Analytical and biological evaluation of high throughput screen actives using evaporative light scattering, chemiluminescent nitrogen detection, and accurate mass LC-MS-MS.

In this investigation the utility of evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) combined with HPLC-MS was demonstrated as a key component of a bioassay-guided fractionation, or "biofractionation" technique, for the evaluation of high throughput screen actives. ELSD provided on-line analyte mass information that was critical for the classification of the samples. Chemiluminescent nitrogen detection (CLND) was also evaluated for sample concentration estimation for nitrogen-containing compounds, and accurate mass LC-MS-MS analysis was employed for rapid structural confirmation and elucidation of components previously identified as active via biofractionation.

Medicinal chemistry in the development of societies. Biodiversity and natural products.

This document has been elaborated by the IUPAC Medicinal Chemistry section and is backed by a large number of scientists, many of whom have had direct involvement and whose names appear at the end of the article. This work discusses the role that the discovery of new medicinal agents has in the development of societies as well as in the conservation of biodiversity in terms of work carried out on natural products. Also included are several recommendations for countries which are presently in search of their own scientific and technological development in medicinal agents. The IUPAC Medicinal Chemistry section would appreciate the collaboration of the scientific societies in every country to aid in the diffusion of this document.

Novel naphthoquinones from a Streptomyces sp.

Cdc25A assay-guided fractionation of a fermentation broth derived from a Streptomyces sp. resulted in the isolation of four novel naphthoquinones 1-4. Structures of these compounds were deduced by NMR and mass spectrometry. Two of them, 3 and 4, incorporate a modified cysteine residue which is observed for the first time in this class of natural products. Naphthoquinones 1-4 showed weak activity against cdc25A phosphatase.

The nanometer-scale structure of amyloid-beta visualized by atomic force microscopy.

Amyloid-beta (A beta) is the major protein component of neuritic plaques found in Alzheimer's disease. Evidence suggests that the physical aggregation state of A beta directly influences neurotoxicity and specific cellular biochemical events. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to investigate the three-dimensional structure of aggregated A beta and characterize aggregate/fibril size, structure, and distribution. Aggregates are characterized by fibril length and packing densities. The packing densities correspond to the differential thickness of fiber aggregates along a zeta axis (fiber height above the x-y imaging surface). Densely packed aggregates ( > or = 100 nm thick) were observed. At the edges of these densely packed regions and in dispersed regions, three types of A beta fibrils were observed. These were classified by fibril thickness into three size ranges: 2-3 nm thick, 4-6 nm thick, and 8-12 nm thick. Some of the two thicker classes of fibrils exhibited pronounced axial periodicity. Substructural features observed included fibril branching or annealing and a height periodicity which varied with fibril thickness. When identical samples were visualized with AFM and electron microscopy (EM) the thicker fibrils (4-6 nm and 8-12 nm thick) had similar morphology. In comparison, the densely packed regions of approximately > or = 100 nm thickness observed by AFM were difficult to resolve by EM. The small, 2- to 3-nm-thick, fibrils were not observed by EM even though they were routinely imaged by AFM. These studies demonstrate that AFM imaging of A beta fibrils can, for the first time, resolve nanometer-scale, zeta-axis, surface-height (thickness) fibril features. Concurrent x-y surface scans of fibrils reveal the surface submicrometer structure and organization of aggregated A beta. Thus, when AFM imaging of A beta is combined with, and correlated to, careful studies of cellular A beta toxicity it may be possible to relate certain A beta structural features to cellular neurotoxicity.

A83016F, a new member of the aurodox family.

A new member of the aurodox family of antibiotics, A83016F, has been isolated from an unidentified actionmycete designated A83016. The structure and relative stereochemistry of A83016F were elucidated by NMR examination of the parent compound and its diacetate derivative. A83016F exhibits only weak antimicrobial activity.

Bioactive compounds from aquatic and terrestrial sources.

