PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Ichiji Namatame

Publications and source records attributed to Ichiji Namatame.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Absolute stereochemistry of fungal beauveriolide III and ACAT inhibitory activity of four stereoisomers.

Fungal beauveriolide III (BeauIII, 1b), a cyclodepsipeptide inhibiting acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and showing antiatherogenic activity in mouse models, consists of L-Phe, L-Ala, D-allo-Ile, and 3-hydroxy-4-methyloctanoic acid (HMA) moieties, but the stereochemistry of the HMA part has not until now been fully defined. To determine it, four HMA stereoisomers were synthesized and labeled with (S)-(+)-2-(anthracene-2,3-dicarboximido)-1-propyl trifluoromethane sulfonate (AP-OTf), a chiral fluorescent reagent. The derivatives were separated by HPLC and compared with the natural HMA derivative, which was thereby identified as (3S,4S)HMA in BeauIII. Furthermore, the four beauveriolide III isomers ((3S,4S)BeauIII (23a), (3R,4R)BeauIII (23b), (3R,4S)BeauIII (23c), and (3S,4R)BeauIII (23d)) were synthesized, and it was shown that all the spectral data for 23a were identical with those for natural 1b. Isomers 23a and 23d showed potent inhibitory activity of lipid droplet accumulation in macrophages, while the other two isomers caused weak inhibition. Thus, the 3S configuration of BeauIII is important for this activity. Furthermore, 23a and 23d showed rather specific inhibition against the ACAT1 isozyme.

Animals↗

Rapid and easy protein staining for SDS-PAGE using an intramolecular charge transfer-based fluorescent reagent.

High-performance staining for 1-D and 2-D SDS-PAGE was carried out using a novel protein-binding fluorophore (Dye 1), which noncovalently interacts with proteins and provides a fluorescence emission response to proteins by intramolecular charge transfer. In order to achieve the high-throughput analysis of proteins for SDS-PAGE, the general protocols for in-gel protein staining (SDS-PAGE, fixation, staining, washing, and detection) were simplified to produce an easy and rapid protocol (SDS-PAGE together with staining, washing, and detection). This method was performed by preparation of an electrophoresis buffer containing Dye 1 under optimum conditions, and by the binding of Dye 1 to proteins in the gel during the SDS-PAGE. As a result, this study required only 15 min for protein staining as a minimum time. On the other hand, it takes several hours for the general protein staining method, such as SYPRO Ruby staining (18 h) and CBB staining (105 min). Moreover, the protein-to-protein variation was low, and the detection limit was 7.0 ng/band of BSA (S/N = 3.0) in this method, which was as sensitive as the short-protocol silver staining methods. On the basis of these results, this rapid and easy protocol for SDS-PAGE using Dye 1 may be widely applicable and convenient for users in the various scientific and medical fields.

Animals↗

A self-contained polymeric 2-DE chip system for rapid and easy analysis.

We developed a polymeric 2-DE chip system. The chip consisted of an IEF region, an SDS-PAGE region, a valveless connection port, and a sample introduction port. A "junction structure" as a valveless connection port, which allowed separating and connecting the first- and second-dimensional gels, was fabricated between their regions. A "solution inlet" as a sample introduction port was fabricated to perform the liquid and sample introductions without solution leakage. Simultaneous sample monitoring was performed using the on-chip detection system. The performances of the system were demonstrated using commercially available proteins as a standard specimen and tissue-extracted proteins as the real samples. All procedures were employed without any movement of relocation part. This new 2-D separation system realized improved labor-intensive operations and a reduced experimental time.

Animals↗

Molecular target of decursins in the inhibition of lipid droplet accumulation in macrophages.

