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Fluorescent markers for hypoxic cells. A study of novel heterocyclic compounds that undergo bio-reductive binding.

The bioreductive metabolism and binding of nitroaromatic compounds has been suggested as a method for the identification of hypoxic tumour cells. Bound metabolites of suitable nitroaryl compounds (and some other reducible aromatic compounds) may fluoresce, offering an alternative to radiolabelling or NMR etc. as a diagnostic method. In this paper, the synthesis of some heteroaromatic nitro-compounds is given together with the results obtained from testing of these and other mainly nitroaromatic compounds in vitro as potential bioreductive fluorescent probes for hypoxic cells in tumours. Compounds were incubated with oxygenated or hypoxic mammalian cell suspensions for various times before evaluation of the cellular fluorescence from bioreductive metabolites by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. Among those compounds yielding fluorescent metabolites in cells, considerable variation in hypoxic:oxic differential fluorescence was observed. The in vitro mammalian cell test system showed several of the compounds to be sufficiently promising to merit further investigation in vivo.

Animals↗

Mutagenicity of N- and O-acetyl derivatives of methyl 3,4-diphenyl-5-hydroxylamino-2-furoate and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl in Salmonella typhimurium.

Methyl 3,4-diphenyl-5-hydroxylamino-2-furoate (N-OH-MDPF) (I), methyl 3,4-diphenyl-5-acetoxyamino-2-furoate (N-OAc-MDPF) (II), methyl 3,4-diphenyl-N-hydroxy-5-acetylamino-2-furoate (N-OH-MDPAF) (III), and methyl 3,4-diphenyl-N-acetoxy-5-acetylamino-2-furoate (N-OAc-MDPAF) (IV) were synthesized and tested for mutagenic activity for Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. The hydroxylamine (I) and acetyl derivatives (II-IV) did not show mutagenic activity in TA98 or TA100. In contrast, the parent nitro compound, methyl 3,4-diphenyl-5-nitro-2-furoate (MDPNF) (V) was found to be equally active in TA98 and TA98-DNP, and more active in TA100 and TA104. The mutagenic activity in TA100 and TA104 decreased significantly under anaerobic conditions. Additionally, MDPNF was previously shown to be less mutagenic in the nitroreductase-deficient derivatives TA100NR and TA98NR, suggesting a requirement for nitro reduction. Incubation of V with NADPH and bacterial lysates of TA98 or TA98NR yielded a metabolite which was identified as I based on chromatographic and mass spectral characteristics. The rate of reduction by the lysate of TA98NR was about one-third that of TA98, showing a correlation between mutagenicity and nitroreductase activity. The lysates of TA98 did not reduce N-OH-MDPF further to the amine. In contrast to the lack of mutagenic activity of I-IV, N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl (N-OH-ABP) and its acetyl derivatives were active in TA98, but less so in TA98-DNP. These data suggest that mechanisms involving O-acetylation of N-hydroxylamine to the acetoxyamine or acyl transfer reactions are not involved in the generation of mutagen from MDPNF. Furthermore, the differential mutagenic response of V in TA98 and TA98NR, its reduction to I, and the lack of activity of I suggest that the intermediates of reduction between the nitro and hydroxylamine, such as nitro or nitroso free radical anions, may be involved in mutagenesis. The decreased response of V under anaerobic conditions and increased response in TA104 suggest that secondary oxygen radicals generated from reduction intermediates may be responsible for the mutagenicity of MDPNF.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗

beta-Nitro xanthates as olefin precursors.

[reaction: see text] Potassium O-ethyl xanthate readily adds to alpha,beta-unsaturated nitro compounds to give stable beta-nitro xanthates, which undergo tin-free elimination to form olefins in good yield and good E selectivity upon simple heating with lauroyl peroxide in refluxing 1,2-dichloroethane.

Journal Article↗

Chemotherapy for Chagas' disease: a perspective of current therapy and considerations for future research.

