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Glucoamylases are responsible for hydrolysis of starch and polysaccharides to yield β-d-glucose. Rhizopus oryzae glucoamylase (RoGA) is composed of an N-terminal starch binding domain (SBD) and a C-terminal catalytic domain connected by an O-glycosylated linker. Two carbohydrate binding sites in RoSBD have been identified, site I is created by three highly conserved aromatic residues, Trp47, Tyr83, and Tyr94, and site II is built up by Tyr32 and Phe58. Here, the two crystal structures of RoSBD in complex with only α-(1,6)-linked isomaltotriose (RoSBD-isoG3) and isomaltotetraose (RoSBD-isoG4) have been determined at 1.2 and 1.3 A, respectively. Interestingly, site II binding is observed in both complexes, while site I binding is only found in the RoSBD-isoG4 complex. Hence, site II acts as the recognition binding site for carbohydrate and site I accommodates site II to bind isoG4. Site I participates in sugar binding only when the number of glucosyl units of oligosaccharides is more than three. Taken together, two carbohydrate binding sites in RoSBD cooperate to reinforce binding mode of glucoamylase with polysaccharides as well as the starch. Proteins 2014; 82:1079–1085. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Triosephosphate isomerase (TIM) catalyzes the interconversion between dihydroxyacetone phosphate and D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate in the glycolysis-gluconeogenesis metabolism pathway. The Helicobacter pylori TIM gene (HpTIM) was cloned, and HpTIM was expressed and purified. The enzymatic activity of HpTIM for the substrate GAP was determined (K(m) = 3.46 +/- 0.23 mM and k(cat) = 8.8 x 10(4) min(-1)). The crystal structure of HpTIM was determined by molecular replacement at 2.3 A resolution. The overall structure of HpTIM was (beta/alpha)beta(beta/alpha)(6), which resembles the common TIM barrel fold, (beta/alpha)(8); however, a helix is missing after the second beta-strand. The conformation of loop 6 and binding of phosphate ion suggest that the determined structure of HpTIM was in the "closed" state. A highly conserved Arg-Asp salt bridge in the "DX(D/N)G" motif of most TIMs is absent in HpTIM because the sequence of this motif is "(211)SVDG(214)." To determine the significance of this salt bridge to HpTIM, four mutants, including K183S, K183A, D213Q, and D213A, were constructed and characterized. The results suggest that this conserved salt bridge is not essential for the enzymatic activity of HpTIM; however, it might contribute to the conformational stability of HpTIM.

Virus isolates resistant to 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy) methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine (HEPT) and a highly potent HEPT derivative, [1-benzyloxymethyl-5-ethyl-6-(α-pyridylthio)uracil] (NSC 648400, E-BPTU), were selected in cell culture. Cross-resistance evaluation indicated that the two drug resistant virus isolates were phenotypically distinct from one another although each of the virus isolates was resistant to both of the HEPT derivatives The virus isolate resistant to NSC 648400 had a single amino acid change in the reverse transcriptase (Y181C) which resulted in cross-resistance to all of the nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors evaluated, with the exception of calanolide A. The NSC 648400-resistant virus isolate exhibited 15-fold enhanced sensitivity to calanolide A. The virus isolate selected in the presence of HEPT exhibited a single amino acid change (P236L) which was not cross- resistant to other nonnucleoside RT inhibitors tested with the exception of the two HEPT derivatives. This HEPT-resistant virus isolate exhibited enhanced sensitivity (5- to 10-fold) to thiazolobenzimidazole. We have used both virus isolates with defined single amino acid changes in the RT and bacterially expressed RTs with site-directed amino acid substitutions to test the effects of a wide variety of mutations on the activity of NSC 648400 Single mutations at amino acids 101, 103, 106, 181, or 236 yielded virus with high resistance (>20-fold) to NSC 648400, while lower levels of resistance were seen with mutations at amino acids 98, 100, or 108. These results suggest that several changes in the conformation of the nonnucleoside inhibitor binding site of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase can affect the inhibitory activity of the HEPT class of compounds.

