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Biomedical subjects

R K Pandey

Publications and source records attributed to R K Pandey.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

1H NMR study of the role of heme carboxylate side chains in modulating heme pocket structure and the mechanism of reconstitution of cytochrome b5.

1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to assign the hyperfine-shifted resonances and determine the position of a side chain in the heme cavity of wild-type rat apocytochrome b5 reconstituted with a series of synthetic hemins possessing systematically perturbed carboxylate side chains. The hemins included protohemin derivatives with individually removed or pairwise shortened and lengthened carboxylate side chains, as well as (propionate)n(methyl)8-nporphine-iron(III) isomers with n = 1-3 designed to force occupation of nonnative propionate sites. The resonance assignments were effected on the basis of available empirical heme contact shift correlations and steady-state nuclear Overhauser effect measurements in the low-spin oxidized proteins. The failure to detect holoproteins with certain hemins dictates that the stable holoproteins, unlike the case of myoglobin, demand the axial iron-His bonds and cannot accommodate carboxylate side chains at interior positions in the binding pocket. Hence, the heme pocket interior in cytochrome b5 is judged much less polar and less sterically accommodating than that of myoglobin. The propionate occupational preference was greatest as the native 7-propionate site, but also possible at the nonnative crystallographic 5-methyl or 8-methyl positions. Only for a propionate at the crystallographic 8-methyl position was a significant perturbation of the native molecular/electronic structure observed, and this was attributed to an alternative propionate-protein hydrogen bond at the crystallographic 8-methyl position. The structures of the transient protein complexes detected only shortly after reconstitution reveal that the initial encounter complexes during assembly of holoprotein from apoprotein and hemin involve one of the two alternate propionate-protein links at either the 7-propionate or native 8-methyl position. In a monopropionate hemin, this leads to the characterization of a new type of heme orientational disorder involving rotation about a N-Fe-N axis.

Animals↗

Chlorin and porphyrin derivatives as potential photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.

In order to find a photosensitizer with better optical properties and pharmacokinetics than Photofrin II, a series of new photosensitizers related to methyl pheophorbide-a and chlorin-e6 were synthesized. These compounds absorb at substantially longer wavelengths (lambda max 660 nm) than does Photofrin II (630 nm) and show promise for use in photodynamic therapy. Among the porphyrins, we observed that long carbon chain ether derivatives are better photosensitizers than their ester analogs. These sensitizers were tested for in vivo photosensitizing activity vis-a-vis Photofrin II, using the standard screening system of DBA/2 mice bearing transplanted SMT/F tumors. Most of these photosensitizers were found to have better tumoricidal photosensitizing activity than Photofrin II and demonstrated more rapid attenuation of normal tissue photosensitivity with time after administration vis-a-vis Photofrin II.

Molecular Structure↗

1H-NMR study of the mechanism of assembly and equilibrium heme orientation of sperm whale myoglobin reconstituted with protohemin type-isomers.

The products of the incorporation of various protohemin type-isomers into the heme pocket of sperm whale myoglobin were investigated by 1H-NMR in the met-cyano complexes, both immediately after reconstitution as well as at equilibrium. The type-isomers studied include those involving all possible interchanges of the two substituents on a given pyrrole. The protohemin-III and -XIII isomers, with true 2-fold symmetry, yielded only homogeneous products. Protohemins-XI, -XIV both exhibited two species after reconstitution, with one disappearing with time. Protohemin-I was the only asymmetric hemin that failed to exhibit two isomers initially. The orientation of the hemin within the pocket was established by nuclear Overhauser detected dipolar connectivities among heme substituents and between heme substituents and assigned heme pocket residues. At equilibrium, the heme orientations were dominated by the asymmetric propionate rather than vinyl dispositions on the hemin, with a clear preference for placing a propionate at the 8- vs. 5-methyl position of native myoglobin. For protohemin-XI, the propionates were found in the unexpected positions of the 7-propionate and 2-vinyl groups of native myoglobin, indicating that propionates can occupy positions well within the hydrophobic interior. The alternate heme orientation for the metastable intermediates detected for protohemin-XI and -XIV involved rotational isomerism about the alpha,gamma-meso axes bisecting the vinyl positions, but these two axes are at right angles to each other in the protein matrix. The fact that protohemin-XIV, but not protohemin-I, exhibits a reversed orientation as a reconstitution intermediate provides direct evidence that vinyl contacts, as well as propionate links, modulate the relative stabilities of the initial encounter complexes between hemin and apomyoglobin. The heme cavity molecular/electronic structure was found largely unperturbed for the complexes of the various protohemin type-isomers.

