Synthesis of sulfur-containing analogues of bestatin. Inhibition of aminopeptidases by alpha-thiolbestatin analogues

Sulfur-containing amino acid and peptide analogues of bestatin [((2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenyl-butanoyl)-L-leucine] (1) have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of aminopeptidase M (AP-M), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and aminopeptidase B (AP-B). The 2-thiolbestatin analogue (6) was found to be a potent inhibitor of all three aminopeptidases (AP-M, Ki = 4.4 microM; LAP, Ki = 0.55 microM; AP-B, Ki = 4.6 nM) but only a slightly better inhibitor of these aminopeptidases than the parent hydroxy-containing compound 1. Synthetic analogues of L-leucinethiol(4), a strong inhibitor of aminopeptidases, were prepared in which the carbon alpha to the thiol groups was substituted with methyl, methyl carboxylate, and carboxamide derivatives and found to be much weaker inhibitors of all aminopeptidases. A thioamide analogue of bestatin (49) is a modest inhibitor of AP-M (Ki = 40 microM), LAP (Ki = 0.33 microM), and AP-B (Ki = 2.4 microM). These results suggest that the sulfur atoms in 2-thiolbestatin and bestatin thioamide do not interact strongly with the active-site zinc atom of these aminopeptidases when the inhibitors are bound to the enzyme. These results are not consistent with proposed models for the inhibition of aminopeptidases by bestatin and related analogues.     

Structure-activity analysis of binding kinetics for NMDA receptor competitive antagonists: the influence of conformational restriction.

1. The kinetics of action of 17 structurally related NMDA receptor competitive antagonists were measured under voltage clamp in mouse hippocampal neurones. Analysis of the response to rapid changes in antagonist concentration during constant application of agonist was used to estimate microscopic association (kon) and dissociation (koff) rate constants for antagonist binding, assuming a two-equivalent site model for competitive antagonism. Dose-inhibition curves were analysed to estimate antagonist equilibrium dissociation constants. 2. For a series of 11 omega-phosphono, alpha-amino acids kon and koff varied 26 and 107 fold respectively. Rapid association and dissociation rate constants were obtained for flexible antagonist molecules such as D-2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (D-AP7): kon 1.4 x 10(7) M-1 s-1; koff 20.3 s-1. For conformationally restrained molecules such as 3S,4aR,6S,8aR-6-phosphonomethyl-decahydroisoquinoline- 3-carboxylic acid (LY 235959), association and dissociation rate constants were much slower: kon 1.1 x 10(6) M-1 s-1; koff 0.2 s-1. For the D- and L-isomers of 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) estimates for kon were similar, but for the L-isomer koff was 10 fold faster than for the D-isomer. 3. For 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5) and its piperidine derivative cis-4-(phosphonomethyl)piperidine-2-carboxylic acid (CGS 19755), an increase in chain length of two methylene groups between the omega-phosphono and alpha-carboxylate moieties caused a 1.6 to 1.8 fold decrease in kon with little change in koff. In contrast, for AP5, CPP and its omega-carboxylate analogue, addition of a double bond close to the phosphonate moiety caused a 1.3 to 1.6 fold increase in kon. 4. For antagonists with an omega-tetrazole moiety, kon and koff were 2.8-4.6 times faster than for the parent omega-phosphono compounds. A similar, but smaller increase in kon and koff was observed for antagonists with an omega-carboxylate moiety. 5. The slow kinetics of action of potent NMDA receptor antagonists were not an artefact of buffered diffusion. In neurones equilibrated with 200 microM D-AP7, 2 microM LY 235959 and 10 microM NMDA, a transient agonist response was recorded following a rapid switch to D-AP7-free solution. This can only be explained by differences in the binding kinetics of AP7 and LY 235959, since at equilibrium, with these concentrations, either antagonist essentially eliminates the agonist response to 10 microM NMDA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inhibition of aminopeptidases by amastatin and bestatin derivatives. Effect of inhibitor structure on slow-binding processes

