Synthesis and some pharmacological properties of [4-threonine,7-sarcosine]oxytocin, a peptide with high oxytocic potency, and of [4-threonine,7-N-methylalanine]oxytocin

Two analogues of oxytocin, [Thr4,Sar7]- and [Thr4,MeAla7]oxytocin, were synthesized and their pharmacological properties investigated. [Thr4,Sar7]oxytocin was found to exhibit high biological activity (uterotonic activity of 1174 +/- 104 and milk ejection activity of 731 +/- 57 units/mg) and high selectivity for oxytocin-like relative to vasopressin-like activities (antidiuretic activity of 0.037 +/- 0.012 unit/mg, undetectable pressor activity). [Thr4,MeAla7]oxytocin was characterized by markedly lower biological activities. In both analogues, the additivity of the effects of the residues in positions 4 and 7 of oxytocin on the biological activity of the analogues was ascertained.     

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of [1-L-penicillamine,4-L-leucine]oxytocin.

For the synthesis of [1-L-penicillamine,4-L-leucine]oxytocin (2), Z-Tyr(Bzl)-Ile-Leu-Asn-Cys(Bzl)-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 was treated with anhydrous HBr, and the resulting partially deprotected octapeptide was coupled with Z-penicillamine(Bzl) in a condensation reaction mediated by dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. The protected nonapeptide Z-penicillamine(Bzl)-Tyr-Ile-Leu-Asn-Cys(Bzl)-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 was treated with Na in NH3 and the resulting disulfhydryl compound was subjected to oxidative cyclization in H2O-CH3OH with ICH2CH2I, Purification of 2 was effected by partition chromatography and gel filtration. The analog possesses antioxytocic and antiavian vasodepressor pA2 values of 6.77 and 7.21, respectively, and has no antipressor or anti-ADH activity. Its biological activity spectrum is qualitatively identical with that of [1-penicillamine]oxytocin. In contrast to the marked natriuretic-diuretic and anti-antidiuretic activity of [Leu4]oxytocin, 2 exhibits none of these effects on the rat kidney.     

1-Deaminopenicillamine,4-threonine]oxytocin, a potent inhibitor of oxytocin

[1-Deaminopenicillamine,4-threonine]oxytocin was prepared in duplicate from S-benzyl-3-mercapto-3,3-dimethylpropanoyl-Tyr(Bzl)-Ile-Thr(Bzl)-Asn-Cys(Bzl)-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH2 (I) by removal of the Bzl-protecting groups with Na-NH3, followed by cyclization of the resulting disulfhydryl compound with K3Fo(CN)6. The analogue was purified by desalting on Sephadex G-15 in 50% acetic acid and gel filtration of Sephadex G-15. The protected peptide I was synthesized (a) by the solid-phase method and (b) by a combination of solid-phase synthesis and an [8 + 1] coupling in solution. The analogue has no detectable agonist activity in rat vasopressor or isolated rat uterus assays. It has an antivasopressor pA2 of 6.67 +/- 0.09. It is a potent inhibitor of the in vitro oxytocic response to oxytocin and has a pA2 value of 7.46 +/- 0.04. (Material from the repeat synthesis has a pA2 value of 7.59 +/- 0.08.) Thus the substitution of threonine for glutamine in the antagonist [1-deaminopenicilliamine]oxytocin (pA2, 7.14 +/- 0.05) has effected a twofold increase in inhibitory potency. [1-deaminopenicillamine,4-threonine]oxytocin is one of the most potent inhibitors of oxytocin known to date.     

西曲瑞克的固相合成

目的 优化西曲瑞克的固相合成条件及纯化方法。方法 采用Fmoc固相合成法,以Rink Amide-AM Resin为固相载体,以DIC/HOBt或DIC/HOAt为缩合剂,采用制备型反相高效液相色谱法进行纯化。 结果 合成西曲瑞克粗肽,粗品纯度为94.8%。粗肽经制备型反相高效液相色谱纯化,所得精肽的纯度高达99%,总收率为62%。结论 该合成方法简单易行,产品纯度及收率都很高,适合用于西曲瑞克的工业化生产。     

