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The 1H and 13C NMR resonances of thirty 2-functionalized 5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-phenyl-1H-indoles were assigned completely and unequivocally using the concerted application of one- and two-dimensional experiments (DEPT, gs-HMQC and gs-HMBC). Finally, the influence of the 2-substituent of 5-(methylsufonyl)-1-phenyl-1H-indoles on the carbon atoms of the indole moiety was estimated.
A comparative study on the reactivity of five indole derivatives (tryptamine, N-acetyltryptamine, tryptophan, melatonin, and serotonin), with the redox intermediates compound I (k2) and compound II (k3) of the plant enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the two mammalian enzymes lactoperoxidase (LPO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), was performed using the sequential-mixing stopped-flow technique. The calculated bimolecular rate constants (k2, k3) revealed substantial differences regarding the oxidazibility of the substrates by redox intermediates at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. With HRP it was shown that k2 and k3 are mainly determined by the reduction potential (Eo') of the substrate with k2 being 7-45 times higher than k3. Compound I of mammalian peroxidases was a much better oxidant than HRP compound I with the consequence that the influence of the indole structure on k2 of LPO and MPO was small varying by a factor of only 88 and 38, respectively, which is in strong contrast to a factor of 160,000 determined for k2 of HRP. Interestingly, the k3 values for all three enzymes were very similar. Oxidation of substrates by mammalian peroxidase compound II is strongly constrained by the nature of the substrate. The k3 values for the five indoles varied by a factor of 3,570 (LPO) and 200,000 (MPO), suggesting that the reduction potential of compound II of mammalian peroxidase is less positive than that of compound I, which is in contrast to the plant enzyme.
Melatonin (MLT) is known for its radical scavenger activity, which had been related to its ability to protect neuronal cells from different kinds of oxidative stress. In particular, MLT protects rat cerebellum granular cells from kainate-induced necrosis at concentrations higher than 100 microM, and is able to reduce lipoperoxidation induced by radical stress in rat brain homogenate at similar concentrations. On the other hand, MLT has nanomolar affinity for its membrane receptors (MT1 and MT2), and these are completely saturated at the high concentrations employed when the cytoprotective effect is observed. Other indole derivatives are also known to possess antioxidant and cytoprotective activity. In order to dissociate the cytoprotective effect of MLT from its receptor affinity, and to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SAR) between this effect and some potentially relevant chemical properties, we prepared a series of indole derivatives, where the structure of MLT was gradually modulated, varying the 5-methoxy group nature and position, the acylaminoethyl chain position, and by the introduction of lipophilic groups. These modifications resulted in a set of compounds having different receptor affinity and intrinsic activity, different lipophilicity, and different substitution at the indole nucleus. The compounds were tested for their antioxidant potency by the ABTS test and by inhibition of rat brain homogenate lipoperoxidation; their cytoprotective effect was also estimated from the inhibition of kainate-induced cellular death on rat cerebellum granular cells, and the results were evaluated by SAR comparison and QSAR analysis. An isomer of MLT resulted more potent and effective than MLT itself in the cytoprotection test, although it showed similar potency in the peroxidation test, and it was devoid of the ability to stimulate MT1 and MT2 receptors. This compound was selected as the lead compound for a further SAR study, devoted to the optimization of the cytoprotective effect and to the investigation on its mechanism.
Chemiluminescence associated with oxidation by free radicals was investigated in an alkaline, hemin-catalysed hydrogen peroxide system, using the following tryptophan metabolites as radical scavengers: indole-3-pyruvic, indole-3-propionic, kynurenic, xanthurenic and quinaldic acids and 4-hydroxy-quinoline. Light emission from oxidation of the indolic compounds was only partially inhibited by the hydroxyl-radical scavenger DMSO, but strongly suppressed by the superoxide-anion scavenger Tiron, whereas chemi-luminescence generated from kynurenic acid was strongly inhibited by either of these compounds. Light emission from oxidation of kynurenic acid lasts for a surprisingly long period of time: At 0.4 mM and 20 degrees C, luminescence increased for 5 hours and continued at a high rate for more than a day. Comparison of structural analogues indicated that the 4-hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of kynurenic acid are essential for effective light emission, and that an additional 8-hydroxyl residue leading to an intramolecular hydrogen bond diminishes the reaction rate.