Amastatin [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoyl-L-valyl-L-valyl-L- aspartic acid] and bestatin [(2S,3R)-3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutanoyl-L-leucine] are slow-binding, competitive inhibitors of aminopeptidase M (AP-M) with net inhibition constants (Ki) of 1.9 X 10(-8) and 4.1 X 10(-6) M, respectively. The effect of inhibitor structure on net Ki and on slow-binding inhibition was evaluated for analogues of both inhibitors on AP-M and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP). The (2S)-hydroxyl group contributes to the stabilization of a collision complex [EI], which is formed rapidly. In contrast, increasing the peptide chain length of the inhibitor produces more potent inhibitors as a consequence of a slower binding process. A statine analogue of amastatin [(3S,4S)-Sta-Val-Val-Asp] stimulated rather than inhibited LAP. AP-M binds tri- and tetrapeptide inhibitors more strongly than dipeptide inhibitors, whereas LAP binds dipeptide inhibitors more strongly. The difference in binding can be used to distinguish cytosolic from membrane-bound aminopeptidases.     

Probing binding requirements of type I and type II isoforms of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase with adenine-modified nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide analogues

Novel tiazofurin adenine dinucleotide (TAD) analogues 25-33 containing a substituent at C2 of the adenine ring have been synthesized as inhibitors of the two isoforms of human IMP-dehydrogenase. The 2-ethyl TAD analogue 33 [Ki = 1 nM (type I), Ki = 14 nM (type II)] was found to be the most potent. It did not inhibit three other cellular dehydrogenases up to 50 microM. Mycophenolic adenine bis(phosphonate)s containing a 2-phenyl (37) or 2-ethyl group (38), were prepared as metabolically stable compounds, both nanomolar inhibitors. Compound 38 [Ki = 16 nM (type I), Ki = 38 nM (type II)] inhibited proliferation of leukemic K562 cells (IC50 = 1.1 microM) more potently than tiazofurin (IC50 = 12.4 microM) or mycophenolic acid (IC50 = 7.7 microM).     

The most potent organophosphorus inhibitors of leucine aminopeptidase. Structure-based design,chemistry, and activity

A new class of very potent inhibitors of cytosol leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), a member of the metalloprotease family, is described. The X-ray structure of bovine lens leucine aminopeptidase complexed with the phosphonic acid analogue of leucine (LeuP) was used for structure-based design of novel LAP inhibitors and for the analysis of their interactions with the enzyme binding site. The inhibitors were designed by modification of phosphonic group in the LeuP structure toward finding the substituents bound at the S' side of the enzyme. This resulted in two classes of compounds, the phosphonamidate and phosphinate dipeptide analogues, which were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the enzyme. The in vitro kinetic studies for the phosphinate dipeptide analogues revealed that these compounds belong to the group of the most effective LAP inhibitors found so far. Their further modification at the P1 position resulted in more active inhibitors, hPheP[CH(2)]Phe and hPheP[CH(2)]Tyr (K(i) values 66 nM and 67 nM, respectively, for the mixture of four diastereomers). The binding affinities of these inhibitors toward the enzyme are the highest, if considering all compounds containing a phosphorus atom that mimic the transition state of the reaction catalyzed by LAP. To evaluate selectivity of the designed LAP inhibitors, additional tests toward aminopeptidase N (APN) were performed. The key feature, which determines their selectivity, is structure at the P1' position. Aromatic and aliphatic substituents placed at this position strongly interact with the LAP S1' binding pocket, while a significant increase in binding affinity toward APN was observed for compounds containing aromatic versus leucine side chains at the P1' position. The most selective inhibitor, hPheP[CH(2)]Leu, binds to LAP with 15 times higher affinity than to APN. One of the studied compounds, hPheP[CH(2)]Tyr, appeared to be very potent inhibitor of APN (K(i) = 36 nM for the mixture of four diastereomers). The most promising LAP inhibitors designed by computer-aided approach, the phosphonamidate dipeptide analogues, were unstable at pH below 12, because of the P-N bond decomposition, which excluded the possibility of determination of their binding affinities toward LAP.     