普兰林肽的固相合成

目的:探索普兰林肽的固相合成、氧化条件及纯化方法。方法:采用Fmoc固相多肽合成法,以Rink Amide-AM树脂做载体,HBTU/HOBt/DIEA做缩合剂,逐步缩合得到全保护线性普兰林肽树脂,以TFA/苯甲硫醚/苯酚/H2O/EDT/TIS配比的裂解液脱除保护基团,分别采用空气,二甲基亚砜,双氧水氧化两个半胱氨酸的巯基形成一对二硫键,半制备反相高效液相色谱法纯化。结果:合成含37个氨基酸以及一对二硫键的普兰林肽经RP-HPLC和MALDI-TOF-MS确证,粗品纯度在50.0%以上,粗品经半制备型反相高效液相色谱纯化,所得精肽的纯度大于95.0%,总收率为30.5%。结论:该方法简单,合成的产品成本低,纯度高,可为工业化生产提供借鉴。     

Pharmacological,conformational and dynamic properties of cycloleucine-2 analogues of oxytocin and [1-penicillamine]oxytocin

The solid phase syntheses of [2-cycloleucine]oxytocin and [1-penicillamine, 2-cycloleucine]oxytocin are reported. [1-Penicillamine, 2-cycloleucine]oxytocin is an oxytocin antagonist exhibiting no in vitro oxytocic activity. In the in vitro oxytocic assay, [1-penicillamine, 2-cycloleucine]oxytocin has a pA₂ value of 6.70 ± 0.08. [2-Cycloleucine]-oxytocin is a full oxytocin agonist exhibiting 4.9 ± 0.5 U/mg of oxytocic activity. Neither compound possesses any measurable agonist or antagonist activity in the rat pressor assay. Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift parameters and spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of the antagonist, [1-penicillamine, 2-cycloleucine]oxytocin, indicate that the antagonist exhibits similar conformational and dynamic properties as other oxytocin inhibitors previously studied. The carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance shift parameters and spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of the oxytocin agonist, [2-cycloleucine] oxytocin, indicate that the agonist exhibits similar conformational and dynamic properties as oxytocin. These results are discussed in terms of the different receptor requirements for agonist and antagonist activities. It appears that there are different structural and conformational requirements at the 2-position for oxytocic agonist and antagonist activities.     

Solid phase synthesis of gastrin I

A successful synthesis of human gastrin I in 60% overall yield based on the first residue attached to a benzhydrylamine-resin was achieved by the stepwise solid-phase method. The synthesis was carried out on a 1% crosslinked polystyrene support, using conventional benzyl-based side chain protecting groups and final deprotection with different acidic protocols. Several improvements in this general approach were applied, including new scavengers, new resin attachment and especially a new technique that allows the strong acid reactions to occur by an S_N2 mechanism.     

Solid phase synthesis of retro-inverso peptide analogues

The solid phase synthesis of a partially modified retro-inverso analogue of the bradykinin potentiating peptide BPP_9a, [gLys⁶, (R,S)-mPhe⁷, Ala⁸] BPP_9a is described. The analogue, which is active in vitro and in vivo, displays prolonged resistance towards cleavage by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE).     

Synthesis and binding of [125I2]philanthotoxin-343, [125I2]philanthotoxin-343-lysine, and [125I2]philanthotoxin-343-arginine to rat brain membranes.

125I2-iodinated philanthotoxin-343 (PhTX-343), [125I2]PhTX-343-arginine, and [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine were synthesized and evaluated as probes for glutamate receptors in rat brain synaptic membranes. It was found that these probes were not specific for the glutamate receptors but may be useful for investigating the polyamine binding site. Filtration assays with Whatman GF/B fiber glass filters were unsuitable because the iodinated PhTX-343 analogues exhibited high nonspecific binding to the filters, thus hindering detection of specific binding to membranes. When binding was measured by a centrifugal assay, [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine bound with low affinity (KD = 11.4 +/- 2 microM) to a large number of sites (37.2 +/- 9.1 nmol/mg of protein). The binding of [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine was sensitive only to the polyamines spermine and spermidine, which displaced [125I2]PhTX-343-lysine with Ki values of (3.77 +/- 1.4) x 10(-5) M and (7.51 +/- 0.77) x 10(-5) M, respectively. The binding was insensitive to glutamate receptor agonists and antagonists. Binding results with [125I2]PhTX-343-arginine were similar to those of [125I2]-PhTX-343-lysine. Considering the high number of toxin binding sites (10000-fold more than glutamate) in these membranes and the insensitivity of the binding to almost all drugs that bind to glutamate receptors, it is evident that most of the binding observed is not to glutamate receptors. On the other hand, PhTX analogues with photoaffinity labels may be useful in the isolation/purification of various glutamate and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; they could also be useful in structural studies of receptors and their binding sites.     

