Sinularamides A-G, Terpenoid-Derived Spermidine and Spermine Conjugates with Casitas B-Lineage Lymphoma Proto-Oncogene B (Cbl-b) Inhibitory Activities from a Sinularia sp. Soft Coral.

An extract of a Sinularia sp. soft coral showed inhibitory activity against the E3-ubiquitin ligase casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene B (Cbl-b). Subsequent bioassay-guided separation of the extract provided a series of terpenoid-derived spermidine and spermine amides that were named sinularamides A-G (1-7). Compounds 1-7 represent new natural products; however, sinularamide A (1) was previously reported as a synthetic end product. The structures of sinularamides A-G (1-7) were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic and spectrometric data from NMR, IR, and HRESIMS experiments and by comparison with literature data. All of the isolated compounds showed Cbl-b inhibitory activities with IC50 values that ranged from approximately 6.5 to 33 µM.

Separation and Characterization of Phenolamines and Flavonoids from Rape Bee Pollen, and Comparison of Their Antioxidant Activities and Protective Effects Against Oxidative Stress.

Phenolamines and flavonoids are two important components in bee pollen. There are many reports on the bioactivity of flavonoids in bee pollen, but few on phenolamines. This study aims to separate and characterize the flavonoids and phenolamines from rape bee pollen, and compare their antioxidant activities and protective effects against oxidative stress. The rape bee pollen was separated to obtain 35% and 50% fractions, which were characterized by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. The results showed that the compounds in 35% fraction were quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, while the compounds in 50% fraction were phenolamines, including di-p-coumaroyl spermidine, p-coumaroyl caffeoyl hydroxyferuloyl spermine, di-p-coumaroyl hydroxyferuloyl spermine, and tri-p-coumaroyl spermidine. The antioxidant activities of phenolamines and flavonoids were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. It was found that the antioxidant activity of phenolamines was significantly higher than that of flavonoids. Moreover, phenolamines showed better protective effects than flavonoids on HepG2 cells injured by AAPH. Furthermore, phenolamines could significantly reduce the reactive oxygen species (ROS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, and increase the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels. This study lays a foundation for the further understanding of phenolamines in rape bee pollen.

Determination of Biogenic Amines in Seawater Using Capillary Electrophoresis with Capacitively Coupled Contactless Conductivity Detection.

A rapid and green analytical method based on capillary electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C4D) for the determination of eight environmental pollutants, the biogenic amines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, spermine, tyramine, 2-phenylamine, histamine and tryptamine), is described. The separation was achieved under normal polarity mode at 24 °C and 25 kV with a hydrodynamic injection (50 mbar for 5 s) and using a bare fused-silica capillary (95 cm length × 50 µm i.d.) (detection length of 10.5 cm from the outlet end of the capillary). The optimized background electrolyte consisted of 400 mM malic acid. C4D parameters were set at a fixed amplitude (50 V) and frequency (600 kHz). Under the optimum conditions, the method exhibited good linearity over the range of 1.0⁻100 µg mL−1 (R² ≥ 0.981). The limits of detection based on signal to noise (S/N) ratios of 3 and 10 were ≤0.029 µg mL−1. The method was used for the determination of seawater samples that were spiked with biogenic amines. Good recoveries (77⁻93%) were found.

Competitive fluorescent pseudo-immunoassay exploiting molecularly imprinted polymers for the detection of biogenic amines in fish matrix.

We developed a competitive fluorescent molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) assay to detect biogenic amines in fish samples. MIPs synthesized by precipitation polymerization using histamine as template were used in a batch binding assay analogous to competitive fluoroimmunoassays. Introducing a complex sample matrix, such as fish extract, into the assay changes the environment and the binding conditions, therefore the importance of the sample preparation is extensively discussed. Several extraction and purification methods for fish were comprehensively studied, and an optimal clean-up procedure for fish samples using liquid-liquid extraction was developed. The feasibility of the competitive MIP assay was shown in the purified fish extract over a broad histamine range (1 - 430µM). The MIP had the highest affinity towards histamine, but recognized also the structurally similar biogenic amines tyramine and tryptamine, as well as spermine and spermidine, providing simultaneous analysis and assessment of the total amount of biogenic amines.

