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PubMed2005

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new non-imidazole H3-receptor antagonists of the 2-aminobenzimidazole series.

A novel series of non-imidazole H(3)-receptor antagonists was developed, by chemical modification of a potent lead H(3)-antagonist composed by an imidazole ring connected through an alkyl spacer to a 2-aminobenzimidazole moiety (e.g., 2-[[3-[4(5)-imidazolyl]propyl]amino]benzimidazole), previously reported by our research group. We investigated whether the removal of the imidazole ring could allow retaining high affinity for the H(3)-receptor, thanks to the interactions undertaken by the 2-aminobenzimidazole moiety at the binding site. The imidazole ring of the lead was replaced by a basic piperidine or by a lipophilic p-chlorophenoxy substituent, modulating the spacer length from three to eight methylene groups; moreover, the substituents were moved to the 5(6) position of the benzimidazole nucleus. Within both the 2-alkylaminobenzimidazole series and the 5(6)-alkoxy-2-aminobenzimidazole one, the greatest H(3)-receptor affinity was obtained for the piperidine-substituted compounds, while the presence of the p-chlorophenoxy group resulted in a drop in affinity. The optimal chain length was different in the two series. Even if the new compounds did not reach the high receptor affinity shown by the imidazole-containing lead compound, it was possible to get good H(3)-antagonist potencies with 2-aminobenzimidazoles having a tertiary amino group at appropriate distance.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Presence of imidazole in loading buffer prevents formation of free radical in immobilized metal affinity chromatography and dramatically improves the recovery of herpes simplex virus type 1 gene therapy vectors.

We have recently shown that immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) is an effective technique for purification of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gene vector engineered to display cobalt affinity tag on the envelope. However, the tagged HSV-1 viruses were severely inactivated by oxidative hydroxyl free radicals when crude HSV-1 supernatant was applied on an immobilized cobalt column and eluted by a low pH buffer. Furthermore, we have reported that virus inactivation could be prevented by inclusion of high concentration of ascorbate in chromatographic mobile phase. In this paper we report that when elution of bound virus was attempted by inclusion of imidazole in elution buffer, rather than lowering the pH of elution buffer, similar inactivation was also observed. The results also demonstrated that virus inactivation was dramatically reduced by inclusion of 20mM imidazole in the loading buffer. Electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments suggest that imidazole prevents hydroxyl free radical generation from the cobalt complexes. This is the first report describing the role of imidazole in preventing free radical formation in an IMAC column. From a practical stand point, our results imply that inclusion of appropriate amount of imidazole in the loading buffer is an effective strategy for improving the recovery yield of active products and for enhancing product quality during IMAC purification.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Design, synthesis and in vitro cytotoxic studies of novel bis-pyrrolo[2,1][1,4] benzodiazepine-pyrrole and imidazole polyamide conjugates.

The design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrrolo [2,1][1,4] benzodiazepine (PBD) dimers 38-43 linked with pyrrole and imidazole polyamides from either side by a flexible methylene chain of variable length are described, which involved mercuric chloride mediated cyclization of the corresponding amino diethyl thioacetals. The compounds were prepared with varying numbers of pyrrole and imidazole containing polyamides to determine the structural requirements for optimal in vitro antitumor activity. These compounds were tested against a panel of 60 human cancer cells by the National Cancer Institute, and demonstrated that, of the compounds bis-PBD-pyrrole polyamides (38-40) and bis-PBD-imidazole polyamides (41-43) certain of the bis-PBD-pyrrole and imidazole polyamide conjugates are active for individual cancer cell lines (Table 1). However, this study found that bis-PBD-pyrrole and imidazole polyamide conjugates 38-43 in general are potent against many human cancer cell lines.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2004

Induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) by clotrimazole, a non-planar aromatic compound. Computational studies on structural features of clotrimazole and related imidazole derivatives.