Methotrexate analogues-27. Dual inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase and folylpolyglutamate synthetase by methotrexate and aminopterin analogues with a gamma-phosphonate group in the side chain

gamma-Phosphonate analogues of methotrexate (MTX) and aminopterin (AMT) were synthesized from 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroic acid and 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-formylpteroic acid, respectively, by reaction with methyl D,L-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate followed by gentle alkaline hydrolysis. The products were compared with the corresponding D,L-homocysteic acid derivatives as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase and folylpolyglutamate synthetase, and as inhibitors of cell growth in culture. The gamma-phosphonates were somewhat less active than either the gamma-sulfonates or the parent drugs as inhibitors of murine dihydrofolate reductase. The MTX gamma-sulfonate and gamma-phosphonate analogues were equally inhibitory toward mouse liver folylpolyglutamate synthetase (Ki = 190 microM), but in the AMT series the gamma-phosphonate (Ki = 8.4 microM) was more potent than the gamma-sulfonate (Ki = 45 microM). The AMT analogues were consistently more inhibitory than the MTX analogues against cultured L1210 murine leukemia cells, but neither the gamma-phosphonates nor the gamma-sulfonates were as potent as their respective parent drugs. The gamma-phosphonate analogue of MTX was three times more potent than MTX against the MTX-resistant mutant line L1210/R81, but the AMT gamma-phosphonate was less potent than AMT; however, these differences were small in comparison with the level of resistance to all these compounds in the L1210/R81 line. The results suggest that N10-methyl and N10-unsubstituted compounds altered at the gamma-position do not necessarily follow identical structure-activity patterns in every test system.     

Design and synthesis of 4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-ones as potent alternate substrate inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase

4H-3,1-Benzoxazin-4-ones are alternate substrate inhibitors of the serine proteinase human leukocyte elastase (HL elastase) and form acyl enzyme intermediates during enzyme catalysis. We have synthesized a large variety of benzoxazinones using specific methods that have been adapted to achieve the pattern of ring substitution dictated by theoretical considerations. The results of the inhibition of HL elastase by 175 benzoxazinones are reported herein with reference to hydrophobicity constants D, alkaline hydrolysis rates kOH-, inhibition constants Ki, and their component acylation and deacylation rate constants, kon and koff, respectively. The ranges for the compounds are considerable; alkaline hydrolysis rates and kon span 6, koff covers 5, and ki spans 8 orders of magnitude. Multiple regression on this large data set has been used to isolate the contributions of electronic and steric effects, as well as other factors specific to compound stability and elastase inhibition. Essentially, a simple electronic parameter is sufficient to account for almost all the variance in the alkaline hydrolysis data, indicating that electronic factors are the major determinants of this type of benzoxazinone reactivity. Factors that significantly enhance the potency of benzoxazinones I are R5 alkyl groups and electron withdrawal by R2. Bulk in R7 and R8 and compound hydrophobicity are not significant, but substitution in R6 is highly unfavorable as are substituents linked via carbon to C2. The physiochemical factors that underlie these trends in Ki are further analyzed in terms of equations that describe kon and koff. A conclusion that emerges is that chemically stable, potent benzoxazinone inhibitors of HL elastase with inhibition constants in the nanomolar range can be designed with (1) R5 alkyl groups to inhibit enzyme-catalyzed deacylation, (2) small alkyl substituents linked via heteroatoms to C2 to enhance acylation and limit deacylation rates, and (3) strongly electron-donating groups at C7 to stabilize the oxazinone ring to nucleophilic attack. Thus, 2-(isopropylamino)-5-n-propyl-7-(dimethylamino)benzoxazinone 95 has kOH = 0.01 M-1 s-1, which extrapolates to a half-life at pH 7.4 of over 8.5 years, and 2-ethoxy-5-ethylbenzoxazinone 38 has Ki = 42 pM.     

Novel mycophenolic adenine bis(phosphonate)s as potential immunosuppressants.

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is the most potent and specific inhibitor of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). This compound was reported to bind the NAD site of IMPDH and mimic the binding of nicotinamide moiety of nicotinamide adenine dicnucleotide. We linked MPA derivatives with the adenine moiety of NAD through a methylenebis(phonphonate) birdge to form novel mycophenolic adenine dinucleotides (MADs) which resemble well the intact natural cofactor. The MAD analogues differ by the length of the side chain (linker) between the aromatic ring of mycophenolic derivative and the beta-phosphorus atom of the adenosine bis(phosphonate) moiety. Regardless of the linker size, MADs were found to be potent inhibitors of human IMPDH type I and type II with Ki's = 0.25-0.52 microM, an order of magnitude less potent than MPA itself (Ki = 0.01-0.04 microM). The growth of K562 cells was inhibited by MPA (IC50 = 0.03 microM) and the MAD analogues (IC50 = 0.01-1.15 microM) with a similar potency. Accordingly, a suppression of alloantigen- induced proliferation of human lymphocytes by the MAD analogues at concentration of 10-20 microM was equally effective as that observed for MPA. In contrast to MPA, MAD analogues were found to be resistant to glucuronidation in vitro. Since therapeutic potential of MPA is limited by its undesirable glucuronidation, the glucuronidation- resistant MAD analogues may be superior immunosuppressants if they are not glucuronidated in vivo.     

