Total Synthesis,Proof of Absolute Configuration,and Biosynthetic Origin of Stylopsal,the First Isolated Sex Pheromone of Strepsiptera

The asymmetric total synthesis of the diastereomers of stylopsal establishes the absolute configuration of the first reported sex pheromone of the twisted‐wing parasite Stylops muelleri as (3R,5R,9R)‐trimethyldodecanal. The key steps for the diastereo‐ and enantiodivergent introduction of the methyl groups are two different types of asymmetric conjugate addition reactions of organocopper reagents to α,β‐unsaturated esters, whereas the dodecanal skeleton is assembled by Wittig reactions. The structure of the natural product was confirmed by chiral gas chromatography (GC) techniques, GC/MS and GC/electroantennography (EAD) as well as field tests. An investigation into the biosynthesis of the pheromone revealed that it is likely to be produced by decarboxylation of a 4,6,10‐trimethyltridecanoic acid derivative, which was found in substantial amounts in the fat body of the female, but not in the host bee Andrena vaga. This triple‐branched fatty acid precursor thus seems to be biosynthesized de novo through a polyketide pathway with two consecutive propionate‐propionate‐acetate assemblies to form the complete skeleton. The simplified, motionless and fully host‐dependent female exploits a remarkable strategy to maximize its reproductive success by employing a relatively complex and potent sex pheromone.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter capsulatus</Emphasis> porphobilinogen synthase,a high activity metal ion independent hexamer

Background  

The enzyme porphobilinogen synthase (PBGS), which is central to the biosynthesis of heme, chlorophyll and cobalamins, has long been known to use a variety of metal ions and has recently been shown able to exist in two very different quaternary forms that are related to metal ion usage. This paper reports new information on the metal ion independence and quaternary structure of PBGS from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus.     

Myosin-cross-reactive antigen (MCRA) protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bifidobacterium breve</Emphasis> is a FAD-dependent fatty acid hydratase which has a function in stress protection

Background  

The aim of this study was to determine the catalytic activity and physiological role of myosin-cross-reactive antigen (MCRA) from Bifidobacterium breve NCIMB 702258. MCRA from B. breve NCIMB 702258 was cloned, sequenced and expressed in heterologous hosts (Lactococcus and Corynebacterium) and the recombinant proteins assessed for enzymatic activity against fatty acid substrates.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 250: Determination of the stereostructure of CH503, a sex pheromone of male Drosophila melanogaster,as (3R,11Z,19Z)-3-acetoxy-11,19-octacosadien-1-ol by synthesis and chromatographic analysis of its eight isomers

All the eight stereoisomers of 3-acetoxy-11,19-octacosadien-1-ol (1), the male sex pheromone (CH503) of Drosophila melanogaster, were synthesized from two acetylenic starting materials and the enantiomers of 3,4-epoxy-1-butanol PMB ether. Complete separation of the eight isomers of 1 by reversed phase HPLC at ?20 °C was achieved after their esterification with (1R,2R)-2-(2,3-anthracenedicarboximido)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (27), and the natural CH503 was found to be (3R,11Z,19Z)-1.     

Comparison of sterols and fatty acids in two species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ganoderma</Emphasis>

Background  

Two species of Ganoderma, G. sinense and G. lucidum, are used as Lingzhi in China. Howerver, the content of triterpenoids and polysaccharides, main actives compounds, are significant different, though the extracts of both G. lucidum and G. sinense have antitumoral proliferation effect. It is suspected that other compounds contribute to their antitumoral activity. Sterols and fatty acids have obvious bioactivity. Therefore, determination and comparison of sterols and fatty acids is helpful to elucidate the active components of Lingzhi.     

Biochemical evidence for the tyrosine involvement in cationic intermediate stabilization in mouse β-carotene 15, 15'-monooxygenase

Background  

β-carotene 15,15'-monooxygenase (BCMO1) catalyzes the crucial first step in vitamin A biosynthesis in animals. We wished to explore the possibility that a carbocation intermediate is formed during the cleavage reaction of BCMO1, as is seen for many isoprenoid biosynthesis enzymes, and to determine which residues in the substrate binding cleft are necessary for catalytic and substrate binding activity. To test this hypothesis, we replaced substrate cleft aromatic and acidic residues by site-directed mutagenesis. Enzymatic activity was measured in vitro using His-tag purified proteins and in vivo in a β-carotene-accumulating E. coli system.     

Kinetic characterisation of arylamine <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyltransferase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas aeruginosa</Emphasis>

Background  

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) are important drug- and carcinogen-metabolising enzymes that catalyse the transfer of an acetyl group from a donor, such as acetyl coenzyme A, to an aromatic or heterocyclic amine, hydrazine, hydrazide or N-hydroxylamine acceptor substrate. NATs are found in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, and they may also have an endogenous function in addition to drug metabolism. For example, NAT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been proposed to have a role in cell wall lipid biosynthesis, and is therefore of interest as a potential drug target. To date there have been no studies investigating the kinetic mechanism of a bacterial NAT enzyme.     

