[Synthetic analogues of antimicrobial peptides from the venom of the Central Asian spider Lachesana tarabaevi].

Analogues of latarcins Ltc1 and Ltc3b, antimicrobial peptides from the venom of the Central Asian spider Lachesana tarabaevi capable of formation of amphiphilic structures in membranes without involvement of disulfide bonds, were synthesized. The amino acid sequences of the analogues correspond to immature forms of these peptides, each of them containing an additional C-terminal amino acid residue. It is concluded from the study of the biological activity of the synthesized peptides that the posttranslational C-terminal amidation of Ltc3b is a functionally important modification that ensures a high activity of the mature peptide.

Antiamoebin I in methanol solution: rapid exchange between right-handed and left-handed 3(10)-helical conformations.

Antiamoebin I (Aam-I) is a membrane-active peptaibol antibiotic isolated from fungal species belonging to the genera Cephalosporium, Emericellopsis, Gliocladium, and Stilbella. Antiamoebin I has the amino acid sequence: Ac-Phe(1)-Aib-Aib-Aib-Iva-Gly-Leu-Aib(8)-Aib-Hyp-Gln-Iva-Hyp-Aib-Pro-Phl(16). By using the uniformly (13)C,(15)N-labeled sample of Aam-I, the set of conformationally dependent J couplings and (3h)J(NC) couplings through H-bonds were measured.

Recombinant expression, synthesis, purification, and solution structure of arenicin.

Arenicins are 21-residue cationic antimicrobial peptides, isolated from marine polychaeta Arenicola marina. In order to determine a high-resolution three-dimensional structure of arenicin-2, the recombinant peptide was overexpressed as a fused form in Escherichia coli. Both arenicin isoforms were synthesized using the Fmoc-based solid-phase strategy.

Comparative study of structure and activity of cytotoxins from venom of the cobras Naja oxiana, Naja kaouthia, and Naja haje.

Cytotoxins are positively charged polypeptides that constitute about 60% of all proteins in cobra venom; they have a wide spectrum of biological activities. By CD spectroscopy, cytotoxins CT1 and CT2 Naja oxiana, CT3 Naja kaouthia, and CT1 and CT2 Naja haje were shown to have similar secondary structure in an aqueous environment, with dominating beta-sheet structure, and to vary in the twisting angle of the beta-sheet and the conformation of disulfide groups. Using dodecylphosphocholine micelles and liposomes, CT1 and CT2 Naja oxiana were shown to incorporate into lipid structures without changes in the secondary structure of the peptides.

Structural characterization of glutamine synthetase from Azospirillum brasilense.

CD spectroscopic study of the secondary structure of partly adenylylated glutamine synthetase (GS) of the bacterium Azospirillum brasilense showed both the native and cation-free (EDTA-treated) enzyme to be highly structured (58 and 49% as alpha-helices, 10 and 20% as beta-structure, respectively). Mg(2+), Mn(2+), or Co(2+), when added to the native GS, had little effect on its CD spectrum, whereas their effects on the cation-free GS were more pronounced. Emission ((57)Co) Mössbauer spectroscopic (EMS) study of (57)Co(2+)-doped cation-free GS in frozen solution and in the dried state gave similar spectra and Mössbauer parameters for the corresponding spectral components, reflecting the ability of the Co(2+)-enzyme complex to retain its properties upon drying.

[Interaction of topotecan, DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, with double-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides. 4. Topotecan binds preferably to the GC base pairs of DNA].

Interaction of topotecan (TPT) with synthetic double-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides has been studied in solutions of low ionic strength at pH = 6.8 by linear flow dichroism (LD), circular dichroism (CD), UV-Vis absorption and Raman spectroscopy. The complexes of TPT with poly(dG-dC).

DNA binding induces conformational transition within human DNA topoisomerase I in solution.

We employed Raman and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy to probe the molecular structure of 68-kDa recombinant human DNA topoisomerase I (TopoI) in solution, in a complex with a 16-bp DNA fragment containing a camptothecin-enhanced TopoI cleavage site, and in a ternary complex with this oligonucleotide and topotecan. Raman spectroscopy reveals a TopoI secondary structure transition and significant changes in the hydrogen bonding of the tyrosine residues induced by the DNA binding. CD spectroscopy confirms the Raman data and identifies a DNA-induced (>7%) decrease of the TopoI alpha helix accompanied by at least a 6% increase of the beta structure.

