Crystal structure of a human membrane protein involved in cysteinyl leukotriene biosynthesis

The cysteinyl leukotrienes, namely leukotriene (LT)C4 and its metabolites LTD4 and LTE4, the components of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis, are lipid mediators of smooth muscle constriction and inflammation, particularly implicated in bronchial asthma. LTC4 synthase (LTC4S), the pivotal enzyme for the biosynthesis of LTC4 (ref. 10), is an 18-kDa integral nuclear membrane protein that belongs to a superfamily of membrane-associated proteins in eicosanoid and glutathione metabolism that includes 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein, microsomal glutathione S-transferases (MGSTs), and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (ref. 13). LTC4S conjugates glutathione to LTA4, the endogenous substrate derived from arachidonic acid through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway. In contrast with MGST2 and MGST3 (refs 15, 16), LTC4S does not conjugate glutathione to xenobiotics. Here we show the atomic structure of human LTC4S in a complex with glutathione at 3.3 A resolution by X-ray crystallography and provide insights into the high substrate specificity for glutathione and LTA4 that distinguishes LTC4S from other MGSTs. The LTC4S monomer has four transmembrane alpha-helices and forms a threefold symmetric trimer as a unit with functional domains across each interface. Glutathione resides in a U-shaped conformation within an interface between adjacent monomers, and this binding is stabilized by a loop structure at the top of the interface. LTA4 would fit into the interface so that Arg 104 of one monomer activates glutathione to provide the thiolate anion that attacks C6 of LTA4 to form a thioether bond, and Arg 31 in the neighbouring monomer donates a proton to form a hydroxyl group at C5, resulting in 5(S)-hydroxy-6(R)-S-glutathionyl-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (LTC4). These findings provide a structural basis for the development of LTC4S inhibitors for a proinflammatory pathway mediated by three cysteinyl leukotriene ligands whose stability and potency are different and by multiple cysteinyl leukotriene receptors whose functions may be non-redundant.     

近无柄金丝桃中的口山酮类成分

 在细胞毒性试验结果指导下,同步对近无柄金丝桃(Hypericum subsessile N.Robson)全株的有效部位进行化学成分分离纯化,得6个口山酮类化合物,通过理化数据测定及波谱数据分析,鉴定了结构,分别是:2,3-二甲氧基口山酮(1),1,3-二羟基-5,6-二甲氧基口山酮(2),Toxyloxanthone B(3),Kielcorin(4),Candensin D(Hypericorin)(5)和Subalatin(6).化合物(1)～(6)均为首次从该植物中分离得到;同时,细胞毒试验发现,近无柄金丝桃的氯仿及乙酸乙酯提取物有一定细胞毒活性,其IC₅₀分别为8.8,14.6μg/mL.     

Identification and isolation of a membrane protein necessary for leukotriene production

Several inflammatory diseases, including asthma, arthritis and psoriasis are associated with the production of leukotrienes by neutrophils, mast cells and macrophages. The initial enzymatic step in the formation of leukotrienes is the oxidation of arachidonic acid by 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) to leukotriene A4. Osteosarcoma cells transfected with 5-LO express active enzyme in broken cell preparations, but no leukotriene metabolites are produced by these cells when stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187, indicating that an additional component is necessary for cellular 5-LO activity. A new class of indole leukotriene inhibitor has been described that inhibits the formation of cellular leukotrienes but has no direct inhibitory effect on soluble 5-LO activity. We have now used these potent agents to identify and isolate a novel membrane protein of relative molecular mass 18,000 which is necessary for cellular leukotriene synthesis.     

胸腺嘧啶二醇脱氧核苷单分子糖苷键断裂的理论研究

采用理论计算方法对c is-(5S,6R)胸腺嘧啶二醇脱氧核苷(dTg)单分子糖苷键断裂的热力学和动力学性质进行了研究.在气相中,所有稳定点的几何构型都采用B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p)方法进行全优化,并利用导电极化连续模型对气相优化构型进行单点计算确定水的溶剂效应,作者主要考虑了直接断裂和抽氢断裂两条路径.计算结果表明:两条反应机理均涉及较高的活化能,从而说明单分子分解并不能促进糖苷键的断裂,该研究为生物体内这一重要反应提供了更多有用的信息.     

