Discovery of novel antitumor sulfonamides targeting G1 phase of the cell cycle

Described herein is the discovery of a novel series of antitumor sulfonamides targeting G1 phase of the cell cycle. Cell cycle control in G1 phase has attracted considerable attention in recent cancer research, because many of the important proteins involved in G1 progression or G1/S transition have been found to play a crucial role in proliferation, differentiation, transformation, and programmed cell death (apoptosis). We previously reported our first antitumor sulfonamide E7010 as a novel tubulin polymerization inhibitor. Interestingly enough, continuous research on structurally related compounds led us to the finding of another class of antitumor sulfonamides that block cell cycle progression of P388 murine leukemia cells in G1 phase, but not in M phase. Of the compounds examined, N-(3-chloro-7-indolyl)-1,4-benzenedisulfonamide (E7070) showed significant antitumor activity against HCT116 human colon carcinoma both in vitro (IC(50) 0.11 microg/mL in cell proliferation assay) and in vivo (not only growth suppression but also a marked reduction of tumor size in nude mice). Because of its promising efficacy against human tumor xenografts and its unique mode of action, E7070 is currently undergoing phase I clinical trials in European countries.

Cell cycle regulation in the G1 phase: a promising target for the development of new chemotherapeutic anticancer agents

As a result of substantial advances in recent cancer biology, cell cycle regulation in the G1 phase has attracted a great deal of attention as a promising target for the research and treatment of cancer. Many of the important genes associated with G1 regulation have been shown to play a key role in proliferation, differentiation and oncogenic transformation and programmed cell death (apoptosis). Currently, a variety of "cytostatic" agents that affects G1 progression and/or G1/S transition are being evaluated in clinical trials. Flavopiridol is a potent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). UCN-01 was originally found to be a PKC-selective protein kinase antagonist. More recent studies have revealed that this agent can also inhibit several CDKs and the checkpoint kinase CHK1. FR901228, MS-27-275 and SAHA are histone deacetylase inhibitors that induce changes in the transcription of specific genes via the hyperacetylation of histones. The proteasome inhibitor PS-341 disrupts the degradation process of intracellular proteins, including cell cycle regulatory proteins such as cyclins. R115777, SCH66336 and BMS-214662 are non-peptidic farnesyl transferase inhibitors that prevent p21 ras oncogene activation. Rapamycin derivative CCI-779 downregulates signals through S6 kinase and FRAP (FKBP-rapamycin associating protein), affecting the expression levels of mRNAs important for progression from G1 to S phase. 17-Allylaminogeldanamycin targets the Hsp-90 (heat shock protein-90) family of cellular chaperones regulating the function of signaling proteins. TNP-470 (AGM-1470), a fumagillin derivative shows antiangiogenic action through binding to MetAP-2 (methionine aminopeptidase-2). The antitumor sulfonamide E7070, causing a cellular accumulation in the G1 phase, has been shown to suppress the activation of CDK2 and cyclin E expression in HCT116 colorectal cancer cell line highly sensitive to the drug. With respect to several growth factor receptors such as EGFR, PDGFR, bFGFR and VEGFR, potent and specific inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinases have been also examined as hopeful drug candidates. In this report, we review the current status of extensive efforts directed towards the discovery and development of new chemotherapeutic anticancer agents targeting cell cycle regulation in the G1 phase, with particular focus on the compounds undergoing clinical investigations.

A case of tick-borne encephalitis in Japan and isolation of the the virus

A case of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) has not been reported for many years in Japan, although a serological survey of sera from domestic animals suggested the presence of TBE foci in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan. Studies were conducted to prove the presence of an endemic focus of TBE virus in Japan by means of serology and virus isolation. In October 1993 in Hokkaido, a severe case of encephalitis in a dairy farmer's wife was diagnosed as TBE. Serological examination of paired serum specimens showed a rise in the neutralization antibody titer to Russian spring summer encephalitis virus. A seroepizootiological survey of dogs showed that the TBE-related virus was prevalent in the area. Three virus isolates were obtained from the blood of sentinel dogs, and antigenic analysis grouped the isolates into TBE-related viruses. Sequence analysis of the envelope protein gene identified one of the isolates as being of the same subtype as the Russian spring summer encephalitis (Far Eastern TBE) virus. The results provide evidence that TBE is endemic in a certain area of Japan.

