Selective oxidations are important for the functionalization of compounds in organic synthesis and chemical industry. Using O2 as a terminal e- acceptor would be ideal because it is cheap and environmentally friendly, but aerobic oxidations are often prone to unselective free radical autoxidation. Recently developed palladium catalysts use O2 as a selective multi-electron oxidant for various organic transformations. Although these methods are powerful and sophisticated, the lower cost of base metals makes them attractive as potential alternatives. The challenge is to develop methods for effecting multi-electron transformations at metals that typically prefer one electron changes. To this end, the development of manganese(III) complexes containing redox-active ligands as catalysts for selective oxidase-type oxidation of organic substrates was pursued. Bis(tetrabromocatecholato) manganese(III) complexes were shown to aerobically oxidize catechols to form quinones and H2O2. This reactivity was extended to other alcohol and amine substrates. In these reactions, the non-innocent tetrabromocatecholate ligands may impart a multi-electron character to the metal. To directly probe the intermediacy of ligand-centered radicals in catalytic turnover, a series of structurally similar manganese(III) complexes with aminophenol-derived ligands were prepared and characterized. The capacity of these ligands to undergo low-energy redox changes, allowed for isolation of an electron transfer series spanning two redox states without a change in oxidation state at the metal center. The ligand-centered redox events were a key feature in aerobic homocoupling of Grignard reagents.

ABSTRACT MORPHINE BIOTRANSFORMATIONS BY MICROBIAL PHENOL OXIDASES Erdural Korkmaz, Beril M.S., Department of Chemical Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ufuk Bakir Co-Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ayhan S. Demir January 2006, 96 pages The objective of this study is to perform morphine biotransformation by using phenol oxidases. Syctalidium thermophilum, Thermomyces lanuginosus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium cells and culture fluid were used as microbial intracellular and extracellular phenol oxidases. Besides the phenol oxidases produced in laboratory, commercial pure phenol oxidases, A. bisporus tyrosinase and laccase, T. versicolor laccase and horseradish peroxidase, were also used in the morphine biotransformation reactions. Morphine biotransformation to pseudo-morphine was achieved by using pure T. versicolor laccase, A.bisporous tyrosinase and laccase. Before utilization of phenol oxidases in morphine biotransformations, the time course of microbial phenol oxidase productions were followed. Maximum phenol oxidase activity of S. thermophilum were detected on the 5th day of cultivation as 0.17 U/ml and the 4th day of cultivation as 0.072 U/ml, respectively. On the other hand, maximum laccase activity of P. chrysosporium was detected on the 8th day of cultivation as 78.5 U/ml. Although phenol oxidases which were obtained from S. thermophilum or T. lanuginosus could not catalyze morphine biotransformation, phenol oxidases including a peroxidase of P. chrysosporium transformed morphine to pseudo-morphine and an unknown product.

Copy of author's previously published article inserted. / Bibliography: leaves 180-195. / xii, 195 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigation of the contribution of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) to enzymic browning in sugarcane juice. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Horticulture, Viticulture and Oenology, 1995

Thesis (Ph. D.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Department of Biological Sciences, 2008.

Chloroplasts of sugar beet leaves were subjected to treatment by heating, by incubation at pH 8.5 and pH 5.5, by incubation in ion low water, by sonic oscillation, by digestion with enzymes (lysozyme, pancreatin, and lipase), by extraction with digitonin, and by chemical compounds including 8-hydroxy-quinoline, sodium azide, zinc sulfate, phenyl mercuric acetate, potassium cyanide, 1-allylthiourea, 2,4-dinitrophenol, thymol, and p-chloromercuribenzoate. A comparative study was made of the effects of these treatments upon three photochemical reactions (the photoreduction of 2,6- dichlorophenol indophenol, the photoreduction of indigo carmine in the presence of a couple composed of 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol and ascorbic acid, and the photo-oxidation of the 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol-ascorbic acid couple) and upon three enzymes (cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase, and catalase) present in the chloroplast preparations used.

