Fluorescein monophosphates as fluorogenic substrates for protein tyrosine phosphatases.

A series of novel fluorescein monophosphates aimed as substrates for protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) were synthesized and evaluated against fluorescein diphosphate (FDP), the currently used fluorescent substrate for PTPs. In contrast to FDP, which is dephosphorylated to monophosphate and then to fluorescein in a sequential reaction, these monophosphates are dephosphorylated in a single step. This eliminates the complication in assaying PTPs due to the cleavage of the second phosphate group. The kinetic studies of these substrates with PTPs were performed and Michaelis-Menten parameters were obtained. These designed substrates have Km 0.03-0. 35 mM, kcat/Km of 3-100 mM-1 s-1 with CD45 and PTP1B. The results showed that the substrates with negative charge groups on the fluorescein have higher affinities for PTP1B, which are consistent with other observations. In this series, fluorescein monosulfate monophosphate (FMSP) was the best substrate observed. Since FMSP showed large increases in both absorption and fluorescence upon dephosphorylation by PTPs at pH>6.0, it is one of the most sensitive, stable and high affinity substrates reported for PTPs.

Development of 2,3-dihydro-6-(3-phenoxypropyl)-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5-benzofuranol (L-670,630) as a potent and orally active inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase.

Leukotrienes are potent biological mediators of allergic and inflammatory diseases and are derived from arachidonic acid through the action of the 5-lipoxygenase. In this study, the syntheses and comparative biological activities of three series of 2,3-dihydro-2,6-disubstituted-5-benzofuranols with various substituents on position 3 are described. Compounds from each series were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in human peripheral blood polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes and the 5-lipoxygenase reaction in cell-free preparations from rat PMN leukocytes. The structure-activity relationships of each series in vitro and in vivo are presented. The bioavailability, metabolism, and toxicity profile of each series are discussed. The series with no substituent at position 3 was the most potent and among the compounds in that series 2,3-dihydro-6-(3-phenoxypropyl)-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5-benzofuranol (46, L-670,630) was chosen for further development.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of a novel class of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. 2-(Phenylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-3,5-dialkylbenzofurans: the development of L-656,224.

The synthesis of a series of 2-(phenylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-3,5-dialkylbenzofurans and their inhibitory effects against leukotriene biosynthesis and 5-lipoxygenase activity in vitro are described. Many compounds in this series were found to be potent inhibitors of LTB4 production by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes with IC50 values ranging from 7 to 100 nM. Structure-activity relationships of the series are presented. Within this series, 2-[(4'-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-5-propyl-7-chlorobenz ofuran (L-656,224) showed extremely potent activity, inhibiting leukotriene biosynthesis in intact human leukocytes (IC50 = 11 nM), as well as the 5-lipoxygenase reaction catalyzed by cell-free preparations from rat leukocytes (IC50 = 36 nM), human leukocytes (IC50 = 0.4 microM), and the purified enzyme from porcine leukocytes (IC50 = 0.4 microM). The compound also shows oral activity in a number of animal models in vivo.

Preparation and analgesic properties of amino acid derivatives of (-)-5,9 alpha-diethyl-2'-hydroxybenzomorphan.

The N-arginyl derivative of methionine-enkephalin (fragment 60-65 of beta-lipotropin) has been shown to be equiactive with the parent pentapeptide, despite the fact that the tyrosine amino group in this compound has been neutralized by the formation of an amide linkage. A series of N-(amino acid) derivatives of (-)-5,9 alpha-diethyl-2'-hydroxybenzomorphan was prepared and evaluated for analgesic activity. In vitro activities were found to vary greatly, depending on the nature of the amino acid used. The N-arginyl derivative was found to be equipotent to (-)-5,9 alpha-diethyl-2'hydroxybenzomorphan and also to methionine-enkephaline in the naloxone binding assay.

Urinary metabolites of timolol from humans and laboratory animals. Syntheses and beta-adrenergic blocking activities.

Syntheses are reported for three metabolites (2-4) of timolol (1) formed by oxidative metabolism of the morpholine ring. GLC-MS comparisons are presented which establish that the two metabolites whose structures were previously in question are identical with their synthetic counterparts 2 and 3. In 2, metabolic oxidation of the 4-morpholinyl group of 1 had occurred at the carbon next to oxygen to give the 2-hydroxy-4-morpholinyl moiety, whereas in 3, the morpholine of 1 has been oxidized one step further and then ring opened to produce the N-(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine substituent. Biological testing of synthetic samples of the three major metabolites from human urine (3, 4, and 6) indicated that only 4, in which the morpholine moiety has been degraded to a 2-hydroxyethylamino group, had significant beta-adrenergic blocking activity (one-seventh that of timolol in anesthetized dogs).

3,6-Fluorescein Diphosphate: A Sensitive Fluorogenic and Chromogenic Substrate for Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases*

A highly sensitive and continuous protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) assay using 3,6-fluorescein diphosphate (FDP) is described. Leukocyte phosphatase CD45 (leukocyte common antigen), protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B, and leukocyte common antigen-related protein LAR preferentially hydrolyze FDP to fluorescein monophosphate (FMP) with V(max) and K(m) values comparable with those of phosphotyrosine peptide substrates. Further hydrolysis of FMP to fluorescein was less efficient because of increased K(m) values compared with those of FDP. FMP absorbs strongly at 445 nm and fluoresces intensely near 515 nm, both of which are insensitive to pH perturbations above pH 6. Its high catalytic efficiency, coupled with the highly sensitive dual detection in the visible wavelength region and wider pH operating range, make FDP the substrate of choice for PTPase inhibitor screening in HTS format and assay miniaturization.