Neplanocin A, a potent inhibitor of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, potentiates granulocytic differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells induced by all-trans retinoic acid.

Several neplanocin A analogs were synthesized and their growth-inhibiting and differentiation-inducing activities on myelogenous leukemia cells were examined. An adenosine kinase-ineffective analog of neplanocin A was effective in inducing differentiation, suggesting that phosphorylation of the nucleoside is not essential for inducing the differentiation of leukemia cells. Neplanocin A induced functional and morphological differentiation of HL-60 cells, but did not effectively induce differentiation of NB4, a cell line derived from a leukemia patient with t(15;17). However, these cells have been known to undergo granulocytic differentiation upon treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), and are used as a model for differentiation therapy in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Preexposure of NB4 cells to low concentrations of neplanocin A greatly enhanced the ATRA-induced differentiation of the cells, whereas representative antileukemic drugs such as cytosine arabinoside and daunomycin did not enhance this differentiation. A clinical strategy that combines intermittent treatment with neplanocin A analogs and a low dose of ATRA may increase the clinical response and decrease the adverse effects of ATRA.

Establishment of CHO cell lines expressing four N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subtypes and characterization of a novel antagonist PPDC.

To develop an assay system that allows the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subtype-selective antagonistic potency of drugs, we have established Chinese hamster ovary cell lines expressing the four NMDA receptor subtypes (GluRepsilon1/zeta1-GluRepsilon4/zeta1) heat-indelibly. Using these clonal cells, we found that a novel antagonist, (1S,2R)-1-phenyl-2[(S)-1-aminopropyl]-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide, was less selective for the GluRepsilon1/zeta1: the IC(50) values for the GluRepsilon1/zeta1-GluRepsilon4/zeta1 were 41.7, 13.3, 12.6 and 11.5 microM, respectively, while two well-known antagonists, DL-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid and ifenprodil, showed the known potency and selectivity for each subtype. Thus, the established clonal cells are of use in characterizing the pharmacological properties of drugs that act on NMDA receptors.

Synthesis and biological activity of conformationally restricted analogues of milnacipran: (1S, 2R)-1-phenyl-2-[(R)-1-amino-2-propynyl]-N,N- diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide is a novel class of NMDA receptor channel blocker.

Conformationally restricted analogues of (+/-)-(Z)-2-aminomethyl-1-phenyl-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide++ + [milnacipran, (+/-)-1] were designed on the basis of its characteristic cyclopropane structure and were synthesized enantioselectively to develop efficient NMDA receptor antagonists. Among these analogues, (1S,2R)-1-phenyl-2-[(R)-1-amino-2-propynyl]-N, N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide (2d) had one of the most potent affinities for the receptor, with a Ki value of 0.29 microM. The blockade of NMDA receptor channels expressed by Xenopus oocytes by 2d was investigated in detail, and 2d was identified as a new class of open channel blocker against this receptor.

New neplanocin analogues. 6. Synthesis and potent antiviral activity of 6'-homoneplanocin A1.

The design, synthesis, and antiviral activities of 6'-homoneplanocin A (HNPA, 3) and its congeners having nucleobases other than adenine, such as 3-deazaadenine (4), guanine (5), thymine (6), and cytosine (7), were described. Starting from the known cyclopentenone derivative 8, the optically active (mesyloxy)cyclopentene derivative 15 was prepared, which was condensed with nucleobases then deprotected to give target compounds 3-7. Of these compounds, HNPA showed an antiviral activity spectrum that was comparable to, and an antiviral specificity that was higher than, that of neplanocin A. HNPA proved particularly active against human cytomegalovirus, vaccinia virus, parainfluenza virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and arenaviruses, which is compatible with an antiviral action targeted at S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase. HNPA appears to be a promising candidate drug for the treatment of these viruses.

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 185. Synthesis and biological activities of 4'alpha-C-branched-chain sugar pyrimidine nucleosides.

