Optical properties of complexes of antimalarial drugs with ferriprotoporphyrin IX in aqueous medium. I. The system ferriprotoporphyrin IX-quinine

Circular dichroism (CD) and light-absorption spectra of the system ferriprotoporphyrin IX-(-)-quinine as measured at 26 to 27 degrees C in dilute aqueous solutions of both pH 7.4 and 11.5 are reported. The CD spectra changed significantly with time during measurements extending for many days. By CD titrations, a predominant mole ratio of 1:1 in the complex is indicated. Sedimentation velocity and viscosity measurements, carried out under similar conditions, suggest the formation of large and specific aggregates at both pH 7.4 and 11.5-12. The large CD bands observed in the Soret region indicate chiral interactions between FP molecules arrayed within aggregates of FP-Q complexes. The observed time dependence of the ellipticities is considered to be due to dynamic changes in the steric arrangement of interacting units within the aggregates.     

The state of ferriprotoporphyrin IX in malaria pigment

To evaluate the state of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) in malaria pigment, mouse erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium berghei NYU-2 parasites were lysed by hypotonic shock, and hemoglobin and other soluble material were removed by extensive washing. The amount of FP recovered in the insoluble pellet was 2.1 mumol/ml of packed infected erythrocytes, of which approximately 1% was attributable to hemoglobin contamination. This crude preparation then was digested with a nonspecific protease from Streptomyces griseus and extracted with chloroform/methanol. The residue of insoluble dark brown material had the spectral and solubility properties characteristic of the FP of malaria pigment, and various different preparations contained from 82 to 99% of FP by weight. By elemental analysis, highly purified preparations contained no chlorine and had an oxygen content consistent with 1 mol of hydroxyl/mol of FP (oxygen content: calculated, 12.6%; found, 12.5%). In comparison to hematin purchased from Sigma, which had a measured oxygen content of 14.7%, the low oxygen form of hematin purified from malaria pigment was remarkably less soluble in ethanol, 3% sodium bicarbonate, and chloroform.     

The effect of ferriprotoporphyrin IX and chloroquine on phospholipid monolayers and the possible implications to antimalarial activity

Ferriprotoporphyrin IX intercalates into phospholipid membranes, as evidenced from its effect on the surface pressure of monolayers composed of different phospholipids. Ferriprotoporphyrin intercalation is enhanced by membrane hydrophobicity and decreased by negative surface potential. Chloroquine enhances the effect of ferriprotoporphyrin in relatively hydrophobic membranes but reduces it in monolayers composed of highly unsaturated phospholipids. These results are consistent with the differential effect of chloroquine on ferriprotoporphyrin-induced lysis of erythrocytes and of malarial parasites, thus supporting the membrane-lesion hypothesis of antimalarial action.     

Involvement of lipids in ferriprotoporphyrin IX polymerization in malaria.

Approximately 70% of the initial ferriprotoporphyrin IX polymerizing activity in cell-free preparations of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium berghei was recovered in a chloroform extract. No polymerizing activity remained in the residue. In studies to identify substances that promote FP polymerization, arachidonic, linoleic, oleic, and palmitoleic acids, 1-mono- and di-oleoylglycerol, and the detergents, SDS, Tween 80, and n-octyl-glucopyranoside, were active. Tri-oleoylglycerol, cholesterol, di-oleoylphosphatidylethanolamine, and stearic and palmitic acids were inactive. The model lipid, mono-oleoylglycerol (250 nmol), co-precipitated with FP from a 0.09 M acetate medium at pH 5 and promoted the polymerization of 215 nmol (61%) of the ferriprotoporphyrin IX in the precipitate during a 24-h incubation at 37 degrees C. Polymerization was maximal at pH 5, it was approximately linear for 2 h, and it continued at a decreasing rate for 24 h. The polymer contained exclusively ferriprotoporphyrin IX (97+/-1.3%, mean+/-S.E., n=4) and exhibited the solubility and the electronic absorption and infrared spectral characteristics of the sequestered ferriprotoporphyrin IX of hemozoin. Detergents presumably promote polymerization in an acid medium by helping to dissolve monomeric FP. We suggest that unsaturated lipids co-precipitate with FP in the parasite's acidic food vacuole and also dissolve sufficient monomeric FP to allow polymerization.     

Optical properties of Cu(II) complexes with heparin and related glycosaminoglycans.

