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The synthesis of six analogs of N,N;-diacetylchitobiose is reported, including a novel transglycosylation reaction for the preparation of S-aryl thioglycosides. The conformations of the compounds were studied by a combination of NMR spectroscopy and molecular modeling, using force field calculations. In the case of the S-aryl thioglycosides with exclusively S-glycosidic linkages, dihedral angles of the disaccharidic S-glycosidic bonds, ;; and ;; and of the S-arylglycoside bonds, ; and ;, were found to be similar, whereas they were different in mixed glycosides and in a thiazoline derivative. An adequate correlation between the calculated H,H-distances of the local minima and the measured NOE contacts was achieved by applying population-weighted averages over participating conformers based on weighted relative energies.
From the roots of the African plant Bulbine frutescens (Asphodelaceae), two unprecedented novel dimeric phenylanthraquinones, named joziknipholones A and B, possessing axial and centrochirality, were isolated, together with six known compounds. Structural elucidation of the new metabolites was achieved by spectroscopic and chiroptical methods, by reductive cleavage of the central bond between the monomeric phenylanthraquinone and -anthrone portions with sodium dithionite, and by quantum chemical CD calculations. Based on the recently revised absolute axial configuration of the parent phenylanthraquinones, knipholone and knipholone anthrone, the new dimers were attributed to possess the P-configuration (i.e., with the acetyl portions below the anthraquinone plane) at both axes in the case of joziknipholone A, whereas in joziknipholone B, the knipholone part was found to be M-configured. Joziknipholones A and B are active against the chloroquine resistant strain K1 of the malaria pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, and show moderate activity against murine leukemic lymphoma L5178y cells.
From the roots of the African plant Bulbine frutescens (Asphodelaceae), two unprecedented novel dimeric phenylanthraquinones, named joziknipholones A and B, possessing axial and centrochirality, were isolated, together with six known compounds. Structural elucidation of the new metabolites was achieved by spectroscopic and chiroptical methods, by reductive cleavage of the central bond between the monomeric phenylanthraquinone and -anthrone portions with sodium dithionite, and by quantum chemical CD calculations. Based on the recently revised absolute axial configuration of the parent phenylanthraquinones, knipholone and knipholone anthrone, the new dimers were attributed to possess the P- configuration (i.e., with the acetyl portions below the anthraquinone plane) at both axes in the case of joziknipholone A, whereas in joziknipholone B, the knipholone part was found to be M-configured. Joziknipholones A and B are active against the chloroquine resistant strain K1 of the malaria pathogen, Plasmodium falciparum, and show moderate activity against murine leukemic lymphoma L5178y cells.
Growth of phytopathogenic fungi in the presence of partially acetylated chitooligosaccharides
(2008)
Four phytopathogenic fungi were cultivated up to six days in media contg. chitooligosaccharide mixts. differing in av. DP and F A. The three different mixts. were named Q3 (which contained oligosaccharides of DP2-DP10, with DP2-DP7 as main components), Q2 (which contained oligosaccharides of DP2-DP12, with DP2-DP10 as main components) and Q1 (which derived from Q2 and contained oligomers of DP5-DP8 with hexamer and a heptamer as the main components). The novel aspect of this work is the description of the effect of mixts. of oligosaccharides with different and known compn. on fungal growth rates. The growth rate of Alternaria alternata and Rhizopus stolonifer was initially inhibited by Q3 and Q2 at higher concns. Q1 had a growth stimulating effect on these two fungi. Growth of Botrytis cinerea was inhibited by Q3 and Q2, while Q1 had no effect on the growth of this fungus. Growth of Penicillium expansum was only slightly inhibited by higher concns. of sample Q3, while Q2 and Q1 had no effect. The inhibition of growth rates or their resistance toward chitooligosaccharides correlated with the absence or presence of chitinolytic enzymes in the culture media, resp. [on SciFinder (R)]
Two sesquiterpenes, corymbolone and mustakone, isolated from the chloroform extract of the rhizomes of Cyperus articulatus, exhibited significant anti-plasmodial properties. Mustakone was approximately ten times more active than corymbolone against the sensitive strains of the Plasmodium falciparum.