Our current knowledge of the biology of Trypanosoma cruzi and its relation to the development of chemotherapy for Chagas' disease are reviewed. This includes recent developments in the understanding of kinetoplast DNA and glycosomes; the action of oxygen radicals; intermediary metabolism of purines, pyrimidines, and folic acid; and the formation of microtubules. At this time, these organelles and metabolic pathways appear to be the most promising for potential exploitation for chemotherapeutic purposes. Compounds of current experimental interest also are discussed. These are agents that have shown promise in the laboratory and for which data exist regarding probable mechanisms of action. The activities of these agents correlated, in so far as is possible, with those structures or metabolic pathways in the trypanonsome that are affected by their actions. The compounds are of two general groups: nitro compounds and purine analogues.

Animals↗

Mechanism of mitochondrial uncouplers, inhibitors, and toxins: focus on electron transfer, free radicals, and structure-activity relationships.

The biology of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is summarized. Our approach to the mechanism of uncouplers, inhibitors, and toxins is based on electron transfer (ET) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Extensive supporting evidence, which is broadly applicable, is cited. ROS can be generated either endogenously or exogenously. Generally, the reactive entities arise via redox cycling by ET functionalities, such as, quinones (or precursors), metal compounds, imines (or iminiums), and aromatic nitro compounds (or reduced metabolites). In most cases, the ET functions are formed metabolically. The toxic substances belong to many categories, e.g., medicinals, industrial chemicals, abused drugs, and pesticides. Structure-activity relationships are presented from the ET-ROS perspective, and also quantitatively. Evidence for the theoretical framework is provided by the protective effect of antioxidants. Among other topics addressed are proton flux, membrane pores, and apoptosis. There is support for the thesis that mitochondrial insult may contribute to illnesses and aging.

Animals↗

Effects of herbicides on the concentration of poisonous compounds in plants: a review.

Herbicides may raise, lower, or not affect the concentration of poisonous compounds in plants. Herbicides, 2,4,5-T and silvex controlled Wasatch milkvetch (Astragalus miser var oblongifolius) and markedly reduced the concentration of miserotoxin, a poisonous aliphatic nitro compound. The concentration of phototoxic furocoumarins in the leaves of spring parsley (Cymopterus watsonii) decreased to nontoxic concentrations 4 to 5 weeks after treatment with 2,4-D. The hydrocyanic acid content of wild cherry (Prunus spp) decreased after treatment with 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, but increased in Sudangrass (Sorghum halapense) after treatment with 2,4-D. The alkaloid concentration in Barbey larkspur (Delphinium barbeyi) increased after treatment with 2,4,5-T or silvex, decreased in horsetail (Equisetum palustre) after treatment with MCPA, and was unaffected in Datura after treatment with several herbicides. The effect of herbicides on nitrate concentration in plants was dependent upon the species of plant and the herbicide used.

Alkaloids↗

International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens. The importance of the hydrophobic interaction in the mutagenicity of organic compounds.

The derivation of new QSAR and the review of published QSAR for the mutagenicity of a variety of chemicals acting on a variety of bacterial systems uncovers two classes of equations. 12 examples include a term for hydrophobicity and of these 12, 11 require activation either by S9 or cytosolic enzymes for the reduction of nitro compounds. There are 4 examples of direct-acting mutagens which do not require activation. Of these 4, 3 do not contain a term for hydrophobicity. The odd example is that of the sulfonate esters which do not require activation, but contain a term in log P. The hydrophobicity factor is not correlated with the type of bacteria used for the test.

Amines↗

[Genotoxic properties of 5-nitrofuran compounds].

5-nitrofurans are a large group of nitro-compounds and worldwide as human and veterinary drugs, food additives or preservatives. However, many adverse effects of these compounds and among mutagenic as well as carcinogenic activities create doubts about safety of their use. Present paper deals with various mechanisms of genotoxic action of 5-nitrofurans. Main metabolic pathways leading to the formation of their active metabolites are discussed.

Bacteria↗

Quantum vs. classical models of the nitro group for proton chemical shift calculations and conformational analysis.