Absorption and circular dichroism measurements have been carried out to obtain information regarding the stability and the nature of complexes between Cu(II) and heparin, and between Cu(II) and related glycosaminoglycans. In the presence of Cu(II), all glycosaminoglycans, except keratan sulfate, show a characteristic absorption band near 237 nm, which we assign to charge-transfer bands involving ligands to metal ion. From the absorbance values, the formation constants of Cu(II)-heparin and Cu(II)-(itN)-desulfated heparin have been determined to be approximately 1 × 10⁴ and 2 × 10² mol^?1, respectively. The large difference in the stability constant values is attributed to the difference in the charge density of the polymers, and to involvement of more than one ligand in the case of heparin. The CD characteristics of the Cu(II)-heparin complex suggest that both carboxyl and sulfamino groups are involved as ligands. The appearance of extrinsic CD bands in heparin, heparan sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and N-desulfated heparin at pH > 5 is ascribed to asymmetry of chelate rings. Absence of CD change in chondroitin sulfate and N-desulfated heparin (pH < 5) in the presence of Cu(II) suggests that only the carboxyl group is involved in those complexes. The differences either in iduronic acid conformation (C-1 vs. 1-C) or in intersaccharide linkages between dermatan sulfate and heparin (or heparan sulfate) are revealed in the difference CD spectra between the complexes and the polymers. The change in the intrinsic Cotton effect on complex formation is accounted for as a change in spatial orientation of the ligand groups rather than as a major conformational change of the polymers.     

Kinetics of transfer in aqueous solution of ferriprotoporphyrin IX from human serum albumin to sperm whale apomyoglobin

Kinetic aspects of the transfer reaction of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) from its complex with human serum albumin (HSA) to sperm whale apomyoglobin were investigated by spectrophotometry in aqueous solution. At molar ratios of 2:1 of both HSA and apomyoglobin to FP (1 × 10^?5M), the initial rate of transfer at pH 7.4 (0.025M Tris buffer) and 25°C was virtually independent of the concentration of apomyoglobin up to a sixfold excess of the latter. The rate-limiting step in the transfer reaction is considered to be the dissociation of FP from the FP-HSA complex with an apparent rate constant of the order of 10^?3 s^?1 under the above conditions. The initial rate decreased with increasing concentrations of HSA, indicating competition between HSA and apomyoglobin for free FP in the recombination reactions. A steady-state concentration of the order of 10^?9M is estimated for free FP under the conditions given. The initial rate of transfer decreased markedly with pH in the range of pH 5–9 and was also dependent on the type and concentration of the buffer used. Also, various electrolytes at different concentrations showed very different and specific effects on the initial rate of reaction. Similarly, various drugs and analogous substances such as penicillins and salicylate affected the rates of dissociation in different concentration ranges. From the temperature dependence of the initial rate at pH 7.4 in the range of 5–25°C, an overall energy of activation of about 8 kcal/mol and an entropy of activation of about ?50 e.u. are evaluated, indicating a much higher order of molecular groups around FP or other steric constraints in the transition state. It appears that kinetic parameters of the biopolymer–small molecule system are more sensitive to environmental changes than corresponding equilibrium data as measured by light absorption.     

Ferriprotoporphyrin IX, phospholipids, and the antimalarial actions of quinoline drugs

Two subclasses of quinoline antimalarial drugs are used clinically. Both act on the endolysosomal system of malaria parasites, but in different ways. Treatment with 4-aminoquinoline drugs, such as chloroquine, causes morphologic changes and hemoglobin accumulation in endocytic vesicles. Treatment with quinoline-4-methanol drugs, such as quinine and mefloquine, also causes morphologic changes, but does not cause hemoglobin accumulation. In addition, chloroquine causes undimerized ferriprotoporphyrin IX (ferric heme) to accumulate whereas quinine and mefloquine do not. On the contrary, treatment with quinine or mefloquine prevents and reverses chloroquine-induced accumulation of hemoglobin and undimerized ferriprotoporphyrin IX. This difference is of particular interest since there is convincing evidence that undimerized ferriprotoporphyrin IX in malaria parasites would interact with and serve as a target for chloroquine. According to the ferriprotoporphyrin IX interaction hypothesis, chloroquine would bind to undimerized ferriprotoporphyrin IX, delay its detoxification, cause it to accumulate, and allow it to exert its intrinsic biological toxicities. The ferriprotoporphyrin IX interaction hypothesis appears to explain the antimalarial action of chloroquine, but a drug target in addition to ferriprotoporphyrin IX is suggested by the antimalarial actions of quinine and mefloquine. This article summarizes current knowledge of the role of ferriprotoporphyrin IX in the antimalarial actions of quinoline drugs and evaluates the currently available evidence in support of phospholipids as a second target for quinine, mefloquine and, possibly, the chloroquine-ferriprotoporphyrin IX complex.     

