Temperature- and genotype-dependent stress response and activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis during temperature-induced sex reversal in pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis, a species with genotypic and environmental sex determination.

In the pejerrey Odontesthes bonariensis (Atheriniformes, Atherinopsidae), exposure to high and low temperatures during the critical period of sex determination (CPSD) induce testicular and ovarian differentiation, respectively, regardless of the presence or not of the sex determining gene amhy, which is crucial for testis formation only at intermediate, sexually neutral temperatures. In this study we explored the existence of genotype-specific signaling of Crh (Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) family genes and their associated carrier protein, receptors, and other stress-related genes in response to temperature during the CPSD and the potential involvement of the central nervous system via the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis in the sex determination of this species. The Crh family genes crhb, uts1, ucn3, the receptor crhr1 and the stress-related genes gr1, gr2, nr3c2 were transiently upregulated in the heads of pejerrey larvae during the CPSD by high temperature alone or in combination with other factors. Only crhr2 transcript abundance was not influenced by temperature but independently by time and genotype. In most cases, mRNA abundance was higher in the XX heads compared to that of XY individuals. The mRNAs of some of these genes were localized in the hypothalamus of pejerrey larvae during the CPSD. XX larvae also showed higher whole-body cortisol titers than the XY, downregulation of cyp19a1a and upregulation of the testis-related genes amhy/amha in trunks (gonads) and were 100% masculinized at the high temperature. In contrast, at the low temperature, crhbp and avt were upregulated in the heads, particularly the former in XY larvae. cyp19a1a and amhy/amha were up- and downregulated, respectively, in the gonads, and fish were 100% feminized. Signaling via the HPI axis was observed simultaneously with the first molecular signs of ongoing sex determination/differentiation in the gonads. Overall, the results strongly suggest a temperature-dependent, genotype-specific regulatory action of the brain involving the Crh family of stress-related genes on the process of environmental sex determination of pejerrey.

Mechanistic Analysis of Stereodivergent Nitroalkane Cyclopropanation Catalyzed by Nonheme Iron Enzymes.

BelL and HrmJ are α-ketoglutarate-dependent nonheme iron enzymes that catalyze the oxidative cyclization of 6-nitronorleucine, resulting in the formation of two diastereomeric 3-(2-nitrocyclopropyl)alanine (Ncpa) products containing trans-cyclopropane rings with (1'R,2'R) and (1'S,2'S) configurations, respectively. Herein, we investigate the catalytic mechanism and stereodivergency of the cyclopropanases. The results suggest that the nitroalkane moiety of the substrate is first deprotonated to produce the nitronate form. Spectroscopic analyses and biochemical assays with substrates and analogues indicate that an iron(IV)-oxo species abstracts proS-H from C4 to initiate intramolecular C-C bond formation. A hydroxylation intermediate is unlikely to be involved in the cyclopropanation reaction. Additionally, a genome mining approach is employed to discover new homologues that perform the cyclopropanation of 6-nitronorleucine to generate cis-configured Ncpa products with (1'R,2'S) or (1'S,2'R) stereochemistries. Sequence and structure comparisons of these cyclopropanases enable us to determine the amino acid residues critical for controlling the stereoselectivity of cyclopropanation.

[A new biosynthesis route for production of 5-aminovalanoic acid, a biobased plastic monomer].

5-aminovalanoic acid (5AVA) can be used as the precursor of new plastics nylon 5 and nylon 56, and is a promising platform compound for the synthesis of polyimides. At present, the biosynthesis of 5-aminovalanoic acid generally is of low yield, complex synthesis process and high cost, which hampers large-scale industrial production. In order to achieve efficient biosynthesis of 5AVA, we developed a new pathway mediated by 2-keto-6-aminohexanoate. By combinatory expression of L-lysine α-oxidase from Scomber japonicus, α-ketoacid decarcarboxylase from Lactococcus lactis and aldehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli, the synthesis of 5AVA from L-lysine in Escherichia coli was achieved. Under the initial conditions of glucose concentration of 55 g/L and lysine hydrochloride of 40 g/L, the final consumption of 158 g/L glucose and 144 g/L lysine hydrochloride, feeding batch fermentation to produce 57.52 g/L of 5AVA, and the molar yield is 0.62 mol/mol. The new 5AVA biosynthetic pathway does not require ethanol and H2O2, and achieved a higher production efficiency as compared to the previously reported Bio-Chem hybrid pathway mediated by 2-keto-6-aminohexanoate.

