Synthesis of a series of stromelysin-selective thiadiazole urea matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

The synthesis and enzyme inhibition data for a series of thiadiazole urea matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors are described. A broad screening effort was utilized to identify several thiadiazoles which were weak inhibitors of stromelysin. Optimization of the thiadiazole leads to include an alpha-amino acid side chain with variable terminal amide substituents provided a series of ureas which were moderately effective stromelysin inhibitors, with Ki's between 0.3 and 1.0 microM. The most effective analogues utilized an L-phenylalanine as the amino acid component. In particular, unsubstituted 46 had a Ki of 710 nM, while the p-fluoro analogue 52 displayed increased potency (100 nM). Stromelysin inhibition was further improved using a pentafluorophenylalanine substituent which resulted in 70, a 14 nM inhibitor. While gelatinase inhibition was generally poor, the use of 1-(2-pyridyl)piperazine as the amide component usually provided for enhanced activity, with 71 inhibiting gelatinase with a Ki of 770 nM. The combination of this heterocycle with a p-fluorophenylalanine substituent provided the only analogue, 69, with collagenase activity (13 microM). The SAR for analogues described within this series can be rationalized through consideration of the X-ray structure recently attained for70 complexed to stromelysin. Uniquely, this structure showed the inhibitor to be completely orientated on the left side of the enzyme cleft. These results suggest that thiadiazole urea heterocycles which incorporate a substituted phenylalanine can provide selective inhibitors of stromelysin. Careful selection of the amide substituent can also provide for analogues with modest gelatinase inhibition.

Solution structures of stromelysin complexed to thiadiazole inhibitors.

Unregulated or overexpressed matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), including stromelysin, collagenase, and gelatinase. have been implicated in several pathological conditions including arthritis and cancer. Small-molecule MMP inhibitors may have therapeutic value in the treatment of these diseases. In this regard, the solution structures of two stromelysin/ inhibitor complexes have been investigated using 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy. Both-inhibitors are members of a novel class of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor that contain a thiadiazole group and that interact with stromelysin in a manner distinct from other classes of inhibitors. The inhibitors coordinate the catalytic zinc atom through their exocyclic sulfur atom, with the remainder of the ligand extending into the S1-S3 side of the active site. The binding of inhibitor containing a protonated or fluorinated aromatic ring was investigated using 1H and 19F NMR spectroscopy. The fluorinated ring was found to have a reduced ring-flip rate compared to the protonated version. A strong, coplanar interaction between the fluorinated ring of the inhibitor and the aromatic ring of Tyr155 is proposed to account for the reduced ring-flip rate and for the increase in binding affinity observed for the fluorinated inhibitor compared to the protonated inhibitor. Binding interactions observed for the thiadiazole class of ligands have implications for the design of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors.

P-selectin mediates adhesion of the human melanoma cell line NKI-4: identification of glycoprotein ligands.

Activated endothelial cells and stimulated platelets express the cell adhesion molecule P-selectin (CD62P), which mediates adhesion to various leukocytes and certain types of cancer cells. In this study, we show Ca2+-dependent binding of P-selectin to NKI-4 cells, a cell line derived from a human melanoma. The binding is inhibited by P7 (a leukocyte adhesion blocking mAb against P-selectin), but not by PL5 (a leukocyte adhesion blocking mAb against P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1; PSGL-1). Further, expression of PSGL-1 could not be detected on NKI-4 cells by either PL5 mAb or an Ab against a synthetic peptide corresponding to a portion of the PSGL-1 sequence. P-selectin affinity chromatography of lysates from in vivo [3H]-glucosamine-labeled NKI-4 cells resulted in the isolation of three glycoproteins, with apparent molecular masses of approximately 250, approximately 110, and approximately 100 kDa under reducing conditions and approximately 230, approximately 105, and approximately 85 kDa under nonreducing conditions. These molecules could be precipitated by P-selectin, but not by E-selectin. EDTA and the P7 mAb, but not the PL5 mAb, inhibited the binding of P-selectin to the purified ligands. Surprisingly, we found that sodium chlorate, a sulfation inhibitor, did not inhibit the binding of P-selectin to NKI-4 cells and that [35S]-sulfate did not label the NKI-4 cell ligands. We conclude that P-selectin-dependent adhesion of the human melanoma cell line NKI-4 is mediated by a novel class of glycoprotein ligands.

The P-selectin glycoprotein ligand functions as a common human leukocyte ligand for P- and E-selectins.

