Molecular orbital parameters as predictors of skin sensitization potential of halo- and pseudohalobenzenes acting as SNAr electrophiles

The electrophilic reactivity of a training set of 20 halo- and pseudohalobenzenes, 10 of which are reported skin sensitizers and 10 of which are reported nonsensitizers, has been modeled by MO-calculated indices using the AM1 and PM3 Hamiltonians. The electronic structures of parent molecules and the corresponding Meisenheimer intermediates (sigma-complexes) were evaluated. The NH2 group and the H atom were both studied as model nucleophile-derived substituents in the sigma-complexes. The LUMO energy differences between the parent compounds and their Meisenheimer complexes together with the maximum acceptor superdelocalizabilities determined over the aromatic reaction sites were found to discriminate correctly the sensitizing/reactive from nonsensitizing/unreactive compounds of the training set of 20 compounds. The predictive applicability of these MO indices was confirmed with a test set of seven further compounds for which sensitization data are reported in the literature. A statistically based discriminant analysis provides a model which predicts whether or not an SNAr electrophile will be a sensitizer and estimates the degree of confidence in the prediction.

Trisubstituted benzene leukotriene B4 receptor antagonists: synthesis and structure-activity relationships

A series of trisubstituted benzenes which demonstrate leukotriene B4 (LTB4, 1) receptor affinity was prepared. Previous trisubstituted benzenes from our laboratory showed high affinity to the LTB4 receptor but demonstrated agonist activity in functional assays. Compound 3a, the initial lead compound of this new series, showed only modest affinity (IC50 = 0.20 microM). However, 3a was a receptor antagonist with no demonstrable agonist activity up to 30 microM. Further modification of the lipid tail and aryl head groups region led to the discovery of 3b (ONO-4057). This compound, free of agonist activity, possesses high affinity to the LTB4 receptor (Ki = 3.7 +/- 0.9 nM).

Characterization of a cytotoxic factor induced in murine serum after the intravenous administration of dehydrogenation polymers of phenylpropenoids (a class of synthetic lignins)

A cytotoxic factor (CF) appeared in murine serum after the intravenous injection of the dehydrogenation polymers (DHPs) of p-coumaric acid (DHP-pCA), caffeic acid (DHP-CA), and ferulic acid (DHP-FA), which are categorized as a class of synthetic lignins. The highest CF activity was observed 15 min after the i.v. injection of DHP-pCA. CF is likely to be cytocidal through an apoptotic mechanism accompanied by nucleosome-sized DNA fragmentation. CF is extractable with aqueous ethanol and highly stable against heat, proteases, and acid/alkali treatments. The ethanol extract showed cytotoxicity toward various cultured cell lines and also ascites carcinoma cells in vivo. The parent molecules DHPs did not show any appreciable cytotoxicity. After the induction of CF activity, the activity quickly diminished and completely disappeared from the blood stream within an hour or so. The cytotoxicity was observed only when the target cells were exposed to CF for longer than 10 h.

Myoglobin-catalyzed bis-allylic hydroxylation and epoxidation of linoleic acid

Linoleic acid was treated with metmyoglobin and cumene hydroperoxide at 0 degrees C under anaerobic conditions. Five major compounds were identified, i.e., 11-hydroxylinoleic acid (29% yield), cis-9,10-epoxy-(12Z)-octadecenoic acid (16%), cis-12,13-epoxy-(9Z)-octadecenoic acid (8%), 9-hydroxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoic acid (4%), and 13-hydroxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acid (4%). Steric analysis showed that these compounds were all racemic. The steric course of the formation of the major metabolite, (11R,S)-hydroxylinoleic acid, was studied by incubation of linoleic acids stereospecifically deuterated at C-11. It was found that the (11R)-hydroxylinoleic acid lost most of the deuterium label when formed from [(11R)-2H]linoleic acid but retained the label when formed from [(11S)-2H]linoleic acid. Furthermore, the (11S)-hydroxylinoleic acid retained and lost most of the label when produced from [(11R)-2H]- and [(11S)-2H]linoleic acids, respectively. Thus, although the myoglobin-promoted hydroxylation of linoleic acid into 11-hydroxylinoleic acid lacked apparent stereospecificity and produced equal amounts of the R and S enantiomers, the course of the reaction was stereospecific and involved hydrogen abstraction and oxygen insertion occurring with retention of absolute configuration of the carbon atom hydroxylated.

Accuracy of empirical correlations for estimating diffusion coefficients in aqueous organic mixtures

Diffusion coefficients for a homologous series of alkylbenzenes and alkylphenones have been measured by the Aris-Taylor open tube method from 30 to 60 degrees C over a wide range in methanol/water and acetonitrile/water compositions (10-100% by volume of organic). The measurements were compared to estimates derived from five of the most common empirical correlations. The errors for methanolic mixtures by the Wilke-Chang, Scheibel, and Lusis-Ratcliff correlations are usually less than 20%. The Scheibel, Wilke-Chang, and Hayduk-Laudie correlations work better than others for acetonitrile/water mixtures. Overall, the Scheibel correlation shows the smallest errors, and we recommend its use to that of the more widely used Wilke-Chang method for the systems studied here. We have also developed fitting equations for estimating viscosity so that the diffusion coefficients can be easily estimated.

Estimating diffusion coefficients for alkylbenzenes and alkylphenones in aqueous mixtures with acetonitrile and methanol

The accuracy of various empirical approximation methods of estimating the diffusion coefficients of alkylbenzenes and alkylphenones in acetonitrile (ACN)/water and methanol (MeOH)/water solvent systems is reported. Diffusion coefficients for these solutes have been measured over a wide range of solvent compositions and temperatures. A novel empirical modification of the Wilke-Chang method has been developed by correlating measured values with solute and solvent parameters. The correlation, along with the Wilke-Chang and Scheibel correlations, was examined by comparing the computed diffusion coefficients with the measured values. We find that the percent errors of the proposed correlations are no greater than 10% for both ACN/water and MeOH/water systems and that the accuracy of the correlation is 2-3-fold better than those of the other two correlations. We recommend the use of this correlation with the above homologous series of solutes for the evaluation of column performance in reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

Inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase: novel trisubstituted ureas as hypocholesterolemic agents

Our continued interest in developing novel, potent acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitors, and our discovery of several active series of disubstituted urea ACAT inhibitors, have led us to investigate a series of trisubstituted ureas that are structural hybrids of our disubstituted series and of a trisubstituted urea ACAT inhibitor series disclosed by scientists at Lederle. This investigation has led to the discovery of novel trisubstituted ureas, several of which inhibit ACAT in the nanomolar range and effectively lower total plasma cholesterol when administered as a diet admixture in an acute model of hypercholesterolemia in rats. One analogue (35) also lowered total cholesterol as efficaciously as CL 277,082 in our chronic hypercholesterolemic rat model. The most notable finding of this study is that the SAR of the trisubstituted ureas diverges from that seen in our previously disclosed disubstituted urea series. This series showed optimal activity with 2,4-difluoro and 2,4,6-trifluoro substitution on the urea N-phenyl, whereas the disubstituted series showed optimal activity with bulky 2,6-disubstitution on the phenyl ring.