A series of 4'alpha-C-branched-chain pyrimidine nucleosides was synthesized from 2'-deoxycytidine or uridine. In the 2'-deoxycytidine series, the substituent at the 4'alpha-position affected cytotoxicity against L1210 mouse leukemic cells in vitro in the order Me (23) > CN (22) > C(symbol)CH (21) > CH=CH(2) (19) > Et (24) > CH=CHCl (20). However, uridine and cytidine derivatives with ethynyl and cyano groups at the 4'alpha-position did not show any cytotoxicity. The antiviral activities of these nucleosides against HSV-1, HSV-2, and HIV-1 in vitro were also examined. Compounds 22 and 23 showed antiviral activities against HSV-1 and HSV-2 without showing significant toxicity to the host cells (MRC-5 cells). Although almost all of the nucleosides showed anti-HIV-1 activities, they were also cytotoxic to the host cells (MT-4).

(+/-)-(Z)-2-(aminomethyl)-1-phenylcyclopropanecarboxamide derivatives as a new prototype of NMDA receptor antagonists.

(+/-)-(Z)-2-(Aminomethyl)-1-phenylcyclopropane-N,N-diethylcarbo xamide (milnacipran, 1), a clinically useful antidepressant, and its derivatives were prepared by an improved method and were evaluated as NMDA receptor antagonists. Of these, milnacipran (1), its N-methyl and N,N-dimethyl derivatives, 7 and 8, respectively, and its homologue 12 at the aminomethyl moiety had binding affinity for the receptor in vitro (IC50: 1, 6.3 +/- 0.3 microM; 7, 13 +/- 2.1 microM; 8, 88 +/- 1.4 microM; 12, 10 +/- 1.2 microM). These also protected mice from NMDA-induced lethality. These compounds would be important as anovel prototype for designing potent NMDA-receptor antagonists because of their characteristic structure, which clearly differentiated them from known competitive and noncompetitive antagonists to the receptor.

Synthesis and biological activity of conformationally restricted analogs of milnacipran: (1S,2R)-1-phenyl-2-[(S)-1-aminopropyl]-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxami de, an efficient noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor antagonist.

We recently demonstrated that (+/-)-(Z)-2-(aminomethyl)-1-phenyl-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamide [milnacipran, (+/-)-1], an inhibitor of the reuptake of serotonin (5-HT), was a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist. On the basis of the cyclopropane structure of (+/-)-1, conformationally restricted analogs with different stereochemistries, namely 1-phenyl-2-(1-aminoalkyl)-N,N-diethylcyclopropanecarboxamindes (2, 3, ent-2, and ent-3), were designed and synthesized. Among these analogs, 2a, 2b, and 2f, with (1S,2R,1'S)-configuration, were more efficient than milnacipran as NMDA receptor antagonists; these compounds significantly inhibited the binding of [3H]MK-801 at IC50 = 0.35 +/- 0.08, 0.20 +/- 0.024, and 0.16 +/- 0.02 microM, respectively, and blocked the response of voltage-clamped oocytes to NMDA, surpassing the effects of (+/-)-1. Although both the 1'-methyl analog 2a and the 1'-vinyl analog 2f, like (+/-)-1, strongly inhibited 5-HT uptake in vitro, the corresponding 1'-ethyl analog 2b was devoid of the inhibitory effect on 5-HT uptake, while it was about 30 times more potent as an NMDA receptor antagonist than (+/-)-1.

New neplanocin analogues. 1. Synthesis of 6'-modified neplanocin A derivatives as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

Novel neplanocin A analogues modified at the 6'-position, i.e., 6'-deoxy analogues (2, 3, 6, 9, 20), 6'-O-methylneplanocin A (15), and 6'-C-methylneplanocin A's (22a and 22b) have been synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activity in a wide variety of DNA and RNA virus systems. These compounds showed an activity spectrum that conforms to that of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitors. They were particularly active against pox- (vaccinia), paramyxo-(parainfluenza, measles, respiratory syncytial), arena- (Junin, Tacaribe), rhabdo- (vesicular stomatitis), reo-, and cytomegalovirus. In order of (increasing) antiviral activity, the compounds ranked as follows: 3 less than 15 approximately 20 less than 6 less than 9 approximately 2 less than 22a. Of the two diastereomeric forms of 22, only 22a was active; 22a surpassed neplanocin A both in antiviral potency and selectivity. Compound 22a appears to be a promising candidate drug for the treatment of pox-, paramyxo-, arena-, rhabdo-, reo-, and cytomegalovirus infections.

