Novel polypeptide toxins with crab lethality from the sea anemone Anemonia erythraea

The sea anemone Anemonia erythraea was found to contain polypeptide toxins with crab lethality as well as hemolysins. Three polypeptide toxins (AETX I, II and III) were isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and reverse-phase HPLC on TSKgel ODS-120T. A geographic variation in toxin composition was suggested. The LD50 against crabs of AETX I, II and III were estimated to be 2.2, 0.53 and 0.28 microg/kg, respectively, but none of the toxins showed lethality in mice. The amino acid sequences of the three toxins were deduced from sequencings of the whole molecules and their enzymatic fragments. Amino acid analyses and molecular mass determinations supported the accuracy of the deduced sequences. AETX I, comprising 47 amino acid residues including 6 half-Cys residues, is an analog of sea anemone type I toxins. On the other hand, AETX II and III, which are highly homologous with each other, are quite distinct from the known sea anemone polypeptide toxins in that they are composed of 59 residues including 10 half-Cys residues. Interestingly, both toxins have sequence similarities with neurotoxins isolated from the Brazilian 'armed' spider Phoneutria nigriventer.

Halcurin, a polypeptide toxin from the sea anemone Halcurias sp., with a structural resemblance to type 1 and 2 toxins

The aqueous extract of the sea anemone Halcurias sp. belonging to the suborder Endocoelantheae was found to be potently lethal to crabs, although it showed neither lethal activity in mice nor hemolytic activity. A polypeptide toxin (named halcurin) with a LD50 of 5.8 micrograms/kg against crabs was isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on TSKgel ODS-120T. The complete amino acid sequence of halcurin comprising 47 residues was elucidated by sequence analysis of the native molecule and its enzymatic fragment. Comparison with the known sea anemone polypeptide toxins (types 1-3), which are all from members of the suborder Nynantheae, revealed a high sequence homology (49-74%) of halcurin with type 2 toxins. Also, halcurin has several residues conserved for only type 1 toxins. These results, together with the fact the Halcurias sp. is a more primitive species than members of Nynantheae, suggest that type 1 and 2 toxins have evolved from a common ancestor with a sequence more similar to halcurin.

[Effect of estramustine phosphate on hormone refractory prostate cancer]

Clinical effects of estramustine phosphate (EMT) on hormone refractory prostate cancer were studied. Prostate cancer relapsed in 70 of the 259 patients with stage C and D diseases who had initially responded to endocrine therapy. After cancer relapse, endocrine therapy was changed to oral administration of EMT in 21 patients, while initial endocrine therapy was continued in 14 and additional radiation therapy was given in 35. A partial response or no change was observed in 11 of the 21 patients (52%) given EMT therapy, the mean duration of the response being 14.2 months. The 21 patients given EMT therapy survived significantly longer than the 14 patients with continued on endocrine therapy, and those responding to EMT therapy tended to have a better survival than those unresponsive. Side effects of EMT included loss of appetite in 2 patients and edema of the lower limb in 1, but they were not severe enough to require discontinuation of the drug. EMT may be a useful drug for patients with advanced prostate cancer with relapse after endocrine therapy.

Malolactomycins C and D, new 40-membered macrolides active against Botrytis

A strain of Streptomyces was found to produce two new components of the 40-membered ring macrolides, malolactomycins C and D. They inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea in an agar medium and a detached leaf method.

[Tumor reduction in advanced renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus by renal embolization, interferon-alpha and UFT. A case report]

A 73-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma involving the left renal vein was treated with the embolization of the left renal artery followed by interferon-alpha and UFT. Computerized tomography revealed 53% reduction of the primary lesion and 47% reduction of the tumor thrombus 40 days after treatment. The histopathological study revealed marked lymphocyte infiltration and necrosis of the tumor after nephrectomy.

Triple primary cancers involving kidney, urinary bladder, and liver in a dye worker

A case of triple primary cancers (renal cell carcinoma of the kidney, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver) was reported at autopsy. A 53-year-old man, who had a history of exposure to benzidine, underwent nephrectomy for a left renal cell carcinoma and 10 years later, transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TUR-Bt) for a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder. At the age of 65, he was diagnosed as having multiple hepatic tumors. Histological examination of biopsy specimens showed these lesions to be undifferentiated carcinomas. Immunohistological examination of both biopsy and autopsy specimens revealed that multiple hepatic tumors were hepatocellular carcinomas, not metastatic tumors from kidney or urinary bladder: tumor cells of hepatic tumors were positive for alpha-fetoprotein, although renal cell carcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas of urinary bladder were positive for Ber-EP4 and keratin, respectively. These findings suggest not only that immunohistological examination is helpful for the diagnosis of multiple primary cancers but also that benzidine may be hepatocarcinogenic in addition to those cancers that are known to be associated with benzidine exposure, i.e., renal cell carcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas in urinary bladder.

