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Lovastatin and phenylacetate induce apoptosis, but not differentiation, in human malignant glioma cells.

Induction of differentiation is an attractive approach to the management of infiltrative tumors such as malignant glioma. Here, we report that lovastatin and phenylacetate induce apoptosis, but fail to induce differentiation, in malignant glioma cell lines and untransformed rat astrocytes. Lovastatin and phenylacetate promote p21 accumulation but fail to induce cell cycle arrest. BCL-2 gene transfer inhibits apoptosis induced by lovastatin but not apoptosis induced by phenylacetate. Wild-type p53 gene transfer promotes lovastatin-induced apoptosis in p53 wild-type LN-229 cells but not in p53 mutant T98G cells. Phenylacetate-induced apoptosis is attenuated by wild-type p53 gene transfer in both cell lines. Neither lovastatin nor phenylacetate modulate glioma cell sensitivity to CD95 ligand-induced apoptosis or cancer chemotherapy. Thus, this study provides no rationale for clinical trials of lovastatin or phenylacetate in the differentiation therapy of malignant glioma. We conclude that neoplastic glioma cells as well as untransformed rat astrocytes are refractory to the induction of differentiation by lovastatin and phenylacetate.

Animals↗

Molecular analysis of aerobic phenylacetate degradation in Azoarcus evansii.

The Azoarcus evansii gene which codes for phenylacetate-CoA ligase, an enzyme involved in the aerobic degradation of phenylacetate, was isolated from a genomic library, using as the probe a fragment of the gene which encodes the isoenzyme that is induced under anaerobic conditions. By this means both the gene and its flanking sequences were recovered. The gene is homologous to the phenylacetate-CoA ligase genes of Pseudomonas putida U and Escherichia coli W. Induction by phenylacetate under aerobic growth conditions was demonstrated using lacZ fusions. Western analysis showed that phenylacetate-CoA ligase is involved in the degradation of the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine. Genes coding for the phenylacetate-CoA ligase and for the putative hydroxylating enzyme were expressed in E. coli. Detection of 2-hydroxyphenylacetate in the recombinant E. coli strain indicated hydroxylation of phenylacetyl-CoA. The gene pacL, which codes for the putative ring-opening enzyme was mutated to enable the isolation of intermediates in aerobic phenylacetic acid degradation, which were characterized by GC-MS and NMR analyses.

Aerobiosis↗

Accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoate from styrene and phenylacetic acid by Pseudomonas putida CA-3.

Pseudomonas putida CA-3 is capable of converting the aromatic hydrocarbon styrene, its metabolite phenylacetic acid, and glucose into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) when a limiting concentration of nitrogen (as sodium ammonium phosphate) is supplied to the growth medium. PHA accumulation occurs to a low level when the nitrogen concentration drops below 26.8 mg/liter and increases rapidly once the nitrogen is no longer detectable in the growth medium. The depletion of nitrogen and the onset of PHA accumulation coincided with a decrease in the rate of substrate utilization and biochemical activity of whole cells grown on styrene, phenylacetic acid, and glucose. However, the efficiency of carbon conversion to PHA dramatically increased once the nitrogen concentration dropped below 26.8 mg/liter in the growth medium. When supplied with 67 mg of nitrogen/liter, the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratios that result in a maximum yield of PHA (grams of PHA per gram of carbon) for styrene, phenylacetic acid, and glucose are 28:1, 21:1, and 18:1, respectively. In cells grown on styrene and phenylacetic acid, decreasing the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio below 28:1 and 21:1, respectively, by increasing the nitrogen concentration and using a fixed carbon concentration leads to lower levels of PHA per cell and lower levels of PHA per batch of cells. Increasing the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio above 28:1 and 21:1 for cells grown on styrene and phenylacetic acid, respectively, by decreasing the nitrogen concentration and using a fixed carbon concentration increases the level of PHA per cell but results in a lower level of PHA per batch of cells. Increasing the carbon and nitrogen concentrations but maintaining the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 28:1 and 21:1 for cells grown on styrene and phenylacetic acid, respectively, results in an increase in the total PHA per batch of cells. The maximum yields for PHA from styrene, phenylacetic acid, and glucose are 0.11, 0.17, and 0.22 g of PHA per g of carbon, respectively.

