On the mechanism of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase type-2--a theoretical study of endoperoxide reaction with MeS(-).

The reaction pathways of deprotonation versus nucleophilic substitution involving mPGES-2 enzyme catalysis were investigated by ab initio molecular orbital theory calculations for the reaction of methylthiolate with the endoperoxide core of PGH(2) and by the combined quantum mechanical molecular mechanical methods. The calculations showed that deprotonation mechanism is energetically more favorable than the nucleophilic substitution pathway.

A radical-anion chain mechanism following dissociative electron transfer reduction of the model prostaglandin endoperoxide, 1,4-diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane.

The model prostaglandin endoperoxide, 1,4-diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane (3), was investigated in N,N-dimethylformamide at a glassy carbon electrode using various electrochemical techniques. Reduction of 3 occurs by a concerted dissociative electron transfer (ET) mechanism. Electrolysis at -1.6 V yields 1,3-diphenyl-cyclopentane-cis-1,3-diol in 97% by a two-electron mechanism; however, in competition with the second ET from the electrode, the resulting distonic radical-anion intermediate undergoes a beta-scission fragmentation. The rate constant for the heterogeneous ET to the distonic radical-anion is estimated to occur on the order of 2 x 10(7) s(-1). In contrast, electrolyses conducted at potentials more negative than -2.1 V yield a mixture of primary and secondary electrolysis products including 1,3-diphenyl-cyclopentane-cis-1,3-diol, 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione, trans-chalcone and 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-hydroxypropane by a mechanism involving less than one electron equivalent. These observations are rationalized by a catalytic radical-anion chain mechanism, which is dependent on the electrode potential and the concentration of weak non-nucleophilic acid. A thermochemical cycle for calculating the driving force for beta-scission fragmentation from oxygen-centred biradicals and analogous distonic radical-anions is presented and the results of the calculations provide insight into the reactivity of prostaglandin endoperoxides.

Synthesis, immunomodulating activity and (1)H NMR studies of 7-oxo-9,11-ethano-13-azaprostanoids.

Novel 9,11-ethano analogues of prostaglandin endoperoxides with a nitrogen in position 13 were synthesized. (1)H NMR spectra of the obtained compounds were studied. All prostanoids administered perorally at doses of 2.5-10.0 microg x kg(-1) had specific dose-dependent effects on the B-cellular immunity estimated under in vivo conditions on the model of the B-cellular immune response. In terms of the direction of their activities, eight of the studied compounds were found to be immunostimulators, whereas other three compounds displayed immunosuppressing effect. Two of the compounds increased the amount of antibody-forming cells (AFC) per 10(6) spleen cells by 1.9 times in comparison with the respective parameter of control group.

Free radical-induced generation of isoprostanes in vivo. Evidence for the formation of D-ring and E-ring isoprostanes.

We recently reported the discovery that a series of novel prostaglandin (PG)F2-like compounds (F2-isoprostanes) are produced in vivo independent of the cyclooxygenase as products of free radical-catalyzed lipid peroxidation. F2-isoprostanes are initially formed in situ from arachidonic acid esterified to phospholipids and then released preformed. We have now investigated whether PGD2/E2-like isoprostanes are also produced by rearrangement of the PGG2-like intermediates involved in isoprostane formation. Using a variety of approaches utilizing mass spectrometry, compelling evidence was obtained for the presence of D2/E2-isoprostane-containing phosphospholipids in the liver (85 +/- 33 ng/g of liver) and free D2/E2-isoprostanes in the circulation (215 +/- 90 pg/ml) of rats treated with CCl4 to induce lipid peroxidation. In untreated rats, levels of D2/E2-isoprostanes esterified in liver phospholipids were much lower (0.90 +/- 0.10 ng/g), and free compounds could not be detected in the circulation (< 5 pg/ml). Interestingly, one of the E2-isoprostanes that would be expected to be formed in abundance, 8-epi-PGE2, was found to be a potent renal vasoconstrictor, and these effects could be abrogated by SQ29548, a thromboxane receptor antagonist. Further understanding of the biological consequences of the formation of these novel compounds and factors that influence their formation may provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of oxidant injury.