The classical pathway for induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) by xenobiotics is ligand binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). High-affinity AhR ligands are planar polyaromatic molecules such as the prototypic ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The present work investigated the ability of the imidazole derivative, clotrimazole [1-(2'chlorotrityl)imidazole, CLO], to induce CYP1A in cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes at the catalytic activity (determined as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, EROD) and at the transcriptional level. CLO resulted in a significant increase of hepatocyte EROD activity and CYP1A mRNA at a concentration of 1.56 microM. Computational studies on the molecular structure of CLO show that CLO is unlikely to take a planar conformation. Further indications that CLO does not behave like a planar AhR ligand come from the experimental observation that co-incubation of trout hepatocytes with CLO and the AhR antagonist, alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF), did not result in an inhibition of CLO induction of CYP1A mRNA, whereas alpha-NF was able to inhibit CYP1A induction by the prototpyic, planar AhR ligand, beta-naphthoflavone. The experimental findings on CLO agree with previous results obtained for another non-planar imidazole derivative, 1-benzylimidazole (BIM). Further, computational studies showed that the non-planar imidazoles, BIM and CLO, are highly similar with respect to some electrostatic properties, namely the dipole moment and the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP). Overall our experimental and computational studies suggest that transcriptional activation of CYP1A by the imidazole derivatives CLO and BIM is mediated by a mechanism different to that of prototypic CYP1A inducers such as the planar AhR-ligands.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Dysmorphogenic effects of some fungicides derived from the imidazole on rat embryos cultured in vitro.

Like triazole-derivatives, imidazole-derivatives exert their antifungal and toxicological properties by inhibiting P450 enzymes (Cyps). At the embryonic level, Cyp enzymes are involved also in the catabolism of the retinoic acid. Specific effects of triazole-derivatives have been reported on developing rodent embryos, and were correlated to an imbalance of the retinoid homeostasis. The aim of this work was to investigate if imidazole-derivatives are able to induce specific malformations similar to those observed after triazole-derivative exposure. Post implantation rat embryos were exposed in vitro to 1,000 microM Imidazole and to 5-100 microM of the imidazole-derivatives Ketoconazole and Enilconazole. After 48 h in culture, the embryos exposed to the imidazole-derivatives showed specific malformations, quite similar to those observed after triazole-derivative exposure. The common dysmorphogenic effects of the azole-derivatives of the two classes could be due to the inhibition of retinoid catabolism. From this point of view, the contemporaneous exposure to these substances or their therapeutic use could be considered as potentially dangerous for human conceptuses.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of intramolecular equilibria in complexes formed between substituted imidazole ligands and nickel (II), copper (II) or zinc (II).

The metal ion-binding properties of imidazole-4-acetate (ImA-), 4(5)-aminoimidazole-5(4)-carboxamide (AImC), 2,2'biimidazole(BiIm) (I. Török et al., J. Inorg. Biochem. 71 (1998) 7-14), and bis (imidazol-2-yl)methane(BiImM) (K. Várnagy et al., J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. (1994) 2939-2945) have been evaluated by using the recently published stability constants and by applying the recently established log K(ML)M versus pK(HL)H straight-line plots (L. E. Kapinos et al., Inorg. Chim. Acta 280 (1998) 50-56) which hold for simple imidazole-type ligands. The indicated analysis regarding the intramolecular equilibrium between a monodentatally imidazole-nitrogen-coordinated (open) species and a chelated isomer provides helpful insights, e.g., the formation degree of chelates is more favored if six-membered rings can be formed, as in the case with M(BiImM)2+ compared to M(BiIm)2+, though in both instances the formation degree of the chelates is large. The formation degree of chelates in the M(ImA)+ complexes increases in the series Zn(ImA)+ (87%)<Ni(ImA)+ (96%)<Cu(ImA)+ (99.5%). A carbonyl oxygen, if sterically favorably positioned as in the M (AImC)2+ complexes, may also participate well in chelate formation. In this way a carbonyl group can certainly be activated via metal ion coordination and become ready for further reactions. For Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ the formation degree of the chelated M(AImC)2+ isomers varies between about 30 and 75%. In all of the so-called 'open' species the metal ion is solely coordinated to a pyridine-like nitrogen of the imidazole residue. Some further observations of biological interest are indicated.