Significant Associations Between Sun Exposure and Adiposity Were Not Observed in Breast and Prostate Cancer Patients in a Cross‐sectional Analysis

Obesity is a significant health problem worldwide. Exposure to low‐dose ultraviolet radiation (like that in sunlight) suppresses the development of obesity in mice; however, the nature of the associations between sun exposure and adiposity is not well understood in humans. The present study characterized cross‐sectional relationships between sun exposure and adiposity in a convenience cohort of breast (n = 269; mean age = 58 years) and prostate (n = 78; mean age = 69 years) cancer patients. Participants were enrolled in a 3‐month exercise program in Perth, Australia. Self‐reported questionnaires measured time spent outdoors (previous week, winter and summer), sex, age, treatment received and physical activity levels. Adiposity measures included body mass index, waist‐hip ratio and body fat percentage (measured via DXA). In unadjusted models, greater time spent outdoors across all times was significantly associated with lower waist‐hip ratio, while greater time spent outdoors in the last winter was associated with lower body fat percentage, but not when stratified by sex. There were no statistically significant associations between time spent outdoors and adiposity after adjusting for sex, age, treatments received and physical activity. Longitudinal studies in larger populations may elucidate significant associations not found in our study due to the cross‐sectional design and power limitations.     

Volatile profiling reveals intracellular metabolic changes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus parasiticus</Emphasis>: <Emphasis Type="Italic">veA</Emphasis> regulates branched chain amino acid and ethanol metabolism

Background  

Filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus produce a variety of natural products, including aflatoxin, the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen known. Aflatoxin biosynthesis, one of the most highly characterized secondary metabolic pathways, offers a model system to study secondary metabolism in eukaryotes. To control or customize biosynthesis of natural products we must understand how secondary metabolism integrates into the overall cellular metabolic network. By applying a metabolomics approach we analyzed volatile compounds synthesized by Aspergillus parasiticus in an attempt to define the association of secondary metabolism with other metabolic and cellular processes.     

Activity of the acyl-CoA synthetase ACSL6 isoforms: role of the fatty acid Gate-domains

Background  

Activation of fatty acids by acyl-CoA synthetase enzymes is required for de novo lipid synthesis, fatty acid catabolism, and remodeling of biological membranes. Human long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase member 6, ASCL6, is a form present in the plasma membrane of cells. Splicing events affecting the amino-terminus and alternative motifs near the ATP-binding site generate different isoforms of ACSL6.     

Evaluation and modeling of synergy to pheromone and plant kairomone in American palm weevil

Background  

Many behavioral responses to odors are synergistic, particularly in insects. In beetles, synergy often involves a pheromone and a plant odor, and pest management relies on them for the use of combined lures. To investigate olfactory synergy mechanisms, we need to distinguish synergistic effects from additive ones, when all components of the mixture are active.     

Rational Design of Small 3D Gold Clusters

Abstract  

We designed a series of small 3D gold clusters using a four-atomic tetrahedron with a four center–two electron (4c–2e) bond inside as a building block. The follow-up results of the unbiased global minimum searches proved that indeed the designed 3D structures containing small tetrahedral building blocks with a 4c–2e bond inside are either global minimum structures or low-lying isomers. We believe that the proposed way of building 3D clusters could be used for rational design of other 3D gold clusters.     

Biosynthesis of the proteasome inhibitor syringolin A: the ureido group joining two amino acids originates from bicarbonate

Background  

Syringolin A, an important virulence factor in the interaction of the phytopathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas syringaepv. syringaeB728a with its host plant Phaseolus vulgaris(bean), was recently shown to irreversibly inhibit eukaryotic proteasomes by a novel mechanism. Syringolin A is synthesized by a mixed non-ribosomal peptide synthetase/polyketide synthetase and consists of a tripeptide part including a twelve-membered ring with an N-terminal valine that is joined to a second valine via a very unusual ureido group. Analysis of sequence and architecture of the syringolin A synthetase gene cluster with the five open reading frames sylA-sylEallowed to formulate a biosynthesis model that explained all structural features of the tripeptide part of syringolin A but left the biosynthesis of the unusual ureido group unaccounted for.     

Development of a Temperature Shift Strategy for Efficient Docosahexaenoic Acid Production by a Marine Fungoid Protist, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizochytrium</Emphasis> sp. HX-308

Temperature was one of the important environmental factors affecting the biosynthesis of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6, ω−3). Generally, a low temperature would slow the strain growth, but promote the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids. According to this information, the effects of temperature and different two-stage temperature shifting strategies on fatty acid production and DHA content of the marine fungoid protist, Schizochytrium sp. HX-308, were investigated in this study. Finally, the highest DHA percentage was up to 51.98% (per total fatty acids) with the DHA production of 6.05% (per dry cell weight), which was obtained with the method of shifting temperature from 30 °C for 32 h to 20 °C for 12 h.     

