Studies on the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. IX. Stereochemical studies of the reaction catalyzed by trans-2-enoyl-coenzyme A reductase of Escherichia coli

The steric course of the reaction catalyzed by NADPH-dependent trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli was investigated. trans-2-[6,7,8-2H7]Octenoyl-CoA was synthesized as a substrate and incubated with partially purified trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase in the presence of 4R- or 4S-[4-2H1]NADPH. The deuterium-labeled octenoyl-CoA was also incubated with the reductase in the presence of NADPH in 2H2O. Aliquots of octanoic acids formed were analyzed, after esterification, by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to demonstrate that the pro-4R hydrogen of NADPH was incorporated into the C-3 position of octenoyl-CoA and that hydrogen from water was introduced into the C-2 position of octenoyl-CoA. The remaining portions of octanoic acids isolated from the incubation mixtures were converted to their CoA esters by the action of acyl-CoA synthetase, and they were dehydrogenated by treatment with acyl-CoA oxidase, which had previously been shown to catalyze the anti-elimination of the pro-2R and pro-3R hydrogen atoms of acyl-CoA. The deuterium contents of the products were also analyzed by GC-MS, and the results indicated that the reduction catalyzed by NADPH-dependent trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase occurred by an anti-addition of hydrogen via a 2-Re, 3-Re attack on the trans-double bond of the substrate.

Studies on the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. X. Purification and some properties of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase from Escherichia coli

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase has been separated from Escherichia coli grown in the presence of linoleic acid and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme has a molecular weight close to 50,000 as determined by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200 Super-fine. The reductase was rather stable in a buffer containing citric acid and kept its full activity on heating at 55 degrees C for 10 min in the pH range of 5.5 to 6.5, but was completely inactivated on heating at 58 degrees C for 10 min. Phosphocellulose column chromatography revealed that the reductase was not involved in the multi-enzyme complex (molecular weight of 260,000) of fatty acid oxidation.

In vivo release of testosterone from protein--vinyl polymer composites

Hydrophilic vinyl polymer-protein composites containing testosterone were made by means of thermal denaturation of albumin after radiation-induced polymerization of 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) at--78 degrees C. The albumin-HEMA mixed polymer can be considerably digested with trypsin. The degree of digestion was smaller than that expected from calculation. It was deduced that the digestion of the albumin component was retarded in the presence of HEMA. The same tendency was observed in in vivo experiments. At the same time, in vivo release of testosterone was depressed in albumin-HEMA mixed polymer composite in accordance with the weight decrease of polymer composite resulting from digestion. The effect of testosterone on the weight of ventral prostate was investigated using composites in castrated Wistar rats. The effect was larger in the controlled slow release from implanted composites rather than that of dosage by injection. The microscopic observation showed that the inflammation and foreign body reaction in rat tissue were retarded in albumin-HEMA mixture polymer composite compared with 100% albumin composite.

Studies on the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. VIII. Induction of 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase in Escherichia coli on the addition of unsaturated fatty acids

2,4-Dienoyl-CoA reductase has been detected in crude extracts of E. coli. The reductase was shown to be induced many fold when the cells were grown in the presence of linoleic or oleic acid. The activity profile of the reductase on gel filtration was different from those of other enoyl reductases. These results suggest that there are two pathways even in E. coli for the degradation of cis-4-decenoyl-CoA, which is an intermediate in the beta-oxidation of linoleic acid, as recently proposed in rat liver.

Volatile sulfur compounds responsible for an offensive odor of the flat-head, Calliurichthys doryssus

1. The volatiles of a flat-head, Calliurichthys doryssus, which gives out a characteristic offensive odor in living time, were analyzed by gas chromatography. 2. A large quantity of volatile sulfur compounds was detected in the flat-head; of which methyl mercaptan and/or dimethyl disulfide were judged to be responsible for the offensive odor. 3. The contents of methyl mercaptan and dimethyl disulfide were much higher in skin than in muscle and viscera.

