PPAR gamma partial agonist, KR-62776, inhibits adipocyte differentiation via activation of ERK.

Indenone KR-62776 acts as an agonist of PPAR gamma without inducing obesity in animal models and cells. X-ray crystallography reveals that the indenone occupies the binding pocket in a different manner than rosiglitazone. 2-Dimensional gel-electrophoresis showed that the expression of 42 proteins was altered more than 2.0-fold between KR-62776- or rosiglitazone-treated adipocyte cells and control cells. Rosiglitazone down-regulated the expression of ERK1/2 and suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in these cells. However, the expression of ERK1/2 was up-regulated in KR-62776-treated cells. Phosphorylated ERK1/2, activated by indenone, affects the localization of PPAR gamma, suggesting a mechanism for indenone-inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cells. The preadipocyte cells are treated with ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059, a large amount of the cells are converted to adipocyte cells. These results support the conclusion that the localization of PPAR gamma is one of the key factors explaining the biological responses of the ligands.

Crystal structure of neocarzinostatin, an antitumor protein-chromophore complex.

Structures of the protein-chromophore complex and the apoprotein form of neocarzinostatin were determined at 1.8 angstrom resolution. Neocarzinostatin is composed of a labile chromophore with DNA-cleaving activity and a stabilizing protein. The chromophore displays marked nonlinearity of the triple bonds and is bound noncovalently in a pocket formed by the two protein domains. The chromophore pi-face interacts with the phenyl ring edges of Phe52 and Phe78. The amino sugar and carbonate groups of the chromophore are solvent exposed, whereas the epoxide, acetylene groups, and carbon C-12, the site of nucleophilic thiol addition during chromophore activation, are unexposed. The position of the amino group of the chromophore carbohydrate relative to C-12 supports the idea that the amino group plays a role in thiol activation.

Transport and metabolism of the antitumour drug candidate 2'-benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde in Caco-2 cells.

The transport and metabolism of the antitumour drug candidate 2'-benzoyloxycinnamaldehyde (BCA) was characterized in Caco-2 cells. BCA disappeared rapidly from the donor side without being transported to the receiver side during its absorptive transport across Caco-2 cells. Its metabolites 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) and o-coumaric acid (OCA) were formed in both the donor and the receiver sides. HCA, in a separate study, also disappeared rapidly from the donor side, mostly being converted to its oxidative metabolite OCA during its absorptive transport across Caco-2 cells. OCA was transported rapidly in the absorptive direction across Caco-2 cells with a P(app) of 25.4 +/- 1.0 x 10(-6) cm s(-1) (mean +/- standard deviation (SD), n = 3). OCA was fully recovered from both the donor and the receiver side throughout the time-course of this study. Formation of HCA from BCA was inhibited almost completely by bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP), a selective inhibitor of carboxylesterases (CES), and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), a broad specificity inhibitor of esterases in Caco-2 cells, suggesting that this hydrolytic biotransformation was likely mediated predominantly by CES. Conversion of HCA to OCA was inhibited significantly by isovanillin, a selective inhibitor of aldehyde oxidase (AO). Inhibitors for xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), which are known to be involved in the oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids, did not have a significant effect on the biotransformation of HCA to OCA in Caco-2 cells. In summary, the present work demonstrates that BCA is hydrolysed rapidly to HCA, followed by subsequent oxidation to OCA, in Caco-2 cells. The results provide a mechanistic understanding of the poor absorption and low bioavailability of BCA after oral administration.

Actinomycin D as a novel SH2 domain ligand inhibits Shc/Grb2 interaction in B104-1-1 (neu*-transformed NIH3T3) and SAA (hEGFR-overexpressed NIH3T3) cells.