Blends between poly(acrylic acid) and two different poly(oxyethylenes), (1) polyethylene glycol (PEG-1000) and (2) poly(oxyethylene) (20) sorbitan monooleate (Tween-80), were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The glass transition temperatures, Tg, of the various compositions of these blends were found to follow Fox's equation. At room temperature, blends containing no more than 60% PEG-1000 were amorphous and exhibited only a single glass transition. For these blends with PEG-1000, the glass transition temperatures for the annealed samples were higher than for the quenched samples due to the formation of a PEG crystalline phase. It was also found that addition of an amorphous polymer such as poly(acrylic acid) significantly reduced the degree of crystallinity of a semicrystalline polymer such as poly(oxyethylene). The Tween-80 systems did not show phase separation at room temperature. The compatibility between this poly(acrylic acid) and this poly(oxyethylene) was attributed to hydrogen bonding and to the lower crystalline lattice energy of this poly(oxyethylene) through its effect on its ideal solution solubility. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

The title compound crystallizes in the triclinic space group [Formula: see text] and the cell dimensions are a = 16.890(3), b = 9.586(2), c = 6.316(1) Å, α = 91.09(1), β = 93.50(1), γ = 93.04(1)°. X-ray intensity data were measured on a diffractometer, and the crystal structure was determined by direct methods. Least-squares refinement, which included all hydrogen atoms, converged at R = 0.056 for 3454 observed reflections. Adjacent six-membered rings are approximately perpendicular to one another. The glycosidic torsion angle [C(6)—N(1)—C(1′)—O(4′)] is 96.2(2)°. In the acyclic moiety, both C—OH bonds are gauche with respect to C(4′)—O(4′). The gauche conformation is also dominant in solution, as determined by high-resolution 1H nmr spectroscopy. Results of nuclear Overhauser experiments lead to conclusions about the flexibility of the molecule.

Eighty-seven pyrimidine base and nucleoside analogs were evaluated as inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase) and thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase). These findings, together with an extensive literature review, have allowed construction of structure-activity relationships for the binding of ligands to UrdPase and dThdPase and provide a basis for the rational design of new inhibitors of these enzymes. Additionally, 2,6-pyridinediol and 6-benzyl-2-thiouracil have been identified as being potent inhibitors of UrdPase and dThdPase respectively.

Hydroxymethyl analogs of 5-benzylacyclouridine (BAU) and 5-benzyloxybenzylacyclouridine (BBAU) were synthesized by the condensation of appropriately blocked 2-(chloromethyl)glycerols with substituted 2, 4-dimethoxypyrimidines. The HM derivatives were found to be potent inhibitors of the enzyme uridine phosphorylase and to potentiate significantly the growth-inhibiting action of FdUrd in cell culture.

8-Bromoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate, 8-bromoguanosine 5'-monophosphate, and 8-bromoguanosine served as intermediates for the chemical synthesis of a series of 8-substituted seleno cyclic nucleotides, nucleotides, and their nucleosides. Selenourea was found to be a useful reagent in synthesizing these seleno-substituted nucleoside, nucleotide, and cyclic nucleotide. A nucleic acid analyzer was used to study the hydrolysis of these cyclic nucleotides by phosphodiesterase. It was found that all of the 8-substituted selenoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphates synthesized, except 8-MeSe-cGMP, were resistant to hydrolyze by phosphodiesterase. These 8-substituted seleno cyclic GMP derivatives showed some antitumor activities against murine leukemic cells (L5178Y) in vitro and in vivo.

Amino analogs of BAU (5-benzylacyclouridine) and BBAU (5-benzyloxybenzylacyclouridine) and their 2′-hydroxymethyl derivatives were synthesized for evaluation as inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase and hence potential cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Both aminomethyl analogs were found to be potent inhibitors of this enzyme and good potentiators of the anti-tumor action of FUdR.