Mechanism of retention of estramustine in the rat prostate and results of a clinical trial of Estracyt in Japan

To clarify the mechanism of action of Estracyt, we performed experiments using 3H-estramustine of high specific activity. 3H-Radioactivity accumulated selectively in the ventral prostate of castrated male rats after the administration of 3H-estramustine. Estramustine and its metabolites were retained in the ventral prostate for long time periods. The uptake of 3H-radioactivity was almost totally localized in the cytosol fraction, but not in a purified receptor fraction. The apparent equilibrium dissociation constant of the estramustine binding protein was 18.9 nM, and the apparent equilibrium Bmax value was 0.76 nmoles/mg of cytosol protein. In addition, we wish to report in this paper the results of clinical trials of Estracyt studied by a cooperative research group in Japan from 1977 to 1979. It was concluded that Estracyt was effective in 89% of previously untreated prostatic cancer patients and in 38% of reactivated cancer patients.

[Double-blind comparison of L-keflex and cephalexin (Keflex) in dental infections (author's transl)]

In order to evaluate efficacy and safety of L-Keflex (granule form of sustained release cephalexin), a double blind study comparing it with Keflex (capsule of regular cephalexin) was conducted in dental infections. Evaluable cases in adults for efficacy of the drugs were 196 consisting of 97 for L-Keflex and 99 for Keflex. Those in children were 19 (8 for L-Keflex and 11 for Keflex). There were no significant differences in background of the patients and severity of the diseases between both groups (L-Keflex and Keflex groups). The daily doses used in both groups were 1,000 mg in adults and 500 mg in children, respectively. The dose was given in two divided doses for L-Keflex group and in four divided doses for Keflex group. Following are evaluation by the committee members for the study: Adults 1. Clinical response rate at final therapy day was 93.8% in L-Keflex group and 92.9% in Keflex group, showing no significant difference between both groups. 2. No significant difference in severity of subjective and objective symptoms between both groups was observed at each therapy day. 3. Side effects were found in 6.7% of 105 patients receiving L-Keflex and in 5.6% of 107 patients with Keflex, and there was no significant difference between both groups. As the side effects, gastrointestinal symptoms, rash and itching were observed, but no any other side effects were found in both groups. Children 1. As shown in the above, number of the cases enough to evaluate statistically was not obtained, but all of both groups clinically responded to the drugs. 2. As for side effects diarrhea was observed in only one patient of Keflex group consisting of 12 patients. In the patient, however, discontinuation of the drug was not required and the side effect disappeared during the therapy. From the above results, L-Keflex (granule) is judged to have more convenience than Keflex (capsule) in that (1) it can be administered with b.i.d. regimen and (2) it can be easily taken in dental patients such as patients having difficulty in opening mouth of swallowing pain.

Action of a novel nonsteroidal antiandrogen, AA560

The antiandrogenic properties of a new nonsteroidal antiandrogens, AA560 (N-2-chloromethyl-2-hydroxypropionyl)-3, 4, 5-trichloroaniline) were investigated. The ventral prostate, dorselateral prostate and coagulating gland weights in rats given AA560 at 1-9 mg/head were significantly less than those in the intact rats. The seminal vesicle weights in rats given 3-9 mg/head were significantly less than those of the intact group. In intact animals given daily 3 or 9 mg of AA560 there were significantly increases of serum FSH, LH and testosterone concentrations. In the in vivo experiment, the pretreatment with AA560 decreased the uptake of 3H-androgens in the nuclear fraction of the ventral prostate. On the other hand, a significant increase in the uptake of 3H-radioactivity in the cytosol fraction was observed. It was proved by the in vitro displacement study that AA560 inhibited the binding of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone with a receptor protein in the prostatic cytosol.

Mutagenicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome test

The mutagenicities of 7 pyrrolizidine alkaloids to Salmonella typhimurium TA100 were demonstrated by a modified Ames's method. The pyrrolizidine alkaloids found to be mutagenic were clivorine, fukinotoxin, heliotrine, lasiocarpine, ligularidine, LX201 and senkirkine. Pre-incubation of these alkaloids with S9 mix and bacteria in a liquid medium was essential for demonstration of their mutagenicities.