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PubMed1988

Potential anti-tumour 2,5-bis (1-aziridinyl)-1,4-benzoquinones: relationship between cytotoxicity against DNA-repair deficient E. coli, inactivation of bacteriophage M13mp19, and in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity.

A series of reductively activated 3,6 substituted 2,5-bis(aziridinyl)benzoquinones, designed as potential anti-tumour agents, was shown to interact with DNA. This was assayed by studying the colony forming ability of DNA-repair deficient E. coli K12 and the inactivation of bacteriophage M13mp19. The activities of the compounds as measured in the two assays show a good correlation. Reduction of the quinone compounds is essential for activity in the two assays. Reduction activates opening of the aziridine ring and formation of an alkylating species. The results suggest that steric factors are important in DNA adduct formation. Methylation of the aziridine rings decreases the activity. Bulky 3,6-substitutes also decrease the activity. No correlation is found between above-mentioned assays for DNA modification and in vivo activity towards tumour cells. It is possible that, as well as DNA, other cellular targets are involved. A correlation is observed between the DNA modifying activity and toxicity against L1210 cells in vitro. The relative high activity against L1210 cells of bromine substituted compounds is possibly related to alternative mechanisms in which bromine acts as an efficient leaving group.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electrochemistry of potential bioreductive alkylating quinones: its use in the development of new aziridinylquinones.

The concept of bioreductive alkylation as a mechanism of action of quinone-containing anticancer agents was investigated, using electrochemical techniques. According to this concept, an electrochemical step (reduction of the quinone ring) is followed by one or more chemical steps, leading to formation of the actual alkylating species. The proper use of electrochemical analysis of potential bioreductive alkylating quinones in the design of new analogs is limited. Up to now, the only electrochemical parameter frequently used in structure-activity relationship studies, is the half-wave potential of the quinone reduction. However, reliable information can only be obtained from the found value of this parameter when the reduction mechanism has been elucidated. Furthermore, it only gives information about the first step of the model. More detailed electrochemical analysis of potential bioreductive alkylating quinones, in combination with a biological evaluation, is required to gain more insight in their mechanism of action and to yield quantitative information about substituent effects on both the electrochemical and the chemical step(s) of the model. Results of such studies of a series of aziridinylquinones indicate, that the biological activity in vitro is correlated with the ease of protonation of the aziridines after quinone reduction, which is in accordance with the concept of bioreductive activation. No correlation with the ease of protonation of the aziridines prior to quinone reduction or with the quinone reduction step itself can be found.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed1985

Inhibition of fumarase by S-2,3-dicarboxyaziridine.

S-2,3-Dicarboxyaziridine was found to be a potent competitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.08 microM) of fumarase from pig heart. The aziridine did not inactivate the enzyme or exhibit any observable substrate activity. It is likely that it functions as a transition state analogue mimicking the carbanion intermediate found in the normal catalytic reaction. The aziridine inhibited fumarate utilization in ruptured but not intact mitochondria.

Aziridines↗
PubMed1984

Free radicals in quinone-containing antitumor agents. Electrochemical reduction of diaziquone (2,5-diaziridine-3,6-bis(carboethoxyamino)-1,4 -benzoquinone) and two analogues.

The one-electron electrochemical reduction of diaziquone was analyzed using electron spin resonance and compared to its enzymatic reduction. Two analogues were used to help the analysis. The analogues contained chlorine atoms which substituted either the carboethoxyamino groups or the aziridine groups of the parent compound. The diaziquone free radical produced electrochemically in dimethyl sulfoxide exhibited an 11-line electron spin resonance spectrum. The hyperfine couplings responsible for this spectrum were due to the aziridine nitrogens (aNAz), and the imide hydrogens (aHNHR) and nitrogens (aNNHR) of the carboethoxyamino groups. The couplings had the following order of strength: (aNAz) greater than (aHNHR) greater than (aNNHR). The nuclei responsible for the (aNAz) and (aHNHR) coupling were found to be magnetically inequivalent. Adding water to the dimethyl sulfoxide solution of electrochemically reduced diaziquone changed its 11-line ESR spectrum to a 5-line spectrum identical to the one observed for enzymatically reduced diaziquone. Hence, the identity of this latter free radical was resolved. Electrochemically reduced free radicals of antitumor agents can be used to understand biologically reduced ones and thus explore drug activity-free radical structure relationships.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Cellular pharmacology of N1- and N8-aziridinyl analogues of spermidine.