Weanling rats, divided into 3 groups were maintained for 15 days on a diet containing either 5 per cent casein fed ad libitum (Group 1), 20 per cent casein pair-fed to Group 1 (Group 2), or 20 per cent casein fed ad libitum (Group 3). Animals were injected with either 0.9 percent saline or phenobarbital. Phenobarbital increased microsomal protein, cytochrome P-450, and phosphatidylcholine in all dietary groups; however, in all groups the increase in P-450 was greater than for phosphatidylcholine. Protein deficiency (Groups 1 vs. 2) decreased P-450 and microsomal protein but had no effect on phosphatidylcholine contents. The fraction of phosphatidylcholine-associated sites relative to the total sites was greater during protein deficiency and was in agreement with a greater Δ A_max per nmole P-450 for ethylmorphine. Phenobarbital induction decreases the proposed fraction of phosphatidylcholine-associated P-450 sites relative to the total P-450 sites and results in a decrease in the Δ A_max per nmole P-450 for ethylmorphine. Phenobarbital increased the Δ A_max per mg of microsomal protein for aniline, which paralleled the increase in total P-450 indicating that the Type II site is independent of any association Of cytochrome P-450 with phosphatidylcholine. The V_max per mg of microsomal protein was 64-66 per cent lower in the protein deficient group. Equivalent reductions of cytochrome P-450 and activities of cytochrome P-450 and c reductases were observed. Phenobarbital induction increased enzyme activities (V_max per mg of microsomal protein) in all groups with greater percentage increases in the protein deficient animals. The data suggested that phosphatidylcholine and cytochrome P-450 play important roles in the kinetics of metabolism and binding determined after protein deficiency and/or phenobarbital induction. The dietary study was repeated using 3-methylcholanthrene as inducer. 3-methylcholanthrene produced results similar to phenobarbital in most cases; however, this inducer illicits the production of a form of P-450 termed P-448. Induction of the various parameters appears more dependent on P-448 production than phosphatidylcholine-P-450 interactions. In contrast to phenobarbital treatment, 3-methylcholanthrene treatment does not increase the specific activity for ethylmorphine metabolism and the activity of cytochrome P-450 and c reductase. Other studies indicated the K_m and V_max for ethylmorphine N-demethylation is dependent on the substrate concentration range used to determine them. The oxidase system appears to have two different activities, one involving low substrate concentrations; the other, high substrate concentrations. During induction by both phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene, there is a depression in both K_m and V_max during the first few hours after injection of the inducer which corresponds to the time period when the inducer is in the greatest concentration in the cell. After this initial depression, there was an increase in both K_m and V_max , indicating induction had taken place. / Ph. D.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Foram investigados os efeitos do veneno da serpente Bothrops insularis e de suas fraÃÃes, lectina, L-aminoÃcido oxidase, trombina sÃmile e fosfolipase A2, no rim isolado e sistema vascular de rato. As fraÃÃes foram purificadas a partir de uma combinaÃÃo de procedimentos cromatogrÃficos, usando colunas de HPLC de exclusÃo molecular, troca iÃnica, fase reversa e colunas de baixa pressÃo de afinidade. Foi utilizada a perfusÃo de rim isolado de rato e a soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit modificada (Bowman, 1970; Fonteles et al. 1998). ParÃmetros selecionados da funÃÃo renal foram avaliados durante as condiÃÃes experimentais, com a infusÃo do veneno e suas fraÃÃes, aos 60, 90, e 120 minutos. Os primeiros 30 minutos serviram de controle interno. No leito arterial sistÃmico de rato (Ferreira, 1965) a pressÃo arterial foi avaliada por manÃmetro conectado por cÃnula à artÃria carÃtida comum, e o veneno injetado na veia jugular. Os registros foram realizados a cada 10 minutos apÃs a administraÃÃo de doses crescentes do veneno, atà a infusÃo da dose de 300mcg, aos 60 minutos. Na PerfusÃo do leito arterial mesentÃrico isolado de rato (McGregor, 1965), utilizou-se a soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit em fluxo constante de 4mL/minuto. A pressÃo de perfusÃo foi registrada manometricamente. A avaliaÃÃo estatÃstica foi determinada por anÃlise de variÃncia (ANOVA) e teste de Bonferroni, com nÃvel de significÃncia menor de 5%. No rim, o grupo tratado com o veneno apresentou reduÃÃo em todos os parÃmetros avaliados, com exceÃÃo da absorÃÃo de potÃssio. Com a lectina a pressÃo de perfusÃo aumentou inicialmente e caiu em seguida, juntamente com o fluxo urinÃrio e o ritmo de filtraÃÃo glomerular. Houve aumento na reabsorÃÃo de sÃdio e potÃssio, com reduÃÃo no clearance osmÃtico. Com a trombina-sÃmile, ocorreu aumento inicial seguido de queda no final em quase todos os parÃmetros, com exceÃÃo da resistÃncia vascular renal. A reabsorÃÃo tubular do