Antiviral Activity of a Cyclic Pro-Pro-β3-HoPhe-Phe Tetrapeptide against HSV-1 and HAdV-5

The core of Cyclolinopeptide A (CLA, cyclo(LIILVPPFF)), responsible for its high immunosuppressive activity, contains a Pro-Pro-Phe-Phe sequence. A newly synthesized cyclic tetrapeptide, cyclo(Pro-Pro-β³-HoPhe-Phe) (denoted as 4B8M) bearing the active sequence of CLA, was recently shown to exhibit a wide array of anti-inflammatory properties in mouse models. In this investigation, we demonstrate that the peptide significantly inhibits the replication of human adenovirus C serotype 5 (HAdV-5) and Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) in epithelial lung cell line A-549, applying Cidofovir and Acyclovir as reference drugs. Based on a previously established mechanism of its action, we propose that the peptide may inhibit virus replication by the induction of PGE2 acting via EP2/EP4 receptors in epithelial cells. In summary, we reveal a new, antiviral property of this anti-inflammatory peptide.     

Coffee Chlorogenic Acids Incorporation for Bioactivity Enhancement of Foods: A Review

The demand of foods with high antioxidant capacity have increased and research on these foods continues to grow. This review is focused on chlorogenic acids (CGAs) from green coffee, which is the most abundant source. The main CGA in coffee is 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA). Coffee extracts are currently the most widely used source to enhance the antioxidant activity of foods. Due to the solubility of CGAs, their extraction is mainly performed with organic solvents. CGAs have been associated with health benefits, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity, and others that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the biological activities depend on the stability of CGAs, which are sensitive to pH, temperature, and light. The anti-inflammatory activity of 5-CQA is attributed to reducing the proinflammatory activity of cytokines. 5-CQA can negatively affect colon microbiota. An increase in anthocyanins and antioxidant activity was observed when CGAs extracts were added to different food matrices such as dairy products, coffee drinks, chocolate, and bakery products. The fortification of foods with coffee CGAs has the potential to improve the functionality of foods.     

Structural and Functional Analysis of the Pyridoxal Phosphate Homeostasis Protein YggS from Fusobacterium nucleatum

Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP) is the active form of vitamin B6, but it is highly reactive and poisonous in its free form. YggS is a PLP-binding protein found in bacteria and humans that mediates PLP homeostasis by delivering PLP to target enzymes or by performing a protective function. Several biochemical and structural studies of YggS have been reported, but the mechanism by which YggS recognizes PLP has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report a functional and structural analysis of YggS from Fusobacterium nucleatum (FnYggS). The PLP molecule could bind to native FnYggS, but no PLP binding was observed for selenomethionine (SeMet)-derivatized FnYggS. The crystal structure of FnYggS showed a type III TIM barrel fold, exhibiting structural homology with several other PLP-dependent enzymes. Although FnYggS exhibited low (<35%) amino acid sequence similarity with previously studied YggS proteins, its overall structure and PLP-binding site were highly conserved. In the PLP-binding site of FnYggS, the sulfate ion was coordinated by the conserved residues Ser201, Gly218, and Thr219, which were positioned to provide the binding moiety for the phosphate group of PLP. The mutagenesis study showed that the conserved Ser201 residue in FnYggS was the key residue for PLP binding. These results will expand the knowledge of the molecular properties and function of the YggS family.     

Isolation and HPLC Quantitative Determination of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors from Tectona grandis L.f. Leaf Extract

Steroid 5α-reductase plays a crucial role in catalyzing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which is involved in many androgen-dependent disorders. Leaf-hexane extract from Tectona grandis L.f. has shown promise as a 5α-reductase inhibitor. The objectives of this current study were to isolate and identify 5α-reductase inhibitors from T. grandis leaves and to use them as the bioactive markers for standardization of the extract. Three terpenoid compounds, (+)-eperua-8,13-dien-15-oic acid (1), (+)-eperua-7,13-dien-15-oic acid (2), and lupeol (3), were isolated and evaluated for 5α-reductase inhibitory activity. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited potent 5α-reductase inhibitory activity, while 3 showed weak inhibitory activity. An HPLC method for the quantitative determination of the two potent inhibitors (1 and 2), applicable for quality control of T. grandis leaf extracts, was also developed. The ethanolic extract showed a significantly higher content of 1 and 2 than found in the hexane extract, suggesting that ethanol is a preferable extraction solvent. This study is the first reported isolation of 5α-reductase inhibitors (1 and 2) from T. grandis leaves. The extraction and quality control methods that are safe and useful for further development of T. grandis leaf extract as an active ingredient for hair loss treatment products are also reported.     

