Conversion of sterically hindered diacylated 1,2-phenylenediamines into 2-substituted benzimidazoles. (49/273)

A series of bulky 2-substituted benzimidazoles was designed in order to find new leads for several biological targets. Formation by cyclodehydration from their monoacylated counterparts was shown to be strongly dependent upon the nature of the acyl group. In the case of a dicyclohexylmethyl group, cyclization was only observed in a p-toluenesulfonic acid/toluene mixture from the symmetrical diacylated precursor. Analysis of the mechanism was begun starting from mixed diacylated derivatives.  (+info)

Molecular determinants of KCNQ (Kv7) K+ channel sensitivity to the anticonvulsant retigabine. (50/273)

Epilepsy is caused by an electrical hyperexcitability in the CNS. Because K+ channels are critical for establishing and stabilizing the resting potential of neurons, a loss of K+ channels could support neuronal hyperexcitability. Indeed, benign familial neonatal convulsions, an autosomal dominant epilepsy of infancy, is caused by mutations in KCNQ2 or KCNQ3 K+ channel genes. Because these channels contribute to the native muscarinic-sensitive K+ current (M current) that regulates excitability of numerous types of neurons, KCNQ (Kv7) channel activators would be effective in epilepsy treatment. A compound exhibiting anticonvulsant activity in animal seizure models is retigabine. It specifically acts on the neuronally expressed KCNQ2-KCNQ5 (Kv7.2-Kv7.5) channels, whereas KCNQ1 (Kv7.1) is not affected. Using the differential sensitivity of KCNQ3 and KCNQ1 to retigabine, we constructed chimeras to identify minimal segments required for sensitivity to the drug. We identified a single tryptophan residue within the S5 segment of KCNQ3 and also KCNQ2, KCNQ4, and KCNQ5 as crucial for the effect of retigabine. Furthermore, heteromeric KCNQ channels comprising KCNQ2 and KCNQ1 transmembrane domains (attributable to transfer of assembly properties from KCNQ3 to KCNQ1) are retigabine insensitive. Transfer of the tryptophan into the KCNQ1 scaffold resulted in retigabine-sensitive heteromers, suggesting that the tryptophan is necessary in all KCNQ subunits forming a functional tetramer to confer drug sensitivity.  (+info)

Involvement of activation of NADPH oxidase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in renal cell injury induced by zinc. (51/273)

Zinc is employed as a supplement; however, zinc-related nephropathy is not generally known. In this study, we investigated zinc-induced renal cell injury using a pig kidney-derived cultured renal epithelial cell line, LLC-PK(1), with proximal kidney tubule-like features, and examined the involvement of free radicals and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the cell injury. The LLC-PK(1) cells showed early uptake of zinc (30 microM), and the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), an index of cell injury, was observed 24 hr after uptake. Three hours after zinc exposure, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was increased. An antioxidant, N, N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), inhibited a zinc-related increase in ROS generation and zinc-induced renal cell injury. An NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), inhibited a zinc-related increase in ROS generation and cell injury. We investigated translocation from the cytosol fraction of the p67(phox) subunit, which is involved in the activation of NADPH oxidase, to the membrane fraction, and translocation was induced 3 hr after zinc exposure. We examined the involvement of ERK1/2 in the deterioration of zinc-induced renal cell injury, and the association between ERK1/2 and an increase in ROS generation. Six hours after zinc exposure, the activation (phosphorylation) of ERK1/2 was observed. An antioxidant, DPPD, inhibited the zinc-related activation of ERK1/2. An MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK1/2) inhibitor, U0126, almost completely inhibited zinc-related cell injury (the release of LDH), but did not influence ROS generation. These results suggest that early intracellular uptake of zinc by LLC-PK(1) cells causes the activation of NADPH oxidase, and that ROS generation by the activation of the enzyme leads to the deterioration of renal cell injury via the activation of ERK1/2.  (+info)

Low density lipoprotein is protected from oxidation and the progression of atherosclerosis is slowed in cholesterol-fed rabbits by the antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-phenylenediamine. (52/273)

The oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) may play an important role in atherosclerosis. We found that the antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (DPPD) inhibits in vitro LDL oxidation at concentrations much lower than other reported antioxidants. To test whether DPPD could prevent atherosclerosis, New Zealand White rabbits were fed either a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 10% corn oil (control group) or the same diet also containing 1% DPPD (DPPD-fed group) for 10 wk. Plasma total cholesterol levels were not different between the two groups, but DPPD feeding increased the levels of triglyceride (73%, P = 0.007) and HDL cholesterol (26%, P = 0.045). Lipoproteins from DPPD-fed rabbits contained DPPD and were much more resistant to oxidation than control lipoproteins. After 10 wk, the DPPD-fed animals had less severe atherosclerosis than did the control animals: thoracic aorta lesion area was decreased by 71% (P = 0.0007), and aortic cholesterol content was decreased by 51% (P = 0.007). Although DPPD cannot be given to humans because it is a mutagen, our results indicate that orally active antioxidants can have antiatherosclerotic activity. This strongly supports the theory that oxidized LDL plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.  (+info)

Silica gel modified with N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine: functionalization, metal sorption equilibrium studies and application to metal enrichment prior to determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. (53/273)

