Luca Forti

Resveratrol is a peroxidase-mediated inactivator of COX-1 but not COX-2: a mechanistic approach to the design of COX-1 selective agents.

Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a phytoalexin found in grapes that has anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protective, and cancer chemopreventive properties. It has been shown to target prostaglandin H2 synthase (COX)-1 and COX-2, which catalyze the first committed step in the synthesis of prostaglandins via sequential cyclooxygenase and peroxidase reactions. Resveratrol discriminates between both COX isoforms. It is a potent inhibitor of both catalytic activities of COX-1, the desired drug target for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, but only a weak inhibitor of the peroxidase activity of COX-2, the isoform target for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We have investigated the unique inhibitory properties of resveratrol. We find that it is a potent peroxidase-mediated mechanism-based inactivator of COX-1 only (kinact = 0.069 ± 0.004 s-1, Ki(inact) = 1.52 ± 0.15 μm), with a calculated partition ratio of 22. Inactivation of COX-1 was time- and concentration-dependent, it had an absolute requirement for a peroxide substrate, and it was accompanied by a concomitant oxidation of resveratrol. Resveratrol-inactivated COX-1 was devoid of both the cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities, neither of which could be restored upon gel-filtration chromatography. Inactivation of COX-1 by [3H]resveratrol was not accompanied by stable covalent modification as evident by both SDS-PAGE and reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography analysis. Structure activity relationships on methoxy-resveratrol analogs showed that the m-hydroquinone moiety was essential for irreversible inactivation of COX-1. We propose that resveratrol inactivates COX-1 by a “hit-and-run” mechanism, and offers a basis for the design of selective COX-1 inactivators that work through a mechanism-based event at the peroxidase active site.

A defective ABC transporter of the MRP family, responsible for the bean lpa1 mutation, affects the regulation of the phytic acid pathway, reduces seed myo‐inositol and alters ABA sensitivity

• We previously identified the lpa1 (low phytic acid) 280-10 line that carries a mutation conferring a 90% reduction in phytic acid (InsP(6) ) content. In contrast to other lpa mutants, lpa1(280-10) does not display negative pleiotropic effects. In the present paper, we have identified the mutated gene and analysed its impact on the phytic acid pathway. • Here, we mapped the lpa1(280-10) mutation by bulk analysis on a segregating F(2) population, an then, by comparison with the soybean genome, we identified and sequenced a candidate gene. The InsP(6) pathway was analysed by gene expression and quantification of metabolites. • The mutated Pvmrp1(280-10) cosegregates with the lpa1(280-10) mutation, and the expression level of several genes of the InsP(6) pathway are reduced in the lpa1(280-10) mutant as well as the inositol and raffinosaccharide content. PvMrp2, a very similar paralogue of PvMrp1 was also mapped and sequenced. • The lpa1 mutation in beans is likely the result of a defective Mrp1 gene (orthologous to the lpa genes AtMRP5 and ZmMRP4), while its Mrp2 paralog is not able to complement the mutant phenotype in the seed. This mutation appears to down-regulate the InsP(6) pathway at the transcriptional level, as well as altering inositol-related metabolism and affecting ABA sensitivity.

Halogen atom transfer radical cyclization of N-allyl-N-benzyl-2,2-dihaloamides to 2-pyrrolidinones, promoted by Fe0-FeCl3 or CuCl-TMEDA

Abstract The halogen atom transfer radical cyclization of a N-allyl-N-benzyl-2,2-dihaloamides to 2-pyrrolidinones has been carried out in high yields under mild conditions, in a reaction promoted by CuCl-TMEDA or Fe0-FeCl3 in acetonitrile or N,N-dimethylformamide, respectively.

The influence of benzylic protection and allylic substituents on the CuCl-TMEDA catalyzed rearrangement of N-allyl-N-benzyl-2,2-dihaloamides to gamma-lactams. Application to the stereoselective synthesis of pilolactam.

Abstract A number of N-benzylic protecting groups and allylic substituents have been investigated for the rearrangement, promoted by CuCl-TMEDA, of N-allyl-2,2-dihaloamides to 3,4-disubstituted γ-lactams. An appreciable chiral induction was observed at the C-4 site when α-phenylethylamine was used as a chiral protecting group, while an unexpected Diels-Alder reaction occurred when using a 2-furyl-methyl protection. This rearrangement has been applied to the synthesis of pilolactam, a drug with muscarinic activity.

