Synthesis of some steroid spin labels

An improved synthesis of spin-labeled cortisol, cortisone, and testosterone using N,N'-cyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) is reported. The spin labeled steroids are shown to result from the esterification at the most reactive C(21) and C(17) hydroxyl groups. A mild and high yield oxidation of cortisol spin label to cortisone spin label by chromium trioxide-pyridine is also discussed.

A spin-label study of the disposition of the Fe-S cluster with respect to the active center of aconitase

It has been reported by Johnson et al. ((1977) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 74, 384-389) that phenacyl bromide reacts with a single reactive sulfhydryl group of aconitase, abolishing enzyme activity. Substrate or analogs have a protective effect. This group is therefore at the catalytic site of the enzyme. Aconitase is also known to be an Fe-S protein, paramagnetic as obtained on purification (Ruzicka and Beinert (1978) J. Biol. Chem. 253, 2514-2517). We have attempted to obtain information on the location of the Fe-S cluster of aconitase with respect to the catalytically active site by attaching nitroxide-labelled sulfhydryl reagents of the bromoacyl and maleimide type to the sensitive sulfhydryl group. The EPR signals of those spin-labelled sulfhydryl reagents that abolish enzyme activity disappear during reaction with aconitase. EPR spectra at 13 K of the product obtained by reaction of three spin labels (two maleimides and one bromoacyl) with aconitase included a half-field transition at g approximately equal to 4.0 which is characteristic of spin-spin interaction. On the basis of calculations of the dependence of the intensity of the half-field transition on the distance between two interacting unpaired electrons (Eaton and Eaton, (1982) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 104, 5002-5003) the distances between the nitroxide N-O bond and the center of the Fe-S cluster for the three spin labels were calculated to be 10.5, 11 and 13 A. Combined distance and orientation data for the three spin labels indicate that the reactive sulfhydryl group is about 12 A from the center of the Fe-S cluster.

Synthesis of charged amphipathic nitroxide lipid spin labels and an example of their application in membrane studies

The synthesis of a series of amphipathic nitroxide lipid spin labels is reported. Thus, 12-proxylhexadecanol has been converted into the versatile fatty acid spin label 14-proxylstearic acid. This substance was used to prepare 14-proxylstearyltrimethylammonium methanesulfonate, a positively charged label, and 14-proxylstearylmethyl phosphate sodium salt, a negatively charged label. Also prepared in the doxyl series were quaternary ammonium salts derived from 16-doxyl- and 7-doxylstearic acid. The positively charged and negatively charged proxyl labels were used in a preliminary experiment to investigate the role of charge in their interaction with reconstituted cytochrome oxidase. The average binding affinity of the negatively charged label is approximately 2-fold higher than that of the positively charged label at pH 7.4. At pH 5.5 the average relative affinity for negatively charged label is about 3.5-fold higher than that of positively charged label, suggesting that the ionizable group(s) on the protein can interact with the lipid headgroup.

Adamantyl nitroxide: a spin label for probing membrane surfaces

In an effort to understand more about the perturbing properties of adamantane-like molecules on biological membranes, the spin probe adamantyl nitroxide (2,2'-dimethyl-5-adamantyl oxazolidine-N-oxyl) was synthesized, purified and characterized. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra were then obtained from 1:50 and 1:200 mixtures of adamantyl nitroxide with dipalmitoyl and dipalmityl phosphatidylcholine multibilayers. Above the phase transition temperature of these lipids (41 degrees C for dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and 43 degrees C for dipalmityl phosphatidylcholine) the spectra of adamantyl nitroxide are similar to control spectra obtained in liquid oleic acid. Below the phase transition temperatures, however, spectral differences were observed depending on: (1) the concentration of the spin probe in the lipid; (2) the linkage between the polar head group and the hydrocarbon tails of the phospholipid; (3) the temperature of the sample. Partitioning of adamantyl nitroxide between the aqueous and hydrocarbon phases of the sample is most prominent at probe-to-lipid ratios of 1:200 and at temperatures below the pre-transition temperature of the lipid (around 33 degrees C). Computer simulations of the above results, as well as additional experiments performed at 35 GHz, show that the results arise from true partitioning and not from asymmetric probe motion. Two conclusive results of these experiments are that spectra of adamantyl nitroxide in phospholipid multibilayers are sensitive to probe concentration and to the physical characteristics of the phospholipid which they probe. The spectral differences which arise when adamantyl nitroxide is used with ether- and ester-linked phospholipids indicate that it is a sensitive probe of membrane surfaces. Employment of this molecule in membrane research should prove to be useful in obtaining additional information about membrane surface events.

