A scalable platform to discover antimicrobials of ribosomal origin.

Ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) are a promising source of new antimicrobials in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Here, we report a scalable platform that combines high-throughput bioinformatics with automated biosynthetic gene cluster refactoring for rapid evaluation of uncharacterized gene clusters. As a proof of concept, 96 RiPP gene clusters that originate from diverse bacterial phyla involving 383 biosynthetic genes are refactored in a high-throughput manner using a biological foundry with a success rate of 86%. Heterologous expression of all successfully refactored gene clusters in Escherichia coli enables the discovery of 30 compounds covering six RiPP classes: lanthipeptides, lasso peptides, graspetides, glycocins, linear azol(in)e-containing peptides, and thioamitides. A subset of the discovered lanthipeptides exhibit antibiotic activity, with one class II lanthipeptide showing low µM activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, an ESKAPE pathogen. Overall, this work provides a robust platform for rapidly discovering RiPPs.

Heme Modification Contributes to the Mechanism-Based Inactivation of Human Cytochrome P450 2J2 by Two Terminal Acetylenic Compounds.

The mechanism-based inactivation of human CYP2J2 by three terminal acetylenic compounds: N-(methylsulfonyl)-6-(2-propargyloxyphenyl)hexanamide (MS), 17-octadecynoic acid (OD), and danazol (DZ) was investigated. The loss of hydroxyebastine (OHEB) carboxylation activity in a reconstituted system was time- and concentration-dependent and required NADPH for MS and OD, but not DZ. The kinetic constants for the mechanism-based inactivation of OHEB carboxylation activity were: KI of 6.1 µM and kinact of 0.22 min-1 for MS and KI of 2.5 µM and kinact of 0.05 min-1 for OD. The partition ratios for MS and OD were ∼10 and ∼20, respectively. Inactivation of CYP2J2 by MS or OD resulted in a loss of the native heme spectrum and a similar decrease in the reduced CO difference spectrum. A heme adduct was observed in the MS-inactivated CYP2J2. The possible reactive metabolite which covalently modified the prosthetic heme was characterized by analysis of the glutathione conjugates formed by MS or OD following oxygenation of the ethynyl moiety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that inactivation by MS or OD did not lead to modification of apoprotein. Interaction of CYP2J2 with DZ produced a type II binding spectrum with a Ks of 2.8 µM and the IC50 for loss of OHEB carboxylation activity was 0.18 µM. In conclusion, heme modification by MS and OD was responsible for the mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2J2. The results suggest that the ethynyl moiety of MS and OD faces the heme iron, whereas the isoxazole ring of DZ is preferentially oriented toward the heme iron of CYP2J2.

High-Throughput Lipolysis in 96-Well Plates for Rapid Screening of Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems.

The high-throughput in vitro intestinal lipolysis model (HTP) applicable for rapid and low-scale screening of lipid-based drug delivery systems (LbDDSs) was optimized and adjusted as to be conducted in 96-well plates (HTP-96). Three different LbDDSs (I-III) loaded with danazol or cinnarizine were used as model systems. The distributions of cinnarizine and danazol in the aqueous and precipitated digestion phases generated during lipolysis in HTP-96 were compared with previously published data obtained from HTP. The final HTP-96 setup resulted in the same rank order as the original HTP model with regard to solubilization in the aqueous phase during digestion: LbDDS III > LbDDS II > LbDDS I for danazol and LbDDS III ≈ LbDDS II ≈ LbDDS I for cinnarizine. HTP-96 is a useful model for fast performance assessment of LbDDS in a small scale.

