Degradation of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in the presence of nitrite: HPLC-MS analysis of the reaction products.

Motivated by the identification of numerous novel tetrahydro-beta-carboline-carboxylic acids in food samples, we studied the reactions of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines in the presence of nitrosating agents. The anticipated formation of nitroso derivatives from unsubstituted tetrahydro-beta-carbolines, and from tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acids was indicated by HPLC-MS/MS analysis and validated by the characteristic product ion spectra of the respective nitroso compounds. In addition, oxidative decarboxylation resulted in formation of the corresponding dihydro-beta-carbolines, and in the generation of the beta-carbolines harman or norharman. Subsequently, we studied the reactivity of tetrahydro-beta-carboline-1-carboxylic acids derived from the Pictet-Spengler condensation of indole amines with alpha-oxo acids. Again, in the presence of nitrosating agents the rapid disappearance of the starting material was obvious, but no nitroso derivatives could be observed. Instead, further HPLC-MS/MS studies demonstrated that dihydro-beta-carbolines were the major products of tetrahydro-beta-carboline-1-carboxylic acids. Finally, we demonstrated that freshly isolated nitroso-precursors spontaneously decomposed to yield harman alkaloids. In conclusion, we revealed that nitroso-tetrahydro-beta-carbolines can represent intermediates involved in the generation of beta-carbolines, and we established a novel pathway for the formation of harman alkaloids from nutritional tetrahydro-beta-carbolines.

Reaction of tryptophan with carbohydrates: mechanistic studies on the formation of carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines.

Numerous carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines have been identified for the first time in model reactions of tryptophan with glucose and ribose, as well as in food samples. Extending these structural studies, we performed detailed investigations to elucidate the corresponding intermediates and formation pathway of these alkaloids. Degradation experiments with purified tryptophan glycoconjugates established that only glyco-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acids, and not the N-glycosides nor the C-glycoconjugates represented the direct precursors of carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines. In addition, the significance of the oxidative decarboxylation reaction as the initial step for formation of 1-substituted beta-carbolines was proven. Finally, the stereochemistry of the carbohydrate-derived side chain was studied by means of CD spectroscopy and HPLC-CD experiments. These detailed stereochemical analyses yielded experimental evidence for the racemization steps required for formation of the carbohydrate-derived harman alkaloids and confirmed the proposed reaction pathway.

A photometric screening method for dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids and complete on-line structural elucidation of a dimer in crude plant extracts, by the LC-MS/LC-NMR/LC-CD triad.

An efficient evaluation procedure for the chemical screening and on-line structural elucidation of dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids has been developed. The method is based on the lead tetraacetate oxidation of the central binaphthalene core of the alkaloids. UV spectra of the extracts after addition of the oxidant show, in the presence of naphthylisoquinoline dimers, the appearance of a characteristic long-wavelength absorption indicative of dinaphthoquinones. The efficiency and relevance of the method has been demonstrated in the discovery of a constitutionally and configurationally new dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid, named ancistrogriffithine A (4), from the previously uninvestigated Asian liana Ancistrocladus griffithii. After verification of this screening result by LC-ESI-MS/MS, the constitution and the relative configuration of the compound were elucidated on line, by LC-NMR and LC-CD on the extract. Using an LC-NMR-WET-ROESY experiment, itwas possible for the first time to determine the relative axial configuration of a natural biaryl compound on line, by observing long-range ROE interactions. Finally, an oxidative degradation right on the extract delivered the absolute configuration of 4, without isolation of the alkaloid. Ancistrogriffithine A is the as yet only dimeric naphthylisoquinoline from an Asian Ancistrocladaceae plant.

Reaction of tryptophan with carbohydrates: identification and quantitative determination of novel beta-carboline alkaloids in food.

