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Inhibition of cysteine proteases by peptides containing aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid building blocks.

Mammalian cysteine proteases of the papain superfamily are interesting targets for the development of new drugs against diseases connected to abnormal degradation of muscle or bone proteins. The high nucleophilicity of the active site of these proteases as well as the characteristics of the well-known epoxysuccinic acid derived cysteine protease inhibitors provided a basis for the design of new types of selective and irreversible inhibitors for these enzymes. We designed and synthesized a novel class of peptidic cysteine protease inhibitors containing aziridine-2,3-dicarboxylic acid as electrophilic amino acid. Three types of aziridinyl peptides that differ in the position of the aziridine building block within the peptide chain have been synthesized and tested as inhibitors of several cysteine proteases. Remarkable differences could be observed between the three types of inhibitors concerning their activity, stereospecificity, pH dependency of inhibition, and selectivity between different cysteine proteases, respectively, indicating that different binding modes of the three types of inhibitors in respect to their orientation in the S and S' binding sites of the enzymes may be present.

Aziridines↗

One-pot enantioselective aziridination of olefins catalyzed by a copper(I) complex of a novel diimine ligand by using PhI(OAc)(2) and sulfonamide as nitrene precursors.

A novel chiral C(2)-symmetric 1,4-diamine with multistereogenic centers at the backbone of the ligand has been synthesized from cheap natural product D-mannitol through multistep transformations. Its diimine derivative (3 a) was found to be highly effective for the enantioselective control of the copper-catalyzed asymmetric aziridination of olefin derivatives with PhI==NTs as the nitrene source, affording the corresponding N-sulfonylated azirindine derivatives in good to excellent yields with up to 99 % ee (ee=enantiomeric excess). The catalyst system discovered in the present work was also extended to a one-pot enantioselective aziridination by using sulfonamide/iodobenzene diacetate as the nitrene source. In this case, most reactions proceeded smoothly to give the corresponding products in moderate yields with good to excellent enantiomeric excesses (75-96 % ee).

Alkenes↗

The importance of the active site histidine for the activity of epoxide- or aziridine-based inhibitors of cysteine proteases.

In the present study the importance of the active site histidine residue (His) for the activity of epoxide- or aziridine-based cysteine protease inhibitors is examined theoretically. To account for all important effects, QM/MM hybrid approaches are employed which combine quantum mechanical (QM) methods that are necessary to describe bond-breaking and formation processes, with molecular mechanics (MM) methods that incorporate the influence of the protein environment. Using various model systems, the computations exclude a direct proton shift from the active site His residue to the inhibitor, but show that one water molecule is sufficient to establish a very efficient relay system. This relay system allows an easy proton transfer from the active site His residue to the inhibitor and is thus essential for the activity of both types of inhibitors. Differences between the epoxides and the aziridines are discussed, along with some implications for the rational design of optimized inhibitors. The work presented herein represents the first QM/MM study into the mode of action of these important inhibitor classes.

Aziridines↗

Conduritol aziridine: a new mechanism-based glucosidase inactivator.

A new mechanism-based glucosidase inactivator, conduritol aziridine (1,2-dideoxy-1,2-epimino-myo-inositol), has been synthesised from myo-inositol. This aziridine inactivates both the beta-glucosidase from Alcaligenes faecalis and the alpha-glucosidase from yeast according to the expected pseudo-first order kinetics. Inactivation constants measured are Ki = 3.0mM, ki = 0.077 min-1 for the beta-glucosidase, and Ki = 9.5mM, ki = 0.39 min-1 for the alpha-glucosidase. Evidence for irreversible inactivation is provided by the lack of reactivation upon dilution of inactivated enzyme into buffer containing substrate.