P- and E-selectins belong to a family of Ca(2+)-dependent lectins and function as receptors for myeloid leukocytes. We have described a panel of monoclonal antibodies which recognize a sialoglycoprotein from human neutrophils and HL-60 promyelocytic cells and inhibit adhesion of these cells to P-selectin. In this study, we show that the E-selectin receptor-globulin (E-selectin Rg) affinity chromatography can isolate specifically only one glycoprotein from [3H]glucosamine-labeled HL-60 cells in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. This protein has a molecular mass of approximately 120 kDa under reducing conditions, which appears to be identical with the previously characterized glycoprotein ligand for P-selectin. The molecule can be cross-depleted by and cross-bound to the E- and P-selectin columns. The chromatographic profile of desialylated O-linked carbohydrates from molecules purified by P- and E-selectin affinity chromatography are identical. Both have five structures at 12.8, 9.8, 6.3, 3.5, and 2.5 glucose units. PL5 monoclonal antibody to the P-selectin sialoglycoprotein ligand, E-selectin Rg, and antiserum to P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) all recognize the purified P-selectin ligand on ligand blots and immunoblots. Furthermore, PL5 monoclonal antibody blocks adhesion of HL-60 cells and human neutrophils to E-selectin Rg. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the P- and E-selectin ligand defined in this study is PSGL-1 and suggest that this molecule is an important leukocyte ligand for both P- and E-selectins.

Hair-specific keratins: characterization and expression of a mouse type I keratin gene.

A genomic clone for a member of the mouse type I hair keratin protein family has been isolated and analyzed in order to study the regulation of this keratin during the hair growth cycle. The coding sequence is divided into seven exons. The gene structure is typical of keratins in particular and intermediate filaments in general in that the intron-exon borders are not located at the domain borders of the protein. Comparison with a sheep wool keratin gene shows that the splice sites in the two hair keratin genes are found at identical locations relative to the amino acid sequence of the proteins. Similarly, comparison of the promoter areas of these genes shows several areas of nucleotide sequence conservation, including the area around the TATA box and an SV40 core enhancer sequence. In addition, a high degree of sequence identity exists in the fourth intron. In situ hybridization shows that transcripts of this gene are first found in the relatively undifferentiated proximal cortex area in the keratogenous zone of mouse vibrissae.

Effect of nucleotide sequences directly downstream from the AUG on the expression of bovine somatotropin in E. coli.

We have studied the expression of bovine somatotropin (BSt) to gain more understanding of various factors affecting translation in E. coli. The unmodified cDNA coding for mature bovine somatotropin does not produce significant amounts of BSt in E. coli using a pBR322-derived vector. However, a translation fusion with 16 codons from trpLE in front of BSt cDNA results in greater than 20% of total cell protein as the fusion product. Analysis of transcription by measuring the rate and integrity of the mRNA confirms that a post-transcriptional event is responsible for the poor expression of the BSt cDNA. There are two potential stem-loop structures in the 5' region of the mRNA which may interfere with translation. To study their effect on translation, lacZ fusions and oligonucleotide mutagenesis were carried out. The results demonstrate that the secondary structure involving the initiation codon blocks translation initiation. Removal of this stem-loop results in a 100-fold increase in BSt expression. However, the expression level is still low, amounting to only 0.5-1% of total cell protein. High level expression can be obtained by replacement of the beginning sequence of BSt cDNA with trpLE codons. These results suggest that in addition to the secondary structure, the nucleotide sequence or amino acid context within the beginning of BSt is incompatible with one of the steps in translation initiation.

Use of lacZ expression to monitor transcription.

For use in monitoring transcription in operon fusion, we have constructed a lacZ sequence with the initiation codon ATG and the Escherichia coli consensus Shine-Dalgarno site. There are unique restriction endonuclease sites flanking the sequence to allow easy isolation of the lacZ sequence with or without the Shine-Dalgarno site. We have placed this lacZ sequence behind the bovine growth hormone (BGH) gene and found that the lacZ product beta-galactosidase synthesized reflects the level of BGH-specific mRNA.

Homologies between the non-collagenous C-terminal (NC1) globular domains of the alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits of type-IV collagen.

The non-collagenous C-terminal globular domain (NC1) of type-IV collagen has the dual role of initiating triple-helix formation among the subunits and of crosslinking two collagen molecules during basement-membrane meshwork formation. By cloning a cDNA for the NC1 domain of the alpha 2(IV) collagen chain, we have found a high degree of homology (63% for nucleotides, 66% for amino acids) between the NC1 of the alpha 2 and alpha 1 chains of type-IV collagen. All cysteine residues are conserved. This high degree of homology is not found within the helical portion where the homology is 41% for amino acids (only 14% if the obligatory glycine is not used for this analysis). We propose that this high degree of homology within the non-collagenous domain indicates a close evolutionary relationship maintained by functional restraints between the two chains of type IV collagen.

Proposed alignment of helical interruptions in the two subunits of the basement membrane (type IV) collagen.

We have isolated a cDNA clone for part of the alpha 2 type IV collagen (pCIV-2-176). Deoxynucleotide sequence analysis shows that this clone codes for 439 amino acids from the helical domain adjacent to the C-terminal globular domain of the alpha 2 (IV) chain. By aligning the deduced amino acid sequence of the alpha 2 (IV) chain with the published sequence for the alpha 1 (IV) chain, we find that all interruptions in the alpha 1 (IV) chain coincide with an interruption in the alpha 2 (IV) chain. Additional interruptions in the alpha 2 (IV) chain exist, however, three out of the four analysed only slightly disturb the collagen triple helix.