Knockdown of prodynorphin gene prevents cognitive decline, reduces anxiety, and rescues loss of group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor function in aging.

Expression of dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, increases with age and has been associated with memory impairments in rats. In human, prodynorphin (Pdyn) gene polymorphisms might be linked to cognitive function in the elderly. Moreover, elevated dynorphin levels have been reported in postmortem samples from Alzheimer's disease patients. However, the cellular and molecular processes affected by higher dynorphin levels during aging remain unknown. Using Pdyn(-/-) mice, we observed significant changes in the function and expression of Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR). Compared with age-matched wild-type (WT) littermates, we found increased expression of mGluR1α and mGluR5 in the hippocampus and cortex of old, but not young, Pdyn(-/-) mice. Increased Group 1 mGluR expression in aged Pdyn(-/-) mice was associated with enhanced mGluR-mediated long-term depression, a form of synaptic plasticity. Notably, whereas aged WT mice developed spatial and recognition memory deficits, aged Pdyn(-/-) mice performed similarly as young mice. Pharmacological treatments with 3-cyano-N-(1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)benzamide, a positive modulator of mGlu5 receptors, or norbinaltorphimine, an antagonist for dynorphin-targeted κ-opioid receptor, rescued memory in old WT mice. Conversely, mGlu5 receptor antagonist 2-methyl-6-(phenylethynyl)pyridine hydrochloride impaired spatial memory of old Pdyn(-/-) mice. Intact cognition in aged Pdyn(-/-) mice paralleled with increased expression of Group 1 mGluR-related genes Homer 1a and Arc. Finally, aged Pdyn(-/-) mice displayed less anxiety-related behaviors than age-matched WT mice. Together, our results suggest that elevated Pdyn expression during normal aging reduces mGluR expression and signaling, which in turn impairs cognitive functions and increases anxiety.

Naphthylisopropylamine and N-benzylamphetamine derivatives as monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

A series of naphthylisopropylamine and N-benzyl-4-methylthioamphetamine derivatives were evaluated as monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Their potencies were compared with those of a series of amphetamine derivatives, to test if the increase of electron richness of the aromatic ring and overall size of the molecule might improve their potency as enzyme inhibitors. Molecular dockings were performed to gain insight regarding the binding mode of these inhibitors and rationalize their different potencies. In the case of naphthylisopropylamine derivatives, the increased electron-donating capacity and size of the aromatic moiety resulting from replacement of the phenyl ring of amphetamine derivatives by a naphthalene system resulted in more potent compounds. In the other case, extension of the arylisopropylamine molecule by N-benzylation of the amino group led to a decrease in potency as monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Cytochrome b5 increases the rate of product formation by cytochrome P450 2B4 and competes with cytochrome P450 reductase for a binding site on cytochrome P450 2B4.

The kinetics of product formation by cytochrome P450 2B4 were compared in the presence of cytochrome b(5) (cyt b(5)) and NADPH-cyt P450 reductase (CPR) under conditions in which cytochrome P450 (cyt P450) underwent a single catalytic cycle with two substrates, benzphetamine and cyclohexane. At a cyt P450:cyt b(5) molar ratio of 1:1 under single turnover conditions, cyt P450 2B4 catalyzes the oxidation of the substrates, benzphetamine and cyclohexane, with rate constants of 18 +/- 2 and 29 +/- 4.5 s(-1), respectively. Approximately 500 pmol of norbenzphetamine and 58 pmol of cyclohexanol were formed per nmol of cyt P450. In marked contrast, at a cyt P450:CPR molar ratio of 1:1, cyt P450 2B4 catalyzes the oxidation of benzphetamine congruent with100-fold (k = 0.15 +/- 0.05 s(-1)) and cyclohexane congruent with10-fold (k = 2.5 +/- 0.35 s(-1)) more slowly. Four hundred picomoles of norbenzphetamine and 21 pmol of cyclohexanol were formed per nmol of cyt P450. In the presence of equimolar concentrations of cyt P450, cyt b(5), and CPR, product formation is biphasic and occurs with fast and slow rate constants characteristic of catalysis by cyt b(5) and CPR. Increasing the concentration of cyt b(5) enhanced the amount of product formed by cyt b(5) while decreasing the amount of product generated by CPR. Under steady-state conditions at all cyt b(5):cyt P450 molar ratios examined, cyt b(5) inhibits the rate of NADPH consumption. Nevertheless, at low cyt b(5):cyt P450 molar ratios

Direct high-performance liquid chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of an aromatic amine and four aminoalcohols using polysaccharide chiral stationary phases and acidic additive.

