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V Wray

Publications and source records attributed to V Wray.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Bovine adrenals contain, in addition to ouabain, a second inhibitor of the sodium pump.

In the search for endogenous cardiac glycosides, two different inhibitors of the sodium pump have been isolated from bovine adrenals. Inhibitor A with a molecular mass of 600 Da and a UV maximum at 250 nm was purified from 16 kg of bovine adrenals. The pure substance (<1 ng) inhibited the sodium pump of human red blood cells with an affinity similar to that of ouabain, yet it cross-reacted with antibodies against the bufadienolide proscillaridin A but not against the cardenolide ouabain. Inhibitor A was slightly more hydrophilic than ouabain on RP-C18 high pressure liquid chromatography. Hence, it showed properties similar to the proscillaridin A immunoreactivity (Sich, B., Kirch, U., Tepel, M., Zideck, W., and Schoner, W. (1996) Hypertension 27, 1073-1078) that increased in humans with systolic blood pressure and pulse pressure. Inhibitor B of the sodium pump with a molecular mass of 584 Da was purified 10(6)-fold from 20 kg of bovine adrenals. It cross-reacted with antibodies against ouabain but not with antibodies against proscillaridin A and inhibited the sodium pump of human and rat red blood cells with the same affinity as ouabain. All other properties, such as the retention time in a C18-reversed phase chromatography, molecular mass determination by electrospray mass spectrometry and fragmentation pattern, and UV and 1H NMR spectroscopic data, were identical to ouabain. Hence, sodium pump inhibitor B from bovine adrenals is the cardenolide ouabain.

Adrenal Glands↗

Production and structure elucidation of di- and oligosaccharide lipids (biosurfactants) from Tsukamurella sp. nov.

The bacterium Tsukamurella sp. nov., isolated from soil, was found to produce novel glycolipids when grown on sunflower oil as the sole carbon source. The glycolipids were isolated by chromatography on silica columns and their structures elucidated using a combination of multidimensional NMR and MS techniques. The three main components are 2,3-di-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-alpha-D-glucopyranose, 2,3-di-O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-4,6-di-O-acyl-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-alpha-D-glucopyranose and 2,3-di-O-acyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-beta-D-galactopyranosyl- (1-6)-4,6-di-O-acyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl which are linked to fatty acids varying in chain length from C4 to C18. The glycolipids are mainly extracellular but are also found attached to the cell walls. During the cultivation the composition of the glycolipids changed from disaccharide- to tri- and tetrasaccharide lipids. The glycolipids show good surface-active behaviour and have antimicrobial properties.

Actinomycetales↗

Noroleanane saponins from Celmisia spectabilis.

Two new saponins were isolated as the major components of the deacylated saponin extract from the underground parts of Celmisia spectabilis. Their structures were established by NMR and mass spectral data and derivative formation as 2 beta,3 beta,17,23- tetrahydroxy-28-norolean-12-en-16-one-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyrano syl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 2 beta,3 beta,17,23- tetrahydroxy-28-norolean-12-en-16-one-3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyrano syl (1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Enzymatic hydrolysis of the cytotoxic triterpenoid glycoside virgaureasaponin 1.

The cytotoxic compound, virgaureasaponin 1, was converted using several optimized enzymecatalysed hydrolyses to the 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranoside (2), and the 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha- L- rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-fucopyranoside (3) and 28-O-beta-D-xylyopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2) - beta-D-fucopyranoside (4) both lacking the glucose moiety at C-3 of the aglycone. The terminal rhamnose of the acylglycosidic bonded tetrasaccharide was cleaved by naringinase to give compound 2. The new acylglycosides 3 and 4 were obtained with the help of a relatively crude beta-glucuronidase preparation, but the cleavage of the sapogenin bonded glucose was impossible using several beta-glucosidase preparations directly. These derivatives were used for the investigation of the relationship between the saponin carbohydrate structure and their cytotoxic activity.

Animals↗

Bioactive pyridoacridine alkaloids from the micronesian sponge Oceanapia sp.

