Spirastrellolide B reveals the absolute configuration of the spirastrellolide macrolide core.
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Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
Biomedical subjects
David E Williams
Publications and source records attributed to David E Williams.
Identification and functional analysis of common human flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 genetic variants.
Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) are important for the disposition of many therapeutics, environmental toxicants, and nutrients. FMO3, the major adult hepatic FMO enzyme, exhibits significant interindividual variation. Eighteen FMO3 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies were determined in 202 Hispanics (Mexican descent), 201 African Americans, and 200 non-Latino whites. Using expressed recombinant enzyme with methimazole, trimethylamine, sulindac, and ethylenethiourea, the novel structural variants FMO3 E24D and K416N were shown to cause modest changes in catalytic efficiency, whereas a third novel variant, FMO3 N61K, was essentially devoid of activity. The latter variant was present at an allelic frequency of 5.2% in non-Latino whites and 3.5% in African Americans, but it was absent in Hispanics. Inferring haplotypes using PHASE, version 2.1, the greatest haplotype diversity was observed in African Americans followed by non-Latino whites and Hispanics. Haplotype 2A and 2B, consisting of a hypermorphic promoter SNP cluster (-2650C>G, -2543T>A, and -2177G>C) in linkage with synonymous structural variants was inferred at a frequency of 27% in the Hispanic population, but only 5% in non-Latino whites and African Americans. This same promoter SNP cluster in linkage with one or more hypomorphic structural variant also was inferred in multiple haplotypes at a total frequency of 5.6% in the African-American study group but less than 1% in the other two groups. The sum frequencies of the hypomorphic haplotypes H3 [15,167G>A (E158K)], H5B [-2650C>G, 15,167G>A (E158K), 21,375C>T (N285N), 21,443A>G (E308G)], and H6 [15,167G>A (E158K), 21,375C>T (N285N)] was 28% in Hispanics, 23% in non-Latino whites, and 24% in African Americans.
Black or African American↗
Exploring the mode-of-action of bioactive compounds by chemical-genetic profiling in yeast.
Discovering target and off-target effects of specific compounds is critical to drug discovery and development. We generated a compendium of "chemical-genetic interaction" profiles by testing the collection of viable yeast haploid deletion mutants for hypersensitivity to 82 compounds and natural product extracts. To cluster compounds with a similar mode-of-action and to reveal insights into the cellular pathways and proteins affected, we applied both a hierarchical clustering and a factorgram method, which allows a gene or compound to be associated with more than one group. In particular, tamoxifen, a breast cancer therapeutic, was found to disrupt calcium homeostasis and phosphatidylserine (PS) was recognized as a target for papuamide B, a cytotoxic lipopeptide with anti-HIV activity. Further, the profile of crude extracts resembled that of its constituent purified natural product, enabling detailed classification of extract activity prior to purification. This compendium should serve as a valuable key for interpreting cellular effects of novel compounds with similar activities.
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal↗
Tumors from rats given 1,2-dimethylhydrazine plus chlorophyllin or indole-3-carbinol contain transcriptional changes in beta-catenin that are independent of beta-catenin mutation status.
Tumors induced in the rat by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) contain mutations in beta-catenin, but the spectrum of such mutations can be influenced by phytochemicals such as chlorophyllin (CHL) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C). In the present study, we determined the mutation status of beta-catenin in more than 50 DMH-induced colon tumors and small intestine tumors, and compared this with the concomitant expression of beta-catenin mRNA using quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. In total, 19/57 (33%) of the tumors harbored mutations in beta-catenin, and 14/19 (74%) of the genetic changes substituted amino acids adjacent to Ser33, a key site for phosphorylation and beta-catenin degradation. These tumors were found to express a 10-fold range of beta-catenin mRNA levels, independent of the beta-catenin mutation status and phytochemical exposure, i.e. CHL or I3C given post-initiation. However, beta-catenin mRNA levels were strongly correlated with mRNA levels of c-myc, c-jun and cyclin D1, which are targets of beta-catenin/Tcf signaling. Tumors with the highest levels of beta-catenin mRNA often had over-expressed beta-catenin protein, and those with lower beta-catenin mRNA typically had low beta-catenin protein expression, but there were exceptions (high beta-catenin mRNA/low beta-catenin protein, or vice versa). We conclude that DMH-induced mutations stabilize beta-catenin protein in tumors, which increase c-myc, c-jun and cyclin D1, but there also can be over-expression of beta-catenin itself at the mRNA level, contributing to high beta-catenin protein levels. Similar findings have been reported in primary human colon cancers and their liver metastases, compared with matched normal-looking tissue. Thus, further studies are warranted on the mechanisms that upregulate beta-catenin at the transcriptional level in human and rodent colon cancers.