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 175. Structural requirements of the sugar moiety for the antitumor activities of new nucleoside antimetabolites, 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine and -uracil1.

We previously designed 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-d-ribo-pentofuranosyl)uracil (EUrd) and its cytosine congener (ECyd) as potential multifunctional antitumor nucleoside antimetabolites. They showed potent and broad-spectrum antitumor activity against various human and mouse tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. To clarify the structure-activity relationship of the sugar moiety, various 3'-C-carbon-substituted analogues, such as 1-propynyl, 1-butynyl, ethenyl, ethyl, and cyclopropyl derivatives, of ECyd and EUrd were synthesized. We also prepared 3'-deoxy analogues and 3'-homologues of ECyd and EUrd with different configurations to determine the role of the 3'-hydroxyl group and the length between the 3'-carbon atom and the ethynyl group and a 2'-ethynyl derivative of ECyd to determine the spatial requirements of the ethynyl group. The in vitro tumor cell growth inhibitory activities of these nucleosides against mouse leukemic L1210 and human KB cells showed that ECyd and EUrd were the most potent inhibitors in the series, with IC50 values of 0.016 and 0.13 microM for L1210 cells and 0.028 and 0.029 microM for KB cells, respectively. Only 3'-C-1-propynyl and -ethenyl derivatives of ECyd showed greatly reduced cytotoxicity. We found that the cytotoxic activity of these nucleosides predominantly depended on their first phosphorylation by uridine/cytidine kinase.

New neplanocin analogues. 7. Synthesis and antiviral activity of 2-halo derivatives of neplanocin A.

The syntheses and the antiviral activities of 2-halo derivatives of neplanocin A (1b,c), (6'R)-6'-C-methylneplanocin A (2b), and dehydroxymethylneplanocin A (3b,c) are described. SN2 reaction of the known cyclopentenyl units 12 and 13 with 2-haloadenines under basic conditions gave the protected carbocyclic nucleosides 14b,c and 15b,c, respectively. Starting from the cyclopentenone derivative 5, the optically active tosyloxycyclopentene derivative 11 was prepared, which was similarly condensed with 2-fluoroadenine to give the protected (6'R)-6'-C-methyl derivative 16b. Deprotection of these compounds afforded the target 2-halo derivatives of neplanocin A. Of these new compounds, 2-fluoroneplanocin A (1b) showed an antiviral potency and a spectrum that was comparable to that of neplanocin A (1a). It was particularly active against vaccinia virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, parainfluenza virus, reovirus, arenaviruses (Junin, Tacaribe), and human cytomegalovirus, i.e., those viruses that fall within the purview of the S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase inhibitors.

Targeting and anti-tumor efficacy of liposomal 5'-O-dipalmitoylphosphatidyl 2'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosylcytosine in mice lung bearing B16BL6 melanoma.

2'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosylcytosine (CNDAC) is a potent anti-cancer agent, and we previously observed that liposomal formulation of 5'-O-dipalmitoylphosphatidyl derivative of CNDAC (DPP-CNDAC) is desirable for targeting. For targeting to pulmonary cancer, we investigated the in vivo behavior of liposomes containing DPP-CNDAC by a non-invasive method using positron emission tomography. Liposomes composed of DPP-CNDAC and cholesterol (DPP-CNDAC/CH liposomes) were markedly accumulated in mice lung bearing B16BL6 melanoma. In metastatic pulmonary cancer model, DPP-CNDAC/CH liposomes significantly reduced the lung colonization in a dose-dependent manner. The activity was significantly superior to conventional liposomal formulation or soluble CNDAC. These results suggest that DPP-CNDAC/CH liposomes are useful for metastatic pulmonary cancer.

