Enkephalin-degrading enzyme inhibitors Crucial role of the C-terminal residue on the inhibitory potencies of retro-hydroxamate dipeptides

The retro-inversion of the amide bond in kelatorphan and analogs, the first series of complete inhibitors of enkephalin metabolism, led to compounds highly efficient only against the neutral endopeptidase 24-11 (NEP). In order to increase the recognition of the aminopeptidase N (APN) and dipeptidylaminopeptidase (DAP), without loss of affinity for NEP, the malonyl group of these retro-inhibitors was replaced by diversely substituted succinyl moieties. All the molecules synthesized are highly efficient NEP inhibitors with K_i's in the 0.2–1 nM range, indicating that NEP possesses a relatively large and not very selective S₂’subsite. In contrast, inhibition of DAP activity is crucially dependent on the size and the position of the substituent in the succinyl moiety. Inhibitory potencies in the nanomolar range are obtained with compounds containing a benzyl group in the α-position related to thc rctro amide bond. Finally, a relatively modest inhibition of APN was observed with K_i's in the 0.5-1 μM range for compounds with benzyl or cyclohexyl group in P₂'position. However, these data demonstrate that efficient and complete inhibition of enkephalin degradation can be obtained with hydroxamate dipeptides containing a retro amide bond. The analgesic potency of the most active inhibitors was measured using the hot plate test in mice. Significant antinociceptive responses were obtained but these effects were rather weaker than those expected from the in vitro inhibitory potencies of these compounds on the three enkephalin-degrading enzymes.     

Inhibitors of the enkephalin degrading enzymes Modulation of activity of hydroxamate containing compounds by modifications of the C-terminal residue

To further characterize the S′₂ subsite of both the neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11, NEP) and aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2, APN), two enzymes physiologically involved in enkephalin metabolism, a new series of hydroxamate inhibitors containing a cyclic amino acid as the Pi component were synthesized. These amino acids differ by the size of the cycle, the relative position of the functional groups, and their absolute configuration. Highly efficient inhibitors of NEP were obtained whatever the modification on the Pi component, while for APN inhibition, a cyclic β-amino acid was preferred. The most active inhibitors contained a trans cyclopentyl β-amino acid and a Cis or a trans cyclohexyl β-amino acid. When injected intracerebroventricularly in mice, these two latter compounds elicited potent antinociceptive responses on both the jump latency and the fore paw lick times.     

New approach in the research of analgesics and antihypertensive agents]

The activation or interruption of the responses induced by regulatory peptides are ensured by ectoenzymes, the most important of them belonging to the group of zinc metallopeptidases. Thus angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) forms the hypertensive peptide angiotensin II from its inactive precursor AI. This also the case for aminopeptidase N (APN) and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP, CALLA) which together inactivate the endogenous opioid peptides, enkephalins, whereas only NEP is involved in the metabolism of the atrial natriuretic factor (ANP) at the kidney and vascular levels. The pharmacological effects resulting from the inhibition of these enzymatic processes will appear only in tissues where the peptide substrate is tonically or phasically released. This promising approach is expected to avoid, or at least to minimize, the side effects resulting from excessive and ubiquitous stimulation of peptide receptors by exogenously administered agonists or antagonists. The essential amino acids known to be present in the active site of the bacterial endopeptidase thermolysin from crystallographic studies, have also been found in NEP by using a new program of sequence comparison associated with mutagenesis experiments. Several classes of selective inhibitors of NEP, APN and ACE have been rationally designed by taking into account the structural differences in the active site of these peptidases. Thus, the retro-inversion of the amide bond of the NEP inhibitor thiorphan resulted in the elimination of a residual interaction with ACE. Moreover, we have proposed to associate inhibitory potencies towards two peptidases in the same compound. Thus kelatorphan HONH-CO-CH2-CH(CH2 phi)-CONH-CH(CH3)-COOH and other systemically-active mixed NEP/APN inhibitors were shown capable of completely blocking enkephalin metabolism in vivo. This concept has been extended to mixed NEP/ACE inhibitors with compounds such as HS-CH2-CH(CH2 phi)-CONH-CH(CH2R)-COOH where R = CH-(CH3)2 (ES 34) or -OCH2 phi (ES 37). Only mixed inhibitors of NEP and APN are able to produce potent analgesia after intracerebroventricular or systemic administration without the major side effects of morphine (tolerance and dependence). Thiorphan or its prodrugs acetorphan or sinorphan lead to a increase in natriuresis and diuresis by protection of ANP degradation, but without any significant antihypertensive effect. Contrastingly mixed NEP/ACE inhibitors such as ES34 induce decreases in blood pressure higher than those that produced by the association of selective NEP and ACE inhibitors.     