A rapid and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of indole and 3-methylindole (skatole) is described. The detection limit of the two compounds is approx. 0.02 mg/kg. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) confirmation of the identity has been carried out in shrimps. About 95% of added indole was recovered. The indole formation in shrimps, herring, and turbot, held under different storage conditions, is compared with other common quality indices such as TBA-value and alpha-tocopherol content.
The distribution of indole and tryptophan derivatives between sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micellar and aqueous phases was analyzed using conventional methods of ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectroscopy and measurement of fluorescence quenching by succinimide. On the assumption of a simple pseudo-phase equilibrium between both phases the distribution coefficient was easily obtained by the measurement of the ratio Rpv of the absorbance intensity in the peak to that in the valley of the UV spectra or the fluorescence quenching constant Ksv. The possibilities and limitations of utilizing the ratio of the collisional quenching constant estimating from the Ksv value in the micellar phase to that in the aqueous phase for a measure of polarity of the microenvironment around the tryptophan derivatives in the SDS micelle is discussed in comparison with the Rpv values for the UV spectra. The indole ring in the derivatives in the SDS micelle is localized near or on the micelle-water interface with its imino group directed toward the aqueous phase. Thus it can serve as a feasible model for interpreting the distribution coefficients and Rpv values obtained for the various indole and tryptophan derivatives.
Several 3-(1-imidazolylmethyl) indoles were tested for inhibition of the microsomal enzymes which catalyse the biosynthesis of thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2, and prostaglandin endoperoxides. These products were measured by bioassay to assess levels of enzyme activity. The highest activity against human blood platelet thromboxane A2-synthetase was obtained with 2-cyclopropyl-3(1-imidazolylmethyl) indole (IC50 1 x 10(-10) M). This compound also exhibited the highest activity against pig aorta prostaglandin I2-synthetase (IC50 8.4 x 10(-7) M). Of much more potential therapeutic interest, 2-isopropyl-3-(1-imidazolylmethyl) indole showed almost complete selectivity against thromboxane A2-synthetase. Both compounds exhibited IC50's of 2 x 10(-8) M against the latter enzyme but showed only weak effects (IC50's greater than 10(-4) M) against prostaglandin I2-synthetase and ram seminal vesicle PGH2-synthetase.
The enzyme tryptophan decarboxylase (TDC) (EC 4.1.1.28) catalyses a key step in the biosynthesis of terpenoid indole alkaloids in C. roseus by converting tryptophan into tryptamine. Hardly any tdc mRNA could be detected in hormone-independent callus and cell suspension cultures transformed by the oncogenic T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Supply of tryptamine may therefore represent a limiting factor in the biosynthesis of alkaloids by such cultures. To investigate this possibility, chimaeric gene constructs, in which a tdc cDNA is linked in the sense or antisense orientation to the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter and terminator, were introduced in C. roseus cells by infecting seedlings with an oncogenic A. tumefaciens strain. In the resulting crown gall tumour calluses harbouring the tdc sense construct, an increased TDC protein level, TDC activity and tryptamine content but no significant increase in terpenoid indole alkaloid production were observed compared to empty-vector-transformed tumour calluses. In tumour calluses containing the tdc antisense construct, decreased levels of TDC activity were measured. Factors which might be responsible for the lack in increased terpenoid indole alkaloid production in the tdc cDNA overexpressing crown gall calluses are discussed.