We have previously described the synthesis and cytotoxic properties of 2 polyamine analogues in which either the N1- or N8-amino group of spermidine was replaced by the alkylating moiety, aziridine. However, the mechanisms by which these aziridinyl analogues of spermidine inhibit cell growth remain unknown. As a result, we have studied: (a) the effect of pretreatment with difluoromethyl ornithine (DFMO) and coincubation with exogenous spermidine on cytotoxicity induced by the aziridinyl spermidines; (b) the reversibility of the cytotoxicity induced by the aziridinyl spermidines; (c) the accumulation of N1- and N8-aziridinyl spermidine by cells and the effects of DFMO on this process; and (d) the impact of N1- and N8-aziridinyl spermidine on cellular polyamine pools and on cellular accumulation of spermidine. The cytotoxicity induced by these 2 aziridinyl derivatives of spermidine [concentration required to inhibit cell growth or incorporation of radiolabeled precursor into trichloroacetic acid-precipitable material by 50% (IC50) N1 = 0.2 microM, IC50 N8 = 0.4 microM)] was potentiated by pretreatment of L1210 cells for 24 h with 100 microM DFMO (IC50 N1 = 0.05 microM, IC50 N8 = 0.15 microM) and was prevented by coincubation with 3.7 microM spermidine (IC50 N1 = 1.1 microM, IC50 N8 = 2.4 microM). In contrast, similar pretreatment with DFMO or coincubation with spermidine had no effect on the cytotoxicity induced by the aziridine-containing alkylating agent, N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (thiotepa) (IC50 = 2.4 microM). The cytotoxicity induced by 24-h incubation with either N1- or N8-aziridinyl spermidine was not altered by removal of those compounds and incubating treated cells in medium augmented with 3.7 microM spermidine. However, and as expected, similar maneuvers did not reverse the cell growth-inhibitory effect induced by 24-h incubation with 100 microM DFMO. Cellular accumulation of both N1- and N8-aziridinyl spermidine increased with increasing extracellular concentrations. N1-Aziridinyl spermidine was accumulated to a greater degree than was the N8-analogue, achieving up to 6-fold higher intracellular concentrations at the same extracellular concentration. Cellular accumulation of both aziridinyl compounds was greatly enhanced by 24-h pretreatment with DFMO. Both N1- and N8-aziridinyl spermidine inhibited the uptake of spermidine in a dose-dependent manner. The perturbation of polyamine biochemistry by the test compounds was characterized by their ability to deplete cellular putrescine, as well as spermidine and spermine. These results imply that the cytotoxic mechanism of the aziridinyl spermidine analogues is, to a great extent, dependent on their polyamine nature and may imply selectivity for rapidly growing and neoplastic cells.

Alkylating Agents↗
PubMed2000

The search for stable gas phase b(1) ions derived from aliphatic amino acids: a combined experimental and ab initio study.

Several previous studies have shown that b(1) ions (formally acylium ions, H(2)NCHRCO(+)) derived from protonated aliphatic amino acids are unstable in the gas phase, fragmenting via decarbonylation to form a(1) ions (iminium ions, H(2)N = CHR(+)). Herein we examine the fragmentation reactions of ten potential b(1) ion precursors to determine whether stable aliphatic b(1) ions can be formed in the gas phase. Of all the systems studied, only the aziridine b(1) ion and the dehydroalanine b(1) ion were found to be stable. These experimental results are entirely consistent with ab initio calculations (at the MP2(full)/6-311G** level) which indicate that while the loss of CO from the b(1) ion of glycine is barrierless and exoethermic, the related losses from the b(1) ions of aziridine and dehydroalanine have significant barriers (29.5 and 16.2 kcal mol(-1), respectively) and are endothermic overall.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2007

The existence of secondary orbital interactions.

