Potent and selective cathepsin L inhibitors do not inhibit human osteoclast resorption in vitro

Cathepsins K and L are related cysteine proteases that have been proposed to play important roles in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. To further examine the putative role of cathepsin L in bone resorption, we have evaluated selective and potent inhibitors of human cathepsin L and cathepsin K in an in vitro assay of human osteoclastic resorption and an in situ assay of osteoclast cathepsin activity. The potent selective cathepsin L inhibitors (K(i) = 0.0099, 0.034, and 0.27 nm) were inactive in both the in situ cytochemical assay (IC(50) > 1 micrometer) and the osteoclast-mediated bone resorption assay (IC(50) > 300 nm). Conversely, the cathepsin K selective inhibitor was potently active in both the cytochemical (IC(50) = 63 nm) and resorption (IC(50) = 71 nm) assays. A recently reported dipeptide aldehyde with activity against cathepsins L (K(i) = 0.052 nm) and K (K(i) = 1.57 nm) was also active in both assays (IC(50) = 110 and 115 nm, respectively) These data confirm that cathepsin K and not cathepsin L is the major protease responsible for human osteoclastic bone resorption.     

A homogeneous 384-well high-throughput binding assay for a TNF receptor using alphascreen technology

To take advantage of the growing knowledge of cellular signaling pathways, modern-day drug discovery faces an increasing challenge to develop assays to screen for compounds that modulate protein-protein interactions. One bottleneck in achieving this goal is a lack of suitable and robust assay technologies amenable to a high-throughput format. In this report, we describe how we utilized Alphascreen trade mark technology to develop a high-throughput assay to monitor ligand binding to a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. We expressed a fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of the OX40 receptor with the constant domains of human IgG. In the presence of OX40 ligand, we determined a binding affinity constant consistent with reported values and optimized the protocol to develop a simple, homogeneous, and sensitive binding assay in a 384-well format. Finally, we assessed if this system could identify small peptides capable of inhibiting the OX40 receptor and ligand interaction. The results showed that the assay was able to detect such peptides and could be used to launch a high-throughput screening campaign for small molecules able to prevent OX40 receptor activation.     

A high-throughput, nonisotopic, competitive binding assay for kinases using nonselective inhibitor probes (ED-NSIP)

A novel competitive binding assay for protein kinase inhibitors has been developed for high-throughput screening (HTS). Unlike functional kinase assays, which are based on detection of substrate phosphorylation by the enzyme, this novel method directly measures the binding potency of compounds to the kinase ATP binding site through competition with a conjugated binding probe. The binding interaction is coupled to a signal amplification system based on complementation of beta-galactosidase enzyme fragments, a homogeneous, nonisotopic assay technology platform developed by DiscoveRx Corp. In the present study, staurosporine, a potent, nonselective kinase inhibitor, was chemically conjugated to a small fragment of beta-galactosidase (termed ED-SS). This was used as the binding probe to the kinase ATP binding pocket. The binding potencies of several inhibitors with diverse structures were assessed by displacement of ED-SS from the kinase. The assay format was specifically evaluated with GSK3alpha, an enzyme previously screened in a radioactive kinase assay (i.e., measurement of [(33)P]-gamma-ATP incorporation into the kinase peptide substrate). Under optimized assay conditions, nonconjugated staurosporine inhibited ED-SS binding in a concentration-dependent manner with an apparent potency (IC(50)) of 11 nM, which was similar to the IC(50) value determined in a radioactive assay. Furthermore, 9 kinase inhibitors with diverse structures, previously identified from chemical compound library screening, were screened using the competitive binding assay. The potencies in the binding assay were in very good agreement with those obtained previously in the isotopic functional activity assay. The binding assay was adapted for automated HTS using selected compound libraries in a 384-well microtiter plate format. The HTS assay was observed to be highly robust and reproducible (Z' factors > 0.7) with high interassay precision (R(2) > 0.96). Interference of compounds with the beta-galactosidase signal readout was negligible. In conclusion, the DiscoveRx competitive kinase binding assay, termed ED-NSIP trade mark, provides a novel method for screening kinase inhibitors. The format is homogeneous, robust, and amenable to automation. Because there is no requirement for substrate-specific antibodies, the assay is particularly applicable to Ser/Thr kinase assay, in which difficulties in identifying a suitable substrate and antibody preclude development of nonisotopic assays. Although the nonselective kinase inhibitor, staurosporine, was used here, chemically conjugating the ED fragment to other small molecule enzyme inhibitors is also feasible, suggesting that the format is generally applicable to other enzyme systems.     

