Identification of novel non-nucleoside vinyl-stilbene analogs as potent norovirus replication inhibitors with a potential host-targeting mechanism.

Norovirus (NV), is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. To date, there is no specific anti-NV drug or vaccine to treat NV infections. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of different stilbene-based analogs on RNA genome replication of human NV (HNV) using a virus replicon-bearing cell line (HG23). Initial screening of our in-house chemical library against NV led to the identification of a hit containing stilbene scaffold 5 which on initial optimization gave us a vinyl stilbene compound 16c (EC50 = 4.4 µM). Herein we report our structure-activity relationship study of the novel series of vinyl stilbene analogs that inhibits viral RNA genome replication in a human NV-specific manner. Among these newly synthesized compounds, several amide derivatives of vinyl stilbenes exhibited potent anti-NV activity with EC50 values ranging from 1 to 2 µM. A trans-vinyl stilbenoid with an appended substituted piperazine amide (18k), exhibited potent anti-NV activity and also displayed favorable metabolic stability. Compound 18k demonstrated an excellent safety profile, the highest suppressive effect, and was selective for HNV replication via a viral RNA polymerase-independent manner. Its potential host-targeting antiviral mechanism was further supported by specific activation of heat shock factor 1-dependent stress-inducible pathway by 18k. These results suggest that 18k might be a promising lead compound for developing novel NV inhibitors with the novel antiviral mechanism.

Association with Monoclonal Antibody Promotes Intracellular Delivery of Lycopene.

Incubation of B10.MLM cells, a cell line of alveolar macrophages, with lycopene, a carotenoid, leads to an increase of lycopene content in their microsomal fraction. That increase was higher and developed faster when the cells were incubated with immune complexes formed by lycopene and mAb 6B9 (L-6B9 mAb), a monoclonal hapten-specific antibody raised against lycopene, as compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-dissolved lycopene (DMSO-L). Moreover, incubation of B10.MLM cells with L-6B9 mAb complexes was accompanied by more efficient accumulation of lipid droplets in the cultured cells and more significant inhibition of mRNA for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme (HMG-CoA) reductase, a rate-limiting enzyme of cholesterol biosynthesis known to be targeted by lycopene. Additionally, there was a better inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in B10.MLM cells infected with the pathogen and incubated thereafter with L-6B9 mAb complexes as compared with DMSO-L. Altogether, the results suggest that association with monoclonal antibody promotes intracellular delivery of lycopene in cultured cells possibly through Fc-receptor mediated uptake.

Metabolism of cyadox by the intestinal mucosa microsomes and gut flora of swine, and identification of metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Cyadox (CYX), 2-formylquinoxaline-1,4-dioxide cyanoacetylhydrazone, is an antimicrobial and growth-promoting feed additive for food-producing animals. To reveal biotransformation of CYX in swine intestine, CYX was incubated with swine intestinal microsomes and mucosa in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and swine ileal flora and colonic flora, respectively. The metabolites of CYX were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/MS-ITTOF). Structural elucidation of the metabolites was precisely performed by comparing their changes in molecular mass, full scan MS/MS spectra and accurate mass measurements with those of the parent drug. Finally, seven metabolites were identified as follows: three reduced metabolites (cyadox 1-monoxide (Cy1), cyadox 4-monoxide (Cy2) and bisdesoxycyadox (Cy4)); hydroxylation metabolite (3-hydroxylcyadox 1-monoxide (Cy3)); hydrolysis metabolite of the amide bond (N-decyanoacetyl cyadox (Cy5)); a hydrogenation metabolite (11,12-dihydro-bisdesoxycyadox (Cy6)) and a side-chain cleavage metabolite (2-hydromethylquinoxaline (Cy7)). Only one metabolite (Cy1) was found in intestinal microsomes. Cy1, Cy2 and Cy4 were detected in intestinal mucosa, ileal and colonic flora. In addition, Cy3 and Cy5 were only obtained from ileal flora, and Cy6 and Cy7 alone were observed in colonic bacteria. The results indicated that N→O group reduction was the main metabolic pathway of CYX metabolism in swine ileal flora, intestinal microsomes and mucosa. New metabolic profiles of hydrogenation and cleavage on the side chain were found in colonic bacteria. Among the identified metabolites, two new metabolites (Cy6, Cy7) were detected for the first time. These studies will contribute to clarify comprehensively the metabolism of CYX in animals, and provide evidence to explain the pharmacology and toxicology effects of CYX in animals.

