Inhibition of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase by alpha- and gamma-substituted phosphinothricins

We have investigated the inhibition of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase (GS) with alpha- and gamma-substituted analogues of phosphinothricin [L-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid (PPT)], a naturally occurring inhibitor of GS. These compounds display inhibition of bacterial GS that is competitive vs L-glutamate, with Ki values in the low micromolar range. At concentrations greater than Ki the phosphinothricins caused time-dependent loss of enzyme activity, while dilution after enzyme inactivation resulted in recovery of enzyme activity. ATP was required for inactivation; the nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue AMP-PCP failed to support inhibition of GS by the phosphinothricins. The binding of these inhibitors to the enzyme was also characterized by measurement of changes in protein fluorescence, which provided similar inactivation rate constants k1 and k2 for the entire series of compounds. Rate constants koff for recovery were also determined by fluorescence measurement and were comparable for both PPT and the gamma-hydroxylated analogue GHPPT and significantly greater for the alpha- and gamma-alkyl-substituted compounds. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra provided information on the interaction of the phosphinothricins with the manganese form of the enzyme in the absence of ATP, and significant binding was observed for PPT and GHPPT. 31P NMR experiments confirmed that enzyme inactivation is accompanied by hydrolysis of ATP, although phosphorylated phosphinothricins could not be detected in solution. The kinetic behavior of these compounds is consistent with a mechanism involving inhibitor phosphorylation, followed by release from the active site and simultaneous hydrolysis to form Pi and free inhibitor.     

Inhibition of plant glutamine synthetases by substituted phosphinothricins

Glutamine synthetase (GS) utilizes various substituted glutamic acids as substrates. We have used this information to design herbicidal α- and γ-substituted analogs of phosphinothricin (l-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethylphosphinyl)butanoic acid, PPT), a naturally occurring GS inhibitor and a potent herbicide. The substituted phosphinothricins inhibit cytosolic sorghum GS₁ and chloroplastic GS₂ competitively versusl-glutamate, with K_i values in the low micromolar range. At higher concentrations, these inhibitors inactivate glutamine synthetase, while dilution restores activity through enzyme-inhibitor dissociation. Herbicidal phosphinothricins exhibit low K_i values and slow enzyme turnover, as described by reactivation characteristics. Both the GS₁ and GS₂ isoforms of plant glutamine synthetase are similarly inhibited by the phosphinothricins, consistent with the broad-spectrum herbicidal activity observed for PPT itself as well as other active compounds in this series.     

Computer-aided analysis of the interactions of glutamine synthetase with its inhibitors

Mechanism of inhibition of glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2; GS) by phosphinothricin and its analogues was studied in some detail using molecular modeling methods. Among three possible conformations of phosphinothricin in the active site of GS, this compatible with binding mode of methionine sulfoximine, determined recently by crystallography, was found to be energetically favored. Basing on these results eleven inhibitors of GS were docked into its active site. Taking into consideration that phosphinothricin acts as suicide inhibitor, which is due to phosphorylation by the enzyme, seven of studied analogues were additionally analyzed in their phosphorylated forms. All the inhibitor-enzyme complexes were evaluated quantitatively by using eight scoring functions implemented in Insight and Sybyl program packages and significant correlation between the obtained scores and experimental pK(i) values was achieved. Computed surface charge distribution for five selected inhibitors in both free and phosphorylated forms and their comparison with electronic structure of enzymatic reaction transition state allowed us to determine important electronic features required to construct potent inhibitors of glutamine synthetase.     

Active site directed inhibition of a cytosolic beta-glucosidase from calf liver by bromoconduritol B epoxide and bromoconduritol F

Hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside by cytosolic beta-glucosidase proceeds with retention of the anomeric configuration. Whereas inactivation of the enzyme by the glucosidase inhibitor conduritol B epoxide (CBE) was extremely slow (ki(max)/Ki 0.57 M-1 min-1) it reacted 130 times more rapidly with 6-bromo-6-deoxy-CBE (Br-CBE). The beta-glucosidase could be labeled with [3H]Br-CBE; incorporation of 1 mol inhibitor/mol enzyme resulted in complete loss of activity. Most of the bound inhibitor was released after denaturation and treatment with ammonia as (1,3,4/2,5,6)-6-bromocyclohexanepentol, thus demonstrating the formation of an ester bond with an active site carboxylate by trans-diaxial opening of the epoxide ring. It was concluded from the Ki values for the epoxide inhibitors and for coduritol B with the cytosolic enzyme and corresponding data for the lysosomal beta-glucosidase that the unusually low reactivity with CBE and Br-CBE is probably due to the inability of the cytosolic enzyme to effectively donate a proton to the epoxide oxygen. An extremely rapid inactivation of the cytosolic beta-glucosidase was caused by bromoconduritol F ((1,2,4/3)-1-bromo-2,3,4-trihydroxycyclohex-5-ene) with ki(max)/Ki 10(5) M-1 min-1. In contrast with the Br-CBE-inhibited enzyme the beta-glucosidase inhibited by bromoconduritol F was subject to spontaneous reactivation with t1/2 approximately 20 min.     

Effects of temperature and ethanol on agonist and antagonist binding to rat heart muscarinic receptors in the absence and presence of GTP.

2 alpha-Cyanoprogesterone (I) and 2-hydroxymethyleneprogesterone (II) were synthesized and screened as irreversible active-site-directed inhibitors of the delta 5-3-oxosteroid isomerase (EC 5.3.3.1) from Pseudomonas testosteroni. Both compounds were found to inhibit the purified bacterial enzyme in a time-dependent manner. In either case the inactivated enzyme could be dialysed without return of activity, indicating that a stable covalent bond had formed between the inhibitor and the enzyme. Inactivation mediated by compounds (I) and (II) followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and at higher inhibitor concentrations saturation was observed. The competitive inhibitor 17 beta-oestradiol offered protection against the inactivation mediated by both compounds, and initial-rate studies indicated that compounds (I) and (II) can also act as competitive inhibitors yielding Ki values identical with those generated during inactivation experiments. 2 alpha-Cyanoprogesterone (I) and 2-hydroxymethyleneprogesterone (II) thus appear to be active-site-directed. To compare the reactivity of these 2-substituted progesterones with other irreversible inhibitors of the isomerase, 3 beta-spiro-oxiranyl-5 alpha-pregnan-20 beta-ol (III) was synthesized as the C21 analogue of 3 beta-spiro-oxiranyl-5 alpha-androstan-17 beta-ol, which is a potent inactivator of the isomerase [Pollack, Kayser & Bevins (1979) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 91, 783-790]. Comparison of the bimolecular rate constants for inactivation (k+3/Ki) mediated by compounds (I)-(III) indicated the following order of reactivity: (III) greater than (II) greater than (I). 2-Mercaptoethanol offers complete protection against the inactivation of the isomerase mediated by 2 alpha-cyanoprogesterone (I). Under the conditions of inactivation compound (I) appears to be completely stable, and no evidence could be obtained for enolate ion formation in the presence or absence of enzyme. It is suggested that cyanoprogesterone inactivates the isomerase after direct nucleophilic attack at the electropositive 2-position, and that tautomerization plays no role in the inactivation event. By contrast, 2-mercaptoethanol offers no protection against the inactivation mediated by 2-hydroxymethyleneprogesterone, and under the conditions of inactivation this compound appears to exist in the semi-enolized form.     

The mechanism of anticholinesterase action of acetylene organophosphorus inhibitors]

Introduction of the triple bond in the leaving group of the organophosphorus inhibitor molecule gives a sharp raise of the inhibitor activity but does not change principal characteristics of the cholinesterase inhibition mechanism. The reactivation experiments suggest that inactivation of cholinesterases by these compounds occurs due to phosphorylating of the serine hydroxyl by the corresponding phosphoric acid. A close similarity was shown between acetylenic and saturated organophosphorus inhibitors in altering ka upon change of pH and tetraalkylammonium ions action. It is demonstrated that S-alkynyl esters of thioacetic acid are slowly hydrolyzed by acetylcholinesterase and cholinesterase without irreversible inhibition of the enzymes.     

