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Evaluation of the rodent micronucleus assay in the screening of IARC carcinogens (groups 1, 2A and 2B) the summary report of the 6th collaborative study by CSGMT/JEMS MMS. Collaborative Study of the Micronucleus Group Test. Mammalian Mutagenicity Study Group.

To assess the correlation between micronucleus induction and human carcinogenicity, the rodent micronucleus assay was performed on known and potential human carcinogens in the 6th MMS/CSGMT collaborative study. Approximately 100 commercially available chemicals and chemical groups on which there was little or no micronucleus assay data were selected from IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) Groups 1 (human carcinogen), 2A (probable human carcinogen) and 2B (possible human carcinogen). As minimum requirements for the collaborative study, 5 male mice were treated by intraperitoneal injection or oral gavage once or twice with each chemical at three dose levels, and bone marrow and/or peripheral blood was analyzed. Five positives and 2 inconclusives out of 13 Group 1 chemicals, 7 positives and 5 inconclusives of 23 Group 2A chemicals, and 26 positives and 6 inconclusives of 67 Group 2B chemicals were found. Such low positive rates were not surprising because of a test chemical selection bias, and we excluded well-known micronucleus inducers. The overall evaluation of the rodent micronucleus assay was based on the present data combined with published data on the IARC carcinogens. After merging, the positive rates for Groups 1, 2A and 2B were 68.6, 54.5 and 45.6%, respectively. Structure-activity relationship analysis suggested that the micronucleus assay is more sensitive to the genetic toxicity of some classes of chemicals. Those to which it is sensitive consist of (1) aziridines and bis(2-chloroethyl) compounds; (2) alkyl sulfonate and sulfates; (3) acyl-type N-nitroso compounds; (4) hydrazines; (5) aminobiphenyl and benzidine derivatives; and (6) azo compounds. Those to which it is less sensitive consist of (1) dialkyl type N-nitroso compounds; (2) silica and metals and their compounds; (3) aromatic amines without other functional groups; (4) halogenated compounds; and (5) steroids and other hormones. After incorporation of structure-activity relationship information, the positive rates of the rodent micronucleus assay became 90.5, 65.2 and 60.0% for IARC Groups 1, 2A and 2B, respectively. Noteworthy was the tendency of the test to be more sensitive to those carcinogens with stronger evidence human carcinogenicity.

Animals↗

Hexestrol diazirine photoaffinity labeling reagent for the estrogen receptor.

3-Azibutyl (2R*,3S*)-2,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)pentyl sulfide (1), a photoaffinity labeling reagent for the estrogen receptor (ER), has been prepared in unlabeled and in high specific activity tritium-labeled form (32 Ci/mmol) and has been shown to undergo selective and efficient photocovalent attachment to rat uterine ER. Diazirine 1 demonstrates high binding affinity for ER, as determined by both a competitive binding assay and a direct binding assay (relative binding: estradiol = 100; (1) = 17. Kd: estradiol = 0.19 nM; (1) = 0.98 nM, respectively). It is efficient in site-specific photoinactivation of ER, reaching the level of 31% after 5 min of irradiation at > 315 nm. The tritium-labeled diazirine [3H]-1 undergoes specific photocovalent attachment to ER with an attachment efficiency of 29% and a selectivity of 90%. Both of these values are quite high for a photoaffinity reagent. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the photolabeled proteins shows specific labeling of a major species at M(r) 65,000, the same species that is labeled by [3H]tamoxifen aziridine, a well-characterized affinity label for ER. Hexestrol diazirine 1 is the first carbene-generating photoaffinity label that covalently labels ER with high efficiency and selectivity, and it should be useful in further studies on the hormone-binding domain of ER.

Affinity Labels↗

PEI-g-chitosan, a novel gene delivery system with transfection efficiency comparable to polyethylenimine in vitro and after liver administration in vivo.

