Biomass production of site selective 13C/15N nucleotides using wild type and a transketolase E. coli mutant for labeling RNA for high resolution NMR.

Characterization of the structure and dynamics of nucleic acids by NMR benefits significantly from position specifically labeled nucleotides. Here an E. coli strain deficient in the transketolase gene (tktA) and grown on glucose that is labeled at different carbon sites is shown to facilitate cost-effective and large scale production of useful nucleotides.

Asymmetry of 13C labeled 3-pyruvate affords improved site specific labeling of RNA for NMR spectroscopy.

Selective isotopic labeling provides an unparalleled window within which to study the structure and dynamics of RNAs by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. Unlike commonly used carbon sources, the asymmetry of (13)C-labeled pyruvate provides selective labeling in both the ribose and base moieties of nucleotides using Escherichia coli variants, that until now were not feasible. Here we show that an E.

Asymmetry of (13)C labeled 3-pyruvate affords improved site specific labeling of RNA for NMR spectroscopy.

Selective isotopic labeling provides an unparalleled window within which to study the structure and dynamics of RNAs by high resolution NMR spectroscopy. Unlike commonly used carbon sources, the asymmetry of (13)C-labeled pyruvate provides selective labeling in both the ribose and base moieties of nucleotides using E. coli variants, that until now were not feasible.

Selective 13C labeling of nucleotides for large RNA NMR spectroscopy using an E. coli strain disabled in the TCA cycle.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is an ideal organism to tailor-make labeled nucleotides for biophysical studies of RNA. Recently, we showed that adding labeled formate enhanced the isotopic enrichment at protonated carbon sites in nucleotides.

Growth of wildtype and mutant E. coli strains in minimal media for optimal production of nucleic acids for preparing labeled nucleotides.

Since RNAs lie at the center of most cellular processes, there is a need for synthesizing large amounts of RNAs made from stable isotope-labeled nucleotides to advance the study of their structure and dynamics by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A particularly effective means of obtaining labeled nucleotides is to harvest these nucleotides from bacteria grown in defined minimal media supplemented with 15NH4Cl and various carbon sources. Given the high cost of carbon precursors required for labeling nucleic acids for NMR studies, it becomes important to evaluate the optimal growth for commonly used strains under standard minimal media conditions.

Site-specific labeling of nucleotides for making RNA for high resolution NMR studies using an E. coli strain disabled in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a versatile organism for making nucleotides labeled with stable isotopes ((13)C, (15)N, and/or (2)H) for structural and molecular dynamics characterizations. Growth of a mutant E.

Synthesis of antiproliferative Cephalotaxus esters and their evaluation against several human hematopoietic and solid tumor cell lines: uncovering differential susceptibilities to multidrug resistance.

Deoxyharringtonine (2), homoharringtonine (3), homodeoxyharringtonine (4), and anhydroharringtonine (5) are reported to be among the most potent members of the antileukemia alkaloids isolated from the Cephalotaxus genus. Convergent syntheses of these four natural products are described, each involving novel synthetic methods and strategies. These syntheses enabled evaluation of several advanced natural and non-natural compounds against an array of human hematopoietic and solid tumor cells.

Inhibition of human parainfluenza virus type 3 infection by novel small molecules.

Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3) is an important respiratory tract pathogen of infants and children. There are no vaccines or antivirals currently approved for prevention or treatment of HPIV3 infection. Towards developing an antiviral therapy to combat HPIV3 infection, we have established a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged HPIV3 infected-cell assay and used it for screening of a small molecule library obtained from ChemBridge Diver.

Small-molecule activators of RNase L with broad-spectrum antiviral activity.

RNase L, a principal mediator of innate immunity to viral infections in higher vertebrates, is required for a complete IFN antiviral response against certain RNA stranded viruses. dsRNA produced during viral infections activates IFN-inducible synthetases that produce 5'-phosphorylated, 2',5'-oligoadenylates (2-5A) from ATP. 2-5A activates RNase L in a wide range of different mammalian cell types, thus blocking viral replication.

Delivery of 2-5A cargo into living cells using the Tat cell penetrating peptide: 2-5A-tat.

2',5'-Oligoadenylate tetramer (2-5A) has been chemically conjugated to short HIV-1 Tat peptides to provide 2-5A-tat chimeras. Two different convergent synthetic approaches have been employed to provide such 2-5A-tat bioconjugates. One involved generation of a bioconjugate through reaction of a cysteine terminated Tat peptide with a alpha-chloroacetyl derivative of 2-5A.

A convenient and sensitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay for RNase L and 2',5' oligoadenylates.

Interferon action against viruses is mediated in part through a ribonucleic acid (RNA) decay pathway known as the 2-5A system. Unusual 5'-triphosphorylated, 2',5'-linked oligoadenylates (2-5A) are produced in mammalian cells by interferon-inducible 2-5A synthetases (OAS) in response to viral double-stranded RNA. 2-5A activates a uniquely regulated endoribonuclease, RNase L, resulting in the cleavage of single-stranded viral and cellular RNAs, thus suppressing viral replication.