Activity In Cell-free System Research Articles

Characterization of a small molecule inhibitor of melanogenesis that inhibits tyrosinase activity and scavenges nitric oxide (NO)

BackgroundExcessive melanin production and accumulation are characteristics of a large number of skin diseases, including melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. During our on-going search for new agents with an inhibitory effect on tyrosinase, we synthesized a new type of tyrosinase inhibitor, 4-(thiazolidin-2-yl)benzene-1,2-diol (MHY-794), which directly inhibits mushroom tyrosinase. MethodsThe inhibitory effect of MHY-794 on tyrosinase activity and nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity was evaluated in cell free system. Additional experiments were performed using B16F10 melanoma cells to demonstrate the effects of MHY-794 in vitro. HRM2 hairless mice were used to evaluate anti-melanogenic effects of MHY-794 in vivo. ResultsMHY-794 effectively inhibited mushroom tyrosinase activity in cell free system. In silico docking simulation also supported the inhibitory effects of MHY-794 on mushroom tyrosinase. MHY-794 also proved to be effective at scavenging nitric oxide (NO), which serves as an important modulator in the melanogenesis signaling pathway. In addition, MHY-794 effectively inhibited SNP (NO donor)-induced melanogenesis by directly inhibiting tyrosinase and diminishing NO-mediated melanogenesis signaling in B16 melanoma cells. The anti-melanogenic effects of MHY-794 were further confirmed in HRM2 hairless mice. Ultraviolet light (UV) significantly up-regulated NO-mediated melanogenesis signaling in HRM2 hairless mice, but MHY-794 effectively inhibited both melanogenesis and diminished UV-induced NO-signaling. ConclusionsOur results indicate that MHY-794 is highly effective at inhibiting NO-mediated melanogenesis in vitro and in vivo by direct NO scavenging and directly inhibiting tyrosinase activity, and suggest that MHY-794 be considered a new developmental candidate for the treatment of hyper-pigmentation disorders. General significanceMHY-794, which showed great efficacy on NO-mediated melanogenesis by direct NO scavenging as well as direct inhibition of tyrosinase catalytic activity, might be utilized for the development of a new candidate for treatment of the hyper-pigmentation disorders.

Bioactive Secondary Metabolites of a Marine Bacillus sp. Inhibit Superoxide Generation and Elastase Release in Human Neutrophils by Blocking Formyl Peptide Receptor 1

It is well known that overwhelming neutrophil activation is closely related to acute and chronic inflammatory injuries. Formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) plays an important role in activation of neutrophils and may represent a potent therapeutic target in inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we demonstrated that IA-LBI07-1 (IA), an extract of bioactive secondary metabolites from a marine Bacillus sp., has anti-inflammatory effects in human neutrophils. IA significantly inhibited superoxide generation and elastase release in formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (FMLP)-activated neutrophils, but failed to suppress the cell responses activated by non-FPR1 agonists. IA did not alter superoxide production and elastase activity in cell-free systems. IA also attenuated the downstream signaling from FPR1, such as the Ca2+, MAP kinases and AKT pathways. In addition, IA inhibited the binding of N-formyl-Nle-Leu-Phe-Nle-Tyr-Lys-fluorescein, a fluorescent analogue of FMLP, to FPR1 in human neutrophils and FPR1-transfected HEK293 cells. Taken together, these results show that the anti-inflammatory effects of IA in human neutrophils are through the inhibition of FPR1. Also, our data suggest that IA may have therapeutic potential to decrease tissue damage induced by human neutrophils.

Bioluminescence technologies to detect calicivirus protease activity in cell-free system and in infected cells