The HPLC enantiomeric separation of N-benzyl-alpha-methyl-benzylamine, phenylalaninol, tryptophanol, 2 (diphenylhydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine, and isoproterenol was accomplished in the normal-phase mode using two polysaccharide-derived chiral stationary phases (CSPs) and various n-hexane/2-propanol mobile phases with acidic (TFA) or basic (DEA) additive. The compounds were separated without any derivatization and separation factor range between 2.09 and 1.09 with resolution factor 3.4 and 0.4, respectively. The best separation of the enantiomers of the amine was achieved on amylose tris (3, 5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) CSP with TFA additive in the mobile phase; in acidic conditions, instead, the best enantioseparation of the aminoalcohols was achieved on cellulose tris (3, 5-dimethylphenilcarbamate). A long equilibration time of the CSP when switching from an undoped mobile phase to a doped one is required to obtain reproducible results.

Ubiquinone synthesis in mitochondrial and microsomal subcellular fractions of Pneumocystis spp.: differential sensitivities to atovaquone.

The lung pathogen Pneumocystis spp. is the causative agent of a type of pneumonia that can be fatal in people with defective immune systems, such as AIDS patients. Atovaquone, an analog of ubiquinone (coenzyme Q [CoQ]), inhibits mitochondrial electron transport and is effective in clearing mild to moderate cases of the infection. Purified rat-derived intact Pneumocystis carinii cells synthesize de novo four CoQ homologs, CoQ7, CoQ8, CoQ9, and CoQ10, as demonstrated by the incorporation of radiolabeled precursors of both the benzoquinone ring and the polyprenyl chain. A central step in CoQ biosynthesis is the condensation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) with a long-chain polyprenyl diphosphate molecule. In the present study, CoQ biosynthesis was evaluated by the incorporation of PHBA into completed CoQ molecules using P. carinii cell-free preparations. CoQ synthesis in whole-cell homogenates was not affected by the respiratory inhibitors antimycin A and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide but was diminished by atovaquone. Thus, atovaquone has inhibitory activity on both electron transport and CoQ synthesis in this pathogen. Furthermore, both the mitochondrial and microsomal fractions were shown to synthesize de novo all four P. carinii CoQ homologs. Interestingly, atovaquone inhibited microsomal CoQ synthesis, whereas it had no effect on mitochondrial CoQ synthesis. This is the first pathogenic eukaryotic microorganism in which biosynthesis of CoQ molecules from the initial PHBA:polyprenyl transferase reaction has been unambiguously shown to occur in two distinct compartments of the same cell.

Impurity profiling of methamphetamine hydrochloride drugs seized in the Philippines.

Methamphetamine hydrochloride is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the Philippines. In this study, we describe the application of cluster analysis of trace impurities in the profiling of the seized methamphetamine drug samples. Thirty milligrams of a homogenized drug sample were dissolved in 1 mL of pH 10.5 buffer solution and extracted with ethyl acetate containing three internal standards. The trace impurities were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantified by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Following previously reported methodologies, 30 impurity peaks were selected from the GC-FID chromatograms. The peak areas and retention times were referenced to the internal standards. The peak areas of the selected peaks were then grouped for cluster analysis. In order to check for consistency of clustering, two further cluster analyses were performed using 40 and 50 impurity peaks. Changes in clustering were observed in going from 30 to 40 impurity peaks, while analyses using 40 and 50 impurity peaks gave similar results. Thus, for the seized drug samples used in this study, cluster analysis using at least 40 impurity peaks showed better consistency of clustering as compared to analysis using 30 peaks only. Ten of the impurity peaks were identified, of which four were identified for the first time in methamphetamine drug samples. These are p-bromotoluene, N-benzyl amphetamine, N-ethyl amphetamine, and N-ethyl methamphetamine. The presence of phenyl-2-propanone (P2P), N,N-dimethyl amphetamine, and N-formyl amphetamine is indicative that these casework samples were synthesized using the Leuckart method.

Theoretical study of the ligand-CYP2B4 complexes: effect of structure on binding free energies and heme spin state.