Discovering severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3CL protease inhibitors: virtual screening, surface plasmon resonance, and fluorescence resonance energy transfer assays

An integrated system has been developed for discovering potent inhibitors of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 3C-like protease (SARS-CoV 3CL(pro)) by virtual screening correlating with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technologies-based assays. The authors screened 81,287 small molecular compounds against SPECS database by virtual screening; 256 compounds were subsequently selected for biological evaluation. Through SPR technology-based assay, 52 from these 256 compounds were discovered to show binding to SARS-CoV 3CL(pro). The enzymatic inhibition activities of these 52 SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) binders were further applied to FRET-based assay, and IC(50) values were determined. Based on this integrated assay platform, 8 new SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) inhibitors were discovered. The fact that the obtained IC(50) values for the inhibitors are in good accordance with the discovered dissociation equilibrium constants (K(D)s) assayed by SPR implied the reliability of this platform. Our current work is hoped to supply a powerful approach in the discovery of potent SARS-CoV 3CL(pro) inhibitors, and the determined inhibitors could be used as possible lead compounds for further research.     

Amide-modified prenylcysteine based Icmt inhibitors: Structure-activity relationships, kinetic analysis and cellular characterization

Human protein isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (hIcmt) is the enzyme responsible for the α-carboxyl methylation of the C-terminal isoprenylated cysteine of CaaX proteins, including Ras proteins. This specific posttranslational methylation event has been shown to be important for cellular transformation by oncogenic Ras isoforms. This finding led to interest in hIcmt inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents. Previous analog studies based on N-acetyl-S-farnesylcysteine identified two prenylcysteine-based low micromolar inhibitors (1a and 1b) of hIcmt, each bearing a phenoxyphenyl amide modification. In this study, a focused library of analogs of 1a and 1b was synthesized and screened versus hIcmt, delineating structural features important for inhibition. Kinetic characterization of the most potent analogs 1a and 1b established that both inhibitors exhibited mixed-mode inhibition and that the competitive component predominated. Using the Cheng-Prusoff method, the K(i) values were determined from the IC(50) values. Analog 1a has a K(IC) of 1.4±0.2μM and a K(IU) of 4.8±0.5μM while 1b has a K(IC) of 0.5±0.07μM and a K(IU) of 1.9±0.2μM. Cellular evaluation of 1b revealed that it alters the subcellular localization of GFP-KRas, and also inhibits both Ras activation and Erk phosphorylation in Jurkat cells.     

Linearization of two ligand-one binding site scatchard plot and the "IC50" competitive inhibition plot: application to the simplified graphical determination of equilibrium constants

A simple procedure for linearizing the curved, two ligand-one binding site Scatchard plot resulting from the presence of a constant concentration of competitive inhibitor is proposed; the same procedure may also be applied to the analysis of data derived from the "IC50" competitive inhibition experimental design. Furthermore, a useful generalization of the Cheng-Prusoff correction is presented.     

Increased precision for analysis of protein–ligand dissociation constants determined from chemical shift titrations

