Potential of Vitamin B6 Dioxime Analogues to Act as Cholinesterase Ligands.

Seven pyridoxal dioxime quaternary salts (1-7) were synthesized with the aim of studying their interactions with human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The synthesis was achieved by the quaternization of pyridoxal monooxime with substituted 2-bromoacetophenone oximes (phenacyl bromide oximes). All compounds, prepared in good yields (43-76%) and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, were evaluated as reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase and/or reactivators of enzymes inhibited by toxic organophosphorus compounds. Their potency was compared with that of their monooxime analogues and medically approved oxime HI-6. The obtained pyridoxal dioximes were relatively weak inhibitors for both enzymes (Ki = 100-400 µM). The second oxime group in the structure did not improve the binding compared to the monooxime analogues. The same was observed for reactivation of VX-, tabun-, and paraoxon-inhibited AChE and BChE, where no significant efficiency burst was noted. In silico analysis and molecular docking studies connected the kinetic data to the structural features of the tested compound, showing that the low binding affinity and reactivation efficacy may be a consequence of a bulk structure hindering important reactive groups. The tested dioximes were non-toxic to human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) and human embryonal kidney cells (HEK293).

Increased yield of enzymatic synthesis by chromatographic selection of different N-glycoforms of yeast invertase.

Invertases are glycosidases applied for synthesis of alkyl glycosides that are important and effective surfactants. Stability of invertases in the environment with increased content of organic solvent is crucial for increase of productivity of glycosidases. Their stability is significantly influenced by N-glycosylation. However, yeast N-glycosylation pathways may synthesize plethora of N-glycan structures. A total natural crude mixture of invertase glycoforms (EINV) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was subfractionated by anion-exchange chromatography on industrial monolithic supports to obtain different glycoforms (EINV1-EINV3). Separated glycoforms exhibited different stabilities in water-alcohol solutions that are in direct correlation with the amount of phosphate bound to N-glycans. Observed differences in stability of different invertase glycoforms were used to improve productivity of methyl ß-d-fructofuranoside (MF) synthesis. The efficiency and yield of MF synthesis were improved more than 50% when the most stabile glycoform bearing the lowest amount of phosphorylated N-glycans is selected and utilized. These data underline the importance of analysis of glycan structures attached to glycoproteins, demonstrate different impact of N-glycans on the surface charge and enzyme stability in regard to particular reaction environment, and provide a platform for improvement of yield of industrial enzymatic synthesis by chromatographic selection of glycoforms on monolithic supports.

Effect of Enzymatic, Ultrasound, and Reflux Extraction Pretreatments on the Chemical Composition of Essential Oils.

The effect of different hydrodistillation pretreatments, namely, reflux extraction, reflux extraction with the addition of cell wall-degrading enzymes, and ultrasound, on the yield and chemical composition of essential oils of sage, bay laurel, and rosemary was examined. All pretreatments improved essential oil yield compared to no-pretreatment control (40-64% yield increase), while the oil quality remained mostly unchanged (as shown by statistical analysis of GC-MS results). However, enzyme-assisted reflux extraction pretreatment did not significantly outperform reflux extraction (no-enzyme control), suggesting that the observed yield increase was mostly a consequence of reflux extraction and enzymatic activity had only a minute effect. Thus, we show that ultrasound and reflux extraction pretreatments are beneficial in the production of essential oils of selected Mediterranean plants, but the application of enzymes has to be carefully re-evaluated.

An Improved Method for the Quaternization of Nicotinamide and Antifungal Activities of Its Derivatives.

The quaternization reactions of nicotinamide, with different electrophiles: methyl iodide and substituted 2-bromoacetophenones (4-Cl, 4-Br, 4-H, 4-CH3, 4-F, 4-OCH3, 4-Ph, 2-OCH3, 4-NO2) are reported. The preparations were carried out by conventional synthesis and under microwave irradiation in absolute ethanol and acetone. The synthesis performed by microwave dielectric heating significantly improved yield, up to 8 times, and shortened down the reaction time from ca. one day in conventional, to 10⁻20 min. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. The compounds have been screened for antifungal activities against Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium culmorum, Macrophomina phaseolina and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum at concentrations of 10 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL. Six compounds showed the strong inhibition of mycelium growth at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. All tested compounds revealed the great inhibitory activities against S. sclerotiorum at a concentration of 100 µg/mL.