Synthesis of 3,7-anhydro-D-glycero-D-ido-octitol 1,5,6-trisphosphate as an IP(3) receptor ligand using a radical cyclization reaction with a vinylsilyl tether as the key step. Conformational restriction strategy using steric repulsion between adjacent bulky protecting groups on a pyranose ring

3,7-Anhydro-D-glycero-D-ido-octitol 1,5,6-trisphosphate (5) was designed as a novel IP(3)-receptor ligand having a C-glycosidic structure and was synthesized via a radical cyclization reaction with a temporary connecting vinylsilyl tether as the key step. The phenyl 2-O-dimethylvinylsilyl-3,4, 6-tri-O-benzyl-1-seleno-beta-D-glucopyranoside (7), in the usual (4)C(1)-conformation, was successively treated with Bu(3)SnH/AIBN and under Tamao oxidation conditions to give a mixture of five C-glycosidic products. On the other hand, similar successive treatment of the corresponding 3,4-di-O-TBS-protected substrates 13 and 24, which were in an unusual (1)C(4)-conformaion due to the steric repulsion between the bulky silyl protecting groups, gave the desired 1alpha-C-glycosides 18 and 25, respectively, as the major products. Thus, the course of the radical cyclization was effectively controlled by a change in the conformation of the pyranose ring into a (1)C(4)-form due to steric repulsion between the adjacent bulky TBS-protecting groups at the 3- and 4-hydroxyl groups. From 25, the target 5 was synthesized via phosphorylation of the hydroxyls by the phosphoramidite method. The C-glycoside trisphosphate 5 has significant binding affinity for IP(3) receptor of calf cerebella.

An efficient synthesis of cyclic IDP- and cyclic 8-bromo-IDP-carbocyclic-riboses using a modified Hata condensation method to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage as a key step. An entry to a general method for the chemical synthesis of cyclic ADP-ribose analogues

An efficient synthesis of cyclic IDP-carbocyclic-ribose (3) and its 8-bromo derivative 6, as stable mimics of cyclic ADP-ribose, was achieved, and a condensation reaction with phenylthiophosphate-type substrate 15 or 16 to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage was a key step. N-1-Carbocyclic-ribosylinosine derivative 28 and the corresponding 8-bromo congener 24 were prepared via condensation between N-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)inosine derivative 17 and a known optically active carbocyclic amine 18. Compounds 24 and 28 were then converted to the corresponding 5"-phosphoryl-5'-phenylthiophosphate derivatives 15 and 16, respectively, which were substrates for the condensation reaction to form an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage. Treatment of 8-bromo substrate 15 with I2 or AgNO3 in the presence of molecular sieves 3A (MS 3A) in pyridine at room temperature gave the desired cyclic product 12 quantitatively, while the yield was quite low without MS. The similar reaction of 8-unsubstituted substrate 16 gave the corresponding cyclized product 32 in 81% yield. Acidic treatment of these cyclic pyrophosphates 12 and 32 readily gave the targets 6 and 3, respectively. This result suggests that the construction of N-1-substituted hypoxanthine nucleoside structures from N-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)inosine derivatives and the intramolecular condensation by activation of the phenylthiophosphate group with I2 or AgNO3/MS 3A combine to provide a very efficient route for the synthesis of analogues of cyclic ADP-ribose such as 3 and 6. Thus, this may be an entry to a general method for synthesizing biologically important cyclic nucleotides of this type.

Deacylation-reacylation cycle: a possible absorption mechanism for the novel lymphotropic antitumor agent dipalmitoylphosphatidylfluorouridine in rats.

