Synthesis of 8-aminoadenosine 5'-(aminoalkyl phosphates), analogues of aminoacyl adenylates

A short and efficient route for the synthesis of aminoalkyl 8-aminoadenylates, potential aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors, is presented. Aminoalkyl 8-aminoadenylates were synthesized using a 5'-H-phosphonate strategy involving minimal protecting group manipulations and a single final deprotection step.     

Evidence for single mechanism for aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases including aminoacyl adenylates as intermediates.

The rate of transfer of amino acid from enzyme-bound aminoacyl adenylate to tRNA has been compared with the rate of esterification of free amino acid. The approach of L?vgren et al. (L?vgren, T. N. E., Heinonen, J., and Loftfield, R. B. (1975) J. Biol. Chem. 250, 3854-3860) was used, with 14C in the aminoacyl adenylate and 3H in the free amino acid and with both the lysine and isoleucine systems of Escherichia coli. In both systems kinetic analyses show more rapid transfer from the preformed enzyme complex when interference by the back reaction with inorganic pyrophosphate was eliminated. Parallel experiments, in which the amount of enzyme complex was measured, confirmed that aminoacyl adenylate is an intermediate in both systems. No evidence was found for an alternative mechanism.     

Phosphonate analogues of cyclopropavir phosphates and their E-isomers. Synthesis and antiviral activity

Z- and E-Phosphonate analogues 12 and 13 derived from cyclopropavir and the corresponding cyclic phosphonates 14 and 15 were synthesized and their antiviral activity was investigated. The 2,2-bis(hydroxymethylmethylenecyclopropane acetate (17) was transformed to tetrahydropyranyl acetate 18. Deacetylation gave intermediate 19 which was converted to bromide 20. Alkylation with diisopropyl methylphosphonate afforded after protecting group exchange (21 to 22) acetylated phosphonate intermediate 22. Addition of bromine gave the dibromo derivative 16 which was used in the alkylation–elimination procedure with 2-amino-6-chloropurine to give Z- and E-isomers 23 and 24. Hydrolytic dechlorination coupled with removal of all protecting groups gave the guanine phosphonates 12 and 13. Cyclization afforded the cyclic phosphonates 14 and 15. Z-Phosphonate 12 was a potent and non-cytotoxic inhibitor of human and murine cytomegalovirus (HCMV and MCMV) with EC₅₀ 2.2–2.7 and 0.13 μM, respectively. It was also an effective agent against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV, EC₅₀ 3.1 μM). The cyclic phosphonate 14 inhibited HCMV (EC₅₀ 2.4–11.5 μM) and MCMV (EC₅₀ 0.4 μM) but it was ineffective against EBV. Both phosphonates 12 and 14 were as active against two HCMV Towne strains with mutations in UL97 as they were against wild-type HCMV thereby circumventing resistance due to such mutations. Z-Phosphonate 12 was a moderate inhibitor of replication of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) but it was a potent agent against varicella zoster virus (VZV, EC₅₀ 2.9 μM). The cyclic phosphonate 14 lacked significant potency against these viruses. E-isomers 13 and 15 were devoid of antiviral activity.     

Phosphonate and phosphinate analogues of N-acylated gamma-glutamylglutamate. potent inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II

Phosphonate and phosphinate analogues of N-acylated gamma-glutamylglutamate were tested for the ability to inhibit glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II). All of the compounds inhibit GCP II with IC(50) values in the low nanomolar range. The comparison of the results to previously reported inhibitory studies of the same compounds toward folylpoly-gamma-glutamyl synthetase (FPGS) and gamma-glutamyl hydrolase (gamma-GH) provides insight into structural and mechanistic features of each enzyme. Potential utility of these compounds as diagnostic agents and probes to understand folate or antifolate poly-gamma-glutamates metabolism is also described.     