Pharmacokinetics of aminocaproic acid in thoroughbred horses.

The antifibrinolytic agent aminocaproic acid (ACA) is occasionally used prior to episodes of intense training in racehorses suffering from exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Although a previous study indicated that the drug is cleared rapidly in horses, some racetrack practitioners claim that recent adverse analytical findings for ACA in postrace samples were from ACA administrations 5-7 days before the race. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the pharmacokinetics of ACA in horses to address this apparent conundrum. Eight exercise-conditioned thoroughbred horses were administered 5 g of ACA IV, and blood and urine samples were collected at pre-determined time points prior to drug administration and for up to 168 h after dosing. Concentrations of ACA in the serum and urine samples were determined by LC-MS/MS. The pharmacokinetics of ACA in serum were best described by a three-compartment model with a terminal elimination half-life of 24.2 ± 2.9 h. After dosing, ACA was above the lower limit of detection (1 ng/mL for serum and 10 ng/mL for urine) in all serum and urine samples at all time points. In a similar manner, ACA was above the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ; 10 ng/mL for serum and 100 ng/mL for urine) in all serum and urine samples collected from all horses from 0.5 to 120 h post dosing. In six of the eight horses, ACA was above the LLOQ 168 h after dosing in serum and urine samples. LC-MS/MS methodology is the industry standard for testing of samples collected from racehorses with the purpose of controlling the use of medications and performance altering substances. The improved sensitivity of the analytical procedure used in the present study allowed the detection of a prolonged terminal elimination phase of ACA in horses that had not previously been described. Currently, most racing jurisdictions have not adopted a permitted concentration or threshold for ACA in postrace samples, and therefore veterinarians need to allow for an extended withdrawal time of a minimum of 11 days after the administration of ACA to racehorses to substantially reduce the risk of adverse analytical findings of ACA in postrace samples.

Tranexamic versus aminocaproic acids in patients with total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Recently, tranexamic acid (TXA) and epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA) have been applied in total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, doubts in clinicians' minds about which medicine is more efficient and economical in THA need to be clarified. Therefore, this study compared the efficacy and cost of the intraoperative administration of TXA and EACA per surgery in decreasing perioperative blood transfusion rates in THA. METHODS:  This study enrolled patients who underwent THA between January 2019 to December 2020. A total of 295 patients were retrospectively divided to receive topical combined with intravenous TXA (n = 94), EACA (n = 97) or control (n = 104). The primary endpoints included transfusions, estimated perioperative blood loss, cost per patient and the drop in the haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. RESULTS: Patients who received EACA had greater total blood loss, blood transfusion rates, changes in HGB levels and mean cost of blood transfusion per patient (P < 0.05) compared with patients who received TXA. In addition, both TXA and EACA groups had significantly fewer perioperative blood loss, blood transfusion, operation time and changes in haemoglobin and haematocrit levels than the control group (P < 0.05). Cost savings in the TXA and EACA groups were 736.00 RMB and 408.00 RMB per patient, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The application of perioperative antifibrinolytics notably reduces the need for perioperative blood transfusions. What's more, this study demonstrated that TXA is superior to EACA for decreasing blood loss and transfusion rates while at a lower cost per surgery. These results indicate that TXA may be the optimum antifibrinolytics for THA in Chinese area rather than EACA.

Validation and utility study of the 10 item brief adult health capital scale (BACHS-10).