Free and Cell Wall-Bound Polyamines under Long-Term Water Stress Applied at Different Growth Stages of ×Triticosecale Wittm.

BACKGROUND: Long-stemmed and semi-dwarf cultivars of triticale were exposed to water stress at tillering, heading and anthesis stage. Quantitative determination of free and cell wall-bound polyamines, i.e. agmatine, cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, was supplemented with an analysis of quantitative relationships between free and cell wall-bound polyamines. RESULTS: The content of free and cell wall-bound polyamines varied depending on the development stage, both under optimal and water stress conditions. Drought-induced increase in free agmatine content was observed at all developmental stages in long-stemmed cultivar. A depletion of spermidine and putrescine was also reported in this cultivar, and spermidine was less abundant in semi-dwarf cultivar exposed to drought stress at the three analyzed developmental stages. Changes in the content of the other free polyamines did not follow a steady pattern reflecting the developmental stages. On the contrary, the content of cell wall-bound polyamines gradually increased from tillering, through heading and until anthesis period. CONCLUSION: Water stress seemed to induce a progressive decrease in the content of free polyamines and an accumulation of cell wall-bound polyamines.

Electromembrane extraction of salivary polyamines followed by capillary zone electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection.

Electromembrane extraction (EME) as a novel sample preparation technique was firstly applied for the purification and enrichment of four polyamines mainly present in saliva samples. These four target analytes, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine, were directly determined by CZE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CZE-C(4)D) after EME procedure. Several factors affecting extraction efficiency, electrophoretic separation, and detection were investigated. Under the optimum conditions, four polyamines were baseline separated within 22 min, exhibiting a linear calibration over three orders of magnitude (r>0.999); the highest enrichment factor could reach 106-fold (for spermidine), and the LODs were in the range of 1.4-7.0 ng mL(-1). The proposed EME/CZE-C(4)D method has been successfully applied to analyze human saliva samples with recoveries in the range of 78-97%.

Rapid and sensitive determination of diacetylpolyamines in human fingernail by ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid and sensitive ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for quantitatively determining diacetylpolyamines in the human fingernail. N(1),N(8)-diacetylspermidine (DiAct-Spd), N(1),N(12)- diacetylspermine (DiAct-Spm) and 1,6-diaminohexane (DAH) the [internal standard (IS)] were extracted from human fingernail samples by MeOH: 5 M HCl solution, followed by 4-(N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl)-7-fluoro- 2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (DBD-F) derivatization, and then separated on an ACQUITY BEH C18 column with a gradient elution of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid. The derivatives of the diacetylpolyamines were fully separated within a short run time (3.0 min). The triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection was performed in the multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) mode by the UPLC-ESI- MS/MS system in the positive ionization mode. MRM using the fragmentation transitions of m/z 455.20→ 100.07, 737.25 → 100.07 and 567.10 → 479.07 in the positive ESI mode was performed to quantify DiAct-Spd, DiAct-Spm and IS, respectively. The calibration curve is between 0.04 ng mL(-1) for DiAct-Spd and DiAct-Spm. The detection limits (signal to noise ratio of five) were 5-10 pg mL(-1). A good linearity was achieved from the calibration curves (r(2) >0.9999), and the intra-day and inter-day assay precisions were less than 7.06%. Furthermore, the recoveries (%) of the diacetylpolyamines spiked in the human fingernails were 79.18-97.11. The present method proved that the high sensitivity is characterized by the specificity and feasibility of the sample analysis. Consequently, the proposed method was used to analyze human fingernail samples from 15 lung- cancer patients and 22 healthy volunteers. Diacetylpolyamines were detected from the fingernails of the lung- cancer patients for the first time. The concentration of DiAct-Spd in the lung-cancer patient group tended to be higher than those in the healthy volunteers.

Syntheses of pseudoceramines A-D and a new synthesis of spermatinamine, bromotyrosine natural products from marine sponges.

