Discovery of dihydroquinazolinone derivatives as potent, selective, and CNS-penetrant M(1) and M(4) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists.

We designed and synthesized a series of dihydroquinazolinone derivatives as selective M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists. Introduction of the N-carbethoxy piperidine unit into a HTS hit compound followed by optimization of the amine linker and the carbamoyl moiety led to the identification of compound 1 as a potential candidate. The identified compound 1 showed high selectivity for M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors with M4 partial agonistic activity. In addition, compound 1 showed good brain penetration and reversed methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in rats (ED50=3.0 mg/kg, sc).

The pro-enzyme C-terminal processing domain of Pholiota nameko tyrosinase is responsible for folding of the N-terminal catalytic domain.

Pholiota nameko (Pholiota microspore) tyrosinase is expressed as a latent 67-kDa pro-tyrosinase, comprising a 42-kDa N-terminal catalytic domain with a binuclear copper centre and a 25-kDa C-terminal domain and is activated by proteolytic digestion of the C-terminal domain. To investigate the role of the C-terminal processing domain of pro-tyrosinase, we constructed a recombinant tyrosinase lacking the C-terminal domain and four recombinant pro-tyrosinase mutants (F515G, H539N, L540G and Y543G) carrying substituted amino acid residues on the C-terminal domain. The recombinant tyrosinase lacking the C-terminal domain had no catalytic activity; whereas the mutant L540G was copper depleted, the other mutants had copper contents similar to that of the wild-type pro-tyrosinase. Proteolytic digestion activated the mutants H539N and Y543G following release of the C-terminal domain, and the resulting tyrosinases had higher K m values for t-butyl catechol than the wild-type pro-tyrosinase. The mutants F515G and L540G were degraded by proteolytic digestion and yielded smaller proteins with no activity. These data suggest that the C-terminal processing domain of P. nameko pro-tyrosinase is essential for correct folding of the N-terminal catalytic domain and acts as an intramolecular chaperone during assembly of the active-site conformation.

Discovery of N-substituted 7-azaindoline derivatives as potent, orally available M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors selective agonists.

We designed and synthesized novel N-substituted 7-azaindoline derivatives as selective M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) agonists. Hybridization of compound 2 with the HTS hit compound 5 followed by optimization of the N-substituents of 7-azaindoline led to identification of compound 1, which showed highly selective M1 and M4 mAChRs agonistic activity, weak human ether-a-go-go related gene inhibition, and good bioavailability in multiple animal species.

Discovery of N-sulfonyl-7-azaindoline derivatives as potent, orally available and selective M(4) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists.

We designed and synthesized novel N-sulfonyl-7-azaindoline derivatives as selective M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. Modification of the N-carbethoxy piperidine moiety of compound 2, an M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR)-preferring agonist, led to compound 1, a selective M4 mAChR agonist. Compound 1 showed a highly selective M4 mAChR agonistic activity with weak hERG inhibition in vitro. A pharmacokinetic study of compound 1 in vivo revealed good bioavailability and brain penetration in rats. Compound 1 reversed methamphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity in rats (1-10 mg/kg, po).

Application of functionalized nanoparticle for mass spectrometry.

We synthesized functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) by in mixing aqueous solutions of 3d transition metal (iron, or manganese) chlorides (MCl2 x nH2O) and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane, and in this unique method, monodispersed NPs were obtained in a single step. The prepared NPs examined by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and zeta potential measurement. The synthesized NPs surround by amorphous SiO2 and possess amino and hydroxyl groups on NPs surface. The number-average diameter of the NPs was determined to be about 3 and 5 nm. The NPs worked as an ionization assisting reagent in mass spectrometry (MS) by means of what is called nanoparticle assisted laser desorption/ionization (nano-PALDI) MS has begun to be used to analyze low molecular compound. In this paper, we introduced analysis of the food product and pesticide as environmental pollutant by using nano-PALDI MS.

