Regulation of the final phase of mammalian melanogenesis. The role of dopachrome tautomerase and the ratio between 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid and 5,6-dihydroxyindole.

The regulation of the final steps of the melanogenesis pathway, after L-2-carboxy-2,3-dihydroindole-5,6-quinone (dopachrome) formation, is studied. It is shown that both tyrosinase and dopachrome tautomerase are involved in the process. In vivo, it seems that tyrosinase is involved in the regulation of the amount of melanin formed, whereas dopachrome tautomerase is mainly involved in the size, structure and composition of melanin, by regulating to the incorporation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) into the polymer. Moreover, using L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) and related compounds, it was shown that the presence of dopachrome tautomerase mediates an initial acceleration of melanogenesis since L-dopachrome is rapidly transformed to DHICA, but that melanin formation is inhibited because of the stability of this carboxylated indole compared to 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI), its decarboxylated counterpart obtained by spontaneous decarboxylation of L-dopachrome. Using L-dopa methyl ester as a precursor of melanogenesis, it is shown that this carboxylated indole does not polymerize in the absence of DHI, even in the presence of tyrosinase. However, it is incorporated into the polymer in the presence of both tyrosinase and DHI. Thus, this study suggests that DHI is essential for melanin formation, and the rate of polymerization depends on the ratio between DHICA and DHI in the medium. In the melanosome, this ratio should be regulated by the ratio between the activities of dopachrome tautomerase and tyrosinase.     

Nitric oxide-induced oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid under aerobic conditions: non-enzymatic route to melanin pigments of potential relevance to skin (photo)protection

Diffusible melanin-related metabolites have recently been suggested to subserve a variety of functions that are critical for protection of skin against inflammatory stimuli and oxidative tissue injury. We report here the results of in vitro studies showing that 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) and its 2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) exhibit a marked reactivity toward potentially cytotoxic nitrogen oxides produced by autoxidation of nitric oxide (NO) under physiologically relevant conditions. Exposure of DHI or DHICA to NO in air-equilibrated 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, resulted in a fast, concentration-dependent consumption of the substrates and the concomitant deposition of dark melanin-like pigments. All NO-induced oxidations were completely inhibited in the absence of oxygen. Addition of 10 μM DHI and DHICA completely prevented the oxidation of 10 μM α-tocopherol in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 in the presence of 300 μM NO. Overall, these results shed light on novel oxidative pathways of melanin-related metabolites of possible relevance to the mechanisms of skin hyperpigmentation under oxidative stress conditions.     

Isolation of oligomers of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid from the eye of the catfish

The reflecting material of the tapetum lucidum of the sea catfish (Arius felis) was chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20 in methanol–dimethyl sulphoxide–formic acid. Two components were present: one, showing an absorption maximum at 330nm, was tapetal pigment; the other, at 257nm, was an associated nucleoside. The tapetal pigment was extracted in methanol–HCl and isolated by adsorption chromatography on Sephadex LH-20. It yielded a methoxy methyl ester on treatment with diazomethane, and permanganate oxidation gave pyrrole-2,3,5-tricarboxylic acid. From the information provided by u.v. and i.r. spectra of the pigment and its methoxy methyl ester, from elemental analyses and from the oxidation products, we suggest that the tapetal pigment is derived from oxidative coupling of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid. A molecular-weight determination and chromatography of the methoxy methyl ester indicate that the pigment is a mixture of oligomers, among which the tetramers probably predominate. We consider that the monomers are joined mainly by C-C linkages at positions 4 and 7. A synthetic pigment having spectral properties nearly identical with those of the natural pigment was prepared by enzymic oxidation of 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid with mushroom tyrosinase. The identity of the tapetal pigment with the synthetic pigment was further confirmed by comparing u.v. and i.r. spectra of their methoxy methyl esters. Formation of the tapetal pigment from tyrosine and relationships of the tapetal pigment to melanin are discussed.     