Dynamic nuclear polarization of nitrogen-15 in benzamide

A 15N dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) experiment is reported in which a 15N DNP enhancement factor of approximately 2.6 x 10(2) is obtained on free radical doped samples of 99% 15N labeled benzamide. The free radicals BDPA (1:1 complex of alpha, gamma-bisdiphenylene-beta-phenylallyl with benzene) and DPPH (2,2-Di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl) are used as dopants and the spin relaxation effects of adding these dopants are studied by means of changes in proton and nitrogen T1 values of the samples. The combination in solids of a very low natural abundance, 0.37%, a small gyromagnetic ratio, and a long spin-lattice relaxation time for 15N nuclei create severe sensitivity problems that, in large part, are ameliorated by the signal enhancement observed in the 15N DNP experiment on samples containing free electrons.

Siderophore activity of chemically synthesized dihydroxybenzoyl derivatives of spermidines and cystamide

Chemically synthesized dihydroxybenzoyl derivatives of spermidine and cystamide containing two-, three- and four-bidentates with the hydroxyl groups in 2,3 or 3,4 position were examined in cross-feeding tests using Gram-negative siderophore indicator strains carrying different iron-related markers, and two Mycobacterium spp. The catecholates were unable to feed tonB mutants of E. coli and S. typhimurium as well as the fepA, fiu, cir mutant of E. coli, pointing to a tonB- and fepA, cir, fiu-dependent transport. Bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl)derivatives promoted Salmonella spp, E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa strains significantly better than did 3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl derivatives. N4-substituted spermidines acted more effectively than non-substituted derivatives. Bis(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyl) cystamide was superior to the other catecholates tested in growth promotion of Gram-negative bacteria. The two four-bidentates and the tri-bidentate reacted to K. pneumoniae in an inhibitory mode. The position of the hydroxyl groups did not significantly influence the growth promotion of M. smegmatis and M. fortiutum in the cases of substituted spermidines and of cystamides.

Effect of skeleton size on the performance of octadecylsilylated continuous porous silica columns in reversed-phase liquid chromatography

We prepared continuous porous silica rods that had silica skeletons with sizes of 1.0-1.7 microns and through-pores of 1.5-1.8 microns, and evaluated their performance as a column in reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The mesoporous silica monoliths (mesopore size: 14 or 24 nm) were derivatized to C18 phase by on-column reaction with octadecyldimethyl-N,N-diethylaminosilane. The C18 silica rods gave minimum plate heights of 10-15 microns for aromatic hydrocarbons in 80% methanol and of 20-30 microns for insulin in acetonitrile-water mixtures in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. The performance of the silica rods at a high flow-rate was much better than that of conventional columns packed with 5 microns C18 silica particles with pores of 12 or 30 nm, especially for high-molecular-mass species. Silica rods with the smaller sized silica skeletons resulted in Van Deemter plots showing a minimum plate height linear velocity of the mobile phase and a smaller dependence of plate height on the linear velocity. Separation impedance of less than 1000 was achieved with the continuous silica columns. The higher performance and lower pressure drop of silica rods at high flow-rates compared with particle-packed columns is provided by the small silica skeletons and large through-pores.

[The technology for manufacturing antiparasitic preparations. 8. The preparation rilanid and its use for treating fascioliasis and intestinal nematodiases]

A procedure has been developed to prepare the anthelminthic Rilanide as a fine-dispersed formulation. The therapeutical dose of the agent in fascioliasis and intestinal nematodiasis is 60 mg/kg (for sheep), if given alone, and 100 mg/kg, if added to feed.

Biotransformation of diethenylbenzenes, V. Identification of urinary metabolites of 1,2-diethenylbenzene in the rat

1. Biotransformation of 1,2-diethenylbenzene (1) in rat was studied. Five urinary metabolites were isolated by extraction of acid hydrolysed urine and identified by nmr and mass spectroscopy, namely, 1-(2-ethenylphenyl)ethane-1,2-diol (2) 2-ethenylmandelic acid (3), 2-ethenylphenylglyoxylic acid (4), 2-ethenylphenylacetylglycine (5) N-acetyl-S-[1-(2-ethenylphenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl]cysteine (6) and N-acetyl-S-[2-(2-ethenylphenyl)-2-hydroxy-ethyl]cysteine (7). 2. In addition, minor metabolites, namely, 2-ethenylbenzoic acid (8) and 2-ethenylphenyl-acetic acid (9) were identified by glc-mass spectral analysis of the hydrolysed urine extract treated subsequently with diazomethane, hydroxylamine and a trimethyl-silylating reagent. Several compounds, which could arise from biotransformation of both ethenyl groups in the molecule of 1, were detected but not identified unequivocally. 3. A glucuronide was detected by tlc analysis of urine as a blue spot after spraying with naphthoresorcinol. Compounds showing molecular fragments indicating the glucuronide moiety were also detected by glc-mass spectroscopy in non-hydrolysed urine samples. 4. The total thioether excretion amounted to 5.3 +/- 2.4, 5.1 +/- 3.4 and 5.0 +/- 1.9% of the dose at 500, 300 and 100 mg/kg, respectively (mean +/- SD; n = 5). 5. Like styrene and other diethenylbenzene isomers, 1,2-diethenylbenzene is metabolically activated to a reactive epoxide intermediate, 2-ethenylphenyloxirane (10), which is further converted to the urinary metabolites mentioned above. The main detoxification pathways are hydrolysis to the glycol 2 followed by several oxidation steps, and conjugation with glutathione. The latter reaction is both regioselective and stereoselective. 6. The ratio of mercapturic acids 6:7 was 83:17. Each regioisomer consists of two diastereomers which show distinct resonance signals in the 13C-nmr. The diastereomer ratio was 82:28 and 79:21 for 6 and 7 respectively.