The Micronesian sponge Oceanapia sp. afforded three pyridoacridine alkaloids: the known compounds kuanoniamine C (1) and kuanoniamine D (2), as well as the new N-deacyl derivative (3) of the kuanoniamines. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited insecticidal activity toward neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insect Spodoptera littoralis (LC50 of 156 and 59 ppm, respectively), when incorporated into artificial diet. Both compounds also showed toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality test with a LC50 of 37 micrograms/mL (compound 1) and 19 micrograms/mL (compound 2), respectively. The N-deacyl derivative did not show any remarkable effect in both bioassays. Cytotoxcity of the alkaloids was studied in vitro, using two human cell lines. The new derivative (3) appeared to be active in the same range of concentrations as kuanoniamine C (1) and D (2). The IC50 of 3 was 1.2 micrograms/mL toward HeLa cells and 2.0 micrograms/mL toward MONO-MAC 6 cells. In receptor binding assays compound 2 showed affinity to A1- and A2A-adenosine receptors with Ki values of 2.94 and 13.7 microM, respectively. Compound 1 was less active than compound 2, whereas compound 3 showed no affinity toward adenosine receptors. In addition, compounds 1-3 exhibited moderate affinity to benzodiazepine binding sites of GABAA receptors.

Acridines↗

Four new bioactive lobane diterpenes of the soft coral Lobophytum pauciflorum from Mindoro, Philippines.

The marine soft coral Lobophytum pauciflorum collected from Mindoro Island, Philippines, yielded four new lobane diterpene derivatives: the acetate congeners of epoxylobatrienol and lobatrienediol (2 and 7, respectively), a methoxyl congener of lobatetraene (10), and an oxepin congener of lobatrienetriol (11), and six known derivatives (1, 3-6, and 8). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic (1H, 13C, COSY, 1H-detected direct, and long-range 13C-1H correlations) and mass spectrometric (EIMS) data. All of the compounds were active against the phytopathogenic fungus Cladosporium cucumerinum. Compound 1 was found to be active against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The isolated lobane diterpenes were also active in the brine shrimp lethality test. In the latter bioassay, compounds 8 and 10 were the most active congeners with LC50's of 0.64 and 4.18 micrograms/mL, respectively.

Animals↗

A new meroditerpenoid dimer from an undescribed Philippine marine sponge of the genus Strongylophora.

An undescribed Philippine marine sponge of the genus Strongylophora yielded a new meroditerpenoid-strongylophorine dimer (1) and the known meroditerpenoids, strongylophorine-2 (2), strongylophorine-3 (3), and strongylophorine-4 (4). The structures of the compounds were established on the basis of NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The position of the inter-unit linkage in the new compound was elucidated after methylation and 1D 1H NOE difference experiments. This is the first report wherein the1H and 13C NMR data of the strongylophorine congeners are fully and unambiguously assigned on the basis of 2D NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited slight activity against Micrococcus luteus and Salmonella typhii, respectively. Compound 3 was active against the phytopathogenic fungusCladosporium cucumerinum and also against the neonate larvae of the polyphagous pest insectSpodoptera littoralis (EC50 of 69 [+/-0.48 (S.E.)] ppm) when incorporated into artificial diet. Compound 1 was found to be the most active in the brine shrimp lethality test with a LC50 of 10.5 [+/-0.43 (S.E.)] microg/mL.

Animals↗

In vitro alpha1-3 or alpha1-4 fucosylation of type I and II oligosaccharides with secreted forms of recombinant human fucosyltransferases III and VI.

Transgalactosylation of chitobiose and chitotriose employing beta-galactosidase from bovine testes yielded mixtures with beta1-3 linked galactose (type I) and beta1-4 linked galactose (type II) in a final ratio of 1:1 for the tri- and 1:1.4 for the tetrasaccharide. After 24 h incubations of the two purified oligosaccharide mixtures with large amounts (20-fold increase compared with standard conditions) of human alpha1,3/4-fucosyltransferase III (FucT III), the type I tri-/tetrasaccharides were completely converted to the Lewis(a) structure, whereas approximately 10% fucosylation of the type II isomers to the Lewis(x) oligosaccharides was observed in long-term incubations. Employing large amounts of human alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase VI (FucT VI), the type I trisaccharide substrate was exclusively fucosylated at the proximal O-4 substituted N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) (20%) whereas almost all of the type II isomers was converted to the corresponding Lewis(x) product. 45% of the type I tetrasaccharide was fucosylated at the second GlcNAc solely by FucT VI. The type II isomer was almost completely alpha1-3 fucosylated to yield the Lewisx derivative with traces of a structure that contained an additional fucose at the reducing GlcNAc. The results obtained in the present study employing high amounts of enzyme confirmed our previous results that FucT III acts preponderantly as a beta1-4 fucosyltransferase onto GlcNAc in vitro. Human FucT VI attaches fucose exclusively in an alpha1-3 linkage to 4-substituted GlcNAc in vitro and does not modify any 3-substituted GlcNAc to yield Lewis(a) oligosaccharides. With 8-methoxycarbonyloctyl glycoside acceptors used under standard conditions, FucT III acts exclusively on the type I and FucT VI only on the type II derivative. With lacto-N-tetraose, lacto-N-fucopentraose I, or LS-tetrasaccharide as substrates, FucT III modified the 3-substituted GlcNAc and the reducing glucose; FucT VI recognized only lacto-N-neotetraose as a substrate.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Saniculoside R-1: a new triterpenoid saponin from Sanicula europaea.