Insect melanogenesis. II. Inability of Manduca phenoloxidase to act on 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid

Eumelanins in animals are biosynthesized by the combined action of tyrosinase, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA)chrome isomerase, and other factors. Two kinds of eumelanins were characterized from mammalian systems; these are 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI)-melanin and 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA)-melanin. In insects, melanin biosynthesis is initiated by phenoloxidase and supported by DOPAchrome isomerase (decarboxylating). Based on the facts that DOPA is a poor substrate for insect phenoloxidases and DHI is the sole product of insect DOPAchrome isomerase reaction, it is proposed that insects lack DHICA-melanin. Accordingly, the phenoloxidase isolated from the hemolymph of Manduca sexta failed to oxidize DHICA. Control experiments reveal that mushroom tyrosinase, as well as laccase, which is a contaminant in the commercial preparations of mushroom tyrosinase, are capable of oxidizing DHICA. Neither the whole hemolymph nor the cuticular extracts of M. sexta possessed any detectable oxidase activity towards this substrate. Thus, insects do not seem to produce DHICA-eumelanin. A useful staining procedure to localize DHICA oxidase activity on gels is also presented.     

Mechanism of dopachrome tautomerization into 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid catalyzed by Cu(II) based on quantum chemical calculations

Background

Tautomerization of dopachrome to 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA) is a biologically crucial reaction relevant to melanin synthesis, cellular antioxidation, and cross-talk among epidermal cells. Since dopachrome spontaneously converts into 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) via decarboxylation without any enzymes at physiologically usual pH, the mechanism of how tautomerization to DHICA occurs in physiological system is a subject of intense debate. A previous work has found that Cu(II) is an important factor to catalyze the tautomerization of dopachrome to DHICA. However, the effect of Cu(II) on the tautomerization has not been clarified at the atomic level.

Methods

We propose the reaction mechanism of the tautomerization to DHICA by Cu(II) from density functional theory-based calculation.

Results

We clarified that the activation barriers of α-deprotonation, β-deprotonation, and decarboxylation from dopachrome are significantly reduced by coordination of Cu(II) to quinonoid oxygens (5,6-oxygens) of dopachrome, with the lowest activation barrier of β-deprotonation among them. In contrast to our previous work, in which β-deprotonation and quinonoid protonation (O5/O6-protonation) were shown to be important to form DHI, our results show that the Cu(II) coordination to quinonoid oxygens inhibits the quinonoid protonation, leading to the preference of proton rearrangement from β-carbon to carboxylate group but not to the quinonoid oxygens.

Conclusion

Integrating these results, we conclude that dopachrome tautomerization first proceeds via proton rearrangement from β-carbon to carboxylate group and subsequently undergoes α-deprotonation to form DHICA.

General significance

This study would provide the biochemical basis of DHICA metabolism and the generalized view of dopachrome conversion which is important to understand melanogenesis.     

Antiviral activity of substituted 5-chlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazides and their N-benzylidene derivatives

The substituted 5-chlorodiphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid hydrazides and their N-benzylidene derivatives were tested for their antiviral activity against gomphrena mosaic virus in a hypersensitive hostin vitro as well asin vivo. Most of the compounds exhibited potential antiviral activity. These compounds may be useful in controlling viral infections in garden as well as in field crops.     

Carbazolothiophene-2-carboxylic acid derivatives as endothelin receptor antagonists

The SmI(2)-promoted three-component coupling reaction of thiophene-2-carboxylate, indole-2-carbaldehyde and acetophenone provides an expedient route to a series of tetracyclic carbazolothiophene compounds bearing the indole and thiophene rings. Among these samples, 9-benzyl-4-methyl-4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-10-oxo-4,10-dihydrocarbazolo[2,3-b]thiophene-2-carboxylic acid (18) shows the most potent inhibition against the endothelin-1 induced increase of intracellular calcium ion concentration.     

Synthesis of new 2-arylamino-6-trifluoromethylpyridine-3-carboxylic acid derivatives and investigation of their analgesic activity

A new series of 2-arylamino-6-trifluoromethyl-3-carboxylic acid derivatives was synthesized and assayed in vivo for their analgesic properties by means of writhing test in rats. When compared to aspirin, ibuprofen and flufenamic acid some of the new compounds exhibited a comparable or improved analgesic activity and a lower ulcerogenic effect.     

Mass-spectrometric analysis of 2-aminobenzophenone derivatives and their metabolites

Mass-spectrometry analysis was carried out for 2-aminobenzophenone, its halogen derivatives and metabolites formed in the rat organism. The characteristic fragmentation patterns were outlined for the products arising on hydroxylation of the above compounds. The structural specificity in the oxidation of 2-aminobenzophenones was found to be different from that predominant in hydroxylation of phenyl (o-chlorophenyl) ring of 1,4-benzodiazepines which give on hydrolysis the respective benzophenones.     

