Minor Pathway Research Articles

Soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with other species: urinary metabolite concentrations and glucuronidation by liver microsomes

1. Soybean is a common source of protein in many pet foods. Slow glucuronidation of soy-derived isoflavones in cats has been hypothesized to result in accumulation with adverse health consequences. Here, we evaluated species’ differences in soy isoflavone glucuronidation using urine samples from cats and dogs fed a soy-based diet and liver microsomes from cats compared with microsomes from 12 other species.2. Significant concentrations of conjugated (but not unconjugated) genistein, daidzein and glycitein, and the gut microbiome metabolites, dihydrogenistein and dihydrodaidzein, were found in cat and dog urine samples. Substantial amounts of conjugated equol were also found in cat urine but not in dog urine.3. β-Glucuronidase treatment showed that all these compounds were significantly glucuronidated in dog urine while only daidzein (11%) and glycitein (37%) showed any glucuronidation in cat urine suggesting that alternate metabolic pathways including sulfation predominate in cats.4. Glucuronidation rates of genistein, daidzein and equol by cat livers were consistently ranked within the lowest 3 out of 13 species’ livers evaluated. Ferret and mongoose livers were also ranked in the lowest four species.5. Our results demonstrate that glucuronidation is a minor pathway for soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with most other species.

High-resolution mass spectrometric determination of the synthetic cannabinoids MAM-2201, AM-2201, AM-2232, and their metabolites in postmortem plasma and urine by LC/Q-TOFMS.

High-resolution mass spectrometry and accurate mass measurement by liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOFMS) was applied to postmortem plasma and urine specimens from an autopsy of a fatal case involving synthetic cannabinoid use, resulting in the detection of three synthetic cannabinoids: MAM-2201, AM-1220, and AM-2232. We searched for their metabolites existing in postmortem plasma or urine by LC/Q-TOFMS and were able to detect N-dealkylated metabolites, defluorinated and further oxidized metabolites of MAM-2201, and some hydroxylated metabolites. Postmortem plasma concentrations of the parent drugs, N-dealkylated metabolites, and fluorinated and further oxidized metabolites of MAM-2201 were measured, and quantitation results revealed site differences between heart and femoral postmortem plasma concentrations of parent drugs and some metabolites, suggesting postmortem redistribution of the synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites. Quantitation results suggest that defluorination is a major metabolic pathway for MAM-2201, and N-dealkylation is a common but minor pathway for the naphthoylindole-type synthetic cannabinoids in human.

Toxicokinetic study and oral bioavailability of deoxynivalenol in turkey poults, and comparative biotransformation between broilers and turkeys

The aim of present study was to reveal the toxicokinetic properties and absolute oral bioavailability of deoxynivalenol (DON) in turkey poults. Six turkey poults were administered thisFusarium mycotoxinper os and intravenously in a two-way cross-over design. Based on non-compartmental analysis, DON was absorbed rapidly (Tmax= 0.57 h) but incomplete, as the oral bioavailability was only 20.9%. DON was rapidly eliminated as well, both after oral (T1/2elimination PO=0.86 h) as well as intravenous (IV) (T1/2elimination IV = 0.62 h) administration. Furthermore, semi-quantitative analysis using high-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that DON-3α-sulphate is the major metabolite of DON in turkeys after IV as well as oral administration, with DON-3α-sulphate/DON ratios between 1.3-12.6 and 32.4-140.8 after IV and oral administration, respectively. Glucuronidation of DON to DON-3α-glucuronide is a minor pathway in turkey poults, with DON-3α-glucuronide/DON ratios between 0.009-0.065 and 0.020-0.481 after IV and oral administration, respectively. Only trace amounts of other metabolites were found including 10-DON-sulphonate, de-epoxydeoxynivalenol and 10-de-epoxydeoxynivalenol-sulphonate. In addition, a similar two-way cross-over study was performed in three broiler chickens, in order to compare the biotransformation of DON in both poultry species. High-resolution mass spectrometry revealed that DON-3α-sulphate was the major metabolite of DON in broiler chickens as well, with DON-3α-sulphate/DON ratios between 243-453 and 1,365-29,624 after IV and oral administration, respectively. These ratios indicate that broiler chickens metabolise DON even more extensively to the sulphate conjugate compared to turkey poults. Only trace amounts of other metabolites were detected in broiler chickens. In conclusion, it can be stated that the toxicokinetic behaviour of DON in broiler chickens and turkey poults is comparable (low absolute oral bioavailability, rapid absorption and elimination, extensive biotransformation to DON-3α-sulphate), however, relative differences in DON-3α-sulphate/DON ratios exist between both species which might explain the hypothesised difference in sensitivity of both poultry species to DON.

