Economic analysis of dairy farming in Bangladesh.

A study was conducted to analyze the dairy farming sector of Bangladesh from an economic viewpoint. Primary data was collected from smallholder dairy farms using survey questionnaires. A Cobb-Douglas production function and multiple regression models were estimated to analyze farm milk productivity and gross margin of the dairy farms. Surveyed dairy farms owned on an average 3.07 milking cows comprising 0.37 indigenous and 2.70 crossbred cows. Average milk productivity was 7.80 liter per cow per day, in which indigenous cow milk productivity was 1.9 1iter per day and crossbred cow milk productivity was 6.48 liter per cow per day. The study found that average daily milk production of small, medium, and large dairy farms were 5.45, 32.50, and 59.83 liter, respectively. Average monthly revenue and cost of milk production were US$ 79 and US$ 21 per cow, resulting in the average net return of US$ 58 per cow per month. Both quantitative estimation and t test results indicated a positive and statistically significant relationship between farm size and milk productivity and gross margin. The study findings also indicate that crossbred cows are providing higher economic benefits to the dairy farmers compared to the indigenous breeds. Despite being smallholder and subsistence, dairy farming shows potential for increasing returns to scale, and hence, there is a scope for further growth of the sector.

Activity of the enantiomers of erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate at glutamate transporters and NMDA receptors.

The enantiomers of erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate were tested for activity at glutamate transporters and NMDA receptors. Both enantiomers inhibited glutamate transporters in rat hippocampal crude synaptosomes and elicited substrate-like activity at excitatory amino acid transporter 1, 2, and 3 as measured by voltage clamp in the Xenopus oocyte expression system. The enantiomers had similar affinities, but the D-enantiomer showed a lower maximal effect at excitatory amino acid transporter 1, 2, and 3 than the L-enantiomer. Surprisingly, D-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate was a potent NMDA receptor agonist with an EC50 value in rat hippocampal neurons of 320 nM, whereas the L-enantiomer was 100-fold less potent. L-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate showed activity at both glutamate transporters and NMDA receptors at concentrations that are reported to inhibit serine racemase, indicating a lack of selectivity. This enantiomeric pair may assist in shedding further light on the structural requirements for substrate activity at glutamate transporters and for agonist activity at NMDA receptors. The erythro enantiomers of 3-hydroxyaspartate had interesting and surprising effects on glutamate neurotransmitter systems. L-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate had activity at both glutamate transporters (EAAT1/2/3) and NMDA receptors. D-erythro-3-hydroxyaspartate acted on EAATs, but was also identified as a highly potent NMDA receptor agonist. These enantiomers shed further light on the structural requirements for activity at EAATs and NMDA receptors.

Structure-activity relationships in toll-like receptor-2 agonistic diacylthioglycerol lipopeptides.

The N-termini of bacterial lipoproteins are acylated with a (S)-(2,3-bisacyloxypropyl)cysteinyl residue. Lipopeptides derived from lipoproteins activate innate immune responses by engaging Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and are highly immunostimulatory and yet without apparent toxicity in animal models. The lipopeptides may therefore be useful as potential immunotherapeutic agents. Previous structure-activity relationships in such lipopeptides have largely been obtained using murine cells, and it is now clear that significant species-specific differences exist between human and murine TLR responses. We have examined in detail the role of the highly conserved Cys residue as well as the geometry and stereochemistry of the Cys-Ser dipeptide unit. (R)-Diacylthioglycerol analogues are maximally active in reporter gene assays using human TLR2. The Cys-Ser dipeptide unit represents the minimal part-structure, but its stereochemistry was found not to be a critical determinant of activity. The thioether bridge between the diacyl and dipeptide units is crucial, and replacement by an oxoether bridge results in a dramatic decrease in activity.

Intramolecular azide-alkyne [3 + 2] cycloaddition: versatile route to new heterocyclic structural scaffolds.