Dipalmitoylphosphatidylfluorouridine (DPPF) is a potent antitumor agent that selectively gains access to the lymphatic system. To determine whether DPPF enters the lymph in an unmodified form, we administered DPPF orally to rats and analyzed lymph collected from a cannula in the thoracic duct. Although lymph was found to contain only very low levels of DPPF, two congeners of DPPF were detected at high levels. Instrumental analysis demonstrated that these congeners are 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylfluorouridine (PAPF) and 1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl-phosphatidylfluorouridine (PLPF). PAPF and PLPF levels in thoracic lymph were shown to be approximately 30 times higher than those in plasma. These results suggest that DPPF is absorbed from the intestinal tract via the deacylation-reacylation cycle for the uptake of phospholipids and is selectively delivered to the lymphatic route after oral administration. DPPF is a candidate drug for the treatment of tumor metastasis, especially in cases where metastasis has occurred via the lymphatic route.

Potentiometric and spectroscopic studies of the reaction between trypsin and its inhibitors on chemically modified solid surfaces.

The potential of a titanium metal electrode modified with trypsin changes as a result of the complex formation reaction between trypsin and its inhibitor, aprotinin, dissolved in the solution. A similar potential change in the opposite direction occurs by the reaction between aprotinin-modified electrode and trypsin in the solution. The induced changes in both cases depend on the pH of the solution, showing the maximum change at pH = 9.5. The potentiometric response of the trypsin-modified electrode for the consecutive addition of aprotinin and proflavine proves that trypsin bound on the solid surfaces reacts with aprotinin much more strongly than with proflavine. This result is fully consistent with the spectroscopically observed behavior of a trypsin-modified quartz plate against these inhibitors. The surface coverage of trypsin on the quartz plate is also determined by a near-ultraviolet absorption measurement.

Intracellular Ca(2+)-mobilizing adenine nucleotides. Synthesis and biological activity of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose and C-glycosidic analog of adenophostin A.

We designed novel Ca(2+)-mobilizing purine nucleotides, cyclic ADP-carbocyclicribose 4, and its inosine congener 5, and C-glycosidic adenophostin A 6. In the synthesis of cADPR analogs, the intramolecular condensation to form the pyrophosphate linkage should be the key step. We developed an efficient method for forming such an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage by the activation of the phenylthiophosphate group with I2 or AgNO3. Using this method, we achieved to synthesize the target compounds 4 and 5. The synthesis of C-glycosidic analog 6 of adenophostin A was achieved using a temporary silicon-tethered radical coupling reaction for constructing (3'alpha, 1" alpha)-C-glycosidic structure as the key step.

Nucleosides and nucleotides. 192. Toward the total synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose. Formation of the intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage by a conformation-restriction strategy in a syn-form using a halogen substitution at the 8-position of the adenine ring.

The synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2), as a stable mimic for cyclic ADP-ribose, was investigated. Construction of the 18-membered backbone structure was successfully achieved by condensation of the two phosphate groups of 19, possibly due to restriction of the conformation of the substrate in a syn-form using an 8-chloro substituent at the adenine moiety. SN2 reactions between an optically active carbocyclic unit 8, which was constructed by a previously developed method, and 8-bromo-N6-trichloroacetyl-2',3'-O-isopropylideneadenosine 9c gave N-1-carbocyclic derivative, which was deprotected to give 5'-5"-diol derivatives 18. When 18 was treated with POCl3 in PO(OEt)3, the bromo group at the 8-position was replaced to give N-1-carbocyclic-8-chloroadenosine 5',5"-diphosphate derivative 19 in 43% yield. Treatment of 19 with 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride gave the desired intramolecular condensation product 20 in 10% yield. This is the first chemical construction of the 18-membered backbone structure containing an intramolecular pyrophosphate linkage of a cADPR-related compound with an adenine base.

Synthesis and biological activities of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose and its analogs.

An efficient synthesis of cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2), as a stable mimic for cyclic ADP-ribose, was achieved. Treatment of N1-carbocyclic-ribosyladenosine bisphosphate derivative 10 with AgNO3 in the presence of molecular sieves 3A in pyridine gave the desired cyclic product in 93% yield, which was deprotected to give the target cyclic ADP-carbocyclic-ribose (2).