Half-time analysis of the kinetics of irreversible enzyme inhibition by an unstable site-specific reagent

The half-time method for the determination of Michaelis parameters from enzyme progress-curve data (Wharton, C.W. and Szawelski, R.J. (1982) Biochem. J. 203, 351-360) has been adapted for analysis of the kinetics of irreversible enzyme inhibition by an unstable site-specific inhibitor. The method is applicable to a model in which a product (R) of the decomposition of the site-specific reagent, retaining the chemical moiety responsible for inhibitor specificity, binds reversibly to the enzyme with dissociation constant Kr: (formula; see text). Half-time plots of simulated enzyme inactivation time-course data are shown to be unbiased, and excellent estimates of the apparent second-order rate constant for inactivation (k +2/Ki) and Kr can be obtained from a series of experiments with varying initial concentrations of inhibitor. Reliable estimates of k +2 and Ki individually are dependent upon the relative magnitudes of the kinetic parameters describing inactivation. The special case, Kr = Ki, is considered in some detail, and the integrated rate equation describing enzyme inactivation shown to be analogous to that for a simple bimolecular reaction between enzyme and an unstable irreversible inhibitor without the formation of a reversible enzyme-inhibitor complex. The half-time method can be directly extended to the kinetics of enzyme inactivation by an unstable mechanism-based (suicide) inhibitor, provided that the inhibitor is not also a substrate for the enzyme.     

Identification of human glutaminyl cyclase as a metalloenzyme. Potent inhibition by imidazole derivatives and heterocyclic chelators

Human glutaminyl cyclase (QC) was identified as a metalloenzyme as suggested by the time-dependent inhibition by the heterocyclic chelators 1,10-phenanthroline and dipicolinic acid. The effect of EDTA on QC catalysis was negligible. Inactivated enzyme could be fully restored by the addition of Zn2+ in the presence of equimolar concentrations of EDTA. Little reactivation was observed with Co2+ and Mn2+. Other metal ions such as K+, Ca2+, and Ni2+ were inactive under the same conditions. Additionally, imidazole and imidazole derivatives were identified as competitive inhibitors of QC. An initial structure activity-based inhibitor screening of imidazole-derived compounds revealed potent inhibition of QC by imidazole N-1 derivatives. Subsequent data base screening led to the identification of two highly potent inhibitors, 3-[3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl]-2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one and 1,4-bis-(imidazol-1-yl)-methyl-2,5-dimethylbenzene, which exhibited respective Ki values of 818 +/- 1 and 295 +/- 5 nm. The binding properties of the imidazole derivatives were further analyzed by the pH dependence of QC inhibition. The kinetically obtained pKa values of 6.94 +/- 0.02, 6.93 +/- 0.03, and 5.60 +/- 0.05 for imidazole, methylimidazole, and benzimidazole, respectively, match the values obtained by titrimetric pKa determination, indicating the requirement for an unprotonated nitrogen for binding to QC. Similarly, the pH dependence of the kinetic parameter Km for the QC-catalyzed conversion of H-Gln-7-ami-no-4-methylcoumarin also implies that only N-terminally unprotonated substrate molecules are bound to the active site of the enzyme, whereas turnover is not affected. The results reveal human QC as a metal-dependent transferase, suggesting that the active site-bound metal is a potential site for interaction with novel, highly potent competitive inhibitors.     

Human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase. Kinetic properties and inhibition

The kinetic properties of highly purified human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase were investigated. Initial velocity studies gave Michaelis constants for AMP, IMP, and CMP of 18, 30, and 2.2 microM, respectively. The enzyme shows the following relative Vmax values: CMP greater than UMP greater than dUMP greater than GMP greater than AMP greater than dCMP greater than IMP. The activity was magnesium-dependent, and this cation binds sequentially with a Km of 14 microM for AMP and an apparent Km of 6 mM for magnesium. A large variety of purine, pyrimidine, and pyridine compounds exert an inhibitory effect on enzyme activity. IMP, GMP, and NADH produce almost 100% inhibition at 1.0 mM. Nucleoside di- and triphosphates are potent inhibitors. ATP and ADP are competitive inhibitors with respect to AMP and IMP as substrates with Ki values of 100 and 15 microM, respectively. Inorganic phosphate is a noncompetitive inhibitor with Ki values of 19 and 43 mM. Nucleosides and other compounds studied produce only a modest decrease of enzyme activity at 1 mM. Our findings suggest that the enzyme is regulated under physiological conditions by the concentrations of magnesium, nucleoside 5'-monophosphates, and nucleoside di- and triphosphates. The nucleotide pool concentration regulates the enzyme possibly by a mechanism of heterogeneous metabolic pool inhibition. These properties of human placental cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase may be related to the control of nucleotide degradation in vivo.     

