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Endothelial cell PAF synthesis following thrombin stimulation utilizes Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2).

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid autocoid that is rapidly synthesized and presented on the surface of endothelial cells following thrombin stimulation. PAF production may occur via de novo synthesis or by the combined direct action of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) and acetyl-CoA:lyso-PAF acetyltransferase or via the remodeling pathway. This study was undertaken to define the role of PLA(2) and plasmalogen phospholipid hydrolysis in PAF synthesis in thrombin-treated human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC). Basal PLA(2) activity in HUAEC was primarily found to be Ca(2+)-independent (iPLA(2)), membrane-associated, and selective for arachidonylated plasmenylcholine substrate. Thrombin stimulation of HUAEC resulted in a preferential 3-fold increase in membrane-associated iPLA(2) activity utilizing plasmenylcholine substrates with a minimal increase in activity with alkylacyl glycerophospholipids. No change in cystolic iPLA(2) activity in thrombin-stimulated HUAEC was observed. The thrombin-stimulated activation of iPLA(2) and associated hydrolysis of plasmalogen phospholipids was accompanied by increased levels of arachidonic acid (from 1.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.8 +/- 0.1%) and prostacyclin release (from 38 +/- 12 to 512 +/- 24%) as well as an increased level of production of lysoplasmenylcholine (from 0.6 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.3 nmol/mg of protein), lysophosphatidylcholine (from 0.3 +/- 0.1 to 0.6 +/- 0.1 nmol/mg of protein), and PAF (from 790 +/- 108 to 3380 +/- 306 dpm). Inhibition of iPLA(2) with bromoenol lactone resulted in inhibition of iPLA(2) activity, plasmalogen phospholipid hydrolysis, production of choline lysophospholipids, and PAF synthesis. These data indicate that PAF production requires iPLA(2) activation in thrombin-stimulated HUAEC and may occur through the CoA-independent transacylase remodeling pathway rather than as a direct result of the PLA(2)-catalyzed hydrolysis of membrane alkylacyl glycerophosphocholine.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Functional analysis of the copper-dependent quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase. 1. Ligand-induced coordination changes probed by X-ray crystallography: inhibition, ordering effect, and mechanistic insights.

The crystal structures of the copper-dependent Aspergillus japonicus quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3QD) complexed with the inhibitors diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and kojic acid (KOJ) are reported at 1.70 and 2.15 A resolution, respectively. Both inhibitors asymmetrically chelate the metal center and assume a common orientation in the active site cleft. Their molecular plane blocks access to the inner portion of the cavity which is lined by the side chains of residues Met51, Thr53, Phe75, Phe114, and Met123 and which is believed to bind the flavonol B-ring of the natural substrate. The binding of the inhibitors brings order into the mixed coordination observed in the native enzyme. DDC and KOJ induce a single conformation of the Glu73 side chain, although in different ways. In the presence of DDC, Glu73 is detached from the copper ion with its carboxylate moiety pointing away from the active site cavity. In contrast, when KOJ is bound, Glu73 ligates the Cu ion through its O(epsilon)(1) atom with a monodentate geometry. Compared to the native coordinating conformation, this conformation is approximately 90 degrees rotated about the chi(3) angle. This latter Glu73 conformation is compatible with the presence of a bound substrate.

Aspergillus↗

Pore formation and uncoupling initiate a Ca2+-independent degradation of mitochondrial phospholipids.

