Chelation in Metal Intoxication XXX: α-Mercapto-β-aryl Acrylic Acids as Antidotes to Cadmium Toxicity

Abstract: α-Mercapto-β-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), α-mercapto-β-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), β-1,2-phenylene di-α-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA) and β-1,4-phenylene di-α-mercapto acrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) were compared to sodium N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NBG-DTC) an effective cadmium chelator, for their ability to mobilize Cd and influence the Cd induced tissue metallothionein (MT) in rats administered ¹⁰⁰CdCl₂, 72 hr earlier. MFA was almost as effective as NBG-DTC but more effective than MHA in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion of Cd, reducing tissue and blood levels of Cd and in lowering Cd induced increase in hepatic and renal MT contents. 1,2-PDMA and 1,4-PDMA were effective only in reducing the hepatic burden of Cd. The resuls do not indicate any direct relationship between the efficacy of α-mercapto-β-aryl acrylic acids to decorporate body Cd and their lipophilic-hydrophilic character or number-arrangement of their sulfhydryl groups.     

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXIX: Alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids as antidotes to mercury (II) toxicity

alpha-Mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(phenyl) acrylic acid (MPA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(4-methoxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MMA), beta-1,2-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1, 2-PDMA) and beta-1, 4-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1, 4-PDMA) enhanced faecal excretion and reduced liver, spleen and blood burden of inorganic mercury when administered (0.5 m mol/kg, in two split doses) 24 hr after Hg (II) (1 mg/kg) in rats. MFA, MPA, MHA, and MMA were also effective in lowering renal Hg mainly from the cytosol, without any significant increase in urinary excretion of Hg. The results indicate that all the mono-mercapto acrylic acids including MFA were more effective than di-mercapto acrylic acids and act through the mechanism characteristic of thiol chelators, that is, mobilization of Hg as their complexes, contrary to the reported observation that MFA acts through the induction of metallothionein.     

Chelation in metal intoxication XXX: Alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids as antidotes to cadmium toxicity

alpha-Mercapto-beta-(2-furyl) acrylic acid (MFA), alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA), beta-1,2-phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA) and beta-1,4-phenylene di-alpha-mercapto acrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) were compared to sodium N-benzyl-D-glucamine dithiocarbamate (NBG-DTC) an effective cadmium chelator, for their ability to mobilize Cd and influence the Cd induced tissue metallothionein (MT) in rats administered 109CdCl2, 72 hr earlier. MFA was almost as effective as NBG-DTC but more effective than MHA in enhancing urinary and faecal excretion of Cd, reducing tissue and blood levels of Cd and in lowering Cd induced increase in hepatic and renal MT contents. 1,2-PDMA and 1,4-PDMA were effective only in reducing the hepatic burden of Cd. The resuls do not indicate any direct relationship between the efficacy of alpha-mercapto-beta-aryl acrylic acids to decorporate body Cd and their lipophilic-hydrophilic character or number-arrangement of their sulfhydryl groups.     

Chelation in metal intoxication. XXV: Mercaptoacrylic acids as antidotes of lead and nickel toxicity

beta-1,2-Phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,2-PDMA), beta-1,4-phenylene di-alpha-mercaptoacrylic acid (1,4-PDMA) and alpha-mercapto-beta-(2-hydroxyphenyl) acrylic acid (MHA) were synthesized and compared with 2,3-dimercapto-propane-1-sulfonate (DMPS) for their ability to counteract toxic effects of lead and nickel in rats. 1,2-PDMA and DMPS were most effective in enhancing the excretion of metals, restoring most of the metal induced biochemical alterations and reducing the body burden of the metals; These observations confirm that the chelating agents with two adjacent sulfhydryl groups are better than those with non-adjacent SH groups as metal antidotes. The success of MHA in mobilizing the tissue metals and increasing their urinary excretion indicates participation of the hydroxy group on the benzene nucleus besides the SH group of the MHA molecule, in chelation of the metals.     