Genetic diversity of hantaviruses isolated in china and characterization of novel hantaviruses isolated from Niviventer confucianus and Rattus rattus

The antigenic and genetic properties of 46 hantaviruses from China, 13 from patients, 23 from rodents, and 10 from unknown hosts, were compared with those of other hantaviruses. The viruses were classified as either Hantaan (HTN) or Seoul (SEO) viruses. A phylogenetic analysis of the partial M (300 bp) and S (around 485 bp) genomes of HTN viruses identified nine distinct genetic subtypes, one consisting of isolates from Korea. The SEO viruses were divided into five genetic subtypes, although they had less variability than the HTN subtypes. There was a correlation between the subtype and province of origin for four subtypes of HTN viruses, confirming geographical clustering. Hantaan virus NC167 isolated from Niviventer confucianus and SEO virus Gou3 isolated from Rattus rattus were the basal clades in each virus. The phylogenetic trees constructed from the entire S and M segments suggested that NC167 was introduced to N. confucianus in a host-switching event. The reactivity of a panel of 35 monoclonal antibodies was almost exactly the same in NC167 and a representative HTN virus and in Gou3 and a representative SEO virus. However, there was a one-way cross-neutralization between them. These results confirm the varied nature of Murinae-associated hantaviruses in China.

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 is overexpressed in inflammatory bowel disease. Evidence for involvement of the transcription factor Egr-1

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) catalyzes the conversion of cyclooxygenase-derived prostaglandin (PG) H(2) to PGE(2). Increased amounts of mPGES-1 were detected in inflamed intestinal mucosa from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha stimulated mPGES-1 transcription in human colonocytes, resulting in increased amounts of mPGES-1 mRNA and protein. The inductive effect of TNF-alpha localized to the GC box region of the mPGES-1 promoter. Binding of Egr-1 to the GC box region of the mPGES-1 promoter was enhanced by treatment with TNF-alpha. Notably, increased Egr-1 expression and binding activity were also detected in inflamed mucosa from IBD patients. Treatment with TNF-alpha induced the activities of phosphatidylcholine-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) and protein kinase (PK) C and enhanced NO production. A pharmacological approach was used to implicate PC-PLC --> PKC --> NO signaling as being important for the induction of mPGES-1 by TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha also enhanced guanylate cyclase activity and inhibitors of guanylate cyclase activity blocked the induction of mPGES-1 by TNF-alpha. YC-1, an activator of guanylate cyclase, induced mPGES-1. Overexpressing a dominant negative form of PKG blocked TNF-alpha-mediated stimulation of the mPGES-1 promoter. Taken together, these results suggest that overexpression of mPGES-1 in IBD is the result of Egr-1-mediated activation of transcription. Moreover, TNF-alpha induced mPGES-1 by stimulating PC-PLC --> PKC --> NO --> cGMP --> PKG signal transduction pathway.

E7070, a novel sulphonamide agent with potent antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo

E7070 (N-(3-Chloro-7-indolyl)-1,4-benzenedisulphonamide) was selected from our sulphonamide compound collections via antitumour screening and flow cytometric analysis. Following treatment with E7070, the cell cycle progression of P388 murine leukaemia cells was disturbed in the G1 phase. The cell-killing effect on human colon cancer HCT116 cells was found to be time-dependent. In the panel of 42 human tumour cell lines, E7070 showed an antitumour spectrum that was distinct from those of other anticancer drugs used in clinic. Animal tests using human tumour xenograft models demonstrated that E7070 could cause not only tumour growth suppression, but also tumour regression in three of five colorectal and two of two lung cancers. In the HCT116 xenograft model, E7070 was shown to be superior to 5-FU, MMC and CPT-11 (irinotecan). Furthermore, complete regression of advanced LX-1 tumours was observed in 80% of E7070-treated mice. All of these observations have promoted this drug to clinical evaluation.