The molecular origins of temperature-dependent ligand-binding affinities and ligand-induced heme spin state conversion have been investigated using free energy analysis and DFT calculations for substrates and inhibitors of cytochrome P450 2B4 (CYP2B4), employing models of CYP2B4 based on CYP2C5(3LVdH)/CYP2C9 crystal structures, and the results compared with experiment. DFT calculations indicate that large heme-ligand interactions (ca. -15 kcal/mol) are required for inducing a high to low spin heme transition, which is correlated with large molecular electrostatic potentials (approximately -45 kcal/mol) at the ligand heteroatom. While type II ligands often contain oxygen and nitrogen heteroatoms that ligate heme iron, DFT results indicate that BP and MF heme complexes, with weak substrate-heme interactions (ca. -2 kcal/mol), and modest MEPS minima (>-35 kcal/mol) are high spin. In contrast, heme complexes of the CYP2B4 inhibitor, 4PI, the product of benzphetamine metabolism, DMBP, and water are low spin, have substantial heme-ligand interaction energies (<-15 kcal/mol) and deep MEPS minima (<-45 kcal/mol) near their heteroatoms. MMPBSA analysis of MD trajectories were made to estimate binding free energies of these ligands at the heme binding site of CYP2B4. In order to initially assess the realism of this approach, the binding free energy of 4PI inhibitor was computed and found to be a reasonable agreement with experiment: -7.7 kcal/mol [-7.2 kcal/mol (experiment)]. BP was determined to be a good substrate [-6.3 kcal/mol (with heme-ligand water), -7.3 kcal/mol (without ligand water)/-5.8 kcal/mol (experiment)], whereas the binding of MF was negligible, with only marginal binding binding free energy of -1.7 kcal/mol with 2-MF bound [-3.8 kcal/mol (experiment)], both with and without retained heme-ligand water. Analysis of the free energy components reveal that hydrophobic/nonpolar contributions account for approximately 90% of the total binding free energy of these substrates and are the source of their differential and temperature-dependent CYP2B4 binding. The results indicate the underlying origins of the experimentally observed differential binding affinities of BP and MF, and indicate the plausibility of the use of models derived from moderate sequence identity templates in conjunction with approximate free energy methods in the estimation of ligand-P450 binding affinities.

Determination of the rate of reduction of oxyferrous cytochrome P450 2B4 by 5-deazariboflavin adenine dinucleotide T491V cytochrome P450 reductase.

The use of 5-deazaFAD T491V cytochrome P450 reductase has made it possible to directly measure the rate of electron transfer to microsomal oxyferrous cytochrome (cyt) P450 2B4. In this reductase the FMN moiety can be reduced to the hydroquinone, FMNH(2), while the 5-deazaFAD moiety remains oxidized [Zhang, H., et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 6804-6813]. The rate of electron transfer from 5-deazaFAD cyt P450 reductase to oxyferrous cyt P450 was determined by rapidly mixing the ferrous cyt P450-2-electron-reduced 5-deazaFAD T491V reductase complex with oxygen in the presence of substrate. The 5-deazaFAD T491V reductase which can only donate a single electron reduces the oxyferrous cyt P450 and oxidizes to the air-stable semiquinone, with rate constants of 8.4 and 0.37 s(-1) at 15 degrees C. Surprisingly, oxyferrous cyt P450 turns over more slowly with a rate constant of 0.09 s(-1), which is the rate of catalysis under steady-state conditions at 15 degrees C (k(cat) = 0.08 s(-1)). In contrast, the rate constant for electron transfer from ferrous cyt b(5) to oxyferrous cyt P450 is 10 s(-1) with oxyferrous cyt P450 and cyt b(5) simultaneously undergoing spectral changes. Quantitative analyses by LC-MS/MS revealed that the product, norbenzphetamine, was formed with a coupling efficiency of 52% with cyt b(5) and 32% with 5-deazaFAD T491V reductase. Collectively, these results suggest that during catalysis a relatively stable reduced oxyferrous intermediate of cyt P450 is formed in the presence of cyt P450 reductase but not cyt b(5) and that the rate-limiting step in catalysis follows introduction of the second electron.

Metabolic production of amphetamine following multidose administration of clobenzorex.

The interpretation of urine drug-testing results can have important forensic and legal implications. In particular, drugs that are metabolized to amphetamine or methamphetamine or both pose significant concerns. In this study, clobenzorex, an anorectic drug that is metabolized to d-amphetamine, was administered to five subjects. Each subject took 30 mg daily for seven days, and individual urine samples were collected ad lib for 14 days beginning on the first day the drug was administered. Urine pH, specific gravity, and creatinine values were determined for each sample. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine the excretion profile of amphetamine and clobenzorex using a standard procedure for amphetamines with additional monitoring of ions at m/z 118, 125, and 364 for the detection of clobenzorex. Peak concentrations of amphetamine were found at 82 to 168 h after the first dose and ranged from approximately 2900 to 4700 ng/mL amphetamine. The use of a regioisomer (3-Cl-benzylamphetamine) as internal standard allowed for accurate quantitation of the parent drug. Peak concentrations of clobenzorex were found at 50 to 120 h after the first dose and ranged from approximately 8 to 47 ng/mL clobenzorex. However, in many samples, clobenzorex was not detected at all. This analysis revealed that the metabolite, (amphetamine) is present in much higher concentrations than the parent compound, clobenzorex. Yet even at peak amphetamine concentrations, the parent was not always detected (limit of detection 1 ng/mL). Thus, in the interpretation of amphetamine-positive drug-testing results, the absence of clobenzorex in the urine sample does not exclude the possibility of its use.