Polyethylenimine-graft-chitosan (PEI-g-chitosan) was synthesized by performing cationic polymerization of aziridine in the presence of water-soluble oligo-chitosan (M(n) = 3400). The absolute molecular weight and chemistry of the PEI-g-chitosan obtained were characterized using GPC, 13C and 1H NMR, respectively. The results indicated that all the amines of chitosan were grafted with oligo-PEI, and the average length of the oligo-PEI side chains was determined by the feed molar ratio of aziridne/amine in chitosan. PEI-g-chitosan of M(n) = 7400 with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 1.50, and PEI side chains of M(n) = 206 was prepared for gene delivery. Gel electrophoresis showed that DNA migration was retarded completely at a N/P ratio of 2.5/1, indicating good DNA condensation capability of PEI-g-chitosan. The sizes and the zeta-potentials of the complexes of PEI-g-chitosan/DNA were characterized. The cytotoxicity of PEI-g-chiotsan was evaluated, and the results reflected that PEI-g-chitosan had a lower cytotoxicity than PEI (25 K). Gene transfection efficiency of PEI-g-chitosan in HepG2, HeLa, and primary hepatocytes cells and after administration in the common bile duct of rat liver was determined. Remarkably, PEI-g-chitosan showed a higher transfection efficiency than that of PEI (25 K) both in vitro and in vivo. The systematic distribution and the distribution in liver of the gene expression of the complexes of PEI-chitosan/DNA were determined as well.

Animals↗

Structural characterization of the trypsinized estrogen receptor.

Structural differences between the unoccupied and ligand-occupied rat uterine estrogen receptors (ERs) were investigated using partial proteolysis followed by immunoblotting, affinity labeling, and gel filtration chromatography. Trypsin digestion of the unoccupied ER at 4 degrees C resulted in retention of 70-80% of high-affinity [3H]estradiol binding. Only two fragments of the rat ER were detected after prolonged trypsin treatment of the unoccupied ER followed by affinity labeling with [3H]tamoxifen aziridine. One fragment represents the intact steroid binding domain (28 kDa), and the other fragment is about 10 kDa. The small 10-kDa fragment of the ER detected by denaturing gel electrophoresis is shown to be held in a large oligomeric complex in solution using gel filtration chromatography. This oligomeric complex probably represents the steroid binding domain, which has its tertiary structure maintained predominantly by noncovalent interactions between the trypsin-generated fragments. The estrogen, anti-estrogen, and unoccupied trypsinized ERs all result in similar patterns of fragments after separation by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and detection by immunoblotting. Although no new trypsin cleavage sites were exposed, the sensitivity of the available trypsin sites was altered by heating the ER and, to a lesser extent, by hormone treatment. Gel filtration chromatography of the trypsinized estradiol- and 4-hydroxytamoxifen-occupied ERs demonstrates similar, diffuse peaks centered at about the correct size for the intact steroid binding domain (28 kDa), whereas the trypsinized unoccupied ER results in a sharp, discrete peak centered at about 80 kDa.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Efficient and selective photoaffinity labeling of the estrogen receptor using two nonsteroidal ligands that embody aryl azide or tetrafluoroaryl azide photoreactive functions.

3-(4-Azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorobenzoyl)-6-hydroxy-2-(4- hydroxyphenyl)benzo[b]thiophene 1 (tetrafluoroaryl azide, TFAA) and its protio analogue 3-(4-azidobenzoyl)-6- hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzo[b]thiophene 2 (protioaryl azide, PAA), photoaffinity labeling (PAL) reagents for the estrogen receptor (ER), have been prepared in high specific activity tritium-labeled form (19 Ci/mmol) and shown to undergo selective and efficient photocovalent attachment to ER from rat uterus. Both azides 1 and 2 demonstrate high binding affinity for ER as determined by both a competitive binding assay (relative binding affinities: estradiol = 100; TFAA = 9.3; PAA = 66) and a direct binding assay (Kd: estradiol = 0.24 nM; TFAA = 2.64 nM; PAA = 0.37 nM). When unlabeled TFAA and PAA are irradiated at greater than 315 nm, they demonstrate site-specific photoinactivation of ER that reaches 43% and 55%, respectively, by 30 min. Specific photocovalent attachment to ER can be effected by irradiation of the tritium-labeled azides; the covalent attachment efficiency is good (1 = 20-30%, 2 = ca. 25%) and the selectivity of ER labeling is high. Characterization of the photolabeled proteins by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows specific labeling of a major component at Mr 60,000 and a minor species at Mr 46,000, the same two species that are labeled by [3H]tamoxifen aziridine, a well-characterized affinity label for ER. The ER-specific antibodies H222Sp gamma and D547Sp gamma show a clean precipitation of only these two species. In the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line, PAA is a full estrogen agonist in terms of stimulation of cell proliferation and induction of progesterone receptor. These two azides provide the first system in which the photocovalent attachment efficiency of an aryl azide can be compared to its tetrafluorosubstituted aryl azide analogue in a complex biological receptor system. Azides 1 and 2 are the most efficient and selective PAL reagents prepared to date for ER, and they should be useful in further studies of the hormone-binding domain of this protein.