sÃdio e do cloro caiu; houve elevaÃÃo inicial do transporte de potÃssio; com aumento seguido de queda do clearance osmÃtico. Com a L-aminoacido oxidase houve queda em todos os parÃmetros avaliados. Com a fosfolipase A2 houve elevaÃÃo nos parÃmetros fisiolÃgicos e vasculares; no transporte tubular de potÃssio e no clearance osmÃtico; com queda na reabsorÃÃo de sÃdio e cloro. Todos os rins mostraram, no final, sinais de necrose tubular aguda, com exceÃÃo dos perfundidos com a trombina-sÃmile. Excetuando os tratados com veneno, todos os rins apresentaram, ao final, extravasamento protÃico para o espaÃo de Bowman. No leito arterial sistÃmico o veneno produziu reduÃÃo na pressÃo arterial sistÃmica diretamente proporcional à quantidade de veneno administrada, excetuando a dose de 10mcg, alÃm de intensa hemorragia pulmonar com proliferaÃÃo de neutrÃfilos e linfÃcitos nos alvÃolos, hemorragia no rim e congestÃo generalizada. No leito arterial mesentÃrico se observou uma reduÃÃo na presÃo quando o veneno foi administrado em leito arterial prÃ-contraÃdo com fenilefrina, como tambÃm isoladamente, na ausÃncia de fenilefrina. O veneno da Bothrops insularis mostrou potencial hemorrÃgico e vasodilatador semelhante aos outros venenos de serpentes do gÃnero, com atividade necrotizante superior nos rins, onde provocou necrose tubular aguda, ao contrario do observado com outros venenos do mesmo gÃnero, em experimentos no rim isolado de rato. / We investigated the biochemical and biological effects of the whole venom from Bothrops insularis (popularly known as âgolden lancetâ), and four of its fractions, a thrombin-like enzyme, a lectin-like substance, an L-amino acid oxidase and a phospholipase A2, in perfused rat kidneys and vascular sistem. The fractions were purified by a combination of Sephadex gel filtration in HPLC columns, and ion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex in reverse phase, low-pressure affinity columns. We used a modified isolated perfused rat kidney assay, with Krebs-Henseleit solution as the perfusion fluid (Bowman, 1970; Fonteles et al., 1998). Selected parameters of renal function during stable experimental conditions were evaluated before and at 60, 90, and 120 minutes after infusion of venom and its fractions, with the first 30 minutes interval constituting the paired control. In the systemic vascular bed (Ferreira, 1965), the arterial pressure was evaluated by a manometer connected through a canule to carotid common artery and the venom was injected into the jugular vein, with registers made at every 10 minutes after administration in increasing doses, until an infusion of 300mcg was reached at 60 minutes. In the isolated rat mesenteric blood vessels method (McGregor, 1965), the perfusions were done with Krebs-Henseleit solution, at a constant flow rate of 4mL/minute. The perfusion pressure was measured manometrically. Statistical evaluations were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni test, at the 5% significance level. In perfused kidney studies, the group treated with the whole venom showed a fall in all physiological parameters, except in potassium transport. With the lectin-like fraction, the perfusion pressure rose initially, followed by a fall, along with urinary flow and glomerular filtration rate. Sodium and potassium tubular reabsorption increased, with a fall in the osmotic clearance. The thrombin-like fraction promoted an initial rise followed by a fall in the end, in almost all parameters except in the renal vascular resistance. The sodium and chloride tubular reabsorption fell. There was an initial rise in the potassium transport, and an initial rise followed by a fall in the osmotic clearance. With the L-amino acid oxidase fraction, there was a fall in all the parameters studied. The Phospholipase A2 fraction induced a rise in the physiological and vascular parameters, as also in the potassium transport and osmotic clearance; accompanied by a fall in sodium and chloride reabsorption. With the exception of the thrombin-like fraction, all the substances tested induced acute tubular necrosis in perfused kidneys in the end. Protein extravasation into the Bowman space was evidenced in all perfused kidneys except in those treated with the whole venom; but was more intense with the thrombin-like fraction. In the systemic arterial bed, the whole venom raised arterial pressure in a dose-dependant manner, except at the concentration of 10mcg; in addition to causing intense pulmonary hemorrhage with neutrophils and alveolar lymphocyte proliferation, renal hemorrhage, and generalized vascular dilatation and congestion. In the isolated mesenteric artery, there was a marked fall in perfusion pressure when the whole venom was infused into the vessel pre-contracted with phenillephrine, as also in the isolated vessel without phenillephrine. We conclude that Bothrops insularis venom shows vasodilatation and hemorrhagic potential, like other venoms of the genus; but, different from other Bothrops venoms, it also reveals a significant necrotic activity when perfused into isolated rat kidney, causing acute tubular necrosis,

