A new class of selective and potent inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

The synthesis and SAR of a series of 6-(4-(substituted)phenyl)-2-aminopyridines as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase are described. Compound 3a from this series shows potent and selective inhibition of the human nNOS isoform, with pharmacokinetics sufficient to provide in vivo inhibition of nNOS activity.

Inhibition of neuronal calcium channels by a novel peptide spider toxin, DW13.3.

Peptide toxins have proved to be useful agents, both in discriminating between different components of native calcium channel currents and in the molecular isolation and designation of their cloned channel counterparts. Here, we describe the isolation and characterization of the biochemical and physiological properties of a novel 74-amino acid peptide toxin (DW13.3) extracted from the venom of the spider Filistata hibernalis. The subtype specificity of DW13.3 was investigated using calcium channel currents recorded from two separate expression systems and several different cultured mammalian cell preparations. Overall, DW13.3 potently blocked all native calcium channel currents studied, with the exception of T-type currents recorded from GH3 cells. Examination of transiently expressed calcium channels in oocytes showed that DW13.3 had the highest affinity for alpha1A, followed by alpha1B > alpha1C > alpha1E. The affinity of DW13.3 for alpha1B N-type currents varied by 10-fold between expressed channels and native currents. Although block occurred in a similar 1:1 manner for all subtypes, DW13.3 produced a partial block of both alpha1A currents and P-type currents in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Selective occlusion of the P/Q-type channel ligand omega-conotoxin MVIIC (but not omega-agatoxin IVA) from its binding site in Purkinje neurons suggests that DW13.3 binds to a site close to the pore of the channel. The inhibition of different subtypes of calcium channels by DW13.3 reflects a common "macro" binding site present on all calcium channels except T-type.

Biosynthesis of D-amino acid-containing peptides: exploring the role of peptide isomerases.

The discovery of D-amino acid residues in a growing number of gene-encoded peptides suggests that such biochemical modifications are more common than initially thought. In fact, the extent to which D-amino acids are incorporated into peptides by multicellular organisms probably has not been fully realized, since routine Edman sequencing does not provide the absolute stereochemistry of amino acid residues. Unless both the D and L isomers of a particular peptide sequence are isolated, D-amino acid-containing peptides are often identified only after synthesis of naturally-occurring peptide fails to yield the desired activity. To date, D-amino acid residues (e.g., alanine, methionine, leucine, isoleucine, phenyl alanine, asparagine, tryptophan and serine) have been identified in peptides from a variety of species, including frogs, snails, clams, lobsters and spiders. While most have a single D-amino acid residue located near their N-termini, an exception is found with omega-Aga IVB. The examples highlighted in this chapter are the result of a unique strategy of multicellular organisms to circumvent stereochemical limitations imposed by the genetic code in an effort to increase molecular diversity. The presence of D-amino acids permits the generation of novel tertiary structure that could not be accessed from L-amino acids alone. Moreover, advantages of increased potency and protease stability are often observed. Our understanding of the biosynthesis of these D-amino acid-containing peptides is still in its infancy. Nevertheless, the discovery of a novel peptide isomerase from the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider provides some important clues to explain the incorporation of single D-amino acid residues within a peptide chain. Given its high homology with other serine proteases, the isomerase may represent an opportune mutation in response to evolutionary pressures. Yet, is the isomerase a unique exception or simply the first in a class of enzymes of varying substrate specificity capable of synthesizing D-amino acid-containing peptides? To be sure, much more remains to be explored about the precise timing and mechanism of the isomerization process, in addition to obtaining further structural data on the enzyme itself. Therein lies the continuation of this fascinating story in enzyme biochemistry.

Heteropodatoxins: peptides isolated from spider venom that block Kv4.2 potassium channels.

