A. Klaebe

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by an alkylpyridinium polymer from the marine sponge, Reniera sarai

Large polymeric 3-alkylpyridinium salts have been isolated from the marine sponge Reniera sarai. They are composed of N-butyl(3-butylpyridinium) repeating subunits, polymerized head-to-tail, and exist as a mixture of two main polymers with molecular weights without counterion of about 5520 and 18900. The monomer analogue of the inhibitor, N-butyl-3-butylpyridinium iodide has been synthesized. This molecule shows mixed reversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. The polymers also act as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and show an unusual inhibition pattern. We tentatively describe it as quick initial reversible binding, followed by slow binding or irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. This kinetics suggests that there are several affinity binding sites on the acetylcholinesterase molecule where the polymer can bind. The first binding favors binding to other sites which leads to an apparently irreversibly linked enzyme-inhibitor complex.

A putative kinetic model for substrate metabolisation by Drosophila acetylcholinesterase

Insect acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme whose catalytic site is located at the bottom of a gorge, can metabolise its substrate in a wide range of concentrations (from 1 μM to 200 mM) since it is activated at low substrate concentrations. It also presents inhibition at high substrate concentrations. Among the various rival kinetic models tested to analyse the kinetic behaviour of the enzyme, the simplest able to explain all the experimental data suggests that there are two sites for substrate molecules on the protein. Binding on the catalytic site located at the bottom of the gorge seems to be irreversible, suggesting that each molecule of substrate which enters the active site gorge is metabolised. Reversible binding at the peripheral site of the free enzyme has high affinity (2 μM), suggesting that this binding increases the probability of the substrate entering the active site gorge. Peripheral site occupation decreases the entrance rate constant of the second substrate molecule to the catalytic site and strongly affects the catalytic activity of the enzyme. On the other hand, catalytic site occupation lowers the affinity of the peripheral site for the substrate (34 mM). These effects between the two sites result both in apparent activation at low substrate concentration and in general inhibition at high substrate concentration.

Insecticidal properties of mushroom and toadstool carpophores

In order to find compounds with insecticidal or antifeedant properties from mushrooms and toadstools, a wide screening was undertaken using the non-mycophagous Drosophila melanogaster as a model insect. Powdered fruit bodies of edible and poisonous mushrooms were incorporated with the Drosophilas rearing medium, and their development was observed. Among the 175 different species of fungi tested, 79 were found to inhibit insect development, hence making the isolation of new compounds look hopeful.

Enzymatic detoxification of eutypine, a toxin from Eutypa lata, by Vitis vinifera cells: partial purification of an NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase

Abstract. Eutypine, 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-3-butene-1-ynyl) benzaldehyde, is a toxin produced by Eutypa lata (Pers.: Fr.) Tul., the causal agent of dying arm disease of Vitis vinifera L. (grapevine). Previously, we have shown that eutypine is involved in the development of disease symptoms. In the present study, the effects of V. vinifera cell-suspension cultures on the biological activity of the toxin were investigated. Eutypine was converted by grapevine tissues into a single compound, identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance as 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-3-butene-1-ynyl) benzyl alcohol, designated eutypinol. This compound was found to be non-toxic for grapevine tissues. Unlike eutypine, eutypinol failed to affect the oxidation rate or membrane potential of isolated mitochondria. In grapevine cells, reduction of eutypine into the corresponding alcohol is an NADPH-dependent enzymatic reaction. An enzyme which reduced eutypine was partially purified, over 1000-fold, using a five-step purification procedure. By gel filtration and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the protein was found to have a molecular mass of 54–56 kDa. The enzyme exhibited an apparent Km for eutypine of 44 μM, and was active between pH 6.8 and 7.5 with a maximum at pH 7.0. The eutypine reductase activity was improved by Mn2+ and Mg2+ and inhibited by disulfiram and p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. The possible role of the eutypine-detoxification mechanism in the defense reactions of V. vinifera cells is discussed.

Further evidence for a biological role of anti-estrogen-binding sites in mediating the growth inhibitory action of diphenylmethane derivatives

Several diphenylmethane derivatives have been synthesized with variable affinities for Anti-estrogen Binding Sites (ABS) but not for the estrogen receptor. Using these molecules as probes it is shown that their binding affinities for ABS correlate with their abilities to inhibit the growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In contrast they have no influence on the proliferation of tamoxifen-resistant variant cells (RTx6) in which ABS are undetectable. These data support the conclusion that ABS has a functional role in the anti-proliferative effect of triphenylethylene anti-estrogens and structurally related compounds.