Carbon↗

Production of phenylacetic acid by Bacteroides melaninogenicus ssp. intermedius serogroup C-1.

The methyl derivatives of broth cultures of black-pigmented Bacteroides were examined by gas chromatography for production of phenylacetic acid. Two serogroups of B. melaninogenicus ssp. intermedius described by Lambe differed in the ability to produce phenylacetate. Serogroup C failed to produce phenylacetic acid while serogroup C-1 produced small amounts of phenylacetate, which contributed 2.2-5.7% to the total nonvolatile acid profile. Holdeman's newly proposed species "B. intermedius" and "B. corporis" correspond to serogroups C and C-1, respectively. These data support the elevation of the two serogroups of B. melaninogenicus ssp. intermedius to species status. Bacteroides gingivalis produced phenylacetate in significantly larger quantities than B. corporis. Bacteroides melaninogenicus ssp. melaninogenicus, "B. melaninogenicus ssp. levii," and B. asaccharolyticus did not produce phenylacetic acid. These results indicate that phenylacetic acid production may be useful in distinguishing "B. corporis" and B. gingivalis from the other black-pigmented Bacteroides.

Bacteroides↗

Successful treatment of severe hyperammonemia using sodium phenylacetate powder prepared in hospital pharmacy.

In order to treat a hyperammonemic patient with adult-onset type-II citrullinemia (CTLN2), sodium phenylacetate powder was prepared from chemical reagent grade phenylacetic acid in Gunma University Hospital. After purification by recrystalization, phenylacetic acid was neutralized with sodium carbonate and dried at 70 degrees C under reduced pressure. A solution of the prepared powder produced a single peak of m/z=181.0 (M+Na+) in electrospray-ionization-MS spectrogram. The content of phenylacetate was 74% of theoretical value, suggesting the existence of water of crystallization. The content of phenylacetate remained constant for 5 months under dark conditions at room temperature. The prepared sodium phenylacetate powder was orally administered to a 16-year-old patient with CTLN2 at a dosage of 12 g/d. The serum ammonia concentration of the patient, who did not show adequate response to intravenous arginine or oral sodium benzoic acid decreased remarkably to less than 100 microg/dl. Sodium phenylacetate powder should be an essential drug for the treatment of hyperammonemia caused by an inborn error of the urea cycle.

Adolescent↗

Phenylacetate inhibits isoprenoid biosynthesis and suppresses growth of human pancreatic carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Phenylacetate is growth inhibitor for a variety of tumors at concentration that have been safely achieved in human beings. This antitumor effect is related to inhibition of the isoprenoid synthetic pathway by blocking the enzyme, mevalonate pyrophosphate (MVAPP) decarboxylase. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of phenylacetate on human pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS: For in vitro studies, six human pancreatic carcinoma cell lines (BxPc, AsPc, MIAPaCa-2 Panc-1, CFPAc, and HS 766T) were studied. For in vivo studies, nude mice were inoculated with pancreatic cells (BxPc and MIA PaCa-2) and randomized to receive phenylacetate or saline control. RESULTS: Phenylacetate produces reversible in vitro growth arrest at doses of 2.5 to 10 mmol. The antiproliferative effect is cytostatic, producing accumulation of cells in G1, and is not associated with cell toxicity. Systemic treatment of nude mice bearing heterotopic human pancreatic carcinoma results in growth inhibition of tumors without host toxicity. Phenylacetate blocks the processing of mevalonate to isopentenyl-pyrophosphate by inhibiting MVAPP and exhibits suppression of biosynthetic pathways requiring isoprenoids, including cholesterol and dolichol biosynthesis, protein glycosylation, and isoprenylation of proteins. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that phenylacetate has cytostatic activity in pancreatic carcinoma and support the conclusion that suppression of multiple biosynthetic pathways requiring isoprenoids is contributing to the drug's antiproliferative action. The safety profile and efficacy of phenylacetate make it an attractive agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Animals↗

