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[structure: see text] The structure of gelsemoxonine, isolated from Gelsemium elegans Benth., was revised to be a novel oxindole alkaloid having an azetidine unit. A new alkaloid, 14,15-dihydroxygelsenicine, which was presumed to be a biosynthetic precursor of gelsemoxonine, was also isolated.
Malfolded protein formation and perturbance of calcium homoeostasis results in the induction of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone protein, namely the 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (GRP78)/immunoglobulin heavy-chain binding protein. Various ER stress inducers can activate grp78, but signal transduction mechanisms are not well understood. We report in the present study that the induction of endogenous grp78 mRNA by the amino acid analogue azetidine (AzC) requires the integrity of a signal transduction pathway mediated by p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). In contrast, induction of grp78 by thapsigargin that depletes the ER calcium storage can occur even when the p38 MAPK pathway is blocked. Treatment of cells with AzC results in the sustained activation of p38 MAPK. We identified an ER transmembrane activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) as a target of p38 MAPK phosphorylation in AzC-treated cells. ATF6 undergoes proteolytic cleavage on AzC treatment, releasing a nuclear form that is an activator of the grp78 promoter. We show here that constitutively active mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6, a selective p38 MAPK activator, enhances the ability of the nuclear form of ATF6 to transactivate the grp78 promoter. Our results provide direct evidence that different ER stress inducers use diverse pathways to activate grp78 and that in addition to activation by proteolytic cleavage, ATF6 undergoes specific ER stress-induced phosphorylation. We propose that phosphorylation of ATF6 is a novel mechanism for augmenting its potential as a transcription activator.
The binding characteristics of the novel 11C-labeled nicotinic ligands (R,S)-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl) azetidine (MPA) and (S)-3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole (ABT-418) were investigated in comparison with those of (S)-[11C]nicotine in vitro in the rat brain to be able to predict the binding properties of the new ligands for positron emission tomography studies in vivo. The data from time-resolved experiments for all ligands indicated fast binding kinetics, with the exception of a slower dissociation of [11C]MPA in comparison with (S)-[11C]nicotine and [11C]ABT-418. Saturation experiments revealed for all ligands two nicotinic receptor binding sites with affinity constants (K(D) values) of 2.4 and 560 nM and binding site densities (Bmax values) of 65.5 and 223 fmol/mg of protein for (S)-[11C]nicotine, K(D) values of 0.011 and 2.2 nM and Bmax values of 4.4 and 70.7 fmol/mg of protein for [11C]MPA, and K(D) values of 1.3 and 33.4 nM and Bmax values of 8.8 and 69.2 fmol/mg of protein for [11C]ABT-418. In competing with the 11C-ligands, epibatidine was most potent, followed by cytisine. A different rank order of potencies was found for (-)-nicotine, (+)-nicotine, MPA, and ABT-418 displacing each of the 11C-ligands. Autoradiograms displayed a similar pattern of receptor binding for all ligands, whereby [11C]MPA showed the most distinct binding pattern and the lowest nonspecific binding. We conclude that the three 11C-labeled nicotinic ligands were suitable for characterizing nicotinic receptors in vitro. The very high affinity of [11C]MPA to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, its low nonspecific binding, and especially the slower dissociation kinetics of the [11C] MPA from the putative high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholine receptor binding site compared with (S)-[11C]nicotine and [11C]ABT-418 raise the level of interest in [11C]MPAfor application in positron emission tomography.
The initial experiments towards the chemical synthesis of conformationally rigid peptide nucleic acid analogues with azetidine moieties have been described.
Accumulation of class I small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) is induced by the proline analog, azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) in soybean seedlings to a level similar to that induced by exposure to 40 degrees C. However, only the treatment with 10 mM Aze for 6 h and subsequently with 10 mM proline for 24 h protected the seedlings from damage during subsequent exposure to 45 degrees C as assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. A chaperone activity assay showed that the purified class I sHSPs induced by Aze were functional in vitro and protected proteins from thermal denaturation. Amino acid composition analysis indicated that Aze was not incorporated into de novo synthesized class I sHSPs. Accumulation of class I sHSPs in the soluble post-ribosomal supernatant fraction was found to be important for acquisition of thermotolerance. We suggest that both the accumulation of class I sHSPs and their presence in the soluble fraction are important for establishment of thermotolerance.
