Biomedical subjects
D Mendel
Publications and source records attributed to D Mendel.
1,2-Dibenzamidobenzene inhibitors of human factor Xa.
High-throughput screening of a combinatorial library of diamidophenols yielded lead compounds with the ability to inhibit human factor Xa (fXa) at micromolar concentrations (e.g. compound 4, fXa apparent K(ass) = 0.64 x 10(6) L/mol). SAR studies in this novel structural series of fXa inhibitors showed that the phenolic hydroxyl group was not essential for activity. The best activity was found in substituted 1,2-dibenzamidobenzenes in which the phenyl group of one benzoyl group (A-ring) was substituted in the 4-position with relatively small lipophilic or polarizable groups such as methoxy, vinyl, or chloro and the phenyl group of the other benzoyl group (B-ring) was substituted in the 4-position with larger lipophilic groups such as tert-butyl or dimethylamino. The central phenyl ring (C-ring) tolerated a wide variety of substituents, but methoxy, methanesulfonamido, hydroxyl, and carboxyl substitution produced slightly higher levels of activity than other substituents when present in combination with favorable B-ring substitution. Methylation of the amide nitrogen atoms was found to greatly decrease activity. Compound 12 is the highest affinity fXa inhibitor in this group of compounds, having fXa apparent K(ass) = 25.5 x 10(6) L/mol, about 40x more active than the original lead. This lead series does not show potent inhibition of human thrombin. A model for the binding of these ligands to the fXa active site is proposed. The model is consistent with the observed SAR and can serve to guide future SAR studies.
Site-directed mutagenesis with an expanded genetic code.
A biosynthetic method has been developed that makes possible the site-specific incorporation of a large number of amino acids and analogues within proteins. In this approach, an amber suppressor tRNA chemically aminoacylated with the desired amino acid incorporates this amino acid site specifically into a protein in response to an amber codon introduced at the corresponding position in the protein's DNA sequence. Using this method, precise changes within a protein can be made to address detailed structure-function questions. A series of fluorinated tyrosine analogues and linear, branched, and cyclic hydrophobic amino acids have been used to determine the impact of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic packing, respectively, on protein stability. Glutamate analogues and conformationally restricted amino acids have been used to probe the mechanisms of staphylococcal nuclease and ras. In addition, this technique has been used to construct photocaged proteins and proteins containing photoaffinity labels, spin labels, and isotopic labels at specific positions in the protein sequence suitable for biophysical studies.
Probing protein stability with unnatural amino acids.
Unnatural amino acid mutagenesis, in combination with molecular modeling and simulation techniques, was used to probe the effect of side chain structure on protein stability. Specific replacements at position 133 in T4 lysozyme included (i) leucine (wt), norvaline, ethylglycine, and alanine to measure the cost of stepwise removal of methyl groups from the hydrophobic core, (ii) norvaline and O-methyl serine to evaluate the effects of side chain solvation, and (iii) leucine, S,S-2-amino-4-methylhexanoic acid, and S-2-amino-3-cyclopentylpropanoic acid to measure the influence of packing density and side chain conformational entropy on protein stability. All of these factors (hydrophobicity, packing, conformational entropy, and cavity formation) significantly influence protein stability and must be considered when analyzing any structural change to proteins.
Site-specific incorporation of novel backbone structures into proteins.
A number of unnatural amino acids and amino acid analogs with modified backbone structures were substituted for alanine-82 in T4 lysozyme. Replacements included alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids, N-alkyl amino acids, and lactic acid, an isoelectronic analog of alanine. The effects of these electronic and structural perturbations on the stability of T4 lysozyme were determined. The relatively broad substrate specificity of the Escherichia coli protein biosynthetic machinery suggests that a wide range of backbone and side-chain substitutions can be introduced, allowing a more precise definition of the factors affecting protein stability.
Biosynthetic method for introducing unnatural amino acids site-specifically into proteins.
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Hoogsteen base pairs proximal and distal to echinomycin binding sites on DNA.
Forms of the DNA double helix containing non-Watson-Crick base-pairing have been discovered recently based on x-ray diffraction analysis of quinoxaline antibiotic-oligonucleotide complexes. In an effort to find evidence for Hoogsteen base-pairing at quinoxaline-binding sites in solution, chemical "footprinting" (differential cleavage reactivity) of echinomycin bound to DNA restriction fragments was examined. We report that purines (A greater than G) in the first and/or fourth base-pair positions of occupied echinomycin-binding sites are hyperreactive to diethyl pyrocarbonate. The correspondence of the solid-state data and the sites of diethyl pyrocarbonate hyperreactivity suggests that diethyl pyrocarbonate may be a sensitive reagent for the detection of Hoogsteen base-pairing in solution. Moreover, a 12-base-pair segment of alternating A-T DNA, which is 6 base pairs away from the nearest strong echinomycin-binding site, is also hyperreactive to diethyl pyrocarbonate in the presence of echinomycin. This hyperreactive segment may be an altered form of right-handed DNA that is entirely Hoogsteen base-paired.
A basis for the pharmacology of hearing.
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Electrocochleography in congenital hypothyroidism.
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A technique for the investigation of the effects of drugs on hearing [proceedings].
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The effect of atropine on the cochlear and brain stem evoked responses in the guinea-pig [proceedings].
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Ventricular septal defect and mitral regurgitation secondary to myocardial infarction.
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A trial of an antirheumatic cream.
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Tricuspid valve replacement in rheumatic heart disease.
The diagnosis of tricuspid valve disease is often difficult; the best treatment is not yet established. Twenty patients had tricuspid valve replacements at St. Thomas's Hospital as part of multiple valve replacement procedures. The hospital mortality was 25%, most deaths being due to a low cardiac output causing hepatorenal failure. Preoperative cardiac cachexia had a fatal outcome in all cases. Except in two instances, surviving patients returned to a satisfactory level of activity.
Triple Starr valve replacement.
Of nine patients who have had triple valve replacements for organic rheumatic triple valve disease two died in the postoperative period from inadequate myocardial reserve, and a third died four months later from cerebral embolism originating from clot on the left atrial wall. The remainder are well and, except for one, leading normal lives. Though cardiac transplantation has been recommended and used successfully for triple valve disease by Cooley, it is suggested that the long-term outlook today of triple valve replacement is likely to be better than that of transplantation.
Distribution of red cells in the rat after hemorrhage, transfusion, and shock.
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The effect of haemorrhage and shock on the oxygen consumption of the rat.
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Valvoplasty for abnormalities of posterior (mural) cusp of the mitral valve.
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