Structure and DNA binding activity of analogues of 1,5-bis(4-amidinophenoxy)pentane (pentamidine)

The DNA binding properties of a series of 39 bisbenzamidines related to the clinically used antipneumocystis drug pentamidine (1) were studied. Changes in the thermal denaturation temperature of calf thymus DNA (delta Tm) showed that all the compounds have significant affinity for DNA. A comparison of delta Tms for the series with delta Tms of base-pair-specific DNA-binding compounds, using homopolymers poly(dA).poly(dT) and poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), indicated that the compounds show moderate specificity for AT base pairs. Lack of DNA helix extension, measured by viscometric titration with sonicated calf thymus DNA, indicated that the compounds do not bind to DNA by intercalation. Analogues of 1 with an odd number of methylenes connecting the benzamidine rings had a higher affinity for DNA and homopolymers than analogues with an even number of methylenes. All of the compounds containing an amidino group meta to the linking chain showed lower polynucleotide affinity. These results suggest that the shape of the molecules was important for DNA binding. Molecular modeling studies showed a correlation between the DNA binding and the radius of curvature of molecular mechanics models of the molecules. Monosubstitution on the benzamidine rings or replacement of the amidino group with the cyclic imidazolino group had no influence on the DNA-binding affinity of the compounds. Substitution of NH for the ether oxygen connecting group of 1 had no effect on the DNA binding or base-pair specificity. Methylation of either of the nitrogen atoms of the imidazolino group to provide an analogue of 1 with N-methylimidazolino groups decreased DNA affinity considerably. GC vs AT base-pair specificity as measured by delta Tm does not correlate with the radius of curvature. The experimental and modeling results are consistent with DNA minor-groove binding.     

Structure activity relationship of ar-turmerone analogues

For the analysis of structure activity relationship of ar-turmerone analogues, the compounds containing the various substituents on the phenyl ring and 1(or 2)-naphthyl group in the place of phenyl of ar-turmerone were prepared and tested their cytotoxicity against HL-60, K-562, and L1210 leukemia cellsin vitro. The substituents at para position are methoxy, phenoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, and chloro. Atmeta position methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, or chloro groups and atortho position methoxy or chloro group were introduced. Against HL-60 and K-562 cells, ED₅₀ values of the analogues are ranged from 0.8 to 30.0 μg/ml. Against L1210 cell, these are located more than 20.0 μg/ml. However, 5-carboethoxy-2-methyl-6-(1-naphthyl)-2-octen-4-one (5n) possesses ED50 valuses 0.8, 2.1, 6.5 μg/ml against HL-60, K-562, L1210 cells, respectively. The electronic nature of the subsituents on phenyl ring of ar-turmerone dose not affect the biological activity. Therefore the flat structure of aromatic portion of ar-turmerone analogues is the more important factor for their activity rather than its electronic nature. The potentiation of the cytotoxicity with the enlargement of aromatic ring region also supports the importance of the plane structure of this area. The restriction of the single bond rotation between C-6 and aromatic ring through the introduction of substituents at theortho position of phenyl ring and the increment of size of alkyl group at C-6 position enhances the activity. Therefore the effective conformation should be the one having the orthogonal arrangement between the aromatic ring and the side chain.     

Acidity and Stability of 10-Substituted 1,8-Dihydroxy-9(10H)-anthracenones

The decomposition of 10-substituted anthralin derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol was determined. While 10-ω-phenylalkylidene derivatives were thoroughly stable, 10-ω-phenylacyl-substituted compounds were slowly degraded to danthron and the corresponding carboxylic acids. However, the stability of these derivatives was markedly improved as compared to that of anthralin. Determination of the pK_a values showed that the ω-phenylacyl derivatives were somewhat stronger acids than anthralin, while ω-phenylalkylidene-substitution generally leaves the acidity of the anthralin part unchanged.     