Feline calicivirus (FCV) is an important veterinary pathogen and causes respiratory disease in cats. Because it grows well in cell culture, FCV is often used as a model virus of non-culturable caliciviruses. In this study, a cell-free and two cell culture-based biosensor assay systems were established to detect FCV protease activity. The assays utilize luciferase sensor technology or second-generation bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET 2). A luciferase sensor was designed to contain an FCV protease cleavage motif within the permutated luciferase (GloSensor). The BRET 2-based probe contained the same cleavage motif flanked by a renilla luciferase and a variant of green fluorescent protein. To confirm the specificity of these assay systems, GloSensor or a BRET 2-based probe containing a mutation in the cleavage motif was also constructed. In a cell-free assay, GloSensor showed increased luminescence in proportion to the amount of FCV protease, while no signal change was observed when the construct harboring the mutant cleavage motif was used. A feline cell line stably expressing GloSensor or the BRET 2-based probe was established. Increased levels of GloSensor luminescence, and decreased levels of BRET 2 signals were observed according to input FCV titers. In contrast, no significant signal change was observed in the cells stably expressing the mutant cleavage motif. GloSensor and the BRET 2-based probe were capable of detecting the inhibitory activity of ribavirin in FCV-infected cells. Our results demonstrate that these biosensors are useful to detect FCV protease activity induced in infected cells, and well worth consideration for screening of anti-FCV protease compounds in cell-free system as well as anti-FCV compounds in cultured cells.

Phytomedicinal Role of Pithecellobium dulce against CCl4‐mediated Hepatic Oxidative Impairments and Necrotic Cell Death

Present study investigates the beneficial role of the aqueous extract of the fruits of Pithecellobium dulce (AEPD) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury using a murine model. AEPD has been found to possess free radical (DPPH, hydroxyl and superoxide) scavenging activity in cell-free system. CCl4 exposure increased the activities of various serum maker enzymes and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In line with these findings, we also observed that CCl4 intoxication increased the lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation accompanied by decreased intracellular antioxidant defense, activity of cytochrome P450 and CYP2E1 expression. DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analyses revealed that CCl4 exposure caused hepatic cell death mainly via the necrotic pathway. Treatment with AEPD both pre- and post-toxin exposure protected the organ from CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Histological findings also support our results. A well-known antioxidant vitamin C was included in this study to compare the antioxidant potency of AEPD. Combining all, results suggest that AEPD protects murine liver against CCl4-induced oxidative impairments probably via its antioxidative property.

Evaluation of Nonradioactive Cell-Free cAMP Assays for Measuring in vitro Phosphodiesterase Activity

Phosphodiesterases (PDE) are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of cAMP/cGMP to 5′-AMP/GMP. In vitro assays have routinely assayed cAMP/cGMP levels as a direct indicator of PDE activity. Earlier PDE assays depended on radiometric detection of radiolabeled cAMP. Of late, nonradiometric cAMP detection systems have been developed that are cheaper and more amenable to high-throughput screening. Two such assays, namely the enzyme fragment complementation technology and homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assays, are currently used for monitoring cAMP as a correlate for G-protein-coupled-receptor-induced cellular signaling events. Here, we have compared and validated both of these assays for the measurement of PDE4 enzyme activity in cell-free systems.

SYUNZ‐16, a newly synthesized alkannin derivative, induces tumor cells apoptosis and suppresses tumor growth through inhibition of PKB/AKT kinase activity and blockade of AKT/FOXO signal pathway

Alkannin is the major bioactive compound of Arnebia euchroma roots, which is used in many therapeutic remedies in Chinese traditional medicine. SYUNZ-16 is a new derivative of alkannin. In this study, anticancer effects of SYUNZ-16 on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line GLC-82 and human hepatocarcinoma cell line Hep3B were tested in vitro. The results showed SYUNZ-16 could obviously inhibit the proliferation of these cancer cell lines via induction of apoptosis, with the evidence of increasing AnnexinV-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 and PARP fragments. More importantly, we found that SYUNZ-16 could inhibit AKT activity in cell-free system. Treatment of cancer cells with SYUNZ-16 decreased the phosphorylation of AKT. Additionally, SYUNZ-16 partially attenuated the phosphorylation levels of FKHR and FKHRL1 in a dose-dependent and time-dependent fashion, and led to an increase in the nuclear accumulation of exogenous FKHR, and upregulated the mRNA expression of Bim and TRADD in cancer cells. Further study showed that constitutively activated AKT1 transfection could reduce apoptosis induction mediated by SYUNZ-16. The in vivo experiments showed that SYUNZ-16 had inhibitory effects on S-180 sarcoma implanted to mice. And in GLC-82 xenograft models, SYUNZ-16 at 20 mg/kg/qod remarkably inhibited the tumor growth with the T/C value of 45.3%. Taken together, SYUNZ-16 might be a potent inhibitor of AKT signaling pathway in tumor cells. These data provide evidence for the development of SYUNZ-16 as a potential antitumor drug candidate for further research and development.