3-(1,4-Cyclohexadienyl)-L-alanine,8-lysine]vasopressin: synthesis and some pharmacological properties

[3-(1,4-Cyclohexadienyl)-L-alanine,8-lysine]vasopressin, otherwise known as [3-(2,5-dihydrophenylalanine),8-lysine]vasopressin or [DiHPhe3]lysine-vasopressin, has been synthesized in an attempt to utilize 2,5-dihydrophenylalanine (DiHPhe) to evaluate the contribution of aromaticity in position 3 to biological activity. The analogue has the same primary structure as lysine-vasopressin, except that two additional hydrogen atoms are present on the ring moiety of the phenylalanine residue in position 3. The key intermediate was the protected nonapeptide N-carbobenzoxy-S-benzyl-L-cysteinyl-L-tyrosyldihydrophenyl-L-alanyl-L-glutaminyl-L-asparaginyl-S-benzyl-L-cysteinyl-L-prolyl-N epsilon-tosyl-L-lysylglycinamide that was synthesized stepwise by the solid-phase technique. Deprotection with sodium in liquid ammonia was followed by sulfhydryl oxidation with I2 to give the hormone analogue. [DiHPhe3]lysine-vasopressin exhibited 125--130 units/mg of antidiuretic, 129--132 units/mg of rat pressor, and 6 units/mg of rat uterus contracting activity. To confirm the presence of DiHPhe in the analogue, an enzymatic procedure employing Aspergillus oryzae was developed that liberates in high yield the amino acid residue in position 3 of the posterior pituitary hormone structure. This study should be applicable to other biologically active peptides.     

Active-site studies of neurohypophyseal hormones: synthesis and pharmacological properties of [5-(N4,N4-dimethylasparagine)]oxytocin.

Synthesis and biological properties of [5-(N4,N4-dimethylasparagine)]oxytocin are reported. In this analogue, the hydrogens of the primary carboxamide moiety in the side chain of the asparagine residue in position 5 of the posterior pituitary hormone oxytocin have been replaced by two methyl groups. The protected nonapeptide intermediate was prepared by a stepwise procedure using solution techniques. The analogue possesses 4.60 +/- 0.03 units/mg (mean +/- SEM) uterotonic activity on the isolated rat uterine horn and 9.14 +/- 0.03 units/mg of avian vasodepressor activity. Moreover, it displays an identical intrinsic activity in the in vitro rat uterotonic assay as oxytocin, when tested in the presence of either 0.5 mM Ca2+ (standard assay conditions) or at reduced levels of Ca2+ (0.3, 0.15, and 0.05 mM). This result is significant in view of the proposed biologically active model of oxytocin, in which the side chain of the 5 position residue was assigned to contain an "active element" responsible for the intrinsic activity of the hormone when bound to the uterine receptor.     

The synthesis of 4-deoxypyrido[1',2'-1,2]imidazo[5,4-c]rifamycin SV derivatives

Two series of new semisynthetic rifamycin SV derivatives have been prepared. One of them bears a quaternary ammonium salt at C3 (1-5), and the other a pyridoimidazo system condensed at C3 and C4 (6-11). While compounds 1-5 had poor antibacterial activity in vitro, compounds 6-11 were found to be highly active in vitro but poorly absorbed in vivo. They could thus have potential as agents in the therapy of intestinal infections. The synthesis and the 1H NMR structure determination of these new compounds are reported.     