Current methods for assessing health capital are not accessible to clinicians. To increase accessibility, we evaluated a Brief Adult Health Capital Scale (BAHCS-10) using classical and modern testing theories. With 588 clients, we found an adequate fit for the BAHCS-10χscaled2(35)=97.19,p<.01, CFIscaled = 0.949, TLIscaled = 0.935, RMSEA = 0.077, and the SRMR = 0.060. We also found evidence of invariance across race but did find significant non-invariance across some items for gender and age. Future researchers should review items displaying noninvariance and develop optimal cut scores for the BAHCS-10 to further support clinician decision making.

Cerium-Containing N-Acetyl-6-Aminohexanoic Acid Formulation Accelerates Wound Reparation in Diabetic Animals.

BACKGROUND: The main goal of our study was to explore the wound-healing property of a novel cerium-containing N-acethyl-6-aminohexanoate acid compound and determine key molecular targets of the compound mode of action in diabetic animals. METHODS: Cerium N-acetyl-6-aminohexanoate (laboratory name LHT-8-17) as a 10 mg/mL aquatic spray was used as wound experimental topical therapy. LHT-8-17 toxicity was assessed in human skin epidermal cell culture using (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A linear wound was reproduced in 18 outbred white rats with streptozotocin-induced (60 mg/kg i.p.) diabetes; planar cutaneous defect was modelled in 60 C57Bl6 mice with streptozotocin-induced (200 mg/kg i.p.) diabetes and 90 diabetic db/db mice. Firmness of the forming scar was assessed mechanically. Skin defect covering was histologically evaluated on days 5, 10, 15, and 20. Tissue TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-10 levels were determined by quantitative ELISA. Oxidative stress activity was detected by Fe-induced chemiluminescence. Ki-67 expression and CD34 cell positivity were assessed using immunohistochemistry. FGFR3 gene expression was detected by real-time PCR. LHT-8-17 anti-microbial potency was assessed in wound tissues contaminated by MRSA. RESULTS: LHT-8-17 4 mg twice daily accelerated linear and planar wound healing in animals with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The formulated topical application depressed tissue TNF-α, IL-1ß, and oxidative reaction activity along with sustaining both the IL-10 concentration and antioxidant capacity. LHT-8-17 induced Ki-67 positivity of fibroblasts and pro-keratinocytes, upregulated FGFR3 gene expression, and increased tissue vascularization. The formulation possessed anti-microbial properties. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results allow us to consider the formulation as a promising pharmacological agent for diabetic wound topical treatment.

The mechanisms of action of water-soluble aminohexanoic and malonic adducts of fullerene C60 with hexamethonium on model lipid membranes.

In an attempt to understand the possibility of applications of the fullerene-based systems for transporting various polar compounds like hexamethonium through the blood-brain barrier, we studied the influence of a series of derivatives of fullerene C60 in the form of salts with hexamethonium bis-anion, namely the adducts of fullerenols with 6-aminohexanoic acid (IEM-2197), and two bis-adduct malonic acid derivatives of fullerene with addents bound in two hemispheres (IEM-2143) and in equatorial positions (IEM-2144), on model membranes. We showed that IEM-2197 induced the disintegration of the bilayers composed of DOPC at the concentrations more than 2 mg/ml. IEM-2144 and IEM-2143-induced ion-permeable pores at concentrations of 0.3 and 0.02 mg/ml, respectively; herewith, IEM-2143 was characterized by the greater efficiency than IEM-2144. IEM-2197 did not significantly affect the phase behavior of DPPC, while the melting temperature significantly decreased with addition of IEM-2144 and IEM-2143. The increase in the half-width of the main transition peaks by more than 2.0 °C in the presence of IEM-2144 and IEM-2143 was observed, along with the pronounced peak deconvolution. We proposed that the immersion of IEM-2144 and IEM-2143 into the polar region of the DOPC or DPPC bilayers led to an increase in the relative mobility of tails and formation of ion-permeable defects. IEM-2197 demonstrated the more pronounced effects on the melting and ion permeability of PG- and PS-containing bilayers compared to PC-enriched membranes. These results indicated that IEM-2197 preferentially interacts with the negatively charged lipids compared to neutral species.