Cornified envelope formation by anthralin, simple analogues, and related anthracenones

The ability of the antipsoriatic anthralin to induce HaCaT keratinocyte differentiation was investigated and correlated with its potency to inhibit proliferation of keratinocytes. To determine the structural requirements for this effect, anthralin and seventeen simple analogues or related anthracenones were examined for their ability to induce the formation of cornified envelope as a marker of terminal differentiation. Covalently cross-linked protein was measured as a key feature of this process. Induction of keratinocyte differentiation was significant at a concentration of 0.5 microM anthralin after 48 h exposure. The presence of the 1,8-dihydroxy groups is a critical determinant of cross-linking activity, since removing or exchanging these groups prevented the induction of keratinocyte differentiation. Furthermore, at least one hydrogen atom at the 10-position of anthralin is required. Moreover, anthralin, anthralin dimer, and anthralin triacetate exhibited antiproliferative and antirespiratory activity at concentrations required to induce keratinocyte differentiation, suggesting a causality between these effects. In addition, cornified envelope formation was observed for a number of related anthracenones at concentrations as low as 1-5 microM. In general, compounds containing benzoyl substituents, independent of the position in the anthralin nucleus, were more potent than those having benzyl substituents. Only marginal differences in cross-linking potency were observed within a number of phenylpropionyl substituted analogues, suggesting that the ability to induce keratinocyte differentiation is independent of the nature of substituents at the side chain.     

Synthesis and antirhinovirus activity of 8-substituted analogues of 6-(dimethylamino)-9-(4-methylbenzyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-9H-purine.

Several 8-substituted analogues of 6-(dimethylamino) -9-(4-methylbenzyl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-9H-purine (1) were synthesized and tested for activity against rhinovirus type 1B. Among 16 8-substituted analogues, the 8-amino (3) and 8-bromo (2) analogues were most active with IC50s of 0.36 and 1.4 microM, respectively, under conditions where 1 had an IC50 of 0.03 microM.     

Synthesis and antiherpes simplex virus activity of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propylthio)methyl]guanine

The synthesis of the thio analogue (thio-DHPG, 2) of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 1) is described. The synthesis of 2 proceeded via the condensation of acetoxymethyl sulfide 9 with diacetylguanine 10 to give the protected nucleoside analogue 11. Although catalytic hydrogenolysis failed, the benzyl ether functionalities of 11 were successfully cleaved by an acetolysis reaction to furnish 14. Ammonolysis of 14 gave 2, which was also transformed to sulfoxide 15 and sulfone 16. Preliminary in vitro screening indicated that 2 exhibited comparable activity to DHPG against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) but was less active against the type 2 virus (HSV-2) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In a mouse encephalitis model (HSV-2), subcutaneous treatment with 2 led to a 53% reduction in mortality at a dose of 100 mg/kg per day.     

Synthesis and local anesthetic activity of (E)- and (Z)-diethylaminoethyliminothers of 1,8-naphtyridine

A series of (E)- and (Z)-diethylaminoethylimino ethers of 1.8-naphthyridine was prepared and characterized. Preliminary studies showed that none of the tested compounds presented noteworthy local anesthetic activity.     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of various esters of 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine

The synthesis and in vivo biological activity of a series of mono-O-, di-O-, and N2-acyl derivatives of 9-[(1,3-dihydro-2-propoxy)-methyl]guanine (DHPG) are described.     

Acyclic analogues of 2'-deoxynucleosides related to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine as potential antiviral agents

A series of acyclic analogues of 2'-deoxynucleosides related in structure to 9-[(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxy)methyl]guanine (DHPG, 1) have been synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (F strain). Additionally, the ability of these analogues to function as substrates for the virus-specified thymidine kinase was examined. Phosphorylation by this kinase is essential for antiviral activity. Although the acyclic 4-oxopyrimidine nucleosides were substrates for the kinase, they were devoid of antiviral activity. In the purine series, most analogues similar in structure to DHPG did exhibit significantly lower antiviral activity, indicating that even small modifications in the purine substituents substantially reduce the antiviral potency. The most active agent, 2,6-diaminopurine 27, was only poorly phosphorylated by the viral kinase; therefore, its activity was most likely due to a prior enzymatic deamination to give DHPG. Evaluation of 27 in a mouse encephalitis model has shown it to be nearly as potent as DHPG (1).     

Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 1-N-(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propyl)kanamycin B (UK-31,214)

1-N-(1,3-Dihydroxy-2-propyl)kanamycin B was prepared and its in vitro activity against aminoglycoside-sensitive and aminoglycoside-resistant organisms was compared with that of kanamycin B and gentamicin. This kanamycin B derivative (code No. UK-31,214) demonstrated potent activity in all of these tests and gave good protection in experimental infections in mice.     

