed and the appropriate theoretical model was elaborated. The results obtained using the redox sensor exhibited satisfactory accuracy and precision and good agreement with a standard spectrophotometric method and high-sensitive fully automated descret analyser method. The sensor was tested on pure α-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1, Fluka, Switzerland), industrial granulated α-amylase Duramyl 120 T and an industrial cogranulate of protease and α-amylase Everlase/Duramyl 8.0 T/60 T. The detection limit was found to be 1.944 mU for α-amylase in the range of 0-0.54 U (0-15 μg), 0.030 mKNU for Duramyl 120 T in the range of 0-9.6 mKNU (0-80 μg) and 0.032 mKNU for Everlase/Duramyl 8.0 T/60 T in the range of 0-9.24 mKNU (0-140 μg).     

The investigation of the quantitative structure–activity relationships between the structure of hydrazine derivatives and the reduction of Np(VI)

The 3D structure of hydrazine derivatives was optimized and their energy was calculated by density functional theory with B3LYP method and 6-311 + (3d, 3p) basis set. The results show that the reaction relationship between the structure of hydrazine derivatives and Np(VI) could be explained by two quantitative structure–activity relationships equations. In Eq. 1, the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy is a major factor affecting the reduction rate, and it is negatively correlated with the reaction rate. In Eq. 2, the molecular dipole moment and hydrophobic parameters are the most important factors affecting the reduction rate. The molecular dipole moment is negatively correlated with the reaction rate, but the hydrophobic parameter is positively correlated with the reaction rate.     

Does catalytic activity of bence-jones proteins contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma?

Some Bence-Jones proteins have been found to be capable of hydrolyzing DNA, chromogenic amide substrates, such as benzoylarginine p-nitroanilide, and natural oligopeptides, such as arginine vasopressin. Patients who excrete Bence-Jones protein with the DNA-nicking activity have shown moderately severe symptoms. When incubated with LLC-PK1 (porcine kidney proximal tubule) cells, some Bence Jones proteins penetrated the cytoplasm, and entered the nucleus with little or no degradation of epitopes. Intranuclear Bence Jones proteins ultimately induced DNA fragmentation in situ and cell death. This cytocidal activity was not directly associated with the DNA-nicking activity, since Bence Jones proteins with no detectable DNase activity also produced cell death. These results, however, suggest that the biological activities of Bence Jones proteins described here makes a significant contribution to the development and/or deterioration of multiple myeloma.     

Studies on the biological activity of gem-difluorinated 3,3-spirocyclic indole derivatives

The biological activities of a series of 3,3-spirocyclic indole derivatives containing CF₂, phosphine oxide,indole, and cyano functional groups were evaluated, and these derivatives were found to exhibit antiTMV, fungicidal, and insecticidal activities.     

How does trimethylamine N-oxide counteract the denaturing activity of urea?

Trimethylamine N-oxide, TMAO, stabilizes globular proteins and is able to counteract the denaturing activity of urea. The mechanism of this counteraction has remained elusive up to now. A rationalization is proposed grounded on the same theoretical model used to clarify the origin of cold denaturation, and the denaturing activity of GdmCl versus the stabilizing one of Gdm(2)SO(4) [G. Graziano, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2010, 12, 14245-14252; G. Graziano, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 12008-12014]. The fundamental quantities are: (a) the difference in the solvent-excluded volume on passing from the N-state to the D-state, calculated in water and in aqueous osmolyte solution; (b) the difference in energetic attractions of the N-state and the D-state with the surrounding solvent molecules, calculated in water and in aqueous osmolyte solution. In aqueous 8 M urea + 4 M TMAO solution, the first quantity is so large and positive to counteract the second one that is large and negative due to preferential binding of urea molecules to the protein surface. This happens because aqueous 8 M urea + 4 M TMAO solution has a volume packing density markedly larger than that of water, rendering the cavity creation process much more costly. The volume packing density increase reflects the strength of the attractions of water molecules with both urea and TMAO molecules. This mechanism readily explains why TMAO counteraction is operative even though urea molecules are preferentially located on the protein surface.     

Chiroptical spectra of bicyclic selenolactams. Optical activity of the singlet–triplet transition

Two selenolactams with rigid 2-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane skeletons were prepared by reaction of the corresponding lactams with P₄Se₁₀. A comparison of their UV–vis and CD spectra with those of the carbonyl and thiocarbonyl analogues showed a similar character of the lowest-energy electronic transitions and the same signs of the corresponding Cotton effects. The MCD spectra of selenolactams revealed that their n–π* absorption band is dominated by the singlet–triplet component. A very weak CD corresponding to this component has an opposite sign to its much stronger singlet–singlet counterpart observed at the blue edge of the n–π* band.     

Catalytic activity of the VIII Group metals in the hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes

The kinetic regularities of the liquid-phase hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes over the Pd/C, Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts were studied at temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 °C and at hydrogen pressures of 1–11 bar using n-octane as the solvent. The hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes occur simultaneously on the Ru/C, Rh/C, Pt/C, and Ir/C catalysts, and the reaction mixture contains the products of double bond hydrogenation, viz., cis- and trans-pinanes. The Ru, Rh, and Pd metals have a higher catalytic activity in β-pinene isomerization than Ir and Pt. Among the VIII Group metals studied, the Pd-based catalyst has the highest catalytic activity in double bond isomerization of α- and β-pinenes. The general scheme of the mechanism of hydrogenation and isomerization of α- and β-pinenes on the Pd/C catalyst was proposed.     

Relationship between the hydration degree of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide gel and activity of immobilized α-chymotrypsin

The influence of the pH, temperature, and dimethyl sulfoxide concentration on the hydration degree of the poly-N-isopropylacrylamide gel and the activity of -chymotrypsin immobilized into the polymer was studied. The behavior of more hydrophilic preparations based on polyacrylamide and copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid was studied for comparison. An increase in both the temperature and dimethyl sulfoxide content decreases the hydration of the poly-N-isopropylacrylamide, which correlates with a decrease in the activity of the immobilized enzyme. The use of substrates with different structures and an irreversible inhibitor proves that the change in the properties of -chymotrypsin immobilized into the poly-N-isopropylacrylamide gel is related to the change in the rate constants of enzymatic reactions. Comparison of all experimental data obtained suggested an opportunity of local interactions between the protein globule and polymeric chains with a change in the hydration degree of poly-N-isopropylacrylamide during its phase transition.     

Antioxidant activity of polyaniline nanofibers

Well-confined uniform polyaniline (PANI) nanofibers were synthesized by using photo-assisted chemical oxidative polymer- ization of aniline in the presence of different dopant acids,and the radical scavenging ability of the produced PANI nanofibers was determined by the DPPH assay.It was found that the antioxidant activity of PANI nanofibers was higher than conventional PANI, and increased with decreasing of averaged diameter of the nanofibers.The enhanced antioxidant activity was concerned with increased surface area of PANI nanofibers.