Previously, we reported that levels of chymase activity and its mRNA in cardiac tissues were significantly increased along with progression of cardiac fibrosis in cardiomyopathic hamsters, but the involvement of chymase in the progression of fibrosis has been unclear. In cultured human fibroblasts, the concentration of transforming growth factor-beta in the supernatant of medium was significantly increased after injection of human chymase. Furthermore, human chymase dose dependently increased cell proliferation, and this chymase-dependent proliferation was completely suppressed by a chymase inhibitor, Suc-Val-Pro-Phe(p)(OPh)(2) (10 micro M) or an anti-transforming growth factor-beta antibody (100 micro g/ml). In this study, we used Bio14.6 and F1B hamsters as cardiomyopathic and control hamsters, respectively. Cardiomyopathic hamsters were orally administered a novel chymase inhibitor, 4-[1-([bis-(4-methylphenyl)-methyl]-carbamoyl)-3-(2-ethoxy-benzyl)-4-oxo-azetidine-2-yloxy]-benzoic acid (BCEAB; 100 mg/kg per day), or placebo from 5- to 45-week-old. In the placebo-treated group, the cardiac chymase activity in cardiomyopathic hamsters 45 weeks old was significantly increased compared with that in control hamsters. BCEAB significantly reduced the cardiac chymase activity. The indexes (+dP/dt and -dP/dt) of cardiac function were significantly improved by treatment with BCEAB. The mRNA levels of collagen I and collagen III in the placebo-treated hamsters were significantly reduced to 69.6 and 76.5% by treatment with BCEAB, respectively. The fibrotic area in cardiac tissues in the BCEAB-treated hamsters was significantly suppressed to 50.7% compared with that in the placebo-treated treated hamsters. Therefore, the activation of transforming growth factor-beta by chymase may play an important role in the progression of cardiac fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in cardiomyopathy.
E-4767 [(-)-7-[3-(R)-amino-2-(S)-methyl-1-azetidinyl]-8-chloro-1-cyclopropyl-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid] and E-5065 [(-)-7-(3-amino-1-azetidinyl)-8-chloro-1-cyclopropyl-1,4-dihydro-6-fluoro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid] are two new chlorofluoroquinolones with an azetidine moiety at position 7. Their in vitro activities were evaluated in comparison with those of ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, fleroxacin, and tosufloxacin, while ciprofloxacin was used as a reference for in vivo studies. Against gram-positive organisms, E-4767 and E-5065 were, in general, eight- and fourfold more active than tosufloxacin, which is the most potent of the reference compounds. E-4767 and E-5065 were also more potent than the reference compounds against all species of enteric bacteria tested. The MICs of E-4767 and E-5065 at which 90% of the isolates tested were inhibited (MIC(90)s) were 0.007 to 0.5 microg/ml and 0.03 to 2 microg/ml, respectively, for gram-positive organisms and <or=0.003 to 0.06 microg/ml and 0.007 to 0.12 microg/ml, respectively, for members of the family Enterobacteriaceae except Serratia marcescens and Providencia spp. (MIC(90)s of E-4767 and E-5065 for these species were <or=0.5 microg/ml and <or=2 microg/ml, respectively). For Pseudomonas aeruginosa both compounds had a MIC(90) of 0.5 microg/ml. E-4767 and E-5065 were 356- and 32-fold more potent than ciprofloxacin against Bacteroides spp., and their MIC(90)s for Clostridium spp. were 0.25 and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively. Both products showed a remarkable reduction of activity when the pH was below 4.8 and, in general, were less active in the presence of 5 or 10 mM Mg(2+). The presence of horse serum or human urine (pH 7.2) decreased the activity of E-4767 and E-5065 only two- to fourfold more than the activity observed in broth. After an oral dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight, the maximum levels in serum (the maximum concentration of drug in serum was reached 30 min postadministration) of E-4767 and E-5065 were approximately threefold higher than that of ciprofloxacin. The area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 4 h for ciprofloxacin was about two- and fourfold lower than that for E-4767 and E-5065, respectively. These two new chlorofluoroquinolones were as effective as or more effective than ciprofloxacin against all experimental infections evaluated, not only against gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli or P. aeruginosa, but also against gram-positive pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pneumoniae. E-4767 was the most effective compound, with a 50% effective dose (ED(50)) of <or=17 mg/kg for all strains tested except ciprofloxacin-resistant S. aureus strains. The ED(50) of E-4767 for these strains was <or=47.5 mg/kg. Against gram-positive experimental infections, the ED(50) values of E-4767 were 3- to 14-fold lower than those of E-5065 and up to 25 times lower than those of ciprofloxacin.
