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Biotransformation of aliphatic formamides: metabolites of (+-)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3,3-diphenylpropyl) formamide in rats.

The in vivo biliary and urinary metabolites of (+-)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3,3-diphenylpropyl) formamide (1) from male Wistar rats have been characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In urine, non-conjugated metabolites included 1,1-diphenyl-3-butanone (4) and 3-methylamino-1,1,diphenylbutane (7). beta-Glucuronidase liberated 4, 1,1-diphenyl-3-butanol (5), 1,1-diphenyl-3-butanone oxime (6), N-hydroxymethyl-N-(1-methyl-3, 3-diphenylpropyl) formamide (3), 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-butanone (11), 1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-butanone oxime (12), N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl) formamide (8), 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-butanone (16); 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-butanol (17), 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-butanone oxime (18), N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl) formamide (14) and N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl) formamide (13). Most of the carbinolamide (3) decomposed in the gas chromatograph inlet to N-(1-methyl-3,3-diphenylpropyl) formamide (2) unless stabilized as a trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivative. In bile, compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 16 were present as non-conjugated metabolites. beta-Glucuronidase also liberated N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl-3-phenylpropyl) formamide (9), and all of the previously listed compounds except 7. Trimethylsilylation of the conjugated bile fraction revealed the presence of an additional two compounds: N-hydroxymethyl-N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl) formamide (10) and N-hydroxymethyl-N-(1-methyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl ) formamide (15). A stable carbinolamide metabolite standard was synthesized and the mass spectral fragmentations of its TMS derivative studied by tandem mass spectroscopy. This is the first report on stable carbinolamide metabolites of high-molecular-weight formamides.

Animals

Osmotic and pharmacological effects of formamide on capacity current, gating current, and sodium current in crayfish giant axons.

Internal perfusion with solutions made hyperosmolar by 10% formamide selectively reduces the initial fast component of ON gating current (fast Ig) in crayfish axons. This result parallels the effects of formamide perfusion seen in Myxicola giant axons (Schauf, C. L., and M. A. Chuman. 1986. Neural Membranes. Alan R. Liss, Inc., New York. 3-23). However, our findings do not confirm their conclusion that internal formamide has a specific pharmacological effect on fast Ig. Formamide-induced suppression of fast Ig is always associated with changes in linear capacity current, indicating a reduction in the rate of rise of the voltage clamp. Furthermore, this suppression of fast Ig can be reversed when clamp rise time is returned to its control rate by increasing compensation for series resistance (Rs) during formamide perfusion. Increases in Rs during 10% formamide perfusion of up to 5 omega.cm2 were measured by evaluating the increase in Rs compensation required to return the following parameters to their control levels: (a) peak capacity current, (b) peak gating current, (c) the voltage maximum of the /Na-V curve, and (d) "tau h". We conclude that hyperosmolar internal formamide increases Rs, reduces clamp speed, and thus selectively suppresses fast Ig. On the other hand, the reversible block of sodium ionic current by internal formamide, reported by Schauf and Chuman, is not eliminated by correcting for series resistance changes during formamide perfusion.

Animals

Renaturation kinetics and thermal stability of DNA in aqueous solutions of formamide and urea.

This paper reports the results of a systematic study of the effects of formamide and urea on the thermal stability and renaturation kinetics of DNA. Increasing concentrations of urea in the range 0 to 8 molar lower the Tm by 2.25 degrees C per molar, and decreases the renaturation rate by approximately 8 percent per molar. Increasing concentrations of formamide in the range from 0 to 50 percent lowers the Tm by 0.60 degrees C per percent formamide for sodium chloride concentrations ranging from 0.035M to 0.88M. At higher salt concentrations the dependence of Tm on percent formamide was found to be slightly greater. Increasing formamide concentration decreases the renaturation rate linearly by 1.1% per percent formamide such that the optimal rate in 50% formamide is 0.45 the optimal rate in an identical solution with no formamide. The effects of urea and formamide on the renaturation rates of DNA are explained by consideration of the viscosities of the solutions at the renaturation temperatures.

DNA

Inhalation toxicity study of formamide in rats.

