Biological systems pathways

The 11,12-oxido and 14,15-oxido analogs of leukotriene A4 were synthesized to help answer the question of whether these compounds might be biosynthesized from arachidonate by the 12- and 15-lipoxygenation pathways and serve as physiologic regulators. Hydrolysis products of the 14,15-oxide were later found to be formed in biological systems. 

The title compound is a key C6 building block. Several labs have prepared novel a-amino acids, biological probes and other interesting compounds using the D-diepoxide as a key intermediate.3 An efficient route to the L-enantiomer provides a pathway to compounds with the opposite configuration, one not readily available from commercial sources, and a valuable probe of stereochemistry in biological systems and reaction mechanism. 

SCHEME 10.2 Common pathways of QM formation in biological systems, (a) Stepwise two-electron oxidation by cytochrome P450 or a peroxidase, (b) Enzymatic oxidation of a catechol followed by spontaneous isomerization of the resulting n-quinone. (c) Enzymatic hydrolysis of a phosphate ester followed by base-catalyzed elimination of a leaving group from the benzylic position. 

In biological systems, therefore, the behavior of Li+ is predicted to be similar to that of Na+ and K+ in some cases, and to that of Mg2+ and Ca2+ in others [12]. Indeed, research has demonstrated numerous systems in which one or more of these cations is normally intrinsically involved, including ion transport pathways and enzyme activities, in which Li+ has mimicked the actions of these cations, sometimes producing inhibitory or stimulatory effects. For example, Li+ can replace Na+ in the ATP-dependent system which controls the transport of Na+ through the endoplasmic reticulum Li+ inhibits the activity of some Mg2+-dependent enzymes in vitro, such as pyruvate kinase and inositol monophosphate phosphatase Li+ affects the activity of some Ca2+-dependent enzymes— it increases the levels of activated Ca2+-ATPase in human erythrocyte membranes ex vivo and inhibits tryptophan hydroxylase. 

Despite intense study of the chemical reactivity of the inorganic NO donor SNP with a number of electrophiles and nucleophiles (in particular thiols), the mechanism of NO release from this drug also remains incompletely understood. In biological systems, both enzymatic and non-enzymatic pathways appear to be involved [28]. Nitric oxide release is thought to be preceded by a one-electron reduction step followed by release of cyanide, and an inner-sphere charge transfer reaction between the ni-trosonium ion (NO+) and the ferrous iron (Fe2+). Upon addition of SNP to tissues, formation of iron nitrosyl complexes, which are in equilibrium with S-nitrosothiols, has been observed. A membrane-bound enzyme may be involved in the generation of NO from SNP in vascular tissue [35], but the exact nature of this reducing activity is unknown. 

The main pathways of the breakdown of fatty acids in biological systems involve oxidation at various points along the chain or oxidation at certain double bonds of specific unsaturated fatty acids (Coultate, 2001 90-98). The main forms of oxidation are termed a-, (3- and to-. They are named depending on which carbon of the chain is attacked. Of these (3-oxidation is the most general and prevalent. Degradation proceeds by the liberation of two-carbon (acetyl-CoA) fragments from the chain. The enzymes responsible for oxidation are widely found in plants, animals and micro-organisms. 

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