FORMATION OF A TERNARY COMPLEX WITH SERUM ALBUMIN: AN EXPLANATION FOR THE EFFECT OF α-MERCAPTO-β-(2-FURAN) ACRYLIC ACID ON RAT PLASMA ZINC CLEARANCE

1. Four, six and eight hours after gavage of rats with α-mercapto-β-(2-furan) acrylic acid (MFA) (25 mg/kg) serum zinc concentration was increased ten-fold over control levels and a mean molar ratio of 1 albumin:0.4 zinc:0.8 MFA was found for seventeen sera. 2. At pH 7.5 a maximum of 1 mole of MFA could be bound per mole of metal-free bovine serum albumin. 3. In the presence of zinc ion, albumin-zinc-MFA complexes formed, since for each mole of albumin-zinc complex an additional mole of MFA could be bound to albumin. Complexes up to a molar stoichiometry of 1 albumin:2 zinc:3 MFA were prepared. 4. MFA stabilized the albumin-zinc complex against dissociation. 5. Formation of similar complexes in vivo may account for the markedly delayed clearance of plasma zinc seen in rats administered β-aryl derivatives of α-mercaptoacrylic acid.     

UNUSUAL EFFECT OF SOME α-MERCAPTOACRYLIC ACIDS ON METABOLISM OF ZINC IN THE RAT

1. Gavage of rats with β-aryl derivatives of α-mercaptoacrylic acid resulted in pronounced and sustained elevation of serum zinc concentration. Greater than ten-fold increases above normal zinc levels were attained 2–8 h after doses of 50 mg/kg of the phenyl and furan derivatives. 2. These compounds were rapidly absorbed from the rat gastrointestinal tract and could be detected in serum for several days after a single dose. The return of serum zinc concentration to the normal level paralleled clearance of the mercaptoacrylic acid from plasma. 3. Close to 100% of the zinc and of the α-mercapto-β-(2-furan)acrylic acid (MFA) in serum 4 h after administration of the compound were bound to serum macromolecules. 4. MFA decreased excretion of endogenous zinc; it altered neither the gastrointestinal absorption of zinc nor serum concentrations of copper, albumin and total protein. 5. These compounds appear to mobilize zinc from tissue stores and retard zinc clearance from plasma.     

Massenspektrometrische Untersuchungen an isomeren α,β- und β, γ-ungesättigten Ketonen mit raumerfüllenden Substituenten

A Mass Spectrometric Study on Isomeric α,β- and β,γ-Unsaturated Ketones with Bulky Substituents The mass spectra of the α,β- and β,γ-unsaturated ketones 1-4 (scheme 1) are very different depending on the stereochemistry of the double bond. The E-configurated ketone 2 predominantly shows McLafferty fragmentation, whereas Z-configurated ketone 1 reveals ?-cleavage. In the β, γ-unsaturated ketones 3 and 4, mainly loss of the pertinent allyl radical by α-cleavage was observed.     

Structural versatility of peptides from Cα,α-disubstituted glycines: crystal-state conformational analysis of peptides from Cα-methylhomophenylalanine, (αMe)Hph

The molecular and crystal structures of the C^α-tetrasubstituted, δ-branched α-amino acid C^α-methyl-homophenylalanine, H-d -(αMe)Hph-OH, and three peptides (to the pentamer level), including the homotripeptide, have been determined by X-ray diffraction. The peptides are Z-l -(αMe)Hph-(l -Ala)₂-OMe, pBrBz-[d -(αMe)Hph]₃-OtBu and Ac-(Aib)₂-l -(αMe)Hph-(Aib)₂-OtBu. All the (αMe)Hph residues prefer φ,ψ torsion angles in the helical region of the conformational map. The two terminally blocked tripeptides adopt a β-bend conformation stabilized by a 1→4 C = O?H-N intramolecular H-bond. The terminally blocked pentapeptide is folded in a regular 3₁₀-helix. In general, the relationship between (αMe)Hph α-carbon chirality and helix handedness is the same as that exhibited by protein amino acids. A comparison is also made with the conclusions extracted from published work on peptides from other types of C^α-alkylated aromatic α-amino acids. © Munksgaard 1996.     