NMR is ideally suited for the analysis of protein-protein and protein ligand interactions with dissociation constants ranging from ~2 μM to ~1 mM, and with kinetics in the fast exchange regime on the NMR timescale. For the determination of dissociation constants (K ( D )) of 1:1 protein-protein or protein-ligand interactions using NMR, the protein and ligand concentrations must necessarily be similar in magnitude to the K ( D ), and nonlinear least squares analysis of chemical shift changes as a function of ligand concentration is employed to determine estimates for the parameters K ( D ) and the maximum chemical shift change (Δδ(max)). During a typical NMR titration, the initial protein concentration, [P (0)], is held nearly constant. For this condition, to determine the most accurate parameters for K ( D ) and Δδ(max) from nonlinear least squares analyses requires initial protein concentrations that are ~0.5 × K ( D ), and a maximum concentration for the ligand, or titrant, of ~10 × [P (0)]. From a practical standpoint, these requirements are often difficult to achieve. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we demonstrate that co-variation of the ligand and protein concentrations during a titration leads to an increase in the precision of the fitted K ( D ) and Δδ(max) values when [P (0)] > K ( D ). Importantly, judicious choice of protein and ligand concentrations for a given NMR titration, combined with nonlinear least squares analyses using two independent variables (ligand and protein concentrations) and two parameters (K ( D ) and Δδ(max)) is a straightforward approach to increasing the accuracy of measured dissociation constants for 1:1 protein-ligand interactions.     

Comparison of 3 AT1 receptor binding assays: filtration assay, ScreenReady Target, and WGA Flashplate

In this article, the study of 3 different angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor binding assays in terms of reproducibility, robustness, and feasibility for high-throughput screening (HTS) is described. The following methods were used: a nonhomogeneous filtration assay in a 96-well format using CHO-AT(1) cell membranes and 2 homogeneous assays, which include the commercially available ScreenReady Target for the AT(1) receptor and the wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) Flashplate, which was coated "in-house" with the CHO-AT(1) cell membranes. Receptors were labeled with [(125)I]-Sar(1)-Ile(8)-angiotensin II, and radioligand binding was displaced using the antagonist losartan and the natural agonist angiotensin II. Reproducible K(d), B(max), and K(i) values and good total binding/nonspecific binding (TB/NSB) ratios were obtained with both the ScreenReady Targets and the filtration assay, whereas the WGA Flashplates showed unacceptably high nonspecific binding and high variation when applied as a homogeneous assay. However, when applied as a heterogeneous assay (i.e., when a wash step at the end of the assay is included), the results were significantly better. Interestingly, ligand affinities were consistently lower in Flashplate-based assays than in the filtration assay. This may be due to the immobilization of the receptors onto the solid surface of the plate, affecting their conformation. In terms of reproducibility, robustness, and feasibility for HTS, the authors conclude that the ScreenReady Target plates are most suitable for AT(1) receptor binding screening.     

A rapid, homogeneous, fluorescence polarization binding assay for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma using a fluorescein-tagged dual PPARalpha/gamma activator

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and other members of the nuclear hormone receptor family are important drug targets for the treatment of metabolic diseases. PPARalpha and PPARgamma play crucial roles in lipid and glucose metabolism, respectively. Therefore, screening methods that help to rapidly identify activators of these receptors should be of considerable value. A homogeneous fluorescence polarization (FP) ligand binding assay capable of rapidly identifying ligands that bind to both PPARalpha and PPARgamma has been developed using purified PPARalpha or PPARgamma ligand binding domains and a fluorescein-labeled analog (FLA) of a potent dual PPARalpha/gamma activator. FLA activator showed good binding affinity toward both PPARalpha (K(i)=0.7microM) and PPARgamma (K(i)=0.4microM). The binding of FLA activator was rapid and reached a plateau within 10 min. The resulting FP signal was stable for at least 18h. The FP binding assay performed robustly in a 384-well format, and the average Z' value was 0.77. There was a good correlation between the binding potency (IC(50) values) and rank order of binding potency for a panel of standard PPAR ligands obtained in FP binding assay and scintillation proximity assay or gel filtration binding assays using (3)H-labeled PPARalpha (r(2)=0.99) and PPARgamma (r(2)=0.99) ligands. There was also a good correlation of IC(50) values obtained by FP binding assay and scintillation proximity assay for the clinically used PPAR activators. Thus, the FP binding assay with a single fluorescein-labeled PPARalpha/gamma dual activator offers a homogeneous nonradioactive, sensitive, robust, and less expensive high-throughput assay for detecting compounds that bind to both PPARgamma and PPARalpha. Using this FP binding assay, we have identified a large number of PPARalpha/gamma dual activators. A similar assay platform may be easily adapted to other members of the nuclear hormone receptor family.     