Alcaligenes↗

The differences in kinetics of rat and human DT diaphorase result in a differential sensitivity of derived cell lines to CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide)

DT diaphorase (NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone), EC 1.6.99.2) isolated from Walker 256 rat carcinoma cells can convert CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-2,4-dinitrobenzamide) to a cytotoxic DNA interstrand cross-linking agent. This is achieved by reduction of the 4-nitro group of CB 1954 to produce the hydroxylamino species, a bioactivation which accounts for the much greater sensitivity of Walker cells to CB 1954 when compared with other cells which are unable to carry out this reduction (Knox et al., Biochem Pharmacol 37: 4661-4669 and 4671-4677, 1988). As predicted from their measured DT diaphorase activities a number of rat hepatoma and hepatocyte cell lines were also shown to be sensitive to CB 1954. However, no CB 1954-sensitive cell lines of human origin were found, although levels of DT diaphorase similar to those in the sensitive rat cells were present in these cells. The human cells were as sensitive as rat cells to the active form of CB 1954 (5-(aziridin-1-yl)-4-hydroxyla mino-2-nitrobenzamide). DT diaphorase, purified to homogeneity from human Hep G2 cells, did metabolize CB 1954 to this 4-hydroxylamino product, but the rate of CB 1954 reduction and thus production of the cytotoxic product, was much lower than that of purified Walker enzyme (ratio of Kcat = 6.4). In addition, CB 1954 could be considered an inhibitor of, rather than a substrate for, the human form of DT diaphorase. The purified rat and human DT diaphorases possessed otherwise similar biochemical and molecular properties. These findings explain the decreased sensitivity towards CB 1954 of human cell lines when compared to rat cell lines.

Animals↗

Aziridine-2-carboxylic acid. A reactive amino acid unit for a new class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors.

The three-membered ring of aziridine-2-carboxylic acid, which is susceptible to opening by nucleophiles, has been analyzed as a potential useful handle for the design of specific irreversible inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. For this thiol-reactive amino acid, an imino analogue of proline, a second-order rate constant of 17.07 M-1.s-1 for inactivation of papain was determined. Thus, the aziridine moiety proved to be remarkably more reactive than activated double bonds, e.g. N-ethylmaleimide, or halides such as alpha-iodopropionic acid or chloroacetic acid. Since it does not alkylate histidine under conditions in which quantitative alkylation occurs with N-ethyl-maleimide, it could represent an interesting reactive amino acid unit for the synthesis of a new class of irreversible inhibitors, at least in terms of specificity of the chemical reaction involved in the inactivation process.

Aziridines↗

Desmethylnafoxidine aziridine: an electrophilic affinity label for the estrogen receptor with high efficiency and selectivity.

Desmethylnafoxidine aziridine (Naf-Az), an affinity label for the estrogen receptor based structurally on the antiestrogen nafoxidine, has been prepared in unlabeled and in high specific activity, tritium-labeled form and has been evaluated for its apparent competitive binding, and time-dependent irreversible, covalent attachment to the estrogen receptor. Naf-Az was synthesized through a key 1,2-diaryl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene intermediate that was prepared from 6-methoxy-1-tetralone by two routes involving alternate strategies for arylation. Conversion of the diaryldihydronaphthalene to Naf-Az through a series of deprotection-activation reactions culminated in ethyleneimine displacement of a methanesulfonate. The tritium-labeled material was prepared by tritium-iodine exchange on an iodinated methanesulfonate precursor, followed by ethyleneimine displacement. Compared to our previously-prepared reagent tamoxifen aziridine (Tam-Az), Naf-Az has a higher apparent competitive binding affinity, and it reacts with the estrogen receptor in cytosol preparations and in intact MCF-7 breast cancer cells rapidly and with at least comparable efficiency and selectivity. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis confirms its selective labeling of the Mr 66,000 estrogen receptor. Naf-Az should prove to be useful in studies aimed at characterizing the properties and structure of estrogen receptors.

Affinity Labels↗

Preparation of diamino pseudodisaccharide derivatives from 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-hexopyranoses via aziridine-ring cleavage.

Twelve positional isomers of diamino pseudodisaccharide derivatives with gluco-gluco configuration have been prepared using aziridine-ring cleavage of epimino derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-hexopyranoses of the D-allo, D-manno, and D-galacto configuration by 2-, 3-, and 4-amino derivatives of 1,6-anhydro-beta-D-glucopyranose. The N-substitution of the aziridine ring by a 2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl group and ionic-liquid solvent (N-methylpyridinium tosylate) was used to obtain cleavage products in high yield (64-93%). The cleavage reactions proceeded according to the Fürst-Plattner rule and only trans-diaxial stereoisomers were formed.

Amino Sugars↗

Influence of an aziridine precursor on the in vitro binding parameters of rat and ovine corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG).

Aziridines are highly reactive alkylating compounds used in cancer treatment. Salsola tuberculatiformis Botsch., which causes prolonged gestation in sheep and contraception in rats, contains a very labile hydroxy-phenylaziridine or its precursor. A less labile analogue, 2-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-chloro-N-methyl-ethylammonium chloride (Compound I), was synthesized and has been shown to be contraceptive in rats and to be stabilized by corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG). The current study compared the binding parameters of rat and ovine CBG and evaluated the effect of the aziridine precursor, Compound I, on these parameters. Kd and Bmax values of 0.646 and 578 nM for corticosterone binding to rat CBG and 0.577 and 19.8 nM for cortisol binding to sheep CBG, respectively, were measured. In competitive binding studies with rat plasma, Ki values of 3.48 nM, 0.856 nM, 22.2 nM, 722 microM, and > 1,000,000 microM for cortisol, corticosterone, progesterone, Compound I, and synephrine (Compound II), respectively, were found, while in sheep plasma the values were 0.409 nM, 1.78 nM, 5.28 nM, 594 microM, and > 1,000,000 microM, respectively. Concentrations of Compound I equivalent to an effective pharmacological dose resulted in a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in CBG bound corticosterone and a significant (P < 0.01) increase in free corticosterone in rat plasma. In sheep, a similar effect was observed with cortisol. Progesterone binding, however, did not appear to be affected significantly by Compound I in either rat or sheep plasma. Compound I was found to be a competitive inhibitor of glucocorticoid binding to CBG. These results suggest that binding of Compound I to CBG with concomitant displacement of endogenous glucocorticoids, but not progesterone, may be part of the mechanism of action of these phenylaziridine compounds.

Acetates↗

N-(phenylacetyl)glycyl-D-aziridine-2-carboxylate, an acyclic amide substrate of beta-lactamases: importance of the shape of the substrate in beta-lactamase evolution.

Certain acyclic depsipeptides, but not peptides, are substrates of typical beta-lactamases [Pratt, R.F., & Govardhan, C.P. (1984) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 81, 1302]. This may reflect either the greater chemical reactivity of depsipeptides (and of beta-lactams, the natural substrates) than peptides or the greater ease of distortion of the depsipeptide (ester) than the peptide (amide) group into a penicillin-like conformation. The latter explanation has been shown to be more likely by employment of a novel beta-lactamase substrate. N-(phenylacetyl)glycyl-D-aziridine-2-carboxylate, which combines a high chemical reactivity with a close to tetrahedral amide nitrogen atom. Although this substrate was better (higher kcat/KM) than a comparable depsipeptide for beta-lactamases, it was poorer than the depsipeptide for the Streptomyces R61 D-alanyl-D-alanine peptidase (which catalyzes specific peptide hydrolysis). It therefore seems likely that one vital feature of the putative evolution of a DD-peptidase into a beta-lactamase would have been modification of the active site to, on one hand, accommodate bicyclic beta-lactams and, on the other, exclude productive binding of planar acyclic amides. Certain serine beta-lactamases and the R61 DD-peptidase also catalyze methanolysis and aminolysis by D-phenylalanine of the N-acylaziridine. The latter reaction, the first amide aminolysis shown to be catalyzed by a beta-lactamase, is a very close analogue of the transpeptidase reaction of DD-peptidases. The methanolysis reaction appeared to proceed by way of the same acyl-enzyme intermediate as formed from depsipeptides possessing the same acyl moiety as the aziridine. The kinetics of methanolysis were employed to determine whether acylation or deacylation was rate limiting to the hydrolysis reaction under saturating substrate concentrations. The kinetics of the aminolysis reaction, catalyzed by the Enterobacter cloacae P99 beta-lactamase, showed the characteristics of, and were interpreted in terms of, a sequential mechanism previously deduced for depsipeptides and this enzyme [Pazhanisamy, S., & Pratt, R. F. (1989) Biochemistry 28, 6875-6882]. This mechanism features two separate binding sites, only one of which is productive. Strikingly, the binding of the N-acylaziridine to the nonproductive site was very tight, such that essentially all hydrolysis at substrate concentrations above 0.1Km proceeded via the ternary complex; this could also be true of penicillins.

Aziridines↗

Mechanistic studies of the copolymerization reaction of aziridines and carbon monoxide to produce poly-beta-peptoids.

The coupling of carbon monoxide and aziridines has been shown to be selective for comonomer-alternating enchainment in the presence of PhCH2C(O)Co(CO)4 to afford poly-beta-peptoids. In this article, we have investigated the mechanistic aspects of the reaction of CO and N-butylaziridine by means of in situ infrared spectroscopy employing CH3C(O)Co(CO)3L (L = PPh3 (1) and P(o-tolyl)3 (2)) as precatalysts. Precatalyst 1 exists in solution under catalytic conditions as an equilibrium mixture of 1 and CH3C(O)Co(CO)4, and affords both poly-beta-butylalanoid and the corresponding lactam. By way of contrast, precatalyst 2 which possesses the sterically bulky and labile P(o-tolyl)3 ligand, affords only the acyl cobalt tetracarbonyl species in solution during catalysis with concomitant selective production of the copolymer. Kinetic studies conducted with precatalyst 2 showed the coupling reaction to have a first order dependence on catalyst, a first order dependence on N-butylaziridine, and only a slight dependence on the concentration of CO over the pressure range 17-69 bar. The working mechanistic model for the copolymerization reaction involves first aziridine insertion into the cobalt-acyl bond, rate determining ring opening by the cobaltate species, followed by the migratory CO insertion.

Aziridines↗

Site-selective conjugation of thiols with aziridine-2-carboxylic acid-containing peptides.

The synthesis and convergent site-selective conjugation of aziridine-2-carboxylic acid-containing peptides with thiols, both in solution and on solid support, are described. The synthesis and use of FmocAzyOH in this capacity demonstrate both the efficient incorporation and tolerance of the Azy moiety in multistep Fmoc solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), as well as the competence of solution and on-bead ligation through a highly regioselective base-promoted aziridine ring-opening process.

Aziridines↗

Aziridine-2-carboxylic acid-containing peptides: application to solution- and solid-phase convergent site-selective peptide modification.

The development of a method for site- and stereoselective peptide modification using aziridine-2-carboxylic acid-containing peptides is described. A solid-phase peptide synthesis methodology that allows for the rapid generation of peptides incorporating the aziridine residue has been developed. The unique electrophilic nature of this nonproteinogenic amino acid allows for site-selective conjugation with various thiol nucleophiles, such as anomeric carbohydrate thiols, farnesyl thiol, and biochemical tags, both in solution and on solid support. This strategy, combined with native chemical ligation, provides convergent and rapid access to complex thioglycoconjugates.

Aziridines↗

Mechanism of catalytic aziridination with manganese corrole: the often postulated high-valent Mn(V) imido is not the group transfer reagent.

The reaction of Arl=NTs (Ar = 2-(tert-butylsulfonyl)benzene and Ts = p-toluenesulfonyl) and (tpfc)Mn (tpfc=5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole), 1, affords the high-valent (tpfc)MnV=NTs, 2, on stopped-flow time scale. The reaction proceeds via the adduct [(tpfc)MnIII(ArINTs)], 3, with formation constant K3 = (10 +/- 2) x 10(3) L mol-1. Subsequently, 3 undergoes unimolecular group transfer to give complex 2 with the rate constant k4 = 0.26 +/- 0.07 s-1 at 24.0 degrees C. The complex (tpfc)Mn catalyzes [NTs] group transfer from ArINTs to styrene substrates with low catalyst loading and without requirement of excess olefin. The catalytic aziridination reaction is most efficient in benzene because solvents such as toluene undergo a competing hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) reaction resulting in H2NTs and lowered aziridine yields. The high-valent manganese imido complex (tpfc)Mn=NTs does not transfer its [NTs] group to styrene. Double-labeling experiments with ArINTs and ArINTstBu (TstBu = (p-tert-butylphenyl)sulfonyl) establish the source of [NR] transfer as a "third oxidant", which is an adduct of Mn(V) imido, [(tpfc)Mn(NTstBu)(ArINTs)](4). Formation of this oxidant is rate limiting in catalysis.

Alkenes↗

Comparative stereochemistry in the aziridine ring openings of N-methylmitomycin A and 7-methoxy-1,2-(N-methylaziridino)mitosene.

A useful method was found for the conversion of mitomycin C into N-methylmitomycin A. The latter compound gave only two products on acid hydrolysis, the cis- and trans-1-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methylaminomitosenes. This selectivity allowed the cis--trans ratio to be quantitatively determined as 4:1. Such a predominance of the cis isomer is unexpected in view of the trans stereochemistry obtained in the opening of simple aziridines. In order to determine if the 9a-methoxy group of mitomycins controlled the direction of aziridine ring opening 7-methoxy-1,2-(N-methylaziridino)mitosene, which lacks this substituent, was prepared and hydrolyzed in acid. It gave the same two products in a 3:1 cis-trans ratio. In the induction of lambda-bacteriophage in Escherichia coli cis-1-hydroxy-7-methoxy-2-methylaminomitosene was more active than the corresponding trans isomer, but both of these compounds were less active than the aziridinomitosene or the mitomycins. Mitomycin A, mitomycin C, and N-methylmitomycin A were active against P388 leukemia in mice.

Animals↗

Synthesis and biological properties of actinomycin D chromophoric analogues substituted at carbon 7 with aziridine and cyclopropyl functions.

The growing importance of functionalized tricyclic rings, e.g., cyclopropyl and aziridine, in numerous organic biomolecules led us to develop syntheses of novel actinomycin D (AMD) analogues substituted with aziridine and cyclopropyl functions. Reaction of 7-hydroxyactinomycin D with 1-aziridineethyl iodide and bromomethylcycloporopane afforded the desired 7-[2-(1-aziridinyl)ethoxy] and cyclopropylmethoxy analogues, respectively. Calf thymus DNA binding of these analogues was comparable to that of AMD as examined by UV-vis difference spectral measurements, CD techniques, and relaxation of supercoiled closed circular SV40 DNA, indicating an intercalative mode of binding to the DNA duplex. Thermal denaturation of DNA experiments employing higher temperatures than room temperature exhibit a thermal lability of the DNA analogue complexes, suggestive of a probable covalent bond formation with DNA bases. The analogues were found to be 1/4-1/40 as cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic CCRF-CEM leukemia and B16 melanoma cells in vitro as AMD, with ID50 values in the nanomolar concentration range.

Aziridines↗

Reactions of indole derivatives with oxiranes and aziridines on silica. Synthesis of beta-carbolin-1-one mimic of pancratistatin.

[reaction: see text] Indole and several indoles functionalized at C-2 were condensed with oxiranes, vinyloxiranes, aziridines, and vinylaziridines in the solid state on the surface of silica. The yields of these reactions were compared to those obtained from Lewis acid-catalyzed ring-opening reactions performed in solution and found to be superior in each case. The solid-phase aziridine opening constituted a key step in the synthesis of the beta-carbolin-1-one mimic of pancratistatin. Methyl 2-indolecarboxylate was found to react on the silica gel surface with N-tosylvinylaziridine in 68% yield. A nine-step synthesis of the pancratistatin mimic has been attained. The additional key transformation in this synthesis involved silica gel-catalyzed opening of an epoxide and hydrolysis of an acetonide. Detailed experimental procedures and full characterization are reported for all new compounds.

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids↗

Chirality transfer from guanidinium ylides to 3-alkenyl (or 3-alkynyl) aziridine-2-carboxylates and application to the syntheses of (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucinate and D-erythro-sphingosine.

[Reaction: see text]. Reaction of chiral guanidinium ylides with alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes gives 3-(alpha,beta-unsaturated) aziridine-2-carboxylates in high diastereo- and enantioselectivities (up to 93% diastereomeric excess and 98% enantiomeric excess). 3-(1-methylvinyl)- and 3-[(E)-pentadec-1-enyl]aziridine-2-carboxylates were successfully employed to prepare (2R,3S)-3-hydroxyleucinate and d-erythro-sphingosine, respectively.

Aldehydes↗