Sulfamide derivatives with selective carbonic anhydrase VII inhibitory action

A set of N,N′-disubstituted sulfamides and sodium cyclamate have been tested for their inhibitory action against six isoforms of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) found in the brain, that is, CA I, CA II, CA VII, CA IX, CA XII and CA XIV, some of which are involved in epileptogenesis. The biological data showed interesting results for CA VII inhibition, the isozyme thought to be a novel antiepileptic target. Strong CA VII inhibitors, with K_i values in the low nanomolar–subnanomolar range were identified. Some of these derivatives showed selectivity for inhibition of CA VII versus the ubiquitous isoform CA II, for which the K_i values were in the micromolar range. Molecular modeling approaches were employed to understand the binding interactions between these compounds and the two CA isoforms, since the mechanism of action of such disubstituted sulfamides was not yet investigated by means of X-ray crystallography.     

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.     

Inhibition of mammalian carbonic anhydrases I-XIV with grayanotoxin III: solution and in silico studies

Abstract

Grayanotoxin III (GTX3) was investigated for inhibition of all catalytically active mammalian carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, i.e. CA I to CA XIV. It showed micromolar inhibition (K_Is of 8.01 and 6.13?µM) for cytosolic isoforms CA I and II, respectively. GTX3 showed a submicromolar inhibition (K_Is in the range of 0.51–2.15?µM) for the remaining cytosolic (CA III, VII and XIII), membrane-associated/transmembrane (CA IV, IX, XII and XIV), mitochondrial (CA VA and CA VB) and secreted (CA VI) isoforms. This inhibition profile is very different from that of the sulfonamide CA inhibitors (CAIs), which possess different clinical applications. A molecular docking study for GTX3 within the active sites of CA I and II assisted to the understanding of molecular mechanism of the ligand. The interesting inhibition profile, coupled with various possibilities of interacting with the enzyme active site make this family of natural compounds attractive leads for designing novel chemotypes acting as CAIs.     

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.     

Review Article

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) are wide-spread enzymes, present in mammals in at least 14 different isoforms. Some of these isozymes are cytosolic (CA I, CA II, CA III, CA VII, CA XIII), others are membrane-bound (CA IV, CA IX, CA XII and CA XIV), CA V is mitochondrial and CA VI is secreted in the saliva and milk. Three cytosolic acatalytic forms are also known (CARP VIII, CARP X and CARP XI). The catalytically active isoforms, which play important physiological and patho-physiological functions, are strongly inhibited by aromatic and heterocyclic sulfonamides. The catalytic and inhibition mechanisms of these enzymes are understood in great detail, and this greatly helped the design of potent inhibitors, some of which possess important clinical applications. The use of such CA inhibitors (CAIs) as antiglaucoma drugs are discussed in detail, together with the recent developments that led to isozyme-specific and organ-selective inhibitors. A recent discovery is connected with the involvement of CAs and their sulfonamide inhibitors in cancer: many potent CAIs were shown to inhibit the growth of several tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo, thus constituting interesting leads for developing novel antitumor therapies. Future prospects for drug design of inhibitors of these ubiquitous enzymes are dealt with. Although activation of CAs has been a controversial issue for some time, recent kinetic, spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic experiments offered an explanation of this phenomenon, based on the catalytic mechanism. It has been demonstrated recently, that molecules that act as carbonic anhydrase activators (CAAs) bind at the entrance of the enzyme active site participating in facilitated proton transfer processes between the active site and the reaction medium. In addition to CA II-activator adducts, X-ray crystallographic studies have been also reported for ternary complexes of this isozyme with activators and anion (azide) inhibitors. Structure-activity correlations for diverse classes of activators is discussed for the isozymes for which the phenomenon has been studied, i.e, CA I, II, III and IV. The possible physiological relevance of CA activation/inhibition is also addressed, together with recent pharmacological/biomedical applications of such compounds in different fields of life sciences.     

Carbonic anhydrase seven bundles filamentous actin and regulates dendritic spine morphology and density

Intracellular pH is a potent modulator of neuronal functions. By catalyzing (de)hydration of CO₂, intracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA_i) isoforms CA2 and CA7 contribute to neuronal pH buffering and dynamics. The presence of two highly active isoforms in neurons suggests that they may serve isozyme‐specific functions unrelated to CO₂‐(de)hydration. Here, we show that CA7, unlike CA2, binds to filamentous actin, and its overexpression induces formation of thick actin bundles and membrane protrusions in fibroblasts. In CA7‐overexpressing neurons, CA7 is enriched in dendritic spines, which leads to aberrant spine morphology. We identified amino acids unique to CA7 that are required for direct actin interactions, promoting actin filament bundling and spine targeting. Disruption of CA7 expression in neocortical neurons leads to higher spine density due to increased proportion of small spines. Thus, our work demonstrates highly distinct subcellular expression patterns of CA7 and CA2, and a novel, structural role of CA7.     