During screening for inhibitors of lipid droplet accumulation in mouse peritoneal macrophages, two coumarins identified as decursin and decursinol angelate were isolated from the roots of Angelicae gigantis. The cellular molecular target of these inhibitors in macrophages was studied. Decursin and decursinol angelate inhibited cholesteryl ester (CE) synthesis with IC50 values of 9.7 and 10.1 microM, respectively, whereas they enhanced triacylglycerol (TG) synthesis. Lysosomal metabolism of cholesterol to CE was inhibited by the compounds, indicating that the site of inhibition is one of the steps between the exiting of cholesterol from the lysosomes and CE synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in the microsomal fractions prepared from mouse macrophages was studied, and the results showed inhibition of this activity by decursin and decursinol angelate with IC50 values of 43 and 22 microM, respectively. Thus, it was concluded that the compounds inhibit macrophage ACAT activity to decrease CE synthesis, leading to a reduction of lipid droplets in macrophages.

Animals↗

Enhanced antitumor activity of xanthohumol, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase inhibitor, under hypoxia.

Cancer chemotherapy for hypoxic tumor cells is thought to be an important issue, since hypoxia is related to tumor growth, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Here, the bioactivities of xanthohumol (XN), a diacylglycerol acyltransferase inhibitor, against hypoxic cells were investigated. At first, the inhibitory effects of XN on the formation of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm were evaluated in hypoxia. Hypoxia upregulated the synthesis of triglyceride and promoted the formation of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm, however, the treatment of XN downregulated the triglyceride synthesis and completely canceled the appearance of lipid droplets. Second, the effects of XN on the proliferation and the motility of HT-1080 human fibrosarcoma were investigated. The proliferation of HT-1080 was significantly suppressed in the presence of XN only in hypoxic condition but not in normoxic condition. XN also suppressed the motility of HT-1080 that was enhanced by hypoxia. Since, most cells in solid tumor were thought to be in hypoxic condition and acquired malignancy in response to hypoxia, these data suggest that XN may have potent and specific activities against cancerous cells. Furthermore, these data suggested that lipid metabolism may play an important role for hypoxic tumor cells and proposed a new therapeutic target for cancer chemotherapy.

Acyltransferases↗

Total syntheses of (+)-chloropuupehenone and (+)-chloropuupehenol and their analogues and evaluation of their bioactivities.

Tetracyclic pyrans (+)-chloropuupehenone (1) and (+)-chloropuupehenol (5) and its C8-R-isomer (+)-3 were synthesized via a one-pot condensation of 1-chloro-2-lithio-3,5,6-tris(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)benzene (8) with (4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthalene-1-carboxaldehyde (7). The major condensation product, (4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (4), after desilylation provided tetracyclic pyran (+)-(4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene-9,10-diol (3). At a dosage of 42 mg/rat over 8 h, pyran diol 3 inhibited the intestinal absorption of cholesterol by 71% in rats. Tetracyclic pyran 4 was also converted to o-quinone 28, which inhibited cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and L1210 leukemic cell viability with IC(50) values of 31 and 2.4 microM, respectively. Diol (+)-5 inhibited CETP activity with an IC(50) value of 16 microM. The minor condensation product, (4aS,6aS,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (6), was transformed into (+)-5 and (+)-1. A stepwise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1 was also developed utilizing an oxyselenylation ring-closure reaction. The synthetic sequence also produced four biologically active naturally occurring drimanic sesquiterpenes, (+)-drimane-8alpha,11-diol (34), (-)-drimenol (38), (+)-albicanol (39), and (-)-albicanal (31) as intermediates.

Animals↗

Antiatherogenic activity of fungal beauveriolides, inhibitors of lipid droplet accumulation in macrophages.

