Some contributions to the application of LC-NMR, LC-MS, and LC-CD to the biosynthesis of isoquinoline alkaloids using callus cultures.

Hyphenated spectroscopic techniques in combination with a special extraction and work-up of plant calli cultures of Berberidaceae, Fumariaceae, and Papaveraceae families, e.g., enabled us to get deeper insight into the sequential biochemical conversions of precursors into simple isoquinoline- and protoberberine-alkaloids and their follow-up-products with different skeletons. Some new alkaloids of these types have been found.

Aldose reductase inhibitors from the nature.

Aldose reductase (AR) is an NADPH dependent enzyme that catalyses the reduction of the aldehyde to the corresponding alcohols. Diabetic complications including neuropathy, nephropathy, cataracts and retinopathy are considerately caused by accumulation of sorbitol, which is produced from glucose by AR in polyol pathway. The aim of AR inhibitor therapy is to normalize the elevated flux of blood and sorbitol through the polyol pathway in the target tissue. A large number of inhibitors have been prepared synthetically, and some of them are used therapeutically. However, none of them is satisfactory. From the plants, many AR inhibitors have been found, which are discussed in this review. By the structure based functioning of AR and its inhibitors, some will be developed promising in the treatment of diabetic complications. The main structural features of the inhibitors will be a polar head group and a hydrophobic ring system. The plants that contain the AR inhibitors may prevent from diabetic complications.

Discovery of novel mesangial cell proliferation inhibitors using a three-dimensional database searching method.

A three-dimensional pharmacophore model of mesangial cell (MC) proliferation inhibitors was generated from a training set of 4-(diethoxyphosphoryl)methyl-N-(3-phenyl-[1,2,4]thiadiazol-5-yl)benzamide, 2, and its derivatives using the Catalyst/HIPHOP software program. On the basis of the in vitro MC proliferation inhibitory activity, a pharmacophore model was generated as seven features consisting of two hydrophobic regions, two hydrophobic aromatic regions, and three hydrogen bond acceptors. Using this model as a three-dimensional query to search the Maybridge database, structurally novel 41 compounds were identified. The evaluation of MC proliferation inhibitory activity using available samples from the 41 identified compounds exhibited over 50% inhibitory activity at the 100 nM range. Interestingly, the newly identified compounds by the 3D database searching method exhibited the reduced inhibition of normal proximal tubular epithelial cell proliferation compared to a training set of compounds.

Transmembranous disposition of arylsulfatase C in microsomal membranes of rat liver.

The intramembranous disposition of arylsulfatase C [EC 3.1.6.1] was studied. The lack of stimulation by Triton X-100 of microsomal arylsulfatase C activity indicated the outside location of the active site of the enzyme in microsomal vesicles. The exposure of arylsulfatase C on the surface of microsomal vesicles was also suggested by the binding of antibodies against the purified enzyme to intact microsomes. However, larger amounts of the antibodies were bound to microsomes in the presence of a low concentration of Triton X-100, suggesting the presence of other antigenic sites of the enzyme not available to the antibodies in intact microsomes. The treatment of solubilized and microsome-bound arylsulfatase C with transglutaminase indicated two susceptible glutamine residues per subunit of the enzyme molecule. One of the glutamine residues was labeled with transglutaminase in intact microsomes, whereas the other one became available to transglutaminase only after the addition of Triton X-100 to microsomes. These observations suggested that endoglycosidase H-sensitive carbohydrate chains of arylsulfatase C are located in the lumen of microsomal vesicles. We conclude that microsomal arylsulfatase C is a transmembranous protein and exposed on both outer and inner surfaces of the membrane.

Purification and properties of arylsulfatase C from rat liver microsomes.

Arylsulfatase C [EC 3.1.6.1] was solubilized from rat liver microsomes with Triton X-100 and purified about 2,000-fold with an overall yield of 30-40%. The purification procedure included ion-exchange chromatography, hydrophobic affinity chromatography, and gel filtration. The purified enzyme was homogeneous as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of SDS, and its monomeric molecular weight was estimated to be about 72,000 daltons. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was about 280,000 daltons as determined by gel filtration in the presence of Triton X-100, suggesting a tetrameric structure for the enzyme molecule. The enzyme showed an isoelectric point of pH 8.1. From its strong affinity toward concanavalin A-Sepharose and colorimetric determination of neutral sugars by the phenol-sulfuric acid method, arylsulfatase C was identified as a glycoprotein. Analysis of the carbohydrates by gas-liquid chromatography demonstrated that the carbohydrate chains of arylsulfatase C were rich in mannose and N-acetyl-glucosamine, suggesting that they are the high mannose-type. This conclusion was supported by the results of digestion of the enzyme with endoglycosidase H.

Fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in human erythrocytes.

The fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentrations in unwashed, washed, and leukocyte-free erythrocytes were compared. The concentration in washed red cells was 31 +/- 15 pmol per ml of cells (mean +/- S.D., n = 6). The concentration in unwashed erythrocytes was at least twofold higher, but the value in washed red cells was not due to leukocyte contamination because it did not decrease further when washed cells were passed through an Imgard column, which would have removed any remaining leukocytes. No platelets were detected among the washed erythrocytes. Thus, the concentration in erythrocytes after washing was ascribed solely to these cells. The fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration did not change when the glycolytic activity varied with pH, indicating that this compound is not involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism in erythrocytes under these conditions.

Preparation and properties of monoclonal antibodies against lipopolysaccharide-sensitive serine protease zymogen, factor C, from horseshoe crab (Tachypleus tridentatus) hemocytes.

Seventeen murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against horseshoe crab clotting factor, factor C, were prepared and characterized. When the binding sites of these mAbs were analyzed by immunoblotting, ten mAbs recognized nonreduced factor C, five mAbs were directed against the heavy chain, and two mAbs were directed against the B chain. Three mAbs, 1H4, 2C12, and 2A7, one selected from each group, were used for further study. The mAb 1H4, which recognized only nonreduced factor C molecule, inhibited the factor C activity in a dose-dependent manner. It also inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated activations of the zymogen factor C, suggesting that 1H4 binds close to the active site and/or the substrate-binding site located in the serine protease domain (B chain) of factor C. On the other hand, 2C12 and 2A7 recognized, respectively, an epitope located in the heavy and the B chains, and inhibited LPS-mediated activation of factor C, but not alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated activation of factor C or factor C activity. Both F(ab')2 and Fab' fragments derived from 2C12 inhibited LPS-mediated activation in the same manner. These three mAbs did not bind with LPS, although a factor C-mAb complex was able to bind LPS, suggesting that the LPS-mediated activation of the zymogen factor C was induced through intermolecular interaction between the LPS-bound factor C molecules. The dissociation constants (Kd) for 1H4, 2C12, and 2A7 binding to factor C were determined as 1.9 x 10(-9), 0.6 x 10(-10), and 1.8 x 10(-10) M, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of digested protein on pancreatic exocrine secretion and gut hormone release in the dog.

The hormonal mechanisms mediating protein-stimulated pancreatic exocrine secretion were investigated in four conscious dogs with gastric cannulas and Thomas duodenal cannulas. Pancreatic juice was collected by direct cannulation of the main pancreatic duct in response to intraduodenal infusates prepared with cooked beef liver. When the homogenized liver was administered intraduodenally, cholecystokinin (CCK) in plasma significantly increased. This increase was accompanied by a significant increase in pancreatic exocrine secretion, including volume, bicarbonate, and protein output. The liver homogenate incubated with pancreatic enzymes further increased both plasma CCK and exocrine pancreatic secretion. However, plasma secretin was not affected by the protein digests. Intravenous administration of loxiglumide at the rate of 5.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/h resulted in a significant decrease in the stimulated pancreatic secretion of fluid, bicarbonate, and protein. The study indicates that endogenous CCK released by protein digests exerts not only enzyme secretion but also bicarbonate secretion in dogs.

Dopaminergic neurotoxins, 6,7-dihydroxy-1-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-isoquinolines, cause different types of cell death in SH-SY5Y cells: apoptosis was induced by oxidized papaverolines and necrosis by reduced tetrahydropapaverolines.

Dopamine-derived 6,7-dihydroxy-1-(3', 4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-isoquinolines, papaverolines and tetrahydropapaverolines, have been proposed to be neurotoxin candidates related to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. In this paper, the cytotoxicity of papaverolines and their N-methyl derivatives was examined using human dopaminergic neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells as a model of dopamine neurons. Apoptotic and necrotic cell death were assessed by morphological observation of cells after staining with propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342. Papaveroline and N-methyl-papaveroline induced apoptosis in almost all the cells with typical features of condensed and fragmented nuclei. On the other hand, (R)- and (S)-tetrahydropapaveroline caused necrosis in cells. Tetrahydropapaverolines markedly reduced adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level, whereas papaverolines did not, suggesting that the types of cell death induced by these isoquinolines, necrosis and apoptosis, depend on ATP concentrations in the cells.

