Design, syntheses and biological activity of novel ALS inhibitors (Ⅸ)——CoMFA of sulfonylureas and triazolopyrimidine-2-sulfonamides ALS inhibitors

Quantitative structure-activity relationships for herbicidal activity against rape of sulfonylurea and triazolopyrimidin-2-sulfonamide derivatives were examined three-dimensionally using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA). The CoMFA results show that the slopes in steric and electrostatic fields around the molecule were significant for both series in governing the potency variations in herbicidal activity. Based upon the successful superposition between the two series, the herbicidal activity was analyzable with a single equation for the combined set of compounds, which suggested that the two different series of compounds have a common region of the receptor site.     

甲氨蝶呤与一氧化氮供体或一氧化氮合酶抑制剂组合物的合成

一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)在肿瘤病理生理过程中产生多方面的生化作用,诸如引起的某些核苷酸碱基的羟基化,参与免疫系统清除肿瘤细胞,促进肿瘤细胞凋亡和调节血管生成等．在此基础上,首次提出将NO供体(NO donor)或一氧化氮合酶(nitric oxide synthase,NOS)抑制剂分别连接到甲氨蝶呤(methotrexate,MTX,MTX本身就是NOS抑制剂)的α或γ位羧基上的设想,设计并合成出：(1)MTX-NO供体(3-羟甲基-4-苯基-1,2,5-噁二唑-2-氧化物,属于Furoxan衍生物,缩写为FU)：1a(MTX-α-FU),2a(MTX-γ-FU);(2)MTX-NOS抑制剂(L-N^ω-硝基精氨酸或L-N^ω-硝基精氨酸甲酯)：1b(MTX-α-L-N^ω-NO2-Arg),2b(MTX-γ-L-N^ω-NO2-Arg),1c(MTX-α-L-N^ω-NO2-Arg-OMe),2c(MTX-γ-L-N^ω-NO2-Arg-OMe)．在生物活性测试中,我们选择耐MTX细胞株K-562(慢性粒细胞性白血病急性病变细胞株),进行抗肿瘤活性测试,得到以下结果：(1)脂溶性差的MTX衍生物1b,2b抗肿瘤活性低于MTX,其它1a,2a;1c,2c均优于MTX;(2)连接有NO供体的MTX明显增强了MTX衍生物的抗肿瘤活性;(3)MTX中谷氨酸γ位组合物抗肿瘤活性均高于相应的α位异构体的活性．以上初步结果,将对进一步研究NO抗肿瘤作用以及新的抗肿瘤药物设计提供新的思路,对肿瘤临床化疗也有一定的参考价值．     

1-二茂铁基-3-[(9-乙基)咔唑-3-基]丙烯酮的合成及三阶非线性光学性质

合成了一个新的非线性光学(NLO)有机材料1-二茂铁基-3-[(9-乙基)咔唑-3-基]丙烯酮(FCAK),并通过NMR、IR、MS和元素分析等技术手段进行了表征。 采用粉末Nd∶YAG激光技术测定了标题化合物的三阶非线性光学性质并确定了相关参数。 激光脉冲为4 ns时,非线性折射率n₂=-3.5×10^-18 m²/W,非线性吸收系数β=-2.7×10^-11 m/W,三阶非线性极化率χ⁽³⁾=2.04×10^-12 esu,三阶非线性分子超极化率γ=1.1×10^-30 esu。 激光脉冲为21 ps时,n₂=0.55×10^-18 m²/W,β=-0.6×10^-11 m/W,χ⁽³⁾=3.4×10^-13 esu,γ=0.13×10^-30 esu。     

Homo-timeric structural model of human microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 and characterization of its substrate/inhibitor binding interactions

