Hydrogen bond formation as basis for radical scavenging activity: a structure-activity study of C-methylated dihydrochalcones from Myrica gale and structurally related acetophenones

A naturally occurring flavonoid, myrigalone B (2',6' -dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethyl-dihydrochal-cone) is an effective antioxidant and scavenger of the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical, while the closely related angoletin (2',4'-dihydroxy-6'-methoxy-3',5'-dimethyl-dihydrochalcone) is inactive. From NMR spectra, it appears that myrigalone B has a time-averaged conformation in which the substituted aromatic ring is orthogonal to the carbonyl group, while angoletin is coplanar. By donating a phenolic hydrogen in radical scavenging, myrigalone B will lose its symmetrical structure and may thereby change to a coplanar conformation forming a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the remaining phenolic hydrogen and the carbonyl group. The energy gain entailed would then appear to be a driving force for the radical scavenging by myrigalone B. Angoletin, being coplanar, lacks this driving force. To verify this hypothesis, the conformation and radical scavenging activity of a series of phenolic acetophenones were studied. All substances that had an orthogonal conformation and could form intramolecular hydrogen bonds by loss of a phenolic hydrogen were DPPH scavengers, while compounds lacking these properties were inactive. From this, we propose that formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonds may lead to radical scavenging activity.

Danielone, a phytoalexin from papaya fruit

A new phytoalexin was induced and isolated from papaya fruit slices treated with copper salts; its structure was established as 3',5'-dimethoxy-4'-hydroxy-(2-hydroxy)acetophenone. This compound showed high antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloesporioides, a pathogenic fungus of papaya.

A proposed common spatial pharmacophore and the corresponding active conformations of some peptide leukotriene receptor antagonists

Molecular modeling studies were carried out by a combined use of conformational analysis and 3D-QSAR methods of identify molecular features common to a series of hydroxyacetophenone (HAP) and non-hydroxyacetophenone (non-HAP) peptide leukotriene (pLT) receptor antagonists. In attempts to develop a ligand-binding model for the pLT receptor, the Apex-3D program was used to identify biophoric structural patterns that are common to 13 diverse sets of compounds showing different levels of biological activity. A systematic conformational analysis was carried out to obtain sterically accessible conformations for these flexible compounds. Apex-3D was then utilized to propose common biophoric regions based on the selection of one of several conformations (MOPAC-minimized AM1) from each compound's data set that best fits the biophoric pattern and the resulting superimposition with all the other data-set compounds. Apex-3D identified three common biophoric features important for activity: one as the hydroxyl, acetyl, carbonyl and carboxyl groups, which mimic the acid-binding region of an agonist, the other as the hydrogen-bond donating site, and the third part is represented by a plane in which lipophilic aromatic groups align. The structure-activity relationships were then assessed by using the 3D-QSAR model. A common biophore model is proposed from the Apex-3D analysis which may be useful in designing new pLT antagonists. Molecular volumes and electrostatic potential similarities were also calculated in order to obtain the important structural requirements for the activity.

Complete inhibition of viral breakthrough by combination of MKC-442 with AZT during a long-term culture of HIV-1 infected cells

We have investigated viral breakthrough during a long-term culture of HIV-1-infected cells with the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) 6-benzyl-1-ethoxymethyl-5-isopropyluracil (MKC-442), nevirapine and loviride (alpha-APA). When the compounds were examined for their inhibitory effects on HIV-1 (HE strain) replication in MT-4 cells on day 4 after virus infection, the 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of MKC-442, nevirapine and loviride were 9.4, 98 and 21 nM, respectively. After a 48-day culture period, MKC-442, nevirapine and loviride completely inhibited viral breakthrough at concentrations of 1, 5 and 1 microM, respectively. These concentrations were 50-100-fold higher than their EC50 values. When the cells were treated with either MKC-442 (0.04 and 0.2 microM), nevirapine (0.2 and 1 microM) or loviride (0.04 and 0.2 microM) in combination with AZT (0.005 microM), only the combination of 0.2 microM MKC-442 with 0.005 microM AZT could completely inhibit the breakthrough of HIV-1 after a 68-day culture period. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis revealed that no proviral DNA was detected in the cells treated with this combination. Except for two combinations (0.04 microM MKC-442 + 0.005 microM AZT and 0.04 microM loviride + 0.005 microM AZT), all of the viruses isolated during combination treatments had various amino acid mutations in their reverse transcriptase (RT). These results indicate that the combination treatment with a relatively high dose of MKC-442 and a low dose of AZT may have potential to suppress the emergence of drug resistance during a long-term treatment in vivo and should be further pursued in HIV-1-infected patients.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of cytosine-containing compounds by precolumn fluorescence derivatization with phenacyl bromide: application to antiviral nucleosides and nucleotides

