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Cytochrome c oxidase (CcOX) containing binuclear heme a 3 -Cu B centre (BNC) mechanises the process of electron transfer in the last phase of cellular respiration. The molecular modelling based structural analysis of CcOX - heme a 3 -Cu B complex was performed and the disturbance to this complex under cyanide poisoning conditions was investigated. Taking into consideration the results of molecular docking studies, new chemical entities were developed for clipping cyanide from the enzyme and restoring its normal function. It was found that the molecules obtained by combining syringaldehyde, oxindole and chrysin moieties bearing propyl/butyl spacing groups occupy the BNC region and effectively remove cyanide bound to the enzyme. The binding constant of compound 2 with CN - was 2.3 × 10 5  M -1 and its ED 50 for restoring the cyanide bound CcOX activity in 10 min was 16 µM. The compound interacted with CN - over the pH range 5-10. The comparison of the loss of enzymatic activity in the presence of CN - and resumption of enzymatic activity by compound 2 mediated removal of CN - indicated the efficacy of the compound as antidote of cyanide., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Multivalent iminosugars conjugated with a morpholine moiety and/or designed as prodrugs have been prepared and evaluated as new classes of pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of Gaucher disease. This study further confirms the interest of the prodrug concept and shows that the addition of a lysosome-targeting morpholine unit into iminosugar cluster structures has no significant impact on the chaperone activity on Gaucher cells., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A new class of amidine-oxime reactivators of organophosphate (OP)-inhibited cholinesterases (ChE) was synthesized and tested in vitro and in vivo. Compared with 2-PAM, the most promising cyclic amidine-oxime (i.e., 12e) showed comparable or greater reactivation of OP-inactivated AChE and OP-inactivated BChE. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a nonquaternary oxime that has, comparable to 2-PAM, in vitro potency for reactivation of Sarin (GB)-inhibited AChE and BChE. Amidine-oximes were tested in vitro, and reactivation rates for OP-inactivated butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) were greater than those for 2-PAM or MINA. Amidine-oxime reactivation rates for OP-inactivated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were lower compared to 2-PAM but greater compared with MINA. Amidine-oximes were tested in vivo for protection against the toxicity of nerve agent model compounds. (i.e., a model of Sarin). Post-treatment (i.e., 5 min after OP exposure, i.p,) with amidine oximes 7a-c and 12a, 12c, 12e, 12f, and 15b (145 μmol/kg, i.p.) protected 100% of the mice challenged with the sarin model compound. Even at 25% of the initial dose of amidine-oxime (i.e., a dose of 36 μmol/kg, i.p.), 7b and 12e protected 100% of the animals challenged with the sarin nerve agent model compound that caused lethality in 6/11 animals without amidine-oxime.

A new class of amidine-oxime reactivators of organophosphate (OP)-inhibited cholinesterases (ChE) were designed, synthesized, and tested. These compounds represent a novel group of oximes with enhanced capabilities of crossing the blood-brain barrier. Lack of brain penetration is a major limitation for currently used oximes as antidotes of OP poisoning. The concept described herein relies on a combination of an amidine residue and oxime functionality whereby the amidine increases the binding affinity to the ChE and the oxime is responsible for reactivation. Amidine-oximes were tested in vitro and reactivation rates for OP-BuChE were greater than pralidoxime (2-PAM) or monoisonitrosoacetone (MINA). Amidine-oxime reactivation rates for OP-AChE were lower compared to 2-PAM but greater compared with MINA. After pretreatment for 30 min with oximes 15c and 15d (145 μmol/kg, ip) mice were challenged with a soman model compound. In addition, 15d was tested in a post-treatment experiment (145 μmol/kg, ip, administration 5 min after sarin model compound exposure). In both cases, amidine-oximes afforded 100% 24 h survival in an animal model of OP exposure.

Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a lysosomal storage disorder characterized at the cellular level by abnormal accumulation of cholesterol and other lipids in lysosomal storage organelles. Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) has been recently identified as a potential therapeutic target for NPC. LAL can be specifically inhibited by a variety of 3,4-disubstituted thiadiazole carbamates. An efficient synthesis of the C(3) oxygenated/C(4) aminated analogues has been developed that furnishes the products in high yields and high degrees of purity. Common intermediates can also be used for the synthesis of the C(3) carbon substituted derivatives. Herein we tested various thiadiazole carbamates, amides, esters, and ketones for inhibition of LAL. In addition, we tested a diverse selection of commercially available non-thiadiazole carbamates. Our studies show that, among the compounds examined herein, only thiadiazole carbamates are effective inhibitors of LAL. We present a mechanism for LAL inhibition by these compounds whereby LAL transiently carbamoylates the enzyme similarly to previously described inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by rivastigmine and other carbamates as well as acylation of various lipases by orlistat.

