NADP(+)-dependent dehydrogenase activity of carbonyl reductase on glutathionylhydroxynonanal as a new pathway for hydroxynonenal detoxification.

An NADP(+)-dependent dehydrogenase activity on 3-glutathionyl-4-hydroxynonanal (GSHNE) was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from a line of human astrocytoma cells (ADF). Proteomic analysis identified this enzymatic activity as associated with carbonyl reductase 1 (EC 1.1.1.184). The enzyme is highly efficient at catalyzing the oxidation of GSHNE (KM 33 µM, kcat 405 min(-1)), as it is practically inactive toward trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) and other HNE-adducted thiol-containing amino acid derivatives. Combined mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of the reaction products revealed that carbonyl reductase oxidizes the hydroxyl group of GSHNE in its hemiacetal form, with the formation of the corresponding 3-glutathionylnonanoic-δ-lactone. The relevance of this new reaction catalyzed by carbonyl reductase 1 is discussed in terms of HNE detoxification and the recovery of reducing power.

New fluorescent probes for ligand-binding assays of odorant-binding proteins.

Fluorescence-linked binding assays allow determination of dissociation constants at equilibrium and have recently become increasingly popular, thanks to their ease of operation. Currently used probes, such as 1-aminoanthracene and N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine, are excited and emit in the ultraviolet region, but alternative ligands operating in the visible spectrum would be highly desirable for applications in biosensing devices. Based on the two above structures, we have designed and synthesised six new fluorescent probes to be used in ligand-binding assays. The compounds are derivatives of naphatalene, anthracene and fluoranthene and present two aromatic moieties linked by an amine nitrogen. We have measured the emission spectra of the new probes and their binding to three odorant-binding proteins. The probes bind the tested proteins with different affinities, generally with dissociation constants about one order of magnitude lower than the parent compounds. The extended aromatic systems present in the new compounds produced a shift of both excitation and emission peaks at higher wavelength, close or within the visible spectrum, thus facilitating measurements in biosensors for odorants and small organic molecules using optical devices.

Identification of pheromone-like compounds in male reproductive organs of the oriental locust Locusta migratoria.

Despite the great economical interest of locusts in agriculture, knowledge on their chemoreception systems is still poor. Phenylacetonitrile is recognised as a pheromone of the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria, triggering gregarization, promoting aggregation and inhibiting courtship. However, in the other major locust species, Locusta migratoria, pheromones have not been reported. We have identified the two isomers of naphthylpropionitrile from the male reproductive organs of L. migratoria. Chemical synthesis has confirmed the identity of the two compounds. Both isomers show significant affinity to CSP91, a protein reported in the testis, but not to three other proteins of the same family (CSP180, CSP540 and CSP884) expressed in female accessory glands. The striking similarity of these compounds with phenylacetonitrile and the unusual nature of such chemicals strongly suggest that naphthylpropionitrile could be pheromones for L. migratoria, while their site of expression and binding activity indicate a role in communication between sexes.

Epimerization reaction of a substituted vinylcyclopropane catalyzed by ruthenium carbenes: mechanistic analysis.

A novel ruthenium carbene-catalyzed epimerization of vinylcyclopropanes is reported. The reaction rate strongly depends on the presence of ruthenium ligands in solution. When the first-generation Grubbs catalyst is employed, a 5.3:1 equilibrium ratio of epimers is established quickly, but when a first-generation Hoveyda catalyst is employed, epimerization is observed only if an additional phosphine or nitrogen ligand is added. NMR and kinetic studies suggest that the isomerization reaction occurs through the intermediacy of a ruthenacyclopentene. The observation suggests that cyclopropylmethylidene ruthenium carbenes of synthetic utility may be accessible via ruthenacyclopentenes obtained via other routes.

The presence of a ferrocenyl unit on an estrogenic molecule is not always sufficient to generate in vitro cytotoxicity.

We recently reported the dual (antihormonal and cytotoxic) functionality of ferrocifens, which are organometallic complexes derived from hydroxytamoxifen, the standard molecule in the treatment of hormone-dependent breast cancers. To test the hypothesis that the presence of a ferrocenyl substituent on molecules with an affinity for the estrogen receptor is sufficient to give them cytotoxic properties in vitro, we prepared complexes derived from estradiol with a ferrocenyl substituent at positions 7alpha and 17alpha. The complexes thus obtained retain a satisfactory level of affinity for the estrogen receptor (RBA values higher than 12 %). At low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) the complexes show an estrogenic effect in vitro equivalent to that of estradiol on hormone-dependent (MCF-7) breast cancer cells, and no cytotoxic effect on hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. At high concentrations (up to 50 microM) the 17alpha-ethynylferrocenyl estradiol and 7alpha-ferrocenylmethylthio estradiol become cytotoxic (IC(50)=13.2 microM and 18.8 microM, respectively) while the 17alpha-ferrocenylestradiol remains non toxic. The low toxicity of these compounds support our hypothesis that electronic communication between the ferrocenyl and phenol moieties in the hydroxyferrocifens series is a key parameter in the generation of cytotoxic effects at submicromolar concentrations.

Estradiol derivatives bearing sulfur-containing substituents at the 11beta or 7alpha positions: versatile reagents for the preparation of estrogen conjugates.

Estradiol derivatives bearing HS-, HSCH(2)-, HSCH(2)CH(2)-, MeS-, MeSCH(2)-, MeSCH(2)CH(2)-, or PhCH(2)SCH(2)CH(2)-groups at the 11beta position or an HS-group at the 7alpha position have been synthesized, and their binding affinity to the estrogen receptor (ER) determined. Nearly all of these substituted estrogens retain high binding affinity, and at the 11beta position, the sulfur atom has an effect on ER binding that is similar to that of a carbon atom. These thiol derivatives are promising intermediates for the preparation of a variety of estradiol conjugates. The methyl sulfides, in particular, might potentially be developed as (11)C-labeled agents for imaging ER-positive tumors by positron emission tomography.