Novel risk factors for lymph node metastasis in early invasive colorectal cancer: a multi-institution pathology review

BACKGROUND

Novel risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) have been recently proposed, but most have not been implemented because of the lack of validation. Here we determined the value of poorly differentiated clusters (PDCs) in a multi-institutional cohort of T1 CRC cases.

METHODS

A pathology review involving 30 institutions was conducted for 3556 T1 CRCs. PDC was defined as malignant clusters comprising ≥5 cells and lacking a glandular formation. The ability to identify LNM risk was compared using Akaike's information criterion (AIC).

RESULTS

PDC was observed in 1401 tumors (39.4 %), including 94 (17.8 %) with <1000 µm submucosal invasion and 1307 (43.2 %) with ≥1000 µm submucosal invasion (P < 0.0001). The incidence of LNM was higher in PDC-positive tumors (17.4 %) than in PDC-negative tumors (6.9 %; P < 0.0001), and PDCs had an adverse impact on LNM irrespective of the degree of submucosal invasion. Grade 3, vascular invasion, budding, and submucosal invasion depth were also significant factors (all, P < 0.0001). AIC of risk factor to identify LNM risk was most favorable for vascular invasion (2273.4), followed by PDC (2357.4); submucosal invasion depth (2429.1) was the most unfavorable. Interinstitutional judgment disparities were smaller in PDC (kappa, 0.51) than vascular invasion (0.33) or tumor grade (0.48).

CONCLUSIONS

PDC is a promising new parameter with good ability to identify LNM risk. Use of its appropriate judgment criteria will enable us determine whether an observational policy can be safely applied following local tumor excision in T1 CRC cases.

A phase ΙI study of five peptides combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy as a first-line therapy for advanced colorectal cancer (FXV study)

BACKGROUND

We previously conducted a phase I trial for advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) using five HLA-A*2402-restricted peptides, three derived from oncoantigens and two from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors, and confirmed safety and immunological responses. To evaluate clinical benefits of cancer vaccination treatment, we conducted a phase II trial using the same peptides in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy as a first-line therapy.

METHODS

The primary objective of the study was the response rates (RR). Progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and immunological parameters were evaluated as secondary objective. The planned sample size was more than 40 patients for both HLA2402-matched and -unmatched groups. All patients received a cocktail of five peptides (3 mg each) mixed with 1.5 ml of IFA which was subcutaneously administered weekly for the first 12 weeks followed by biweekly administration. Presence or absence of the HLA-A*2402 genotype were used for classification of patients into two groups.

RESULTS

Between February 2009 and November 2012, ninety-six chemotherapy naïve CRC patients were enrolled under the masking of their HLA-A status. Ninety-three patients received mFOLFOX6 and three received XELOX. Bevacizumab was added in five patients. RR was 62.0% and 60.9% in the HLA-A*2402-matched and -unmatched groups, respectively (p=0.910). The median OS was 20.7 months in the HLA-A*2402-matched group and 24.0 months in the unmatched group (log-rank, p=0.489). In subgroup with a neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) of <3.0, patients in the HLA-matched group did not survive significantly longer than those in the unmatched group (log-rank, p=0.289) but showed a delayed response.

CONCLUSIONS

Although no significance was observed for planned statistical efficacy endpoints, a delayed response was observed in subgroup with a NLR of <3.0. Biomarkers such as NLR might be useful for selecting patients with a better treatment outcome by the vaccination.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Trial registration: UMIN000001791.