Structural and physicochem. characteristics of mesquite gum (from Prosopis velutina) were investigated using FT- IR spectroscopic, mass spectrometric and chromatog. methods. Four fractions (F-I, F-IIa, F-IIb and F-III) were isolated by hydrophobic interaction chromatog. The samples were characterized and analyzed for their monosaccharide and oligomers compn. by high performance anion-exchange chromatog. with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). L-Arabinose (L-Ara) and D-galactose (D-Gal) were found as the main carbohydrate constituent residues in the polysaccharides from mesquite gum and their ratio (L-Ara/D-Gal) varied within the range 2.54 to 3.06 among the various fractions. Small amts. of D- glucose (D-Glc), D-mannose (D-Man) and D-xylose (D-Xyl) were also detected, particularly in Fractions IIa, IIb and III. IR spectroscopy identified polysaccharides and protein in all the samples. Data from mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) was consistent with the idea that the structure corresponding to the periphereal chains of Fraction I is predominantly a chain of pentoses attached to uronic acid. [on SciFinder (R)].
Background: There is an increased need to replace materials derived from fossil sources by renewables. Sugar- cane derived carbohydrates are very abundant in Brazil and are the cheapest sugars available in the market, with more than 400 million tons of sugarcane processed in the year 2007. The objective of this work was to study the prepn. of sugar acrylates from free sugars and free acrylic acid, thus avoiding the previous prepn. of protected sugar derivs., such as glycosides, or activated acrylates, such as vinyl acrylate. Results: Lipase catalyzed esterification of three mono- and two disaccharides with acrylic acid, in the presence or absence of mol. sieves was investigated. The reactions were monitored by high-performance liq. chromatog. (HPLC) and the products were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The main products are mono- and diacrylates, while higher esters are formed as minor products. The highest conversion to sugar acrylates was obsd. for the D-glucose and D- fructose, followed by D-xylose and D-maltose. Mol. sieves had no pronounced effect on the conversion. Conclusions: A feasible method is described to produce and to characterize sugar acrylates, including those contg. more than two acrylate groups. The process for prodn. of these higher esters could potentially be optimized further to produce mols. for crosslinking in acrylate polymn. and other applications. The direct enzymic esterification of free carbohydrates with acrylic acid is unprecedented. [on SciFinder (R)].
Heterochitooligosaccharides possess interesting biol. properties. Isobaric mixts. of such linear heterochitooligosaccharides can be obtained by chem. or enzymic degrdn. of chitosan. However, the sepn. of such mixts. is a challenging anal. problem which is so far unresolved. It is shown that these isobaric mixts. can be sequenced and quantified simultaneously using std. derivatization and multistage tandem mass spectrometric techniques. A linear ion trap mass spectrometer equipped with a vacuum matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (vMALDI) source is used to perform MS2 as well as MS3 expts. [on SciFinder (R)].
