Neither lipophilicity nor membrane-perturbing potency of phenothiazine maleates correlate with the ability to inhibit P-glycoprotein transport activity

Although phenothiazines are known as multidrug resistance modifiers, the molecular mechanism of their activity remains unclear. Since phenothiazine molecules are amphiphilic, the interactions with membrane lipids may be related, at least partially, to their biological effects. Using the set of phenothiazine maleates differing in the type of phenothiazine ring substitution at position 2 and/or in the length of the alkyl bridge-connecting ring system and side chain group, we investigated if their ability to modulate the multidrug resistance of cancer cells correlated with model membrane perturbing potency. The influence exerted on lipid bilayers was determined by liposome/buffer partition coefficient measurements (using the absorption spectra second-derivative method), fluorescence spectroscopy and calorimetry. Biological effects were assessed by a flow cytometric functional test based on differential accumulation of fluorescent probe DiOC(2)(3) by parental and drug-resistant cells. We found that all phenothiazine maleates were incorporated into lipid bilayers and altered their biophysical properties. With only few exceptions, the extent of membrane perturbation induced by phenothiazine maleates correlated with their lipophilicity. Within the group of studied derivatives, the compounds substituted with CF(3)- at position 2 of phenothiazine ring were the most active membrane perturbants. No clear relation was found between effects exerted by phenothiazine maleates on model membranes and their ability to modulate P-glycoprotein transport activity.     

Fluorocholesterols, in contrast to hydroxycholesterols, exhibit interfacial properties similar to cholesterol

We used an automated Langmuir-Pockels surface balance to characterize the air-water interfacial properties of cholesterol (CH) and its derivatives with hydrophilic OH and F substitutions at isologous sites on the sterol body or side chain. We studied 6-fluorocholesterol, 25-fluorocholesterol, 25,26,26,26,27,27,27-heptafluorocholesterol, 7alpha-hydroxycholesterol, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol and 27-hydroxycholesterol, alone and in mixtures with 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-3-glycero-phosphocholine (POPC). Pressure;-area isotherms of the fluorocholesterols were essentially indistinguishable from CH and all condensed POPC monomolecular layers (monolayers) to variable degrees. Both nucleus-substituted hydroxycholesterols formed expanded monolayers, with lift-offs from baseline 22-26 A(2)/molecule larger than CH, suggesting interfacial tilting; furthermore, in binary mixtures, they condensed POPC monolayers less than CH. In contrast, the side chain hydroxylated CHs were oriented horizontally in the interface at large molecular areas, and became vertical below 140 A(2)/molecule with the side chain-OH rather than 3-OH group anchored in the subphase, as evidenced by low collapse pressures and smaller molecular areas than CH. Both side chain hydroxycholesterols expanded POPC monolayers at molar ratios <30%, but induced condensation with higher ratios, suggesting that OH-acyl chain (POPC) repulsion is superceded at higher mole fractions by lateral phase separation and intersteroidal H-bonding. These studies predict that fluorocholesterols should exhibit intramembrane spatial occupancy nearly identical to CH, whereas nucleus and especially side chain hydroxycholesterols will perturb membrane lipid packing notably.     

Synthesis and biological activity of analogues of the C-terminal hexapeptide of substance P with modifications at glutaminyl and methioninyl residues. Structure-activity studies.

Analogues of [Orn6]-SP6-11 have been synthesized in which the methionyl residue is replaced by glutamine gamma-carboxamide substituted derivatives. These analogues where tested in three in vitro preparations representative of NK-1, NK-2 and NK-3 receptor types. Substitution of the SCH3 group of the Met11 side chain by CONHCH3, CON(CH3)2, CONHPh and CONCH3Ph groups results in analogues which are full agonists in NK-1 and NK-2 preparations with the exception of the Glu[N(CH3)2]11 and the Glu(NHCH3)11 analogues, which are partial agonists at NK-1 and NK-2 receptors respectively. The Glu(NHCH3)11 analogue shows selectivity for the NK-1 receptor type and is equipotent to the Glu(NCH3Ph)11 analogue in the same receptor type. The latter analogue is 2.84 times more potent than the parent hexapeptide in the NK-2 preparation. The Glu(NHPh)11 analogue is a full agonist in the NK-3 preparation and equipotent to the parent hexapeptide, in contrast to the other analogues in which Met has been replaced by glutamine gamma-carboxamide substituted residues. It is concluded that for NK-1 receptor type the lipophilic character of Met11 side chain is not a determining factor for activity but it is an important factor for activity in the NK-2 receptor type and has a stronger effect when a phenyl group is present, thus leading to analogues which are full agonists and more potent than the parent hexapeptide.     