Kurasoins A and B, new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors produced by Paecilomyces sp. FO-3684. II. Structure elucidation and total synthesis

The structures of new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors, kurasoins A and B, were elucidated by NMR study. Kurasoins A and B are acyloin compounds having in common a 3-hydroxy-1-phenyl-2-butanone moiety, to which p-hydroxyphenyl and 3-indolyl moieties respectively, are connected at C-4. The structures were confirmed by total synthesis.

Arisugacins A and B, novel and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Penicillium sp. FO-4259. I. Screening, taxonomy, fermentation, isolation and biological activity

An in vitro screening method for selective acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors was established. Inhibitory activity of AChE and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) was measured and the culture broths of microorganisms that showed selective inhibition against AChE were characterized. By using this method, a strain producing the novel and selective inhibitors of AChE, arisugacins A and B, was picked out among over seven thousand microorganisms tested. Arisugacins were obtained as white powders from the culture broth together with three known compounds, territrems B and C and cyclopenin that also showed selective inhibition against AChE. Arisugacins and territrems are members of the meroterpenoid compounds. They showed potent inhibitory activities against AChE with IC50 values in range of 1.0 approximately 25.8 nM. Furthermore, they showed greater than 2,000-fold more potent inhibition against AChE than BuChE.

Arisugacins A and B, novel and selective acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Penicillium sp. FO-4259. II. Structure elucidation

The structures of new acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, arisugacins A and B, were elucidated by NMR study. Arisugacins have a (4aR,6aR,12aS,12bS)-4a,6,6a,12,12a, 12b-hexahydro-4a,12a-dihydroxy-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-4H,11H -naphtho[2,1-b] pyrano[3,4-e]pyran-1,11(5H)-dione moiety in common and 3,4-dimethoxyphenyl or 4-methoxyphenyl residues are attached to C-9 of the moiety.

Cine-magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of communication between middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts and cisterns

Cine-magnetic resonance (MR) imaging examinations were performed in 10 patients with middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts to evaluate communication between the cysts and the normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space. Eight of 10 patients were evaluated by time of flight cine-MR imaging, and two by phase contrast cine-MR imaging. Two patients underwent membranectomy of the cysts, and were evaluated both pre- and postoperatively. Computed tomography cisternography was used to confirm communication between the cysts and the surrounding cisterns. Pulsatile fluid motion within the cysts was present in all patients. However, marked fluid motion and jet flow between the cysts and the surrounding cisterns were only observed in communicating cysts. In the two patients who underwent membranectomy, postoperative examination found greater fluid motion and jet flow not previously present. Cine-MR imaging demonstration of marked pulsatile fluid motion accompanied by jet flow suggests that a cyst communicates with the normal CSF space.

Andrastins A-C, new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors produced by Penicillium sp. FO-3929. I. Producing strain, fermentation, isolation, and biological activities

New protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors, andrastins A-C, have been discovered in the cultured broth of Penicillium sp. FO-3929. Andrastins extracted from broth supernatant were purified by silica gel chromatography, ODS chromatography and HPLC. The IC50 of andrastins A, B, and C against protein farnesyltransferase were 24.9, 47.1, and 13.3 microM, respectively.

Andrastins A-C, new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors produced by Penicillium sp. FO-3929. II. Structure elucidation and biosynthesis

The structures of new protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors, andrastins A-C, were elucidated. The cyclopentane ring of andrastins exhibited keto-enol tautomerism, which made the structure hard to elucidate. Therefore, the structure of andrastin A was elucidated by INADEQUATE and 13C-13C couplings using 13C-labeled andrastin A. The absolute configuration of the p-bromobenzoyl derivative of andrastin A was elucidated by X-ray crystallographic analysis and its skeleton was shown to be ent-5 alpha,14 beta-androstane. The biosynthesis of andrastin A was also studied by the incorporation of 13C-labeled acetates. Though the andrastins had a common androstane skeleton, they were biosynthesized from a sesquiterpene and a tetraketide.