Toxins isolated from scorpion, snake, and spider venoms are valuable tools to probe the physiologic function and structure of ion channels. In this study, we have isolated three new toxins (heteropodatoxins) from the venom of a spider, Heteropoda venatoria. These toxins are structurally similar peptides of 29 to 32 amino acids and share sequence homology with hanatoxins isolated from the venom of a Chilean tarantula. The heteropodatoxins prolonged the action-potential duration of isolated rat ventricular myocytes, suggesting that the peptides block K+ currents. The effect of toxins on cardiac K+ currents were studied using voltage clamp techniques. The toxins blocked the transient outward K+ current but not other K+ currents in isolated rat cardiac myocytes. The mechanism of block was studied further using Kv4.2, a cloned channel believed to underlie transient outward K+ current in rat myocytes. The toxins blocked Kv4.2 current expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes in a voltage-dependent manner, with less block at more positive potentials. In addition, the toxins slowed the time course of current activation and inactivation and shifted the voltage dependence of current inactivation to more positive potentials. The heteropodatoxins represent new pharmacologic probes to study the role of Kv4.2 channels in cardiac and neural tissue.

Posttranslational amino acid epimerization: enzyme-catalyzed isomerization of amino acid residues in peptide chains.

Since ribosomally mediated protein biosynthesis is confined to the L-amino acid pool, the presence of D-amino acids in peptides was considered for many years to be restricted to proteins of prokaryotic origin. Unicellular microorganisms have been responsible for the generation of a host of D-amino acid-containing peptide antibiotics (gramicidin, actinomycin, bacitracin, polymyxins). Recently, a series of mu and delta opioid receptor agonists [dermorphins and deltorphins] and neuroactive tetrapeptides containing a D-amino acid residue have been isolated from amphibian (frog) skin and mollusks. Amino acid sequences obtained from the cDNA libraries coincide with the observed dermorphin and deltorphin sequences, suggesting a stereospecific posttranslational amino acid isomerization of unknown mechanism. A cofactor-independent serine isomerase found in the venom of the Agelenopsis aperta spider provides the first major clue to explain how multicellular organisms are capable of incorporating single D-amino acid residues into these and other eukaryotic peptides. The enzyme is capable of isomerizing serine, cysteine, O-methylserine, and alanine residues in the middle of peptide chains, thereby providing a biochemical capability that, until now, had not been observed. Both D- and L-amino acid residues are susceptible to isomerization. The substrates share a common Leu-Xaa-Phe-Ala recognition site. Early in the reaction sequence, solvent-derived deuterium resides solely with the epimerized product (not substrate) in isomerizations carried out in 2H2O. Significant deuterium isotope effects are obtained in these reactions in addition to isomerizations of isotopically labeled substrates (2H at the epimerizeable serine alpha-carbon atom). The combined kinetic and structural data suggests a two-base mechanism in which abstraction of a proton from one face is concomitant with delivery from the opposite face by the conjugate acid of the second enzymic base.

Sequential assignment and structure determination of spider toxin omega-Aga-IVB.

The solution structure of a peptide toxin isolated from funnel web spider venom, omega-Aga-IVB, was determined by 2D NMR methods. omega-Aga-IVB is a high-affinity specific blocker of P-type voltage-dependent calcium channels. Nearly all of the proton resonances of this 48-residue protein were assigned using conventional 2D homonuclear NMR experiments. The three-dimensional structure of the molecule was determined by simulated annealing. The distance and dihedral restraints used in the structure calculations were derived from NOESY and COSY-type experiments, respectively. Mass spectrometric analysis of omega-Aga-IVB suggests that the protein contains four disulfide bonds. In the absence of chemical data to identify the pattern of cysteine pairing, the disulfide bonds of the toxin are proposed from the NMR data and subsequent structural calculations. The structure of the toxin can be described as a three-stranded anti-parallel beta sheet connected by flexible loops. A striking feature of the structure is that the C-terminal 10 residues of this protein adopt random coil conformations. Several positively charged amino acid side chains are found localized on one face of the molecule, in close proximity to the C-terminal tail. This observation has led us to propose a speculative model of the toxins blockade mechanism.

Arylamine toxins from funnel-web spider (Agelenopsis aperta) venom antagonize N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor function in mammalian brain.