Anesthetic and convulsant properties of aromatic compounds and cycloalkanes: implications for mechanisms of narcosis

We examined the anesthetic and convulsant properties of 16 unfluorinated to completely fluorinated aromatic compounds, having six to nine carbon atoms (e.g., benzene to 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene), and four cycloalkanes (cyclopentane to cyclooctane). Benzene, fluorobenzene, toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, and cyclopentane caused excitation (twitching, jerking, and hyperactivity), and three aromatic compounds (perfluorotoluene, p-difluorotoluene and 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene) and three cycloalkanes (cyclohexane, cycloheptane, and cyclooctane) produced convulsions. Cyclooctane and 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene were nonanesthetics. Except for nonanesthetics and perfluorotoluene (too toxic to test for anesthetic potency), all compounds produced anesthesia or decreased the minimum alveolar anesthetic concentration of desflurane. Aromatic compounds were more potent and lipid-soluble than n-alkanes (data from previous report) and cycloalkanes. All three series increasingly disobeyed the Meyer-Overton hypothesis as molecular size increased. For a particular number of carbons (e.g., cyclohexane, n-hexane, and benzene), the deviation was cycloalkanes > or = normal alkanes > aromatic compounds. These results suggest that molecular shape (including "bulkiness") and size provide limited clues to the structure of the anesthetic site of action.

Cation-pi interactions in aromatics of biological and medicinal interest: electrostatic potential surfaces as a useful qualitative guide

The cation-pi interaction is an important, general force for molecular recognition in biological receptors. Through the sidechains of aromatic amino acids, novel binding sites for cationic ligands such as acetylcholine can be constructed. We report here a number of calculations on prototypical cation-pi systems, emphasizing structures of relevance to biological receptors and prototypical heterocycles of the type often of importance in medicinal chemistry. Trends in the data can be rationalized using a relatively simple model that emphasizes the electrostatic component of the cation-pi interaction. In particular, plots of the electrostatic potential surfaces of the relevant aromatics provide useful guidelines for predicting cation-pi interactions in new systems.

Covalent binding to DNA in vitro of 2',3'-oxides derived from allylbenzene analogs

Epoxidation at the allylic side chain is a major metabolic pathway for allylbenzene and its naturally occurring analogs safrole, estragole, and eugenol. We demonstrate herein that the epoxide metabolites of allylbenzene, estragole, and safrole can form covalent adducts with DNA in vitro, binding primarily to guanine, but also to the other three DNA bases. Epoxide hydrolases can prevent the binding of allylbenzene 2',3'-oxide to DNA in vitro. Four distinct adducts were detected by analytical TLC after the reaction of 2'-deoxyguanosine with allylbenzene 2',3'-oxide. One unstable adduct was formed rapidly, but gradually disappeared, whereas the other three adducts were formed more slowly but persisted. The major persistent adduct, which was isolated by preparative chromatography, was examined by MS and NMR. The structure of this adduct is 3'-N1-deoxyguanosyl-(2'-hydroxypropylbenzene). In addition, a generally applicable paradigm for the identification of deoxyguanosine or guanosine adducts by 13C and 1H NMR spectroscopy is presented.

The effect of vapor polarity and boiling point on breakthrough for binary mixtures on respirator carbon

This research evaluated the effect of the polarity of a second vapor on the adsorption of a polar and a nonpolar vapor using the Wheeler model. To examine the effect of polarity, it was also necessary to observe the effect of component boiling point. The 1% breakthrough time (1% tb), kinetic adsorption capacity (W(e)), and rate constant (kv) of the Wheeler model were determined for vapor challenges on carbon beds for both p-xylene and pyrrole (referred to as test vapors) individually, and in equimolar binary mixtures with the polar and nonpolar vapors toluene, p-fluorotoluene, o-dichlorobenzene, and p-dichlorobenzene (referred to as probe vapors). Probe vapor polarity (0 to 2.5 Debye) did not systematically alter the 1% tb, W(e), or kv of the test vapors. The 1% tb and W(e) for test vapors in binary mixtures can be estimated reasonably well, using the Wheeler model, from single-vapor data (1% tb +/- 30%, W(e) +/- 20%). The test vapor 1% tb depended mainly on total vapor concentration in both single and binary systems. W(e) was proportional to test vapor fractional molar concentration (mole fraction) in mixtures. The kv for p-xylene was significantly different (p < or = 0.001) when compared according to probe boiling point; however, these differences were apparently of limited importance in estimating 1% tb for the range of boiling points tested (111 to 180 degrees C). Although the polarity and boiling point of chemicals in the range tested are not practically important in predicting 1% tb with the Wheeler model, an effect due to probe boiling point is suggested, and tests with chemicals of more widely ranging boiling point are warranted. Since the 1% tb, and thus, respirator service life, depends mainly on total vapor concentration, these data underscore the importance of taking into account the presence of other vapors when estimating respirator service life for a vapor in a mixture.

Distribution of glutathione S-transferase isoforms in rat liver after induction by beta-naphthoflavone or 3-methylcholanthrene

Regional differences in vulnerability to xenobiotic liver damage may relate to the distribution of the detoxication capacity of the glutathione S-transferases (GST). HPLC analysis of cell lysates obtained by digitonin infusion from either the periportal or the perivenous region revealed that the content of all the GST subunits investigated (1, 2, 3, 4 and 8) was higher in the perivenous region. The strongest perivenous dominance was observed for subunit 1 (Ya) and the alpha class appeared to be more zonated that the mu class. A similar perivenous dominance was observed by analysis of GST activity with either 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB) or trans-4-phenyl-3-buten-2-one (PBO) as substrate. In contrast, with cumene hydroperoxide (CuOOH) or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBOOH) as substrate a reciprocal twofold periportal dominance was observed. Induction by pretreatment with beta-naphthoflavone reduced or abolished the perivenous dominance of the alpha-subunits 1, 2 and 8. In contrast, after pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, only the acinar gradient of subunits 2 (Yc) was abolished, while the strong perivenous gradient subunit 1 (Ya) was maintained and that of subunit 8 (Yk) increased. CDNB based assays demonstrated that beta-naphtoflavone treatment reduced (from 2.1 to 1.4) while 3-methyl cholanthrene enhanced (to 2.6) the perivenous/periportal GST activity ratio. Assays based on CuOOH or tBOOH indicated that neither the Se-dependent nor the Se-independent glutathione peroxidase activity nor its acinar distribution was affected by the inducers. These results demonstrated that although the expression of all investigated members of the alpha and mu classes is higher in the perivenous region, there are marked isozyme differences, the acinar gradient being particularly prominent for subunit 1 (Ya). The distinct difference in the acinar induction pattern of GST Ya between beta-naphthoflavone and 3-methylcholanthrene resembles that reported for cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2), also members of the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor genes, suggesting common regionally acting regulatory elements in the expression of these genes in the liver.