Synthesis, binding and structure–affinity studies of new ligands for the microsomal anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS)

New compounds have been synthesized based on the structure of the anti-tumoral drug tamoxifen and its diphenylmethane derivative, N,N-diethyl-2-[(4-phenyl-methyl)-phenoxy]-ethanamine, HCl (DPPE). These new compounds have no affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER) and bind with various affinity to the anti-estrogen binding site (AEBS). Compounds 2, 10, 12, 13, 20a, 20b, 23a, 23b, 29 exhibited 1.1-69.5 higher affinity than DPPE, and compounds 23a and 23b have 1.2 and 3.5 higher affinity than tamoxifen. Three-dimensional structure analysis, performed using the intersection of the van der Waals volume occupied by tamoxifen in its crystallographic state and the van der Waals volume of these new compounds in their calculated minimal energy conformation, correlated well with their pKi for AEBS (r = 0.84, P<0.0001, n = 18). This is the first structure-affinity relationship (SAR) ever reported for AEBS ligands. Moreover in this study we have reported the synthesis of new compounds of higher affinity than the lead compounds and that are highly specific for AEBS. Since these compounds do not bind ER they will be helpful to study AEBS mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover our study shows that our strategy is a new useful guide to design high affinity and selective ligands for AEBS.

Transport, cytoplasmic accumulation and mechanism of action of the toxin eutypine in Vitis vinifera cells

Summary The mechanism of the toxic action of eutypine, 4-hydroxy-3-(3-methyl-3-butene-l-ynyl) benzaldehyde, a toxin produced by the fungus Eutypa lata , the agent of dying arm disease of the grapevine, was investigated with cell suspension cultures of Vitis vinifera cv. Gamay and l4 C-labelled eutypine. The study of the chemical characteristics of eutypine revealed that the toxin is a weak acid (pKa = 6.2), which also has a lipophilic character (water/octanol partition coefficient of 86). Eutypine was rapidly taken up by the cells and accumulated against a concentration gradient. Uptake showed no saturation at high eutypine concentration, and neither structural analogues of eutypine nor protein modifying reagents had an inhibitory effect on eutypine uptake. These data suggest a mechanism of passive diffusion for eutypine uptake. The eutypine accumulation observed in cells can be pardy explained by an ion trapping mechanism related to the ionization state of the toxin. It has been demonstrated that some eutypine molecules insert into cellular lipids, i.e. cell membranes. Such partition of eutypine in the cells might play a major role in the expression of its toxicity. Eutypine seems to affect the functioning of mitochondria by an uncoupling effect or by inhibiting succinate dehydrogenase activity. These results suggest that eutypine has the same properties as the uncoupling agents that act as mobile proton carriers. The reduction of the energetic charge following eutypine action could explain the symptoms observed in diseased plants.

Involvement of deacylation in activation of substrate hydrolysis by Drosophila acetylcholinesterase.

Insect acetylcholinesterase (AChE), an enzyme whose catalytic site is located at the bottom of a gorge-like structure, hydrolyzes its substrate over a wide range of concentrations (from 2 μm to 300 mm). AChE is activated at low substrate concentrations and inhibited at high substrate concentrations. Several rival kinetic models have been developed to try to describe and explain this behavior. One of these models assumes that activation at low substrate concentrations partly results from an acceleration of deacetylation of the acetylated enzyme. To test this hypothesis, we used a monomethylcarbamoylated enzyme, which is considered equivalent to the acylated form of the enzyme and a non-hydrolyzable substrate analog, 4-oxo-N,N,N-trimethylpentanaminium iodide. It appears that this substrate analog increases the decarbamoylation rate by a factor of 2.2, suggesting that the substrate molecule bound at the activation site (K d = 130 ± 47 μm) accelerates deacetylation. These two kinetic parameters are consistent with our analysis of the hydrolysis of the substrate. The location of the active site was investigated byin vitro mutagenesis. We found that this site is located at the rim of the active site gorge. Thus, substrate positioning at the rim of the gorge slows down the entrance of another substrate molecule into the active site gorge (Marcel, V., Estrada-Mondaca, S., Magné, F., Stojan, J., Klaébé, A., and Fournier, D. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 11603–11609) and also increases the deacylation step. This results in an acceleration of enzyme turnover.

Phomozin, a phytotoxin from Phomopsis helianthi, the causal agent of stem canker of sunflower

Abstract The isolation, biological activity and structure determination of a new phytotoxin from Phomopsis helianthi is described. The compound, phomozin, is identified as an ester of orsellinic acid and the diol acid, dimethylglyceric acid. Its biological activity is also reported.

Enzymatic synthesis of phosphoric monoesters with alkaline phosphatase in reverse hydrolysis conditions

Abstract Title compounds were synthesized on a preparative scale using alkaline phosphatase, orthophosphoric monoester phosphohydrolase B.C. 3.1.3.1, in reverse hydrolysis conditions. Optimization for one of the 25 phosphoryl acceptors investigated (glycerol) shows that up to 55% synthesis yield can be obtained using a large excess of substrate, conditions in which the enzymatic activity remains high. From the results obtained with different phosphoryl group donors, phosphate, pyrophosphate and polyphosphates and with enzymes of different sources, it comes up that the best results are obtained with pyrophosphate and with the weakly purified calf intestine alkaline phosphatase. The extent of enzymatic hydrolysis of the donor can be reduced owing to the existence of two different pH optima for the two reactions, phosphorylation and hydrolysis. The synthesis can be also performed using inert co-solvents which allow to reduce the amount of acceptor used, as long as Zn++ is added to the reaction medium. The results are discussed in terms of the catalytic mechanism of alkaline phosphatase.