B3LYP/6-311+G** (and MP2/6-311+G**) computations, performed for a series of Diels-Alder (DA) reactions, confirm that the endo transition states (TS) and the related Cope-TSs are favored energetically over the respective exo-TSs. Likewise, the computed magnetic properties (nucleus-independent chemical shifts and magnetic susceptibililties) of the endo- (as well as the Cope) TS's reveal their greater electron delocalization and greater aromaticity than the exo-TS's. However, Woodward and Hoffmann's original example is an exception: their endo-TS model, involving the DA reaction of a syn- with an anti-butadiene (BD), actually is disfavored energetically over the corresponding exo-TS; magnetic criteria also do not indicate the existence of SOI delocalization in either case. Instead, a strong energetic preference for endo-TSs due to SOI is found when both BDs are in the syn conformations. This is in accord with Alder and Stein's rule of "maximum accumulation of double bonds:" both the dienophile and the diene should have syn conformations. Plots along the IRC's show that the magnetic properties typically are most strongly exalted close to the energetic TS. Because of SOI, all the points along the endo reaction coordinates are more diatropic than along the corresponding exo pathways. We find weak SOI effects to be operative in the endo-TSs involved in the cycloadditions of cyclic alkenes, cyclopropene, aziridine, cyclobutene, and cyclopentene, with cyclopentadiene. While the endo-TSs are only slightly lower in energy than the respective exo-TSs, the magnetic properties of the endo-TS's are significantly exalted over those for the exo-TS's and the Natural Bond Orbitals indicate small stabilizing interactions between the methylene cycloalkene hydrogen orbitals (and lone pairs in case of aziridine) with pi-character and the diene pi MOs.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Pharmacokinetic contribution to the improved therapeutic selectivity of a novel bromoethylamino prodrug (RB 6145) of the mixed-function hypoxic cell sensitizer/cytotoxin alpha-(1-aziridinomethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069).

RB 6145 is a novel hypoxic cell sensitizer and cytotoxin containing both an essential bioreductive nitro group and a bromoethylamino substituent designed to form an alkylating aziridine moiety under physiological conditions. In mice, RB 6145 is 2.5 times less toxic but only slightly less active than the aziridine analogue RSU 1069, giving rise to an improved therapeutic index. However, the mechanism for the enhanced selectivity is not clear. Reasoning that this may lie in a more beneficial pharmacokinetic profile, we investigated the plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and metabolism of RB 6145 in mice using a specially developed reversed-phase HPLC technique. An i.p. dose of 190 mg kg-1 (0.5 mmol kg-1) RB 6145 produced peak plasma concentrations of about 50 micrograms ml-1 of the pharmacologically active target molecule RSU 1069 as compared with levels of around twice this value that were obtained using an equimolar i.p. dose of RSU 1069 itself. The plasma AUC0-infinity value for administered RSU 1069 was ca. 47 micrograms ml-1 h and that for the analogue RSU 1069 was ca. 84 micrograms ml-1 h. No prodrug was detectable. Another major RB 6145 metabolite in plasma was the corresponding oxazolidinone, apparently formed on interaction of the drug with hydrogen carbonate. The oxazolidinone initially occurred at higher concentrations than did RSU 1069, with the levels becoming very similar from 30 min onwards. Post-peak plasma concentrations of both RB 6145 metabolites declined exponentially, displaying an elimination t1/2 of ca. 25 min, very similar to the 30-min value observed for injected RSU 1069. The plasma AUC0-infinity value for the metabolite RSU 1069 was about 1.3 and 1.6 times higher following i.p. injection of 95 mg kg-1 (0.25 mmol kg-1) of the prodrug as compared with administration via the oral and i.v. routes, respectively. After i.v. injection, peak levels of the oxazolidinone metabolite were twice those observed following both i.p. and oral dosing and possibly contributed to the acute toxicity. After an i.p. dose of 190 mg kg-1 RB 6145, concentrations of RSU 1069 and the oxazolidinone metabolites rose to 40% and 33%, respectively, of the ambient plasma level in i.d. KHT tumours. The peak level of metabolite RSU 1069 was ca. 6 micrograms g-1 as compared with 10 micrograms g-1 following an equimolar dose of RSU 1069 itself; the tumour AUC0-infinity value for the metabolite RSU 1069 was some 35% lower.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Kinetics and mechanism of the degradation of 1a-acetylmitomycin C in aqueous solution.