Analysis of sulfate metabolites of the doping agents oxandrolone and danazol using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

The direct detection of sulfate conjugates of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) can be a powerful tool in doping control analysis. By skipping the solvolysis step analysis time can be reduced, and due to long term sulfate metabolites the detection time can be significantly extended as demonstrated for some AAS. This study presents the successful identification of sulfate metabolites of the doping agents oxandrolone and danazol in excretion urines by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The sulfate conjugate of 17ß-hydroxymethyl-17α-methyl-18-nor-2-oxa-5α-androsta-13-en-3-one could be identified as a new metabolite of oxandrolone. Sulfate conjugates of the danazol metabolites ethisterone and 2α-hydroxymethylethisterone were identified in an excretion urine for the first time. In addition, these sulfate conjugates were synthesized successfully. For a confirmation analysis, the number of analytes can be increased by additional sulfate conjugates of danazol metabolites (2-hydroxymethyl-1,2-dehydroethisterone and 6ß-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethylethisterone), which were also identified for the first time. The presented validation data underline the suitability of the identified sulfate conjugates for doping analysis with regard to the criteria given by the technical documents of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

Prediction of positive food effect: Bioavailability enhancement of BCS class II drugs.

High-throughput screening methods have increased the number of poorly water-soluble, highly permeable drug candidates. Many of these candidates have increased bioavailability when administered with food (i.e., exhibit a positive food effect). Food is known to impact drug bioavailability through a variety of mechanisms, including drug solubilization and prolonged gastric residence time. In vitro dissolution media that aim to mimic in vivo gastrointestinal (GI) conditions have been developed to lessen the need for fed human bioequivalence studies. The objective of this work was to develop an in vitro lipolysis model to predict positive food effect of three BCS Class II drugs (i.e., danazol, amiodarone and ivermectin) in previously developed lipolysis media. This in vitro lipolysis model was comparatively benchmarked against FeSSIF and FaSSIF media that were modified for an in vitro lipolysis approach, as FeSSIF and FaSSIF are widely used in in vitro dissolution studies. The in vitro lipolysis model accurately predicted the in vivo positive food effect for three model BCS class II drugs. The in vitro lipolysis model has potential use as a screening test of drug candidates in early development to assess positive food effect.

Microbial transformation of danazol with Cunninghamella blakesleeana and anti-cancer activity of danazol and its transformed products.

Biotransformation of danazol (1) (17ß-hydroxy-17α-pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno-[2,3-d]-isoxazole) with Cunninghamella blakesleeana yielded three new metabolites 2-4 and a known metabolite 5. These metabolites were identified as 14ß,17ß-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-17α-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (2), 1α,17ß-dihydroxy-17α-pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno-[2,3-d]-isoxazole (3), 6ß,17ß-dihydroxy-17α-pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno-[2,3-d]-isoxazole (4), and 17ß-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-17α-pregn-1,4-dien-20-yn-3-one (5). Danazol (1) and its derivatives were evaluated against cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). Compound 1 showed a potent cytotoxicity with IC50=0.283±0.013 µM, as compared to doxorubicin (IC50=0.506±0.015 µM), where compound 3 was also found to be significantly active with IC50=13.427±0.819 µM.

Fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid "FaSSIF-C", a cholesterol containing intestinal model medium for in vitro drug delivery development.

A set of biorelevant media "fasted-state simulated intestinal fluid with cholesterol (FaSSIF-C)" for the in vitro study of intestinal drug dissolution in the duodenum was developed. These contain cholesterol at the same levels as in human bile: the cholesterol content of FaSSIF-7C is equivalent to healthy female, FaSSIF-10C to healthy male persons, and FaSSIF-13C to several disease cases that lead to gallstones. The fluids were studied in three aspects: biocompatibility, intestinal nanostructure, and solubilizing power of hydrophobic drugs of the BCS class II. The biocompatibility study showed no toxic effects in a Caco-2 cell system. The drug-solubilizing capacity toward Fenofibrate, Danazol, Griseofulvin, and Carbamazepine was assessed as example. It varied with the cholesterol content widely from a fourfold improvement to a twofold reduction. The nanostructure study by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering indicated vesicles as the main component of FaSSIF-C in equilibrium (>1 h), but at high cholesterol content, larger particles were observed as a minor contribution. The neutron experiments indicated the presence of complex micelle-vesicle mixtures, even after 1 h development of fed-state bile model to FaSSIF. The results indicate that cholesterol affects some drugs in solubilization and particle size in intestinal model fluids.