Synthesis and study of a spin-labeled cyclophosphamide analogue, 3-(1-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)cyclophosphamide

3-(1-Oxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)cyclophosphamide (7) was isolated in 36% yield following H2O2-Na2WO4 oxidation of 3-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)cyclophosphamide (6), which was synthesized in three steps (25% yield) starting with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine. Binding of 7 to mouse liver microsomes was investigated by optical and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. Compared with the mouse liver microsomal metabolism of 1, separate incubations of 6 and an ca. 1:1 mixture of 1 and 6 gave approximately 90 and 60% less acrolein, respectively. A spin-labeled metabolite of 7, viz., N-(1-oxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)phosphoramide mustard (9), was synthesized and its intramolecular O-alkylation at pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, was studied by 31P NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 7 and 9 were inactive in screening tests against L1210 lymphoid leukemia in mice.

Incorporation of spin-labeled ganglioside analogues into cell and liposomal membranes

Ganglioside analogues (gangliosides) with an electron spin resonance label in a long aliphatic hydrocarbon chain were used to investigate the possible insertion of the sialoglycolipid into the plasma membrane of cells. Three types of ESR signals observed in the labeled glycolipids were distinguished. They characteristically indicate an isotropic tumbling motion of spin label in solution, the micellar state of the glycolipid, and an anisotropic motion in a lipid bilayer. Below CMC, gangliosidoide carrying one aliphatic hydrocarbon chain showed an isotropic tumbling motion. After the gangliosidoide had been incubated with liposomes or blood cells, there was an immediate change to an ESR signal showing an anisotropic motion. The signal was typical of the spin-label in liposomes prepared in the presence of spin-labeled sialoglycolipid. It can be concluded that the gangliosidoide was inserted into the lipid phase of liposomal or cellular membranes from the incubation medium. The overall splitting (2A parallel) of 5SL-gangliosidoides in membranes was larger than those of 5SL-galactosylceramide, 5SL-phosphatidylcholine, and 5SL-stearic acid, though the 2A parallel of 12SL-gangliosidoide was almost the same as those of other lipids having a nitroxide group in the 12-position of an acyl chain. This indicates that the head group movement is restricted in gangliosidoide molecules.

The synthesis of deuterium-substituted, spin-labeled analogues of AMP and NAD+ and their use in ESR studies of lactate dehydrogenase

Two spin-labeled analogues of AMP and NAD+ were synthesized, in which a perdeuterated nitroxide radical (4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl, TEMPAMINE) was attached to C-6 or C-8 position of the adenine ring. The ESR spectra of these derivatives exhibit a 4-fold increase in sensitivity and a concomitant decrease in line-width as compared to the corresponding protonated analogues. The improved resolution of composite spectra consisting of freely tumbling and immobilized components is demonstrated in ternary complexes of the spin-labeled NAD+ derivatives with lactate dehydrogenase (L-lactate:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.27) and oxalate.

A spin label study on human low density lipoprotein

Selective labeling with N-(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)-maleimide of human serum LDL has been performed. The spin-labeled LDL exhibited an ESR spectrum containing signals of a strongly immobilized component only. The signals were completely reversible between 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C and fairly stable at each temperature. The spin-labeled LDL which was prepared by the usual method exhibited an ESR spectrum containing signals of both strongly immobilized and weakly immobilized components (5, 6). The latter was unstable above 25 degrees C and changed irreversibly. The strongly binding site showed higher affinity for the nitroxide radical than the weakly binding site, and two kinds of the strongly binding site were demonstrated kinetically. The rate of binding of the nitroxide radical to the two kinds of strongly binding site were estimated to be 4.7 x 10(4) M-1 . day-1 and 0.16 x 10(4) M-1 . day-1 at pH 7.4 and 4 degrees C, respectively. Both the strongly immobilized and weakly immobilized radicals were reduced with ascorbate at the same rate. It was also shown on gel filtration of the SDS-treated LDL derivatives that the strongly immobilized component was on the apoprotein B moiety, whereas either noncovalent binding to LDL or binding to some small molecular species other than protein was suggested for the weakly immobilized component.