Assay of the human liver citric acid cycle probe phenylacetylglutamine and of phenylacetate in plasma by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Phenylacetate, derived from phenylalanine, is converted in human and primate liver to phenylacetylglutamine. The latter has been used to assess the labeling pattern of liver citric acid cycle intermediates. We present gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assays of phenylacetylglutamine, phenylacetate, and phenylalanine in biological fluids. The compounds are derivatized with dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal. Limits of detection are 0.1 nmol for phenylacetylglutamine and phenylacetate and 2 nmol for phenylalanine. Baseline plasma concentrations of phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine and 1 and 3 microM, respectively. The 24-h urinary excretions of phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine are about 4 mumol and 1 mmol, respectively. Ingestion of phenylalanine (in the form of aspartame) by a human is followed by sequential increases in phenylacetate and phenylacetylglutamine concentrations in plasma and urine. This assay opens the way to noninvasive probing of the 13C-labeling pattern of liver citric acid cycle intermediates in humans.

Adult↗

Isolation and characterization of a diverse group of phenylacetic acid degrading microorganisms from pristine soil.

A diverse range of microorganisms capable of growth on phenylacetic acid as the sole source of carbon and energy were isolated from soil. Sixty six different isolates were identified and grouped according to 16S rRNA gene RFLP analysis. Subsequent sequencing of 16S rDNA from selected strains allowed further characterization of the phenylacetic acid degrading population isolated from soil. Nearly half (30) of the isolates are Bacillus species while the rest of the isolates are strains from a variety of genera namely, Arthrobacter, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Flavobacterium, and Paenibacillus. Sixty-one of the sixty-six strains reproducibly grew in defined minimal liquid culture medium (E2). All strains isolated grew when at least one hydroxylated derivative of phenylacetic acid was supplied as the carbon source, while 59 out of the 61 strains tested, accumulated ortho-hydroxyphenylacetic acid in the assay buffer; when pulsed with phenylacetic acid. Oxygen consumption experiments failed to indicate a clear link between phenylacetic acid and hydroxy-substituted phenylacetic acid in isolates from a broad range of genera.

Bacteria↗

A probing dose of phenylacetate does not affect glucose production and gluconeogenesis in humans.

Phenylacetate ingestion has been used to probe Krebs cycle metabolism and to augment waste nitrogen excretion in urea cycle disorders. Phenylalkanoic acids, including phenylacetate, have been proposed as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of diabetes. They inhibit gluconeogenesis in the liver in vitro and reduce the blood glucose concentration in diabetic rats. The effect of sodium phenylacetate ingestion on blood glucose and the contribution of gluconeogenesis to glucose production have now been studied in 7 type 2 diabetic patients. The study was not designed to test whether the changes in glucose metabolism observed in the rat could be reproduced in humans. After an overnight fast, over a period of 1 hour, 4.8 g phenylacetate was ingested, which is the highest dose used to probe Krebs cycle metabolism. Glucose production was measured by tracer kinetics using [6,6-(2)H2]glucose and gluconeogenesis by the labeling of the hydrogens of blood glucose on (2)H20 ingestion. The concentration of phenylacetate in plasma peaked by 2 hours after its ingestion, and about 40% of the dose was excreted in 5 hours. The plasma glucose concentration and production, and the contribution of gluconeogenesis to glucose production, were unaffected by phenylacetate ingestion at the highest dose used to probe Krebs cycle metabolism.

Aged↗

Biosynthesis of phenylalanine from phenylacetate by Chromatium and Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Cultures of Chromatium strain D and Rhodospirillum rubrum incorporated (14)C from phenylacetate-1-(14)C during anaerobic growth. The radioactivity in the protein fraction of cells was mainly in phenylalanine. Phenylalanine from Chromatium cells grown in phenylacetate-1-(14)C was labeled at carbon 2. Incorporation of phenylacetate by Chromatium was decreased in the presence of exogenous phenylalanine, and de novo synthesis of phenylalanine from bicarbonate was less in medium containing either phenylalanine or phenylacetate. These organisms, and also certain anaerobic rumen bacteria, apparently carboxylate phenylacetate to synthesize the phenylalanine carbon skeleton. The mechanism of the carboxylation is unknown; however, it appears to be dependent upon anaerobic conditions, since R. rubrum did not synthesize phenylalanine from phenylacetate during aerobic growth in the dark.