99m Tc-(EDDA/tricine)-HYNIC-GnRH analogue as a potential imaging probe for diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a serious threat to men's health, so it is necessary to develop the techniques for early detection of this malignancy. Radiolabeled peptides are the useful tools for diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this research, we designed a new HYNIC-conjugated GnRH analogue and labeled it by 99m Tc with tricine/EDDA as coligands. We used aminohexanoic acid (Ahx) as a hydrocarbon linker to generate 99m Tc-(tricine/EDDA)-HYNIC-Ahx-[DLys6 ]GnRH. The radiopeptide exhibited high radiochemical purity and stability in solution and serum. Two human prostate cancer cell lines LN-CaP and DU-145 were used for cellular experiments. The binding specificity and affinity of radiopeptide for LN-CaP were superior to DU-145 cells. The Kd values for LN-CaP and DU-145 cells were 41.91 ± 7.03 nM and 55.96 ± 10.56 nM, respectively. High kidney uptake proved that the main excretion route of radiopeptide was through the urinary system. The tumor/muscle ratio of 99m Tc-HYNIC-Ahx-[DLys6 ]GnRH was 4.14 at 1 hr p.i. that decreased to 2.41 at 4 hr p.i. in LN-CaP tumor-xenografted nude mice. The blocking experiment revealed that the tumor uptake was receptor-mediated. The lesion was visualized clearly using 99m Tc-[DLys6 ]GnRH at 1 hr p.i. Accordingly, this research highlights the capability of 99m Tc-(tricine/EDDA)-HYNIC-Ahx-[DLys6 ]GnRH peptide as a promising agent for GnRHR-expressing tumor imaging.

Production of nonnatural straight-chain amino acid 6-aminocaproate via an artificial iterative carbon-chain-extension cycle.

Bioplastics produced from microbial source are promising green alternatives to traditional petrochemical-derived plastics. Nonnatural straight-chain amino acids, especially 5-aminovalerate, 6-aminocaproate and 7-aminoheptanoate are potential monomers for the synthesis of polymeric bioplastics as their primary amine and carboxylic acid are ideal functional groups for polymerization. Previous pathways for 5-aminovalerate and 6-aminocaproate biosynthesis in microorganisms are derived from L-lysine catabolism and the citric acid cycle, respectively. Here, we show the construction of an artificial iterative carbon-chain-extension cycle in Escherichia coli for simultaneous production of a series of nonnatural amino acids with varying chain length. Overexpression of L-lysine α-oxidase in E. coli yields 2-keto-6-aminocaproate (2K6AC) as a non-native substrate for the artificial iterative carbon-chain-extension cycle. The chain-extended α-ketoacid products are decarboxylated and oxidized by an α-ketoacid decarboxylase and an aldehyde dehydrogenase, respectively, to yield their corresponding nonnatural straight-chain amino acids. The engineered system demonstrated simultaneous in vitro production of 99.16 mg/L of 5-aminovalerate, 46.96 mg/L of 6-aminocaproate and 4.78 mg/L of 7-aminoheptanoate after 8 h of enzyme catalysis starting from 2K6AC as the substrate. Furthermore, simultaneous production of 2.15 g/L of 5-aminovalerate, 24.12 mg/L of 6-aminocaproate and 4.74 mg/L of 7-aminoheptanoate was achieved in engineered E. coli. This work illustrates a promising metabolic-engineering strategy to access other medium-chain organic acids with -NH2, -SCH3, -SOCH3, -SH, -COOH, -COH, or -OH functional groups through carbon-chain-elongation chemistry.

Insights into the Structural Requirements of 2(S)-Amino-6-Boronohexanoic Acid Derivatives as Arginase I Inhibitors: 3D-QSAR, Docking, and Interaction Fingerprint Studies.