Animals↗

Fast atom bombardment mass spectral analyses of Photofrin II and its synthetic analogs.

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectroscopy was used to characterize the components of Photofrin II. The data indicate that the oligomeric components of Photofrin II contain up to nine porphyrin units. In order to elucidate the nature of covalent linkages between porphyrin units, Photofrin II methyl ester and a porphyrin derivative-2 (2A) were synthesized and characterized by FAB mass spectroscopy. Model studies were also performed by analyzing possible components of Photofrin II, namely, porphyrin dimers 3, 4, 5, 6 and timer 7 with ether or ester linkages. The higher porphyrin oligomers joined by only ether linkages were also synthesized and characterized by FAB mass spectroscopy. The model studies indicate that the porphyrin units in Photofrin II are linked with ether or ether/ester linkages.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Porphyrin dimers as photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy.

Porphyrin dimers 9 with either linkages and possible isomers bis[1-[6,7-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-1,3,5,8-tetramethyl-2- vinylporphin-4-yl]ethyl] ether (10) bis[1-[6,7-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-1,3,5,8-tetramethyl-4- vinylporphin-2-yl]ethyl] ether (11), and 1-[6,7-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-1,3,5,8-tetramethyl-2-vinylporph in- 4-yl]ethyl 1-[6,7-bis[2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-1,3,5,8-tetramethyl-4-vinylporph in- 2-yl]ethyl ether (12) were synthesized from the corresponding (1-hydroxyethyl)vinyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl esters (Hvd). The pure Hvd isomers 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-4-vinyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (7) and 4-(1-hydroxyethyl)-2-vinyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (8) were obtained from 2-acetyl-4-(1-hydroxyethyl) deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (3) and 4-acetyl-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)deuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (4). Porphyrins 3 and 4 were prepared either by partial reduction of 2,4-diacetyldeuteroporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (2) or by oxidation of hematoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester (1) by using tetra-n-propylammonium perruthenate (Prn4N)(RuO4) with N-methylmorpholine N-oxide as an oxidizing agent. The in vivo photosensitizing ability and therapeutic ratios of dimers 9-12 were compared with that of Photofrin II in the SMT-F tumor growing subcutaneously in DBA/2 Ha mice. These dimers were found to have better tumoricidal activity than Photofrin II with reduced skin phototoxicity.

Animals↗

Some components of the tumor-localizing fraction of hematoporphyrin derivative.

In continuation of the effort to delineate the structure of Photofrin, a chromatographically well separated component of the tumor-localizing fraction was isolated and purified using a combination of gel filtration chromatography and semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. This component, the least hydrophobic of the tumor-localizing fraction, was deemed to be dihematoporphyrin ether, based on mass spectrometric analysis and its behavior toward base hydrolysis and lithium aluminum hydride reduction. Although less potent than Photofrin, the purified component was an active photosensitizer.

Animals↗

Relation of salivary phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase to the incidence of dental caries in children.

The phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity in saliva may be related to the susceptibility to dental caries and supragingival calculus. Hence, the unstimulated mixed saliva of child patients were assayed by biochemical methods to determine the phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity in such salivary samples. It is very interesting to note that higher phosphorus concentration and alkaline phosphatase activity were found in patients with rampant caries as compared to that with non rampant/control group.

Adolescent↗

Nuclear-magnetic-resonance investigation of the cooperative homodimeric hemoglobin from the mollusc Scapharca inaequivalvis. Molecular and electronic structure of the cyano-met derivative.