The crystal structure of phosphinothricin in the active site of glutamine synthetase illuminates the mechanism of enzymatic inhibition

Phosphinothricin is a potent inhibitor of the enzyme glutamine synthetase (GS). The resolution of the native structure of GS from Salmonella typhimurium has been extended to 2.5 A resolution, and the improved model is used to determine the structure of phosphinothricin complexed to GS by difference Fourier methods. The structure suggests a noncovalent, dead-end mechanism of inhibition. Phosphinothricin occupies the glutamate substrate pocket and stabilizes the Glu327 flap in a position which blocks the glutamate entrance to the active site, trapping the inhibitor on the enzyme. One oxygen of the phosphinyl group of phosphinothricin appears to be protonated, because of its proximity to the carboxylate group of Glu327. The other phosphinyl oxygen protrudes into the negatively charged binding pocket for the substrate ammonium, disrupting that pocket. The distribution of charges in the glutamate binding pocket is complementary to those of phosphinothricin. The presence of a second ammonium binding site within the active site is confirmed by its analogue thallous ion, marking the ammonium site and its protein ligands. The inhibition of GS by methionine sulfoximine can be explained by the same mechanism. These models of inhibited GS further illuminate its catalytic mechanism.     

Investigation of the mechanism of phosphinothricin inactivation of Escherichia coli glutamine synthetase using rapid quench kinetic technique.

A number of slow tight-binding inhibitors are known for glutamine synthetase that resemble the geometry of the tetrahedral intermediate formed during the enzyme-catalyzed condensation of gamma-glutamyl phosphate and ammonia. One of these inhibitors, phosphinothricin [L-2-amino-4-(hydroxymethyl-phosphinyl)butanoic acid], has been investigated by rapid kinetic methods. Phosphinothricin not only exhibits the kinetic properties of a slow tight-binding inhibitor but also undergoes phosphorylation during the course of the ATP-dependent inactivation. The acid lability of phosphinothricin phosphate enabled investigation of the kinetics of glutamine synthetase inactivation using rapid quench kinetic techniques. The rate-limiting step in the inhibition reaction is the binding of inhibitor (0.004-0.014 microM-1 s-1) and/or a conformational change associated with binding, which is several orders of magnitude slower than the binding of ATP. The association rate of phosphinothricin depends on which metal ion is bound to the enzyme (Mn2+ or Mg2+). With Mn2+ bound to glutamine synthetase the rate of association and the phosphorylation rate are faster than when Mg2+ is bound. The data are interpreted with use of a model in which the binding of a substrate analogue with a tetrahedral moiety enhances the phosphorylation rate of the reaction intermediate; however, the initial binding interaction is retarded because the enzyme has to bind a molecule that has a "transition-state" geometry rather than a ground-state substrate structure. During the course of the inactivation, progressively slower rates for binding and phosphoryl transfer were observed, indicating communication between active sites.     

The role of alkyl chain length in the inhibitory effect n-alkyl xanthates on mushroom tyrosinase activities