Human arginase I (hARGI) is an important enzyme involved in the urea cycle; its overexpression has been associated to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. In the last years, several congeneric sets of hARGI inhibitors have been reported with possible beneficial roles for the cardiovascular system. At the same time, crystallographic data have been reported including hARGI⁻inhibitor complexes, which can be considered for the design of novel inhibitors. In this work, the structure⁻activity relationship (SAR) of Cα substituted 2(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH) derivatives as hARGI inhibitors was studied by using a three-dimensional quantitative structure⁻activity relationships (3D-QSAR) method. The predictivity of the obtained 3D-QSAR model was demonstrated by using internal and external validation experiments. The best model revealed that the differential hARGI inhibitory activities of the ABH derivatives can be described by using steric and electrostatic fields; the local effects of these fields in the activity are presented. In addition, binding modes of the above-mentioned compounds inside the hARGI binding site were obtained by using molecular docking. It was found that ABH derivatives adopted the same orientation reported for ABH within the hARGI active site, with the substituents at Cα exposed to the solvent with interactions with residues at the entrance of the binding site. The hARGI residues involved in chemical interactions with inhibitors were identified by using an interaction fingerprints (IFPs) analysis.

The effect of zinc acexamate on oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondria induced apoptosis in rat model of renal warm ischemia.

AIM: Zinc has proved its efficacy in many models of ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, we used zinc acexamate (ZAC) as an exogenous source of zinc against renal I/R injury and we investigated whether its protective effects are mediated by the decrease of oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondria induced-apoptosis. METHODS: Rats were orally pretreated with vehicle or ZAC (10 or 100 mg/kg) 24 h and 30 min prior to 1 h of bilateral renal warm ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion. RESULTS: Our data showed that 10 mg/kg of ZAC, but not 100 mg/kg, improved renal architecture and function. Also, the low dose of ZAC up-regulated antioxidant enzymes activities and glutathione level and decreased lipids and proteins oxidation. Interestingly, the use of ZAC resulted in a significant reduce of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6 and MCP-1), enhanced mitochondria integrity and decreased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein caspase-9. CONCLUSION: We conclude that renal I/R induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis and that the use of ZAC at 10 mg/kg, but not 100 mg/kg, protects rat kidneys from I/R injury by down-regulating these processes.

Activatable Fluorescence Probe via Self-Immolative Intramolecular Cyclization for Histone Deacetylase Imaging in Live Cells and Tissues.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play essential roles in transcription regulation and are valuable theranostic targets. However, there are no activatable fluorescent probes for imaging of HDAC activity in live cells. Here, we develop for the first time a novel activatable two-photon fluorescence probe that enables in situ imaging of HDAC activity in living cells and tissues. The probe is designed by conjugating an acetyl-lysine mimic substrate to a masked aldehyde-containing fluorophore via a cyanoester linker. Upon deacetylation by HDAC, the probe undergoes a rapid self-immolative intramolecular cyclization reaction, producing a cyanohydrin intermediate that is spontaneously rapidly decomposed into the highly fluorescent aldehyde-containing two-photon fluorophore. The probe is shown to exhibit high sensitivity, high specificity, and fast response for HDAC detection in vitro. Imaging studies reveal that the probe is able to directly visualize and monitor HDAC activity in living cells. Moreover, the probe is demonstrated to have the capability of two-photon imaging of HDAC activity in deep tissue slices up to 130 µm. This activatable fluorescent probe affords a useful tool for evaluating HDAC activity and screening HDAC-targeting drugs in both live cell and tissue assays.

In silico and in vitro studies of the reduction of unsaturated α,ß bonds of trans-2-hexenedioic acid and 6-amino-trans-2-hexenoic acid - Important steps towards biobased production of adipic acid.