Spirotetrahydronaphthalene analogues of sympathomimetic catecholamines. Synthesis and adrenergic activity of 5,6- and 6,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[naphthalen-1 (2H)-3'-piperidines

The 5,6- (5a) and 6,7-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrospiro[naphthalen-1 (2H)-3'-piperidine] (6a) and their N-isopropyl derivatives (5b and 6b), DDSNPs, were synthesized. These compounds can be viewed as the result of the combination of the structure of the 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-piperidine 2a or 2b, with the structure of the corresponding 1-(aminomethyl)-5,6-dihydroxy-(3a or 3b) or 1-(aminomethyl)-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (4a or 4b), 1-AMDTNs. The new compounds (5a, b and 6a, b) were assayed for their alpha and beta adrenergic properties by means of binding experiments and functional tests and the results were compared with those obtained for catecholamines 1a, b and the previously described 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)piperidine (3-DPP; 2) and 1-AMDTNs (3, 4). Comparison of the affinity and activity data of novel derivatives with those of reference compounds 2, 3 and 4 shows a general low ability of DDSNPs 5 and 6 to interact with both alpha and beta- adrenoceptors.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and analogues

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) 1 is a constituent of the creosote bush Larrea divaricata and is well known to be a selective inhibitor of lipoxygenases. NDGA can also inhibit the platelet derived growth factor receptor and the protein kinase C intracellular signalling family, which both play an important role in proliferation and survival of cancers. Moreover, NDGA induces apoptosis in tumour xenografts. Although it is likely to have several targets of action, NDGA is well tolerated in animals. These encouraging results have prompted interest in the compound for clinical study. However, high concentrations of NDGA are required for efficacy and more potent analogues are required. We have synthesized five analogues of NDGA with different lengths of carbon bridge between the two catechol moieties in order to establish the spacing required for optimum anticancer effect and to compare their activities with NDGA. In order to ascertain if the catechol moieties are essential for anticancer activity, we prepared five analogues of NDGA containing only one hydroxyl group on each aromatic ring. NDGA 1, its racemic form 2, the catechol derivatives 5, 6 with five or six carbon atom bridges and the phenol analogues 8-11 with bridges of three to six carbon atoms all showed similar activity, with IC50 values of approximately 3-5 microM against the H-69 small cell lung cancer cell line. Analogues with shorter (3) or longer bridges (7, 12) were much less active. The most potent analogue was the biscatechol with a four-carbon bridge 4 which was > 10 times more active than NDGA and therefore represents a new lead compound in this area. Surprisingly, the tetramethyl ether 14 of this compound was slightly more active than NDGA, but the trihydroxy analogue 13 was less active than NDGA. The conformationally restricted analogue 15 was also less active than NDGA. In summary, simplification of the structure of NDGA by removal of the methyl groups has produced a new lead compound 4, which is >10 times more potent than NDGA as a proliferative inhibitor of H-69 small cell lung cancer cells.     

Structure activity relationships of synthetic antibiotic analogues of chryscandin

Anti-yeast activity with a series of chryscandin derivatives showed that the O-methyl-L-tyrosyl moiety is not always required for activity at the target site. On the other hand, the adenyl-3'-aminoribofuranuronic acid moiety seems to be essential for biological activity. Therefore, the various acyl derivatives on the amino group of the sugar part of the nucleoside were synthesized. 1-(6-Amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-3-(S-benzyl-L-cysteinylamino)- 1,3-dideoxy-beta-D-ribofuranuronic acid (16) showed the highest efficacy among them against Candida albicans. It exhibited sixteen-fold enhanced activity in vitro compared with that of native chryscandin. The in vivo activity of 16 against experimental infection of C. albicans showed the almost same as that of 5-fluorocytosine and a superior to that of ketoconazole.     

Antimutagenic potency of the cytotoxic and anti-psoriatic compound anthralin (cignolin)

The anti-psoriatic compound anthralin (cignolin) was determined to exhibit a strong cytostatic activity on HeLa-K?ln cells; an ED50 concentration of 1.2 microM are cytotoxic for the cells. These growth-inhibition data were confirmed by thymidine-uptake experiments. The drug anthralin was determined to be neither direct a mutagen nor a premutagen in the Ames test using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 100 (anthralin-concentration = 5 microM). Moreover, this compound was a strong inhibitor of benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase, an enzyme which causes the metabolic conversion of premutagens to mutagens. These data demonstrate anthralin to be an anti-psoriatic compound devoid of mutagenic property in vitro with regard to base-pair substitutions and provided at least with some antimutagenic potential.