Mitochondria contain a type IIA secretory phospholipase A(2) that has been thought to hydrolyze phospholipids following Ca(2+) accumulation and induction of the permeability transition. These enzymes normally require millimolar Ca(2+) for optimal activity; however, no dependence of the mitochondrial activity on Ca(2+) can be demonstrated upon equilibrating the matrix space with extramitochondrial Ca(2+) buffers. Ca(2+)-independent activity is seen following protonophore-mediated uncoupling, when uncoupling arises through alamethicin-mediated pore formation, or upon opening the permeability transition pore. Under the latter conditions, activity continues in the presence of excess EGTA but is somewhat enhanced by exogenous Ca(2+). The Ca(2+)-independent activity is best seen in media of high ionic strength and displays a broad pH optimum located between pH 8 and pH 8.5. It is strongly inhibited by bromoenol lactone but not by arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone, dithiothreitol, and other inhibitors of particular phospholipase A(2) classes. Immunoanalysis of mitochondria and mitochondrial subfractions shows that a membrane-bound protein is present that is recognized by antibody against an authentic iPLA(2) that was first found in P388D(1) cells. It is concluded that mitochondria contain a distinct Ca(2+)-independent phospholipase A(2) that is regulated by bioenergetic parameters. It is proposed that this enzyme, rather than the Ca(2+)-dependent type IIA phospholipase A(2), initiates the removal of poorly functioning mitochondria by processes involving autolysis.

Alamethicin↗

Pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells express a novel isoform of group VIA phospholipase A2 (iPLA2 beta) that participates in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and is not produced by alternate splicing of the iPLA2 beta transcript.

Many cells express a group VIA 84 kDa phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)beta) that is sensitive to inhibition by a bromoenol lactone (BEL) suicide substrate. Inhibition of iPLA(2)beta in pancreatic islets and insulinoma cells suppresses, and overexpression of iPLA(2)beta in INS-1 insulinoma cells amplifies, glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, suggesting that iPLA(2)beta participates in secretion. Western blotting analyses reveal that glucose-responsive 832/13 INS-1 cells express essentially no 84 kDa iPLA(2)beta-immunoreactive protein but predominantly express a previously unrecognized immunoreactive iPLA(2)beta protein in the 70 kDa region that is not generated by a mechanism of alternate splicing of the iPLA(2)beta transcript. To determine if the 70 kDa-immunoreactive protein is a short isoform of iPLA(2)beta, protein from the 70 kDa region was digested with trypsin and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Such analyses reveal several peptides with masses and amino acid sequences that exactly match iPLA(2)beta tryptic peptides. Peptide sequences identified in the 70 kDa tryptic digest include iPLA(2)beta residues 7-53, suggesting that the N-terminus is preserved. We also report here that the 832/13 INS-1 cells express iPLA(2)beta catalytic activity and that BEL inhibits secretagogue-stimulated insulin secretion from these cells but not the incorporation of arachidonic acid into membrane PC pools of these cells. These observations suggest that the catalytic iPLA(2)beta activity expressed in 832/13 INS-1 cells is attributable to a short isoform of iPLA(2)beta and that this isoform participates in insulin secretory but not in membrane phospholipid remodeling pathways. Further, the finding that pancreatic islets also express predominantly a 70 kDa iPLA(2)beta-immunoreactive protein suggests that a signal transduction role of iPLA(2)beta in the native beta-cell might be attributable to a 70 kDa isoform of iPLA(2)beta.

Alternative Splicing↗

Apoptosis of insulin-secreting cells induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress is amplified by overexpression of group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2 beta) and suppressed by inhibition of iPLA2 beta.

The death of insulin-secreting beta-cells that causes type I diabetes mellitus (DM) occurs in part by apoptosis, and apoptosis also contributes to progressive beta-cell dysfunction in type II DM. Recent reports indicate that ER stress-induced apoptosis contributes to beta-cell loss in diabetes. Agents that deplete ER calcium levels induce beta-cell apoptosis by a process that is independent of increases in [Ca(2+)](i). Here we report that the SERCA inhibitor thapsigargin induces apoptosis in INS-1 insulinoma cells and that this is inhibited by a bromoenol lactone (BEL) inhibitor of group VIA calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) (iPLA(2)beta). Overexpression of iPLA(2)beta amplifies thapsigargin-induced apoptosis of INS-1 cells, and this is also suppressed by BEL. The magnitude of thapsigargin-induced INS-1 cell apoptosis correlates with the level of iPLA(2)beta expression in various cell lines, and apoptosis is associated with stimulation of iPLA(2)beta activity, perinuclear accumulation of iPLA(2)beta protein and activity, and caspase-3-catalyzed cleavage of full-length 84 kDa iPLA(2)beta to a 62 kDa product that associates with nuclei. Thapsigargin also induces ceramide accumulation in INS-1 cells, and this response is amplified in cells that overexpress iPLA(2)beta. These findings indicate that iPLA(2)beta participates in ER stress-induced apoptosis, a pathway that promotes beta-cell death in diabetes.