The effects of pretreatment with inducers of hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzymes (phenobarbital, dexamethasone and beta-naphthoflavone) on the metabolism of d-fenfluramine (d-F) and its acute and long-lasting indole-depleting effects were studied in rats, in an effort to obtain further information on the importance of hepatic drug metabolism in relation to its neurochemical actions. Twenty-four hours after the last dose of each inducer, rats were injected with d-F hydrochloride (5 mg/kg, IP) and killed at various times thereafter for parallel determination of indoles and drug concentrations in plasma and brain. Additional rats were treated as above and killed 1 week after d-F hydrochloride (5 and 10 mg/kg) to study the recovery of indole in the cortex, a particularly sensitive brain area. Phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone and, to a lesser degree, dexamethasone, stimulated the metabolism of d-F, as evidenced by a decrease in plasma and brain areas under the curve (AUC) compared to vehicle-treated rats. This indicated that multiple isoenzymes are capable of mediating the drug's metabolism, primarily by N-dealkylation to d-norfenfluramine (d-NF). None of the inducers raised plasma and brain AUC of the nor-derivative, and in fact phenobarbital and particularly beta-naphthoflavone reduced it. These different effects were even apparent in rats given d-NF (2.5 mg/kg), indicating that both phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone also stimulate the sequential metabolism of the nor-metabolite (by N-deamintaion) which, however, is apparently enhanced most actively by beta-naphthoflavone-inducible forms of P-450.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Organobromine compounds in the marine environment have been the focus of growing attention in past years. In contrast to anthropogenic brominated flame retardants, other brominated compounds are produced naturally, e.g., by common polychaete worms and algae. Brominated phenols and indoles assumed to be of biogenic origin have been detected in water and sediment extracts from the German Bight. These substances as well as some of their isomers have been tested with the zebrafish embryo test and were found to cause lethal as well as nonlethal malformations. The zebrafish test was able to detect a log K(OW)-related toxicity for bromophenols, suggesting nonpolar narcosis as a major mode of action. Different effect patterns could be observed for brominated indoles and bromophenols. The comparison of effective concentrations in the zebrafish embryo test with the concentrations determined in water samples suggests the possibility that brominated indoles may affect early life stages of marine fish species in the North Sea.
In an attempt to understand the aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism by purple bacteria that do not grow at their expense, we earlier reported 2-aminobenzoate transformation by a purple non-sulfur bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5 (Sunayana et al., 2005, J Ind Microbiol Biotech 32:41-45), which is extended in the present study with aniline, a major environmental pollutant. Aniline did not support photo (light anaerobic) or chemo (dark aerobic) heterotrophic growth of Rhodobacter sphaeroides OU5 either as a sole source of carbon or nitrogen. However, light-dependent aniline transformation was observed in the culture supernatants and the products were identified as indole derivatives. The transformation was dependent on a tricarboxylate intermediate, fumarate. Five intermediates of the aniline biotransformation pathway were isolated and identified as indole esters having a mass of 443, 441, 279, 189, and 167 with unstoichiometric total indole yields of 0.16 mM: from 5 mM: of aniline consumed. The pathway proposed based on these intermediates suggest a novel xenobiotic detoxification process in bacteria.
The root-associated bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp7 produces the growth-stimulating phytohormone indole-3-acetic acid (= IAA) via the indole-3-pyruvate pathway. The DNA region containing ipdC, the structural gene for indole-3-pyruvate decarboxylase, was identified in a cosmid gene library of strain Sp7 by hybridization and has been sequenced. Upstream of the gene, two other ORF homologous to gltX and cysS were sequenced that are transcribed in the opposite direction. A functional analysis of the cloned ipdC region has been performed. To test the expression of the gene, a lacZ-Km cartridge was introduced into the gene. By this construct, tryptophan-dependent stimulation of gene expression in A. brasilense Sp7 was observed. Evidences for the existence of another copy of the ipdC gene in the Azospirillum genome are also reported.
In vitro experiments were conducted to examine the degradation of d- and l-isomers of tryptophan (Trp) and 10 related indolic compounds by mixed rumen bacteria (B), protozoa (P) and a combination of the two (BP). The analyses were carried out by HPLC. d-Trp (1.0 mM) was not degraded by rumen microorganisms during the 24-h incubation period. The net degradation of 1 mM l-Trp was 46.5%, 8.7% and 80.0% by B, P and BP suspensions, respectively. Trp was degraded into indoleacetic acid, indolelactic acid and indole by rumen bacteria and protozoa, and into skatole, p-cresol and indolepropionic acid by rumen bacteria only. Of them, indoleacetic acid was the major product of Trp found in B (15.4%) and P (3.1%), and skatole in BP (43.2%). This is the first report of the production of indolelactic acid and p-cresol from Trp by rumen microbes. Starch, d-glucose, salinomycin and monensin inhibited the production of skatole and indole from Trp, and skatole from indoleacetic acid by rumen bacteria.