Identification of N-substituted 8-azatetrahydroquinolone derivatives as selective and orally active M(1) and M(4) muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists.

We designed and synthesized N-substituted 8-azatetrahydroquinolone derivatives as selective M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonists. Optimization of selected derivatives led to the discovery of compound 7 as a highly potent M1 and M4 agonist with weak hERG inhibition. Oral administration of compound 7 improved psychosis-like behavior in rats.

Oligonucleotide analysis by nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

We analyzed oligonucleotides by nanoparticle-assisted laser desorption/ionization (nano-PALDI) mass spectrometry (MS). To this end, we prepared several kinds of nanoparticles (Cr-, Fe-, Mn-, Co-based) and optimized the nano-PALDI MS method to analyze the oligonucleotides. Iron oxide nanoparticles with diammonium hydrogen citrate were found to serve as an effective ionization-assisting reagent in MS. The mass spectra showed both [M - H](-) and [M + xMe(2+)- H](-) (Me: transition metal) peaks. The number of metal-adducted ion signals depended on the length of the oligonucleotide. This phenomenon was only observed using bivalent metal core nanoparticles, not with any other valency metal core nanoparticles. Our pilot study demonstrated that iron oxide nanoparticles could easily ionize samples such as chemical drugs and peptides as well as oligonucleotides without the aid of an oligonucleotide-specific chemical matrix (e.g., 3-hydroxypicolinic acid) used in conventional MS methods. These results suggested that iron-based nanoparticles may serve as the assisting material of ionization for genes and other biomolecules.

C-terminal processing of tyrosinase is responsible for activation of Pholiota microspora proenzyme.

Tyrosinase is expressed as a 67-kDa protein in Pholiota microspora (synonym Pholiota nameko), whereas the same enzyme purified from fruiting bodies of P. microspora is a 42-kDa protein that is cleaved with a C-terminal 25-kDa polypeptide from the 67-kDa protein. To confirm the role of C-terminal processing in enzyme activity, we expressed a recombinant 67-kDa tyrosinase in Escherichia coli cells. To obtain a soluble protein, the recombinant tyrosinase was expressed as a thioredoxin fusion protein with an enterokinase-cleavable site. Enterokinase digestion of the fusion protein produced a recombinant 67-kDa tyrosinase that did not have any catalytic activity. However, chymotrypsin digestion of the fusion protein produced a recombinant 44-kDa tyrosinase that was catalytically active and had a 25-kDa cleaved C-terminal. Kinetic parameters of the 44-kDa tyrosinase were similar to those of the 42-kDa tyrosinase purified from the fruiting bodies. These results suggest that tyrosinase is expressed in P. microspora as a latent 67-kDa proenzyme and is converted to the mature active 42-kDa enzyme by proteolytic processing of the C-terminal.

Site-directed mutagenesis study of the antibody 2D7 which catalyzes a reaction for insertion of Cu2+ into mesoporphyrin.

Monoclonal antibody 2D7 generated against a transition-state analog N-methyl mesoporphyrin catalyzes a reaction for insertion of a cupric ion into mesoporphyrin. To investigate amino acid residues responsible for the catalytic activity, site-directed mutagenesis of the amino acid residues in the third complementarity determining region of the heavy chain (CDRH3) was performed on the antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of the antibody. Recombinant Fab mutants, in which Arg95 is replaced with Ala (R95A), Asp96 with Asn (D96N) and Met97 with Gly (M97G), were examined in terms of the catalytic efficiency of the reaction (k/K(S)) and the dissociation constant for N-methyl mesoporphyrin binding (K(d)) and these values were compared with those of the wild type. The k/K(S) values of the R95A and D96N mutants were 0.96% and 1.0% of that of the wild type, respectively, whereas the M97G mutant had no detectable catalytic activity. The K(d) values of the R95A and D96N mutants were 165 and 69 times that of the wild type, respectively, while that of the M97G mutant was similar to that of the wild type. The relationship between the k/K(S) and 1/K(d) values in the wild type and the R95A and D96N mutants suggests that Arg95 and Asp96 are responsible for stabilizing the transition-state in the catalytic reaction. The results of the M97G mutant allow us to propose that Met97 plays an important role in the catalytic activity probably due to a subtle and specific conformation of the antibody.