Inhibition of metallopeptidases by flavonoids and related compounds

To elucidate possible mechanisms of activity in medicinal plants containing flavonoids, the inhibitory potency of twenty flavones, flavonols, flavanones, phenylacrylic acids and various hydroxylated phenylacetic acids on the activity of neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE; EC 3.4.15.1) and aminopeptidase N (APN; EC 3.4.11.2) was investigated in vitro. The screening generally resulted that inhibition of these enzymes requires free hydroxyl groups at the flavone molecule. Flavone and methoxylated compounds (sinensetin) were without effects. Flavonoids with free hydroxyl functions in position 3',4' and 5,7 inhibited the activity of NEP (quercetin, luteolin, fisetin), with myricetin (IC50 = 42 microM) as strongest inhibitor. Inhibition of ACE and APN did not depend on this class of compounds and substitution pattern. E.g. 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and 4-methylcatechol (urinary metabolites of flavonoids) also inhibited both APN and ACE activity, but not NEP activity. The results demonstrate that some of the pharmacological activities of flavonoids might be related to the inhibition of metallopeptidases responsible for the splitting of regulatory neuropeptides.     

Synthesis and inhibitory activities against enkephalin degrading aminopeptidase of H-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe analogues bearing chelating groups.

With the aim of increasing the inhibitory potency of the analgesic dipeptide H-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe against enkephalin-degrading aminopeptidases, the following derivatives bearing chelating groups at the N-terminus have been synthesized: Ac-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe (3), HS(CH2)nCO-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe [n = 1 (4), n = 2 (5)], MeOCO(CH2)n-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe [n = 1 (6), n = 2 (7)] and analogues in which the N alpha-amino group has been replaced by a methoxycarbonyl group (8) and a bidentate hydroxamate function (9), respectively. The inhibitory activities of all these compounds and the S-protected derivatives EtNHCOS(CH2)nCO-Trp(Nps)-Lys-OMe [n = 1 (16), n = (17)] against the mentioned enzyme, isolated from rat striatum, are compared with those of the parent dipeptide 2 and bestatin. All the new derivatives showed, in general, inhibitory potencies of the same order of magnitude as compound 2.     

Enkephalin-degrading dipeptidylaminopeptidase: characterization of the active site and selective inhibition

The enkephalins are degraded in vitro by three types of metallopeptidases including a dipeptidylaminopeptidase (DAP) which releases Tyr-Gly. In order to test the physiological significance of this enzyme in enkephalin metabolism, a membrane-bound DAP from porcine brain was purified. The structural characteristics of the active site of this enzyme were studied using several enkephalin-related fragments as substrates and various peptides as inhibitors. The active site possesses an anionic moiety able to interact with the ammonium group of the substrate and four hydrophobic subsites S2, S1, S1', S2' surrounding the metal-containing catalytic site. This porcine brain enzyme shows the same characteristics as a partially purified DAP from rat brain. Potent inhibitors of both enzymes were obtained with compounds interacting with either the S1', S2', or S1, S2 parts of the active site and containing a hydroxamate of an N-acyl-N-hydroxy amino group as the metal-chelating agent. The compounds synthesized to bind the S1', S2' subsites, such as HN(OH)--CO--CH2--CH(CH2 phi)-CONH--CH(CH2 phi)--COOH, behave as highly potent and mixed inhibitors of both DAP (Ki = 2.5 nM) and enkephalinase (Ki = 0.3 nM). In contrast, Tyr-Phe-NHOH, designed to interact with S2,S1 subsites through its positively charged Tyr as the P2 component, is a highly potent (Ki = 9 nM) and selective DAP inhibitor. The ability of Tyr-Phe-NHOH to protect, in vivo, endogenous enkephalins was evaluated using the hot plate test with mice. The intracerebroventricular injection of Tyr-Phe-NHOH alone (0.17 mumol, 60 micrograms) does not significantly modify the jump latency time as compared to the control. The effect of the association of Tyr-Phe-NHOH (0.17 mumol, 60 micrograms), bestatin (0.16 mumol, 50 micrograms) and thiorphan (0.20 mumol, 50 micrograms) is not statistically different from that produced by bestatin (0.16 mumol) plus thiorphan (0.20 mumol). Likewise, the effect of bestatin (50 micrograms) or thiorphan (25 micrograms) is not significantly modified by intracerebroventricular co-administration of increasing concentrations of Tyr-Phe-NHOH. These results seem to indicate that the DAP does not play a major role in enkephalin metabolism, at least at the supraspinal level.     

