Chromone containing sulfonamides as potent carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

A series of sulfonamide derivatives incorporating substituted 3-formylchromone moieties were investigated for the inhibition of three human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, hCA I, II, and VI. All these compounds, together with the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, were investigated as inhibitors of the physiologically relevant isozymes I, II (cytosolic), and VI (secreted isoform). These sulfonamides showed effective inhibition against all these isoforms with K_I’s in the range of 0.228 to 118 µM. Such molecules can be used as leads for discovery of novel effective CA inhibitors against other isoforms with medicinal chemistry applications.     

Effects of dopaminergic compounds on carbonic anhydrase isozymes I, II, and VI

Studies on carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors have increased due to several therapeutic applications while there are few investigations on activators. Here we investigated CA inhibitory and activatory capacities of a series of dopaminergic compounds on human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isozymes I, II, and VI. 2-Amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-6,7-diol hydrobromide and 2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-5,6-diol hydrobromide were found to show effective inhibitory action on hCA I and II whereas 2-amino-5,6-dibromoindan hydrobromide and 2-amino-5-bromoindan hydrobromide exhibited only moderate inhibition against both isoforms, being more effective inhibitors of hCA VI. K(i) values of the molecules 3-6 were in the range of 41.12-363 μM against hCA I, of 0.381-470 μM against hCA II and of 0.578-1.152 μM against hCA VI, respectively. Compound 7 behaved as a CA activator with K(A) values of 27.3 μM against hCA I, of 18.4 μM against hCA II and of 8.73 μM against hCA VI, respectively.     

Synthesis and inhibition potency of novel ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating GABA as tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

New ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating a GABA moiety as a linker between the ureido and the sulfonamide functionalities were synthesized and their inhibition potency determined against both the predominant cytosolic (hCA I and II) and the transmembrane tumor-associated (hCA IX and XII) isoforms of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). The majority of these compounds were medium potency inhibitors of the cytosolic isoform hCA I and effective hCA II inhibitors, whereas they showed strong inhibition of the two transmembrane tumor-associated isoforms hCA IX and XII, with K_Is in nanomolar range. Only one derivative had a good selectivity for inhibition of the tumor-associated hCA IX target isoform over the cytosolic and physiologically dominant off-target hCA I and II, being thus a potential tool to develop new anticancer agents.     

Synthesis and carbonic anhydrase I,II, IV and XII inhibitory properties of N-protected amino acid – sulfonamide conjugates

N-protected amino acids (Gly, Ala and Phe protected with Boc and Z groups) were reacted with sulfonamide derivatives, leading to the corresponding N-protected amino acid–sulfonamide conjugates. The carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory activity of the new compounds was assessed against four human (h) isoforms, hCA I, hCA II, hCA IV and hCA XII. Among them, hCA II, IV and XII are antiglaucoma drug targets, being involved in aqueous humor secretion within the eye. Low nanomolar inhibition was measured against all four isoforms with the 20 reported sulfonamides, but no selective inhibitory profiles, except for some CA XII-selective derivatives, were observed. hCA I, II and XII were generally better inhibited by sulfonamides incorporating longer scaffolds and Gly/Ala, whereas the best hCA IV inhibitors were homosulfanilamide derivatives, incorporating Phe moieties. The amino acid–sulfonamide conjugates show good water solubility and effective hCA II, IV and XII inhibition, and may be considered as interesting candidates for antiglaucoma studies.     

Effects of dopaminergic compounds on carbonic anhydrase isozymes I,II, and VI

Studies on carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors have increased due to several therapeutic applications while there are few investigations on activators. Here we investigated CA inhibitory and activatory capacities of a series of dopaminergic compounds on human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) isozymes I, II, and VI. 2-Amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-6,7-diol hydrobromide and 2-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-5,6-diol hydrobromide were found to show effective inhibitory action on hCA I and II whereas 2-amino-5,6-dibromoindan hydrobromide and 2-amino-5-bromoindan hydrobromide exhibited only moderate inhibition against both isoforms, being more effective inhibitors of hCA VI. K_i values of the molecules 3–6 were in the range of 41.12–363 μM against hCA I, of 0.381–470 μM against hCA II and of 0.578–1.152 μM against hCA VI, respectively. Compound 7 behaved as a CA activator with K_A values of 27.3 μM against hCA I, of 18.4 μM against hCA II and of 8.73 μM against hCA VI, respectively.     

Synthesis of 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine-2,5-dione and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives and evaluation of the carbonic anhydrase I and II inhibition

Abstract

The inhibition of two human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I and II, with some 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine-2,5-dione and 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, were investigated by using the esterase assay, with 4-nitrophenyl acetate (4-NPA) as substrate. Compounds 10–13 showed K_I values in the range of 112.7–441.5?μM for hCA I and of 3.5–10.76?μM against hCA II, respectively. These hydroxyl group containing compounds generally were competitive inhibitors. Some hydroxyl group containing compounds investigated here showed effective hCA II inhibitory effects, in the same range as the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors possibly targeting other CA isoforms which have not been yet assayed for their interactions with such agents.     

