V. S. Reznik

Supramolecular Systems Based on Novel Mono- and Dicationic Pyrimidinic Amphiphiles and Oligonucleotides: A Self-Organization and Complexation Study

Novel mono- and dicationic pyrimidinic surfactants are synthesized and their aggregation behavior is studied by methods of tensiometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) self-diffusion. To estimate their potentiality as gene delivery agents, the complexation with oligonucleotides (ONus) is explored by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta-potential titration methods and ethidium bromide exclusion experiments. Bola-type pyrimidinic amphiphile (BPM) demonstrates rather a weak affinity to ONus. Although it induces mixed associations with ONus, only slight charge compensation changes occur at a large excess of bola, with no recharging reached. Similarly, the ethydium bromide exclusion study reveals a slow increase in the binding capacity toward an ONu with an increment in BPM concentration. The monocationic pyrimidinic surfactant (MPM) and its gemini analogue (GPM-1) are ranked as intermediates in both their aggregative activity and complexing properties toward ONus. They both form mixed associates with ONus well below the critical micelle concentrations (cmcs) of 2 and 15 mM respectively. However, GPM-1 has a much lower isoelectric point at the molar ratio surfactant/ONu r~1 compared to r~3 for MPM. This probably indicates a larger electrostatic contribution to the ONu complexation in the case of GPM-1. The most hydrophobic pyrimidinic surfactant (GPM-2), bearing three alkyl tails, demonstrates enhanced aggregative activity and binding capacity toward ONus as compared to former pyrimidinic surfactants. Due to effective aggregative (low cmc of 0.04 mM) plus binding properties (fraction of bound ONu β=0.76 at r=2.5), GPM-2 may be ranked as a promising agent for wider biological applications.

Supramolecular systems based on dicationic pyrimidine-containing surfactants and polyethyleneimine

Aggregates based on a novel pyrimidine-containing amphiphile containing three uracil fragments were quantitatively characterized. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) is 2 mmol L–1 and the degree of binding of counterions is β = 0.95, which is consistent with the low zeta potential of the micelles equal to +5 mV. Aggregates with a diameter of 45 nm are formed in the CMC region, and in the region of higher concentrations the aggregates are rearranged to micelle-like particles. In the presence of hydrophilic polymer polyethyleneimine, the CMC significantly decreases (to 0.2 mmol L–1), the degree of binding of counterions decreases, and the electrokinetic potential increases. The size of the aggregates in the binary system is 6—7 nm.

Antimicrobial activity of pyrimidinophanes with thiocytosine and uracil moieties.

Reactions of pyrimidinophanes with two 6-methylthiocytosine and one 5(6)-alkyluracil moieties bridged with each other by polymethylene spacers with methyl or nonyl p-toluenesulfonate, p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonate and trifluorosulfonate afforded amphiphilic macrocyclic bis-p-toluene-, methane- and trifluorosulfonates. Despite the presence of several reaction centers in the initial pyrimidinophane molecules, protonation and methylation occurred only at the N(1) atom (with quaternization) of the 6-methylthiocytosine moieties. The bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity of the products was estimated. Macrocyclic tosylates exhibit a remarkable selectivity towards Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values comparable with a reference drug. Bacteriostatic activity of the amphiphilic pyrimidinophanes depends on the size of the macrocycles, and the highest activity corresponds to definite lengths of polymethylene bridges. Besides, the antimicrobial activity of the screened pyrimidine derivatives depends on their topology. While macrocyclic tosylates are more active against bacteria than against fungi, acyclic tosylate with the same structural fragments shows a dramatical decrease of MIC towards mold and yeast with respect to the corresponding macrocycle. It is found that macrocyclic and acyclic tosylates in high dilutions decrease the extracellular lipase activity.

Novel bolaamphiphilic pyrimidinophane as building block for design of nanosized supramolecular systems with concentration-dependent structural behavior.

A new macrocyclic bolaamphiphile with thiocytosine fragments in the molecule (B1) has been synthesized and advanced as perspective platform for the design of soft supramolecular systems. Strong concentration-dependent structural behavior is observed in the water-DMF (20% vol) solution of B1 as revealed by methods of tensiometry, conductometry, dynamic light scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Two breakpoints are observed in the surface tension isotherms. The first one, around 0.002 M, is identified as a critical micelle concentration (cmc), whereas the second critical concentration of 0.01 M is a turning point between the two models of the association involved. Large aggregates of ca. 200 nm are mostly formed beyond the cmc, whereas small micelle-like aggregates exist above 0.01 M. The growth of aggregates between these critical points occurs, resulting in a gel-like behavior. An unusual decrease in the solution pH with concentration takes place, which is assumed to originate from the steric hindrance around the B1 head groups. Because of controllable structural behavior, B1 is assumed to be a candidate for the development of biomimetic catalysts, nanocontainers, drug and gene carriers, etc.