Investigating the relatively unexplored intramolecular version of the azide-alkyne [3 + 2] cycloaddition, the present studies demonstrate the utility of the above reaction in the synthesis of a variety of as yet unreported heterocyclic structural scaffolds. The approach involved initial installation of strategic azide and alkyne moieties on a common structural framework, followed by their intramolecular cycloaddition studies. The pivotal azidoalkyne intermediates were efficiently accessed from a variety of easily available starting materials such as olefins, epoxides, amino acids, amino alcohols, ketones etc. The key reactions for incorporation of the azide functionality into the desired framework involved azidolysis of epoxides, displacement of hydroxy groups with azide nucleophiles, and diazo transfer on amine. Attachment of the desired alkyne functionalities was accomplished by either N-, or, O-alkylation with appropriate propargylic halides. The azidoalkynes thus prepared underwent smooth intramolecular cycloaddition, resulting in a variety of novel triazolooxazine and triazolopyrazine derivatives. Interestingly, unlike in the intermolecular version, metal catalysis was not necessary for the performance of the above cycloadditions. It is expected that the results from the present studies and its further extension will provide a potentially fertile pathway to a variety of unique chemical entities of structural and biological significance.

A rapid synthetic route to conformationally restricted [5,5]-bicyclic nucleoside-amino acid conjugates.

A concise synthetic route to a novel class of conformationally rigid 3',4'-cis-fused bicyclic nucleoside derivatives has been developed. The synthetic strategy and approach involves initial synthesis of a key [5,5]-bicyclic 6-aminofurofuran-2-one scaffold, employing an L-serine derived aminobutenolide as a strategically functionalized chiral template. Subsequent utilization of the carbonyl functionality of the above bicyclic lactone toward nucleobase incorporation, and linking of the resident amine functionality with appropriately protected amino acids completed the syntheses of the target bicyclic nucleoside-amino acid conjugates. Following the above route, and utilizing a combination of easily available nucleobases (4) and amino acids (4) as the two diversity elements, combinatorial synthesis of a 16-member demonstration library of the title amino acid-linked nucleosides has been accomplished.

Synthetic studies on ezomycins: stereoselective route to a thymine octosyl nucleoside derivative.

The ezomycins are Streptomyces-derived antifungal natural products, belonging to the complex peptidyl nucleoside family of antibiotics. Employing D-serine as a chiral platform, we report herein a novel synthetic route to the bicyclic octosyl nucleoside core of the ezomycins. A key step in the sequence involved a stereoselective 6-exo-trig oxymercurationoxidation of a strategic delta-hydroxy alkene derivative, toward construction of the trans-fused furopyran ring system as present in the target products. In contrast to the known carbohydrate-based synthetic routes to the above furopyranyl fragment, the present amino acid chiral template approach is expected to offer a more flexible pathway toward potential SAR-targeted structural/stereochemical modifications of this central bicyclic nucleoside component of the ezomycins.

N-methylation of the c3' amide of taxanes: synthesis of N-methyltaxol C and N-methylpaclitaxel.

A method has been developed for the methylation of the C3' amide of taxol C and paclitaxel. Taxol C and paclitaxel were sequentially silylated at the 2', 7, and 1-hydroxyl groups with tert-butyldimethylsilyl chloride, triethylsilyl chloride, and dimethylsilyl chloride, respectively. Subsequent reaction with potassium tert-butoxide and methyl iodide provided the corresponding N-methylated taxane derivatives. Removal of the silyl protecting groups furnished N-methyltaxol C and N-methylpaclitaxel.

Synthetic studies on amipurimycin: total synthesis of a thymine nucleoside analogue.

Amipurimycin, a member of the complex peptidyl nucleoside family of antibiotics, is a Streptomyces-derived potent antifungal agent. The mechanism of action of amipurimycin, however, remains undetermined. Additionally, there are no reports on the total synthesis or structure-activity relationships (SAR) of this potentially useful bioactive compound. In a study aimed at the total synthesis and SAR studies of this natural product, the present research reports the development of a synthetic route to the central pyranosyl amino acid core of amipurimycin and its further elaboration, culminating in the synthesis of a unique thymine analogue. Utilizing a d-serine-derived dihydroaminopyrone as a strategic building block, the synthesis involves de novo construction of the fully functionalized C-3-branched carbohydrate amino acid core, followed by glycosidic attachment of thymine at C-1, and peptidic linking of the C-6 amine with the 1,2-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid side chain.