Simultaneous analysis of benzphetamine and its metabolites, and quantitation of urinary p-hydroxy-N-benzylamphetamine by micellar electrokinetic chromatography.

We developed a method for simultaneous analysis of benzphetamine (BZ) and its metabolites, p-hydroxy-N-benzylamphetamine (pHBA), p-hydroxybenzphetamine (pHBZ), amphetamine (AP), methamphetamine and p-hydroxymethamphetamine by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). Urine samples from 0-15 h (3-h intervals) after oral administration of BZ (10 mg) were hydrolyzed with beta-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31) at 37 degrees C overnight. The treated urine was applied to a solid phase extraction column Bond Elut Certify. After sequentially washing the column with water, 0.1 mol/l acetic acid and methanol, the samples were eluted with dichloromethane:isopropanol:28% ammonium hydroxide=78.4:19.6:2.0 (v/v %). The eluate was evaporated and the residue dissolved in running buffer was analyzed by MEKC. In urine from 0-3 h, AP, pHBZ and pHBA were detected. After that, only pHBA, which is one of the major metabolites of BZ in human urine, could be detected in the urine by the present method. A method for quantitation of pHBA by MEKC is described here. The effects of acetonitrile and sodium dodecyl sulfate in the running buffer of MEKC on the separation of BZ and its metabolites are also reported.

Interactions of substrate and product with cytochrome P450: P4502B4 versus P450cam.

In the present study, two P450s (P4502B4 and P450cam) have been examined with regard to their interactions with their substrates and products utilizing the characteristic spectral perturbations as criteria for their binding. The results indicate that although there are differences between the two P450s (E) in regard to their precise interactions with their substrates (S) and products (P), the spectral titration data were consistent with the two-site model--E + S<-->ES (K1), E + P<-->EP (K2); EP + S<-->ESP (K3); ES + P<-->ESP (K4) in which S and P bind to E forming ESP. The data were inconsistent with the two-site model in which S and P compete for the same site. As required by the two-site model, the relationship K2K3 = K1K4 was maintained with both P450s at all product concentrations tested, although K3 and K4 decreased considerably when product concentration was increased. The relationship K3 >> K4 was also maintained, indicating that with both enzymes' ESP is formed predominantly by binding of S to EP rather than binding of P to ES, and that ESP dissociates predominantly to ES and P rather than EP and S. In other words, binding of S to EP facilitates the dissociation of P. This indicates that the relative parameter values are compatible for ESP to have functional significance. The possible role of ESP in controlling catalytic rate and catalytic efficiency is discussed.

Interactions of substrate and product with cytochrome P450 2B4.

Interactions of the substrate(s) benzphetamine and the product (P) desmethylbenzphetamine with cytochrome P450 2B4 were studied by difference spectrophotometry. A two-sites model in which site 1 binding, causing Type I transition (low- to high-spin) must precede site 2 binding, causing Type II transition (high- to low-spin), gave an acceptable fit to the spectral titration data. The equilibrium association constant of substrate for site 1 (K1) was greater than that for site 2 (K2), and the K2 for the product was greater than K1, indicating that the substrate binds preferentially to site 1 and the product prefers site 2. In addition, competition between P and a strong Type II ligand (1-benzylimidazole) and a noncompetitive type of interaction between S and the same Type II ligand was observed. This indicates that P binds to the same site as the Type II ligand and S binds to a different site. The observed high-spin maxima for both P (EP1HSmax) and S (ES1HSmax) were similar to those calculated using the K1 and K2 values obtained from the curve-fitting procedure, indicating that the equilibrium concentration of the high-spin species is controlled entirely by K1 and K2. Simultaneous presence of the substrate and product decreased K1 of the substrate and K2 of the product, indicating that there is interaction between the substrate-preferred and the product-preferred sites. A possible functional significance of the differences in the site preferences of the substrate and product is discussed.

Spin state control of cytochrome P-450 reduction and catalytic activity in a reconstituted P-450 LM2 system as induced by a series of benzphetamine analogues.