The acid-catalyzed degradation of mitomycin C is supposed to be governed, to a certain extent, by the protonation status of the aziridine nitrogen in the molecule as well as the protonation degree of the opened aziridine function in a key intermediate species, formed during mitomycin degradation. In order to obtain information about the contribution of the protonation degrees of these functions in controlling the degradation processes, we investigated the degradation of 1a-acetylmitomycin C in acidic aqueous solutions. In the presence of 0.001 mol/l phosphate buffers five 1-hydroxy and mono-acetyl mitosenes are formed, whereas in 1.0 mol/l acetate buffers a total of eight products could be identified, two of them being diacetyl mitosenes. Over the whole pH range studied the formation of 1,2-Z-mitosenes prevails, indicating that, contrary to mitomycin C, a pH-independent factor controls the ultimate 1,2-stereochemistry.

Buffers↗
PubMed1991

Regulation of sterol biosynthesis in sunflower by 24(R,S),25-epiminolanosterol, a novel C-24 methyl transferase inhibitor.

Whereas sitosterol and 24(28)-methylene cycloartanol were competitive inhibitors (with Ki = 26 microM and 14 microM, respectively), 24(R,S)-25-epiminolanosterol was found to be a potent non-competitive inhibitor (Ki = 3.0 nM) of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine-C-24 methyl transferase from sunflower embryos. Because the ground state analog, 24(R,S)-oxidolanosterol, failed to inhibit the catalysis and 25-azalanosterol inhibited the catalysis with a Ki of 30 nM we conclude that the aziridine functions in a manner similar to the azasteriod (Rahier, A., et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1984) 259, 15215) as a transition state analog mimicking the carbonium intermediate found in the normal transmethylation reaction. Additionally, we observed that the aziridine inhibited cycloartenol metabolism (the preferred substrate for transmethylation) in cultured sunflower cells and cell growth.

Cell Division↗
PubMed1995

1H and 2H NMR spectroscopic studies on the metabolism and biochemical effects of 2-bromoethanamine in the rat.

Male Fischer 344 rats were dosed with 2-bromoethanamine hydrobromide (BEA, N = 6) or [1,2,2,-2H4]-bromoethanamine hydrobromide (BEA-d4, N = 6) at 150 mg/kg i.p. and urine was collected -24 to 0 hr pre-dose and at 0-2 hr, 2-4 hr, 4-8 hr and 8-12 hr post-dose (p.d.). Urine samples were analysed directly using 500 and 600 MHz 1H NMR and 92.1 MHz 2H NMR spectroscopy. The major observed effect of BEA treatment was the induction of transient elevations in urinary glutaric acid (GTA) and adipic acid (ADA) excretion lasting up to 24 hr p.d. Most of the GTA was excreted in the 0-8 hr p.d. with maximal rates of 100-120 microM/hr for each rat occurring between 4 and 8 hr p.d. in animals treated with BEA or BEA-d4. GTA and ADA were shown to be of endogenous origin as there was no detectable incorporation of the 2H label into either compound following treatment of rats with BEA-d4. Following BEA-treatment there was an initial decrease in the levels of urinary citrate, succinate, 2-oxoglutarate and trimethylamine-N-oxide. A subsequent recovery of citrate and succinate was noted following the onset of medullary nephropathy. The abnormal urinary metabolite profiles were similar to that observed in the urine of humans with glutaric aciduria type II (an inborn error of metabolism) caused by a lack of mitochondrial fatty acyl coenzyme A dehydrogenases indicating that BEA or its metabolites have similar metabolic consequences. The BEA metabolite aziridine was detected by 1H and 2H NMR spectroscopy of the urine 8 hr p.d. together with BEA itself and two novel metabolites 2-oxazolidone (OX) and 5-hydroxy-2-oxazolidone (HOX). The formation of OX requires the reaction of BEA with endogenous bicarbonate followed by a cyclisation reaction eliminating HBr. Dosing rats with authentic OX resulted in the excretion of HOX but did not cause glutaric or adipic aciduria indicating that either aziridine or BEA itself was responsible for the presumed defect in mitochondrial metabolism.

Adipates↗
PubMed1989

The chemosensitizing and cytotoxic effects of RSU 1164 and RSU 1165 in a murine tumor model.