A model based on classical concepts is derived to describe the effect of the nitro group on proton chemical shifts. The calculated chemical shifts are then compared to ab initio (GIAO) calculated chemical shifts. The accuracy of the two models is assessed using proton chemical shifts of a set of rigid organic nitro compounds that are fully assigned in CDCl3 at 700 MHz. The two methods are then used to evaluate the accuracy of different popular post-SCF methods (B3LYP and MP2) and molecular mechanics methods (MMX and MMFF94) in calculating the molecular structure of a set of sterically crowded nitro aromatic compounds. Both models perform well on the rigid molecules used as a test set, although when using the GIAO method a general overestimation of the deshielding of protons near the nitro group is observed. The analysis of the sterically crowded molecules shows that the very popular B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) method produces very poor twist angles for these, and that using a larger basis set [6-311++G(2d,p)] gives much more reasonable results. The MP2 calculations, on the other hand, overestimate the twist angles, which for these compounds compensates for the deshielding effect generally observed for protons near electronegative atoms when using the GIAO method at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level. The most accurate results are found when the structures are calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,p) level of theory, and the chemical shifts are calculated using the CHARGE program based on classical models.

Journal Article↗

Advances in research on DT-diaphorase--catalytic properties, regulation of activity and significance in the detoxication of foreign compounds.

DT-diaphorase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2] is a flavoprotein enzyme widely distributed in the cytosolic fractions of various animal tissues. It is also called menadione reductase or NAD(P)H-quinone reductase and catalyzes NAD(P)H-dependent 1-, 2- or 4-electron reduction of certain redox dyes, aromatic nitro compounds, aromatic C-nitroso compounds and probably azo-dyes, as well as menadione (vitamin K3) and other quinones. Dicumarol exerts characteristic inhibition on DT-diaphorase, whereas serum albumin and certain non-ionic detergents exert activation. Excessive concentrations of many of the electron acceptors inhibit the activity of this enzyme. The physiological significance of DT-diaphorase is still obscure because the physiological vitamins (K1 and K2) and coenzyme Q10 are difficult to reduce with this enzyme. Results of recent studies suggest that DT-diaphorase prevents formation of active oxygen species. Activities in liver and other tissues are known to be enhanced by administration of chemicals including certain carcinogens such as 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), anti-oxidants such as 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA), and other compounds. Both basal and induced activities vary considerably with tissue, sex, strain and species of animals. The strain variations in activities in rat and mouse liver are known to be inherited, and the trait of hereditary transmission can be adequately explained by postulating two loci of genes or gene clusters regulating the activity. Resistance of animals to various toxic or carcinogenic substances may be promoted by BHA administration and depressed by dicumarol administration. Thus, attention has been focused on the role played by DT-diaphorase in the detoxication of foreign compounds. Knowledge on strain variations in basal and induced activities of tissue DT-diaphorase is of potential value when choosing a rat or mouse strain suitable for studying the toxic effects of drugs, especially drugs expected to be detoxified by reductive metabolism. With future progress in research on DT-diaphorase, this enzyme might be applied to prophylactic and therapeutic medicine.

Animals↗

Nitroreduction of nitrated and C-9 oxidized fluorenes in vitro.

Widespread environmental pollution with mutagenic and carcinogenic nitrofluorenes contributes to human health risks. Since nitroreduction leads to activation of many nitro compounds, nitroreduction of the nitrofluorene (NF) derivatives by one- and two-electron reductants was examined. Rates of nitroreduction catalyzed by xanthine oxidase (XO)/hypoxanthine and measured via stimulation of acetylated cytochrome c reduction increased with the number of nitro groups and oxidation at C-9: 9-oxo-2,4,7-triNF > 9-oxo-2,7-diNF > 2,7-diNF > 9-oxo-2-NF = 2,5-diNF > 9-hydroxy-2-NF > 2-NF. Ascorbate catalyzed one-electron reduction to nitro anion radicals which reacted with molecular O2 to yield superoxide. Rates of O2 uptake with 9-oxo-2,4,7-triNF and 9-oxo-2,7-diNF were 63 and 0.17 times those, respectively, with equivalent concentrations of nitrofurazone, a classical substrate. Superoxide formation was indicated by the approximately 75% regeneration of O2 upon addition of superoxide dismutase and catalase. 9-Oxo-2,4,7-triNF stimulated O2 uptake in the presence of XO/NADH with typical Michaelis-Menten kinetics with an apparent Km of 0.476 +/- 0.054 microM versus a Km of 6.18 +/- 0.719 microM for nitrofurazone. HPLC analyses of products from reduction catalyzed by XO or diaphorase of Clostridium with NADH showed the following trends for the rates of amine formation from 9-oxo-2,7-diNF > 2,7-diNF; 9-oxo-2-NF > 9-hydroxy-2-NF > 2-NF; 2,7-diNF > 2-NF; and 9-oxo-2,7-diNF > 9-oxo-2-NF. Little or no amine was formed in 95% O2, suggesting O2-labile intermediates. The data herein suggest that oxidation at C-9 and multiple nitro groups increase the potential for nitroreduction of the nitrofluorenes in vivo which may lead to genotoxic effects.