Abstract 3796: Inhibition of epigenetic chromatin-modification enzymes: histone deacetylases and DNA methyltransferases by silibinin in human NSCLC H1299 cells

Abstract Epigenetic modifications of histones (e.g. hypoacetylation) and DNA (e.g. hypermethylation) cause reversible alterations in chromatin structure leading to aberrant changes in gene expression, which eventually impact cellular processes like cell cycle, apoptosis, and invasion during malignant transformation of cells. Several tumor suppressor genes like CDH1, RARB, RASSF1A, MGMT etc are silenced by these interlinked mechanisms in human lung cancer; the leading diagnosed and lethal malignancy world wide. Hence, the impetus has been on developing novel agents that target ‘epigenome’ for both cancer therapy and chemoprevention. Silibinin, a flavanolignan isolated from the seeds of milk thistle exerts strong anti-cancer efficacy against many epithelial cancers including lung. Recently, we showed that silibinin inhibits p53 null-H1299 cell growth through G1 arrest by modulating the expression and function of associated key cell-cycle regulators. Herein, we assessed the effect of silibinin on major chromatin-modification enzymes to delineate their possible involvement in the observed silibinin effects. A time response study for histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity in total cell extract showed that silibinin treatment causes a dose-dependent decrease in enzyme activity from 6h [(100 µM; p<0.05)]-72h [(75-100 µM; p<0.001)]. Concomitantly, under similar treatment conditions, a sustained accumulation of acetylated histones (H3 and H4) in total cellular chromatin was observed between 6-24h time points. We also addressed the question whether silibinin directly inhibits HDAC activity in a cell free system. In both total and nuclear cell extracts, a decreasing trend in enzyme activity was observed by silibinin addition in incubation reactions, but the concentration for 50% inhibition (IC50) was ∼ 400 µM, suggesting an indirect effect of silibinin in regulating HDAC activity in cell free system. Consistent with these results, silibinin (75-100 µM) also caused a decrease in the protein levels of HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, DNMT1 and DNMT3A in nuclear and total extracts after 24, 48 and 72h of treatment. Next, we evaluated the expression profile of 84 key genes encoding chromatin-modification enzymes in H1299 cells after silibinin treatment (100 µM; 72h). Real time RT-PCR array analysis identified a subset of fifteen genes, primarily including DNMT3A, HDAC1, HDAC6, SET domain proteins (SETD1A, D4, D6) and lysine specific demethylases (KDM 5B, 5C, 4A) which were significantly down-regulated (∼2-4 fold) in silibinin treated samples compared to vehicle controls. Collectively, these results show that silibinin inhibits specific histone deacetylases, histone demethylases and DNA methyltransferases, which might cooperatively contribute to the anti-cancer efficacy of this non-toxic phytochemical. (Supported by CA113876) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3796.

Effect of coenzyme Q10 on cutaneous healing in skin-incised mice

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a biosynthesized quinone with 10 isoprene side chains in humans. To investigate the anti-inflammatory and wound healing effect of CoQ10, we performed in vivo and in vitro experiments. In vivo studies, there were 3 groups; Naive (without skin incision), Control (with skin incision) and CoQ10 (100 mg/kg treatment with skin incision). Collagen-like polymer (CLP) level of CoQ10 group was increased significantly compared to the control group (p<0.05). Also, CoQ10 group showed significant inhibition on myeloperoxidase (MPO) and PLA(2) level compared to the control group (p<0.05). These data show that CoQ10 may have an anti-inflammatory and a wound healing effect. CoQ10 showed significant antioxidant activity in vivo on malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels compared to the control group (p<0.05). Although CoQ10 did not show antioxidant activity in cell free system of DPPH radical scavenge, it had a potent antioxidant activity in cell culture system of both silica- and zymosan-induced reactive oxygen species generation using Raw 264.7 cells. This result may be associated with the conversion of CoQ10 to the reduced form (CoQ10H(2)) in the presence of some kinds of intracellular reducing agents. In conclusion, it is considered that CoQ10 appears to have a cutaneous healing effect in vivo, which may be related to the secondary action of CoQ10.