Cations, Divalent↗
PubMed1993

Evaluation of nitrogen nuclear hyperfine and quadrupole coupling parameters for the proximal imidazole in myoglobin-azide, -cyanide, and -mercaptoethanol complexes by electron spin echo envelope modulation spectroscopy.

Electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy and computer simulation of spectra has been used to evaluate the nitrogen nuclear hyperfine and quadrupole coupling parameters for the proximal imidazole nitrogen directly coordinated to iron in three low-spin heme complexes, myoglobin-azide, -cyanide, and -mercaptoethanol (MbN3, MbCN, and MbRS). The variability in the weak electron-nuclear coupling parameters reveals the electronic flexibility within the heme group that depends on properties of the exogenous ligands. For example, the isotropic component of the nitrogen nuclear hyperfine coupling ranges from 4.4 MHz for MbN3 to 2.2 MHz for both MbCN and MbRS. The weaker coupling in MbCN and MbRS is taken as evidence for delocalization of unpaired electron spin from iron into the exogenous anionic ligands. The value of e2Qq, the nuclear quadrupole coupling constant for the axial imidazole nitrogen in MbCN and MbRS, was 2.5 MHz but was significantly larger, 3.2 MHz, in MbN3. This large value is considered evidence for a weakened sigma bond between the proximal imidazole and ferric iron in this form, and for a feature contributing to the origin of the high spin-low spin equilibrium exhibited by MbN3 [Beetlestone, J., & George, P. (1964) Biochemistry 5, 707-714]. The ESEEM results have allowed a correlation to be made between the orientation of the g tensor axes, the orientation of the p-pi orbital of the proximal imidazole nitrogen, and sigma- and pi-bonding features of the axial ligands. Furthermore, the proximal imidazole is suggested to act as a pi-acceptor in low-spin heme complexes in order to support strong sigma electron donation from the lone pair orbital to iron. An evaluation of the nitrogen nuclear hyperfine coupling parameters for the porphyrin pyrrole sites in MbRS reveals a large inequivalence in isotropic components consistent with an orientation of rhombic axes (and g tensor axes) that eclipses the Fe-Npyrrole vector directions.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Neutral imidazole is the electrophile in the reaction catalyzed by triosephosphate isomerase: structural origins and catalytic implications.

To illuminate the role of histidine-95 in the catalytic reaction mediated by triosephosphate isomerase, 13C and 15N NMR titration studies have been carried out both on the wild-type enzyme and on a mutant isomerase in which the single remaining histidine (that at the active site) has been isotopically enriched in the imidazole ring. 15N NMR has proved especially useful in the unambiguous demonstration that the imidazole ring of histidine-95 is uncharged over the entire pH range of isomerase activity, between pH 5 and pH 9.9. The results require that the first pKa of histidine-95 is below 4.5. This abnormally low pKa rules out the traditional view that the positively charged imidazolium cation of histidine-95 donates a proton to the developing charge on the substrate's carbonyl oxygen. 15N NMR experiments on the enzyme in the presence of the reaction intermediate analogue phosphoglycolohydroxamate show the presence of a strong hydrogen bond between N epsilon 2 of histidine-95 and the bound inhibitor. These findings indicate that, in the catalyzed reaction, proton abstraction from C-1 of dihydroxyacetone phosphate first yields an enediolate intermediate that is strongly hydrogen bonded to the neutral imidazole side chain of histidine-95. The imidazole proton involved in this hydrogen bond then protonates the enediolate, with the transient formation of the enediol-imidazolate ion pair. Abstraction of the hydroxyl proton on O-1 now produces the other enediolate intermediate, which collapses to give the product glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1987

Interaction of the unique competitive inhibitor imidazole and related compounds with the active site metal of carbonic anhydrase: linkage between pH effects on the inhibitor binding affinity and pH effects on the visible spectra of inhibitor complexes with the cobalt-substituted enzyme.

