Characterization by Empirical and Computational Methods of Dictyospiromide, an Intriguing Antioxidant Alkaloid from the Marine Alga Dictyota coriacea.

The challenging structural motif of dictyospiromide (1), a spirosuccinimide alkaloid with antioxidant properties that are associated with activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, was assigned using contemporary NMR experiments complemented with anisotropic NMR, chiroptical, and computational methodologies. Anisotropic NMR parameters provided critical orthogonal verification of the configuration of the difficult to assign spiro carbon and the other stereogenic centers in 1.

Removal of dimethachlon from soils using immobilized cells and enzymes of a novel potential degrader Providencia stuartii JD.

The first potential degrader capable of detoxifying dimethachlon (NDPS) was isolated and identified as Providencia stuartii JD, whose free cells and freely crude enzymes degraded more than 80% and 90% of 50 mg L-1 NDPS in liquid culture within 7 d and 2 h, respectively. Strain JD metabolized NDPS through the typical pathway, in which NDPS was firstly transformed into succinic acid and 3, 5-dichloroanilin, and the latter was then converted to phenol, which was subsequently degraded to muconic acid further subjected to the mineralization. The immobilization obviously improved the stability and adaptability of cells and enzymes. In laboratory non-sterile soils treated by free or immobilized cells and enzymes, 50 mg kg-1 NDPS decreased to 15.66 and 13.32 mg kg-1, or 8.32 and 2.18 mg kg-1 within 7 d, respectively. In field, immobilized cells and enzymes exhibited significantly higher efficiencies in removing 20.250 kg a.i. ha-1 NDPS wettable powder from soils after 9 d (96.02% and 98.56%) than free cells and enzymes (79.35% and 66.45%). This study highlights that strain JD promises the great potential to remove hazardous NDPS residues and its immobilized cells and enzymes possess the more promising advantages in the bioremediation of NDPS-contaminated soils in situ.

Two New Succinimide Derivatives Cladosporitins A and B from the Mangrove-derived Fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1.

Two new succinimide-containing derivatives, cladosporitins A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the fermentation cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1, along with a new pyrone, clapone (3), as well as the previously reported talaroconvolutin A (4) and anthraquinone (5). The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS spectral analysis. Compound 2 showed cytotoxicity against BEL-7042, K562 and SGC-7901 cell lines with IC50 values of 29.4 ± 0.35 µM, 25.6 ± 0.47 µM, and 41.7 ± 0.71 µM, respectively, whereas compound 4 exhibited cytotoxicity against Hela and BEL-7042 cell lines with IC50 values of 14.9 ± 0.21 µM and 26.7 ± 1.1 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 4 and 5 displayed inhibitory activity against α-glycosidase, with IC50 values of 78.2 ± 2.1 µM and 49.3 ± 10.6 µM, respectively.

PTP1B Inhibitors from the Entomogenous Fungi Isaria fumosorosea.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is implicated as a negative regulator of insulin receptor (IR) signaling and a potential drug target for the treatment of type II diabetes and other associated metabolic syndromes. Thus, small molecule inhibitors of PTP1B can be considered as an attractive approach for the design of new therapeutic agents of type II diabetes and cancer diseases. In a continuing search for new PTP1B inhibitors, a new tetramic acid possessing a rare pyrrolidinedione skeleton named fumosorinone A (1), together with five known ones 2-6 were isolated from the entomogenous fungus Isaria fumosorosea. The structures of 2-6 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Fumosorinone A (1) and beauvericin (6) showed significant PTP1B inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 3.24 µM and 0.59 µM.

Improved and optimized one-pot method for N-succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB) synthesis using microwaves.

N-Succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB) is a potential prosthetic agent for novel tracer development in positron emission tomography (PET). Previously, we reported a microwave-assisted one-pot synthesis of [(18)F]SFB with high efficacy. Herein, we reveal an improved and optimized approach based on this former model for producing [(18)F]SFB. With optimized approaches, the entire protocol can be completed within 25min, and [(18)F]SFB is generated in satisfactory quality for direct use without further purification via high-performance liquid chromatography.

Separating the isomers--efficient synthesis of the N-hydroxysuccinimide esters of 5 and 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate and 5 and 6-carboxyrhodamine B.

Diacetate protection of 5 and 6-carboxyfluorescein followed by synthesis of the N-hydroxysuccinimide esters allowed ready separation of the two isomers on a multi-gram scale. The 5 and 6-carboxyrhodamine B N-hydroxysuccinimide esters were also readily synthesised and separated.

Phomapyrrolidones A-C, antitubercular alkaloids from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. NRRL 46751.

Three new alkaloids, phomapyrrolidones A-C (1-3), bearing a cyclopenta[b]fluorene ring system were isolated from the mycelium extract of the endophytic fungal strain Phoma sp. NRRL 46751, inhabiting Saurauia scaberrinae. Methylation of 1 afforded its N-methyl derivative 4. The planar structures and relative configurations of 1-4 were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Phomapyrrolidones B (2) and C (3) exhibited weak antitubercular activity at subcytotoxic concentrations.

