Specific inhibitor of puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase with a homophthalimide skeleton: identification of the target molecule and a structure-activity relationship study.

2-(2,6-Diethylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (2: PIQ-22) was found to be a potent and specific inhibitor of puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA). Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis showed that PSA is inhibited by PIQ-22 in a non-competitive manner. Structure -activity relationship studies indicated that tautomerism of the imidobenzoylketone group in the cyclic imide moiety of the PIQ-22 skeleton is important for the inhibitory activity.

Regulation of sex pheromone biosynthesis in three plusiinae moths: Macdunnoughia confusa, Anadevidia peponis, and Chrysodeixis eriosoma.

Virgin females of M. confusa, A. peponis, and C. eriosoma secrete (Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate as a common main pheromone component. Their pheromone titers decreased after decapitation, and increased in the decapitated females after injection of a synthetic hormone, pheromone biosynthetic activating neuropeptide (PBAN) of Bombyx mori. In addition, an extract of brain-subesophageal ganglion complexes of each Plusiinae species activated pheromone biosynthesis in decapitated females of not only the corresponding species, but also that of Mamestra brassicae. These results indicate that pheromone biosynthesis of the three Plusiinae species is also controlled by a PBAN-like substance. However, the Plusiinae females exceptionally contained remarkable amounts of the pheromone even 1 day after decapitation. Since it has been reported that pheromones completely disappear at least 1 day after decapitation in females of many other lepdidoptran species including B. mori and M. brassicae, a different mechanism is likely regarding the regulation of the studied Plusiinae pheromone biosynthesis. Furthermore, an incorporation experiment with a labeled pheromone precursor, D9-(Z)-7-dodecenoic acid, showed that moderate biosynthesis still proceeded in the pheromone glands of M. confusa females 1 day after decapitation, providing an evidence why complete disappearance of the pheromone was not observed in the females which otherwise lacked a source of the pheromonotropic neuropeptide.

[Preparation of novel specific aminopeptidase inhibitors with a cyclic imide skeleton].

The studies on both structure-activity relationship study and identification of the target enzyme of novel nonpeptide aminopeptidase inhibitors with cyclic imide skeleton are reviewed. Some N-phenylphthalimide or N-phenylhomophthalimide derivative showed potent protease inhibitory activity in an assay system using human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells, Molt-4, with alanin-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (ala-AMC) as a substrate. Especially, 2-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (PIQ-22) (3) was found to be the most potent inhibitor and further it showed potent tumor-cell invasion inhibitory activity that is more effective than potent peptide aminopeptidase inhibitors such as bestatin (1) or actinonin (2). For the further investigation of this novel protease inhibitory activity, we have carried out the structural development of PIQ-22 (3) and it is assumed that tautomerism of imidobenzoylketone in cyclic imide structure may be related to the inhibitory activity. The requirement for the activity of electron donating groups such as NH2 or OH to the condensed phenyl ring in phthalimide inhibitors also supports this possibility. The target aminopeptidase of PIQ-22 was identified as puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase (PSA), by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, and by comparison with chromatographic behavior and substrate-selectivity, and so on. Lineweaver-Burk plot showed that PSA is inhibited by PIQ-22 (3) in a noncompetitive manner while puromycin (83) and bestatin (1) inhibit PSA competitively.

Potent homophthalimide-type inhibitors of B16F10/L5 mouse melanoma cell invasion.

Recently, we developed a series of novel and potent aminopeptidase inhibitors with a homophthalimide skeleton. Among them, N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)homophthalimide (PIQ-22) possesses a specific aminopeptidase-inhibiting activity more potent than that of bestatin or actinonin, as assayed in terms of hydrolysis of L-alanine 4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide (Ala-AMC) by human acute lymphoblastic leukemia MOLT-4 cells. We show here that PIQ-22 and its 2,6-dimethylphenyl derivative (PIQ-11) are more potent inhibitors of tumor cell invasion than bestatin and actinonin in a Matrigel assay using mouse melanoma B16F10/L5 cells.

Novel small molecule nonpeptide aminopeptidase n inhibitors with a cyclic imide skeleton.

A novel series of small molecule nonpeptide aminopeptidase N (APN) inhibitors with a N-phenylphthalimide or N-phenylhomophthalimide skeleton were prepared. Evaluation of their protease inhibitory activities revealed that (i) some N-phenylphthalimide analogs are potent APN inhibitors, but they are also inhibitors of another protease, dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP-IV), and (ii) some N-phenylhomophthalimide analogs, including 2-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-1,3-dione (PIQ-22), are potent and specific inhibitors of APN without DPP-IV-inhibitory activity. The structure-activity relationship studies of N-phenylphthalimides and N-phenylhomophthalimides are reviewed. PIQ-22 showed potent tumor-cell invasion-inhibitory activity.

Epitope analysis using anti-oligosaccharide (G4) monoclonal antibody.

