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FTY720 is the first oral small molecule approved for the treatment of people suffering from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. It is a potent agonist of the S1P1 receptor, but its lack of selectivity against the S1P3 receptor has been linked to most of the cardiovascular side effects observed in the clinic. These findings have triggered intensive efforts toward the identification of a second generation of S1P3-sparing S1P1 agonists. We have recently disclosed a series of orally active tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) compounds matching these criteria. In this paper we describe how we defined and implemented a strategy aiming at the discovery of selective structurally distinct follow-up agonists. This effort culminated with the identification of a series of orally active tetrahydropyrazolopyridines.

Chelating phosphines are effective additives and supporting ligands for a wide array of iron-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. While recent studies have begun to unravel the nature of the in situ-formed iron species in several of these reactions, including the identification of the active iron species, insight into the origin of the differential effectiveness of bisphosphine ligands in catalysis as a function of their backbone and peripheral steric structures remains elusive. Herein, we report a spectroscopic and computational investigation of well-defined FeCl2(bisphosphine) complexes (bisphosphine = SciOPP, dpbz, (tBu)dppe, or Xantphos) and known iron(I) variants to systematically discern the relative effects of bisphosphine backbone character and steric substitution on the overall electronic structure and bonding within their iron complexes across oxidation states implicated to be relevant in catalysis. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and density functional theory (DFT) studies demonstrate that common o-phenylene and saturated ethyl backbone motifs result in small but non-negligible perturbations to 10Dq(Td) and iron-bisphosphine bonding character at the iron(II) level within isostructural tetrahedra as well as in five-coordinate iron(I) complexes FeCl(dpbz)2 and FeCl(dppe)2. Notably, coordination of Xantphos to FeCl2 results in a ligand field significantly reduced relative to those of its iron(II) partners, where a large bite angle and consequent reduced iron-phosphorus Mayer bond orders (MBOs) could play a role in fostering the unique ability of Xantphos to be an effective additive in Kumada and Suzuki-Miyaura alkyl-alkyl cross-couplings. Furthermore, it has been found that the peripheral steric bulk of the SciOPP ligand does little to perturb the electronic structure of FeCl2(SciOPP) relative to that of the analogous FeCl2(dpbz) complex, potentially suggesting that differences in the steric properties of these ligands might be more important in determining in situ iron speciation and reactivity.

