Herbal Transformation by Fermentation.

We herein show a dramatic change of herbal properties of the composition as well as function via fermentation of Cynanchi atrati Radix (family Asclepiadaceae). Cynanchi atrati Radix showed a high cytotoxicity against B16-F10 melanoma cell line, but the function of Cynanchi atrati Radix was completely changed into anti-melanin activity at very low concentration after Lactobacillus -fermentation. In addition, the compounds were drastically changed as shown in HPLC-based profile. Furthermore, this transformation has been achieved by only Lactobacillus -fermentation. This study proposes an strategy which we need to consider in the herb-derived material researches including pharmacopuncture.

Structural and enzymatic characterization of DR1281: A calcineurin-like phosphoesterase from Deinococcus radiodurans.

We have determined the crystal structure of DR1281 from Deinococcus radiodurans. DR1281 is a protein of unknown function with over 170 homologs found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. To elucidate the molecular function of DR1281, its crystal structure at 2.3 A resolution was determined and a series of biochemical screens for catalytic activity was performed. The crystal structure shows that DR1281 has two domains, a small alpha domain and a putative catalytic domain formed by a four-layered structure of two beta-sheets flanked by five alpha-helices on both sides. The small alpha domain interacts with other molecules in the asymmetric unit and contributes to the formation of oligomers. The structural comparison of the putative catalytic domain with known structures suggested its biochemical function to be a phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, nuclease, or nucleotidase. Structural analyses with its homologues also indicated that there is a dinuclear center at the interface of two domains formed by Asp8, Glu37, Asn38, Asn65, His148, His173, and His175. An absolute requirement of metal ions for activity has been proved by enzymatic assay with various divalent metal ions. A panel of general enzymatic assays of DR1281 revealed metal-dependent catalytic activity toward model substrates for phosphatases (p-nitrophenyl phosphate) and phosphodiesterases (bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate). Subsequent secondary enzymatic screens with natural substrates demonstrated significant phosphatase activity toward phosphoenolpyruvate and phosphodiesterase activity toward 2',3'-cAMP. Thus, our structural and enzymatic studies have identified the biochemical function of DR1281 as a novel phosphatase/phosphodiesterase and disclosed key conserved residues involved in metal binding and catalytic activity.

Reactions of Hydroxylamine with Metal Porphyrins.

The reaction of hydroxylamine with a series of metal porphyrins was examined in methanol/chloroform media. The reductive nitrosylation reaction was observed for the manganese and iron porphyrins, leading to a nitrosyl complex that precipitated out of the solution in good isolatable yield (80-90%). This reaction could be used synthetically for the generation of iron and manganese porphyrin nitrosyl complexes and was particularly useful for making isotopically labeled nitrosyl complexes. On the other hand, Co(II)(TPP) and Cr(TPP)(Cl) did not react with hydroxylamine under anaerobic conditions. With trace amounts of oxygen, the reaction of Co(II)(TPP) with hydroxylamine led to the formation of a stable cobalt(III)-bis(hydroxylamine) complex. The infrared, resonance Raman, and proton NMR spectra were consistent with a cobalt(III)-bis(hydroxylamine) complex. The cyclic voltammetry and visible spectroelectrochemistry of this complex were examined. The one-electron reduction of Co(III)(TPP)(NH(2)OH)(2)(+) formed Co(II)(TPP), for which there was no evidence for the coordination of hydroxylamine. Further reduction led to Co(I)(TPP)(-), which reacted with the halogenated solvent to form a cobalt-alkyl complex. The difference in the reactivity of these four metal porphyrins with hydroxylamine correlated well with their E(1/2) values. Iron(III) and manganese(III) porphyrins were relatively easy to reduce and readily underwent the reductive nitrosylation reaction, while cobalt(II) and chromium(III) porphyrins are unreactive. The one-electron oxidation of the hydroxylamine complex with a M(III) porphyrin would be expected to oxidize the N-atom in the coordinated hydroxylamine. The oxidation of M(III)(NH(2)OH) with the loss of a proton would form M(II)(N(I)H(2)O)(+) by an internal electron transfer, which will eventually lead to M(NO). The relationship between the reductive nitrosyl reaction and the enzymatic interconversion of NO and hydroxylamine was discussed.