Comparison of conformer distributions in the crystalline state with conformational energies calculated by ab initio techniques

The conformational preferences of 12 molecular substructures in the crystalline state have been determined and compared with those predicted for relevant model compounds by ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Least-squares regression shows that there is a statistically significant correlation between the crystal-structure conformer distributions and the calculated potential-energy differences, even though the calculations relate to a gas-phase environment. Torsion angles associated with high strain energy (> 1 kcal mol-1) appear to be very unusual in crystal structures and, in general, high-energy conformers are underrepresented in crystal structures compared with a gas-phase, room-temperature Boltzmann distribution. It is concluded that crystal packing effects rarely have a strong systematic effect on molecular conformations. Therefore, the conformational distribution of a molecular substructure in a series of related crystal structures is likely to be a good guide to the corresponding gas-phase potential energy surface.

Role of hydrogen peroxide in the formation of DNA adducts in HL-60 cells treated with benzene metabolites

We have investigated the influence of peroxides on DNA adduct formation in HL-60 cells treated with polyphenolic metabolites of benzene. Treatment of HL-60 cells with 50 microM hydroquinone (HQ), 500 microM catechol (CAT) or 200 microM 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) resulted in adduct levels of 0.27, 0.21 and 0.21 x 10(-7), respectively. Addition of 50-250 microM H2O2 or 250 microM cumene hydroperoxide to HL-60 cells increased DNA adduct formation 2.7-10-fold following treatment with HQ or CAT but had no effect on adduct formation by BT. Treatment of HL-60 cells with the combinations of HQ plus either BT or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) potentiated DNA adduct formation by 2.5-4-fold. Significant elevations of cellular H2O2 levels occurred after treatment of HL-60 cells with either PMA, CAT or BT. These results indicate that cellular levels of H2O2 regulate the peroxidase dependent activation of benzene metabolites to form DNA adducts.

Laser-supported high-temperature MAS NMR for time-resolved in situ studies of reaction steps in heterogeneous catalysis

The temperature of zeolite samples containing various adsorbed molecules was rapidly changed (within 15 s) from room temperature to 600 K by means of a laser beam. The location of the sealed glass ampoule in a boron nitride container decreases the temperature gradient in the sample and avoids laser-induced reactions. The technique facilitates time-dependent magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy of high-temperature reactions which take place within 60 s. The H-D exchange in the hydrogen form of zeolites loaded with fully deuterated molecules, the methanol-to-gasoline conversion and the catalytic ethylbenzene disproportionation in zeolites were monitored by 13C and 1H MAS NMR by means of a "stop and go" method.

The use of differential transverse relaxation to detect mobile species in solids

Delayed acquisition of the proton NMR in selected organic molecular solids (L-alanine, durene, ethyl fumarate, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid) is shown to allow the observation of mobile species in the presence of relatively rigid bulk molecules. The mobility is found to be thermally activated. The combination of the thermally activated motion and magic-angle spinning leads to a fraction of these species moving nearly isotropically on the time scale of the inverse of the homonuclear dipolar splitting. In the case of ethyl fumarate and alanine, there exist populations with differing values of T1 and T1 row. This indicates the co-existence of relatively rigid and relatively mobile molecules in the same sample. The intensities under delayed acquisition cannot always be trusted to yield quantitative information. Comparison of spectra taken under delayed acquisition and under the CRAMPS (B.C. Gerstein, R.G. Pembleton, R.C. Wilson and L.M. Ryan, J. Chem. Phys., 66 (1977)361) technique is made.

Hydrolytic degradation of benzylated poly(beta-malic acid): influence of sample size, sample shape, and polymer composition

In order to investigate the effects of sample size, sample shape, and polymer composition on the hydrolytic degradation of water-insoluble benzylated poly(beta-malic acid) derivatives, three polymers were synthesized, namely PMLABe100, PMLABe90H10 and PMLABe80H20, containing 100, 90, and 80% of benzyl units respectively. For each polymer, 4-mm-thick compression molded pellets, 0.3-mm-thick casted films and 250-500 microns ground particles were made and allowed to age in 0.13 M, pH 7.4 sodium phosphate buffer at 37 degrees C. Degradation was monitored by measuring weight changes, variations of polymer composition, formation of benzyl alcohol, and molecular weight decreases. It was shown that degradation of particles and films depended initially on polymer composition due primarily to fast degradation of acid-rich segments present or formed by benzyl ester cleavages which led more or less rapidly to similar compositions for the three polymers. The higher the content in acid groups, the faster the degradation rate and the characteristic changes. It was also found that pellets made of PMLABe90H10 or PMLABe80H20 degraded heterogeneously and much faster than corresponding films and particles.

A tissue composition-based algorithm for predicting tissue:air partition coefficients of organic chemicals

The objectives of the present study were (i) to develop an algorithm for predicting the tissue:air partition coefficients (PCs) of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and (ii) to apply this algorithm to predict the rat tissue:air PCs of 45 VOCs. The approach consisted of estimating the tissue:air PCs by dividing the tissue solubility of chemicals by their saturable vapor concentrations. The tissue solubility of chemicals was calculated as the sum total of their solubility in neutral lipid, phospholipid, and water fractions of tissues. The rat liver:air, muscle:air, and adipose tissue:air PCs predicted using this algorithm compared well with literature data available for several ketones, alcohols, acetate esters, alkanes, haloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and diethyl ether. The average ratios between the predicted and experimental values of the tissue:air PC values were 0.94 (liver), 0.93 (muscle), and 1.10 (adipose tissue). The mechanistic algorithm developed in the present study should be useful for predicting tissue:air PCs of VOCs and for verifying the current default assumption of considering tissue:air PCs to be species-invariant.

Structure-activity relationships in the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of putative metabolites and related analogs of benzene derived from the valence tautomers benzene oxide and oxepin

A series of putative metabolites and related analogs of benzene, derived from the valence tautomers benzene oxide and oxepin, was tested for mutagenicity (reversions to histidine prototrophy and forward mutations to resistance to 8-azaguanine) and for cytotoxicity by the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test. Benzene was not mutagenic in either assay. The benzene oxide-oxepin system and benzene dihydrodiol induced point mutations but not frameshifts. 4,5-sym-Oxepin oxide, which is a putative metabolite of the oxepin valence tautomer; 3,6-diazo-cyclohexane-1,6-3,4-dioxide, a synthetic precursor of sym-oxepin oxide; and transoid-4,11-dioxatricyclo(5.1 0)undeca-1,6-diene, a stable bridge-head diene analog of sym-oxepin oxide, were toxic but not mutagenic in both assays. 4H-Pyran-4-carboxaldehyde, a stable acid catalyzed rearrangement product of sym-oxepin oxide, was not mutagenic and much less cytotoxic than sym-oxepin oxide. Stable analogs of the valence tautomer benzene oxide, namely syn-indan-3a,7a-oxide and syn-2-hydroxyindan-3a,7a-oxide, were mutagenic and induced point mutations. All compounds were cytotoxic to Salmonella. Firstly, the apparent decay times of these chemicals, especially that of sym-oxepin oxide, were surprisingly longer than expected, as judged by quantitative plate diffusion assays. Secondly, it is concluded that if benzene oxide is further metabolized in its oxepin tautomeric form, toxic but not mutagenic products are formed. Thirdly, the relatively weak mutagenicity of benzene oxide may be mainly due to its instability and corresponding low probability to reach intracellular polynucleotide targets, whereas stable analogs of benzene oxide are relatively more potent mutagens.

