The antibiotic CJ-15,801 is an antimetabolite that hijacks and then inhibits CoA biosynthesis

The natural product CJ-15,801 is an inhibitor of Staphylococcus aureus, but not other bacteria. Its close structural resemblance to pantothenic acid, the vitamin precursor of coenzyme A (CoA), and its Michael acceptor moiety suggest that it irreversibly inhibits an enzyme involved in CoA biosynthesis or utilization. However, its mode of action and the basis for its specificity have not been elucidated to date. We demonstrate that CJ-15,801 is transformed by the uniquely selective S. aureus pantothenate kinase, the first CoA biosynthetic enzyme, into a substrate for the next enzyme, phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase, which is inhibited through formation of a tight-binding structural mimic of its native reaction intermediate. These findings reveal CJ-15,801 as a vitamin biosynthetic pathway antimetabolite with a mechanism similar to that of the sulfonamide antibiotics and highlight CoA biosynthesis as a viable antimicrobial drug target.     

Peripheral endocannabinoid microdialysis: in vitro characterization and proof-of-concept in human subjects

In vivo endocannabinoid (EC) microdialysis has only seldom been performed, mostly in rodent brain tissue. Low solubility in aqueous media, adsorption to surfaces, and instability with co-present human serum albumin (HSA) are the major obstacles in EC microdialysis. The addition of hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrine (HPCD) to the perfusion fluid has been previously described to facilitate lipid microdialysis, but the general biophysical properties of HPCD, especially with respect to peripheral EC microdialysis, have not been described before. We report on the characterization of EC microdialysis using an in vitro system using Ringer’s solution with 10% HPCD as the perfusion fluid and with fatty acid-free HSA as the matrix fluid. The endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2AG) were measured using LC-MS/MS. AEA was stable in the perfusion and matrix fluids, whereas 2AG was only stable in the perfusion fluid. In the matrix fluid, 2AG underwent rapid isomerization to 1-arachidonoyl glycerol. A relative recovery of 3.5% for AEA was found with 10% HPCD in the perfusion fluid and a flow rate of 1 μL/min. For 2AG, a similar relative recovery of 3.5% was estimated. Since 2AG was found unstable in the matrix fluid, a reliable calculation of the relative recovery rates was not possible. Delivery and recovery experiments revealed unequal inward and outward EC transport across the microdialysis membrane. Contrary to usual microdialysis findings, we observed increasing recovery rates for AEA with increasing flow rates. Long equilibration times of several hours were necessary to obtain constant relative recovery rates. In a proof-of-concept study in humans, we collected AEA from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue employing the described methodology. Our study suggests that the microdialysis technique is not suitable for the exact quantification of tissue EC concentrations, but it allows for their rough estimation.

Open image in new window

Figure Microdialysis of peripheral endocannabinoids, especially anandamide (AEA).

     

N-Heterocyclic carbene boranes are good hydride donors

The nucleophilicity parameters (N) of 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene borane and 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene borane are 9.55 and 11.88. This places N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes) among the most nucleophilic classes of neutral hydride donors. Reductions of highly electron-poor C═N and C═C bonds provide hydrogenation products along with new, stable borylated products. The results suggest that NHC-boranes have considerable untapped potential as neutral organic reductants.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure Determination of Methyl 2-acetyl-5′-phenyl-2H-spiro[benzo[d]isothiazole-3,3′-pyrazole]-1,1-dioxide-2′(4′H)-carboxylate and Methyl 2-acetyl-5′-(2-thienyl)-2H-spiro[benzo[d]isothiazole-3,3′-pyrazole]-1,1-dioxide-2′(4′H)-carboxylate

Abstract  

Dilithiated C(α), N-carbomethoxyhydrazones were condensed with lithiated methyl 2-(aminosulfonyl)benzoate to afford intermediates that were isolated and not characterized but cyclized with acetic anhydride, which also resulted in N-acetylation. The X-ray crystal structure determinations of methyl 2-acetyl-5′-phenyl-2H-spiro[benzo[d]isothiazole-3,3′-pyrazole]-1,1-dioxide-2′(4′H)-carboxylate and methyl 2-acetyl-5′-(2-thienyl)-2H-spiro[benzo[d]isothiazole-3,3′-pyrazole]-1,1-dioxide-2′(4′H)-carboxylate products were a follow up for absorption spectra, and they confirmed their structures. Mechanistic intermediates to describe the reaction may include C-acylated intermediates that cyclize to spiro(N-benzoisothiazole dioxide-pyrazole) instead of N-carbomethoxypyrazole-ortho-benzenesulfonamides. Crystals of C₁₉H₁₇N₃O₅S 7 are monoclinic, P2₁/c, a = 11.899(2) ?, b = 17.562(4) ?, c = 9.484(2) ?, β = 111.03(3)°, Z = 4, V = 1849.9(6) ?³, R ₁ = 0.0857 and wR ₂ = 0.2216 for reflections with I > 2σ(I); crystals of C₁₇H₁₅N₃O₅S₂ 8 are orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 16.045(3) ?, b = 10.746(2) ?, c = 20.389(4) ?, Z = 8, V = 3516(1) ?³, R ₁ = 0.0841 and wR ₂ = 0.2179 for all reflections with I > 2σ(I).     