Protease inhibitors. Part 7. Inhibition of Clostridium histolyticum collagenase with sulfonylated derivatives of L-valine hydroxamate.

Sulfonylated L-valine hydroxamate derivatives were obtained by reaction of alkyl/arylsulfonyl halides with the title amino acid, followed by treatment with benzyl chloride, and conversion of the COOH moiety to the CONHOH group. Other derivatives were obtained by reaction of N-benzyl-L-valine with arylisocyanates, arylsulfonylisocyanates or benzoylisothiocyanate, followed by the similar conversion of the COOH into the CONHOH moiety, with hydroxylamine in the presence of carbodiimides. The obtained compounds were assayed as inhibitors of the Clostridium histolyticum collagenase, ChC (EC 3.4.24.3), a zinc enzyme which degrades triple helical collagen. The hydroxamate derivatives were generally 100-500 times more active than the corresponding carboxylates. In the series of synthesized derivatives, substitution patterns leading to best ChC inhibitors were those involving perfluoroalkylsulfonyl- and substituted-arylsulfonyl moieties, such as pentafluorophenylsulfonyl; 3- and 4-protected-aminophenylsulfonyl-; 3- and 4-carboxyphenylsulfonyl-; 3-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl; or 1- and 2-naphthyl among others. Similarly to the matrix metalloproteinase hydroxamate inhibitors, ChC inhibitors of the type reported here must incorporate hydrophobic moieties at the P(2') and P(3') subsites, in order to achieve tight binding to the enzyme. Such compounds might lead to drugs useful in the treatment corneal bacterial keratitis.     

"Mixed inhibitor-prodrug" as a new approach toward systemically active inhibitors of enkephalin-degrading enzymes.

In order to evaluate the possible advantages of potentiating the effects of the endogenous enkephalins, to obtain analgesia without the serious drawbacks of morphine, it was essential to design systemically active compounds which inhibit the two metabolizing enzymes, aminopeptidase N (APN) and neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP). A new concept combining the idea of "prodrug" and "mixed inhibitor" was therefore developed. Given the high efficiency of beta-mercaptoalkylamines as APN inhibitors and of N-(mercaptoacyl) amino acids as NEP inhibitors, compounds associating these molecules through disulfide or thioester bonds, which are known to increase lipophilicity and to favor passage across the blood-brain barrier, have been synthesized. An HPLC study indicated that the disulfide bridge was resistant to serum enzymes but was cleaved by brain membrane homogenates, suggesting that the active inhibitors were released in the central nervous system. The validity of the approach was verified by the efficient antinociceptive responses obtained in the hot plate test in mice after iv administration of disulfide-containing inhibitors (ED50s of from 4 to 26 mg/kg on the jump latency time). The analgesic potencies of the "mixed inhibitor-prodrug" RB 101 [H2NCH(CH2CH2SCH3)CH2SSCH2CH(CH2Ph)CONHCH( CH2Ph)COOCH2Ph] after iv administration were three times greater than those of a similar combined dose of its two constitutive moieties. The separation of the two diastereoisomers constituting RB 101 showed that the analgesia has a stereochemical dependence, the (S,S,S)-isomer being more active than the (S,R,S)-isomer. Furthermore, in the tail flick test in the rat, RB 101 gave 38% analgesia at a dose of 80 mg/kg. Due to its high efficiency and its longer pharmacological effect, RB 101 was selected for a complete study of its analgesic properties.     

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.     