Effects of alpha-melanocortin enantiomers on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in CBA mice.

Proteins and peptides in mammals are based exclusively on L-amino acids. Recent investigations show that D-amino acids exhibit physiological effects in vivo, despite of their very small quantities. We have investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the Land D-enantiomers of alpha-melanocortin peptide (alpha-MSH). The results showed that peptide-enantiomerism is related to the protective effects of melanocortin peptides in vivo. L-alpha-MSH exhibited potent hepatoprotective effect in the experimental model of acetaminophen induced hepatotoxicity in male CBA mice, while its D-mirror image was inefficient. Furthermore, the antibody to the L-peptide did not recognize the D-structure. The results indicate that the opposite peptide configuration may be used to modulate its function and metabolism in vivo and in vitro.

[Lysosomes and apoptosis]. / Lizosomi i apoptoza.

In 1955, Christian de Duve and his coworkers from the School of Medicine in Louvain, Belgium, named a group of cytoplasmic formations surrounded by lipoprotein membrane and containing acid hydrolase enzymes as lysosomes. Biochemical and cytochemical studies showed lysosomes to be found in animal and vegetable eukaryotic cells. Later on, lysosomes were found to be involved in the dynamics of lysosomal system, which consists of a number of various cytoplasmic formations such as primary and secondary lysosomes, endosomes, autophagosomes and postlysosomes. These formations are inter-connected by the mechanism of membrane integration, and in some instances by the cell membrane. Lysosomal system is involved in numerous physiological processes such as degradation of endogenous and exogenous macromolecules (proteins, lipids, polysaccharides and nucleic acids), cytoplasmic formations (mitochondria, peroxisomes, Golgi complex) that have performed their functions, tissue regression (post-lactation mammary gland), hormone secretion regulation (proinsulin to insulin), etc. On the other hand, lysosomal system is also involved in a number of pathologic processes like inflammation, allergic reactions, ischemia, hypoxia, as well as in lysosomal diseases (thesaurismoses), e.g., type II glycogenosis, fucosidosis, mucolipidosis III, etc. In 1974, Christian de Duve introduced the term lysosomotropism, denoting entry of the pharmacologically active, toxic and carcinogenic substances in the lysosomal system irrespective of their chemical nature and mechanism of input. Lysosomotropic substances may act in two ways: (1) causing impairments in the intralysosomal area, with toxic manifestations; and (2) modifying their membrane properties by increasing or decreasing membrane permeability, or by inducing labilizing or stabilizing effects. Damage to the lysosomal system occurs in the late stage of necrosis, while destabilization of lysosomal formations has been recorded in primary processes during apoptosis.

Comparative study on the antioxidant and biological activities of carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol derivatives.

Four derivatives of thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol were synthesized: 4-(hydroxymethyl)-5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol, 4,4'-methylenebis(5-isopropyl-2-methyl)phenol, 4-allyl-6-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxyphenol, and 4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-isopropyl-5-methylphenol. The obtained derivatives showed remarkably better antioxidative properties according to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay (50% inhibitory concentrations = 4-156 microg/mL) and Rancimat assay (protection factors = 1.55-5.84) when compared with parent compounds and values similar to or better than those of butylated hydroxytoluene and vitamin C. At concentrations of 10 mM carvacrol derivatives had no toxic effect on viability of Escherichia coli K-12 (determined by minimum inhibitory concentrations). Other phenol derivatives showed reduced cytotoxic effect on E. coli K-12 at concentrations of 2-5 mM on the basis of 50% lethal dose measurements. In comparison with the parent compounds, phenol derivatives showed reduced cytotoxic effect for Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells (determined by yeast colony reduction). On the other hand, the majority of synthesized compounds had dose-dependent antiproliferative effects on human uterine carcinoma cells (HeLa), which makes them potentially interesting for the adjuvant experimental cancer treatments. The 4,4'-methylenebis(5-isopropyl-2-methyl)phenol derivative of carvacrol showed lower inhibiting capacity also for the HeLa cells, which makes this particular derivative attractive as an efficient antioxidant with negligible cytotoxic effects.

On representation of proteins by star-like graphs.