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine↗
Enzyme-mediated protein haptenation of dapsone and sulfamethoxazole in human keratinocytes: II. Expression and role of flavin-containing monooxygenases and peroxidases.
Arylamine compounds, such as sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and dapsone (DDS), are metabolized in epidermal keratinocytes to arylhydroxylamine metabolites that auto-oxidize to arylnitroso derivatives, which in turn bind to cellular proteins and can act as antigens/immunogens. Previous studies have demonstrated that neither cytochromes P450 nor cyclooxygenases mediate this bioactivation in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). In this investigation, we demonstrated that methimazole (MMZ), a prototypical substrate of the flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs), attenuated the protein haptenation observed in NHEKs exposed to SMX or DDS. In addition, recombinant FMO1 and FMO3 were able to bioactivate both SMX and DDS, resulting in covalent adduct formation. Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of FMO3 in NHEKs, whereas FMO1 was not detectable. In addition to MMZ, 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide (ABH) also attenuated SMX- and DDS-dependent protein haptenation in NHEKs. ABH did not alter the bioactivation of these drugs by recombinant FMO3, suggesting its inhibitory effect in NHEKs was due to its known ability to inhibit peroxidases. Studies confirmed the presence of peroxidase activity in NHEKs; however, immunoblot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction indicated that myeloperoxidase, lactoperoxidase, and thyroid peroxidase were absent. Thus, our results suggest an important role for FMO3 and yet-to-be identified peroxidases in the bioactivation of sulfonamides in NHEKs.
Cells, Cultured↗
Orientation of a monoclonal antibody adsorbed at the solid/solution interface: a combined study using atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectivity.
Conformational orientations of a mouse monoclonal antibody to the beta unit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (anti-beta-hCG) at the hydrophilic silicon oxide/water interface were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and neutron reflectivity (NR). The surface structural characterization was conducted with the antibody concentration in solution ranging from 2 to 50 mg.L(-1) with the ionic strength kept at 20 mM and pH = 7.0. It was found that the antibody adopted a predominantly "flat-on" orientation, with the Fc and two Fab fragments lying flat on the surface. The AFM measurement revealed a thickness of 30-33 A of the layer formed in contact with 2 mg.L(-1) antibody in water, but, interestingly, the flat-on antibody molecules formed small nonuniform clusters equivalent to 2-15 antibody molecules. Parallel AFM scanning in air revealed even larger surface clusters, suggesting that surface drying induced further aggregation. The AFM study thus demonstrated that the interaction between protein and the hydrophilic surface is weak and indicated that surface aggregation can be driven by the attraction between neighboring protein molecules. NR measurements at the solid/water interface confirmed the flat-on layer orientation of adsorbed molecules over the entire concentration range studied. Thus, at 2 mg.L(-1), the adsorbed antibody layer was well represented by a uniform layer with a thickness of 40 A. This value is thicker than the 30-33 A observed from AFM, suggesting possible layer compression caused by the tip tapping. An increase in the antibody concentration to 10 mg.L(-1) led to increasing surface adsorption. The corresponding layer structure was well represented by a three-layer model consisting of an inner sublayer of 10 A, a middle sublayer of 30 A, and an outer sublayer of 25 A, with the protein volume fractions in each sublayer being 0.22, 0.42, and 0.10, respectively. The structural transition can be interpreted as a twisting and tilting of segments of the adsorbed molecules, driven by an electrostatic repulsion between them that increases with the surface packing density. Hindrance of antigen access to antibody binding sites, resulting from the change in surface packing, can account for the decrease in antigen binding capacity (AgBC) with increasing surface density of the antibody that is observed.
Animals↗
Identification of sokotrasterol sulfate as a novel proangiogenic steroid.