Pharmacokinetics of DS-96, an alkylpolyamine lipopolysaccharide sequestrant, in rodents.

The pharmacokinetics of DS-96, an N-alkylhomospermine analog designed to sequester bacterial lipopolysaccharides, has been determined in rodent species. The elimination half-life in mice and rats are about 400 and 500 min, respectively, with other PK parameters being quite similar in the two rodent species. Interestingly, the mouse intravenous plasma concentration time curves exhibit an apparent absorption phase. While the rat intravenous data did not exhibit a pronounced apparent absorption phase immediately following injection, plasma levels did increase between 10 and 30 min following an expected drop from time 0 to 5 min. The data are consistent with first-pass uptake, possibly by the lung, with back diffusion as a function of time. The observed C(max) values of 1.36 microg/mL in the mouse intraperitoneal model suggest that a plasma concentration of 0.5-1 microg/mL corresponds to complete protection for a 200 ng/animal dose of intraperitoneally administered LPS in the D-galactosamine-primed model of endotoxin-induced lethality.

De novo synthetic route to a combinatorial library of peptidyl nucleosides.

A stereoselective synthetic route has been developed for the combinatorial synthesis of a structurally unique class of C-4' side chain modified peptide-linked nucleosides. The synthetic strategy and approach involves initial synthesis of a strategically functionalized amino butenolide template, utilizing L-serine as a chiral starting material. Subsequent transformation of the above lactone to C4' aminoalkyl substituted nucleosides, followed by the peptidic coupling of the C4' side chain amine with various amino acids completed the syntheses of the target peptidyl nucleosides. Employing the above route, and utilizing a combination of easily available nucleobases (4) and amino acids (6) as the two diversity elements, synthesis of a 24-member combinatorial library of the title peptide-linked nucleosides has been accomplished.

Controlling plasma protein binding: structural correlates of interactions of hydrophobic polyamine endotoxin sequestrants with human serum albumin.

Hydrophobically substituted polyamine compounds, particularly N-acyl or N-alkyl derivatives of homospermine, are potent endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) sequestrants. Despite their polycationic nature, the aqueous solubilites are limited owing to the considerable overall hydrophobicity contributed by the long-chain aliphatic substituent, but solubilization is readily achieved in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA). We desired first to delineate the structural basis of lipopolyamine-albumin interactions and, second, to explore possible structure-activity correlates in a well-defined, congeneric series of N-alkyl and -acyl homospermine lead compounds. Fluorescence spectroscopic and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) results indicate that these compounds appear to bind to HSA via occupancy of the fatty-acid binding sites on the protein. The acyl and carbamate compounds bind HSA the strongest; the ureido and N-alkyl analogues are significantly weaker, and the branched alkyl compound is weaker still. ITC-derived dissociation constants are weighted almost in their entirety by enthalpic deltaH terms, which is suggestive that the polarizability of the carbonyl groups facilitate, at least in large part, their interactions with HSA. The relative affinities of these lipopolyamines toward HSA is reflected in discernible differences in apparent potencies of LPS-sequestering activity under experimental conditions requiring physiological concentrations of HSA, and also of in vivo pharmacodynamic behavior. These results are likely to be useful in designing analogues with varying pharmacokinetic profiles.

Trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) assisted facile deprotection of N,O-acetonides.

Employing TMSOTf as an easily available reagent, we have developed a mild and efficient method for the deprotection of both terminal and internal N,0-acetonide functionalities. Various regularly used protecting groups and common organic functional moieties were found to be unaffected by the described reaction conditions. In a few representative examples, the present method was also extended to deprotect acetonides obtained from 1,2-, and 1,3-terminal diols. The acetonide deprotection protocol described herein is expected to be a useful addition to the presently available methods for performing the above transformation.