Characterization of the nucleocapsid protein of Hantaan virus strain 76-118 using monoclonal antibodies

We characterized the antigenic sites on the nucleocapsid protein (NP) of Hantaan virus (HTN) using 10 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). At least seven antigenic sites were revealed by a competitive binding assay and divided into three partially overlapping antigenic regions (I, II and III). Regions I [amino acids (aa) 1-103], II (aa 104-204) and III (aa 205-402) were mapped on NP by examining the reactivity of truncated gene products. Those that corresponded to region I reacted with immune mouse serum, indicating that the region contained major linear epitopes as reported with Four corners virus (FCV) and Puumala virus (PUU) NP. At least one MAb to each region inhibited viral growth when they were introduced into cells by scrape-loading. In addition, they conferred protection from a lethal HTN challenge to newborn mice. A PEPSCAN assay localized the epitope of MAb E5/G6 between aa 166-175. Since E5/G6, which had the highest inhibitory effect both in cells and in mice, showed no virus neutralization activity by ordinary neutralization test, this region is suggested to be important for the virus growth after entry into the cells.

Truncated hantavirus nucleocapsid proteins for serotyping Hantaan, Seoul, and Dobrava hantavirus infections

Truncated recombinant nucleocapsid proteins (rNPs) of Hantaan virus (HTNV), Seoul virus (SEOV), and Dobrava virus (DOBV) were expressed by a baculovirus system. The truncated rNPs, which lacked 49 (rNP50) or 154 (rNP155) N-terminal amino acids of the NPs of HTNV, SEOV, and DOBV, were able to differentiate HTNV-, SEOV-, and DOBV-specific immune sera. Recombinant NP50s retained higher reactivities than rNP155s and were proven useful for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISAs based on the rNP50s of HTNV, SEOV, and DOBV successfully differentiated three groups of patient sera, previously defined by neutralization tests: 17 with HTNV infection, 12 with SEOV infection, and 20 with DOBV infection. The entire rNP of Puumala virus (PUUV) distinguished PUUV infection from the other types of hantavirus infection. Serotyping with these rNP50s can be recommended as a rapid and efficient system for hantavirus diagnosis.

Purification and characterization of dissimilatory nitrate reductase from a denitrifying halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui

Dissimilatory nitrate reductase was purified from a denitrifying halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui, to an electrophoretically homogeneous state. The purified enzyme was inferred to be a homotetramer composed of a 63 kDa polypeptide. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of the purified enzyme revealed typical rhombic signals which were ascribed to Mo(V) in the Mo-molybdopterin complex. Like the bacterial membrane-bound (Nar-) enzyme, the purified enzyme supported the catalysis of chlorate. The enzyme was activated in extreme saline conditions and the values of k(cat) and K(m) toward nitrate were 145 s(-1) and 79 microM, respectively, in the presence of 2.0 M NaCl.

Protective role of antigenic sites on the envelope protein of Hantaan virus defined by monoclonal antibodies

To investigate the role of Hantaan virus envelope glycoprotein in infection, a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was examined in vitro with several serological tests and in vivo by passive transfer experiments in mice. An antigenic site, specific for the inhibition of infected cell focus was detected with the focus inhibition neutralization test (FINT), in addition to the neutralization related antigenic sites, which were revealed by the ordinary focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT). Suckling mice were given the MAbs by passive transfer followed by lethal Hantaan virus challenge. All neutralizing MAbs detected by either FRNT or FINT protected all mice from lethal infection, confirming the importance of the antigenic sites as a protective antigen. Mice given non-neutralizing MAbs by passive transfer, however, began to die earlier than the control group; mean time to death (18.2 +/- 2.1 to 21.5 +/- 2.8 days) being significantly shorter than that of the control group (25.8 +/- 1.8, p less than 0.01, Mann-Whitney, U probability test). Virus titers in brains of mice which died early, were about 10 times higher than those of control mice. These results indicated the early death phenomenon of mice which was mediated by the anti-virus antibody.

