Kinetic inhibitory profile of BIA 3-202, a novel fast tight-binding,reversible and competitive catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor

The present study reports the kinetic inhibitory profile of 1-[3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl]-2-phenyl-ethanone (BIA 3-202), a novel inhibitor of soluble catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) in rat liver. After an oral single dose (30 mg kg⁻¹), there was a time-dependent recovery of enzyme activity from 98±2% inhibition at 30 min to total recovery at 24 h after treatment. The inhibitory effect produced by BIA 3-202 on soluble COMT was reversible after gel filtration of the samples. BIA 3-202 acted as a fast inhibitor of rat liver soluble COMT, interacting immediately with the enzyme after mixing. No differences were observed in the metanephrine formation rates (in nmol mg protein⁻¹ min⁻¹) obtained without and with a 60-min preincubation with 30 nM of BIA 3-202 (1.30±0.02 and 1.35±0.03, respectively). The tight-binding nature of the inhibition produced by BIA 3-202 was evaluated by performing an Ackermann–Potter plot. The true K_i for BIA 3-202, derived from the nonlinear regression analysis, was 0.19±0.02 nM. In substrate competition studies, an increase in the concentration of adrenaline resulted in a linear increase in IC₅₀ values for BIA 3-202. In conclusion, BIA 3-202 behaves as a reversible, potent and fast tight-binding COMT inhibitor that acts competitively at the substrate binding site of rat liver soluble COMT.     

Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase activity by two novel disubstituted catechols in the rat

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) has an important role in the extraneuronal inactivation of catecholamine neurotransmitters and drugs with a catechol structure. Two novel COMT inhibitors, OR-462 and OR-486, were highly effective (IC50 = 18 and 12 nM, respectively) and selective in inhibiting COMT activity in vitro. Tyrosine hydroxylase was not inhibited until micromolar concentrations of these compounds were used: the IC50 values for OR-462 and OR-486 were 10 and 14 microM, respectively. The IC50 values for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, dopa-decarboxylase and monoamine oxidase forms A and B were greater than 50 microM. In studies ex vivo oral OR-462 inhibited mainly the COMT activity in the duodenum while OR-486 inhibited COMT activity in the liver and red blood cells as well. Oral OR-462 did not penetrate into the brain in doses up to 30 mg/kg while the same dose of OR-486 had some effect on striatal COMT activity. When tested in combination with levodopa-carbidopa, orally administered OR-462 and OR-486 were more effective in reducing the formation of 3-O-methyldopa from levodopa than was the levodopa-carbidopa treatment alone. These results indicate that OR-462 and OR-486 are effective and long-lasting inhibitors of COMT activity.     

Ontogenic aspects of liver and kidney catechol-O-methyltransferase sensitivity to tolcapone.

1. The present work describes the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activities in the liver and kidney of developing and adult rats (aged 3, 6, 9, 18, 30 and 60 days; n = 5 per group) and evaluates the enzyme sensitivity to inhibition by tolcapone, a reversible COMT inhibitor. 2. COMT activity, evaluated by the ability to methylate adrenaline to metanephrine, was determined in liver and kidney homogenates prepared in 0.5 mM phosphate buffer (pH = 7.8) containing pargyline (0.1 mM), MgCl2 (0.1 mM), EGTA (1 mM) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (0.1 mM). Vmax (in nmol mg-1 protein h-1) of liver COMT was found to decrease gradually with age, from 5.3 +/- 0.5 at the age of 3 days up to 2.9 +/- 0.2 at the age of 60 days; for the same age range, Km values (in microM; geometric means with 95% confidence limits) increased from 3.3 (1.0, 7.5) up to 13.1 (2.1, 24.1). At the age of 3 days, Vmax values for kidney COMT (2.6 +/- 0.1) were lower than those for the liver COMT. However, Vmax values for kidney COMT were found to increase up to 6.2 +/- 0.6 at the age of 18 days and then declined by 44% at the age of 30 and 60 days. In kidney, aging was also accompanied by an increase in Km values for COMT (from 2.7 [1.1, 4.3] up to 24.0 [11.7, 36.3]). 3. The sensitivity of liver and renal COMT activity to tolcapone was markedly dependent on the age, 3-days old rats being more sensitive to tolcapone than older animals. The IC50 values (in nM) for inhibition of liver COMT by tolcapone increased gradually with age, from 41 (26, 65) at the age of 3 days up to 720 (640, 800) at the age of 60 days. As was found in the liver, IC50 values (in nM) for inhibition of kidney COMT by tolcapone also increased with age, from 8 (6, 10) at the age of 3 days up to 177 (131, 240) at the age of 60 days. In all experimental groups, the IC50 values for inhibition of liver COMT by tolcapone was higher than those for kidney COMT. 4. In conclusion, these results suggest that aging is accompanied by a decrease in liver and kidney COMT affinity for the substrate (evidenced by the increase in Km values) and a decrease in sensitivity towards inhibition by tolcapone (evidenced by the increase in IC50 values). Furthermore, kidney COMT is shown to be more sensitive to inhibition by tolcapone than liver COMT, irrespective of the age of the animal.     