The crude methanol extract of the seeds of Derris trifoliata showed potent and dose dependent larvicidal activity against the 2nd instar larvae of Aedes aegypti. From this extract two unusual rotenoid derivatives, a rotenoloid (named 7a-O-methyl-12a-hydroxydeguelol) and a spirohomooxarotenoid (named spiro-13-homo-13-oxaelliptone), were isolated and characterised. In addition a rare natural chromanone (6,7-dimethoxy-4-chromanone) and the known rotenoids rotenone, tephrosin and dehydrodeguelin were identified. The structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The larvicidal activity of the crude extract is mainly due to rotenone. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The acetone extracts of the root bark and stem bark of Erythrina sacleuxii showed antiplasmodial activities against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Chromatographic separation of the acetone extract of the root bark afforded a new isoflavone, 7-hydroxy-4 -methoxy-3'- prenylisoflavone (trivial name 5-deoxy-3' - prenylbiochanin A) along with known isoflavonoids as the antiplasmodial principles. Flavonoids and isoflavonoids isolated from the stem bark of E. sucleuxii were also tested and showed antiplasmodial activities. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence
A new synthesis of 9 alpha-hydroxy-alpha-agarofuran (6 alpha) is described, using a microbiological hydroxylation alpha-agarofuran (5) as the key reaction. The stereochemistry of the biohydroxylation was determined on the basis of a NOESY-experiment and GIAO calculations at the B3LYP/cc-pVDZ level. A strong gamma-effect was observed at C15 of the agarofuran ring which was correctly predicted by the GIAO-B3LYP calculations
From the fruits of Bulbine abyssinica three new dimeric anthracene derivatives, (P)-8,9,1',8'- tetrahydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl[10,7'-bianthracene]-1,4,9',10'- tetraone (trivial name abyquinone A), (10R)-1,4,8,1',8-pentahydroxy-3,3'-dimethyl-[10,7'-bianthracene]9,9',10' (10H)-trione (trivial name abyquinone B), and (10R)-3,4'-dihydro-1,4,8,3',8',9'-hexahydroxy-3,3'- dimethyl-[10,7'-biant hracene]9,1'(10H,2'H)-dione (trivial name abyquinone Q were isolated. Despite their structural differences, these three compounds are connected to each other by the apparently biomimetic conversion of abyquinone C (a preanthraquinonylanthrone with two stereogenic centers) into B (an anthraquinonylanthrone with one stereogenic center) and finally into A (an axially chiral bianthraquinone) under mild conditions, involving a highly efficient center-to-axis chirality transfer. In addition, the known anthraquinones islandicin and chrysophanol were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopical evidences, chemical transformations, and quantum chemical CD calculations. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
7a-O-methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, from the roots of Derris trifoloata
(2005)
From the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata an isollavonoid derivative, named 7a-O- methyldeguelol, a modified rotenoid with an open ring-C, representing a new sub-class of isollavonoids (the sub-class is here named as rotenoloid), was isolated and characterised. In addition, the known rotenoids, rotenone, deguelin and alpha-toxicarol, were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Rotenone and deguelin were identified as the larvicidal principles of the acetone extract of the roots of Derris trifoliata. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The chloroform extract of the stem bark of Erythrina burttii showed antifungal and antibacterial activities using the disk diffusion method. Flavonoids were identified as the active principles. Activities were observed against fungi and Gram(+) bacteria, but the Gram(-) bacteria Escherichia coli was resistant. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
This paper presents some results concerning the size-controlled hydroxyapatite nanoparticles obtained in aqueous media in a biopolymer matrix from soluble precursors salts. Taking the inspiration from nature, where composite materials made of a polymer matrix and inorganic fillers are often found, e.g. bone, shell of crustaceans, shell of eggs, etc., the feasibility on making composite materials containing chitosan and nanosized hydroxyapatite was investigated. A stepwise co-precipitation approach was used to obtain different types of composites by means of different ratio between components. The synthesis of hydroxyapatite was carried out in the chitosan matrix from calcium chloride and sodium dihydrogenphosphate in alkaline solutions at moderate pH of 10-11 for 24 h. Our research is focused on studying and understanding the structure of this class of composites, aiming at the development of novel materials, controlled at the nanolevel scale. The X-ray diffraction technique was employed in