Cytotoxicity of phenylpironetin analogs and the metabolic fate of pironetin and phenylpironetin.

To improve pironetin's metabolic stability we prepared four analogs by replacing its C12-14 segment with an aryl group. The antiproliferative activity of phenyl analog 4 was reduced two-fold and dihydroxy-4-fluorophenyl analog 5 was slightly more effective against OVCAR5 and A2780 ovarian cancer cell lines compared with the parent compound pironetin (1). The activity of 4-fluorophenyl analog 6 was reduced 3-fold in both cell lines. The activity of 7-O-methyl analog 7 was reduced 36-fold in OVCAR5 cells and 47-fold and A2780 cells, compared with pironetin. Phenylpironetin (4) was rapidly metabolized by mouse and human liver microsomes. We identified 17 human metabolites for phenyl analog 4 and 14 human metabolites for pironetin. Metabolism occurred at the C12-13 moiety, the α,ß-unsaturated lactone and the side chains of the molecules (C6-C11 segments). The significant extent of oxidative metabolism suggests that it may not be possible to attain a metabolically stable pironetin analog by structural modifications of the parent compound.

The Na+ and K+ transport system of sperm (ATP1A4) is essential for male fertility and an attractive target for male contraception†.

One of the mechanisms that cells have developed to fulfil their specialized tasks is to express different molecular variants of a particular protein that has unique functional properties. Na,K-ATPase (NKA), the ion transport mechanism that maintains the transmembrane Na+ and K+ concentrations across the plasma membrane of cells, is one of such protein systems that shows high molecular and functional heterogeneity. Four different isoforms of the NKA catalytic subunit are expressed in mammalian cells (NKAα1, NKAα2, NKAα3, and NKAα4). NKAα4 (ATP1A4) is the isoform with the most restricted pattern of expression, being solely produced in male germ cells of the testis. NKAα4 is abundant in spermatozoa, where it is required for sperm motility and hyperactivation. This review discusses the expression, functional properties, mechanism of action of NKAα4 in sperm physiology, and its role in male fertility. In addition, we describe the use of NKAα4 as a target for male contraception and a potential approach to pharmacologically block its ion transport function to interfere with male fertility.

Design, Synthesis, and in Vitro and in Vivo Evaluation of Ouabain Analogues as Potent and Selective Na,K-ATPase α4 Isoform Inhibitors for Male Contraception.

Na,K-ATPase α4 is a testis-specific plasma membrane Na+ and K+ transporter expressed in sperm flagellum. Deletion of Na,K-ATPase α4 in male mice results in complete infertility, making it an attractive target for male contraception. Na,K-ATPase α4 is characterized by a high affinity for the cardiac glycoside ouabain. With the goal of discovering selective inhibitors of the Na,K-ATPase α4 and of sperm function, ouabain derivatives were modified at the glycone (C3) and the lactone (C17) domains. Ouabagenin analogue 25, carrying a benzyltriazole moiety at C17, is a picomolar inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase α4, with an outstanding α4 isoform selectivity profile. Moreover, compound 25 decreased sperm motility in vitro and in vivo and affected sperm membrane potential, intracellular Ca2+, pH, and hypermotility. These results proved that the new ouabagenin triazole analogue is an effective and selective inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase α4 and sperm function.

The Fungal Sexual Pheromone Sirenin Activates the Human CatSper Channel Complex.

The basal fungus Allomyces macrogynus (A. macrogynus) produces motile male gametes displaying well-studied chemotaxis toward their female counterparts. This chemotaxis is driven by sirenin, a sexual pheromone released by the female gametes. The pheromone evokes a large calcium influx in the motile gametes, which could proceed through the cation channel of sperm (CatSper) complex. Herein, we report the total synthesis of sirenin in 10 steps and 8% overall yield and show that the synthetic pheromone activates the CatSper channel complex, indicated by a concentration-dependent increase in intracellular calcium in human sperm. Sirenin activation of the CatSper channel was confirmed using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology with human sperm. Based on this proficient synthetic route and confirmed activation of CatSper, analogues of sirenin can be designed as blockers of the CatSper channel that could provide male contraceptive agents.

Scalable syntheses of the BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1.

We have developed methods involving the use of alternate, safer reagents for the scalable syntheses of the potent BET bromodomain inhibitor JQ1. A one-pot three step method, involving the conversion of a benzodiazepine to a thioamde using Lawesson's reagent, followed by amidrazone formation and installation of the triazole moiety furnished JQ1. This method provides good yields and a facile purification process. For the synthesis of enantiomerically enriched (+)-JQ1, the highly toxic reagent diethyl chlorophosphate, used in a previous synthesis, was replaced with the safer reagent diphenyl chlorophosphate in the three-step one-pot triazole formation without effecting yields and enantiomeric purity of (+)-JQ1.