Herquline B, a new platelet aggregation inhibitor produced by Penicillium herquei Fg-372

A new herquline analog, herquline B was isolated from the culture broth of Penicillium herquei Fg372. Herquline B contains one piperazine and two cyclohexenones. The pyrrolidine ring of herquline A was cleaved to yield herquline B. The IC50 value of herquline B against platelet aggregation induced by ADP and platelet-activating factor were 1.6 and 5.0 microM, respectively.

A polypeptide toxin in the sea anemone Actinia equina homologous with other sea anemone sodium channel toxins: isolation and amino acid sequence

The sea anemone (Actinia equina) was newly established to contain a polypeptide toxin (named Ae I) having lethal activity to crabs, besides the well-known cytolytic toxins (equinatoxins) of proteinic nature. Ae I, with a minimum lethal dose against crabs of 25 micrograms/kg, was easily isolated by gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 and reverse-phase HPLC on Nucleosil 300-7C18. Its amino acid composition is characterized by the abundance of Gly, the absence of Ala and the presence of Met. The complete amino acid sequence of Ae I was determined. Ae I has high sequence homology with type 1 sea anemone neurotoxins. Interestingly, the polypeptide chain of Ae I comprises 54 amino acid residues, being 5-8 residues longer than the known type 1 toxins having 46-49 residues.

[Analysis of 42 patients with renal trauma--radiographic assessment of surgical application]

We treated 42 patients with renal trauma between 1988 and 1994. There were 18 cases of renal contusion, 12 of minor laceration, 6 of major laceration, 5 of renal rupture and 1 of major laceration with pedicle injury. Thirty-two patients were treated by conservative management, 10 were treated surgically, 9 by simple nephrectomy and 1 by partial nephrectomy. Excretory urography was performed in 27 patients. For stage evaluation, these cases were classified into 4 groups. I: The renal pelvis and calices were clearly enhanced. II: The renal pelvis was enhanced but part of the calix was not. III: The renal pelvis was not clearly enhanced and only some calices were enhanced. IV: The renal pelvis and calices were unenhanced. In addition, computerized tomography was carried out in 24 patients. We believe that cases with classification as III or IV in excretory urography, incomplete enhancement by computerized tomography, and recognized extravasation should be treated operatively.

Phenopyrrozin, a new radical scavenger produced by Penicillium sp. FO-2047

A new radical scavenger, named phenopyrrozin, was isolated from the culture broth of Penicillium sp. FO-2047. Phenopyrrozin was purified from whole broth solvent extraction, silica gel chromatography, and HPLC. The structure of phenopyrrozin was elucidated as 5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-2-hydroxy-1-phenyl-3H-pyrrolizin-3-one. The IC50 of phenopyrrozin against lipid peroxidation induced by Cr2K2O7 was 73 micrograms/ml. Phenopyrrozin also reduced chromosomal aberrations induced by paraquat.

[A study of defensins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis]

We estimated defensins, antimicrobial and cytotoxic peptides localized in azurophil granules of neutrophils, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients with diffuse panbronchiolitis (DPB). BALF from DPB patients contained a higher concentration of defensins than those from patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and healthy volunteers. A significant correlation was observed between the concentration of defensins and the number of neutrophils, the concentration of interleukin-8 or neutrophil elastase in BALF of DPB patients. An immunohistochemical defensins in neutrophils and mucinous exudates in the airways and in the surface of bronchiolar epithelial cells. After treatment with macrolide antibiotics, significant reductions in the concentrations of defensins, IL-8 and neutrophil numbers in BALF of DPB patients were observed. These findings suggest that the lung injury in DPB could be caused by defensins released by neutrophils accumulated in the airways.

New antibiotics phthoxazolins B, C and D produced by Streptomyces sp. KO-7888

New antibiotics, phthoxazolins B, C and D were isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. KO-7888. They are geometrical isomers of 10-hydroxyphthoxazolin A. They showed selective antifungal activity against Phytophthora parasitica in vitro and modest herbicidal activity in a laboratory test, but the potencies were different among isomers.

Isochromophilones III-VI, inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase produced by Penicillium multicolor FO-3216

New azaphilones named isochromophilones III-VI were isolated from the culture broth of Penicillium multicolor FO-3216 as inhibitors of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Their structures were elucidated by NMR and other spectroscopic analyses. The IC50 values of isochromophilones III, IV, V and VI for ACAT activity in an enzyme assay using rat liver microsomes were calculated to be 110, 50, 50 and 120 microM, respectively.