The biobased production of adipic acid, a precursor in the production of nylon, is of great interest in order to replace the current petrochemical production route. Glucose-rich lignocellulosic raw materials have high potential to replace the petrochemical raw material. A number of metabolic pathways have been proposed for the microbial conversion of glucose to adipic acid, but achieved yields and titers remain to be improved before industrial applications are feasible. One proposed pathway starts with lysine, an essential metabolite industrially produced from glucose by microorganisms. However, the drawback of this pathway is that several reactions are involved where there is no known efficient enzyme. By changing the order of the enzymatic reactions, we were able to identify an alternative pathway with one unknown enzyme less compared to the original pathway. One of the reactions lacking known enzymes is the reduction of the unsaturated α,ß bond of 6-amino-trans-2-hexenoic acid and trans-2-hexenedioic acid. To identify the necessary enzymes, we selected N-ethylmaleimide reductase from Escherichia coli and Old Yellow Enzyme 1 from Saccharomyces pastorianus. Despite successful in silico docking studies, where both target substrates could fit in the enzyme pockets, and hydrogen bonds with catalytic residues of both enzymes were predicted, no in vitro activity was observed. We hypothesize that the lack of activity is due to a difference in electron withdrawing potential between the naturally reduced aldehyde and the carboxylate groups of our target substrates. Suggestions for protein engineering to induce the reactions are discussed, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the two metabolic pathways from lysine. We have highlighted bottlenecks associated with the lysine pathways, and proposed ways of addressing them.

Formation of persisters in Streptococcus mutans biofilms induced by antibacterial dental monomer.

Antibacterial monomers can combat oral biofilm acids and caries; however, little is known on whether quaternary ammonium monomers (QAMs) would induce drug persistence in oral bacteria. The objectives of this study were to investigate the interactions of Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) with dimethylaminohexadecyl methacrylate (DMAHDM), and determine for the first time whether DMAHDM could induce persisters in S. mutans. DMAHDM was synthesized using a modified Menschutkin reaction. Dose-dependent killing curves and time-dependent killing curves of planktonic S. mutans and biofilms were determined to evaluate drug persistence, using chlorhexidine (CHX) as control. The inheritability assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and live/dead biofilm assay were determined to investigate persister characteristics. DMAHDM matched the killing potency of the gold standard CHX against S. mutans biofilms. DMAHDM and CHX induced drug persistence in S. mutans biofilms but not in planktonic bacteria. S. mutans biofilm persistence was not inheritable in that the tolerance to DMAHDM or CHX of the surviving persisters in the initial population was not transferred to subsequent generations, as displayed by the inheritability assay. The MIC of S. mutans parental strain and induced persisters remained the same. The induced persisters in S. mutans biofilms could be eliminated via higher doses of 300 µg/mL of DMAHDM and CHX. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that (1) DMAHDM induced persisters only in biofilms, but not in planktonic bacteria; and (2) both DMAHDM-induced and CHX-induced S. mutans persister biofilms could be completely eradicated by even higher concentrations of DMAHDM and CHX. More studies are needed on the induction of persisters in oral biofilms for the development and use of a new generation of antibacterial dental monomers and resins.

N-(Pivaloyloxy)alkoxy-carbonyl Prodrugs of the Glutamine Antagonist 6-Diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) as a Potential Treatment for HIV Associated Neurocognitive Disorders.

Aberrant excitatory neurotransmission associated with overproduction of glutamate has been implicated in the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON, 14) attenuates glutamate synthesis in HIV-infected microglia/macrophages, offering therapeutic potential for HAND. We show that 14 prevents manifestation of spatial memory deficits in chimeric EcoHIV-infected mice, a model of HAND. 14 is not clinically available, however, because its development was hampered by peripheral toxicities. We describe the synthesis of several substituted N-(pivaloyloxy)alkoxy-carbonyl prodrugs of 14 designed to circulate inert in plasma and be taken up and biotransformed to 14 in the brain. The lead prodrug, isopropyl 6-diazo-5-oxo-2-(((phenyl(pivaloyloxy)methoxy)carbonyl)amino)hexanoate (13d), was stable in swine and human plasma but liberated 14 in swine brain homogenate. When dosed systemically in swine, 13d provided a 15-fold enhanced CSF-to-plasma ratio and a 9-fold enhanced brain-to-plasma ratio relative to 14, opening a possible clinical path for the treatment of HAND.

