Fused thiazolyl alkynes as potent mGlu5 receptor positive allosteric modulators

A new series of potent fused thiazole mGlu₅ receptor positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) (10, 11 and 27–31) are disclosed and details of the SAR and optimization are described. Optimization of alkynyl thiazole 9 (Lu AF11205) led to the identification of potent fused thiazole analogs 10b, 27a, 28j and 31d. In general, substituted cycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl carboxamides, and carbamate analogs are mGlu₅ PAMs, whereas smaller alkyl carboxamide, sulfonamide and sulfamide analogs tend to be mGlu₅ negative allosteric modulators (NAMs).     

Aminoimidazoles as bioisosteres of acylguanidines: novel, potent, selective and orally bioavailable inhibitors of the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform-1

Inhibition of the sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) has been shown to limit damage to the myocardium under ischemic conditions in animals. While most known NHE-1 inhibitors are acylguanidines, this report describes the design and synthesis of a series of heterocyclic inhibitors of NHE-1 including aminoimidazoles with undiminished in vitro activity and oral bioavailability.     

Discovery of Lu AA33810: a highly selective and potent NPY5 antagonist with in vivo efficacy in a model of mood disorder

The structure-activity relationship of a series of tricyclic-sulfonamide compounds 11-32 culminating in the discovery of N-[trans-4-(4,5-dihydro-3,6-dithia-1-aza-benzo[e]azulen-2-ylamino)-cyclohexylmethyl]-methanesulfonamide (15, Lu AA33810) is reported. Compound 15 was identified as a selective and high affinity NPY5 antagonist with good oral bioavailability in mice (42%) and rats (92%). Dose dependent inhibition of feeding was observed after i.c.v. injection of the selective NPY5 agonist ([cPP(1-7),NPY(19-23),Ala(31),Aib(32),Gln(34)]-hPP). In addition, ip administration of Lu AA33810 (10 mg/kg) produced antidepressant-like effects in a rat model of chronic mild stress.     

Raloxifene and desmethylarzoxifene block estrogen-induced malignant transformation of human breast epithelial cells

There is association between exposure to estrogens and the development and progression of hormone-dependent gynecological cancers. Chemical carcinogenesis by catechol estrogens derived from oxidative metabolism is thought to contribute to breast cancer, yet exact mechanisms remain elusive. Malignant transformation was studied in MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells, since estrogens are not proliferative in this cell line. The human and equine estrogen components of estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and their catechol metabolites were studied, along with the influence of co-administration of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), raloxifene and desmethyl-arzoxifene (DMA), and histone deacetylase inhibitors. Transformation was induced by human estrogens, and selectively by the 4-OH catechol metabolite, and to a lesser extent by an equine estrogen metabolite. The observed estrogen-induced upregulation of CYP450 1B1 in estrogen receptor negative MCF-10A cells, was compatible with a causal role for 4-OH catechol estrogens, as was attenuated transformation by CYP450 inhibitors. Estrogen-induced malignant transformation was blocked by SERMs correlating with a reduction in formation of nucleobase catechol estrogen (NCE) adducts and formation of 8-oxo-dG. NCE adducts can be formed consequent to DNA abasic site formation, but NCE adducts were also observed on incubation of estrogen quinones with free nucleotides. These results suggest that NCE adducts may be a biomarker for cellular electrophilic stress, which together with 8-oxo-dG as a biomarker of oxidative stress correlate with malignant transformation induced by estrogen oxidative metabolites. The observed attenuation of transformation by SERMs correlated with these biomarkers and may also be of clinical significance in breast cancer chemoprevention.     

Click synthesis of estradiol–cyclodextrin conjugates as cell compartment selective estrogens

Cyclodextrin (CD) is a well known drug carrier and excipient for enhancing aqueous solubility. CDs themselves are anticipated to have low membrane permeability because of relatively high hydrophilicity and molecular weight. CD derivatization with 17-beta estradiol (E₂) was explored extensively using a number of different click chemistries and the cell membrane permeability of synthetic CD–E₂ conjugate was explored by cell reporter assays and confocal fluorescence microscopy. In simile with reported dendrimer–E₂ conjugates, CD–E₂ was found to be a stable, extranuclear receptor selective estrogen that penetrated into the cytoplasm.     

Comparative aspects of adenylic acid deaminase and aspartate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase.

1. The content of adenylic acid deaminase and of aspartate-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase of skeletal muscle tissue from a variety of animals has been determined. 2. White (fast) muscle contained large amounts of adenylic acid deaminase and red (slow) muscle contained large amounts of aspartate aminotransferase. There was a general inverse relationship between the adenylic acid deaminase and the aspartate aminotransferase content of muscles from various vertebrates. Thus, there is no simple correlation between the capacity to produce inosinic acid and ammonia from adenylic acid and the capacity to catalyse the formation of aspartate for conversion of inosinic acid back to adenylic acid. 3. The absence of adenylic acid deaminase from the tail muscles of the yabbie and other invertebrates indicates a marked difference in the Animal Kingdom.     

Indolyl and dihydroindolyl N-glycinamides as potent and in vivo active NPY5 antagonists

A novel series of indolyl and dihydroindolyl glycinamides were identified as potent NPY5 antagonists with in vivo activity from screen hit 1. The dihydroindolyl glycinamide 10a significantly inhibits NPY5 agonist induced feeding at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg. The indolyl glycinamide 12c also inhibits NPY5 agonist induced feeding at a dose of 1 mg/kg. Both compounds 10a and 12c represent potential tools for further investigation into the biology of the NPY5 receptor.     

Highly reactive electrophilic oxidants in cytochrome P450 catalysis

The cytochrome P450 enzymes effect a wide range of oxidations in nature including difficult hydroxylation reactions of unactivated C-H. Most of the high energy reactions of these catalysts appear to involve highly electrophilic active species. Attempts to detect the reactive transients in the enzymes have met with limited success, but evidence has accumulated that two distinct electrophilic oxidants are produced in the P450 enzymes. The consensus electrophilic oxidant termed "iron-oxo" is usually thought to be an analogue of Compound I, an iron(IV)-oxo porphyrin radical cation species, but it is possible that a higher energy electronic isomer of Compound I is required to account for the facility of the C-H oxidation reactions. The second electrophilic oxidant of P450 is speculative; circumstantial evidence suggests that this species is iron-complexed hydrogen peroxide, but this oxidant might be a second spin state of iron-oxo. This overview discusses recent studies directed at detection of the electrophilic oxidants in P450 enzymes and the accumulated evidence for two distinct species.     

A 3D-QSAR model for CYP2D6 inhibition in the aryloxypropanolamine series

A comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSiA) has been performed for cytochrome P450 2D6 inhibition on a series of aryloxypropanolamines to determine the factors contributing to this activity. The model is in agreement with a CYP2D6 homology model constructed on the basis of the mammalian CYP2C5 crystal structure. The energy minimized conformations were generated using the systematic search methodology in Sybyl 6.7. The model not only elucidated the relationship between structure and biological activity but, more importantly, provided useful strategies to modulate CYP2D6 affinity in the aryloxypropanolamine series.