Presence of anionic phospholipids rules the membrane localization of phenothiazine type multidrug resistance modulator

Substances able to modulate multidrug resistance (MDR), including antipsychotic phenothiazine derivatives, are mainly cationic amphiphiles. The molecular mechanism of their action can involve interactions with transporter proteins as well as with membrane lipids. The interactions between anionic phospholipids and MDR modulators can be crucial for their action. In present work we study interactions of 2-trifluoromethyl-10-(4-[methanesulfonylamid]buthyl)-phenothiazine (FPhMS) with neutral (PC) and anionic lipids (PG and PS). Using microcalorimetry, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy we show that FPhMS interacts with all lipids studied and drug location in membrane depends on lipid type. The electrostatic attraction between drug and lipid headgroups presumably keeps phenothiazine derivative molecules closer to surface of negatively charged membranes with respect to neutral ones. FPhMS effects on bilayer properties are not proportional to phosphatidylserine content in lipid mixtures. Behavior of equimolar PC:PS mixtures is similar to pure PS bilayers, while 2:1 or 1:2 (mole:mole) PC:PS mixtures resemble pure PC ones.     

Phenothiazine maleates stimulate MRP1 transport activity in human erythrocytes

The expression of multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1) results in ATP-dependent reduction of drugs' concentration in cancer cells, i.e., multidrug resistance (MDR). Since the majority of projects are concentrated on the search of the new MDR modulators, there are very few reports on drug-induced stimulation of MDR transporters activity. In the present work, by means of functional fluorescence assay we have shown that MRP1-mediated efflux of 2',7'-bis-(3-carboxypropyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCPCF) out of human erythrocytes is stimulated by phenothiazine maleates that have been already identified as P-glycoprotein inhibitors. Phenothiazine maleates-induced stimulation of ATP-dependent uptake of 2',7'-bis-(3-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) into inside-out membrane vesicles prepared from erythrocyte membranes has been also demonstrated. Moreover, it was shown that phenothiazine maleates exerted stimulating effect on ATPase activity measured in erythrocyte membranes. To our best knowledge, this report is the first one demonstrating that compounds able to inhibit transport activity of P-glycoprotein can stimulate MRP1 transporter. We conclude that phenothiazine maleates probably exert their stimulatory effect on MRP1 by direct interaction with the protein at the site different from the substrate binding site.     

Detergents as intrinsic P-glycoprotein substrates and inhibitors

We assessed the interaction of three electrically neutral detergents (Triton X-100, C₁₂EO₈, and Tween 80) with P-glycoprotein (ABCB1, MDR1) and identified the molecular elements responsible for this interaction. To this purpose we titrated P-glycoprotein in inside-out plasma membrane vesicles of MDR1-transfected mouse embryo fibroblasts (NIH-MDR1-G185) with the detergents below their critical micelle concentration, CMC. The P-glycoprotein ATPase measured as a function of the detergent concentration yielded bell-shaped activity curves which were evaluated with a two-site binding model. The lipid-water partition coefficient and the transporter-water binding constant of the detergents were measured independently. Knowledge of these two parameters allowed assessment of the free energy of detergent binding to P-glycoprotein in the lipid membrane, ΔG_tl⁰, that reflects the direct detergent-transporter affinity. It increased as the number of ethoxyl groups increased, suggesting that these hydrogen bond acceptor groups are the key elements for the detergent-transporter interaction in the lipid membrane. The free energy of binding to P-glycoprotein per ethoxyl group (EO) was determined as approximately ΔG_EO⁰ = − 1.6 kJ/mol. The present findings moreover document that, depending on the concentration applied, detergents are intrinsic substrates for, or inhibitors of P-glycoprotein.     