The endocannabinoid anandamide is a precursor for the signaling lipid N-arachidonoyl glycine by two distinct pathways

Background  

N-arachidonoyl glycine (NAGly) is an endogenous signaling lipid with a wide variety of biological activity whose biosynthesis is poorly understood. Two primary biosynthetic pathways have been proposed. One suggests that NAGly is formed via an enzymatically regulated conjugation of arachidonic acid (AA) and glycine. The other suggests that NAGly is an oxidative metabolite of the endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide (AEA), through an alcohol dehydrogenase. Here using both in vitro and in vivo assays measuring metabolites with LC/MS/MS we test the hypothesis that both pathways are present in mammalian cells.     

Direct Laser Desorption Ionization of Endogenous and Exogenous Compounds from Insect Cuticles: Practical and Methodologic Aspects

We recently demonstrated that ultraviolet laser desorption ionization orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UV-LDI o-TOF MS) could be used for the matrix-free analysis of cuticular lipids (unsaturated aliphatic and oxygen-containing hydrocarbons and triacylglycerides) directly from individual Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies (Yew, J. Y.; Dreisewerd, K.; Luftmann, H.; Pohlentz, G.; Kravitz, E. A., Curr. Biol. 2009, 19, 1245–1254). In this report, we show that the cuticular hydrocarbon, fatty acid, and triglyceride profiles of other insects and spiders can also be directly analyzed from intact body parts. Mandibular pheromones from the jaw of a queen honey bee are provided as one example. In addition, we describe analytical features and examine mechanisms underlying the methodology. Molecular ions of lipids can be generated by direct UV-LDI when non-endogenous compounds are applied to insect wings or other body parts. Current sensitivity limits are in the 10 pmol range. We show also the dependence of ion signal intensity on collisional cooling gas pressure in the ion source, laser wavelength (varied between 280–380 nm and set to 2.94 μm for infrared LDI), and laser pulse energy.     

Structural studies of the Enterococcus faecalis SufU [Fe-S] cluster protein

Background  

Iron-sulfur clusters are ubiquitous and evolutionarily ancient inorganic prosthetic groups, the biosynthesis of which depends on complex protein machineries. Three distinct assembly systems involved in the maturation of cellular Fe-S proteins have been determined, designated the NIF, ISC and SUF systems. Although well described in several organisms, these machineries are poorly understood in Gram-positive bacteria. Within the Firmicutes phylum, the Enterococcus spp. genus have recently assumed importance in clinical microbiology being considered as emerging pathogens for humans, wherein Enterococcus faecalis represents the major species associated with nosocomial infections. The aim of this study was to carry out a phylogenetic analysis in Enterococcus faecalis V583 and a structural and conformational characterisation of it SufU protein.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">FTO</Emphasis> (fat mass and obesity associated) gene codes for a novel member of the non-heme dioxygenase superfamily

Background  

Genetic variants in the FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene have been associated with an increased risk of obesity. However, the function of its protein product has not been experimentally studied and previously reported sequence similarity analyses suggested the absence of homologs in existing protein databases. Here, we present the first detailed computational analysis of the sequence and predicted structure of the protein encoded by FTO.     

Insight into crucial inhibitor–enzyme interaction of arylamides as novel direct inhibitors of the enoyl ACP reductase (InhA) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: computer-aided molecular design

Abstract  

The enoyl ACP reductase enzyme (InhA) involved in the type II fatty acid biosynthesis pathway of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an attractive target enzyme for antitubercular drug development. Arylamide derivatives are a novel class of InhA inhibitors used to overcome the drug-resistance problem of isoniazid, the frontline drug for tuberculosis treatment. Their remarkable property of inhibiting the InhA enzyme directly without requiring any coenzyme, makes them especially appropriate for the design of new antibacterials. In order to find a sound binding conformation for the different arylamide analogs, molecular docking experiments were performed with subsequent QSAR investigations. The X-ray conformation of one arylamide within its cocrystallized complex with InhA was used as a starting conformation for the docking experiments. The results thus obtained are perfectly consistent (rmsd = 0.73 ?) with the results from X-ray analysis. A thorough investigation of the arylamide binding modes with InhA provided ample information about structural requirements for appropriate inhibitor–enzyme interactions. Three different QSAR models were established using two three-dimensional (CoMFA and CoMSIA) and one two-dimensional (HQSAR) techniques. With statistically ensured models, the QSAR results obtained had high correlation coefficients between molecular structure properties of 28 arylamide derivatives and their biological activity. Molecular fragment contributions to the biological activity of arylamides could be obtained from the HQSAR model. Finally, a graphic interpretation designed in different contour maps provided coincident information about the ligand–receptor interaction thus offering guidelines for syntheses of novel analogs with enhanced biological activity.