Reversible Inhibition Mechanism Research Articles

Double Attack to Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Disorders: MAO-B and Nrf2 as Elected Targets.

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation play a pivotal role in triggering the neurodegenerative pathological cascades which characterize neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In search for potential efficient treatments for these pathologies, that are still considered unmet medical needs, we started from the promising properties of the antidiabetic drug pioglitazone, which has been repositioned as an MAO-B inhibitor, characterized by promising neuroprotective properties. Herein, with the aim to broaden its neuroprotective profile, we tried to enrich pioglitazone with direct and indirect antioxidant properties by hanging polyphenolic and electrophilic features that are able to trigger Nrf2 pathway and the resulting cytoprotective genes' transcription, as well as serve as radical scavengers. After a preliminary screening on MAO-B inhibitory properties, caffeic acid derivative 2 emerged as the best inhibitor for potency and selectivity over MAO-A, characterized by a reversible mechanism of inhibition. Furthermore, the same compound proved to activate Nrf2 pathway by potently increasing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and strongly reducing ROS content, both in physiological and stressed conditions. Although further biological investigations are required to fully clarify its neuroprotective properties, we were able to endow the pioglitazone scaffold with potent antioxidant properties, representing the starting point for potential future pioglitazone-based therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders.

Partial Reversible Inhibition of Enzymes and Its Metabolic and Pharmaco-Toxicological Implications.

Partial reversible inhibition of enzymes, also called hyperbolic inhibition, is an uncommon mechanism of reversible inhibition, resulting from a productive enzyme-inhibitor complex. This type of inhibition can involve competitive, mixed, non-competitive and uncompetitive inhibitors. While full reversible inhibitors show linear plots for reciprocal enzyme initial velocity versus inhibitor concentration, partial inhibitors produce hyperbolic plots. Similarly, dose-response curves show residual fractional activity of enzymes at high doses. This article reviews the theory and methods of analysis and discusses the significance of this type of reversible enzyme inhibition in metabolic processes, and its implications in pharmacology and toxicology.

In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Tamarix nilotica shoot extracts and fractions.

α-glucosidase inhibitors represent an important class of type 2 antidiabetic drugs and they act by lowering postprandial hyperglycemia. Today, only three synthetic inhibitors exist on the market, and there is a need for novel, natural and more efficient molecules exhibiting this activity. In this study, we investigated the ability of Tamarix nilotica ethanolic and aqueous shoot extracts, as well as methanolic fractions prepared from aqueous crude extracts to inhibit α-glucosidase. Both, 50% ethanol and aqueous extracts inhibited α-glucosidase in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 12.5 μg/mL and 24.8 μg/mL, respectively. Importantly, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity observed in the T. nilotica crude extracts was considerably higher than pure acarbose (IC50 = 151.1 μg/mL), the most highly prescribed α-glucosidase inhibitor on the market. When T. nilotica crude extracts were fractionated using methanol, enhanced α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed in general, with the highest observed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in the 30% methanol fraction (IC50 = 5.21 μg/mL). Kinetic studies further revealed a competitive reversible mechanism of inhibition by the plant extract. The phytochemical profiles of 50% ethanol extracts, aqueous extracts, and the methanolic fractions were investigated and compared using a metabolomics approach. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the contents of the crude extracts and fractions and potentially identified the molecules that were most responsible for these observed variations. Higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was associated with an enrichment of terpenoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids. Among the identified molecules, active compounds with known α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were detected, including unsaturated fatty acids, triterpenoids, and flavonoid glycosides. These results put forward T. nilotica as a therapeutic plant for type 2 diabetes and a source of α-glucosidase inhibitors.