order to study the kinetic of hydroxyapatite formation in the chitosan matrix as well as to determine the HAp crystallite sizes in the composite samples. The hydroxyapatite synthesized using this route was found to be nano-sized (15-50nm). Moreover, applying an original approach to analyze the (002) XRD diffraction peak profile of hydroxyapatite by using a sum of two Gauss functions, the bimodal distribution of nanosized hydroxyapatite within the chitosan matrix was revealed. Two types of size distribution domains such as cluster-like (between 200 and 400 nm), which are the habitat of "small" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites and scattered-like, which are the habitat of "large" hydroxyapatite nanocrystallites was probed by TEM and CSLM. The structural features of composites suggest that self-assembly processes might be involved. The composites contain nanosized hydroxyapatite with structural features close to those of biological apatites that make them attractive for bone tissue engineering applications. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The antibacterial activities of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts of the stem bark of Dichrostachys cinerea and the roots of Parkia bicolor have been evaluated. Ethyl acetate extracts have been investigated, studies that led to a series of known compounds, amongst which many are reported here for the very first time from both the species
We describe enzymological and structural analyses of the interaction between the family 18 chitinase ChiB from Serratia marcescens and the designed inhibitor N,N'-diacetylchitobionoxime-N-phenylcarbamate (HM508). HM508 acts as a competitive inhibitor of this enzyme with a K-i in the 50 muM range. Active site mutants of ChiB show K-i values ranging from 1 to 200 muM, providing insight into some of the interactions that determine inhibitor affinity. Interestingly, the wild type enzyme slowly degrades HM508, but the inhibitor is essentially stable in the presence of the moderately active D142N mutant of ChiB. The crystal structure of the D142N-HM508 complex revealed that the two sugar moieties bind to the -2 and -1 subsites, whereas the phenyl group interacts with aromatic side chains that line the +1 and +2 subsites. Enzymatic degradation of HM508, as well as a Trp-->Ala mutation in the +2 subsite of ChiB, led to reduced affinity for the inhibitor, showing that interactions between the phenyl group and the enzyme contribute to binding. Interestingly, a complex of enzymatically degraded HM508 with the wild type enzyme showed a chitobiono-delta- lactone bound in the -2 and -1 subsites, despite the fact that the equilibrium between the lactone and the hydroxy acid forms in solution lies far toward the latter. This shows that the active site preferentially binds the E-4 conformation of the -1 sugar, which resembles the proposed transition state of the reaction
The ethyl acetate extract of the stem bark of Erythrina abyssinica showed anti-plasmodial activity against the chloroquine-sensitive (D6) and chloroquine-resistant (W2) strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 values of 7.9 +/- 1.1 and 5.3 +/- 0.7 mug/ml, respectively. From this extract, a new chalcone, 2,3,4,4'-tetrahydroxy-5- prenylchalcone (trivial name 5-prenylbutein) and a new flavanone, 4',7-dihydroxy-3'-methoxy-5'- prenylflavanone (trivial name, 5-deoxyabyssinin II) along with known flavonoids have been isolated as the anti- plasmodial principles. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved
The recent work on a variety of family 18 chitonolytic enzymes has yielded important data concerning the structure, substrate-binding, catalysis, inhibitor-binding and even dynamics. These data have been useful in helping to better understand the roles of various types of chitinases in chitin hydrolysis, to rationally engineer the properties of these enzymes, thus making them more suitable as biocatalysts, and to study and understand the effectiveness of natural and designed chitinase inhibitors, which may be of medical interest. On the other hand, the recent work on ChiB shows that catalysis in family 18 chitinases is a highly complicated process, involving larger parts of the enzyme and dynamics. Thus, despite recent discoveries, there is still a lot more to discover about how these enzyme work.
From the stem bark of Erythrina burttii, a new isoflavone, 5,2',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-6-(3- methylbut-2-enyl)isoflavone (trivial name, 7-O-methylluteone) and a new flavanone, 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy- 3'-(3-methylbutadienyl)-5'-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)flavanone (trivial name, burttinonedehydrate) along with three known isoflavonoids (8-prenylluteone, 3-O-methylcalopocarpin and genistein) were isolated. The structures were detd. on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.
