Enzymatic synthesis of C-terminal arylamides of amino acids and peptides.

A mild and cost-efficient chemo-enzymatic method for the synthesis of C-terminal arylamides of amino acid and peptides is described. Using the industrial serine protease Alcalase under near-anhydrous conditions, C-terminal arylamides of N-Cbz-protected amino acids and peptides could be obtained from the corresponding C-terminal carboxylic acids, methyl (Me) or benzyl (Bn) esters, in high chemical and enantio- and diastereomeric purities. Yields ranged between 50% and 95% depending on the size of the aryl substituents and the presence of electron-withdrawing substituents. Complete alpha-C-terminal selectivity could be obtained even in the presence of various unprotected side-chain functionalities such as beta/gamma-carboxyl, hydroxyl, and guanidino groups. In addition, the use of the cysteine protease papain and the lipase Cal-B gave anilides in high yields. The chemo-enzymatic synthesis of arylamides proved to be completely free of racemization, in contrast to the state-of-the-art chemical methods.

Stereoselective and efficient synthesis of (3R,3aS,6aR)-hexahydrofuro[2,3-b]furan-3-ol.

[reaction: see text] Two short and efficient synthesis routes have been developed for bis-THF-alcohol 2, a key building block of the investigational HIV protease inhibitor TMC114 (1). Using S-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde (4) as the source of chirality, both routes are based on a diastereoselective Michael addition of nitromethane to give predominantly the syn congeners 6 followed by a Nef oxidation and cyclization to afford lactone acetals 8, which are reduced and cyclized to give 2.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a new class of acyl derivatives of 3-amino-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-one as potential dual cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and human lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitors.

A series of acyl derivatives of 3-amino-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-5-one as potential human 5-LOX and COX 1 and COX-2 inhibitors structurally related to the 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone (phenidone, 1) have been synthesized and the activity against COX-1, COX-2 and human 5-LOX enzymes has been evaluated. All the derivatives showed poor activity against enzymes. These data, together with our previous studies, indicated that phenidone and related compounds are not suitable as human 5-LOX inhibitors and that pyrazoline nucleus should not be considered a good scaffold for inhibitors of human 5-LOX enzyme, suggesting the necessity to revisit the proposed mechanism of action of phenidone (1) in human models.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new phenidone analogues as potential dual cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and human lipoxygenase (5-LOX) inhibitors.

A new series of potential human 5-LOX inhibitors structurally related to the 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone (phenidone, 2) has been synthesized and the activity against COX-1, COX-2, and human 5-LOX enzymes has been evaluated. In contrast with literature data, we observed that phenidone resulted to be inactive against human 5-LOX, while retains its activity against cyclooxygenases in a micromolar range. The present results suggest that the substitution of the amino function at the 4-position is detrimental in terms of activity toward COX-1 and COX-2, while the presence of a double bond at the 4,5-position does not alter the biological profile against COX. The absence of activity vs. human 5-LOX strongly suggests a re-consideration of phenidone and its analogs as 5-LOX inhibitors in humans.

Lysosomally cleavable peptide-containing polymersomes modified with anti-EGFR antibody for systemic cancer chemotherapy.

Polymersomes (Ps) based on a biodegradable and biocompatible block copolymer of methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) (mPEG) and poly(D,L-lactide) (PDLLA) in which apeptide sequence, Gly-Phe-Leu-Gly-Phe (GFLGF), was introduced in between the two blocks(mPEG-pep-PDLLA) were developed. The peptide linker is cleavable by the lysosomal enzymecathepsin B (Cath B). Ps containing the peptide linker (Ps(pep)) with an average diameter of about 124 nm were prepared by injecting a THF solution of the block copolymer into DI water. The Ps had a membrane thickness of about 15 nm as determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order to investigate the enzymatic degradation of the Ps (pep), dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements of Ps(pep) dispersions with different concentrations of Cath B at pH 5.5 and 7.4 were performed as a function of time. A gradual decrease in kilo counts per second (Kcps) of the Ps (pep) over 7 d was observed after incubation of the Ps (pep) dispersions with 5 units/ml of Cath B at pH 5.5 at 37 °C. The size distribution became also bimodal, indicating that aggregation and precipitation of Ps (pep) occurred by disintegration of the Ps (pep) as a result of cleavage of the peptide. The rate of disintegration of the Ps (pep) was depending on the concentration of Cath Band the pH. No changes by DLS were seen when the dispersions were incubated with the enzyme at pH 7.4. Acridine orange (AO) was encapsulated in Ps (pep)as a model drug and rapid release of AO triggered by Cath B degradation of Ps (pep) was observed at pH 5.5. Anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) antibody (abEGFR) was immobilized on the surface of Ps(pep)in order to enhance the cellular uptake of Ps (pep). Fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled dextran (40,000 g/mol) (FD40) was incorporated in the Ps (pep) for the cell study and Ps either without peptide or antibody or without both peptide and antibody were used as negative controls. After 3 d exposure to SKBR3 cells, abEGFR-conjugated Ps (pep) (abEGFR-Ps (pep)) were directly bound to the membrane of the cells and were endocytosed more rapidly as compared to Ps (pep)without abEGFR. Intracellular release of FD40 from Ps (pep) was observed, suggesting that the peptide linker in Ps (pep) was cleaved in the lysosomal compartments of the cells leading to Ps (pep) membrane disruption. An Alexa Fluor(®) 488 labeled fragment of anti-mouse IgG (F(ab')(2)A) was also coupled to Ps (pep). Specific binding of the Ps (pep) coupled IgG (F(ab')(2)A) onto SKBR3 cells treated with primary mouse antibody was observed, whereas no binding was found with SKBR3 cells treated with goat antibody.