No description available.

<p>Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO, EC 1.4.3.6) belongs to a family of copper-containing amine oxidases. SSAO exists as a membrane bound protein in endothelial-, smooth muscle-, and adipose cells as well as soluble in plasma. SSAO catalyses oxidative deamination of primary monoamines, which results in the production of corresponding aldehydes, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. These compounds are very reactive and potentially cytotoxic, and are able to induce vascular damage if produced in high levels. Patients with diabetes mellitus, and with diabetic complications in particular, have a higher SSAO activity in plasma compared to healthy controls. It has therefore been speculated that high SSAO activity is involved in the development of vascular complications associated with diabetes. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the importance of SSAO in the development of disorders of a vascular origin. We have studied the transcriptional regulation of the SSAO gene, by inducing diabetes in NMRI and in transgenic mice, overexpressing the human form of SSAO in smooth muscle cells. We found that the increase in SSAO activity in diabetes is accompanied by reduced mRNA levels of the endogenous mouse gene, suggesting a negative feedback on the transcription of the SSAO gene. In addition, the transgenic mice exhibited an abnormal phenotype in the elastic tissue of aorta and renal artery. These mice have a lower mean artery pressure and an elevated pulse pressure. These results indicate that high SSAO activity in smooth muscle cells is associated with a change in the morphology of large arteries. This is likely contributing to the development of vascular complications in diabetes.</p>

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO, EC 1.4.3.6) belongs to a family of copper-containing amine oxidases. SSAO exists as a membrane bound protein in endothelial-, smooth muscle-, and adipose cells as well as soluble in plasma. SSAO catalyses oxidative deamination of primary monoamines, which results in the production of corresponding aldehydes, hydrogen peroxide and ammonia. These compounds are very reactive and potentially cytotoxic, and are able to induce vascular damage if produced in high levels. Patients with diabetes mellitus, and with diabetic complications in particular, have a higher SSAO activity in plasma compared to healthy controls. It has therefore been speculated that high SSAO activity is involved in the development of vascular complications associated with diabetes. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the importance of SSAO in the development of disorders of a vascular origin. We have studied the transcriptional regulation of the SSAO gene, by inducing diabetes in NMRI and in transgenic mice, overexpressing the human form of SSAO in smooth muscle cells. We found that the increase in SSAO activity in diabetes is accompanied by reduced mRNA levels of the endogenous mouse gene, suggesting a negative feedback on the transcription of the SSAO gene. In addition, the transgenic mice exhibited an abnormal phenotype in the elastic tissue of aorta and renal artery. These mice have a lower mean artery pressure and an elevated pulse pressure. These results indicate that high SSAO activity in smooth muscle cells is associated with a change in the morphology of large arteries. This is likely contributing to the development of vascular complications in diabetes.