Microbial metabolism of danazol: a contribution to doping analysis.

Microbial metabolism of danazol (17alpha-pregna-2,4-dien-20-yno[2,3-d]isoxazol-17beta-ol) by Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 and Glyocladium viride ATCC 10097 afforded four metabolites. The isolated metabolites were identified by different spectroscopic techniques as 6beta-hydroxy danazol, which is a not yet reported danazol metabolite, 17beta-hydroxy-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (ethisterone) and 17beta-hydroxy-2alpha-(hydroxymethyl)-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (2alpha-hydroxymethyl ethisterone), which represent the major danazol metabolites detected in human urine. The last metabolite, 6beta,17beta-dihydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-17alpha-pregna-1,4-dien-20-yn-3-one, is also a minor human metabolite, for which the NMR data are described here for the first time. The metabolites were isolated in quantities that allowed their use for direct comparison in routine doping analysis.

Toward the establishment of standardized in vitro tests for lipid-based formulations. 2. The effect of bile salt concentration and drug loading on the performance of type I, II, IIIA, IIIB, and IV formulations during in vitro digestion.

The LFCS Consortium was established to develop standardized in vitro tests for lipid-based formulations (LBFs) and to examine the utility of these tests to probe the fundamental mechanisms that underlie LBF performance. In this publication, the impact of bile salt (sodium taurodeoxycholate, NaTDC) concentration and drug loading on the ability of a range of representative LBFs to generate and sustain drug solubilization and supersaturation during in vitro digestion testing has been explored and a common driver of the potential for drug precipitation identified. Danazol was used as a model poorly water-soluble drug throughout. In general, increasing NaTDC concentrations increased the digestion of the most lipophilic LBFs and promoted lipid (and drug) trafficking from poorly dispersed oil phases to the aqueous colloidal phase (AP(DIGEST)). High NaTDC concentrations showed some capacity to reduce drug precipitation, although, at NaTDC concentrations ≥3 mM, NaTDC effects on either digestion or drug solubilization were modest. In contrast, increasing drug load had a marked impact on drug solubilization. For LBFs containing long-chain lipids, drug precipitation was limited even at drug loads approaching saturation in the formulation and concentrations of solubilized drug in AP(DIGEST) increased with increased drug load. For LBFs containing medium-chain lipids, however, significant precipitation was evident, especially at higher drug loads. Across all formulations a remarkably consistent trend emerged such that the likelihood of precipitation was almost entirely dependent on the maximum supersaturation ratio (SR(M)) attained on initiation of digestion. SR(M) defines the supersaturation "pressure" in the system and is calculated from the maximum attainable concentration in the AP(DIGEST) (assuming zero precipitation), divided by the solubility of the drug in the colloidal phases formed post digestion. For LBFs where phase separation of oil phases did not occur, a threshold value for SR(M) was evident, regardless of formulation composition and drug solubilization reduced markedly above SR(M) > 2.5. The threshold SR(M) may prove to be an effective tool in discriminating between LBFs based on performance.

Lipid digestion as a trigger for supersaturation: evaluation of the impact of supersaturation stabilization on the in vitro and in vivo performance of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems.

