Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H G Floss

Publications and source records attributed to H G Floss.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

The biosynthesis of the antibiotic pyrrolnitrin by Pseudomonas aureofaciens.

Feeding experiments with tryptophan samples labeled specifically with radioactive and stable isotopes have shown that Pseudomonas aureofaciens converts this amino acid into pyrrolnitrin in such a way that the indole nitrogen gives rise to the nitro group, the amino group becomes the pyrrole nitrogen, C-3 of the precursor side chain becomes C-3 of the antibiotic, and H-2 of the indole ring and H-alpha of the side chain give rise to H-5 and H-2 of pyrrolnitrin, respectively. Only the L-isomer of tryptophan is incorporated with retention of the alpha-hydrogen and the amino nitrogen. From the D-isomer the labels from these two positions are lost. The obvious conclusion that L-tryptophan is the more immediate precursor is, however, contradicted by the better incorporation of D- than L-tryptophan into the antibiotic. Several potential pathway intermediates were evaluated for incorporation and 4-(0-aminophenyl)-pyrrole was found to be a good precursor. The results area discussed in terms of a plausible pathway for pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1980

Stereochemistry of the myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase reaction.

Experiments with D-glucose-6-P stereospecifically tritiated at C-6 showed that the myo-inositol-1 P synthase reaction catalyzed by both the enzyme from beef testis and from pollen of Lilium longiflorum proceeds with stereospecific loss of the pro-6R and incorporation of the pro-6S hydrogen into the product. The ring closure thus occurs in a retention mode at C-6 of the substrate, a finding at variance with an earlier report, but in agreement with the stereochemistry recently determined for the reaction in Streptomyces flavopersicus and with the general stereochemical mode of operation of aldolases.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Stereochemical course of the transmethylation catalyzed by catechol O-methyltransferase.

The steric course of the methyl group transfer catalyzed by catechol O-methyltransferase was studied using S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) carrying a methyl group made chiral by labeling with 1H, 2H, and 3H in an asymmetrical arrangement. Incubation of the two diastereomers of this substrate with catechol O-methyl-transferase purified from rat liver and epinephrine or protocatechuic acid as acceptor gave the corresponding methylated catechols. These were degraded to convert the methoxy group in a series of stereochemically unambiguous reactions into the methyl group of acetate, which was then analyzed for its configuration. The results indicate that the transfer of the methyl group from AdoMet to either acceptor occurs in an inversion mode. The catechol O-methyltransferase reaction thus involves a direct transfer of the methyl group from the sulfur of AdoMet to the oxygen of the catechol in an SN2 process, without a methylated enzyme intermediate.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1980

Synthesis of nitrosourea derivatives of pyridine and piperidine as potential anticancer agents.

Nitrosourea derivatives 18-22 which utilize either a piperidine or pyridine ring as a carrier group were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity. N'-(1-Benzyl-4-piperidinyl)-N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitosourea hydrogen maleate (19) exhibited good activity against intracranial L1210 leukemia as well as the mouse ependymoblastoma brain tumor system. Compound 19 exhibited comparable activity in the Lewis lung carcinoma system to N,N'-bis(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosourea. Replacement of the N-benzyl group in both the 3-piperidinyl- and 4-piperidinylnitrosoureas resulted in less active compounds in all tumor systems tested. The 3-pyridylnitrosourea 22 was inactive in the L-1210 leukemia system.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Biosynthesis of the boron-containing antibiotic aplasmomycin. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of aplasmomycin and desboroaplasmomycin.

The 360 MHz 1H NMR spectra of the boron-containing macrolide antibiotic Aplasmomycin and of desboroaplasmomycin were analyzed to extract most of the parameters revealing the conformations of these compounds in CDCl3 solution. It was found than the conformation of aplasmomycin in CDCl3 solution is identical to that in the solid state and that removal of the boron atom from aplasmomycin results only in a slight conformational change of the molecule in CDCl3. All resonances observed in the 13C NMR spectrum of the antibiotic have been assigned on the basis of chemical shift theory, multiplicity analyses, single frequency proton decoupling experiments, comparison with several derivatives and model compounds, specific deuteration experiments, and analysis of one-bond carbon-carbon couplings of pairs of carbon atoms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1979

Stereochemistry and mechanism of reactions catalyzed by indolyl-3-alkane alpha-hydroxylase.