Actinomycins, a family of bicyclic chromopeptide lactones with strong antineoplastic activity, were screened as inhibitors of Shc/Grb2 interaction in in vitro assay systems. To investigate the effects of actinomycin D on Shc/Grb2 interaction in cell-based experiments, we used SAA (normal hEGFR-overexpressed NIH3T3) cells and B104-1-1 (neu*-transformed NIH3T3) cells, because a large number of the Shc/Grb2 complexes were detected. Associated protein complexes containing Shc were immunoprecipitated from actinomycin D-treated cell lysates with polyclonal anti-Shc antibody. Then the association with Grb2 was assessed by immunoblotting with monoclonal anti-Grb2 antibody. The result of the immunoblotting experiment revealed that actinomycin D inhibited Shc/Grb2 interaction in a dose-dependent manner in both B104-1-1 and EGF-stimulated SAA cells. The inhibition of Shc/Grb2 interaction by actinomycin D in B104-1-1 cells also reduced tyrosine phosphorylation of MAP kinase (Erk1/Erk2), one of the major components in the Ras-MAP kinase signaling pathway. These results suggest that actinomycin D could be a non-phosphorylated natural and cellular membrane-permeable SH2 domain antagonist.

5,6-Diphenylpyridazine derivatives as acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors.

Alkyl-5,6-diphenylpyridazine derivatives combining several main features of ACAT inhibitors, such as a long alkyl side chain linked to a heterocycle and the o-diphenyl system, were synthesized and tested. Moreover, modeling studies on representative terms were performed. Some compounds displayed ACAT inhibition in the micromolar range, both on the enzyme isolated from rat liver microsomes and in cell-free homogenate of murine macrophages.

A screening method of SH2 domain ligands and blockers using a solid phase binding.

We have developed a high throughput screening method for SH2 domain binding ligands and blockers. This method measures directly the binding of a 3H-labeled phosphopeptide derived from the sequence around tyrosine317 in the human Shc (SpYVNVK) to the SH2 domain of Grb2, which is precoated as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins on solid phase. The optimum concentration for the fusion protein coating was 300 ng/100 microl/well for SH2 domain binding. Although an 8-h incubation at 4 degrees C for the coating of fusion protein was required to reach a maximum binding, even a 2-h coating produced 84% of the maximum binding. Saturation of ligand peptide binding in our assay system was observed at 10 pmol/well for the SH2 domain. However, 2 pmol/well showed consistent and reproducible results for the binding when the incubations were performed for 8 h at 4 degrees C. Competitive binding inhibition studies with various unlabeled phosphopeptides imply that the binding assay is highly specific to peptide sequences and able to screen possible ligands or blockers of signal transduction pathway mediated by Grb2 SH2 binding. In conclusion, our new method for SH2 domain binding is easy, rapid, and most of all inexpensive. These advantages over existing assay methods make this method especially suitable for a high throughput application, such as the screening for anticancer drug candidates.

Phellinsin A, a novel chitin synthases inhibitor produced by Phellinus sp. PL3.

Phellinsin A, a novel chitin synthases inhibitor was isolated from the cultured broth of fungus PL3, which was identified as Phellinus sp. PL3. Phellinsin A was purified by solvent partition, silica gel, ODS column chromatographies, and preparative HPLC, consecutively. The structure of phellinsin A was assigned as a phenolic compound on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses including UV, IR, Mass, and NMR. Its molecular weight and formula were found to be 358 and C18H14O8, respectively. Phellinsin A selectively inhibited chitin synthase I and II of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with an IC50 value of 76 and 28 microg/ml, respectively, in our cell free assay system. This compound showed antifungal activity against Colletotrichum lagenarium, Pyricularia oryzae, Rhizoctonia solani, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

GERI-BP001 compounds, new inhibitors of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase from Aspergillus fumigatus F37. I. Production, isolation, and physico-chemical and biological properties.

GERI-BP001 compounds, new inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), were isolated from a culture broth of Aspergillus fumigatus F37 by acetone extraction, EtOAc extraction, SiO2 column chromatography, and reverse phase HPLC. GERI-BP001 M, A, and B inhibit ACAT activity in an enzyme assay system using rat liver microsomes by 50% at concentrations of 42, 94, and 40 microM, respectively.

Chaetoatrosin A, a novel chitin synthase II inhibitor produced by Chaetomium atrobrunneum F449.

Chaetoatrosin A, a novel chitin synthase II inhibitor, was isolated from the culture broth of fungus F449, which was identified as Chaetomium atrobrunneum F449. Chaetoatrosin A was purified by solvent partition, silica gel, ODS, preparative TLC, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies, consecutively. The structure of chaetoatrosin A was assigned as 1,8-dihydroxy-3(2-hydroxypropionyl)-6-methoxynaphthalene on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses including UV, IR, mass spectral, and NMR. Its molecular weight and formula were found to be 262 and C14H14O5, respectively. ,Chaetoatrosin A inhibited chitin synthase II by 50% at the concentration of 104 microg/ml in an enzyme assay system. This compound showed antifungal activities against Rhizoctonia solani, Pyricularia oryzae, Botrytis cinerea, Cryptococcus neoformans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

GERI-BP002-A, novel inhibitor of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase produced by Aspergillus fumigatus F93.