Synthesis of alpha- and beta-glycosides containing spin labels, as probes for studies of carbohydrate-protein interaction

Nitroxide spin-labeled alpha-D-glycopyranosides were synthesized in good yield and in a highly stereoselective manner by reaction of per-O-benzyl-alpha-D-glycopyranosyl bromides with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol under the bromide ion-catalyzed conditions devised by Lemieux et al. After hydrogenolysis, the deblocked intermediates were oxidized to give the desired, spin-labeled alpha-D-glycopyranosides. Nitroxide spin-labeled beta-D-glycopyranosides, as well as a beta-maltoside, were synthesized by standard methods. The synthesis is also described of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose and -D-galactose derivatives having a spin label at C-2, and of the spin-labeled compound 1-[4-(beta-D-galactopyranosyloxy)phenyl]-3-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl -4-yl)-2-thiourea.

Ganglioside headgroup dynamics

Gangliosides, spin-labelled specifically on N-acetylneuraminic acid residues or on random-headgroup sugars, have been used to extend previous studies of headgroup behaviour. Headgroup sugar mobility is seen to be homogeneous and relatively unrestricted in a range of systems including three lines of cultured cells. The effects of temperature and pH have been considered. Binding of small quantities of the lectin, wheat germ agglutinin, was found to increase average headgroup mobility for gangliosides in lipid bilayers, most likely as a result of a disordering effect on ganglioside clusters.

Complex formation of spin-labeled 9-aminoacridine with DNA and polynucleotides

Complex formation between spin-labeled 9-aminoacridine and DNA or polynucleotides has been studied by differential spectrophotometry and ESR. The differential spectra of the strong type 9-aminoacridine-DNA complex showed characteristic absorption bands at 270 and 290 nm, and the intensity ratio of these bands varied according to the degree of DNA denaturation. The ESR spectra of this complex were characterized by slow rotation of the radical; as the macromolecule became increasingly denatured and in the polynucleotide complex, a rapid signal appeared in the ESR spectrum. The temperature at which DNA undergoes a structural transition in the premelting region could be determined from the temperature dependence of the ESR spectral form of the dye-DNA complex. The spectral characteristics of the complexes give additional information about structural disturbances in DNA.

Synthesis of spin-labelled 2-(16'-(N-oxyl-4'',4''-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl)-phosphatidylcholine

Chemical synthesis of spin-labelled lecithin 2-(16'-(N-oxyl-4'',4''-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl)-phosphatidylcholine was achieved by reaction of equimolar amounts of purified egg yolk lyso-lecithin with commercially available 16-(N-oxyl-4',4'-dimethyloxazolidine)stearic acid activated with N,N-carbonyldiimidazole. After purification by silicic acid column chromatography, spin-labelled lecithin was obtained in 52.2% yield and had an ester: phosphorus:spin molar ratio of 2.0:1.1:1.0. When dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine and dimyristoyl-phosphatidylcholine:cholesterol (10:1) liposomes, containing 2-(16'-(N-oxyl-4'',4''-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl)-phosphatidylcholine as a probe were examined for thermotropic changes monitored by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, transition temperatures of 24.0 and 24.2 degrees C, respectively, were obtained in a very good agreement with previously reported values obtained with different probes and by different techniques, and with our own differential scanning calorimetry measurements. The potential usefulness of synthetic 2-(16'-(N-oxyl-4'',4''-dimethyloxazolidine)stearoyl)-phosphatidylcholine as a spin-label probe in studies of lipid-protein interactions in biological membranes was discussed.

Spin-labelling of phosphorylase b using a paramagnetic 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene derivative

Phosphorylase b (1,4-alpha-D-glucan:1,6-alpha-D-glucan 6-alpha-glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.1) can be specifically spin-labelled at a site essential for the catalytic action of the enzyme. A paramagnetic analogue of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene was synthesized and used as a dinitrophenylating agent. Reaction of phosphorylase b with the paramagnetic probe combined with the thiolysis method, leads to spin-labelling of a single -NH2 group (0.75 groups per subunit) with concomitant loss of 50% of the catalytic activity. Dinitrophenylation does not change the sedimentation profile of the enzyme. The ESR spectrum of modified phosphorylase b indicates that the attached label has rather limited segmental mobility and its environment is slightly hydrophobic. Small but subtle conformational changes induced by ligands in this critical site of the macromolecule can be directly detected by the spin-label. Also, sulfhydryl group modification of the spin-labelled enzyme with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) has a pronounced effect on the resonance spectrum.