Characterization of Escherichia coli nitroreductase NfsB in the metabolism of nitrobenzodiazepines.

Nitrobenzodiazepine (NBDZ) is a sedative-hypnotic drug used in the treatment of anxiety and sleep problems. Overdose of NBDZ may cause severe neurological effects, especially for people in drug abuse or addiction. In the present study, we investigated NBDZ nitroreduction in rat enteric contents and characterized the role of enterobacterial nitroreductase in the reductive pathway. Nitroreduction of flunitrazepam (FZ) was studied in the microsomal membrane fractions of rat liver, jejunum and jejunal microflora using HPLC analysis. In the jejunal microflora, FZ was demonstrated to be significantly reduced to its amino derivative under anaerobic condition. Escherichia coli type I nitroreductase NfsB (EC 1.5.1.34) was found in rat jejunal microflora via PCR technique and Western blotting. The participation of NfsB in FZ nitroreduction was demonstrated from inhibition studies. Kinetic study of the purified recombinant NfsB indicated that nitroreduction of FZ, nitrazepam (NZ) and clonazepam (CZ) are mediated by NfsB, where CZ shows lower k(cat)/K(M) ratio than that of the other two. Finally, two other nitroreductases E. cloacae NR (EC 1.6.99.7) and S. typhimurium Cnr were also found to be responsible for FZ nitroreduction. These results provide that the reduction of NBDZ in normal flora is catalyzed by type I nitroreductase NfsB.

Genotoxicidad de Justicia pectoralis Jacq: (tilo) / Genotocixity of Justicia pectoralis Jacq: (tilo)

Objetivo: determinar el efecto genotóxico del extracto hidroalcohólico 30 por ciento de partes aéreas de Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (variedad pectoralis) secado por spray dryer. Métodos: se empleó el ensayo Salmonella/microsomas con las líneas TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 y TA 100 con un rango de concentraciones de 50 a 5 000 mg de polvo/placa (± S9) según el protocolo de incorporación en placas; para el ensayo de micronúcleos en médula ósea se utilizaron ratones Cenp: NMRI de los 2 sexos, que recibieron dosis isovolumétricas (10 mL/kg) de 500, 1 000 y 2 000 mg de polvo/kg, por vía intragástrica, separadas 24 h, con sacrificio 24 h después de la última aplicación. Resultados: no se encontró efecto genotóxico con ninguna de las cepas en el ensayo de Salmonella/microsomas y el extracto no causó un aumento estadísticamente significativo en la frecuencia de eritrocitos policromáticos micronucleados en los ratones tratados y no mostró relación dosis respuesta positiva. Conclusiones: el polvo no reveló efecto genotóxico en las condiciones experimentales de este estudio.

Objective: to detemine the genotoxic effect of the hydroalcoholic extract 30 of aerial parts of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (variety pectoralis) dried by spray drier. Methods: the Salmonella/microsomes with lines TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 and TA 100 with a concentration range from 50 to 5 000 ìg of powder/plaque (± S9) was used according to the protocol of incorporation in plaques; for the bone marrow micronucleus assay there were used Cenp mice: NMRI of both sexes that received isovolumetric doses (10 mL/kg) of 500, 1 000 y 2 000 mg of powder/kg by intragastric route at intervals of 24 h and were sacrificed 24 h after the last application. Results: no genotoxic effect was found with any of the strains in the assay of Salmonella/microsomes. The extract did not cause a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the mice treated. No dose/positive response relation was observed. Conclusions: the powder did not reveal genotoxic effect under the experimental conditions of this.