A murine monoclonal antibody recognizing (1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl laminaritriose (G4) was prepared by immunizing BALB/c mice with G4-bovine serum albumin conjugate and fusing the splenocytes with mouse myeloma cells. The monoclonal antibody (IgM) provoked by the cloned cells showed low reactivity with schizophyllan, an antitumor polysaccharide, but notable reactivity with some low-molecular-weight schizophyllans. This antibody was useful for determination of the epitope of several polysaccharides. The extent of reactivity of this monoclonal antibody was related only to the molecular weight of schizophyllan.

An improved sandwich ELISA method for the determination of immunoreactive schizophyllan (SPG).

As it is important to determine the optimal serum concentration of schizophyllan (SPG) when it is used as an anti-cancer drug, we devised a solid-phase ELISA. We also developed a sandwich ELISA using murine anti-SPG monoclonal antibody as the first antibody and rabbit anti-SPG serum as the second antibody in order to improve the detection sensitivity. This assay was able to determine SPG concentrations over 1.0 ng/ml and the absorbance at 490 nm was directly proportional to the SPG concentration. SPG in rabbit serum, obtained after intravenous and intramuscular injection (SPG; 10 mg/kg), was determined by this sandwich ELISA. Furthermore, the sensitivity of this ELISA method was compared with that of the Limulus test. The Limulus test is able to detect SPG in physiological saline (pH 6.3) at concentrations greater than 1.0 microgram/ml, but the sensitivity increased when SPG was dissolved in alkaline solution (pH 12.0), enabling SPG to be measured almost down to 1.0 ng/ml. These data suggest that our sandwich ELISA may be used for the measurement of SPG in blood or tissue.

Monoclonal antibody to proteoglycan derived from Grifola frondosa (Maitake).

A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) was prepared by immunizing BALB/c mice with a proteoglycan fraction derived from Grifola frondosa (Maitake mushroom), followed by the hybridization of spleen cells with mouse myeloma cells. The MAb (subclass; Ig G2b), designated MPG2, reacted with schizophyllan (SPG), curdlan, scleroglucan, laminarin and lentinan, but not with dextran, pullulan, mannan and xylan. Immunohistochemistry (ABC-GO method) showed that MAb MPG2 reacted with lysosomal proteoglycan and (1-->6)-beta-branched laminaritriose taken up by rabbit peritoneal macrophages. These results suggest that this MAb may recognize mainly (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, and may be useful for determining the immunological properties of Grifola frondosa-derived proteoglycan.

Detection of immunoreactive schizophyllan by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

In order to detect immunoreactive schizophyllan (SPG), one of the beta-1,3-glucans in solution, a murine anti-schizophyllan monoclonal antibody, SPG1-HS, was used as a primary antibody for solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Polysaccharide-bovine serum albumin (BSA), and polysaccharide-bovine hemoglobin (Hb) conjugate were prepared as an antigen. The absorbance at 490 nm in ELISA was directly proportional to the SPG concentration in SPG-BSA or SPG-Hb conjugates, allowing the accurate measurement of SPG at concentrations of more than 1.0 microgram/ml. Also, this ELISA detected SPG in SPG-BSA and SPG-Hb conjugates in human serum in a similar manner. These results suggest that this ELISA is applicable for the determination of SPG concentration in SPG-BSA and SPG-Hb conjugates in human tissue and blood.

An infection of cow with Mortierella wolfii.

A Japanese black cow from a farm in Gunma prefecture showed pyrexia, anorexia and depression. An autopsy revealed hepatic lesions consisting of numerous approximately spherical pale lesions scattered about on the surface and cut parts. The inflammatory lesions were observed in the right lobe of the lung. A part of the trachea was whitish and thickened. Histologically, necrotic foci were observed throughout most of the liver with fungal proliferation about the blood vessels. The lesions of the lung were seriously exudative and the fungus was also present in some of the bronchiole and on bloodvessel walls. Mortierella wolfii was isolated from the liver. The hyphae in the liver were identical in appearance with those seen in the tissues of rabbits experimentally inoculated with M. wolfii. This report is the first case of M. wolfii infection in Japan.

Studies on a beta-migrating high density lipoprotein.

An unusual serum lipoprotein (Lp) profile was detected in a Japanese family. A double beta-Lp was observed when serum was subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The slower migrating beta-Lp was identified as a subfraction of high density lipoprotein (HDL). It was present in the d 1.063--1.21 fraction, migrated to the position designated as the midband L.1 (sinking pre-beta-lipoprotein) by Mead, M.G. and Dangerfield, W.G. (1974) (Clin. Chim. Acta 51, 173--182) [1], and reacted against human anti-beta-Lp antiserum. This lipoprotein contained greater amounts of triglyceride than the usual beta-lipoprotein and could not be clearly detected by paper electrophoresis. Individuals exhibiting this high density midband lipoprotein appeared to be heterozygous for an autosomal dominant gene. Although other reports have indicated the possibility of a positive association between the occurrence of serum lipoproteins with unusual eletrophoretic mobility and premature ischemic heart disease, no such correlation was demonstrable in these subjects.