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HMR1098, a novel KATP-blocking agent, is metabolized to form an S-glucuronide in rat and dog bile. Synthesis of the S-glucuronide metabolite was studied in human liver and kidney microsomes. Recombinant UPD-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were screened for activity, and kinetic analysis was performed to identify the isoform or isoforms responsible for the formation of this novel S-glucuronide in humans. S-Glucuronidation is relatively rare, but from this study it appears that S-glucuronides are not generated exclusively by a single UGT isoform. From the panel of recombinant isoforms used, both UGT1A1 and UGT1A9 catalyzed the glucuronidation of HMR1098. The Vmax values in both instances were similar, but the Km for UGT1A1 was substantially lower than that measured for UGT1A9, 82 microM compared with 233 microM, respectively. Liver and kidney microsomes displayed similar Km values, but the Vmax in kidney was more than 20-fold less than in liver microsomes, which is suggestive of a significant role for the bilirubin UGT in catalysis of HMR1098, although other UGTs may play a secondary role.

The synthesis of (14)C-labeled AVE 0991 ((14)()C-1a) and large-scale synthesis of AVE 0991 (1a) are described. In the key step of the synthesis, the C-C coupling reaction of the imidazole (2) and thiophene (3) building blocks was studied under Suzuki and Stille reaction conditions, respectively. Suzuki reaction gave only moderate yields, whereas the best results were obtained under Stille reaction conditions with up to 64% yield.

The influence of chemical modification of functional amino acid side-chains in proteins on the H(+)-dependent uptake system for orally active alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics and small peptides was investigated in brush-border membrane vesicles from rabbit small intestine. Neither a modification of cysteine residues by HgCl2, NEM, DTNB or PHMB and of vicinal thiol groups by PAO nor a modification of disulfide bonds by DTT showed any inhibition on the uptake of cephalexin, a substrate of the intestinal peptide transporter. In contrast, the Na(+)-dependent uptake systems for D-glucose and L-alanine were greatly inhibited by the thiol-modifying agents. With reagents for hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups or arginine the transport activity for beta-lactam antibiotics also remained unchanged, whereas the uptake of D-glucose and L-alanine was inhibited by the carboxyl specific reagent DCCD. A modification of tyrosine residues with N-acetylimidazole inhibited the peptide transport system and did not affect the uptake systems for D-glucose and L-alanine. The involvement of histidine residues in the transport of orally active alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics and small peptides (Kramer, W. et al. (1988) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 943, 288-296) was further substantiated by photoaffinity labeling studies using a new photoreactive derivative of the orally active cephalosporin cephalexin, 3-[phenyl-4-3H]azidocephalexin, which still carries the alpha-amino group being essential for oral activity. 3-Azidocephalexin competitively inhibited the uptake of cephalexin into brush-border membrane vesicles. The photoaffinity labeling of the 127 kDa binding protein for beta-lactam antibiotics with this photoprobe was decreased by the presence of cephalexin, benzylpenicillin or dipeptides. A modification of histidine residues in brush-border membrane vesicles with DEP led to a decreased labeling of the putative peptide transporter of Mr 127,000 compared to controls. This indicates a decrease in the affinity of the peptide transporter for alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics by modification of histidine residues. The data presented demonstrate an involvement of tyrosine and histidine residues in the transport of orally active alpha-amino-beta-lactam antibiotics across the enterocyte brush-border membrane.

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed for the measurement of 2-[N-[(S)-1-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenylpropyl]-L-alanyl]-(1S,3S,5S)- 2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-3-carboxylic acid (ramipril, Hoe 498) and its active metabolite (diacid: hydrolysis product of ramipril) in serum or plasma. Antibodies to the diacid were raised in rabbits against a lysine analogue conjugated to bovine serum albumin. A 125I-ramipril-diacid derivative was used as radioligand. Separation of the antibody-bound and free radiolabeled ligand was achieved by employing a polyethylene glycol solution. The RIA is specific for the active metabolite (diacid). Studies on specificity showed less than 0.6% cross-reactivity with intact ramipril or with dioxopiperazine metabolites. The levels for intact ramipril were obtained by prior enzymatic hydrolysis to the diacid. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1 and 0.5 ng/ml for diacid and ramipril, respectively. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 3 to 14% at 1 to 30 ng diacid per ml. A recovery experiment yielded an average of 103%. The assay has been used to investigate the pharmacokinetic profile of both ramipril and its pharmacologically active metabolite.

Studies on absorption and distribution in both skin and organism, as well as on elimination and biotransformation were performed in rats, pigs, and rabbits following topical application of the corticoid prednisolone-17-ethyl carbonate-21-propionate (prednicarbate; test name: Hoe 777), which had been labeled with 14C in position 4 for this purpose. After allowing the 0.25% greasy ointment to take effect for 6 hours, about half of the dose applied to rats and three quarters of that applied to pigs could be removed from the application area (rejection rate). Measurable blood levels, which could only be continuously determined in rats, initially occurred 0.5 to three hours after application; they remained very low throughout the experiment and finally reached concentrations between 0.007 and 0.012 micrograms equivalents of prednicarbate per ml 24 hours after administration. The excretion rate was 5 to 6% of the dose applied to rats and maximally 1.9% in pigs. In rats, the absorption after dermal application on an average amounted to 14% in healthy skin and to 22% in abraded skin. In pigs, we received values of about 1% and 4%, respectively. Allowing for species-related differences, the low quantity of absorption was also proved in healthy skin of rats and rabbits by means of in vitro-studies. Thus the amount which had penetrated within 6 hours was 3.3% in the model of the isolated perfused rabbit ear and 0.3% in the penetration chamber model in rats. As adhesive tape strippings and histoautoradiographic studies revealed, the radioactivity was highest in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum and fell with increasing depth of skin. Our studies demonstrated that the horny layer serves both as a reservoir and as a barrier for prednicarbate. Experimental impairment of the barrier function resulted in an increased amount of active substance penetrating through the skin. During its passage through the organism, prednicarbate is almost completely metabolized, its metabolic fate resembling largely the biotransformation pathway of prednisolone. Among the numerous biotransformation products (about 20-30), 20 beta F-20-dihydroprednisolone and 6 beta-hydroxy-20 beta F-20-dihydroprednisolone were identified as the quantitatively most important metabolites in rats. On the basis of our results, we assume that at the site of action - the skin - highly potent prednicarbate becomes more and more changed by biotransformation on its way into the organism; this process results in formation of numerous metabolites, probably accounting for the very low systemic effect of the compound.

The oral antidiabetic sulfonylurea [3H]glibenclamide specifically binds to plasma membranes from a rat beta-cell tumor indicating a receptor for sulfonylureas in these membranes. Irradiation of [3H]glibenclamide at 254 or 300 nm in the presence of albumin resulted in covalent labeling of the albumin molecule. Direct photoaffinity labeling of beta-cell membranes with [3H]glibenclamide resulted in the covalent modification of two membrane polypeptides with apparent molecular masses 140 and 33 kDa. The extent of labeling of the 140 kDa polypeptide was specifically decreased by sulfonylureas. This suggests that a membrane polypeptide of 140 kDa is a component of the sulfonylurea receptor in the beta-cell membrane.