Phosphonate analogues of carboxypeptidase A substrates are potent transition-state analogue inhibitors

Analogues of tri- and tetrapeptide substrates of carboxypeptidase A in which the scissile peptide linkage is replaced with a phosphonate moiety (-PO2--O-) were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the enzyme. The inhibitors terminated with either L-lactate or L-phenyllactate [designated (O) Ala and (O) Phe, respectively] in the P1' position. Transition-state analogy was shown for a series of 14 tri- and tetrapeptide derivatives containing the structure RCO-AlaP-(O)Ala [RCO-AP(O)A, AP indicates the phosphonic acid analogue of alanine] by the correlation of the Ki values for the inhibitors and the Km/kcat values for the corresponding amide substrates. This correlation supports a transition state for the enzymatic reaction that resembles the tetrahedral intermediate formed upon addition of water to the scissile carbonyl group. The inhibitors containing (O) Phe at the P1' position proved to be the most potent reversible inhibitors of carboxypeptidase A reported to date: the dissociation constants of ZAFP(O)F, ZAAP(O)F, and ZFAP(O)F are 4, 3, and 1 pM, respectively. Because of the high affinity of these inhibitors, their dissociation constants could not be determined by steady-state methods. Instead, the course of the association and dissociation processes was monitored for each inhibitor as its equilibrium with the enzyme was established in both the forward and reverse directions. A phosphonamidate analogue, ZAAPF, in which the peptide linkage is replaced with a -PO2-NH- moiety, was prepared and shown to hydrolyze rapidly at neutral pH (t1/2 = 20 min at pH 7.5). This inhibitor is bound an order of magnitude less tightly than the corresponding phosphonate, ZAAP(O)F, a result that contrasts with the 840-fold higher affinity of phosphonamidates for thermolysin [Bartlett, P. A., & Marlowe, C. K. (1987) Science 235, 569-571], a zinc peptidase with a similar arrangement of active-site catalytic residues.     

Aminoalkyl adenylate and aminoacyl sulfamate intermediate analogues differing greatly in affinity for their cognate Staphylococcus aureus aminoacyl tRNA synthetases

Aminoalkyl adenylates and aminoacyl sulfamates derived from arginine, histidine and threonine, have been prepared and tested as inhibitors of their cognate Staphylococcus aureus aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. The arginyl derivatives were both potent nanomolar inhibitors of the Class I arginyl tRNA synthetase whereas for the Class II histidyl and threonyl tRNA synthetases, the acyl sulfamates were potent inhibitors but the adenylates had very little affinity.     

Phosphonate and thiophosphate nucleotide analogues in studies of some enzyme reactions

Enzymes which cleave P-O bonds can be blocked by phosphonate analogues of biological phosphates. alpha-Fluorophosphonates are more electronegative at the bridging carbon than simple methylenephosphonates which improves their use for the study of enzymes. Thus, the beta,gamma-difluoromethylene analogue of ATP is a viable substrate for (2----5)An synthetase which converts it into (2----5)An species having a 5'-beta,gamma-difluoromethylene-trisphosphate. This binds strongly to RNase L but does not activate it. The unsymmetrical Ap4Aases from Artemia and lupin are strongly inhibited by P2,P3-fluoromethylenebisphosphonate- and by P1,P4-dithiophosphate-analogues of diadenosyl-5',5"-P1,P4-tetraphosphate while anomalous, non-regiospecific cleavage of some P2,P3-bridged mimics is observed. Certain such analogues inhibit both platelet aggregation in vitro and arterial blood-clotting in rabbits. Separation of the diastereo-isomers of P1,P4-dithiophosphate analogues of Ap4A is achieved using reverse-phase hplc which provides direct access to beta,gamma-CHF-bridged analogues of ATP with resolved stereochemistry at the CHF centre.     

Deoxyribosyl analogues of methionyl and isoleucyl sulfamate adenylates as inhibitors of methionyl-tRNA and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases

2'-Deoxy, 3'-deoxy, and 2',3'-dideoxyribosyl surrogates of isoleucyl and methionyl sulfamate adenylates have been investigated to identify the pharmacophoric importance of the ribose group for the inhibition of Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNA (MRS) and isoleucyl-tRNA (IRS) synthetases. Molecular modeling of 2',3'-dideoxyribosyl Met-NHSO2-AMP (9) with the crystal structure of E. coli MRS revealed that the lack of the two hydroxyl groups on ribose was compensated by the formation of an extra hydrogen bond between the ring oxygen and His24, resulting in a small activity reduction.     