The proton nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectra of the cyano-met complexes of the cooperative dimeric and tetrameric hemoglobins from the mollusk Scapharca inaequivalvis have been investigated and compared to those of other structurally characterized oxygen binding hemoproteins. For these proteins, cooperativity is displayed even in the homodimer and preliminary X-ray structural data reveal an unusual back-to-front assembly with intersubunit contacts involving the EF helices [Royer, W. E., Love, W. E. + Fenderson, F. F. (1985) Nature (Lond.) 316, 277-280]. The pattern of hyperfine shifts is very similar for the dimer and tetramer chains, but distinctly different from those of previously characterized low-spin, ferric heme proteins. Individual heme resonances are identified by reconstituting the protein with specifically deuterated hemes. While the axial interactions involving the proximal and distal histidines are very similar to that in myoglobins and other hemoglobins, both the heme contact shift pattern and the amino acid dipolar shift pattern reflect a significantly reduced asymmetry. The decreased spread of the non-cordinated amino acid signals is interpreted in terms of a rotation of the magnetic axes relative to those in myoglobin or other hemoglobins, rather than a change in the magnetic anisotropy. The decreased spread of the heme methyl contact shifts supports this conclusion and is consistent with an orientation of the proximal histidine with the imidazole ring rotated by about 30-40 degrees relative to that in other structurally characterized proteins. Although resonances associated with a complex pattern of alternate heme orientations can be detected immediately after reconstitution of the protein, the isolated protein was found to exhibit insignificant equilibrium heme rotational disorder.

Animals↗

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of the molecular and electronic structure of the heme cavity in Aplysia cyanometmyoglobin.

The 1H NMR spectrum of the low-spin, cyanide-ligated ferric complex of the myoglobin from the mollusc Aplysia limacina has been investigated. All of the resolved resonances from both the hemin and the proximal histidine have been assigned by a combination of isotope labeling, spin decoupling, analysis of differential paramagnetic relaxation, and nuclear Overhauser (NOE) experiments. The pattern of the heme contact shifts is unprecedented for low-spin ferric hemoproteins in exhibiting minimal rhombic asymmetry. This low in-plane asymmetry is correlated with the X-ray-determined orientation of the proximal histidyl imidazole plane relative to the heme and provides an important test case for the interpretation of hyperfine shifts of low-spin ferric hemoproteins. The bonding of the proximal histidine is shown to be similar to that in sperm whale myoglobin and is largely unperturbed by conformational transitions down to pH approximately 4. The two observed conformational transitions appear to be linked to the titration of the two heme propionate groups, which are suggested to exist in various orientations as a function of both pH and temperature. Heme orientational disorder in the ratio 5:1 was demonstrated by both isotope labeling and NOE experiments. The exchange rate with bulk water of the proximal histidyl labile ring proton is faster in Aplysia than in sperm whale myoglobin, consistent with a greater tendency for local unfolding of the heme pocket in the former protein. A similar increased heme pocket lability in Aplysia myoglobin has been noted in the rate of heme reorientation [Bellelli, A., Foon, R., Ascoli, F., & Brunori, M. (1987) Biochem. J. 246, 787-789].

Animals↗

Syntheses and photosensitizing activity of porphyrins joined with ester linkages.

In order to investigate the structure of hematoporphyrin derivative and its purified version, Photofrin-II, porphyrin dimers with ester linkage were synthesized. 2,4-Diacetyldeuteroporphyrin dimethyl ester and protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester were used as starting materials. The methyl esters were replaced by trimethylsilylethyl esters to protect the carboxylic groups. Deprotection using tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran regenerated the carboxylic functions. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography was used to compare the synthetic dimers with components of Photofrin-II. Our data indicate that these dimers are not components of Photofrin-II. During the synthesis of a 13C-labeled dimer with an ester linkage, a small amount of trimer was also isolated. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopy. Using a standard screening system with DBA/2 mice bearing transplanted SMT-F tumors, these dimers were found not to be as active as Photofrin-II.

Animals↗

Distribution and elimination of Photofrin II in mice.

The distribution and elimination of [14C]PII, the radioisotopically-labeled equivalent of the mixture of porphyrins known as Photofrin II used in the photodynamic treatment of solid tumors, were determined in tumor-free and SMT-F tumor-bearing DBA/2 Ha-DD mice. Following i.p. injection, drug was absorbed from the peritoneum with a half-life of about 1 h; elimination from plasma was rapid, declining about 1.4 logs in concentration over 48 h following i.v. administration. However, some [14C]-activity was still detectable after 75 days. Normal tissues take up the drug within about 7.5 h after administration, with peak concentrations distributed as follows: liver, adrenal gland, urinary bladder greater than pancreas, kidney, spleen greater than stomach, bone, lung, heart greater than muscle much greater than brain. Only skeletal muscle, brain, and skin located contralaterally to subcutaneously implanted SMT-F tumors had peak [14C]-activities lower than tumor tissue; skin overlying SMT-F tumors showed concentrations not significantly different (P greater than 0.3) from tumor. After 75 days all tissues examined retained some fraction of [14C]-activity, ranging from 16% for kidney to 61% for spleen, of the initial peak tissue levels. The primary route of elimination of Photofrin II was through the bile-gut pathway, with greater than 59% of the administered [14C]-activity recovered in the feces, and only about 6% in the urine, over 192 h. HPLC analyses of fecal extracts showed that mostly monomeric and other low molecular weight porphyrin components of Photofrin II were eliminated. The higher molecular weight oligomeric fractions of Photofrin II were retained in liver and spleen up to 14 days after injection.