Enantioselective inhibition of human CYP2C19 by the chiral pesticide ethofumesate: Prediction of pesticide-drug interactions in humans

Ethofumesate is a chiral herbicide that may display enantioselective behavior in humans. For this reason, the enantioselective potential of ethofumesate and its main metabolite ethofumesate-2-hydroxy to cause pesticide-drug interactions on cytochrome P450 forms (CYPs) has been evaluated by using human liver microsomes. Among the evaluated CYPs, CYP2C19 had its activity decreased by the ethofumesate racemic mixture (rac-ETO), (+)-ethofumesate ((+)-ETO), and (−)-ethofumesate ((−)-ETO). CYP2C19 inhibition was not time-dependent, but a strong inhibition potential was observed for rac-ETO (IC50 = 5 ± 1 μmol L−1), (+)-ETO (IC50 = 1.6 ± 0.4 μmol L−1), and (−)-ETO (IC50 = 1.8 ± 0.4 μmol L−1). The reversible inhibition mechanism was competitive, and the inhibition constant (Ki) values for rac-ETO (2.6 ± 0.4 μmol L−1), (+)-ETO (1.5 ± 0.2 μmol L−1), and (−)-ETO (0.7 ± 0.1 μmol L−1) were comparable to the Ki values of strong CYP2C19 inhibitors. Inhibition of CYP2C19 by ethofumesate was enantioselective, being almost twice higher for (−)-ETO than for (+)-ETO, which indicates that this enantiomer may be a more potent inhibitor of this CYP form. For an in vitro-in vivo correlation, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) guideline on the assessment of drug-drug interactions used in the early stages of drug development was used. The FDA's R1 values were estimated on the basis of the obtained ethofumesate Ki and distribution volume, metabolism, unbound plasma fraction, gastrointestinal and dermal absorption data available in the literature. The correlation revealed that ethofumesate probably inhibits CYP2C19 in vivo for both chronic (oral) and occupational (dermal) exposure scenarios.

Tributylborane in the synthesis of graft-copolymers of gelatin and acrylamide

Tributylborane in different concentrations was used for synthesis of gelatin and polyacrylamide graft-copolymer. The copolymers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy method (FTIR). The share of the graft polyacrylamide and the molecular weight of the copolymer increases with the alkylborane concentration growth. The polymers under study exhibit a single phase transformation caused by devitrification. Also, the glass transition temperature depends on tributylborane concentration and differs from that the initial homopolymers. It is supposed, that the grafting process occures through the mechanism of reversible inhibition due to active centers formed as a result of gelatin hydroxyl groups borylation. The excess of tributylborane may result the formation of additional radicals source: alkylborane – oxygen system.

Reversible inhibition in the formation of copolymers based on alkyl (meth)acrylates with vinyl butyl ethers under compensation of the active monomer depending on their nature when initiated by the triethylborane–oxygen system

Compensatory (or compensation) copolymerization of alkyl (meth)acrylates (AMA) with boiling vinyl butyl ether (VBE), initiated by the system of triethylborane (TEB)–oxygen, has been studied. The obtained data indicate a partial formation of copolymer macromolecules with close to an alternating structure, according to the reversible inhibition mechanism, along with a copolymer formation on the scheme of conventional bimolecular termination. Specific features of used acrylic monomers have been revealed. Copolymers of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and VBE were applied as macroinitiators for block-copolymer syntheses when adding new portions of butyl acrylate (BA).

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of 2,5-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone is a combination of two processes: inhibited and controlled radical polymerization. The adduct of chain propagation radicals and p-quinone formed due to the inhibited polymerization is a macroinitiator of controlled radical polymerization. The fraction of the pseudo-living process is determined by the concentration of p-quinone in the starting polymerized composition. Post-polymerization proceeds via the reversible inhibition mechanism.

Свойства сополимеров бутилакрилата с винилизо-бутиловым эфиром, полученных с использованием инициирующей системы триэтилборан – кислород компенсационным способом

