Pteridine and riboflavin in tumor tissue and the effect of chloramphenicol and isoxanthopterin

Vibrational spectroscopic (FT-IR and FT-Raman) studies, natural bond orbital analysis and molecular electrostatic potential surface of Isoxanthopterin

The FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of Isoxanthopterin have been recorded in the region 4000-450 and 4000-100 cm(-1), respectively. The optimized geometry, frequency and intensity of the vibrational bands of Isoxanthopterin were obtained by the density functional theory (DFT) using 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. The harmonic vibrational frequencies were scaled and compared with experimental values. The observed and the calculated frequencies are found to be in good agreement. The (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shifts of the molecule were also calculated using the gauge independent atomic orbital (GIAO) method. The UV-visible spectrum was also recorded and compared with the theoretical values. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs within molecule. The first order hyperpolarizability (β0), related properties (β, α0 and Δα) and the Mulliken charges of the molecule were also computed using DFT calculations. Stability of the molecule arising from hyperconjugative interactions, charge delocalization have been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. The results show that charge in electron density (ED) in the σ* and π* antibonding orbitals and second order delocalization energies (E2) confirms the occurrence of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) within the molecule. Information about the charge density distribution of the molecule and its chemical reactivity has been obtained by mapping molecular electrostatic potential surface. In addition, the non-linear optical properties were discussed from the dipole moment values and excitation wavelength in the UV-visible region.

Cytotoxicity of xanthopterin and isoxanthopterin in MCF-7 cells

Human mammary carcinoma MCF-7 cell line responsiveness to the pteridines xanthopterin and isoxanthopterin was studied using the MTS assay for measurement of cell viability. The pteridines were tested at concentrations ranging from 7.8 to 500 microM singly and in 11 isoxanthopterin:xanthopterin ratios. IC50s of xanthopterin and isoxanthopterin were 109+/-13 microM (mean+/-SEM of y estimate) and 103+/-9 microM, respectively. The IC50 values for pteridine mixtures were similar although 3:1 and 4:1 isoxanthopterin:xanthopterin ratios seemed slightly more cytotoxic than other mixtures. However, ANOVA revealed no statistical differences in the cytotoxicity of mixtures.

Calcium pterin as an antitumor agent

A series of in vivo studies are reported that provide evidence for an immunologically mediated mechanism for the antitumor response from a calcium pterin (CaPterin) suspension. Strong antitumor efficacy was demonstrated in fully immunocompetent female C3H/HeN-MTV+ mice (retired breeders) presenting spontaneous mammary gland adenocarcinomas. Comparison of results obtained by testing CaPterin in either nude or SCID mice (severely compromised immunodeficient) implanted with MDA-MB-231 human cancer cells showed a significant antitumor response in the nudes and no response in the SCIDs. This comparison argues for B-cell immunological involvement in the mechanism of CaPterin antitumor activity since nude mice possess B-cell capability while SCID mice do not. This comparison also indicates that there is no measurable direct cancer cell toxicity from the CaPterin. Results showing no CaPterin antitumor efficacy against EMT6 tumor cells implanted in Balb/c mice also suggest an antitumor mechanism involving B-cells, since transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), produced by EMT6 cells, is known to cause B-cell apoptosis. Taken together, these results, along with those of other researchers, indicate that CaPterin's antitumor mechanism involves antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated, for example, by natural killer (NK) cells, interlukin-2, and CaPterin.

Growth-inhibiting effect of crude pineal extracts on human melanoma cells in vitro is different from that of known synthetic pineal substances

The effect was studied of a number of synthetic indoleamines, pteridines, beta-carbolines, of AVT and of crude extracts from rat and ovine pineal glands on human melanoma cells in vitro. The identified pineal substances as well as some of their analogues showed an inhibitory effect only at non-physiologically high concentrations. However, crude pineal extracts were more active than the synthetic pineal substances tested. They contain a compound which may have a tumor-inhibiting potency comparable to that of methotrexate but a different mechanism of action.

A survey of the location, isolation and identification of indoles, pteridines and some unknown active substances in sheep pineals. The possible significance of pteridines for the neuroendocrine control of neoplastic growth

Several indoles with mass spectra identical to those of synthetic melatonin, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA), 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-MIAA), 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTL) and 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTL) could be located, isolated and identified in sheep pineal extracts using rather simple and mild extraction and separation methods. An antigonadotropin, which differs from melatonin, was isolated and partially purified from sheep pineals, using compensatory ovarian hypertrophy after unilateral ovariectomy as a bioassay. Antigonadotropic and gonadotropic compounds which differ from the indoles above mentioned could be located with the same methods. In vitro, these fractions act either on the hypothalamus or on the anterior pituitary. From the paper chromatography fraction, acting on the anterior pituitary in vitro, a compound could be isolated which is most probably identical with biopterin. In our opinion, however, this compound is not responsible for the antigonadotropic activity of the fraction, observed in vitro. Some pineal fractions showing an effect on the activity of the hypothalamus or anterior pituitary of male rats and mice in vitro, may be also active in some experimental tumour models. A possible relationship between disorders in pteridine metabolism and neoplastic growth is discussed.

A survey of some active sheep pineal fractions and a discussion on the possible significance of pteridines in those fractions in in vitro and in vivo assays

Aqueous extracts of sheep pineals are separated on Sephadex G-25 fraction with antigonadotropic activity are ultrafiltered through the membrane UM 2. The UM 2 filtrate is subsequently filtered through the membrane UM 05. The actions of the different fractions on the anterior hypophysis and hypothalamus are discussed. The fractions which show an activity are further separated on Sephadex G-10. The active Sephadex G-10 fractions of the UM 05 filtrate acting on the anterior hypophysis in vitro are purified by electrophoresis and paper chromatography. After elution of different fluorescence bands the main inhibitory activity is found in a region, with the same Rf value as synthetic 6-biopterin. Gas liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry studies of the isolated fractions are carried out. The mass spectrum of an isolated compound from that fraction is identical with that of synthetic 6-biopterin. Thinlayer chromatography and the results of the Crithidia fasciculata test reveal that the isolated compound is probably identical with 6-L-erythrobiopterin. The activity of the active paper chromatography fraction (C4) is compared with the activity of three synthetic biopterin-preparations in vitro and in vivo.