Use of preproenkephalin knockout mice and selective inhibitors of enkephalinases to investigate the role of enkephalins in various behaviours

Rationale The most simple and efficient method to study the physiological role of enkephalins is to increase the lifetime of these endogenous opioid peptides by inhibiting their inactivating enzymes. Enkephalins are degraded by the concomitant action of two metallopeptidases: neutral endopeptidase (NEP, EC3.4.21.11) and aminopeptidase N (APN, EC3.4.11.2), both enzymes releasing inactive metabolites. Objectives Potent dual inhibitors have been developed, such as RB101. However, NEP and APN have a broad specificity and can cleave various peptides in vitro. Therefore, it was essential to investigate the specific involvement of enkephalins in the various pharmacological responses induced by dual inhibitors. Materials and methods We compared the pharmacological responses induced by RB101 in wild-type and preproenkephalin-deficient mice (Penk1−/−) using several behavioural assays. Results In all the tests used (hot plate test, force swim test, castor-oil-induced diarrhoea), RB101 induced strong effects in wild-type animals, whereas slight effects were observed in Penk1−/− animals. These residual effects are blocked by pre-administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone, supporting the involvement of the opioid receptors in the responses observed. Conclusions The pharmacological effects induced by dual inhibitors acting on both NEP and APN are mainly due to the protection of the endogenous enkephalins at supraspinal and peripheral levels. It could be speculated that the residual effects observed in Penk1−/− mice after RB101 administration could be due to the direct action of other opioid peptides or through an indirect effect involving the protection of other peptide substrates of NEP or APN, as substance P or angiotensin.     

Long lasting antinociceptive properties of enkephalin degrading enzyme (NEP and APN) inhibitor prodrugs

Prodrugs of phosphinic dual inhibitors of the enkephalin degrading enzymes, neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and aminopeptidase N (APN), corresponding to the formula H(3)N(+)CH(R(1))P(O)(OR)CH(2)CH(CH(2)Bip)CONHCH(CH(3))COOCH(2)Ph, with R(1) = CH(3) or Ph and R being a benzyl ester, a S-acyl-2-thioethyl derivative, or an acyloxyalkyl group, were synthesized to improve the poor central bioavailability of their precursors. As expected, these compounds (50 mg/kg, iv or ip) induced long lasting ( approximately 2 h) antinociceptive responses in the hot plate test in mice with a ceiling effect varying between 25 and 42% of analgesia. A very rapid hydrolysis of the carboxylate ester contrasting with a slow deprotection of the phosphinate group (t(1/2) approximately 1 h) was observed in serum while 80% of free drug was obtained after 1 h incubation with brain membranes. These results account for the long duration of action observed with these prodrugs.     

Methotrexate analogues. 31. Meta and ortho isomers of aminopterin, compounds with a double bond in the side chain, and a novel analogue modified at the alpha-carbon: chemical and in vitro biological studies

Five heretofore undescribed analogues of methotrexate (MTX) and aminopterin (AMT) were synthesized and tested as dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors and tumor cell growth inhibitors. The meta isomer of AMT was obtained from 2,4-diamino-6-(bromomethyl)pteridine and m-(aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamic acid, while the ortho isomer was obtained via the same route by using alpha-methyl gamma-tert-butyl o-(aminobenzoyl)-L-glutamate instead of the free acid. Analogues of MTX and AMT containing a double bond in the side chain were prepared from dimethyl D,L-2-amino-4-hexenedioate and 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroic acid and 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-formylpteroic acid, respectively. Finally, a positional isomer of MTX with the CH2CH2COOH moiety moved from the alpha-carbon to the adjacent carboxamide nitrogen was synthesized from 3-[N-(carboxymethyl)amino]propanoic acid diethyl ester and 4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroic acid. The positional isomers of AMT were weak DHFR inhibitors and showed very little growth-inhibitory activity against L1210 murine leukemia cells or the MTX-resistant L1210/R81 mutant line in culture. The MTX and AMT analogues with the CH2CH2COOH moiety replaced by a CH2CH = CHCOOH side chain showed anti-DHFR activity similar to that of the previously described saturated compound N-(4-amino-4-deoxy-N10-methylpteroyl)-L-2-aminoadipic acid, but were less potent than the parent drugs. The MTX analogue with the CH2CH2COOH side chain displaced from C to N was weakly bound to DHFR, confirming the importance of an intact CONH moiety, and showed greatly diminished cell growth inhibitory potency relative to MTX. None of the compounds was a substrate for folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) from mouse liver. Furthermore, inhibition of folic acid polyglutamylation in vitro at equimolar 500 microM concentrations of drug and substrate was negligible. The structural changes embodied in these five novel compounds are therefore too great for binding to the FPGS active site.     