Minor Flavanones from Erythrina abyssinica

Four new prenylated flavanones, abyssinone-V 4'-methyl ether (1) and abyssinoflavanones IV (2), V (3), and VI (4), have been isolated as minor flavanones from the African medicinal plant, Erythrina abyssinica, together with a known flavanone, sigmoidin D. The structure elucidation of compounds 1-4 by spectroscopic studies is described.

Interrelationship of cardiovascular effects, plasma levels of nicorandil, and vascular cGMP formation in conscious rats.

The relationship between the dual activity of nicorandil (KATP channel-opening activity and nitrate-like action), plasma levels, and changes in vascular cGMP levels and cardiovascular parameters was investigated in conscious rats. Nicorandil (3 mg kg(-1), p.o.) was rapidly absorbed and caused a significant reduction in blood pressure, lasting for at least 1 h, increases in heart rate and femoral blood flow, and decreases in femoral vascular resistance. These were entirely abolished by intravenous glibenclamide (20 mg kg(-1)). The plasma concentration of nicorandil reached a maximum 30 min after dosing. After administration of nicorandil, a correlation was observed between blood pressure and plasma nicorandil level or femoral vascular resistance. A significant increase (P < 0.05) in the cGMP content of the thoracic aorta occurred 15 min after administration of nicorandil, and persisted for at least 2 h. These results imply that nicorandil induces vasodilatation by opening KATP channels in peripheral resistance vessels, leading to overt reduction of blood pressure, but acts on conductance vessels mainly through nitrate-like activity.

Inter-laboratory validation study of the Skin2 Dermal Model ZK1100 and MTT cytotoxicity assay kits.

An inter-laboratory validation study was conducted to evaluate the potential of 4 chemicals to cause irritation with utilizing the Skin2 Dermal Model ZK1100 kit developed by Advanced Tissue Sciences, Inc. (formerly Marrow-Tech, Inc., La Jolla, California, USA). The chemicals tested were sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 1-n-hexadecyl-pyridinium chloride monohydrate (CC), ethanol (EtOH), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Eleven Japanese institutions participated in this validation research to evaluate the usefulness of the Skin2 Model ZK1100 kit in accordance with an identical protocol. None of the participating laboratories had previously used the Skin2 Model ZK1100 kit. The MTT-50 value obtained in the individual institutions was 42 to 91 micrograms/ml for SDS, 2.7 to 8.6 micrograms/ml for CC, 2.0 to 9.3% for EtOH, and 11.5 to 21.9% for DMSO. Reproducibility was reasonably good as noted when one test chemical was repetitively tested by the same investigator. MTT-50 values obtained with the present method correlated with DS20 values obtained with Draize's method (r = 0.9881) in one of the participant institutions. The irritation study using the Skin2 Model ZK1100 kit was easy to perform and generated quantitative data. When the test was repeated, reproducibility was demonstrated with a variation of less than 2 sigma. These data suggested that this newly developed in vitro method would be useful in toxicity screening studies in terms of both time and cost, and would serve as a useful alternative to the conventional methods of the eye irritation study.

Rapid and simple isolation procedure for three component enzymes of pig heart 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex.

A novel procedure was developed for rapid separation of the three component enzymes of pig heart 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex by high performance liquid chromatography on a gel filtration column. The complex was dissociated and separated into two fractions of the first dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase and a second yellow fraction within 1 h by chromatography on a preparative TSK-GEL G4000SW column equilibrated with 0.05 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.7 M guanidine hydrochloride, 0.05% Triton X-100 and 2 mM dithiothreitol at 10 degrees C. The dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase fraction was further purified by incubation with 0.5% sodium deoxycholate and subsequent ammonium sulfate fractionation. The other two component enzymes, 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase and lipoamide dehydrogenase were separated from the second yellow fraction by chromatography on a calcium phosphate gel-cellulose column. The TSK-GEL column permitted very rapid dissociation and separation of the three component enzymes accompanied by good preservation of their activities and high overall yields.

The protective effects of long-acting recombinant human pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (R44S-PSTI) in a rat model of cerulein-induced pancreatitis.