Protection of PC12 Cells against Superoxide-induced Damage by Isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus

To further investigate the neuroprotective effects of five isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus on xanthine (XA)/ xanthine oxidase (XO)-induced injury to PC12 cells. PC12 cells were damaged by XA/XO. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, MTT, LDH, and GSH assays were used to evaluate the protection of these five isoflavonoids. Contents of Bcl-2 family proteins were determined with flow cytometry. Among the five isoflavonoids including formononetin, ononin, 9, 10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-beta-D-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were found to inhibit XA/ XO-induced injury to PC12 cells. Their EC50 values of formononetin and calycosin were 0.05 microg/mL. Moreover, treatment with these three isoflavonoids prevented a decrease in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), while formononetin and calycosin could prevent a significant deletion of GSH. In addition, only calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside were shown to inhibit XO activity in cell-free system, with an approximate IC50 value of 10 microg/mL and 50 microg/mL. Formononetin and calycosin had no significant influence on Bcl-2 or Bax protein contents. Neuroprotection of formononetin, calycosin and calycosin-7-O-glucoside may be mediated by increasing endogenous antioxidants, rather by inhibiting XO activities or by scavenging free radicals.

Dissociation of in vitro DNA deamination activity and physiological functions of AID mutants

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is essential for the DNA cleavage that initiates both somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR) of the Ig gene. Two alternative mechanisms of DNA cleavage by AID have been proposed: RNA editing and DNA deamination. In support of the latter, AID has DNA deamination activity in cell-free systems that is assumed to represent its physiological function. To test this hypothesis, we generated various mouse AID mutants and compared their DNA deamination, CSR, and SHM activities. Here, we compared DNA deamination, CSR, and SHM activities of various AID mutants and found that most of their CSR or SHM activities were disproportionate with their DNA deamination activities. Specifically, we identified a cluster of mutants (H48A, L49A, R50A, and N51A) with low DNA deamination activity but relatively intact CSR activity. Of note is an AID mutant (N51A) that retained CSR function but lost DNA deamination activity. In addition, an APOBEC1 mutation at N57, homologous to N51 of AID, also abolished DNA deamination activity but retained RNA editing activity. These results indicate that DNA deamination activity does not represent the physiological function of AID.

Pharmaceutical excipients inhibit cytochrome P450 activity in cell free systems and after systemic administration

Excipients are largely used as inert vehicles in formulation. Recent studies indicated that some excipients could affect drug transport and disposition. But the effects of most excipients on drug metabolism are yet to be unveiled. To evaluate the actual action of pharmaceutical excipients in biotransformation, we examined the effects of 22 common excipients on cytochrome P450 3A4, the main CYP in intestinal and liver, using midazolam as the probe. The results showed that 15 of 22 (68.2%) tested excipients could inhibit the activity of CYP3A4 more than 50% in vitro, particularly the surfactants and polymers. To further understand these effects in vivo, five excipients were selected to study the effects on CYP3A4 in rats through the pharmacokinetics of midazolam and its primary metabolite 1′-hydroxymidazolam. In in vivo studies, most selected excipients significantly inhibited the activity of CYP3A4 by increasing the midazolam AUC 0–∞ and decreasing the midazolam CL/F as well as decreasing the ratio of AUC 0–∞ (1′-hydroxymidazolam)/AUC 0–∞ (midazolam). For examples, single and multiple dose administration of PEG400 increased intraduodenally dosed midazolam AUC 0–∞ to 1.78- and 1.51-fold, decreased midazolam CL/F from 8.86 to 5.25 and 6.28 L/h/kg and decreased the ratio of AUC 0–∞ (1′-hydroxymidazolam)/AUC 0–∞ (midazolam) from 1.14 to 0.34 and 0.39, respectively ( p < 0.05). This study indicated that some excipients could change drug metabolism through the effects on cytochrome P450 activity, such as CYP3A4, and thus this kind of inhibition should be taken into consideration in drug formulation and administration.

Ursolic acid: a potent Inhibitor of superoxides produced in the cellular system

Triterpenoids of ursane class: ursolic acid, ilelatifol D, corosolic acid and euscaphic acid were isolated for the first time from Leonurus cardiaca, a member of the family Lamiaceae. The isolated compounds were tested for their cell-based antiinflammatory potential by suppressing respiratory burst activity and superoxide scavenging property by using xanthine/xanthine oxidase system to produce superoxides in the cell-free system. Ursolic acid was found to be an excellent inhibitor for the superoxides produced in the cellular system, while the same was inactive in the superoxide scavenging activity in cell-free system.

