Selective inhibition of thromboxane synthetase by pyridine and its derivatives

Pyridine and some derivatives inhibit the conversion of prostaglandin endoperoxide to thromboxane catalyzed by thromboxane synthetase of human platelet microsomes. The structure-activity relationship of pyridine derivatives was investigated. Substitution of pyridine at position 2 either by an alkyl or an aryl group abolishes the inhibitory power of pyridine. Substitution at position 3 or 4 with a hydrophobic chain was found to increase the inhibitory potency, with 3-substituted pyridines being the most potent inhibitors. Inhibition by pyridine and its active derivatives appears to be selective for thromboxane synthetase since other enzymes in the arachidonic acid catabolic pathway were not affected. Kinetic studies indicate that inhibition as examined with hexylnicotinate is of the noncompetitive type.