The relationship between the topochemical indices and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) inhibitory activity of indole-2-ones has been investigated. The relationship of topochemical versions of well known topological indices of Wiener's index--a distance-based topological descriptor, molecular connectivity index, an adjacency-based topological descriptor and eccentric connectivity index--an adjacency-cum-distance based topological descriptor with CDK2 inhibitory activity of indole-2-ones has been investigated. A data set comprising 67 analogues of substituted indole-2-ones was selected for the present investigation. The values of the Wiener's topochemical index, molecular connectivity topochemical index and eccentric connectivity topochemical index for each of 67 analogues comprising the data set were computed. The resulting data was analyzed and suitable models developed after identification of the active ranges. Subsequently, a biological activity was assigned to each analogue in the data set using these models, which was then compared with the reported CDK2 inhibitory activity. Accuracy of prediction was found to vary from a minimum of 88% for a model based upon molecular connectivity topochemical index to a maximum of approximately 90% for model based upon eccentric connectivity topochemical index.
A method for the separation of substituted indole derivatives has been developed by the use of ion suppression-reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (IS-HPLC). Signal response, selectivity (alpha), retention times (tR), and capacity factors (k') were monitored by varying the mobile phase with respect to methanol composition and pH. Chromatographic parameters including tR, k', K (distribution coefficients), alpha, number of theoretical plates, height equivalent to theoretical plates, and column resolution were calculated and assessed in regard to the suitability of four stationary phases in the analysis of 20 substituted indole derivatives. This work has established the chromatographic foundation needed to analyze over 10 specific enzyme reactions involved in the microbial and plant metabolism of auxins. Quantitative studies on the stability of auxins were possible by employing IS chromatography (ISC). The application of the developed IS chromatographic technique was employed to detect indole-3-acetic acid derived from L-tryptophan in a fluorescent pseudomonad culture.
Indole-3-methanol is coupled, at acidic pH, with p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to give a highly colored azafulvenium salt. IR, 1H NMR, and mass spectroscopic evidence indicates that this azafulvenium salt is the 2-[3'-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-2'-propenyliden]-3-hydroxymethyl-2H- indolenine hydrochloride. This reaction led us to elaborate a rapid colorimetric assay for quantitative determination of indole-3-methanol formed by peroxidases as the product of oxidation of the plant growth regulator indole-3-acetic acid.
Two crystal structures of 7,8-dimethylisoalloxazine-10-acetic acid:adenine-9-ylethylamine(1:1)hepatahydrate and 7,8-dimethylisoalloxazine-10-acetic acid:L-tryptophan methylester(1:1)heptahydrate complexes were determined as models for the flavin-adenine and flavin-indole interactions, respectively. In the former complex, both molecules were connected by Hoogsteen-type hydrogen bonds between the pyrimidinoid portion of flavin and the adenine, in addition to the normal stacking of both aromatic rings. On the other hand, parallel stackings and intermolecular vertical spacings less than the normal van der Waals separation distance were observed between the flavin and indole rings of the latter complex, indicative of the pi D-pi A charge-transfer interaction in their ground states. Comparing with the X-ray findings of related complexes, we discussed the interaction modes between flavin and adenine rings and between flavin and indole rings.
A nitrogen-centered free radical was spin-trapped from superoxide-catalyzed oxidation of indolic compounds, using the spin-trap phenyl-t-butyl-nitrone. The hyperfine splitting constants observed were aN = 13.9 G, a beta N = 3.6 G and a beta H = 2.3 G. Incubation of various indolic compounds with goat lung microsomes showed that only 3-methylindole was able to generate a free radical in the NADPH-dependent microsomal system, as tested by spin-trapping. The splitting constants were the same as those seen with superoxide incubations with 3-methylindole. The study demonstrates the generality of formation of a nitrogen-centered free radical from various indolic compounds. Enzymatic radical formation from 3-methylindole suggests a microsomal-activated free radical mechanism for the specificity of 3-methylindole-induced pulmonary toxicity.