Affinity Labels↗

Hydrodynamic characterizations of estrogen receptors complexed with [3H]-4-hydroxytamoxifen: evidence in support of contrasting receptor transitions mediated by different ligands.

Size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography was used to characterize the hydrodynamic molecular properties of estrogen receptors complexed with estradiol and the antiestrogen 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Cytoplasmic estrogen receptors complexed with [3H]-4-hydroxytamoxifen did not undergo reductions in hydrodynamic size after exposure to KCl or urea. Nuclear receptors complexed with 4-hydroxytamoxifen eluted as hydrodynamically larger molecules than nuclear receptors complexed with estradiol. Because identical hydrodynamic characterizations were obtained with the covalent ligand [3H]tamoxifen aziridine, these differences in chromatographic behavior are due to differences in ligand-mediated receptor properties and are not the result of ligand dissociation. When estrogen receptors, complexed with either [3H]estradiol or [3H]-4-hydroxytamoxifen, were exposed to trypsin, the receptors complexed with 4-hydroxytamoxifen eluted as larger hydrodynamic forms than receptors complexed with estradiol. These observations are interpreted to indicate that estradiol and 4-hydroxytamoxifen mediate contrasting transitions in the molecular orientation of estrogen receptors. The consequences of the transitions mediated by 4-hydroxytamoxifen appear to be that intermolecular associations become difficult to disrupt with KCl or urea and that the accessibility of trypsin-sensitive proteolytic sites becomes altered. Chromatin fractionation using DNase I and hypotonic Mg2+ solubilization identified a chromatin region that was less readily penetrated by receptors complexed with 4-hydroxytamoxifen than receptors complexed with estradiol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Structural analysis of covalently labeled estrogen receptors by limited proteolysis and monoclonal antibody reactivity.

We have used limited proteolysis of affinity-labeled estrogen receptors (ER), coupled with antireceptor antibody immunoreactivity, to assess structural features of ER and the relatedness of ER from MCF-7 human breast cancer and rat uterine cells. MCF-7 ER preparations covalently labeled with [3H]tamoxifen aziridine [( 3H]TAZ) were treated with trypsin (T), alpha-chymotrypsin (C), or Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease prior to electrophoresis on sodium dodecyl sulfate gels. Fluorography revealed a distinctive ladder of ER fragments containing TAZ for each protease generated from the Mr 66,000 ER: for T, fragments of 50K, 38K, 36K, 31K, 29K, and 28K that with longer exposure generated a 6K fragment; for C, fragments of 50K, 38K, 35K, 33K, 31K, 19K, and 18K that with longer exposure generated 14K and 6K fragments; and for V8, ca. 10 fragments between 62K and 28K. Two-dimensional gels revealed charge heterogeneity (two to three spots between pI 5.5 and 6.2) of the 66K ER and the T-generated 28K meroreceptor form. Immunoblot detection with the primate-specific antibody D75P3 gamma revealed that all immunoreactive fragments corresponded to TAZ-labeled fragments but that some small TAZ-labeled fragments (V8-generated forms less than 47K and T-generated forms less than 31K) were no longer immunoreactive. In contrast, use of the antibody H222Sp gamma revealed a correspondence between TAZ-labeled and immunoreactive fragments down to the smallest fragments generated, ca. 6K for T and C and 28K for V8. MCF-7 nuclear and cytosol ER showed very similar digest patterns, and there was a remarkable similarity in the TAZ-labeled and H222-immunoreactive fragments generated by proteolysis of both MCF-7 and rat uterine ER. These findings reveal great structural similarities between the human (breast cancer) and rat (uterine) ER and between nuclear and cytosol ER, indicate charge heterogeneity of ER, and allow a comparison of the immunoreactive and hormone attachment site domains of the ER. The observation that T and C generate a ca. 6K TAZ-labeled fragment that is also detectable with the H222 antibody should be of interest in studies determining the hormone binding domain of the ER and in amino acid sequencing of this region.