The soln.-state conformations of N,N',N''-triacetyl chitotriose (1) and other potential chitinase inhibitors 2-4 were studied using a combination of NMR spectroscopy (NOESY) and mol. mechanics calcns. Detn. solely of the global energy min. conformation was found to be insufficient for an agreement with the NMR results. An appropriate consistency between the NMR exptl. data and theor. calcns. was only reached by assessing the structures as population-weighted av. conformers based on Boltzmann distributions derived from the calcd. relative energies. Analogies, but also particular differences, between the synthetic compds. 2-4 and the naturally-occurring N,N',N''-triacetyl chitotriose were found. Furthermore, the conformation of compds. 1 and 2 when bound to hevamine was also studied using transferred NOESY expts. and the binding process was found to impart a level of conformational restriction on the ligands. The preferred conformation as detd. for 1 in the bound state to hevamine belonged to one of the conformational families found for the compd. when free in soln., although full characterization of the bound-state conformations was impeded due to severe signal overlap. Satn. transfer difference NMR expts. were also employed to analyze the binding epitopes of the bound compds. We thus detd. that it is mainly the acetyl amido groups of the trisaccharide and the heterocyclic moiety which are in close contact with hevamine.
A review on the chem. and biochem. of chitin and the chem. and application of chitosan. The following topics were discussed: structure of chitin and chitosan; occurrence and physiol. functions of chitin; detection of chitin in animals and anal. of chitin and chitosan; biosynthesis and biodegrdn. of chitin in animals; prodn. of chitin and chitosan; properties of chitin and chitosan; and applications of chitin and chitosan.
From the root bark of Erythrina burttii three new isoflav-3-enes, 7,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxy-6- (1'',1''-dimethylallyl)isoflav-3-ene (trivial name, burttinol-A), 4'-hydroxy-2'- methoxy-(2'',2''-dimethylpyrano[5'',6'':8,7]isoflav-3-ene (trivial name, burttinol-B), 7,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxy-8-(3'',3''-dimethylallyl)isoflav-3-ene (trivial name, burttinol-C), and a new 2-arylbenzofuran, 6,4'-dihydroxy-2'-methoxy-5- (1'',1''-dimethylallyl)-2-arylbenzofuran (trivial name, burttinol-D) were isolated. In addition, the known compounds, abyssinone V-4'-methyl ether, bidwillol A, calopocarpin, erybraedin A, erythrabyssin II, isobavachalcone, phaseollidin and phaseollin were identified. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.
Oligosaccharides composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose (GlcNAc) and/or 2-amino-2-deoxy-D- glucopyranose (GlcN) were prepd. by chem. degrdn. of chitin or chitosan and sepd. by gel permeation chromatog. Oligosaccharides obtained after enzymic hydrolysis of chitosan [FA 0.19] with a fungal chitinase were derivatized by reductive amination with 2-aminoacridone and sequenced by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight postsource decay (PSD) mass spectrometry (MS). The sequence of a trimer, D1A2, was established as D-A-A. The compn. of a hexamer D3A3 was .apprx.65% D-A-D-D-A-A and 35% D-D-A-D-A-A. The PSD MS of a nonamer D5A4-amac revealed four isobaric species D-X-Y-D-X-Y-D-A-A, where A is GlcNAc, D is GlcN, and X and Y (X ¹ Y) are mutually either D or A. This structure motif was also obsd. in a dodecamer D7A5 which was composed of eight isobaric sequences of the general formula (D-X-Y)3- D-A-A.
Over the past years, family 18 chitinases have been validated as potential targets for the design of drugs against human pathogens that contain or interact with chitin during their normal life cycles. Thus far, only one potent chitinase inhibitor has been described in detail, the pseudotrisaccharide allosamidin. Recently, however, two potent natural-product cyclopentapeptide chitinase inhibitors, argifin and argadin, were reported. Here, we describe high- resoln. crystal structures that reveal the details of the interactions of these cyclopeptides with a family 18 chitinase. The structures are examples of complexes of a carbohydrate-processing enzyme with high-affinity peptide-based inhibitors and show in detail how the peptide backbone and side chains mimic the interactions of the enzyme with chitooligosaccharides. Together with enzymol. characterization, the structures explain why argadin shows an order of magnitude stronger inhibition than allosamidin, whereas argifin shows weaker inhibition. The peptides bind to the chitinase in remarkably different ways, which may explain the differences in inhibition consts. The two complexes provide a basis for structure-based design of potent chitinase inhibitors, accessible by std. peptide chem.