Detection of free radicals produced from reactions of lipid hydroperoxide model compounds with Cu(II) complexes by ESR spectroscopy

Using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as a spin trap, alkoxyl radicals and peroxyl radicals produced from the reactions of tert-butyl hydroperoxide(tBuOOH) and cumene hydroperoxide (PhC(CH3)2OOH) with some copper(Cu)(II) complexes such as Cu(II) complexes of cimetidine (Cim), cyclo(L-histidyl-L-histidyl) (CyHH), L-histidylglycine (HG), and L-histidylglycylglycine (HGG) were detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. However, Cu(II) complexes of glycyl-L-histidine (GH), glycyl-L-histidylglycine (GHG),glycylglycyl-L-histidine (GGH), and glycylglycyl-L-histidyl-glycine (GGHG) did not cause the generation of free radicals during the reaction with tert-butyl or cumene hydroperoxide. Addition of a biological reductant such as cysteine or glutathione to the system including these Cu(II) complexes and hydroperoxides gave tert-butoxyl and cumyl alkoxyl (RO.) radicals, respectively. These alkoxyl radicals underwent subsequent beta-scission reaction and generated the carbon-centered radical (R.). Although cysteine and glutathione are considered to be cellular antioxidants, our results suggest that these biological reductants facilitate Cu(II) complexes-dependent free radical generation.

A mechanistic algorithm for predicting blood:air partition coefficients of organic chemicals with the consideration of reversible binding in hemoglobin

The objectives of the present study were (i) to develop a mechanistic algorithm for predicting blood:air partition coefficients (PCs) of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), and (ii) to apply this algorithm to predict the rat blood:air PCs of several VOCs. The approach consisted initially of developing an algorithm to predict the blood:air PCs of VOCs solely based on the solubility phenomenon and then of extending the algorithm to include protein binding. The algorithm based on solubility phenomenon predicted blood:air PCs by dividing the estimated solubility of chemicals in blood by their saturable vapor concentrations at 37 degrees C. The rat blood:air PCs predicted using this algorithm were in close agreement with the experimental values for relatively hydrophilic VOCs such as ketones, alcohols, acetate esters, and diethyl ether (with an average ratio of 0.80 between predicted and experimental values), whereas there was a marked discrepancy in the case of relatively lipophilic VOCs such as alkanes, haloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons (with an average ratio of 0.21 between predicted and experimental values). This discrepancy was hypothesized to be due to the occurrence of reversible binding of these substances in rat hemoglobin based on literature evidence of the existence of hydrophobic holes (or "xenon-binding" pockets). The association constants (Ka) for the presumed reversible hemoglobin binding of several alkanes, haloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons were estimated from the difference between chemical concentration in rat erythrocytes predicted by the solubility-based algorithm and that deduced from the previously published experimental blood:air PCs for these chemicals (which presumably included contribution of hemoglobin binding in addition to "true" solubility). The Ka values estimated in this manner ranged from 504 to 4725 M-1 for the chemicals investigated in the present study. The a priori predictions of the percentage of several VOCs (diethyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, n-hexane, toluene, and chloroform) in rat erythrocytes obtained with the algorithm using these Ka estimates corresponded well with previously published experimental data. The mechanistic algorithm developed in the present study should be useful for predicting the "apparent" blood:air PCs of VOCs regardless of exposure concentrations, by accounting for the relative contributions of both the true chemical solubility and reversible hemoglobin binding.

Reaction of cytochrome P450 with cumene hydroperoxide: ESR spin-trapping evidence for the homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond by ferric cytochrome P450 1A2

ESR spin trapping was used to investigate the reaction of rabbit cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2 with cumene hydroperoxide. Cumene hydroperoxide-derived peroxyl, alkoxyl, and carbon-centered radicals were formed and trapped during the reaction. The relative contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum were influenced by the concentration of the spin trap. Computer simulation of the experimental data obtained at various 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) concentrations was used to quantitate the contributions of each radical adduct to the composite ESR spectrum. The alkoxyl radical was the initial radical produced during the reaction. Experiments with 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane identified the carbon-centered adducts as those of the methyl radical, hydroxymethyl radical, and a secondary carbon-centered radical. The reaction did not require NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase or NADPH. It is concluded that the reaction involves the initial homolytic scission of the peroxide O-O bond to produce the cumoxyl radical. Methyl radicals were produced from the beta-scission of the cumoxyl radical. The peroxyl adduct was not observed in the absence of molecular oxygen. We conclude that the DMPO peroxyl radical adduct detected in the presence of oxygen was due to the methylperoxyl radical formed by the reaction of the methyl radical with oxygen. At a higher P450 concentration, a protein-derived radical adduct was also detected.

Easy and inexpensive diffusion tests for detecting the assimilation of aromatic compounds by yeast-like fungi. Part II. Assimilation of aromatic acids

Since our assimilation diffusion tests were successful for dihydroxyphenols, the same procedure was used for development of assimilation of benzoic, salicylic and phenylacetic acids by selected yeast-like fungi. The acids were found to be well oxidized. Positive results may be obtained after 1-2 days of incubation. Consumption of the substances studied was very low, about 0.8 mg for one test. The diffusion tests were proposed to choose highly active strains from culture collections.

Description of hydrophobicity parameters of a mixed set from their three-dimensional structures

The logarithm of capacity factors (log k') previously measured from the reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and the octanol-water partition coefficients (log P) of a mixed set of substituted benzene, furan, benzofuran, pyrrole, 1-Me-pyrrole, indole, and N-methyl indole derivatives are correlated with the descriptors obtained from their three-dimensional structures using the comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) approach. The results provide an example where log k' and log P values are calculated directly from the three-dimensional structures for a mixed set of compounds.