Herein we report the total syntheses of pseudoceramine A-D (2-5) and spermatinamine (1) isolated from the marine sponge Pseudoceratina sp. Direct acyl substitution of α-hydroxyiminoesters with amine nucleophiles was developed as a key transformation. The synthetic compounds confirm the reported structures and importantly gives access to non-symmetrical spermine based natural products carrying two different bromotyrosine building blocks. Our new synthesis of spermatinamine is two steps shorter and more efficient than the previously reported sequence.

Application of a molecularly imprinted polymer for the extraction of kukoamine a from potato peels.

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the purification of N(1),N(12)-bis(dihydrocaffeoyl)spermine (kukoamine A) was computationally designed and tested. The properties of the polymer were characterized. The protocol of the solid phase extraction (SPE) of kukoamine A from potato peels was optimized. A HPLC-MS method for the quantification of kukoamine A was developed and used for all optimization studies. The capacity of the MIP in relation to kukoamine A from the potato peels extract was estimated at 54 mg/g of the polymer. The kukoamine A purified from potato extract using MIP was exceptionally pure (≈ 90%). Although the corresponding blank polymer was less selective than the MIP for the extraction of kukoamine A from the potato extract, it was shown that the blank polymer could be effectively used for the purification of the crude synthetic kukoamine (polymer capacity = 80 mg of kukoamine A/g of the adsorbent, kukoamine A purity ≈ 86%). Therefore, selective adsorbents could be computationally designed for other plant products, allowing their purification in quantities that would be sufficient for more detailed studies and potential practical applications.

Dual targets guided screening and isolation of Kukoamine B as a novel natural anti-sepsis agent from traditional Chinese herb Cortex lycii.

Treating sepsis remains challenging at present. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and bacterial DNA/CpG DNA are important pathogenic molecules and drug targets for sepsis. It is thus a promising strategy to treat sepsis by discovering agents that neutralize LPS and CpG DNA simultaneously. In this study, we present evidences of the biosensor based screening and isolation of active anti-sepsis fractions and monomers from traditional Chinese herbs using dual targets (LPS and CpG DNA) guided drug discovery strategy. Firstly, LPS or CpG DNA was immobilized on surfaces of cuvettes in the biosensor to establish a screening platform. Then, Cortex lycii with both highest affinities was selected out from one hundred and fourteen traditional Chinese herbs. In subsequent experiments, chromatography was utilized and coupled with the biosensor to purify fractions with a higher affinity for LPS and CpG DNA. In line with affinity assay, these fractions were shown to neutralize LPS and CpG DNA and inhibit their activity in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, the contributing monomer Kukoamine B (KB) was purified. KB neutralized LPS and CpG DNA in vitro. It inhibited TLR4, TLR9 and MyD88 mRNA expressions up-regulated by LPS and CpG DNA, and also attenuated the LPS and CpG DNA elicited nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 protein in RAW264.7 cells. It also protected mice from lethal challenge of heat-killed E. coli, a mixture of LPS and CpG DNA. In conclusion, we presented a dual target guided discovery of a novel anti-sepsis agent KB from traditional Chinese herbs via combination of biosensor technology and chromatography methods.

Quantitation of biogenic tetraamines in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Classical methods for the determination of polyamines in Arabidopsis, based on high-performance liquid chromatography or thin-layer chromatography, do not distinguish between aliphatic tetraamines or do not allow accurate quantitation, respectively. Here we describe a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method that allows separation and simple quantitation of spermine and thermospermine. The reliability of the protocol has been confirmed using extracts of Arabidopsis mutants impaired in tetraamine biosynthesis. The levels of thermospermine are around 6-fold lower than those of spermine in Arabidopsis seedlings. Interestingly, hormonal effects on polyamine levels are not always correlated with those of transcripts of their biosynthetic enzymes.

Spermine isolated and identified as the major trypanocidal compound from the snake venom of Eristocophis macmahoni causes autophagy in Trypanosoma brucei.