The venom of the North American funnel-web spider Agelenopsis aperta contains a variety of arylamine toxins (the alpha-agatoxins) that paralyze insects by blocking glutamatergic neuromuscular transmission. We have tested six synthetic alpha-agatoxins for their ability to antagonize glutamate receptor function in mammalian brain. These compounds produce, at submicromolar concentrations, noncompetitive inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated elevations in the concentration of cytosolic free calcium in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons. In contrast, the alpha-agatoxins are relatively weak antagonists of elevations in the cytosolic free calcium concentration induced by non-NMDA receptor agonists. The alpha-agatoxins also produce reversible suppression of the NMDA receptor-mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential in rat hippocampal slices at concentrations that have little effect on the non-NMDA receptor-mediated population spike. We conclude that the alpha-agatoxins are selective and reversible noncompetitive antagonists at NMDA receptors in mammalian brain.

Substituted dihydrobenzopyran and dihydrobenzofuran thiazolidine-2,4-diones as hypoglycemic agents.

A series of dihydrobenzofuran and dihydrobenzopyran thiazolidine-2,4-diones (compounds 3-26) was synthesized from the corresponding aryl aldehydes 1 in two steps. These compounds represent conformationally restricted analogues of the novel hypoglycemic ciglitazone. The series was evaluated by hypoglycemic effects in vitro by measuring stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in L6 myocytes and stimulation of expression of the glucose transporter protein in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In vivo hypoglycemic effects were evaluated in the genetically obese ob/ob mouse, and structure-activity relationships are discussed. On the basis of this in vivo potency, we have selected the 2(R)-benzylbenzopyran derivative to be further studied in a clinical setting.

Actions of novel antidiabetic agent englitazone in hyperglycemic hyperinsulinemic ob/ob mice.

The effects of CP 68722 (racemic englitazone) were examined in ob/ob mice, in adipocytes and soleus muscles from ob/ob mice, and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Administration of englitazone at 5-50 mg.kg-1.day-1 lowered plasma glucose and insulin dose dependently without producing frank hypoglycemia in either the diabetic or nondiabetic lean animals. The glucose-lowering effect in ob/ob mice preceded the reduction in hyperinsulinemia. On cessation of drug, plasma insulin returned to untreated levels within 48 h, whereas plasma glucose rose slowly over 5 days. Englitazone (50 mg/kg) for 11 days lowered plasma glucose (22.2 +/- 1.4 to 14.0 +/- 1.9 mM), insulin (7.57 +/- 0.67 to 1.64 +/- 0.60 nM), nonesterified fatty acids (1813 +/- 86 to 914 +/- 88 microM), glycerol (9.20 +/- 0.98 to 4.94 +/- 0.03 mM), triglycerides (1.99 +/- 0.25 to 1.03 +/- 0.11 g/L), and cholesterol (6.27 +/- 0.96 to 3.87 +/- 0.57 mM), but no effects were observed 3 h after a single dose. Basal and insulin-stimulated lipogenesis were enhanced in adipocytes from ob/ob mice treated with 50 mg/kg englitazone for 11 days compared with lipogenesis in cells from vehicle-treated controls. Treatment of ob/ob mice with 50 mg/kg englitazone reversed the defects in insulin-stimulated glycolysis (from [3-3H]glucose) and glycogenesis and basal glucose oxidation (from [1-14C]glucose) in isolated soleus muscles. Englitazone (30 microM) stimulated 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport in 3T3-L1 adipocytes from 0.37 +/- 0.03 to 0.65 +/- 0.06 and 1.53 nmol.min-1.mg-1 protein at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Thus, englitazone has 1) insulinomimetic and insulin-enhancing actions in vitro and 2) glucose-, insulin-, triglyceride-, and cholesterol-lowering properties in an animal model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in which sulfonylureas have little or no effect. Thus, this new agent may have beneficial effects including a reduced risk of hypoglycemia in patients with NIDDM.