Differential inhibition of human liver and duodenum sulphotransferase activities by quercetin, a flavonoid present in vegetables, fruit and wine.

1. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid present in vegetables, fruit and wine, and is known to inhibit sulphotransferase. Drugs are often taken orally and the intestinal mucosa is an early site of drug metabolism. The aims of this investigation were to study the inhibition of dopamine, (-)-salbutamol, minoxidil and paracetamol sulphation by quercetin in the duodenal mucosa and liver and to compare the IC50 in these tissues. 2. The rates (pmol min(-1) mg(-1)) of sulphation of 4-nitrophenol were 343+/-92 (liver) and 164+/-22 (duodenum; p = 0.031), of dopamine were 15+/-11 (liver) and 656+/-516 (duodenum; p = 0.049), of (-)-salbutamol 153+/-31 (liver) and 654+/-277 (duodenum; p = 0.018), of minoxidil were 156+/-47 (liver) and 105+/-7 (duodenum; n.s.), and of paracetamol were 229+/-86 (liver) and 328+/-187 (duodenum; n.s.). 3. The IC50 of quercetin for 4-nitrophenol was 48+/-11 nM (liver) and 56+/-1 nM (duodenum, n.s.), for dopamine was 5.7+/-0.7 microM (liver) and 170+/-12 microM (duodenum, p < 0.0001), for (-)-salbutamol was 54+/-4 nM (liver) and 16+/-8 microM (duodenum; p = 0.025), for minoxidil was 134+/-22 nM (liver) and 3+/-0.3 microM (duodenum, p = 0.013), and for paracetamol was 57+/-7 nM (liver) and 35+/-1 microM (duodenum; p = 0.0002). 4. Quercetin inhibited the sulphation of 4-nitrophenol, dopamine, (-)-salbutamol, minoxidil and paracetamol both in liver and duodenum. With dopamine, (-)-salbutamol, minoxidil and paracetamol as substrates, quercetin was a more potent inhibitor in the liver than the duodenum. Such a difference may reflect the different composition of sulphotransferase forms in the liver and duodenum.     

Species differences in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of nebicapone

The present study was designed to characterize pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of nebicapone in rats and mice. Upon oral administration of nebicapone the extent of mouse liver catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibition is half that in the rat. Nebicapone was rapidly absorbed reaching plasma C_max within 30 min and being completely eliminated by 8 h. Nebicapone was metabolized mainly by glucuronidation and methylation in both species, but rat had an extra major metabolite, resulting from sulphation. Administration of nebicapone by the intraperitoneal route significantly increased compound AUC in the rat while in the mouse a significant increase in AUC of metabolites was observed. These results show that nebicapone exhibited marked species differences in bioavailability and metabolic profile. Evaluation of COMT activity in rat and mice liver homogenates revealed that both had similar methylation efficiencies (K_cat values, respectively 7.3 and 6.4 min⁻¹), but rat had twice active enzyme units as the mouse (molar equivalency respectively 150 and 83). Furthermore, nebicapone inhibited rat liver COMT with a lower K_i than mouse liver COMT (respectively 0.2 nM vs. 1.2 nM). In conclusion, the results from the present study show that mice and rats respond differently to COMT inhibition by nebicapone. The more pronounced inhibitory effects of nebicapone in the rat may be related to an enhanced oral availability and less pronounced metabolism of nebicapone in this specie, but also concerned with the predominant expression of S-COMT over MB-COMT, the latter of which is less sensitive to inhibition by nebicapone than the former.     