The Phosphoinositide-Binding Protein p40phox Regulates NADPH Oxidase Activation Rather Than Assembly during FcγIIA Receptor-Induced Phagocytosis.

Many critical features of the organization and regulation of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase, a complex multi-subunit enzyme that generates superoxide for microbial killing, remain poorly defined. The active enzyme includes a membrane-bound flavocytochrome b along with p47phox, p67phox, p40phox, and Rac-GTP that are present in the cytosol of resting cells. p67phox is linked by high affinity interactions with both p47phox and p40phox, which appear to translocate as a trimeric complex upon cellular activation. The p47phox subunit acts as an adaptor to promote translocation by docking at a proline-rich target sequence on the flavocytochrome, and p67phox is a Rac-GTP effector containing a domain that activates electron transport. In contrast, the function of p40phox, which is not required for high level oxidase activity in cell free systems, is poorly understood. Recently, our group showed that p40phox plays key role in the activation of superoxide production during phagocytosis of IgG-opsonized targets in COSphoxFcγR cells. This model cell line contains stable transgenes for the flavocytochrome, p47phox, p67phox, and the FcγIIA receptor, without or with an additional transgene for p40phox. p40phox-dependent coupling of FcγR-mediated phagocytosis to superoxide production required an intact p40phox PX domain, which binds to phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI3P), a phosphoinositide generated by class III PI3 kinases in phagosome membranes (Suh et al J Exp Med 203, 1915Suh et al J Exp Med 203, 2006). Furthermore, a newly developed p40phox-null mouse exhibits reduced neutrophil NADPH oxidase activity in response to selected agonists, including IgG-opsonized targets (Ellson et al J Exp Med 203, 1927Ellson et al J Exp Med 203, 2006). In the current study, we investigated whether p40phox is required for translocation of p67phox during phagocytosis. We generated COSphoxFcγR cells expressing YFP-tagged p67phox from a stable transgene instead of untagged p67phox. Following incubation with IgG-opsonized sheep red blood cells (IgG-RBC), p67phox was detected on phagosome membranes at both early stages of phagosome cup formation and after closure, independent of whether or not p40phox was also co-expressed. However, NADPH oxidase activity was not detected in IgG-RBC phagosomes in COSphoxFcγR-p67phox-YFP cells unless p40phox was present. PMA-activated superoxide production was independent of p40phox, and Western blotting indicated there was no significant difference in expression of the other oxidase subunits in COSphoxFcγR-p67phox-YFP cells without or with the p40phox transgene. Further studies in PLB-985 granulocytes expressing stable transgenes for either YFP-tagged p67phox or p40phox showed that the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin inhibited phagosome NADPH oxidase activity and translocation of p40phox, but localization of p67phox to phagosomes was unaffected. These results indicate that although p40phox positively regulates NADPH oxidase activation during phagocytosis, recruitment of p67phox to the phagosome is independent of p40phox. Taken together, these data suggest that the PX domain of p40phox acts as a PI3P-dependent switch to activate the membrane-assembled NADPH oxidase complex.

Role for p40phox in Fcγ-Receptor-Induced NADPH Oxidase Activation.

