Hisashi Nishiwaki

Crystal structures of Lymnaea stagnalis AChBP in complex with neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and clothianidin.

Neonicotinoid insecticides, which act on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in a variety of ways, have extremely low mammalian toxicity, yet the molecular basis of such actions is poorly understood. To elucidate the molecular basis for nAChR–neonicotinoid interactions, a surrogate protein, acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis (Ls-AChBP) was crystallized in complex with neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid (IMI) or clothianidin (CTD). The crystal structures suggested that the guanidine moiety of IMI and CTD stacks with Tyr185, while the nitro group of IMI but not of CTD makes a hydrogen bond with Gln55. IMI showed higher binding affinity for Ls-AChBP than that of CTD, consistent with weaker CH–π interactions in the Ls-AChBP–CTD complex than in the Ls-AChBP–IMI complex and the lack of the nitro group-Gln55 hydrogen bond in CTD. Yet, the NH at position 1 of CTD makes a hydrogen bond with the backbone carbonyl of Trp143, offering an explanation for the diverse actions of neonicotinoids on nAChRs.

Prediction of the binding mode of imidacloprid and related compounds to house-fly head acetylcholine receptors using three-dimensional QSAR analysis

The binding activity of imidacloprid and related compounds to nico- tinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) of house Nies was measured by use of radioactive a-bungarotoxin as a ligand. Variations in the activity were examined three-dimensionally using comparative molecular -eld analysis (CoMFA). The CoMFA results suggest that one conformer among the four stable ones is active and provide support for one of the proposed binding models for this class of compound, in which the nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring and the nitrogen atom at the 1-position of the imidazolidine ring interact with the hydrogen- donating and electron-rich sites of nAChR, respectively. The CoMFA -eld map showed that the nitroimino moiety and a portion of the imidazolidine ring were mainly surrounded by a sterically and electrostatically sensitive region of nAChR. 1998 Society of Chemical Industry ( Pestic. Sci., 54, 134E144 (1998)

Rosmarinic Acid Extract for Antioxidant, Antiallergic, and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities, Isolated by Supramolecular Technique and Solvent Extraction from Perilla Leaves

Rosmarinic acid extract with potent biological activities was successfully isolated by supramolecular technique and solvent extraction from Perilla leaves. By the supramolecular complex which was formed from flavocommelin and Perilla leaf extract as initial materials, the supernatant containing rosmarinic acid was isolated. Rosmarinic acid extract (62.9 ± 4.5% purity) was partly purified by partitioning ethyl acetate and water. Rosmarinic acid extract exhibited high total phenolic content of 433.9 ± 58.6 μg/mg of gallic acid equivalent, effective DPPH radical scavenging activity (SC50 of 5.5 ± 0.2 μg/mL), antiallergic activity (IC50 of 52.9 ± 6.7 μg/mL), and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 of 0.23 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Rosmarinic acid extract shows high potential for diabetes mellitus and allergy treatments by inhibiting α-glucosidase activity and measuring β-hexosaminidase, related to life-style disease.

Three-dimensional quantitative structure: activity relationship analysis of acyclic and cyclic chloronicotinyl insecticides

The binding activity of chloronicotinyl insecticides, including acetamiprid, nitenpyram and related compounds, to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) of houseflies was measured. These compounds were defined as ‘acyclic’ compounds. Variations in the binding activity were analysed using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) which is a technique for the analysis of three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationships. The CoMFA results showed that steric interactions were more significant for the acyclic compounds than for imidacloprid and its derivatives (cyclic compounds). It was also shown that the acyclic compounds could bind to housefly-nAChR in a similar manner to the cyclic compounds, and that the electrostatic natures of the acyclic amino- and cyclic imdazolidine-moieties affected their binding activity. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Identification and Characterization of d-Hydroxyproline Dehydrogenase and Δ1-Pyrroline-4-hydroxy-2-carboxylate Deaminase Involved in Novel l-Hydroxyproline Metabolism of Bacteria: METABOLIC CONVERGENT EVOLUTION*

Background: The bacterial pathway of l-hydroxyproline metabolism has not been identified. Results: Different types of d-hydroxyproline dehydrogenases and unique Δ1-pyrroline-4-hydroxy-2-carboxylate deaminase involved in the bacterial l-hydroxyproline pathway were identified and characterized for the first time. Conclusion: l-Hydroxyproline degradation by bacteria was elucidated at the molecular level. Significance: Our results suggest that d-hydroxyproline dehydrogenases evolved convergently, and we discovered a unique deaminase enzyme likely within the aldolase protein family. l-Hydroxyproline (4-hydroxyproline) mainly exists in collagen, and most bacteria cannot metabolize this hydroxyamino acid. Pseudomonas putida and Pseudomonas aeruginosa convert l-hydroxyproline to α-ketoglutarate via four hypothetical enzymatic steps different from known mammalian pathways, but the molecular background is rather unclear. Here, we identified and characterized for the first time two novel enzymes, d-hydroxyproline dehydrogenase and Δ1-pyrroline-4-hydroxy-2-carboxylate (Pyr4H2C) deaminase, involved in this hypothetical pathway. These genes were clustered together with genes encoding other catalytic enzymes on the bacterial genomes. d-Hydroxyproline dehydrogenases from P. putida and P. aeruginosa were completely different from known bacterial proline dehydrogenases and showed similar high specificity for substrate (d-hydroxyproline) and some artificial electron acceptor(s). On the other hand, the former is a homomeric enzyme only containing FAD as a prosthetic group, whereas the latter is a novel heterododecameric structure consisting of three different subunits (α4β4γ4), and two FADs, FMN, and [2Fe-2S] iron-sulfur cluster were contained in αβγ of the heterotrimeric unit. These results suggested that the l-hydroxyproline pathway clearly evolved convergently in P. putida and P. aeruginosa. Pyr4H2C deaminase is a unique member of the dihydrodipicolinate synthase/N-acetylneuraminate lyase protein family, and its activity was competitively inhibited by pyruvate, a common substrate for other dihydrodipicolinate synthase/N-acetylneuraminate lyase proteins. Furthermore, disruption of Pyr4H2C deaminase genes led to loss of growth on l-hydroxyproline (as well as d-hydroxyproline) but not l- and d-proline, indicating that this pathway is related only to l-hydroxyproline degradation, which is not linked to proline metabolism.