The synthesis of copolymers of butyl acrylate with vinyl isobutyl ether was carried out by adding the active monomer to the excess of the comonomer when boiling in the presence of triethylborane. An organoelement co-initiator was isolated from a complex with hexamethylenediamine in a solution of vinyl butyl ether, with addition of methacrylic acid in an amount proportional to the amount of amine in moles, together with butyl acrylate. As a co-initiator of triethylborane, air oxygen was present in the reaction mixture at boiling of the vinyl butyl ether. The introduction of butyl acrylate was completed within 20 minutes. After that, the process was stopped (in the first series of samples), or else the reaction mixture was thermostated for another 40 minutes (in the second series of samples). At the end of polymerization, the liquid fraction was distilled off. The copolymer samples were isolated by removing the monomers under vacuum, and their conversion was evaluated gravimetrically by the dry residue. Molecular weight parameters for the samples were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The composition of the copolymers was determined by IR spectroscopy using a calibration graph based on the area of the characteristic peak. The obtained data suggest that during the copolymerization of butyl acrylate with vinyl isobutyl ether, a macromolecular chain is formed along two centers: oligomeric and low-molecular. The formation of an oligomer along with a low-molecular polymer, usually formed under such conditions at traditional radical initiation, is explained by the presence of boroxyl radicals in the reaction mixture, which are known in the oxidation of trialkylboranes. Due to the interaction of the latter with initiating R• or RO• radicals, which are also observed during the oxidation of trialkylboranes, or with oligomeric growing radicals, a growth center of the polymer chain is formed by the mechanism of reversible inhibition with a very low degree of polymerization. Continued thermostating of the reaction mixture after dosing butyl acrylate with methacrylic acid leads to a shift in the oligomeric mode in the direction of increasing the value of molecular weight; accordingly, M n increases and M w /M n decreases. This occurs because the copolymerization process continues in the absence of the initiator due to the reversible inhibition reaction. The time-dependent conversion rate is characterized by an abrupt decrease in the conversion rate by 40–60 %, which is also associated with the transition of the method of forming macromolecules with the predominantly high-speed bimolecular break to a process following the reversible inhibition mechanism according to the scheme, which runs at a much lower rate. The composition of the copolymers is characterized by a slightly higher equimolar content of acrylate, with a higher value of the relative activity of vinyl isobutyl ether, paired with butyl acrylate during copolymerization (r BA = 1.45 ± 0.07; r VBE ≈ 0; r BA = 5.2 ± 1.5; r ViBE ≈ 0).

Phosphonic and Phosphinic Acid Derivatives as Novel Tyrosinase Inhibitors: Kinetic Studies and Molecular Docking.

A dozen of phosphonic and phosphinic acid derivatives containing pyridine moiety were synthesized and its inhibitory activity toward mushroom tyrosinase was investigated. Moreover, molecular docking of these compounds to the active site of the enzyme was performed. All the compounds (1-10) demonstrated the inhibitory effect with the IC50 and inhibition constants ranging millimolar concentrations. The obtained results indicate that the compounds show different types of inhibition (competitive, noncompetitive, mixed), but all of them are reversible inhibitors. The obtained outcomes allowed to make the structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis. Compound 4 ([(benzylamino)(pyridin-2-yl)methyl]phenylphosphinic acid) revealed the lowest IC50 value of 0.3 mm and inhibitory constant of Ki 0.076 mm, with noncompetitive type and reversible mechanism of inhibition. According to SAR analysis, introducing bulky phenyl moieties to phosphonic and amino groups plays an important role in the inhibitory potency on activity of mushroom tyrosinase and could be useful in design and development of a new class of potent organophosphorus inhibitors of tyrosinase. Combined results of molecular docking and SAR analysis can be helpful in designing novel tyrosinase inhibitors of desired properties. They may have broad application in food industry and cosmetology.

Benzoxazin-4-ones as novel, easily accessible inhibitors for rhomboid proteases

Rhomboid proteases form one of the most widespread intramembrane protease families. They have been implicated in variety of human diseases. The currently reported rhomboid inhibitors display some selectivity, but their construction involves multistep synthesis protocols. Here, we report benzoxazin-4-ones as novel inhibitors of rhomboid proteases with a covalent, but slow reversible inhibition mechanism. Benzoxazin-4-ones can be synthesized from anthranilic acid derivatives in a one-step synthesis, making them easily accessible. We demonstrate that an alkoxy substituent at the 2-position is crucial for potency and results in low micromolar inhibitors of rhomboid proteases. Hence, we expect that these compounds will allow rapid synthesis and optimization of inhibitors of rhomboids from different organisms.

Specific features of radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate in the presence of the tributylborane–p-quinone system

Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) in the presence of the tributylborane–p-quinone system has been investigated. Reactivity ratios of the monomers differ from the values known for conventional radical polymerization. The copolymerization proceeds in a controlled manner according to the reversible inhibition mechanism. The nature of p-quinone and the composition of the monomer mixture affect the realization of this mechanism. The microstructure of the copolymers obtained in the presence of borane and p-quinones depends on the nature of the latter.