Metabolic mapping of A3 adenosine receptor agonist MRS5980

(1S,2R,3S,4R,5S)-4-(2-((5-Chlorothiophen-2-yl)ethynyl)-6-(methylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl)-2,3-dihydroxy-N-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-1-carboxamide (MRS5980) is an A3AR selective agonist containing multiple receptor affinity- and selectivity-enhancing modifications and a therapeutic candidate drug for many inflammatory diseases. Metabolism-related poor pharmacokinetic behavior and toxicities are a major reason for drug R&D failure. Metabolomics with UPLC-MS was employed to profile the metabolism of MRS5980 and MRS5980-induced disruption of endogenous compounds. Recombinant drug-metabolizing enzymes screening experiment were used to determine the enzymes involved in MRS5980 metabolism. Analysis of lipid metabolism-related genes was performed to investigate the reason for MRS5980-induced lipid metabolic disorders. Unsupervised principal components analysis separated the control and MRS5980 treatment groups in feces, urine, and liver samples, but not in bile and serum. The major ions mainly contributing to the separation of feces and urine were oxidized MRS5980, glutathione (GSH) conjugates and cysteine conjugate (degradation product of the GSH conjugates) of MRS5980. The major ions contributing to the group separation of liver samples were phosphatidylcholines. In vitro incubation experiments showed the involvement of CYP3A enzymes in the oxidative metabolism of MRS5980 and direct GSH reactivity of MRS5980. The electrophilic attack by MRS5980 is a minor pathway and did not alter GSH levels in liver or liver histology, and thus may be of minor clinical consequence. Gene expression analysis further showed decreased expression of PC biosynthetic genes choline kinase a and b, which further accelerated conversion of lysophosphatidylcholine to phosphatidylcholines through increasing the expression of lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3. These data will be useful to guide rational design of drugs targeting A3AR, considering efficacy, metabolic elimination, and electrophilic reactivity.

Exploring the Feasibility of the Sec Route to Secrete Proteins Using the Tat Route in Streptomyces lividans.

Streptomyces lividans uses mainly two pathways to target secretory proteins to the cytoplasmic membrane. The major pathway (Sec pathway) transports pre-proteins using the signal recognition particle, and the minor Tat pathway is responsible for the secretion using a folded conformation of a relatively low number of proteins. The signal peptides of the Sec-dependent alpha-amylase and the Tat-dependent agarase were interchanged and fused in-frame to the corresponding mature part of the other enzyme. Alpha-amylase was unable to use the Tat route when fused to the agarase signal peptide, while agarase used the Sec route when it was targeted by the alpha-amylase signal peptide. In addition to the signal peptide some yet unidentified parts of the secreted proteins may play a role in selecting the secretory route. Structure predictions for the Tat- and Sec-dependent proteins suggest that less structured proteins are more likely to be candidates for the Tat route.

Simultaneous Monitoring of Surface and Gas Phase Species during Hydrogenation of Acetylene over Pt(111) by Polarization-Dependent Infrared Spectroscopy

Acetylene hydrogenation was monitored at ambient pressure with polarization-dependent reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS), which permitted gas phase and surface species to be simultaneously monitored as C2H2(g) was converted first to C2H4(g) and then to C2H6(g). Experiments in which an acetylene-covered surface was hydrogenated with 1.0 × 10–2 Torr H2 between 120 and 300 K indicated that vinyl is the intermediate species to ethylene formation and that the addition of one H to acetylene is the rate-limiting step of the reaction. At a C2H2(g)/H2(g) ratio of 1:100, the reaction was monitored from 300 to 370 K and separately in a constant pressure and constant temperature reaction at 370 K. Ethylidyne and di-σ-ethylene were observed on the surface in both reactions and were found to be spectator species in the hydrogenation of ethylene to ethane. A minor hydrogenation pathway involves a third species, which is best assigned to an ethylidene intermediate. A small coverage of π-ethylene was also...