Multidrug resistance reverting activity and antitumor profile of new phenothiazine derivatives

A series of easily affordable phenothiazine derivatives bearing a rigid but-2-ynyl amino side chain were synthesized and tested to evaluate the MDR reverting activity and full antitumor profile. Some compounds endowed with remarkable MDR reverting effect were identified, and the most active one (6c) was shown to increase doxorubicin retention in multidrug resistant cells, suggesting a direct interaction with P-glycoprotein. Furthermore, a broad range of cellular activities were observed for different compounds. In particular, the ability of some derivatives to induce antiproliferative effects on resistant cell lines and to interfere with the G(1) phase of the cell cycle, a phase usually not affected by classical antitumor agents, was noted. Moreover, the most cytotoxic compounds of the series were able to induce apoptosis in resistant cell lines, via an atypical pathway of caspase cascade activation, and a synergistic effect in combination with doxorubicin was also found.     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of (2R,3R)-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans. Part 2: Effect of side chain homologation

In this study, we synthesized a series of enantiomerically pure (2R,3R)- and (2R,3S)-disubstituted tetrahydropyrans bearing a CH2O spacer group on the side chain at position 2 of the heterocyclic ring. The in vitro antiproliferative activities of the compounds were examined in the human solid tumor cell lines A2780 (ovarian cancer), SW1573 (non-small cell lung cancer), and WiDr (colon cancer). Overall, the results point out the relevance for antiproliferative activity of the distance between the heterocycle and the unsaturated group.     

Metabolic O-demethylation does not alter the influence of isoflavones on the biophysical properties of membranes and MRP1-like protein transport activity

Multidrug resistance transporter MRP1 could be effectively inhibited by some flavonoids. The influence of the two pairs of isoflavones: formononetin/daidzein and biochanin A/genistein on the efflux of fluorescent substrate of MRP1-like protein from erythrocytes and biophysical properties of lipid membranes has been compared. Compounds in each pair differ by the substituent in position 4' of B ring of isoflavone molecule. In the process of O-demethylation, CH(3) group (present in formonetin and biochanin A) is replaced by hydrogen (daidzein, genistein). Inhibition of MRP1-like protein transport activity by methylated and demethylated isoflavones was very similar. Their influence on lipid thermotropic properties and fluidity of lipid bilayer was not also significantly different.     

Monitoring the location profile of fluorophores in phosphatidylcholine bilayers by the use or paramagnetic quenching.

Spin probes differing in the position of their paramagnetic centre are used to quench the fluorescence of pyrene derivatives and chlorophylls incorporated into dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes. Pyrene butyric acid and pyrene decanoic acid with known orientation relative to the membrane surface are investigated. The quenching efficiency of fatty acid spin probes is dependent on the position of the nitroxide radical group in the fatty acid chain. Using this short range interaction we developed a spectroscopic method to chlorophyll-containing vesicles, we were able to characterize the orientation of the porphyrin ring within the membrane. Moreover, the chlorophyll fluorescence is also quenched by a water-soluble spin label. Therefore the porphyrin ring appears to be orientated in the polar head group region of the lipid layer, but not to be protruding out into the water phase. This conclusion is confirmed by the use of pyrene derivatives. Fluorescence quenching by a water-soluble spin label within the lipid matrix is observed even in the rigid state of the membrane. Fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest the existence of two different quenching mechanisms: (1) a static quenching occurring below the lipid phase transition temperature, and (2) an additional dynamic quenching taking place in the fluid state of the lipid bilayer.     

Studies on phenothiazines: New microtubule-interacting compounds with phenothiazine A-ring as potent antineoplastic agents

New phenothiazine derivatives 6–20 have been designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and antiproliferative activity against 60 cancer cell lines, including several multi-drug resistant (MDR) tumor cell lines. The phenothiazine unit may successfully replace the classical 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyle A ring of parent combretastatin A-4 or phenstatin, confirming previous studies. The most promising structural modulations have been realized on the B ring, the 2′-fluoro-4′-methoxy substitution in compound 6 and the 2′-trifluoromethyl-4′-methoxy substitution in compound 7 providing the best antitubulin and antitumor activity in the current study. Compounds 6–8 and 16 exhibited more important cell growth inhibition than parent phenstatin 2 on human colon Duke’s type D, colorectal adenocarcinoma COLO 205 and on human kidney adenocarcinoma A498 cell lines. 10-Methylphenothiazine derivatives 19 and 20 did not show biological activity but exerted bright fluorescence and solvatochromism effects. These molecules deserve further chemical efforts in order to provide valuable tools for biophysical studies.     