The effects of pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor (PSTI) on cerulein-induced pancreatitis were studied in a rat model. Arg44 of PSTI was replaced by Ser using site-directed mutagenesis (R44S-PSTI). R44S-PSTI has a longer half-life than the natural form. Pancreatitis was induced by four intramuscular injections of cerulein (50 microgram/kg at 1 h intervals). Continuous intravenous infusion of R44S-PSTI began at a dose of 20 micrograms/kg/h 30 min before the first cerulein injection, and was completed 3 h after the last cerulein injection. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) production by isolated peritoneal macrophages from rats with cerulein-induced pancreatitis increased following lipopolysaccharide stimulation, compared to control rats (P < 0.01). R44S-PSTI administration significantly decreased the TNF-alpha production by peritoneal macrophages from rats with cerulein-induced pancreatitis (P < 0.05). In addition, R44S-PSTI significantly reduced serum amylase activity (P < 0.01) and pancreatic wet weight after pancreatitis induction (P < 0.05). Histological examination revealed marked acinar cell vacuolization, interstitial oedema, and cellular infiltration in cerulein-induced pancreatitis, but a lesser degree of histological change in rats that were treated with R44S-PSTI. Prophylactic use of intravenous R44S-PSTI infusion may reduce the severity of acute pancreatitis either histologically or serologically.

Bioconversion studies in cultured cells of Corydalis species.

Structural analysis of the metabolites of dopamine and salsolinol in cultured cells of Corydalis species was carried out using the combination of LC-MS and LC-NMR techniques. Metabolic pathways were clarified without the need to isolate the individual metabolites.

Inhibitors of aldose reductase and advanced glycation end-products formation from the leaves of Stelechocarpus cauliflorus R.E. Fr.

Two dihydroflavonol glycosides, engeletin and astilbin, were isolated from an EtOAc extract of the leaves of Stelechocarpus cauliflorus R.E. Fr. (Annonaceae). The inhibitory activity of engeletin against a recombinant human aldose reductase (IC50 value=1.16 microM) was twice that of quercetin as a positive control (2.48 microM), and 23 times greater than that of astilbin (26.7 microM). Engeletin inhibited the enzyme uncompetitively. Astilbin was about as potent as the positive control, quercetin, in its inhibition of advanced glycation end-products formation. These flavonoids displayed therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of diabetic complications.

Immunochemical subfractionation of a microsomal fraction of rat liver with antibody-coated Staphylococcus aureus cells.

The procedure for immunochemical adsorption of vesicles with specific antigen on their outer surfaces was improved. When microsomal vesicles were mixed with Staphylococcus aureus cells coated with the antibody against NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, more than 90% of the enzyme activity was adsorbed on the cell, whereas, only about 10% of the activity was adsorbed on cells coated with the same amount of anti-ovalbumin antibody. NADH-cytochrome c reductase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were adsorbed on the cell to the same extent as was NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. Under this condition, there was no adsorption of the activities of the marker enzymes of lysosomes and Golgi apparatus, whereas large amounts of the activities of the plasma membrane enzymes were adsorbed. The specific activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase in the adsorbed vesicles from the microsomal fractions increased considerably. In contrast, marker enzymes of the Golgi or of the plasma membranes could be enriched in unadsorbed vesicles from the Golgi fractions.

Metabolism of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate in phosphoenolpyruvate-enriched human erythrocytes.

The concentration of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate in erythrocytes was increased by more than 100-fold when red cells were incubated with extracellular phosphoenolpyruvate at 37 degrees C. Since these elevated levels were maintained for 60 min, the metabolism of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate and related compounds could be investigated in phosphoenolpyruvate-treated erythrocytes. 2,3-Bisphosphoglycerate synthesis was not affected by intracellular pH when the 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate level was constant but did vary with 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate concentration. On the other hand, the relationship between the rate of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthesis and 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate concentration was not straightforward. At relatively low concentrations of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate, the observed rate of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthesis agreed with a rate calculated from a formula incorporating kinetic parameters of purified 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthase (Rose, Z.B. (1973) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 158, 903-910). However, at high concentrations of 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate, the observed rate of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate synthesis was lower than the calculated value. The concentration of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate did not increase even when 3-phosphoglyceroyl phosphate was elevated to 200 microM. Elevated levels of intracellular 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate did not inhibit glycolytic activity in these erythrocytes. These results suggest that incubation of erythrocytes with phosphoenolpyruvate is a useful technique to investigate the effect of metabolic perturbations at the intermediate stages of glycolysis.

Fungicidal and herbicidal activities of berberine related alkaloids.

The 23 quaternary and tertiary protoberberines related to berberine were tested for in vitro and/or in vivo fungicidal and herbicidal activities. Among the compounds tested, there was some activity observed with some of only the protoberberinium salts, but not sufficiently strong or broad spectrum for agrochemical use. From the structure-activity point of view, some features can be pointed out.