Studies with a hydrophobic, spin-labeled virucidal agent

A spin-labeled virucidal agent was synthesized, purified, and tested for its activity against the enveloped bacterial virus phi6 and herpes simplex virus. This compound, designated BPN, inactivated greater than 99% of phi6 and herpes simplex virus in vitro at concentrations as low as 0.1 mM. Detailed studies were carried out on the mechanism of inactivation of phi6 by BPN. These studies revealed that treatment of phi6 by BPN specifically removes a single envelope protein that is considered to be responsible for adsorption of the virus to the host cell. Related experiments with the phi6 host, Pseudomonas phaseolicola strain HB10Y, showed that this organism is insensitive to the effects of BPN. The basis for the differential sensitivity of phi6 to BPN, in comparison to the host cell, was investigated by electron spin resonance techniques. It was found that, for phi6, HB10Y, and their extracted phospholipids, BPN is localized in the hydrocarbon zones of the membrane bilayer. However, in the case of phi6, the rotational mobility of BPN is much reduced in comparison to that in HB10Y and the phospholipid preparations. Furthermore, an Arrhenius plot of rotational correlation time (tau(c)) showed a marked discontinuity in slope at 31 degrees C in the case of phi6, but not for the other samples studied. This suggests a strong interaction between the phi6 envelope proteins and the lipid domains in which BPN is localized. Calculations based on the known lipid and protein composition of phi6 indicate that there is an absence of "free-lipid" pools in the viral envelope. It is suggested that BPN localizes in free-lipid pools of cell membranes, where its presence is of little or no consequence, but that in phi6 the BPN perturbs the hydrophobic interactions between phospholipids and proteins in the envelope.

[Structural characteristics of plasma lipoproteins studied with spin-labelled fatty acids]

As shown by means of electrone paramagnetic resonance of spin probes, a magnitude of ordering of lipoprotein molecular arrangement both internal and external parts of molecule was decreased in a following sequence: high density lipoproteins greater than low density greater than very low density lipoproteins. Permeability towards a reducing agent - ascorbic acid - was altered similarly in the lipoprotein surface monolayer.

A spin label study of horseradish peroxidase

The topography of the active sites of native horseradish peroxidase and manganic horseradish peroxidase has been studied with the aid of a spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid (N-(1-oxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-3-carboxy)-p-aminobenzhydroxamic acid). The optical spectra of complexes between the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid and Fe3+ or Mn3+ horseradish peroxidase resembled the spectra of the corresponding enzyme complexes with benzhydroxamic acid. Electron spin resonance (ESR) measurement indicated that at pH 7 the nitroxide moiety of the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid became strongly immobilized when this label bound to either ferric or manganic horseradish peroxidase. The titration of horseradish peroxidase with the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid revealed a single binding site with association constant Ka approximately 4.7 . 10(5) M-1. Since the interaction of ligands (e.g. F-, CN-) and H2O2 with horseradish peroxidase was found to displace the spin label, it was concluded that the spin label did not indeed bind to the active site of horseradish peroxidase. At alkaline pH values, the high spin iron of native horseradish peroxidase is converted to the low spin form and the binding of the spin-labeled analog of benzhydroxamic acid to horseradish peroxidase is completely inhibited. From the changes in the concentration of both bound and free spin label with pH, the pK value of the acid-alkali transition of horseradish peroxidase was found to be 10.5. The 2Tm value of the bound spin label varied inversely with temperature, reaching a value of 68.25 G at 0 degree C and 46.5 G at 52 degrees C. The dipolar interaction between the iron atom and the free radical accounted for a 12% decrease in the ESR signal intensity of the spin label bound to horseradish peroxidase. From this finding, the minimum distance between the iron atom and nitroxide group and hence a lower limit to the depth of the heme pocket of horseradish peroxidase was estimated to be 22 A.