Reconstituted liposomal cytochrome P-450 LM2 was reacted with a series of benzphetamine analogues as substrates. Based on the thermodynamical model of Ristau et al. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 536 (1978) 226-234) the free enthalpy of substrate binding to the high spin form of the enzyme was shown to correlate with the total high spin content of the respective enzyme substrate complex. Reduction and substrate N-demethylation rates as well have been evidenced to linearly correlate with the substrate-induced spin shift delta alpha and moreover with the spin content alpha. The data obtained provide further experimental support for the spin state regulation of the reduction and conversion rate of cytochrome P-450 LM2.

Relation between the structure of benzphetamine analogues and their binding properties to cytochrome P-450 LM2.

Twelve substrates of a homologous series of tertiary amines (type I substrates) have been reacted with cytochrome P-450 LM2 incorporated into unilamellar liposomes and in soluble form. The apparent spectral dissociation constants (Ks) of the substrate enzyme complexes and the induced high-spin shifts have been correlated with the electron density of distinct carbon atoms as monitored by 13C-NMR chemical shifts, the solubility of the amines and steric parameters of the substrate molecules. The results obtained led to the conclusion that two different intrinsic properties of the substrates can be discriminated in relation to the substrate-enzyme interaction. A diminished electron density at the nitrogen atom is accompanied by an increased binding affinity. The steric structure of the respective substrate determines its capability to shift the spin equilibrium to the high-spin state. Some characteristics of the active center of the enzyme are derived from the evidenced properties of the substrates.

Developmental changes in rabbit pulmonary cytochrome P-450 subpopulations.

Of the two characterized cytochrome P-450 subpopulations present in adult lung microsomes, only one (P-450II) appears to be present in the neonate. Both this subpopulation and a second subpopulation (P-450I) gradually increase over a period of several months, and account for most of the increase in lung cytochrome P-450 concentration during maturation. A third fraction of the cytochrome P-450, which is incapable of forming metabolic-intermediate complexes remains constant in concentration during maturation, thus decreasing from 60% of the total in the neonate to 20% in the adult. Metyrapone binding to lung cytochrome P-450 which increases during development does not correlate quantitatively with either of the two characterized subpopulations.

Correlations between spin equilibrium shift, reduction rate, and N-demethylation activity in liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 and a series of benzphetamine analogues as substrates.

Cytochrome P-450 forms a thermal ferric spin equilibrium which is significantly shifted by substrate binding. Within a series of benzphetamine analogues the liver microsomal enzyme system exhibits a close correlation of the substrate induced spin equilibrium shift towards the high spin state and both the rate of P-450 reduction, and of substrate turnover, as well. The spin equilibrium regulates the first electron transfer by favoured high spin state reduction and rapid pre-equilibration with respect to the low spin fraction.

The metabolism of 1-phenyl-2-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)propane (benzphetamine) in vitro in rat.

The metabolism of 1-phenyl-2-(N-benzylamino)propane (benzphetamine) in vitro was studied using rat-liver microsomes. Five metabolites were isolated from the incubation mixture and identified as 1-phenyl-2-(N-benzylamino)propane (benzylamphetamine), (1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(N-methyl-N-benzylamino)propane, 1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(N-benzylamino)propane, methamphetamine and amphetamine. This metabolism in vitro was compared with that in vivo which was reported previously. The formation of all five metabolites were catalysed by liver microsomes supplemented with NADPH and O2, and inhibited by either SKF 525-A or CO. N-Demethylation was inhibited by either 2-methyl-1,2-bis-(3-pyridyl)-1-propanone (metyrapone) or n-octylamine, while aromatic hydroxylation was inhibited by 7,8-benzoflavone and N-debenzylation was depressed by all these inhibitors. N-Demethylation was enhanced by pretreatment of rats with phenobarbitone, while aromatic hydroxylation was induced by pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene, and N-debenzylation was Induced by pretreatment with either phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. These data suggested that the metabolism of benzphetamine was mediated by three slightly different enzyme systems.

Stereochemistry of the metabolic incorporation of oxygen into (+)- and (-)-N-benzylamphetamine.

1. Both (+)- and (-)-N-benzylamphetamine undergo alpha-carbon and N-oxidation to form N-dealkylated, deaminated and N-oxidized metabolites during incubation with fortified rabbit liver homogenates. 2. Quantitative determination of the metabolites based on specific g.l.c. procedures showed that all activities are localized in the microsomal fraction of rabbit liver. 3. N-Dealkylation, deamination and nitrone and secondary hydroxylamine formation are stereoselective. 4. The characteristics of the enzyme-substrate interactions for both isomers of N-benzylamphetamine indicate that at least two distinct enzyme systems are involved in the N-oxidation and alpha-carbon processes, or a single enzyme possessing an active site with differing conformational requirements for the two oxidative processes.