Mouse Mx2 protein inhibits hantavirus but not influenza virus replication

The antiviral potential of Mx2 protein remains unknown, because the Mx2 gene in commonly used strains of laboratory mice is nonfunctional. Our previous study showed that functional Mx2 protein in some feral-origin strains was induced upon interferon treatment, was localized in the cytoplasm, and inhibited vesicular stomatitis virus replication. In the present study, we have demonstrated that the embryonic fibroblastic cells from a feral-origin strain (SPR) expressed 74 kDa Mx2 protein, which prevented the accumulation of viral transcripts and proteins of hantaviruses when the Mx2 gene was constitutively expressed in transfected Vero cells. Furthermore, the cells showed significantly lower titers of the virus than control cells. In contrast, influenza virus replication was not affected by the expression of Mx2 protein in the Vero cells.

Protective immunity of Hantaan virus nucleocapsid and envelope protein studied using baculovirus-expressed proteins

Recombinant Hantaan virus nucleocapsid protein (rNP) and recombinant envelope (rEnv) proteins were prepared using a baculovirus expression system to examine the role of Hantaan virus structural proteins in protective immunity. Passive transfer of spleen cells from mice immunized with rNP conferred partial protection or prolongation of time to death from fatal Hantaan virus infection in suckling mice which were challenged with Hantaan virus at 40 LD50 (survival rate: 43%) or 4 LD50 (survival rate: 43%). The T cell-enriched fraction protected one mouse from lethal infection but the B cell-enriched fraction had no such effect on fatal HTN infection. The protective effects of the antibody against HTN challenge were examined by passive immunization. The monoclonal antibody ECO 2 directed to NP also conferred partial survival and significant difference in time to death. Although rEnv antigen failed to induce neutralizing antibody, both immune spleen cells and immune serum to rEnv conferred partial protection upon suckling mice. These results indicate that both nucleocapsid and envelope proteins of Hantaan virus were responsible for induction of cell mediated protective immunity. Vero E 6 cells infected with Hantaan virus expressed envelope protein on the surface, as determined by flow cytometry. However, there was only negligible expression of nucleocapsid protein.

Pathogenicity of Hantaan virus in newborn mice: genetic reassortant study demonstrating that a single amino acid change in glycoprotein G1 is related to virulence

Two Hantaan virus strains, clone 1 (cl-1), which is virulent in newborn mice, and its attenuated mutant (mu11E10), were used to examine the pathogenesis of Hantaan virus infection in a mouse model and identify virus factors relating to virulence. After subcutaneous inoculation of newborn BALB/c mice, cl-1 caused fatal disease with high viral multiplication in peripheral organs, but mu11E10 produced nonfatal infection with a low level of virus multiplication. Intracerebral inoculation of either strain caused fatal disease. Histopathological changes in the dead animals were prominent in the brain, indicating that the brain is the target organ and produces the fatal outcome. These results indicate that mu11E10 has a generally less virulent phenotype, and because of decreased multiplication in peripheral tissues, neuroinvasiveness is also decreased. An experiment with genetic reassortant viruses showed that in newborn mice the M segment is the most related to virulence and the L segment is partly related. Sequence comparison detected a single deduced amino acid change (cl-1 Ile to mu11E10 Thr) at amino acid number 515 in glycoprotein G1. One nucleotide change, but no amino acid substitution, was observed in the noncoding region of the L segment. In mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells in vitro, viruses possessing a cl-1-derived M segment grew more rapidly than viruses containing a mu11E10-derived M segment. These results suggest that the single amino acid change in the glycoprotein alters peripheral growth, which affects invasion of the central nervous system in mice.

Phase II clinical trial of peptide cocktail therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: VENUS-PC study

