Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric Study of Trimethylsilyl Ethers of Cardiac Aglycones

Identification of early fumonisin biosynthetic intermediates by inactivation of the FUM6 gene in Fusarium verticillioides

Fumonisins are polyketide mycotoxins produced by the maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides and are associated with multiple human and animal diseases. A fumonisin biosynthetic pathway has been proposed, but structures of early pathway intermediates have not been demonstrated. The F. verticillioides FUM6 gene is required for an early pathway step. Here, metabolites produced by strains of the fungus with an inactivated FUM6 gene were purified and shown by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy to have fumonisin-like structures but without substitutions at C-14 and C-15. The major metabolite was 2-amino-12,16-dimethylicosane-3,10-diol. Lesser amounts of 3-keto and triol analogues of the metabolite were also identified. In precursor feeding experiments, 2-amino-12,16-dimethylicosane-3,10-diol was transformed to fumonisins by a F. verticillioides strain with an inactive fumonisin polyketide synthase gene. The results support the hypothesis that the FUM6-encoded enzyme catalyzes fumonisin C-14 and C-15 hydroxylation and provide direct spectroscopic and biochemical evidence for structures of early intermediates in fumonisin biosynthesis.

Cardiac glycosides from Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana) seeds

Thevetia cardiac glycosides can lead to intoxication, thus they are important indicators for forensic and pharmacologic surveys. Six thevetia cardiac glycosides, including two with unknown structures, were isolated from the seeds of the Yellow Oleander (Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Shum., Apocynaceae). LC-ESI⁺-MS(/MS) analysis under high-resolution conditions used as a qualitative survey of the primary glycosides did not lead to fragmentation of the aglycones. Acid hydrolysis of the polar and non-volatile thevetia glycosides under severe conditions yielded the aglycones of the thevetia glycosides and made them amenable to GC-MS analysis. Comparison of mass spectral fragmentation patterns of the aglycones, as well as high-resolution mass spectrometric and NMR data of four of the primary thevetia glycosides including the two unknowns, revealed the structures of the complete set of six thevetia glycosides. The identified compounds are termed thevetin C and acetylthevetin C and differ by an 18,20-oxido-20,22-dihydro functionality from thevetin B and acetylthevetin B, respectively. The absence of an unsaturated lactone ring renders the glycosides cardio-inactive. The procedures developed in this study and the sets of analytical data obtained will be useful for screening and structure assessment of other, particularly polar, cardiac glycosides.

Modulation of the 5-lipoxygenase activity of MC-9 mast cells: activation by hydroperoxides

In order to identify regulatory steps in leukotriene synthesis, the biochemical characteristics of a 5-lipoxygenase activity in the 100,000 xg supernatant from sonicates of cells of an IL-3 dependent murine mast cell clone, MC-9 were determined. Principal products from exogenous 14C-arachidonic acid were identified as leukotriene B4, diastereomeric 5,12-dihydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (5,12 diHETEs) 5-hydroperoxy and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (5-HPETE and 5-HETE) as well as a novel metabolite 5-oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-oxo-ETE). The crude lipoxygenase activity had a pH optimum of 6.9 and was highly dependent upon added Ca++. The effective Ca++ concentration for 50 per cent activation (EC50) was 3 microM. Activity was also stimulated by ATP (EC50 = 160 microM). The cytosolic 5-lipoxygenase activity exhibited a biphasic concentration dependence for arachidonic acid with maximum product formation occurring at 35 microM (ca. 20 nmole/mg/4 min). The lipoxygenase activity exhibited apparent lag phase kinetics which were more pronounced at low protein concentrations (0.3 mg/ml). In addition, the lag phase was greatly accentuated by the addition of a hydroperoxide scavenging system consisting of glutathione (1 mM) plus glutathione peroxidase (0.4 unit/ml). In contrast, addition of any of several hydroperoxides, i.e. 5-,8-,9- or 15-HPETE (EC50 ca. 1 microM), but not the corresponding alcohols (5-HETE and 15-HETE), shortened the lag phase. These results show that the 5-lipoxygenase requires hydroperoxide for activation and that cellular level of hydroperoxides may be an important factor regulating leukotriene synthesis.

Sensitive radioimmunoassay for digoxin in plasma and urine

A reproducible and sensitive radioimmunoassay for digoxin in either serum, plasma or urine is described. Using 0.5 ml of serum or plasma, the assay sensitivity is 0.05 ng of digoxin/ml. The antiserum and tracer solutions employed are available in a kit sold in the United States. All other reagents were prepared in the laboratory. The assay allows measurement of digoxin in plasma or serum for 96 hours after single 0.5 mg doses of digoxin; this is necessary in human bioavailability studies to accurately estimate the total area under the digoxin concentration, time curve from zero to infinite time. In contrast, with the kit assay, employing 0.2 ml of plasma or serum, it has been reported that the 12 hr serum digoxin levels, after single 0.5 mg doses, are, in most subjects, below the sensitivity limit (about 0.5 ng/ml) of the assay.

The formation of trimethylsilyl ethers of ecdysones. A reappraisal

The hydroxyl groups of 20-hydroxyecdysone react with trimethylsilylimidazole with varying ease, in the positional order 2,3,22,25 greater than 20 greater than 14. The 14alpha-hydroxyl group can only be silylated under forcing conditions. Confusion in silylation procedures has been caused by failure to recognize incomplete reaction. The conclusions are supported by mass spectra. In the presence of a catalyst, and absence of a 14alpha-oxy substituent, enol ethers are readily formed, but the rate is considerably reduced with a C-14 substituent present.