Characterization of the cadmium complex of peptide 49-61: a putative nucleation center for cadmium-induced folding in rabbit liver metallothionein IIA.

The synthetic peptide fragment containing residues 49-61 of rabbit liver metallothionein II (MT-II) (Ac-Ile-Cys-Lys-Gly-Ala-Ser-Asp-Lys-Cys-Ser-Cys-Cys-Ala-COOH), which includes the only sequential four cysteines bound to the same metal ion in Cd7MT, forms a stable, monomeric Cd-peptide complex with 1:1 stoichiometry (Cd:peptide) via Cd-thiolate interactions. This represents the first synthesis of a single metal-binding site of MT independent of the domains. The 111Cd NMR chemical shift at 716 ppm indicates that the 111Cd2+ in the metal site is terminally coordinated to four side-chain thiolates of the cysteine residues. The pH of half dissociation for this Cd-peptide derivative, approximately 3.3, demonstrates an affinity similar to that for Cd7MT. Molecular mechanics calculations show that the thermodynamically most stable folding for this isolated Cd2+ center has the same counterclockwise chirality (lambda or S) observed in the native holo-protein. These properties are consistent with its proposed role as a nucleation center for cadmium-induced protein folding. However, the kinetic reactivity of the CdS4 structure toward 5,5'-dithiobis(5-nitrobenzoate) (DTNB) and EDTA is greatly increased compared to the complete cluster (a-domain or holo-protein). The rate law for the reaction with DTNB is rate = (k(uf) + k(1,f) + k(2,f) [DTNB])[peptide], where k(uf) = 0.15 s(-1), k(1,f)= 2.59x10(-3) s(-1), and k(2,f) = 0.88 M(-1) s(-1). The ultrafast step (uf), observable only by stopped-flow measurement, is unprecedented for mammalian (M7MT) and crustacean (M6MT) holo-proteins or the isolated domains. The accommodation of other metal ions by the peptide indicates a rich coordination chemistry, including stoichiometries of M-peptide for Hg2+, Cd2+, and Zn2+, M2-peptide for Hg2+ and Au+, and (Et3PAu)2-peptide.

In the search for new anticancer drugs. 26. A comparison of anticancer activities of several TEPA, thio-TEPA, Seleno-TEPA, and azetidine analogs, including congeners containing an aminoxyl moiety.

A series of TEPA, Thio-TEPA, Seleno-TEPA, and azetidine analogs, including congeners containing an aminoxyl moiety, were synthesized and evaluated in vivo for anticancer activity against the murine lymphocytic leukemia P388. All aziridine derivatives were found to be active with an increase in life span ranging from 42% to 272%, and all azetidine analogs were rated as inactive with one marginal exception. An attempt was made to rationalize the results on the basis of the lipophilic properties of the compounds. The most active compound (8) possessed the most balanced lipophilic properties, corresponding to a log P value near zero.

Evidence for substrate channeling in the early steps of cholesterogenesis.

We have directly tested the ability of acetoacetate, upon activation to the CoA thioester, to channel into the cholesterogenic pathway prior to scrambling of its carbon skeleton with the acetate pool. The approach relies upon trapping [3-13C]acetoacetate-derived hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA, hydrolyzing this metabolite, and esterifying the resulting hydroxymethylglutaric acid to allow gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of the dimethyl esters for the 13C enrichment and labeling pattern. 99% enriched [3-13C] and [1,3,5-13C]hydroxymethylglutaric acid samples were synthesized, providing standards against which physiological samples could be compared. Cytosolic extracts from brain and liver of cholestyramine-fed rats were incubated with [3-13C]acetoacetate (2 mM) or with [1-13C]acetate (5 mM). In contrast to [13C]acetate-derived hydroxymethylglutarate, which shows the expected triple labeling pattern, [13C]acetoacetate-derived hydroxymethylglutarate from both liver and brain extracts is predominantly monolabeled. These data suggest that, after acetoacetate is activated to the CoA thioester, cytosolic hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase effectively commits much of this acetoacetyl-CoA to cholesterogenesis before thiolase can scramble the carbon skeleton of the acetoacetyl moiety into the acetate pool. This chemical approach represents an alternative method for testing the channeling of metabolites through sequential steps in a metabolic pathway. Such a method may be useful when physical or kinetic techniques prove to be unsuitable.