Interaction of methionine-enkephalins with raft-forming lipids: monolayers and BAM experiments.

Enkephalins (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met/Leu) are opioid peptides with proven antinociceptive action in organism. They interact with opioid receptors belonging to G-protein coupled receptor superfamily. It is known that these receptors are located preferably in membrane rafts composed mainly of sphingomyelin (Sm), cholesterol (Cho), and phosphatidylcholine. In the present work, using Langmuir's monolayer technique in combination with Wilhelmy's method for measuring the surface pressure, the interaction of synthetic methionine-enkephalin and its amidated derivative with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), Sm, and Cho, as well as with their double and triple mixtures, was studied. From the pressure/area isotherms measured, the compressional moduli of the lipids and lipid-peptide monolayers were determined. Our results showed that the addition of the synthetic enkephalins to the monolayers studied led to change in the lipid monolayers characteristics, which was more evident in enkephalinamide case. In addition, using Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), the surface morphology of the lipid monolayers, before and after the injection of both enkephalins, was determined. The BAM images showed an increase in surface density of the mixed surface lipids/enkephalins films, especially with double and triple component lipid mixtures. This effect was more pronounced for the enkephalinamide as well. These observations showed that there was an interaction between the peptides and the raft-forming lipids, which was stronger for the amidated peptide, suggesting a difference in folding of both enkephalins. Our research demonstrates the potential of lipid monolayers for elegant and simple membrane models to study lipid-peptide interactions at the plane of biomembranes.

Comparative study of the interaction of synthetic methionine-enkephalin and its amidated derivate with monolayers of zwitterionic and negatively charged phospholipids.

Using Langmuir's monolayer technique, the surface behavior and the interaction of the synthetic neuropeptide methionine-enkephalin (Met-enk) and its amidated derivate (Met-enk-NH(2)) with monolayers of the zwitterionic dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and the negatively charged dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) were studied. The surface tension (γ, mN/m) of DMPG and DMPC monolayers as a function of time (after injection of the peptide under the interface) was detected. The decrease in γ values showed that there was a strong penetration effect of both types of Met-enk molecules into the monolayers, being significantly stronger for the amidated derivate, Met-enk-NH(2). We suggest that the interaction between the neuropeptides and DMPC was predominantly determined by peptides amphiphilicity, while the electrostatic forces play significant role for the insertion of the cationic Met-enk-NH(2) in DMPG monolayers, especially at high packing densities. Our results demonstrate the potential of lipid monolayers formed in Langmuir's trough to be successfully used as an elegant and simple membrane models to study lipid-peptide interactions at the air/water interface.

Histochemical method for dipeptidyl aminopeptidase II with a new anthraquinonyl hydrazide substrate.

A new method for the histochemical visualization of lysosomal aminopeptidase dipeptidyl peptidase II activity (DPP II) is developed. The substrate L-Lys-L-Ala-5-chloro-1-anthraquinonylhydrazide-2HBr (Lys-Ala-CAH) is readily hydrolyzed by the enzyme to release 5-Cl-1-anthraquinonylhydrazine (CAH). The last compound is simultaneously coupled to an aromatic aldehyde, e.g. 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (p-NBA) or piperonal (3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde; PPL), to form a highly insoluble deeply colored hydrazone, marking the enzyme locations. Using the new method, DPP II is successfully localyzed in tissue sections from different rat organs.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of some new non-proteinogenic amino acids containing thiazole residues.

Some new thioamides and thiazoles have been synthesized using canavanine, S-cysteine, homo-S-cysteinesulfonamides and their N-omega aminoethylated derivatives as adducts in order to investigate the structure-antimicrobial activity relationships. The compounds showed substantial antibacterial activity in vitro against various gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus etc.) and gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris etc.) bacteria. These findings indicate that the presence of the thiazole residue is an essential factor for the antibacterial effect.

Synthesis and biological activity of canavanine hydrazide derivatives.