The formation of various carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines was observed when model reactions of tryptophan with glucose were studied by means of HPLC with diode array detection, as well as by means of HPLC-MS. Isolation of these compounds and subsequent characterization by tandem mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy led to the identification of diastereomeric 1-(1,3,4,5-tetrahydroxypent-1-yl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indoles (1a/b), 1-(1,4,5-trihydroxypent-1-yl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indoles (2a/b), and E/Z isomers of 1-(1,5-dihydroxypent-3-en-1-yl)-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (3a/b). HPLC-MS was used to prove the presence of these novel beta-carboline alkaloids in various food samples. In addition, quantitative determination of beta-carbolines 1a, 1b, and 2a/b in numerous products was achieved by means of HPLC with fluorometric detection. Concentrations ranged from 12 to 1922 microg/L for 1a and 1b and from 3 to 644 microg/L for 2a/b. The highest concentrations of all carbohydrate-derived beta-carbolines under study were found in ketchup, soy sauce, and fish sauce.

Identification of quercetin glucuronides in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

After intake of food or herbal medicinal products containing quercetin glycosides, the systemic availability of the genuine glycoside, as well as the systemic occurrence of the aglycone or conjugates of this polyphenol has been a matter of dispute. Consequently, we designed this study to develop a reliable method for determination of quercetin and its metabolites. Following consumption of fried onions five different glucuronides of quercetin could be identified in human plasma samples by means of HPLC-UV-MS/MS. Selective determination of the target compounds was achieved by simultaneous UV (254 nm) and MS/MS detection with selected reaction monitoring experiments using positive mode electrospray ionisation. In contrast, neither the free flavonol nor the genuine glycoside could be detected in plasma. Identification of the quercetin glucuronides detected in vivo was confirmed by comparison with authentic reference compounds synthesised enzymatically using glucuronyl transferase from rabbit liver.

Duodenogastric reflux and foregut carcinogenesis: analysis of duodenal juice in a rodent model of cancer.

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is increasing rapidly. In rats, surgically induced duodenoesophageal reflux is carcinogenic. One proposed mechanism of carcinogenesis is based on the reaction of physiological bile acids with nitrite to produce carcinogenic N:-nitroso amides. To test this hypothesis, duodenal juice was analyzed for endogenously formed N:-nitroso bile acids and its genotoxicity was determined. Esophagojejunostomy was performed on 15 Sprague-Dawley rats to produce duodeno-esophageal reflux. At the time of surgery and 2 and 6 weeks later, duodenal contents were aspirated and analyzed immediately. High performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect bile acids and their nitroso derivates. Genotoxicity was assessed using a micronucleus test. The characteristic pattern of bile acid derivatives, with taurocholic acid (TCA) and glycocholic acid (GCA) as the predominant conjugates, was detected in all samples. However, even selective reaction monitoring experiments failed to demonstrate the presence of any N:-nitroso-TCA or N:-nitroso-GCA. In addition, other nitroso derivatives could not be detected in any of the samples by neutral loss experiments monitoring the loss of nitric oxide (detection limit 0.1% of the concentration of TCA). All samples were cytotoxic, but neither the preoperative nor the postoperative samples were genotoxic. Duodenal juice was cytotoxic but not genotoxic. Tumorigenesis of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the rodent model could not be linked to a specific carcinogen, especially not to nitroso bile acids. Chronic inflammation is likely to be the mechanism of carcinogenesis by duodenogastric reflux.

Tryptophan-N-glucoside in fruits and fruit juices.

In extracts prepared from various fruits as well as in fruit juices a single tryptophan glycoconjugate was detected by HPLC-MS analysis. Product ion spectra demonstrated the N-glycosidic linkage of a hexose moiety to the indole nitrogen. For structure elucidation, the novel tryptophan glycoside was isolated from pear juice and identified as N(1)-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(4)C(1))-L-tryptophan by (1)H, HH-COSY and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. Finally, we disclosed the biosynthetic origin of the novel tryptophan metabolite by demonstrating the enzymatic glycosylation of deuterium-labeled tryptophan, which was applied to pear fruit.

A highly chemoselective oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl products with iodosobenzene diacetate mediated by chromium(III)(salen) complexes: synthetic and mechanistic aspects.