NIH shift in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds by the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium Nitrosomonas europaea. Evidence against an arene oxide intermediate

The migration of deuterium and hydrogen was observed in the aromatic hydroxylation of specifically deuterated, monosubstituted benzenes catalyzed by ammonia monooxygenase of Nitrosomonas europaea. The phenolic products of the hydroxylation of aromatics containing ortho-/para-directing substituents (F, Cl, Br, I, OH, NH2, CH3, CH2CH3, and OCH3) were primarily para-phenols. In contrast, with aromatics containing meta-directing substituents (NO2 and CN), the phenolic products were a more even mixture of meta-and para-phenols. ortho-Fluorophenol was the only ortho-phenolic product observed. The nature of the products suggested that the reaction involved an enzyme-specific, electrophilic addition to the aromatic ring so as to favor hydroxylation at either the meta- or para-positions. With the fluoro-, chloro-, and bromobenzene substrates, the values for the migration and retention of deuterium during hydroxylation (NIH shift) were nearly identical when the deuterium was either at the site of hydroxylation or at an adjacent site, indicating a possible common intermediate. The values of the NIH shift with the nitrobenzene substrate were significantly lower when the deuterium was at the site of hydroxylation than at an adjacent site, indicating the operation of a direct loss mechanism. The present results suggest that the aromatic hydroxylation involved a radical or carbocation intermediate which decayed, without the formation of an arene oxide, to form phenolic products with the accompanying direct loss of deuterium at the site of hydroxylation or the shift of the deuterium to an adjacent site.

Marked effects of alcohols and imidazoles on the cumyl hydroperoxide reaction with the wild-type cytochrome P450 1A2

Cytochrome P450 catalyzes monooxidation reactions of many organic compounds in the presence of hydroperoxides even in the absence of electron-transfer proteins and molecular oxygen. To understand the mechanism of the hydroperoxide-induced cytochrome P450 reactions, we investigated effects of ligands such as alcohols and imidazoles and 7-ethoxycoumarin, a substrate of cytochrome P450 1A2 (P450 1A2), on the cumyl hydroperoxide (CHP) O-O cleavage reaction with wild-type P450 1A2. Formation rates of cumyl alcohol from CHP with P450 1A2 were remarkably enhanced up to 25-fold by adding alcohols, whereas those of acetophenone were not changed by the same procedure. 2-Methylimidazole did not essentially influence the CHP reaction with P450 1A2, while 4-methylimidazole hampered the cumyl alcohol formation. 7-Ethoxycoumarin also impeded the cumyl alcohol formation with P450 1A2. These CHP reactions with P450 1A2 under various conditions are consistent with P450 1A2 spectral changes with CHP obtained under the same conditions. The present study suggests that the several ligands such as alcohols and imidazoles have marked effects on the heterolytic O-O cleavage reaction of CHP with P450 1A2. Mechanisms of the peroxide O-O scission with P450 1A2 associated with the distal site structure and substrate binding are discussed.

Determination of the ratios of the aromatic amino acid residues by first- or second-derivative UV spectrometry for a simple characterization of peptides

A method for the simultaneous determination of the ratios of the three aromatic amino-acid residues in peptides was set up in acidic conditions. Binary and ternary mixtures of these amino acids were prepared, and first- and second-derivative spectra then calculated from their 0.1 nm resolution spectra between 240 and 320 nm. Certain spectral bands were chosen to differentiate tyrosine from tryptophan on the first-derivative spectra, and phenylalanine from tyrosine and tryptophan on the second-derivative spectra. Variation of the amplitude of the chosen bands was shown to be a linear function of the ratio of the aromatic amino acids in the mixture. This technique was validated with peptides whose sequence was known. The difference between theoretical and experimentally determined ratios was lower than 10%. Since the results are obtained as ratios, neither the concentration nor the nature of the peptide has to be known. The feasibility of application using a photodiode array detector with high resolution in reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography is discussed.

Specificity of ligand binding in a buried nonpolar cavity of T4 lysozyme: linkage of dynamics and structural plasticity

To better understand the role of shape complementarity in ligand binding and protein core interactions, the structures have been determined of a set of ligands bound within a cavity-containing mutant of T4 lysozyme. The interior cavity is seen to consist of two parts that respond very differently to the binding of ligands. First, there is a relatively rigid region that does not relax significantly upon binding any ligand. Second, there is a more flexible region that moves to various extents in response to binding the different ligands. The part of the binding site that remains rigid is characterized by low temperature factors and strong protection from hydrogen exchange. This part of the site appears to be primarily responsible for discriminating between ligands of different shape (i.e., for determining specificity). The more flexible region, characterized by relatively high temperature factors and weak protection from hydrogen exchange, allows some promiscuity in binding by undergoing variable amounts of deformation at essentially the same energetic cost. This linkage between the dynamic information represented by crystallographic temperature factors and hydrogen-exchange behavior on the one hand, and structural plasticity in response to ligand binding on the other hand, suggests a way to improve our understanding of steric interactions in protein cores and protein-ligand binding sites. Ligand design and packing algorithms might take advantage of this information, requiring complementary interactions where the protein is rigid and allowing some overlap in regions where the protein is flexible.

Assessment of developmental toxicity potential of chemicals by quantitative structure-toxicity relationship models

Statistically significant quantitative structure-toxicity relationship (QSTR) models have been developed for assessing developmental toxicity potential (DTP) of chemicals. Three submodels, one each for aliphatic, heteroaromatic and carboaromatic compounds, have been cross-validated to ascertain their robustness. The specificities of the models range from 86% to 97%, and their sensitivities between 86% and 89%. For convenient computer-assisted application, the models are installed in a toxicity assessment software package, TOPKAT, which has been recently enhanced with algorithms to identify whether or not a query structure is inside the optimum prediction space (OPS) of a QSTR model. Different functionalities of the TOPKAT program have been explained by assessing the DTP of a number of compounds not used in the model training sets. The DTP of 18 existing drugs was assessed using these models; the DT assay results were available for 5 of these. Three of these 5 molecules were identified to be inside the OPS and their TOPKAT assessment matched their experimental assignment.

Linear free energy relationships for reactions of electrophilic halo- and pseudohalobenzenes, and their application in prediction of skin sensitization potential for SNAr electrophiles

Published kinetic data and linear free energy relationships for nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions (SNAr reactions) are analyzed so as to derive a reactivity parameter (RP), defined as sigma sigma-(o,m,p) + 0.45 sigma*(ipso), quantifying the relative reactivities of SNAr electrophiles toward aniline in ethanol. It is shown that the dataset of Landsteiner and Jacobs, in which 20 SNAr electrophiles were classified on the basis of experimental evidence as either skin sensitizing and reactive to aniline or nonsensitizers and unreactive to aniline, can be equivalently classified on the basis of RP values and that predictive criteria can be defined as follows: sensitizing/aniline reactive: RP > 3.80; nonsensitizing/unreactive to aniline: RP < 3.65. These predictive criteria based on calculated RP values are applied to seven further SNAr electrophiles to predict which are sensitizers and which are not. There is close agreement between the predictions and the biological data. This validates the applicability of the reactivity parameter RP, derived from linear free energy relationships, to prediction of skin sensitization potential for SNAr electrophiles. More generally, the applicability of physical organic chemistry principles to structure-activity relationships in contact allergy is further demonstrated.

