Steroid Ring System Research Articles

Structure and Function of Human Cytochrome P450 8B1

Human Cytochrome P450 8B1 (CYP8B1) is involved in the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids. It specifically hydroxylates the steroid ring system at C12 to produce the bile acid cholic acid. As such, CYP8B1 activity controls the ratio of cholic acid over another bile acid called chenodeoxycholic acid. The ratio of these two bile acids controls the overall hydrophobicity of the bile pool and the signaling through the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Recent studies knocking out CYP8B1 implicated this enzyme as a good drug target for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes. However, there are no selective inhibitors known for this enzyme, which restricts the further study of this enzyme and potential disease treatment. There are also no structures of CYP8B1 to guide the development of such inhibitors. Herein the CYP8B1 protein was generated recombinantly in E. coli from a synthetic engineered gene, purified to homogeneity, and characterized. The resulting protein was catalytically active and displayed normal spectral features. Changes in the absorbance spectra were used to evaluate the binding of multiple ligands. The tight-binding non-selective CYP8B1 inhibitor tioconazole was identified and then used to solve the first available X-ray structure of CYP8B1. This structure reveals the (S)-tioconazole imidazole nitrogen forming a coordinate covalent bond to the CYP8B1 heme iron, consistent with enzyme inhibition. The ligand is close towards the B’ helix due to the spatial hinderance of W281 and N286 on the opposite side of the active site. The availability of the CYP8B1 active site architecture should aid structure-based design of inhibitors that selectively bind CYP8B1 vs. other closely related P450 enzymes. Selective inhibitors should promote a better understanding of the role of CYP8B1 inhibition in these normal physiology and disease states and provide a possible treatment for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes.

Membrane organization and intracellular transport of a fluorescent analogue of 27-hydroxycholesterol

Oxysterols are cholesterol metabolites with multiple functions in controlling cellular homeostasis. In particular, 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OH-Chol) has been shown to regulate a variety of physiological functions, but little is known about its uptake, intracellular trafficking, and efflux from cells. This is largely due to a lack of suitable analogs of 27-OH-Chol, which mimic this oxysterol closely. Here, we present the intrinsically fluorescent 27-hydroxy-cholestatrienol (27-OH-CTL), which differs from 27-OH-Chol only by having two additional double bonds in the steroid ring system. Based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we show that 27-OH-CTL possesses almost identical membrane properties compared to 27-OH-Chol. By comparative imaging of 27-OH-CTL and of the cholesterol analogue cholestatrienol (CTL) in living cells, we assess the impact of a single hydroxy group on sterol trafficking. We find that human fibroblasts take up more CTL than 27-OH-CTL, but efflux the oxysterol analogue more efficiently. For both sterols, efflux includes shedding of vesicles from the plasma membrane. Intracellular, 27-OH-CTL accumulates primarily in lipid droplets (LDs), while CTL is mostly found in endosomes and lysosomes. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we find for both sterols a rapidly exchanging pool, which moves orders of magnitude faster than sterol containing vesicles and LDs. In summary, by applying a new fluorescent derivative of 27-OH-Chol we demonstrate that human cells can distinguish sterols based on a single hydroxy group in the side chain, resulting in different transport itineraries, dynamics, and efflux kinetics. Both intrinsically fluorescent cholesterol and oxysterol analogues show rapid non-vesicular transport in human fibroblasts.

Crystal structure of prednicarbate, C27H36O8

The crystal structure of prednicarbate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Prednicarbate crystallizes in space group P212121 (#19) with a = 7.69990(3), b = 10.75725(3), c = 31.36008(11) Å, V = 2597.55(1) Å3, and Z = 4. In the crystal structure the long axis of the steroid ring system lies roughly parallel to the c-axis. The oxygenated side chains are orientated roughly perpendicular to the steroid ring system and are adjacent to each other, parallel to the ab-plane. The only traditional hydrogen bond donor in the prednicarbate molecule is the hydroxyl group O32–H33, but this does not participate in an O–H···O hydrogen bond. The nearest oxygen atoms to O32 are symmetry-related O32 at 4.495 Å, precluding the expected O–H···O hydrogen bond. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD® for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™.

