Susana D. Lucas

Targeting COPD: advances on low‐molecular‐weight inhibitors of human neutrophil elastase

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major increasing health problem and the World Health Organization (WHO) reports COPD as the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. COPD refers to a condition of inflammation and progressive weakening of the structure of the lung as well as irreversible narrowing of the airways. Current treatment is only palliative and no available drug halts the progression of the disease. Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a serine protease, which plays a major role in the COPD inflammatory process. The protease/anti‐protease imbalance leads to an excess of extracellular HNE hydrolyzing elastin, the structural protein that confers elasticity to the lung tissue. Although HNE was identified as a therapeutic target for COPD more than 30 years ago, only Sivelestat (ONO‐5046), an HNE inhibitor from Ono Pharmaceutical, has been approved for clinical use. Nevertheless, Sivelestat is only approved in Japan and its development in the USA was terminated in 2003. Other inhibitors in pre‐clinical or phase I trials were discontinued for various reasons. Hence, there is an urgent need for low‐molecular‐weight synthetic elastase inhibitors and the present review discusses the recent advances on this field covering acylating agents, transition‐state inhibitors, mechanism‐based inhibitors, relevant natural products, and major patent disclosures.

Amino derivatives of glycyrrhetinic acid as potential inhibitors of cholinesterases

The development of remedies against the Alzheimers disease (AD) is one of the biggest challenges in medicinal chemistry nowadays. Although not completely understood, there are several strategies fighting this disease or at least bringing some relief. During the progress of AD, the level of acetylcholine (ACh) decreases; hence, a therapy using inhibitors should be of some benefit to the patients. Drugs presently used for the treatment of AD inhibit the two ACh controlling enzymes, acetylcholinesterase as well as butyrylcholinesterase; hence, the design of selective inhibitors is called for. Glycyrrhetinic acid seems to be an interesting starting point for the development of selective inhibitors. Although its glycon, glycyrrhetinic acid is known for being an AChE activator, several derivatives, altered in position C-3 and C-30, exhibited remarkable inhibition constants in micro-molar range. Furthermore, five representative compounds were subjected to three more enzyme assays (on carbonic anhydrase II, papain and the lipase from Candida antarctica) to gain information about the selectivity of the compounds in comparison to other enzymes. In addition, photometric sulforhodamine B assays using murine embryonic fibroblasts (NiH 3T3) were performed to study the cytotoxicity of these compounds. Two derivatives, bearing either a 1,3-diaminopropyl or a 1H-benzotriazolyl residue, showed a BChE selective inhibition in the single-digit micro-molar range without being cytotoxic up to 30μM. In silico molecular docking studies on the active sites of AChE and BChE were performed to gain a molecular insight into the mode of action of these compounds and to explain the pronounced selectivity for BChE.

Cytotoxic bile acids, but not cytoprotective species, inhibit the ordering effect of cholesterol in model membranes at physiologically active concentrations.

Submillimolar concentrations of cytotoxic bile acids (BAs) induce cell death via apoptosis. On the other hand, several cytoprotective BAs were shown to prevent apoptosis in the same concentration range. Still, the mechanisms by which BAs trigger these opposite signaling effects remain unclear. This study was aimed to determine if cytotoxic and cytoprotective BAs, at physiologically active concentrations, are able to modulate the biophysical properties of lipid membranes, potentially translating into changes in the apoptotic threshold of cells. Binding of BAs to membranes was assessed through the variation of fluorescence parameters of suitable derivatized BAs. These derivatives partitioned with higher affinity to liquid disordered than to the cholesterol-enriched liquid ordered domains. Unlabeled BAs were also shown to have a superficial location upon interaction with the lipid membrane. Additionally, the interaction of cytotoxic BAs with membranes resulted in membrane expansion, as concluded from FRET data. Moreover, it was shown that cytotoxic BAs were able to significantly disrupt the ordering of the membrane by cholesterol at physiologically active concentrations of the BA, an effect not associated with cholesterol removal. On the other hand, cytoprotective bile acids had no effect on membrane properties. It was concluded that, given the observed effects on membrane rigidity, the apoptotic activity of cytotoxic BAs could be potentially associated with changes in plasma membrane organization (e.g. modulation of lipid domains) or with an increase in mitochondrial membrane affinity for apoptotic proteins.