Factoring 111 ... 11 — A stimulating problem

The problem of factoring numbers like 111, 111, 111, 111 is a very productive one. It is beguiling, for in spite of its trivial appearance, this factoring problem leads immediately to considerations of the algebra of polynomials, ring homomorphisms, roots of unity, programming, repeating decimals, and recreational mathematics. This article shows how a pre‐calculus class can be introduced naturally to such ideas. Many of these applications are traditionally considered advanced, and will reappear in a student's curriculum.

A table of 56 factorizations is presented ; the largest is R45 =111, 111, ..., ..., 111. The article follows with an annotated list of applications of the factoring problem (focusing on 111, 111, 111, 111), which have been used successfully with pre‐calculus students. The techniques and comments are geared to the teacher of such a course.     

Fluctuations in radiation scattered by small spheroids above an interface

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a calculation of the low-order statistical properties of radiation which has been scattered by small spheroidal particles distributed at different heights above a surface. The results are in the form of analytical formulae for the average scattered intensity and for the normalized second moment of the intensity fluctuation distribution. The nature and magnitude of effects which can be generated by the system are discussed with particular reference to polarization phenomena at large angles of incidence. The predictions of the model are compared with the known fluctuation properties of microwave sea echo.

(Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version; see www.iop.org)     

E.S.R. Spectra of the Cyclobutanesemidiones Derived from Three Tricyclo[4. 4. 2. 01,6,]Dodecane-11-OL-12-Ones

The semidione radical anions derived from a variety of alicyclic ketones and α-hydroxyketones have been extensively investigated via esr by Russell and co-workers.¹Studies of the chemistry and spectra of the 1, 2-cyclobutanediones derived from the tricyclo[4. 4. 2. 0^1,6] dodecane-11-o1-12-one system²suggested that an examination of the esr spectra of the related semidiones would be of considerable interest. The recent reports on the esr spectra of cyclobutanes emidione^1cand several substituted cyclo-butanes emidiones^1bfurther prompt this communication.     

Study on the reactivity of the alkyne component in ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions between an alkene and an alkyne

The ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions of norbornadiene with a variety of alkynes have been investigated. Electronic effect of the alkyne component has shown to play an important role on the rate of the cycloaddition, and the reactivity of the alkyne component increases dramatically as the alkyne becomes more electron deficient. Increase in the steric bulk of the alkyne component decreases the reactivity of the alkyne component. It was also found that chelation effect of propargylic alcohols greatly enhanced the reactivity of the alkyne component in the ruthenium-catalyzed [2 + 2] cycloadditions.     

Remote substituent effects in ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions: an experimental and theoretical study

The effects of a remote substituent on the regioselectivity of ruthenium-catalyzed [2+2] cycloadditions of 2-substituted norbornenes with alkynes have been investigated experimentally and theoretically using density functional theory. Most of the cycloadditions occurred smoothly at room temperature, giving the exo cycloadducts in excellent yields. Regioselectivities of 1.2:1 to 15:1 were observed with various substituents on the C-2 position of the norbornenes. Exo-C-2-substituents usually showed greater remote substituent effects on the regioselectivities of the cycloadditions than the corresponding endo-C-2-substituents. The regioselectivity of the cycloadditions with C-2 substituents containing an exocyclic double bond (sp2 hybridized carbon at C-2) are much higher than the cycloadditions with the exo and endo 2-substituted norbornenes. Theoretical studies predicted the same trends as experiment and matched the experimental product ratios well. The nature of the regioselectivity in this reaction is discussed. Different strengths of the pi(C5-C6)-->pi(C2-Y) or pi(C5-C6)-->sigma(C2-Y) orbital interactions in 2-substituted norbornenes result in different degrees of C5-C6 double bond polarization. Stronger C5-C6 polarization will increase the difference in the activation energies between the major and minor pathways and thus lead to greater regioselectivities.