The reaction of tryptamine with indolyl-3-alkane alpha-hydroxylase is shown to remove stereospecifically the pro-S hydrogen at C-2 of the side chain and to give hydroxytryptamine of "R" configuration. The reaction therefore proceeds stereospecifically with net inversion of configuration at C-2 of the tryptamine side chain. In the reaction of L-tryptophan methyl ester, the enzyme also catalyzes stereospecific removal of the pro-S hydrogen at C-3, but the product 3-hydroxytryptophan methyl ester is racemic at C-3. The unreacted tryptophan methyl ester is shown to incorporate solvent hydrogen into the pro-S position at C-3 in an at least partially stereospecific manner, suggesting that the reaction of L-tryptophan methyl ester is reversible. The hydrogens at C-1 of the tryptamine side chain and the alpha-hydrogen of L-tryptophan methyl ester are shown to be retained in the reactions. The results support the notion that the enzyme catalyzes stereospecific 1,4-dehydrogenation of 3-substituted indoles to the coresponding alkylidene indolenines as the primary reaction, followed by stereospecific or nonstereospecific hydration of these intermediates as a secondary process. Substrate specificity studies with a number of tryptophan analogs are in excellent agreement with such a mechanism.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1979

Ergot alkaloids. Synthesis of nitrosourea derivatives of ergolines as potential anticancer agents.

Nitrosourea derivatives of ergolines have been synthesized for the purpose of obtaining agents with both prolactin-and tumor-inhibitory activity. Two derivatives of 8-amino-6-methylergoline (3), 8-[3-(2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-1-nitroso-6-methylergoline (5c) and 8-[3-2-chloroethyl)-3-nitrosoureido]-6-methylergoline (5a), have been prepared. In addition, nitroso (7) and chloroethylcarbamyl (8) derivatives of elymoclavine (6) are reported. Compounds 5a and 5c have activity against L1210 leukemia in mice but only moderate prolactin-inhibiting activity. The chloroethylcarbamyl derivative 8 of elymoclavine is a potent prolacting inhibitor.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Stereochemistry and mechanism of reactions catalyzed by tryptophanase Escherichia coli.

Several beta replacement and alpha,beta elimination reactions catalyzed by tryptophanase from Escherichia coli are shown to proceed stereospecifically with retention of configuration. These conversions include synthesis of tryptophan from (2S,3R)- and (2s,3s)-[3(-3H)]serine in the presence of indole, deamination of these serines in D2O to pyruvate and ammonia, and cleavage of (2S,3R)-and (2S,3S)-[3(-3H)]tryptophan in D2O to indole, pyruvate, and ammonia. A coupled reaction with lactate dehydrogenase was used to trap the stereospecifically labeled [3-H,2H,3H]pryuvates as lactate, which was oxidized to acetate for chirality analysis of the methyl group. During deamination of tryptophan there is significant intramolecular transfer of the alpha proton of the amino acid to C-3 of indole. To determine the exposed face of the cofactor.substrate complex on the enzyme surface and to analyze its conformational orientation, sodium boro[3H]hydride was used to reduce tryptophanase-bound alaninepyridoxal phosphate Schiff's base. Degradation of the resulting pyridoxylalanine to (2S)-[2(-3H)]alanine and (4'S)-[4'(-3H)]pyridoxamine demonstrates that reduction occurs from the exposed si face at C-4' of the complex and that the ketimine double bond is trans.

Carbon Radioisotopes↗
PubMed1978

Conformational analysis of pyridoxal Schiff's bases. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the conformations about the C4-C4', Calpha-Cbeta, and N-Calpha bonds of the pyridoxal Schiff's bases of amino acids.

The solution conformations of a series of pyridoxal-amino acid Schiff's bases were analyzed using 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The 13C--1H coupling constants were assigned based on model compounds and isotopic labeling. The predominant conformation of the the C4--C4' bond was found to be "cis" based on nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) measurements and the "simultaneous" upfield shift of both H4' and H5' in the Schiff's bases of aromatic amino acids. Going from the monoanion (pD 8.2) to the dianion (pD 12.3), changes in these two effects suggested an increasing contribution of the "trans" conformer. The conformation of the N--Calpha bond was found to be approximately the same for all the Schiff's bases studied based on the long-range coupling constants 3J(C4'--Halpha) of these compounds, and the NOE studies indicate that there is a close spatial relationship between H4' and Halpha. The conformations of the Calpha--Cbeta bond of the Schiff's bases of aromatic amino acids were determined by stereospecific deuterium labeling at the beta position. A pi--pi interaction between the aromatic ring and the pi system of pyridoxal was observed which disappeared upon saturation of the aromatic ring.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

Conformation-reactivity relationship for pyridoxal Schiff's bases. Rates of racemization and alpha-hydrogen exchange of the pyridoxal Schiff's bases of amino acids.