Refolding of the Escherichia coli expressed extracellular domain of alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Heterologous expression of the extracellular domains (ECDs) of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subunits may give large amounts of proteins for studying the functional and spatial characteristics of their ligand-binding sites. The ECD of the alpha 7 subunit of the homo-oligomeric alpha 7 neuronal AChR appears to be a more suitable object than the ECDs of other heteromeric neuronal or muscle-type AChRs. The rat alpha 7 ECDs (amino-acid residues approximately 1-210) were recently expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with maltose-binding protein [Fischer, M.

[Synthesis isomeric 4-prolylamines and 4,4'-diprolylamines].

Starting from the previously described tert-butyl esters of 4-epimeric N-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-hydroxyprolines and N-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-trans- and 4-cis-trifluoroacetamidoproline tert-butyl esters, the corresponding un-protected 4-aminoprolines and a number of their partially protected derivatives were synthesized via the intermediate 4-O-mesyl and 4-azide derivatives. The reductive amination of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-oxoproline tert-butyl ester with ammonium acetate led to N-benzyloxycarbonyl-4-cis-4'-cis- and 4-cis-4'-trans-diprolinylamines. The 1H NMR and CD spectra of the synthesized compounds are described.

[Interaction of topotecan--a DNA topoisomerase inhibitor--with dual-stranded polydeoxyribonucleotides. I. Dimerization of topotecan in solution].

Behavior of topotecan, DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, was studied in aqueous solutions by optical methods. Topotecan absorption spectra were recorded in the pH range 0.5-11.

Influence of divalent cations on the catalytic properties and secondary structure of unadenylylated glutamine synthetase from Azospirillum brasilense.

Fully unadenylylated glutamine synthetase (GS) from the endophytic bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 was isolated and purified. The enzyme was electrophoretically homogeneous and contained strongly bound metal ions, which could not be removed by dialysis. Mn2+, Mg2+, and Co2+ were found to be effective in supporting biosynthetic activity of the A.

[Study of localization and molecular interactions of biologically active compounds in living cells and tissue slices based on confocal microspectroscopy and reconstruction of the spectral images].

The confocal spectral imaging (CSI) technique is described, its basic principles are considered, and a brief review of its applications to the study of biologically active compounds (BAC) within living cells and in tissue slices is presented. This technique is based on measurements and analysis of fluorescence or resonance Raman spectra in each point of the specimen under microscope with a three-dimensional resolution of about cubic micrometer. This technique is applicable to the study of stained fluorescent and nonfluorescent compounds.

Confocal spectral imaging analysis of intracellular interactions of mitoxantrone at different phases of the cell cycle.

It is suggested that the cytotoxicity of anticancer agent mitoxantrone (MITOX) is related to a complex combination of molecular interactions which lead to slowing of S phase traverse and arresting of cells in G2 phase of the cell cycle or even to an apoptosis at high concentration of MITOX. Here intracellular molecular interactions of MITOX were visualised and studied using the confocal spectral imaging technique in synchronised K562 cells. Localisation, quantitative distributions of MITOX in the polar environment, MITOX bound to hydrophobic cellular structures (MITOXphob), nucleic acid-related complexes of MITOX (MITOXNA) and relative distributions of naphthoquinoxaline (NQX) metabolite and intrinsic cellular fluorescence of porphyrins were measured within cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments (chromosomes) of the G2, S, and M cells treated with 10 or 2 microM of MITOX for 1 hour.

Molecular determinants of site-specific inhibition of human DNA topoisomerase I by fagaronine and ethoxidine. Relation to DNA binding.

DNA topoisomerase (top) I inhibition activity of the natural alkaloid fagaronine (NSC157995) and its new synthetic derivative ethoxidine (12-ethoxy-benzo[c]phenanthridine) has been correlated with their molecular interactions and sequence specificity within the DNA complexes. Flow linear dichroism shows that ethoxidine exhibits the same inhibition of DNA relaxation as fagaronine at the 10-fold lower concentration. The patterns of DNA cleavage by top I show linear enhancement of CPT-dependent sites at the 0.