In attempts to increase the specificity of thiol agents and protect the genetic material of the cell, which is very sensitive to radiation damage, the synthesis of a group of compounds was undertaken in which cysteamine is attached through its amino group to a series of purine and pyrimidine components of nucleic acids. The 5-position of pyrimidines and the 8-position of purines seem well suited for the attachment of groups to be introduced into nucleic acids. Attempts were also made to introduce the bis( BETA -thioethyl) amino group into suitable carrier molecules to yield doublearmed cysteamines. While attempts to isolate bis-( BETA -mercaptoethyl)amine were unsuccessful, the oxidized form of the compound, 1,2-dithia-5-azepane was prepared in good yield. Thus, the preparation of N-substituted 1,2-dithia-5azepanes appeared feasible. A number of uracilyl compounds were prepared by reaction sequences which are shown. BETA -Benzylthioethylamine, prepared by the reaction of ethyleneimine with alpha - toluenethiol, was found to react with 5-bromouracil to yield 5-L BETA - benzylthioethylamino) uracil, This compound could also be obtained by the addition of alpha -toluenethiol to 5-( BETA -chloroethylamino)uracil (onearmed uracil mustard). Debenzylation with sodium in liquid ammonia resulted in the formation of 5-( BETA -mercaptoethylamino)uracil. Attempts to isolate themore » compound were unsuccessful; however, oxidation readily yielded its disulfide form. Bis( BETA -benzylthioethyl)amine reacted with 5bromouracil to form 5-bis( BETA - benzylthtoethylamino)uracil. An alternative synthesis of the compound involved the addition of the sodium salt of benzyl mercaptan to 5-bis( BETA chloroethylamino)uracil (uracil mustard). Reduction of the bis-benzylthio compound with sodium in liquid ammonia followed by air oxidation yielded N-(5- uracilyl)-1,2-dithta5-azepane. N,N'-bis(8-adeninyl)cystamine was prepared in annlogous fashion from 8-( BETA -benzylthioethylamino)adenine, which in turn was obtained by the reaction of 8bromoadenine with BETA -benzylthioethylamine. Difficulties were encountered in isolating mercaptans as such because of the rapidity of air oxidation. (P.C.H.)« less

The benzylacyclouridines, potent and specific inhibitors of mammalian uridine phosphorylase, were also found to be inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase but not thymidine phosphorylase from Escherichia coli. Competitive inhibition was observed in all cases and the most potent of these compounds was HM-BBAU (5-(3-benzyloxybenzyl)-1-[(2'-hydroxy-1'-hydroxymethyl)methyl]urac il) with a Ki value of 0.15 microM. The inhibitory potencies of these compounds parallel those obtained with enzymes from mammalian sources [Niedzwicki et al., Biochem. Pharmac. 31, 1857 (1982) and Naguib et al., manuscript in preparation] indicating that the structure of the active site of uridine phosphorylase from E. coli may resemble that of the mammalian enzyme.

The free-volume theory of transport is used to analyze the concentration dependence of the solvent self-diffusion coefficient for two polystyrene-solvent systems. The agreement between predictions of free-volume theory and the experimental data is good.

In view of the effectiveness of aminoethyl mercaptan (cysteamine) and of 2-aminoethylisothiouronium (AET) salts in protecting animals against ionizing radiation, efforts were made to prepare even more active analogs of the compounds. Sulfur is considered to be essential to the radioprotective action of cysteamine analogs; however, the selenium analog of cysteamine can shield mice against radiation. Since the atomic radii of sulfur and of selenium are similar, sulfur and selenium analogs may be assumed to have the same ability of fit receptor sites. The selenium analog of AET was prepared by the reaction of selenourea with 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide. Treatment of the selenouronium salt with NaOH yielded 2-selenoethylguanidine, which was isolated as the flavianate salt. The reaction of 2-aminoethylisoselenouronium hydrobromide with boiling water resulted in the formation of 2-aminoselenazoline. Through the reaction of 2- methylaminoethyl. 2dimethylaminoethyl, and 2-diethylaminoethyl halides with selenourea the corresponding 2-alkylaminoethyl selenouronium salts were obtained. Similarly, 3-aminopropylisoselenouronium hydrobromide was synthesized.

Various pyrimidine acyclonucleosides (l-(2'-hydroxyethoxymethyl)uracils) are specific inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase [Niedzwicki et al., Biochem. Pharmac. 30 , 2097 (1981)]. 5-Benzyluracils have also been shown to inhibit this enzyme [Baker and Kelley. J. med. Chem. 13 , 461 (1970); Woodman et al., Biochem. Pharmac . 29 ,1059 (1980)]. We have synthesized the acyclonucleoside analogs of 5-benzyluracil (BU) and 5-benzyloxybenzyluracil (BBU). These compounds, 5-benzyl-1-(2'-hydroxy-ethoxymethyl) uracil (BAU) and 5-( m -benzyloxybenzyl)-1-(2'-hydroxyethoxymethyl)uracil (BBAU), are potent inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase. K i values of 98 and 32 nM were estimated for BAU and BBAU respectively. These compounds are better inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase than BU ( K i = 1575 nM), BBU ( K i = 270 nM), and all other compounds previously tested, and they have no effect on thymidine phosphorylase, uridine-cytidine kinase, or thymidine kinase. Potential chemotherapeutic applications of BAU and BBAU are discussed.