The role of stereoelectronic effects in controlling the reaction specificity of biological reactions involving pyridoxal phosphate-amino acid Schiff's bases was tested with nonenzymatic models. The rates of racemization and Halpha exchange of a series of pyridoxal-amino acid Schiff's bases were determined. The order of these rates does not parallel the predictions based solely on electronic or steric effect, but parallels the proportions of the reactive conformers (e.g., conformers with the Calpha--Halpha bond orthogonal to the pi system) estimated by CPK models. The special reactivity of the phenylalanine Schiff's base was consistent with a special conformation in which some type of pi--pi interaction increases the proportion of exchangeable conformers, thus further substantiating the role of conformation in governing the reactivity of the Calpha--Halpha bond. Furthermore, semiempirical calculations of the conformation about the Calpha00N bond were performed using the CAMSEA conformational analysis program. The results of conformational calculations are consistent with the results of conformational analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance. The order of reactivity of the the Calpha--Halpha bond of the SB dianion, pH 12.0, predicted by calculation based on stereoelectronic effects, though not quantatively parallel to the observed rate constants, is qualitatively in agreement with the experimental results.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1978

Biosynthesis of the antibiotic 2,5-dihydrophenylalanine by Streptomyces arenae.

The biosynthesis of L-2,5-dihydrophenylalanine (DHPA) in Streptomyces arenae strain Tü 109 was studied in tracer experiments with [U-14C]- and [1,6-14C]shikimic acid followed by chemical degradation of the labeled product. The results indicate that shikimic acid (II) provides only the ring carbons of DHPA, that the side chain of DHPA is attached at the carbon derived from C-1 of II, and that in the transformation of II into DHPA the asymmetry of the ring of II is preserved, with C-6 of II giving rise to C-6' of DHPA. Both generally 14C-labeled chorismate and prephenate, but not L-[3-14C]serine, are incorporated into DHPA. By preparing and feeding 5,6-dihydro[4-3H]prephenate it was shown that this compound is not an intermediate in the biosynthesis of DHPA. A reaction sequence is proposed for the conversion of prephenate to DHPA, involving an allylic rearrangement, followed by 1,4 reduction of the resulting conjugated diene and a combined decarboxylation/dehydration.

Chorismic Acid↗
PubMed1978

Biosynthesis of the macrolide antibiotic chlorothricin: basic building blocks.

The biosynthesis of chlorothricin (I), a macrolide antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces antibioticus Tü 99, has been studied by feeding experiments with 14C- and 3H-labeled precursors. Acetate and propionate, but not methionine and mevalonate, were incorporated into the macrocylic aglycone of the antibiotic. Glucose and the various carbon atoms of tyrosine, except the carboxyl carbon, also contributed label to the aglycone. Glucose also seems to be a specific precursor of the 2-deoxyrhamnose moiety, probably via a process involving a hydrogen shift from C-4 to C-6 of the hexose. The substituted 6-methylsalicylic acid moiety seems to be derived from acetate and one O-methyl group provided by methionine; shikimic acid is not incorporated.

Acetates↗
PubMed1977

Stereochemistry of the dTDP-glucose oxidoreductase reaction.

The stereochemical course of the dTDP-glucose oxidoreductase (EC 4.2.1.46) reaction was studied using enzyme partially purified from Escherichia coli and dTDP-(6R)- and (6S)-[4-2H, 6-3H]glucose as substrate. The latter was prepared enzymatically by reduction of (3R)- and (3S)-3-P-[3-3H]glycerate to the 1-deuterated 3-P-glyceraldehyde with (4S)-[4-2H]NADH, followed first by conversion to glucose-1-P with the glycolytic enzymes, and then by transformation into the dTDP derivative. The stereospecifically labeled dTDP-glucose samples were mixed with nonlabeled carrier material and converted to dTDP-4-keto-6-deoxyglucose, which contained a chiral methyl group as shown by chirality analysis of the acetic acid resulting from Kuhn-Roth oxidation of the sugar nucleotide. These results confirm that the hydrogen transfer from C4 to C6 is intramolecular and show that the migrating hydrogen replaces the 6-hydroxyl group with inversion of configuration. Assuming that the hydrogen transfer, since it is intramolecular, must be suprafacial, it follows that the elimination of water from C5 and C6 is formally syn, whereas the reduction of the resulting delta5,6-double bond formally involves an anti addition of H+ and H-.

Deuterium↗
PubMed1977

Stereochemistry of methylene transfer involving 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate.

The stereochemistry of the transfer catalyzed by rabbit liver serine transhydroxymethylase (EC 2.1.2.1) of the prochiral hydroxymethyl group from serine to tetrahydrofolate to form 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate was studied. Initial kinetic studies on labeled 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate showed that nonenzymatic racemization of the prochiral methylene center was buffer dependent and was slow under the conditions employed. Specifically tritiated (3R)- and (3S)-serines were employed to study the transfer reaction. Reactions were carried out under various conditions and the stereochemistry of the methylene carbon of the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate produced was determined. The enzyme was shown to be partially stereospecific for this transfer reaction, proceeding with a loss of about 50% of the stereochemical purity of the transferred carbon center. Possible mechanistic interpretations of this finding are discussed.

Animals↗