Structure-based generation of a new class of potent Cdk4 inhibitors: new de novo design strategy and library design.

As a first step in structure-based design of highly selective and potent Cdk4 inhibitors, we performed structure-based generation of a novel series of Cdk4 inhibitors. A Cdk4 homology model was constructed according to X-ray analysis of an activated form of Cdk2. Using this model, we applied a new de novo design strategy which combined the de novo design program LEGEND with our in-house structure selection supporting system SEEDS to generate new scaffold candidates. In this way, four classes of scaffold candidates including diarylurea were identified. By constructing diarylurea informer libraries based on the structural requirements of Cdk inhibitors in the ATP binding pocket of the Cdk4 model, we were able to identify a potent Cdk4 inhibitor N-(9-oxo-9H-fluoren-4-yl)-N'-pyridin-2-ylurea 15 (IC(50) = 0.10 microM), together with preliminary SAR. We performed a docking study between 15 and the Cdk4 model and selected a reasonable binding mode which is consistent with the SAR. Further modification based on the proposed binding mode provided a more potent compound, N-[(9bR)-5-oxo-2,3,5,9b-tetrahydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoindol-9-yl]-N'-pyridin-2-ylurea 26a (IC(50) = 0.042 microM), X-ray analysis of which was accomplished by the soaking method. The predicted binding mode of 15 in Cdk4 was validated by X-ray analysis of the Cdk2-26a complex.

In vitro and in vivo pharmacological characterization of J-113397, a potent and selective non-peptidyl ORL1 receptor antagonist.

1-[(3R,4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl -1, 3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (J-113397) was found to be the first potent nonpeptidyl ORL1 receptor antagonist (K(i): cloned human ORL1=1.8 nM) with high selectivity over other opioid receptors (K(i): 1000 nM for human mu-opioid receptor, >10,000 nM for human delta-opioid receptor, and 640 nM for human kappa-opioid receptor). In vitro, J-113397 inhibited nociceptin/orphanin FQ-stimulated [35S]guanosine 5'-O-(gamma-thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) binding to Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells expressing ORL1 (CHO-ORL1) with an IC(50) value of 5.3 nM but had no effect on [35S]GTP gamma S binding by itself. Schild plot analysis of the [35S]GTP gamma S binding assay and cAMP assay using CHO-ORL1 indicated competitive antagonism of J-113397 on the ORL1 receptor. In CHO cells expressing mu-, delta- or kappa-opioid receptors, J-113397 had no effects on [35S]GTP gamma S binding up to a concentration of 100 nM, indicating selective antagonism of the compound on the ORL1 receptor. In vivo, J-113397, when administered subcutaneously (s.c.), dose-dependently inhibited hyperalgesia elicited by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of nociceptin/orphanin FQ in a tail-flick test with mice. An in vitro binding study using mouse brains indicated that J-113397 possesses high affinity for the mouse ORL1 receptor (K(i): 1.1 nM) as well as the human receptor. In summary, J-113397 is the first potent, selective ORL1 receptor antagonist that may be useful in elucidating the physiological roles of nociceptin/orphanin FQ.

A potent and highly selective nonpeptidyl nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (ORL1) antagonist: J-113397.

We discovered a potent nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (ORL1) receptor antagonist, J-113397 (1-[(3R, 4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl-1, 3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one). J-113397 inhibited [125I][Tyr(14)]nociceptin binding to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing ORL1 receptor in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50); 2. 3 nM), but showed 600-fold or less affinity for mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptors. Nociceptin/orphanin FQ-induced suppression of cyclic AMP accumulation elicited by forskolin was completely inhibited by J-113397 with an IC(50) value of 26 nM. These results indicate that J-113397 is a potent and selective nonpeptidyl antagonist of the ORL1 receptor.

J-104,871, a novel farnesyltransferase inhibitor, blocks Ras farnesylation in vivo in a farnesyl pyrophosphate-competitive manner.

Farnesylation of the activated ras oncogene product by protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) is a critical step for its oncogenic function. Because squalene synthase and FTase recruit farnesyl pyrophosphate as a common substrate, we modified squalene synthase (SS) inhibitors to develop FTase inhibitors. Among the compounds tested, a novel FTase inhibitor termed J-104,871 inhibited rat brain FTase with an IC50 of 3.9 nM in the presence of 0.6 microM farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), whereas it scarcely inhibited rat brain protein geranylgeranyltransferase-I or SS. The in vitro inhibition of rat brain FTase by J-104,871 depends on the FPP concentration but not on the concentration of Ras peptide. Thus, in vitro studies strongly suggest that J-series compounds have an FPP-competitive nature. J-104,871 also inhibited Ras processing in activated H-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells with an IC50 value of 3.1 microM. We tested the effects of lovastatin and zaragozic acid A, which modify cellular FPP levels, on Ras processing of J-104,871. Lovastatin, a hepatic hydroxymenthyl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor that reduced the cellular FPP pool, increased the activity of J-104,871, whereas 3 microM zaragozic acid A, an SS inhibitor that raised the FPP level, completely abrogated the activity of J-104,871 even at 100 microM. These results suggest that J-104,871 inhibits FTase in an FPP-competitive manner in whole cells as well as in the in vitro system. Furthermore, J-104,871 suppressed tumor growth in nude mice transplanted with activated H-ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells.