Differences between α-Adrenergic and β-Adrenergic Inotropic Effects in Rat Heart Papillary Muscles

Abstract: α-And β-adrenergic inotropic effects have been shown to be qualitatively different. In order to further characterize these differences we compared the mechanical responses to α- and β-adrenoceptor stimulation, respectively, in electrically driven left ventricular papillary muscles from rat heart. The muscles were stimulated by either isoprenaline (β-adrenoceptor stimulation), phenylephrine in the presence of propranolol (α-adrenoceptor stimulation) or phenylephrine alone (combined α- and β-adrenoceptor stimulation). Isometric tension (T), rate of rise and decline of tension (first derivative = T′) and rate of transition from tension rise to tension decline (negative part of second derivative = T″) were recorded. These recordings disclosed qualitative differences between the α- and β-inotropic response both in dose-response and time course experiments. Maximal β-adrenoceptor stimulation caused a small increase in T_max (18%), intermediate increases in T′_max (45%) and T′_min (68%) and a considerable increase in T″_min (145%) (“β-type” effect). Maximal α-adrenoceptor stimulation increased all qualities by about the same degree (23–24%) (“α-type” effect). While β-adrenoceptor stimulation gave a dose-dependent and pronounced increase in the ratio T″_min/T′_max (relaxation-onset index), α-adrenoceptor stimulation decreased it to subcontrol values and phenylephrine alone gave a small dose-dependent increase at higher doses. The time course of the α-adrenoceptor stimulation was characterized by a transient decrease in all qualities followed by an increase which reached maximum at 4–5 min. β-Adrenoceptor stimulation gave a monophasic response which reached maximum after 1–2 min. Phenylephrine alone gave mainly an “α-type” effect although T″_min increased significantly more in the absence than in the presence of propranolol and T″_min/T′_max showed a small increase which developed slowly. Thus β-adrenoceptor stimulation activated relaxation compared to contraction by a higher degree than did α-adrenoceptor stimulation. This probably reflects different mechanisms of action. While the α-effect may rely primarily on an increased calcium influx, the β-effect probably is the final result of several subcellular effects of cyclic AMP.     

Synthesis and secondary structural studies of penta(acetyl-Hmb)Aβ(1–40)

Abstract: The Fmoc solid phase synthesis of Aβ(1–40), a strongly aggregating peptide found in Alzheimer’s disease brain, was performed using 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl (Hmb) backbone amide protection. Hmb-Gly residues were incorporated using N^α-Fmoc-Hmb-Gly-OH rather than N,O-bisFmoc-Hmb-Gly-OPfp. Amino acid acylation of the sterically hindered Hmb-amino acids was monitored using ‘semi-on-line’ MALDI-TOF-MS in a novel application of this technique which significantly simplified the successful incorporation of these residues. Standard coupling conditions in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) were used throughout the synthesis. Comparative structural studies of acetyl-Hmb-protected and native Aβ(1–40) were performed to investigate the structural basis of Hmb-mediated disaggregation. The incorporation of backbone amide protection was observed by circular dichroism spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis to strongly affect the solution structure of Aβ(1–40). Despite the reported structure-breaking activity of Hmb groups, penta(acetyl-Hmb)Aβ(1–40) was found to adopt both α-helix and intermolecular β-sheet conformations. In 100% TFE a mixed α-helix/random coil structure was formed by the protected peptide indicating reduced α-helical propensity relative to Aβ(1–40). The protected peptide formed β-sheet structures in aqueous buffer. Gel electrophoresis indicated that, unlike native Aβ(1–40), penta(acetyl-Hmb)Aβ(1–40) did not form large aggregate species.     