A new acylated triterpenoid saponin was obtained from the leaves of Sanicula europaea. The structure has been elucidated from NMR and MS data, and by chemical derivatisation as 21-O-[2-methylbutanoyl]-3 beta, 15 alpha, 16 alpha, 21 beta, 22 alpha, 28-hexahydroxyolean-12-ene 3-O-[alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-->3)] beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucuronopyranoside.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

New saponins from the seeds of Agrostemma githago var. githago.

Two new saponins were isolated from the seeds of Agrostemma githago L. var. githago. On the basis of chemical and spectral evidence their structures were determined to be 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-[beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta- D- glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin-28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- D-4-O-acetylfucopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)- [beta-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-gyp sogenin- 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)- [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D- 4-O-acetylfucopyranoside.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Purification and characterization of a cytotoxic exolipid of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, an infectious disease, which is increasingly recognized as an important public health problem in various tropical regions. This study describes the identification and characterization of a heat-stable extracellular toxin of B. pseudomallei. After cultivation of B. pseudomallei in liquid media, the heated cell-free supernatant was concentrated by ultrafiltration. The concentrate exhibited a cytotoxic and hemolytic activity which showed remarkable resistance against alkaline and acidic treatments. For further purification, reversed-phase chromatography using a fast-performance liquid chromatography system was performed. After elution with an acetonitrile gradient, a single cytotoxic and hemolytic peak was detected. Structural characterization of the toxin was performed by a combination of mass spectrometric and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques. A highly purified glycolipid, 2-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-beta-hydroxytetradec anoyl-beta-hydroxytetradecanoate (Rha-Rha-C14-C14), with a molecular mass of 762 Da was identified. The purified exolipid showed a time- and dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on phagocytic (HL60) and nonphagocytic (HeLa) cell lines. In addition, a time- and dose-dependent hemolysis of erythrocytes from various species was observed. The toxin structure makes a detergentlike action most probable. Interestingly, the cytotoxic and hemolytic activities of the glycolipid could be neutralized by albumin. Future studies will concentrate on the role of this exolipid as a virulence factor in the pathogenesis of melioidosis.

Animals↗

Intraspecific variation of unusual phospholipids from Corynebacterium spp. containing a novel fatty acid.

The novel fatty acid trans-9-methyl-10-octadecenoic acid was isolated from the coryneform bacterial strain LMG 3820 (previously misidentified as Arthrobacter globiformis) and identified by spectroscopic methods and chemical derivatization. This fatty acid is attached to the unusual lipid acyl phosphatidylglycerol. Five different species of this lipid type were identified; their structures were elucidated by tandem mass spectrometry and are reported here for the first time. Additionally, we identified three different cardiolipins, two bearing the novel fatty acid. The characteristic 10-methyl-octadecanoic acid was present only in phosphatidylinositol. Because of the unusual fatty acid pattern of strain LMG 3820, the 16S rDNA sequence was determined and showed regions of identity to sequences of Corynebacterium variabilis DSM 20132(T) and DSM 20536. All three strains possessed the novel fatty acid, identifying trans-9-methyl-10-octadecenoic acid as a potential biomarker characteristic for this taxon. Surprisingly, the fatty acid and relative abundances of phospholipids of Corynebacterium sp. strain LMG 3820 were similar to those of the type strain but different from those of Corynebacterium variabilis DSM 20536, although all three strains possessed identical 16S rDNA sequences and strains DSM 20132(T) and DSM 20536 have 90.5% DNA-DNA homology. This is one of the rare cases wherein different organisms with identical 16S rDNA sequences have been observed to present recognizably different fatty acid and lipid compositions. Since methylation of a fatty acid considerably lowers the transition temperature of the corresponding lipid resulting in a more flexible cell membrane, the intraspecific variation in the lipid composition, coinciding with the morphological and Gram stain reaction variability of this species, probably offers an advantage for this species to inhabit different environmental niches.