Inducible, microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1), the terminal enzyme in the prostaglandin (PG) biosynthetic pathway, constitutes a promising therapeutic target for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. To elucidate structure–function relationships and to enable structure-based design, an mPGES-1 homology model was developed using the three-dimensional structure of the closest homologue of the MAPEG family (Membrane Associated Proteins in Eicosanoid and Glutathione metabolism), mGST-1. The ensuing model of mPGES-1 is a homo-trimer, with each monomer consisting of four membrane-spanning segments. Extensive structure refinement revealed an inter-monomer salt bridge (K26-E77) as well as inter-helical interactions within each monomer, including polar hydrogen bonds (e.g. T78-R110-T129) and hydrophobic π-stacking (F82-F103-F106), all contributing to the overall stability of the homo-trimer of mPGES-1. Catalytic co-factor glutathione (GSH) was docked into the mPGES-1 model by flexible optimization of both the ligand and the protein conformations, starting from the initial location ascertained from the mGST-1 structure. Possible binding site for the substrate, prostaglandin H₂ (PGH₂), was identified by systematically probing the refined molecular structure of mPGES-1. A binding model was generated by induced fit docking of PGH₂ in the presence of GSH. The homology model prescribes three potential inhibitor binding sites per mPGES-1 trimer. This was further confirmed experimentally by equilibrium dialysis study which generated a binding stoichiometric ratio of approximately three inhibitor molecules to three mPGES-1 monomers. The structural model that we have derived could serve as a useful tool for structure-guided design of inhibitors for this emergently important therapeutic target.     

Optical probes for detection and quantification of neutrophils’ oxidative burst. A review

Neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), are the most common type of white blood cells, comprising about 50-70% of all white blood cells. In the event of inflammatory processes, neutrophils display increased mobility, tissue influx ability, prolonged life span, and an increased phagocytic capacity, constituting the initial participants in the cellular defense of the organism. One of the most important defense systems of neutrophils corresponds to their ability to mediate a strong oxidative burst through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). While oxidative burst is important for the elimination of invading microorganisms, the overproduction of ROS and RNS or the impairment of endogenous antioxidant defenses may result to detrimental effects to the host. The nature and the extent of ROS and RNS production by neutrophils in response to different stimuli is, consequently, a matter of extensive research, with scientific reports showing an enormous variability on the detection methodologies employed. This review attempts to provide a critical assessment of the most common approaches to identify and quantify reactive species formed during the neutrophils’ oxidative burst. The detection mechanisms and performance, as well as advantages and limitations of the different methodologies, are scrutinized, focusing on the use of fluorimetric, chemiluminometric and colorimetric probes.     

Synthesis and study of the fluorescent behavior of 3-pyridinecarbonitriles

Abstract  A series of (2E)-3-(1-chloro-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)-1-(4-aryl)prop-2-en-1-ones (chalcones) have been synthesized by a new synthetic route. The 3-pyridinecarbonitrile derivatives were synthesized by the Michael reaction of malononitrile (in base) and aroylacetonitriles (in acid) with chalcones in one pot. The fluorescent properties and quantum yields of these compounds were studied. Graphical Abstract        

Efficient synthesis and biological activity of enantiomeric pairs of thiolactomycin and its 3-demethyl derivative

The title total synthesis was achieved by employing deconjugative asymmetric α-sulfenylation of the chiral 3-(α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated acyl)oxazolidin-2-one with a 3,3-dimethoxypropyl methanethiosulfonate as a key step. From the biological activity assay carried out using the title compounds, it appeared evident that in vitro antibacterial and mammalian type I FAS inhibitory activity can be cleanly separated by changing not only the substituent at the C₃-position but also the absolute configuration at the C₅-position, and that unnatural (S)-(−)-3-demethylthiolactomycin and its congeners might be usable as selective mammalian type I FAS inhibitors.     