Treatment of (E)-3-(2-hydroxypropylidene)-4-methyl-1-phenylazetidin-2-one (11) with 10% Pd/C gave (E)-(12), (Z)-3-(2-oxopropylidene)-4-methyl-1-phenylazetidin-2-one (13), 3,4-cis-(14a) and 3,4-trans-3-(2-oxopropyl)-4-methyl-1-phenylazetidin-2-one (14b). Among them, 12 and 13 were found to show potent inhibitory activities against rabbit platelet-rich plasma aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate or collagen. Ring-expanded homologous derivatives and an acyclic analogue of 12 were also synthesized and tested for the biological activities. The azetidin-2-one skeleton bearing a 2-oxoalkylidene moiety at the 3 position was found to be essential for the platelet aggregation inhibitory activities of these compounds.
A series of 3-acylidene-4-methylazetidin-2-one derivatives bearing various substituents at the 1-position of the azetidin-2-one ring was synthesized. These compounds were evaluated for platelet aggregation inhibitory activities. Most of the compounds synthesized showed potent inhibitory activities against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate or collagen in vitro. Structure-activity relationships are also discussed.
Electrocyclic reaction product of 1-(methoxycarbonyl)-1,2-dihydropyridine was stereospecifically converted by RuO(4) oxidation into azetidine-cis-2,3-dicarboxylic acid.
Azetidin-2-one, a four-membered cyclic lactam (beta-lactam) skeleton has been recognised as a useful building block for the synthesis of a large number of organic molecules by exploiting the strain energy associated with it, in addition to its use in the synthesis of a variety of beta-lactam antibiotics. Efforts have been made in exploring such new aspects of beta-lactam chemistry using enantiomerically pure beta-lactams as versatile intermediates for the synthesis of aromatic beta-amino acids and their derivatives, peptides, polyamines, polyamino alcohols, amino sugars and polyamino ethers. The development of methodologies based on beta-lactam nucleus is now referred as 'the beta-lactam synthon methods'. The selective bond cleavage of the strained ring coupled with further interesting transformation render this fascinating molecule as a powerful building block. This provides an access to diverse structural type of synthetic target molecules lacking beta-lactam ring structure. This review provides an account of synthesis of organic compounds having biological significance at the same time lacking beta-lactam ring, by using beta-lactam as synthon.
Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, a proline analogue which depresses collagen deposition in extracellular spaces, stops uropygial invaginations morphogenesis and epithelial buds branching in vitro. The results show that uninterrupted collagen synthesis is necessary for preen gland morphogenesis.
PURPOSE: The present study evaluates some azetidin-2-ones derivatives for their central nervous system (CNS) modulating activities. The compounds were chosen from a series (5a-o) which were previously synthesized and evaluated for hypolipidemic and antihyperglycemic activity based on the predictions made by the computer software "Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS)". MATERIAL AND METHODS: The test compounds were predicted to have a variety of biological activities but those with the best potential for CNS modulating activity were selected for evaluation of a particular CNS activity as 5a for anti-anxiety, 5b, 5n and 5j for nootropic activity and compound 5c anti-catatonic and anti-dyskinetic activities. Test compound 5a was evaluated for anti-anxiety activity in mirrored chamber model and for pentobarbitone induced sleep potentiation in mice. Test compounds 5b, 5n and 5j were evaluated for nootropic activity in mice by examining the effect on transfer latency on elevated plus maze (EPM) in mice and compound 5c was tested for anti-catatonic activity in perphenazine-induced catatonia and anti-dyskinetic effects in reserpine induced orofacial dyskinesia in rats, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The test compound 5a showed significant anxiolytic activity in the mirror chamber paradigm and showed potentiation of the pentobarbitone-induced hypnosis, which was comparable to diazepam. The nootropic activity of compounds 5b, 5n and 5j were found to be significant in elevated and maze test. The test compound 5c significantly prevented the perphenazine-induced catalepsy in a dose dependent manner. Potentiation of anti-catatonic effect of sub-effective dose of L-dopa and reversal of sulpiride-induced catalepsy was also observed by compound 5c. It indicated that the test compound might be showing anticatatonic effect by dopaminergic stimulation probably through D2 dopaminergic receptors. Compound 5c significantly reduced the vacuous chewing movements, tongue protrusions and jaw tremors induced by reserpine. It further supports the dopaminergic agonism by the test compound as reserpine induces oral dyskinetic features by depleting catecholamine (dopamine and nor- epinephrine). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that azetidinones possess considerable CNS activities and can be further explored to find additional CNS active compounds.