Ester and hydroxamate analogues of methionyl and isoleucyl adenylates as inhibitors of methionyl-tRNA and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases

The structure activity relationship on a series of ester and hydroxamate analogues of methionyl and isoleucyl adenylate has been investigated through introducing linkers between the 1'-position of ribose and adenine surrogates as methionyl-tRNA, and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase inhibitors, respectively. The results indicate that ester analogue 23 was found to be a potent inhibitor of Escherichia coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase, and its interaction with the active site was proposed by a molecular modeling study.     

The inhibition of peptidyl transferase activity by aminoacyl derivatives of some nucleoside aliphatic analogues

Aminoacyl (Phe, Gly) derivatives of nucleoside aliphatic analogues bearing a hydroxyalkyl chain have been prepared by the condensation of the alcohols with N-benzyloxycarbonyl-amino acid in the presence of DCC followed by hydrogenolysis in methanol. These compounds inhibit peptidyl transferase activity and binding of acceptor substrate to E. coli ribosomes. The inhibitory activity is not much affected by the nature of either the aminoacyl or the heterocyclic base residue. In the transfer reaction, no peptide bond formation occurs with the above compounds as acceptors.     

Phosphonate utilization by bacteria.

Bacteria able to use at least one of 13 ionic alkylphosphonates of O-alkyl or O,O-dialkyl alkylphosphonates as phosphorus sources were isolated from sewage and soil. Four of these isolates used 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) as a sole carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus source. None of the other phosphonates served as a carbon source for the organisms. One isolate, identified as Pseudomonas putida, grew with AEP as its sole carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus source and released nearly all of the organic phosphorus as orthophosphate and 72% of the AEP nitrogen as ammonium. This is the first demonstration of utilization of a phosphonoalkyl moiety as a sole carbon source. Cell-free extracts of P. putida contained an inducible enzyme system that required pyruvate and pyridoxal phosphate to release orthophosphate from AEP; acetaldehyde was tentatively identified as a second product. Phosphite inhibited the enzyme system.     

N-Alkoxysulfamide,N-hydroxysulfamide,and sulfamate analogues of methionyl and isoleucyl adenylates as inhibitors of methionyl-tRNA and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetases

A series of sulfamate surrogates of methionyl and isoleucyl adenylate have been investigated as MetRS and IleRS inhibitors by modifications of the sulfamate linker and adenine moieties. The discovery of 2-iodo Ile-NHSO(2)-AMP (58) as a potent Escherichia coli IleRS inhibitor revealed that a significant hydrophobic interaction between the 2-substituent of Ile-NHSO(2)-AMP and the adenine binding site of IleRS provided its high potency to the enzyme.     

The interactions of adenylates with allosteric citrate synthase.

Evidence is presented that a number of derivatives of adenylic acid may bind to the allosteric NADH binding site of Escherichia coli citrate synthase. This evidence includes the facts that all the adenylates inhibit NADH binding in a competitive manner and that those which have been tested protect an enzyme sulfhydryl group from reaction with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in the same way that NADH does. However, whereas NADH is a potent inhibitor of citrate synthase, most of the adenylates are activators. The best activator, ADP-ribose, increases the affinity of the enzyme for the substrate, acetyl-CoA, and saturates the enzyme in a sigmoid manner. A fluorescence technique, involving the displacement of 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate from its complex with citrate synthase, is used to obtain saturation curves for several nucleotides under nonassay conditions. It is found that acetyl-coenzyme A, coenzyme A, and ADP-ribose all bind to the enzyme cooperatively, and that the binding of each becomes tighter in the presence of KCl, the activator, and oxaloacetic acid (OAA), the second substrate. Another inhibitor, alpha-ketoglutarate, can complete with OAA in the absence of KCl but not in its presence. The nature of the allosteric site of citrate synthase, and the modes of action of several activators and inhibitors, are discussed in the light of this evidence.