When mismatch repair met translesion synthesis

When mismatch repair met translesion synthesis

Serum Vitamin D Levels and Polycystic Ovary syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is common in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may be associated with metabolic and endocrine disorders in PCOS. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the associations of serum vitamin D levels with metabolic and endocrine dysregulations in women with PCOS, and to determine effects of vitamin D supplementation on metabolic and hormonal functions in PCOS patients. The literature search was undertaken through five databases until 16 January 2015 for both observational and experimental studies concerning relationships between vitamin D and PCOS. A total of 366 citations were identified, of which 30 were selected (n = 3182). We found that lower serum vitamin D levels were related to metabolic and hormonal disorders in women with PCOS. Specifically, PCOS patients with VDD were more likely to have dysglycemia (e.g., increased levels of fasting glucose and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)) compared to those without VDD. This meta-analysis found no evidence that vitamin D supplementation reduced or mitigated metabolic and hormonal dysregulations in PCOS. VDD may be a comorbid manifestation of PCOS or a minor pathway in PCOS associated metabolic and hormonal dysregulation. Future prospective observational studies and randomized controlled trials with repeated VDD assessment and better characterization of PCOS disease severity at enrollment are needed to clarify whether VDD is a co-determinant of hormonal and metabolic dysregulations in PCOS, represents a consequence of hormonal and metabolic dysregulations in PCOS or both.

Conformational landscape and pathway of disulfide bond reduction of human alpha defensin.

Human alpha defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides with additional antiviral activity. Such antimicrobial peptides constitute a major part of mammalian innate immunity. Alpha defensins contain six cysteines, which form three well defined disulfide bridges under oxidizing conditions. Residues C3-C31, C5-C20, and C10-C30 form disulfide pairs in the native structure of the peptide. The major tissue in which HD5 is expressed is the crypt of the small intestine, an anaerobic niche that should allow for substantial pools of both oxidized and (partly) reduced HD5. We used ion mobility coupled to mass spectrometry to track the structural changes in HD5 upon disulfide bond reduction. We found evidence of stepwise unfolding of HD5 with sequential reduction of the three disulfide bonds. Alkylation of free cysteines followed by tandem mass spectrometry of the corresponding partially reduced states revealed a dominant pathway of reductive unfolding. The majority of HD5 unfolds by initial reduction of C5-C20, followed by C10-C30 and C3-C31. We find additional evidence for a minor pathway that starts with reduction of C3-C31, followed by C5-C20 and C10-C30. Our results provide insight into the pathway and conformational landscape of disulfide bond reduction in HD5.

Identification of AB-FUBINACA metabolites in human hepatocytes and urine using high-resolution mass spectrometry

AB-FUBINACA, N-(1-amino-3-methyl-1-oxobutan-2-yl)-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide, is an indazole synthetic cannabinoid identified in drug seizures around the world. Few metabolism data are available, despite the need for human urinary markers to detect AB-FUBINACA intake. Our main objective was to identify suitable analytical targets by analyzing human hepatocyte incubation samples with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and to confirm the results in authentic urine specimens. We also determined AB-FUBINACA’s metabolic stability in human liver microsomes (HLMs) and compared hepatocyte and urine results with in silico predictions. The metabolic stability of AB-FUBINACA was determined in pooled HLMs (1 µmol/l, up to 1 h). The metabolite profile of human hepatocytes (10 µmol/l, 1 and 3 h) and urine samples from two subjects were determined by HRMS using information-dependent tandem-mass spectrometry (MS-MS) acquisition. Data were analyzed with MetabolitePilot™ software utilizing different processing algorithms, including generic peak finding, mass defect filtering, neutral loss, and product ion filtering. In silico metabolite prediction was performed with MetaSite™ software. AB-FUBINACA’s half-life in HLMs was 62.6 ± 4.0 min. AB-FUBINACA produced 11 metabolites (2 glucuronides) in human hepatocytes and 10 were identified in authentic human urine. Major metabolic pathways were terminal amide hydrolysis, acyl glucuronidation and hydroxylation at the aminooxobutane moiety. Epoxidation followed by hydrolysis, hydroxylation at the indazole moiety and dehydrogenation were minor pathways. Defluorination did not occur. Seventeen first-generation metabolites were predicted in silico, of which seven were observed in vitro and eight in vivo. We recommend AB-FUBINACA carboxylic acid, hydroxy AB-FUBINACA carboxylic acid, dihydrodiol AB-FUBINACA and dihydrodiol AB-FUBINACA carboxylic acid as suitable urinary markers.