Total synthesis and antifungal activity of a carbohydrate ring-expanded pyranosyl nucleoside analogue of nikkomycin B.

In a study aimed at investigating an as yet unknown structure-activity relationship of the nikkomycin family of antifungal peptidyl nucleoside antibiotics, the present research reports the synthesis and antifungal evaluation of a carbohydrate ring-expanded pyranosyl nucleoside analogue of nikkomycin B. Employing a convergent synthetic route, independent synthesis of the N-terminal amino acid side chain and a stereoselective de novo construction of the desired pyranosyl nucleoside amino acid fragment was followed by peptidic coupling of the two components, leading to the first synthesis of a carbohydrate ring-enlarged pyranosyl nikkomycin B analogue. In vitro biological evaluation of the above analogue against a variety of human pathogenic fungi demonstrated significant antifungal activity against several fungal strains of clinical significance.

Bound to shock: protection from lethal endotoxemic shock by a novel, nontoxic, alkylpolyamine lipopolysaccharide sequestrant.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or endotoxin, a structural component of gram-negative bacterial outer membranes, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of septic shock, a syndrome of severe systemic inflammation which leads to multiple-system organ failure. Despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy, sepsis continues to be the commonest cause of death in the critically ill patient. This is attributable to the lack of therapeutic options that aim at limiting the exposure to the toxin and the prevention of subsequent downstream inflammatory processes. Polymyxin B (PMB), a peptide antibiotic, is a prototype small molecule that binds and neutralizes LPS toxicity. However, the antibiotic is too toxic for systemic use as an LPS sequestrant. Based on a nuclear magnetic resonance-derived model of polymyxin B-LPS complex, we had earlier identified the pharmacophore necessary for optimal recognition and neutralization of the toxin. Iterative cycles of pharmacophore-based ligand design and evaluation have yielded a synthetically easily accessible N(1),mono-alkyl-mono-homologated spermine derivative, DS-96. We have found that DS-96 binds LPS and neutralizes its toxicity with a potency indistinguishable from that of PMB in a wide range of in vitro assays, affords complete protection in a murine model of LPS-induced lethality, and is apparently nontoxic in vertebrate animal models.

Protection from endotoxic shock by EVK-203, a novel alkylpolyamine sequestrant of lipopolysaccharide.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) play a key role in the pathogenesis of septic shock, a major cause of mortality in the critically ill patient. The only therapeutic option aimed at limiting downstream systemic inflammatory processes by targeting lipopolysaccharide is Toraymyxin, an extracorporeal hemoperfusion device using solid phase-immobilized polymyxin B (PMB). While PMB is known to effectively sequester LPS, its severe systemic toxicity proscribes its parenteral use, and hemoperfusion may not be feasible in patients in shock. In our continuing efforts to develop small-molecule mimics which display the LPS-sequestering properties, but not the toxicity of PMB, a series of mono- and bis-substituted dialkylpolyamines were synthesized and evaluated. We show that EVK-203, an alkylpolyamine compound, specifically binds to and neutralizes the activity of LPS, and affords complete protection in a murine model of endotoxic shock. EVK-203 is without any apparent toxicity when administered to mice at multiples of therapeutic doses for several days. The specific endotoxin-sequestering property along with a very favorable therapeutic index renders this compound an ideal candidate for preclinical development.