The potential to promote neovascularization in ischemic tissues using exogenous agents has become an exciting area of therapeutics. In an attempt to identify novel small molecules with angiogenesis promoting activity, we screened a library of natural products and identified a sulfated steroid, sokotrasterol sulfate, that induces angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. We show that sokotrasterol sulfate promotes endothelial sprouting in vitro, new blood vessel formation on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, and accelerates angiogenesis and reperfusion in a mouse hindlimb ischemia model. We demonstrate that sulfation of the steroid is critical for promoting angiogenesis, as the desulfated steroid exhibited no endothelial sprouting activity. We thus developed a chemically synthesized sokotrasterol sulfate analog, 2beta,3alpha,6alpha-cholestanetrisulfate, that demonstrated equivalent activity in the hindlimb ischemia model and resulted in the generation of stable vessels that persisted following cessation of therapy. The function of sokotrasterol sulfate was dependent on cyclooxygenase-2 activity and vascular endothelial growth factor induction, as inhibition of either cyclooxygenase-2 or vascular endothelial growth factor blocked angiogenesis. Surface expression of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin was also necessary for function, as neutralization of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin, but not beta(1) integrin, binding abrogated endothelial sprouting and antiapoptotic activity in response to sokotrasterol sulfate. Our findings indicate that sokotrasterol sulfate and its analogs can promote angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo and could potentially be used for promoting neovascularization to relieve the sequelae of vasoocclusive diseases.
Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗
Indole-3-carbinol in the maternal diet provides chemoprotection for the fetus against transplacental carcinogenesis by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.
The fetus and neonate are sensitive targets for chemically induced carcinogenesis. Few studies have examined the risk/benefit of chemoprotective phytochemicals, given in the maternal diet, against transplacental carcinogenesis. In this study, B6129 SF1/J (AHR(b-1/d)) and 129Sv/ImJ (AHR(d/d)) mice were cross-bred. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP), was administered to pregnant mice (15 mg/kg, gavage) on gestation day 17, and 2000 p.p.m. indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a chemoprotective phytochemical from cruciferous vegetables, was fed to half of the mice from gestation day 9 until weaning. Offspring born to dams fed I3C exhibited markedly fewer mortalities (P < 0.0001). Maternal dietary exposure to I3C also significantly lowered lung tumor multiplicity (P = 0.035) in offspring surviving to 10 months of age. The I3C chemoprotection was independent of either maternal or fetal AHR genotype. The bioavailability of DBP to fetal target tissue was demonstrated by assessing DNA covalent adduction with a (33)P-post-labeling assay. The bioavailability of I3C was determined by dosing a subset of pregnant mice with [(14)C]-I3C. Addition of chemoprotective agents to the maternal diet during pregnancy and nursing may be an effective new approach in reducing the incidence of cancers in children and young adults.
Animals↗
C-Terminal truncation of rabbit flavin-containing monooxygenase isoform 2 enhances solubility.
Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO) are membrane-associated enzymes contributing to oxidative metabolism of drugs and other chemicals. There are no known structures similar enough to FMO to provide accurate insights into the structural basis for differences in metabolism observed among FMOs. To develop an FMO amenable to crystallization, we introduced mutations into rabbit FMO2 (rF2) to increase solubility, decrease aggregation, and simplify isolation. Alterations included removal of 26 AA (Delta26) from the carboxyl-terminus, His(6)-fusion to the amino-terminus and a double Ser substitution designed to reduce local hydrophobicity. Only Delta26 FMO variants retained normal activity, increased the yield of cytosolic rF2 and decreased protein aggregation. Delta26 constructs increased rF2 in cytosol in low (from 2 to 13%), and high salt (from 24 to 62%) conditions. His-fusion proteins, while active and useful for purification, did not affect solubility. Delta26 variants should prove useful for identifying conditions suitable for production of an FMO crystal.
Amino Acid Motifs↗
Effect of surface packing density of interfacially adsorbed monoclonal antibody on the binding of hormonal antigen human chorionic gonadotrophin.
Interfacial adsorption of a mouse monoclonal antibody (type IgG1, anti-beta-hCG) at the hydrophilic silicon oxide/water interface has been studied by spectroscopic ellipsometry and neutron reflection, followed by assessment of binding of a hormonal antigen, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), onto the adsorbed antibody molecules. The amount of adsorption reached a maximum around the isoelectric pH (IP) of 6 for the antibody; this pH-dependent pattern could be altered by increasing salt concentration, a trend also observed for other proteins. Neutron reflection revealed the formation of a 40 A uniform layer from the adsorbed antibody, indicating a flat-on orientation. The subsequent hCG binding showed that the molar ratio of hCG bound to antibody at the interface was as high as 0.7 at low surface coverage of antibody and decreased with increasing surface antibody concentration. The results point to an increasing extent of steric hindrance to hCG access with increasing packing density of antibody molecules on the surface. Comparison with previously published crystal structure studies suggests twisting of the variable region to allow access of the antigen. The binding of hCG was also found to be pH-dependent with its maximum around the IP, if the ionic strength of the solution was low (20 mM). However, if the ionic strength was increased to 200 mM, then hCG binding was influenced by a combination of steric hindrance and electrostatic interaction between the antigen and the surface. These results are highly relevant to the improvement of the performance of biotechnologies such as fertility test pads and biosensors based on antibody immobilization.