Enhanced brain penetration of hexamethonium in complexes with derivatives of fullerene C60.

The present report describes development of hexamethonium complexes based on fullerene C60. Hexamethonium has a limited penetration into CNS and therefore can antagonize central effects of nicotine only when given at high doses. In the present studies conducted in laboratory rodents, intraperitoneal administration of hexamethonium-fullerene complexes blocked effects of nicotine (convulsions and locomotor stimulation). When compared to equimolar doses of hexamethonium, complexes of hexamethonium with derivatives of fullerene C60 were 40 times more potent indicating an enhanced ability to interact with central nicotine receptors. Thus, fullerene C60 derivatives should be explored further as potential carrier systems for polar drug delivery into CNS.

Medusamide A, a Panamanian Cyanobacterial Depsipeptide with Multiple ß-Amino Acids.

From a collection of marine cyanobacteria made in the Coiba National Park along the Pacific coast of the Republic of Panama a novel cyclic depsipeptide, given the trivial name medusamide A, has been isolated and fully characterized. Medusamide A contains four contiguous ß-amino acid (2R,3R)-3-amino-2-methylhexanoic acid (Amha) residues. This is the first report of multiple Amha residues and contiguous ß-amino acid residues within a single cyclic peptide-type natural product. Stereochemical assignment of the Amha residues was completed following the synthesis of reference standards for this ß-amino acid and the subsequent derivatization with Marfey's reagent and LC-MS analysis.

The effects of arginase inhibitor on lung oxidative stress and inflammation caused by pneumoperitoneum in rats.

BACKGROUND: Pneumoperitoneum-induced oxidative stress and organ injury are known to be associated with nitric oxide (NO) inactivation. Because arginase competes with NO synthase (NOS) for a common substrate, L-arginine, arginase inhibition may increase NO bioavailability. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of the arginase inhibitor, 2 (S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH), to attenuate pneumoperitoneum-induced decrease of NO bioavailability and lung injury. METHODS: Thirty rats were randomly divided into the following groups: 1) the PP-ABH group received a subcutaneous injection of ABH (5 mg/kg) 1 h before induction of pneumoperitoneum (insufflation to intraperitoneal pressure of 15 mmHg for 60 min); 2) the PP group received saline by subcutaneous injection 1 h before induction of pneumoperitoneum; and 3) the control group received saline by subcutaneous injection before a sham procedure with no gas insufflation. After desufflation, blood was collected to determine levels of plasma nitrite, NOS, inflammatory cytokines, and malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress. Lung tissue was obtained for histological evaluation. RESULTS: We found that plasma nitrite levels were lower in the PP group and higher in the PP-ABH group, compared with controls (P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively). In the PP group, endothelial NOS activity was decreased and inducible NOS activity was increased compared with the PP-ABH and control groups. Malondialdehyde levels increased 3-fold in the PP group and 2-fold in the PP-ABH group compared with controls. Tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1ß levels were elevated in the PP group compared to the control group, but the increase in cytokine production was attenuated or blocked in the PP-ABH group. Lung injury scores were 4.8-fold higher in the PP group and 2-fold higher in the PP-ABH group compared with controls (P <0.001 and P <0.01, respectively). DISCUSSION: Pneumoperitoneum decreases NO bioavailability and increases the inflammation cytokines, resulting in organ injuries. Inhibition of arginase activity could maintain NO bioavailability by attenuating pneumoperitoneum-induced changes in NOS activity. In addition, arginase inhibition attenuated the oxidative stress and inflammation and decreased the severity of lung injury caused by pneumoperitoneum. CONCLUSIONS: By increasing NO bioavailability and suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation, pretreatment with an arginase inhibitor may protect against lung injury caused by pneumoperitoneum.