V. P. Shevchenko

Interaction of holothurian triterpene glycoside with biomembranes of mouse immune cells.

The in vitro interactions between triterpene glycoside, cucumarioside A(2)-2, isolated from the Far-Eastern holothurian Cucumaria japonica, and mouse splenocyte and peritoneal macrophage biomembranes were studied. Multiple experimental approaches were employed, including determination of biomembrane microviscosity, membrane potential and Ca(2+) signaling, and radioligand binding assays. Cucumarioside A(2)-2 exhibited strong cytotoxic effect in the micromolar range of concentrations and showed pronounced immunomodulatory activity in the nanomolar concentration range. It was established that the cucumarioside A(2)-2 effectively interacted with immune cells and increased the cellular biomembrane microviscosity. This interaction led to a dose-dependent reversible shift in cellular membrane potential and temporary biomembrane depolarization; and an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) in the cytoplasm. It is suggested that there are at least two binding sites for [(3)H]-cucumarioside A(2)-2 on cellular membranes corresponding to different biomembrane components: a low affinity site match to membrane cholesterol that is responsible for the cytotoxic properties, and a high affinity site corresponding to a hypothetical receptor that is responsible for immunostimulation.

Structural-functional study of glycine-and-proline-containing peptides (Glyprolines) as potential neuroprotectors

A synthetic scheme for preparation of (Gly-Pro)n, (Pro-Gly)n (n = 2, 3), and (Pro-Gly-Pro)n (n = 1, 2) peptides was elaborated. The effect of the synthesized peptides and the Gly-Pro and Pro-Gly dipeptides on survival of cultured cells of PC12 rat pheochromocytoma was studied under the conditions of oxidative stress induced by brief incubation of the cells with hydrogen peroxide. Peptides of the general formula (Gly-Pro)n and the Pro-Gly-Pro peptide at a concentration of 0.2–100 μM were shown to decrease the number of damaged cells. The Gly-Pro peptide was the most active and decreased the number of damaged cells by 49% on average at a concentration of 100 μM.

New aspects of biosynthesis and metabolism of N-acyldopamines in rat tissues

Possible biosynthetic pathways of N-acyldopamines in rat tissues were compared. It was shown that an insignificant amount of the conjugation products was formed during the incubation of arachidonic acid and dopamine, whereas the substitution of tyrosine for dopamine resulted in the productive biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyldopamine. The biosynthesis presumably involves several closely conjugated enzymatic stages, and free fatty acids rather than their CoA esters served as the starting substrates. The decarboxylation stage probably precedes the stage of catechol system formation, because N-acetyltyramine (a probable intermediate) was easily oxidized by monophenol monooxygenase to N-acyldopamine, whereas N-acyltyrosine is hydrolyzed under these conditions. Biosynthesis of N-acyldopamines in a cell-free medium was accompanied by their methylation. The possibility of oxidative metabolism of N-acyldopamines, which could serve as co-substrates or inhibitors of different oxidoreductases, was shown for the first time.

Efficiency of isotope exchange between sodium 4-phenylbenzoate and activated tritium

The efficiency of the protium–tritium isotope exchange in the sodium 4-phenylbenzoate (PBNa) molecule on activating the reaction on a tungsten filament at 1940 K (target temperature 77 and 295 K) and on heating the substrate supported on 5% Pd/C in the presence of gaseous tritium is compared. It is shown that the reaction mechanism is laregly determined by the properties of the material on which this reaction occurs and not only by the method of generation of activated tritium species. In the reaction of tritium atom with PBNa deposited on glass walls of the reaction vessel, the isotope substitution of tritium for protium occurred by the radical mechanism, leading to the formation of [3H]PBNa and hydrogenation products. It is assumed that the spillover of tritium atom over the support (carbon) surface is accompanied by polarization of the electronic shell and formation of the cluster (3+)(

Kinetics of semax penetration into the brain and blood of rats after its intranasal administration

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Hydrogen isotope labeling of PTC124

), which leads to changes in the composition of the reaction products. The combined treatment of PBNa on 5% Pd/C allows estimation of the concentration of clusters on the carbon surface, which reaches 10.9 particles per 100 nm2 (9.2 nm2 per cluster).

[A synthesis of tritium-labeled olanzapine].

Maraviroc labeled with hydrogen isotopes was prepared. Maraviroc molecules contain, on the average, more than four atoms of hydrogen isotopes. The isotope distribution was studied by mass spectrometry. If the amount of deuterium incorporated in Maraviroc molecule is taken as 100%, the triazole fragment contained 39%, the aryl fragment, 42%, and the fluorinated fragment, 14% of deuterium.

Dihydroceramide desaturase activity in tumors.

The radioactive petide analogue Semax corresponding to the ACTH(4–10) sequence (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) with a specific radioactivity of 56 Ci/mmol labeled with tritium at the C-terminal Pro was prepared. The labeled peptide was used for studying the kinetics of Semax penetration into rat brain and blood after its intranasal administration (50 μg/kg, 20 μl of solution) to nonbred white rats of body mass 200–250 g. It was demonstrated that 0.093% of the total introduced radioactivity per gram can be found in the rat brain 2 min after the administration, 80% of this radioactivity belonged to Semax, and the rest, to its metabolites. The peptide undergoes rapid enzymatic degradation, with the tripeptide Pro-Gly-Pro prevailing in biological samples relative to the total content of Semax and its metabolites.