RSU 1069, the lead compound in a series of nitroimidazoles containing an alkylating aziridine function, has been shown to be a potent radiosensitizer and chemopotentiator both in vitro and in vivo. However, this agent also demonstrates significant in situ toxicity. Recently it has been shown that less toxic analogues of RSU 1069 can be produced by the introduction of alkyl substituents to moderate the reactivity of the aziridine function. The present investigations were undertaken to evaluate the in vivo cytotoxicity and chemosensitizing efficacy of two such analogues, RSU 1164 and RSU 1165. All experiments were performed with KHT sarcomas grown intra-muscularly. In the cytotoxicity studies, a range of sensitizer doses was utilized whereas in the chemopotentiation investigations a fixed sensitizer exposure was combined simultaneously with a range of doses of the nitrosourea CCNU. In both studies, tumor cell survival was determined 22-24 hr after treatment using a soft agar clonogenic assay. Normal tissue toxicity in the chemopotentiation studies was assessed by bone marrow CFU-S assay. Both analogues were found to be significantly less cytotoxic to KHT sarcoma cells than RSU 1169 (a factor of 4-6 in dose at 50% cell survival). Combining a 1.0 to 2.0 mmol/kg dose of RSU 1164 or RSU 1165 with a range of doses of CCNU increased tumor cell killing by a factor of 1.5-1.6 but did not enhance bone marrow stem cell toxicity. The addition of either sensitizer to CCNU treatment therefore led to a significant therapeutic benefit.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Triazolines--XXVII. delta2-1,2,3-triazoline anticonvulsants: novel 'built-in' heterocyclic prodrugs with a unique 'dual-action' mechanism for impairing excitatory amino acid L-glutamate neurotransmission.

The delta2-1,2,3-triazoline anticonvulsants (1) may be considered as representing a unique class of 'built-in' heterocyclic prodrugs where the active 'structure element' is an integral part of the ring system and can be identified only by a knowledge of their chemical reactivity and metabolism. Investigations on the metabolism and pharmacology of a lead triazoline, ADD17014 (1a), suggest that the triazolines function as 'prodrugs' and exert their anticonvulsant activity by impairing excitatory amino acid (EAA) L-glutamate (L-Glu) neurotransmission via a unique 'dual-action' mechanism. While an active beta-amino alcohol metabolite, 2a, from the parent prodrug acts as an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)/MK-801 receptor antagonist, the parent triazoline impairs the presynaptic release of L-Glu. Various pieces of theoretical reasoning and experimental evidence led to the elucidation of the dual-action mechanism. Based on the unique chemistry of the triazolines, the potential metabolic pathways and biotransformation products of 1a were predicted to be the beta-amino alcohols 2a and 2a', the alpha-amino acid 3a, the triazole 4a, the aziridine 5a, and the ketimine 6a. In vivo and in vitro pharmacological studies of 1a and potential metabolities, along with a full quantitative urinary metabolic profiling of 1a, indicated the beta-amino alcohol 2a as the active species. It was the only compound that inhibited the specific binding of [3H]MK-801 to the MK-801 site, 56% at 10 microM drug concentration, but itself had no anticonvulsant activity, suggesting 1a acted as a prodrug. Three metabolites were identified; 2a was the most predominant, with lesser amounts of 2a', and very minor amounts of aziridine 5a. Since only 5a can yield 2a', its formation indicated that the biotransformation of 1a occurred, at least in part, through 5a. No amino acid metabolite 3a was detected, which implied that no in vivo oxidation of 2a or oxidative biotransformation of 1a or 5a by hydroxylation at the methylene group occurred. While triazoline 1a significantly decreased Ca2(+)-dependent, K(+)-evoked L-Glu release (83% at 100 microM drug concentration), triazolines 1a-1c showed an augmentation of 50-63%, in the Cl- channel activity, a useful membrane action that reduces the excessive L-Glu release that occurs during epileptic seizures. The high anticonvulsant activity of 1a may be due to its unique dual-action mechanism whereby 1a and 2a together effectively impair both pre- and postsynaptic aspects of EAA neurotransmission, and has clinical potential in complex partial epilepsy which is refractory to currently available drugs.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

The lethal effect of bis-type azridinylnaphthoquinone derivative on oral cancer cells (OEC-M1) associated with anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2.