Inhibition of human liver folylpolyglutamate synthetase by non-gamma-glutamylatable antifolate analogs

Folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) catalyzes the gamma-glutamylation of both folates and folate antagonists and has been found to be essential for the survival of mammalian cells. Twelve analogs of the antifolates aminopterin (AMT) and methotrexate (MTX) having the -(CH2)2COOH moiety replaced by -(CH2)nX, where X = SO3H,PO3H2 or NH2, were evaluated as inhibitors of FPGS isolated from human liver. The AMT analogs were consistently found to be better inhibitors than their MTX counterparts, following the order of Km values determined for the parent antifolates as FPGS substrates. For the amino and phosphonate (but not for the sulfonate) compounds, inhibitory efficiencies were markedly dependent on the methylene chain length, with the most effective inhibitors having the groups -(CH2)3NH2(Ki = 0.2 microM) and -(CH2)2PO3H2 (Ki = 1.9 microM). Of those compounds exhibiting Ki values less than 200 microM, six were competitive inhibitors whereas three showed mixed inhibition (Ki' = approximately 6 Ki) when analyzed using AMT as the variable substrate. This demonstration of mixed inhibition of FPGS is consistent with the binding of inhibitor to a second site on the enzyme. Very similar Ki values (0.2-0.3 microM) were obtained for the -(CH2)3NH2 analog of AMT when using folic acid, AMT, MTX, and gamma-glutamyl-MTX as variable substrates, suggesting that the same enzymatic site on FPGS is active in the gamma-glutamylation of these four folyl derivatives. These findings serve to identify structural features which are important for inhibition of human liver FPGS and may therefore prove useful for the design of new compounds having potential as chemotherapeutic agents.     

New kelatorphan-related inhibitors of enkephalin metabolism: improved antinociceptive properties

In order to improve the in vivo protection of enkephalins from enzymatic degradation, a new series of inhibitors derived from kelatorphan [HONHCOCH2CH(CH2Ph)CONHCH(CH3)COOH], the first-described complete inhibitor of enkephalin metabolism, were designed by modification of the C-terminal amino acid. The progressive lengthening of the chain of this residue shows that a beta-alanine seems to be the best basic model for the conception of such types of compounds. On the other hand, the methylation of the amide bond, which is well accepted by aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2) and dipeptidylaminopeptidase, induced a significant loss of affinity for neutral endopeptidase -24.11. Starting from these data, compounds containing a variously substituted beta-alanine residue and corresponding to the general formula HONHCOCH2CH(CH2Ph)CONHCH(R1)CH(R2)COOH were synthesized. All these molecules inhibit neutral endopeptidase -24.11 and dipeptidylaminopeptidase in the nanomolar range, and those containing an aromatic chain (compound 7A, R1 = CH2Ph,R2 = H, and compound 8A, R1 = Ph, R2 = H) inhibit the biologically relevant aminopeptidase N, with IC50's around 10(-8) M. Intracerebroventricular injection in mice of these multienzyme inhibitors produced an efficient and naloxone-reversible analgesic response (hot plate test): compounds 7A and 8A were shown to be more potent than kelatorphan in increasing the jump latency time, in agreement with their in vitro properties, and these new compounds were found to increase the forepaw lick latency, a reflex considered as a typical morphine response.     