Mechanism of radical production from the reaction of cytochrome c with organic hydroperoxides. An ESR spin trapping investigation

The mechanism for the reaction of cytochrome c with t-butyl hydroperoxide and cumene hydroperoxide was investigated. ESR spin trapping studies using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide were performed to demonstrate the presence of hydroperoxide-derived peroxyl, alkoxyl, and methyl radicals. Computer simulation of the experimental data obtained at various 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide concentrations was used to determine the relative contributions of each radical adduct to each composite ESR spectrum. From these analyses, it was concluded that the alkoxyl radical of the hydroperoxide was the initial radical produced, presumably by homolytic scission of the O-O bond by ferric cytochrome c. This was in contrast to a previous ESR study that proposed a heterolytic peroxidase-type mechanism for the reaction of cytochrome c with organic hydroperoxides. Methyl radicals were produced from the beta-scission of the alkoxyl radical. The peroxyl radicals are shown to be secondary products formed from the reaction of oxygen with the methyl radical to produce the methyl peroxyl radical. In separate experiments, visible absorption spectroscopy revealed that the heme center was destroyed during the reaction. Both the heme destruction and production of radical adducts were inhibited by cyanide, presumably due to the formation of a cyanoheme complex.

Cooperative organization of inorganic-surfactant and biomimetic assemblies

A model that makes use of the cooperative organization of inorganic and organic molecular species into three dimensionally structured arrays is generalized for the synthesis of nanocomposite materials. In this model, the properties and structure of a system are determined by dynamic interplay among ion-pair inorganic and organic species, so that different phases can be readily obtained through small variations of controllable synthesis parameters, including mixture composition and temperature. Nucleation, growth, and phase transitions may be directed by the charge density, coordination, and steric requirements of the inorganic and organic species at the interface and not necessarily by a preformed structure. A specific example is presented in which organic molecules in the presence of multiply charged silicate oligomers self-assemble into silicatropic liquid crystals. The organization of these silicate-surfactant mesophases is investigated with and without interfacial silicate condensation to separate the effects of self-assembly from the kinetics of silicate polymerization.

Relationship between hydrocarbon structure and induction of P450: effect on RNA levels

1. Exposure to simple aromatic hydrocarbons has been shown to induce P450-dependent activities and the expression of particular P450 isozymes in a manner related to the molecular structure of the inducing hydrocarbon. In an attempt to identify the structural relationship controlling P450 induction, the effect of hydrocarbon treatment on the RNA levels for specific P450 isozymes was examined. 2. Rats were treated with daily injections of hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, n-propylbenzene, m- and p-xylene) for 3 days, and the effects on specific RNA levels were examined by Northern blot hybridization. 3. Although P4502B1 mRNA was not elevated after hydrocarbon treatment, a significant elevation in 2B2 mRNA was observed after exposure to the larger aromatic hydrocarbons, ethylbenzene and m-xylene. It is interesting to note that despite the substantial elevation of P4502B protein levels, only a small elevation of P4502B1 and 2B2 RNA was observed. 4. P4502C11 mRNA was only suppressed by ethylbenzene administration, despite the depression of 2C11 protein levels by several hydrocarbons. 5. P4501A1 mRNA was not detectable and 2E1 mRNA was not changed by any aromatic hydrocarbon treatment investigated in this study. 6. The data indicate that the levels of mRNA species for a number of P450 isozymes are differentially regulated by exposure to hydrocarbons, and that small changes in hydrocarbon size or isomeric structure can influence the levels of these mRNA species.

A study of gender, strain and age differences in mouse liver glutathione-S-transferase

The hepatic cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in four strains of the mouse and one strain of the rat was studied with the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB), ethachrynic acid (ETHA), cumene hydroperoxide (CU) and atrazine as the in vitro substrates. In the mouse, significant gender, strain and age-related differences in the GST activity towards CDNB and atrazine were found between adolescent and sexually mature males and females of the CD-1, C57BL/6, DBA/2 and Swiss-Webster strains, and the differences were larger with atrazine as the substrate. With DCNB and CU a similar tendency was observed, however not significant for all strains. The GST activity towards ETHA was also gender and strain specific, but revealed no age-related differences. The herbicide atrazine seems to be a useful substrate in the study of strain and age-related differences in the mouse GST class Pi.

Biotransformation and toxicity of halogenated benzenes

1. Multiple potentially harmful metabolites can be distinguished in the metabolic activation of halogenated benzenes: epoxides, phenols, benzoquinones and benzoquinone-derived glutathione conjugates. 2. The role of these (re-) active metabolites in the toxic effects induced by halogenated benzenes such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, porphyria and thyroid toxicity is discussed. 3. Evidence is presented suggesting that the formation of reactive benzoquinone metabolites rather than the traditional epoxides is linked to halogenated benzene-induced hepatotoxicity. 4. A crucial role for the benzoquinone-derived glutathione adducts in halogenated benzene-induced nephrotoxicity is clearly established. 5. Although metabolic activation appears to be involved in porphyria, the nature of the ultimate porphyrinogenic metabolite has not been elucidated yet. 6. Disturbances in thyroid hormone (and retinoid) homeostasis can be (at least partially) explained by the formation of halogenated phenol metabolites. 7. In conclusion, for a relevant prediction of the ultimate fate of a compound in a living organism, one should know the chemical characteristics and reactivity of the parent compound and its metabolites, together with insight into the formation mechanism of each of the suspected metabolites, and an understanding of the interaction between a specific chemical (reactive) structure and its target molecule.