Synthesis and biological activity of [L-hydroxyproline]3-tuftsin analogue and its α- or β-O-D-glucosylated derivatives

Syntheses are described of the Hyp³-tuftsin analogue and of its derivatives α- or β-O-glycosylated at the side chain function of the hydroxyproline residue. The carbohydrate-free tetrapeptide was prepared by reacting Z-Thr-Lys(Z)-OH with H-Hyp-Arg(NO₂)-OBzl by the mixed anhydride procedure. In the synthesis of the α-glycosylated analogue the O-glycosyl amino acid was incorporated by reacting Boc-(Glcα+β)Hyp-OH with H-Arg(NO₂)-OBzl through the same procedure. The α-glucosylated dipeptide was isolated from the diastereomeric mixture, selectively deblocked, and acylated with Z-Thr-Lys(Z)-OH by the mixed anhydride procedure. In the preparation of the β-glucosylated analogue the BOP procedure was used for reacting Boc-[Glc(Ac)₄β]Hyp-OH with H-Arg(NO)₂-OBzl was well as for the final coupling to tetrapeptide. Removal of protecting groups from crude tetrapeptides was achieved by catalytic hydrogenation. Deacetylation of the sugar moiety of the β-glucosylated tetrapeptide was achieved by treatment with sodium methoxide in methanol. The synthetic compounds were isolated by ion exchange chromatography, and characterized by elemental analysis, amino acid analysis, optical rotation and proton NMR. Their capacity to evoke the release of interleukin 1 from mouse peritoneal macrophages and to modulate immunogenic activity of antigen-fed cells was evaluated, in comparison with tuftsin and rigin. All of the analogues were found to possess tuftsin-like activity.     

In vivo diminution by chelators of snake venom-provoked hemorrhage and in vitro inhibition of proteolytic activity

Topical application of alcohol-soluble metal-complexing agents, particularly α-mercapto-β-(2-furyl)acrylic acid (MFA)1, diminished the severity of hemorrhages caused by s.c. injection to mice of thirteen hemorrhagic pit viper venoms and two viper venoms. Metal dependency of the alkaline protease activity ranged from 0 to 100% for these venoms, plus one non-hemorrhagic pit viper venom; MFA completely inhibited this activity in six pit viper and two viper venoms. The presence of zinc-dependent proteases in venoms of Crotalus atrox and Bitis arietans was indicated. Less compelling evidence suggested the presence of zinc metalloproteases in at least 11 of 14 other venoms. The potencies of hemorrhagic and alkaline protease activities were not related in the venoms and we did not investigate if metalloproteases were the targets of chelator antagonism of hemorrhage development. Topically active chelators may be useful as adjunctive therapy in some snake envenomations.     

Agonist function of the recombinant α4β3δ GABAA receptor is dependent on the human and rat variants of the α4‐subunit

1. It is known that the α₄‐subunit is likely to occur in the brain predominantly in α₄β₃δ receptors at extrasynaptic sites. Recent studies have revealed that the α₁‐, α₄‐, γ₂‐ and δ‐subunits may colocalize extrasynaptically in dentate granule cells of the hippocampus. In the present study, we characterized a series of recombinant GABA_A receptors containing human (H) and rat (R) α₁/α₄‐, β₂/β₃‐ and γ_2S/δ‐subunits in Xenopus oocytes using the two‐electrode voltage‐clamp technique. 2. Both Hα₁β₃δ and Hα₄β₃γ_2S receptors were sensitive to activation by GABA and pentobarbital. Contrary to earlier findings that the α₄β₃δ combination was more sensitive to agonist action than the α₄β₃γ_2S receptor, we observed extremely small GABA‐ and pentobarbital‐activated currents at the wild‐type Hα₄β₃δ receptor. However, GABA and pentobarbital activated the wild‐type Rα₄β₃δ receptor with high potency (EC₅₀ = 0.5 ± 0.7 and 294 ± 5 μmol/L, respectively). 3. Substituting the Hα₄ subunit with Rα₄ conferred a significant increase in activation on the GABA and pentobarbital site in terms of reduced EC₅₀ and increased I_max. When the Hα₄ subunit was combined with the Rβ₃ and Rδ subunit in a heteropentameric form, the amplitude of GABA‐ and pentobarbital‐activated currents increased significantly compared with the wild‐type Hα₄β₃δ receptor. 4. Thus, the results indicate that the Rα₄β₃δ, Hα₁β₃δ and Hα₄β₃γ_2S combinations may contribute to functions of extrasynaptic GABA_A receptors. The presence of the Rα₄ subunit at recombinant GABA_A receptors containing the δ‐subunit is a strong determinant of agonist action. The recombinant Hα₄β₃δ receptor is a less sensitive subunit composition in terms of agonist activation.     