Study of the effect of valence bond isomerizations on electrical breakdown by adding acetophenone to polyethylene as voltage stabilizers

A theoretical investigation on the mechanisms of acetophenone added to polyethylene as voltage stabilizers is accomplished at the atomic and molecular levels. The five reaction pathways of valence bond isomerization of acetophenone have been elucidated. The electronic structures at the ground states and lowest triplet states of acetophenone and its valence bond isomers were calculated at the B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, ionization potentials, and electron affinities at the ground states of studied molecules were obtained at the same level. The theoretical results are in good agreement with the available experimental findings. Our calculations indicate that the valence bond isomerization forming the Hückel structure is the major pathway, and the other valence bond isomerizations that yield Dewar, Ladenburg, and Bicyclopropylene acetophenones are minor pathways. Based on these results, several interesting voltage stabilizers have been designed.

Pd-catalyzed electrohydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formate: high mass activity at low overpotential and identification of the deactivation pathway.

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate (HCO2(-)) powered by renewable electricity is a possible carbon-negative alternative to synthesizing formate from fossil fuels. This process is energetically inefficient because >1 V of overpotential is required for CO2 reduction to HCO2(-) on the metals currently used as cathodic catalysts. Pd reduces CO2 to HCO2(-) with no overpotential, but this activity has previously been limited to low synthesis rates and plagued by an unidentified deactivation pathway. Here we show that Pd nanoparticles dispersed on a carbon support reach high mass activities (50-80 mA HCO2(-) synthesis per mg Pd) when driven by less than 200 mV of overpotential in aqueous bicarbonate solutions. Electrokinetic measurements are consistent with a mechanism in which the rate-determining step is the addition of electrochemically generated surface adsorbed hydrogen to CO2 (i.e., electrohydrogenation). The electrodes deactivate over the course of several hours because of a minor pathway that forms CO. Activity is recovered, however, by removing CO with brief air exposure.

Multiple mechanisms limit meiotic crossovers: TOP3α and two BLM homologs antagonize crossovers in parallel to FANCM

Meiotic crossovers (COs) have two important roles, shuffling genetic information and ensuring proper chromosome segregation. Despite their importance and a large excess of precursors (i.e., DNA double-strand breaks, DSBs), the number of COs is tightly regulated, typically one to three per chromosome pair. The mechanisms ensuring that most DSBs are repaired as non-COs and the evolutionary forces imposing this constraint are poorly understood. Here we identified Topoisomerase3α (TOP3α) and the RECQ4 helicases--the Arabidopsis slow growth suppressor 1 (Sgs1)/Bloom syndrome protein (BLM) homologs--as major barriers to meiotic CO formation. First, the characterization of a specific TOP3α mutant allele revealed that, in addition to its role in DNA repair, this topoisomerase antagonizes CO formation. Further, we found that RECQ4A and RECQ4B constitute the strongest meiotic anti-CO activity identified to date, their concomitant depletion leading to a sixfold increase in CO frequency. In both top3α and recq4ab mutants, DSB number is unaffected, and extra COs arise from a normally minor pathway. Finally, both TOP3α and RECQ4A/B act independently of the previously identified anti-CO Fanconi anemia of complementation group M (FANCM) helicase. This finding shows that several parallel pathways actively limit CO formation and suggests that the RECQA/B and FANCM helicases prevent COs by processing different substrates. Despite a ninefold increase in CO frequency, chromosome segregation was unaffected. This finding supports the idea that CO number is restricted not because of mechanical constraints but likely because of the long-term costs of recombination. Furthermore, this work demonstrates how manipulating a few genes holds great promise for increasing recombination frequency in plant-breeding programs.

Nitrate ammonification in mangrove soils: a hidden source of nitrite?

Nitrate reduction is considered to be a minor microbial pathway in the oxidation of mangrove-derived organic matter due to a limited supply of nitrate in mangrove soils. At a limited availability of this electron acceptor compared to the supply of degradable carbon, nitrate ammonification is thought to be the preferential pathway of nitrate reduction. Mangrove forest mutually differ in their productivity, which may lead to different available carbon to nitrate ratios in their soil. Hence, nitrate ammonification is expected to be of more importance in high- compared to low-productive forests. The hypothesis was tested in flow-through reactors that contain undisturbed mangrove soils from high-productive Avicennia germinans and Rhizophora mangle forests in Florida and low-productive Avicennia marina forests in Saudi Arabia. Nitrate was undetectable in the soils from both regions. It was assumed that a legacy of nitrate ammonification would be reflected by a higher ammonium production from these soils upon the addition of nitrate. Unexpectedly, the soils from the low-productive forests in Saudi Arabia produced considerably more ammonium than the soils from the high-productive forests in Florida. Hence, other environmental factors than productivity must govern the selection of nitrate ammonification or denitrification. A rather intriguing observation was the 1:1 production of nitrite and ammonium during the consumption of nitrate, more or less independent from sampling region, location, sampling depth, mangrove species and from the absence or presence of additional degradable carbon. This 1:1 ratio points to a coupled production of ammonium and nitrite by one group of nitrate-reducing microorganisms. Such a production of nitrite will be hidden by the presence of active nitrite-reducing microorganisms under the nitrate-limited conditions of most mangrove forest soils.