Modification of human serum albumin with N-(2,5-dinitro-4-fluorophenyl)-4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidinooxy radical

Human serum albumin has been treated with the spin-labeling reagent indicated in the title. Ultraviolet spectral studies of the protein so modified suggest that reaction takes place at lysine and tyrosine sidechains; kinetic experiments indicate that there are two especially reactive amino groups of the protein which are preferentially modified. Evidence is presented that these groups include the one acetylated by aspirin (Lys-199) or those arylated by 2.6-dinitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzenesulfonate. Esr experiments show that bound spin labels have about the same correlation time expected for overall tumbling of the protein; ESR observations indicate that molecular freedom near the spin labels is not increased when the protein is transferred to 8 M urea.

[Synthesis of spin-labeled rubomycin and a study of its interaction with DNA]

Hydrochloride of 14-(I-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl-4)-acetoxyrubomycin (spin-labeled rubomycin or SL-rubomycin) was prepared by interaction of hydrochloride of 14-bromrubomycin with potassium salt of I-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidyl-4-acetic acid. Its interaction with DNA and synthetic poly A and poly U polyribonucleotides was studied. The character of the EPR spectra was indicative of DNA binding with SL-rubomycin and forming a system with a high level of regularity similar to that of liquid crystals. The results of the study of the EPR spectra correlated with the model of rubomycin intercalation between the pairs of DNA bases and were indicative of water surrounding of the nitroxyl group of SL-rubomycin bound with DNA.

[Choice of a spin label probe in order to study the recombination of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase of a rat liver inner mitochondrial membrane with lecithin vesicles]

We find from studying the inhibitory effect of N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) on the enzymatic activity of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase, that approximately one molecule of NEM is bound for one molecule of protein when the enzymatic activity is completely inhibited. Since the protein is a dimer this implies that each molecule of protein possesses only one thiol group in its catalytic center. Two long chain maleimide derivates: (10.3) NEM and (1.14) NEM conform, if a reasonable assumption is accepted to the conditions required for the study of the recombination of beta-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase with lecithin vesicles by spin label technique.

Cardiolipin: a stereospecifically spin-labeled analogue and its specific enzymic hydrolysis

The spin-labeled cardiolipin 1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-3-[1-acyl-2-(16-doxylstearoyl)glycero(3)phosphol]-sn-glycerol has been prepared. The stereoselective synthesis makes use of the monolysocardiolipin 1-(3-sn-phosphatidyl)-3-[1-acyl-2-lyso-sn-glycero(3)phospho]-sn-glycerol, available from the stereospecific hydrolysis of cardiolipin by phospholipase A2 (phosphatide 2-acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4) of Trimeresurus flavoviridis. The results of treatment of the spin-labeled cardiolipin with the cardiolipin-specific phospholipase D (phosphatidylcholine phosphatidohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.4) (Hemophilus parainfluenzae) of known specificity and with phospholipase C (phosphatidylcholine cholinephosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.4.3) of Bacillus cereus are consistent with the assigned structure. The spin-labeled cardiolipin is further characterized and the unique features of this diastereomer are discussed in the context of the unusual stereochemistry of the natural phospholipid.

Spin-labeling of Escherichia coli membrane by enzymatic synthesis of phosphatidylglycerol and divalent cation-induced interaction of phosphatidylglycerol with membrane proteins

Escherichia coli membrane particulate fraction has been spin-labeled by incubating with sn-glycerol-3-phosphate, CTP, palmitoyl CoA and 12-nitroxide stearoyl CoA. Incorporation of the spin-labeled acyl chain into phosphatidyl-glycerol was confirmed. ESR spectrum of the spin-labeled phosphatidylglycerol in E. coli membrane consisted at least of two components; one due to the labels undergoing rapid anisotropic motions and the other due to strongly immobilized labels (the overall splitting value, approx. 58 G). The relative intensity of the two components was dependent on the concentration of divalent cations. The immobilized component decreased on treatment of the membrane with EDTA and increased on addition of Mg2+ or Ca2+. The spectrum at 1 mM Mg2+ or Ca2+ consisted almost only of the immobilized component. Spin-labeled phosphatidylglycerol in total lipid membrane showed ESR spectrum due to mobile labels and the spectrum was not affected appreciably by the divalent cations. The results suggest the divalent cation-mediated interaction of phosphatidylglycerol with proteins in E. coli membrane. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent uptake of methyl-alpha-D-glucoside was markedly accelerated by Mg2+. Ca2+ was not effective for the enhancement. The divalent cation-induced interaction of phosphatidylglycerol with proteins was discussed in relation to the sugar transport.