Pyrazolo-triazolo-pyrimidines as adenosine receptor antagonists: Effect of the N-5 bond type on the affinity and selectivity at the four adenosine receptor subtypes.

In the last few years, many efforts have been made to search for potent and selective human A(3) adenosine antagonists. In particular, one of the most promising human A(3) adenosine receptor antagonists is represented by the pyrazolo-triazolo-pyrimidine family. This class of compounds has been strongly investigated from the point of view of structure-activity relationships. In particular, it has been observed that fundamental requisites for having both potency and selectivity at the human A(3) adenosine receptors are the presence of a small substituent at the N(8) position and an unsubstitued phenyl carbamoyl moiety at the N(5) position. In this study, we report the role of the N(5)-bond type on the affinity and selectivity at the four adenosine receptor subtypes. The observed structure-activity relationships of this class of antagonists are also exhaustively rationalized using the recently published ligand-based homology modeling approach.

The application of a 3D-QSAR (autoMEP/PLS) approach as an efficient pharmacodynamic-driven filtering method for small-sized virtual library: application to a lead optimization of a human A3 adenosine receptor antagonist.

We have recently reported that the combination of molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface properties (autocorrelation vectors) with the conventional partial least squares (PLS) analysis can be used to produce a robust ligand-based 3D structure-activity relationship (autoMEP/PLS) for the prediction of the human A3 receptor antagonist activities. Here, we present the application of the 3D-QSAR (autoMEP/PLS) approach as an efficient and alternative pharmacodynamic filtering method for small-sized virtual library. For this purpose, a small-sized combinatorial library (841 compounds) was derived from the scaffold of the known human A3 antagonist pyrazolo-triazolo-pyrimidines. The most interesting analogues were further prioritized for synthesis and pharmacological characterization. Remarkably, we have found that all the newly synthetized compounds are correctly predicted as potent human A3 antagonists. In particular, two of them are correctly predicted as sub-nanomolar inhibitors of the human A3 receptor.

Arachidonic acid released by phospholipase A(2) activation triggers Ca(2+)-dependent apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway.

We studied the effects of the divalent cation ionophore A23187 on apoptotic signaling in MH1C1 cells. Addition of A23187 caused a fast rise of cytosolic Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](c)), which returned close to the resting level within about 40 s. The [Ca(2+)](c) rise was immediately followed by phospholipid hydrolysis, which could be inhibited by aristolochic acid or by pretreatment with thapsigargin in Ca(2+)-free medium, indicating that the Ca(2+)-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) was involved. These early events were followed by opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) and by apoptosis in about 30% of the cell population. In keeping with a cause-effect relationship between addition of A23187, activation of cPLA(2), PTP opening, and cell death, all events but the [Ca(2+)](c) rise were prevented by aristolochic acid. The number of cells killed by A23187 was doubled by treatment with 0.5 microm MK886 and 5 microm indomethacin, which inhibit arachidonic acid metabolism through the 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase pathway, respectively. Consistent with the key role of free arachidonic acid, its levels increased within minutes of treatment with A23187; the increase being more pronounced in the presence of MK886 plus indomethacin. Cell death was preceded by cytochrome c release and cleavage of caspase 9 and 3, but not of caspase 8. All these events were prevented by aristolochic acid and by the PTP inhibitor cyclosporin A. Thus, A23187 triggers the apoptotic cascade through the release of arachidonic acid by cPLA(2) in a process that is amplified when transformation of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins and leukotrienes is inhibited. These findings identify arachidonic acid as the causal link between A23187-dependent perturbation of Ca(2+) homeostasis and the effector mechanisms of cell death.

Mitochondria are direct targets of the lipoxygenase inhibitor MK886. A strategy for cell killing by combined treatment with MK886 and cyclooxygenase inhibitors.

We have investigated the mitochondrial and cellular effects of the lipoxygenase inhibitor MK886. Low concentrations (1 microM) of MK886 selectively sensitized the permeability transition pore (PTP) to opening, whereas higher concentrations of MK886 (10 microM) caused depolarization through combination of an ionophoretic effect with inhibition of respiration. MK886 killed prostate cancer PC3 cells only at the higher, toxic concentration (10 microM), whereas the lower concentration (1 microM) had no major effect on cell survival. However, 1 microM MK886 alone demonstrably induced PTP-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction; and it caused cell death through the mitochondrial pathway when it was used in combination with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, which had no effects per se. Treatment with 1 microM MK886 plus indomethacin sensitized cells to killing by exogenous arachidonic acid, which induces PTP opening and cytochrome c release (Scorrano, L., Penzo, D., Petronilli, V., Pagano, F., and Bernardi, P. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 12035-12040). Combination of MK886 and cyclooxygenase inhibitors may represent a viable therapeutic strategy to force cell death through the mitochondrial pathway. This approach should be specifically useful to kill cells possessing a high flux of arachidonic acid and its metabolites like prostate and colon cancer cells.