Sodium salts of four n-alkyl xanthate compounds, C2H5OCS2Na (I), C3H7OCS2Na (II), C4H9OCS2Na (III), and C6H13OCS2Na (IV) were synthesized and examined for inhibition of both cresolase and catecholase activities of mushroom tyrosinase (MT) in 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, at 293 K using UV spectrophotometry. 4-[(4-Methylbenzo)azo]-1,2-benzendiol (MeBACat) and 4-[(4-methylphenyl)azo]-phenol (MePAPh) were used as synthetic substrates for the enzyme for catecholase and cresolase reactions, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plots showed different patterns of mixed, competitive or uncompetitive inhibition for the four xanthates. For the cresolase activity, I and II showed uncompetitive inhibition but III and IV showed competitive inhibition pattern. For the catecholase activity, I and II showed mixed inhibition but III and IV showed competitive inhibition. The synthesized compounds can be classified as potent inhibitors of MT due to their Ki values of 13.8, 11, 8 and 5 microM for the cresolase activity, and 1.4, 5, 13 and 25 microM for the catecholase activity for I, II, III and IV, respectively. For the catecholase activity both substrate and inhibitor can be bound to the enzyme with negative cooperativity between the binding sites (alpha > 1) and this negative cooperativity increases with increasing length of the aliphatic tail of these compounds. The length of the hydrophobic tail of the xanthates has a stronger effect on the Ki values for catecholase inhibition than for cresolase inhibition. Increasing the length of the hydrophobic tail leads to a decrease of the Ki values for cresolase inhibition and an increase of the Ki values for catecholase inhibition.     

Inactivation of delta 5-3-oxo steroid isomerase with active-site-directed acetylenic steroids.

Several steroid analogues containing conjugated acetylenic ketone groups as part of a seco-ring structure or as substituents on the intact steroid system are irreversible inhibitors of delta 5-3-oxo steroid isomerase (EC 5.3.3.1) from Pseudomonas testosteroni. Thus 10 beta-(1-oxoprop-2-ynyl)oestr-4-ene-3,17-dione (I), 5,10-seco-oestr-4-yne-3,10,17-trione (II), 17 beta-hydroxy-5,10-seco-oestr-4-yne-3,10-dione (III) and 17 beta-(1-oxoprop-2-ynyl)androst-4-en-3-one (IV) irreversibly inactivate isomerase in a time-dependent manner. In all cases saturation kinetics are observed. Protection against inactivation is afforded by the powerful competitive inhibitor 19-nortestosterone. The inhibition constants (Ki) for 19-nortestosterone obtained from such experiments are in good agreement with those determined from conventional competitive-inhibition studies of enzyme activity. These compounds thus appear to be active-site directed. In every case the inactivated enzyme could be dialysed without return of activity, indicating that a stable covalent bond probably had formed between the steroid and enzyme. Compound (I) is a very potent inhibitor of isomerase [Ki = 66.0 microM and k+2 = 12.5 x 10(-3) s-1 (where Ki is the dissociation constant of the reversible enzyme-inhibitor complex and k+2 is the rate constant for the inactivation reaction of the enzyme-inhibitor complex)] giving half-lives of inactivation of 30-45 s at saturation. It is argued that the basic-amino-acid residue that abstracts the intramolecularly transferred 4 beta-proton in the reaction mechanism could form a Michael-addition product with compound (I). In contrast, although compound (IV) has a lower inhibition constant (Ki = 14.5 microM), it is a relatively poor alkylating agent (k+2 = 0.13 x 10(-3) s-1). If the conjugated acetylenic ketone groups are replaced by alpha-hydroxyacetylene groups, the resultant analogues of steroids (I)-(IV) are reversible competitive inhibitors with Ki values in the range 27-350 microM. The enzyme binds steroids in the C19 series with functionalized acetylenic substituents at C-17 in preference to steroids in the C18 series bearing similar groups in the ring structure or as C-10 substituents. In the 5,10-seco-steroid series the presence of hydroxy groups at both C-3 and C-17 is deleterious to binding by the enzyme.     

Analogs of diaminopimelic acid as inhibitors of meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase from Bacillus sphaericus and wheat germ

