Triterpene alcohol isolation from oil shale.

Isoarborinol, an intact pentacyclic unsaturated alcohol, was isolated from the Messel oil shale (about 50 x 106 years old). Complex organic substances, even those very sensitive to oxidation, reduction, or acidic conditions, can thus survive without alteration for long periods.

Allergenic component of a liverwort: a sesquiterpene lactone.

Frullania spp. (Hepaticae, Jungermanniales) are agents of allergies. Extraction and fractionation of Frullania tamarisci has given, as the only allergenic component isolated, a levorotatory crystalline sutbstance, the structure of which is demonstrated. It is a sesquiterpene lactone. The racemic (+/-) form is isolated from a mixed sample of Frullania tamarisci and Frullania dilatata; the dextrorotatory form, from Frullania dilatata. The observed allergenic properties are shared by some other-sesquiterpene lactones.

Attraction of the parasitic mite varroa to the drone larvae of honey bees by simple aliphatic esters.

An important parasitic threat to honey bees, the mite Varroa jacobsoni, is attracted to its major prey, drone larvae, by methyl and ethyl esters of straight-chain fatty acids, in particular methyl palmitate. These esters were extracted from drone larvae with n-hexane and were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their behavioral effect was evaluated with the use of a four-arm airflow olfactometer.

Purification and some properties of the squalene-tetrahymanol cyclase from Tetrahymena thermophila.

The membrane-bound enzyme from Tetrahymena thermophila responsible for the conversion of squalene into the quasi-hopanoid tetrahymanol was purified 297-fold to near homogeneity. Purification involved solubilization by octylthioglucoside, chromatography on DEAE-trisacryl, hydroxyapatite and FPLC ion-exchange on Mono Q. The apparent KM was found to be 18 microM. 2,3-Iminosqualene and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine-N-oxide are effective inhibitors of the cyclase with I50 values of 50 and 30 nM, respectively. The cyclase has a molecular mass of 72 kDa as judged by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels under denaturating conditions. The optimal enzymatic activity was obtained at pH 7.0 and 30 degrees C. The solubilized enzyme needs the presence of detergent for maintaining activity. The influence of different detergents on cyclase activity was studied. Triton X-100 proved to be a strong inactivator of the enzyme. Solubilization of the cyclase in Tween 80 and digitonin inactivates the enzyme. However, its activity can be recovered by complementation of the assay buffer with octylthioglucoside above its critical micellar concentration. We suggest that this approach might be applicable to other membrane-bound proteins.

The interaction of various cholesterol 'ancestors' with lipid membranes: a 2H-NMR study on oriented bilayers.

The effect of putative cholesterol 'precursors' on model membranes has been studied by deuterium nuclear, magnetic resonance (2H-NMR) spectroscopy. Oriented bilayers were prepared from 1-myristoyl-2-[2H27 myristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC-d27) and tricyclohexaprenols or octaprenediols. Order parameter profiles were determined and showed that tricyclohexaprenols and octaprenediols increase the acyl chain order in DMPC bilayers, but to a smaller extent than cholesterol. The order parameter increases, depending on the chain position, from 5% to 7% in the presence of ditertiary octaprenediol, and from 16% to 21% in the presence of tricyclohexaprenol-Z,Z. Aqueous multilamellar dispersions of DMPC-d27 and of DMPC-d27 containing 30 mol% tricyclohexaprenol-E,E were prepared, and the first moments calculated from 2H-NMR spectra over the temperature range 5-55 degrees C. Tricyclohexaprenol-E,E almost abolishes the phase transition of DMPC. Thus, as predicted, tricyclohexaprenols and octaprenediols have a cholesterol-like behaviour in lipid membranes; however their effect on the model DMPC system is weak. On the contrary, isoarborinol has no effect on the lipid chain order in the liquid-crystalline phase of DMPC bilayers. 2H-NMR spectra of aqueous dispersions of DMPC-d27 and 30 mol% isoarborinol between 25 and 60 degrees C showed the coexistence of two lamellar phases over a wide temperature range, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. This absence of ordering effect of isoarborinol might be related to some inherent structural features.

Comparison of the effects of inserted C40- and C50-terminally dihydroxylated carotenoids on the mechanical properties of various phospholipid vesicles.

We have measured the extent of incorporation of zeaxanthin (C40) and decaprenozeaxanthin (C50) in unilamellar vesicles of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (n-C14) and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (n-C16). The incorporation is larger when the molecular length of the carotenoid corresponds to the thickness of the phospholipid bilayer. Stereochemically pure 2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycero-1-phosphocholine was prepared by modification of the polar heads of the phospholipids of Halobacterium halobium. Vesicles of this branched-chain ether phospholipid incorporate poorly the carotenoids, whereas egg lecithin vesicles incorporate them better. Osmotic swelling and water permeability of vesicles, with or without carotenoids, were measured in a stopped-flow, light-scattering system. The reinforcing effect (lower permeability and higher rigidity) of carotenoids at 1.5 mol% incorporation into diphytanylphosphatidylcholine vesicles is comparable to that of 5 mol% cholesterol; however, carotenoids have no measurable effect on the egg lecithin vesicles. These results imply that the reinforcement of the membrane depends on a subtle adjustment of the phospholipid-carotenoid system.