To arrive at graphical representations of proteins one is confronted with number of arbitrary decisions how to assign the 20 natural amino acids to equivalent or non-equivalent sites of underlying geometrical objects used for construction of their graphical representation. Here we consider representation of proteins based on generalized star graphs, which are graphs with one vertex of maximal degree in the center to which are attached other vertices of either degree one or two. The matrix representation of proteins based on star-like graphs has an important advantage in that, while its pictorial representation depends on selected assignment of amino acids to various branches of star graph, its properties do not depend on the adopted assignment of vertices to amino acids. Hence, the derived graph invariants, devoid of artifacts associated with graphical representations of biosequences, will better reflect upon the inherent properties of protein structure. We describe several graph invariants, mostly extracted from distance matrices of star-like graphs, which can serve as protein descriptors. The approach is illustrated on strand A of the human insulin.

Metal-induced supramolecular chirality inversion of small self-assembled molecules in solution.

A non-covalent self-assembled chiral alanyl aminopyridine ligand exhibits supramolecular chirality in solution, independent of the organic solvent used. The supramolecular chirality of the assemblies is completely inverted by complexation to zinc ions. To date, such a supramolecular metal-ligand system has not been reported in the literature.

Lipid-protein interactions in human plasma LDL evidenced by magnetic resonance.

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles exhibit extremely complex three-dimensional structural organization which is still not understood at the molecular level. The aim of this study was to provide the experimental evidence of a direct non-covalent interaction of the protein part with the lipid matrix. The approach was based on the combination of (1)H NMR (600 MHz) spectroscopy with thiol-specific spin labeling of the protein (apoB). It is shown that the spectral peaks assigned to the methyl head groups of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in the (1)H spectra of LDL exhibit line broadening when otherwise free thiol groups of apoB are covalently modified by methanethiosulfonate spin label. The effect is similar in the presence of water soluble paramagnetic compound. These results indicate that fragments of apoB, which are part of the receptor binding region, are directly in contact with the solvated phospholipid head groups of the lipid matrix.

Ultrasound assisted extraction and characterization of pectin from tomato waste.

Pectin was extracted from tomato waste using two different extraction methods to assess its potential utilization as an alternative source of commercial pectin production. Tomato waste was treated with ammonium oxalate/oxalic acid by conventional extraction (CE), under reflux and ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) at 37 kHz and temperatures of 60 °C and 80 °C. The pectin obtained from these methods was analysed and compared in terms of yield, chemical properties and structure. Among examined methods, CE at 60 °C resulted with the highest yield, but UAE during 15 min of sonication produced the pectin of better quality (anhydrouronic acid, methoxy and calcium pectate contents and degree of esterification). NMR and FTIR spectroscopy of isolated pectins revealed predominantly esterified structure, irrespective of extraction conditions. The comparison of the pectin yields obtained after extraction at 80 °C, indicate that similar values were found at times of 24h and 15 min for CE and UAE, respectively. According to obtained results it can be concluded that main advantage of UAE is considerable shortening of extraction procedure with strong emphasis on environmental friendly processing approach. Therefore, these results suggested that UAE could be used as an efficient technique for the extraction of pectin from tomato waste and by-products.

FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic studies of salicylic acid derivatives. II. Comparison of 2-hydroxy- and 2,4- and 2,5-dihydroxy derivatives.

The 2,4- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzamides (8, 9) were synthesized from their corresponding methyl esters. The structures and the spectral properties of investigated salicylic acid (1), 2,4- and 2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acids (2, 3), their methyl esters (4-6) and amides (7-9) were analyzed by means of FT-IR and one- and two-dimensional homo- and heteronuclear 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Comparison of FT-IR and NMR spectral data of investigated compounds showed that the spectral characteristics of 2,4-dihydroxy benzoic acid derivatives are more similar to those of 2-hydroxy benzoic acid (salicylic acid) derivatives than to those of 2,5-dihydroxy benzoic acid derivatives. The results suggest that the spatial orientation of amide protons in 2,4-dihydroxy benzamide resembles more that in salicylamide than that in 2,5-dihydroxy benzamide.

FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic studies of salicylic acid derivatives. I. Gentisamide -- a metabolite of salicylamide.

Gentisamide (GAM, 2,5-dihydroxybenzamide), a minor first-pass metabolite of salicylamide (SAM, 2-hydroxybenzamide), was studied using FT-IR, 1D and 2D homo- and heteronuclear 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. GAM was isolated from human urine eight hours after oral administration of SAM. FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectra unequivocally confirmed the chemical structure of GAM through chemical and substituent shifts, coupling constants and connectivities in COSY, NOESY, HETCOR and HBMC spectra. From NOESY spectra of GAM in DMSO-d6, it was concluded that the amide protons are oriented toward the ortho-proton at C-6. Obtained results indicate that the presence of the additional phenol group at C-5 in GAM favours the formation of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of the O...HO type between C2-OH proton and oxygen atom of the amide group.