[reaction: see text] The catalytic oxidation of the allylic alcohols 1d-n with iodosobenzene diacetate, mediated by the [Cr(III)(salen)]X complex, affords the respective enones in excellent chemoselectivity for Cl(-) as counterion [complex A(Cl)], while for the counterions TfO(-) [complex A(TfO)] and PF(6)(-) [complex A(PF(6)())] nearly equal amounts of enone and epoxide are observed. This counterion-dependent oxidation of allylic alcohols by Cr(III)(salen) complexes is rationalized in terms of Lewis acid catalysis by the complex A(Cl) and redox catalysis for A(TfO) and A(PF(6)()).

Tryptophan glycoconjugates in food and human urine.

Evaluating the formation of tryptophan glycoconjugates other than well-established Amadori rearrangement products, HPLC-tandem MS (MS/MS) analysis of human urine collected from several healthy individuals proved the presence of one distinct tryptophan C-glycosyl compound [Horiuchi, Yonekawa, Iwahara, Kanno, Kurihara and Fujise (1994) J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 115, 362-366]. After isolation, unambiguous identification of this novel tryptophan metabolite as 2-(alpha-mannopyranosyl)-l-tryptophan was achieved by tandem MS combined with NMR spectroscopy including homonuclear COSY, heteronuclear multiple-bond connectivity and (1)H-detected heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence experiments. Remarkably, a thorough evaluation of vicinal proton-proton coupling constants in different solvents and nuclear Overhauser effect experiments demonstrate the predominant axial orientation of the hydroxymethyl group of the hexopyranosyl residue. Likewise this spatial arrangement indicates that the respective alpha-anomeric C-mannosylhexopyranose is preferentially adopting a (1)C(4) conformation in acidic methanol. Whereas only one distinct tryptophan mannoconjugate could be observed in human urine, HPLC-MS/MS analysis of food samples for the first time led to the identification of numerous N(1)-(beta-d-hexopyranosyl)-l-tryptophan, 2-(beta-d-hexopyranosyl)-l-tryptophan and 1-(1,2,3,4,5-pentahyd- roxypent-1-yl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid derivatives derived from the condensation of tryptophan with aldohexoses. Taking into consideration the significant differences between profiles and configurations of tryptophan glycoconjugates originating from dietary sources and human urine, C-2 mannosylation of tryptophan residues [de Beer, Vliegenthart, Loeffler and Hofsteenge (1995) Biochemistry 34, 11785-11789] represents a novel enzymic pathway in tryptophan metabolism in humans.

Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell activation induced by bacterial low molecular mass compounds depends on the 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate pathway of isoprenoid biosynthesis.

Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP), an important precursor of isoprenoid biosynthesis in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms, has been shown to activate Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells, the major subset of human gammadelta T cells. The biosynthesis of IPP has been first described as the acetate/mevalonate pathway. Recently, 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate (DOXP) and 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate have been shown to be key metabolites in the DOXP pathway also leading to the formation of IPP in some eubacteria such as Escherichia coli. Here we report that the low molecular mass fraction of extracts from bacteria using the DOXP pathway induces Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell activation, while analogous preparations from bacteria using the classical mevalonate pathway fail to do so. Addition of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose potentiates the ability of E. coli extracts to activate Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cells. As the amounts of IPP present in the bacterial preparations are not sufficient to induce significant Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell activation, our data suggest that compounds other than IPP associated with the DOXP pathway are responsible for Vgamma9/Vdelta2 T cell activation.

Evidence for cyclophosphate formation during hydrolysis of 3-methyl-cycloSal-PCVMP.

A hydrolysis study of 3-methyl-cycloSal-PCVMP 2 is described. Surprisingly, phosphotriester 5 released in this study not the expected PCVMP, but cycloPCVMP.

Staurosporine derivatives from the ascidian eudistoma toealensis and its predatory flatworm pseudoceros sp

Two new indolocarbazole alkaloids, 3-hydroxy-3'-demethoxy-3'-hydroxystaurosporine (5) and 11-hydroxy-4'-N-demethylstaurosporine (6), were isolated from the marine ascidian Eudistoma toealensis and its predator, the marine flatworm Pseudoceros sp. In addition, five known derivatives were isolated in their protonated states, which caused the pyran-ring system to adopt a boat conformation. The structures were determined by 1D and 2D homonuclear and (1)H-detected heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy and from comparisons with published data. The heteronuclear correlations were necessary to establish reliable data for the structure elucidation.

Electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of tryptophan derivatives in food.

Our knowledge about bioactive tryptophan derivatives in the diet is rather limited. Consequently, our attention was focused on the efficient profiling, i.e. the structure specific detection, of novel tetrahydro-beta-carbolines and tryptophan glycoconjugates in food samples. Applying HPLC-MS/MS for screening and structural characterization, numerous products derived from the reaction of tryptophan with alpha-oxo acids and carbohydrates could be identified by means of neutral loss scanning. Subsequently, product ion experiments followed by the synthesis of the respective reference compounds accomplished structure elucidation of tryptophan derivatives.

Acetogenic isoquinoline alkaloids. CXII. Separation and identification of dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

The atropodiastereomeric dimeric naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, michellamines A (1a), B (1b) and C (1c), together with their monomers, korupensamines A (2a) and B (2b), were investigated using electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC-ESI-MS-MS). From the spectra obtained, characteristic product ions were chosen to monitor the chromatographic separation achieved on an RP-18 column. Under acidic conditions required for chromatographic analysis, the monomeric alkaloids 2a and 2b yielded protonated molecules [M + H]+, while the dimers, the michellamines, exhibited doubly protonated [M + 2H]2+ molecules. In addition, the coeluting alkaloids 1b and 2b were identified unambiguously be means of tandem mass spectrometry. Thus, together with the retention times of the alkaloids, the product ion spectra allowed us the identification of michellamines in the presence of their presumed biogenetic monomeric precursors. Application of the HPLC-MS-MS method successfully proved the enzymatic formation of michellamine C (1c) by in vitro dimerization of korupensamine B (2b).

Bioactive pyridoacridine alkaloids from the micronesian sponge Oceanapia sp.

The Micronesian sponge Oceanapia sp. afforded three pyridoacridine alkaloids: the known compounds kuanoniamine C (1) and kuanoniamine D (2), as well as the new N-deacyl derivative (3) of the kuanoniamines. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited insecticidal activity toward neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodoptera littoralis (LC50 of 156 and 59 ppm, respectively), when incorporated into artificial diet. Both compounds also showed toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test with a LC50 of 37 micrograms/mL (compound 1) and 19 micrograms/mL (compound 2), respectively. The N-deacyl derivative did not show any remarkable effect in both bioassays. Cytotoxcity of the alkaloids was studied in vitro, using two human cell lines. The new derivative (3) appeared to be active in the same range of concentrations as kuanoniamine C (1) and D (2). The IC50 of 3 was 1.2 micrograms/mL toward HeLa cells and 2.0 micrograms/mL toward MONO-MAC 6 cells. In receptor binding assays compound 2 showed affinity to A1- and A2A-adenosine receptors with Ki values of 2.94 and 13.7 microM, respectively. Compound 1 was less active than compound 2, whereas compound 3 showed no affinity toward adenosine receptors. In addition, compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate affinity to benzodiazepine binding sites of GABAA receptors.

Characterization of enzymes from Ancistrocladus (Ancistrocladaceae) and Triphyophyllum (Dioncophyllaceae) catalyzing oxidative coupling of naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids to michellamines.

Peroxidase active preparations from three Ancistrocladus species and from Triphyophyllum peltatum have been partially purified. They catalyze the oxidative dimerization of korupensamines A and B to michellamines A and C, respectively, as well as the mixed coupling to michellamines A, B, and C. All of these enzymes consist of single polypeptides of approximately 65 kDa with peroxidase activity as monomers. They were characterized as soluble proteins predominantly localized in the leaf phloem of all species examined. Comparative studies with various naphthol precursors revealed an unexpected substrate specificity. Only korupensamines were dimerized by the enzymes, while other monomers, even if closely related, were not accepted as substrates. The coupling reactions described here represent the first direct synthesis of michellamines from korupensamines without previous protection of these precursors.

Chemistry and anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 evaluation of cycloSal-nucleotides of acyclic nucleoside analogues.