Acetylation↗

Polynitro aromatic compounds in analytical chemistry I: reaction with ouabain and digitoxin.

By the use of NMR spectroscopy, the highly colored reaction products formed by ouabain or digitoxin in with 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene or 2,4,6-trinitroanisole in the presence of alkali (as used for the determination of these glycosides) are shown to be Meisenheimer complexes. The complexes are produced by attachment of a carbon of the butenolide ring to an aromatic carbon of the nitro compound with formation of a charge-delocalized cyclohexadienate anion.

Anisoles↗

Mutagenicity in Salmonella of nitroorganic compounds in extracts of fly ash from a lignite-fired atmospheric fluidized-bed combustor.

The mutagenicity of a benzene/methanol extract of fly ash from an atmospheric fluidized-bed combustor burning Beulah, N.D., lignite was tested in Salmonella. Six strains were used, including three that were mutants in a nitroreductase gene locus. The numbers of revertants from his- to his+ as a function of the amount of fly ash extracted were determined. The results showed that the major mutagens in the crude extract were nitro compounds, from the fact that reversion rates in the nitroreductase-deficient strains were significantly lower than in the parent strains from which they were derived. The responses of the three parental strains, TA1538, TA98, and TA100, were quite similar; thus no conclusions could be made about frameshift versus base-substitution mutagens. Mutagenicity of 15 fractions of the extract was also tested, and one major peak of activity was detected. This activity eluted from a high-performance liquid chromatograph outside the range of retention times associated with mononitroaromatics. No further identification of specific nitroorganic compounds has been made.

Air Pollutants↗

Determination of misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with reductive electrochemical detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with reductive mode electrochemical detection was developed for the determination of misonidazole and desmethylmisonidazole in plasma. A thin-layer amperometric detector with glassy carbon working electrode was used to detect the nitroimidazoles at a potential of -0.60 V. The calibration curves were linear. The within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation were below 3% for plasma misonidazole concentrations of 6-60 mg/l and 1-15 mg/l for desmethylmisonidazole. Electrochemical detection limits were between 2 and 4 pg, which is about 10-20 times lower than that obtained by detection at 323 nm. Limits of quantitation of the nitroimidazoles in plasma were in the order of 1-2 micrograms/l. Under the described conditions other nitroimidazoles and nitro compounds can also be detected with ultimate sensitivity by reductive mode electrochemical detection.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Comparison of the disposition of several nitrogen-containing compounds in the sea urchin and other marine invertebrates.

1. The disposition of an aromatic amine and three aromatic nitro compounds was investigated in the sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. 2. The sea urchin rapidly eliminated injected compounds. The elimination rate constants decreased in the order p-toluidine greater than p-nitroanisole = p-nitrophenol greater than p-nitrotoluene. The fraction of total injected compound eliminated in 8 h was lowest for p-nitrophenol less than p-toluidine less than p-nitrotoluene less than p-nitroanisole. 3. Biotransformation for the sea urchin was primarily reduction of the nitro group followed by acetylation of the amine. 4. Other animals, starfish (Pisaster ochraceus), sea cucumber (Cucumaria miniata), gum boot chiton (Cryptochiton stelleri) and mussels (Mytilus californianus), injected with p-nitroanisole exhibited a trend toward oxidative biotransformation. 5. Elimination of parent compound was the major pathway for reducing body burden of xenobiotics for the invertebrates studied. 6. p-Toluidine oxidizes during analysis and was thus not suitable for studying biotransformation.