Characterization of the myristoyl lipid modification of membrane-bound GCAP-2 by H solid-state NMR spectroscopy

Guanylate cyclase-activating protein-2 (GCAP-2) is a retinal Ca²⁺ sensor protein. It is responsible for the regulation of both isoforms of the transmembrane photoreceptor guanylate cyclase, a key enzyme of vertebrate phototransduction. GCAP-2 is N-terminally myristoylated and full activation of its target proteins requires the presence of this lipid modification. The structural role of the myristoyl moiety in the interaction of GCAP-2 with the guanylate cyclases and the lipid membrane is currently not well understood. In the present work, we studied the binding of Ca²⁺-free myristoylated and non-myristoylated GCAP-2 to phospholipid vesicles consisting of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine or of a lipid mixture resembling the physiological membrane composition by a biochemical binding assay and ²H solid-state NMR. The NMR results clearly demonstrate the full-length insertion of the aliphatic chain of the myristoyl group into the membrane. Very similar geometrical parameters were determined from the ²H NMR spectra of the myristoyl group of GCAP-2 and the acyl chains of the host membranes, respectively. The myristoyl chain shows a moderate mobility within the lipid environment, comparable to the acyl chains of the host membrane lipids. This is in marked contrast to the behavior of other lipid-modified model proteins. Strikingly, the contribution of the myristoyl group to the free energy of membrane binding of GCAP-2 is only on the order of − 0.5 kJ/mol, and the electrostatic contribution is slightly unfavorable, which implies that the main driving forces for membrane localization arises through other, mainly hydrophobic, protein side chain-lipid interactions. These results suggest a role of the myristoyl group in the direct interaction of GCAP-2 with its target proteins, the retinal guanylate cyclases.     

Assessment of hypolipidaemic activity of three thiazolidin-4-ones in mice given high-fat diet and fructose

Three 4-thiazolidinones, two with nicotinamide (NAT1 and NAT2) and one with 4-chlorophenoxyacetamide (PAT1) side chains were evaluated for their hypolipidaemic, hypoglycaemic activity in Swiss albino mice fed a high-fat diet along with fructose administered in drinking water. NAT1 and PAT caused reduction of elevated triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose; NAT2 was effective only against triglycerides. Nicotinamide side chain might have contributed to the lipid lowering effect of both NAT1 and NAT2, but the bulky group of the latter could have affected proper binding to the receptor sites, making it ineffective against elevated cholesterol. On the other hand, the 4-chlorophenoxyacetamide side chain of PAT might have exerted powerful hypolipidaemic activity, despite the bulky substitution at C2. As antioxidants, NAT2 and PAT1 showed superior activity, compared to NAT1. The thiazolidinone ring might be responsible for the lipid lowering effect, which is however, modified by the type of substitutions at C2 and N of the ring. Detailed study is warranted to explain the mechanism of action of these compounds as also to make more potent ones.     

Monitoring the location profile of fluorophores in phosphatidylcholine bilayers by the use of paramagnetic quenching

Spin probes differing in the position of their paramagnetic centre are used to quench the fluorescence of pyrene derivatives and chlorophylls incorporated into dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine membranes. Pyrene butyric acid and pyrene decanoic acid with known orientation relative to the membrane surface are investigated. The quenching efficiency of fatty acid spin probes is dependent on the position of the nitroxide radical group in the fatty acid chain. Using this short fange interaction we developed a spectroscopic method to characterize the molecular arrangement within the lipid membrane. Applied to chlorophyll-containing vesicles, we were able to characterize the orientation of the porphyrin ring within the membrane. Moreover, the chlorophyll fluorescence is also quenched by a water-soluble spin label. Therefore the porphyrin ring appears to be orientated in the polar head group region of the lipid layer, but not to be protruding out into the water phase.This conclusion is confirmed by the use of pyrene derivatives. Fluorescence quenching by a water-soluble spin label within the lipid matrix is observed even in the rigid state of the membrane. Fluorescence lifetime measurements suggest the existence of two different quenching mechanisms: (1) a static quenching occurring below the lipid phase transition temperature, and (2) an additional dynamic quenching taking place in the fluid state of the lipid bilayer.     