Autoradiography↗

Phenylacetic acid production by Bacteroides gingivalis from phenylalanine and phenylalanine-containing peptides.

Phenylacetic acid production and growth of Bacteroides gingivalis were directly proportional to the trypticase content of the medium. L-Phenylalanine enhanced phenylacetic acid production; 5 mg L-phenylalanine per millilitre stimulated maximum production of phenylacetic acid. Peptides (2-4 amino acids) containing L-phenylalanine also stimulated phenylacetic acid production as did phenylpyruvic acid. Resting cell suspensions of B. gingivalis also produced phenylacetic acid when incubated aerobically in the presence of L-phenylalanine and phenylpyruvic acid. Hydrocinnamic acid (3-phenylpropionic acid) and phenyllactic acid were also produced by resting cell suspensions. Our results suggest that L-phenylalanine and phenylpyruvic acid are both precursors to phenylacetic acid.

Bacteroides↗

Induction of erythroid differentiation and fetal hemoglobin production in human leukemic cells treated with phenylacetate.

There is considerable interest in identifying nontoxic differentiation inducers for the treatment of various malignant and nonmalignant blood disorders, including inborn beta-chain hemoglobinopathies. Using the human leukemic K562 cell line as a model, we explored the efficacy of phenylacetate, an amino acid derivative with a low toxicity index when administered to humans. Treatment of K562 cultures with pharmacologically attainable concentrations of phenylacetate resulted in erythroid differentiation, evident by the reduced growth rate and increased hemoglobin production. The effect was time- and dose-dependent, further augmented by glutamine starvation (phenylacetate is known to deplete circulating glutamine in vivo), and reversible upon cessation of treatment. Molecular analysis showed that phenylacetate induced gamma globin gene expression with subsequent accumulation of the fetal form of hemoglobin (HbF). Interestingly, the addition of phenylacetate to antitumor agents of clinical interest, eg, hydroxyurea and 5-azacytidine, caused superinduction of HbF biosynthesis. The results suggest that phenylacetate, used alone or in combination with other drugs, might offer a safe and effective new approach to treatment of some hematopoietic neoplasms and severe hemoglobinopathies.

Azacitidine↗

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of intravenous phenylacetate in patients with cancer.

Phenylacetate has recently been shown to suppress tumor growth and promote differentiation in experimental models. A phase I trial of phenylacetate was conducted in 17 patients with advanced solid tumors. Each patient received a single i.v. bolus dose followed by a 14-day continuous i.v. infusion of the drug. Twenty-one cycles of therapy were administered at four dose levels, achieved by increasing the rate of the continuous i.v. infusion. Phenylacetate displayed nonlinear pharmacokinetics [Km = 105.1 +/- 44.5 (SD) microgram/ml, Vmax = 24.1 +/- 5.2 mg/kg/h and Vd = 19.2 +/- 3.3 L]. There was also evidence for induction of drug clearance. Ninety-nine % of phenylacetate elimination was accounted for by conversion to phenylacetylglutamine, which was excreted in the urine. Continuous i.v. infusion rates resulting in serum phenylacetate concentrations exceeding Km often resulted in rapid drug accumulation and dose-limiting toxicity, which consisted of reversible central nervous system depression, preceded by emesis. Three of nine patients with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer maintained stable prostatic specific antigen levels for more than 2 months; another had less bone pain. One of six patients with glioblastoma multiforme, whose steroid dosage has remained unchanged for the duration of therapy, has sustained functional improvement for more than 9 months. The use of adaptive control with feedback for the dosing of each patient enabled us to safely maintain stable phenylacetate concentrations up to the range of 200-300 micrograms/ml, which resulted in clinical improvement in some patients with advanced disease.