Synthesis of spin-labeled nitroxyl esters of steroids

The preparations of spin-labeled nitroxyl esters of prednisone, cortisone, deoxycorticosterone, and cholesterol are described. The ESR spectra indicate that the esters of the three steroids with an oxygen atom at the 11 position have narrower band widths than those with only protons at that position. Mass spectral, chemical, and ESR studies confirmed the structures and purity of the compounds prepared. Reaction of four esters with prednisone antibodies showed reversible binding and large crossover binding.

The effect of phosphatidylcholine depletion on biochemical and physical properties of a Neurospora crassa membrane mutant

By using the choline starvation process it is possible to deplete the membranes of Neurospora crassa choline auxotroph chol-1 of phosphatidylcholine, without affecting the viability of germinated spores or whole mycelium. Spin label probes were used to examine the possible dependence of the physical state of cellular lipids on the presence of phosphatidylcholine in the membranes. Increased freedom of rotational motion of lipid soluble probes was regularly detected in choline-starved mycelium. The accumulation of neutral lipids (mostly triglycerides) in bulk form was also observed during the choline starvation process. The experiments with isolated and separated lipid classes indicated that the observed increase in fluidity of lipids in choline-starved mycelium is partly due to the difference in physical properties between bulk lipids and membrane lipids. Spin label probe 2N4 (2-propyl-2,5,5-trimethyloxazolidine-N-oxyl), which can partition at the membrane-water interface, exhibited easier partitioning among membrane lipids of choline-starved mycelium.

Preparation of spin-labeled opiates: morphine and codeine

The preparation of 6-spin-labeled codeine and morphine is described. Treatment of either 6-chlorocodide or 8-bromocodide with 4-amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidino-1-oxyl free radical in dimethylformamide afforded 6-spin-labeled codeine. Similar treatment of 6-chloromorphide afforded 6-spin-labeled morphine. Exclusive formation of the 6-isomer in these reactions is explained by halide-ion-catalyzed isomerization of the 6-halo opiate to the 8-halo isomer followed by a normal SN2' displacement of the halogen. Both spin-labeled compounds displayed weak in vivo analgesic activity and did not bind appreciably to receptors in brain homogenate.

Pharmacological activity of nitroxide analogues of dichloroisoproterenol and propranolol

Spin-labeled analogues of dichloroisoproterenol and propranolol were synthesized. It was found that the KD's of both probes for the beta-adrenergic receptors of frog erythrocytes were about 30-fold higher than the KD's previously reported for the parent antagonists. Thus the introduction of a bulky nitroxide moiety in place of the isopropyl group on the amino nitrogen is associated with a decrease in affinity for the beta-adrenergic receptors. Nonetheless, the affinity of the spin-labeled propranolol would appear to be within a range compatible with EPR measurements.

Synthesis and biological properties of some spin-labeled 9-aminoacridines

Five spin-labeled 9-aminoacridines, each bearing either a 4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) or a 3-(2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy) moiety in the 9 position, have been synthesized and assayed for biological activity in three different test systems. Sedimentation velocity measurements indicated that the labels caused unwinding of calf thymus DNA. Those acridines which contained both 6-chloro and 2-methoxy substituents were less toxic to leukemia L1210 in static culture than the corresponding unsubstituted analogues. While the unsubstituted aminoacridines were quite good inhibitors of Escherichia coli DNA-primed RNA polymerase, the 6-chloro-2-methoxy-substituted compounds stimulated this enzyme system. In the presence of E.coliDNA, the ESR spectrum of 4-[(6-chloro-2-methoxy-9-acridinyl)amino]-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl (12) became broad and highly asymmteric with a maximal hyperfine splitting of 57.5 G. This observation suggests that when 12 intercalates into DNA the piperidinyl moiety that bears the nitroxide group becomes highly immobilized. These results suggest that the spin-labeled 9-aminoacridines will be useful probes for nucleic acids.