氮杂大环与钴(Ⅱ)配合物的合成及稳定性研究

在水溶液中合成了H4L1(5,12- 二苯基-7 ,14- 二甲基- 1 ,4 ,8,11 - 四氮杂环十四烷- N′,N″,N′″,N″″- 四乙酸) 与钴( Ⅱ) 的固体配合物,经元素分析和IR 表征其组成为CoH2L1·2H2 O。用pH 电位滴定技术在30 ±0 .1 ℃,0 .5 mol/LKCl 水溶液中测定了配合物的稳定常数。     

Vitamin E modulates the lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid in leukocytes

The arachidonic acid released from cellular phospholipids of specifically stimulated platelets and leukocytes is oxygenated enzymatically by two major pathways. A complex cycloxygenase converts some of the free arachidonic acid to labile endoperoxides that are transformed to prostaglandins, thromboxanes and prostacyclin (PGI2). Lipoxygenases convert part of the arachidonic acid to unstable hydroperoxy-eicosatetraenoic acids (OOHETEs) that are transformed to monohydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs), oligohydroxy-eicosatetraenoic or -eicostatrienoic acids such as di-HETEs and tri-HETEs, and, in some instances, more complex humoral mediators, including slow-reacting substances. Both the nature of the HETEs and the ratio of the HETEs to the cyclo-oxygenase products are specific characteristics of each type of cell. In human neutrophils, the sum of the lipoxygenase products 5-HETE, 11-HETE and 5,12-di-HETE substantially exceeds the total amount of PGE2 and other cyclo-oxygenase metabolites that are generated concurrently, and the endogenous lipoxygenase products regulate neutrophil function. The present data indicate that vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) bidirectionally modulates the activity of the lipoxygenase pathway of human neutrophils in vitro. Normal plasma concentrations of alpha-tocopherol enhance the lipoxygenation of arachidonic acid, whereas higher concentrations of alpha-tocopherol exert a suppressive effect that is consistent with its role as a hydroperoxide scavenger.     

茚满酮-[1]-缩氨基硫脲-5,6- 苯并-18-冠-6的合成

报道了在多聚磷酸中将冠醚酰化的方法,合成了茚满酮-[1]-5,6-苯并-18-冠-6.以此为原料,在酸性条件下,与氨基硫脲作用,合成了茚满酮-[1]-缩氨基硫脲-5,6-苯并-18-冠-6,经由IR、MS和元素分析对合成的二种新物质的结构进行了鉴定.     

SRS、SBS效应对双向光纤通信系统中光信号功率的衰减

对双向密集波分复用光纤通信系统中的ＳＢＳ（受激布里渊散射）,ＳＲＳ（受激喇曼散射）的联合作用进行了研究,从理论上给出了ＳＢＳ,ＳＲＳ效应共同作用下小信号功率的衰减公式,定量分析了目前研究中的相干光通信系统和ＨＤ－ＷＤＭ系统中由ＳＢＳ,ＳＲＳ效应产生的非线性功率衰减、研究结果表明,在考虑ＳＲＳ作用的同时,必须考虑ＳＢＳ的作用。     

蒽醌型负二向性液晶染料的研究Ⅰ 1,8-二氨基-4.5-二羟基蒽醌衍生物的合成

１，８－二氨基－４，５－二羟基蒽醌的酰化物具有负二向色性，可用于正型彩色液晶显 示．研究了１，８－二羟基葱醌的硝化、还原及酰化反应条件．在硼酸存在下用混酸硝化． 进一步用硫化碱还原制得１，８－二氨基－４，６－二羟基蒽醌，用Ｔ．Ｌ．Ｃ．分离硝化产物． 经质谱和核磁氢谱确证了主要副产物的结构是１，８－二羟基－２．５－二硝基蒽醌．１．８－二 氨基－４．５－二羟基蒽醌与对位取代的苯甲酰氯反应时，在氯苯介质中只发生氨基酰化， 而在吡啶介质中氨基和羟基同时被酰化．     