Corynebacterium↗

Structure of an acidic exopolysaccharide of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

A recently described water-soluble exopolysaccharide of Burkholderia pseudomallei recognized by the IgG 1 monoclonal antibody 3015 [Steinmetz, I., Rohde, M. & Brenneke, B. (1995) Infect. Immun. 63, 3959-3965] was isolated by repetitive ethanol-precipitation steps and by anion-exchange chromatography. The structure of the polysaccharide was determined by a combination of chemical-derivatization and mass-spectrometric techniques (compositional and methylation analysis, GC/MS, and electrospray-ionization-MS/MS of reduced and permethylated hydrolytic fragments), and two-dimensional 1H-NMR methods (COSY, TOCSY and NOESY) and confirmed by isolation and structural characterization of the depolymerized repeating unit of the polysaccharide. The combined structural data established a linear tetrasaccharide repeating unit consisting of three galactose residues, one bearing a 2-linked O-acetyl group, and a 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid residue. [-->3)-beta-D-Galp2Ac-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-(1- ->5)-beta-Kdo-(2-->]n

Burkholderia pseudomallei↗

Synthesis, solution structure, binding activity, and cGMP activation of human guanylin and its disulfide isomer.

Guanylin is a recently isolated peptide consisting of 15 amino acid residues with four cysteines, which may form two intramolecular disulfide bridges, and stimulates intestinal membrane guanylate cyclase. The position of the disulfide linkages of guanylin was predicted from its structural similarity to a heat stable enterotoxin which is thought to be responsible for secretory diarrhoea. Both guanylin, with disulfide positions 4-12 and 7-15, and its disulfide isomer, with disulfides positions 4-15 and 7-12, were chemically synthesized by the solid-phase method and purified. Two specific disulfides were selectively formed and confirmed by sequencing, mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography in combination with enzymatic cleavage. The structure of both isomers has been investigated in solution by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Guanylin exists as a mixture of two stable conformations which have compact spiral structures, from comparison with literature data. In contrast, the disulfide isomer of guanylin shows only a single conformation with an elongated curved plate-like structure. Binding assays were performed using labelled guanylin with membranes obtained from rat jejunum. Both disulfide isomers were investigated by the cGMP assay. Both binding and cGMP assays indicated that the relevant form of disulfide bridges in the intact guanylin was as predicted.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Convenient isolation and kinetic mechanism of glutathionylspermidine synthetase from Crithidia fasciculata.

Trypanothione, the essential metabolite in the oxidant defense system of trypanosomatids, is synthesized by two distinct proteins, glutathionylspermidine synthetase and trypanothione synthetase. Glutathionylspermidine synthetase was purified to homogeneity from the trypanosomatid Crithidia fasciculata by aqueous two-phase systems and chromatography. The enzyme showed a specific activity of 38 micromol of glutathionylspermidine formed per min per mg of protein. Its molecular mass was 78 kDa in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and it appeared predominantly monomeric in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration. The isoelectric point was at pH 4.6, and the pH optimum was near 7.6. Partial amino acid sequencing revealed homology with, but low similarity to, the glutathionylspermidine synthetase/amidase of Escherichia coli, and amidase activity was not detected in glutathionylspermidine synthetase of C. fasciculata. The kinetics of trypanosomatid glutathionylspermidine synthetase revealed a rapid equilibrium random mechanism with limiting Km values for Mg2+-ATP, GSH, and spermidine of 0.25 +/- 0.02, 2.51 +/- 0.33, and 0.47 +/- 0. 09 mM, respectively, and a kcat of 415 +/- 78 min-1. Partial reactions at restricted cosubstrate supply were not detected by 31P NMR, supporting the necessity of a quarternary complex formation for catalysis. ADP inhibited competitively with respect to ATP (Ki = 0. 08 mM) and trypanothione exerted a feedback inhibition competitive with GSH (Ki = 0.48 mM).

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Triterpenoid saponins from Aster bellidiastrum.

Seven triterpenoid saponins were isolated from both the aerial and the underground parts of Aster bellidiastrum. Five of the compounds were common to both parts. The structures were elucidated mainly from their NMR and mass spectral data, and showed significant similarity to the corresponding data for the saponins from plants of the Bellis genus. Two of the saponins are novel compounds with the structures 3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-2 beta,3 beta, 23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-2 beta,3 beta,16 alpha, 23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->3)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)]-be ta- D-fucopyranoside.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