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.     

Neuronal carbonic anhydrase VII provides GABAergic excitatory drive to exacerbate febrile seizures

Brain carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are known to modulate neuronal signalling. Using a novel CA VII (Car7) knockout (KO) mouse as well as a CA II (Car2) KO and a CA II/VII double KO, we show that mature hippocampal pyramidal neurons are endowed with two cytosolic isoforms. CA VII is predominantly expressed by neurons starting around postnatal day 10 (P10). The ubiquitous isoform II is expressed in neurons at P20. Both isoforms enhance bicarbonate‐driven GABAergic excitation during intense GABA_A‐receptor activation. P13–14 CA VII KO mice show behavioural manifestations atypical of experimental febrile seizures (eFS) and a complete absence of electrographic seizures. A low dose of diazepam promotes eFS in P13–P14 rat pups, whereas seizures are blocked at higher concentrations that suppress breathing. Thus, the respiratory alkalosis‐dependent eFS are exacerbated by GABAergic excitation. We found that CA VII mRNA is expressed in the human cerebral cortex before the age when febrile seizures (FS) occur in children. Our data indicate that CA VII is a key molecule in age‐dependent neuronal pH regulation with consequent effects on generation of FS.     

Inhibition of carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IV,VII and XII with carboxylates and sulfonamides incorporating phthalimide/phthalic anhydride scaffolds

We report a panel of carboxylates and sulfonamides incorporating phthalic anhydride and phthalimide moieties in their structure and their interaction with the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). They were synthesized from substituted anthranilic acids and trimellitic anhydride chloride, followed by reaction with primary amines and were tested for the inhibition of five physiologically relevant CA isoforms, the human (h) hCA I, II, IV, VII and XII, some of which are involved in serious pathologies (CA II, IV and XII in glaucoma; CA VII in epilepsy; CA XII in some solid tumors). The carboxylic acids were generally poor inhibitors of isoforms hCA I, II and IV but were highly effective, low nanomolar inhibitors of hCA VII and XII. The sulfonamides inhibited all isoforms significantly, and some of them were sub-nanomolar hCA VII inhibitors, although their isoform selectivity was lower compared to the carboxylates. This study proves that carboxylic acids incorporating a phthalic anhydride/phthalimide based scaffold may lead to isoform-selective inhibitors by applying the tail approach, mostly used up until now for obtaining sulfonamide, sulfamide and sulfamate CA inhibitors.     

Benzenesulfonamides with pyrimidine moiety as inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrases I,II, VI,VII, XII,and XIII

Two groups of benzenesulfonamide derivatives, bearing pyrimidine moieties, were designed and synthesized as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases (CA). Their binding affinities to six recombinant human CA isoforms I, II, VI, VII, XII, and XIII were determined by the thermal shift assay (TSA). The binding of several inhibitors was measured by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Direct demonstration of compound inhibition was achieved by determining the inhibition constant by stopped-flow CO₂ hydration assay. The most potent compounds demonstrated selectivity towards isoform I and affinities of 0.5 nM. The crystal structures of selected compounds in complex with CA II, XII, and XIII were determined to atomic resolution. Compounds described here were compared with previously published pyrimidinebenzenesulfonamides.¹ Systematic structure–activity analysis of 40 compound interactions with six isoforms yields clues for the design of compounds with greater affinities and selectivities towards target CA isoforms.     

Synthesis of N-alkyl (aril)-tetra pyrimidine thiones and investigation of their human carbonic anhydrase I and II inhibitory effects

Tetrahydropyrimidine thiones, which are cyclic thiocarbamides derivatives, were synthesised from thiourea, β-diketones and substituted benzaldehydes. A tautomeric form of these derivatives incorporates the thiol functionality, which is known to interact with metal ions from metalloenzymes active sites, such as the carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) among others. This is a superfamily of widespread enzymes, which catalyses a crucial biochemical reaction, the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons (H⁺). The newly synthesised N-alkyl (aril)-tetrahydropyrimidine thiones were tested for inhibition of the cytosolic human isoforms I and II (hCA I and II). Both isoforms were effectively inhibited by the newly synthesised thiones. K_i values were in the range of 218.5?±?23.9–261.0?±?41.5?pM for hCA I, and of 181.8?±?41.9–273.6?±?41.4?pM for hCA II, respectively. This under-investigated class of derivatives may bring interesting insights in the field of non-sulphonamide CA inhibitors.     