New Derivatives of 5-Substituted Uracils: Potential Agents with a Wide Spectrum of Biological Activity

Pyrimidine nucleoside analogues are widely used to treat infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and DNA viruses from the herpes family. It has been shown that 5-substituted uracil derivatives can inhibit HIV-1, herpes family viruses, mycobacteria and other pathogens through various mechanisms. Among the 5-substituted pyrimidine nucleosides, there are not only the classical nucleoside inhibitors of the herpes family viruses, 2′-deoxy-5-iodocytidine and 5-bromovinyl-2′-deoxyuridine, but also derivatives of 1-(benzyl)-5-(phenylamino)uracil, which proved to be non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 and EBV. It made this modification of nucleoside analogues very promising in connection with the emergence of new viruses and the crisis of drug resistance when the task of creating effective antiviral agents of new types that act on other targets or exhibit activity by other mechanisms is very urgent. In this paper, we present the design, synthesis and primary screening of the biological activity of new nucleoside analogues, namely, 5′-norcarbocyclic derivatives of substituted 5-arylamino- and 5-aryloxyuracils, against RNA viruses.     

Aggregation of clay platelets in nematic liquid crystal, 5CB: microstructure,electrical conductivity and rheological investigations

The microstructure, electrical conductivity and rheological properties of a nematic liquid crystal (5CB) doped at concentrations up to 4.5 wt% of montmorillonite (MMT) or organomontmorillonite (OMMT) clay nanoplatelets, were investigated at temperatures between 293 and 310 K. Microscopy and electrical conductivity assessment revealed noticeable differences in aggregation in MMT and OMMT suspensions, MMT nanoplatelets showing a strong tendency to aggregation. The incubation of 5CB in the presence of MMT initially produced loose aggregation, followed by the formation of compact aggregates. The latter had practically no influence on the surrounding inter-aggregate regions. In the case of OMMT, a greater degree of integration of the nanoplatelets was observed within the liquid crystal structure of 5CB, resulting in a noticeable effect on electrical conductivity and activation energy of the composite material. Thixotropy was observed in suspensions of 5CB composites formed with either MMT or OMMT. A composite of 5CB with OMMT also exhibited anomalous viscous thinning at shear rates below 100 s^?1. A structural model is suggested to explain this behaviour.     

Synthesis of 5-Thio-D- Galactopyranose

5-Thio-D-galactopyranose has been synthesized from diacetone galactofuranose in nine steps and 13.4% overall yield. The key step involved a successful conversion of furanosyl 5,6-epoxide with an L-altrose configuration into the corresponding 5,6-thiirane D-galactose derivative, which was hydrolyzed to the target compound.     

Substituent electrophilicities in the NMR spectra of barbituric derivatives

Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³ C NMR spectra of a series of substituted 5‐benzylidene‐N,N′‐dimethylbarbituric acids (1) revealed chemical‐shift variations of different centers that correlated with the theoretical electrophilicities or with the substituent electrophilic constant σ_ω , in an example of the usefulness of these DFT‐based indices. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of solvent on the construction of Co(II) coordination polymers containing a semi-rigid bis(benzimidazole) derivative: syntheses,structures, and properties

Two Co(II) coordination polymers, [CoL(npa)]·2H₂O (1) and [CoL(Hnpa)₂] (2) (L = 1,4-bis(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole-1-yl)benzene, H₂npa = 5-nitroisophthalic acid), have been synthesized in different solvent systems and characterized by Infrared (IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 was synthesized under solvothermal conditions with DMF as solvent and had a pair of L ligands adopting a μ₂-bridging mode and connecting two Co²⁺ cations to generate a 26-membered Co₂L₂ loop. The npa^2? link adjacent Co₂L₂ loops via a bis(monodentate) bridging mode to create a 1-D channel-like chain structure. Compound 2 was obtained under hydrothermal conditions, and the carboxylate of the monodeprotonated Hnpa^? adopt a μ₁-η^0?:?η¹ coordination to connect adjacent Co²⁺ cations into a 2-D polymeric layer. The μ₂-bridging L ligands connect adjacent 2-D [Co(Hnpa)]_n polymeric layers into a 3-D NaCl-like framework. The Co²⁺ cations and the L ligands in compounds 1 and 2 exhibit different coordination geometries and conformations. Effects of solvents on the construction of Co(II) coordination polymers were investigated. In addition, the electrochemical behavior of carbon paste electrodes containing 1 and 2 and the thermal stabilities of 1 and 2 were investigated.