The generation of supersaturation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is an increasingly popular means of promoting oral absorption for poorly water-soluble drugs. The current study examined the impact of changes to the quantities of medium-chain (MC) lipid (Captex 300:Capmul MCM), surfactant (Cremophor EL) and cosolvent (EtOH), and the addition of polymeric precipitation inhibitors (PPI), on supersaturation during the dispersion and digestion of MC self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) containing danazol. The data suggest that digestion acts as a "trigger" for enhanced supersaturation and that solubilization/precipitation behavior is correlated with the degree of supersaturation on dispersion (S(M)DISP) or digestion (S(M)DIGEST). The ability of the formulation to maintain solubilization in vitro decreased as the S(M) of the formulation increased. PPI significantly increased supersaturation stabilization and precipitation was inhibited where S(M)DISP < 3.5 and S(M)DIGEST < 4. In the presence of polymer, some degree of supersaturation was maintained up to S(M)DIGEST ∼ 8. Differentiation in the ability of SEDDS to maintain drug solubilization stems from the ability to stabilize supersaturation and for MC SEDDS, utilization of lower drug loads, higher surfactant levels (balanced against increases in S(M)DISP), lower cosolvent and the addition of PPI enhanced formulation performance. In vivo studies confirmed the ability of PPI to promote drug exposure at moderate drug loads (40% of saturated solubility in the formulation). At higher drug loads (80% saturation) and in lipid-free SEDDS, this effect was lost, suggesting that the ability of PPIs to stabilize supersaturation in vitro may, under some circumstances, overestimate utility in vivo.

Toward the establishment of standardized in vitro tests for lipid-based formulations, part 1: method parameterization and comparison of in vitro digestion profiles across a range of representative formulations.

The Lipid Formulation Classification System Consortium is an industry-academia collaboration, established to develop standardized in vitro methods for the assessment of lipid-based formulations (LBFs). In this first publication, baseline conditions for the conduct of digestion tests are suggested and a series of eight model LBFs are described to probe test performance across different formulation types. Digestion experiments were performed in vitro using a pH-stat apparatus and danazol employed as a model poorly water-soluble drug. LBF digestion (rate and extent) and drug solubilization patterns on digestion were examined. To evaluate cross-site reproducibility, experiments were conducted at two sites and highly consistent results were obtained. In a further refinement, bench-top centrifugation was explored as a higher throughput approach to separation of the products of digestion (and compared with ultracentrifugation), and conditions under which this method was acceptable were defined. Drug solubilization was highly dependent on LBF composition, but poorly correlated with simple performance indicators such as dispersion efficiency, confirming the utility of the digestion model as a means of formulation differentiation.

Identifying a selective substrate and inhibitor pair for the evaluation of CYP2J2 activity.

CYP2J2, an arachidonic acid epoxygenase, is recognized for its role in the first-pass metabolism of astemizole and ebastine. To fully assess the role of CYP2J2 in drug metabolism, a selective substrate and potent specific chemical inhibitor are essential. In this study, we report amiodarone 4-hydoxylation as a specific CYP2J2-catalyzed reaction with no CYP3A4, or other drug-metabolizing enzyme, involvement. Amiodarone 4-hydroxylation enabled the determination of liver relative activity factor and intersystem extrapolation factor for CYP2J2. Amiodarone 4-hydroxylation correlated with astemizole O-demethylation but not with CYP2J2 protein content in a sample of human liver microsomes. To identify a specific CYP2J2 inhibitor, 138 drugs were screened using terfenadine and astemizole as probe substrates with recombinant CYP2J2. Forty-two drugs inhibited CYP2J2 activity by ≥50% at 30 µM, but inhibition was substrate-dependent. Of these, danazol was a potent inhibitor of both hydroxylation of terfenadine (IC(50) = 77 nM) and O-demethylation of astemizole (K(i) = 20 nM), and inhibition was mostly competitive. Danazol inhibited CYP2C9, CYP2C8, and CYP2D6 with IC(50) values of 1.44, 1.95, and 2.74 µM, respectively. Amiodarone or astemizole were included in a seven-probe cocktail for cytochrome P450 (P450) drug-interaction screening potential, and astemizole demonstrated a better profile because it did not appreciably interact with other P450 probes. Thus, danazol, amiodarone, and astemizole will facilitate the ability to determine the metabolic role of CYP2J2 in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues.

Estimation of effective intestinal membrane permeability considering bile micelle solubilisation.

