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Fatty acid biosynthesis is essential for bacterial survival. Components of this biosynthetic pathway have been identified as attractive targets for the development of new antibacterial agents. FabH, β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase III, is a particularly attractive target, since it is central to the initiation of fatty acid biosynthesis and is highly conserved among Gram-positive and -negative bacteria. Small molecules that inhibit FabH enzymatic activity have the potential to be candidates within a novel class of selective, nontoxic, broad-spectrum antibacterials. Using crystallographic structural information on these highly conserved active sites and structure based drug design principles, a benzoylaminobenzoic acid series of compounds was developed as potent inhibitors of FabH. This inhibitor class demonstrates strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and selected Gram-negative organisms.

The structure-based design, synthesis, and biological activity of a novel indazole-containing inhibitor series for S-adenosyl homocysteine/methylthioadenosine (SAH/MTA) nucleosidase are described. Use of 5-aminoindazole as the core scaffold provided a structure-guided series of low nanomolar inhibitors with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The implementation of structure-based methodologies provided a 6000-fold increase in potency over a short timeline (several months) and an economy of synthesized compounds.

Using a combination of iterative structure-based design and an analysis of oral pharmacokinetics and antiviral activity, AG1343 (Viracept, nelfinavir mesylate), a nonpeptidic inhibitor of HIV-1 protease, was identified. AG1343 is a potent enzyme inhibitor (Ki = 2 nM) and antiviral agent (HIV-1 ED50 = 14 nM). An X-ray cocrystal structure of the enzyme−AG1343 complex reveals how the novel thiophenyl ether and phenol−amide substituents of the inhibitor interact with the S1 and S2 subsites of HIV-1 protease, respectively. In vivo studies indicate that AG1343 is well absorbed orally in a variety of species and possesses favorable pharmacokinetic properties in humans. AG1343 (Viracept) has recently been approved for marketing for the treatment of AIDS.

The design, synthesis, and crystallographic analysis of protein−inhibitor complexes is described for a novel series of nonpeptidic HIV protease (HIV Pr) inhibitors. Beginning with a cocrystal structure of a Phe-Pro peptidomimetic bound to the HIV Pr, design was initiated that resulted in the substituted 2-butanol compound 8 as the lead compound (Ki = 24.5 μM, racemic mixture). Modifications on the initial compound were then made on the basis of its cocrystal structure with HIV Pr and inhibition data, resulting in compounds with enhanced potency against the enzyme (compound 18, Ki = 0.48 μM). These inhibitors were found to bind to the enzyme essentially as predicted on the basis of the original design hypothesis. Stereospecific synthesis of individual enantiomers confirmed the prediction of a binding preference for the S alcohol stereochemistry. Modest antiviral activity was demonstrated for several of the more potent HIV Pr inhibitors in a HIV-1 infected CEM-SS cell line.

A series of potent nonpeptide inhibitors of the HIV protease have been identified. Using the structure of compound 3 bound to the HIV protease, bis tertiary amide inhibitor 9 was designed and prepared. Compound 9 was found to be about 17 times more potent than 3, and the structure of the protein−ligand complex of 9 revealed the inhibitor binds in an inverted binding mode relative to 3. Examination of the protein−ligand complex of 9 suggested several modifications in the P1 and P1‘ pockets. Through these modifications it was possible to improve the activity of the inhibitors another 100-fold, highlighting the utility of crystallographic feedback in inhibitor design. These compounds were found to have good antiviral activity in cell culture, were selective for the HIV protease, and were orally available in three animal models.