Formamide is a widely used solvent for the manufacture and processing of plastics, and the possibility for inhalation exposure exists for workers. To assess the toxicity of repeated inhalation of sublethal concentrations of formamide, three groups of 10 male Crl:CD BR rats each were exposed nose-only for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 2 weeks to design concentrations of 100, 500, or 1500 ppm of formamide vapor in air. A control group of 10 male rats was exposed simultaneously to air only. At the end of the exposure period, blood and urine samples were collected for clinical analyses, and 5 rats per group were killed for pathologic examination. The remaining 5 rats per group were retained for a 14-day postexposure observation (recovery) period and then subjected to the same clinical and pathologic examinations. Male rats exposed to 1500 ppm had significantly depressed body weights and body weight gains during the exposure and recovery periods compared to controls. Clinical pathologic examinations revealed that decreased platelet and/or lymphocyte counts were observed in rats exposed to 500 or 1500 ppm of formamide. Pathologic examinations revealed compound-related microscopic changes in the kidneys of rats exposed to 1500 ppm formamide. Minimal to severe necrosis and regeneration of renal tubular epithelial cells were observed principally in the outer stripe of the outer medulla and in cortical medullary rays. Based upon the hematologic and clinical chemical parameters measured, the no-observed-effect exposure concentration for repeated inhalation of formamide was considered to be 100 ppm, under the conditions of this study. The findings of treatment-related microscopic lesions in the kidneys as well as increases in mean absolute kidney weights and kidney-to-body weight ratios reflect the target organ toxicity.

Administration, Inhalation

Effects of formamide on neuroepithelial cells and on interkinetic nuclear migration in the chick embryo.

Young chicken embryos were incubated on media containing formamide at concentrations of 0-1, 0-25, 0-31, 0-37, 0-43 and 0-5 M. In the neuroepithelium of these embryos we found that (1) the 0-1 M concentration had no detectable effect, (2) the 0-25 M concentration only affected mitosis which was blocked in metaphase so that mitotic figures accumulated near the neurocoele, (3) 0-31 M formamide totally inhibited interkinetic nuclear migration and affected only slightly the cell asymmetry, (4) the 0-37 M concentration considerably reduced the amount of cytoplasmic microtubules and that the cells became round, (5) at 0-43 M formamide, all microtubules had disappeared and all cells were spherical, (6) 0-5 M formamide all cells were spherical, detached from one another and the epithelium had lost its usual characteristics. Our results on exposure of the cells to low temperature (2 degrees C) suggest that formamide directly affects microtubules. All the effects observed at concentrations up to 0-43 M formamide are reversible.

Animals

Isolation and characterization of carbinolamide and phenolic glucuronide conjugates of (+-)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3,3-diphenylpropyl) formamide and N-formylmethamphetamine by FAB/MS, LC/MS/MS, and NMR.

The metabolic disposition of (+-)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-3,3- diphenyl-propyl)formamide, especially with regard to the formation of water soluble glucuronides, is described. The glucuronide conjugates, (+-)-N-hydroxymethyl-N-(1-methyl-3,3-diphenylpropyl)formamide glucuronide, (+-)-N-methyl-N-[1-methyl-3-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylpropyl]formamide glucuronide, and (+-)-N-methyl-N-[1-methyl-3-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)-3- phenylpropyl]formamide glucuronide were isolated from the bile of rats dosed with the parent compound. These conjugates were characterized spectroscopically by 1H-NMR, FAB/MS, and LC/MS/MS. Because it is becoming more common to isolate the intact glucuronide conjugates of xenobiotics, we investigated some common mass spectral fragmentation patterns of these conjugates, especially by LC/MS/MS. The fragmentation patterns for each of the conjugates were obtained under MS/MS conditions and compared. Specifically, the fragmentation patterns of phenolic glucuronide and an aliphatic O-glucuronide, in particular a carbinolamide glucuronide, were investigated. The data obtained from these studies was used to predict the nature of glucuronide conjugates obtained from rats dosed with the formamide analog, N-formylmethamphetamine. This is the first spectroscopic characterization of an intact carbinolamide glucuronide conjugate isolated from the bile of rats.

Animals

Prebiotic phosphorylation of nucleosides in formamide.

A possible prebiotic phosphorylation method has been investigated in which formamide served as the reaction medium. Nucleotides and nucleotide derivatives were formed when nucleosides were allowed to react with different orthophosphate, hydrogen phosphate or dihydrogen phosphate salts or with different condensed phosphate salts. The reaction products obtained from the phosphorylation of adenosine were 2'3' and 5'-AMPs, 2',5' and 3',5'-ADPs and 2',3'-cyclic AMP. The extent of phosphorylation in formamide exceeded 50% under favorable conditions after 15 days at 70 degrees. The acidic dihydrogen phosphates and condensed hydrogen phosphates proved to be the best phosphorylating agents. The presence of water in the medium decreased the yield of nucleotide derivatives, but some phosphorylation of adenosine was detected using dihydrogen phosphate in formamide containing water. The phosphorylation reactions were also observed for deoxynucleosides. Little decompression of the nucleosides was detected during the reaction time needed to form nucleotide derivatives. The facility with which phosphorylation takes place in formamide under very mild conditions may justify further studies both of prebiotic phosphorylation and synthetic phosphorylation using this solvent.