Controlled radical copolymerization of styrene and tert-butyl acrylate in the presence of tri-n-butylborane–p-quinone catalytic system

Radical copolymerization of styrene with tert-butyl acrylate is studied under different conditions. It is found that the addition of tri-n-butylborane or tri-n-butylborane along with p-quinones (2,3-dimethylbenzoquinone, 2,5-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone) results in changes in the relative activities of monomers. Copolymerization in the presence of tri-n-butylborane and p-quinones proceeds via the mechanism of reversible inhibition and is characterized by the linear increase in number-average molecular weight with conversion and by the capacity of copolymers of reinitiation. The hydrolyzed copolymer samples form more stable films compared to copolymers prepared via conventional radical copolymerization.

Combining in vitro and in silico approaches to evaluate the multifunctional profile of rosmarinic acid from Blechnum brasiliense on targets related to neurodegeneration

Natural products are important sources of chemical diversity leading to unique scaffolds that can be exploited in the discovery of new drug candidates or chemical probes. In this context, chemical and biological investigation of ferns and lycophytes occurring in Brazil is an approach adopted by our research group aiming at discovering bioactive molecules acting on neurodegeneration targets. In the present study, rosmarinic acid (RA) isolated from Blechnum brasiliense showed an in vitro multifunctional profile characterized by antioxidant effects, and monoamine oxidases (MAO-A and MAO-B) and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibition. RA showed antioxidant effects against hydroxyl (HO•) and nitric oxide (NO) radicals (IC50 of 29.4 and 140 μM, respectively), and inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 of 19.6 μM). In addition, RA inhibited MAO-A, MAO-B and COMT enzymes with IC50 values of 50.1, 184.6 and 26.7 μM, respectively. The MAO-A modulation showed a non-time-dependent profile, suggesting a reversible mechanism of inhibition. Structural insights on RA interactions with MAO-A and COMT were investigated by molecular docking. Finally, RA (up to 5 mM) demonstrated no cytotoxicity on polymorphonuclear rat cells. Taken together, our results suggest that RA may be exploited as a template for the development of new antioxidant molecules possessing additional MAO and COMT inhibition effects to be further investigated on in vitro and in vivo models of neurodegenerative diseases.

The Inhibitory Activity of Plants from Central Argentina on p-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase. Isolation and Mechanism of Inhibition of a Flavanone from Flourensia oolepis.

The enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase catalyzes the second step in the tyrosine degradation pathway. In mammals, this enzyme is the molecular target of drugs used for the treatment of metabolic disorders associated with defects in the tyrosine catabolism, mainly the fatal hereditary disease tyrosinemia type 1. This study evaluated the inhibitory effect of 91 extracts on 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase from mostly native plants from central Argentina. Flourensia oolepis ethanol extract showed itself to be the most effective, and bioguided fractionation yielded pinocembrin (1) as its active principle. This flavanone, with an IC50 value of 73.1 µM and a KI of 13.7 µM, behaved as a reversible inhibitor of the enzyme and as a noncompetitive inhibitor. Molecular modeling studies confirmed the inhibitory potency of 1 and explained its activity by means of in silico determination of its binding mode in comparison to inhibitors of known activity, cocrystallized with 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase. The main structural determinants that confer its potency are discussed. Analysis of the binding mode of the flavanone 1 with 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase revealed the basis of the noncompetitive reversible mechanism of inhibition at the molecular level, which seems to be a common feature in this ubiquitous family of natural compounds. The resulting information may establish the basis for obtaining novel 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase inhibitors for the treatment of tyrosinemia type 1 and other disorders associated with tyrosinase catabolism.

Radical polymerization of methacrylic esters involving various tin(IV) monocathecholate complexes

The effect of tin(IV) monocathecholate 36CatSnR2•nTHF (36Cat is 3,6-di-tert-butylcatehol dianion; R = Me, Et, Ph, or Cl; n = 1 and 2) on the radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate and {itn}-butyl methacrylate was studied. The role of the complexes in the synthesis of the corresponding polymers is mainly determined by the structure of tin o-semiquinone derivatives formed directly in the polymerization process. Tin(IV) monocatecholates can control the synthesis of polymers via the mechanism of reversible inhibition and, in certain cases, exert an accelerating effect on the polymerization of methacrylic monomers like Lewis acids.