A novel precolumn derivatization method for the HPLC determination of cytosine-containing compounds by HPLC is described. Highly fluorescent 2-phenyl-3,N4-ethenocytosine derivatives are produced by a reaction of non-fluorescent cytosine-containing compounds with phenacyl bromide in weakly acidic acetonitrile solution at elevated temperature. The applicability of the method to various biogenic and antiviral compounds is demonstrated. Quantitative determination of cidofovir, a potent antiviral drug currently undergoing evaluation in the clinic for treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis is also reported. The limit of detection for cidofovir in cynomolgus monkey plasma was 5 ng/ml (ca. 100 fmol on column) with the between-day precision of 16.6, 6.4 and 2.4% for five replicate samples at 20, 160 and 320 ng/ml, respectively. The within-day precision was 15.9, 5.9 and 2.1%, respectively. The method described has broad applicability and may offer significant advantages over existing HPLC methods in antiviral drug development as well as in nucleic acid research.

An acetophenone glycoside from Exacum affine

A new acetophenone glycoside, affinoside, was isolated from the aerial parts of Exacum affine and its structure was determined as 2-O-primeverosylpaenol. The known glucosides, gentiopicroside, 2'-O-E/Z-p-coumaroylloganin and glucopaeonol, were also identified.

Use of 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone for analysis of fragile peptides, disulphide bonding and small proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization

Several peptides were shown to undergo fragmentation during matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to a degree which complicated their analysis using alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) as a matrix, even at threshold laser irradiance. These peptides included synthetic peptides, peptides isolated from viral proteins and a phosphopeptide from beta-casein (residues 33-48). The excessive fragmentation occurred usually as a post-source phenomenon; however, in-source fragmentation was also observed. The combined effects of in-source and post-source fragmentation of one peptide studied led to a failure to observe the protonated molecule of this peptide in reflector mode analysis. The phosphopeptide studied exhibited a high degree of beta-elimination of phosphate. It was demonstrated that the fragility exhibited by these peptides in CHCA, including beta-elimination of phosphate from serine, was not evident with a matrix comprising 2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (DHAP) and di-ammonium hydrogen citrate (DAHC). The DHAP/DAHC matrix was also adapted for direct analysis of peptides from an acidic reducing milieu containing tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine. The molecular weight of equine cytochrome c was determined with a relatively high degree of accuracy (experimental M(r) = 12360.2 +/- 1.4 Da compared to the theoretical M(r) = 12360.09 Da) using DHAP/DAHC as a matrix for reflector mode analysis.

Stereostructure of perimycin A

The gross structure of perimycin A was revised: the position of the keto group was changed from C-13 to C-5. The stereostructure of perimycin A was established based upon NMR studies.

Structure of HIV-1 RT/TIBO R 86183 complex reveals similarity in the binding of diverse nonnucleoside inhibitors

We report the structure of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) complexed with the nonnucleoside inhibitor TIBO R 86183 at 3.0 A resolution. Comparing this structure with those of complexes of HIV-1 RT/alpha-APA R 95845 and HIV-1 RT/nevirapine provides a basis for understanding the nature of nonnucleoside inhibitor binding, the structure of the binding site and the interactions between the bound inhibitors and surrounding amino acid residues as well as for understanding mechanisms of inhibition by and resistance to nonnucleoside inhibitors. All three inhibitors considered assume a similar butterfly-like shape and bind to HIV-1 RT in a very similar way. Important differences occur in the conformation of amino acid residues that form the binding pocket.