Effects of NB-598, a potent squalene epoxidase inhibitor, on the apical membrane uptake of cholesterol and basolateral membrane secretion of lipids in Caco-2 cells.

Caco-2 cells grown on membrane filters were used as a model to study the effects of NB-598, an inhibitor of squalene epoxidase, on cholesterol absorption from the intestinal epithelia. NB-598 (10 microM) inhibited the synthesis of sterol and sterol ester from [14C]acetate without affecting the synthesis of other lipids such as phospholipids (PL), free fatty acids (FFA) and triacylglycerol (TG). When labeled lipid was apically loaded as a micellar lipid solution into Caco-2 cell cultures, NB-598 reduced basolaterally secreted radioactivity in cholesterol, cholesterol ester, PL and TG. Furthermore, NB-598 suppressed the basolateral secretion of apolipoprotein (apo) B. When microsomes prepared from control Caco-2 cells were incubated with 10 microM NB-598, acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was inhibited slightly. After incubating Caco-2 cells with 10 microM NB-598, a slight reduction in cellular ACAT activity was also observed. These results suggest that suppression of the secretion of particles containing apo B and reduction of cellular ACAT activity in the intestinal epithelia are part of the mechanism of the cholesterol-lowering effect of NB-598.

Effect of a novel squalene epoxidase inhibitor, NB-598, on the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in Hep G2 cells.

We have reported previously that NB-598 competitively inhibits human squalene epoxidase and strongly inhibits cholesterol synthesis from [14C]acetate in cultured cells. Furthermore, multiple oral administration of NB-598 decreased serum cholesterol levels in dogs (Horie, M., Tsuchiya, Y., Hayashi, M., Iida, Y., Iwasawa, Y., Nagata, Y., Sawasaki, Y., Fukuzumi, H., Kitani, K., and Kamei, T. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 18075-18078). In the present study, the effects of NB-598 on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) receptor were examined using a human hepatoma cell line Hep G2. Incubation of Hep G2 cells with NB-598 for 18 h increased HMG-CoA reductase activity in a dose-dependent manner. However, the increase in activity induced by NB-598 was lower than that induced by L-654,969 (a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), although NB-598 inhibited cholesterol synthesis more potently than L-654,969. On the other hand, HMG-CoA reductase mRNA was increased to the same extent by both inhibitors. These results demonstrate that NB-598 does not inhibit the synthesis of non-sterol derivative(s) of mevalonate, which regulate HMG-CoA reductase activity at the post-transcriptional level. NB-598 increased the binding of 125I-LDL to Hep G2 cells. LDL receptor mRNA was also induced by NB-598. In the presence of LDL or cycloheximide, NB-598 did not increase LDL receptor activity. These results demonstrate that the induction of LDL receptor activity by NB-598 is due to increases in mRNA and protein through the inhibition of cholesterol synthesis at the squalene epoxidase step. From these observations, squalene epoxidase inhibitor is expected to be highly effective in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and also is very useful as a research tool for studying the regulation of cholesterol metabolism.

Reversal of multidrug resistance by new dihydropyridines with lower calcium antagonistic activity.

BS compounds, a series of new dihydropyridines, successfully overcame multidrug resistance in P388/ADR cells in vitro. These agents synergistically potentiated the cytotoxicity of Adriamycin to P388/ADR cells at a concentration of 1-2 microM, whereas they showed hardly any synergistic effect in the parental cell line (P388/S) at the same concentration. They inhibited the active drug efflux in P388/ADR cells as well as the binding of [G-3H]-vinblastine to membrane vesicles from P388/ADR, which was increased in resistant P388 cells as compared with parental cells. Besides, unlike the activity of clinically used calcium antagonists, the calcium antagonistic activity associated with BS compounds was very weak: their arterial relaxation activity was less than 21% of that of verapamil. These data suggest that BS compounds specifically overcome multidrug resistance without the serious hypotensive side effects that accompany the use of verapamil or other calcium antagonists.

Nutritional responses of tumor-bearing rats to oral or intravenous feeding.

Two experiments were conducted with male rats weighing 170 to 190 grams. In experiment 1, some nutritional parameters were determined in tumor-bearing (TB) (Walker 256 carcinosarcoma) rats fed a 23.6% casein diet for 4 weeks after the tumor inoculation. Cumulative weight gain and food intake were less in TB rats than in nontumor-bearing (NTB) rats. At 3 and 4 weeks after the tumor inoculation, plasma histidine, alanine, and glycine levels were higher in TB rats than in NTB animals. The arginine level was lower in the plasma of TB rats at 4 weeks after the inoculation. The significance of decrease in plasma arginine with regard to tumor growth is discussed. In experiment 2, the effects of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) on TB rats were evaluated as compared with those of 5% glucose (Glc) solution. Body weights of TPN rats were maintained and their nitrogen (N) balances were positive during a 7-day experimental period, while 5% Glc animals showed severe body weight loss and apparent negative N balance. After the end of infusion, the plasma urea level of the TPN group was within normal range, whereas that of 5% Glc group showed a markedly high value. The plasma albumin level was higher in the TPN group. Liver and spleen weights were increased in TPN rats. Absolute tumor weight was somewhat greater in TPN rats than in 5% Glc rats, but the difference in tumor weight:body weight ratios became more slight. These results indicate that TPN was effective for maintaining the nutritional status of TB host without significant acceleration in tumor growth.