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E S Littlefield

Publications and source records attributed to E S Littlefield.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Structure-based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of irreversible human rhinovirus 3C protease inhibitors. 1. Michael acceptor structure-activity studies.

The structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of peptide-derived human rhinovirus (HRV) 3C protease (3CP) inhibitors are described. These compounds incorporate various Michael acceptor moieties and are shown to irreversibly bind to HRV serotype 14 3CP with inhibition activities (kobs/[I]) ranging from 100 to 600 000 M-1 s-1. These inhibitors are also shown to exhibit antiviral activity when tested against HRV-14-infected H1-HeLa cells with EC50's approaching 0.50 microM. Extensive structure-activity relationships developed by Michael acceptor alteration are reported along with the evaluation of several compounds against HRV serotypes other than 14. A 2.0 A crystal structure of a peptide-derived inhibitor complexed with HRV-2 3CP is also detailed.

3C Viral Proteases↗

Structure-based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of irreversible human rhinovirus 3C protease inhibitors. 2. Peptide structure-activity studies.

The structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of various peptide-derived human rhinovirus (HRV) 3C protease (3CP) inhibitors are described. These compounds are comprised of an ethyl propenoate Michael acceptor moiety and a tripeptidyl binding determinant. The systematic modification of each amino acid residue present in the binding determinant as well as the N-terminal functionality is described. Such modifications are shown to provide irreversible HRV-14 3CP inhibitors with anti-3CP activities (kobs/[I]) ranging from 60 to 280 000 M-1 s-1 and antiviral EC50's which approach 0.15 microM. An optimized inhibitor which incorporates several improvements identified by the structure-activity studies is also described. This molecule displays very rapid irreversible inhibition of HRV-14 3CP (kobs/[I] = 800 000 M-1 s-1) and potent antiviral activity against HRV-14 in cell culture (EC50 = 0.056 microM). A 1.9 A crystal structure of an S-alkylthiocarbamate-containing inhibitor complexed with HRV-2 3CP is also detailed.

3C Viral Proteases↗

Comparison of desmethylsertraline with sertraline as a monoamine uptake inhibitor in vivo.

1. Desmethylsertraline, a metabolite of the antidepressant drug sertraline, was compared with sertraline for its ability to produce effects characteristic of inhibitors of the serotonin transporter in vivo. Desmethylsertraline antagonized brain serotonin depletion by p-chloroamphetamine, a depletion dependent upon the serotonin transporter, being less potent than sertraline in rats but almost as potent as sertraline in mice. Desmethylsertraline was a weak antagonist of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced depletion of heart norepinephrine in mice; sertraline had no effect at the doses studied. 2. Desmethylsertraline decreased brain concentrations of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) in rats as did sertraline, the duration of the effect after both drugs being at least 24 hrs but less than 48 hrs. 3. After sertraline injection, desmethylsertraline was present in rat brain at higher concentrations than the parent drug at 8 hrs and thereafter. 4. In rats, repeated injections of sertraline, at doses previously shown to diminish beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated responses, led to marked accumulation of desmethylsertraline in brain and to inhibition of the catecholamine transporters. 5. In mice, brain concentrations of desmethylsertraline were higher than those of parent drug within 7 hrs after sertraline injection and probably contributed importantly to the antagonism of p-chloroamphetamine effects. 6. These data show that desmethylsertraline is less potent than sertraline as a serotonin uptake inhibitor in vivo, as the in vitro data would have predicted, but that desmethylsertraline may nonetheless contribute to the prolonged inhibition of the serotonin transporter after sertraline administration, perhaps more in mice than in rats.

1-Naphthylamine↗

The correlation between serum selenium and blood selenium in cattle.

The selenium (Se) concentration of paired blood and serum samples from cattle was determined by 2 methods: 1) atomic absorption spectroscopy using hydride generation (HG-AAS), and 2) inductively coupled argon plasma emission spectroscopy using hydride generation (ICP). Samples from 327 cattle were analyzed by HG-AAS, and samples from 344 cattle were analyzed by ICP. The data were examined by linear regression analysis, and the technique of inverse prediction was utilized to determine prediction intervals for estimating blood Se concentration from known serum Se concentration. The correlation coefficients, by simple linear regression of serum Se on blood Se, were 0.79 (r2 = 0.62) and 0.88 (r2 = 0.77) for the HG-AAS data and the ICP data, respectively. For the HG-AAS data, the inverse prediction formula for estimating blood Se when serum Se is known, at the 95% prediction interval, was [formula; see text]. For the ICP data, the inverse prediction formula for estimating blood Se when serum Se is known, at the 95% prediction interval, was [formula; see text]. The prediction intervals were quite wide, and the accuracy of estimating blood Se from a known serum Se was not useful for diagnostic purposes. The use of serum Se concentration to assess nutritional status of cattle with respect to Se does not appear to be appropriate.

Animals↗

Lead concentrations in blood and milk from periparturient dairy heifers seven months after an episode of acute lead toxicosis.

In September 1988, 100 of 300 yearling dairy heifers developed blindness, tachypnea, foaming at the mouth, chewing, and facial fasciculations. Twenty-five animals died. Lead toxicosis was diagnosed based on the clinical signs and the presence of excessive concentrations of lead in whole blood, liver, kidney, and rumen contents of affected animals. The source of the lead was sudan grass silage that had been contaminated by soil that contained up to 77,000 mg/kg of lead. Lead concentrations were determined approximately 7 months after the acute episode of lead toxicosis. Whole blood and milk samples were obtained from heifers and a group of control cows 2 weeks prior to (blood only), at the time of, and 2 and 4 weeks after freshening. No lead was found in any of the milk samples (detection limit = 0.055 mg/liter). Animals that had been severely affected by lead toxicosis experienced a transient increase in whole blood lead concentrations at freshening that was not high enough to be considered toxic. No similar increases in blood lead were observed for control cows or heifers that had experienced milder toxicosis. These findings suggest that at parturition lead is mobilized into the blood of cattle previously exposed to excessive lead.

Animals↗

Continuous flow vapor generation for inductively coupled argon plasma spectrometric analysis. Part 2. Arsenic.

Total arsenic is determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission using hydride vapor generation. A 1 g sample is wet washed in a 16 x 150 mm 10 mL volumetric test tube on a programmed heating block with nitric, sulfuric, and perchloric acids at up to 310 degrees C. After treatment with hydrochloric acid and potassium iodide, arsenic is reduced by sodium borohydride to arsine in a simplified continuous flow manifold. A standard pneumatic nebulizer affects the gas-liquid separation of AsH3, which is quantified by ICP atomic emission at 193.756 nm. The instrument detection limit for the method has been determined to be 0.4 microgram/L. For a 10:1 dilution of a nominal 1 g sample, the detection limit is 4 micrograms/kg and the linear range is up to 4 mg/kg. Recoveries from 3 matrixes were 99-104%, with a typical RSD of 2%. The method has demonstrated statistical control for samples of biological interest and is especially well suited to analysis of small samples.

Animals↗