Catechol-O-methyltransferase: variation in enzyme activity and inhibition by entacapone and tolcapone

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to study the variation of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity in the human liver, duodenal mucosa and renal cortex, and to investigate the inhibition of COMT by entacapone and tolcapone. This study included 87 samples of human liver, 94 samples of the duodenum and 72 samples of the renal cortex. Results: The activity of COMT was measured with 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (242 μmol · l⁻¹), the methyl acceptor substrate, and adenosyl-l-methionine (44 μmol · l⁻¹), the methyl donor substrate. The hepatic activity of COMT activity was significantly higher in men than in women, whereas it was not sex-dependent in the duodenum or renal cortex. The activity of COMT varied 4.4-fold in the liver of men, 2.6-fold in the duodenum and 5.3-fold in the renal cortex. The median estimates of COMT activity were 577, 499, 103 and 159 pmol · min⁻¹ · mg⁻¹ in the liver of men and women, in the duodenum and in the renal cortex, respectively. Conclusion: Entacapone and tolcapone were powerful inhibitors of COMT and their IC₅₀ estimates were 151 and 773 nM (P = 0.008), respectively, in the liver; consistent results were obtained with the other tissues.     

Sulfation of R(-)-apomorphine in the human liver and duodenum,and its inhibition by mefenamic acid,salicylic acid and quercetin

1. The aims were to study the sulfation of R-(-)-apomorphine (hereafter apomorphine) in the human liver and duodenum, and to study the rate of inhibition of apomorphine sulphation by mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin also in the human liver and duodenum. 2. A rapid and sensitive method was developed to measure the sulfation rate of apomorphine in the human liver and duodenum. The method was based on the use of 0.4 micro M 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate-[(35)S] (PAPS) and 50 micro M apomorphine. The unreacted PAPS was precipitated with barium hydroxide, barium acetate and zinc sulfate. 3. The rate of apomorphine sulfation (mean +/- SD and median) was 261 +/- 82 and 242 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively (liver), and 433 +/- 157 and 443 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively (duodenum). The apomorphine sulfation rate was higher in the duodenum than in the liver (p = 0.0005). 4. Apomorphine sulfation was correlated with SULT1A1 activity in the liver (r(2) = 0.363, p = 0.005) and duodenum (r(2) = 0.494, p = 0.0005), but it did not correlate with SULT1A3 activity both in the liver and duodenum. 5. The K(m) estimate of apomorphine sulfation rate was 20 +/- 3.6 (liver) and 6.5 +/- 0.2 microM (duodenum, p = 0.024), and the V(max) estimate was 248 +/- 99 (liver) and 636 +/- 104 pmol min(-1) mg(-1) (duodenum, p = 0.018). 6. Mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin were potent inhibitors of apomorphine sulfation rate in the liver, and the IC(50) estimates were 16 +/- 0.2 nM, 54 +/- 8.6 microM and 18 +/- 2.8 nM, respectively. These compounds were poor inhibitors of apomorphine sulfation in the duodenum. 7. Apomorphine is sulfated by the human liver and duodenum, the highest activity being associated with the duodenum. The K(m) of apomorphine sulfotransferase is in the order of micro M both in the liver and duodenum. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug mefenamic acid and the natural flavonoid quercetin inhibit the hepatic sulfation of apomorphine with an IC(50) in the order of nM.     