Previous studies on the interaction of carbonic anhydrase (CA) with the unique CO2 competitive inhibitor imidazole and related compounds were all interpreted as showing that an ionizable water ligand on the metal of this zinc metalloenzyme is not displaced by inhibitor binding. Internal inconsistencies in the pH dependence of binding and the pH dependence of the visible spectra of complexes with cobalt-substituted enzyme prompted us to reinvestigate this binding. Visible spectroscopy was used to measure the binding of imidazole and 1,2,4-triazole to Co(II)-substituted human CA I and active site carboxymethylated human CA I (CmCA I) and the binding of 1,2,4-triazole to bovine CoIICA II. The limiting visible spectra for these enzyme-inhibitor adducts were also computed and examined for pH dependence. It was shown that the pKa of visible spectral changes can be independently predicted from studies on the pH dependence of binding. After consideration of possible contributions from effects of His-200 ionization in CA I and CmCA I, and His-64 in CA II, the pH effects on binding affinity and spectra were found to be of the correct magnitude to establish linkage between binding and an ionization. It was also shown, however, that pH effects on binding and spectra cannot distinguish whether neutral imidazole binds to both ionization forms of the enzyme (Zn-OH2 and Zn-OH) or whether neutral imidazole and its anion both bind to only the acid form of the enzyme, presumably after displacing the water. These findings have implications to the crystallographic interpretations on the imidazole-enzyme complex and to the catalytic mechanism of CO2 hydration.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cholinergic activity of acetylenic imidazoles and related compounds.

A series of acetylenic imidazoles related to oxotremorine (1a) were prepared and evaluated as cholinergic agents with in vitro binding assays and in vivo pharmacological tests in mice. 1-[4-(1H-Imidazol-1-yl)-2-butynyl]-2-pyrrolidinone (1b) was a cholinergic agonist with one-half the potency of oxotremorine. Analogues of 1b with a 5- or 2-methyl substituent in the imidazole ring (compounds 1c and 1g) were cholinergic partial agonists. Analogues of 1b with a methyl substituent at the 5-position in the pyrrolidinone ring (7b) or at the alpha-position in the acetylenic chain (8b) were antagonists. Various analogues of these imidazole acetylenes where the pyrrolidinone ring was replaced by an amide, carbamate, or urea residue were prepared. Several compounds which contained 5-methylimidazole as the amine substituent were partial agonists. The activities of the imidazole compounds are compared with those of the related pyrrolidine and dimethylamine analogues. Agonist and antagonist conformations for these compounds at muscarinic receptors are proposed.

Acetylene↗
PubMed2004

Imidazole analogues of fluoxetine, a novel class of anti-Candida agents.

Imidazole analogues of fluoxetine have been obtained by replacing the methylamino terminus of aminopropane chain with the imidazole ring. The newly designed imidazoles showed potent anti-Candida activity, superior to those of miconazole and other antifungal agents of clinical interest. 1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propane (16), the most active among test imidazoles, was about 2-fold more active and as much less cytotoxic than miconazole. High increase of activity was observed with methyl, nitro, fluorine, and chlorine (Cl > F > CH(3) > NO(2) > CF(3)).

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1996

2-[(2-Aminobenzyl)sulfinyl]-1-(2-pyridyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopent[d]imidazoles as a novel class of gastric H+/K+-ATPase inhibitors.

Substituted 2-sulfinylimidazoles were synthesized and investigated as potential inhibitors of gastric H+/K(+)-ATPase. The 4,5-unsubstituted imidazole series 6-11 and the 1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopent[d]imidazole series 12 were found to be potent inhibitors of the acid secretory enzyme H+/K(+)-ATPase. Structure-activity relationships indicate that the substitution of 2-pyridyl groups at the 1-position of the imidazole moiety combined with (2-aminobenzyl)-sulfinyl groups at the 2-position leads to highly active compounds with a favorable chemical stability. Other substitution patterns in the imidazole moiety result in reducing biological activities. 2-[(2-Aminobenzyl) sulfinyl]-1-[2-(3-methylpyridyl)]-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopent++ ++ ++ [d]-imidazole (12h, T-776) was selected for further development as a potential clinical candidate. Extensive study on the acid degradation of 12h indicates a mechanism of action different from that of omeprazole, the first H+/K(+)-ATPase inhibitor introduced to the market.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

8-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-4(5H)-imidazo[1,2-alpha]quinoxalinone and related compounds: synthesis and structure-activity relationships for the AMPA-type non-NMDA receptor.