Preparation, properties and metabolism of 5,6-monoepoxyretinoic acid

1. Methyl retinoate has been converted into methyl 5,6-monoepoxyretinoate by reaction with monoperphthalic acid. The epoxy acid ester on alkaline hydrolysis gave 5,6-monoepoxyretinoic acid. 2. Treatment of the 5,6-monoepoxy compounds with ethanolic hydrochloric acid gave the corresponding 5,8-epoxy (furanoid) compounds. 3. With lithium aluminium hydride, the acid and the ester groups were selectively reduced to primary alcohols. 4. Administration of methyl 5,6-monoepoxyretinoate intraperitoneally and subcutaneously had good growth response in vitamin A-deficient rats. 5. 5,6-Monoepoxyretinoic acid, when given intraperitoneally as the sodium salt, was 157% as active as all-trans-retinyl acetate. 6. Methyl 5,6-monoepoxyretinoate was hydrolysed to the epoxy acid by rat-liver homogenate. It had 35% of the biological activity of all-trans-retinyl acetate in the rat when given orally.     

Synthesis,anti-HIV and anti-oxidant activities of caffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acid derivatives

In our continued research on chlorogenic acid analogues and derivatives with improved bioactivity, we have synthesized some caffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acid derivatives. The 1,7 acetonides of chlorogenic acid (15), and of the mono-caffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acids (7–8) showed appreciable anti-HIV activity. The 3,4-dicaffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acid (12) exhibited an anti-HIV activity twice as that of 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (22). The caffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acid derivatives displayed potent anti-oxidant activities. The mono-caffeoyl 5,6-anhydroquinic acids (10–11) were more than twice stronger than chlorogenic acid (21) on SOD-like activity.     

The 5-hydrazino-3-methylisothiazole-4-carboxylic acid,its new 5-substituted derivatives and their antiproliferative activity

Currently, the basic method of treatment of colon cancer is surgery. The range of anticancer drugs used in the treatment of colorectal cancer is small and is based mainly on systemic combination chemotherapy. As a result of the designed syntheses, we received new isothiazole derivatives with anticancer activity. The synthesized 5-hydrazino-3-methylisothiazole-4-carboxylic acid has never been obtained before. It is also a substrate for the synthesis of its innovative derivatives, i.e. compounds that are Schiff bases. The identification of the structure of new compounds was carried out using mass spectrometry (MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹³C NMR) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Potential antitumor activity was confirmed in antiproliferative MTT and SRB tests. The selected, most biologically active substances were characterized by high selectivity towards leukemia and colon cancer cell lines. They caused high inhibition of proliferation of human biphenotypic B cell myelomonocytic leukemia MV4-11 (13 compounds), human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines sensitive LoVo (8 compounds) and resistant to doxorubicin LoVo/DX (12 compounds). However, in the conducted studies, their activity against breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and normal non-tumorigenic epithelial cell line derived from mammary gland MCF-10A was substantially lower. The result of this work is claimed Polish patent application.     

Ferric iron complexes of dopamine and 5,6-dihydroxyindole with nta, edda, and edta as ancillary ligands

Coordination of the neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) and the metal-binding component of neuromelanin 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) with ferric iron has been studied in aqueous solution in the presence of ancillary ligands containing amine nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen donor sites. With nitrilotriacetic acid (nta) and ethylenediamine diacetic acid (edda) coligands, coordination of the catecholate ligands DA and DHI is observed to be complete at physiological pH. The resulting complexes of DA have the characteristic two-component electronic spectrum observed characteristically for L₄Fe(Cat) complexes. The spectrum obtained with DHI consists of a single broad absorption in the visible region. Both DA and DHI are able to coordinate with Fe³⁺ in the presence of edta, displacing carboxylate oxygen donors at pH values just above physiological pH. These results demonstrate the strong affinity of DA and DHI for Fe³⁺, pointing to in vivo complex formation in neuronal mixtures at physiological pH.     