Proteins and peptides can be sequenced from the carboxy terminus with isothiocyanate reagents to produce amino acid thiohydantoin derivatives. Previous studies in our laboratory indicated that the use of trimethylsilyl isothiocyanate (TMS-ITC) as a coupling reagent significantly improved the yields and reaction conditions and reduced the number of complicating side products [Hawke et al. (1987) Anal. Biochem. 166, 298]. The present study further explores the conditions for formation of the peptidylthiohydantoins by TMS-ITC and examines the cleavage of these peptidylthiohydantoin derivatives into a shortened peptide and thiohydantoin amino acid derivative. Schizophrenia-related peptide (Thr-Val-Leu) was used as a model peptide and was treated with acetic anhydride and TMS-ITC at 50 degrees C for 30 min, and the peptidylthiohydantoin derivatives were isolated by reverse-phase HPLC and characterized by FAB-MS. The purified derivatives were subjected to a variety of cleavage conditions, and rate constants for hydrolysis were determined. Hydrolysis with acetohydroxamate as reported originally by Stark [(1968) Biochemistry 7, 1796] was found to give excellent cleavage of the terminal thiohydantoin amino acid, but also led to the formation of stable hydroxamate esters of the shortened peptide which are poorly suited for subsequent rounds of degradation. Hydrolysis with 2% aqueous triethylamine under mild conditions (1-5 min at 50 degrees C) was found to be more suitable for carboxy-terminal sequence analysis by the thiocyanate method. The shortened peptide, which could be isolated and subjected to a second round of degradation, and the released thiohydantoin amino acid are formed in good yield (90-100%). Several other small peptides containing 15 different C-terminal amino acid side chains were also investigated in order to examine any interfering reactions that might occur when these side chains are encountered in a stepwise degradation using the thiocyanate chemistry. Quantitative yields of peptidylthiohydantoins were obtained for all the amino acids examined with the following exceptions: low yields were obtained for C-terminal Glu or Thr, and no peptidylthiohydantoins were obtained for C-terminal Pro or Asp. Asparagine was found to form cyclic imides (64%) at the penultimate position (C-2) during hydrolysis of the peptidylthiohydantoins by 2% aqueous triethylamine. Cleavage of C-terminal Asn under these conditions led to the formation of the expected shortened peptide (69%), but also to the formation of a shortened peptide (31%) with a C-terminal amide. Problems with Glu and Thr could be solved by minimizing the reaction time with acetic anhydride.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Three new analogues of cAMP have been synthesized and characterized: 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (2-BDB-TcAMP), 2-[(3-bromo-2-oxopropyl)thio]-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (2-BOP-tcAMP), and 8-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BDB-TcAMP). The bromoketo moiety has the ability to react with the nucleophilic side chains of several amino acids, while the dioxobutyl group can interact with arginine. These cAMP analogues were tested for their ability to inactivate the low Km (high affinity) cAMP phosphodiesterase from human platelets. The 2-BDB-TcAMP and 2-BOP-TcAMP were competitive inhibitors of cAMP hydrolysis by the phosphodiesterase with Ki values of 0.96 +/- 0.12 and 0.70 +/- 0.12 microM, respectively. However, 2-BDB-TcAMP and 2-BOP-TcAMP did not irreversibly inactivate the phosphodiesterase at pH values from 6.0 to 7.5 and at concentrations up to 10 mM. These results indicate that although the 2-substituted TcAMP analogues bind to the enzyme, there are no reactive amino acids in the vicinity of the 2-position of the cAMP binding site. In contrast, incubation of the platelet low Km cAMP phosphodiesterase with 8-BDB-TcAMP resulted in a time-dependent, irreversible inactivation of the enzyme with a second-order rate constant of 0.031 +/- 0.009 min-1 mM1. Addition of the substrates, cAMP and cGMP, and the product, AMP, to the reaction mixture resulted in marked decreases in the inactivation rate, suggesting that the inactivation was due to reaction at the active site of the phosphodiesterase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new reactive fluorescent adenine nucleotide analogue has been synthesized and characterized: 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (BDB-T epsilon ADP). This compound reacts irreversibly with NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase. Biphasic kinetics of inactivation are observed that can be described in terms of a fast initial phase of inactivation resulting in partially active enzyme of 8-10% residual activity, followed by a slower phase leading to total inactivation. NADPH protects completely against the fast phase of the reaction, indicating that modification occurs at the coenzyme binding site, whereas isocitrate with MnSO4 protects totally against the slow phase of reaction. The inactivation rate constants for both phases exhibit nonlinear dependence on BDB-T epsilon ADP concentration, consistent with the formation of a reversible complex with the enzyme prior to irreversible modification. Covalent incorporation of BDB-T epsilon ADP is limited and specific; only 0.99 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is incorporated when the enzyme is 98% inactivated in the absence of ligands. A maximum incorporation of 0.5 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is obtained in the presence of isocitrate and MnSO4, while incorporation in the presence of NADPH equals the difference between the incorporation in the absence of ligands and that measured in the presence of isocitrate and MnSO4. It appears that 0.5 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is responsible for the fast phase of inactivation and the remaining incorporation causes the slow phase. Under all conditions used in this study, isocitrate dehydrogenase has been shown to exist as a dimer by analytical ultracentrifugation and by cross-linking with dimethyl suberimidate followed by analysis on polyacrylamide gels in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. It is proposed that, in the fast phase of inactivation, 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate reacts at the coenzyme binding site of one subunit of dimeric isocitrate dehydrogenase, causing complete inactivation of the modified subunit and substantial inactivation of the other subunit. This new reagent is likely to have general applicability as an affinity label for other NADP+ binding enzymes.

When the substrate isocitrate-Mn2+ is present, the fluorescent nucleotide analogue 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-1,N6-ethenoadenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (2-BDB-T epsilon A-2',5'-DP) reacts irreversibly with pig heart NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase at the coenzyme binding site on one subunit of the dimeric enzyme [Bailey, J. M., & Colman, R. F. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 5367-5377]. The modified enzyme, which retains partial activity, binds 1 mol of NADPH or 1 mol of the coenzyme analogue, reduced thionicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (TNADPH), per dimer. TNADPH quenches the fluorescence of enzyme-bound 2-BDB-T epsilon A-2',5'-DP with an efficiency of energy transfer of 9.8%. From this value and the spectral properties of the donor and acceptor chromophores, a distance of 32 A was calculated as the average distance between coenzyme sites on the two subunits. Isocitrate dehydrogenase activity requires a divalent metal ion, such as Mn2+, Co2+, or Ni2+. Co2+ and Ni2+ have absorption spectra that overlap the emission spectra of enzyme-bound 2-BDB-T epsilon A-2',5'-DP. In the presence of isocitrate, each of these two metal ions quenches the fluorescence of the enzyme-bound reagent with an efficiency of energy transfer of 28-29%. From this value and the spectral characteristics of the energy donor and acceptors, an average distance of 8.0 A was estimated between the metal-isocitrate site and the labeled coenzyme site. These distances have provided constraints in formulating a model of the spatial arrangement of active-site ligands on isocitrate dehydrogenase.