Chitinase B (ChiB) from Serratia marcescens is a family 18 exochitinase whose catalytic domain has a TIM-barrel fold with a tunnel-shaped active site. We have solved structures of three ChiB complexes that reveal details of substrate binding, substrateassisted catalysis, and product displacement. The structure of an inactive ChiB mutant (E144Q) complexed with a pentameric substrate (binding in subsites 22 to 13) shows closure of the ''roof'' of the active site tunnel. It also shows that the sugar in the 21 position is distorted to a boat conformation, thus providing structural evidence in support of a previously proposed catalytic mechanism. The structures of the active enzyme complexed to Allosamidin (an analogue of a proposed reaction intermediate) and of the active enzyme soaked with pentameric substrate show events after cleavage of the glycosidic bond. The latter structure shows reopening of the roof of the active site tunnel and enzyme-assisted product displacement in the 11 and 12 sites, allowing a water molecule to approach the reaction center. Catalysis is accompanied by correlated structural changes in the core of the TIM barrel that involve conserved polar residues whose functions were hitherto unknown. These changes simultaneously contribute to stabilization of the reaction intermediate and alternation of the pKa of the catalytic acid during the catalytic cycle.
In this article, the synthesis of analogs of N,N',N''-triacetylchitotriose in which the central sugar residue was replaced by a succinic acid is presented. Mol. modeling calcns. revealed that the pseudotrisaccharides exist in low energy extended conformations which show similar space filling as N,N',N''-triacetylchitotriose. Of the N,N',N''-triacetylchitotriose pseudosugar analogs tested as chitinase inhibitors, none showed any appreciable competition (numerical data not presented). The conformational anal. along with further synthetic efforts will hopefully lead to more efficient pseudosaccharides as chitinase inhibitors.
The soln.-state conformations of the hevamine inhibitor allosamidin and six potential inhibitor analogs were studied by various NMR spectroscopic techniques and mol. modeling using force field calcns. Detn. solely of the global energy min. conformation was found to be insufficient for consensus with the NMR results, and agreement between the NMR exptl. data and the theor. calcns. was only reached by assessing the structures as population-weighted av. conformers on the basis of Boltzmann distributions derived from the calcd. relative energies. The conformations of the glycosidic linkages in the compds. were found to be similar when the sugar residues were the same, but differences were markedly evident otherwise and also for the various heterocyclic group linkages. The binding of the compds. to hevamine, which may also complex to chitinases in general, was assessed using HMQC, transfer-NOESY, and both 1-D and 2-D satn. transfer difference NMR expts. Under the conditions employed, only allosamidin was implicated to be bound to hevamine, and then only by HMQC with the dipolar coupling-based expts. failing to substantiate the formation of the complex. However, the results are consistent with the biochem. activities of the compds. whereby only allosamidin has been shown to act as a competitive inhibitor.
Based on NMR spectroscopic information about the allosamidin-hevamine complex, ab initio MO calcns. of the ring current effect of the arom. moieties of Trp255, Tyr183 and Tyr6 of hevamine were carried out to investigate the role of these amino acid residues in binding interactions with allosamidin in soln. In addn., the intermol. steric compression effect on the 13C chem. shifts of the allosamizoline carbon atoms and the hydrogen bonding to Glu127 was identified. It can be inferred that the binding forces are strongest in the allosamizoline moiety of allosamidin.
A model system of tanning of a protein matrix within a fibrous structure, such as most commonly found in insect cuticle, was developed, using the cellulose of paper in place of chitin. The paper was impregnated with a tripeptide, DOPA-Gly-Gly, or a protein (BSA) plus catechol and treated with tyrosinase to oxidize the catechol. The resulting material was waterproof and had very high wet strength. If the material was wetted and dried repeatedly its water retention decreased by a factor of at least two.