Physicochemical and immunological studies of the N-terminal domain of the Torpedo acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit expressed in Escherichia coli.

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) from the electric organ of Torpedo species is an oligomeric protein composed of alpha2 beta gamma delta subunits. Although much is known about its tertiary and quaternary structure, the conformation of the large extracellular domains of each of the subunits has not been analysed in detail. In order to obtain information about the spatial structure of the extracellular domain, we have expressed the N-terminal fragment 1-209 of the Torpedo californica AChR alpha-subunit in Escherichia coli.

Spectroscopic and biochemical characterisation of self-aggregates formed by antitumor drugs of the camptothecin family: their possible role in the unique mode of drug action.

We describe the effect strongly influencing the biological activity of some camptothecin (CPT) drugs, the inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase I (topo I), namely, the formation of J-type aggregates in an aqueous buffer solution. These aggregates were built up under certain dilution conditions of the stock DMSO solutions of 20-S-camptothecin (20(S)CPT), 10,11-methylenedioxy-CPT (10,11-CPT) and 7-ethyl-10-hydroxy-CPT (SN38). The aggregates were found to be stereospecific, not being detectable for the 20(R)-stereoisomer of CPT.

Quantitative confocal spectral imaging analysis of mitoxantrone within living K562 cells: intracellular accumulation and distribution of monomers, aggregates, naphtoquinoxaline metabolite, and drug-target complexes.

Confocal spectral imaging (CSI) technique was used for quantitative analysis of the uptake, subcellular localization, and characteristics of localized binding and retention of anticancer agent mitoxantrone (MITOX) within human K562 erythroleukemia cells. The CSI technique enables identification of the state and interactions of the drug within the living cells. Utilizing this unique property of the method, intracellular distributions were examined for monomeric MITOX in polar environment, MITOX bound with hydrophobic cellular structures, naphthoquinoxaline metabolite, and nucleic acid-related complexes of MITOX.

Localization and molecular interactions of mitoxantrone within living K562 cells as probed by confocal spectral imaging analysis.

Studying mechanisms of drug antitumor action is complicated by the lack of noninvasive methods enabling direct monitoring of the state and interactions of the drugs within intact viable cells. Here we present a confocal spectral imaging (CSI) technique as a method of overcoming this problem. We applied this method to the examination of localization and interactions of mitoxantrone (1, 4-dihydroxy-5, 8-bis-[([2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]ethyl)amino]-9,10-anthracenedione dihydrochloride), a potent antitumor drug, in living K562 cells.

Interactions of lactone, carboxylate and self-aggregated forms of camptothecin with human and bovine serum albumins.

Pronounced differences in the interactions of monomeric (lactone and carboxylate) and the J-type self-aggregated form of camptothecin (CPT), an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase (topo) I, with human (HSA) and bovine (BSA) serum albumins were observed by using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. HSA binding changes the geometry of the covalent structure of CPT due to hydrophobic contacts of the chromophore within the protein interior. The carbonyl group of the ring D of CPT (Fig.

[Novel reagent for labeling of biomolecules--activated derivative of pyrene dichromophore with excimeric fluorescence].

N-[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]-1-pyrenylacetamide, bis[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]amine, and N,N-bis[2-(1-pyrenyl)ethyl]succinamide were synthesized from 1-pyrenylacetic acid. These compounds contain adjacent pyrene residues and display excimer fluorescence. The latter compound, as a pentafluorophenyl ester, was used to prepare fluorescently labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide (5)CAGGAAACAGCTATGAC.

Cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA by autoantibody Fab fragment: application of the flow linear dichroism technique.

A highly effective method consisting of two affinity chromatography steps and ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography steps was developed for purification of autoantibodies from human sera with DNA-hydrolyzing activity. Antibody Fab fragment, which had been purified 130-fold, was shown to catalyze plasmid DNA cleavage. The flow linear dichroism technique was used for quantitative and qualitative studying of supercoiled plasmid DNA cleavage by these autoantibodies in comparison with DNase I and EcoRI restriction endonuclease.