A series of 1-(p-substituted)phenyl-3-(p-alkoxy)phenyl-4-phenyl-azetidin-2-one s 1a-20a, was synthesized and characterized. Their antimicrobial activity, against Gram+ and Gram- bacteria and Fungi, was tested. The compounds 8a, 13a, 14a, 18a and 6a, 9a, 10a showed remarkable activity respectively against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and against Fungi.
The L-proline analog, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid, (LACA) was injected into embryonated eggs of the common fowl, Gallus domesticus at daily doses of 350 microgram/egg on one or several days betweeh 8 and 12 days of incubation. Treatment at nine-days of incubation preferentially retarded embryonic growth to the twelfth day but recovery of growth rate occurred by 15 days of incubation. Relationships between growth and LACA-inhibited aspects of collagenogenesis are discussed. The earliest aged embryos from which isolated stem cells from membrane bones will form secondary cartilage is ten days of incubation. Secondary chondrogenesis on the quadratojugal, a membrane bone of the skull, was inhibited by treatment of whole embryos with LACA at nine days of incubation but not by treatment at eight days. We concluded that an event involving collagen began at nine days of incubation, was blocked by LACA and was part of the process of chondrogenic determination of these stem cells. Addition of LACA to the medium in which already determined stem cells from the quadratojugal were cultured prevented expression of the chondrogenic phenotype. This proline analog is then a useful probe for events relating both to determination and to expression of the differentiated state, and allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the role of collagenogenesis in these events.
The effect of a proline analogue, L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (LACA), on collagenous matrix secretion by periodontal ligament fibroblasts and alveolar bone osteoblasts was studied by light and electron microscopic radioautography after injection of 3H-glycine; 3H-glycine labeled material accumulated in the cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum and was not secreted for over 4 hours. The Golgi complex of both fibroblasts and osteoblasts showed a marked alteration of its composition after LACA administration. All Golgi saccules and collagen secretion granules disappeared within 2 hours. Flattened Golgi cisternae were still present and appeared to be unaffected by the administration of LACA. These observations indicate that Golgi saccules in collagen-secreting cells are the initial staging areas for the formation of collagen secretory granules and that there is a close correlation between form and function in the Golgi apparatus of collagen-secreting cells.
The L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) residue can be incorporated into proteins in the place of L-proline, of which it is the lower homologue. This substitution alters the properties of proteins, especially of collagen. Conformational constraints in N-acetyl-Aze-N'-methylamide and in several dipeptides containing Aze have been analyzed by means of energy computations. They have been compared with peptides containing Pro. The overall conformational preferences of Aze and Pro are similar, but several significant differences occur between them. In general, peptides containing Aze are somewhat more flexible than corresponding peptides containing Pro, because of a decrease in constraints caused by repulsive nonconvalent interactions of the atoms of the ring with neighboring residues. This results in an entropic effect that lessens the stability of ordered polypeptide conformations with respect to the disordered statistical coil. The collagen-like near-extended conformation is energetically less favorable for Aze than for Pro in the single residue and in dipeptides. This effect also contributes to a destabilization of the collagen triple helix. The influence of Aze on the conformation of polypeptides is discussed in the accompanying papers.
The alteration of polymer conformational properties caused by the replacement of L-proline by L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) has been studied by means of conformational energy computations. In addition to poly(Aze), two sequential copolymers, poly(Pro-Aze) and poly(Aze3-Pro3), have been investigated. All polymers containing Aze are more flexible than poly(Pro). This is a consequence of an increased number of permitted conformational states for the Aze residue, as compared to Pro, when they are incorporated into a polypeptide, as well as of a lessened cooperativity of the trans-cis transition. The results of the computation can be used to interpret the observed physical properties of poly(Aze) and of its copolymers.