The phagocyte NADPH oxidase catalyzes the production of superoxide, the precursor to microbicidal oxidants that are essential for normal host defense. The active enzyme complex includes a membrane-bound flavocytochrome b along with p47−phox, p67phox, and Rac-GTP, which translocate from the cytosol to the membrane to activate electron transport through the flavocytochrome upon cellular stimulation with soluble or particulate agonists. Translocation of p67phox is mediated by p47phox, which can be isolated from the cytoplasm prior to oxidase activation as a complex along with a third protein, p40phox. Although p40phox also translocates to the membrane of activated cells, its role in regulation of the NADPH oxidase has been unclear. p40phox is not required for reconstitution of high-level NADPH oxidase activity in cell-free systems or in heterologous whole cell models based in COS7 or K562 cell lines. It has recently been recognized that p40phox binds phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P), a product of type III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, via an N-terminal PX domain, and that PI(3)P is generated in high levels in the phagosomal membrane, where it recruits proteins important for phagosomal maturation. To examine whether p40phox might play a role in NADPH oxidase activation during phagocytosis, we introduced a cDNA for the human FcγIIA receptor via retroviral-mediated gene transfer into COS7 cells expressing the phagocyte flavocytochrome b, p47phox, and p67phox from stable transgenes. As previously shown by a number of groups for parental COS7 cells, heterologous expression of FcγIIA enabled “COSphox” cells to ingest IgG-coated sheep red blood cells (IgG-SRBC). However, NADPH oxidase activity was not detected, using nitroblue tetrazolium as a probe to detect superoxide production, which is otherwise evident by the accumulation of intraphagosomal formazan deposits in macrophages and neutrophils undergoing phagocytosis. However, numerous NBT-positive (formazan-stained) phagosomes were seen in COSphoxFcγR cells upon transient or stable transfection of an expression plasmid for p40phox. NBT-positive phagosomes were detected within five minutes in a synchronized phagocytosis assay. Upon transient expression of derivatives of p40phox which had point missense mutations in the PX domain predicted to prevent binding of PI(3)P, only rare NBT-positive phagosomes were detected in COSphoxFcγR cells ingesting IgG-SRBC. Transient expression of p40phox derivatives with point mutations in the SH3 domain, which disrupts a potential binding site for p47phox, or in the PC motif, which should disrupt binding to p67phox, resulted in a ~2-fold reduction in the numbers of NBT-positive phagosomes. Introduction of both the SH3 and PC mutations into p40phox resulted in only rare NBT-positive phagosomes following transient transfection of the double mutant and subsequent phagocytosis of IgG-SRBC. Thus, this study identifies a role for p40phox in coupling NADPH oxidase activation to phagocytosis of IgG-coated particles. Results of experiments using mutant derivatives of p40phox suggest that its ability to interact with both PI(3)P and p47phox/p67phox are critical determinants in this process.

Oxidative DNA damage in circulating mononuclear blood cells after ingestion of blackcurrant juice or anthocyanin-rich drink

Berry extracts possess antioxidant activity in cell free systems, whereas cell culture and animal experimental systems have produced mixed outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the effects of blackcurrant juice and specifically blackcurrant anthocyanins on the steady state level of oxidative DNA damage in mononuclear blood cells (MNBC) of humans, determined as strand breaks (SB) as well as endonuclease III (Endo III) and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) sensitive sites by the comet assay. Fifty-seven healthy humans completed a 3-week controlled parallel intervention study with three groups randomized to supplementation with blackcurrant juice, anthocyanin drink, or a control drink. The daily doses ranged from 475 to 1000 ml/d according to body weight (mean anthocyanin intakes in blackcurrant juice and anthocyanin drink groups were 397 and 365 g/d, respectively) and they were ingested during three daily meals while all volunteers were on the same strictly controlled low-flavonoid diet. Fasting venous blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 3-week of supplementation. The baseline level of oxidative DNA damage was low (e.g. less than 200 Fpg lesions per diploid cell). Fpg sensitive sites increased during the intervention within the blackcurrant juice group, whereas there were no differences between treatments in any of the DNA damage markers. In conclusion, this study shows that even large amounts of dietary antioxidants did not decrease the already low steady state levels of oxidative DNA damage in healthy adequately nourished humans.

Some fused heterocyclic compounds as eukaryotic topoisomerase II inhibitors

Our previously synthesized 37 compounds, which are 2,5,6-substituted benzoxazole, benzimidazole, benzothiazole, and oxazolo(4,5- b)pyridine derivatives, were tested for their eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II inhibitory activity in cell free system and 28 were found to inhibit the topoisomerase II at an initial concentration of 100 μg/ml. After further testing at a lower range of concentrations, 12 derivatives, which were considered as positive topoisomerase inhibitors, exhibited IC 50 values between 11.4 and 46.8 μM. Etoposide was used as the standard reference drug to compare the inhibitor activity. Among these compounds, 2-phenoxymethylbenzothiazole ( 3f), 6-nitro-2-(2-methoxyphenyl)benzoxazole ( 1a), 5-methylcarboxylate-2-phenylthiomethylbenzimidazole ( 3c), and 6-methyl-2-(2-nitrophenyl)benzoxazole (1c) were found to be more active than the reference drug etoposide. Present results point out that, besides the very well-known bi- and ter-benzimidazoles, compounds with single bicycle fused ring systems in their structure such as benzimidazole, benzoxazole, benzothiazole, and/or oxazolopyridine derivatives also exhibit significant topoisomerase II inhibitory activity.