A new inhibitor of acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), designated GERI-BP002-A, was isolated from the culture broth of Aspergillus fumigatus F93 by acetone extraction, EtOAc extraction, SiO2 column chromatography and reverse phase HPLC. Spectroscopic analyses of the compound identified bis (2-hydroxy-3-tert-butyl-5-methylphenyl) methane as the structure and its molecular weight and formula to be 340 and C23H32O2, respectively. GERI-BP002-A inhibited ACAT activity by 50% at the concentration of 50 microM in an enzyme assay system using rat liver microsomes.

cis-fumagillin, a new methionine aminopeptidase (type 2) inhibitor produced by Penicillium sp. F2757.

Selective inhibition against the yeast MetAP2 (methionine aminopeptidase type 2) was detected in the fermentation broth of a fungus F2757 that was later identified as Penicillium janczewskii. A new compound cis-fumagillin methyl ester (1) was isolated from the diazomethane treated fermentation extracts together with the known compound fumagillin methyl ester (2). The cis-fumagillin methyl ester, a stereoisomer of fumagillin methyl ester at the C2'-C3' position of the aliphatic side chain, selectively inhibited growth of the map1 mutant yeast strain (MetAP1 deletion strain) at a concentration as low as 1 ng. However, the wild type yeast w303 and the mutant map2 (MetAP2 deleted) strains were resistant up to 10 microg of the compound. In enzyme experiments, compound 1 inhibited the MetAP2 with an IC50 value of 6.3 nM, but it did not inhibit the MetAP1 (IC50 >200 microM). Compound 2 also inhibited the MetAP2 with an IC50 value of 9.2 nM and 105 microM against MetAP1.

A novel nortriterpene fromHedera rhombea.

A new nortriterpene, rhombenone (1) was isolated from the leaves ofHedera rhombea Bean (Araliaceae). The structure of this compound was established as 27-demethyl-20(S)-dammar-23-ene-6alpha,20-diol-3,25-dione on the basis of spectral analysis including HMQC and HMBC techniques. Rhombenone (1) was the first 27-demethyl nortriterpene of dammarance type isolated from natural sources.

Synthesis and in vitro cytotoxicity of cinnamaldehydes to human solid tumor cells.

Cinnamaldehydes and related compounds were synthesized from various cinnamic acids based on the 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde isolated from the bark of Cinnamomum cassia Blume. The cytotoxicity to human solid tumor cells such as A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498 and HCT15 were measured. Cinnamic acid, cinnamates and cinnamyl alcohols did not show any cytotoxicity against the human tumor cells. Cinnamaldehydes and related compounds were resistant to A549 cell line up to 15 micrograms/ml. In contrast, HCT15 and SK-MEL-2 cells were much sensitive to these cinnamaldehyde analogues which showed ED50 values 0.63-8.1 micrograms/ml. Cytotoxicity of the saturated aldehydes was much weak compared to their unsaturated aldehydes. From these studies, it was found that the key functional group of the cinnamaldehyde-related compounds in the antitumor activity is the propenal group.

Protective action of honokiol, administered orally, against oxidative stress in brain of mice challenged with NMDA.

Neuroprotective effect of honokiol (HK), orally administered, on oxidative damage in the brain of mice challenged with N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) was examined. HK (1-100 mg/kg) was administered to Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) male mice through a gavage for 3 days consecutively, and on the third day, NMDA (150 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered. Administration of NMDA, causing a lethality of approximately 60%, resulted in a significant decrease of total glutathione (GSH) level and increase of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) value in brain tissue. Meanwhile, oral administration of HK (> or = 3 mg/kg) for 3 days reduced the lethality (60%) in NMDA-treated group to 10% level, and alleviated the behavioral signs of NMDA neurotoxicity. Moreover, HK pretreatment restored the levels of total GSH and TBARS in the brain tissue to control levels (p<0.01). Additionally, GSH peroxidase activity in cytosolic portion of brain homogenate was also restored significantly (p<0.01), whereas GSH reductase activity was not. Separately, compared to vehicle-treated control, no significant changes in body and brain weight were observed in mice administered with HK. Based on these results, oral intake of HK is suggested to prevent oxidative stress in the brain of mice.