Self-association of sodium isoursodeoxycholate and sodium isohenodeoxycholate in water.

Bile salts (BS) form hydrophobic Small's primary micelles at concentrations above the critical micelle concentration (CMC), while at concentrations above 3CMC they form secondary micelles (by the association of primary micelles via H-bonds). In this paper the self-associations of the anions of isohenodeoxycholic acid (3-epimer of henodeoxycholic acid, ICD) and the anions of isoursodeoxycholic acid (3-epimer of ursodeoxycholic acid, IUD) are examined, since the thermodynamic parameters of their self-association have not yet been published. Forming of IUD aggregates with two or three building units is slightly more favorable via α sides of steroid skeletons, regarding hydrophobicity, while regarding steric repulsive interactions it is more favorable to associate via β sides. Due to this, IUD in the vicinity of the CMC can form primary micelles by association of IUD particles both from the convex side and from the concave side of the steroid ring system. Therefore, IUD is significantly more prone to initial micellization than bile salt derivatives whose steroidal skeletons contain equatorially oriented OH groups.

Cytotoxic Pregnane Steroidal Glycosides from Chonemorpha megacalyx

Three new C21 pregnane steroids, chonemorphols A-C (1, 3, and 4), 11 new C21 steroidal glycosides, chonemorphosides A-K (2 and 5-14), and 11 known compounds (15-25) were obtained from the vines and leaves of Chonemorpha megacalyx Pierre. Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic data. The X-ray crystallographic data of 1 and 3 permitted definition of their absolute configurations. Notably, 1 and 2 possessed an uncommon 6/5/6/5/5-fused steroidal ring system. Compound 7 displayed significant cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 2.0-3.6 μM.

Flexibility at the Fringes: Conformations of the Steroid Hormone β-Estradiol.

We present the accurate experimental structure of the steroid hormone β-estradiol obtained with high-resolution rotational spectroscopy under the solvent free, isolated, and cold conditions of a molecular jet. This is the first time that the rotational signature of a steroid hormone is reported. β-Estradiol is a primary female sex hormone and features a rigid steroidal ring system. Three conformers could be identified in the cold environment of a supersonic molecular jet, which only differ in the orientation of the two hydroxy groups attached to the steroidal backbone. The conformers are almost isoenergetic and have very similar rotational constants but still could be clearly resolved and assigned. The high sensitivity of the technique allowed us to record and identify all singly substituted 13 C isotopologues in natural abundance for the dominant conformer. The additional spectroscopic constants led to an accurate determination of its experimental molecular structure. Along with a previous comparison of β-estradiol structures in the solid state and the liquid phase, this study completes the investigations in all three main phases by providing the interaction free gas-phase structure.

Recent Advances in Steroid Synthesis: A Tribute to Sir Derek Barton

The synthesis of steroids and gaining an ultimate understanding of their reactivity was one of Sir Derek Barton’s most notable research areas. This highlight will focus on the construction of the steroid ring system from 2016 to 2018, and will include pathways that eventually led to natural product synthesis. For example, efficient syntheses of ent-pregnanolone sulfate and oestradiol methyl ether will be explained along with the total synthesis of cannogenol-3-O-α-l-rhamnoside.