The sum-connectivity index--an additive variant of the Randic connectivity index.

This review discusses structure-property modeling applications of a novel variant of the Randic connectivity index that is called the sum-connectivity index. We compare published one-descriptor quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models obtained with the new sum-connectivity index and with the Randic connectivity index, called here the product-connectivity index. Additionally, the efficiency of both variants of connectivity indices in QSPR modeling is tested on five datasets of alkanes and two datasets of polycyclic hydrocarbons. Several physicochemical properties of alkanes (i.e. boiling and melting points, retention index, molar volume, molar refraction, heat of vaporization, standard Gibbs energy of formation, critical temperature, critical pressure, surface tension, density) and π- electronic energies of two sets of polycyclic hydrocarbons were correlated with the product- and sum-connectivity indices. A comparison of these QSPR models shows that both variants of connectivity indices are equivalent, and only slightly (but not significantly) better results are obtained with the sum-connectivity index. Inter-correlations between the product- and sum-connectivity indices are mostly linear with a slope very close to 1.0 for alkanes, and with a slope more different from 1.0 (0.88) for polycyclic compounds. The comparative analysis presented here supports the use of the sumconnectivity index in QSPR/QSAR studies together with the product-connectivity index. Further studies on larger and more heterogeneous datasets should test the sum-connectivity index in QSPR/QSAR models.

Graphical representation of proteins as four-color maps and their numerical characterization.

We put forward a novel compact 2-D graphical representation of proteins based on the concept of virtual genetic code and a four-color map. The novel graphical representation uniquely represents proteins and allows one to easily and quickly visually observe and inspect similarity/dissimilarity between them. It also leads to a novel protein descriptor, a 10-dimensional vector derived from a novel structure matrix S associated with the map. The introduced numerical characterization of proteins is not only useful for their comparative study, but also for cataloguing information on a single protein. The approach is illustrated with the A chain of human insulin and the A chain of human insulin analogue glargine.

Homonuclear long-range correlation spectra from HMBC experiments by covariance processing.

We present a new application of covariance nuclear magnetic resonance processing based on 1H--13C-HMBC experiments which provides an effective way for establishing indirect 1H--1H and 13C--13C nuclear spin connectivity at natural isotope abundance. The method, which identifies correlated spin networks in terms of covariance between one-dimensional traces from a single decoupled HMBC experiment, derives 13C--13C as well as 1H--1H spin connectivity maps from the two-dimensional frequency domain heteronuclear long-range correlation data matrix. The potential and limitations of this novel covariance NMR application are demonstrated on two compounds: eugenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and an emodin-derivative.

Periodic cages.

Various cages are constructed by using three types of caps: f-cap (derived from spherical fullerenes by deleting zones of various size), kf-cap (obtainable by cutting off the polar ring, of size k), and t-cap ("tubercule"-cap). Building ways are presented, some of them being possible isomerization routes in the real chemistry of fullerenes. Periodic cages with ((5,7)3) covering are modeled, and their constitutive typing enumeration is given. Spectral data revealed some electronic periodicity in fullerene clusters. Semiempirical and strain energy calculations complete their characterization.

Spectroscopic studies of methylglyoxal in water and dimethylsulfoxide.

Methylglyoxal is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, which reacts in vivo with biological macromolecules and thereby affects their structure and function. These changes are associated with complications during aging, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease as well as with growth inhibition in different tumors. Many enzymes are involved in the metabolism of methylglyoxal, but its true physiological role in metabolism and chemical properties are still obscure. In this study it was shown that methylglyoxal, during the freeze-drying of aqueous solutions, polymerizes into small polymeric structures which are stable in organic media such as dimethylsulfoxide. When re-exposed to water, the polymers are immediately transformed into the monomeric mono- and dihydrate forms of methylglyoxal. By NMR and UV spectroscopy, it was shown that solvent, temperature, and the amount of available water strongly influence the equilibrium of the different forms of methylglyoxal and thereby change its reactivity. 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy were used to determine the structures of the different monomeric and oligomeric structures of methylglyoxal.