Animals↗

Tubulin assembly, taxoid site binding, and cellular effects of the microtubule-stabilizing agent dictyostatin.

(-)-Dictyostatin is a sponge-derived, 22-member macrolactone natural product shown to cause cells to accumulate in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, with changes in intracellular microtubules analogous to those observed with paclitaxel treatment. Dictyostatin also induces assembly of purified tubulin more rapidly than does paclitaxel, and nearly as vigorously as does dictyostatin's close structural congener, (+)-discodermolide (Isbrucker et al. (2003), Biochem. Pharmacol. 65, 75-82). We used synthetic (-)-dictyostatin to study its biochemical and cytological activities in greater detail. The antiproliferative activity of dictyostatin did not differ greatly from that of paclitaxel or discodermolide. Like discodermolide, dictyostatin retained antiproliferative activity against human ovarian carcinoma cells resistant to paclitaxel due to beta-tubulin mutations and caused conversion of cellular soluble tubulin pools to microtubules. Detailed comparison of the abilities of dictyostatin and discodermolide to induce tubulin assembly demonstrated that the compounds had similar potencies. Dictyostatin inhibited the binding of radiolabeled discodermolide to microtubules more potently than any other compound examined, and dictyostatin and discodermolide had equivalent activity as inhibitors of the binding of both radiolabeled epothilone B and paclitaxel to microtubules. These results are consistent with the idea that the macrocyclic structure of dictyostatin represents the template for the bioactive conformation of discodermolide.

Alkanes↗

High affinity, stability, and lactonase activity of serum paraoxonase PON1 anchored on HDL with ApoA-I.

Serum paraoxonase (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated enzyme exhibiting antiatherogenic properties. This study examined the interaction of recombinant PON1 with reconstituted HDL comprised of PC, cholesterol, and various apolipoproteins (apoA-I, -II, and -IV). The affinity, stability, and lactonase activity were strongly correlated, with apoA-I exhibiting the strongest effects, apoA-IV exhibiting weaker yet significant effects, and apoA-II having a negative effect relative to protein-free particles. We found that PON1 binds apoA-I HDL with sub-nanomolar affinities (K(d) << 10(-)(9) M) and slow dissociation rates (t(1/2) > 80 min), while binding affinity for other particles was dramatically lower. A truncated form of PON1 lacking the N-terminal helix maintains considerable binding to apoA-I HDL (K(d) = 1.2 x 10(-)(7) M), validating the structural model which indicates additional parts of the enzyme involved in HDL binding. Kinetic inactivation assays revealed the existence of an equilibrium between two forms of PON1 differing in their stability by a factor of 100. Various lipoproteins and detergent preparations shift this equilibrium toward the more stable conformation. Consistent with its highest affinity, only apoA-I HDL is capable of totally shifting the equilibrium toward the stable form. The paraoxonase and arylesterase activities were stimulated by HDL by 2-5-fold as previously reported, almost independently of the apoliporotein content. In contrast, only apoA-I is capable of stimulating the lactonase activity by <or=20-fold to k(cat)/K(M) values of 10(6)-10(7) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), while apoA-IV and apoA-II have almost no effect. Overall, the results indicate the high stability, selectivity, and catalytic proficiency of PON1 when anchored onto apoA-I HDL, toward lactone substrates, and lipophilic lactones in particular.

Apolipoprotein A-I↗

A bromoenol lactone suicide substrate inactivates group VIA phospholipase A2 by generating a diffusible bromomethyl keto acid that alkylates cysteine thiols.