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel organophosphorus inhibitors of bacterial ureases

A new group of organophosphorus inhibitors of urease, P-methyl phosphinic acids was discovered by using the structure based inhibitor design approach. Several derivatives of the lead compound, aminomethyl(P-methyl)phosphinic acid, were synthesized successfully. Their potency was evaluated in vitro against urease from Bacillus pasteurii and Proteus vulgaris. The studied compounds constitute a group of competitive, reversible inhibitors of bacterial ureases. Obtained thiophosphinic analogues of the most effective structures exhibited kinetic characteristics of potent, slow binding urease inhibitors, with Ki = 170 nM (against B. pasteurii enzyme) for the most active N-( N'-benzyloxycarbonylglycyl)aminomethyl(P-methyl)phosphinothioic acid.     

Action of 4-amino-2-fluorobutanoic acid and other structural analogues on gamma-aminobutyric acid transport by channel catfish brain

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain. The synaptic action of GABA is terminated by a sodium- and chloride-linked transport system. The GABA transporter is known as GAT and several isoforms have been identified. Many components of a GABA neurotransmitter system, including a GABA transport system, are present in channel catfish brain. Using a synaptosomal preparation of catfish brain, we examined the kinetics of inhibition of GABA transport by 4-amino-2-fluorobutanoic acid and several other structural analogues of GABA. The transport constant (Kt) for GABA uptake was 4.46 microM, and 4-amino-2-fluorobutanoic acid produced a noncompetitive type of inhibition (Ki = 12.5 microM). The most potent inhibitors were tiagabine (Ki = 0.23 microM) and (R,S)nipecotic acid (Ki = 2.2 microM), both of which exhibited competitive inhibition. Like 4-amino-2-fluorobutanoic acid, homo-beta-proline (Ki = 9.4 microM) inhibited noncompetitively. Other analogues exhibited competitive inhibition. These observations suggest that the GABA transport system in channel catfish is remarkably similar to that in mammalian brain.     

Novel methylenephosphophosphonate analogues of mycophenolic adenine dinucleotide. Inhibition of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase

Novel methylenephosphophosphonate analogues of mycophenolic adenine dinucleotide (MAD) have been prepared as potential inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase. A coupling of the mycophenolic (hydroxymethyl)phosphonate 6 with the phosphitylated adenosine analogue 11 followed by oxidation and deprotection afforded the phosphophosphonate 8. A similar coupling between adenosine (hydroxymethyl)phosphonate 10 and phosphitylated mycophenolic alcohol 5 gave the corresponding phosphophosphonate 13. Both 8 and 13 (Ki = 20-87 nM) were found to be the most potent cofactor type inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase.     

Renin inhibitors. Synthesis of transition-state analogue inhibitors containing phosphorus acid derivatives at the scissile bond

The synthesis of five amino phosphorus derivatives, 1a-e, is described. The derivatives were incorporated into a series (18) of analogues of the 5-14 portion of angiotensinogen, in most cases at the scissile Leu-Val bond. The resultant compounds were tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit human plasma renin. Replacement of the scissile bond with the phosphinic analogue of Leu10-Val11 (1b) gave the most potent inhibitors, having IC50 = 7.5 x 10(-8) M for H-Pro-His-Pro-Phe-His-(1b)-Ile-His-Lys-OH and IC50 = 1.0 x 10(-7) M for Z-Arg-Arg-Pro-Phe-His-(1b)-Ile-His-NH2. The shorter phosphonic acid sequence Z-Pro-Phe-His-(1d) retained biological activity with an IC50 = 6.4 x 10(-6) M.     