Photophysical properties of Newkome-type dendrimers in aqueous medium.

Newkome-type first, second and third generation dendrimers, having t-butyl (GB), ethyl (GE) and carboxylic (GA) end groups, were synthesized. A pyrene group, which can act as fluorescent sensor, was attached to the core of the dendrimers and their photophysical properties in aqueous solution were studied. These dendrimers were found to aggregate in aqueous solution, which manifested as an excimer peak in the pyrene emission spectra for the first and second generation dendrimers with ethyl and t-butyl end groups. The excimer peak however was not seen in case of the third generation dendrimer. Dendrimers with carboxylic end groups, did not show the excimer peak in water, which implies the hydrophobic nature of the aggregation. It is observed that the intensity of the excimer peak decreases with the increase in the size of the dendrimer. Lifetime studies carried out on the first and second generation dendrimers showed the formation of excimer species as a risetime in the decay curve. The aggregation of the third generation dendrimer was proposed from the quenching studies using silver ions and CCl(4) as quenchers.     

Proton nuclear-magnetic-resonance study of low-spin ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance shifts, spin-lattice and spin-spin relaxation times have been measured of low-spin bis-pyridine ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester in chloroform. From the relaxation behavior the hyperfine coupling constant has been obtained and the contact term of the chemical shift was calculated. Deviations between measured and calculated chemical shifts may be attributed to second-order Zeeman interactions. The geometry of pyridine coordinated to the fifth and sixth position of ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester was estimated from measured relaxation rates. From the non-exponential decay of the Mz magnetization a mean lifetime of taub = 50 ms for pyridine attached to low-spin ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethyl ester was found at 253 K.     

Interaction of antimalarial drugs with hemin

Hemin (ferriprotoporphyrin IX) is shown to form complexes with the chloroquine class of antimalarial drugs. The Soret band of hemin becomes optically active upon the addition of chiral drugs. Results on the hemin-induced quenching of the fluorescence of chloroquine are consistent with the formation of a 2:1 hemin:drug complex with a formation constant of 1.4 x 10(7) at 298 K. Also a direct comparison of the drug-treated and drug-free parasites themselves, by the noninvasive photoacoustic spectroscopic method, reveals an in vivo interaction between endogenous hemin and the added drug.     

Exchange rates of pyridine on ferro- and ferriprotoporphyrin (IX) dimethylester in chloroform.

Nuclear magnetic resonance line-widths data have been used to determine the rate of solvent exchange from the first coordination sphere of ferro-and ferriprotoporphyrin(IX) dimethylester (Fe-PPD) in pyridine/chloroform. The average values of kinetic parameters for pyridine (PY) exchange indicate an SN2 mechanism tor Fe(III)-PPD(ΔH^&;#; = 36 kJ · mol⁻¹ ; ΔS^&;#; = −53 J·mol⁻¹K⁻¹; T_M(298 K) = 0.07 msec) and an SNI mechanism for Fe(II)-PPD (ΔH^&;#; = 67 kJ·mol⁻¹; ΔS^&;#; = 42 J · mol⁻¹K⁻¹; T_M(298 K) = 0.06 msec). Parallel to the accelerated ligand exchange rate at rising temperatures a redistribution of the electrons causing a transition of the metal porphyrin from the low-spin state to the high-spin state is observed. Enthalpy and entropy of the thermodynamic equilibrium between low- and high-spin Fe-PPD have been determined from experimental values of the average magnetic moment. A mean lifetime of low-spin Fe(III)-PPD was estimated from line. widths changes (T_L→H(298 K)≈ 20 msec) and the corresponding activation parameters have been obtained (ΔH^&;#;_L→H(298 K) = 26 kJ · mol⁻¹; ΔS^&;#;_L→H(298K) = −125 J · mol⁻¹K⁻¹).     