Adenine Nucleotides

Use of formamide increases the number of detectable inputs to polyneuronally innervated mammalian skeletal muscle.

We evaluated the extent of polyneuronal innervation in neonatal rat lateral gastrocnemius muscle with intracellular recording techniques using both formamide and d-tubocurarine as paralytic agents. We detected more polyneuronal innervation during the first postnatal week using formamide than d-tubocurarine. Both the average number of inputs per muscle cell and the percentage of polyinnervated cells were greater when formamide, rather than d-tubocurarine, was used to diminish muscle contraction. The difference in the extent of polyneuronal innervation detected using the two methods declines during the first postnatal week and the number of inputs observed with formamide during the second postnatal week does not differ from that seen with d-tubocurarine.

Action Potentials

A sequence element necessary for self-cleavage of the antigenomic hepatitis delta RNA in 20 M formamide.

The genomic and antigenomic RNAs of hepatitis delta virus are capable of self-cleavage and show no significant sequence similarities to other known self-cleaving RNAs. We have derived an antigenomic delta RNA which cleaves to completion in 15 s in 9 mM magnesium at 37 degrees C and is capable of efficient self-cleavage in concentrations of formamide as high as 20 M. Cleavage in high concentrations of denaturant is dependent upon the presence of a polypurine sequence element, GGAGA, located between 81 and 85 nucleotides downstream of the cleavage site. Mutation of the initial G81G82 to C81C82, or removal of the sequence element, results in a loss of the ability to cleave in high formamide concentrations. Changing the final U-2C-1 of a pyrimidine-rich region, UCUUC, just upstream of the cleavage site, to G-2G-1 severely affects the self-cleavage, but introducing the two mutations, GG to CC and UC to GG, into the same molecule, restoring potential base pairing, partially restores the formamide stability. Relocating the GGAGA sequence upstream of the cleavage site also results in partial restoration of the formamide cleavage. Although the GGAGA sequence is important for self-cleavage under denaturing conditions, it does not appear to be necessary for HDV RNA cleavage in normal buffer conditions.

Base Sequence

Oxalate, formate, formamide, and methanol metabolism in Thiobacillus novellus.

Thiobacillus novellus was able to grow with oxalate, formate, formamide, and methanol as sole sources of carbon and energy. Extensive growth on methanol required yeast extract or vitamins. Glyoxylate carboligase was detected in extracts of oxalate-grown cells. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase was found in extracts of cells grown on formate, formamide, and thiosulfate. These data indicate that oxalate is utilized heterotrophically in the glycerate pathway, and formate and formamide are utilized autotrophically in the ribulose bisphosphate pathway. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-linked formate dehydrogenase was present in extracts of oxalate-, formate-, formamide-, and methanol-grown cells but was absent in thiosulfate- and acetate-grown cells.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases

[Presynaptic effects induced by pretreatment with formamide of the neuromuscular junction of the mouse].

Some techniques to block muscular nerve evoked contraction involve pharmacological approaches using synaptic blocking agents. Such methods interfere with normal synaptic transmission, and could introduce artifacts making difficult the experimental interpretation. The method based on the use of formamide pre-treatment should not interfere with synaptic physiology, indeed previous works suggest that the mechanism involved in block of muscle activity could depend on the decrease in specific postsynaptic membrane capacitance, and on the disruption of the morphology of the transverse tubule system. To prove this assumption we evaluated before and after formamide pre-treatment, some pre and postsynaptic parameters related to the spontaneous quantal release (MEPC). By means of the Loose patch clamp technique, we demonstrated, that formamide pre-treatment increases in an irreversible manner the frequency of spontaneous quantal release. Morphology of MEPC appear not modified by formamide pretreatment, which does not interfere with postsynaptic cholinergic receptors activity.

Acetylcholine

[Electron microscopic study of changes in chromosomal structural organization under the effect of formamide].

Isolated human metaphase chromosomes were treated with formamide at different (0-70%) concentrations and examined electronmicroscopically by protein monolayer technique. At increasing formamide concentration chromosomes gradually decondense, the scaffold becomes more clearly visible, the loops of chromatin fibres coming off the central part of chromosomes lose their nucleosomal appearance. Electrophoretic analysis of chromosomal proteins data show that formamide-treated chromosomes have approximately the same histone content as those before treatment, although chromosomes treated with 70% formamide look very similar to histone-depleted ones described elsewhere.

Chromosomes, Human

Formamide modified polyacrylamide gels for DNA sequencing by capillary gel electrophoresis.