Structure of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in a complex with the non-nucleoside inhibitor alpha-APA R 95845 at 2.8 A resolution

BACKGROUND

HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) is a multifunctional enzyme that copies the RNA genome of HIV-1 into DNA. It is a heterodimer composed of a 66 kDa (p66) and a 51 kDa (p51) subunit. HIV-1 RT is a crucial target for structure-based drug design, and potent inhibitors have been identified, whose efficacy, however, is limited by drug resistance.

RESULTS

The crystal structure of HIV-1 RT in complex with the non-nucleoside inhibitor alpha-anilinophenyl-acetamide (alpha-APA) R95845 has been determined at 2.8 A resolution. The inhibitor binds in a hydrophobic pocket near the polymerase active site. The pocket contains five aromatic amino acid residues and the interactions of the side chains of these residues with the aromatic rings of non-nucleoside inhibitors appear to be important for inhibitor binding. Most of the amino acid residues where mutations have been correlated with high levels of resistance to non-nucleoside inhibitors of HIV-1 RT are located close to alpha-APA. The overall fold of HIV-1 RT in complex with alpha-APA is similar to that found when in complex with nevirapine, another non-nucleoside inhibitor, but there are significant conformational changes relative to an HIV-1 RT/DNA/Fab complex.

CONCLUSIONS

The non-nucleoside inhibitor-binding pocket has a flexible structure whose mobility may be required for effective polymerization, and may be part of a hinge that permits relative movements of two subdomains of the p66 subunit denoted the 'palm' and 'thumb'. An understanding of the structure of the inhibitor-binding pocket, of the interactions between HIV-1 RT and alpha-APA, and of the locations of mutations that confer resistance to inhibitors provides a basis for structure-based design of chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of AIDS.

Antispasmodic activity of xanthoxyline derivatives: structure-activity relationships

The antispasmodic activity of several xanthoxyline derivatives against acetylcholine-induced contraction of the guinea pig ileum was evaluated in vitro. The acetophenones with two methoxyl groups, mainly in the 3,4 positions, exhibited potent antispasmodic activity. Modification of the hydroxyl group in xanthoxyline by the introduction of benzoyl, acetyl, or tosyl groups produced inactive compounds, whereas the introduction of benzyl or p-methoxybenzyl groups furnished compounds that were four- to eight-fold more potent than xanthoxyline. In marked contrast, the introduction of a methyl group gave a compound that caused contractant activity. Modification of the carbonyl group of xanthoxyline lead to inactive compounds, whereas the condensation of xanthoxyline with benzaldehydes gave chalkones that were about fivefold more potent than xanthoxyline. The introduction of benzyl and styrene groups, on the basis of the similarity with papaverine, improves the antispasmodic action of the xanthoxyline derivates. Our results suggest that the methoxyl and carbonyl groups are critical structural points for the antispasmodic activity of xanthoxyline derivatives. The hydroxyl group improves antispasmodic activity, but is not fundamental to its manifestation.

Synthesis of ethanone and ethanol derivatives of 2-benzoxazolinone; potent analgesic and antiinflammatory compounds inhibiting prostaglandin E2

Sixteen new ethanone and ethanol derivatives of 6-acyl-2-benzoxazolinones were synthesized and their chemical structures elucidated by IR, 1H-NMR and elemental analysis. Analgesic activities of these compounds were investigated by modified Koster test and constant temperature hot plate test. All the compounds showed higher analgesic activity than aspirin. Therefore the compounds were tested for their antiinflammatory activities using the carrageenan hind-paw edema test. All the compounds that showed high antiinflammatory activity were then further assayed for their ability to inhibit prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced paw edema. None of the compounds induced gastric ulceration.