Synthesis of α-, β- and cyclic spaglumic acids

A short, one-pot synthesis of α- and β-spaglumic acids (N-acetyl-L-aspartyl-L-glutamic acids, NAAGA) has been developed based on ultrasound-promoted acetylation of aspartic acid, followed by dehydration, condensation with glutamic acid dibenzyl ester and hydrogenolysis. The α- and β-peptides were separated by anion-exchange chromatography. The α-peptide shows a remarkable tendency to cyclize during methylation with diazomethane and yields cyclic N-acetylaspartylglutamic acid dimethyl ester, which could be hydrolysed to the hitherto unreported diketopiperazine dicarboxylic acid, cyclic spaglumic acid (cyclic NAAGA).     

DESIGN AND SYNTHESIS OF POTENT IN VIVO ANTAGONISTS OF OXYTOCIN

We have previously shown that the substitution of 8-ornithine and 2-O-methyltyrosine alone and in combination in [1-deaminopenicillamine] oxytocin (dPOT) brought about enhancements in antagonistic potencies to responses to oxytocin in vivo. To explore the effects of these subtitutions in analogs of dPOT containing larger alkyl substitutents on the β carbon at position 1 and on the tyrosine residue at position two, the following six analogs were synthesized: [1-(β-mercapto-β, β-diethylpropionic acid), 8-ornithine] vasotocin (1, dEt₂OVT); [1-β-mercapto-β, β-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 8-ornithine] vasotocin [2, d(CH₂)₅OVT); [1-β-mercapto-β, β-diethylpropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine]vasotocin [3, dEt₂ Tyr(Me)OVT]; [1-(β-mercapto-β, β-diethylpropionic acid), 2-O-ethyltyrosine, 8-ornithine] vasotocin [4, dEt₂ Tyr(Et)OVT]; [1-β-mercapto-β', β-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine] vasotocin [5, d(CH₂)₅ Tyr(Me)OVT]; [1-β-mercapto-β, β-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-O-methyltyrosine, 8-ornithine] vasotocin [6, d(CH₂)₅ Tyr(Et)OVT]. The required protected intermediates were synthesized by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and by individual 8 + 1 couplings in solution. All six analogs antagonize the actions of oxytocin on the rat uterus in the absence of Mg²⁺, in the presence of 0.5 mM Mg²⁺ and in situ. They also antagonize milk ejection responses to oxytocin, and the vasopressor responses to arginine vasopressin, and all have very low antidiuretic activities. With pA₂ values of 7.35 ± 0.08 and 7.37 ± 0.17, respectively, compounds 3 and 5 are the two most potent in vivo antagonists of oxytocin reported to date.     

Improved synthesis and resolution of β-(3-pyridyl)-DL-α-alanine

β-Benzamido-α-(3-pyridyl)-DL-α-alanine hydrochloride was synthesized from 3-pyridinecarboxyaldehyde via the azlactone which was hydrolyzed to the acrylic acid before hydrogenation. The methyl ester was effectively resolved with subtilisin. The optical purity of the D-isomer was established, since the D-isomer was used in synthesis of antagonists of the luteinizing hormone releasing hormone.     

Homologation of α-amino acids to β-amino acids using Fmoc-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters

The homologation of α-amino acids to β-amino acids by the two-step Arndt–Eister method is achieved by using Fmoc-α-amino acid pentafluorophenyl esters for the acylation of diazomethane, synthesizing the key intermediates Fmoc-aminoacyldiazomethanes as crystalline solids in good yields and purity.     