Detection of allosteric kinase inhibitors by displacement of active site probes

Non-adenosine triphosphate (ATP) competitive, allosteric inhibitors provide a promising avenue to develop highly selective small-molecule kinase inhibitors. Although this class of compounds is growing, detection of such inhibitors can be challenging as standard kinase activity assays preferentially detect compounds that bind to active kinases in an ATP competitive manner. We have previously described a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET)-based kinase binding assay using the competitive displacement of ATP competitive active site fluorescent probes ("tracers"). Although this format has gained acceptance, published data with this and related formats are almost entirely without examples of non-ATP competitive compounds. Thus, this study addresses whether this format is useful for non-ATP competitive inhibitors. To this end, 15 commercially available non-ATP competitive inhibitors were tested for their ability to displace ATP competitive probes. Despite the diversity of both compound structures and their respective targets, 14 of the 15 compounds displaced the tracers with IC(50) values comparable to literature values. We conclude that such binding assays are well suited for the study of non-ATP competitive inhibitors. In addition, we demonstrate that allosteric inhibitors of BCR-Abl and MEK bind preferentially to the nonphosphorylated (i.e., inactive) form of the kinase, indicating that binding assays may be a preferred format in some cases.     

Development and optimization of a binding assay for the XIAP BIR3 domain using fluorescence polarization

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is a potent cellular inhibitor of apoptosis. Designing small-molecule inhibitors that target the BIR3 domain of XIAP, where Smac/DIABLO (second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct IAP-binding protein with low pI) and caspase-9 bind, is a promising strategy for inhibiting the antiapoptotic activity of XIAP and for overcoming apoptosis resistance of cancer cells mediated by XIAP. Herein, we report the development of a homogeneous high-throughput assay based on fluorescence polarization for measuring the binding affinities of small-molecule inhibitors to the BIR3 domain of XIAP. Among four fluorescent probes tested, a mutated N-terminal Smac peptide (AbuRPFK-(5-Fam)-NH(2)) showed the highest affinity (Kd =17.92 nM) and a large dynamic range (deltamP = 231 +/- 0.9), and was selected as the most suitable probe for the binding assay. The binding conditions (DMSO tolerance and stability) have been investigated. Under optimized conditions, a Z' factor of 0.88 was achieved in a 96-well format for high-throughput screening. It was found that the popular Cheng-Prusoff equation is invalid for the calculation of the competitive inhibition constants (Ki values) for inhibitors in the FP-based competitive binding assay conditions, and accordingly, a new mathematical equation was developed, validated, and used to compute the Ki values. An associated Web-based computer program was also developed for this task. Several known Smac peptides with high and low affinities have been evaluated under the assay conditions and the results obtained indicated that the FP-based competitive binding assay performs correctly as designed: it can quantitatively and accurately determine the binding affinities of Smac-based peptide inhibitors with a wide range of affinities, and is suitable for high-throughput screening of inhibitors binding to the XIAP BIR3 domain.     

Potent and highly selective DP1 antagonists with 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazole as pharmacophore

We discovered that the introduction of a methyl group to the benzylic position of the N-benzyl group in lead compound 1a has a dramatic effect on improving the binding selectivity of this ligand for the prostanoid receptors DP1 (receptor for prostaglandin D(2)) as compared to TP (receptor for thromboxane A(2)). Based on this discovery, we have synthesized a series of potent and highly selective DP1 antagonists. Among them, compound 1h was identified as a highly selective DP1 antagonist with excellent overall properties. It has a K(i) of 0.43 nM to DP1 in binding assay and an IC(50) of 2.5 nM in the DP1 functional assay. Its selectivity for DP1 over TP (the most potent receptor after DP1) exceeds 750-fold based on both binding and functional assays. These properties make 1h a very potent and highly selective DP1 receptor antagonist suitable for investigating the biological functions of DP1 in normal physiology and models of disease.     