Addition of e-aq and H atoms to hypoxanthine and inosine and the reactions of alpha-hydroxyalkyl radicals with purines. A pulse radiolysis and product analysis study

The reactions of hydrated electrons e-aq with hypoxanthine and inosine were followed using pulse radiolysis methods. In a neutral solution the electron adduct of inosine is immediately protonated at the heteroatoms of the purine ring by water (k >> 2.5 x 10(6)s-1) to give In(N,O-H).. These N,O-protonated intermediates have a single absorption maximum at 300 nm. In basic solution the protonation of the electron adduct of inosine by water leads to other intermediate products with an absorption maximum at 350 nm. These intermediates are believed to be the C-protonated electron adducts of inosine (In(N,O-H).). In (N,O-H). and In(C-H). differ strongly in their ability to reduce p-nitroacetophenone (PNAP). In(N,O-H). are strong reductants and reduce PNAP quantitatively to PNAP.-. Based on the pH dependence of PNAP.- yields, two types of tautomers of In(C-H). could be distinguished. One of the tautomers can reduce PNAP, albeit with slower rate than In(N,O-H)., the other tautomer has no reducing properties. The latter is the one with the higher pKa and therefore thermodynamically more stable. The absorption spectrum of the intermediates produced in the reaction of e-aq with hypoxanthine at neutral pH is very similar to that of In(N,O-H). with a maximum at 300 nm. However, no build-up at 350 nm was observed in basic solution as in the case of the electron adduct of inosine. The reaction of H atoms with inosine produces in basic solution intermediate radicals with the same absorption spectrum as the C-protonated electron adducts of inosine. It is suggested that both the reactions of e-aq and H. with inosine in basic solution produce the same radical, namely the H-adduct of inosine (In(C-H)) with the highest pKa. alpha-Hydroxyalkyl radicals were found to react very slowly with purine bases and nucleosides in neutral to basic solutions. In acidic solution their reactivity increases and a number of rate constants were determined by pulse radiolysis measurements at pH 0.4. The intermediates from the reaction of 2-hydroxy-2-propyl radicals with inosine could be observed pulse spectrometrically in neutral and in basic solutions. In basic solution this reaction leads to intermediates with the same absorption maximum at 350 nm as that of the H-adduct of inosine. Furthermore, the yield of acetone was found to increase strongly in basic pH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Secondary metabolites of Penicillium bilaii strain PB-50

A phosphate-solubilizing strain of Penicillium bilaii was tested for the production of gliotoxin and other toxic compounds. The strain was fermented under five different conditions to allow the expression of various metabolites, including gliotoxin. These included Czapek-yeast extract medium under both shaken and still conditions as well as Czapek-yeast extract/malt extract/peptone medium and sucrose/glycerol medium in shake flasks. In addition, culture filtrate from an industrial fermentation of the fungus was examined. No gliotoxin was produced in any of the media. No other expected P. bilaii metabolites were found. Three compounds were identified in all samples: dibutyl phthalate, 1-(4-hydroxy-phenyl)ethanone and 4-hydroxy-3,6-dimethyl-2H-pyran-2-one. The production of other metabolites was dependent on the culture conditions. Two hyalodendrin derivatives were found in some fermentations and two related compounds were tentatively identified. None of the compounds found have been reported as toxic. The identity of the culture was confirmed by comparison with the ex-type culture of P. bilaii.

