Structure-activity relationships of neuromedin U. V. study on the stability of porcine neuromedin U-8 at the C-terminal asparagine amide under mild alkaline and acidic conditions

Porcine neuromedin U-8 (X-Asn-NH(2), X=H-Tyr-Phe-Leu-Phe-Arg-Pro-Arg) is occasionally unstable in the biological fluids used for bioassay as well as in the acidic solutions used for purification of synthetic peptides. In this study, HPLC examination of an incubate solution of X-Asn-NH(2) revealed that the main decomposition products in Tyrode's solution (pH 7.4) were either alpha- or beta-monocarboxylic acid analogs (X-Asn-OH or X-Asp-NH(2)), and that no dicarboxylic acid analog (X-Asp-OH) was produced. Further investigation, employing a model peptide (Y-Asn-NH(2), Y=Benzoyl-Pro-Arg) incubated in a 0.1 M sodium bicarbonate solution at 60 degrees C, revealed that the decomposition of C-terminal Asn-NH(2) occurred through the formation of an aminosuccinimide intermediate (Y-Asu), at a rate faster than that of Y-Asn-Ser peptide but slower than that of Y-Asn-Gly peptide. Mild acid hydrolysis of X-Asn-NH(2) examined in a 1 M HCl solution at 60 degrees C yielded X-Asn-OH and X-Asp-NH(2), which further decomposed to yield X-Asp-OH. The C-terminal degradation of X-Asn-NH(2) resulted in reduced biological and immunochemical binding activities.     

Triflumizole as a Novel Lead Compound for Strigolactone Biosynthesis Inhibitor

Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in the development of various plants. SLs also stimulate seed germination of the root parasitic plants, Striga spp. and Orobanche spp., which reduce crop yield. Therefore, regulating SL biosynthesis may lessen the damage of root parasitic plants. Biosynthetic inhibitors effectively control biological processes by targeted regulation of biologically active compounds. In addition, biosynthetic inhibitors regulate endogenous levels in developmental stage- and tissue-specific manners. To date, although some chemicals have been found as SL biosynthesis inhibitor, these are derived from only three lead chemicals. In this study, to find a novel lead chemical for SL biosynthesis inhibitor, 27 nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives were screened for inhibition of SL biosynthesis. Triflumizole most effectively reduced the levels of rice SL, 4-deoxyorobanchol (4DO), in root exudates. In addition, triflumizole inhibited endogenous 4DO biosynthesis in rice roots by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of Os900, a rice enzyme that converts the SL intermediate carlactone to 4DO. A Striga germination assay revealed that triflumizole-treated rice displayed a reduced level of germination stimulation for Striga. These results identify triflumizole as a novel lead compound for inhibition of SL biosynthesis.     

The relationship between traffic noise and insomnia among adult Japanese women

To clarify the relationship between traffic noise and insomnia, the authors conducted a survey and measured the actual sound level of noise in an urban area. Questionnaires were distributed to adult women who lived within 150 m from two major roads and were completed by 648 of the 1286 subjects (50.4%). The area was divided into three zones according to distance from the road (more than 50, 20-50 and 0-19.9 m). Fifty-seven subjects (8.8%) were classified as having insomnia. Average values of sound level at distances of 20, 50, and 100 m from the major road were L_eq 64.7, 57.1, and 51.8 dBA, respectively. Overall, there were no significant differences among the three zones in the prevalence of insomnia and no association between distance from the road and insomnia. However, the result from a sub-data set of the subjects who lived in the areas that showed decreasing noise level as the distance from the main road increased showed that distance from the road was associated with insomnia. This study suggests that researchers should consider the actual traffic situation and its sound level in epidemiological studies about the effects of traffic noise on insomnia.     

Preparation of 4-hydroxy-2-alkenenitriles from phrnylsulfinylacetonitrile with keetones or aldehydes,and its synthetic application to substituted furans

The reaction of phenylsulfinylacetonitrile 1 with ketones or aldehydes gave 4-hydroxy-2-alkenenitriles which were converted to 2- and/or 3-substituted furans by the treatment with diisobutylaluminumhydride(DIBAL) followed by acid hydrolysis.     

Studies on the synthesis of compounds related to adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate. VII. Synthesis and cardiac effects of N6,N6-dialkyl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphates

A series of novel N6,N6-dialkyl adenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphates N6,N6-dialkyl cAMPs) was synthesized from 2'-O-p-toluenesulfonyl cAMP (2'-O-tosyl cAMP, 2) and tested for inotropic and chronotropic activities in vitro. Treatment of 2 with excess alkyl halides and sodium hydride followed by detosylation with aqueous NaOH readily gave N6,N6-dialkyl cAMPs (3) in good yields. Various N6,N6-dialkyl cAMPs having different alkyl groups at the N6-position (9-12) were prepared by alkylation followed by detosylation of N6-alkyl-2'-O-tosyl cAMPs (4) which were obtained by the reductive alkylation of 2 with aldehydes in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride in acetic acid or tosylation of N6-methyl cAMP. The mechanism of the detosylation is briefly discussed. Among the N6,N6-dialkylated derivatives, N6,N6-dipentyl (3f) and N6-ethyl-N6-heptyl (10e) derivatives were found to exhibit a potent positive inotropic effect and a weak positive chronotropic effect. The structure-activity relationships for the position and the length of alkyl residue are discussed.     

Fluorine-containing amino acids and their derivatives. 6. An efficient synthesis of β-fluorinated alanines via fluorohalomethylation of aminomalonates

Aminomalonates, e.g., $\text{1}$ and $\text{2}$, smoothly reacted with difluoro- and chlorofluorocarbene to produce the adducts ($\text{3}$, $\text{4}$, and $\text{5}$) in good yields. These products were successfully converted to various versatile β-fluorinated alanine derivatives, i.e., β,β-difluoroalanine ($\text{6}$), N-acyl-β-fluorodehydroalaninate ($\text{7}$), and fluoropyruvic acid ($\text{8}$).