Animals↗

Assignment of selected hyperfine proton NMR resonances in the met forms of Glycera dibranchiata monomer hemoglobins and comparisons with sperm whale metmyoglobin.

This work indicates a high degree of purity for our preparations of all three of the primary Glycera dibranchiata monomer hemoglobins and details assignments of the heme methyl and vinyl protons in the hyperfine shift region of the ferric (aquo?) protein forms. The assignments were carried out by reconstituting the apoproteins of each component with selectively deuteriated hemes. The results indicate that even though the individual component preparations consist of essentially a single protein, the proton NMR spectra indicate spectroscopic heterogeneity. Evidence is presented for identification and classification of major and minor protein forms that are present in solutions of each component. Finally, in contrast to previous results, a detailed analysis of the proton hyperfine shift patterns of the major and minor forms of each component, in comparison to the major and minor forms of metmyoglobin, leads to the conclusion that the corresponding forms of the proteins from each species have strikingly similar heme-globin contacts and display nearly identical heme electronic structures and coordination numbers.

Animals↗

Identification of the altered pyrrole in the isomeric sulfmyoglobins: hyperfine shift patterns as indicators of ring saturation in ferric chlorins.

Analysis of the 1H NMR hyperfine shift patterns of isomeric sulfmyoglobins is carried out in the met-aquo and met-cyano states to determine the site of saturation in each protein. The utility of the patterns for structure elucidation is established by specific deuterium labeling of the heme methyls of the terminal base product. On the basis of the known saturation of ring B in this isomer [Chatfield, M.J., La Mar, G.N., Lecomte, J.T.J., Balch, A.L., Smith, K.M., & Langry, K.C. (1986) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 108, 7108-7110], the methyl resonance of the saturated ring is found to have strongly attenuated contact shift. Thus, the heme methyl contact shift pattern is diagnostic for the saturated pyrrole in the high-spin state. This rationale is then applied to analyze the assigned NMR spectra of the initial and terminal acid sulfmyoglobin products, revealing that the same ring B is saturated in each isomer. In contrast, the heme methyl contact shift pattern in low-spin ferric complexes reveals that the methyls both on the affected pyrrole and on the trans pyrrole are influenced similarly on sulfmyoglobin formation, precluding the use of this methyl shift pattern as a unique indicator of the site of saturation. Identification of exchangeable proximal histidine resonances for met-aquo sulfmyoglobin complexes with shifts similar to that in native myoglobin dictates inconsequential axial alterations in the sulfmyoglobins, while location of downfield meso proton resonances analogous to those of the native protein demonstrates the retention of the coordinate water in the active site of met-sulfmyoglobin.

Animals↗

1H-NMR heme resonance assignments by selective deuteration in low-spin complexes of ferric hemoglobin A.

The heme methyl and vinyl alpha-proton signals have been assigned in low-spin ferric cyanide and azide ligated derivatives of the intact tetramer of hemoglobin A, as well as the isolated chains, by reconstituting the proteins with selectively deuterated hemins. For the hemoglobin cyanide tetramer, assignment to individual subunits was effected by forming hybrid hemoglobins possessing isotope-labeled hemins in only one type of subunit. The heme methyl contact shift pattern has 1-methyl and 5-methyl shifts furthest downfield in both chains and the individual subunits of the intact hemoglobin in both the cyanide- and azide-ligated species, which is consistent with a dominant rhombic perturbation due to the proximal His-F8 imidazole pi bonding in the known structure for human adult hemoglobin. The individual chain and subunit assignments confirm that the detailed electronic/magnetic properties of the heme pocket are essentially unaltered upon assembling the R-state tetramer from the isolated subunits.

Azides↗