Carbonic anhydrase VII is S-glutathionylated without loss of catalytic activity and affinity for sulfonamide inhibitors

Human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) VII is a cytosolic enzyme with high carbon dioxide hydration activity. Here we report an unexpected S-glutathionylation of hCA VII which has also been observed earlier in vivo for hCA III, another cytosolic isoform. Cys183 and Cys217 were found to be the residues involved in reaction with glutathione for hCA VII. The two reactive cysteines were then mutated and the corresponding variant (C183S/C217S) expressed. The native enzyme, the variant and the S-glutathionylated adduct (sgCA VII) as well as hCA III were fully characterized for their CO(2) hydration, esterase/phosphatase activities, and inhibition with sulfonamides. Our findings suggest that hCA VII could use the in vivo S-glutathionylation to function as an oxygen radical scavenger for protecting cells from oxidative damage, as the activity and affinity for inhibitors of the modified enzyme are similar to those of the wild type.     

Acipimox inhibits human carbonic anhydrases

Acipimox, a nicotinic acid derivative in clinical use for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia, incorporates a free carboxylic acid and an N-oxide moiety, functionalities known to interact with the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) and inhibit its activity. Herein we report that acipimox acts as a low micromolar CA inhibitor (CAI) against most human (h) isoforms possessing catalytic activity, hCA I – XIV. By using computational techniques (docking and molecular dynamics simulations), we propose that acipimox coordinates through its carboxylate group to the zinc ion from the enzyme active site cavity, whereas the N-oxide group is hydrogen-bonded to the proton shuttle His residue in some isoforms (hCA I) or to active site Thr or Gln residues in other isoforms (hCA II, III, IV, VII, etc). As some CA isoforms are involved in lipogenesis, these data may be useful for the design of more effective CAIs with antiobesity activity.     

The human carbonic anhydrase isoenzymes I and II inhibitory effects of some hydroperoxides,alcohols, and acetates

The carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) represent a superfamily of widespread enzymes, which catalyze a crucial biochemical reaction, the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide to bicarbonate and protons. Human CA isoenzymes I and II (hCA I and hCA II) are ubiquitous cytosolic isoforms. In this study, a series of hydroperoxides, alcohols, and acetates were tested for the inhibition of the cytosolic hCA I and II isoenzymes. These compounds inhibited both hCA isozymes in the low nanomolar ranges. These compounds were good hCA I inhibitors (K_is in the range of 24.93–97.99?nM) and hCA II inhibitors (K_is in the range of 26.04–68.56?nM) compared to acetazolamide as CA inhibitor (K_i: 34.50?nM for hCA I and K_i: 28.93?nM for hCA II).     

Dipotassium-trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate,K2[B3O3F4OH], is a potent inhibitor of human carbonic anhydrases

Abstract

The boron heterocyclic compound dipotassium-trioxohydroxytetrafluorotriborate (K₂[B₃O₃F₄OH]) was investigated as inhibitor of the zinc enzyme, carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). Eleven human (h) CA isoforms, hCA I–IV, VA, VI, VII, IX and XII–XIV, were included in the investigations. The anion, similar to tetraborate or phenylboronic acid, inhibited most of them. hCA III was not inhibited by K₂[B₃O₃F₄OH], whereas hCA VA, hCA VI, hCA IX and hCA XIII were inhibited in the submillimolar range, with K_Is of 0.31–0.63?mM. hCA I and II (cytosolic, widespread isoforms), hCA IV (membrane-bound isoform), hCA XII (tumor-associated, transmembrane) and hCA XIV (transmembrane) were much more effectively inhibited by this anion, with inhibition constants ranging from 25 to 93?µM. hCA VII, a cytosolic enzyme present in the brain and associated to oxidative stress, was very effectively inhibited by K₂[B₃O₃F₄OH], with a K_I of 8.0?µM. We propose that K₂[B₃O₃F₄OH] binds to the metal ion from the enzyme active site, coordinating to the Zn(II) ion monodentately through its B-OH functionality. We hypothesize that some of the beneficial antitumor effects reported for K₂[B₃O₃F₄OH] may be due to the inhibition of CAs present in skin tumors.     