From dioxin to drug lead--the development of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorophenothiazine.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins are persistent environmental pollutants. The most potent congener, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), causes a wasting syndrome and is a potent carcinogen and immunosuppressant in the rat at high doses. However, low doses cause opposite effects to some of those observed at higher doses, resulting in chemoprevention, stimulation of the immune system, and longevity in experimental animals. The new TCDD analogue, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorophenothiazine (TCPT), was developed to take advantage of the low-dose effects of dioxins that have potential application as therapeutics. Its development marked a deviation from the traditional scope of phenothiazine drug design by deriving biological effects from aryl substituents. TCPT was synthesized in three steps. The key ring-closing step was performed utilizing a Buchwald-Hartwig amination to provide TCPT in 37% yield. Its potency to induce CYP1A1 activity over 24 h was 370 times lower than that of TCDD in vitro. The elimination half-life of the parent compound in serum was 5.4 h in the rat and 2.7 h in the guinea pig, compared to 11 and 30 days, respectively, for TCDD. These initial findings clearly differentiate TCPT from TCDD and provide the basis for further studies of its potential as a drug lead.

Structural correlates of antibacterial and membrane-permeabilizing activities in acylpolyamines.

A homologous series of mono- and bis-acyl polyamines with varying acyl chain lengths originally synthesized for the purpose of sequestering lipopolysaccharide were evaluated for antimicrobial activity to test the hypothesis that these bis-cationic amphipathic compounds may also bind to and permeabilize intact gram-negative bacterial membranes. Some compounds were found to possess significant antimicrobial activity, mediated via permeabilization of bacterial membranes. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed a strong dependence of the acyl chain length on antimicrobial potency and permeabilization activity. Homologated spermine, bis-acylated with C8 or C9 chains, was found to profoundly sensitize Escherichia coli to hydrophobic antibiotics such as rifampin. Nonspecific cytotoxicity is a potential drawback of these membranophilic compounds. However, the surface activity of these cationic amphipaths is strongly attenuated under physiological conditions via binding to serum albumin. Significant antibacterial activity is still retained in the presence of physiological concentrations of human serum albumin, suggesting that these compounds may serve as leads in the development of novel adjuncts to conventional antimicrobial chemotherapy.

Single-site chemical modification at C10 of the baccatin III core of paclitaxel and Taxol C reduces P-glycoprotein interactions in bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells.

A single-site modification of paclitaxel analogs at the C10 position on the baccatin III core that reduces interaction with P-glycoprotein in bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells is described. Modification and derivatization of the C10 position were carried out using a substrate controlled hydride addition to a key C9 and C10 diketone intermediate. The analogs were tested for tubulin assembly and cytotoxicity, and were shown to retain potency similar to paclitaxel. P-glycoprotein interaction was examined using a rhodamine assay and it was found that simple hydrolysis or epimerization of the C10 acetate of paclitaxel and Taxol C can reduce interaction with the P-glycoprotein transporter that may allow for increased permeation of taxanes into the brain.

Stereoselective total synthesis of cis- and trans-3-hydroxypipecolic acid.

[reaction: see text] 3-Hydroxypipecolic acid, a nonproteinogenic cyclic alpha-amino acid, is a common structural moiety found in a large number of natural and synthetic compounds of medicinal significance. Utilizing D-serine as a chiral template, the present research describes efficient and straightforward routes to cis- and trans-3-hydroxypipecolic acids in enantiopure form. The key steps in the syntheses involve chelation-controlled addition of a homoallyl Grignard reagent to a protected serinal derivative toward stereoselective formation of the corresponding syn-amino alcohol adduct 3. On the other hand, zinc borohydride-mediated chelation-controlled reduction of a serine-derived alpha-aminoketone precursor leads to the formation of the corresponding anti-amino alcohol adduct 4 with high stereoselectivity. Following an efficient sequence of reactions, the above amino alcohol derivatives were subsequently transformed to the corresponding cis- and trans- title compounds, respectively.

Stereoselective route to the ezoaminuroic acid core of the ezomycins.

Starting from readily available (R)-glycidol, an efficient pathway to a strategically functionalized ezoaminuroic acid derivative of the antifungal ezomycins has been developed. A key transformation in the synthesis involves regio- and stereoselective conversion of the olefinic functionality of a 5,6-dihydropyran-2-one to the C-2, C-3 trans-1,2-amino alcohol moiety as present in ezoaminuroic acid.