Analogs (1----6) of diaminopimelic acid have been synthesized and tested for inhibition of meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylases from Bacillus sphaericus IFO 3525 and from wheat germ (Triticum vulgaris). Difluoromethyl diaminopimelate 1 does not irreversibly inactivate or strongly competitively inhibit either enzyme. Lanthionine sulfoxides (2ab, 2c, and 2d) are good competitive inhibitors (about 50% inhibition at 1 mM) of both decarboxylases. The meso and LL-isomers of lanthionine sulfone (3ab and 3c) and lanthionine (6ab and 6c) are weaker competitive inhibitors (about 50% inhibition at 10-20 mM). The corresponding DD-isomers (3d and 6d) are less effective. The N-modified analogs are the most potent competitive inhibitors. The inhibition constant (Ki) values for B. sphaericus and wheat germ decarboxylases with N-hydroxydiaminopimelate 4 (mixture of isomers) are 0.91 and 0.71 mM, respectively; for the N-aminodiaminopimelate 5 (mixture of isomers) the Ki values are 0.10 and 0.084 mM, respectively. These N-modified analogs do not effectively inhibit L-lysine decarboxylase. None of the compounds showed any time-dependent inactivation of the decarboxylases, in contrast to behavior of other pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes with analogous substrate derivatives. Possible mechanisms of inhibition are discussed. In preliminary tests for antibiotic activity 4 and 5 both gave 75% growth inhibition of Bacillus megaterium at 20 micrograms/ml in defined media. Other analogs (1----3) showed essentially no antibacterial activity.     

Studies on the catalytic site of rat liver HMG-CoA reductase: interaction with CoA-thioesters and inactivation by iodoacetamide

The localization of reactive cysteines and characterization of the HMG-CoA binding domain of rat liver HMG-CoA reductase were studied using iodoacetamide (IAAD) and short-chain acyl-CoA thioesters. Freeze-thaw-solubilized HMG-CoA reductase is irreversibly inactivated by IAAD with a second order rate constant of 0.78 M-1 sec-1 at 37 degrees C and pH 7.2. This IAAD inactivation is slowed down by pretreatment of the enzyme with disulfides, indicating that inactivation of HMG-CoA reductase occurs mainly through alkylation of specific cysteine residues in the protein. The substrate HMG-CoA, but not NADP(H), effectively protects the reductase from IAAD inactivation. When both HMG-CoA and NADP(H) are present, the reductase is inactivated by IAAD at a rate much faster than the inactivation in the presence of HMG-CoA alone. Of the two moieties of the HMG-CoA thioester, the CoA moiety confers protection from IAAD inactivation whereas HMG is totally ineffective. A series of CoA-thioesters of mono- and dicarboxylic acids of various size were tested for their effect on the activity of HMG-CoA reductase. The CoA analog, desulfo-CoA (des-CoA), and all CoA-thioesters of monocarboxylic acids of up to 6 carbons in length exhibit mixed-type inhibition of reductase activity. The competitive inhibition constants (Ki) for these compounds vary between 1 and 2 mM, whereas the noncompetitive component (K'i) is relatively constant (540 +/- 20 microM). As the acyl chain length increases beyond 6 carbons, the thioesters of monocarboxylic acids become more potent and acquire the characteristics of pure noncompetitive inhibitors. In contrast, the monothioesters of dicarboxylic acids are pure competitive inhibitors with Ki values which are similar to the Ki values of the corresponding thioesters of monocarboxylates. HMG does not affect reductase activity in concentrations of up to 2 mM, yet it greatly enhances the inhibition of the enzyme by des-CoA. Specifically, HMG affects only the Ki value of des-CoA by decreasing it from 1030 microM to 280 microM. The results indicate that reactive cysteine(s) are localized in the catalytic site of HMG-CoA reductase. Within the active site, these cysteines are closely associated with and probably participate in the binding of the CoA moiety of the substrate HMG-CoA. The results are also consistent with the existence of a noncatalytic hydrophobic site in HMG-CoA reductase.     

Pea leaf glutamine synthetase: regulatory properties

Of a variety of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides tested, only ADP and 5'AMP significantly inhibited the Mg(2+)-dependent activity of pea leaf glutamine synthetase. They were less effective inhibitors where Mn(2+) replaced Mg(2+). They were competitive inhibitors with respect to ATP, with inhibition constant (Ki) values of 1.2 and 1.8 mm, respectively. The energy charge significantly affects the activity of glutamine synthetase, especially with Mg(2+). Of a variety of amino acids tested, l-histidine and l-ornithine were the most inhibitory, but significant inhibition was seen only where Mn(2+) was present. Both amino acids appeared to compete with l-glutamate, and the Ki values were 1.9 mm for l-histidine (pH 6.2) and 7.8 mm for l-ornithine (pH 6.2). l-Alanine, glycine, and l-serine caused slight inhibition (Mn(2+)-dependent activity) and were not competitive with ATP or l-glutamate.Carbamyl phosphate was an effective inhibitor only when Mn(2+) was present, and did not compete with substrates. Inorganic phosphate and pyrophosphate caused significant inhibition of the Mg(2+)-dependent activity.     