Mass Spectrometry Imaging Analysis of Location of Procymidone in Cucumber Samples.

The localization of procymidone fungicide residue in cucumbers was investigated by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI). Cucumbers were grown, harvested, and then divided into two groups that were either sprayed or not sprayed with procymidone. The content of procymidone in the cucumbers was quantitatively determined by chromatographic techniques. Subsequently, the spatial distribution of procymidone was imaged by MSI. Procymidone reached the central part of the cucumbers following spraying compared with the control.

Discovery of novel N-substituted oxindoles as selective m1 and m4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors partial agonists.

Activation of the M1 and M4 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors is thought to play an important role in improving the symptoms of schizophrenia. However, discovery of selective agonists for these receptors has been a challenge, considering the high sequence homology and conservation of the orthosteric acetylcholine binding site among muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. We report in this study the discovery of novel N-substituted oxindoles as potent muscarinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonists selective for M1 and M4 over M2, M3, and M5. Among these oxindoles, compound 1 showed high selectivity for the M1 and M4 receptors with remarkable penetration into the central nervous system. Compound 1 reversed methamphetamine- and apomorphine-induced psychosis-like behaviors with low potency to extrapyramidical and peripheral side effects.

Isolation of a new phlorotannin, a potent inhibitor of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, from the brown alga Sargassum patens.

Ethanol extracts from 15 kinds of marine algae collected from the coast of the Noto Peninsula in Japan were examined for their inhibitory effects on human salivary α-amylase. Four extracts significantly suppressed the enzyme activity. An inhibitor was purified from the extract of Sargassum patens . The compound was a new phloroglucinol derivative, 2-(4-(3,5-dihydroxyphenoxy)-3,5-dihydroxyphenoxy) benzene-1,3,5-triol (DDBT), which strongly suppressed the hydrolysis of amylopectin by human salivary and pancreatic α-amylases. The 50% inhibitory activity (IC(50)) for α-amylase inhibition of DDBT (3.2 µg/mL) was much lower than that of commercially available α-amylase inhibitors, acarbose (26.3 µg/mL), quercetagetin (764 µg/mL), and α-amylase inhibitor from Triticum aestivum (88.3 µg/mL). A kinetic study indicated that DDBT was a competitive α-amylase inhibitor with a K(i) of 1.8 µg/mL. DDBT also inhibited rat intestinal α-glucosidase with an IC(50) value of 25.4 µg/mL for sucrase activity and 114 µg/mL for maltase activity. These results suggest that DDBT, a potent inhibitor of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes, may be useful as a natural nutraceutical to prevent diabetes.

Purification, characterization, and molecular cloning of tyrosinase from Pholiota nameko.

Tyrosinase (monophenol, 3,4-dihydroxy L-phenylalanine (L-DOPA):oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.14.18.1) was isolated from fruit bodies of Pholiota nameko and purified to homogeneity. The purified enzyme was a monomer with a molecular weight of 42,000 and contained 1.9 copper atoms per molecule. The N-terminal of the purified enzyme could not be detected by Edman degradation, probably due to blocking, while the C-terminal sequence of the enzyme was determined to be -Ala-Ser-Val-Phe-OH. The amino acid sequence deduced by cDNA cloning was made up of 625 amino acid residues and contained two putative copper-binding sites highly conserved in tyrosinases from various organisms. The C-terminal sequence of the purified enzyme did not correspond to that of the deduced sequence, but agreed with Ala384-Ser385-Val386-Phe387 in sequence. When the encoded protein was truncated at Phe387, the molecular weight of the residual protein was calculated to be approximately 42,000. These results suggest that P. nameko tyrosinase is expressed as a proenzyme followed by specific cleavage to produce a mature enzyme.