Derivative biosynthesis

Histamine is a biogenic amine formed by L-histidine decarboxylation mediated by HDC (histidine decarboxylase) (EC EC 4.1.1.22) and naturally occurs in some fungi, marine, and plant species [6, 7]. It was isolated from aerial parts of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Brassicaceae), Lolium perenne L. (Poaceae) [8], and Spinacea oleracea L. (Chenopodiaceae) [7, 9]. This amine may act as an intermediate in many imidazole derivatives biosynthesis such as amides. 

Beyond pharmaceutical screening activity developed on aminothiazoles derivatives, some studies at the molecular level were performed. Thus 2-aminothiazole was shown to inhibit thiamine biosynthesis (941). Nrridazole (419) affects iron metabohsm (850). The dehydrase for 5-aminolevulinic acid of mouse liver is inhibited by 2-amino-4-(iS-hydroxy-ethyl)thiazole (420) (942) (Scheme 239). l-Phenyl-3-(2-thiazolyl)thiourea (421) is a dopamine fS-hydroxylase inhibitor (943). Compound 422 inhibits the enzyme activity of 3, 5 -nucleotide phosphodiesterase (944). The oxalate salt of 423, an analog of levamisole 424 (945) (Scheme 240),... 

Isotope incorporation experiments have demonstrated the essential correctness of the scheme presented m this and preceding sections for terpene biosynthesis Considerable effort has been expended toward its detailed elaboration because of the common biosyn thetic origin of terpenes and another class of acetate derived natural products the steroids... 

Biosynthesis. Three separate genes encode the opioid peptides (see Fig. 1). Enkephalin is derived from preproenkephalin A, which contains six copies of Met-enkephalin and extended peptides, and one copy of Leu-enkephalin (62—66). ( -Endorphin is one of the many products of POMC, and represents the N-terminal 31 amino acids of P-Hpotropin (67,68). Three different dynorphin peptides are derived from the third opioid gene, preproenkephalin B, or preprodynorphin (69). The dynorphin peptides include dynorphin A, dynorphin B, and a-neo-endorphin. 

Biosynthesis. CRE is derived from a precursor of 196 amino acids (84,85). This gene contains one copy of CRE, which is flanked by double basic amino acids. The amino acid sequence of the CRE precursor suggests that it may arise from proteins related to POMC and neurophysins (31). The CRE precursor contains a cAMP responsive element which aHows stimulation of mRNA synthesis when intraceHular levels of cAMP are increased (86). 

Biosynthesis. Somatostatin exists in longer forms in several biological tissues (95,96). One of the longer forms, which has been isolated from porcine intestine, has been characterized as a 28-amino acid peptide (97). Somatostatin is derived from a precursor containing 116 amino acids (98,99). The precursor contains one copy of the somatostatin tetradecapeptide, which is contained within the sequence of the 28-amino acid peptide at the carboxy-terminal end of the precursor. The 28-amino acid somatostatin is preceded by a single Arg residue, while somatostatin 1-14 is preceded by a pair of basic residues. 

Antituberculin Agents. Rifampin [13292-46-17, a semisynthetic derivative of rifamycin SV, is a most valuable dmg for treatment of tuberculosis, an infection caused by mycobacteria, leprosy, and an expanding range of other infections (23). Cycloserine [64-41-7] has been used to a limited extent for treatment of tuberculosis as a reserve dmg. Although cycloserine inhibits bacteria by interfering with their cell wall biosynthesis, it has toxic side effects in humans in the form of neurotoxicity. Capreomycin [11003-38-6] and to a much lesser extent viomycin [32988-50-4] both of which are peptides, have also been used for treatment of this disease. 

The ansa-chain of the ansamycins streptovaricins (4), rifamycins (263), geldanamycin (4), and herbimycin (32) has been shown to be polyketide in origin, being made up of propionate and acetate units with the 0-methyl groups coming from methionine. The remaining aromatic C N portion of the ansamacroHdes is derived from 3-amino-5-hydroxybenzoic acid (264—266) which is formed via shikimate precursors. Based on the precursors of the rifamycins and streptovaricins isolated from mutant bacteria strains, a detailed scheme for the biosynthesis of most of the ansamacroHdes has been proposed (95,263). 

The enzyme system responsible for the biosynthesis of PGs is widely distributed in mammalian tissues and has been extensively studied (2). It is referred to as prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) and exhibits both cyclooxygenase and peroxidase activity. In addition to the classical PGs two other prostanoid products, thromboxane [57576-52-0] (TxA ) (3) and prostacyclin [35121 -78-9] (PGI2) (4) are also derived from the action of the enzyme system on arachidonic acid (Fig. 1). 

Squalene is also an intermediate in the synthesis of cholesterol. StmcturaHy, chemically, and biogeneticaHy, many of the triterpenes have much in common with steroids (203). It has been verified experimentally that squalene is the precursor in the biosynthesis of all triterpenes through a series of cyclization and rearrangement reactions (203,204). Squalene is not used much in cosmetics and perfumery formulations because of its light, heat, and oxidative instabiUty however, its hydrogenated derivative, squalane, has a wide use as a fixative, a skin lubricant, and a carrier of Hpid-soluble dmgs. 

L-Ascorbic acid biosynthesis in plants and animals as well as the chemical synthesis starts from D-glucose. The vitamin and its main derivatives, sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate, and ascorbyl palmitate, are officially recognized by regulatory agencies and included in compendia such as the United S fates Pharmacopeia/National Formula (USP/NF) and the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC). 

These organisms have been used frequently in the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathway (37,38). The mechanism of riboflavin biosynthesis has formally been deduced from data derived from several experiments involving a variety of organisms (Fig. 5). Included are conversion of a purine such as guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to 6,7-dimethyl-8-D-ribityUuma2ine (16) (39), and the conversion of (16) to (1). This concept of the biochemical formation of riboflavin was verified in vitro under nonen2ymatic conditions (40) (see Microbial transformations). 

In the biosynthesis of the thia2ole, cysteine is the common sulfur donor. In yeasts, the C-2 and N may be suppHed by glycine, and the remaining carbons byD-ribulose-5-phosphate [108321-99-9] (50). In anaerobic bacteria, the C-2 andN maybe recmited from tyrosine and the carbons from D-l-deoxyxylulose [16709-34-5] (51), whereas in aerobic bacteria the C-2 and N maybe derived from glycine, as in yeasts 7 (74—76,83—86) (see Fig. 9). 

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