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The interactions of nine amino acid derivatives of tert-butylquinone with biomacromolecules were studied. SDS electrophoresis and mass spectrometry confirmed the absence of modifications of lysozyme by any of the synthesized compounds. Spectrophotometric studies demonstrated hyperchromism, i.e. existence of interactions between the quinones and CT-DNA. Determination of binding constant by absorption titration indicates weak interactions between quinone derivatives and CT-DNA. The quenching of fluorescence of intercalator ethidium bromide from EB-CT-DNA system and of minor groove binder Hoechst 33258 from H-CT-DNA system by the synthesized derivatives indicates interactions of compounds and CT-DNA. CD spectra demonstrate non-intercalative binding mode of quinone derivaties to CT-DNA. Molecular docking results confirm binding to the minor groove. Electrophoretic pattern showed no cleavage of pUC19 plasmid in the presence of any of the synthesized compounds. The ability of the derivatives to scavenge radicals was confirmed by DPPH test. All the presented results suggest that the DNA minor groove binding is the principal mechanism of action of the examined amino acid derivatives. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 172055]

The quinone avarone, isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea avara, possesses the ability to chemically modify proteins. In this work, modification of lectin isolated from the coral Gerardia savaglia by avarone was examined. The techniques used for studying the modification were: SDS PAGE, isoelectric focusing and hemagglutination testing. The results of the SDS PAGE indicate dimerization of the protein. A shift of the pI toward lower value occurs upon modification. The change of the hemagglutination activity of the protein confirms that chemical modification of G. savaglia lectin by avarone changes its ability to interact with the membrane of erythrocytes.

The avarone/avarol quinone/hydroquinone couple shows considerable antitumor activity. In this work, covalent modification of β-lactoglobulin by avarone and its derivatives as well as by the synthetic steroidal quinone 2,5(10)-estradiene- 1,4,17-trione and its derivatives were studied. The techniques for studying chemical modification of β-lactoglobulin by quinones were: UV/Vis spectrophotometry, SDS PAGE and isoelectrofocusing. SDS PAGE results suggest that polymerization of the protein occurs. It could be seen that the protein of 18 kD gives the bands of 20 kD, 36 kD, 40 kD, 45 kD, 64 kD and 128 kD depending on modification agent. The shift of the pI of the protein (5.4) upon modification toward lower values (from pI 5.0 to 5.3) indicated that lysine amino groups are the principal site of the reaction of β-lactoglobulin with the quinones.

The avarone/avarol quinone/hydroquinone couple, as well as their derivatives show considerable antitumor activity. In this work, covalent modifications of β-lactoglobulin, isolated from cow milk, by avarone, its model compound 2-tert-butyl-1,4-benzoquinone, and several of their alkylthio derivatives were studied. The techniques applied for assaying the modifications were UV/VIS spectrophotometry, SDS PAGE and isoelectrofocusing. The results of the SDS PAGE suggest that polymerisation of the protein occurs. The shift of the pI of the protein upon modification toward lower values indicates that lysine amino groups are the principal site of the reaction of β-lactoglobulin with the quinines.

The regioselectivity of the reaction of conjugate addition of thiols amines, methanol and hydrogen chloride with the monoalkyl-1,4-benzoquinones avarone and 2-tert-butyl- 1,4-benzoquinone was investigated. It was shown that the regioselectivity of the reaction is influenced by the electrophilicity of position 5 in unprotonated 2-alkylquinones, the increased electrophilicity of position 6 in acidic medium, and by the acidity of the intermediate hydroquinones.

Several NADH model compounds, N-alkyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamides, some of them possessing amphiphilic properties, have been synthesized, and the kinetics of their reaction with a biologically active liphophilic quinone, avarone, has been studied in a protic solvent both in the presence and absence of cationic, anionic or non-ionic surfactants. In the absence of micellar agents, the medium- and long-chain N-dodecyl (3) and N-heptadecyl (4) derivatives show a significant increase in the reaction rates compared to other model compounds, due to the stabilization of the semiquinone intermediate. Anionic surfactants retard the reaction, non-ionic surfactants slightly accelerate the reaction with the short-chain derivatives, and retard the reaction with the medium- and long-chain derivatives, and the cationic surfactants increase the reaction rate with all derivatives except the long-chain 4. The results support the e-p-e mechanism of the reduction of lipophilic quinones byNADHmodels in protic medium.

In this work, synthesis of alkylamino and aralkylamino derivatives of sesquiterpene quinone avarone and its model compound tert -butylquinone was described. For all obtained derivatives biological activity was studied. Cytotoxic activity of the synthesized derivatives towards multidrug resistant MDR human non-small cell lung carcinoma NCI-H460/R cells, their sensitive counterpart NCI-H460 and human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT) as well as detection of cell death superoxide anion generation were investigated. Antimicrobial activity towards Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and fungal cultures was determined. The results showed that strong cytotoxic activity toward cancer cells was improved with simple avarone mimetics. Some derivatives were selective towards MDR cancer cells. The most active derivatives induced apoptosis in both cancer cell lines, but not in normal cells. Superoxide production was induced by 2,6-disubstituted compounds in MDR cancer cells and not by less active 2,5-disubstituted compounds and was accompanied by the collapse of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. Two tert -butylquinone derivatives were particularly selective towards MDR cancer cells. Some tert -butylquinone derivatives exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The interactions of avarone, a quinone from the marine sponge Dysideaavara, and the methylamino derivatives of avarone (2), 3′-(methylamino)avarone (3) and 4′-(methylamino)avarone (4) with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) were studied. Agarose gel electrophoreticanalysis showed that binding of the quinones quenched fluorescence of ethidium bromide (EB). The extent of fluorescence quenching of intercalator EB by competitive displacement from EB–CT-DNA system and of groove binder Hoechst 33258 (H) from H–CT-DNA system with the quinones was analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The obtained results demonstrated that the quinones reduced binding of both the intercalator EB and the minor groove binder H, indicating possible degradation of DNA. The substituent on the quinone moiety determined the extent of DNA damaging effect of the quinone, which was the most extensive with 3′-(methylamino)avarone and the least extensive with its regioisomer 4′-(methylamino)avarone. The results were confirmed by the observed hyperchromic effects in UV–visible spectra measured after interactions of the derivatives with CT-DNA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Nine alkyl(aryl)thio derivatives of the marine sesquiterpene quinone avarone were synthesized by nucleophilic addition of thiols or thiophenol to avarone. In most cases only one regioisomer was obtained. Their cytotoxic activities, brine shrimp lethality and antibacterial activity were evaluated, as well as those of some previously synthesized avarone derivatives. Anti-HIV activity of two derivatives was tested. Electrochemical properties were determined for all the derivatives in order to obtain more accurate information on structure–activity relationships. Most derivatives showed cytotoxic activity against tumor cell lines, with IC50 values less than 10 μM for some of them, in particular those with electron-donating substituents. The most active compound was 4′-(methylamino)avarone, with IC50 value of 2.4 μM to melanoma Fem-X cells, and no cytotoxicity to normal lymphocytes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]