Solid phase synthesis and biological activity of tuftsin conjugates

New tuftsin/retro-tuftsin conjugates were designed and synthesized using a classical fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) solid phase procedure. All the peptide conjugates were divided into three series: 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone (type A), 1-nitroacridine (type B), and 4-carboxyacridone (type C) derivatives. In type A conjugates, the N-terminal group of the peptide chain is directly connected to the anthraquinone ring at C1 (Scheme 1), whereas types B and C conjugates possess an amide bond formed between the carboxyl group of heterocyclic molecule and the N-termini of the tuftsin chain. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the tuftsin conjugates and their precursors using two human tumor cell lines (lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and myeloblastic leukemia (HL-60)) was investigated. The analogues from groups A and C exhibited low cytotoxic activity, whereas several compounds of type B showed a potent and selective cytotoxic activity against tested tumor cell lines. None of the examined tuftsin conjugates demonstrated any significant effect on the catalytic activity of types I and II DNA topoisomerases.     

Novel derivatives of benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones: synthesis, photochemical synthesis, and antitumor evaluation

Novel derivatives of benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones 3a-j were synthesized in a multistep synthesis starting from substituted benzo[b]thiophene-2-carbonyl chlorides, to their corresponding benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides, which were photochemically dehydrohalogenated to their corresponding substituted benzo[b]thieno[2,3-c]quinolones. Compound 4 was prepared from 3i by alkylation with 3-dimethylaminopropyl chloride in the presence of NaH. Compounds 7a,b were prepared from 3g in the multistep synthesis from compounds 5 and 6. Compounds 3b, 3c-f, 3h, 7a, and 7b were found to exert cytostatic activity against malignant cell lines: pancreatic carcinoma (MiaPaCa2), breast carcinoma (MCF7), cervical carcinoma (HeLa), laryngeal carcinoma (Hep2), colon carcinoma (CaCo-2), melanoma (HBL), human fibroblast cell lines (WI-38). The compounds that bear a 3-dimethylaminopropyl substituent on the quinolone nitrogen (3b, 3c-f, 3h) showed higher antitumor activity than compounds bearing the same substituent on the amidic nitrogen (7a and 7b). The compound 3h, which has a 3-dimethylaminopropyl substituent on the quinolone nitrogen and a methoxycarbonyl substituent at position 9, had marked antitumor activity. Because of strong cytotoxic effect of compound 4 on melanoma cells (HBL, ME 67.3, and ME 67.1), a potential mechanism of action was examined. Analysis of DNA and Annexin-V-FLUOS staining indicated that compound 4 causes cell death by apoptosis.     

[1,2,4]Triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline: synthesis, antiviral, and antimicrobial activities

A series of novel [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline derivatives and their isosteres, pyrimido-quinoxaline, were synthesized as potential antiviral and antimicrobial agents. The new compounds were synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution of 4-chloro-8-methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-amine with different amines and triazole-2-thiol. Some of the synthesized compounds were subjected to antiviral and cytotoxicity screening using plaque-reduction assay. Most of the tested compounds exhibited cytotoxicity at concentration 160?μg/ml and compound 8b showed promising antiviral activity. In vitro antimicrobial screening against different pathogenic organisms using agar diffusion method demonstrated that compounds 4d, 6c, 7b, and 8a exhibit antibacterial and/or antifungal activities.     

Solid phase synthesis of ovine corticotropin releasing factor

Ovine corticotropin releasing factor was synthesized by the stepwise solid phase method under conditions anticipated to maximize yield. Final yields of fully active hormone were 34% based on peptide which could be removed from the resin and 24% on initial resin substitution.     

Regioselective synthesis of [1]benzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazol-4-(1H)-one and [1]benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrazol-4(3H)-one derivatives

The cycloaddition reaction of N-phenyl-C-cinnamonitrilimine4 to coumarin leads to the formation of 3-styrylbenzopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole derivative6, whereas 3-phenylsulfonylcoumarin 0163 0181 V 39 or 3-bromocoumarin10 or 3-cyanocoumarin11 gives 1-styrylbenzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrazole derivative7. Also, the cycloaddition of4 to 3-acetylcoumarin15 and 3-benzoylcoumarin16 gives the corresponding dihydropyrano[3,4-c]pyrazole adducts17 and18 respectively. Oxidation of17 and18 gives7.