On the mechanism of action of cytochrome P450: evaluation of hydrogen abstraction in oxygen-dependent alcohol oxidation

The mechanisms of oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds by purified rabbit liver cytochrome P450 forms 2B4 and 2E1 in a reconstituted enzyme system has been examined by linear free energy relationships, intramolecular and steady-state deuterium isotope effects, and the incorporation of an O2-derived oxygen atom or solvent-derived deuterium. The kcat and Km values were found to be relatively insensitive to the presence of electronic perturbations at the para position. The Hammett reaction constants for the oxidation of benzyl alcohols by P450s 2B4 and 2E1 are -0.46 and -0.37, respectively, and with 1-phenylethyl alcohols the corresponding reaction constants are -1.41 and -1.19, respectively. With [1-2H1]benzyl alcohol, P450s 2B4 and 2E1 show similar intramolecular deuterium isotope effects of 2.6 and 2.8, respectively, whereas with [1-2H2]benzyl alcohol under steady-state conditions, the deuterium isotope effects on the catalytic constants are 2.8 and 1.3, respectively. No significant isotope effect on the catalytic constant was noted for either form of P450 with 1-phenylethyl alcohol. In D2O, acetophenone formed by either form of P450 from 1-phenylethyl alcohol does not contain a deuterium atom at the methyl group, whereas under an atmosphere of 18O2 approximately 30% of the labeled oxygen is incorporated into the carbonyl group with either form of the cytochrome. The results are consistent with a mechanism that involves stepwise oxidation of the alcohol to a carbon radical alpha to the alcohol function, followed by oxygen rebound to yield the gem-diol, dehydration of which gives the carbonyl product.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bromophenacyl bromide binding to the actin-bundling protein l-plastin inhibits inositol trisphosphate-independent increase in Ca2+ in human neutrophils

Ligation of IgG Fc receptors on polymorphonuclear leukocytes causes an increase in the concentration of free intracytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) which arises from release of intracellular stores but is independent of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. We found that bromophenacyl bromide (BPB), an alkylating agent which inhibits leukocyte degranulation, adherence, and phagocytosis, inhibited IgG-stimulated increases in [Ca2+]i with an IC50 of 0.2 microM. In contrast, BPB had no effect on inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-dependent [Ca2+]i increases induced by fMet-Leu-Phe, complement fragment C5a, ATP, or platelet-activating factor. Using a monoclonal antibody specific for BPB, we identified in polymorphonuclear leukocytes a single cytosolic protein of 66 kDa and isoelectric point pH 5.6 which bound BPB when intact cells were treated with the alkylating agent. This BPB-binding protein was identified as l-plastin, a Ca(2+)-regulated actin-bundling protein. l-Plastin was found associated with the Triton X-100-insoluble cytoskeleton in polymorphonuclear leukocytes adherent to immune complexes, suggesting that BPB affects Fc receptor-mediated signal transduction by altering the actin cytoskeleton. Consistent with this hypothesis, both cytochalasin B and cytochalasin D inhibited the IgG-dependent increase in [Ca2+]i, without any effect on fMet-Leu-Phe-induced Ca2+ release. These data suggest that the actin cytoskeleton is essential for signal transduction from plasma membrane Fc receptors and that l-plastin has a critical role in activation of this pathway.

p-Bromophenacyl bromide modification of Bothrops asper myotoxin II, a lysine-49 phospholipase A2, affects its pharmacological activities

Modification of Bothrops asper myotoxin II, a lysine-49 phospholipase A2 variant, was carried out with p-bromophenacyl bromide. Modified toxin did not show changes in its charge and immunological properties but two of its pharmacological activities were modified. Myotoxic activity, measured by histology and by increment of creatine kinase levels in plasma of mice, was significantly reduced after toxin modification. In addition, liposome disruption activity was also significantly lower with the modified toxin both at 3 and 24 hr of incubation with the alkylating reagent. Some of the implications of these results on the structure-function relationship of myotoxins are discussed.

[Changes in basic nitrogen in a group of potential new beta- adrenolytics--derivatives of p-hydroxyacetophenone and p-hydroxypropiofenone]

Within the relationship of the structure and effect of new beta-adrenolytic agents derivatived from p-hydroxyacetophenone and p-hydroxypropiophenone with a propoxymethyl group in the lipophilic part of the molecule and with a propanamine, a butanamine and a pyrrolidine in the side-chain were studied. In order to prepare these substances, a procedure was selected from several tested ones, in which 4-hydroxy-3propoxymethylphenylketone were treated with chloromethyloxirane and subsequent reaction a hydrobromic acid were prepared 4-(3-brom-2-hydroxypropoxy)-3-propoxymethylalkylketone. Final substances were prepared reaction with amine. The structure of prepared compounds was confirmed on the basic interpretation of the IR, UV and 1H NMR spectra. The results of pharmacological evaluation of selected compounds showed a significant beta 1-blocking activity lower than acebutolol. Their local anesthetic activity is low according with their partition coefficients. The characteristic of the prepared compounds was supplemented by the determination of their partition coefficients, surface tension, dissociation constants and acute toxicity.