Effects of chirality on the antifungal potency of methylated succinimides obtained by Aspergillus fumigatus biotransformations. comparison with racemic ones.

Eighteen (3R) and (3R,4R)-N-phenyl-, N-phenylalkyl and N-arylsuccinimides were prepared with high enantioselectivity by biotransformation of maleimides with A. fumigatus. This environmentally friendly, clean and economical procedure was performed by the whole-cell fungal bioconversion methodology. Their corresponding eighteen racemic succinimides were prepared instead by synthetic methods. Both, the racemic and the chiral succinimides were tested simultaneously by the microbroth dilution method of CLSI against a panel of human opportunistic pathogenic fungi of clinical importance. Chiral succinimides showed higher antifungal activity than the corresponding racemic ones and the differences in activity were established by statistical methods. The bottlenecks for developing chiral drugs are how to obtain them through a low-cost procedure and with high enantiomeric excess. Results presented here accomplish both these objectives, opening an avenue for the development of asymmetric succinimides as new antifungal drugs for pharmaceutical use.

Oxalic acid supported Si-18F-radiofluorination: one-step radiosynthesis of N-succinimidyl 3-(di-tert-butyl[18F]fluorosilyl)benzoate ([18F]SiFB) for protein labeling.

N-Succinimidyl 3-(di-tert-butyl[(18)F]fluorosilyl)benzoate ([(18)F]SiFB), a novel synthon for one-step labeling of proteins, was synthesized via a simple (18)F-(19)F isotopic exchange. A new labeling technique that circumvents the cleavage of the highly reactive active ester moiety under regular basic (18)F-labeling conditions was established. In order to synthesize high radioactivity amounts of [(18)F]SiFB, it was crucial to partially neutralize the potassium oxalate/hydroxide that was used to elute (18)F(-) from the QMA cartridge with oxalic acid to prevent decomposition of the active ester moiety. Purification of [(18)F]SiFB was performed by simple solid-phase extraction, which avoided time-consuming HPLC and yielded high specific activities of at least 525 Ci/mmol and radiochemical yields of 40-56%. In addition to conventional azeotropic drying of (18)F(-) in the presence of [K(+)⊂2.2.2.]C(2)O(4), a strong anion-exchange (SAX) cartridge was used to prepare anhydrous (18)F(-) for nucleophilic radio-fluorination omitting the vacuum assisted drying of (18)F(-). Using a lyophilized mixture of [K(+)⊂2.2.2.]OH resolubilized in acetonitrile, the (18)F(-) was eluted from the SAX cartridge and used directly for the [(18)F]SiFB synthesis. [(18)F]SiFB was applied to the labeling of various proteins in likeness to the most commonly used labeling synthon in protein labeling, N-succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB). Rat serum albumin (RSA), apo-transferrin, a ß-cell-specific single chain antibody, and erythropoietin were successfully labeled with [(18)F]SiFB in good radiochemical yields between 19% and 36%. [(18)F]SiFB- and [(18)F]SFB-derivatized RSA were directly compared as blood pool imaging agents in healthy rats using small animal positron emission tomography. Both compounds demonstrated identical biodistributions in healthy rats, accurately visualizing the blood pool with PET.

Isolation, structure determination and antibacterial activities of succinamide conjugate diacid from Acinetobacter sp. BJ-L.

Strain BJ-L was isolated from the a water sample taken from Xiao Yue River in Beijing and identified as Acinetobacter sp. BJ-L based on the study of its morphology, physiology, biochemistry and 16S rRNA gene sequence. A new antimicrobial substance was produced after the strain was incubated in potato extract medium at 15°C for 72 h. The antimicrobial substance was sequentially purified by reduced pressure condensation, EtOAc extract, and silica gel column chromatography. The structure of the antimicrobial substance was elucidated as succinamide conjugate diacid (SCD) by spectroscopic data interpretation. Structure analysis indicated that SCD is a novel compound and that it could inhibit the growth of some tested bacterial strains with the MIC of 2mg/ml, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli. Moreover, no obvious toxicity has been found on cultured HUVEC cells with different concentrations of SCD at 5, 10, 15, and 20mg/ml.

Kinetic resolution of racemic pyrrolidine-2,5-diones using chiral oxazaborolidine catalysts.

Kinetic resolution of racemic C-3 substituted pyrrolidine-2,5-diones has been achieved for the first time using highly efficient oxazaborolidine catalysts derived from cis-1-amino-indan-2-ol.

Capillary gas chromatographic determination of dimethachlon residues in fresh tobacco leaves and cut-tobacco.

Simple procedures for extraction and chromatographic determination of dimethachlon residues in fresh tobacco leaves and cut-tobacco are described. The determination was carried out by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD) and confirmed by GC-MS. The mean recoveries and relative standard deviation (RSD) were 93.2%~112.9% and 3.5%~6.7%, respectively at levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.1 mg/kg. The limit of determination was 0.001 mg/kg. Tobacco samples in routine check were successfully analyzed using the proposed method.