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) comprise a superfamily of enzymes that hydrolyze phospholipids to a free fatty acid, e.g., arachidonate, and a 2-lysophospholipid. Dissecting their individual functions has relied in large part on pharmacological inhibitors that discriminate among PLA2. Group VIA PLA2 (iPLA2beta) has a GTSTG serine lipase consensus sequence, and studies with a bromoenol lactone (BEL) suicide substrate inhibitor have been taken to suggest that iPLA2beta participates in a wide variety of biological processes. Such conclusions presume inhibitor specificity. Inhibition by BEL requires its hydrolysis by and results in uncharacterized covalent modification(s) of iPLA2beta. We performed mass spectrometric analyses of proteolytic digests of BEL-treated iPLA2beta to identify modifications associated with loss of activity. The GTSTG active site and large flanking regions of sequence are not modified by BEL treatment, but most iPLA2beta Cys residues are alkylated at various BEL concentrations to form a thioether linkage to a BEL keto acid hydrolysis product. Synthetic Cys-containing peptides are alkylated when incubated with iPLA2beta and BEL, which reflects iPLA2beta-catalyzed BEL hydrolysis to a diffusible bromomethyl keto acid product that reacts with distant thiols. The BEL concentration dependence of Cys651 alkylation closely parallels that of loss of iPLA2beta activity. No amino acid residues other than Cys were found to be modified, suggesting that Cys alkylation is the covalent modification of iPLA2beta responsible for loss of activity, and the alkylating species appears to be a diffusible hydrolysis product of BEL rather than a tethered acyl-enzyme intermediate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Involvement of insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor and protein kinase Cdelta in bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV)-induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B in HepG2 cells.

Vanadium(IV) oxo-bis(maltolato) (BMOV), an organovanadium compound, is a potent insulinomimetic agent and improves glucose homeostasis in various models of diabetes. We have shown previously that BMOV stimulates the phosphorylation of PKB which may contribute as one of the mechanisms for the insulinomimetic effect of this compound. However, the upstream mechanism of BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, we examine the upstream events leading to BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation in HepG2 cells. Since BMOV is an inhibitor of protein tyrosine phosphatases and through enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation may activate various protein tyrosine kinases (PTK), we have investigated the potential role of different receptor or nonreceptor PTK in mediating BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation. Among several pharmacological inhibitors that were tested, only AG1024, a selective inhibitor of IGF-1R-PTK, almost completely blocked BMOV-stimulated phosphorylation of PKB. In contrast, AG1295 and AG1478, specific inhibitors of PDGFR and EGFR, respectively, were unable to block the BMOV response. Moreover, efficient reduction of the level of IGF-1R protein expression by antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) attenuated BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation. BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation was associated with an increased level of tyrosine phosphorylation of the IRbeta subunit, IGF-1Rbeta subunit, IRS-1, and p85alpha subunit of PI3-kinase. However, this response was independent of IR-PTK activity because in cells overexpressing a PTK-inactive form of IR, insulin response was attenuated while the effect of BMOV remained intact. A role of PKC in BMOV-induced response was also tested. Pharmacological inhibition with chelerythrine, a nonselective PKC inhibitor, or rottlerin, a PKCdelta inhibitor, as well as chronic treatment with PMA attenuated BMOV-induced PKB phosphorylation. In contrast, GO6976 and RO31-8220 PKCalpha/beta selective inhibitors failed to alter the BMOV effect. Taken together, these data suggest that IGF-1R and PKCdelta are required to stimulate PKB phosphorylation in response to BMOV in HepG2 cells and provide new insights into the molecular mechanism by which this compound exerts its insulinomimetic effects.

Animals↗

A photoaffinity analogue of discodermolide specifically labels a peptide in beta-tubulin.

