1. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of gamma-irradiated DL-alanine ethyl ester hydrochloride, L-theanine and L-glutamic acid dimethyl ester hydrochloride
M Halim Başkan, Murat Aydın Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2013 Aug;112:280-2. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2013.04.039. Epub 2013 Apr 25.
The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of gamma irradiated powders of DL-alanine ethyl ester hydrochloride, L-theanine and L-glutamic acid dimethyl ester hydrochloride were investigated at room temperature. The observed paramagnetic species were attributed to the CH3ĊHCOOC2H5, -CH2ĊHCOOH and -CH2ĊHCOOCH3 radicals, respectively. Hyperfine structure constants and g-values were determined for these three radicals. Some spectroscopic properties and suggestions concerning the possible structure of the radicals were also discussed.
2. Amino acids dilate resistance blood vessels of the perfused rat mesentery
O A al-Swayeh, P K Moore J Pharm Pharmacol. 1989 Oct;41(10):723-6. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-7158.1989.tb06351.x.
The vasodilator effect of several L-amino acids in the perfused, noradrenaline-preconstricted rat mesentery preparation has been investigated. N-alpha-Benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) (ED50, 1.4 +/- 0.09 mumol) and L-alanine methylester (ED50, 0.9 +/- 0.007 mumol) were the most potent although L-arginine methylester, hydroxamate and hydrochloride, N-alpha-benzoyl-L-arginine methyl ester (BAME), L-methionine methylester, L-lysine hydroxamate and L-glutamic acid methylester exhibited similar potency with ED50 values in the range 2.4-3.7 mumol. L-Homoarginine chloride was inactive at doses up to 20 mumols. D-Arginine hydrochloride and D-lysine hydroxamate were inactive at doses up to 50 mumols whilst D-methionine methylester (50 mumols) produced small falls in perfusion pressure in only 3 out of 7 preparations studied. Responses to BAEE, BAME, L-arginine hydrochloride, L-alanine methylester, L-methionine methylester, L-lysine hydroxamate and acetylcholine (but not nitroprusside) were significantly inhibited by CHAPS (4.7 mg mL-1, 30 s) de-endothelialization as well as pretreatment of mesentery preparations with gossypol (3 microM). Responses to BAEE, BAME, L-arginine hydrochloride, L-alanine methylester and acetylcholine were similarly selectively reduced by NDGA (10 microM) pretreatment. We propose that these L-amino acids exhibit vasodilator activity in the perfused rat mesentery by virtue of releasing endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO).
3. Investigation of d-Amino Acid-Based Surfactants and Nanocomposites with Gold and Silica Nanoparticles as against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Agents
Jae Ho Shim, Sungduk Gwak, Byung Kook Ahn, Hogyu Han, Yeonsun Hong, Ok Sarah Shin ACS Omega. 2022 Dec 8;7(50):46146-46155. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c04220. eCollection 2022 Dec 20.
d-amino acid-based surfactants (d-AASs) were synthesized and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated. N-α-lauroyl-d-arginine ethyl ester hydrochloride (d-LAE), d-proline dodecyl ester (d-PD), and d-alanine dodecyl ester (d-AD) were found to have antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, but less efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria. For these reasons, combining antimicrobial agents with nanoparticles is a promising technique for improving their antibacterial properties to eliminate drug-resistant pathogens. d-LAE coated on gold (AuNP) and silica (SiNP) nanoparticles has more efficient antibacterial activity than that of d-LAE alone. However, unlike d-LAE, d-PD has enhanced antibacterial activity upon being coated on AuNP. The antibacterial d-AASs and their nanocomposites with nanoparticles were synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner and are expected to be valuable new antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.