Compressions are occasionally found during the separation of DNA sequencing fragments, particularly in G/C-rich regions and in gels operated at room temperature. Addition of at least 10% formamide to urea/polyacrylamide sequencing gels improves the denaturing capacity of the gel, minimizing compressions. Addition of 20% or more formamide decreases the separation rate, theoretical plate count, and resolution for normally migrating fragments. An optimum concentration of 10% formamide improves resolution of compressed regions without degrading the other characteristics of the gel. Operation of gels at room temperature simplifies the engineering associated with automated sequencers based on capillary gel electrophoresis.

Base Sequence

Molecular weight of an extremely hydrophobic protein, zein, in dimethylformamide and in formamide.

Both alpha zein purified from a commericial preparation and beta zein prepared fresh from corn are soluble in the nonaqueous solvents formamide and dimethylformamide; in this regard zein resembles water soluble proteins such as insulin, ribonuclease, and lysozyme. On the basis of osmotic pressure measurements made in both formamide and dimethylformamide, alpha zein has a number average moleular weight of 21000-24000 daltons and shows no tendency to aggregate or dissociate. Beta zein exists in an aggregated state (dimer and higher forms) in dimethylformamide. Formamide dissociates the beta zein dimer into monomer units but aggregation to higher species occurs with increasing protein concentration.

Binding Sites

The incomplete denaturation of DNA in N,N-dimethyl formamide.

In this paper we show that the extent of DNA denaturation achieved by dialysis against N,N-dimethyl formamide depends on both the source of DNA and the buffer used. The stability against denaturation increases with the guanine plus cytosine content. The base sequence also plays a minor role. This behavior is due to differences in the solubility of DNA in the denaturing solvent. The DNAs with a high guanine-cytosine content have a lower solubility in dimethyl formamide and this fact results in a higher stability against denaturation. As a practical consequence, in order to achieve complete denaturation of DNA by dialysis against dimethyl formamide, it is necessary to start with DNA dissolved in a buffer of low ionic strength, preferably below 10(-3) M.

Buffers

Solvent denaturation of globular proteins: unfolding by the monoalkyl- and dialkyl-substituted formamides and ureas.

The effects of the monoalkyl and dialkyl-substituted formamide series of denaturants on the native conformation of sperm whale myoglobin, horse heart cytochrome c, and Glycera dibranciata (single chain) hemoglobin have been investigated by spectral measurements in the Soret region (409 and 422 nm) and optical rotation measurements (265nm). The effectiveness of these two classes of protein denaturants is similar to the other straight-chain compounds of the urea, amide, and alcohol classes, examined in previous investigations from our laboratory. Their denaturing effectiveness is found to increase with increasing chain length or hydrocarbon content of the substituent alkyl groups. Application of the Peller and Flory equation to the denaturation data of the formamides shows that both the polar and the nonpolar group contributions to the protein-denaturant interactions have to be taken into account in order to correctly predict the observed denaturation midpoints. Additivity of the hydrophobic, KHø, and the polar, Kp, group contributions to the binding constants, KB = nKHø + Kp, with n = 1 or 2 for the mono- of the di-alkyl substituted denaturants gave best account of the experimental data. The KHø values used were based on free energy transfer data of various alkyl groups or the Scheraga-Nemethy theory of hydrophobic bonding. The assumption of group contributions of the denaturant to KB were also applied to the denaturation data of the unsubstituted amides and some examples of the monoalkyl and symmetrically substituted dialkyl ureas, taken from the literature.

Cytochrome c Group

Open channel noise. IV. Estimation of rapid kinetics of formamide block in gramicidin A channels.

Blocking events in currents through biological ion channels occur over a wide range of characteristic times. The interruptions in single-channel currents from blocking events may be characterized by the direct measurement of gap durations or by analyzing open-channel current histograms, provided that the events are not much shorter than the time resolution of single-channel recordings (approximately 10 microseconds). Here we present a method for the characterization of channel block on a much faster time scale by combining open-channel noise measurements with subsequent model fits according to a theoretical approach (Frehland, E. 1978. Biophysical Chemistry. 8:255-265). Although the bandwidth limitations in open-channel noise experiments are the same as in conventional single-channel experiments, from the dependence of the mean current and the spectral density of the noise on the concentration of the blocking agent, kinetics of very brief blocking events can be estimated. As an example we have analyzed the open-channel noise of K+ currents through the gramicidin A channel in the presence of various concentrations of formamide, a weak blocker, at neutral pH. We estimate the blocking and unblocking rates to be approximately 10(7)s-1 at 1 M formamide and discuss possible mechanisms for the blocking process.

Electric Conductivity