Discodermolide is a potentially important antitumor agent that stabilizes microtubules and blocks cells at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle in a manner similar to that of Taxol. Discodermolide also has unique properties that distinguish it from Taxol. In the present study, photoaffinity-labeled discodermolide analogues are used to investigate their binding site in tubulin. Three photoaffinity-labeled discodermolide analogues were synthesized, all of which promoted microtubule polymerization in the absence of GTP. The analogue, C19-[4-(4-(3)H-benzoyl-phenyl)-carbamate]-discodermolide (C19-[3H]BPC-discodermolide), was selected for photolabeling studies because it had the highest extent of photoincorporation, approximately 1%, of the three radiolabeled discodermolide analogues explored. Although compared to discodermolide, C19-BPC-discodermolide revealed no hypernucleation effect in the in vitro microtubule polymerization assay, it was more cytotoxic than discodermolide, and, like discodermolide, demonstrated synergism with Taxol. These results suggest that the hypernucleation effect of discodermolide is not involved in its cytotoxic activity. Similar to discodermolide, C19-BPC-discodermolide can effectively displace [3H]Taxol from microtubules, but Taxol cannot effectively displace C19-[3H]BPC-discodermolide binding. Discodermolide can effectively displace C19-[3H]BPC-discodermolide binding. Formic acid hydrolysis, immunoprecipitation experiments, and subtilisin digestion indicate that C19-BPC-discodermolide labels amino acid residues 305-433 in beta-tubulin. Further digestion with Asp-N and Arg-C enzymes suggested that C19-BPC-discodermolide binds to amino acid residues, 355-359, in beta-tubulin, which is in close proximity to the Taxol binding site. Molecular modeling guided by the above evidence led to a putative binding model for C19-BPC-discodermolide in tubulin.

Alkanes↗

Discodermolide, a cytotoxic marine agent that stabilizes microtubules more potently than taxol.

Computer-assisted structure analysis indicated (+)-discodermolide, a polyhydroxylated alkatetraene lactone marine natural product, was an antimitotic compound, and we confirmed this prediction. Previous work had shown an accumulation of discodermolide-treated cells in the G2/M portion of the cell cycle, and we have now found that discodermolide arrests Burkitt lymphoma cells in mitosis. Discodermolide-treated breast carcinoma cells displayed spectacular rearrangement of the microtubule cytoskeleton, including extensive microtubule bundling. Microtubule rearrangement that occurred with 10 nM discodermolide required 1 microM taxol. Discodermolide had equally impressive effects on tubulin assembly in vitro. Near-total polymerization occurred at 0 degree C with tubulin plus microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) under conditions in which taxol at an identical concentration was inactive. Without MAPs and/or without GTP, tubulin assembly was also more vigorous with discodermolide than with taxol under every reaction condition examined. Discodermolide-induced polymer differed from taxol-induced polymer in that it was completely stable at 0 degree C in the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+. In a quantitative assay designed to select for agents more effective than taxol in inducing assembly, discodermolide had an EC50 value of 3.2 microM versus 23 microM for taxol.

Alkanes↗

Substrates and inhibitors of human T-cell leukemia virus type I protease.

HTLV-I is an oncogenic retrovirus that is associated with adult T-cell leukemia. HTLV-I protease and HTLV-I protease fused to a deca-histidine containing leader peptide (His-protease) have been cloned, expressed, and purified. The refolded proteases were active and exhibited nearly identical enzymatic activities. To begin to characterize the specificity of HTLV-I, we measured protease cleavage of peptide substrates and inhibition by protease inhibitors. HTLV-I protease cleavage of a peptide representing the HTLV-I retroviral processing site P19/24 (APQVLPVMHPHG) yielded Km and kcat values of 470 microM and 0.184 s-1 while cleavage of a peptide representing the processing site P24/15 (KTKVLVVQPK) yielded Km and kcat values of 310 microM and 0.0060 s-1. When the P1' proline of P19/24 was replaced with p-nitro-phenylalanine (Nph), the ability of HTLV-I protease to cleave the substrate (APQVLNphVMHPL) was improved. Inhibition of HTLV-I protease and His-protease by a series of protease inhibitors was also tested. It was found that the Ki values for inhibition of HTLV-I protease and His-protease by a series of pepsin inhibitors ranged from 7 nM to 10 microM, while the Ki values of a series of HIV-1 protease inhibitors ranged from 6 nM to 127 microM. In comparison, the Ki values for inhibition of pepsin by the pepsin inhibitors ranged from 0.72 to 19.2 nM, and the Ki values for inhibition of HIV-1 protease by the HIV protease inhibitors ranged from 0.24 nM to 1.0 microM. The data suggested that the substrate binding site of HTLV-I protease is different from the substrate binding sites of pepsin and HIV-1 protease, and that currently employed HIV-1 protease inhibitors would not be effective for the treatment of HTLV-I infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Membrane location of spin-labeled cytochrome c determined by paramagnetic relaxation agents.