Spectroscopic study of fluorescent peptides for prenyl transferase assays

A study of the prenyl transferase reactions was performed by fluorescence using rat brain cytosol fractions as an enzyme source. Four dansylated peptides corresponding to the C-terminal sequence of Ras isoforms were synthesised. The effects of different detergents on the farnesylation or geranylgeranylation of the four peptides were evaluated. Dose-dependent effects of dodecyl-maltoside, a non-ionic detergent, on the farnesyl transferase or geranylgeranyl transferase activities were observed with all peptide substrates. Additionally, the effect of temperature was investigated and these assays were applied to determine Michaelis-Menten constants (K(m)) of the substrates: dansyl-GCVLS (1.8 microM), dansyl-GCVVM (3.2 microM), dansyl-CVIM (3.4 microM) and dansyl-GCVLL (8.4 microM) and FPP (22.6 microM) for FTase activity. Using GGPP as co-substrate, GGTase activity was measured with K(m) values superior to 50 microM for all the three substrate dansyl-GCVLS, dansyl-GCVVM, or dansyl-CVIM, whereas values of 7.6 and 5.4 microM were calculated for the dansyl-GCVLL sequence and GGPP co-substrate, respectively. IC50 values of selective prenyl transferase inhibitors, B-581, FTI 276 and GGTI 287 have been measured to 34, 0.8 and 18 nM, respectively, using dansyl-GCVLS as substrate (FTase inhibition). When dansyl-GCVLL is used as substrate (GGTase inhibition) the IC50 values are 5100, 75 and 5 nM for B-581, FTI 276 and GGTI 287, respectively. Then, this developed method allowed to evaluate the selectivity of all the three inhibitors tested.     

Molecular modelling study of the mechanism of high-potency inhibition of human catechol-O-methyltransferase by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate

The molecular mechanism of inhibition of human catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is a modest substrate of COMT but an ultra-potent inhibitor of this enzyme, was studied. EGCG has an IC(50) value of 70 nM for inhibiting human liver COMT-mediated O-methylation of 2-hydroxyestradiol, which was 210-760 times more potent than catechin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin. Kinetic analyses showed that EGCG had a strong component of non-competitive inhibition of the O-methylation of 2-hydroxyestradiol. Computational molecular modelling studies showed that the B- and D-rings of EGCG can bind tightly to the human COMT in four different modes (i.e. D-para-OH, D-meta-OH, B-para-OH, and B-meta-OH). The binding geometry of EGCG in these binding modes was found to be less than ideal to form perfect Mg(2+) coordination for the catalysis of its own methylation. It is concluded that the very tight binding interaction of EGCG with COMT makes it a potent non-competitive inhibitor, but its imperfect geometry makes it a poor substrate for methylation by this enzyme.     

Sulphation of resveratrol, a natural product present in grapes and wine, in the human liver and duodenum

1. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound present in grapes and wine, has beneficial effects against cancer and protective effects on the cardiovascular system. It is present in the diet, and the hepatic and duodenal sulphation might limit the bioavailability of this compound. The aim was to study the sulphation of resveratrol in the human liver and duodenum. 2. A simple and reproducible radiometric assay for resveratrol sulphation was developed. It employed 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate-[35S] as the sulphate donor and the rates of resveratrol sulphation (mean +/- SD, pmol/min/mg cytosolic protein) were 90 +/- 21 (liver, n = 10) and 74 +/- 60 (duodenum, n = 10, p = 0.082). 3. Resveratrol sulphotransferase followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and Km (mean +/- SD; microM) was 0.63 +/- 0.03 (liver, n = 5) and 0.50 +/- 0.26 (duodenum, n = 5, p = 0.39) and Vmax (mean +/- SD, pmol/min/mg cytosolic protein) were 125 +/- 31 (liver, n = 5) and 129 +/- 85 (duodenum, n = 5, p = 0.62). 4. Resveratrol sulphation was inhibited by the flavonoid quercetin, by mefenamic acid and salicylic acid, two commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. IC50 of resveratrol sulphation for quercetin was 12 +/- 2 pM (liver) and 15 +/- 2 pM (duodenum), those for mefenamic acid were 24 +/- 3 nM (liver) and 11 +/- 0.6 nM (duodenum), and those for salicylic acid were 53 +/- 9 microM (liver) and 66 +/- 4 microM (duodenum). 5. The potent inhibition of resveratrol sulphation by quercetin, a flavonoid present in wine, fruits and vegetables, suggests that compounds present in the diet may inhibit the sulphation of resveratrol, thus improving its bioavailability.     