Genotoxicidad de Justicia pectoralis Jacq: (tilo) / Genotocixity of Justicia pectoralis Jacq: (tilo)

Objetivo: determinar el efecto genotóxico del extracto hidroalcohólico 30 por ciento de partes aéreas de Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (variedad pectoralis) secado por spray dryer. Métodos: se empleó el ensayo Salmonella/microsomas con las líneas TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 y TA 100 con un rango de concentraciones de 50 a 5 000 mg de polvo/placa (± S9) según el protocolo de incorporación en placas; para el ensayo de micronúcleos en médula ósea se utilizaron ratones Cenp: NMRI de los 2 sexos, que recibieron dosis isovolumétricas (10 mL/kg) de 500, 1 000 y 2 000 mg de polvo/kg, por vía intragástrica, separadas 24 h, con sacrificio 24 h después de la última aplicación. Resultados: no se encontró efecto genotóxico con ninguna de las cepas en el ensayo de Salmonella/microsomas y el extracto no causó un aumento estadísticamente significativo en la frecuencia de eritrocitos policromáticos micronucleados en los ratones tratados y no mostró relación dosis respuesta positiva. Conclusiones: el polvo no reveló efecto genotóxico en las condiciones experimentales de este estudio(AU)

Objective: to detemine the genotoxic effect of the hydroalcoholic extract 30 % of aerial parts of Justicia pectoralis Jacq. (variety pectoralis) dried by spray drier. Methods: the Salmonella/microsomes with lines TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 98 and TA 100 with a concentration range from 50 to 5 000 ìg of powder/plaque (± S9) was used according to the protocol of incorporation in plaques; for the bone marrow micronucleus assay there were used Cenp mice: NMRI of both sexes that received isovolumetric doses (10 mL/kg) of 500, 1 000 y 2 000 mg of powder/kg by intragastric route at intervals of 24 h and were sacrificed 24 h after the last application. Results: no genotoxic effect was found with any of the strains in the assay of Salmonella/microsomes. The extract did not cause a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the mice treated. No dose/positive response relation was observed. Conclusions: the powder did not reveal genotoxic effect under the experimental conditions of this(AU)

Characterization of pisatin-inducible cytochrome p450s in fungal pathogens of pea that detoxify the pea phytoalexin pisatin.

Many fungi that are pathogenic on pea have the ability to demethylate and thus detoxify the pea phytoalexin pisatin. This detoxification reaction has been studied most thoroughly in Nectria haematococca MP VI where it functions as a virulence trait. The enzyme catalyzing this reaction [pisatin demethylase (pda)] is a cytochrome P450. In the current study, the induction of whole-cell pda activity and the biochemical properties of pda in microsomal preparations from the pea pathogens Ascochyta pisi, Mycosphaerella pinodes, and Phoma pinodella are compared to the pda produced by N. haematococca. Based on cofactor requirements and their inhibition by carbon monoxide, cytochrome P450 inhibitors, and antibodies to NADPH:cytochrome P450 reductase, we conclude that the pdas from the other pea pathogens also are cytochrome P450s. All of the enzymes show a rather selective induction by pisatin, have a low K(m) toward pisatin, and have a fairly high degree of specificity toward pisatin as a substrate, suggesting that each pathogen may have a specific cytochrome P450 for detoxifying this plant antibiotic. Since the pdas in these fungi differ in their pattern of sensitivity to P450 inhibitors and display other minor biochemical differences, we suggest that these fungi may have independently evolved a specialized cytochrome P450 as a virulence trait for a common host.

Enzymatic conversion of norsolorinic acid to averufin in aflatoxin biosynthesis.

5'-Hydroxyaverantin (HAVN) was isolated from a mold, Emericella heterothallica IFO 30842. Aspergillus parasiticus NIAH-26, a UV-irradiated mutant of A. parasiticus SYS-4, produced neither aflatoxins nor precursors in yeast extract-sucrose (YES) medium. When the postmicrosome (cytosol) fraction of NIAH-26, which had been prepared from the culture in YES medium, was incubated with norsolorinic acid (NA) in the presence of NADH or NADPH, averantin (AVN) was produced. The reverse reaction from AVN to NA was promoted by the addition of NAD or NADP (dehydrogenase reaction). When the microsome fraction of NIAH-26 was incubated with AVN, HAVN was produced in the presence of NADPH (monooxygenase reaction). HAVN was, furthermore, oxidized to averufin (AVR) by the cytosol fraction of NIAH-26 in the presence of NAD or NADP (dehydrogenase reaction). In the feeding experiments with A. parasiticus NIAH-26, aflatoxins were produced from AVN, HAVN, NA, and AVR but not from averufanin or averythrin. These results indicate that the reaction sequence NA in equilibrium AVN----HAVN----AVR is involved in the biosynthetic pathway of aflatoxins. The enzyme activities described here were dependent on the culture medium, and no enzyme activities were observed in the nonaflatoxigenic strain A. oryzae SYS-2 (IFO 4251).