Development of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of deacetoxycephalosporin C and isopenicillin N synthase activity

Although there are a number of existing assays for monitoring the activity of both isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) and deacetoxycephalosporin C synthase (DAOCS), none have demonstrated the qualities required for screening a mutant library. Hence, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for IPNS and DAOCS were developed based on the detection of the catalytic turnover products isopenicillin N and cephalexin/phenylacetyl-7-aminodeacetoxycephalosporanic acid (G-7-ADCA), respectively. These assays are relatively fast compared to existing assays, such as the hole-plate bioassay, and are amenable with high-throughput screening. Both the IPNS and DAOCS-ELISAs were optimised for use with crude protein extracts rather than purified protein, thereby eliminating any additional time required for purification. The ELISA developed for the detection of cephalexin had an IC₅₀ value of 154 ± 9 ng mL⁻¹ and LOD of 7.2 ± 2.2 ng mL⁻¹ under conditions required for the assay. Good recoveries and correlation was observed for spiked samples when the concentration of crude protein was kept below 1 mg mL⁻¹. The DAOCS-ELISA was found to have increased sensitivity compared to the hole-plate bioassay (10.3 μg mL⁻¹). The IPNS-ELISA did not significantly increase the sensitivity (approximately 5 μg mL⁻¹) compared to that of the hole-plate bioassay (16 μg mL⁻¹) for isopenicillin N. The minimum amount of crude protein extract required for producing detectable amounts of product for both assays was below 0.5% of the maximum amount of protein that the assay could contain without any effect on the ELISA. This suggests that when screening a mutant library, mutants producing low amounts of the product could still be detected using these assays.     

Molecular weight characterization of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] synthesized by genetically engineered strains of Escherichia coli

This study investigated the relationship of growth conditions, host strains and molecular weights of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] synthesized by genetically engineered Escherichia coli. Various PHA synthases belonging to types I-IV enzymes were expressed in E. coli JM109 under the same experimental conditions, and the molecular weights of the polymers were characterized by gel permeation chromatography. The results demonstrate that P(3HB) polymers have varied molecular weights and polydispersities dependent on the characteristics of the individual PHA synthase employed. P(3HB) with high number-average molecular weights (M_n) [(1.5-4.0) × 10⁶] and narrow polydispersities (1.6-1.8) were synthesized by PHA synthases from Ralstonia eutropha (type I), Delftia acidovorans (type I) and Allochromatium vinosum (type III). Contrary to these, P(3HB) with relatively low M_n [(0.17-0.79) × 10⁶] and broad polydispersities (2.2-9.0) were synthesized by PHA synthases from Aeromonas caviae (type I), Pseudomonas sp. 61-3 (type II) and Bacillus sp. INT005 (type IV). Furthermore, the molecular weights of P(3HB) synthesized under various culture conditions, in various hosts of E. coli and by mutants of PHA synthase were characterized. It was found that, in addition to culture pH [Kusaka et al. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 1997;47:140], other variances such as culture temperature, host strain and use of mutants are effective in changing polymer molecular weight.     

桔全爪螨几丁质合成酶基因克隆与序列

以桔全爪螨Panonychus citri(MeGregor)为研究对象,利用RT-PCR和SMART RACE技术克隆获得其几丁质合成酶基因的全长cDNA序列(命名为PcCHS,GenBank登录号为KM242063),并利用生物信息学方法对序列进行分析。结果表明:桔全爪螨几丁质合成酶PcCHS基因的cDNA全长为4 925bp,其中5’非翻译区(5’-UTR)为155bp,3’非翻译区(3’-UTR)为345bp,开放阅读框(ORF)包含4 425bp,编码1 474个氨基酸,预测其蛋白质分子质量约为168.43kD,理论等电点为6.83。其包含EDR和QRRRW这2个几丁质合成酶基因的标签序列。ExPASy在线分析表明,PcCHS具有15个跨膜螺旋、4个糖基化位点。推导的氨基酸序列同源性分析结果表明:桔全爪螨与二斑叶螨相似度为89%,其次为西方盲走螨,相似度为55%。分子系统进化的结果也表明桔全爪螨与二斑叶螨和西方盲走螨的进化关系最近。