Non-thiol farnesyltransferase inhibitors: N-(4-Acylamino-3-benzoylphenyl)-4-nitrocinnamic acid amides.

We have developed the 4-nitrocinnamoyl substituted benzophenone 4a as a novel non-thiol farnesyltransferase inhibitor. Replacement of the p-tolyl moiety of our initial lead structure 4a by different para and ortho substituted phenyl residues as well as by 1-naphthyl resulted in derivatives with considerably enhanced activity displaying IC(50) values between 42 and 52 nM. These compounds represent novel, readily accessible non-thiol farnesyltransferase inhibitors being more active than the corresponding thiol-containing analogues.     

Inhibition of thymidine kinase by P1-(adenosine-5')-P5-(thymidine-5')-pentaphosphate

Potential bisubstrate analogs, with adenosine and thymidine joined at their 5' positions by polyphosphoryl linkages of varying lengths (ApndT, where n = the number of phosphoryl groups), were examined as inhibitors of cytosolic thymidine kinase from blast cells of patients with acute myelocytic leukemia. Ki values were 1.2 microM for Ap3dT, 0.31 microM for Ap4dT, 0.12 microM for Ap5dT, and 0.19 microM for Ap6dT. The best inhibitor of the cytosolic enzyme, Ap5dT, was somewhat less effective as an inhibitor of the mitochondrial enzyme (Ki = 0.50 microM). In addition to their inhibitory modes of binding by the cytosolic enzyme, these compounds were bound at considerably lower concentrations (Kd = 0.029 microM for Ap4dT, 0.0025 microM for Ap5dT, and 0.0027 microM for Ap4dT), in such a way as to protect the cytosolic enzyme from thermal inactivation at 37 degrees C in the absence of substrates.     

Some new carbacylamidophosphates as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase

The differences in the inhibition activity of organophosphorus agents are a manifestation of different molecular properties of the inhibitors involved in the interaction with the active site of enzyme. We were interested in comparing the inhibition potency of four known synthesized carbacylamidophosphates with the general formula RC(O)NHP(O)Cl2, constituting organophosphorus compounds, where R = CCl3 (1), CHCl2 (2), CH2Cl (3) and CF3 (4), and four new ones with the general formula RC(O)NHP(O)(R')2, where R' = morpholine and R = CCl3 (5), CHCl2 (6), CH2Cl (7), CF3 (8), on AChE and BuChE activities. In addition, in vitro activities of all eight compounds on BuChE were determined. Besides, in vivo inhibition potency of compounds 2 and 6, which had the highest inhibition potency among the tested compounds, was studied. The data demonstrated that compound 2 from the compound series 1 to 4 and compound 6 from the compound series 5 to 8 are the most sensitive as AChE and BuChE inhibitors, respectively. Comparing the IC50 values of these compounds, it was clear that the inhibition potency of these compounds for AChE are 2- to 100-fold greater than for BuChE inhibition. Comparison of the kinetics (IC50, Ki, kp, KA and KD) of AChE and BuChE inactivation by these compounds resulted in no significant difference for the measured variables except for compounds 2 and 6, which appeared to be more sensitive to AChE and BuChE by significantly higher kp and Ki values and a lower IC50 value in comparison with the other compounds. The LD50 value of compounds 2 and 6, after oral administration, and the changes of erythrocyte AChE and plasma BuChE activities in albino mice were studied. The in vivo experiments, similar to the in vitro results, showed that compound 2 is a stronger AChE and BuChE inhibitor than the other synthesized carbacylamidophosphates. Furthermore, in this study, the importance of electropositivity of the phosphorus atom, steric hindrance and leaving group specificity were reinforced as important determinants of inhibition activity.