Isolation of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors from Panax ginseng roots.

We have isolated cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitors from the extract of Korean Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer roots and identified them as polyacetylene analogs. These compounds inhibit human CETP with IC50 values of around 20-35 mg/ml.

Cinnamaldehyde inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and modulates T-cell differentiation.

Two kinds of cinnamaldehyde derivative, 2'-hydroxycinnamaldehyde (HCA) and 2'-benzoxy-cinnamaldehyde (BCA), were studied for their immunomodulatory effects. These compounds were screened as anticancer drug candidates from stem bark of Cinnamomum cassia for their inhibitory effect on farnesyl protein transferase activity. Ras activation, which is accompanied with its farnesylation, has been known to be important in immune cell activation as well as in carcinogenesis. Treatment of these cinnamaldehydes to mouse splenocyte cultures induced suppression of lymphoproliferation following both Con A and LPS stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. A dose of I microM of HCA and BCA inhibited the Con A-stimulated proliferation by 69% and 60%, and the LPS-induced proliferation by 29% and 21%, respectively. However, the proliferation induced by PMA plus ionomycin was affected by neither HCA nor BCA treatment. Decreased levels of antibody production by HCA or BCA treatment were observed in both SRBC-immunized mice and LPS-stimulated splenocyte cultures. The exposure of thymocytes to HCA or BCA for 48 h accelerated T-cell differentiation from CD4 and CD8 double positive cells to CD4 or CD8 single positive cells. The inhibitory effect of cinnamaldehyde on lymphoproliferation was specific to the early phase of cell activation, showing the strongest inhibition of Con A- or LPS-stimulated proliferation when added concomitantly with the mitogens. In addition, the treatment of HCA and BCA to splenocyte cultures attenuated the Con A-triggered progression of cell cycle at G1 phase with no inhibition of S to G2/M phase transition. Although cinnamaldehyde treatment had no effect on the IL-2 production by splenocyte cultures stimulated with Con A, it inhibited markedly and dose-dependently the expression of IL-2Ralpha and interferon-gamma. Taken together, the results in this study suggest both HCA and BCA inhibit the lymphoproliferation and induce a T-cell differentiation through the blockade of early steps in signaling pathway leading to cell growth.

Inhibitory effect of 2'-O-benzoylcinnamaldehyde on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of the farnesyl transferase inhibitor 2'-O-benzoylcinnamaldehyde (CB 2'-ph) on proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. METHODS: Bovine lens epithelial cells, bovine corneal endothelial cells, bovine keratocytes, bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with CB 2'-ph to determine its cell type specificity and antiproliferative effect. For inhibition of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF)- or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced proliferation of HUVECs, these cells were treated with various concentrations of CB 2'-ph. To assess the proliferation, MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay was used. The migration assay was also performed to determine the effect of CB 2'-ph on HUVECs. The distance of HUVEC outgrowth was measured from the scraped edge of a monolayer after treatment with CB 2'-ph concentrations of 0, 1.5 and 2.5 microg/ml for 24, 48 and 72 h. RESULTS: The CB 2'-ph had an inhibitory effect on all tested types of cell proliferation but only HUVEC and BAEC proliferation was specifically inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CB 2'-ph inhibited VEGF- or bFGF-induced proliferation and migration of HUVECs in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that CB 2'-ph, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor is thought to be an effective inhibitor of vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migration.

8-O-Methylsclerotiorinamine, antagonist of the Grb2-SH2 domain, isolated from Penicillium multicolor.

A new secondary metabolite, 8-O-methylsclerotiorinamine (1), was isolated from a strain of Penicillium multicolor, and its structure was established using NMR spectroscopy and chemical evidence. The metabolite inhibited significantly the binding between the Grb2-SH2 domain and the phosphopeptide derived from the Shc protein and also blocked the protein-protein interactions of Grb2-Shc in cell-based experiments, with IC(50) values of 5.3 and 50 microM, respectively.