Inhibition of aromatase cytochrome P-450 (estrogen synthetase) by derivatives of alpha-naphthoflavone

alpha-Naphthoflavone (ANF; 7,8-benzoflavone) is a potent competitive inhibitor of human aromatase cytochrome P-450 [J. T. Kellis, Jr. and L. E. Vickery, Science 225, 1032 (1984)]. We have further investigated inhibition of aromatase by several derivatives of ANF. Using human placental microsomes and 40 nM androstenedione as substrate, the compounds tested and their I50 values were: ANF, 0.07 microM; 2-(2-naphthyl)-4H-naphtho[1,2b]pyran-4-one, 1.0 microM; 7,8-benzoisoflavone, approximately 100 microM; and 2-phenyl-4H-naphtho[1,2b]furan, greater than 100 microM. These findings show the necessity of the keto group of ANF in its binding to the enzyme and the importance of size and position of substitution of the exocyclic phenyl ring. Derivatives of ANF with hydroxyl substitution at positions 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 were also screened. 9-Hydroxy-ANF, a known metabolite of ANF in liver microsomes, was the most effective (I50 = 20 nM). Inhibition by 9-hydroxy-ANF was competitive, and its Ki value of 5 nM indicates a higher affinity for the enzyme than the natural steroid substrates--the Km values for androstenedione and testosterone under these conditions are 10 and 80 nM respectively. 9-Hydroxy-ANF also induced a change in the absorption spectrum of hte aromatase cytochrome P-450 indicative of substrate displacement. Based on these data we propose a model for the binding of 9-hydroxy-ANF in which the 7,8-benzochromone ring system of the ANF derivatives occupies the steroid ring binding site of the enzyme.     

Strong inhibitory effects of common tea catechins and bioflavonoids on the O-methylation of catechol estrogens catalyzed by human liver cytosolic catechol-O-methyltransferase.

In the present investigation, we studied the inhibitory effects of three tea catechins [catechin, epicatechin, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate] and two bioflavonoids (quercetin and fisetin) on the O-methylation of 2- and 4-hydroxyestradiol (2-OH-E(2) and 4-OH-E(2), respectively) by human liver cytosolic catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). We found that catechin and epicatechin each inhibited the O-methylation of 2-OH-E(2) and 4-OH-E(2) in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC(50) values for inhibition of 2-OH-E(2) methylation by catechin and epicatechin were 14 to 17 microM and 44 to 65 microM, respectively, and their IC(50) values for inhibition of 4-OH-E(2) methylation were 5 to 7 microM and 10 to 18 microM, respectively. Our data showed that these two catechins had 2- to 6-fold higher inhibition potency for the O-methylation of 4-OH-E(2) than for the O-methylation of 2-OH-E(2). (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate was found to have a distinctly high inhibition potency for the O-methylation of 2- and 4-OH-E(2) (IC(50) values of 0.04-0.07 microM and 0.2-0.5 microM, respectively). The crude extracts from green tea and black tea also showed very strong activity in inhibiting human liver COMT-mediated O-methylation of catechol estrogens. We also determined, for comparison, two common bioflavonoids (quercetin and fisetin) for their inhibitory effects on human liver COMT-mediated O-methylation of catechol estrogens. The IC(50) values for quercetin and fisetin were 0.9 to 1.5 microM and 3.3 to 4.5 microM, respectively, for inhibiting the O-methylation of 2-OH-E(2), and 0.5 to 1.2 microM and 2.6 to 4.2 microM, respectively, for inhibiting the O-methylation of 4-OH-E(2). Enzyme kinetic analyses showed that both tea catechins and bioflavonoids inhibited human liver COMT-mediated O-methylation of 4-OH-E(2) (a representative substrate) with a mixed mechanism of inhibition (competitive plus noncompetitive). In summary, the catechol-containing tea catechins and bioflavonoids are strong inhibitors of human liver COMT-mediated O-methylation of catechol estrogens. More studies are warranted to determine the extent of such inhibition in human subjects and the potential biological consequences.     

Sulfotransferase 1E1 is a low km isoform mediating the 3-O-sulfation of ethinyl estradiol.