We previously conducted a phase I clinical trial combining the HLA-A*2402-restricted KIF20A-derived peptide vaccine with gemcitabine for advanced pancreatic cancer (PC) and confirmed its safety and immunogenicity in cancer patients. In this study, we conducted a multicenter, single-armed, phase II trial using two antiangiogenic cancer vaccines targeting VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 in addition to the KIF20A peptide. We attempted to evaluate the clinical benefit of the cancer vaccination in combination with gemcitabine. Chemotherapy naïve PC patients were enrolled to evaluate primarily the 1-year survival rate, and secondarily overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), disease control rate (DCR) and the peptide-specific immune responses. All enrolled patients received therapy without the HLA-A information, and the HLA genotypes were used for classification of the patients. Between June 2012 and May 2013, a total of 68 patients were enrolled. No severe systemic adverse effects of Grade 3 or higher related to these three peptides were observed. The 1-year survival rates between the HLA-A*2402-matched and -unmatched groups were not significantly different. In the HLA-A*2402 matched group, patients showing peptide-specific CTL induction for KIF20A or VEGFR1 showed a better prognosis compared to those without such induction (P = 0.023, P = 0.009, respectively). In the HLA-A*2402-matched group, the patients who showed a strong injection site reaction had a better survival rate (P = 0.017) compared to those with a weak or no injection site reaction. This phase II study demonstrated that this therapeutic peptide cocktail might be effective in patients who demonstrate peptide-specific immune reactions although predictive biomarkers are needed for patient selection in its further clinical application.

Evidence for the existence of Puumula-related virus among Clethrionomys rufocanus in Hokkaido, Japan

We conducted field surveys of indigenous rodent species in Hokkaido, Japan from 1980 to 1993. Serum samples were collected from 663 rodents, including Clethrionomys rufocanus, Apodemus speciosus, A. argenteus, and C. rutilus. Antibody to hantavirus was determined by the protein G antibody assay. Positive C. rufocanus were detected in seven of eight collection sites, but no antibody was detected in the remaining rodent species. To reveal the serotype of the circulating virus in C. rufocanus, antibody titers to Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, and Prospect Hill viruses were compared by means of the focus reduction neutralization test. The titers in positive sera were extremely high to the Sotkamo strain of Puumala virus. Results were confirmed by the reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and suggested that Puumala-related viruses are in circulation among C. rufocanus populations in Hokkaido.

In vitro antiviral activity of lactoferrin and ribavirin upon hantavirus

Bovine lactoferrin (LF) and ribavirin (Rbv) were tested as antiviral agents against Seoul type hantavirus (SR-11 strain) in vitro. Hantaviral foci number in Vero E6 cells infected with SR-11 was reduced with LF treatment by 5 days post infection to obtain a 50% effective dose (ED50) of 2500 microg/ml, while pretreatment with LF was highly efficacious having an ED50 of 39 microg/ml. Conversely, 1 h pretreatment with Rbv revealed no inhibition of viral focus formation but could significantly reduce the number of viral foci (ED50: 10 microg/ml) when used from the time of viral infection. One hour pre-treatment of the cell monolayer with LF and subsequent addition of Rbv revealed a synergistic anti-hantaviral effect against SR-11, <20 FFU/ml as compared to 10(5) foci/ml in the control. One hour treatment of SR-11 with LF prior to cell inoculation gave an ED50 of 312.5 microg/ml. Whereas, washing the LF-pretreated cell monolayer with PBS demonstrated minimal focus reduction, suggesting LF lightly adheres to cells. These results indicate that LF has anti-hantaviral activity in vitro and inhibition of virus adsorption to cells which play an important role in revealing the anti-hantaviral activity of LF. This paper reports for the first time the anti-hantaviral effect of LF.

The functional similarity and structural diversity of human and cartilaginous fish hemoglobins

Although many descriptions of adaptive molecular evolution of vertebrate hemoglobins (Hb) can be found in physiological text books, they are based mainly on changes of the primary structure and place more emphasis on conservation than alterations at the functional site. Sequence analysis alone, however, does not reveal much about the evolution of new functions in proteins. It was found recently that there are many functionally important structural differences between human and a ray (Dasyatis akajei) Hb even where sequence is conserved between the two. We have solved the structures of the deoxy and CO forms of a second cartilaginous fish (a shark, Mustelus griseus) Hb, and compared it with structures of human Hb, two bony fish Hbs and the ray Hb in order to understand more about how vertebrate Hbs have functionally evolved by the selection of random amino acid substitutions. The sequence identity of cartilaginous fish Hb and human Hb is a little less than 40 %, with many functionally important amino acid replacements. Wider substitutions than usually considered as neutral have been accepted in the course of molecular evolution of Hb. As with the ray Hb, the shark Hb shows functionally important structural differences from human Hb that involve amino acid substitutions and shifts of preserved amino acid residues induced by substitutions in other parts of the molecule. Most importantly, beta E11Val in deoxy human Hb, which overlaps the ligand binding site and is considered to play a key role in controlling the oxygen affinity, moves away about 1 A in both the shark and ray Hbs. Thus adaptive molecular evolution is feasible as a result of both functionally significant mutations and deviations of preserved amino acid residues induced by other amino acid substitutions.