Structure-activity relationships of a series of tariquidar analogs as multidrug resistance modulators

Tariquidar (XR9576) analogs, modulators of cancer multidrug resistance (MDR), were subjected to QSAR and 3D-QSAR analyses. The structural features contributing to anti-MDR activity were identified by the Free-Wilson analysis and pharmacophore search using Hoechst 33342 as a template. 3D-QSAR CoMFA and CoMSIA models were derived and tested. The best models yielded an external predictivity of 0.66-0.75 squared correlation coefficient and outlined HB-acceptor, steric, and hydrophobic fields as the most important 3D properties. On the basis of the QSAR and 3D-QSAR analyses it was suggested that the strong inhibitory potency of the compounds studied is related to the presence of a bulky aromatic ring system with a 3rd positioned heteroatom toward the anthranilamide nucleus in the opposite end of the tetrahydroquinoline group. The results can help in directing the rational design of new generations of potent P-glycoprotein MDR modulators.     

Mulberry anthracnose antagonists (iturins) produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RC-2

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain RC-2 produced seven antifungal compounds (1-7) secreted into the culture filtrate. These compounds inhibited the development of mulberry anthracnose caused by the fungus, Colletotrichum dematium. Chemical structural analyses by NMR and FAB-MS revealed that all these compounds were iturins (cyclic peptides with the following sequence: L-Asn --> D-Tyr --> D-Asn --> L-Gln --> L-Pro --> D-Asn --> L-Ser --> D-beta-amino acid -->) and compounds 1-6 are identical to iturins A-2-A-7, respectively. Compound 7 (iturin A-8) is a new iturin, which has a -(CH(2))(10)CH(CH(3))CH(2)CH(3) group as a side chain in the beta-amino acid in the molecule.     

Conformation of the N(CH3)2 group in cytosine and in simple model pyrimidines and pyridines. Steric effects of ortho-methyl substitution on infrared spectra and molecular dipole moments

Infrared spectra of amino and dimethylamino derivatives with and without an ortho-methyl group of 4- and 5-substituted pyrimidines, 4-substituted pyridine, benzene and of the respective cytosines were recorded in the region of skeletal ring vibrations. Integrated intensities of ring vibration(s) v8 at about 1600 cm-1 sensitive to the presence of electron-donating substituents were used for elucidation of the steric effects of ortho-methyl on the mesomeric interaction between the -N(CH3)2 group and the ring. Molecular dipole moments were also determined experimentally in benzene for simple pyrimidine and pyridine derivatives and analysed vectorially with the use of component group moments in terms of the N(CH3)2 group conformation. The data point to a progressive twist of the dimethylamino group in hindered derivatives in the order: pyrimidine-5 greater than pyridine-4 greater than pyrimidine-4. They are also in agreement with the essential planarity of sterically crowded m41,4,4,5cytosine.     