Adult↗

Phenylacetate in chemoprevention: in vitro and in vivo suppression of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine-induced carcinogenesis.

Differentiation inducers selected for their low cytotoxic and genotoxic potential could be of major value in chemoprevention and maintenance therapy. We focus here on phenylacetate, a naturally occurring plasma component recently shown to affect the growth and differentiation of established neoplasms in experimental models. The ability of phenylacetate to prevent carcinogenesis by the chemotherapeutic hypomethylating drug 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5AzadC) was tested in vitro and in mice. Transient exposure of immortalized, but poorly tumorigenic ras-transformed 4C8 fibroblasts to 5AzadC resulted in neoplastic transformation manifested by loss of contact inhibition of growth, acquired invasiveness, and increased tumorigenicity in athymic mice. The latter was associated with elevation in ras expression and a decline in collagen biosynthesis. These profound phenotypic and molecular changes were prevented by a simultaneous treatment with phenylacetate. Protection from 5AzadC carcinogenesis by phenylacetate was: (a) highly efficient despite DNA hypomethylation by both drugs, (b) free of cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, (c) stable after treatment was discontinued, and (d) reproducible in vivo. Whereas athymic mice bearing 4C8 cells developed fibrosarcomas following a single i.p. injection with 5AzadC, tumor development was significantly inhibited by systemic treatment with nontoxic doses of phenylacetate. Phenylacetate and its precursor suitable for oral administration, phenylbutyrate, may thus represent a new class of chemopreventive agents, the efficacy and safety of which should be further evaluated.

3T3 Cells↗

Mechanism of specific inhibition of phototropism by phenylacetic Acid in corn seedling.

Using geotropism as a control for phototropism, compounds similar to phenylacetic acid that photoreact with flavins and/or have auxin-like activity were examined for their ability to specifically inhibit phototropism in corn seedlings using geotropism as a control. Results using indole-3-acetic acid, napthalene-1-acetic acid, naphthalene-2-acetic acid, phenylacetic acid, and beta-phenylpyruvic acid suggest that such compounds will specifically inhibit phototropism primarily because of their photoreactivity with flavins and not their auxin activity. For example, strong auxins, indole-3-acetic acid and naphthalene-1-acetic acid, affected both tropic responses at all concentrations tested whereas weak auxins, phenylacetic acid and naphthalene-2-acetic acid, exhibited specific inhibition. In addition, the in vivo concentration of phenylacetic acid required to induce specificity was well below that required to stimulate coleoptile growth. Estimates of the percentage of photoreceptor pigment inactivated by phenylacetic acid (>10%) suggest that phenylacetic acid could be used to photoaffinity label the flavoprotein involved in corn seedling phototropism.

Journal Article↗

Effect of dietary phenylalanine on the plasma concentrations of phenylalanine, phenylethylamine and phenylacetic acid in healthy volunteers.

1. Phenylethylamine has been proposed as a neuromodulator in several psychiatric and other brain disorders, and its concentration and that of its major metabolite, phenylacetic acid, in plasma may prove useful as state or trait markers in diagnosis, treatment or in the elucidation of biochemical mechanisms of these disorders. 2. The effect of dietary phenylalanine intake and changes in dietary phenylalanine intake on the plasma concentrations and changes in plasma concentrations, respectively, of phenylalanine, phenylethylamine and unconjugated and conjugated phenylacetic acid have been investigated. 3. Dietary phenylalanine affects the concentration of plasma phenylalanine on the following day, but has no effect on phenylethylamine or phenylacetic acid concentrations. Thus single measurements per subject of phenylethylamine or phenylacetic acid do not need to take dietary factors into account. 4. Changes in dietary phenylalanine (whether in absolute amount or in the proportion of phenylalanine in the diet) are significantly correlated with changes in unconjugated phenylacetic acid. Therefore, in longitudinal studies, dietary factors should be taken into account.

Adult↗

Characterization of a second functional gene cluster for the catabolism of phenylacetic acid in Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2.

Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2 is a styrene degrading bacterium that mineralises this compound through its oxidation to phenylacetic acid (PAA). We previously identified a complete gene cluster (paa1 cluster) for the degradation of phenylacetate, but, surprisingly, some paa1 deletion mutants were still able to catabolize styrene (STY) suggesting that this strain contained a second catabolic pathway. We report here the characterization of a second and novel paa2 gene cluster comprising 17 genes related to the catabolism of phenylacetate. We have identified a new gene (paaP) that is most likely involved in a transport process. Remarkably, the organization of the paa2 gene cluster is more similar to that of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 than to the paa1 gene cluster. Two new genes of undefined function were located inside the paa2 cluster. Sequence comparison between the paa2 genes and the paa1 and paa clusters of Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2 and P. putida KT2440, respectively, revealed a similar degree of divergence among the three sets of genes. Differences in the gene organization between paa1 and paa2 clusters of Pseudomonas sp. strain Y2 can be explained by an independent evolutionary history, probably associated with the adjacent sty genes. Deletion of either the first (paa1) or the second (paa2) gene cluster did not affect the ability of strain Y2 to grow in phenylacetate, whereas the deletion of both clusters led to the loss of this ability. The co-existence of two functional gene clusters for the degradation of phenylacetic acid in a bacterium has not been reported so far.

Base Sequence↗

Non-peptide angiotensin II receptor antagonists. 2. Design, synthesis, and biological activity of N-substituted (phenylamino)phenylacetic acids and acyl sulfonamides.

The design, synthesis, and biological activity of a new class of highly potent non-peptide AII receptor antagonists derived from N-substituted (phenylamino)phenylacetic acids and acyl sulfonamides which exhibit a high selectivity for the AT1 receptor are described. A series of N-substituted (phenylamino)phenylacetic acids (9) and acyl sulfonamides (16) and a tetrazole derivative (19) were synthesized and evaluated in the in vitro AT1 (rabbit aorta) and AT2 (rat midbrain) binding assay. The (phenylamino)phenylacetic acids 9c (AT1 IC50 = 4 nM, AT2 IC50 = 0.74 microM), 9d (AT1 IC50 = 5.3 nM, AT2 IC50 = 0.49 microM), and 9e (AT1 IC50 = 5.3 nM, AT2 IC50 = 0.56 microM) were found to be the most potent AT1-selective AII antagonists in the acid series. Incorporation of various substituents in the central and bottom phenyl rings led to a decrease in the AT1 and AT2 binding affinity of the resulting compounds. Replacement of the carboxylic acid (CO2H) in 9c, 9d, and 9e with the bioisostere acyl sulfonamide (CONHSO2Ph) resulted in a (5-7)-fold increase in the AT1 potency of 16a (AT1 IC50 = 0.9 nM, AT2 IC50 = 0.2 microM), 16b (AT1 IC50 = 1 nM, AT2 IC50 = 2.9 microM), and 16c (AT1 IC50 = 0.8 nM, AT2 IC50 = 0.42 microM) and yielded acyl sulfonamides with subnanomolar AT1 activity. Incorporation of the acyl sulfonamide (CONHSO2Ph) for the CO2H of 9c not only enhanced the AT1 potency but also effected a marked increase in the AT2 potency of 16a (AT2 IC50 = 0.74 microM of 9c vs 0.2 microM of 16a) and made it the most potent AT2 antagonist in this study. Replacement of the CO2H of 9b with the bioisostere tetrazole resulted in 19 (AT1 IC50 = 15 nM) with a 2-fold loss in the AT1 and a complete loss in the AT2 binding affinity. (Phenylamino)phenylacetic acid 9c demonstrated good oral activity in AII-infused conscious normotensive rats at an oral dose of 1.0 mg/kg by inhibiting the pressor response for > 6 h. Acyl sulfonamides 16a-c displayed excellent in vivo activity by blocking the AII-induced pressor response for > 6 h after oral administration in conscious rats at a 3.0 mg/kg dose level. Both acyl sulfonamides 16a and 16c exhibited superior in vivo activity in rats compared to that of (phenylamino)phenylacetic acid 9c.

1-Sarcosine-8-Isoleucine Angiotensin II↗