As a part of our program to discover novel antagonists for the AMPA subtype of EAA receptors, we designed and synthesized a series of heterocyclic-fused imidazolylquinoxalinones 5a-c, 9, 11, 14a-e, and 18 which led from 6-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-2,3(1H,4H)-quinoxalinedione hydrochloride (1a.HCl, YM90K) by replacement of its amide with the imidazole and triazole rings. Their activity was evaluated by inhibiting [3H]AMPA binding from rat whole brain. As a result, it appeared that 8-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-4(5H)-imidazo[1,2-alpha]quinoxalinone (5a) and its [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-alpha] analogue 14a possessed high affinity for AMPA receptors with Ki values of 0.057 and 0.19 microM, respectively, similar to the activity of 1a and NBQX (2) (1a, Ki = 0.084 microM; 2, Ki = 0.060 microM). In contrast, 8-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-7-nitro-4(5H)-imidazo[1,5-alpha]quinoxalinone (5b) and 7-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-8-nitro-4(5H)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalino ne (18) showed no or weak affinity for the receptors. Hence, we deduced that the nitrogen atom of the fused heterocycles at the 3-position of 5a and 14a plays an essential role as hydrogen bond acceptors in binding to AMPA receptors, whereas their amides act as proton donors. From the SAR on 1-alkyl derivatives of 5a and 14a, it was indicated that introduction of suitable 1-alkyl substituents led to a severalfold improved AMPA affinity. A computational study on a model of water-quinoxaline complexes, a mimic of the putative hydrogen-bonding interaction between the receptors and quinoxalines, indicated that the different affinities of 5a, 14a, 1a, and 19 for the AMPA receptor may depend on, at least in part, each stabilization energy for the interaction. On this basis, we propose a pharmacophore model of AMPA receptors for the binding of the imidazolylquinoxaline derivatives. The heterocyclic-fused quinoxalinones 5a,c and 9 showed potent inhibitory activity in KA-induced toxicity for hippocampal cell culture with IC50 values of 0.30, 0.32, and 0.30 microM, respectively (1a, 0.81 microM; 2, 0.38 microM). Moreover 5a possesses over 5000-fold AMPA selectivity against both the NMDA receptor and the glycine site on the NMDA receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

DNA-Directed alkylating agents. 7. Synthesis, DNA interaction, and antitumor activity of bis(hydroxymethyl)- and bis(carbamate)-substituted pyrrolizines and imidazoles.

A series of bis(hydroxymethyl)-substituted imidazoles, thioimidazoles, and pyrrolizines and related bis(carbamates), linked to either 9-anilinoacridine (intercalating) or 4-(4-quinolinylamino)benzamide (minor groove binding) carriers, were synthesized and evaluated for sequence-specific DNA alkylation and cytotoxicity. The imidazole and thioimidazole analogues were prepared by initial synthesis of [(4-aminophenyl)alkyl]imidazole-, thioimidazole-, or pyrrolizine dicarboxylates, coupling of these with the desired carrier, and reduction to give the required bis(hydroxymethyl) alkylating moiety. The pyrrolizines were the most reactive alkylators, followed by the thioimidazoles, while the imidazoles were unreactive. The pyrrolizines and some of the thioimidazoles cross-linked DNA, as measured by agarose gel electrophoresis. Strand cleavage assays showed that none of the compounds reacted at purine N7 or N3 sites in the gpt region of the plasmid gpt2Eco, but the polymerase stop assay showed patterns of G-alkylation in C-rich regions. The corresponding thioimidazole bis(carbamates) were more selective than the bis(hydroxymethyl) pyrrolizines, with high-intensity bands at 5'-NCCN, 5'-NGCN and 5'-NCGN sequences in the PCR stopping assay ( indicates block sites). The data suggest that these targeted compounds, like the known thioimidazole bis(carbamate) carmethizole, alkylate exclusively at guanine residues via the 2-amino group, with little or no alkylation at N3 and N7 guanine or adenine sites. The cytotoxicities of the compounds correlated broadly with their reactivities, with the bis(hydroxymethyl)imidazoles being the least cytotoxic (IC50s >1 microM; P388 leukemia) and with the intercalator-linked analogues being more cytotoxic than the corresponding minor-groove-targeted ones. This was true also for the more reactive thioimidazole bis(carbamates) (IC50s 0.8 and 11 microM, respectively), but both were more active than the analogous "untargeted" carmethizole (IC50 20 microM). The bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolizine analogues were the most cytotoxic, with IC50s as low as 0.03 microM.