On the Formation and Desolvation Mechanism of Organic Molecule Solvates: A Structural Study of Methyl Cholate Solvates

Solvate formation and the desolvation mechanism of 25 obtained methyl cholate solvates were rationalized using crystal structure analysis and study of the phase transformations. The facile solvate formation was determined to be associated with the possibility for more efficient packing in structures containing solvent molecules. Most of the obtained solvates crystallized in one of the six isostructural solvate groups, with solvent selection based on the solvent capability to provide particular intermolecular interactions along with appropriate size and shape. In crystal structures several different methyl cholate conformers were observed, as apparently more efficient packing could be achieved by diversifying the molecule conformation and even adopting energetically quite unfavorable conformations. Nevertheless, the packing was generally controlled by the steroid ring system, particularly employing hydrogen bonding of the attached hydroxyl groups. Study of the desolvation mechanism showed that the primary desolvation product is determined by the structure similarity with the solvate, with thermodynamic stability of the desolvate having no directly identifiable effect. In the case of the absence of an acceptable structurally similar desolvate, desolvation produced an amorphous phase.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of pulcherrin J.

The title compound, C29H36O4 [systematic name (4aR,5R,6aS,7R,11aS,11bR)-4a-hydroxy-4,4,7,11b-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,7,11,11a,11b-dodecahydrophen-anthro[3,2-b]furan-5-yl cinnamate], a natural diterpene known as pulcherrin J, was isolated from stem barks of medicinally important Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.). The crystal structure of pulcherrin J shows it to be composed of a central core of three trans-fused cyclo-hexane rings and a near planar five-membered furan ring, along with an axially oriented cinnamate moiety and an -hydroxy substituent attached at positions 4a and 5 of the steroid ring system, respectively. The absolute structure was established with the use of Cu Kα radiation. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds to generate [100] C(8) chains. Hirshfeld surface analysis indicates that the most significant contacts in packing are H⋯H (67.5%), followed by C⋯H (19.6%) and H⋯O (12.9%).

Crystal structure of hydrocortisone acetate, C23H32O6

The crystal structure of hydrocortisone acetate has been solved and refined using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data, and optimized using density functional techniques. Hydrocortisone acetate crystallizes in space groupP21(#4) witha= 8.85173(3) Å,b= 13.53859(3) Å,c= 8.86980(4) Å,β= 101.5438(3)°,V= 1041.455(6) Å3, andZ= 2. Both hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds to the ketone oxygen atom on the steroid ring system, resulting in a three-dimensional hydrogen bond network. The powder pattern has been submitted to ICDD for inclusion in the Powder Diffraction File™.

Neurosteroid-like Inhibitors of N-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor: Substituted 2-Sulfates and 2-Hemisuccinates of Perhydrophenanthrene.

N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) display a critical role in various diseases of the central nervous system. The activity of NMDARs can be modulated by neurosteroids. Herein, we report a structure-activity relationship study for perhydrophenanthrene analogues possessing a framework that mimics the steroidal ring system. This study comprises the design, synthesis, and assessment of the biological activity of a library of perhydrophenanthrene 2-sulfates and 2-hemisuccinates (1-10). Their ability to modulate NMDAR-induced currents was tested on recombinant GluN1/GluN2B receptors. Our results demonstrate that such structural optimization leads to compounds that are inhibitors of NMDARs. Notably, compound 9 (IC50 = 15.6 μM) was assessed as a more potent inhibitor of NMDAR-induced currents than the known endogenous neurosteroid, pregnanolone sulfate (IC50 = 24.6 μM).

Formulation factors affecting the isomerization rate of betamethasone-17-valerate in a developmental hydrophilic cream – a HPLC and microscopy based stability study