Animals↗

The steroid binding domain of porcine estrogen receptor.

For the purpose of characterizing the estrogen binding domain of porcine estrogen receptor (ER), we have made use of affinity labeling of partially purified ER with [3H]tamoxifen aziridine. The labeling is very efficient and selective particularly after partial purification of ER. A 65,000-dalton (65-kDa) band was detected on the fluorogram of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel, together with a 50-kDa band and a few more smaller bands. The 50-kDa protein appears to be a degradation product of the 65-kDa protein in view of the similar peptide map. ER was affinity labeled before or after controlled limited proteolysis with either trypsin, papain, or alpha-chymotrypsin. The labeling patterns of limited digests indicate that a fragment of about 30 kDa is relatively resistant to proteases and has a full and specific binding activity to estrogen, whereas smaller fragments have lost much of the binding activity. This fragment is very hydrophobic and probably corresponds to the carboxy half of ER.

Animals↗

Metal binding sites of the estradiol receptor from calf uterus and their possible role in the regulation of receptor function.

The existence of putative metal binding sites on the estradiol receptor (ER) molecule from calf uterus was evaluated by immobilizing various divalent metals to iminodiacetate-Sepharose. ER from both crude and highly purified preparations binds to metal-containing adsorbents complexed with Zn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Cu(II), but not to those complexed with Fe(II) and Cd(II). Elution of ER was obtained by chelating agents or by imidazole, thus indicating that histidine residues on the ER molecule are involved in the interaction with the metal. Analysis of affinity-labeled ER by [3H]tamoxifen aziridine after elution from a column of Zn(II)-charged iminodiacetate-Sepharose showed that ER fragments obtained by extensive trypsinization were also bound. Zn(II) and the same other metals able to bind ER, when immobilized on resins, inhibit the binding of estradiol to the receptor at micromolar concentrations. This inhibition is noncompetitive and can be reversed by EDTA. The inhibition of the hormone binding was still present after trypsin treatment of the cytosol, and it was abolished by preincubation with the hormone. Micromolar concentrations of these metals were able to block those chemical-physical changes occurring during the process of ER transformation in vitro. Furthermore, if added to pretransformed ER-hormone complex, they strongly inhibited the binding of the complex to isolated nuclei. The presence of metal binding sites that modulate the ER activity in the hormone binding domain of ER is therefore speculated. Since progesterone receptor showed the same pattern of binding and elution from metal-containing adsorbents, the presence of metal binding regulatory sites could be a property of all steroid receptors.

Animals↗

Unexpected formation of an epoxide-derived multisubstrate adduct inhibitor on the active site of GAR transformylase.