Strategies in pathogenesis: mechanistic specificity in the detection of generic signals

The virulence genes of the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens are induced by more than 40 low-molecular-weight phenolic compounds. The prevailing opinion is that (i) wound-derived phenols produced on breach of the integrity of the cell wall act as the initiating signal in a series of events which results in host cell transformation, and (ii) a classical membrane receptor, putatively VirA, is responsible for the recognition of all such phenolic inducers. Here, we argue that the discovery of the subset of inducers that are relatives of the dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol glucoside (DCG) growth factors redirects our attention to work on the plant wound as a site of cell division, and suggests that we further explore the implications of early work on the relationship between transformation efficiency and the status of the cell cycle of the host. In addition, we argue that the significant structural diversity allowed in the para position of the phenol ring of inducers suggests that a receptor-ligand interaction based solely on structural recognition is insufficient, but that recognition followed by a specific proton transfer event may be sufficient to explain vir induction activity. Hence, the specificity of the response of A. tumefaciens may be a consequence of the features required for a chemical reaction to occur on the receptor surface. Finally, we review affinity labelling studies which exploit this phenol detection mechanism and which provide evidence that the phenol receptor may be other than VirA, the sensory kinase of the two component regulatory system implicated in Agrobacterium virulence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Study of photodynamic reactions of p-nitroacetophenone using ESR and optical techniques

The photosensitizing properties of p-nitroacetophenone (PNAP), a well-known radiosensitizer, have been studied in near UV region. The mechanism of PNAP photosensitization has been investigated by testing the efficiency of singlet oxygen production using photooxidation of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMP) and photodegradation of guanosine. In both the cases, the enhancement effect of deuterated solvents has been observed. Results of these experiments suggest the significant role of type II mechanisms in PNAP photosensitization.

Constituents of the roots of Cynanchum bungei Decne. Isolation and structures of four new glucosides, bungeiside-A, -B, -C, and -D

Four new glucosides, bungeiside-A, -B, -C, and -D, were isolated from the roots of Cynanchum bungei Decne. The structures of the new compounds were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods, including two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (2D NMR) techniques, especially 1H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond multiple-quantum coherence.

Unexpected racemization of proline or hydroxy-proline phenacyl ester during coupling reactions with Boc-amino acids

When L-proline or O-benzyl-trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline phenacyl ester was coupled with Boc-amino acids in dimethylformamide using water-soluble carbodiimide (WSCI) in the presence of anhydrous 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt) as coupling reagents, extensive racemization was observed at the C alpha of the proline or hydroxy-proline residue. The extent of racemization was measured by HPLC after the coupling with Boc-L-Leu-OH in the presence or absence of HOBt. The extent of racemization increased when HOBt was added to the reaction mixture, but greatly decreased when it was not, indicating that HOBt was needed for inducing racemization. Almost no racemization was observed when the coupling reaction was carried out by the mixed anhydride procedure in tetrahydrofuran or by the carbodiimide method in dichloromethane without using HOBt. In the case of coupling reactions with ordinary L-amino acid phenacyl esters, no racemization was observed. Examination of some model systems yielded sufficient evidence to prove that HOBt is an efficient catalyst for racemizing proline or hydroxy-proline phenacyl ester not only in the stage of cyclic intermediate formation but also in the opening of the ring structure. Thus, the racemization reaction was found to be closely related to the formation of the cyclic carbinol-amine derivative.