Phagocytes generate superoxide (O2*-) by an enzyme complex known as reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase. Its catalytic component, responsible for the NADPH-driven reduction of oxygen to O2*-, is flavocytochrome b559, located in the membrane and consisting of gp91phox and p22phox subunits. NADPH oxidase activation is initiated by the translocation to the membrane of the cytosolic components p47phox, p67phox, and the GTPase Rac. Cytochrome b559 is converted to an active form by the interaction of gp91phox with p67phox, leading to a conformational change in gp91phox and the induction of electron flow. We designed a new family of NADPH oxidase activators, represented by chimeras comprising various segments of p67phox and Rac1. The prototype chimera p67phox (1-212)-Rac1 (1-192) is a potent activator in a cell-free system, also containing membrane p47phox and an anionic amphiphile. Chimeras behave like bona fide GTPases and can be prenylated, and prenylated (p67phox -Rac1) chimeras activate the oxidase in the absence of p47phox and amphiphile. Experiments involving truncations, mutagenesis, and supplementation with Rac1 demonstrated that the presence of intrachimeric bonds between the p67phox and Rac1 moieties is an absolute requirement for the ability to activate the oxidase. The presence or absence of intrachimeric bonds has a major impact on the conformation of the chimeras, as demonstrated by fluorescence resonance energy transfer, small angle X-ray scattering, and gel filtration. Based on this, a "propagated wave" model of NADPH oxidase activation is proposed in which a conformational change initiated in Rac is propagated to p67phox and from p67phox to gp91phox.

Synthesis of a new asymmetric bisquaternary reactivator of tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase-1-(4-hydroxyiminomethylpyridinium)-4-(4-carbamoylpyridinium) butane dibromide is described. Reactivation potency of this oxime is compared to the currently used reactivators-pralidoxime, obidoxime and H-oxime HI-6.

Among the inhibitors with a benzamidine moiety, 4-amidinophenyl esters of aromatic carboxylic acids that possess the structure of "inverse substrates" exhibit special kinetic characteristics. These compounds behave like substrates of trypsin-like enzymes, but acylation is much more rapid than deacylation. The result is accumulation of a comparatively stable acyl-enzyme, which may be easily isolated. By the use of 4-amidinophenyl esters acyl-derivatives of various trypsin-like enzymes can be prepared. In vivo, an acyl-enzyme behaves as an inert form of the enzyme and is protected from being inactivated by inhibitors. It is slowly reactivated in the circulation and has stimulated growing interest as a potential pro-drug.

We have prepared a series of alpha-ketothiohydroximic acid thioesters and evaluated them in vitro with respect to their ability to reactivate (diisopropylphosphoryl)acetylcholinesterase. The compounds conform to the general formula RC(=O)C(=NOH)S(CH2)nNR2'.HCl, where R = CH3, C6H5, 4-CH3OC6H4, 4-NO2C6H4; n = 2, 3; and R' = CH3, C2H5, or i-C3h7. We also prepared 4-BrC6H4C(=NOH)S(CH2)2N(C2H5)2.HCl and 4-CH3OC6H4C(=O)C(=NOH)S(CH2)2N(C2H5)2.CH3I for comparison. The alpha-ketothiohydroximates exhibit oxime acid dissociation constants (pKa) in the range 6.9 to 8.4, bracketing the value of pKa = 7.9, believed to be optimal for acetylcholinesterase reactivation. The compounds are also good nucleophiles; bimolecular rate constants (kn) for reaction with p-nitrophenyl acetate follow the expression log (kn) = 6.7 - 0.69(14 - pKa = The reactivation of (diisopropylphosphoryl)acetylcholinesterase is highly dependent on the alpha-ketothiohydroximate structure: 4-h incubation of inhibited enzyme at pH 7.6, 25 degrees C, with 1 x 10(-3) M 4-CH3OC6H4C(=O)C(=NOH)S(CH2)3N(CH3)2.HCl gives no detectable restoration of activity, whereas 4-CH3OC6H4C(=O)C(=NOH)S(CH2)2N(C2H5)2.HCl restores inhibited enzyme activity to 58% of control under identical conditions. With alpha-ketothiohydroximate in excess over inhibited enzyme, the kinetics of reactivation are governed by an equilibrium constant (Kr) for binding alpha-ketothiohydroximate to the inhibited enzyme and a nucleophilic displacement rate constant (kr) for attack on phosphorus.

2-Hydroxyiminomethyl-4-alkylpyridine methiodides were prepared and tested for their in vitro reactivating potency on phosphorylated electric eel cholinesterase. They were also tested as in vivo protecting agents: only one of the compounds, 4-methyl-2-hydroxyiminopyridine, offered a greater protection from DFP than 2-PAM, the others had little to no effect.

Mono-quaternary salts Z have been prepared from pyridine-aldoximes and 1,3-dihalogen compounds. These were used to synthesize asymmetrical bis-quaternary pyridine-oximes with three-membered bridge. The effect of reactivation of phosphorylated AChE by these substances is less than that of obidoxim (Toxogonin).