Discovery of new heterocycles with activity against human neutrophile elastase based on a boron promoted one-pot assembly reaction

Herein we demonstrate for the first time that a boron promoted one-pot assembly reaction may be used to discover novel enzyme inhibitors. Inhibitors for HNE were simply assembled in excellent yields, high diastereoselectivities and IC50 up to 1.10 μM, based on components like salicylaldehyde, aryl boronic acids and amino acids. The combination of synthetic, biochemical, analytical and theoretical studies allowed the identification of the 4-methoxy or the 4-diethyl amino substituent of the salicylaldehyde as the most important recognition moiety and the imine alkylation, lactone ring opening as key events in the mechanism of inhibition.

Alkyl deoxy-arabino-hexopyranosides: Synthesis, surface properties, and biological activities

Octyl and dodecyl glycosides possessing 2-deoxy-arabino-hexopyranoside moieties belonging to the D- and L-series in their alpha- and beta-forms were synthesized by reaction of an acetyl protected glycal with octanol or dodecanol, catalyzed by triphenylphosphine hydrobromide, followed by deprotection. Their surface properties were studied and discussed in terms of the adsorption and aggregation parameters, pC(20), CMC, and gamma(CMC). The antimicrobial activities were assessed using the paper disk diffusion and broth dilution methods. Both the octyl and dodecyl 2-deoxy beta-D-glycosides inhibited significantly Enterococcus faecalis, a microbe also highly susceptible to dodecyl 2,6-dideoxy-alpha-L-arabino-hexopyranoside. This compound was particularly active against Bacillus cereus and Bacillus subtilis, presenting for both Bacillus species a minimal inhibitory concentration of the same order of magnitude and a minimal lethal concentration even smaller than that obtained for chloramphenicol, a bioactivity which remained unaltered after 1 year solution storage at 4 degrees C. In addition, activity over Listeria monocytogenes was also observed. Direct cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the glycosides were determined by proliferative index (mitotic index) evaluation in peripheral human lymphocytes of healthy donors. All compounds induced acute toxicity effects, and the response was dose dependent for the alpha-anomer of both the alkyl 2-deoxy-arabino-hexopyranosides and for the corresponding dodecyl beta-anomer, what suggests that non-toxic but still bioactive concentrations may be found for these compounds.

Synthesis of 3-Fluoro-Oxetane δ-Amino Acids

Starting from d-xylose, 2,4-anhydro-5-N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-5-deoxy-3-fluoro-d-arabinonic acid 11 was synthesized over 10 steps including ring contraction, fluorination, and ester hydrolysis. Bromine oxidation of d-xylose followed by benzylidenation in a one-pot procedure led to a ca. 1:1 mixture of lactone 3 and 2,4;3,5-dibenzylidene xylonic acid (4) as by-product. For the synthesis of the d-xylo derivative 24, the chosen starting material was 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylofuranose. A total of 14 steps including epimerization, ring contraction, fluorination, and saponification led to the desired fluoro-oxetane δ-amino acid 24. Hydrolysis of the 3-fluoro-oxetane δ-amino esters 10 and 23 by means of LiOH was successful in agreement with the results previously reported for similar 3-methoxy oxetanes, whereas chemical hydrolysis was not possible for 3-hydroxy derivatives.