Sulfation of ethinyl estradiol (EE) is a major pathway of first pass metabolism in both the intestine and liver. Consequently, we sought to identify the human sulfotransferases (SULTs) involved in the 3-O-sulfation of EE (EE-SULT). Based on the results described herein, cDNA-expressed human cytosolic SULT1A3 and SULT1E1 were identified as low Km isoforms (18.9 and 6.7 nM, respectively) mediating the sulfation of EE. In contrast, the EE-SULT catalyzed by other recombinant SULTs (SULT1A1 and 2A1) was a relatively high Km process (Km > or = 230 nM). The kinetics of EE-SULT in human intestine (Km1 = 24 nM; Km2 = 1206 nM) and liver (Km1 = 8 nM; Km2 = 2407 nM) cytosol was biphasic and conformed to a two-Km model with both low and high Km components. At a low EE concentration (3 nM), inhibition of EE-SULT activity (intestinal) was characterized with 2,6-dichloro p-nitrophenol (DCNP) (IC50 = 15.6 microM) and quercetin (IC50 = 0.4 microM). When these IC50 values were compared with those derived from expressed enzyme, inhibition of EE-SULT was consistent with the SULT1E1 (DCNP, IC50 = 20 microM; quercetin, IC50 = 0.6 microM), but not SULT1A3 (DCNP, IC50 = 12.4; quercetin, IC50 = 7 microM). Moreover, when estrone (which selectively inhibits expressed SULT1E1 and SULT1A3) was included in intestinal incubations, the high-affinity component of the Eadie-Hofstee plot for EE sulfation was inhibited, converting the plot from biphasic to monophasic. Collectively, these data are consistent with SULT1E1 as the primary sulfotransferase involved in EE sulfation at clinically relevant concentrations (<10 nM).     

Biochemical and pharmacological properties of a peripherally acting catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor entacapone

Summary Entacapone, OR-611, was found to be a potent peripherally acting inhibitor of catechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT). IC₅₀ values of 10 nmol/1 and 160 nmol/1 were obtained for rat duodenum and liver-soluble COMT, respectively. There were no effects on other catecholamine metabolizing enzymes. Entacapone showed reversible, tight-binding type of inhibition of soluble rat liver COMT with a K; value of 14 nmol/1 and it also caused 50% inhibition of rat duodenal, erythrocyte, liver and striatal COMT activity 1 h after oral dosing with 1.1, 5.4, 6.7 and 24.2 mg/kg, respectively. However, penetration of entacapone into the brain was poor, since the formation of homovanillic acid (HVA), the O-methyl metabolite of dopamine in the striatum, was not reduced, even after the highest dose of 30 mg/kg.In rat blood serum, the concentration of 3-0-methyldopa (3OMD), the O-methylated product of l-dopa, was reduced in a dose-dependent manner, and the concentration of l-dopa was increased after the administration of entacapone (3 - 30 mg/kg p. o.) together with l-dopa + carbidopa. These changes were reflected, in the striatum, by a significant rise in the dopamine concentration and a reduction in the 30MD concentration.Consequently, when entacapone was added to the treatment with l-dopa + carbidopa, the dose of l-dopa could be lowered from 50 mg/kg to 15 mg/kg in order to produce the same striatal dopamine concentrations as with 50 + 50 mg/kg of l-dopa + carbidopa alone.Correspondence to E. Nissinen at the above address     

Inhibitory effects of verapamil and diltiazem on simvastatin metabolism in human liver microsomes

AIMS: To determine the effects of verapamil and diltiazem on simvastatin metabolism in human liver microsomes and to compare their inhibitory potencies and CYP3A4 inactivation parameters with those reported previously for mibefradil. METHODS: Simvastatin metabolism was investigated in human liver microsomes in the presence and absence of verapamil or diltiazem (0.1-250 microM). Kinetics of CYP3A4 inactivation by verapamil and diltiazem were determined using testosterone as the substrate. RESULTS: When verapamil was coincubated with simvastatin, IC50 values ranged from 23 to 26 microM for all major metabolites. The IC50 values ranged from 4.8 to 5.6 microM on preincubation of verapamil for 30 min in the presence of an NADPH-generating system. Corresponding IC50 values for diltiazem ranged from 110-127 microM and from 21-27 microM, respectively. Verapamil and diltiazem inhibited testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, key features of mechanism-based inactivation. Values for the inactivation parameters kinact and KI were 0.15 +/- 0.04 min-1 (mean +/- s.d.) and 2.9 +/- 0.6 microM, respectively, for verapamil and 0.07 +/- 0.01 min-1 and 3.3 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively, for diltiazem. CONCLUSIONS: The IC50 values for coincubation of verapamil and diltiazem were 46- and 220-fold higher, respectively, than those reported previously for mibefradil, and 16- and 71-fold higher, respectively, for preincubation. Thus, the results of this study suggest that verapamil and diltiazem are less likely than mibefradil to cause acute drug interactions with simvastatin in vivo. However, verapamil and diltiazem are moderate mechanism-based inhibitors of CYP3A4 and therefore may still cause significant inhibition of simvastatin metabolism in vivo during chronic therapy.     

