Synthesis and characterization of N,N-dialkyl and N-alkyl-N-aralkyl fenpropimorph-derived compounds as high affinity ligands for sigma receptors.

The sigma-1 receptor is a unique non-opioid, non-PCP binding site that has been implicated in many different pathophysiological conditions including psychosis, drug addiction, retinal degeneration and cancer. Based on the structure of fenpropimorph, a high affinity (K(i)=0.005 nM)(1) sigma-1 receptor ligand and strong inhibitor of the yeast sterol isomerase (ERG2), we previously deduced a basic sigma-1 receptor pharmacophore or chemical backbone composed of a phenyl ring attached to a di-substituted nitrogen atom via an alkyl chain.(2) Here, we report the design and synthesis of various N,N-dialkyl or N-alkyl-N-aralkyl derivatives based on this pharmacophore as well as their binding affinities to the sigma-1 receptor. We introduce three high affinity sigma-1 receptor compounds, N,N-dibutyl-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propylamine (9), N,N-dibutyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propylamine (3), and N-propyl-N'-4-aminophenylethyl-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propylamine (20) with K(i) values of 17.7 nM, 0.36 nM, and 6 nM, respectively. In addition to sigma receptor affinity, we show through cytotoxicity assays that growth inhibition of various tumor cell lines occurs with our high affinity N,N-dialkyl or N-alkyl-N-aralkyl derivatives.

Probing the steroid binding domain-like I (SBDLI) of the sigma-1 receptor binding site using N-substituted photoaffinity labels.

Radioiodinated photoactivatable photoprobes can provide valuable insights regarding protein structure. Previous work in our laboratory showed that the cocaine derivative and photoprobe 3-[ (125)I]iodo-4-azidococaine ([ (125)I]IACoc) binds to the sigma-1 receptor with 2-3 orders of magnitude higher affinity than cocaine [Kahoun, J. R. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 1393-1397]. Using this photoprobe, we demonstrated the insertion site for [ (125)I]IACoc to be Asp188 [Chen, Y. (2007) Biochemistry 46, 3532-3542], which resides in the proposed steroid binding domain-like II (SBDLII) region (amino acids 176-194) [Pal, A. (2007) Mol. Pharmacol. 72, 921-933]. An additional photoprobe based on the sigma-1 receptor ligand fenpropimorph, 1- N-(2-3-[ (125)I]iodophenyl)propane ([ (125)I]IAF), was found to label a peptide in both the SBDLII and steroid binding domain-like I (SBDLI) (amino acids 91-109) [Pal, A. (2007) Mol. Pharmacol. 72, 921-933]. In this report, we describe two novel strategically positioned carrier-free, radioiodinated photoaffinity labels specifically designed to probe the putative "nitrogen interacting region" of sigma-1 receptor ligands. These two novel photoprobes are (-)-methyl 3-(benzoyloxy)-8-2-(4-azido-3-[ (125)I]iodobenzene)-1-ethyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane-2-carboxylate ([ (125)I]-N-IACoc) and N-propyl- N-(4-azido-3-iodophenylethyl)-3-(4-fluorophenyl)propylamine ([ (125)I]IAC44). In addition to reporting their binding affinities to the sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors, we show that both photoaffinity labels specifically and covalently derivatized the pure guinea pig sigma-1 receptor (26.1 kDa) [Ramachandran, S. (2007) Protein Expression Purif. 51, 283-292]. Cleavage of the photolabeled sigma-1 receptor using Endo Lys C and cyanogen bromide (CNBr) revealed that the [ (125)I]-N-IACoc label was located primarily in the N-terminus and SBDLI-containing peptides of the sigma-1 receptor, while [ (125)I]IAC44 was found in peptide fragments consistent with labeling of both SBDLI and SBDLII.

Characterization of the cocaine binding site on the sigma-1 receptor.