It has been proposed that the catalytic mechanism of 3-phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and the regulation of its enzymatic activity by sulfate ions involve relatively large conformational changes. We have applied site-directed mutagenesis to assess the role of the interactions between glutamate-190 and histidine-388, located in the interdomain hinge region, in the substrate- and sulfate-induced conformational transitions. We have shown previously that substitutions of Glu-190 with either glutamine or aspartate resulted in a complete loss of sulfate activation and in decreased activities; corresponding to 26% and 36% of the activity of native PGK, respectively [Mas, M. T., Resplandor, Z. E., & Riggs, A. D. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5369-5377]. In contrast, the Lys-388 and Ala-388 mutants retain the ability to undergo sulfate-induced activation and exhibit a larger decrease in activity (relative activities of 6% and 13%, respectively). The decrease of the enzymatic activities of these mutants and the relatively small changes of the Km values for the substrates imply that both residues participate in the catalytic mechanism by contributing to the conformational flexibility of the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Two new reactive adenine nucleotide analogues have been synthesized and characterized: 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (2-BDB-TA-2',5'-DP) and 2-[(3-bromo-2-oxopropyl)thio]adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (2-BOP-TA-2',5'-DP). Starting with NADP+, 2'-phospho-adenosine 5'-(diphosphoribose) (PADPR) was generated enzymatically and was converted to PADPR 1-oxide by reaction with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. Treatment with NaOH followed by reaction with carbon disulfide yielded 2-thioadenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (TA-2',5'-DP). Condensation of TA-2',5'-DP with 1,4-dibromobutanedione or 1,3-dibromo-2-propanone gave the final products 2-BDB-TA-2',5'-DP and 2-BOP-TA-2',5'-DP, respectively. The structure of these new reagents was determined by UV, 1H NMR, 31P NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as by bromide and phosphorus analysis. Both of these reagents exhibit properties expected for an affinity label of the coenzyme site of NADP+-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase. With both reagents, biphasic kinetics of inactivation are observed that can be described in terms of a fast initial phase of inactivation resulting in partially active enzyme of 6-7% residual activity, followed by a slower phase leading to total inactivation. The inactivation rate constants for both reagents exhibit a nonlinear dependence on reagent concentration, consistent with the formation of a reversible complex with the enzyme prior to irreversible modification. The enzyme incorporates both reagents to a limited extent and is protected against inactivation by NADP+ and NADPH. The reaction of these new nucleotide analogues with isocitrate dehydrogenase is compared to the much slower inactivation caused by bromoacetone, indicating the importance of the nucleotide moiety in the functioning of the affinity labels. It is likely that 2-BDB-TA-2',5'-DP and 2-BOP-TA-2',5'-DP will have general applicability as affinity labels for other NADP+ binding enzymes.

A new reactive adenine nucleotide has been synthesized: 2-[(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutyl)thio]-adenosine 5'-monophosphate (2-BDB-TAMP). Adenosine 5'-monophosphate 1-oxide was synthesized by reaction of AMP with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. Treatment with NaOH followed by reaction with carbon disulfide yielded 2-thioadenosine 5'-monophosphate (TAMP). The final product was generated by reaction of TAMP with 1,4-dibromobutanedione. The structure of 2-BDB-TAMP was determined by UV, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as by bromide and phosphorus analysis. Rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase is inactivated by 2-BDB-TAMP at pH 7.0 and 25 degrees C. The inactivation rate exhibits a nonlinear dependence on the reagent concentration with KI = 0.57 mM. Protection against inactivation is provided by ADP and ATP, in the presence of Mn2+, as well as by phosphoenolpyruvate, in the presence of K+; in addition, partial protection is provided by AMP plus Mn2+. Incubation of pyruvate kinase with 0.075 mM 2-BDB-TAMP for 70 min in the absence of protective ligands leads to incorporation of 1.55 mol of reagent/mol of enzyme subunit when the enzyme is 53% inactive. In the presence of ADP and Mn2+, only 0.96 mol of reagent/mol of subunit is incorporated at 70 min, while the enzyme retains 100% activity. Similar results were obtained in the presence of ATP plus Mn2+. Assuming that the groups modified in the absence of ligands include those modified in the presence of the nucleotides, the 53% inactivation can be attributed to the modification of 0.59 (1.55-0.96) group per enzyme subunit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)