Daisuke Asai

Structural essentials of xenoestrogen dialkyl phthalates to bind to the estrogen receptors

Xenoestrogen dialkyl phthalates, C(6)H(4)(COOC(n)H(m))(2), lack the phenolic hydroxyl group that is an essential structural component of the steroid A ring of 17 beta-estradiol. In order to examine whether dialkyl phthalates imitate the steroid structure, we have synthesized a series of 4-hydroxyl derivatives of dialkyl phthalates. The compounds were examined for their ability to displace [(3)H]17 beta-estradiol from the recombinant human estrogen receptor, which was expressed on Sf9 cells using the vaculovirus expression system. Dialkyl 4-hydroxyl phthalates were found to exhibit several-fold higher binding affinities compared to phthalates without the 4-hydroxyl group. From the analyses of receptor binding modes of dialkyl phthalates with and without the 4-hydroxyl group, it was deduced that the phthalic benzene ring mimics the steroid A ring. A biphasic binding curve observed for dicyclohexyl phthalate was also depicted by its 4-hydroxyl derivative, but it increased binding affinity only at the high affinity binding site. These data suggest that the phthalate benzene moiety recognizes the core of the estrogen receptor binding site and the hydrophobic interaction of the dialkyl moiety substantiates the binding characteristics of the phthalates. The present data indicate that even chemicals with slight structural analogy and weak receptor affinity can perturb the endocrine system when administered in high concentrations.

Synthesis of a complete set of L-difluorophenylalanines, L-(F2)Phe, as molecular explorers for the CH/π interaction between peptide ligand and receptor

Abstract A complete set of difluorophenylalanines in the l -configuration [ l -(F 2 )Phe] (namely, l -(2,3-F 2 )Phe, l -(2,4-F 2 )Phe, l -(2,5-F 2 )Phe, l -(2,6-F 2 )Phe, l -(3,4-F 2 )Phe, l -(3,5-F 2 )Phe) was prepared and incorporated into the thrombin receptor-tethered ligand peptide SFLLRNP to identify the phenyl hydrogens of the Phe-2 residue involved in the CH/π receptor interaction.

Molecular cloning and circadian expression profile of insect neuropeptide PDF in black blowfly, Phormia regina

Pigment-dispersing factor PDF is an 18-amino acid insect neuropeptide that mediates a circadian rhythmicity in locomotor activity. PDF is coded in a precursor protein together with another neuropeptide named PDF-associated peptide, PAP. PDF is highly conserved among insects, whereas the homology of PAPs is very low with considerably varied amino acid sequences. Since such dissimilarity has suggested that the function of PAP peptide is not associated with that of PDF, we have attempted to analyze the sequences of PDF precursor proteins among a series of species of insects and hypothesized that PDF precursors are classified into at least three different classes:Drosophila-Musca, Meimuna-Romalea, andGryllus. In order to exemplify this hypothesis, we here describe the molecular cloning of thepdf-gene of the black blowflyPhormia regina and anin silico screening for thepdf-gene in the genome databank of the mosquitoAnopheles gambie, both species belonging to the Diptera. It was found that deduced amino acid sequences of PDF peptides are almost completely conserved among all Dipterans and also the amino acid sequences of PAPs are considerably highly preserved (55–82% similarity) among the species of Diptera. The results confirmed the validity of grouping the PDF precursor proteins.In situ hybridization was carried out in fly brains to identify the precise locations ofpdf-expressing cells and to examine any daily cycling ofpdf mRNA. Intense signals forpdf mRNA were identified in the medulla, but not in the pars lateralis where PDF neurons were strongly immunostained by the antibody raised against PDF peptide. Hybridization was also performed for the brain samples at two hour intervals throughout the day. Although very intense hybridization signals were observed at ZT8 even in some neurites, no prominent rhythmicity ofpdf mRNA expression was observed.

Direct measure of fluorescence intensity for efficient receptor-binding assay: Conjugates of ethinylcarboxyestradiol and 5(and 6)-carboxyfluorescein via α,ω-diaminoalkanes as a tracer for estrogen receptor

Steroidal nuclear receptors (NRs) have been acknowledged as a target binding protein of so-called endocrine disruptors. It is therefore necessary to develop an efficient assay system for screening these endocrine-disrupting chemicals. We here describe the first exemplification of a direct measure of fluorescence intensity for a binding assay of NRs. We designed and synthesized a series of conjugates of 17alpha-ethinylcarboxyestradiol with carboxyfluorescein, both carboxyl groups of which were cross-linked with alpha,omega-diaminoalkanes. The resulting fluorescein-linked estradiol derivatives E2(n)cF (n=2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12) were evaluated for their fluorescence and receptor-binding characteristics. E2(4)cF and E2(8)cF exhibited the sufficient binding affinity to the recombinant estrogen receptor (ER) in the radiolabel binding assay using [(3)H]17beta-estradiol, and showed excellent fluorescent characteristics in the fluorescence measurements with and without ER. They exhibited sufficiently large specific binding characteristics with adequate K(d)- and B(max)-values. When these fluorescent ligands were used as a tracer for the binding assay against the ER, assay data of various compounds were shown to be compatible with those obtained from the ordinary binding assay using [(3)H]17beta-estradiol. The present study clearly shows that measurement of fluorescence intensity, instead of fluorescence polarization, affords an adequate receptor-binding assay system.