Protease inhibitors: synthesis of potent bacterial collagenase and matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors incorporating N-4-nitrobenzylsulfonylglycine hydroxamate moieties

A series of compounds was prepared by reaction of alkyl/arylsulfonyl halides with N-4-nitrobenzylglycine, followed by conversion of the COOH to the CONHOH group, with hydroxylamine in the presence of carbodiimides. Other structurally related compounds were obtained by reaction of N-4-nitrobenzylglycine with aryl isocyanates, arylsulfonyl isocyanates, or benzoyl isothiocyanate, followed by the similar conversion of the COOH into the CONHOH moiety. Another subseries of derivatives was prepared from sulfanilyl- or metanilyl-4-nitrobenzylglycine by reaction with arylsulfonyl isocyanates, followed by conversion of the COOH to the hydroxamate moiety. The new compounds were assayed as inhibitors of four matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9, and of the Clostridium histolyticum collagenase (ChC). Some of the prepared hydroxamate derivatives proved to be very effective collagenase/gelatinase inhibitors, depending on the substitution pattern at the sulfonamido moiety. Substitutions leading to best inhibitors of MMP-1, a short pocket enzyme, were those involving pentafluorophenylsulfonyl or 3-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl moieties at P(1') (K(I)'s of 3-5 nM). For MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 (deep-pocket enzymes), best inhibitors were especially those containing long perfluoroalkylsulfonyl and substituted-arylsulfonyl moieties, such as pentafluorophenylsulfonyl, 3- and 4-protected-aminophenylsulfonyl, 3- and 4-carboxyphenylsulfonyl, arylsulfonylureido, or arylsulfonylureidosulfanilyl/metanilyl moieties, at P(1'). Bulkier groups in this position, such as 1- and 2-naphthyl, substituted-naphthyl, or quinolin-8-yl moieties among others, led to less effective MMP/ChC inhibitors. Best ChC inhibitors were again those containing pentafluorophenylsulfonyl or 3- and 4-protected-aminophenylsulfonyl P(1') anchoring groups, suggesting that this protease is also a short-pocket wider-neck one (more similar to MMP-1). This study also proves that the 4-nitrobenzyl moiety is an efficient P(2') anchoring moiety and that sulfonylureido, ureido, or carboxythioureido substitutions at P(1') are also tolerated for obtaining potent sulfonylated amino acid hydroxamate-like MMP/ChC inhibitors.     

New hydroxamate inhibitors of neurotensin-degrading enzymes Synthesis and enzyme active-site recognition

Selective and mixed inhibitors of the three zinc metallopeptidases that degrade neurotensin (NT), e.g. endopeptidase 24-16 (EC 3.4.24.16), endopeptidase 24-11 (EC 3.4.24.11 or neutral endopeptidase, NEP) and endopeptidase 24-15 (EC 3.4.24.15), and leucine-aminopeptidase (type IV-S), that degrades the NT-related peptides, Neuromedin N (NN), are of great interest. On the structural basis of compound JMV 390-1 (N-[3-[(hydroxyamino)carbonyl]-I-oxo-2(R)-benzylpropyl]-L-isoleucyl-L-leucine), which was a full inhibitor of the major NT degrading enzymes, several hydroxamate inhibitors corresponding to the general formula HONHCO-CH₂-CH(CH₂-C₆H₅)CO-X-Y-OH (with X-Y = dipeptide) have been synthesized. Compound 7a (X-Y = Ile-Ala) was nearly 40-times more potent in inhibiting EC 24-16 than NEP and more than 800-times more potent than EC 24-15, with an IC₅₀ (12 nM) almost equivalent to that of compound JMV 390-1. Therefore, this compound is an interesting selective inhibitor of EC 24-16, and should be an interesting probe to explore the physiological involvement of EC 24-16 in the metabolism of neurotensin. © Munksgaard 1996.     

NMR-based modification of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors with improved bioavailability

The NMR-based discovery of biaryl hydroxamate inhibitors of the matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin (MMP-3) has been previously described (Hajduk et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1997, 119, 5818-5827). While potent in vitro, these inhibitors exhibited no in vivo activity due, at least in part, to the poor pharmacokinetic properties of the alkylhydroxamate moiety. To circumvent this liability, NMR-based screening was implemented to identify alternative zinc-chelating groups. Using this technique, 1-naphthyl hydroxamate was found to bind tightly to the protein (K(D) = 50 microM) and was identified as a candidate for incorporation into the lead series. On the basis of NMR-derived structural information, the naphthyl hydroxamate and biaryl fragments were linked together to yield inhibitors of this enzyme that exhibited improved bioavailability. These studies demonstrate that the NMR-based screening of fragments can be effectively applied to improve the physicochemical or pharmacokinetic profile of lead compounds.     