The formulation of betamethasone-17-valerate (BV) into topical medicines presents a significant challenge for the formulation chemist. The substance is susceptible to acid and base catalyzed isomerization in aqueous environments, which results in valerate transesterification from carbon 17 to carbon 21 of the steroid ring system. This acyl migration process is of significant clinical importance since the 21-valerate ester possesses only a fraction of the potency of the 17-valerate parent compound. Isomerization of BV should therefore be reduced to a minimum through design of a suitable drug vehicle. In this study, the effect of varying the concentration of several excipient components on the isomerization rate of betamethasone valerate in a model hydrophilic cream has been investigated. These excipients include the emulsifier macrogolstearylether-20/21, the co-emulsifier cetylstearyl alcohol and the thickening agent hydroxyl propyl methylcellulose. Additionally, the influence of pH, the presence of the antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol, as well as the chelating agent, disodium edetate, on the stability of the formulation have been investigated. Trial drug product formulations, which were designed to investigate the influence of the above-mentioned components/parameters were manufactured and their stability was tested according to current ICH Guidelines. The content, purity and crystalline structure of the active substance in these formulations was analyzed by a combination of HPLC and microscopy techniques. The study demonstrates that the rate of isomerization of betamethasone valerate depends significantly on the concentration of emulsifier used in the cream formulation. At higher concentrations of emulsifier the isomerization proceeds rapidly with significant degradation over a period of weeks, whereas at lower concentrations significant degradation may not be observed, even after several years’ storage. The influence of the emulsifier has been shown to be independent of the pH value of the aqueous phase of the cream. These findings have not been reported in previous literature reports on this topic, which have tended to focus on the influence of pH. The results are likely to be of interest to pharmaceutical chemists working on the formulation of glucocorticoids as well as to local- and hospital pharmacists who carry out the practice of dilution of proprietary corticoid preparations, where the choice of diluent is likely to be critical for ensuring the stability of the diluted product.

Structure-activity studies of non-steroid analogues structurally-related to neuroprotective estrogens.

Estrone and 17β-estradiol are phenolic steroids that are known to be neuroprotective in multiple models of neuronal injury. Previous studies have identified the importance of their phenolic steroid A-ring for neuroprotection and have identified ortho substituents at the C-2 and C-4 positions on the phenol ring that enhance this activity. To investigate the importance of the steroid ring system for neuroprotective activity, phenolic compounds having the cyclopent[b]anthracene, cyclopenta[b]phenanthrene, benz[f]indene, benz[e]indene, indenes linked to a phenol, and a phenolic spiro ring system were prepared. New synthetic methods were developed to make some of the cyclopent[b]anthracene analogues as well as the spiro ring system. Compounds were evaluated for their ability to protect HT-22 hippocampal neurons from glutamate neurotoxicity and their activity relative to a potent neuroprotective analogue of 17β-estradiol was determined. An adamantyl substituent placed ortho to the phenolic hydroxyl group gave neuroprotective analogues in all ring systems studied.

ChemInform Abstract: Developing Steroidal Aromatase Inhibitors — An Effective Armament to Win the Battle Against Breast Cancer

AbstractReview: [184 refs.

A comparative differential scanning calorimetry study of the effects of cholesterol and various oxysterols on the thermotropic phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes

We have carried out a comparative differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) study of the effects of cholesterol (C) and the eight most physiologically relevant oxysterols on the thermotropic phase behavior of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer membranes. The structures of these oxysterols differ from that of C by the presence of additional hydroxyl, keto or epoxy groups on the steroid ring system or by the presence of a hydroxyl group in the alkyl side chain. In general, the progressive incorporation of these oxysterols reduces the temperature, cooperativity and enthalpy of the pretransition of DPPC to a greater extent than C, indicating that their presence thermally destabilizes and disorders the gel states of DPPC bilayers to a greater extent than C. Similarly, the incorporation of these oxysterols either increases the temperature of the broad component of the main phase transition to a smaller extent than C or actually decreases it. Again, this indicates that the presence of these compounds is less effective at thermally stabilizing and ordering the sterol-rich domains of DPPC bilayers than is C itself. Moreover, the incorporation of these oxysterols decrease the cooperativity and enthalpy of the main phase transition of DPPC to a smaller extent than C, indicating that they are somewhat less miscible in fluid DPPC bilayers than is C. Particularly notable in this regard is 25-hydroxycholesterol, which exhibits a markedly reduced miscibility in both gel and fluid DPPC bilayers compared to C itself. In general, the effectiveness of these oxysterols in stabilizing and ordering DPPC bilayers decreases as their rate of interbilayer exchange and the polarity of the oxysterol increases. We close by providing a tentative molecular explanation for the results of our DSC studies and of those of previous biophysical studies of the effects of various oxysterol on lipid bilayer model membranes.