Purification, characterization, and genetic analysis of Cu-containing dissimilatory nitrite reductase from a denitrifying halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui

Cu-containing dissimilatory nitrite reductase (CuNiR) was purified from denitrifying cells of a halophilic archaeon, Haloarcula marismortui. The purified CuNiR appeared blue in the oxidized state, possessing absorption peaks at 600 and 465 nm in the visible region. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy suggested the presence of type 1 Cu (g(II) = 2.232; A(II) = 4.4 mT) and type 2 Cu centers (g(II) = 2.304; A(II) = 13.3 mT) in the enzyme. The enzyme contained two subunits, whose apparent molecular masses were 46 and 42 kDa, according to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis indicated that the two subunits were identical, except that the 46-kDa subunit was 16 amino acid residues longer than the 42-kDa subunit in the N-terminal region. A nirK gene encoding the CuNiR was cloned and sequenced, and the deduced amino acid sequence with a residual length of 361 amino acids was homologous (30 to 41%) with bacterial counterparts. Cu-liganding residues His-133, Cys-174, His-182, and Met-187 (for type 1 Cu) and His-138, His-173, and His-332 (for type 2 Cu) were conserved in the enzyme. As generally observed in the halobacterial enzymes, the enzymatic activity of the purified CuNiR was enhanced during increasing salt concentration and reached its maximum in the presence of 2 M NaCl with the value of 960 microM NO(2)(-) x min(-1) x mg(-1).

A focused compound library of novel N-(7-indolyl)benzenesulfonamides for the discovery of potent cell cycle inhibitors

A series of compounds containing an N-(7-indolyl)benzenesulfonamide pharmacophore was synthesized and evaluated as a potential antitumor agent. Cell cycle analysis with P388 murine leukemia cells revealed that there were two different classes of potent cell cycle inhibitors; one disrupted mitosis and the other caused G1 accumulation. Herein described is the SAR summary of the substituent patterns on this pharmacophore template.

Dimensional-crossover-driven metal-insulator transition in SrVO3 ultrathin films

We have investigated the changes occurring in the electronic structure of digitally controlled SrVO(3) ultrathin films across the metal-insulator transition (MIT) by the film thickness using in situ photoemission spectroscopy. With decreasing film thickness, a pseudogap is formed at E(F) through spectral weight transfer from the coherent part to the incoherent part. The pseudogap finally evolves into an energy gap that is indicative of the MIT in a SrVO(3) ultrathin film. The observed spectral behavior is reproduced by layer dynamical-mean-field-theory calculations, and it indicates that the observed MIT is caused by the reduction in the bandwidth due to the dimensional crossover.

Activation of macrophages by crude polysaccharide fractions obtained from shoots of Glycyrrhiza glabra and hairy roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis in vitro

Many plant polysaccharide fractions have been reported as immunomodulatory agents. However, sometimes the possibility of contamination with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent B cell mitogen and immune modulator, is discussed. In the present paper, we investigated the effects of crude polysaccharide fractions obtained from the shoot and hairy root of Glycyrrhizae sp. on murine peritoneal macrophage function, in order to clarify whether plants grown under aseptic conditions produce immunomodulatory polysaccharides. All crude polysaccharide fractions induced nitric oxide production by murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Chemical analysis revealed that LPS-like molecules were not present in all preparations. These results suggested that shoot and hairy root biosynthesized polysaccharides that could stimulate macrophages de novo.