Novel mycophenolic adenine bis(phosphonate) analogues as potential differentiation agents against human leukemia.

Novel mycophenolic adenine dinucleotide (MAD) analogues have been prepared as potential inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH). MAD analogues resemble nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide binding at the cofactor binding domain of IMPDH; however, they cannot participate in hydride transfer and therefore inhibit the enzyme. The methylenebis(phosphonate) analogues C2-MAD and C4-MAD were obtained by coupling 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine 5'-methylenebis(phosphonate) (22) with mycophenolic alcohols 20 and 21 in the presence of diisopropylcarbodiimide followed by deprotection. C2-MAD was also prepared by coupling of mycophenolic methylenebis(phosphonate) derivative 30 with 2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine. Compound 30 was conveniently synthesized by the treatment of benzyl-protected mycophenolic alcohol 27 with a commercially available methylenebis(phosphonic dichloride) under Yoshikawa's reaction conditions. C2-MAD and C4-MAD were found to inhibit the growth of K562 cells (IC(50) = 0.7 microM and IC(50) = 0.1 microM, respectively) as potently as mycophenolic acid (IC(50) = 0.3 microM). In addition, C2-MAD and C4-MAD triggered vigorous differentiation of K562 cells an order of magnitude more potently than tiazofurin, and MAD analogues were resistant to glucuronidation in vitro. These results show that C2-MAD and C4-MAD may be of therapeutic interest in the treatment of human leukemias.     

Conformational and steric aspects of phenylethanolamine and phenylethylamine analogues as substrates or inhibitors of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase

The conformational and steric aspects of binding to phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT; EC 2.1.1.28) for phenylethanolamine substrates and phenylethylamine inhibitors were probed with three conformationally defined analogues (11, 12, and 13) of phenylethylamine (1) and phenylethanolamine (6) containing the benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octane skeleton. The 2-aminotetralin (2AT) moiety in conformationally defined analogues 11, 12, and 13 exists in a half-chair conformation with an equatorial amino group. Although conformationally restricted phenylethylamine analogue 2AT (3, Ki = 6.8 microM) and conformationally restricted phenylethanolamine analogues (cis)- and (trans)-2-amino-1-tetralol (9, Km = 22 microM; Vmax = 0.15; 100 X Vmax/Km = 0.68; 10, Ki = 9.4 microM) are good ligands for PNMT, none of the analogues 11, 12, and 13 showed activity as a substrate of PNMT. The fact that 11 (Ki = 206 microM) is more potent than analogues 4 (Ki = 1296 microM) and 5 (Ki = 479 microM), with a half-boat 2AT moiety, suggests that PNMT preferentially binds the half-chair conformation of 2AT at the active site. This is consistent with previous findings that a fully extended conformation for the aminoethyl side chain of phenylethylamine inhibitors is optimal for PNMT binding. The reduced activity of 11, 12 (Ki = 1246 microM), and 13 (Ki = 3000 microM), compared with 2AT and (cis)- and (trans)-2-amino-1-tetralol (9 and 10) is consistent with a negative steric interference from the extra ethano bridge in 11, 12, and 13. The results from 11, 12, and 13, combined with previous findings, suggest that PNMT interacts better with relatively planar ligands.     

Design and synthesis of new transition-state analogue inhibitors of aspartate transcarbamylase

Six transition-state or bisubstrate analogue inhibitors (6-11) have been designed, synthesized, and tested against aspartate transcarbamoylase (ATCase). Several of these inhibitors, 7-9, were designed as analogues of N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA, 5a) and incorporated a tetrahedral sulfur group (-S-, -SO-, -SO2-) alpha to a phosphonic acid moiety. Synthesis of 7-9 was accomplished with a new reagent, diethyl (mercaptomethyl)phosphonate (19). Thiol addition of 19 to diethyl itaconate or other olefins proves a new general synthetic route to (thiomethyl)-phosphonate analogues of acyl phosphates or diphosphate anhydrides. Analysis of the observed inhibition kinetics with ATCase and structural modeling studies indicate that increased steric size of the sulfur moieties in the sulfide 7, sulfoxide 8, sulfone 9, and sulfonamide 10 may cause these compounds to be less potent inhibitors of Escherichia coli ATCase than N-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA, 5a). The pKa of the carbonyl groups (or S-analogue thereof) may be a key factor in determining the affinity of ATCase for inhibitor. The distance from the alpha-carbon to the phosphorus atom was judged to be a less important factor in determining the tightness of inhibitor binding since no significant change in the inhibition constant (Ki) occurred upon elimination of the alpha-methylene group in sulfide 7 to give sulfide 11. The ester analogue of PALA (5a), O-(phosphonoacetyl)-L-malic acid (6), exhibited a Ki of 2 X 10(-6) M.     