The terpenoid theory of the origin of cellular life: the evolution of terpenoids to cholesterol.

Terpenoids have an apparently essential function in modern cellular membranes, reinforcing them against shear stresses. Primitive membranes could initially have been formed by simple terpenoids, and vesicles formed from these membranes may have evolved into progressively more complex units, more and more similar to protocells.

Giant vesicles from 72-membered macrocyclic archaeal phospholipid analogues: initiation of vesicle formation by molecular recognition between membrane components

Stereochemically pure archeal acyclic bola-amphiphilic diphosphates 4 and 5, with the basic structure of the phospholipids found in Sulfolobus, have been synthesized for the first time. The self-assembly properties have been compared with those of the nearly identical 72-membered macrocyclic tetraether phosphates 3a and 3b, analogues of the major phospholipid components of Sulfolobus, Thermoplasma, and methanogenic Archea, which were also synthesized. Phase contrast and fluorescence microscopies have shown that the dipolar lipids 1 and 2 spontaneously formed vesicles. Whereas the macrocyclic dipolar phosphates 3 spontaneously formed vesicles (phase contrast and fluorescence microscopies), the bolaform phosphate 4 gave only a lamellar structure (synchrotron diffraction pattern: repeat distance of about 4.25 nm but with only a few layers). However, upon addition of the unphosphorylated precursors phytanol, phytol, or geranylgeraniol to the acyclic lipids 4 and 5, giant vesicles were rapidly formed. Addition of n-hexadecanol or cholesterol did not lead to vesicle formation. Therefore it was concluded that this vesicle formation occurs only when the added molecule is closely compatible with the constituents of the lipid layer and can be inserted into the double layer. A slight mismatch (cholesterol or n-hexadecanol/polyprenyl chains) is therefore enough to block the insertion process presumably required for vesicle formation.

Studies of the oxysterol inhibition of tumor cell growth.

The oxysterols 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8-en-11-one, 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8-en-7-one, 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-7-one, 3 beta-hydroxy-4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-ene-7 one, 4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-ene-3 beta, 7 alpha-diol, 4,4'-dimethylcholest-5-ene-3 beta, 7 beta-diol, lanost-8-ene-3 beta, 25-diol, 25-hydroxylanost-8-en-3-one, 9 alpha, 11 alpha-epoxy-5 alpha-cholest-7-en-3 beta-ol, 3 beta-hydroxycholest-5 alpha-en-22-one, and 3 beta-hydroxycholest-5-en-22-one oxime were evaluated with respect to their ability to inhibit cell growth. All of the sterols were found to possess cytotoxicity when incubated with hepatoma (HTC) and lymphoma (RDM-4) cells in culture at 10-30 microM concentrations.

Microbial lipids betrayed by their fossils.

Novel families of microbial lipids have been betrayed by their molecular fossils. They comprise the very widespread and varied hopanoids, and 'orphan' lipids. Membrane reinforcement appears to be universally achieved by these polyterpenoids; a hypothetical phylogenetic tree comprises the above, some postulated intermediates, bacterial carotenoids, cycloartenol, and finally cholesterol.

Non-specific lanosterol and hopanoid biosynthesis be a cell-free system from the bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus.

1. A cell-free system from the bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus was incubated with [12-3H]-squalene; diploptene and diplopterol, normally present in the bacterium, were labelled. 2 The same cell-free system was incubated with (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[3-3H]squalene. Several radioactive 3-hydroxytriterpenes were purifed. Lanosterol, which is normally present in this bacterium, was found labelled as well as 3-epilanosterol. In addition, radioactive 3 alpha-hydroxy and 3 beta-hydroxydiploptene were formed. 3. These data may be explained by the coexistence of two cyclases in M. capsulatus: a squalene/hopane cyclase and a squalene epoxide/lanosterol cyclase. The squalene cyclase exhibits the same lack of substrate specificity as those of Acetobacter pasteurianum and Tetrahymena pyriformis, i.e. in addition to its normal substrate squalene, it can cyclize the two enantiomers of squalene epoxide into 3-hydroxyhopanoids. 4. The presence of a squalene epoxide/lanosterol cyclase activity, which was suspected in view of the unique 3 beta-hydroxy 4 alpha-methyl steroids of M. capsulatus, was demonstrated by the labelling of lanosterol. More surprisingly 3-epilanosterol was also present and labelled. We showed that this does not derive from lanosterol by isomerization via a 3-oxo compound. Therefore the squalene expoxide cyclase of M. capsulatus, like the one of eukaryotes cyclizes the (3S) enantiomer of squalene epoxide into lanosterol. But it is definitely less substrate-specific as it can also cyclize the (3R) enantiomer into 3-epilanosterol.