A DSC and FTIR spectroscopic study of the effects of the epimeric coprostan-3-ols and coprostan-3-one on the thermotropic phase behaviour and organization of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes: Comparison with their 5-cholesten analogues

We present the results of a comparative differential calorimetric and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic study of the effect of cholesterol and five analogues on the thermotropic phase behaviour and organization of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer membranes. These sterols/steroids differ in both the nature and stereochemistry of the polar head group at C3 (β-OH, α-OH or CO) and in the presence or absence of a double bond in ring B and in the orientation of rings A and B. The Δ5 sterols/steroid have a trans rather than a cis ring A/B junction, and the concentration of these compounds required to abolish the DPPC pretransition, inversely related to their relative ability to disorder gel state DPPC bilayers, decreases in the order β-OH>α-OH>CO. However, in the saturated ring junction-inverted (cis) series, these concentrations are much more similar, regardless of polar head group chemical structure. Similarly, the residual enthalpy of the DPPC main phase transition at 50mol% sterol/steroid, which is inversely related to the miscibility of these compounds in fluid DPPC bilayers, also increases in the order β-OH>α-OH>CO, but this effect is attenuated in the saturated series with an inverted ring A/B orientation. Moreover, replacement of the double bond at C5–C6 with a saturated linkage and inversion of the ring A/B junction reduces both sterol/steroid solubility and the ability to order the hydrocarbon chains of fluid DPPC molecules all cases. Thus, the characteristic effects of sterols/steroids on fluid lipid bilayers are generally optimal when an OH group rather than CO group is present at C3, and when this OH group is in the equatorial (β) orientation, and when the orientation of the ring A/B fusion is trans rather than cis. Overall, these results demonstrate that variations in the saturation and stereochemistry of the steroid ring system influence the effect of variations in the nature and stereochemistry of the polar headgroup at C3 on the physical properties of phospholipid bilayers and vice versa. Moreover, the presence of a single double bond specifically at Δ5 is required to maximize sterol solubility in fluid DPPC bilayers.

Identification of a novel dehydroergosterol enhancing microglial anti-inflammatory activity in a dairy product fermented with Penicillium candidum.

Despite the ever-increasing number of dementia patients worldwide, fundamental therapeutic approaches to treat this disease remain to be established. Preventive approaches such as diet, exercise and learning attract attention. Several epidemiological studies suggest that ingestion of fermented dairy products prevents cognitive decline in the elderly. These reports indicate that specific ingredients in the fermented dairy products elicit an anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidative activity that facilitates neuroprotection. The responsible components remain to be investigated. A number of studies have shown that inflammation caused by microglia is closely related to exaggeration of the pathology and cognitive decline seen in the elderly. Many researchers have proposed that controlling microglial activities could be effective in preventing and possibly curing dementia. In the present study, to elucidate specific compounds that regulate microglial activity from dairy products, repeated purification by HPLC, combined with evaluation using primary microglia, facilitated the identification of dehydroergosterol (DHE) as a novel component of the extract that enhances microglial anti-inflammatory activity. DHE contains three conjugated double bonds in a steroid ring system and is an analogue of ergosterol. Despite their related chemical structures, the anti-inflammatory activity of DHE is markedly stronger than that of ergosterol. P. candidum for camembert cheese produces DHE, but P. Roqueforti for blue cheese and Aspergillus do not. DHE also induces CD11b-positive microglia cells into CD206-positive M2 type microglia. Neurotoxicity and neuronal cell death induced by excessively activated microglia is suppressed by treatment with DHE. Thus, this is the first report to demonstrate that DHE, identified as a responsible compound in dairy products, can induce microglia into a preferable phenotype for our brain environment and can be safely introduced into the body by consumption of dairy products. We believe the uptake of DHE might help to prevent the onset of dementia.