Inhibition of MDR1 gene expression by chimeric HNA antisense oligonucleotides

Hexitol nucleic acids (HNAs) are nuclease resistant and provide strong hybridization to RNA. However, there is relatively little information on the biological properties of HNA antisense oligonucleotides. In this study, we compared the antisense effects of a chimeric HNA ‘gapmer’ oligonucleotide comprising a phosphorothioate central sequence flanked by 5′ and 3′ HNA sequences to conventional phosphorothioate oligonucleotides and to a 2′-O-methoxyethyl (2′-O-ME) phosphorothioate ‘gapmer’. The antisense oligomers each targeted a sequence bracketing the start codon of the message of MDR1, a gene involved in multi-drug resistance in cancer cells. Antisense and control oligonucleotides were delivered to MDR1-expressing cells using transfection with the cationic lipid Lipofectamine 2000. The anti-MDR1 HNA gapmer was substantially more potent than a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide of the same sequence in reducing expression of P-glycoprotein, the MDR1 gene product. HNA and 2′-O-ME gapmers displayed similar potency, but a pure HNA antisense oligonucleotide (lacking the phosphorothioate ‘gap’) was ineffective, indicating that RNase H activity was likely required. Treatment with anti-MDR1 HNA gapmer resulted in increased cellular accumulation of the drug surrogate Rhodamine 123 that correlated well with the reduced cell surface expression of P-glycoprotein. Thus, HNA gapmers may provide a valuable additional tool for antisense-based investigations and therapeutic approaches.     

Substituent position dictates the intercalative DNA-binding mode for anthracene-9,10-dione antitumor drugs.

Molecular modeling studies [Islam, S.A., Neidle, S., Gandecha, B.M., Partridge, M., Patterson, L.H., & Brown, J.R. (1985) J. Med. Chem. 28, 857-864] have suggested that anthracene-9,10-dione (anthraquinone) derivatives substituted at the 1,4 and 1,8 positions with-NH(CH2)2NH(CH2CH3)2+ side chains intercalate with DNA with both substituents in the same groove (classical intercalation) while a similarly substituted 1,5 derivative intercalates in a threading mode with one side chain in each groove. Modeling studies also suggested that anthracene-9,10-dione (anthraquinone) derivatives substituted at the 2,6 positions with -NHCO(CH2)R (where R is a cationic group) should bind to DNA by the threading mode, and several such derivatives have been synthesized [Agbandjie, M., Jenkins, T.C., McKenna, R., Reszka, A., & Neidle, S. (1992) J. Med. Chem. 35, 1418-1429]. We have conducted stopped-flow kinetics association and dissociation experiments on the interaction of these anthraquinones with calf thymus DNA and with DNA polymers with alternating AT and GC base pairs to experimentally determine the binding mode and how the threading mode affects intercalation rates relative to similarly substituted classical intercalators. The binding modes, determined by analysis of relative rates, energies of activation, and effects of salt concentration on association and dissociation rate constants, agree completely with the modes predicted by molecular modeling methods. Association and dissociation rate constants for the threading mode are approximately a factor of 10 lower than constants for the classical intercalation mode, and the two modes, thus, have similar binding constants. Variations in rate constants for changes in cationic substituents at the 2 and 6 positions of the anthraquinone ring were surprisingly small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Phospholipid flippase activity of the reconstituted P-glycoprotein multidrug transporter

The P-glycoprotein multidrug transporter acts as an ATP-powered efflux pump for a large variety of hydrophobic drugs, natural products, and peptides. The protein is proposed to interact with its substrates within the hydrophobic interior of the membrane. There is indirect evidence to suggest that P-glycoprotein can also transport, or "flip", short chain fluorescent lipids between leaflets of the membrane. In this study, we use a fluorescence quenching technique to directly show that P-glycoprotein reconstituted into proteoliposomes translocates a wide variety of NBD lipids from the outer to the inner leaflet of the bilayer. Flippase activity depended on ATP hydrolysis at the outer surface of the proteoliposome, and was inhibited by vanadate. P-Glycoprotein exhibited a broad specificity for phospholipids, and translocated phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin. Lipid derivatives that were flipped included molecules with long, short, unsaturated, and saturated acyl chains and species with the NBD group covalently linked to either acyl chains or the headgroup. The extent of lipid translocation from the outer to the inner leaflet in a 20 min period at 37 degrees C was directly estimated, and fell in the range of 0.36-1.83 nmol/mg of protein. Phospholipid flipping was inhibited in a concentration-dependent, saturable fashion by various substrates and modulators, including vinblastine, verapamil, and cyclosporin A, and the efficiency of inhibition correlated well with the affinity of binding to Pgp. Taken together, these results suggest that P-glycoprotein carries out both lipid translocation and drug transport by the same path. The transporter may be a generic flippase for hydrophobic molecules with the correct steric attributes that are present within the membrane interior.