Disposition of 3H-enisoprost,a gastric antisecretory prostaglandin,in healthy humans

1. After oral administration of ³H-enisoprost (450 μg) to five healthy men, as a solution in capsules, peak ³H levels of 5624 ± 566 pg equiv./ml (mean ± S.E.M.) were reached within one hour. No unchanged drug was detected in plasma.

2. Enisoprost was rapidly de-esterified to SC-36067 [(±)11α, 16ζ-dihydroxy-16-methyl-9-oxoprost-4Z, 13E-dien-1-oic acid], a pharmacologically active analogue, which reached peak concentrations of 651±200 pg/ml within 20 min of dosing. SC-36067 was eliminated metabolically, with a half-life of 1.61 h, by a combination of β-oxidation, β-oxidation and 9-keto-reduction.

3. After nine days 59.0±2.98% and 17.4±1.57% of the dose was excreted in urine and faeces respectively. The majority of this excretion was complete in two days.

4. Five urinary metabolites were identified by GC-MS. These were (±)3-[2β-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-3α-hydroxy-5-oxo-1α-cyclopentanyl]propanoic acid (SC-41411; 3.6% dose), (±)3-[3α,5-dihydroxy-2β-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-1α-cyclopentanyl]propanoic acid (SC-41411 PGF analogue; 4.8% dose), (±)3-[2β-(8-carboxy-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-3α-hydroxy-5-oxo-1α-cyclopentanyl] propanoic acid (SC-41411-16-carboxylic acid; 22% dose), (±)3-[2β-(8-carboxy-4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-3α,5-dihydroxy-1α-cylopentanyl]propanoic acid (SC-41411 PGF analogue-16-carboxylic acid; 8.5% dose) and its γ lactone (2.6% dose).

5. These metabolites were also identified chromatographically in plasma, as were SC-36067, (±)3-[2β-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-5-oxo-1α-cyclopent-3-enyl]propaloic acid and (±)3-[2β-(4-hydroxy-4-methyl-1E-octenyl)-5-oxo-cyclopent-1-enyl]propanoic acid.

6. Some 5-10% of the dose was excreted in urine as tritiated water, indicating that oxidation of the 11α-hydroxy group in SC-36067 or its metabolites also occurred.     

Synthesis and properties of human β-endorphin-(1–9) and its analogs

Four analogs of human β-endorphin (β_h-EP) were synthesized by the solid-phase method: β_h-EP-(1–9) (I), [D-Ala²]-β_h-EP-(1–9) (II), [Gln⁸]-β_h-EP-(1–9) (III), and [D-Ala², Gln⁸]-β_h-EP-(1–9) (IV). Measurement in a radioreceptor binding assay with use of tritiated β_h-EP as primary ligand gave relative potencies as follows: Met-enkephalin, 100; I, 76; II, 100; III, 200; IV, 200. Two new amino acid derivatives were prepared and used for synthesis of the analogs: N^α-t-butyloxycarbonyl-O-(cyclopentyl) -tyrosine and N^α-t-butyloxycarbonyl-γ-(cyclopentyl)-glutamic acid.     

Two new triterpenoids from the resin of Boswellia carterii

Two new triterpenoids, 3-oxotirucalla-7,9(11),24-trien-21-oic acid (1) and 18Hα,3β,20β-ursanediol (2), along with 15 known triterpenes, α-amyrin, α-boswellic acid, β-boswellic acid, acetyl α-boswellic acid, acetyl β-boswellic acid, 9,11-dehydro-β-boswellic acid, 9,11-dehydro-α-boswellic acid, acetyl 11α-methoxy-β-boswellic acid, 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, acetyl 11-keto-β-boswellic acid, acetyl α-elemolic acid, 3β-hydroxytirucalla-8,24-dien-21-oic acid, elemonic acid, 3α-hydroxytirucalla-7,24-dien-21-oic acid, and 3α-hydroxytirucall-24-en-21-oic acid, were isolated from the resin of Boswellia carterii Birdw.