Future pathways for combinatorial chemistry

Summary Investment in combinatorial chemistry (combichem) in the pharmaceutical industry is being driven by the need for increased efficiency. Results from pioneers in the field have demonstrated where mixture or discrete compound synthesis is useful, and what mixture sizes and compound concentrations are appropriate. To make the techniques of combichem of general utility in drug discovery, a broad range of advances is still required. Conversion of organic chemistry to solid phase conditions is key, as are developments in linkers and resins. Library design methodology requires further development. Combinatorial biosynthesis of focused libraries of natural products holds great promise for capitalising on hardwon natural product leads. Miniaturisation of screens is required to reduce the cost of screening combinatorial libraries. Developments in the processes preceding and following synthesis are required to enable the flow of increased numbers of compounds without new bottlenecks developing. The impact of combinatorial chemistry will be greatly enhanced by synergy with ongoing parallel developments in genetic technologies, screening technologies and bioinformatics.     

Different acute effects of oral and intratracheal administration of disodium arsenate and gallium arsenide on heme synthesis in rats

The acute influences of arsenic compounds on the metabolism of porphyrins and heme in various organs of rats after oral or intratracheal administration of disodium arsenate (Na₂HAsO₄) and gallium arsenide (GaAs) were examined and compared. For the oral administration experiments, 21 or 84 mg of Na₂HAsO₄, or 2 or 4 g of GaAs, per cm³ saline per kg body weight of each animal was administered to Jcl: Wistar male rats and the organs were removed after exsanguination from the vein of the right axilla under anesthesia with ether, 16 h after administration. In the case of intratracheal administration, rats given 8.2 or 16.4 mg of Na₂HAsO₄, or 0.2 or 0.4 g GaAs per cm³ saline per kg body weight were examined under the same experimental conditions as for the administration route. Increase in the body weight of rats was suppressed after intratracheal administration of the two arsenic compounds. In these rats the hematocrit value increased significantly. These changes were not shown by the orally administered rats. Elevation in δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALA-S, EC 2.3.1.37) activity in erythroblasts by Na₂HAsO₄ was much higher after intratracheal administration than after oral administration. Suppression in the activities of δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D, EC 4.2.1.24) and porphobilinogen deaminase (PBG-D, EC 4.3.1.8) in peripheral erythrocytes by Na₂HAsO₄ and GaAs were stronger by intratracheal administration than by the oral route. Influences of GaAs on the activity of PBG-D in rat liver were shown to be more effective by oral administration than by the intratracheal route. Oral administration of Na₂HAsO₄ and GaAs had a stronger suppression effect on the activities of ALA-D and PBG-D in rat kidney. It seems from these results that the different extents of the influence of arsenic compounds might depend on the routes of intake.     

Separation of Monovinyl and Divinyl Protochlorophyllides Using C30 Reverse Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography Column: Analytical and Preparative Applications

A new, high performance liquid chromatography method has been developed for the separation of monovinyl- and divinyl-protochlorophyllides, using commercially available, C₃₀ reverse phase column and isocratic elution. This method can be used both for analytical applications and preparative scale purification of monovinyl- and divinyl-protochlorophyllides using the same column where submilimolar concentrations of the crude protochlorophyllide extract can be separated in one run. The purity of the obtained protochlorophyllides was demonstrated by spectroscopic methods, as well by the formation of aggregates in toluene.     

由肉桂酸生物合成L-苯丙氨酸

本文评述了Ｌ－苯丙氮酸的各种合成路线、国内外的研究现状及工业化情况，重点讨论了由肉桂酸和氨生物合成Ｌ－苯丙氨酸的路线，提出了在国内进一步工作的建议。     

Importance of the isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group for the formation of tetraether lipid in methanogenic archaea

Labeling experiments using several deuterated lipids were pursued to study the biosynthesis of macrocyclic isoprenoidal lipids of thermophilic methanogenic archaea, Methanothermobacter thermautotrophicus. The isopropylidene terminal of geranylgeranyl group of monomeric precursor appeared to be important for the CC bond formation at the hydrophobic end in the macrocyclic lipids. A mechanism involving a radical trigger at the allylic methyl group is proposed for this CC bond formation.     

葡萄糖氧化酶及过氧化氢酶的生物合成

研究了黑曲霉细胞的生长及其葡萄糖氧化酶、过氧化氢酶的生物合成．ＣａＣＯ３是２种酶的产酶诱导因子,其产酶模式都是延续合成型,最大比生长速度μｍａｘ、菌体得率Ｙ（Ｘ／Ｓ）、葡萄糖氧化酶及过氧化氢酶合成得率Ｙ（ＧＯＤ／Ｓ）、Ｙ（ＣＡＴ／Ｓ）分别为０．０９７ｈ－１、０．０７５ｇ．ｇ－１、２９．３４μｍｏｌ·ｍｉｎ－１·ｇ－１、３８９．１７μｍｏｌ·ｍｉｎ－１·ｇ－１．也研究了各种物质对葡萄糖氧化酶及过氧化氢酶活力的影响,金属离子对葡萄糖氧化酶有抑制,阴离子对葡萄糖氧化酶和过氧化氢酶有抑制,还原性小分子化合物是葡萄糖氧化酶的激活剂     

萘降解菌LHJ38生物合成靛蓝的研究

萘降解菌LHJ38在金属盐培养基中加入水杨酸钠诱导培养后能提高其生物合成靛蓝的能力,在LB培养基中加入水杨酸钠反而抑制了其生物合成靛蓝的能力.与LHJ38最适生长pH值不同,LHJ38生物合成靛蓝的最佳pH值范围是8.45—9.45,在pH为8.95的情况下生物合成靛蓝能力是其在pH值为6.95的情况下的两倍.     

Geranylgeraniol formation in Croton stellatopilosus proceeds via successive monodephosphorylations of geranylgeranyl diphosphate

The process of catalytic dephosphorylation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to give geranylgeraniol (GGOH) in Croton stellatopilosus leaves was examined by in vivo chloroplast feedings with [1-³H]GGPP and [1-³H]GGMP and in vitro enzyme-catalyzed reactions. The results strongly suggest that the formation of GGOH from GGPP proceeds in the chloroplasts via two successive monodephosphorylation reactions. Hence, we name the enzyme geranylgeranyl diphosphate phosphatase rather than geranylgeranyl diphosphatase based on its catalytic mechanism.     

Structure and biosynthetic implication of (S)-NHAB, a novel shunt product, from a disruptant of the actVI-ORFA gene for actinorhodin biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

A novel shunt product was isolated from a disruptant of the actVI-ORFA gene involved in the biosynthesis of actinorhodin (ACT) in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Its structure was elucidated as 1,4-naphthoquinone-8-hydroxy-3-[3(S)-acetoxy-butyric acid], (S)-NHAB, based on NMR, MS, and CD spectroscopic data as well as a single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. The formation of (S)-NHAB involves a retro-Claisen type C-C bond cleavage of an ACT biosynthetic intermediate. Feeding experiments with [1-¹³C] and [2-¹³C] acetates indicated its biosynthetic origin as a single octaketide chain. The relevant gene product, Act-ORFA, which is a functionally unknown protein, is proposed to play a regulatory role related to the multi-enzymatic steps to ACT production, based on the metabolic profile of its disruptant and the wide distribution of actVI-ORFA homologues in the gene clusters for Streptomyces aromatic polyketides.