The world of nature provides a never-ending set of fascinating problems for the chemist. Many of the most intriguing problems, however, concern compounds available in only truly minute quantities. One solution is to focus on bioassay-guided separations. In so doing one can isolate compounds with novel structures or unsuspected activities from almost any phylum, including tunicates, sponges, insects, or even the much-studied terrestrial plants, as exemplified in several recent studies in our laboratory involving activities ranging from antiviral and antimicrobial activity to cytotoxicity and immunomodulation. Moreover, newer spectroscopic techniques, especially fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry, enhance one's ability to study compounds present in minute quantities, including those of importance to the host organism, such as neuropeptides in insects or marine invertebrates.

New inhibitors of renin that contain novel phosphostatine Leu-Val replacements.

A novel series of renin inhibitors based on the Phe8-His9-Leu10-Val11 substructure of renin's natural substrate, angiotensinogen, is reported. These inhibitors retain the Phe8-His9 portion of the native substructure and employ novel phosphostatine Leu10-Val11 replacements (LVRs). The phosphostatine LVRs were prepared by condensing a dialkyl phosphonate ester stabilized anion with either N-t-Boc-amino aldehydes or N-tritylamino aldehydes (derived from the corresponding amino acid). Structure-activity relationships at the Leu10 side chain revealed that the LVR derived from L-cyclohexylalanine provided a 130-fold boost in potency over the LVR derived from L-leucine. The dialkyl ester moiety was varied and a loss in potency was incurred when the alkyl ester was chain extended or alpha-branched; dimethyl esters provided optimum potency. The phosphonate moiety was replaced by a half-acid half-ester phosphonate and dimethylphosphinate; both replacements lead to a loss in potency. The more potent inhibitors (IC50 = 20-50 nM) were found to be selective inhibitors for renin over porcine pepsin and bovine cathepsin D (little or no inhibition was observed at 10(-5) M).

Cardiovascular actions of the primate-selective renin inhibitor, A-62198.

A-62198 [dimethylacetyl-Phe-His-NHCH(cyclohexylmethyl)CH-(OH)C H(OH)CH2N3] is a potent, selective inhibitor of primate renin. This compound induced a dose-dependent fall in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) when administered as an i.v. bolus to anesthetized, salt-depleted monkeys. Both the magnitude and the duration of the hypotensive effect were dose related. Its actions were also studied during acute infusions in anesthetized anephric, normal and salt-depleted monkeys. MAP, heart rate and plasma renin activity (PRA) were determined during baseline and 30-min infusions of vehicle alone, followed by A-62198 as boluses of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg, each maintained by infusing one-tenth of the bolus dose per minute. Vehicle did not alter base-line values. In the normal monkeys, A-62198 induced a dose-related fall in MAP which achieved statistical significance only at the highest dose, while maximally suppressing PRA at all doses (P less than .05, compared to vehicle). The salt-depleted monkeys responded with a dose-related fall in MAP and inhibition of PRA at all doses (P less than .05, compared to vehicle). A-62198 was relatively ineffective in the anephric monkeys which, as expected, had exceedingly low levels of PRA. Heart rate was unaltered regardless of dose or treatment group. Finally, infusion of 1.0 mg/kg bolus + 0.1 mg/kg/min of A-62198 had no effect on MAP or PRA in 2 kidney-1 clip rats, although MAP was reduced subsequent to a superimposed bolus of 0.1 mg/kg of captopril. We conclude that the renin inhibitor, A-62198, is an effective, primate selective hypotensive agent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of the renin inhibitor A-64662 in monkeys and rats with varying baseline plasma renin activity.