Pyridyl-substituted tetralone derivatives: a new class of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors]

Structural modification of flavone and flavanone, two weak inhibitors of aromatase, led to the new compounds 1-7, the syntheses of which are described as well as the evaluation of their aromatase and desmolase inhibitory potency. With the exception of 2 all compounds show a stronger inhibition of aromatase than the parent compounds and are more effective inhibitors than aminoglutethimide (AG), the only commercially available compound. In contrast to AG compounds 1 and 3-7 exhibit no desmolase inhibitory activity. In case of AG this effect leads to undesirable side effects.     

Synthetic inhibitors of endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15: potency and stability in vitro and in vivo.

1. The role of the metalloendopeptidase EC 3.4.24.15 (EP 24.15) in peptide metabolism in vivo is unknown, in part reflecting the lack of a stable enzyme inhibitor. The most commonly used inhibitor, N-[1-(R,S)-carboxy-3-phenylpropyl]-Ala-Ala-Tyr-p-aminobenzoate (cFP-AAY-pAB, Ki = 16 nM), although selective in vitro, is rapidly degraded in the circulation to cFP-Ala-Ala, an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor. This metabolite is thought to be generated by neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11), as the Ala-Tyr bond of cFP-AAY-pAB is cleaved by NEP in vitro. In the present study, we have examined the role of NEP in the metabolism of cFP-AAY-pAB in vivo, and have tested a series of inhibitor analogues, substituted at the second alanine, for both potency and stability relative to the parent compound. 2. Analogues were screened for inhibition of fluorescent substrate cleavage by recombinant rat testes EP 24.15. D-Ala or Asp substitution abolished inhibitory activity, while Val-, Ser- and Leu-substituted analogues retained activity, albeit at a reduced potency. A relative potency order of Ala (1) > Val (0.3) > Ser (0.16) > Leu (0.06) was observed. Resistance to cleavage by NEP was assessed by incubation of the analogues with rabbit kidney membranes. The parent compound was readily degraded, but the analogues were twice (Ser) and greater than 10 fold (Leu and Val) more resistant to cleavage. 3. Metabolism of cFP-AAY-pAB and the Val-substituted analogue was also examined in conscious rabbits. A bolus injection of cFP-AAY-pAB (5 mg kg-1, i.v.) significantly reduced the blood pressure response to angiotensin I, indicating ACE inhibition. Pretreatment with NEP inhibitors, SCH 39370 or phosphoramidon, slowed the loss of cFP-AAY-pAB from the plasma, but did not prevent inhibition of ACE. Injection of 1 mg kg-1 inhibitor resulted in plasma concentrations at 10 s of 23.5 microM (cFP-AAY-pAB) and 18.0 microM (cFP-AVY-pAB), which fell 100 fold over 5 min. Co-injection of 125I-labelled inhibitor revealed that 80-85% of the radioactivity had disappeared from the circulation within 5 min, and h.p.l.c. analysis demonstrated that only 25-30% of the radiolabel remained as intact inhibitor at this time. Both analogues were cleared from the circulation at the same rate, and both inhibitors blunted the pressor response to angiotensin I, indicative of ACE inhibition. 4. These results suggest that both NEP and other clearance/degradation mechanisms severely limit the usefulness of peptide-based inhibitors such as cFP-AAY-pAB. To examine further EP 24.15 function in vivo, more stable inhibitors, preferably non-peptide, must be developed, for which these peptide-based inhibitors may serve as useful molecular templates.     

Adenosine deaminase inhibitors: synthesis and structure-activity relationships of imidazole analogues of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine

A series of erythro-1-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)imidazole derivatives have been synthesized and evaluated for adenosine deaminase (ADA) inhibitory activity, in order to introduce simplifications in the ADA inhibitors erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA, 1a) and 3-deaza-EHNA (1c). Opening the pyrimidine or pyridine ring of EHNA or 3-deaza-EHNA respectively led to compounds which are still ADA inhibitors. The most potent compound was erythro-1-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide (5, Ki = 3.53 x 10(-8) M), which provided potential donor and acceptor sites for hydrogen bonding. Lack of one of this sites could account for the order of potency of all compounds examined in this series. Opening the same ring in adenosine and in 3-deazaadenosine led to fully inactive compounds. These results support the hypothesis of the existence, at or near the enzyme active site, of a hydrophobic region able to bind the erythro-nonyl moiety.