Plasma desorption mass spectrometry of two synthetic sarafotoxins: side reactions and characterization of the intermediates

Sarafotoxins (SRTXs) form a family of toxic and potent vasoconstrictor peptides of 21 amino acids and two disulfide bonds. They are present in the venom of the burrowing asp Atractaspis engaddensis. We have made two derivatives of the amino acid sequence of SRTX-b, one of the most potent isotoxins, in the solid phase. First, we replaced Ser2 by Thr, to investigate whether, as previously postulated, this change is responsible for the weak activities of SRTXs c and d. Secondly, we replaced Ser2, Asp18 and Val19 respectively by Thr, Gly and Ile, with a view to generating SRTX-e whose amino acid sequence was deduced from cDNA. Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) was performed according to the tert-butyloxycarbonyl strategy and the disulfides were paired sequentially using a selective chemistry. The disulfide 1-15 was formed by oxidation of cysteines1,15 with ferricyanide, whereas disulfide 3-11 was made by iodine oxidation of Acm-blocked cysteines3,11. By plasma desorption mass spectrometry (PDMS), we monitored all possible side reactions that occurred during the synthesis. We thus observed a benzyl shift in mass spectra when aspartic and glutamic acid side chains were protected by a benzyl group during the SPPS. This could be circumvented by using instead, a cyclohexyl protecting group. We also noted the oxidation of the methionine and the tryptophan side chain (formation of methionine sulfoxide and oxindole ring of tryptophan) to a small extent during the cleavage peptide/solid phase oxidation of the methionine side chain during the formation of the disulfide 1-15 by ferricyanide.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Stabilization of a type VI turn in a family of linear peptides in water solution

The sources of the stability of a type VI turn formed with high population in the cis isomeric form of an unblocked six residue peptide, Ser1-Tyr2-Pro3-Tyr4-Asp5-Val6 (SYPYDV), were investigated by making extensive amino acid substitutions at residues 2, 4 and 5. Several NMR parameters indicate the presence of the turn, including significant upfield shifts of the proton resonances of the cis proline, a small 3JHN alpha coupling constant for residue 2, a cross-turn d alpha N(i,i+2) from residue 2 to residue 4 and in increased mole fraction of the cis form in the conformational ensemble. By these criteria, a number of peptides were found to contain significant populations of type VI turn conformers in the cis form of the peptide. The NMR parameters are highly dependent on the sequence of the peptide, and are strongly correlated with each other and with the population of type VI turn. The greatest populations of turn conformations were observed for peptides of the general form AA-Ar-Pro-Ar-Hp, where AA represents any amino acid, Ar an aromatic residue and Hp a small hydrophilic residue. There is no evidence in the form of lowered amide proton temperature coefficients for direct hydrogen bonding as a primary source of turn stability. Instead, the major stabilizing factor, indicated by the strong dependence of the turn population on the presence of aromatic (not hydrophobic) residues at positions 2 and 4, is the stacking of the aromatic and proline rings. A measurable preference for deprotonated aspartate at position 5, which is not part of the turn itself, and the destabilization of the turn at high and low pH, indicate that electrostatic interactions between the unblocked N terminus and the aspartate carboxyl group also act to stabilize the turn conformation when the Ar-Pro-Ar sequence is present. Implications for stabilization of local elements of secondary structure during the earliest events in protein folding are discussed.

Three-dimensional structure of a type VI turn in a linear peptide in water solution. Evidence for stacking of aromatic rings as a major stabilizing factor

Structures have been calculated for the folded conformation found at high population in the cis isomeric form of the peptide NH3(+)-Ser-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Asp-Val-COO- (SYPFDV) in aqueous solution, using distance geometry and restrained molecular dynamics. A number of NMR parameters, including NOE distance restraints and phi and chi 1 dihedral angle restraints derived from coupling constants were used in the calculation. The restraints were carefully selected to exclude those that might have a significant contribution from the unfolded states of the peptide, so that the calculated structure represents only the folded form (present at about 70% population) and contains no information on the other members of the conformational ensemble. The calculations give a tight family of structures in the region Tyr2 to Phe4, all containing a type VI turn with an unusual disposition of the aromatic rings of Tyr and Phe, which stack against the proline ring. Both backbone and side-chain conformations are well defined in this region. At the ends of the molecule the polypeptide chain is disordered. The structures are consistent with all of the available NMR information, including upfield chemical shifts observed for the proline ring protons in the cis isomer, and with the independently determined proline ring pucker. There is no evidence for cross-turn hydrogen bonding. According to the calculated structures, the major source of stabilization of the turn conformation appears to be the stacking of the aromatic and proline rings.

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori urease activity by hydroxamic acid derivatives

Helicobacter pylori (HP) produces strong urease [EC 3.5.1.5], which is considered to play a role in the pathogenesis of gastritis and peptic ulcers. Inhibitions against this enzyme have been studied with hydroxamic acid (HXA) derivatives of aliphatic or aromatic carboxylic acids, amino acids and dipeptides. A number of HXAs potently inhibited the urease (I50 values were near the order of 10(-6)M), and H-Ile-Gly-NHOH (I50 = 0.20 x 10(-6)M) was the most potent inhibitor among the derivatives. HP urease was inhibited more potently, in general, than Jack bean (JB) urease by HXAs, and a correlation between the chemical structures of HXA derivatives and their inhibitory effects on HP urease was observed, in comparison with JB urease.

One-electron reduction of vanadate by ascorbate and related free radical generation at physiological pH

The one-electron reduction of vanadate (vanadium(V)) by ascorbate and related free radical generation at physiological pH was investigated by ESR and ESR spin trapping. The spin trap used was 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). Incubation of vanadium(V) with ascorbate generated significant amounts of vanadium(IV) in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) but not in sodium cacodylate buffer (pH 7.4) nor in water. The vanadium(IV) yield increased with increasing ascorbate concentration, reaching a maximum at a vanadium(V): ascorbate ratio of 2:1. Addition of formate to the incubation mixture containing vanadium(V), ascorbate, and phosphate generated carboxylate radical (.COO-), indicating the formation of reactive species in the vanadium(V) reduction mechanism. In the presence of H2O2 a mixture of vanadium(V), ascorbate, and phosphate buffer generated hydroxyl radical (.OH) via a Fenton-like reaction (vanadium(IV)+H2O2-->vanadium(V)+.OH+OH-). The .OH yield was favored at relatively low ascorbate concentrations. Omission of phosphate sharply reduced the .OH yield. The vanadium(IV) generated by ascorbate reduction of vanadium(V) in the presence of phosphate was also capable of generating lipid hydroperoxide-derived free radicals from cumene hydroperoxide, a model lipid hydroperoxide. Because of the ubiquitous presence of ascorbate in cellular system at relatively high concentrations, one-electron reduction of vanadium(V) by ascorbate together with phosphate may represent an important vanadium(V) reduction pathway in vivo. The resulting reactive species generated by vanadium(IV) from H2O2 and lipid hydroperoxide via a Fenton-like reaction may play a significant role in the mechanism of vanadium(V)-induced cellular injury.

Influence of bulky side chains of amino acids on the solution conformation of peptide fragment (81-92) derivatives of CD4, TYICEVEDQKEE, as studied by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling

Solution conformation of CD4 fragment 81-92 TYICEVEDQKEE and two of its benzylated analogues was determined by two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy, distance geometry and simulated annealing techniques. The structures of both benzylated derivatives are similar but are distinct from that of wild-type dodecapeptide. It is concluded from structural analysis that bulky side chain(s) of amino acid(s) at an appropriate position can have a marked effect on the conformation and thus the functions of a peptide.