The kinetic mechanism of inhibition of human leukocyte elastase by MR889, a new cyclic thiolic compound

The cyclic thiolic compound 2-[3-thiophencarboxythio]-N-[dihydro-2(3H)-thiophenone-3-il] - propionamide (MR889) was investigated as inhibitor of endopeptidases. The activity of bovine pancreatic alpha-chymotrypsin, human leukocyte cathepsin G and rabbit liver cathepsin B was not affected by MR889, whereas porcine pancreatic elastase and human leukocyte elastase were inhibited. The kinetic mechanism of inhibition of human leukocyte elastase was of the reversible, slow-binding, fully competitive type. The rate constants for complex formation between MR889 and leukocyte elastase, determined by pre-steady-state kinetic analysis in the presence of a tetrapeptide substrate at 37 degrees and pH 7.40, were kon = 2363 +/- 15 M-1 sec-1, koff = 3.01 +/- 0.34 x 10(-3) sec-1. The inhibition equilibrium constant was Ki = koff/kon = 1.27 +/- 0.15 microM. Ki, calculated from steady-state kinetic experiments, was 1.38 microM. MR889 also inhibited the elastolytic activity of leukocyte elastase, as determined with insoluble elastin as the substrate.     

Inhibition of aspartic proteinases by peptides containing lysine and ornithine side-chain analogues of statine

The synthesis of two new analogues of statine are reported corresponding to analogues with the lysine side chain and the ornithine side chain. These analogues were designed on the basis of substrate specificity and molecular modeling of three-dimensional structures of the penicillopepsin: Iva-Val-Sta-OEt crystal structure. 4,8-Diamino-3-hydroxyoctanoic acid [LySta] and 4,7-diamino-3-hydroxyheptanoic acid [OrnSta] were synthesized respectively from Boc-Lys(Z)-al and Boc-Orn(Bzl,Z)-al by addition of lithio ethyl acetate to the aldehyde group. The [LySta] derivative was converted to the trichloroethoxycarbonyl derivative and separated into the corresponding 3S,4S and 3R,4R diastereomers. The [OrnSta] derivative was used as a mixture of 3-position diastereomers. These new amino acids were used to prepare the following inhibitors: Iva-Val-Val-[LySta]-OEt and Iva-Val-Val-[OrnSta]-OEt as well as the corresponding synthetic intermediates. Inhibition constants (Ki values) were measured for inhibition of porcine pepsin and penicillopepsin. Both compounds were potent inhibitors of penicillopepsin with Ki values 10-100 times smaller (2.1 and 1.1 nM, respectively) than the Ki of Iva-Val-Val-Sta-OEt (47 nM). In contrast both inhibitors are exceptionally weak inhibitors of porcine pepsin with Ki values greater than 1 microM. These results are correlated with the ability of the basic group in the new inhibitors to bind to aspartic acid-77 in penicillopepsin.     

Synthesis of certain nucleoside methylenediphosphonate sugars as potential inhibitors of glycosyltransferases