脂磷壁酸的提取纯化及抑菌活性研究

分别采用TX114和冷酚法提取A群链球菌中的脂磷壁酸（Lipoteichoic acid,LTA）,并进行抑菌活性研究。紫外全波长扫描显示,阴离子交换层析分离TX114提取的LTA具有很好的纯度。试验表明,LTA具有良好的抑菌活性,且采用TX114方法的提取效果高于冷酚法。     

拉曼光谱技术的发展及其在生物医学领域中的应用

拉曼光谱技术自发现以来广泛应用于检测固体和液体材料的化学成分,它可利用物质的光谱"指纹"信息,区分各种物质样品、检测不同生理状况的细胞及其中的生物分子,如核酸、蛋白质等.为探索拉曼光谱在生物医学领域的应用前景,在概述拉曼光谱原理的基础上,介绍拉曼光谱技术及其衍生出的其他技术,包括表面增强拉曼散射(SERS)、共振拉曼光谱(RRS)、相干反斯托克斯拉曼光谱(CARS)、受激拉曼光谱(SRS)技术等,最后对拉曼光谱的改进与应用提出展望.     

Protein kinase C regulation of the receptor-coupled calcium signal in histamine-secreting rat basophilic leukaemia cells

It has been proposed that protein kinase C mediates cellular responses evoked by external stimuli, leading to alterations in internal free calcium concentrations. We have shown previously that histamine-secreting rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3), which degranulate on aggregation of the receptors for immunoglobulin IgE, contain a Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (kinase C). The partially purified enzyme is activated directly by the tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In intact RBL cells, TPA potentiates histamine release induced by the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 (similar to the synergy reported for platelets, neutrophils and rat peritoneal mast cells). Although TPA at concentrations below 15 nM synergizes with the antigen, higher TPA concentrations inhibit secretion. This selective inhibition suggested that kinase C is involved in both the activation and termination of the secretory process. To examine this possibility, we have determined the effect of TPA on changes in free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration during antigen-induced release. We report here that TPA completely blocks the increase in Ca2+ concentration induced by antigen. Our results strongly suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of receptor-dependent Ca2+ signalling.     

Postsynaptic NMDA receptor-mediated calcium accumulation in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell dendrites

In the CA1 hippocampal region, intracellular calcium is a putative second messenger for the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP), a persistent increase of synaptic transmission produced by high frequency afferent fibre stimulation. Because LTP in this region is blocked by the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor antagonist AP5 (DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid) and the calcium permeability of NMDA receptors is controlled by a voltage-dependent magnesium block, a model has emerged that suggests that the calcium permeability of NMDA receptor-coupled ion channels is the biophysical basis for LTP induction. We have performed microfluorometric measurements in individual CA1 pyramidal cells during stimulus trains that induce LTP. In addition to a widespread component of postsynaptic calcium accumulation previously described, we now report that brief high frequency stimulus trains produce a transient component spatially localized to dendritic areas near activated afferents. This localized component is blocked by the NMDA receptor antagonist AP5. The results directly confirm the calcium rise predicted by NMDA receptor models of LTP induction.     

一种咔唑-苯并噻二唑共聚物的合成与光伏性能研究

以N-十二烷基-2,7-咔唑为给体单元、5,6-二辛氧基二噻吩苯并噻二唑为受体单元，通过Suzuki偶联反应合成了一种具有给-受体结构的共轭聚合物聚N-十二烷基-2,7-咔唑-5,6-二辛氧基-4,7-二噻吩-2-基-苯并噻二唑（PC-DODTBT），并研究了该聚合物的光物理与电化学性能。结果表明，以PC-DODTBT为电子给体，PCBM为电子受体，制得的共混体相异质结太阳能电池在AM1.5、100 mW/cm²模拟太阳光下，开路电压为0.88 V，短路电流为2.04 mA/cm²，填充因子为0.51，能量转换效率为0.92%。     

来自红树林内生真菌E33号中的一个新的水杨酸衍生物

 从一株南海红树林真菌E33号中分离到一个新的水杨酸衍生物,命名为3,5'-二羟基-4′,5-二甲氧基-2′-甲基-［1,1′-联苯］基-2-甲酸(1),其结构通过MS,1D、2D NMR,IR等得到鉴定。     