Inhibition of human liver catechol-O-methyltransferase by tea catechins and their metabolites: structure-activity relationship and molecular-modeling studies

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is the major polyphenol present in green tea. We previously demonstrated that EGCG was both a substrate and potent inhibitor of human liver cytosolic catechol-O-methyltransferease (COMT). We now report the structure-activity relationship for the inhibition of COMT-catalyzed O-methylation of catecholestrogens in human liver cytosol by tea catechins and some of their metabolites. The most potent inhibitors were catechins with a galloyl-type D-ring, including EGCG (IC(50)=0.07 microM), 4'-O-methyl-EGCG (IC(50)=0.10 microM), 4',4'-di-O-methyl-EGCG (4',4'-DiMeEGCG) (IC(50)=0.15 microM), and (-)-epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) (IC(50)=0.20 microM). Catechins without the D-ring showed two to three orders of magnitude less inhibitory potency. Enzyme kinetic analyses revealed that EGCG behaved as a mixed inhibitor, whereas 4',4'-di-O-methyl-EGCG exhibited competitive kinetics for the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and noncompetitive kinetics for the catechol binding site. These compounds may represent a new type of COMT inhibitor. In silico molecular-modeling studies using a homology model of human COMT were conducted to aid in the understanding the catalytic and inhibitory mechanisms. Either D-ring or B-ring of EGCG could be accommodated to the substrate binding pocket of human COMT. However, the close proximity (2.6A) of 4'-OH to the critical residue Lys144, the higher acidity of the hydroxyl groups of the D-ring, and the hydrophobic interactions between the D-ring and residues in the binding pocket greatly facilitated the interaction of the D-ring with the enzyme, and resulted in increased inhibitory potency. These results provide mechanistic insight into the inhibition of COMT by commonly consumed tea catechins.     

The cellular location of catechol-O-methyltransferase in rat liver

Summary Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity on the extracellular face of the plasma membrane of isolated rat hepatocytes was assayed, and 4.3% of total COMT activity was located there in cells which satisfied our criteria of viability. However, since 1.2% of the cells' lactate dehydrogenase activity was also apparently extracellular, and this proportion increased to 3.4% under the conditions of the COMT assay the amounts of extracellular COMT may be even less.COMT in rat liver microsomes and plasma membranes represent 2.3% and 0.08% of total rat liver COMT respectively. This implies an insignificant role for plasma membrane COMT although reported altered kinetic behaviour could elevate microsomal COMT to a supporting role in the regulation of catecholamine concentration in the circulation. Since by far the largest fraction of COMT is located intracellularly in the soluble cell fraction, the physiological functions of COMT seem to be dependent on the passage of substrates through the cell membrane for their presentation to the enzyme.     

Kinetics and crystal structure of catechol-o-methyltransferase complex with co-substrate and a novel inhibitor with potential therapeutic application

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT; E.C. 2.1.1.6) is a ubiquitous enzyme in nature that plays an important role in the metabolism of catechol neurotransmitters and xenobiotics. In particular, inactivation of drugs such as L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) via O-methylation is of relevant pharmacological importance, because L-DOPA is currently the most effective drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. This justified the interest in developing COMT inhibitors as potential adjuncts to L-DOPA therapy. The kinetics of inhibition by BIA 3-335 (1-[3,4-dihydroxy-5-nitrophenyl]-3-(N-3'-trifluormethylphenyl)-piperazine-1-propanone dihydrochloride) were characterized using recombinant rat soluble COMT. BIA 3-335 was found to act as a potent, reversible, tight-binding inhibitor of COMT with a K(i) of 6.0 +/- 1.6 nM and displaying a competitive inhibition toward the substrate binding site and uncompetitive inhibition toward the S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) binding site. The 2.0-A resolution crystal structure of COMT in complex with its cosubstrate SAM and a novel inhibitor BIA 3-335 shows the atomic interactions between the important residues at the active site and the inhibitor. This is the first report of a three-dimensional structure determination of COMT complexed with a potent, reversible, and tight-binding inhibitor that is expected to have therapeutic applications.     