Chiral separations on polysaccharide stationary phases using polar organic mobile phases.

About 30% of a chemically diverse set of compounds were found to separate on four polysaccharide chiral stationary phases using polar organic mobile phases. No structural features appeared to correlate to successful separations. Titrations between normal and polar organic mobile phases suggested that separation mechanisms do not differ between these mobile phases. Attempts made to control retention met with varying degrees of success. Addition of hexane to alcohols had minor effects on retention although this was occasionally beneficial. Addition of water to alcohols increased retention. Addition of water to acetonitrile decreased retention. Addition of alcohol to acetonitrile also proved beneficial to the separation of some compounds. Loading studies performed to mimic preparative separations indicated that the benefits of polar organic mobile phases are largely due to increased solubility.

Cytotoxic lissoclimide-type diterpenes from the molluscs Pleurobranchusalbiguttatus and Pleurobranchus forskalii.

Three new chlorinated diterpenes, 6-8, along with five known ones, 1-5, were isolated from the molluscs Pleurobranchus albiguttatus and P. forskalii collected in the Philippines. These diterpenes are presumably metabolites of a Lissoclinum species of ascidian on which the molluscs have fed. The structures of the new compounds were determined by interpretation of their spectral data. Compounds 1 and 2 were found to be potent cytotoxins in the National Cancer Institute's screening panel of 60 tumor cell lines and showed some selectivity for melanomas. Two other samples exhibited solid tumor selectivity in a soft agar disk diffusion assay.

Radiolabelling of isopeptide N epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)-L-lysine by conjugation with N-succinimidyl-4-[18F]fluorobenzoate.

The isopeptide N(epsilon)-(gamma-glutamyl)-L-lysine 4 was labelled with 18F via N-succinimidyl-4-[18F]fluorobenzoate ([18F]SFB). A modified approach for the convenient synthesis of [18F]SFB was used, and [18F]SFB could be obtained in decay-corrected radiochemical yields of 44-53% (n = 20) and radiochemical purity >95% within 40 min after EOB. For labelling N(epsilon)-(gamma-glutamyl)-L-lysine with [18F]SFB the effects of isopeptide concentration, temperature, and pH were studied to determine the optimum reaction conditions. The coupling reaction was shown to be temperature and pH independent while being strongly affected by the isopeptide concentration. Using the optimized labelling conditions, in a typical experiment 1.3GBq of [18F]SFB could be converted into 447MBq (46%, decay-corrected) of [18F]fluorobenzoylated isopeptide within 45 min, including HPLC purification.

Capture-ROMP-release: application for the synthesis of O-alkylhydroxylamines.

[reaction: see text] A new capture-ROMP-release method for chromatography-free purification of N-hydroxysuccinimde Mitsunobu reactions is described. The Mitsunobu reaction captures a variety of alcohols onto a norbornenyl N-hydroxysuccinimide monomer. Subjection of the resulting crude reaction mixture to ROM-polymerization generates a polymer that can be precipitated with methanol and filtered from the Mitsunobu byproducts. Treatment of the polymer with hydrazine releases the substrate from the water-soluble polymer, producing a variety of O-alkylhydroxylamines with good purity.

Quantitative determination of noncovalently bound acridinium in protein conjugates by liquid chromatography/electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and robust liquid chromatography/electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed for the quantitative determination of noncovalently bound acridinium free acid in protein-acridinium conjugates. The lower level of quantitation (LOQ) for acridinium free acid was determined to be 0.6 ng. The assay was validated with a linear concentration range of 0.6-60 ng. The method requires minimum sample handling and is specific, reproducible, and provides a new aspect for protein-acridinium conjugate characterization.

[Synthesis and application of sulfonated beta-cyclodextrins as chiral additives in capillary electrophoresis].

Three new kinds of the sodium salt of sulfonated beta-cyclodextrins with different degrees of substitution were synthesized and characterized. A simple synthesis method was employed by direct sulfonating reaction with concentrated sulfuric acid. Sulfonated beta-cyclodextrins were used as chiral resolving agents for the capillary electrophoretic separation of enantiomers in high pH and low pH background electrolytes. In different electrophoretic polarity mode, the effects of the type and concentration of sulfonated beta-cyclodextrin were investigated. Sulfonated beta-cyclodextrins were proved to be strong complexing agents for basic and neutral analytes.

Labeling proteins at high specific activity using N-succinimidyl 4-[18F](fluoromethyl) benzoate.

High effective specific activity N-succinimidyl 4-[18F](fluoromethyl)benzoate was prepared using a reversed phase HPLC procedure. Reversed phase HPLC removed several additional impurities not removed by normal phase HPLC, thereby increasing the effective specific activity. Small amount (< 100 micrograms) of sensitive proteins such as erythropoietin can be labeled with this reagent in high yield without aggregation.