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).

Structure-based design of achiral, nonpeptidic hydroxybenzamide as a novel P2/P2' replacement for the symmetry-based HIV protease inhibitors.

A combination of structure-activity studies, kinetic analysis, X-ray crystallographic analysis, and modeling were employed in the design of a novel series of HIV-1 protease (HIV PR) inhibitors. The crystal structure of a complex of HIV PR with SRSS-2,5-bis[N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)amino]-3,4-dihydroxy-1, 6-diphenylhexane (1) delineated a crucial water-mediated hydrogen bond between the tert-butyloxy group of the inhibitor and the amide hydrogen of Asp29 of the enzyme. Achiral, nonpeptidic 2-hydroxyphenylacetamide and 3-hydroxybenzamide groups were modeled as novel P2/P2' ligands to replace the crystallographic water molecules and to provide direct interactions with the NH groups of the Asp29/129 residues. Indeed, the symmetry-based inhibitors 7 and 19, possessing 3-hydroxy and 3-aminobenzamide, respectively, as a P2/P2' ligand, were potent inhibitors of HIV PR. The benzamides were superior in potency to the phenylacetamides and have four fewer rotatable bonds. An X-ray crystal structure of the HIV PR/7 complex at 2.1 A resolution revealed an asymmetric mode of binding, in which the 3-hydroxy group of the benzamide ring makes the predicted interaction with the backbone NH of Asp29 on one side of the active site only. An unexpected hydrogen bond with the Gly148 carbonyl group, resulting from rotation of the aromatic ring out of the amide plane, was observed on the other side. The inhibitory potencies of the benzamide compounds were found to be sensitive to the nature and position of substituents on the benzamide ring, and can be rationalized on the basis of the structure of the HIV PR/7 complex. These results partly confirm our initial hypothesis and suggest that optimal inhibitor designs should satisfy a requirement for providing polar interactions with Asp29 NH, and should minimize the conformational entropy loss on binding by reducing the number of freely rotatable bonds in inhibitors.

Effect of local change in O2 saturation of hemoglobin on cerebral vasodilation from hypoxia and hypotension.

We tested the effect of certain newly synthesized allosteric modifiers of hemoglobin on the dilation induced by arterial hypoxia, arterial hypotension, and arterial hypercapnia in cerebral arterioles of anesthetized cats equipped with cranial windows for the observation of the cerebral microcirculation. The allosteric modifiers of hemoglobin are isomers of 2-(aryloxy)-2-methylpropionic acid. They shift the oxygen dissociation of hemoglobin to the right, thereby facilitating the local release of oxygen. When these compounds were applied topically by superfusion at a rate of 1 ml/min in a concentration of 0.1 mM, they had no significant effect on baseline arteriolar diameter but reduced significantly the vasodilation from arterial hypoxia and arterial hypotension. They did not influence the vasodilation from arterial hypercapnia. Spectrophotometric measurements of optical densities from pial veins 50-80 microns in diameter indicated that the superfusion with the allosteric compounds reduced hemoglobin oxygen saturation both during room air breathing and during hypoxia. We conclude that the vasodilations from arterial hypoxia and arterial hypotension are mediated by local oxygen-dependent mechanisms. The allosteric modifiers of hemoglobin may be useful as tools in investigating oxygen-dependent mechanisms.

Enhanced oxygenation in vivo by allosteric inhibitors of hemoglobin saturation.

The in vivo effects on hemoglobin (Hb)-O2 affinity and tissue PO2 were investigated after intraperitoneal administration of 2-[4-(((dichloroanilino)-carbonyl)methyl)phenoxyl]-2-methyl propionic acid (RSR4; 150 mg/kg) or its 3,5-dimethyl derivative (RSR13; 300 mg/kg) in C3Hf/Sed mice. The Hb-O2 dissociation curve was plotted from tail vein blood samples using an O2 dissociation analyzer before and up to 160 min after compound administration. Twenty to 40 min after injection, the PO2 at 50% saturation of hemoglobin (Hb P50) increased by a mean of 25% (range 18-31%) after RSR4 and 53% (range 36-76%) after RSR13. Tissue PO2 was continuously measured using an O2 microelectrode in thigh muscle before and up to 40 min after RSR4 or RSR13 injection. Twenty to 40 min after administration, tissue PO2 increased by a mean of 78% (range 30-127%) after RSR4 and 66% (range 39-97%) after RSR13 administration in anesthetized mice. No change in tissue PO2 was seen in anesthetized controls.

X-ray diffraction study of di and tetra-ligated T-state hemoglobin from high salt crystals.