Quinazoline–sulfonamides with potent inhibitory activity against the α-carbonic anhydrase from Vibrio cholerae

Thirteen novel sulfonamide derivatives incorporating the quinazoline scaffold were synthesized by simple, eco-friendly procedures. These compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the α-carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) from Vibrio cholerae (VchCA) as well as the human α-CA isoforms, hCA I and hCA II. Nine compounds were highly effective, nanomolar inhibitors of the pathogenic enzyme VchCA. Three of them were also highly effective sub-nanomolar inhibitors of the cytosolic isoform II. The best VchCA inhibitor had a K_I of 2.7 nM. Many of these developed compounds showed high selectivity for inhibition of the bacterial over the mammalian CA isoforms, with one compound possessing selectivity ratios as high as 97.9 against hCA I and 9.7 against hCA II. Compound 9d was another highly effective VchCA inhibitor presenting a selectivity ratio of 99.1 and 8.1 against hCA I and hCA II, respectively. These results suggest that sulfonamides with quinazoline backbone could be considered suitable tools to better understand the role of bacterial CAs in pathogenesis.     

Synthesis and carbonic anhydrase I,II, VII,and IX inhibition studies with a series of benzo[d]thiazole-5- and 6-sulfonamides

A series of benzo[d]thiazole-5- and 6-sulfonamides has been synthesized and investigated for the inhibition of several human (h) carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, using ethoxzolamide (EZA) as lead molecule. 2-Amino-substituted, 2-acylamino- and halogenated (bromo-and iodo-derivatives at the heterocyclic ring) compounds led to several interesting inhibitors against the cytosolic hCA I, II and VII, as well as the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX isoforms. Several subnanomolar/low nanomolar, isoform-selective sulfonamide inhibitors targeting hCA II, VII and IX were detected. The sharp structure–activity relationship for CA inhibition with this small series of derivatives, with important changes of activity observed even after minor changes in the scaffold or at the 2-amino moiety, make this class of scarcely investigated sulfonamides of particular interest for further investigations.     

Metronidazole-coumarin conjugates and 3-cyano-7-hydroxy-coumarin act as isoform-selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Reaction of 6-/7-hydroxycoumarin with metronidazole afforded conjugates which incorporate two interesting chemotypes which may inhibit carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) due to the presence of the coumarin moiety and possess radiosensitizing effects due to the presence of the nitroazole. Another dual action compound, which may act both as CA inhibitor as well as monocarboxylate transporter inhibitor, is 3-cyano-7-hydroxy-coumarin. These compounds have been investigated as inhibitors of 11 human CA isoforms. Submicromolar inhibition was observed against hCA VA, hCA VB, hCA VI, hCA VII, hCA IX, hCA XII and hCA XIV, whereas isoforms hCA I, II and XIII were not inhibited by these compounds. These coumarins thus act as isoform-selective CA inhibitors with the possibility to target isoforms involved in pathologies such as obesity (CA VA/VB) or cancer (CA IX and XII) without inhibiting the physiologically dominant, highly abundant hCA I and II.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of human erythrocyte isozymes I and II with a series of antioxidant phenols

The inhibition of two human cytosolic carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes I and II, with a series of phenol derivatives was investigated by using the esterase assay, with 4-nitrophenyl acetate as substrate. 2,6-Dimethylphenol, 2,6-diisopropylphenol (propofol), 2,6-di-t-butylphenol, butylated hydroxytoluene, butylated hydroxyanisole, vanillin, guaiacol, di(2,6-dimethylphenol), di(2,6-diisopropylphenol), di(2,6-di-t-butylphenol), and acetazolamide showed K_I values in the range of 37.5–274.5 μM for hCA I and of 0.29–113.5 μM against hCA II, respectively. All these phenols were non-competitive inhibitors with 4-nitrophenylacetate as substrate. Some antioxidant phenol derivatives investigated here showed effective hCA II inhibitory effects, in the same range as the clinically used sulfonamide acetazolamide, and might be used as leads for generating enzyme inhibitors possibly targeting other CA isoforms which have not been yet assayed for their interactions with such agents.     