Beauveriolides I and III, isolated from the culture broth of fungal Beauveria sp. FO-6979, showed potent inhibitory activity of lipid droplet accumulation in primary mouse peritoneal macrophages. The cellular molecular target of this inhibitory activity was studied in macrophages. Beauveriolides I and III strongly inhibited the cholesteryl ester (CE) synthesis with IC(50) values of 0.78 and 0.41 microM, respectively, without showing significant effects on the triacylglycerol and phospholipid synthesis. Furthermore, lysosomal cholesterol metabolism to CE in macrophages was inhibited by the compounds, indicating that the inhibition site lies within steps between cholesterol departure from the lysosome and CE synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity in the membrane fractions prepared from mouse macrophages was studied, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition by beauveriolides I and III with IC(50) values of 6.0 and 5.5 microM, respectively. Thus, we showed that the beauveriolides inhibit macrophage ACAT activity specifically, resulting in blockage of the CE synthesis, leading to a reduction of lipid droplets in macrophages. ACAT activity in the membrane fractions prepared from mouse liver and Caco-2 cells was also inhibited, indicating that the beauveriolides block both ACAT-1 and -2. Moreover, beauveriolides I and III exert antiatherogenic activity in both low-density lipoprotein receptor- and apolipoprotein E-knockout mice without any side effects such as diarrhea or cytotoxicity to adrenal tissues as observed for many synthetic ACAT inhibitors. Beauveriolides I and III are the first microbial cyclodepsipeptides having an in vivo antiatherosclerotic effect and show promise as potential lead compounds for antiatherosclerotic agents.

Administration, Oral↗

New beauveriolides produced by amino acid-supplemented fermentation of Beauveria sp. FO-6979.

Five new beauveriolides were isolated from the acetone extracts of Beauveria sp. FO-6979 mycelia fermented in amino acid-supplemented media. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies including NMR experiments and chemical degradation. All the beauveriolides are cyclodepsipeptides consisting of one 3-hydroxy-4-methyl fatty acid, two L-amino acids and one D-amino acid in common. Beauveriolide VII with the structure of cyclo-[3-hydroxy-4-methyloctanoyl-L-phenylalanyl-L-alanyl-D-valyl] inhibited lipid droplet formation and cholesteryl ester synthesis in macrophages, but the other beauveriolides showed only slight or almost no effect on lipid droplet formation.

Amino Acids↗

New monordens produced by amidepsine-producing fungus Humicola sp. FO-2942.

Based on UV spectrum-guided purification, new monordens C, D and E, known monordens A (radicicol) and B and 5-O-methylsclerone were isolated from the fermentation broth of amidepsine-producing Humicola sp. FO-2942 by solvent extraction, silica-gel column chromatography, ODS column chromatography and HPLC. All monordens cause the cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2/M phases in Jurkat cells. But among them, monordens A and E show antifungal activity only against Aspergillus niger.

Antifungal Agents↗

Selective production of fungal beauveriolide I or III by fermentation in amino acid-supplemented media.

Beauveriolides I and III, cyclic depsipeptides composed of L-Phe, L-Ala, D-Leu and (3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methyloctanoic acid, and L-Phe, L-Ala, L-allo-Ile and (3S,4S)-3-hydroxy-4-methyloctanoic acid, respectively, were previously isolated from the culture broth of fungal Beauveria sp. FO-6979 as inhibitors of macrophage foam cell formation. To improve the production of these compounds by fermentation, the culture conditions were studied. The production of both beauveriolides was increased five to ten folds by fermentation in the culture media containing tryptone. Further study revealed that addition of L-Leu/L-Ile, but not D-Leu/D-allo-Ile, to the culture medium yielded a high and selective production of beauveriolide I or III. As a result, regardless of their separation difficulty due to the similar physico-chemical properties, a large amount of beauveriolide I or III was prepared from the culture broth obtained from L-Leu- or L-Ile-supplemented fermentation, respectively, by one step purification using silica gel column chromatography.

Amino Acids↗

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a beauveriolide analogue library.

Synthesis of beauveriolide III (1b), which is an inhibitor of lipid droplet accumulation in macrophages, was achieved by solid-phase assembly of linear depsipeptide using a 2-chlorotrityl linker followed by solution-phase cyclization. On the basis of this strategy, a combinatorial library of beauveriolide analogues was carried out by radio frequency-encoded combinatorial chemistry. After automated purification using preparative reversed-phase HPLC, the library was tested for inhibitory activity of CE synthesis in macrophages to determine structure-activity relationships of beauveriolides. Among them, we found that diphenyl derivative 7{9,1} is 10 times more potent than 1b.

Animals↗