From the stem bark of Erythrina sacleuxii two new isoflavanones, (R)-5,7-dihydroxy-2',4',5'- trimethoxyisoflavanone (trivial name, (R)-2,3-dihydro-7-demethylrobustigenin) and (R)-5-hydroxy- 2',4',5'-trimethoxy-2'',2''- dimethylpyrano[5'',6'':6,7]isoflavanone (trivial name, (R)-saclenone) were isolated. In addition the known compounds shinpterocarpin, 2,3-dehydrokievitone, abyssinone V, abyssinone V-4'-methyl ether, erythrinasinate and 4'-O-methylsigmoidin B were isolated. The structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.
Characterization of chitosan
(1998)
Primärstoffwechsel, Shikimat- und Phenylpropan-Gruppe, Vitamine, Coenzyme, Pflanzeninhaltsstoffe
(1997)
Chitinase inhibitors
(1997)
Chitin in den Startlöchern
(1995)
4-Phenylphenoxazinones were isolated after biomimetic oxidation, using diphenoloxidases of insect cuticle, mushroom tyrosinase, or after autoxidation of N-acetyldopamine (Image ) in the presence of β-alanine, β-alanine methyl ester or N-acetyl-L-lysine. They are formed presumably by addition of 2-aminoalkyl-5-alkylphenols to the o-quinone of biphenyltetrol which, in turn, arises from oxidative coupling of. The structures of present the first examples for the assembly of reasonably stable intermediates in the rather complex process of chemical modifications of aliphatic amino acid residues by o-quinones.
Several types of insect cuticle contain enzymes catalyzing the formation ofof adducts between N-acetyldopamine (NADA) and N-acetylhistidine (NAH). Two such adducts, NAH-NADA-I and NAH NADA-II, have been isolated and their structures determined. In one of the adducts the link connecting the two residues occurs between the I-position (ß-position) in the NADA side chain and the 1-N atom (τ-N) in the imidazole ring of histidine. Diphenoloxidase activity alone is not sufficient for formation of this adduct, whereas extracts containing both diphenoloxidase and o-quinone-p-quinone methide isomerase activities catalyze the coupling reaction. The adduct consists of a mixture of two diastereomers and they are presumably formed by spontaneous reaction between enzymatically produced NADA-p-quinone methide and N-acetylhistidine. The other adduct has been identified as a ring addition product of N-acetylhistidine and NADA. In contrast to the former adduct it can be formed by incubation of the two substrates with mushroom tyrosinase alone. An adduct between N-acetylhistidine and the benzodioxan-type NADA-dimer is produced in vitro, when the N-acetylhistidine-NADA adduct is incubated with NADA and locust cuticle containing a 1,2-dehydro-NADA generating enzyme system. Trimeric NADA-polymerization products of the substituted benzodioxan-type have been obtained from in vivo sclerotized locust cuticle, confirming the ability of cuticle to produce NADA-oligomers. The results indicate that some insect cuticles contain enzymes promoting linkage of oxidized NADA to histidine residues. It is suggested that histidine residues in the cuticular proteins can serve as acceptors for oxidized NADA and that further addition of NADA-residues to the phenolic groups of bound NADA can occur, resulting in formation of protein-linked NADA-oligomers. The coupling reactions identified may be an important step in natural cuticular sclerotization.
The synthesis of galactose clusters that are linked to a steroid moiety by a peptide-like spacer unit is described. The galactose cluster is obtained by Koenigs-Knorr glycosylation of TRIS-Gly-Fmoc (2b) under Helferich conditions. Peptide and ester bonds are formed after activation of carboxylic acids as diphenylthiophene dioxide (TDO) esters. 6a is synthesized in a convergent way by coupling of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly (3e) with cholesteryl TDO succinate (5b). Coupling of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly hydrogen succinate (3f) with Gly-O-Chol (5d) by means of EEDQ yields 6d. Reaction of (Ac4Gal)3-TRIS-Gly-SUCC-O-TDO (3g) with 25-hydroxycholesterol leads in a linear sequence to the oxysterol derivative 6f. Selective cleavage of the acetyl groups from galactose units yields the known compound 6b and the new derivatives 6e and 6g.
