Pregnancy-associated, lymphocyte-derived suppressor factor inhibits protein kinase C activity.

For successful allogenic pregnancy to occur, suppression of maternal defense responses toward the fetus are vital. Suppressor factors elaborated by decidual cells or immune cells may facilitate this suppression. In order for appropriate cellular responses to occur an intact signal transduction/second messenger system must be present.

3,7-Diazabicyclane: a new narcotic analgesic.

The synthesis of a series of 9-phenyl-3,7-diazabicyclanes and 9-(m-hydroxyphenyl)-3,7-diazabicyclanes is described. Members of both series were tested for antinociception in rat tail withdrawal and mouse acetic acid writhing assays. Their affinities for opiate receptors in rat brain homogenate were also determined.

Alteration of in vivo and in vitro effects of heroin by esterase inhibition.

Selective inhibition of peripheral esterases by tri-ortho-tolyl phosphate in the mouse resulted in an increase in the analgetic activity of heroin, without affecting the activity of morphine. In vitro inhibition of esterases by paraoxon reduced the affinity of heroin for the opiate receptor, while that of morphine was unaffected. These results suggest that both central and peripheral esterases are involved in the metabolism of heroin and that interference with critical esterases can alter its pharmacologic and toxicologic effects.

2.8-A Structure of penicillin-sensitive D-alanyl carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase from Streptomyces R61 and complexes with beta-lactams.

The crystallographic structure of the penicillin-sensitive D-alanyl carboxypeptidase-transpeptidase from Streptomyces R61 has been solved to 2.8-A resolution. The 38,000-dalton serine peptidase has two regions of secondary structure, an alpha/beta cluster, and a region which contains five helical segments.

Resolution, absolute configuration, and antiarrhythmic properties of the enantiomers of disopyramide, 4-(diisopropylamino)-2-(2-pyridyl)-2-phenylbutyramide.

Disopyramide was resolved by fractional crystallization of its diastereomeric bitartrate salts from methanol-acetone. Diastereomeric sulfonamides prepared from (+)-camphor-10-sulfonyl chloride and the primary amines obtained by LiAlH4 reduction of the resolved bases were separable by high-performance LC and were used to show that within experimental error resolution of disopyramide was complete. The absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystallography.

Synthesis and biological activity of cocaine analogues. 2. 6H-[2]Benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyridin-6-ones.

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-2-methyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyridin-6-one (20) and cis- and trans-1,2,3,4,4a,10b-hexahydro-2-methyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyridin-6-one (3a and 3b) were synthesized. The design of 3b was based on the proposal that the active conformation of cocaine is one in which the phenyl and amino groups are arranged in a manner that will superimpose upon a beta-phenethylamine in a trans-staggered conformation. The compounds were compared with cocaine and tropacocaine for their ability to inhibit uptake of [3H]norepinephrine by rat brain synaptosomal preparations.

Nortropacocaine hydrochloride conformation in aqueous and hydrophobic media.

The nortropacocaine hydrochloride PMR spectra in deuterium oxide and in deuterochloroform differed markedly. A detailed conformational analysis using vicinal 1H-1H coupling constants revealed the molecular conformation to be identical in both solvents. The preferred conformation was one in which the piperidine component existed as a deformed chair.

Synthesis and biological activity of cocaine analogs I: N-alkylated norcocaine derivatives.

N-Allylnorcocaine, N-dimethylallylnorcocaine, and N-cyclopropylmethylnorcocaine were prepared and examined for cocaine-like activity. The compounds were prepared by alkylation of norcocaine, which was obtained by demethylation of cocaine with 2,2,2-trichloroethyl chloroformate followed by zinc--acetic acid reduction. The compounds were evaluated by comparison with cocaine in causing disruption of milk intake in rats, behavioral modification in squirrel monkeys, and inhibition of 3H-serotonin uptake by rat synaptosomes.

Stereochemistries of geometric isomers of 4-(2-bromo-1,2-diphenylvinyl)phenol, 4-(2-bromo-1,2-diphenyylamine: corrections of the literature.

The stereochemistries of geometric isomers of 4-(2-bromo-1,2-diphenylvinyl)phenol, 4-(2-bromo-1,2-diphenylvinyl)anisole, and 2-[p-(2-bromo-1,2-diphenylvinyl)phenoxy]triethylamine were determined by conversion of the phenolic analog to the ethers and subsequent comparison of physical properties with those of 2-[p-(2-chloro-1,2-diphenylvinyl)phenoxy]triethylamine of known stereochemistry.