Synthesis of novel acridine and bis acridine sulfonamides with effective inhibitory activity against the cytosolic carbonic anhydrase isoforms II and VII

4-Amino-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)benzamide was synthesized by reduction of 4-nitro-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)benzamide and used to synthesize novel acridine sulfonamide compounds, by a coupling reaction with cyclic-1,3-diketones and aromatic aldehydes. The new compounds were investigated as inhibitors of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), and more precisely the cytosolic isoforms hCA I, II and VII. hCA I was inhibited in the micromolar range by the new compounds (K_Is of 0.16–9.64 μM) whereas hCA II and VII showed higher affinity for these compounds, with K_Is in the range of 15–96 nM for hCA II, and of 4–498 nM for hCA VII. The structure–activity relationships for the inhibition of these isoforms with the acridine–sulfonamides reported here were also elucidated.     

Investigation of piperazines as human carbonic anhydrase I,II, IV and VII activators

Four human (h) carbonic anhydrase isoforms (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), hCA I, II, IV, and VII, were investigated for their activation profile with piperazines belonging to various classes, such as N-aryl-, N-alkyl-, N-acyl-piperazines as well as 2,4-disubstituted derivatives. As the activation mechanism involves participation of the activator in the proton shuttling between the zinc-coordinated water molecule and the external milieu, these derivatives possessing diverse basicity and different scaffolds were appropriate for being investigated as CA activators (CAAs). Most of these derivatives showed CA activating properties against hCA I, II, and VII (cytosolic isoforms) but were devoid of activity against the membrane-associated hCA IV. For hCA I, the K_As were in the range of 32.6–131?µM; for hCA II of 16.2–116?µM, and for hCA VII of 17.1–131?µM. The structure-activity relationship was intricate and not easy to rationalize, but the most effective activators were 1-(2-piperidinyl)-piperazine (K_A of 16.2?µM for hCA II), 2-benzyl-piperazine (K_A of 17.1?µM for hCA VII), and 1-(3-benzylpiperazin-1-yl)propan-1-one (K_A of 32.6?µM for hCA I). As CAAs may have interesting pharmacologic applications in cognition and for artificial tissue engineering, investigation of new classes of activators may be crucial for this relatively new research field.     

Recombinant thermoactive phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus and its coupling with mesophilic/thermophilic bacterial carbonic anhydrases (CAs) for the conversion of CO2 to oxaloacetate

With the continuous increase of atmospheric CO₂ in the last decades, efficient methods for carbon capture, sequestration, and utilization are urgently required. The possibility of converting CO₂ into useful chemicals could be a good strategy to both decreasing the CO₂ concentration and for achieving an efficient exploitation of this cheap carbon source. Recently, several single- and multi-enzyme systems for the catalytic conversion of CO₂ mainly to bicarbonate have been implemented. In order to design and construct a catalytic system for the conversion of CO₂ to organic molecules, we implemented an in vitro multienzyme system using mesophilic and thermophilic enzymes. The system, in fact, was constituted by a recombinant phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus, in combination with mesophilic/thermophilic bacterial carbonic anhydrases (CAs), for converting CO₂ into oxaloacetate, a compound of potential utility in industrial processes. The catalytic procedure is in two steps: the conversion of CO₂ into bicarbonate by CA, followed by the carboxylation of phosphoenolpyruvate with bicarbonate, catalyzed by PEPC, with formation of oxaloacetate (OAA). All tested CAs, belonging to α-, β-, and γ-CA classes, were able to increase OAA production compared to procedures when only PEPC was used. Interestingly, the efficiency of the CAs tested in OAA production was in good agreement with the kinetic parameters for the CO₂ hydration reaction of these enzymes. This PEPC also revealed to be thermoactive and thermostable, and when coupled with the extremely thermostable CA from Sulphurhydrogenibium azorense (SazCA) the production of OAA was achieved even if the two enzymes were exposed to temperatures up to 60 °C, suggesting a possible role of the two coupled enzymes in biotechnological processes.     

First evaluation of organotellurium derivatives as carbonic anhydrase I,II, IV,VII and IX inhibitors

A series of tellurides was evaluated as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors against the human (h) carbonic anhydrase isoforms hCA I, II, IV, VII and IX, involved in a variety of diseases, including glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, epilepsy, arthritis and tumors. These compounds, which are the first tellurium-containing derivatives acting as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase enzymes, showed effective inhibition against all isoforms investigated and some of them were selective for inhibiting the cytosolic or the membrane-bound CAs. Thus, these carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are interesting leads for the development of isoform-selective inhibitors.