Asparagine-linked glycosylation of the scrapie and cellular prion proteins.

Post-translational modification of the scrapie prion protein (PrP) is thought to account for the unusual features of this protein. Molecular cloning of a PrP cDNA identified two potential Asn-linked glycosylation sites. Both the scrapie (PrPSc) and cellular (PrPC) isoforms were susceptible to digestion by peptide N-glycosidase F (PNGase F) but resistant to endoglycosidase H as measured by migration in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. PNGase F digestion of PrPC yielded two proteins of Mr26K and 28K; however, the 26-k species was only a minor component. In contrast, PNGase F digestion of PrPSc yielded equimolar amounts of two proteins of Mr26K and 28K. The significance of this altered stoichiometry between the 26- and 28-kDa deglycosylated forms of PrP during scrapie infection remains to be established. Both isoforms as well as PrP 27-30, which is produced by limited proteolysis of PrPSc, exhibited a reduced number of charge isomers after PNGase F digestion. The molecular weight of PrP 27-30 was reduced from 27K-30K by PNGase F digestion to 20K-22K while anhydrous hydrogen fluoride or trifluoromethanesulfonic acid treatment reduced the molecular weight to 19K-21K and 20K-22K, respectively. Denatured PrP 27-30 was radioiodinated and then assessed for its binding to lectin columns. PrP 27-30 was bound to wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) or lentil lectins and eluted with N-acetylglucosamine or alpha-methyl-mannoside, respectively. Digestion of PrP 27-30 with sialidase prevented its binding to WGA but enhanced its binding to Ricinus communis lectin. These findings argue that PrP 27-30 probably possesses Asn-linked, complex oligosaccharides with terminal sialic acids, penultimate galactoses, and fucose residues attached to the innermost N-acetyl-glucosamine. Whether differences in Asn-linked oligosaccharide structure between PrPC and PrPSc exist and are responsible for the distinct properties displayed by these two isoforms remain to be established.

Integration of a small integral membrane protein, M2, of influenza virus into the endoplasmic reticulum: analysis of the internal signal-anchor domain of a protein with an ectoplasmic NH2 terminus.

The M2 protein of influenza A virus is a small integral membrane protein of 97 residues that is expressed on the surface of virus-infected cells. M2 has an unusual structure as it lacks a cleavable signal sequence yet contains an ectoplasmic amino-terminal domain of 23 residues, a 19 residue hydrophobic transmembrane spanning segment, and a cytoplasmic carboxyl-terminal domain of 55 residues. Oligonucleotide-mediated deletion mutagenesis was used to construct a series of M2 mutants lacking portions of the hydrophobic segment. Membrane integration of the M2 protein was examined by in vitro translation of synthetic mRNA transcripts prepared using bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. After membrane integration, M2 was resistant to alkaline extraction and was converted to an Mr approximately equal to 7,000 membrane-protected fragment after digestion with trypsin. In vitro integration of M2 requires the cotranslational presence of the signal recognition particle. Deletion of as few as two residues from the hydrophobic segment of M2 markedly decreases the efficiency of membrane integration, whereas deletion of six residues completely eliminates integration. M2 proteins containing deletions that eliminate stable membrane anchoring are apparently not recognized by signal recognition particles, as these polypeptides remain sensitive to protease digestion, indicating that in addition they do not have a functional signal sequence. These data thus indicate that the signal sequence that initiates membrane integration of M2 resides within the transmembrane spanning segment of the polypeptide.

[DNA polymerase in the microsomal fraction of the myeloblasts of chickens infected with avian myeloblastosis virus]. / Polimeraza DNA z frakcji mikrosomalnej mieloblastów kurczat zakazonych wirusem ptasiej mieloblastozy.

Only one DNA polymerase is present in the microsomal fraction of the cells producing AMV. Chromatographically purified enzyme shows the properties of revertase, that is it transcribes in DNA the information encoded in natural RNA. The enzyme possesses identical chromatographic characteristics and the same template specificity as the enzyme isolated from pure AMV virus. Thus the virus enzyme and the cellular DNA polymerase from the microsomal fraction cannot be differentiated on the basis of certain properties.