X-ray diffraction difference electron density maps at 3 A resolution obtained from di and tetra-ligated T-state hemoglobin (Hb) crystals are reported. Crystals isomorphous with native deoxyhemoglobin were obtained from ammonium sulfate solutions incubated with the synthetic allosteric effector RSR-56. RSR-56 binds at two symmetry-related Hb central water cavity sites and each molecule has major interactions with three different subunit side-chains; one effector with Arg141 alpha 2 HC3, Lys99 alpha 1 G6 and Asn108 beta 1 and the other with the symmetry related residues, Arg141 alpha 1 Lys99 alpha 2 and Asn108 beta 2. Crystals mounted in a nitrogen filled glove box were di-ligated as previously found with polyethyleneglycol Hb crystals. Crystals mounted in air under a layer of mother liquor were bright red and showed all four heme groups ligated. The difference electron density from the di-ligated crystals showed atomic movements to be restricted to the immediate neighborhood of the heme groups and the allosteric effector. By contrast, the tetra-ligated structure showed extended difference electron density near amino acid residues around both alpha and beta heme groups and along the alpha 1/beta 2 interface. Ligation of the beta heme group appears to magnify the difference density around the alpha heme groups. There is no evidence of breakage of the Bohr salt bridge, His146 beta HC3----Asp94 beta FG1, in the crystal. The observed difference electron density maps may help to clarify the way the allosteric mechanism is triggered.

Allosteric modifiers of hemoglobin: 2-[4-[[(3,5-disubstituted anilino)carbonyl]methyl]phenoxy]-2-methylpropionic acid derivatives that lower the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin in red cell suspensions, in whole blood, and in vivo in rats.

Two new potent allosteric effectors of hemoglobin, RSR-4 [2-[4-[[(3,5-dichloroanilino)carbonyl]-methyl]phenoxy]-2- methylpropionic acid] and RSR-13 [2-[4-[[(3,5-dimethlanilino)carbonyl]methyl]-phenoxy]-2-methylp rop ionic, are compared to the previously reported compounds L3,5 and L3,4,5 [Lalezari, I., Lalezari, P., Poyart, C., Marden, M., Kister, J., Bohn, B., Fermi, G., & Perutz, M. F. (1990) Biochemistry 29, 1515]. Unlike L3,5 and L3,4,5, RSR-4 and RSR-13 are less impeded by physiological concentrations of serum albumin. RSR-4 has also been shown to be more effective than L3,5 in shifting the allosteric equilibrium of bovine Hb toward the low-affinity T-state. X-ray crystal studies show that both RSR-4 and RSR-13 bind to only one pair of symmetry-related sites in the Hb central water cavity whereas previous studies on L3,5 and L3,4,5 demonstrated a second pair of symmetry-related binding sites near Arg 104 beta. Three major interactions between these allosteric effectors and Hb include the acid group with the guanidinium group of C-terminal Arg 141 alpha, the effector's amide oxygen with the ammonium ion of Lys 99 alpha, and the phi electrons of the halogenated or methylated aromatic ring and Asn 108 beta. No explanation has been found for the difference in number of binding sites observed for RSR-4 and RSR-13 (two sites) compared to L3,5 and L3,4,5 (four sites); also no correlation has been made between the number of binding sites and degree of allosteric shift in the oxygen equilibrium curve.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allosteric modifiers of hemoglobin. 1. Design, synthesis, testing, and structure-allosteric activity relationship of novel hemoglobin oxygen affinity decreasing agents.

Three isomeric series of 2-(aryloxy)-2-methylpropionic acids were prepared and studied for their ability to decrease the oxygen affinity of human hemoglobin A. The isomeric aryloxy groups included 4-[[(aryloyl)amino]methyl]phenoxy, 4-(arylacetamido)phenoxy, and 4-[[(arylamino)carbonyl]methyl]phenoxy. A total of 20 compounds were synthesized and tested. Structure-activity relationships are presented. Several of the new compounds were found to be strong allosteric effectors of hemoglobin. The two most active compounds are 2-[4-[[(3,5-dichloroanilino)carbonyl]-methyl]phenoxy]- 2-methylpropionic acid and the corresponding 3,5-dimethyl derivative. The latter two compounds have been compared to other known potent allosteric effectors in the same assay and show greater activity. Both compounds also exhibit a right shift in the oxygen equilibrium curve when incubated with whole blood. The new compounds may be of interest in clinical or biological areas that require or would benefit from a reversal of depleted oxygen supply (i.e., ischemia, stroke, tumor radiotherapy, blood storage, blood substitutes, etc.). They are also structurally related to several marketed antilipidemic agents.