P38 MAP kinase mediates stress-induced leukotriene synthesis in a human B-lymphocyte cell line

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO), which catalyzes the first two steps in leukotriene biosynthesis, is a target for pharmacological treatment of inflammatory disorders. Previous studies have shown that B-lymphocytes express 5-LO. Here we demonstrate that several stimuli of cell stress such as osmotic shock (sorbitol, NaCl), oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide, diamide), chemical stress sodium arsenite, and inflammatory cytokines enhanced cellular 5-LO activity in a B cell line (BL41-E95-A), when added simultaneously with ionophore plus arachidonate. It is interesting that sorbitol alone was sufficient for 5-LO product formation in the presence of exogenous arachidonic acid. These stimuli also activated p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and downstream MAP kinase-activated protein kinases in BL41-E95-A cells, which could phosphorylate 5-LO or heat shock protein 27 in vitro. The p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580 abolished stress-induced leukotriene synthesis in B cells, without inhibition of 5-LO catalytic activity in cell-free systems. Our results indicate that p38 MAP kinase activation by cell stress is required for efficient leukotriene synthesis in B-lymphocytes.

30] Isolation and properties of GRP1, an ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF)-guanine nucleotide exchange protein regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate

This chapter discusses the isolation and properties of general receptor for 3-phosphoinositides (GRP1), an adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factor (ARF)-guanine nucleotide exchange protein regulated by phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. GRP1 was isolated based on the high affinity binding to PtdIns(3,4,5)P 3 of its PH domain, using a screen of a cDNA expression library. The Sec7 homology domain of GRP1 appears to be capable of catalyzing GTP-GDP exchange on all known ARF proteins. Direct demonstration 2,5 of such activity in cell-free systems has been reported for ARF1, ARF5, and ARF6 proteins, which represent each of the three classes of known ARF proteins. This suggests that the related ARF2, ARF3, and ARF4 are also targets of GRP1. However, initially it was observed that ARF6 was apparently not a substrate for GRP15 or ARNO. Subsequently, using a different assay method, two groups showed that ARF6 is indeed a good substrate for these proteins as well. Both assays used are excellent, however, when used with ARF1, and therefore both are provided in this chapter.

Activation domain in P67phox regulates the steady state reduction of FAD in gp91phox

An activation domain in p67(phox) (residues 199-210) is critical for regulating NADPH oxidase activity in cell-free system [10] To determine the steady state reduction of FAD, thioacetamide-FAD was reconstituted in gp91(phox), and the fluorescence of its oxidised form was monitored. Omission of p67(phox) decreased the steady state reduction of the FAD from 28% to 4%, but omission of p47(phox) had little effect. A series of the truncated forms of p67(phox) were expressed in E.coli to determine the domain in p67(phox) which is essential for regulating the steady state of FAD reduction. The minimal length of p67(phox) for for regulating the steady state of FAD reduction is shown to be 1-210 using a series of truncation mutants which indicates that the region 199-210 is also important for regulating electron flow within flavocytochrome b(558). The deletion of this domain not only decreased the superoxide generation but also decreased the steady state of FAD reduction. Therefore, the activation domain on p67(phox) regulates the reductive half-reaction for FAD, consistent with a dominant effect on hydride/electron transfer from NADPH to FAD.

Brefeldin A inhibits cell-free, de novo synthesis of poliovirus.

Brefeldin A (BFA), an inhibitor of intracellular vesicle-dependent secretory transport, is a potent inhibitor of poliovirus RNA replication in infected cells. We have determined that the unknown mechanism of BFA inhibition of replication is reproduced in the cell-free poliovirus translation, replication, and encapsidation system. Furthermore, we provide evidence suggesting that the cellular mechanism targeted by BFA, the GTP-dependent synthesis of secretory transport vesicles, may be involved in viral RNA replication in the system via a soluble cellular GTP-binding and -hydrolyzing activity. This activity is related to the ARF (ADP-ribosylation factor) family of GTP-binding proteins. ARFs are required for the formation of several classes of secretory vesicles, and some family members are indirectly inactivated by BFA. Peptides that function as competitive inhibitors of ARF activity in cell-free transport systems also inhibit poliovirus RNA replication, and this inhibitory effect can be countered by the addition of exogenous ARF. We suggest that BFA inhibition of replication is diagnostic of a requirement for ARF activity in the cell-free system.