The cocaine photoaffinity label 3-iodo-4-azidococaine ([125I]IACoc) binds to the sigma-1 receptor with an affinity that is 2-3 orders of magnitude higher than the parent compound cocaine [Kahoun, J. R., and Ruoho, A. E. (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 1393-1397]. In the present study, the binding properties of several cocaine derivatives to the guinea pig liver sigma-1 receptor were determined. The results from assessing the affinity of various derivatives of cocaine which were substituted on the phenyl ring indicated that an important determinant of binding to the guinea pig sigma-1 receptor binding site may be the development of a dipole in the ring in which the pi electron density of the phenyl ring is reduced. This implies that an electron-rich source is present in the sigma-1 receptor binding site, such as the pi system of an aromatic ring or other electron-rich side chains, which interact with the phenyl ring of cocaine. The precise [125I]IACoc derivatization site in the guinea pig sigma-1 receptor was identified using chemical cleavage and purification of the resulting labeled peptides. Cyanogen bromide cleavage of the [125I]IACoc photolabeled sigma-1 receptor followed by radiosequencing identified Asp188, which is located in the putative steroid binding domain-like II (SBDL II) near the carboxyl terminus, as the site of [125I]IACoc insertion. Systematic truncation of the C-terminus indicated the requirement for the last 15 amino acid residues of the receptor for [125I]IACoc photolabeling.

Sulfhydryl-reactive, cleavable, and radioiodinatable benzophenone photoprobes for study of protein-protein interaction.

The major task in proteomics is to understand how proteins interact with their partners. The photo-cross-linking technique enables direct probing of protein-protein interaction. Here we report the development of three novel sulfhydryl-reactive benzophenone photoprobes of short "arm" length, each with a substitution of either amino, iodo, or nitro at the para-position, rendering the benzophenone moiety directly radioiodinatable. Their potential for study of protein-protein interaction was assessed using the inhibitory subunit of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDEgamma) and the activated transducin alphasubunit (G alpha t-GTPgammaS) as a model system. These photoprobes proved to be stable at neutral pH and dithiothreitol-cleavable in addition. The PDEgamma constructs derivatized at the C-terminal positions with these probes could be readily purified, had unaltered PDEgamma functional activity, and were shown to photo-cross-link to G alpha t-GTPgammaS with an efficiency as high as 40%. Additionally, the amino benzophenone probe was radioiodinated, facilitating sensitive detection of label transfer. The uniquely combined features of these benzophenone photoprobes promise robust and flexible methods for characterization of protein-protein interaction, either by mass spectrometry when a nonradioactive label is available or by autoradiography when using radioiodinated derivatives.

Asymmetric interaction between rod cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase gamma subunits and alphabeta subunits.

Rod phosphodiesterase (PDE6) is the central effector enzyme in vertebrate visual transduction. Holo-PDE6 consists of two similar catalytic subunits (Palphabeta) and two identical inhibitory subunits (Pgamma). Palphabeta is the only heterodimer in the PDE superfamily, yet its significance for the function of PDE6 is poorly understood. An unequal interaction of Pgamma with Pbeta as compared with Palpha in the PDE6 complex has not been reported. We investigated the interaction interface between full-length Pgamma and Palphabeta, by differentiating Pgamma interaction with each individual Palphabeta subunit through radiolabel transfer from various positions throughout the entire Pgamma molecule. The efficiency of radiolabel transfer indicates that the close vicinity of serine 40 on Pgamma makes a major contribution to the interaction with Palphabeta. In addition, a striking asymmetry of interaction between the Pgamma polycationic region and the Palphabeta subunits was observed when the stoichiometry of Pgamma versus the Palphabeta dimer was below 2. Preferential photolabeling on Pbeta from Pgamma position 40 and on Palpha from position 30 increased while lowering the Pgamma/Palphabeta ratio, but diminished when the Pgamma/Palphabeta ratio was over 2. Our finding leads to the conclusion that two classes of Pgamma binding sites exist on Palphabeta, each composed of GAF domains in both Palpha and Pbeta, differing from the conventional models suggesting that each Pgamma binds only one of the Palphabeta catalytic subunits. This new model leads to insight into how the unique Palphabeta heterodimer contributes to the sophisticated regulation in visual transduction through interaction with Pgamma.

Tetramethylammonium dichloroiodate: an efficient and environmentally friendly iodination reagent for iodination of aromatic compounds under mild and solvent-free conditions.

Tetramethylammonium dichloroiodate (1, TMADCI) as a mild and efficient iodination reagent was prepared. Iodination of different aromatic compounds with this reagent takes place fast and with high yields under solvent-free conditions.