Fluorescent Sterols and Cholesteryl Esters as Probes for Intracellular Cholesterol Transport.

Cholesterol transport between cellular organelles comprised vesicular trafficking and nonvesicular exchange; these processes are often studied by quantitative fluorescence microscopy. A major challenge for using this approach is producing analogs of cholesterol with suitable brightness and structural and chemical properties comparable with those of cholesterol. This review surveys currently used fluorescent sterols with respect to their behavior in model membranes, their photophysical properties, as well as their transport and metabolism in cells. In the first part, several intrinsically fluorescent sterols, such as dehydroergosterol or cholestatrienol, are discussed. These polyene sterols (P-sterols) contain three conjugated double bonds in the steroid ring system, giving them slight fluorescence in ultraviolet light. We discuss the properties of P-sterols relative to cholesterol, outline their chemical synthesis, and explain how to image them in living cells and organisms. In particular, we show that P-sterol esters inserted into low-density lipoprotein can be tracked in the fibroblasts of Niemann–Pick disease using high-resolution deconvolution microscopy. We also describe fluorophore-tagged cholesterol probes, such as BODIPY-, NBD-, Dansyl-, or Pyrene-tagged cholesterol, and eventual esters of these analogs. Finally, we survey the latest developments in the synthesis and use of alkyne cholesterol analogs to be labeled with fluorophores by click chemistry and discuss the potential of all approaches for future applications.

Acyclic cucurbit[n]uril-type molecular containers: influence of aromatic walls on their function as solubilizing excipients for insoluble drugs.

We studied the influence of the aromatic sidewalls on the ability of acyclic CB[n]-type molecular containers (1a–1e) to act as solubilizing agents for 19 insoluble drugs including the developmental anticancer agent PBS-1086. All five containers exhibit good water solubility and weak self-association (Ks ≤ 624 M–1). We constructed phase solubility diagrams to extract Krel and Ka values for the container·drug complexes. The acyclic CB[n]-type containers generally display significantly higher Ka values than HP-β-CD toward drugs. Containers 1a–1e bind the steroidal ring system and aromatic moieties of insoluble drugs. Compound 1b displays highest affinity toward most of the drugs studied. Containers 1a and 1b are broadly applicable and can be used to formulate a wider variety of insoluble drugs than was previously possible with cyclodextrin technology. For drugs that are solubilized by both HP-β-CD and 1a–1e, lower concentrations of 1a–1e are required to achieve identical [drug].

A distinct MaoC-like enoyl-CoA hydratase architecture mediates cholesterol catabolism in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) igr operon plays an essential role in Mtb cholesterol metabolism, which is critical for pathogenesis during the latent stage of Mtb infection. Here we report the first structure of a heterotetrameric MaoC-like enoyl-CoA hydratase, ChsH1-ChsH2, which is encoded by two adjacent genes from the igr operon. We demonstrate that ChsH1-ChsH2 catalyzes the hydration of a steroid enoyl-CoA, 3-oxo-4,17-pregnadiene-20-carboxyl-CoA, in the modified β-oxidation pathway for cholesterol side chain degradation. The ligand-bound and apoenzyme structures of ChsH1-ChsH2N reveal an unusual, modified hot-dog fold with a severely truncated central α-helix that creates an expanded binding site to accommodate the bulkier steroid ring system. The structures show quaternary structure shifts that accommodate the four rings of the steroid substrate and offer an explanation for why the unusual heterotetrameric assembly is utilized for hydration of this steroid. The unique αβ heterodimer architecture utilized by ChsH1-ChsH2 to bind its distinctive substrate highlights an opportunity for the development of new antimycobacterial drugs that target a pathway specific to Mtb.