The growth of mdp1/rsp5 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is affected by mutations in the ATP-binding domain of the plasma membrane H+ -ATPase.

Mutations in the PMA1 gene, encoding plasma membrane H+ -ATPase, were isolated that are able to suppress the temperature sensitivity (ts) phenotype of mdp1 mutations located in RSP5, the ubiquitin-protein ligase gene. The mdp1 mutants were previously found to change the mitochondrial/cytosolic distribution of Mod5p-I, the tRNA modifying enzyme, and to affect fluid phase endocytosis. The data presented reveal that mdp1 mutants are also pH sensitive, and hypersensitive to hygromycin B and paromomycin. The ts phenotype, hygromycin B and paromomycin sensitivity are suppressed by pmal-t, but the pH sensitivity, the effect of mdp1 on Mod5p-I cytoplasmic/mitochondrial localization and endocytosis are not. Characterization of pmal-t revealed the substitution of amino acid G(653)V in the ATP-binding domain of the H+ -ATPase. Our results indicate that Rsp5 ubiquitin-protein ligase may also influence, in addition to protein distribution, the functioning of plasma membrane H+ -ATPase and the response of cells to stress.

Structure-activity relationship investigations of the modulating effect of core substituents on the affinity of pyrazoloquinolinone congeners for the benzodiazepine receptor.

A series of 6- and 7-substituted-2-arylpyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-3-ones was synthesized and tested in vitro for binding with the benzodiazepine receptor in competition with [3H]flunitrazepam. Electronic parameters (molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), charge distribution on the nitrogen atoms, dipole moment mu, and ionization potential (IP)) were calculated for the compounds by semi-empirical quantum chemistry methods. Lipophilicity of the compounds, expressed as logarithm of the octanol-water partition coefficient (log P), was calculated by the program Pallas. A quantitative correlation of the biological data with molecular parameters revealed a significant dependence (r = 0.95) of the activity on hydrophobic constants of the substituents, log P, and magnitude of the MEP minimum associated with the carbonyl oxygen atom.

Bicyclic [b]-heteroannelated pyridazine derivatives. Part 6. Aromatization of some tetrahydrotriazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives with potential activity as benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

Aromatization of the pyridazine ring in 8-aryl-7,8-dihydro-3-trifluoromethyltriazolo[4,3-b]pyridazin -6(5H)-ones in the reaction with a phosphorus pentachloride-phosphorus oxychloride mixture yielded the corresponding 6-chloro compounds. Since halogenation at C-7 was accompanied by an instant 7,8-dehydrohalogenation, the reaction with bromine gave the 7,8-dehydro analogs with no change of the carbonyl function at C-6. Benzoylation yielded the O-benzoyl derivative as found by X-ray crystallography. Substitution of chlorine at C-6 for an amine or thioether function was effected in the reactions with hydrazine, amines, and thiophenols. In vitro tests revealed low affinity of the compounds for the benzodiazepine receptor.

Bicyclic [b]-heteroannelated pyridazine derivatives. Part 5. Synthesis of some triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine and pyridazino[6,1-c]triazine derivatives as potential benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

4-Substituted-tetrahydropyridazine-3,6-dione 3-hydrazones [I] reacted with strong carboxylic acids and some acyl chlorides to give the N-acylation products and/or triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine derivatives. Derivatives of this bicyclic structure were obtained also in reactions of I with triethyl orthoformate and orthoacetate. In the reaction with phosgene, triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine-3,6-dione, and with oxalyl chloride pyridazino[6,1-c]triazine-3,4,7-trione derivatives were obtained.

Bicyclic [b]-heteroannulated pyridazine derivatives--II. Structure-activity relationships in the 6-aryltriazolo-[4,3-b]pyridazine ligands of the benzodiazepine receptor.

Electronic parameters (molecular electrostatic potential MEP, charge distribution on the nitrogen atoms, dipole moment mu and ionization potential IP) were calculated by semiempirical quantum chemistry methods for 2 sets (X = H and m-CF3, the syn- and anti-rotamers of the latter being considered separately) of the 6-aryl-3-substituted-triazolo[4,3-b]pyridazine ligands of the benzodiazepine receptors (Figure 1; for X and Y c.f. Table 1). The calculations located the deepest MEP minimum near the = N-N = fragment of the triazole ring (Figure 2). Activity of the investigated compounds (1 microM), expressed as % inhibition of in vitro 3H-diazepam (1.5 nM) binding, revealed a significant dependence on IP, which combined in correlation studies with the hydrophobic constants pi X and pi Y and the Swain-Lupton field constant FY gave a 100% explanation of variance (Equations 1-3). However, extrapolation pointed to a compound with excessive hydrophobicity. The dipole moment orientation, roughly consistent with the C(6)-aryl main molecular axis, was considered as another factor controlling the docking of the investigated triazolopyridazine ligands to the benzodiazepine receptor (Figure 3). A model of the triazolopyridazine-benzodiazepine receptor interaction was proposed (Figure 4).