Chloroquine-induced masking of a lipid that promotes ferriprotoporphyrin IX dimerization in malaria

Mice infected with the NYU-2 strain of Plasmodium berghei were used to study the effect of chloroquine on masking of a lipid that promotes ferriprotoporphyrin IX dimerization. More than 40% of this lipid was masked and unable to promote dimerization in membrane ghosts from erythrocytes of untreated, infected mice. Thus, preparations of membrane ghosts dimerized 57 +/- 6 nmol of ferriprotoporphyrin IX during a 2-h incubation, whereas the lipids extracted from these preparations dimerized 101 +/- 11 nmol of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (means +/- S.D. for four experiments). Exposure of membrane ghosts to sonication or cold significantly increased the extent of masking. In addition, chloroquine treatment of infected mice increased the extent of masking to approximately 90%. The lipid could be unmasked by extracting it into acetone or by aging erythrocyte membrane ghosts from untreated or chloroquine-treated, infected mice for 24 h at pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C. These findings indicate that masking and unmasking of a lipid is central to the regulation of ferriprotoporphyrin IX dimerization in malaria parasites. They also indicate that chloroquine impairs the function of this regulatory process.     

Electrochemical study of the complexes of aspartame with Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) ions in the aqueous medium

The voltammetric behaviours of aspartame in the presence of some metal ions (Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II)) were investigated. In the presence of aspartame, copper ions reduced at two stages with quasi-reversible one-electron and, with increasing the aspartame (L) concentration, Cu(II)L(2) complex reduces at one-stage with irreversible two-electron reaction (-0.322 V). Zn(II)-aspartame complex (logbeta=3.70) was recognized by a cathodic peak at -1.320 V. Ni(II)-aspartame complex (logbeta=6.52) is reduced at the more positive potential (-0.87 V) than that of the hydrated Ni(II) ions (-1.088 V). In the case of the reduction of Ni(II) ions, aspartame serves as a catalyst. From electronic spectra data of the complexes, their stoichiometries of 1:2 (metal-ligand) in aqueous medium are determined. The greatness of these logarithmic values is agreement with Irwing-Williams series (NiZn).     

Effects of solvent composition and ionic strength on the interaction of quinoline antimalarials with ferriprotoporphyrin IX

Enthalpy-entropy compensation in the interaction of quinoline antimalarials with ferriprotoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX) in 40% aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been compared with that in pure aqueous solution. The data indicate that the degree of desolvation and loss of conformational freedom is virtually identical in both systems. Taken together with previous findings showing that the molar free energies of association of these drugs with Fe(III)PPIX in both solvent systems are very similar, this suggests that the recognition site on the metalloporphyrin is comparable in both cases. This is despite the fact that Fe(III)PPIX exists as a dimer in aqueous solution, but is monomeric in 40% DMSO. Free energies of association of chloroquine, quinine and quinidine with Fe(III)PPIX are largely insensitive to the concentration of sodium perchlorate in 40% DMSO. This demonstrates that electrostatic interactions play only a minor role in the overall stability of these complexes under these conditions. Increasing DMSO concentration greatly weakens the interactions of chloroquine, amodiaquine, quinine, quinidine and 9-epiquinine with Fe(III)PPIX. This suggests that hydrophobic interaction plays a major role in the stability of these complexes. Further investigation of chloroquine has revealed that the free energy of association with Fe(III)PPIX also weakens as a function of decreasing solvent polarity in pure organic solvents. However, the free energies of association are weaker in the mixed aqueous solvent than in pure organic solvents. This indicates that dispersion and electrostatic interactions are relatively strong in the non-aqueous environment. The results demonstrate that any successful model of antimalarial drug-Fe(III)PPIX interactions will need to take both solvation and electrostatic factors into account.     

Iron(III) protoporphyrin IX complexes of the antimalarial Cinchona alkaloids quinine and quinidine

The antimalarial properties of the Cinchona alkaloids quinine and quinidine have been known for decades. Surprisingly, 9-epiquinine and 9-epiquinidine are almost inactive. A lack of definitive structural information has precluded a clear understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and biological activity. In the current study, we have determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction the structures of the complexes formed between quinine and quinidine and iron(III) protoporphyrin IX (Fe(III)PPIX). Coordination of the alkaloid to the Fe(III) center is a key feature of both complexes, and further stability is provided by an intramolecular hydrogen bond formed between a propionate side chain of Fe(III)PPIX and the protonated quinuclidine nitrogen atom of either alkaloid. These interactions are believed to be responsible for inhibiting the incorporation of Fe(III)PPIX into crystalline hemozoin during its in vivo detoxification. It is also possible to rationalize the greater activity of quinidine compared to that of quinine.