Inhibition of mammalian DNA polymerases by resveratrol : Mechanism and structural determinants

Resveratrol, a natural compound found in many dietary plants and in red wine, plays an important role in the prevention of many human pathological processes, including inflammation, atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis. We have shown that the antiproliferative activity of resveratrol correlated with its ability to inhibit the replicative pols (DNA polymerases) alpha and delta in vitro [Stivala, Savio, Carafoli, Perucca, Bianchi, Maga, Forti, Pagnoni, Albini, Prosperi and Vannini (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 22586-22594]. In this paper, we present the first detailed biochemical investigation on the mechanism of action of resveratrol towards mammalian pols. Our results suggest that specific structural determinants of the resveratrol molecule are responsible for selective inhibition of different mammalian pols, such as the family B pol alpha and the family X pol lambda. Moreover, the resveratrol derivative trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxystilbene, which is endowed with a strong antiproliferative activity (Stivala et al., 2001), can inhibit pols alpha and lambda and also suppress the in vitro SV40 DNA replication. The potency of inhibition is similar to that of aphidicolin, an inhibitor of the three replicative pols alpha, delta and epsilon. Our findings establish the necessary background for the synthesis of resveratrol derivatives having more selective and potent antiproliferative activity.

Halogen atom transfer radical addition of α-polychloroesters to olefins promoted by Fe0 filings

Abstract The Kharasch addition of methyl 2,2-dichlorocarboxylates or trichloro acetic acid derivatives to alkenes, affording the corresponding 1:1 adducts, is promoted by the iron filings/N,N-dimethylformamide system.

αvβ3 Integrin-dependent antiangiogenic activity of resveratrol stereoisomers

Angiogenesis is target for antineoplastic and chemopreventive therapies. The natural phytoalexin resveratrol is found in grapes and red wine as cis and trans stereoisomers. trans-Resveratrol shows antiangiogenic activity, but its mechanism of action is not fully elucidated. Recently, trans-resveratrol has been shown to interact with the β3 integrin subunit, raising the possibility that inhibition of endothelial αvβ3 integrin function may concur to its angiosuppressive activity. To get novel insights about the antiangiogenic activity of resveratrol, we compared cis- and trans-resveratrol stereoisomers for their effect on the angiogenesis process and endothelial αvβ3 integrin function. trans-Resveratrol inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and the repair of mechanically wounded endothelial cell monolayers. Also, it prevents endothelial cell sprouting in fibrin gel, collagen gel invasion, and morphogenesis on Matrigel. In vivo, trans-resveratrol inhibits vascularization of the chick embryo area vasculosa and murine melanoma B16 tumor growth and neovascularization. In all the assays, cis-resveratrol exerts a limited, if any, effect. In keeping with these observations, trans-resveratrol, but not cis-resveratrol, inhibits αvβ3 integrin-dependent endothelial cell adhesion and the recruitment of enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged β3 integrin in focal adhesion contacts. In conclusion, stereoisomery affects the antiangiogenic activity of resveratrol, the trans isomer being significantly more potent than the cis isoform. The different antiangiogenic potential of resveratrol stereoisomers is related, at least in part, to their different capacity to affect αvβ3 integrin function. This may have profound implications for the design of synthetic antiangiogenic/angiopreventive phytoalexin derivatives. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(12):3761–70]

Fe0 initiated halogen atom transfer radical addition of methyl 2-Br-2-Cl-carboxylates to olefins

Abstract The halogen atom transfer radical addition (HATRA) of methyl 2-Br-2-Cl-carboxylates to alkenes is obtained in good yields by catalytic amounts of iron filings in dimethylformamide/1,2-dichloroethane at 80°C under argon.

Acetals by AlFe-pillared montmorillonite catalysis

Abstract AlFe-pillared montmorillonite is an efficient catalyst for acetals preparation in CH2Cl2 at room temperature.

Biotransformation of Acyclic Monoterpenoids by Debaryomyces sp., Kluyveromyces sp., and Pichia sp. Strains of Environmental Origin

Sixty yeast strains, which belong to 32 species of the genera Debaryomyces, Kluyveromyces, and Pichia, and which were isolated from plant‐, soil‐ or insect‐associated habitats, were screened for their ability to biotransform the acyclic monoterpenes geraniol and nerol. The aptitude to convert both compounds (from 2.6 to 30.6, and from 2.7 to 29.1%/g cell DW (=dry weight), resp.) was apparently a broad distributed character in such yeasts. Depending upon the substrate used, the production of linalool, α‐terpineol, β‐myrcene, D‐limonene, (E)‐β‐ocimene, (Z)‐β‐ocimene, or carene was observed. Linalool was the main product obtained from geraniol, whereas linalool and α‐terpineol were the main products obtained through the conversion of nerol. Yet, differently from nerol, the aptitude to exhibit high bioconversion yields of geraniol to linalool was an apparently genus‐related character, whereas the ability to produce other monoterpenes was a both genus‐ and habitat‐related character. The possible pathways of bioconversion of geraniol or nerol to their derivatives were proposed/discussed.