Multisubstrate adduct inhibitors (MAI) of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase), which incorporate key features of the folate cofactor and the beta-GAR substrate, typically exhibit K(i)'s in the picomolar range. However, these compounds have reduced bioavailability due to the incorporation of a negatively charged phosphate moiety that prevents effective cellular uptake. Thus, a folate analogue that is capable of adduct formation with the substrate on the enzyme active site could lead to a potent GAR Tfase inhibitor that takes advantage of the cellular folate transport systems. We synthesized a dibromide folate analogue, 10-bromo-10-bromomethyl-5,8,10-trideazafolic acid, that was an intermediate designed to assemble with the substrate beta-GAR on the enzyme active site. We have now determined the crystal structure of the Escherichia coli GAR Tfase/MAI complex at 1.6 A resolution to ascertain the nature and mechanism of its time-dependent inhibition. The high-resolution crystal structure clearly revealed the existence of a covalent adduct between the substrate beta-GAR and the folate analogue (K(i) = 20 microM). However, the electron density map surprisingly indicated a C10 hydroxyl in the adduct rather than a bromide and suggested that the multisubstrate adduct is not formed directly from the dibromide but proceeds via an epoxide. Subsequently, we demonstrated the in situ conversion of the dibromide to the epoxide. Moreover, synthesis of the authentic epoxide confirmed that its inhibitory, time-dependent, and cytotoxic properties are comparable to those of the dibromide. Further, inhibition was strongest when the dibromide or epoxide is preincubated with both enzyme and substrate, indicating that inhibition occurs via the enzyme-dependent formation of the multisubstrate adduct. Thus, the crystal structure revealed the successful formation of an enzyme-assembled multisubstrate adduct and highlighted a potential application for epoxides, and perhaps aziridines, in the design of efficacious GAR Tfase inhibitors.

Binding Sites↗

17 alpha (haloacetamidoalkyl) estradiols alkylate the human estrogen receptor at cysteine residues 417 and 530.

Results obtained in a previous study suggested that cysteine residues in the estrogen receptor were covalent attachment sites for four 17 alpha-(haloacetamidoalkyl) estradiols (halo, bromo or iodo; alkyl, methyl, ethyl, or propyl). To identify the putative concerned cysteines, we expressed wild-type and various cysteine --> alanine mutants of the human estrogen receptor in COS cells and determined their ability to be alkylated by the four electrophiles. The quadruple mutant, in which all the cysteines (residues 381, 417, 447, and 530) of the hormone-binding site were changed to alanines, showed very little electrophile labeling, whereas the four single mutants (C381A, C417A, C447A, and C530A) were alkylated as efficiently as the wild-type receptor. These results (i) demonstrate that cysteine residues were covalent attachment sites of electrophiles and (ii) indicate that more than one cysteine residue could be alkylated. Analysis of three double mutants (C381A/C530A, C417A/C530A, and C447A/C530A) provided strong evidence that only C417 and C530 were sites for electrophile covalent attachment. Since C530 was also alkylated by tamoxifen aziridine, a nonsteroidal affinity-labeling agent, we propose a selective mode of superimposition of tamoxifen-class antiestrogens with estradiol, which could account for the relative positioning of the two types of ligands in the receptor hormone-binding pocket. According to the structure of the hormone-binding pocket of nuclear receptors, as inferred from crystallographic studies and general sequence alignment of hormone-binding domains, C417 and C530 appear to be (1) located at the extreme border or in structural elements involved in delineation of the hormone-binding pocket, (2) spatially in close proximity to each other, and (3) in positions highly homologous to those of glucocorticoid receptor sites alkylated by affinity- and photoaffinity-labeling agents, respectively.

Affinity Labels↗

Molecular modeling of DNA cross-linking analogues based on the azinomycin scaffold.

In this work, we present molecular modeling studies carried out using six DNA sequences and six azinomycin analogues, including the naturally occurring compound azinomycin B, selected on the basis of known cell cytotoxicity and structural analogies (epoxide and aziridine alkylating moieties). Among several computational methods the Stochastic Dynamics with Energy Minimization (SDEM) approach yielded results superior to the others with the natural compound (r(2) > 0.9) and was adopted for studying other DNA adducts, obtaining good correlation between the average theoretical cross-linking properties and the antitumor activity scale. As a result, some interesting SAR considerations have been highlighted and a cross-linking conformation different from that of the azinomycin was identified in a less potent, simplified analogue.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

New synthetic routes to cationic rhenium tricarbonyl bipyridine complexes with labile ligands.