The use of the chemically modified silica gel N-(3-propyl)-O-phenylenediamine (SiG-NPPDA) adsorbent, for the preconcentration and separation of trace heavy metals, was described. SiG-NPPDA sorbs quantitatively (90-100% recovery) trace amounts of nine heavy metals, viz., Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), Mn(II), Cr(III), Co(II) and Ni(II) at pH 7-8. The sorption capacity varies from 350 to 450 micromol g(-1). Desorption was found to be quantitative with 1-2 M HNO3 or 0.05 M Na2EDTA. The distribution coefficient, Kd and the percentage concentration of the investigated metal ions on the adsorbent at equilibrium, C(M,eqm)% (Recovery, R%), were studied as a function of experimental parameters. The logarithmic values of the distribution coefficient, log Kd, ranges between 4.0 and 6.4. Some foreign ions caused little interference in the preconcentration and determination of the investigated nine metals by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The adsorbent and its formed metal chelates were characterized by IR (absorbance and/or reflectance), potentiometric titrations and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA and DTG). The mode of chelation between the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and the investigated metal ions is proposed to be due to the reaction of the investigated metal ions with the two nitrogen atoms of the SiG-NPPDA adsorbent. The present adsorbent coupled with flame AAS has been used to enrich and determine the nine metal ions in natural aqueous systems and in certified reference materials (RSD < or = 5%). The copper, iron, manganese and zinc present in some pharmaceutical vitamin samples were also preconcentrated on SiG-NPPDA adsorbent and determined by flame AAS (RSD < or = 4.2%). Nanogram concentrations (0.07-0.14 ng ml(-1)) of Cd(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Pb(II), Cr(III), Mn(II), Cu(II), Co(II) and Ni(II) can be determined reliably with a preconcentration factor of 100.  (+info)

Investigation of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. (54/273)

An electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) method, in both positive and negative ion modes, was developed for characterization of disulfonamide ligands derived from o-phenylenediamine and their Pb(II) complexes. For the ligands, negative ion mode ESI-MS in methanolic solutions gave simple and easily interpretable mass spectra. However, the spectra of Pb complexes were not readily interpretable under the same conditions. Protonated ligands and their Pb(II) complexes were observed in methanolic solutions by ESI-MS in positive ion mode. The formation of Na(+), K(+), or NH(4) (+) adducts was also observed, complicating the mass spectra and decreasing the signal intensity. In order to optimize the detection of the ligands and the Pb complexes, a method was developed by adding NaOAc in the solutions. The presence of 0.2 mM NaOAc simplified the mass spectra of the ligands and the Pb complexes, and significantly increased sensitivity in both negative and positive ion modes. This modification makes ESI-MS in both modes suitable for characterization of sulfonamide ligands and their Pb complexes, thus providing a potentially powerful tool for evaluating formation of metal complexes and screening combinatorial ligand libraries.  (+info)

Relationship of intracellular calcium and oxygen radicals to Cisplatin-related renal cell injury. (55/273)

We investigated the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular calcium in nephrotoxicity related to an antitumor agent, cisplatin. In this study, we employed cultured renal epithelial cells (LLC-PK1). Cisplatin at 500 microM significantly increased the production of ROS 5 h and caused cell injury. This agent significantly increased the intracellular calcium level ([Ca2+]i) in a dose-dependent manner 1 h or more after exposure. DPPD (N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine), an antioxidant, inhibited a cisplatin-related increase in active oxygen production and cell injury but did not inhibit an early increase in the [Ca2+]i level. An intracellular calcium-chelating compound BAPTA-AM (1,2-bis(O-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid tetra(acetoxymethyl) ester) inhibited an increase in ROS production and cell injury induced by cisplatin. Furthermore, BAPTA-AM suppressed the rise of [Ca2+]i level in 1 h after exposure; however, an extracellular calcium chelator EGTA and a calcium antagonist nicardipine did not inhibit the rise in [Ca2+]i level in the early phase. An NADPH oxidase inhibitor inhibited a cisplatin-related increase in ROS production and cell disorder. These results suggest that cisplatin-related calcium release from the site of intracellular calcium storage in the early phase causes oxidative stress in renal tubular epithelial cells. Cisplatin may increase the intracellular production of ROS via NADPH oxidase.  (+info)

Sequential determination of trace amounts of iron and copper in water samples by flow injection analysis with catalytic spectrophotometric detection. (56/273)

A simple flow injection analysis (FIA) method is described for the sequential determination of iron and copper. The detection method for iron and copper is based on their catalytic activities in the oxidation reaction of N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) with hydrogen peroxide. The sequential determination of iron and copper can be carried out by injecting two sample plugs into the FIA system, sequentially. One injection does not contain triethylenetetramine (TETA), and is used for the sum of iron and copper concentration; the other which contains TETA is used only for the iron concentration. For iron determination, TETA is used as a masking agent of copper. The difference in peak height can be used for the calculation of copper concentration. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limits (3sigma) of 0.01 and 0.07 microg L(-1) were obtained for iron and copper, respectively. The proposed method can be applied to the determination of iron and copper in tap water and bottled-drinking mineral water samples. Good recoveries of the method, 98-103% for iron and 98-106% for copper, were achieved.  (+info)