Introduction: integrins, dynamic cell receptors

Integrins are a family of adhesive receptors consisting of α- and β-subunits which attach cells together via adhesive protein ligands or bind cells to extracellular matrix. They are found on virtually all cell types and link the external ligand to the cytoskeleton of the cell. Integrins also act as signal transducers both from the outside of the cell to the interior and also inside-out. Their main functions are in recognition and in tight but regulated binding. The series of reviews presented here cover both basic aspects of integrin function, including signal transduction, snake disintegrins and structure and function of I-domains in some integrin α-subunits, as well as the role of integrins in diseases, cancer, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. The search for suitable inhibitors of integrins for treatment of these diseases and future prospects for their use are also discussed.     

Chitin synthetase activity and inhibition in different insect microsomal preparations

Summary To facilitate massive screening and for structure-activity relationship studies of chitin synthesis inhibitors, methods to obtain the chitin synthetase (CS) containing microsomal fraction from the postmitochondrial supernatant were examined. Compared with fractionation by differential centrifugation, the CaCl₂ precipitate yielded the most active CS preparation. Acidification (pH 5.6) and polyethylene glycol 8000 (5%) treatments resulted in relatively low CS activity. Inhibitory effects were detected with polyoxin-D and 1-geranyl-2-methyl benzimidazole, a novel CS inhibitor, but not with benzoylphenyl ureas.     

Integrins and cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular diseases involve abnormal cell-cell interactions leading to the development of atherosclerotic plaque, which when ruptured causes massive platelet activation and thrombus formation. Parts of a loose thrombus may detach to form an embolus, blocking circulation at a more distant point. The integrins are a family of adhesive cell receptors interacting with adhesive proteins or with counterreceptors on other cells. There is now solid evidence that the major integrin on platelets, the fibrinogen receptor α _IIb  β ₃ , has an important role in several aspects of cardiovascular diseases and that its regulated inhibition leads to a reduction in incidence and mortality due to these disorders. The development of α _IIb  β ₃ inhibitors is an important strategy of many pharmaceutical companies which foresee a large market for the treatment of acute conditions in surgery, the symptoms of chronic conditions and, it is hoped, maybe even the successful prophylaxis of these conditions. Although all the associated problems have not been solved, the undoubted improvements in patient care resulting from the first of these treatments in the clinic have stimulated further research on the role of integrins on other vascular cells in these processes and in the search for new inhibitors. Both the development of specific inhibitors and of mice with specific integrin subunit genes ablated have contributed to a better understanding of the function of integrins in development of the cardiovascular system.     

Esterases of the flounder (Platichthys flesus,Pleuronectidae, Teleostei): Development of an identification protocol using starch gel electrophoresis and characterization of loci

Summary Fish esterases are among the most difficult enzymes to identify using starch gel electrophoresis because of the many loci that are simultaneously active, and especially because of duplication phenomena, satellite bands, and stain trails. In an attempt to simplify and clarify electropherograms, various staining and inhibitory methods were tested on esterases from the flounderPlatichthys flesus. A range of migration and staining buffers and substrates were used, as well as chemical inhibition and heat inactivation. A combination of the methods made it possible to distinguish and characterize the five presumed esterase loci.     

新型磺酰类醛糖还原酶抑制剂的合成及活性研究

以2,4-二甲苯胺为原料,设计并合成了一系列环外磺酰胺(酯)类衍生物,对目标化合物的醛糖还原酶(ALR2)抑制活性进行了测定,并利用分子对接方法研究了抑制剂与醛糖还原酶蛋白的结合模式. 结果显示环外磺酰类化合物8a-d, 12a-b, 16a-b具有良好的体外醛糖还原酶抑制活性,分子模拟预测其能与酶蛋白的活性位点空腔较好结合. 化合物8a-d是一类新型醛糖还原酶抑制剂,活性良好,并可作为先导化合物探索活性更高的醛糖还原酶抑制剂.      

苯甲酰基脲类几丁质生物合成抑制剂的研究进展

对苯甲酰基脲类几丁质生物合成抑制剂结构组成的三个基本骨架：苯甲酰基，脲桥及苯基的修构效关系的研究进展情况进行了综述，并对该领域的研究前景进行了展望。     

Enzymatic processing of pheromones and pheromone analogs

Summary Pheromone perception requires rapid enzymatic degradation of the active chemical signal in the sensory hairs. Three insects are used to illustrate chemical approaches to studying the degradation of pheromones by antennal enzymes. First, hydrolysis of acetate and haloacetate esters is examined in the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella. Second, aldehyde oxidation and the selective inhibition of the oxidase and dehydrogenase activities are described for the tobacco budworm moth,Heliothis virescens. Finally, a stereochemical analysis of the epoxide-hydrase catalyzed addition of a water molecule to the oxirane ring of disparlure is described for the gypsy moth,Lymantria dispar.     

Dendritic reticulum cells in AIDS-related lymphadenopathy

Summary One of two cases of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-related persistent generalized lymphadenopathy revealed a profoundly altered pattern of dendritic reticulum cells as demonstrated by immunoreactive acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor. The alterations could be related to totally or partially destructed lymphoid secondary follicles.Acknowledgments. This work has been partially supported by the grant from the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, Finland.     

选择性BCR-ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂体外筛选体系的建立

BCR—ABL融合基因表达的肿瘤蛋白是慢性髓性白血病的主要致病因素，应用人BCR—ABL，基因转染的细胞株FD—rv 210与其祖代细胞FDC—P1细胞组成的配对细胞株和不同的培养条件，建立了一个BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的体外筛选体系，用于检测BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂的选择性，发现两种BCR—ABL，酪氨酸激酶抑制剂AG957和AG490，对BCR—ABL阳性细胞和阴性细胞的增殖抑制作用相似；培养体系中有无祖代细胞增殖所需的细胞因子，对其增殖抑制作用无影响；AG957短时作用于细胞即发生不可逆的增殖抑制现象，与已知的选择性BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂STI571特性明显不同，提示这两种抑制剂作用呈非选择性，所建立的体外培养体系及不同的培养条件的组合，可用于筛选各种选择性的BCR—ABL酪氨酸激酶抑制剂。     

新型低膦系列水质稳定剂--膦酸基羟乙酸的研究

以二烷基亚磷酸酯与乙醛酸为原料,经一步反应得到膦酸基羟乙酸(HPA),产率为70%. 采用红外光谱、31P-NMR及液相色谱分析证实了合成产物的分子结构. 此合成路线克服了欧洲专利报道的剧毒、苛刻的反应条件和复杂的工艺路线等缺点. 对HPA的耐蚀性进行了探讨,得到了理想的结果.