Synthesis, structural studies, and cytostatic evaluation of 5,6-di-O-modified L-ascorbic acid derivatives

The 5,6-di-O-tosylated derivative of l-ascorbic acid was synthesized by selective protection and deprotection of 2,3- and 5,6-dihydroxy functional groups involving 5,6-ditosylation in the final step, while the novel 6-acetoxy, 6-hydroxy, and 6-chloro derivatives of 4,5-didehydro-l-ascorbic acid were obtained by reaction of ditosylated compound with nucleophilic reagents. The analysis of 3JH-4-H-5 homonuclear coupling constants shows that all l-ascorbic acid derivatives except for epoxy and 4,5-didehydro compounds exist in high population as gauche conformers across C-4-C-5 bonds, while 3JC-3-H-5 heteronuclear coupling constants in 4,5-didehydro derivatives indicate cis geometry along C-4-C-5 double bond. The X-ray crystal structure analysis of 2,3-di-O-benzyl-5,6-epoxy- and 5,6-isopropylidene-l-ascorbic acid shows that the oxygen atoms attached at positions 2 and 3 of the lactone ring are disposed in a synperiplanar fashion. Besides that, the dioxolane ring adopts half-chair conformation. The molecules of epoxy derivative are joined into infinite chains by one weak hydrogen bond of C-H...O type. Two O-H...O, and C-H...O hydrogen bonds link the molecules of 5,6-di-O-isopropylidene compound into two-dimensional network. 6-Chloro derivative of 2,3-di-O-benzyl-l-ascorbic acid showed the best cytostatic effects against all tested malignant tumor cells (IC50: approximately 18 microM).     

Synthesis of octahydropyrano[3,2-b]pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives from D-mannose

Bicyclic amino acids are useful building blocks in synthesizing biologically active molecules and peptidomimetics. 2-Carboxy-6-hydroxyloctahydroindole (Choi) is a novel bicyclic amino acid found in the marine natural products aeruginosins. Many compounds in the aeruginosin family exhibit inhibition activities toward serine proteases including thrombin and trypsin. The unique Choi structure is the common feature of this family of oligopeptides and this motif is important for their observed biological activities. To better understand the influence of the stereochemistry of the Choi core structure on the inhibition activities, we have previously synthesized ring-oxygenated variants from glucose. The preparation of octahydro-pyrano[3,2-b]pyrrole 2-carboxylic acids from d-mannose is reported here. These novel bicyclic amino acids can be used in the preparation of aeruginosin analogs, as well as conformationally constrained peptidomimetics or other biologically active molecules.     

Identification of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5,6-dihydroxyindole, and N-acetylarterenone during eumelanin formation in immune reactive larvae of Drosophila melanogaster.

3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine, 5-6-dihydroxyindole, and N-acetylarterenone were detected by electrochemical methods in the hemolymph of immune reactive larvae of Drosophila melanogaster following parasitization by the wasp Leptopilina boulardi. Determinations of the catechols were made after separation by reverse phase, ion-pairing high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The presence of 5,6-dihydroxyindole unequivocally establishes the eumelanin pathway in the defense response of Drosophila, and confirms previous investigations which have implicated certain catecholamine metabolizing enzymes in insect immunity. The occurrence of N-acetylarterenone, a derivative of the principal sclerotizing agent N-acetyldopamine, verifies the existence and proposed involvement of quinone methide isomerase in the regulation of catecholamine metabolism, and suggests that the cellular capsule formed by Drosophila in immune reactions against parasites is most likely a composite of both eumelanin and sclerotin. The absence of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in hemolymph samples from immune reactive hosts suggests that during parasitization certain catecholamines and metabolic precursors may be re-employed in alternate pathways, some of which may be used in defense reactions.     

Synthesis and thrombolytic activity of carboline-3-carboxylic acid modified metabolites of Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys

From the metabolism of H-Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys-OH, four metabolites, H-Pro-Ala-Lys-OH, H-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys-OH, H-Ala-Arg-Pro-OH, and H-Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-OH were identified. In order to find a new lead compound of thrombolytic peptide, 3S-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid was introduced to the N- and C-terminal of the metabolites by use of the common coupling strategy. Under this condition, the pseudopeptides (5a-d and 7a-d) were obtained with a good yield. The thrombolytic activities of 3S-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid containing oligopeptides were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The result indicated that the thrombolytic activity of the pseudopeptide depended on the sequence and the modification pattern of the metabolites, and only when 3S-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid was introduced into the C-terminal of H-Pro-Ala-Lys-OH or H-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys-OH, the desirable thrombolytic activity was retained and enhanced significantly.