对苯二甲酰双吡唑酮的合成与谱图分析

以对苯二甲酸和1-苯基-3-甲基-5-吡唑啉酮为原料在氧化钙催化下合成了1,4-双[4(1-苯基-3-甲基-5-吡唑啉酮)羰基]苯,其产率可达88%.由于其具有莹光性能,故是稀土元素配合物的优良配体.通过IR、1 H NMR、13C NMR谱图对其结构进行分析,发现产物中存在酮式与烯醇式的互变异构体,并考察该化合物热稳定性和UV光谱特性.     

龙血竭中芪类化合物对HSC-1细胞的抗癌活性研究

应用人黑色素瘤HSC-1细胞模型,对三种芪类分子的抗癌活性进行了研究. 从龙血竭中分离的三种芪类化合物中,除了紫檀芪外,4',5-二羟基-3-甲氧基二苯乙烯及白藜芦醇都具有抑制人黑色素瘤细胞HSC-1增殖的作用,并具有时效和量效关系. 4',5-二羟基-3-甲氧基二苯乙烯、白藜芦醇在IC₅₀浓度下作用72 h,能引起HSC-1细胞的极显著凋亡(p<0.001),并使HSC-1细胞极显著积聚于亚G0/G1期(p<0.001),使G0/G1期、S期、G2/M期细胞数显著减少(p<0.01). 结果表明,通过诱导癌细胞凋亡,阻滞细胞周期,有效抑制体外癌细胞增殖是4',5-二羟基-3-甲氧基二苯乙烯和白藜芦醇的抗癌作用机制之一.      

Novel dihydropyridines with positive inotropic action through activation of Ca2+ channels

Transmembrane influx of extracellular calcium through specific calcium channels is now accepted to have an important role in the excitation-contraction coupling of cardiac and smooth muscle. The importance of such slow calcium channels has been underlined by the development of specific calcium channel blocking agents, the 'calcium antagonists', typified by verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem. These drugs have been used to investigate the properties of slow calcium channels in a variety of tissues. We have found that small modifications to the nifedipine molecule produce other dihydropyridine derivatives (see Fig. 1) with effects diametrically opposite to those of the calcium antagonists: cardiac contractility is stimulated and smooth muscle is contracted. These effects are competitively antagonized by nifedipine. Apparently, nifedipine and the novel compounds bind to the same specific dihydropyridine binding sites in or near the calcium channel. In contrast to nifedipine, however, the new compounds promote--instead of inhibiting--the influx of Ca2+ ions. We report here the properties of BAY K 8644 (methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-3-nitro-4-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl)- pyridine-5-carboxylate), one of the most potent of these novel compounds.     

The GTP-binding protein, Go, regulates neuronal calcium channels

In neuronal cells, opioid peptides and opiates inhibit neurotransmitter release, which is a calcium-dependent process. They also inhibit adenylyl cyclase, presumably via the membrane signal-transducing component, Gi, a guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G-protein). No causal relationship between these two events has yet been demonstrated. Besides Gi, membranes of neuronal tissues contain large amounts of Go, a G-protein with unknown function. Both G-proteins are heterotrimers consisting of alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits; the alpha-subunits can be ADP-ribosylated by an exotoxin from Bordetella pertussis (PT), which modification inhibits receptor-mediated activation of the G-protein. It was recently shown that noradrenaline, dopamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibit the voltage-dependent calcium channels in dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia; this inhibition is mimicked by intracellular application of guanine nucleotides and blocked by PT, suggesting the involvement of a G-protein. Here we report an inhibitory effect of the opioid D-Ala2, D-Leu5-enkephalin (DADLE) on the calcium current (ICa) in neuroblastoma X glioma hybrid cells (N X G cells). Pretreatment with PT almost completely abolishes the DADLE effect. The effect is restored by intracellular application of Gi and Go. As the alpha-subunit of Go (with or without beta-gamma complex) is 10 times more potent than Gi, we propose that Go is involved in the functional coupling of opiate receptors to neuronal voltage-dependent calcium channels.