Adsorption↗
Liphagal, a Selective inhibitor of PI3 kinase alpha isolated from the sponge akacoralliphaga: structure elucidation and biomimetic synthesis.
[structure: see text] Liphagal (1), a selective inhibitor of PI3K alpha, has been isolated from the marine sponge Aka coralliphaga collected in Dominica. The "liphagane" meroterpenoid carbon skeleton of liphagal (1) is new. A biomimetic total synthesis has been used to confirm the constitution of liphagal (1) and support a proposed biogenesis.
Androstadienes↗
In utero exposure of mice to dibenzo[a,l]pyrene produces lymphoma in the offspring: role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor.
Lymphoma and leukemia are the most common cancers in children and young adults; in utero carcinogen exposure may contribute to the etiology of these cancers. A polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP), was given to pregnant mice (15 mg/kg body weight, gavage) on gestation day 17. Significant mortalities in offspring, beginning at 12 weeks of age, were observed due to an aggressive T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma. Lymphocytes invaded numerous tissues. All mice surviving 10 months, exposed in utero to DBP, exhibited lung tumors; some mice also had liver tumors. To assess the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in DBP transplacental cancer, B6129SF1/J (AHR(b-1/d), responsive) mice were crossed with strain 129S1/SvIm (AHR(d/d), nonresponsive) to determine the effect of maternal and fetal AHR status on carcinogenesis. Offspring born to nonresponsive mothers had greater susceptibility to lymphoma, irrespective of offspring phenotype. However, when the mother was responsive, an AHR-responsive phenotype in offspring increased mortality by 2-fold. In DBP-induced lymphomas, no evidence was found for TP53, beta-catenin, or Ki-ras mutations but lung adenomas of mice surviving to 10 months of age had mutations in Ki-ras codons 12 and 13. Lung adenomas exhibited a 50% decrease and a 35-fold increase in expression of Rb and p19/ARF mRNA, respectively. This is the first demonstration that transplacental exposure to an environmental PAH can induce a highly aggressive lymphoma in mice and raises the possibility that PAH exposures to pregnant women could contribute to similar cancers in children and young adults.
Animals↗
The role of flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) in the metabolism of tamoxifen and other tertiary amines.
Tamoxifen is utilized in breast cancer therapy and in chemoprevention. Tamoxifen may enhance risk for other neoplasias, especially endometrial cancer. The risk:benefit depends on the rate of metabolic activation versus detoxication. Cytochrome P450-dependent alpha-hydroxylation, followed by sulfonation, represents a metabolic activation pathway, producing products capable of covalent DNA adduction. In contrast, tamoxifen N-oxygenation represents a detoxication pathway, with the caveat that N-oxides can be reduced back to the parent amines. The N-oxygenation pathway will be the focus for this review. Dr. David Kupfer pioneered studies on cytochrome P450 and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) tamoxifen metabolism. We collaborated with Dr. Kupfer's laboratory and recently determined that the low level of tamoxifen N-oxide production in human liver microsomes may be explained by the kinetics of FMO1 versus FMO3.
Amines↗
Toxicogenomic profiling of the hepatic tumor promoters indole-3-carbinol, 17beta-estradiol and beta-naphthoflavone in rainbow trout.
Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), from cruciferous vegetables, has been found to suppress or enhance tumors in several animal models. We previously reported that dietary I3C promotes hepatocarcinogenesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) at concentrations that differentially activated estrogen receptor (ER) or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated responses based on individual protein biomarkers. In this study, we evaluated the relative importance of these pathways as potential mechanisms for I3C on a global scale. Hepatic gene expression profiles were examined in trout after dietary exposure to 500 and 1500 ppm I3C and 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), a major in vivo component of I3C, and were compared to the transcriptional signatures of two model hepatic tumor promoters: 17beta-estradiol (E2), an ER agonist, and beta-naphthoflavone, an AhR agonist. We demonstrate that I3C and DIM acted similar to E2 at the transcriptional level based on correlation analysis of expression profiles and clustering of gene responses. Of the genes regulated by E2 (fold change >or =2.0 or < or =0.50), most genes were regulated similarly by DIM (87-92%) and I3C (71%), suggesting a common mechanism of action. Of interest were upregulated genes associated with signaling pathways for cell growth and proliferation, vitellogenesis, and protein folding, stability, and transport. Other genes downregulated by E2, including those involved in acute-phase immune response, were also downregulated by DIM and I3C. Gene regulation was confirmed by qRT-PCR and Western blot. These data indicate I3C promotes hepatocarcinogenesis through estrogenic mechanisms in trout liver and suggest DIM may be an even more potent hepatic tumor promoter in this model.
