Synthesis of vitamin D3 derivatives with nitrogen-linked substituents at A-ring C-2 and evaluation of their vitamin D receptor-mediated transcriptional activity.

Binding of a series of novel 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-VD(3)) derivatives, having a nitrogen-linked substituent at the 2α- or 2ß-position of the A-ring (2-N-substituted compounds), with the vitamin D receptor (VDR) was investigated by means of computational docking studies. Selected compounds were synthesized by coupling A-ring synthons and/or with CD-ring-bearing bromomethylene under Trost's conditions. The 2α- and 2ß-stereoisomers of the A-ring synthons were synthesized from l-serine () as a single chiral source by installing vinyl and propargyl groups at opposite ends of the molecule. The activity of the obtained compounds was evaluated by means of a luciferase-based VDR transcriptional activity assay in NIH3T3 cells. Relatively small substituents incorporating a hydrogen-bonding donor, i.e., NHAc and NHMs, were effective for eliciting VDR transcriptional activity, and 2ß-NHMs-1,25-VD(3) () showed the highest activity, being more potent than 1,25-VD(3). Derivatives with bulky substituents were inactive. These new insights into the structure-activity relationships of 1,25-VD(3) derivatives may be helpful in separating the various biological activities of 1,25-VD(3) and in generating novel therapeutic drug candidates.

Isolation and identification of 2alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a new metabolite from Pseudonocardia autotrophica 100U-19 cells incubated with Vitamin D3.

Pseudonocardia autotrophica converted Vitamin D(3) to 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3). The hydroxylation of Vitamin D(3) with P. autotrophica was enhanced by the addition of cyclodextrin. In this microbial hydroxylation, a new Vitamin D(3) metabolite was observed in the reaction mixture of P. autotrophica and Vitamin D(3), and was isolated in a pure form by several steps of chromatography. The structure of the new metabolite was determined to be 2alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) by UV, NMR and mass spectroscopic analyses. Biological evaluation of the new metabolite was conducted by means of several experiments.