Triflate abstraction from the complex [Re(OTf)(CO)(3)(bipy)] (1) using the salt NaBAr'(4) (Ar' = 3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) in dichloromethane solution in the presence of L = PPh(3), NCMe, NCPh, imines, ketones, Et(2)O, THF, MeOH, and MeI affords cationic complexes [Re(L)(CO)(3)(bipy)](+) as their BAr'(4)(-) salts. The new complexes have been characterized spectroscopically and, for [Re(eta(1)-O=C(Me)R)(CO)(3)(bipy)]BAr'(4) (R = CH(3), 6a; R = Ph, 6b), and [Re(THF)(CO)(3)(bipy)]BAr'(4) (9), also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compared with conventional methodologies, the route reported here allows the coordination of a broader range of weakly coordinating ligands and requires considerably milder conditions. On the other hand, the reactions of lithium acetylides with [Re(THF)(CO)(3)(bipy)]BAr'(4) (9) can be used for the high-yield syntheses of rhenium alkynyls [Re(Ctbd1;CR)(CO)(3)(bipy)] (R = Ph, 12; R = SiMe(3), 13). Complex 9 was found to catalyze the aziridination of benzylideneaniline with ethyl diazoacetate.

Journal Article↗

Chemistry of the diazeniumdiolates. 3. Photoreactivity.

We have found O(2)-substituted diazeniumdiolates, compounds of structure R(2)N-N(O)=NOR' that are under development for various possible pharmaceutical uses, to be rather photosensitive. With R = ethyl and R' = methyl, benzyl, or 2-nitrobenzyl, the observed product distributions suggest that two primary pathways are operative. A minor pathway involves the extrusion of nitrous oxide (N(2)O) with simultaneous generation of R(2)N(*) and R'O(*), which may then form amines, aldehydes, and alcohols. The major reaction pathway is an interesting photochemical cleavage of the N=N bond to form a nitrosamine (R(2)NN=O) and an oxygen-substituted nitrene (R'ON). The intermediacy of the O-nitrene was inferred from the production of abundant oxime, via rearrangement of the O-nitrene to a C-nitroso compound (R'ON --> O=NR'), and subsequent tautomerization to the more stable oxime. Involvement of the O-nitrene was confirmed by trapping with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene to form the aziridine and with oxygen to generate the nitrate ester. 2-Nitro substitution on the benzyl derivative had surprisingly little effect on the reaction course. For each compound examined, minor amounts of nitric oxide (NO), presumably produced by secondary photolysis of the nitrosamine, were observed. Time-resolved infrared experiments provided additional support for the above reaction pathways and confirmed that the nitrosamine is a primary photoproduct. We have also found that the relative contributions of the reaction pathways can be altered in certain derivatives. For example, when R' = 2,4-dinitrophenyl, the contribution of the nitrosamine/O-nitrene-forming pathway was diminished. Pharmacological implications of these results are discussed.

Drug Compounding↗

An experimental and computational study on the reactivity and regioselectivity for the nitrosoarene ene reaction: comparison with triazolinedione and singlet oxygen.

The regioselectivities and the reactivities (relative rates) for the ene reaction of the enophile 4-nitronitrosobenzene (ArNO) with an extensive set of regiochemically defined acyclic and cyclic olefins have been determined. These experimental data establish that the ArNO enophile attacks the olefinic substrate along the novel skew trajectory, with preferred hydrogen abstraction at the corner (twix regioselectivity). This is in contrast to the isoelectronic species singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)), which abstracts at the higher substituted side of the double-bond (cis effect), and triazolindione (TAD), which undergoes the ene reaction at the more crowded end (gem effect). Ab initio computations (B3LYP/6-31+g) for the ene reaction of the ArNO with 2-methyl-2-butene reveal that the steric effects between the aryl group of the enophile and the substituents of the olefin dictate the skew trajectory. These computations identify the aziridine N-oxide (AI) as a bona fide intermediate in this ene reaction, whose formation is usually rate-determining and, thus, irreversible along the skew trajectory (twix selectivity). The reversible generation of the AI becomes feasible when conformational constraints outweigh steric effects, as manifested by enhanced twin regioselectivity.