Inhibition of human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I–XIV with sulfonamides incorporating fluorine and 1,3,5-triazine moieties

Reaction of cyanuryl fluoride with sulfanilamide or 4-aminoethylbenzenesulfonamide afforded triazinyl-substituted benzenesulfonamides incorporating fluorine, which were further derivatized by reaction with amines, amino alcohols, amino acids or amino acid esters. Inhibition studies of all the human (h) carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, hCA I–XIV with these compounds revealed that they show moderate-weak inhibition of hCA III, IV, VA and XIII, rather moderate inhibition against hCA I, VI, and IX, and excellent inhibition of the physiologically relevant hCA II, VII and XII. The inhibition profile of these fluorine containing triazinyl sulfonamides is thus very different from the corresponding analogs incorporating chlorine, which were previously investigated as inhibitors of some of these enzymes.     

In vitro inhibition of α-carbonic anhydrase isozymes by some phenolic compounds

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are a class of pharmaceuticals used as antiglaucoma agents, diuretics, antiepileptics, in the management of mountain sickness, gastric and duodenal ulcers, neurological disorders or osteoporosis. We report here the inhibitory capacities of some phenolic compounds against three human CA isozymes (hCA I, hCA II, and hCA VI) and the gill carbonic anhydrase of the teleost fish Dicentrarchus labrax (European seabass) (dCA). The isozymes showed quite diverse inhibition profiles with these compounds. These data may lead to design novel CAIs with a diverse inhibition mechanism compared to sulfonamide/sulfamate inhibitors.     

Superacid synthesis of halogen containing N-substituted-4-aminobenzene sulfonamides: New selective tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

A series of new, halogen containing N-substituted 4-aminobenzenesulfonamides were synthesized by using superacid HF/SbF₅ chemistry and investigated as inhibitors of several human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, that is, the cytosolic hCA I and II and, the tumor-associated transmembrane isoforms hCA IX and XII. Despite the substitution of the sulfonamide function, the presence of fluorine atom(s) in β position of the sulfonamide function strongly favors hCA inhibition. A similar effect of the β-fluorinated alkyl substitution on the amino function has been also observed. Among the tested compounds, several chlorinated derivatives have been identified as selective nanomolar, tumor-associated isoforms inhibitors. These non-primary sulfonamides probably bind in the coumarin-binding site, at the entrance of the cavity, and not to the metal ion as the primary sulfonamide inhibitors.     

Conformational variability of different sulfonamide inhibitors with thienyl-acetamido moieties attributes to differential binding in the active site of cytosolic human carbonic anhydrase isoforms

The X-ray crystal structures of the adducts of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) II complexed with two aromatic sulfonamides incorporating 2-thienylacetamido moieties are reported here. Although, the two inhibitors only differ by the presence of an additional 3-fluoro substituent on the 4-amino-benzenesulfonamide scaffold, their inhibition profiles against the cytosolic isoforms hCA I, II, III, VII and XIII are quite different. These differences were rationalized based on the obtained X-ray crystal structures, and their comparison with other sulfonamide CA inhibitors with clinical applications, such as acetazolamide, methazolamide and dichlorophenamide. The conformations of the 2-thienylacetamido tails in the hCA II adducts of the two sulfonamides were highly different, although the benzenesulfonamide parts were superimposable. Specific interactions between structurally different inhibitors and amino acid residues present only in some considered isoforms have thus been evidenced. These findings can explain the high affinity of the 2-thienylacetamido benzenesulfonamides for some pharmacologically relevant CAs (i.e., isoforms II and VII) being also useful to design high affinity, more selective sulfonamide inhibitors of various CAs.     

Pyrazolylbenzo[d]imidazoles as new potent and selective inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isoforms hCA IX and XII

Novel pyrazolylbenzo[d]imidazole derivatives (2a–2f) were designed, synthesized and evaluated against four human carbonic anhydrase isoforms belonging to α family comprising of two cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II as well as two transmembrane tumor associated isoforms hCA IX and XII. Starting from these derivatives that showed high potency but low selectivity in favor of tumor associated isoforms hCA IX and XII, we investigated the impact of removing the sulfonamide group. Thus, analogs 3a–3f without sulfonamide moiety were synthesized and biological assay revealed a good activity as well as an excellent selectivity as inhibitors for tumor associated hCA IX and hCA XII and the same was analyzed by molecular docking studies.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the cytosolic and tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isozymes I, II, and IX with a series of 1,3,4-thiadiazole- and 1,2,4-triazole-thiols

