Busca de inibidores da enzima glicossomal gliceraldeído 3-fosfato desidrogenase de Trypanosoma cruzi

The inhibitory activity of crude extracts of Meliaceae and Rutaceae plants on glycosomal glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gGAPDH) enzyme from Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated at 100 μg/mL. Forty-six extracts were tested and fifteen of them showed significant inhibitory activity (IA % > 50). The majority of the assayed extracts of Meliaceae plants (Cedrela fissilis, Cipadessa fruticosa and Trichilia ramalhoi) showed high ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity. The fractionation of the hexane extract from branches of C. fruticosa led to the isolation of three flavonoids: flavone, 7-methoxyflavone and 3',4',5',5,7-pentamethoxyflavone. The two last compounds showed high ability to inhibit the gGAPDH activity. Therefore, the assayed Meliaceae species could be considered as a promising source of lead compounds against Chagas' disease.Nesse trabalho foi avaliada a atividade inibitória sobre a enzima glicossomal gliceraldeído-3-fosfato desidrogenase de T. cruzi (gGAPDH) de extratos vegetais oriundos de plantas das famílias Meliaceae e Rutaceae, na concentração de 100 μg/mL. Foram testados 46 extratos, dos quais 15 apresentaram atividade inibitória significativa (% AI > 50). A maioria dos extratos de plantas da família Meliaceae (Cedrela fissilis, Cipadessa fruticosa e Trichilia ramalhoi) apresentou grande potencial em inibir a atividade enzimática. O fracionamento do extrato hexânico dos galhos de C. fruticosa permitiu o isolamento de três flavonóides: flavona, 7-metoxiflavona e 3',4',5',5,7-pentametoxiflavona. Os dois últimos foram ativos na inibição da atividade de gGAPDH. Desta forma, as três espécies de Meliaceae testadas podem ser consideradas promissoras na busca de compostos protótipos para o controle da doença de Chagas.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Ensino Superior (CAPES)FINEP - Financiadora de Estudos e Projeto

Enzymatic inhibition studies of selected flavonoids and chemosystematic significance of polymethoxylated flavonoids and quinoline alkaloids in Neoraputia (Rutaceae)

Our taxonomic interest in the Neoraputia stimulated an investigation of N. paraensis searching for alkaloids. Fractions were monitored by ¹H NMR and ESI-MS/MS and only those which showed features of anthranilate alkaloids and flavonoids absent in the previous investigations were examined. Stems afforded the alkaloids flindersine, skimmianine, 8-methoxyflindersine and dictamnine; leaves yielded 3',4',7,8-tetramethoxy-5,6-(2,2-dimethylpyrano)-flavone, 3',4',5,7,8-pentamethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3',4',6,7-tetramethoxyflavone, 3',4'-methylenedioxy-5,6,7-trimethoxyflavone and 5-hydroxy-3',4'-methylenedioxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone. The alkaloids have remained undiscovered for 10 years. A number of flavonoids isolated from N. paraensis, N. magnifica, Murraya paniculata, Citrus sinensis graft (Rutaceae), Lonchocarpus montanus (Leguminosae) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the protein glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from Trypanosoma cruzi. Highly oxygenated flavones and isoflavone were the most actives.Nosso interesse quimiotaxonômico sobre Neoraputia nos estimulou a examinar N. paraensis, visando a busca de alcalóides. As frações foram monitoradas via RMN ¹H e ESI-EM/EM e foram analisadas somente aquelas cujos espectros apresentavam características de alcalóides do ácido antranílico e flavonóides não isolados anteriormente. Foram isolados do caule os alcalóides flindersina, skimmianina, 8-metoxiflindersina e dictamnina; das folhas os flavonóides 3',4',7,8-tetrametoxi-5,6-(2,2-dimetilpirano)-flavona, 3',4',5,7,8-pentametoxiflavona, 5-hidroxi-3',4',6,7-tetrametoxiflavona, 3',4'-metilenodioxi-5,6,7-trimetoxiflavona e 5-hidroxi-3',4'-metilenodioxi-6,7-dimetoxiflavona,. Os alcalóides do ácido antranílico não foram encontrados em dez anos. Vários flavonóides isolados de N. paraensis, N. magnifica, Murraya paniculata, enxerto de Citrus sinensis (Rutaceae) e Lonchocarpus montanus (Leguminosae) foram testados frente a gliceraldeído-3-fosfato desidrogenase de Trypanosoma cruzi, visando verificar seus potenciais em inibir a atividade da enzima. Os flavonóides polimetoxilados e um isoflavonóide foram os mais ativos.380387Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Limonoids from Toona ciliata and speculations on their chemosystematic and ecological significance

Evolution of limonoids in the Meliaceae appears to be consistent with the resistance of Melioideae against the shoot borer Hypsipyla. The limonoid chemistry of Toona, which has shown absence of attacks of H. grandella, is reminiscent of Melioidease. An investigation of T. ciliata, has led to the identification of two novel meliacin butenolides, 21-hydroxycedrelonelide and 23-hydroxycedrelonelide, two known limonoids, cedrelone and 23-hydroxytoonacilide, and sitosterol, α-amyrin and β-amyrin acylated with fatty acids. Three known coumarins, siderin, scopoletin and isofraxidin were also isolated. All structures were established from spectral data. Some 13C NMR signals for cedrelone are reassigned