In this study, the calculation method of effective intestinal membrane permeability (P(eff)) for bile micelle solubilised drugs was investigated. The intestinal membrane permeation is the tandem process of unstirred water layer (UWL, superimposes to the mucus layer) and epithelial cell membrane permeation. In most cases of lipophilic compounds, UWL permeation is the rate-limiting step. Four scenarios of UWL permeation were investigated: (A) only free drug permeates the UWL by self-diffusion, (B) both free drug and micelle bound drug permeate through the UWL by self-diffusion, (C) water convection carries the drug in addition to (B), and (D) both free drug and bile micelle bound drug permeate through the UWL by self-diffusion with the diffusion coefficient of the free monomer. Using danazol as a model drug, the simulation results of the four scenarios were compared with the observed fraction of a dose absorbed (Fa%) in fasted and fed state humans (fasted: 11-25%, fed: 44-72%). Scenario (A) largely underestimated the fraction of a dose absorbed (2% and 2% for fasted and fed, respectively). Scenarios (B) and (C) predicted the Fa% appropriately (B: 8% and 43%, C: 17% and 60%). Scenario (D) overestimated the Fa% (62% and 99%). The relationship between octanol-water partition coefficient and P(eff) was also investigated.

In vivo in vitro correlations for a poorly soluble drug, danazol, using the flow-through dissolution method with biorelevant dissolution media.

The purpose of the study was to design dissolution tests that were able to distinguish between the behaviour of danazol under fasted and fed conditions, by using biorelevant media. In vitro dissolution of 100mg danazol capsules was performed using the flow-through dissolution method. Flow rates were 8, 16 or 32 ml/min, corresponding to total volumes dissolution medium of 960, 1920 and 3840 ml, respectively. The media used contained bile salt and phospholipid levels relevant for either fasted or fed conditions in vivo. Crude and inexpensive bile components, Porcine Bile Extract and soybean phospholipids, were used as the bile source. The effect of adding different concentrations and molar ratios of monoglycerides and fatty acids to the fed state media was investigated. In vivo release profiles under fasted and fed conditions were obtained from a previous study by deconvolution [Sunesen, V.H., Vedelsdal, R., Kristensen, H.G., Christrup, L., Müllertz, A. 2005. Effect of liquid volume and food intake on the absolute bioavailability of danazol, a poorly soluble drug, Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 24, 297-303]. In the fasted state, the physiologically most relevant correlation with in vivo results was achieved with a medium containing 6.3 mM bile salts and 1.25 mM phospholipids (8 ml/min). A medium containing 18.8 mM bile salts, 3.75 mM phospholipids, 4.0 mM monoglycerides and 30 mM fatty acids (8 ml/min) gave the closest correlation with fed state in vivo results. By using the flow-through dissolution method it was possible to obtain correlations with in vivo release of danazol under fasted and fed conditions. Both hydrodynamics and medium composition were important for the dissolution of danazol. In the fed state an IVIVC could only be obtained by including monoglycerides and fatty acids in the medium.

Effects of alkali and simulated gastric and intestinal fluids on danazol stability.

The degradation kinetics of methanolic solution of danazol (0.020% w/v) in aqueous buffers and sodium hydroxide was investigated using stability-indicating HPLC method. The drug degrades in alkaline medium through a base-catalysed proton abstraction rather than via an oxidative mechanism involving oxygen species. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The rates pH-profile exhibited specific base catalysis. The stability of the drug was found to be dependent on pH, buffer concentration, buffer species (acetate, borate, phosphate) and temperature. The ionic strength did not affect the stability of the drug. The energy of activation according to Arrhenius plot was estimated to be 22.62 kcal mol(-1) at pH 12 and temperatures between 30 and 60 degrees C. The effect of simulated gastric and intestinal fluids on the drug stability was also investigated. Two major hydrolytic degradation products were separated and identified by IR, NMR and mass spectrometry and the degradative pathway suggested.

Potential drug interaction between simvastatin and danazol causing rhabdomyolysis.

Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening clinical and biochemical syndrome that results from injury to skeletal muscle. Hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have been associated with myopathy and rhabdomyolysis. Although rhabdomyolysis is a rare adverse event associated with this class of drugs, their prevalent use in the management of dyslipidemia makes it increasingly important for clinicians to understand the nature of this condition. Rhabdomyolysis can occur with all statins when used alone and particularly when combined with other drugs that are themselves myotoxic or that elevate the concentration of the statin. Statins are particularly susceptible to the latter effect because of their metabolism by the CYP450 system and their low oral bioavailability. In this report, we describe a case of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure secondary to the interaction between danazol and simvastatin.

Synergistic effects of danazol and mifepristone on the cytotoxicity of UCN-01 in hormone-responsive breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: 7-Hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) is a novel antitumor agent as well as a potent inhibitor of a variety of protein kinases with a preference to protein kinase C. Because an intimate interaction exists between PKC signaling and the ER signaling pathways, sex steroid agonists/antagonists might modulate the cytotoxicity of UCN-01. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Effects of sex steroid agonists and antagonists on the UCN-01 cytotoxicity were analyzed by MTT assay in MCF-7/WT and MCF-7/ADR, a multiple drug resistance phenotype lacking ER and PR. RESULTS: MCF-7/ADR is 23-fold more resistant to UCN-01 than MCF-7. In MCF-7/WT, danazol and mifepristone enhanced the cytotoxicity of UCN-01, while these agents did not exert any significant effects on it in MCF-7/ADR. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that danazol or mifepristone might enhance the antitumor activity of UCN-01 in hormone-dependent cancer cells by interacting with PR.

Danazol distribution in plasma and cell membranes as related to altered cell properties: implications for mechanism.

Concentrations of danazol in patient plasma and red blood cells (RBC) were assayed over a 6-month period in 75 patients on danazol therapy using a high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method more reliable than previous radioimmunoassay (RIA) methods. It was found that plasma danazol rose regularly for 15 days after the beginning of treatment, reaching a steady state plateau of 175 +/- 76 ng/ml in 20 patients on normal dose, and less for lower dose schedules. After stopping danazol, concentrations declined to near zero in a similar time frame. RBC concentrations on a packed volume basis were similar to plasma levels. However, the membrane ghosts of RBC contained about 50% of the total RBC danazol, implying about 100-fold higher concentration in membranes than in plasma. Similar distributions were obtained in vitro with both RBC and platelets, and were confirmed by 14-C-labeled danazol. These findings tend to support the hypothesis that the benefits of danazol in immune disorders may be attributable in part to its intercalation in the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane, altering antigen/receptor expression to modulate immune reactions. This hypothesis was first suggested when it was observed that the RBC of patients on danazol therapy showed morphological changes and increased resistance to osmotic lysis. It was later shown that danazol in vitro reduces binding of autoantibodies, and protects against complement-mediated lysis, suggesting direct action of danazol on the membranes. This hypothesis is discussed, and danazol's effect in protecting against complement-mediated lysis is described.

Effects of danazol and medroxyprogesterone acetate on estrogen-(estradiol and estriol) specific binding sites in rabbit uterus.

In rabbit uterus, the presence of separate specific binding sites for not only estradiol but also estriol has been proposed. These sites may be correlated with an antiestradiol effect. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the effect of antiestrogenic agents such as danazol and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), especially on the estriol binding sites. Danazol and MPA in combination with estradiol were administered subcutaneously to immature female rabbits daily for 10 days, and resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in uterine weight and estradiol binding sites in the uterus. Treatment with MPA significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the level of estriol binding sites, but treatment with danazol resulted in this to a minimal extent in the uterus primed by estradiol. MPA did not bind to estradiol and estriol binding sites, while danazol at a high concentration bound to estriol binding sites with some affinity, but not to estradiol binding sites in the uterine cytosol of estrogen-primed rabbits. These results suggest that within the antiproliferative effect of danazol and MPA (an antiestrogenic action on estrogen-stimulated uterine growth) there are likely to be specific differences between some of the possible mechanisms of danazol and MPA in their action at the estriol binding site.