The canavanine derivatives L-canavanine hydrazide (CH), L-canavanine-bis-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazide (CBCH) and L-canavanine phenylhydrazide (CPH) were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity in microorganisms, plants and tumor cells using canavanine as a positive control. (1) In microbial systems, the compounds exerted activity, as assessed in 14 bacterial strains. The effect of canavanine was easily removed by equimolar concentrations of arginine or ornithine, while the effect of CBCH or CPH was abolished by 10-fold excess of arginine or 10- to 100-fold excess of ornithine. (2) In plants, the activity of CH and CBCH were relatively low, whereas the inhibitory potential of CPH was comparable or even superior to that of canavanine, resulting at 1 mM concentration in a nearly complete block of tomato cell growth, and reducing by up to 80% the length of radicles of cress, amaranth, cabbage and pumpkin. (3) In pumpkin seeds, CPH or canavanine induced the synthesis of four small heat shock proteins of hsp-17 family in the pH range of 6 to 7.5. The proteins exhibited in both cases a similar profile, but differed in the timing of their expression and/or accumulation. With canavanine, the highest hsp-17 expression was found after 48 h of drug treatment, while with CPH this maximum was shifted to 24 h. (4) CPH proved to be highly cytotoxic against Friend leukemia cells in culture, exceeding by one order of magnitude the cytotoxicity of canavanine. The effect of canavanine was completely removed in the presence of equimolar amounts of arginine, while a 20-fold excess of arginine failed to abolish the cytotoxicity of CPH. Thus, a proper hydrazide modification of canavanine may lead to a significant increase in its growth-inhibitory activity and to a change in the mode of action of the parent compound.

Effects of newly synthesized analogs of MIF-1 containing unnatural amino acids on electrically evoked smooth muscle contractions.

New MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2) analogs containing unnatural amino acids such as L-canavanine (Cav) and L-cysteic acid S-(2-aminoethyl)amide (sLys) have been synthesized and in vitro experiments were performed to study their action on neurotransmission in target tissues with adrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmission. The experiments were carried out on electrically stimulated proximal guinea pig ileum (GPI) and the prostatic part of rat and rabbit vasa deferentia (VDR, VDRabb). The present results show that the newly synthesized Cav2-MIF and sLys2-MIF might affect electrically evoked smooth muscle contractions.

Effect of diphenylhydramine on the Tyr-MIF-1 antinociception in rats.

Tyr-MIF-1 is a representative of the MIF's family of endogenous peptides. It has been isolated from bovine hypothalamus and human parietal cortex that suggests its involvement in nociception. Tyr-MIF-1 can bind to the mu-receptors as well as to its specific non-opiate receptors in the brain. Data in the literature rise the idea that histamine (HA), a well known nociceptive agent, and Tyr-MIF-1 might have a common pathway in their effects on nociception. We tested that possibility by investigation of the combined action of diphenhydramine (DPH, an H (1) -antagonist) and Tyr-MIF-1 on nociception. The changes in the nociceptive effects were examined in the male Wistar rats by the Randall-Sellito paw-pressure (PP) and the tail-flick (TF) tests. Tyr-MIF-1 in a dose of 1 mg/kg exerted strong naloxone-reversible analgesic effects. DPH (100 microg/kg, i.p.) had an antinociceptive action, too. The co-administration of Tyr-MIF-1 and DPH enhanced the antinociceptive effect, as compared to DPH (PP) and to TYR-MIF-1 alone (TF). These effects were reversed when methylene blue (MB, 500 microg/rat) was applied 1h before the combination. However, naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) only slightly affected the antinociceptive effect of DPH and TYR-MIF-1, compared to that of MB. The results obtained confirmed the hypothesis that cyclic nucleotides are involved in the realization of nociceptive effects of both HA and Tyr-MIF-1.

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 7 beta-[3-(un)substituted-2-aminopropionamido]-3-vinylcephalosporin s and related compounds.

A series of new 7 beta-[3-(un)substituted-alanyl]-3-vinylcephalosporins and some related compounds, 4a-l is described. They incorporate residues of proteinogenic L-alpha-aminocarboxylic acids, their antimetabolites and enantiomers as well as a dipeptide in the 7 beta-acylamido side chain. The acylation of diphenyl-methyl 7-amino-3-vinyl-3-cephem-4-carboxylate (2: R2 = DPM) with various protected alpha-aminocarboxylic acids 1a-k and the dipeptide 1l is carried out using TBTU as coupling reagent. The compounds, except 4f, are active in vitro against S. aureus and S. lutea, but only 4a, 4k, and 4l inhibit some of the Gram-negative strains.

Lysine-orotate potentiates the toxicity of an extract of the mushroom Amanita phalloides.

Upon simultaneous administration lysine-orotate increases (about 40-fold) the toxicity in mice of a crude Amanita phalloides extract. This effect, though less prominent, is also observed if these two compounds are injected 1 hr apart. The potentiating effect of lysine-orotate is dose dependent and neither L-lysine nor orotic acid exert any effect on the toxicity of the crude A. phalloides extract. Lysine-orotate increases the toxicity of amatoxins (alpha-amanitin) only, not affecting the toxicity of phalloidins. Thin layer chromatography on silica gel plates and column chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 has proven the formation of a relatively stable complex of amanitin and lysine-orotate. The results demonstrate that lysine-orotate should not be used as a hepatoprotective agent in cases of Amanita intoxication.