Amino analogs of BAU (5-benzylacyclouridine) and BBAU (5-benzyloxybenzylacyclouridine) and their 2′-hydroxymethyl derivatives were synthesized for evaluation as inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase and hence potential cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Both aminomethyl analogs were found to be potent inhibitors of this enzyme and good potentiators of the anti-tumor action of FUdR.

The toxicology and metabolism of 8-azaadenosine (8-azaAdo) were examined both as a single agent and in combination with the adenosine deaminase inhibitor, 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF). The LD10 (mice) for 8-azaAdo alone on a once daily for 5 days (q.d. x 5) schedule was 30 mg . kg-1 . day-1. When the animals were pretreated with 0.1 mg . kg-1 . day-1 of dCF, the LD10 dose was reduced to 10 mg . kg-1 . day-1 x 5. The major organ toxicity seen was hepatic. Bone marrow cellularity was only slightly altered at the LD10 dose. 8-AzaAdo nucleotides were detected in the livers of treated mice as determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Further, after 2 hr of incubation, isolated rat hepatocytes accumulated 8-azaATP to levels of 2.2 mumoles/g of cells with 8-azaAdo (1 mM) alone and to 4.3 mumoles/g of cells when 8-azaAdo was used in combination with dCF (1 microgram/ml). ATP levels decreased to below the limits of detection after 2 hr in cells treated with the combination. The replacement of cellular ATP by 8-azaATP may provide an explanation for the hepatotoxicity observed in the murine toxicology studies.

Treatment of adenosine, 2-aminoadenosine, adenine arabinoside, formycin, 1-Me-AMP, cyclo-AMP, and 1-Me-cyclo-AMP with H2Se in aqueous pyridine gave the corresponding seleno compounds with good yield.

8-Bromoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate, 8-bromoguanosine 5'-monophosphate, and 8-bromoguanosine served as intermediates for the chemical synthesis of a series of 8-substituted seleno cyclic nucleotides, nucleotides, and their nucleosides. Selenourea was found to be a useful reagent in synthesizing these seleno-substituted nucleoside, nucleotide, and cyclic nucleotide. A nucleic acid analyzer was used to study the hydrolysis of these cyclic nucleotides by phosphodiesterase. It was found that all of the 8-substituted selenoguanosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphates synthesized, except 8-MeSe-cGMP, were resistant to hydrolyze by phosphodiesterase. These 8-substituted seleno cyclic GMP derivatives showed some antitumor activities against murine leukemic cells (L5178Y) in vitro and in vivo.

6-Methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MeMPR) is the most potent inhibitor known of PRPP amidotransferase, the first step in purine biosynthesis de novo. We have examined other 6-methylmercapto- and 6-methylselenopurine ribonucleosides for their ability to act as feedback inhibitors of this pathway as well as for their ability to form analog nucleotides. Methylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (MeMPR), methylselenopurine ribonucleoside (MeSePR), and methylmercaptopyrazolo pyrimidine ribonucleoside (MeMPPR) were potent inhibitors (90 per cent), methylselenopyrazolo pyrimidine ribonucleoside (MeSePPR) was less potent (75 per cent), and methylselenoguanosine (MeSeGR) did not significantly inhibit this pathway. Large amounts of the corresponding 5'-monophosphate nucleosides were formed from MeMPR and MeMPPR, lesser amounts from MeSePPR and MeSePR and none from MeSeGR. The ability of 6-selenoguanine, its ribonucleoside and the α- and β-anomers of the deoxyribonucleoside were also examined as possible inhibitors of purine synthesis de novo. Further investigation is needed to determine if these compounds have significant activity as antineoplastic agents, but in any case they may lead to structural modifications which will produce active compounds.

Treatment of adenosine, 2-aminoadenosine, adenine arabinoside, formycin, 1-Me-AMP, cyclo-AMP, and 1-Me-cyclo-AMP with H2Se in aqueous pyridine gave the corresponding seleno compounds with good yield.