Cloning, functional characterization, and mode of action of a novel insecticidal pore-forming toxin, sphaericolysin, produced by Bacillus sphaericus.

ABSTRACT An insecticidal protein produced by Bacillus sphaericus A3-2 was purified to elucidate its structure and mode of action. The active principle purified from the culture broth of A3-2 was a protein with a molecular mass of 53 kDa that rapidly intoxicated German cockroaches (Blattela germanica) at a dose of about 100 ng when injected. The insecticidal protein sphaericolysin possessed the undecapeptide motif of cholesterol-dependent cytolysins and had a unique N-terminal sequence. The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was equally as potent as the native protein. Sphaericolysin-induced hemolysis resulted from the proteins pore-forming action. This activity as well as the insecticidal activity was markedly reduced by a Y159A mutation. Also, coapplication of sphaericolysin with cholesterol abolished the insecticidal action, suggesting that cholesterol binding plays an important role in insecticidal activity. Sphaericolysin-lysed neurons dissociated from the thoracic ganglia of the German cockroaches. In addition, sphaericolysins activity in ganglia was suppressed by the Y159A mutation. The sphaericolysin-induced damage to the cockroach ganglia was greater than the damage to the ganglia of common cutworms (Spodoptera litura), which accounts, at least in part, for the higher sensitivity to sphaericolysin displayed by the cockroaches than that displayed by cutworms.

Binding activity of substituted benzyl derivatives of chloronicotinyl insecticides to housefly‐head membranes, and its relationship to insecticidal activity against the housefly Musca domestica

Variously substituted benzyl derivatives of chloronicotinyl insecticides were synthesized with a wide range of substituents including halogens, NO2, CN, CF3 and small alkyl and alkoxy groups at the ortho, meta and para positions, as well as multiple-substituted benzyl analogues. Their binding activity to the α-bungarotoxin binding site in housefly (Musca domestica) head membrane preparations was measured. Among the compounds tested, the activity of the meta-CN derivative was the highest, being 20–100 times higher than those of imidacloprid, acetamiprid and nitenpyram. The synergized insecticidal activity against houseflies was also measured for selected compounds with the metabolic inhibitor, NIA16388 (propargyl propyl phenylphosphonate). For the nitromethylene analogues, including both benzyl and pyridylmethyl analogues, higher binding activity usually resulted in higher insecticidal activity. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry

Antimicrobial Activity of Stereoisomers of Butane-Type Lignans

The relationship between the stereochemistry and antimicrobial activity of butane-type lignans was clarified. All stereoisomers of dihydroguaiaretic acid (DGA) showed both antibacterial and antifungal activity. The (+)- and (−)-7,7′-dioxodihydroguaiaretic acid (ODGA) also showed both antibacterial and antifungal activity, while meso-ODGA did not show antibacterial activity, but showed antifungal activity. No activity of any stereoisomer of secoisolariciresinol (SECO) was apparent.

A role for Leu118 of loop E in agonist binding to the alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are ligand-gated ion channels mediating fast cholinergic synaptic transmission in the brain and at neuromuscular junctions. We used the structure of the acetylcholine binding protein from Lymnaea stagnalis to model the chicken α7 agonist-binding domain. The initial models and a preliminary docking study suggested that position Leu118 may play an important role in determining agonist actions on α7. A prediction from these in silico studies, that L118E and L118D would retain binding to acetylcholine but L118K and L118R would not, was confirmed in electrophysiological studies on functional recombinant mutant receptors expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The functional studies also demonstrated that residues at position 118 have a dramatic effect on the actions of imidacloprid (a partial agonist of wild-type α7 receptors) and its des-nitro derivative. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that Leu118 can strongly influence agonist binding and that the model was robust in terms of its prediction for acetylcholine binding. Together, the results indicate a role for Leu118 in influencing agonist actions on α7 nAChRs.

Larvicidal Activity of (−)-Dihydroguaiaretic Acid Derivatives against Culex pipiens

The larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens of all stereoisomers of dihydroguaiaretic acid (DGA) and secoisolariciresinol was measured, and these DGAs were found to be potent. Sixteen (−)-DGA derivatives were then newly synthesized to analyze their structure-activity relationship. Two derivatives monohydroxylated at the 3- or 4-position of the 7-phenyl group of DGA induced acute paralytic activity in the mosquitoes. Derivatives with several hydroxyl groups had lower activity than the natural compound, suggesting that hydrophobicity was probably an important factor for their insecticidal activity.