Preferential protonation and methylation site of thiopyrimidine derivatives in solution: NMR data.

Protonation (alkylation) sites of several thiopyrimidine derivatives were directly determined by 1H-15N (1H-13C) heteronuclear single quantum coherence/heteronuclear multiple bond correlation methods, and it was found that in all compounds, protonation (methylation) occurred at the N1 nitrogen. GIAO DFT chemical shifts were in full agreement with the determined tautomeric structures. According to ab initio calculations, the stability of the different protonated forms and methylated derivatives was favored due to thermodynamic control and not kinetic control.

Intramolecular interactions in acyclic and macrocyclic compounds containing nucleotide bases

Abstract Acyclic and cyclic counterparts containing thymine and two 3,6-dimethyluracil fragments bridged by methylene chains have been prepared and studied by UV and NMR spectroscopy; in water the uracil units of the acyclic counterpart form an intramolecular stack but arrange in a linear array in chloroform while the fragments of the uracilophane form an intramolecular stack both in chloroform and water; uracil units of bis(3,6-dimethyluracil-1-yl)butane and the macrocyclic counterpart form a stack in chloroform.

6-Methyluracil Derivatives as Bifunctional Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease.

Novel 6‐methyluracil derivatives with ω‐(substituted benzylethylamino)alkyl chains at the nitrogen atoms of the pyrimidine ring were designed and synthesized. The numbers of methylene groups in the alkyl chains were varied along with the electron‐withdrawing substituents on the benzyl rings. The compounds are mixed‐type reversible inhibitors of cholinesterases, and some of them show remarkable selectivity for human acetylcholinesterase (hAChE), with inhibitory potency in the nanomolar range, more than 10 000‐fold higher than that for human butyrylcholinesterase (hBuChE). Molecular modeling studies indicate that these compounds are bifunctional AChE inhibitors, spanning the enzyme active site gorge and binding to its peripheral anionic site (PAS). In vivo experiments show that the 6‐methyluracil derivatives are able to penetrate the blood–brain barrier (BBB), inhibiting brain‐tissue AChE. The most potent AChE inhibitor, 3 d (1,3‐bis[5‐(o‐nitrobenzylethylamino)pentyl]‐6‐methyluracil), was found to improve working memory in scopolamine and transgenic APP/PS1 murine models of Alzheimers disease, and to significantly decrease the number and area of β‐amyloid peptide plaques in the brain.

Macrocyclic and acyclic 1,3-bis[5-(trialkylammonio)pentyl]-5(6)-substituted uracil dibromides: synthesis, antimicrobial properties, and the structure—activity relationship

A series of acyclic onium uracil derivatives was synthesized, including 1,3-bis[5-(alkyldiethylammonio)pentyl]-5(6)-substituted uracil dibromides and isostructural macrocyclic compounds (isomeric cis- and trans-pyrimidinophanes bearing onium groups in the decamethylene chains). The compounds were found to exhibit considerable bacteriostatic and fungistatic activity. The onium uracil derivatives were found to make a specific contribution to the antimicrobial action: the bacteriostatic and fungistatic activities of the compounds are determined by their topology, the nature of a substituent at atom C(5) of the uracil ring and a substituent in the onium group. The mechanism of antimicrobial action and cytotoxicity of uracil onium derivatives were studied.

The influence of the Xymedon preparation (Hydroxyethyldimethyldihydropyrimidine) on the rat liver recovery under toxic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride

143 Preparation Xymedon (1 (ß hydroxyethyl) 4,6 dimethyl 1,2 dihydro 2 oxopyrimidon, registration no. LS 000045), which is produced in Russia, is known as a medicine with a marked regenerative and reparative effect [1]. It is highly effectively used in clinical practice for the treatment of burns and wound healing in the postoperative period. The results of clin ical studies obtained in recent years have revealed new indications for the use of Xymedon: scleroderma [2], psoriasis [3], obstructive pulmonary disease [4], gas tric and duodenal ulcer [5], osteomyelitis [6, 7], and pyoinflammatory disease [8]. It was shown that Xyme don affects the key biochemical processes at the cellu lar and subcellular levels by activating adenylyl cyclase, which leads to a rapid accumulation of cAMP in the cell and stimulation of metabolism (primarily protein biosynthesis).

Different sensitivities of rat skeletal muscles and brain to novel anti‐cholinesterase agents, alkylammonium derivatives of 6‐methyluracil (ADEMS)

The rat respiratory muscle diaphragm has markedly lower sensitivity than the locomotor muscle extensor digitorum longus (EDL) to the new acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, alkylammonium derivatives of 6‐methyluracil (ADEMS). This study evaluated several possible reasons for differing sensitivity between the diaphragm and limb muscles and between the muscles and the brain.