A series of heterocyclic mercaptans incorporating 1,3,4-thiadiazole- and 1,2,4-triazole rings have been prepared and assayed for the inhibition of three physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes, the cytosolic human isozymes I and II, and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX. Against hCA I the investigated thiols showed inhibition constants in the range of 97 nM to 548 microM, against hCA II in the range of 7.9-618 microM, and against hCA IX in the range of 9.3-772 microM. Thiadiazoles were generally more active than triazoles against all investigated isozymes. Generally, the best inhibitors were the simple derivative 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol and its N-acetylated derivative, which were anyhow at least two orders of magnitude less effective inhibitors when compared to the corresponding sulfonamides, acetazolamide, and its deacetylated derivative. An exception was constituted by 5-(2-pyridylcarboxamido)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol, which is the first hCA I-selective inhibitor ever reported, possessing an inhibition constant of 97 nM against isozyme I, and being a 105 times less effective hCA II inhibitor, and 3154 times less effective hCA IX inhibitor. Thus, the thiol moiety may lead to effective CA inhibitors targeting isozyme I, whereas it is a less effective zinc-binding function for the design of CA II and CA IX inhibitors over the sulfonamide group.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. N-cyanomethylsulfonamides--a new zinc binding group in the design of inhibitors targeting cytosolic and membrane-anchored isoforms

A series of N-cyanomethyl aromatic sulfonamides and bis-sulfonamides was prepared by reaction of arylsulfonyl halides with aminoacetonitrile. The obtained derivatives incorporated various aryl moieties, such as 4-halogeno/alkyl/aryl/nitro-substituted-phenyl, pentafluorophenyl or 2-naphthyl. Moderate inhibitory activity was detected for some compounds against the cytosolic human isoform II of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), hCA II, with inhibition constants of 90, 180 and 560n M for the 4-nitrophenyl-, 4-iodophenyl- and pentafluorophenyl-N-cyanomethylsulfonamides, respectively. Other derivatives acted as weak inhibitors of isoforms hCA I (KIs of 720 nM-45 microM), hCA II (KIs of 1000-9800 nM) and hCA IX (KIs of 900-10200 nM). Thus, the N-cyanomethylsulfonamide zinc binding group is less effective than the sulfonamide, sulfamate or sulfamide ones for the design of effective CA inhibitors.     

Discovery of novel 1,3-diaryltriazene sulfonamides as carbonic anhydrase I,II, VII,and IX inhibitors

A series of new 1,3-diaryltriazene sulfonamides was synthesised by reaction of diazonium salt of metanilamide (3-aminobenzene sulfonamide) with substituted aromatic amines. The obtained new compounds were assayed as inhibitors of four physiologically and pharmacologically relevant human (h) isoforms of carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), specifically, hCA I, hCA II, and hCA VII (cytosolic isoforms), as well as the tumour-associated membrane-bound isoform hCA IX. All isoforms investigated here were inhibited by the newly synthesised 1,3-diaryltriazene sulfonamide derivatives from the micromolar to the nanomolar range. The cytosolic isoforms were inhibited with K_is in the range of 92.3–8371.1?nM (hCA I), 4.3–9194.0?nM (hCA II), and 15.6–9477.8?nM (hCA VII), respectively. For the membrane-bound tumour-associated isoform hCA IX, the K_I-s ranged between 50.8 and 9268.5?nM. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) with these newly synthesised metanilamide derivatives are discussed in detail.     

Synthesis of 4-sulfamoylphenyl-benzylamine derivatives with inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IX and XII

Imine derivatives were obtained by condensation of sulfanilamide with substituted aromatic aldehydes. The Schiff bases were thereafter reduced with sodium borohydride, leading to the corresponding amines, derivatives of 4-sulfamoylphenyl-benzylamine. These sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated enzymes). We noted that the compounds incorporating secondary amine moieties showed a better inhibitory activity against all CA isozymes compared to the corresponding Schiff bases. Low nanomolar CA II, IX and XII inhibitors were detected, whereas the activity against hCA I was less potent. The secondary amines incorporating sulfonamide or similar zinc-binding groups, poorly investigated chemotypes for designing metalloenzyme inhibitors, may offer interesting opportunities in the field due to the facile preparation and possibility to explore a vast chemical space.     

Inhibition studies of new ureido-substituted sulfonamides incorporating a GABA moiety against human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I–XIV

Reaction of γ-Boc-GABA, prepared by protecting the γ-amino moiety of the amino butyric acid with the tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protecting group, with 4-methyl/ethyl benzenesulfonamide, followed by removal of the Boc protecting group in 3 M HCl afforded the corresponding hydrochlorides, which were further derivatized by reaction with a varying of aryl isocyanates to give a new classes of ureido substituted benzenesulfonamide containing a GABA moiety. Inhibition studies of the human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, CA I–XIV with these new compounds revealed that they possess moderate–weak inhibition potency against hCA III, IV, VA, VI and XIII, rather efficient inhibitory power against hCA I, VI, and IX, and excellent inhibition of the physiologically relevant hCA II and VII, as well as of the two tumor-associated isoforms CA IX and XII. The inhibition profile of the new ureido-substituted benzenesulfonamides reported here is thus very different from the corresponding ureido-substituted analogs incorporating sulfanilamide, which were previously investigated as inhibitors of some of these enzymes.