Alkylation↗
PubMed2004

Reactions of antimicrobial species to imidazole-microwave plasma reacted poly(dimethylsiloxane) surfaces.

Microwave plasma reactions of imidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and 2-ethylimidazole on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) surfaces resulted in the formation of species containing conjugated surface domains which can be utilized for further reactions. When imidazole and its derivatives were used, polymerization of imidazole and the formation of C=C and CN conjugated species occurred. However, the extent of reactions for each monomer depends on not only the reaction time but also the molecular structure. For methyl- and ethyl-substituted imidazole, more stable radical species are generated and sustain their excited state in the high-energy plasma environments. Specifically, dehydrogenated 2-methyl, 2-ethylimidazole radicals and (*)N=CR-NH(*) (R = -CH(3), -CH(2)CH(3)) species exhibit higher stability than dehydrogenated imidazole radicals and (*)N=CH-NH(*) species under plasma reaction conditions. Such prepared surfaces are capable of attaching antimicrobial drugs via the Pinner synthesis. These studies show that it is possible to react antimicrobial species such as chloramphenicol, and this promising approach offers numerous applications of microwave plasma reactions in biotechnology. Quantitative analysis of the depth of surface reactions was accomplished by using variable angle ATR FT-IR spectroscopy.

Dimethylpolysiloxanes↗
PubMed1999

Protection by imidazol(ine) drugs and agmatine of glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in cultured cerebellar granule cells through blockade of NMDA receptor.

This study was designed to assess the potential neuroprotective effect of several imidazol(ine) drugs and agmatine on glutamate-induced necrosis and on apoptosis induced by low extracellular K+ in cultured cerebellar granule cells. Exposure (30 min) of energy deprived cells to L-glutamate (1-100 microM) caused a concentration-dependent neurotoxicity, as determined 24 h later by a decrease in the ability of the cells to metabolize 3-(4,5-dimethythiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) into a reduced formazan product. L-glutamate-induced neurotoxicity (EC50=5 microM) was blocked by the specific NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (dizocilpine). Imidazol(ine) drugs and agmatine fully prevented neurotoxicity induced by 20 microM (EC100) L-glutamate with the rank order (EC50 in microM): antazoline (13)>cirazoline (44)>LSL 61122 [2-styryl-2-imidazoline] (54)>LSL 60101 [2-(2-benzofuranyl) imidazole] (75)>idazoxan (90)>LSL 60129 [2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)-4,5-dihydroimidazole](101)>RX82 1002 (2-methoxy idazoxan) (106)>agmatine (196). No neuroprotective effect of these drugs was observed in a model of apoptotic neuronal cell death (reduction of extracellular K+) which does not involve stimulation of NMDA receptors. Imidazol(ine) drugs and agmatine fully inhibited [3H]-(+)-MK-801 binding to the phencyclidine site of NMDA receptors in rat brain. The profile of drug potency protecting against L-glutamate neurotoxicity correlated well (r=0.90) with the potency of the same compounds competing against [3H]-(+)-MK-801 binding. In HEK-293 cells transfected to express the NR1-1a and NR2C subunits of the NMDA receptor, antazoline and agmatine produced a voltage- and concentration-dependent block of glutamate-induced currents. Analysis of the voltage dependence of the block was consistent with the presence of a binding site for antazoline located within the NMDA channel pore with an IC50 of 10-12 microM at 0 mV. It is concluded that imidazol(ine) drugs and agmatine are neuroprotective against glutamate-induced necrotic neuronal cell death in vitro and that this effect is mediated through NMDA receptor blockade by interacting with a site located within the NMDA channel pore.