The snake venom from the leaf-nosed viper Eristocophis macmahoni was analyzed regarding its toxic effects on the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei. A considerable trypanocidal effect was measured with an IC5 value of 186 ng/ml in bloodstream form parasites. Following several high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation steps, the major trypanocidal activity was assigned to a single fraction by in vitro toxicity assays. Analysis by off-line ESI-MS(n) revealed an m/z value of 202.2 for the precursor ion and fragment ions of m/z=129.1 (MS2) and 112.1 (MS3), respectively, clearly corresponding to the molecular mass and the fragmentation pattern of the polyamine spermine. Quantification of spermine within the viper venom using an on-line hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) ESI-MS method revealed that this compound constituted approximately 1% of the dry venom mass. The polyamine oxidase activity in the fetal calf serum used for cultivation was responsible for a trypanocidal effect of pure spermine in the low micromolar range, whereas the antitrypanosomal activity of crude snake venom was virtually independent from serum, suggesting the oxidation of spermine by intrinsic venom components. Using fetal calf serum, spermine was shown to induce autophagy in the parasites using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

A novel macrocyclic spermine alkaloid from Incarvillea sinensis.

A novel macrocyclic spermine alkaloid incasine C' (1), along with a known compound incasine C (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Incarvillea sinensis, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

Two new quinoline and tris(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)spermine derivatives from Microdesmis keayana roots.

Purification of a Microdesmis keayana hydromethanolic root extract led to the isolation of two new natural compounds, xanthoquininamide (6-hydroxyquinoline-4-carboxamide) and tris(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)spermine (N(5)-(p-coumaroyl)-N(1),N(14)-diferuloylspermine) which was named keayanine. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analyses (ESI-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR).

Polyamines, PI(4,5)P2, and actin polymerization.

Spermine (SPM) and spermidine (SPD) activate isolated phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinases (PI(4)P5K), enzymes that convert phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate to phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). PI(4,5)P2 formation is known to be involved in cellular actin reorganization and motility, functions that are also influenced by polyamines. It has not been proven that endogenous polyamines can control inositol phospholipid metabolism. We evoked large decreases in SPD and putrescine (PUT) contents in HL60 cells, using the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), which resulted in decreases in PI(4,5)P2 content per cell and inositol phosphate formation to 76.9 +/- 3.5% and 81.5 +/- 4.0% of control, respectively. Accurately reversing DFMO-evoked decreases in SPD content by incubating cells with exogenous SPD for 20 min rescued these decreases. DFMO treatment and SPD rescues also changed the ratio of total cellular PI(4,5)P2 to PIP suggesting involvement of a SPD-sensitive PI(4)P5K. PUT and SPM were not involved in DFMO-evoked changes in cellular PI(4,5)P2 contents. In DFMO-treated HL60 cells, the percent of total actin content that was filamentous was decreased to 59.1 +/- 5.8% of that measured in paired control HL60 cells, a finding that was rescued following reversal of DFMO-evoked decreases in SPD and PI(4,5)P2 contents. In slowly proliferating DMSO-differentiated HL60 cells, inositol phospholipid metabolism was uncoupled from SPD control. We conclude: in rapidly proliferating HL60 cells, but not in slowly proliferating differentiated HL60 cells, there are endogenous SPD-sensitive PI(4,5)P2 pools, probably formed via SPD-sensitive PI(4)P5K, that likely control actin polymerization.

Mass spectrometric separation and determination of N1,N12-diacetylspermine in the urine of cancer patients.

An ionspray ionization mass-spectrometric method for the determination of N1,N12-diacetylspermine (Ac2Spm) was developed using 15N-labeled Ac2Spm as the internal standard. Concentrations of Ac2Spm in the urine obtained from 17 cancer patients measured by the present method correlated well with those measured by ELISA, showing the usefulness of the two methods.