Animals↗
Neopetrosiamides, peptides from the marine sponge Neopetrosia sp. that inhibit amoeboid invasion by human tumor cells.
[structure: see text] Neopetrosiamdes A (1) and B (2), two diastereomeric tricyclic peptides that inhibit amoeboid invasion of human tumor cells, have been isolated from the marine sponge Neopetrosia sp. collected in Papua New Guinea. The structures of the neopetrosiamides were elucidated by analysis of MS and NMR data and confirmed by chemical degradation.
Animals↗
Use of a rainbow trout oligonucleotide microarray to determine transcriptional patterns in aflatoxin B1-induced hepatocellular carcinoma compared to adjacent liver.
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, and its occurrence is associated with a number of environmental factors including ingestion of the dietary contaminant aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). Research over the last 40 years has revealed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to be an excellent research model for study of AFB(1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis; however, little is known about changes at the molecular level in trout tumors. We have developed a rainbow trout oligonucleotide array containing 1672 elements representing over 1400 genes of known or probable relevance to toxicology, comparative immunology, carcinogenesis, endocrinology, and stress physiology. In this study, we applied microarray technology to examine gene expression of AFB(1)-induced HCC in the rainbow trout tumor model. Carcinogenesis was initiated in trout embryos with 50 ppb AFB(1), and after 13 months control livers, tumors, and tumor-adjacent liver tissues were isolated from juvenile fish. Global gene expression was determined in histologically confirmed HCCs compared to noncancerous adjacent tissue and sham-initiated control liver. We observed distinct gene regulation patterns in HCC compared to noncancerous tissue including upregulation of genes important for cell cycle control, transcription, cytoskeletal formation, and the acute phase response and downregulation of genes involved in drug metabolism, lipid metabolism, and retinol metabolism. Interestingly, the expression profiles observed in trout HCC are similar to the transcriptional signatures found in human and rodent HCC, further supporting the validity of the model. Overall, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism of AFB(1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in trout and identify conserved genes important for carcinogenesis in species separated evolutionarily by more than 400 million years.
Aflatoxin B1↗
Synthesis of pelorol and analogues: activators of the inositol 5-phosphatase SHIP.
[reaction: see text] A screening program designed to find new antiinflammatory agents has identified the sponge meroterpenoid pelorol (1) as an in vitro activator of the inositol-5-phosphatase SHIP. Pelorol (1) and several functional group analogues have been synthesized from sclareolide (4).
Animals↗
Alpha-tocopherol modulates Cyp3a expression, increases gamma-CEHC production, and limits tissue gamma-tocopherol accumulation in mice fed high gamma-tocopherol diets.
Although all forms of vitamin E are absorbed, the liver preferentially secretes alpha-, but not gamma-tocopherol, into plasma. Liver alpha-tocopherol secretion is under the control of the alpha-tocopherol transfer protein (TTP). Therefore, to assess gamma-tocopherol bioactivities Ttpa-/-, +/- and +/+ mice were fed for 5 weeks diets containing gamma-tocopherol 550 (gamma-T550), gamma-tocopherol 60 (gamma-T60) mg/kg that also contained trace amounts of alpha-tocopherol, a vitamin E-deficient diet, or a control diet. Plasma and tissues from mice fed gamma-T550 diets were found to contain similar gamma- and alpha-tocopherol concentrations despite the high dietary gamma-tocopherol content; nervous tissues contained almost no gamma-tocopherol. Liver vitamin E metabolites (carboxyethyl hydroxychromans, CEHCs) were also measured. In mice with widely ranging liver alpha- (from 0.7 to 16 nmol/g) and gamma-tocopherol concentrations (0 to 13 nmol/g), hepatic alpha-CEHC was undetectable, but gamma-CEHC concentrations (0.1 to 0.8 nmol/g) were correlated with both alpha- and gamma-tocopherol concentrations (P < 0.004). Hepatic cytochrome P450s (CYPs) involved in vitamin E metabolism, Cyp4f and Cyp3a, were also measured. There were no variations in Cyp4f protein expression as related to diet or mouse genotype. However, Cyp3a was correlated (P < 0.0001) with liver alpha-, but not gamma-tocopherol concentrations. These data support the hypothesis that alpha-tocopherol modulates xenobiotic metabolism by increasing Cyp3a expression, gamma-CEHC formation, and the excretion of both gamma-tocopherol and gamma-CEHC.
Animal Feed↗