Inhibition of human liver and duodenum sulfotransferases by drugs and dietary chemicals: a review of the literature

Sulfotransferase catalyzes the transfer of sulfate, donated by 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate, to an acceptor substrate that may be a hydroxy group or an amine group. Man is exposed daily to drugs and dietary chemicals that can inhibit sulfotransferase activity. The aim of this study was to review the literature concerning the inhibition of sulfotransferases by drugs and dietary chemicals in the human liver and duodenum. The IC50 value of mefenamic acid for human liver phenol sulfotransferase (SULT 1A1) was 0.02 microM and for human liver catechol sulfotransferase (SULT1A3) 76 microM with a SULT 1A3/SULT1A1 ratio for the IC50 of 3,800. Mefenamic acid is therefore a potent and selective inhibitor of human liver SULT1A1. The IC50 values of mefenamic acid for the sulfation rates of (-)-salbutamol and (-)-apomorphine were 4 orders of magnitude greater in the human duodenum than in the liver. Salicylic acid inhibited the sulfation of (-)-apomorphine in human liver with an IC50 of 54 gM but did not inhibit the sulfation of (-)-apomorphine in human duodenum. Quercetin, a flavonoid present in edible fruit, vegetable and wine, was a potent inhibitor of human liver SULT1A1 and estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) activities and the sulfation of resveratrol. Quercetin inhibited the sulfation of dopamine, (-)-salbutamol, minoxidil and paracetamol and the IC50 values were 1 - 2 orders of magnitude greater in human duodenum than in the liver. In conclusion, mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin inhibit SULT1A1 whereas SULT1A3 is relatively resistant to the inhibition by these compounds. Under particular circumstances, human duodenum sulfotransferase is more resistant than liver sulfotransferase to the inhibition by mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin.     

Resolution of soluble cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isoenzymes, from liver and hepatocytes, identifies a novel IBMX-insensitive form

DEAE chromatography of a high speed supernatant fraction from a homogenate of rat liver, prepared under isotonic conditions in the presence of protease inhibitors, yielded three peaks of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity (PDE activity). The first peak could be resolved on Affi-gel Blue chromatography to yield a Ca2+/calmodulin stimulated cyclic GMP specific PDE and a cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP hydrolysing PDE whose activity was insensitive to Ca2+/calmodulin. These two activities could also be clearly resolved by Mono-Q chromatography of soluble extracts from both liver and hepatocytes. These had different molecular weights, kinetics of substrate utilization, thermostabilities, dependence on Mg2+ and inhibitor sensitivities. The cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP utilizing PDE resolved in these procedures appears to be a novel enzyme form (PDE-MQ-I) which is insensitive to inhibition by the so-called non-selective PDE inhibitor IBMX and displays catalytic activity in the absence of Mg2+. None of the inhibitors tested were capable of inhibiting this form showing that the catalytic activity of this species could be distinguished from all the other soluble activities. This novel enzyme hydrolysed both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP with Km values of 25 microM and 237 microM, respectively. The Vmax ratio of hydrolysis of cyclic GMP/cyclic AMP was above unity (1.4). It accounted for 30% of the soluble cyclic AMP PDE activity and 10% of the cyclic GMP PDE activity assessed at 1 microM substrate. Gel filtration of PDE-MQ-I indicated a size of 33,150 Da, in contrast to the size of 237,500 Da observed for the Ca2+/calmodulin PDE-MQ-II. Thermal inactivation of PDE-MQ-I and PDE-MQ-II yielded single exponential decays with t1/2 values of 6.33 min and 0.7 min at 60 degrees respectively. In the presence of saturating Ca2+, PDE-MQ-II was activated by calmodulin with an EC50 of ca. 30 ng/ml. In the presence of calmodulin, PDE-MQ-II was activated by Ca2+ with an EC50 of ca. 20 microM. Chromatography of homogenates on Mono-Q also identified a cyclic GMP-activated cyclic nucleotide PDE (PDE-MQ-III) and two cyclic AMP specific activities (PDE-MQ-IV and PDE-MQ-V). These exhibited very different inhibitor sensitivities and could be readily distinguished using the compound Ro-20-1724 which yielded IC50 values for inhibition of greater than 500 microM, 13 microM and 1.5 microM, respectively, for the hepatocyte enzymes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)