A spermine-coupled cholesterol metabolite from the shark with potent appetite suppressant and antidiabetic properties.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the pharmacological properties of a novel spermine-cholesterol adduct, MSI 1436 (3beta-N-1(spermine)-7alpha, 24R-dihydroxy-5alpha-cholestane 24-sulfate), which causes reversible suppression of food and fluid intake in mammals resulting in profound weight loss, not associated with other signs or symptoms of illness, and which exhibits antidiabetic properties in genetically obese mice. METHODS: Wild-type rodents and strains with genetic obesity were studied. Effects on food and fluid intake, body weight and composition were examined along with pharmacological and toxicological parameters. RESULTS: MSI-1436 induces profound inhibition of food and fluid intake in rats and mice, resulting in significant weight loss. MSI-1436 is active when introduced directly into the third ventricle of the rat, suggesting the compound acts on central targets. Pair-feeding studies suggest that MSI-1436 causes weight loss by suppressing food intake. Fluid intake is also profoundly reduced but animals remain normally hydrated and defend both water and electrolyte balance from parenteral administration. MSI-1436 is active in ob/ob, db/db, agouti and MC4 receptor knockout mice. MSI-1436 has been administered to ob/ob mice over a 4 month period via a regimen that safely controls body weight, glucose homeostasis and serum cholesterol levels. Following MSI-1436 treatment, db/db mice preferentially mobilize adipose tissue and hyperglycemia is corrected. CONCLUSION: A naturally occurring spermine metabolite of cholesterol, isolated from the dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias, has been identified that induces profound reduction in food and fluid intake in rodents in a setting where thirst is preserved and fluid and electrolyte homeostasis appears to be functioning normally. MSI-1436 probably acts on a central target involving neural circuits that lie downstream from the leptin and the MC4 receptors. Although long-term administration can be accomplished safely in mice, the utility of this compound as a potential human therapeutic awaits an analysis of its pharmacological properties in man.

Identification of an endogenous inhibitor of prostatic carcinoma cell growth.

The rate of expansion of primary prostatic carcinoma is comparatively slow, with tumours frequently taking years or decades to reach clinically relevant size. We now report the presence of an endogenous inhibitor, derived from aqueous extracts of human prostate tissue, which blocks prostatic carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and prevents subcutaneous tumour expansion in vivo. Purification and characterization revealed the inhibitor to be spermine, a polyamine known to be locally abundant in the prostate. These results suggest that endogenous polyamine can negatively regulate the growth of prostatic carcinoma cells at their primary site in vivo and may explain the slow rate of primary tumour expansion in the prostate.

Induction of hepatic polyamines by di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in rats.

Wistar male albino rats, weighting 125-150 g, were administered di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) orally at 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight diluted in groundnut oil consecutively for 14 days. Spermidine and spermine of the livers were separated by thin-layer chromatography and quantitatively estimated by spectrofluorometry. DEHP exposure led to a significant increase in the absolute and relative weights of the liver at the 1000 and 2000 mg/kg dose levels. Spermidine and spermine levels were induced significantly in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in spermidine was greater as compared to that of spermine. Our results manifest that DEHP significantly induces the levels of hepatic polyamines.

Electric organ polyamines and their effects on the acetylcholine receptor.

1. The electric organ of Torpedo nobiliana contained putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD), spermine (SPM), and cadaverine (CAD). Traces of acetylated SPD and SPM were occasionaly seen. 2. Upon fractionation of the tissue by differential centrifugation, the polyamines (PA) were found predominantly in the soluble fraction. The postsynaptic membrane fraction, containing a high concentration of acetylcholine receptor (AChR), was proportionally enriched in SPM. The molar ratio of SPM to AChR was approximately two in these membranes. 3. The effect of exogeneous PA on AChR function was studied by two methods: carbamoylcholine (CCh)-dependent 86Rb+ influx into receptor-rich membrane vesicles and [alpha-125I]bungarotoxin (Bgt) binding to the AChR. 4. SPM inhibited both ion influx and the rate of Bgt binding at concentrations above 1 mM, and therefore it appears to act as a competitive antagonist of the AChR. 5. At submicromolar concentrations, and only after preincubation with the receptor-rich membrane, SPM and PUT increased the ion influx by about 20% over control values. 6. Preincubation with 100 nM SPM did not affect the equilibrium binding of iodinated toxin or the rate of toxin binding, and therefore SPM was not uncovering new receptors. 7. By measuring the initial rate of toxin binding after different periods of preincubation with 1 microM CCh, the rate of the slow phase of receptor desensitization was determined. This rate was not changed by 100 nM SPM. 8. Although these results suggest that at low concentrations SPM is a positive modulator of the AChR, the precise mechanism of action is not determined yet.