The efficacy of the potent, primate selective renin inhibitor A-64662 was studied in monkeys and rats with varying baseline plasma renin activity (PRA) to elucidate the relationship between PRA and the hypotensive response induced by this compound. The effect of a single bolus of vehicle or A-64662 at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg i.v. was compared in 30 normal and 30 salt-depleted, anesthetized monkeys (n = 5/dose). Baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) was similar among all groups, but baseline PRA was elevated in salt-depleted monkeys. A-64662 induced a comparable dose-related fall in MAP, affecting the magnitude and duration of action, accompanied by inhibition of PRA, the duration of which was dose-related in both the normal and salt-depleted groups. However, the minimum effective doses required to reduce MAP by approximately 10% were 0.01 mg/kg for the salt-depleted monkeys and 0.1 mg/kg for the normal monkeys. In a second study, three consecutive boluses of vehicle or A-64662 at 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg were administered to anephric monkeys, human renin-infused anephric monkeys, and normal monkeys (n = 4/group). A dose of 0.1 mg/kg was ineffective, but the 1.0 mg/kg dose lowered MAP by 11 +/- 3% (mean +/- SE) in the anephric monkeys. The infusion of renin into anephric monkeys restored the efficacy of A-64662 at the 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg doses to responses comparable to those of the normal monkeys. A-64662 at 10.0 mg/kg caused a similar fall in MAP of 50 to 60% in anephric, renin-infused anephric, and normal monkeys in the absence of detectable PRA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Renin inhibitors. Improvements in the stability and biological activity of small peptides containing novel Leu-Val replacements.

We have designed a novel class of potent (0.3-7 nM) renin inhibitors which contain a dihydroxyethylene replacement for what is formally the Leu10-Val11 amide bond. Good potency (0.6 nM), water solubility (greater than 10 mg/ml at 37 degrees C), stability toward degradation by chymotrypsin (t1/2 = 820 min), and in vivo activity in a primate model (15% drop in mean arterial pressure in association with complete inhibition of plasma renin activity) are properties which have been incorporated into compound 10, an interesting new agent to be used in the study of hypertension.

New inhibitors of human renin that contain novel Leu-Val replacements. Examination of the P1 site.

Stereoselective syntheses of several nonpeptide sulfidoethanol fragments that function as Leu10-Val11 (P1-P1') scissile bond replacements in human angiotensinogen are presented. These fragments are prepared from a variety of amino acids with formal P1 side chains varying in size and lipophilicity by converting them to their corresponding N-protected aminoalkyl epoxide 5 followed by ring opening with isopropyl mercaptan. The coupling of these fragments to either Boc-Phe-Ala-OH or Boc-Phe-His-OH produces inhibitors of human renin, 6 and 7, respectively, which are compared to a series of dipeptide-aldehyde inhibitors, 4, by molecular modeling and biochemical methods. Qualitatively, histidine-containing (P2) inhibitors 7 possess greater inhibitory potency than their corresponding alanine (P2) analogues 6, which are more potent than the corresponding aldehydic inhibitors from series 4. Within a given series, inhibitors with the cyclohexylmethyl P1 side chain are more potent than the benzyl analogues, which in turn are more potent than cyclohexyl or isobutyl derivatives. Inhibitors with parger P1 side chains (e.g. adamantylmethyl and benzhydryl) are much less active. The inhibitory potency of these compounds against human renin is discussed in terms of specific interactions with the enzyme.

Renin inhibitors. Dipeptide analogues of angiotensinogen incorporating transition-state, nonpeptidic replacements at the scissile bond.

A series of dipeptide analogues of angiotensinogen have been prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit the aspartic proteinase renin. The compounds were derived from the renin substrate by replacing the scissile amide bond with a transition-state mimic and by incorporating bioisosteric replacements for the Val-10 amide bond. Analogue 21a exhibited an IC50 of 7.6 nM against purified human renin, showed high specificity for this enzyme, and produced a hypotensive response in anesthetized, salt-depleted cynomolgus monkeys.

New inhibitors of human renin that contain novel Leu-Val replacements.