Aus dem Inhalt: Melanins are complex polyphenolic polymers. They are usually formed in nature by enzyme-catalyzed oxidative polymerization of o-diphenols. The deep black eumelanins, derived from Dopa 1 or dopamine 3, are distinguished from the yellow to brown phaeomelanins obtained from Dopa in the presence of cysteine. Characteristic of eumelanins are the indole units, which are formed from catecholamines by intramolecular addition of the amino groups to the oxidatively generated o-quinones. [...]
Chinone und Vorstufen, die oxidativ in Chinone und/oder Chinonmethide umgewandelt werden können, sind in der Natur weit verbreitet. Als sekundäre Naturstoffe wirken sie häufig antibiotisch, cytotoxisch, aber auch pathogen, und eine Reihe von Pflanzen und Tieren benutzt chinoide Substanzen als Abwehrstoffe, oft mit spektakulärem Erfolg. Auf makromolekularer Ebene spielen Chinonmethide im Pflanzenreich eine Schlüsselrolle bei der Biosynthese von Lignin, während die Bildung von Melanoproteinen ein Beispiel für Reaktionen von o-Chinonen im Tierreich ist. Bei den Insekten dienen Chinone und Chinonmethide zur Bildung des lebensnotwendigen Exoskeletts. Die Reaktivität von Chinonen in biologischen Systemen hat auch für den Menschen unmittelbare Bedeutung in pharmazeutischer, toxikologischer und technologischer Hinsicht. Den Beispielen in diesem Aufsatz liegt ein gemeinsames Prinzip zugrunde, nämlich die chemische Modifikation von Biopolymeren durch Chinone und Chinonmethide. Wie sich besonders bei einer detaillierteren Betrachtung der Reaktionen zeigt, die zur Sklerotisierung der Insektencuticula führen, sind in den letzten Jahren wichtige neue Erkenntnisse hinzugekommen, die vor allem durch die modernen Methoden der Stofftrennung und der Festkörper-NMR-Spektroskopie ermöglicht worden sind.
Aus dem Inhalt: Melanine sind komplexe polyphenolische Polymere. In der Natur entstehen sie durch meist enzymkatalysierte oxidative Polymerisation von o-Diphenolen. Man unterscheidet die aus Dopa 1 oder Dopamin 3 hervorgehenden, tiefschwarzen Eumelanine von den aus Dopa in Gegenwart von Cystein entstehenden, gelben bis braunen Phaomelaninen. [...]
The inhibitory effect of sinefungin on juvenile hormone biosynthesis and development in locusts
(1987)
The antibiotic fungal metabolite sinefungin is a potent inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine-acceptor methyltransferases. Its effect on insect metabolism and especially on corpora allata farnesoic acid methyltransferase, which catalyzes the penultimate step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis, was investigated in Locusta migratoria. Injection of sinefungin results in a delay of imaginal molt and in suppression of ovary development. Isolated corpora allata are unable to synthesize juvenile hormone III in the presence of more than 1.0 mM sinefungin. In a cell-free system containing the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent farnesoic acid methyltransferase from corpora allata sinefungin is a competitive inhibitor of the synthesis of methylfarnesoate with Ki of 1 μM.
Sinefungin inhibited the S-adenosylmethionine-dependent farnesoic acid methyltransferase in a cell-free system containing a homogenate of corpora allata from female locusts, Locusta migratoria. The enzyme catalyzed the penultimate step of juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the insects. Culturing corpora allata in the presence of sinefungin greatly suppressed juvenile hormone production. The following in vivo effects were visible after injection of the inhibitor: increase in mortality and reduction of total haemolymph protein liter and ovary fresh weight, as well as length of terminal oocytes. Attempts to reverse these effects by topical application of the juvenile hormone analog ZR-515 (methoprene) were only partly successful. Therefore, the in vivo effects may be due to a general inhibition of methyltransferase enzymes in the insect. Sinefungin appeared to be of potential interest as the first representative of a new class of insect growth regulators.