Amines↗

Free radical metabolism of antiparasitic agents.

In recent years it has been apparent that many of the known antiparasitic drugs produce free radicals. Intracellular reduction followed by autooxidation yielding O.-2 and H2O2 has been suggested as the mode of action of nifurtimox on Trypanosoma cruzi and as the basis of its toxicity in mammals. On the other hand, free radical intermediates that do not generate oxygen-reduction products under physiological conditions have been found in the metabolic pathways of other antiparasitic nitro compounds (benznidazole, metronidazole, and other 5-nitroimidazoles) used in the treatment of diseases such as Chagas' disease, trichomoniasis, giardiasis, balantidiasis, amebiasis, and schistosomiasis. In these cases, as well as in the case of niridazole (used in the treatment of schistosomiasis), covalent binding or other interactions of the intermediates of nitroreduction with parasite macromolecules are possibly involved in their toxicity. Redox cycling of these compounds under aerobic conditions appears to be a detoxification reaction by inhibiting net reduction of the drugs.

Animals↗

The mechanism of microsomal and mitochondrial nitroreductase. Electron spin resonance evidence for nitroaromatic free radical intermediates.

Electron spin resonance spectra are observed during the enzymatic reduction of many nitrophenyl derivatives by rat hepatic microsomes or mitochondria. The spectra indicate that nitroaromatic anion radicals are present and are freely rotating in aqueous solution at a steady-state concentration of 0.1-6 muM. The rate of formation of p-nitrobenzoate (NBZO) dianion radical in microsomal incubates is consistent with the radical being an obligate intermediate in the reduction of NBZO to p-aminobenzoic acid. A model system consisting of NBZO, NADPH, and FMN, but no heme-containing compounds, also reduced NBZO to the NBZO dianion free radical. The steady-state concentration of the anion radicals in microsomal systems is not altered by CO. This observation, together with the results from the model system, suggests that the formation of nitroaromatic anion radicals is mediated through a flavine and not cytochrome P-450. The oxidation of the anion radical intermediate by O2 to the parent nitro compound is proposed to account for the well-known O2 inhibition of microsomal nitroreductase.

Animals↗

Synthesis and cytotoxicity of epoxide and pyrazole analogs of the combretastatins.

Twenty-six epoxide and corresponding pyrazole derivatives, of the structurally related chalcones and combretastatin A-4 (CA-4), were synthesized and tested for in vitro cytotoxicity. These molecules were synthesized by epoxidation of the relevant chalcones, followed by reaction with hydrazine. The structures of epoxides 3 and 7, and pyrazole 17, were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. The relatively coplanar conformation of a 3',3'',4',4'',5',5''-hexamethoxypyrazole 17 was in good agreement with the shape for 3',3'',4',4'',5'-pentamethoxypyrazole 16, which was determined from molecular mechanics optimization. In vitro cytotoxicity of each class of compounds was obtained using a 72 h continuous exposure MTT assay against two murine cancer cell lines; B16 melanoma and L1210 leukemia. The effect of substitution in the A-ring is addressed: three methoxy groups versus two, generally increased cytotoxicity across both cell lines. In the majority of cases, the pyrazoles are generally more active than the epoxides, with the most active, 5-(3''-amino-4''-methoxyphenyl)-3-(3',4',5'-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrazole 21, possessing an IC(50) value of 5 and 2.4 microM (B16 and L1210, respectively). Due to their planar conformations, the pyrazoles are typically less active than the corresponding chalcones, which adopt angular conformations similar to CA-4. B-ring modifications confirmed that in general the amino compounds are more active than the corresponding nitro compounds. Varying the number and orientation of methoxy groups on the A-ring did not produce any significant differences in toxicity in the cell lines studied.

Animals↗