Spin labeled acetylcholine analogs: studies of cholinergic receptor

Some spin-labeled acetylcholine analogs, in which the number of methylene groups between the quaternary nitrogen and the ether oxygen ranged between 1-5, were synthesized to study drug interacitons with acetylcholine receptors. None of the compounds tested, with the exception of the one that contained 2 methylene groups (SL-2) had any cholinergic activity. SL-2 was not capable of producing any nicotinic cholinomimetic activity. On the other hand it proved to have a very weak nicotinic cholinolytic activity on the receptors of the frog satorius muscle. This compound exhibited strong antagonism against muscarinic receptors of the isolated frog heart. The muscarinic cholinolytic action of the spin-label ACh analog is discussed in terms of the molecular perturbation theory of drug action.

Synthesis and biological activity of spin-labeled analogs of biotin, hexamethonium, decamethonium, dichlorisoproterenol, and propranolol

Spin-labeled analogs of biotin (vitamin H), hexamethonium, decamethonium, dichlorisoproterenol, propranolol, and primaquine containing the nitroxide free radical have been synthesized and tested for biological activity. The four spin-labeled analogs of biotin, 4-biotinamido-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (IV), 3-biotinamido-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (V), 3-biotinamidomethyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-1-pyrrolidinyloxy (VI), and 4-(biotinylglycyl)amino-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (VII), all interacted with avidin, a specific biotin binding protein found in raw egg white, at the same sites as did biotin itself. An unsymmetrical decamethonium spin label (XVIII) in which one of the quaternary methyl groups had been replaced by the 4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) moiety was 13 times more potent as an inhibitor of Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase than the parent drug. The symmetrical decamethonium (XVI) and hexamethonium (XIV) spin labels were 18 and 1.8 times as active as decamethonium in the same assay system. The substitution of the 4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) group for the isopropyl groups of beta-adrenergic blocking drugs dichlorisoproterenol and propranolol, to give spin labels XXI and XXII, caused a 45 and 54% reduction, respectively, in the ability of these compounds to inhibit the isoproterenol-stimulated activity of rat fat cell membranes. Finally, modification of primaquine by the introduction of the 4-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy) substituent into the amino group of the butyl side chain completely abolished the ability of the drug to bind to nuclei acids. These results suggest that the incorporation of the nitroxide group into drug molecules may be a useful approach to the synthesis of more specific spin labels for biological systems, such as egg white avidin, acetylcholinesterase, and the beta-adrenergic receptor.

The use of aryl azido ATP analogs as photoaffinity labels for myosin ATPase

The synthesis of ATP analogs containing a photoactive aryl azido grouping coupled to the 3' hydroxyl of ATP is described. The potential effectiveness of these analogs in the investigation of nucleotide-binding regions is outlined and this effectiveness demonstrated by their photodependent inhibition of subfragment 1 ATPase. The use of 14C-labeled azido ATP demonstrates an almost stoichiometric covalent binding of the analog. Because of their potential application to other systems, a number of reactions describing the reactivity of the 3' hydroxyl of the nucleotide ribose are outlined in an Appendix.

[Conformational transitions in Na, K-dependent ATPase]

Conformational transitions in membrane preparations of Na, K-dependent ATPase were studied by means of mono-radical and bi-radical hydrophobic spine probes. A decrease in micro-viscosity of non-polar membrane regions in Na, K-ATPase preparation was observed under the formation of phosphorylated N, K-ATPase intermediate in the presence of ATP and Na+ ions. K+-catalysed dephosphorylation of the intermediate resulted in opposite changes. Bi-radical probes of a certain chemical structure turned to be the most sensitive indicators of conformational changes in membranes of Na, K-ATPase preparation. Na+-, K+- and ATP-induced conformational transitions are blocked with suabaine, a specific inhibitor of Na, K-ATPase, with Ca2+ oligomycin and p-chloromercuric benzoate (PCMB). K+-dependent transitions are more sensitive to oligomycin and PCMB as compared with those induced by ATP and Na+. Possible mechanisms of conformational transitions in Na, K-dependent ATPase are discussed.

Preparation of spin-labeled analogs of the antitumor agents TEPA and thio-TEPA

Spin-labeling of phosphorus compounds, cancer, EPR, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl