Experimental determination and calculations of redox potential descriptors of compounds directed against retroviral zinc fingers: Implications for rational drug design.

A diverse set of electrophilic compounds that react with cysteine thiolates in retroviral nucleocapsid (NC) proteins and abolish virus infectivity has been identified. Although different in chemical composition, these compounds are all oxidizing agents that lead to the ejection of Zn(II) ions bound to conserved structural motifs (zinc fingers) present in retroviral NC proteins. The reactivity of a congeneric series of aromatic disulfides toward the NC protein of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), NCp7, has been characterized by HPLC separation of starting reagents from reaction products. We calculated the absolute redox potentials of these compounds in the gas phase and in aqueous solvent, using a density functional theory method and a continuum solvation model. Pulsed polarography experiments were performed and showed a direct correlation between calculated and experimentally determined redox propensities. A dependence between protein reactivity and redox potential for a specific compound was shown: Reaction with NCp7 did not take place below a threshold value of redox potential. This relationship permits the distinction between active and nonactive compounds targeted against NCp7, and provides a theoretical basis for a scale of reactivity with retroviral zinc fingers. Our results indicate that electrophilic agents with adequate thiophilicity to react with retroviral NC fingers can now be designed using known or calculated electrochemical properties. This may assist in the design of antiretroviral compounds with greater specificity for NC protein. Such electrophilic agents can be used in retrovirus inactivation with the intent of preparing a whole-killed virus vaccine formulation that exhibits unaffected surface antigenic properties.

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study of the cannabimimetic (aminoalkyl)indoles using comparative molecular field analysis.

The present study describes the implementation of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) to develop two 3D-QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) models (CoMFA models 1 and 2) of the cannabimimetic (aminoalkyl)indoles (AAIs) for CB1 cannabinoid receptor binding affinity, based on pKi values measured using radioligand binding assays that displace two different agonist ligands, [3H]CP-55940 and [3H]WIN-55212-2. Both models exhibited a strong correlation between the calculated steric-electrostatic fields and the observed biological activity for the respective training set compounds. In light of the basicity of the morpholine nitrogen in the AAIs, separate CoMFA models were built for the AAIs as unprotonated and protonated species. Comparison of the statistical parameters resulting from these CoMFA models failed to provide unequivocal evidence as to whether the AAIs are protonated or neutral as receptor-bound species. Although the training sets of CoMFA model 1 and CoMFA model 2 differed with respect to composition and to the choice of displacement radioligand in each biological assay, their CoMFA StDevCoeff contour plots reveal similarities in terms of identifying those regions around the AAIs that are important for CB1 cannabinoid receptor binding such as the sterically favored region around the C3 aroyl group and the sterically forbidden region around the indole ring. When the experimental pKi values for the training set compounds to displace the AAI radioligand [3H]WIN-55212-2 were plotted against the pKi values as predicted for the same compounds to displace the cannabinoid radioligand [3H]CP-55940, the correlation was moderately strong (r = 0.73). However, the degree of correlation may have been lowered by the structural differences in the compounds comprising the training sets for CoMFA model 1 and CoMFA model 2. Taken together, the results of this study suggest that the binding site region within the CB1 cannabinoid receptor can accommodate a wide range of structurally diverse cannabimimetic analogues including the AAIs.

Unsymmetric nonpeptidic HIV protease inhibitors containing anthranilamide as a P2' ligand.

A series of novel unsymmetrical anthranilamide-containing HIV protease inhibitors was designed. The structure-activity studies revealed a series of potent P2-P3' inhibitors that incorporate an anthranilamide group at the P2' position. A reduction in molecular weight and lipophilicity is achieved by a judicious choice of P2 ligands (i.e., aromatic, heteroaromatic, carbamate, and peptidic). A systematic investigation led to the 5-thiazolyl carbamate analog 8 m, which exhibited a favorable Cmax/EC50 ratio (> 30), plasma half-life (> 8 h), and potent in vitro antiviral activity (EC50 = 0.2 microM).

(Aminoalkyl)indole isothiocyanates as potential electrophilic affinity ligands for the brain cannabinoid receptor.

A series of (aminoalkyl)indole compounds, naphthalene analogs of pravadoline (1), has been shown to exhibit cannabinoid agonist activities such as antinociception in animals, inhibition of adenylate cyclase in brain membranes, and binding to the cannabinoid receptor. These pravadoline analogs were selected for the preparation of potential electrophilic affinity ligands based on the synthesis of isothiocyanate derivatives. One isothiocyanatonaphthalene derivative (8) displaced [3H]CP-55940 binding to a rat brain P2 membrane preparation with an IC50 of 690 nM, which was 10-fold less potent than the parent molecule (IC50 = 73 nM). Isothiocyanate substitution at various positions on the naphthalene moiety of the desmethyl analog 10 gave compounds that displaced [3H]CP-55940 with IC50 values between 400 and 1000 nM, compared with 46 nM for the parent compound 10. However, 6-isothiocyanato substitution on the indole ring of the desmethyl analog provided isothiocyanate 12 that displaced [3H]CP-55940 binding with an IC50 and 160 nM. After pretreatment of brain membranes with this high-affinity isothiocyanato ligand followed by washing out the ligand, the membranes were depleted of 90% of the cannabinoid receptor binding capacity. Loss of receptor binding capacity was half-maximal at 300 nM of the derivative under standard assay conditions. As a control, pretreatment with the parent compound at concentrations that were 20 times the Kd failed to alter subsequent binding activity. This study demonstrates that an isothiocyanato (aminoalkyl)-indole (12) can behave as an affinity ligand which binds irreversibly to the cannabinoid receptor in brain and which precludes subsequent binding of the cannabinoid ligand [3H]CP-55940.

Aminoalkylindoles: structure-activity relationships of novel cannabinoid mimetics.

Aminoalkylindoles (AAIs) are a novel series of cannabinoid receptor ligands. In this report we disclose the structural features of AAIs which are important for binding to this receptor as measured by inhibition of binding of [3H]Win 55212-2 (5). Functional activity in the mouse vas deferens is also noted and used to distinguish agonists from potential antagonists. The key structural features for potent cannabinoid activity in this series are a bicyclic (naphthyl) substituent at the 3-position, a small (H) substituent at the 2-position, and an aminoethyl (morpholinoethyl) substituent at the 1-position. A 6-bromo analog, Win 54461 (31), has been identified as a potential cannabinoid receptor antagonist. Modeling experiments were done to develop a pharmacophore and also to compare AAI structures with those of classical cannabinoids. The fact that the cannabinoid AAIs arose out of work on a series of cyclooxygenase inhibitors make sense now that an endogenous cannabinoid ligand has been identified which is a derivative of arachidonic acid. Because of their unique structures and physical properties, AAIs provide useful tools to study the structure and function of the cannabinoid receptor(s).

Novel cAMP PDE III inhibitors: imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-ones and thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-ones and their analogs.

The transformation of milrinone to 1,3-dihydro-5-methyl-6-(4-pyridinyl)-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one (13a), 5-methyl-6-(4-pyridinyl)thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-one (51), and 7-methyl-6-(4-pyridinyl)-1,8-naphthyridin-2(1H)-one (22) resulted in very potent cAMP PDE III inhibitors with in vitro activity in the nanomolar range. 1,3-Dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-ones 13 were prepared from 2-aminopyridine-3-carboxylic acids (7, 10) via Curtius rearrangement. 1,8-Naphthyridin-2(1H)-one 22 and the corresponding 3,4-dihydro derivative 28 were prepared from 5-bromo-2-methyl[3,4'-bipyridin]-6-amine (21) and 5-bromo-2-methyl[3,4-bipyridin]-6(1H)-one (24), respectively, via Heck reaction. Thiazolo[4,5-b]pyridin-2(3H)-ones 35 were prepared from 6-bromo[3,4'-bipyridin]-6-amines 30 and 32 via a four-step sequence. Treatment of 6-amino-2-methyl[3,4'-bipyridine]-5-thiol (59) with ethyl bromoacetate and ethyl bromodifluoroacetate gave pyridothiazinones 60 and 61, respectively.

Antirhinoviral activity of heterocyclic analogs of Win 54954.

A variety of heterocyclic analogs of Win 54954 have been synthesized and tested in vitro against human rhinovirus type 14 (HRV-14) in a plaque reduction assay. The more active compounds were tested against 14 additional serotypes, and the concentration which inhibited 80% of the serotypes tested (MIC80) was measured. One compound, 37, exhibited activity comparable to Win 59454. Physicochemical as well as electrostatic parameters were calculated and the results subjected to a QSAR analysis in an effort to explain differences in activity observed between these compounds; however, no meaningful correlation with biological activity was found with any of these parameters.

Conformationally restrained analogues of pravadoline: nanomolar potent, enantioselective, (aminoalkyl)indole agonists of the cannabinoid receptor.

Pravadoline (1) is an (aminoalkyl)indole analgesic agent which is an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase and, in contrast to other NSAIDs, inhibits neuronally stimulated contractions in mouse vas deferens (MVD) preparations (IC50 = 0.45 microM). A number of conformationally restrained heterocyclic analogues of pravadoline were synthesized in which the morpholinoethyl side chain was tethered to the indole nucleus. Restraining the morpholine diminished the ability of these pravadoline analogues to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis in vitro. In contrast, mouse vas deferens inhibitory activity was enhanced in [2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl] pyrrolo[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-(4-methoxyphenyl)methano ne (20). Only the R enantiomer of 20 was active (IC50 = 0.044 microM). An optimal orientation of the morpholine nitrogen for MVD inhibitory activity within the analogues studied was in the lower right quadrant, below the plane defined by the indole ring. A subseries of analogues of 20 and a radioligand of the most potent analogue, (R)-(+)-[2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-[(4-morpholinyl)methyl]pyrrolo [1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl](1-naphthalenyl)methanone (21) were prepared. Inhibition of radioligand binding in rat cerebellar membranes was observed to correlate with functional activity in mouse vas deferens preparations. Binding studies with this ligand (Win 55212-2) have helped demonstrate that the (aminoalkyl)indole binding site is functionally equivalent with the CP-55,940 cannabinoid binding site. These compounds represent a new class of cannabinoid receptor agonists.

Antinociceptive (aminoalkyl)indoles.

The (aminoalkyl)indole (AAI) derivative pravadoline (1a) inhibited prostaglandin (PG) synthesis in mouse brain microsomes in vitro and ex vivo and exhibited antinociceptive activity in several rodent assays. In vitro structure-activity relationship studies of this new class of PG synthesis inhibitors revealed a correspondence in three respects to those reported for the arylacetic acids: (1) "alpha-methylation" caused an increase in PG inhibitory potency, (2) the (R)-alpha-methyl isomer was more active than the S isomer, (3) the hypothesized aroyl group conformation of the 2-methyl derivatives corresponded to the proposed and reported "active" conformations of the aroyl and related aromatic acetic acid derivatives. The 1H NMR chemical shift of the C-4 hydrogen of pravadoline in comparison to the deshielding seen with 50, which lacks a substituent at C-2, suggested that the carbonyl group of pravadoline is located near C-2 but is located near C-4 in 50. Associated with this conformational change of the carbonyl group of 1a is a diminution of PG synthetase inhibitory activity. The results of UV and difference nuclear Overhauser studies of the two compounds were consistent with these conformational assignments. The low eudismic ratios of the alpha-methyl derivatives and the observation that the side chain may be extended by three methylene groups without significant loss of PG inhibitory potency suggests that this class of inhibitors bound less strongly and less selectively to the active site of PG synthetase than do the arylacetic acids. Two AAIs, 1a and 30, were found to be metabolized to the corresponding acetic acid derivatives, both of which inhibited PG synthesis. An exception to the observation that the antinociceptive activity of the AAIs was associated with PG synthetase inhibitory activity was the 1-naphthoyl derivative 67 since neither it nor its acetic acid metabolite 74 inhibited PG synthesis. Yet 67 was antinociceptive in four different rodent assays. This naphthoyl derivative, like opioids, also inhibited electrically stimulated contractions in the mouse vas deferens (MVD) preparation. Unlike opioids, however, the inhibition was not antagonized by naloxone. A subseries of AAIs was identified, of which 67 was prototypic. These compounds lacked PG synthetase inhibitory activity, but their inhibitory potency in MVD preparations correlated roughly with their antinociceptive potency in vivo. Pravadoline was also inhibitory in the MVD. Its antinociceptive activity, therefore, may be a consequence of both its PG synthetase inhibitory potency and another antinociceptive mechanism, the latter associated with its inhibitory potency in the MVD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)