The synthesis of alpha-D-glucopyranosyl 1-(methylenediphosphonate) (11), alpha-D-galactopyranosyl 1-(methylenediphosphonate) (14), and alpha-D-mannopyranosyl 1-(methylenediphosphonate) (17) has been accomplished. [(Di-phenoxyphosphinyl)methyl]phosphonic acid (diphenyl-MDP) (5), synthesized by two different procedures, was fused with beta-D-glucopyranose pentaacetate followed by catalytic hydrogenation to give 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl methylenediphosphonate (glucose-MDP) (10). The anomeric configuration of 10 was assigned on the basis of NMR spectral studies. Condensation of 10 with 2',3'-di-O-acetyladenosine was accomplished by using 1-(mesitylene-2-sulfonyl)-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (MSNT) as coupling agent, and removal of the blocking groups gave adenosine 5'-[(alpha-D-glucopyranosylhydroxyphosphinyl)methyl]phosphonate (20). Uridine 5'-[(alpha-D-galactopyranosylhydroxyphosphinyl)methyl] phosphonate (23) and guanosine 5'-[(alpha-D-mannopyranosylhydroxyphosphinyl)methyl]phosphonate (26) were similarly prepared. Using a specific glycoprotein galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38) assay, uridine 5'-[(alpha-D-galactopyranosylhydroxyphosphinyl)methyl]phosphonate (23) demonstrated competitive inhibition with an apparent Ki of 97 microM. The adenosine analogue did not inhibit the enzyme. None of the above compounds show any in vitro antitumor or antiviral activity. Such specific inhibitors of glycosyltransferases may serve as specific probes to study various glycosyltransferases that might be involved in the process of metastasis.     

Inhibition of monoamine oxidases A and B by simple isoquinoline alkaloids: racemic and optically active 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-, 3,4-dihydro-, and fully aromatic isoquinolines

A series of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-, 3,4-dihydro-, and fully aromatic isoquinolines were tested as substrates and/or inactivators of highly purified human monoamine oxidase A and B (MAO A and B). None were found to be a substrate for either enzyme, but many of these isoquinolines could selectively inhibit either MAO A or B. Stereoselective competitive inhibition of MAO A was found with the R enantiomer of all the stereoisomers tested, including salsolinol (Ki = 31 microM), salsoline (Ki = 77 microM), salsolidine (Ki = 6 microM), and carnegine (Ki = 2 microM). As a class, the 3,4-dihydro-isoquinolines were the most potent inhibitors tested (Ki = 2-130 microM), and the fully aromatic isoquinolines had intermediate activity (Ki = 17-130 microM) against MAO A. In contrast, only a few of these compounds markedly inhibited MAO B. 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline, its 2-methyl derivative, and o-methylcorypalline gave apparent Ki values of 15, 1, and 29 microM, respectively, and two 3,4-dihydroisoquinolines (compounds 22 and 25) showed substantial inhibition of MAO B (Ki = 76 and 15 microM, respectively). These results support the concept that the topography of the inhibitor binding site differs in MAO A and B.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 3-substituted analogues of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline as inhibitors of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) and aryl-substituted derivatives of THIQ are potent inhibitors of the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of epinephrine--phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT, E.C. 2.1.1.28). In previous studies, we found that substitution of the 3-position of THIQ with a methyl group resulted in enhanced activity as an inhibitor for 3-methyl-THIQ with respect to THIQ itself. To more fully delineate this region of the PNMT active site, we have synthesized and evaluated other 3-substituted THIQ analogues that vary in both steric and electronic character. Extension of the methyl side chain in 8 by a single methylene unit results in diminished potency for 3-ethyl-THIQ, suggesting that this zone of the active site is spatially compact; furthermore, the region of steric intolerance may be located principally on only "one side" of the 3-position of bound THIQs, since the carbonyl containing (bent) analogues 3-(methoxycarbonyl)-THIQ and 3-(aminocarbonyl)-THIQ are much less capable of forming a strong enzyme-inhibitor dissociable complex compared to straight-chain derivatives possessing a similar steric component. The good activity of 3-(hydroxymethyl)-THIQ as a PNMT inhibitor cannot be explained solely by steric tolerance for this side chain. We believe that an active-site amino acid residue capable of specific (i.e., hydrogen bond) interactions is located in close proximity to the 3-position of bound THIQs and that association of the OH functionality with this active-site residue results in the enhanced in vitro potency of this analogue (Ki = 2.4 microM) compared to that of THIQ (Ki = 10.3 microM). Incorporation of a hydroxymethyl substituent onto the 3-position of the potent PNMT inhibitor 7,8-dichloro-THIQ (SKF 64139, Ki = 0.24 microM) did not result in the same enhancement in inhibitor potency for 17 (Ki = 0.38 microM). This result suggests that simultaneous binding in an optimal orientation of the aromatic halogens, secondary amine, and side-chain hydroxyl functionalities to the PNMT active site is not allowed in this analogue.