Several drugs of aziridinylbenzoquinone analogs have undergone clinical trials as potential antitumor drugs. These bioreductive compounds are designed to kill tumor cells preferentially within the hypoxic microenvironment. From our previous reported data, it was found that the synthesized 2-aziridin-1-yl-3-[(2-[2-[(3-aziridin-1-yl-1,4-dioxo-1,4-dihydronaphthalen-2-yl)thio]ethoxy]ethyl)thio]naphthoquinone (AZ-1) is a bioreductive compound with potent lethal effect on oral cancer cell, OEC-M1. It was found in this study that the lethal effect of the oral cancer cell lines OEC-M1 induced by AZ-1 was mediated through the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis pathway. The LC50 values of OEC-M1 and KB cells induced by AZ-1 compound were 0.72 and 1.02 microM, respectively, which were much lower than that of normal fibroblast cells (SF with LC50 = 5.6 microM) with more than 90% of normal fibroblasts surviving as compared to control at a concentration of AZ-1 as high as 2 microM. It was interesting to note that the LC50 of monotype diaziridinylbenzoquinone compound, diaziquone (AZQ), was 50 microM on OEC-M1 cells. Comparing the cytotoxicity of AZ-1 and AZQ on OEC-M1 cells, AZ-1 is approximately 70 times more potent than AZQ. By using Western blot, both G2/M phase cell cycle arresting protein, cyclin B, and anti-apoptotic protein, bcl-2, were expressed in OEC-M1 cell when the concentrations of AZ-1 were increased from 0.125 to 0.5 microM and then decreased from 1 to 2 microM of AZ-1 treatment as compared with control for 24 h. Both proteins were expressed most abundantly at 0.5 microM AZ-1. However, the expression of bcl-2 protein in OEC-M1 was significantly decreasing in a dose-dependent manner and was only about 50% protein level at 2 microM AZ-1 for 48h as compared with control. The cell survival check protein p53 increased from 1.72- to 2.8-fold and 1.36- to 2.16-fold at concentrations of AZ-1 from 0.125 to 2.0 microM in a dose-dependently increasing manner on OEC-M1 as compared with control for 24 and48 h treatments, respectively. The apoptotic-related phenomena were observed, which included apoptotic body formation and the enzyme activity change of caspase-3. The apoptotic bodies and caspase-3 activity of OEC-M1 were induced only at 2 microM AZ-1 for a 24h treatment, yet apoptotic body formation was observed at as low as 0.5 microM AZ-1 and in a dose-dependently increasing manner for a 48 h treatment. The caspase-3 activity was increased 20.6%, 26.8%, and 84.2%, respectively, at 0.5, 1, and 2muM concentrations of AZ-1 for a 48 h treatment as compared with control. These results indicate that AZ-1 induced the cell death of OEC-M1 through the G2/M phase arrest of cell cycle and anti-apoptosis first and then apoptosis following a 48 h treatment. All of the pathway might be associated with bcl-2 and p53 protein expression. We propose that the AZ-1 could be used as anti-oral cancer drug for future studies with animal models.

Apoptosis↗
PubMed2006

Heterocyclic rimantadine analogues with antiviral activity.

2-(1-Adamantyl)-2-methyl-pyrrolidines 3 and 4, 2-(1-adamantyl)-2-methyl-azetidines 5 and 6, and 2-(1-adamantyl)-2-methyl-aziridines 7 and 8 were synthesized and tested for their antiviral activity against influenza A. Parent molecules 3, 5, and 7 contain the alpha-methyl-1-adamantan-methanamine 2 pharmacophoric moiety (rimantadine). The ring size effect on anti-influenza A activity was investigated. Pyrrolidine 3 was the most potent anti-influenza virus A compound, 9-fold more potent than rimantadine 2, 27-fold more potent than amantadine 1, and 22-fold more potent than ribavirin. Azetidines 5 and 6 were both markedly active against influenza A H2N2 virus, 10- to 20-fold more potent than amantadine. Aziridine 7 was almost devoid of any activity against H2N2 virus but exhibited borderline activity against H3N2 influenza A strain. Thus, it appears that changing the five-, to four- to a three-membered ring results in a drop of activity against influenza A virus.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

A new methods for the 3'-deoxygenation of butirosins A and B.

An aziridine ring-formation involving the reaction of adjacent amino and alcohol groups with triphenylphosphine, carbon tetrachloride, and triethylamine was applied at the 2' and 3' positions of butirosin A (1a) and B (1b). The amino groups at the 2' position of 1a and 1b were p-methoxybenzylated to increase the nucleophilicity of the nitrogen atom and to avoid the formation of a P-N linkage, and the N-p-methoxybenzyl derivatives were converted into the aziridine derivatives, which were then subjected to hydrogenolysis and removal of the protecting groups to give 3'-deoxybutirosin A (7a) and B (7b), respectively. This new method is compared with the conventional N,O-protecting method that involves several complex steps.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2001

Phenotypes of Drosophila homologs of human XPF and XPG to chemically-induced DNA modifications.

DmXPF (mei9) and DmXPG (mus201) mutants are Drosophila homologs of the mammalian XPF and XPG genes, respectively. For Drosophila germ cells, causal correlations exist between the magnitude of a potentiating effect of a deficiency in these functions, measured as the M(NER-)/M(NER+) mutability ratio, and the type of DNA modification. M(NER-)/M(NER+) mutability ratios may vary with time interval between DNA adduct formation and repair, mutagen dose and depend also on the genetic endpoint measured. For forward mutations, there is no indication of any differential response of DmXPF compared to DmXPG. Subtle features appeared from a class-by-class comparison: (i) Methylating agents always produce higher M(NER-)/M(NER+) ratios than their ethylating analogs; (ii) M(NER-)/M(NER+) mutability ratios are significantly enhanced for cross-linking N-mustards, aziridine and di-epoxide compounds, but not for cross-linking nitrosoureas. The low hypermutability effects with bifunctional nitrogen mustards, aziridine and epoxide compounds are attributed to unrepaired mono-alkyl adducts; (iii) The efficient repair of mono-alkyl-adducts at ring nitrogens in wild-type germ cells is evident from the absence of a dose-response relationship for ethylene oxide, propylene imine and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). These chemicals become powerful germline mutagens when the NER system is disrupted. Systematic studies of the type performed on germ cells are not available for somatic cells of Drosophila. The sparse data available show large differences in the response of germ cells and somatic cells. The bifunctional agent mechlorethamine (MEC) but not the monofunctional MMS or 2-chloroethylamine cause in NER(-) XXfemale symbol the highest potentiating effect on mitotic recombination. The causes of the discrepancy between the extraordinarily high activity of MEC in mus201 somatic cells and its low potentiating effect in germ cells is unknown at present.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Identification of new aqueous chemical degradation products of isophosphoramide mustard.

NMR (31P, 1H and 13C) spectroscopy was used to study the products of the degradation of isophosphoramide mustard (IPM) in buffered solutions at pH ranging from 1 to 13. At pH < or = 1, the only degradation compounds detected were phosphate ion (Pi) and chloroethylammonium chloride (CEA-HCl), resulting from the breakdown of the two P-N bonds (pathway Ia). At pH 9.3 and 13, only the products of 1,3-cyclization of the N-chloroethyl group (monoaziridinylIPM (monoAzIPM) and a very low level of bisaziridinylIPM (bisAzIPM)) were found after approximately 15 h of reaction (pathway II). At intermediate pH, the two pathways coexist. At pH 3.5 and 5.0, the P-N bond hydrolysis is the major pathway, but two final phosphorylated products were detected, Pi which represented 67% (pH 3.5) and 17% (pH 5.0) of all the IPM phosphorylated degradation products after approximately 15 h of reaction, and phosphorylethanolamine (PEA) which represented 16% (pH 3.5) and 46% (pH 5.0) of the same sum. PEA formation can be explained by the 1,5-cyclization of a transient compound giving a 1,3,2-oxazaphospholidine intermediate whose P-N bond is exclusively cleaved in acidic medium. The presence of monohydroxyIPM (monoOHIPM) (whose percentage increases with pH from 5% (pH 3.5) to approximately 28% (pH 5.0) of all the IPM phosphorylated degradation compounds), probably coming from the alkylation by water of an aziridine/aziridinium intermediate, demonstrates the occurrence of pathway II. At pH 7.0 and 7.4, the pathway II is initiated first, leading to 1,3-cyclization(s), followed by water alkylation of the aziridines formed. The sequences are IPM 1-->monoAzIPM 5-->bisAzIPM 9; IPM 1-->monoAzIPM 5-->monoOHIPM 6-->monoAzIPM with a N-hydroxyethylchain (presumed structure) 7-->dihydroxyIPM 8. Nevertheless, PEA and Pi are the final products observed, which implies the P-N bond hydrolysis of products 5-9 as demonstrated by the presence in the medium of CEA, aziridine and ethanolamine.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