Two HCl-Elimination Channels and Two CO-Formation Channels Detected with Time-Resolved Infrared Emission upon Photolysis of Acryloyl Chloride [CH2CHC(O)Cl] at 193 nm

Following photodissociation of gaseous acryloyl chloride, CH2CHC(O)Cl, at 193 nm, temporally resolved vibration-rotational emission spectra of HCl (v ≤ 7, J ≤ 35) in region 2350-3250 cm(-1) and of CO (v ≤ 4, J ≤ 67) in region 1865-2300 cm(-1) were recorded with a step-scan Fourier-transform spectrometer. The HCl emission shows a minor low-J component for v ≤ 4 with average rotational energy Erot = 9 ± 3 kJ mol(-1) and vibrational energy Evib = 28 ± 7 kJ mol(-1) and a major high-J component for v ≤ 7 with average rotational energy Erot = 36 ± 6 kJ mol(-1) and vibrational energy Evib = 49 ± 9 kJ mol(-1); the branching ratio of these two channels is ∼0.2:0.8. Using electronic structure calculations to characterize the transition states and each intrinsic reaction coordinate, we find that the minor pathway corresponds to the four-center HCl-elimination of CH2ClCHCO following a 1,3-Cl-shift of CH2CHC(O)Cl, whereas the major pathway corresponds to the direct four-center HCl-elimination of CH2CHC(O)Cl. Although several channels are expected for CO produced from the secondary dissociation of C2H3CO and H2C═C═C═O, each produced from two possible dissociation channels of CH2CHC(O)Cl, the CO emission shows a near-Boltzmann rotational distribution with average rotational energy Erot = 21 ± 4 kJ mol(-1) and average vibrational energy Evib = 10 ± 4 kJ mol(-1). Consideration of the branching fractions suggests that the CO observed with greater vibrational excitation might result from secondary decomposition of H2C═C═C═O that was produced via the minor low-J HCl-elimination channel, while the internal state distributions of CO produced from the other three channels are indistinguishable. We also introduce a method for choosing the correct point along the intrinsic reaction coordinate for a roaming HCl elimination channel to generate a Franck-Condon prediction for the HCl vibrational energy.

Role of Vibrational Dynamics in Electronic Relaxation of Cr(acac)3

Ultrafast energy relaxation of Cr(acac)3 dissolved in tetrachloroethylene (TCE) is studied by time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy by using electronic and vibrational excitation. After electronic excitation at 400 or 345 nm, the ground state recovers in two time scales: 15 ps (major pathway) and 800 ps (minor pathway), corresponding to fast electronic transition to the ground state and intermediate trapping on the long-lived (2)E state followed by intersystem crossing (ISC) to the ground state. The quantum yield for the fast recovery of the ground state depends on the excitation wavelength, being higher for 345 nm. Vibrational cooling (VC) occurs on the electronic excited states with a time constant of ∼7 ps and on the ground electronic state with a time constant of ∼12 ps. A kinetic model that explains the observed dynamics is presented. The key point of the model is that the ground-state recovery occurs via thermally activated back-intersystem-crossing (b-ISC) to the quartet manifold presumably via multiple curve crossings that are sampled while the system is vibrationally hot. This underlines the importance of vibrational cooling as a determining factor for the electronic relaxation chain. Vibrational excitation of the νC═C and νCO vibrations also revealed a subpicosecond (300-700 fs) intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) process from the localized vibrational states to the bath of vibrational excitations.

Sex-, Species-, and Tissue-Specific Metabolism of Empagliflozin in Male Mouse Kidney Forms an Unstable Hemiacetal Metabolite (M466/2) That Degrades to 4-Hydroxycrotonaldehyde, a Reactive and Cytotoxic Species.