Agmatine↗
PubMed2006

Model studies of the Cu(B) site of cytochrome c oxidase utilizing a Zn(II) complex containing an imidazole-phenol cross-linked ligand.

Cytochrome c oxidase, the enzyme complex responsible for the four-electron reduction of O2 to H2O, contains an unusual histidine-tyrosine cross-link in its bimetallic heme a3-CuB active site. We have synthesised an unhindered, tripodal chelating ligand, BPAIP, containing the unusual ortho-imidazole-phenol linkage, which mimics the coordination environment of the CuB center. The ligand was used to investigate the physicochemical (pKa, oxidation potential) and coordination properties of the imidazole-phenol linkage when bound to a dication. Zn(II) coordination lowers the pKa of the phenol by 0.6 log units, and increases the potential of the phenolate/phenoxyl radical couple by approximately 50 mV. These results are consistent with inductive withdrawal of electron density from the phenolic ring. Spectroscopic data and theoretical calculations (DFT) were used to establish that the cationic complex [Zn(BPAIP)Br]+ has an axially distorted trigonal bipyramidal structure, with three coordinating nitrogen ligands (two pyridine and one imidazole) occupying the equatorial plane and the bromide and the tertiary amine nitrogen of the tripod in the axial positions. Interestingly, the Zn-Namine bonding interaction is weak or absent in [Zn(BPAIP)Br]+ and the complex gains stability in basic solutions, as indicated by 1H NMR spectroscopy. These observations are supported by theoretical calculations (DFT), which suggest that the electron-donating capacity of the equatorial imidazole ligand can be varied by modulation of the protonation and/or redox state of the cross-linked phenol. Deprotonation of the phenol makes the equatorial imidazole a stronger sigma-donor, resulting in an increased Zn-Nimd interaction and thereby leading to distortion of the axial ligand axis toward a more tetrahedral geometry.

Chelating Agents↗
PubMed2006

Effect of 1-acyl-5,6-dialkoxy-2-alkylthiobenzo[d] imidazoles on the action potential duration and isometric contraction in guinea pig atrium activated by carbachol and in guinea pig heart papillary muscles.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that some benzo[d]imidazole derivatives (1-(5,6-dimethoxy-2-methylthio-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-ethanone (1), 1-(6-ethylthio-5H[1,31dioxolo[4',5':4,5] benzo[d]imidazol-5-yl)-1-propanone (2), 1-(2-ethylthio-6,7-dihydro-1H[1,4]dioxino [2:3':4,5]benzo[d]imidazol-1-yl)-1-pro-panone (3) and 2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8H [1,4]dioxino[2' 3":4',5']benzo[4,5]imid-azo[2,1-b][1,3]thiazin-10-one (4)) possess strong cardiotonic activity. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of compounds 1-4 on the action potential (AP) duration and contractile force in guinea pig atrium activated by carbachol and in guinea pig heart papillary muscles. METHODS: The experiments were carried out on the guinea pig papillary muscles and atrium. Isometric contraction and transmembrane potential were recorded using a force transducer and standard microelectrode technique. RESULTS: Compounds 1-4 exerted a positive inotropic effect in a dose-dependent manner on the electrically driven left atrium and papillary muscles, more pronounced in atrium. In response to 1 micromol/L carbachol the AP duration at a 90 % repolarization in atrium shortened more than 70 %, the isometric contraction decreased to the similar level as well. Compounds 1 and 4 significantly antagonized the shortening of the AP duration induced by carbachol and increased it. Compound 1 abolished the reduction of isometric contraction as well. Derivative 3 significantly lengthened (31 ms) the AP duration at a 90 % repolarization in papillary muscles, while 1 and 4 failed to affect this index. The selective blockade of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current (Ikr) by dl-sotalol (1 micromol/L) did not show the substantial influence on benzimidazole effects. CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that the tested benzo[d] imidazole derivatives abolish the influence of carbachol on AP and the isometric contraction by inhibition of acetylcholine-activated potassium current (KACh) in guinea pig atrial myocytes and therefore may be beneficial for the prognosis of patients with advanced heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

Action Potentials↗