The mitochondrial protein horse heart cytochrome c was specifically spin-labeled with succinimidyl-2,2,5, 5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-1-oxyl-carboxylate on different lysine residues at positions 86, 87, 72, 8, or 25, respectively. Site-specifically labeled species were separated chromatographically and identified by peptide sequencing of tryptic digests. The monolabeled protein was bound to negatively charged phospholipid membranes composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol, and the accessibility of the spin-labeled lysine residues to lipid-soluble molecular oxygen and to lipid-impermeant chromium maltolate was determined from the saturation properties of the ESR spectra. The accessibilities of the spin-labeled proteins relative to those obtained for phospholipids spin-labeled in the headgroup region, in the presence of unlabeled protein, identify the position of the spin-labeled lysine residues relative to the phospholipid bilayer surface. We have found that cytochrome c does not penetrate into the membrane interior and that the active side of cytochrome c in the protein-membrane interaction is the side on which lys86, lys87, and lys72 are located.

Animals↗

Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(delta-valerolactone) copolymer micelles for formulation of hydrophobic drugs.

Six amphiphilic diblock copolymers based on methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (MePEG) and poly(delta-valerolactone) (PVL) with varying hydrophilic and hydrophobic block lengths were synthesized via a metal-free cationic polymerization method. MePEG-b-PVL copolymers were synthesized using MePEG with Mn = 2000 or Mn = 5000 as the macroinitiator. 1H NMR and GPC analyses confirmed the synthesis of diblock copolymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distributions (Mn/Mw = 1.05-1.14). DSC analysis revealed that the melting temperatures (Tm) of the copolymers (47-58 degrees C) approach the Tm of MePEG as the PVL content is decreased. MePEG-b-PVL copolymer aggregates loaded with the hydrophobic anti-cancer drug paclitaxel were found to have effective mean diameters ranging from 31 to 970 nm depending on the composition of the copolymers. A MePEG-b-PVL copolymer of a specific composition was found to form drug-loaded micelles of 31 nm in diameter with a narrow size distribution and improve the apparent aqueous solubility of paclitaxel by more than 9000-fold. The biological activity of paclitaxel formulated in the MePEG-b-PVL micelles was confirmed in human MCF-7 breast and A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of the copolymers was established in CHO-K1 fibroblast cells using a cell viability assay. The in vitro hydrolytic and enzymatic degradation of the micelles was also evaluated over a period of one month. The present study indicates that the MePEG-b-PVL copolymers are suitable biomaterials for hydrophobic drug formulation and delivery.

Animals↗

Parallel synthesis of 3-amino-4H-quinolizin-4-ones, fused 3-amino-4H-pyrimidin-4-ones, and fused 3-amino-2H-pyran-2-ones.

On the basis of the enaminone methodology, libraries of 3-amino-4H-quinolizin-4-ones, fused 3-amino-4H-pyrimidin-4-ones, and fused 3-amino-2H-pyran-2-ones were synthesized by the solid-phase and by the solution-phase parallel synthesis. The solution-phase approach turned out to be advantageous over the solid-phase approach. The solution-phase synthesis afforded, in most cases, analytically pure products in high yields, whereas the solid-phase approach gave products in poor yields and in low purity.

Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques↗

Structure-based QSAR analysis of a set of 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrones as inhibitors of HIV-1 protease: an application of the receptor-dependent (RD) 4D-QSAR formalism.

Receptor-dependent (RD) 4D-QSAR models were constructed for a set of 39 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrone analogue HIV-1 protease inhibitors. The receptor model used in this QSAR analysis was derived from the HIV-1 protease (PDB ID ) crystal structure. The bound ligand in the active site of the enzyme, also a 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrone analogue, was used as the reference ligand for docking the data set compounds. The optimized RD 4D-QSAR models are not only statistically significant (r(2) = 0.86, q(2) = 0.80 for four- and greater-term models) but also possess reasonable predictivity based on test set predictions. The proposed "active" conformations of the docked analogues in the active site of the enzyme are consistent in overall molecular shape with those suggested from crystallographic studies. Moreover, the RD 4D-QSAR models also "capture" the existence of specific induced-fit interactions between the enzyme active site and each specific inhibitor. Hydrophobic interactions, steric shape requirements, and hydrogen bonding of the 4-hydroxy-5,6-dihydropyrone analogues with the HIV-1 protease binding site model dominate the RD 4D-QSAR models in a manner again consistent with experimental conclusions. Some possible hypotheses for the development of new lead HIV-1 protease inhibitors can be inferred from the RD 4D-QSAR models.

Computer Simulation↗

Insulin-enhancing vanadium(III) complexes.

Simple, high-yield, large-scale syntheses of the V(III) complexes tris(maltolato)vanadium(III), V(ma)3, tris(ethylmaltolato)vanadium(III), V(ema)3, tris(kojato)vanadium(III) monohydrate, V(koj)3-H2O, and tris(1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4-pyridinonato)vanadium(III) dodecahydrate, V(dpp)3-12H2O, are described; the characterization of these complexes by various methods and, in the case of V(dpp)3-12H2O, by an X-ray crystal structure determination, is reported. The ability of these complexes to normalize glucose levels in the STZ-diabetic rat model has been examined and compared with that of the benchmark compound BMOV (bis(maltolato)oxovanadium(IV)), an established insulin-enhancing agent.

Animals↗

Reduction of [VO2(ma)2]- and [VO2(ema)2]- by ascorbic acid and glutathione: kinetic studies of pro-drugs for the enhancement of insulin action.

To shed light on the role of V(V) complexes as pro-drugs for their V(IV) analogues, the kinetics of the reduction reactions of [VO2(ma)2]- or [VO2(ema)2]- (Hma = maltol, Hema = ethylmaltol), with ascorbic acid or glutathione, have been studied in aqueous solution by spectrophotometric and magnetic resonance methods. EPR and 51V NMR studies suggested that the vanadium(V) in each complex was reduced to vanadium(IV) during the reactions. All the reactions studied showed first-order kinetics when the concentration of ascorbic acid or glutathione was in large excess and the observed first-order rate constants have a linear relationship with the concentrations of reductant (ascorbic acid or glutathione). Potentiometric results revealed that the most important species in the neutral pH range is [VO2(L)2]- for the V(V) system where L is either ma- or ema-. An acid dependence mechanism was proposed from kinetic studies with varying pH and varying maltol concentration. The good fits of the second order rate constant versus pH or the total concentration of maltol, and the good agreement of the constants obtained between fittings, strongly supported the mechanism. Under the same conditions, the reaction rate of [VO2(ma)2]- with glutathione is about 2000 times slower than that of [VO2(ma)2]- with ascorbic acid, but an acid dependence mechanism can also be used to explain the results for the reduction with glutathione. Replacing the methyl group in maltol with an ethyl group has little influence on the reduction rate with ascorbic acid, and the kinetics are the same no matter whether [VO2(ma)2]- or [VO2(ema)2]- is reduced.

Ascorbic Acid↗