Oxime-based linker libraries as a general approach for the rapid generation and screening of multidentate inhibitors

The described oxime-based library protocol provides detailed procedures for the linkage of aminooxy functionality with aldehyde building blocks that result in the generation of libraries of multidentate inhibitors. Synthesis of inhibitors for protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) and antagonists directed against the human tumor susceptibility gene 101 (TSG101) are shown as examples. Three steps are involved: (i) the design and synthesis of aminooxy platforms; (ii) tethering with aldehydes to form oxime-based linkages with sufficient purity; and (iii) direct in vitro biological evaluation of oxime products without purification. Each coupling reaction is (i) performed in capped microtubes at room temperature (20-23 °C); (ii) diluted for inhibitory evaluation; and (iii) screened with targets in microplates to provide IC(50) or K(d) values. The synthesis of the aminooxy platforms takes 3-5 d; tethering with the aldehydes takes 24 h; and inhibition assay of enzymes and protein-protein interactions takes 30 min and 2 h, respectively.     

Acridone alkaloids as potent inhibitors of cathepsin V

Cathepsin V is a lysosomal cysteine peptidase highly expressed in thymus, testis and corneal epithelium. Eleven acridone alkaloids were isolated from Swinglea glutinosa (Bl.) Merr. (Rutaceae), with eight of them being identified as potent and reversible inhibitors of cathepsin V (IC(50) values ranging from 1.2 to 3.9 μM). Detailed mechanistic characterization of the effects of these compounds on the cathepsin V-catalyzed reaction showed clear competitive inhibition with respect to substrate, with dissociation constants (K(i)) in the low micromolar range (2, K(i)=1.2 μM; 6, K(i)=1.0 μM; 7, K(i)=0.2 μM; and 11, K(i)=1.7 μM). Molecular modeling studies provided important insight into the structural basis for binding affinity and enzyme inhibition. Experimental and computational approaches, including biological evaluation, mode of action assessment and modeling studies were successfully employed in the discovery of a small series of acridone alkaloid derivatives as competitive inhibitors of catV. The most potent inhibitor (7) has a K(i) value of 200 nM.     

Development of a scintillation proximity assay for human insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 compatible with inhibitor high-throughput screening

The insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 4 (IGFBP-4), which exists in many different tissues and biological fluids, modulates insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) bioavailability in part by competitive sequestration and prevention of interaction with cell membrane IGF-1 receptors. Accordingly, small molecules that inhibit the ability of IGF-1 to associate with IGFBP-4 may have clinical utility as regulators of cellular proliferation, survival, and differentiation. Currently, a polyethylene glycol-based precipitation of [(125)I]IGF-1 bound to IGFBP-4 is used to quantify selective IGFBP-4 ligand interactions. We have developed a novel 96-well plate scintillation proximity assay (SPA) for measuring small molecule interactions at IGFBP-4 using a biotinylated form of IGFBP-4 coupled to streptavidin-coated polyvinyltoluene (PVT) SPA microbeads and using [(125)I]IGF-1 as the endogenous ligand. Dose-displacement curves with unlabeled IGF-1 exhibited a mean K(d) value of 0.46 nM. Parallel studies using the nonselective IGFBP inhibitor, NBI-31772, generated a K(i) value of 47 nM. Under optimized conditions, the IGFBP-4 SPA was stable for up to 24h at room temperature and was unaffected by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO,<0.5%). This homogeneous binding assay is simple, stable, sensitive, and amenable to automation. The good signal/noise ratio (10:1) and Z' factor (0.7-0.8) make it compatible with high-throughput screening platforms for the identification of IGFBP-4 inhibitors. The IGFBP-4 binding assay may be expanded to other IGFBP members, in biotinylated form, to provide a powerful tool amenable to drug screening and the design of therapeutics to treat a variety of IGF-responsive diseases.     

A generic particle-based nonradioactive homogeneous multiplex method for high-throughput screening using microvolume fluorimetry.