To develop novel lipophilic thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors, the X-ray structure of Escherichia coli TS in ternary complex with FdUMP and the inhibitor 10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB3717) was used as a basis for structure-based design. A total of 31 novel lipophilic TS inhibitors, lacking a glutamate residue, were synthesized; 26 of them had in common a N-((3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-6-quinazolinyl)methyl)-N-prop-2-ynylaniline structure in which the aniline was appropriately substituted with simple lipophilic substituents either in position 3 or 4, or in both. Compounds were tested for their inhibition of E. coli TS and human TS and also for their inhibition of the growth in tissue culture of a murine leukemia, a human leukemia, and a thymidine kinase-deficient human adenocarcinoma. The crystal structures of five inhibitors complexed with E. coli TS were determined. Five main conclusions are drawn from this study. (i) A 3-substituent such as CF3, iodo, or ethynyl enhances binding by up to 1 order of magnitude and in the case of CF3 was proven to fill a nearby pocket in the enzyme. (ii) A simple strongly electron-withdrawing substituent such as NO2 or CF3SO2 in the 4-position enhances binding by 2 orders of magnitude; it is hypothesized that the transannular dipole so induced interacts favorably with the protein. (iii) Attempts to combine the enhancements of i and ii in the same molecule were generally unsuccessful. (iv) A 4-C6H5SO2 substituent provided both electron withdrawal and a van der Waal's interaction of the phenyl group with a hydrophobic surface at the mouth of the active site. The inhibition (Kis = 12 nM) of human TS by this compound, 7n, showed that C6H5SO2 provided virtually as much binding affinity as the CO-glutamate which it had replaced. (v) The series of compounds were poorly water soluble, and also the potent TS inhibition shown by several of them did not translate into good cytotoxicity. Compounds with large cyclic groups linked to position 4 by an SO or SO2 group did, however, have IC50's in the range 1−5 μM. Of these, 4-(N-((3,4-dihydro-2-methyl-6-quinazolinyl)methyl)-N-prop-2-ynylamino)phenyl phenyl sulfone, 7n, had IC50's of about 1 μM and was chosen for further elaboration.

The structure of ribosomal protein L30 from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been solved to a resolution of 2.5 A. The molecule is somewhat elongated and contains two helices and a three-stranded, anti-parallel beta-pleated sheet. The protein fold, in which helices pack on the same side of the sheet, generates a simple helix-sheet, two-layered motif. It is possible to distinguish three hydrophobic patches on the molecular surface, and one end has six isolated arginine and lysine residues. It is proposed that these reflect sites of protein-protein and protein-RNA interaction, respectively. The protein fold is very similar to that of the only other known ribosomal protein structure, L7/L12 from Escherichia coli, and, based on this similarity, an attempt is made to align the amino acid sequences of the two proteins.

DNA binding protein II from Bacillus stearothermophilus has been purified as a single species from the nonribosomal cell fraction by a combination of gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The protein occurs in solution as a tetramer and is able to bind to 30 S, 50 S, and 70 S ribosomal particles. Circular dichroism studies show that the protein has approximately 45% alpha-helix. The secondary structure of the Bacillus protein is considerably more resistant to the effects of increasing temperature and urea concentration than the homologous protein (NS1 and NS2) from Escherichia coli. Proton magnetic resonance experiments show that the protein has a well folded, compact tertiary structure. The DNA binding protein has been crystallized from several precipitants as monoclinic needles and triclinic plates. The monoclinic form diffracts to at least 3.5 A and oscillation data from the native crystals have been collected. The protein is able to bind to both single- and double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides. Upon binding, several changes occur in the protein NMR spectrum which may be used for further analysis of the mechanism of interaction.

Diese Arbeit stellt den Abschluss unseren früheren Untersuchungen über den Einfluss der Kristaligitterstörungen der Bestandteile von Bleipulver auf dessen Schwefelsäureaufnahmefähigkeit und Oberflächeneigenschaften dar.

Diese Methode beruht auf der Entladung einer Versuchszelle bestehend aus dem System C/Akt. Kohle/Elektrolyt/Zn. Als Elektrolyt benutzte man 20%-ige Salmiaklösung. Die erwähnte Methode ermöglicht Untersuchungen der A-Kohle bei verschiedenem Feuchtigkeitsgehalt und verschiedenen Drucken und ermöglicht die Bestimmung des Einflusses von Zusätzen z.B. Russ und Graphit. Die Menge des zugesetzten Elektrolyts hat einen grossen Einfluss auf die Depolarisationsfähigkeit. Bei sieben verschiedenen A-Kohlen wurde festgestellt, dass bei jeder A-Kohle ein Optimum an Feuchtigkeitsgehalt besteht, bei dem jede A-Kohle die grösste Depolarisationsfähigkeit zeigt. Der Optimalgehalt an Feuchtigkeit bewegt sich bei den einzelnen Kohlensorten zwschen 15 und 41 Prozent.

Es wird berichtet über Untersuchungen von Betriebsbleistauben, die aus Kugelmühlen stammen, und von solchen die durch Zerstäubung von flüssigem Blei hergestellt wurden, zwecks Feststellung verschiedener Eigenschaften.