Reversible ketomethylene-based inhibitors of human neutrophil proteinase 3.

Neutrophil serine proteases, proteinase 3 (PR3) and human neutrophil elastase (HNE), are considered as targets for chronic inflammatory diseases. Despite sharing high sequence similarity, the two enzymes have different substrate specificities and functions. While a plethora of HNE inhibitors exist, PR3 specific inhibitors are still in their infancy. We have designed ketomethylene-based inhibitors for PR3 that show low micromolar IC50 values. Their synthesis was made possible by amending a previously reported synthesis of ketomethylene dipeptide isosteres to allow for the preparation of derivatives suitable for solid phase peptide synthesis. The best inhibitor (Abz-VADnV[Ψ](COCH2)ADYQ-EDDnp) was found to be selective for PR3 over HNE and to display a competitive and reversible inhibition mechanism. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the interactions between enzyme and ketomethylene-containing inhibitors are similar to those with the corresponding substrates. We also confirm that N- and C-terminal FRET groups are important for securing high inhibitory potency toward PR3.

Synthesis of block copolymers from polyvinyl chloride prepared in the presence of nitroxyl radicals of the imidazoline series

Specific features of radical polymerization of vinyl chloride in the presence of nitroxyl radicals of the imidazoline series (2-methyl-2,3-diphenyl-1,4-diazaspiro[4,5]dec-3-ene-1-oxyl, 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-4-phenyl-2,5-dihydroimidazole-1-oxyl, 2,2,5-trimethyl-4,5-diphenyl-2,5-dihydroimidazole-1-oxyl) were studied. The possibility of preparing vinyl chloride-styrene block copolymers in the presence of these nitroxyl radicals was demonstrated, suggesting the occurrence of the polymerization by the reversible inhibition mechanism. The molecular-mass characteristics and the glass transition points of the synthesized samples were determined.

Effect of synthesis conditions on the mechanism of reversible inhibition in the TEMPO-mediated polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine

The effects of polymerization conditions (the types and concentrations of initiator and solvent, the TEMPO-to-initiator molar ratio, and temperature) on the kinetics and mechanism of pseudoliving radical polymerization of 4-vinylpyridine mediated by the nitroxide TEMPO are studied. The key quantitative parameters of the process are calculated: namely, the rate constant of reinitiation, the rate constant of inhibition, and the product of the propagation-rate constant and the pseudoliving equilibrium constant. The optimum conditions for the controlled synthesis of poly(4-vinylpyridine) mediated by TEMPO are ascertained.

Docking-Based Virtual Screening of Covalently Binding Ligands: An Orthogonal Lead Discovery Approach

In pharmaceutical industry, lead discovery strategies and screening collections have been predominantly tailored to discover compounds that modulate target proteins through noncovalent interactions. Conversely, covalent linkage formation is an important mechanism for a quantity of successful drugs in the market, which are discovered in most cases by hindsight instead of systematical design. In this article, the implementation of a docking-based virtual screening workflow for the retrieval of covalent binders is presented considering human cathepsin K as a test case. By use of the docking conditions that led to the best enrichment of known actives, 44 candidate compounds with unknown activity on cathepsin K were finally selected for experimental evaluation. The most potent inhibitor, 4-(N-phenylanilino)-6-pyrrolidin-1-yl-1,3,5-triazine-2-carbonitrile (CP243522), showed a K(i) of 21 nM and was confirmed to have a covalent reversible mechanism of inhibition. The presented approach will have great potential in cases where covalent inhibition is the desired drug discovery strategy.

β-Lactams Derived from a Carbapenem Chiron Are Selective Inhibitors of Human Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase versus Human Monoacylglycerol Lipase

A library of 30 beta-lactams has been prepared from (3R,4R)-3-[(R)-1'-(tbutyldimethylsilyloxy)-ethyl]-4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone, and the corresponding deacetoxy derivative, by sequential N- and O-functionalizations with various omega-alkenoyl and omega-arylalkanoyl chains. All compounds were selective inhibitors of hFAAH versus hMGL, and IC(50) values in the nanomolar range (5-14 nM) were recorded for the best representatives. From time-dependent preincubation and rapid dilution studies, and from docking analyses in a homology model of the target enzyme, a reversible mechanism of inhibition of hFAAH is proposed.