Deoxycholic acid modulates cell death signaling through changes in mitochondrial membrane properties

Cytotoxic bile acids, such as deoxycholic acid (DCA), are responsible for hepatocyte cell death during intrahepatic cholestasis. The mechanisms responsible for this effect are unclear, and recent studies conflict, pointing to either a modulation of plasma membrane structure or mitochondrial-mediated toxicity through perturbation of mitochondrial outer membrane (MOM) properties. We conducted a comprehensive comparative study of the impact of cytotoxic and cytoprotective bile acids on the membrane structure of different cellular compartments. We show that DCA increases the plasma membrane fluidity of hepatocytes to a minor extent, and that this effect is not correlated with the incidence of apoptosis. Additionally, plasma membrane fluidity recovers to normal values over time suggesting the presence of cellular compensatory mechanisms for this perturbation. Colocalization experiments in living cells confirmed the presence of bile acids within mitochondrial membranes. Experiments with active isolated mitochondria revealed that physiologically active concentrations of DCA change MOM order in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and that these changes preceded the mitochondrial permeability transition. Importantly, these effects are not observed on liposomes mimicking MOM lipid composition, suggesting that DCA apoptotic activity depends on features of mitochondrial membranes that are absent in protein-free mimetic liposomes, such as the double-membrane structure, lipid asymmetry, or mitochondrial protein environment. In contrast, the mechanism of action of cytoprotective bile acids is likely not associated with changes in cellular membrane structure.

Oxetane δ‐Amino Acids: Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of 2,4‐Anhydro‐5‐N‐(t‐butoxycarbonyl)amino‐D‐lyxonic Acid

Starting from 1,2‐O‐isopropylidene‐D‐xylose, methyl 2,4‐anhydro‐3,5‐di‐O‐benzyl‐D‐lyxonate (4) was synthesized. Debenzylation and transformation of the primary hydroxyl group yielded methyl 2,4‐anhydro‐5‐N‐(t‐butoxycarbonyl)amino‐D‐lyxonate (9). While transesterification of 4 under basic reaction conditions was straightforward, an analogous reaction with 9 was not successful. After screening of several lipases, the enzymatic transesterification of 9 was achieved with lipase L2 from Candida antarctica to furnish the title compound 2,4‐anhydro‐5‐N‐(t‐butoxycarbonyl)amino‐D‐lyxonic acid in excellent yield. The stereochemistry at the oxetane ring was proven by an x‐ray structure of the intermediate methyl 2,4‐anhydro‐5‐azido‐D‐lyxonate.

Synthesis of 3‐Methoxyoxetane δ‐Amino Acids with D‐lyxo, D‐ribo, and D‐arabino Configurations

Starting from 1,2‐isopropylidene‐d‐xylose (1), 3‐methoxyoxetane δ‐amino acids with d‐lyxo, d‐ribo, and d‐arabino configurations were synthesized. The early introduction of an azide function at C‐5 of 1 shortened the synthetic pathway. Ring contraction of the intermediate d‐xylono‐1,4‐lactone 6 via triflation and treatment with base led to the corresponding 3‐methoxyoxetane δ‐amino ester with d‐lyxo configuration 7. The analogous procedure for d‐ribono‐1,4‐lactone 16 furnished a mixture of d‐ribo and d‐arabino esters 17 and 18. Hydrolysis of the methyl esters 7, 17, and 18 to their corresponding δ‐amino acids was successful with LiOH in THF, in contrast to that of their 3‐hydroxy analog 11.

The bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC) is activated by alterations of its membrane environment.

The bile acid-sensitive ion channel (BASIC) is a member of the DEG/ENaC family of ion channels. Channels of this family are characterized by a common structure, their physiological functions and modes of activation, however, are diverse. Rat BASIC is expressed in brain, liver and intestinal tract and activated by bile acids. The physiological function of BASIC and its mechanism of bile acid activation remain a puzzle. Here we addressed the question whether amphiphilic bile acids activate BASIC by directly binding to the channel or indirectly by altering the properties of the surrounding membrane. We show that membrane-active substances other than bile acids also affect the activity of BASIC and that activation by bile acids and other membrane-active substances is non-additive, suggesting that BASIC is sensitive for changes in its membrane environment. Furthermore based on results from chimeras between BASIC and ASIC1a, we show that the extracellular and the transmembrane domains are important for membrane sensitivity.