Stereoselective syntheses of several nonpeptide fragments that function as Leu10-Val11 scissile bond replacements in human angiotensinogen are presented. The opening of N-protected aminoalkyl epoxide 3 with a variety of sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon nucleophiles is a key reaction in the preparation of these novel fragments 4-8. The coupling of these fragments to protected dipeptides that mimic positions 8 and 9 in angiotensinogen produces inhibitors of human renin even though the molecules contain no functionality beyond what is formally the Val11 side chain of angiotensinogen. R groups that closely resemble that of the Val side chain are preferable; thus, isopropyl greater than or equal to higher alkyl greater than phenyl greater than substituted phenyl. Sulfur is the best X group; oxidation leads to slight (X = SO2) and significant (X = SO) decreases in inhibitory potency. One such inhibitor, 60, has an IC50 of 13 nM when tested with purified human renin at pH 6.0. The significant activity of these small inhibitors is thought to be due in part to the hydroxyl group of the fragment functioning as a transition-state analogue. Of these, the inhibitors that contain histidine show marked selectivity toward renin over a related aspartic proteinase, pepsin.

Novel renin inhibitors containing analogues of statine retro-inverted at the C-termini: specificity at the P2 histidine site.

Substituted 1,3- and 1,4-diamines were prepared from epoxides derived from Boc-leucine or Boc-cyclohexylalanine. These diamines were incorporated into renin inhibitors (IC50 = 4-1500 nM) replacing the Leu-Val scissile bond in small peptide analogues of angiotensinogen. Replacement of the P2 histidine imidazole with other heterocycles maintained or enhanced binding while changing the overall basicity of the inhibitor. Finally, substitution of O-methyltyrosine for the P3 phenylalanine suppressed chymotrypsin cleavage of the P3-P2 bond.

Modified peptides which display potent and specific inhibition of human renin.

A new class of angiotensinogen analogues which contain heteroatom-methylene and retro-inverso amide bond replacements was synthesized and evaluated for renin inhibition. Selected compounds in the series were specific for renin over other aspartic proteinases, and the most potent inhibitor demonstrated hypotensive activity in a salt depleted monkey.

Peptide analogues of angiotensinogen. Effect of peptide chain length on renin inhibition.

Renin inhibition was evaluated for a series of peptide analogues of angiotensinogen with different chain lengths. Systematic deletion of amino acid residues from the hexapeptide BocPheHisLeuR-ValIleHisOCH3 showed that the presence of residues at the N-terminal Phe and His positions was essential for efficient enzyme-inhibitor binding whereas the C-terminal Ile and His residues were much less important. Synthesis of a tetrapeptide analogue shortened at the C-terminus and containing modified side chains produced a potent inhibitor of renin which demonstrated hypotensive activity in a salt depleted monkey.

Preparation of biologically active ristocetin derivatives: replacements of the 1'-amino group.

A series of ristocetin analogues with modifications (OH, C=O, C=NOH, NCOCH3) at the C-1' amino group was synthesized and found to possess antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria and to bind to Ac2-Lys-D-Ala-D-Ala, a model for the antibiotic's site of action. Due to the lack of a positively charged amino group, the active analogues could not form a salt bridge, indicating that an electrostatic interaction between the positively charged 1'-amino group of ristocetin and the carboxylate anion of the peptide is not required for complex formation. The only compound that did not exhibit good antibacterial activity was epiristocetin aglycone (an analogue with the 1'amino group in the opposite configuration (S) as ristocetin). On the basis of NMR studies of epiristocetin aglycone in solution, the 1'-amino group is located in the proposed carboxylate binding pocket and may sterically block complex formation.

Two-dimensional 1H NMR studies of rat atrial natriuretic factor(1-23).

Using a variety of two-dimensional NMR methods, the 1H NMR resonances of rat ANF(1-23) in dimethyl sulfoxide-d6 solution have been assigned. Two-dimensional phase sensitive correlated spectroscopy was used to identify protons that are scalar coupled and were also used to obtain coupling constants (3JNH-alpha CH) in complicated regions of the spectra. Relayed coherence transfer experiments proved useful in identifying the connectivities between the NH and beta-protons of the same amino acid residue. Finally, phase sensitive 2D NOE experiments allowed the identification of protons close in space between adjacent residues, thus providing the sequential assignments as well as conformational information. These preliminary results (chemical shifts, coupling constants, NOEs) were analyzed in terms of possible polypeptide secondary structures and were found to be consistent with a beta-type structure or an averaging of solution conformations (random coil).