The synthesis of different cycloSal-phosphotriesters of the acyclic nucleoside analogues acyclovir (ACV), penciclovir (PCV) and T-penciclovir (T-PCV) as potential new lipophilic, membrane-soluble pronucleotides is described. The introduction of the cycloSal moiety was achieved by using reactive cyclic chlorophosphane reagents. In addition to the cycloSal-PCV monophosphate (MP) phosphotriesters, a second derivative bearing an acetyl group at the second primary alcohol function was prepared. In hydrolysis studies the cycloSal-ACVMPs showed the expected range of hydrolytic stability dependent on the substituent in the masking group (8-17 h). In contrast, the cycloSal-PCVMP derivatives exhibited a 11- to 15-fold increase in hydrolytic lability as compared to the corresponding cycloSal-ACVMP derivatives. We demonstrated that the free primary alcohol group is responsible for this rate acceleration because cycloSal-OAc-PCVMP, in which the hydroxyl group was blocked by acetylation, did not show the aforementioned acceleration. Unexpectedly, the hydrolysis product was not PCVMP but according to NMR and mass spectrometry it was cycloPCVMP (cPCVMP). The title compounds were evaluated in vitro for their ability to inhibit herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and thymidine kinase-negative (TK-) HSV-1 replication in Vero cells. The cycloSal-ACVMP compounds exhibited high antiviral activity in HSV-1-infected cells. More importantly, one derivative retained all activity from the wild-type virus strain in HSV-1/TK(-)-infected Vero cells. The PCV derivatives were markedly less active. The reason for the failure of the cycloSal-PCVMPs seems to be due to the formation of cPCVMP instead of the desired PCVMP.

Identification of 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3[2H]-furanone beta-D-glucuronide as the major metabolite of a strawberry flavour constituent in humans.

2,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3[2H]furanone (Furaneol, DMHF) [3658-77-3], an important flavour constituent of strawberry fruit, was administered to four male and two female volunteers using fresh strawberries as a natural DMHF source. The amount excreted was determined by measuring urinary levels of DMHF and DMHF glucuronide. DMHF glucuronide was synthesized and the structure elucidated by mens of 1H, 13C and two dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, as well as mass spectral data. Identification and quantification of DMHF glucuronide in human urine were achieved after solid phase extraction on XAD-2 using reverse-phase reverse-phase HPLC with either on-line UV/VIS or electrospray tandem mass spectrometry detection. Male and female volunteers excreted 59-69% and 81-94%, respectively, of the DMHF dose (total of free and glycosidically bound DMHF in strawberries) as DMHF glucuronide in urine within 24 hr. The amount of DMHF excretion was independent of the dose size and the ratio of free to glycosidically bound forms of DMHF in strawberry fruit. DMHF, DMHF glucoside and its 6'-O-malonyl derivative, naturally occurring in strawberries, were not detected in human urine.

High-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry for the analysis of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline derivatives.

A rapid and sensitive method is described for the detection of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4- tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid and 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography. In combination with selected reaction monitoring (SRM) detection limits of 3 ng ml-1 (ca. 75 fmol on column) were established by the use of model solutions. Due to the excellent selectivity and sensitivity of SRM no sample preparation step was required prior to analysis of food samples. In addition, any artifactual formation of tetrahydro-beta-carbolines could be excluded. Application of the method revealed that all food samples analyzed contained both tetrahydro-beta-carboline-carboxylic acids at ng ml-1 to microgram ml-1 concentrations, whereas 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- beta-carboline was identified in most samples as a minor constituent.

Analysis of lipoxygenase-derived fatty acid hydroperoxides by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid method is described for the identification of fatty acid hydroperoxides by electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography without any derivatization required prior to analysis. Localization of fatty acid hydroperoxides in complex mixtures was achieved by monitoring the loss of hydrogen peroxide using constant neutral loss scanning. In the presence of 5 mM NH4OAc in methanol-water, adduct ions [M + NH4]+ were formed almost exclusively, directly revealing the molecular mass of the thermolabile hydroperoxides. In addition, low energy collision-induced dissociation of precursor ions [M + NH4]+ led to characteristic product ions from both the 9- and 13-regioisomers. Thus, electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry provides a straightforward approach for the study of the regioselectivity of lipoxygenase catalysis without any derivatization step required prior to analysis.