Molecular evolution of biomembranes: structural equivalents and phylogenetic precursors of sterols.

Derivatives of one triterpene family, the hopane family, are widely distributed in prokaryotes; they may be localized in membranes, playing there the same role as sterols play in eukaryotes, as a result of their similar size, rigidity, and amphiphilic character. Their biosynthesis embodies many primitive features compared to that of sterols and could have evolved toward the latter once aerobic conditions had been established. Membrane reinforcement appears to be achieved in other prokaryotes by other mechanisms, involving either approximately 40-A-long rigid hydrocarbon chains terminated by one polar group acting like a peg through the double-layer or similar chains terminated by two polar groups acting like tie-bars across the membrane. These inserts can be tetraterpenes (e.g., carotenoids). The biophysical function of membrane optimizers appears to have evolved toward sterols by changes limited to only a few enzymatic steps of the same fundamental biosynthetic processes.

Non-specific biosynthesis of hopane triterpenes by a cell-free system from Acetobacter pasteurianum.

1. A cell-free system from the bacterium Acetobacter pasteurianum was incubated with [12-3H]squalene; diploptene and diplopterol, hopanoids normally present in the bacterium, were labelled. Their radioactivity was confirmed by purification using thin-layer chromatography, synthesis of derivatives and recrystallization to constant specific activity. This demonstrates the direct cyclization of squalene into diploptene and diplopterol, catalysed by a squalene cyclase activity in A. pasteurianum. 2. The same cell-free system transformed (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[12,13-3H]squalene into labelled 3 alpha-hydroxyhop-22(29)-ene, 3 beta-hydroxyhop-22(29)-ene, hopane-3 alpha,22-diol and hopane-3 beta,22-diol. Their radioactivity was similarly confirmed. This bacterial homogenate is thus capable of cyclizing an unnatural substrate, 2,3-epoxy-squalene, into 3-hydroxyhopanoids normally absent in the bacterium. 3. The 3 alpha-hydroxy and 3 beta-hydroxyhopanoids could have been enzymatically interconverted via the 3-oxo compound. Synthetic racemic (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[3-3H]squalene was incubated and gave rise to 3-3H-labelled 3 alpha and 3 beta-hydroxyhopanoids. This excludes an isomerization via a 3-oxo compound which would give unlabelled 3-hydroxyhopanoids. 4. In conclusion, the cyclase of A. pasteurianum accepts the replacement of the normal substrate, squalene, by the corresponding epoxide. Furthermore it is not selective in the stereochemistry of the epoxide and cyclizes both enantiomers, contrary to the epoxysqualene cyclase of eukaryotes.

[Differential action of 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol on myocardial cells and fibroblasts. Obtaining primary cultures of pure myocardial cells]. / Action différentielle du 7 beta-hydroxycholestérol sur des cellules myocardiales et des fibroblastes. Obtention de cultures primaires de cellules myocardiales pures.

Newborn rat myocardial cells, grown in primary cultures, beat synchronously. Addition of 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol, at a 2.5 microM concentration, impairs this synchrony and may even stop any contraction. The associated fibroblasts no longer adhere to the support, and can be washed away by fresh culture medium. This restores the synchronous beatings of the myocardial cells, the viability of which is then even improved while they grow in the absence of fibroblasts.

Non-specific biosynthesis of gammacerane derivatives by a cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis. Conformations of squalene, (3S)-squalene epoxide and (3R)-squalene epoxide during the cyclization.

1. A cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis was incubated with either [12-3H]squalene or (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[12,13-3H]squalene. Squalene was cyclized into tetrahymanol whereas racemic squalene epoxide was transformed into gammacerane-3 alpha,21 alpha-diol and gammacerane-3 beta,21 alpha-diol. After cyclization of (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[3-3H]squalene, both epimeric gammaceranediols were labelled with a tritium atom located at C-3, showing that no isomerization via a 3-oxo compound occurred. 2. The proton NMR spectra of the cyclization products of synthetic (2E, 22E)-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene and (RS)-(22E)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene show that squalene and the (3S)enantiomer of its epoxide are cyclized in an all pre-chair conformation, whereas the (3R) enantiomer of squalene epoxide is cyclized in a pre-boat conformation as concerns the cycle A. 3. The squalene cyclase of T. pyriformis presents the same lack of substrate specificity as the cyclase of Acetobacter pasteurianum: in addition to squalene, its normal substrate, it also cyclizes both enantiomers of its epoxide. This conformational versatility is characteristic of squalene cyclases but no longer exists in the squalene epoxide cyclases from eukaryotes.

Delta8(14)-steroids in the bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus.

The 4,4-dimethyl and 4alpha-methyl sterols of the bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus were identified as 4,4-dimethyl- and 4alpha-methyl-5alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-3beta-ol and 4,4-dimethyl- and 4alpha-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-8(14),24-dien-3beta-ol. Sterol biosynthesis is blocked at the level of 4alpha-methyl delta8(14)-sterols.