We have developed a novel fluorescence-based homogeneous binding assay for high-throughput screening of chemical compounds. In this assay, a Cy5- or Cy5.5-labeled ligand binds to receptor immobilized on a particle, either a bead or a cell. The resulting localized signal can be detected by a modified microvolume fluorimeter (MVF). When a molecule which competes with the labeled ligand is present, the localized fluorescence on cells or beads is reduced. Image processing software enumerates events and analyzes fluorescence intensity. We describe MVF assays for the IL-1 and IL-5 receptors. Using synthetic peptides with a range of affinities for the IL-1 receptor, we obtained IC(50) data consistent with those determined by radioligand binding assays. Because the image processing software can discriminate among events with different diameters, we were able to develop a multiplex assay, in which the IL-1R and IL-5R assays were carried out in the same well with each receptor immobilized on a different size of bead. IC(50) values generated in the multiplex assay for ligands specific to each receptor were comparable to those determined independently. Finally, similar IC(50) values were obtained in a 16-microl volume in an 864-well plate. This homogeneous, nonradioactive, miniaturizable, and multiplex-capable assay holds much promise for screening of combinatorial libraries and compound collections.     

Screening, identification, and characterization of mechanistically diverse inhibitors of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme, pantothenate kinase (CoaA)

The authors describe the discovery of anti-mycobacterial compounds through identifying mechanistically diverse inhibitors of the essential Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) enzyme, pantothenate kinase (CoaA). Target-driven drug discovery technologies often work with purified enzymes, and inhibitors thus discovered may not optimally inhibit the form of the target enzyme predominant in the bacterial cell or may not be available at the desired concentration. Therefore, in addition to addressing entry or efflux issues, inhibitors with diverse mechanisms of inhibition (MoI) could be prioritized before hit-to-lead optimization. The authors describe a high-throughput assay based on protein thermal melting to screen large numbers of compounds for hits with diverse MoI. Following high-throughput screening for Mtb CoaA enzyme inhibitors, a concentration-dependent increase in protein thermal stability was used to identify true binders, and the degree of enhancement or reduction in thermal stability in the presence of substrate was used to classify inhibitors as competitive or non/uncompetitive. The thermal shift-based MoI assay could be adapted to screen hundreds of compounds in a single experiment as compared to traditional biochemical approaches for MoI determination. This MoI was confirmed through mechanistic studies that estimated K(ie) and K(ies) for representative compounds and through nuclear magnetic resonance-based ligand displacement assays.     

Temperature-sensitive differential affinity of TRAIL for its receptors. DR5 is the highest affinity receptor

TRAIL is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines which induces apoptotic cell death in a variety of tumor cell lines. It mediates its apoptotic effects through one of two receptors, DR4 and DR5, which are members of of the TNF receptor family, and whose cytoplasmic regions contain death domains. In addition, TRAIL also binds to 3 "decoy" receptors, DcR2, a receptor with a truncated death domain, DcR1, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored receptor, and OPG a secreted protein which is also known to bind to another member of the TNF family, RANKL. However, although apoptosis depends on the expression of one or both of the death domain containing receptors DR4 and/or DR5, resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis does not correlate with the expression of the "decoy" receptors. Previously, TRAIL has been described to bind to all its receptors with equivalent high affinities. In the present work, we show, by isothermal titration calorimetry and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, that the rank order of affinities of TRAIL for the recombinant soluble forms of its receptors is strongly temperature dependent. Although DR4, DR5, DcR1, and OPG show similar affinities for TRAIL at 4 degrees C, their rank-ordered affinities are substantially different at 37 degrees C, with DR5 having the highest affinity (K(D) 相似文献   

LED fluorescence spectroscopy for direct determination of monoamine oxidase B inactivation

In this work, we report an alternative assay for the determination of the inhibitory effect on monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity of probe compounds. Enzyme MAO-B exhibits fluorescence emissions when it is excited at 412 nm. Using an inexpensive blue LED-like excitation source, we measured the quenching of fluorescence intensity of MAO-B enzyme during the reaction with inhibitors. The applicability of the procedure is demonstrated by assays with l-deprenyl and berberine as inhibitors through the use of fluorescence studies. The IC(50) values of l-deprenyl and berberine were 0.04 and 90 microM, respectively. The K(I) values were 0.020 and 47 microM for l-deprenyl and berberine, respectively. These IC(50) and K(I) values were similar to the values obtained with a standard method. These results demonstrate the feasibility of this method as an alternative to follow the inhibitory effect on MAO-B.