Journal Article↗

7-N-(mercaptoalkyl)mitomycins: implications of cyclization for drug function.

The Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Bristol-Myers Squibb companies reported that select mitomycin C(7) aminoethylene disulfides displayed improved pharmacological profiles compared with mitomycin C (1). Mechanisms have been advanced for these mitomycins that differ from 1. Central to many of these hypotheses is the intermediate generation of 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)mitomycin C (5). Thiol 5 has been neither isolated nor characterized. Two efficient methods were developed for mitomycin (porfiromycin) C(7)-substituted thiols. In the first method, the thiol was produced by a thiol-mediated disulfide exchange process using an activated mixed mitomycin disulfide. In the second route, the thiol was generated by base-mediated cleavage of a porfiromycin C(7)-substituted thiol ester. We selected four thiols, 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)mitomycin C (5), 7-N-(2-mercaptoethyl)porfiromycin (12), 7-N-(2-mercapto-2-methylpropyl)mitomycin C (13), and 7-N-(3-mercaptopropyl)porfiromycin (14), for study. Thiols 5 and 12-14 differed in the composition of the alkyl linker that bridged the thiol with the mitomycin (porfiromycin) C(7) amino substituent. Thiol generation was documented by HPLC and spectroscopic studies and by thiol-trapping experiments. The linker affected the structure of the thiol species and the stability of the thiol. We observed that thiols 5 and 12 existed largely as their cyclic isomers. Evidence is presented that cyclization predominantly occurred at the mitomycin C(7) position. Correspondingly, alkyl linker substitution (13) or extension of the linker to three carbons (14) led to enhanced thiol stability and the predominant formation of the free thiol species. The dominant reaction of thiols 5 and 12-14 or their isomers was dimerization, and we found no evidence that thiol formation led to mitosene production and aziridine ring-opening. These findings indicated that thiol generation was not sufficient for mitomycin ring activation. The potential pharmacological advantages of mitomycin C(7) aminoethylene disulfides compared with 1 is discussed in light of the observed thiol cyclization pathway.

Animals↗

Synthesis, structure, and biological evaluation of novel N- and O-linked diinositols.

Several O-and N-linked inositols and/or aminoinositols have been prepared by iterative opening of epoxides and aziridines derived from homochiral cyclohexadiene cis-diols. The three inositols and their intermediate conduritols (conduramines) were tested against several glycosidases (alpha- and beta-glucosidase, alpha- and beta-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-mannosidase) in an assay that measured the rate of hydrolysis of p-nitrophenolglycosides rather than the concentration of p-nitrophenolate. Somewhat surprisingly, the best inhibition was seen against beta-galactosidase with several of the compounds. The inositols linked through oxygen or nitrogen were subjected to calcium binding studies performed in NMR experiments. Detailed analysis of the title compounds by NMR spectroscopy has been performed, and full assignments were made. One of the attendant benefits of the preparation of these compounds has been expressed in the design and synthesis of new salen catalysts whose effectiveness has been compared with Jacobsen's catalyst in the epoxidation of styrene.

Calcium↗

Stereoselective synthesis of 3-substituted 2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid derivatives and their incorporation into short 12-helical beta-peptides that fold in water.

A stereoselective synthetic route is reported for the introduction of side chains at the 3-position of trans-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (ACPC). Ring opening of the aziridine 2-benzyloxymethyl-6-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane with selected nucleophiles occurs in a regioselective manner and provides ACPC precursors with functional groups at the 3-position, trans to the 2-amino group. Oligomers composed of the 3-substituted ACPC residues maintain the 12-helical conformation displayed by the nonsubstituted analogues, as shown by their similar circular dichroism signatures. The added diversity of the new residues provides good dispersion of NMR signals, allowing the assignment of nearly all the NOE signals of a selected hexamer in aqueous solution. The NOEs between protons on nonadjacent residues are characteristic of the 12-helix. 3-Substituted ACPC residues allow one to arrange specific functional groups in a geometrically defined fashion, which should facilitate the design of beta-peptides for biological applications.

Circular Dichroism↗