Following oral administration of empagliflozin (1000 mg/kg/day) to male and female CD-1 mice for 2 years, renal tubular injury was identified in male mice. Renal injury was not detected in male mice (≤300 mg/kg/day), in female mice (1000 mg/kg/day), or in male or female Han Wistar rats (700 mg/kg/day). Using transfected HEK293 cells and Xenopus oocytes, empagliflozin was found to be a substrate of various mouse and rat organic anion transporters (oat/Oat) and organic anion transporting polypeptide (oatp/Oatp) transporters: mouse oat3, rat Oat3, mouse oatp1a1, and rat Oatp1a1. However, using isolated kidney slices from male and female mice and rats, no sex-based difference in the extent of uptake of empagliflozin occurred. Metabolism studies using hepatic and renal microsomes from male and female mice, rats, and humans revealed a hemiacetal metabolite of empagliflozin (M466/2), predominantly formed in male mouse kidney microsomes. Formation of M466/2 in male mouse kidney microsomes was 31-fold higher compared to that in female mouse kidney microsomes and was ∼29- and ∼20-fold higher compared to that in male and female mouse liver microsomes, respectively. M466/2 is unstable and degrades to form a phenol metabolite (M380/1) and 4-hydroxycrotonaldehyde (4-OH CTA). Formed 4-OH CTA was trapped by reduced GSH, and the structure of the GSH adduct was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Stoichiometric formation of M380/1 from M466/2 was observed (93-96% at 24 h); however, formation of 4-OH CTA was considerably lower (∼17.5% at 40 h), which is consistent with 4-OH CTA being a highly reactive species. These data represent a highly selective tissue-, species-, and sex-specific lesion in male CD-1 mice associated with a cytotoxic metabolite product, 4-OH CTA. In humans, glucuronidation of empagliflozin is the most prevalent metabolic pathway, and oxidation is a minor pathway. Thus, renal toxicity due to the formation of 4-OH CTA from empagliflozin is not expected in humans.

Regiocontrol in catalytic reductive couplings through alterations of silane rate dependence.

Combinations of ligand, reducing agent, and reaction conditions have been identified that allow alteration in the rate- and regioselectivity-determining step of nickel-catalyzed aldehyde–alkyne reductive couplings. Whereas previously developed protocols involve metallacycle-forming oxidative cyclization as the rate-determining step, this study illustrates that the combination of large ligands, large silanes, and elevated reaction temperature alters the rate- and regiochemistry-determining step for one of the two possible product regioisomers. These modifications render metallacycle formation reversible for the minor isomer pathway, and σ-bond metathesis of the metallacycle Ni–O bond with the silane reductant becomes rate limiting. The ability to tune regiocontrol via this alteration in reversibility of a key step allows highly regioselective outcomes that were not possible using previously developed methods.

Dangerous Membranes: Viruses That Subvert Autophagosomes

Dangerous Membranes: Viruses That Subvert Autophagosomes

Catechol formation: a novel pathway in the metabolism of sterigmatocystin and 11-methoxysterigmatocystin.

The mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (STC) has an aflatoxin-like structure including a furofuran ring system. Like aflatoxin B1, STC is a liver carcinogen and forms DNA adducts after metabolic activation to an epoxide at the furofuran ring. In incubations of STC with human P450 isoforms, one monooxygenated and one dioxygenated STC metabolite were recently reported, and a GSH adduct was formed when GSH was added to the incubations. However, the chemical structures of these metabolites were not unambiguously elucidated. We now report that hepatic microsomes from humans and rats predominantly form the catechol 9-hydroxy-STC via hydroxylation of the aromatic ring. No STC-1,2-oxide and only small amounts of STC-1,2-dihydrodiol were detected in microsomal incubations, suggesting that epoxidation is a minor pathway compared to catechol formation. Catechol formation was also much more pronounced than furofuran epoxidation in the microsomal metabolism of 11-methoxysterigmatocystin (MSTC). In support of the preference of catechol formation, only trace amounts of the thiol adduct of the 1,2-oxides but large amounts of the thiol adducts of the 9-hydroxy-8,9-quinones were obtained when N-acetyl-l-cysteine was added to the microsomal incubations of STC and MSTC. In addition to hydroxylation at C-9, smaller amounts of 12c-hydroxylated, 9,12c-dihydroxylated, and 9,11-dihydroxylated metabolites were formed. Our study suggests that hydroxylation of the aromatic ring, yielding a catechol, represents a major and novel pathway in the oxidative metabolism of STC and MSTC, which may contribute to the toxic and genotoxic effects of these mycotoxins.