Biomedical subjects

Eric Oldfield

Publications and source records attributed to Eric Oldfield.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Selective in vitro effects of the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase inhibitor risedronate on Trypanosoma cruzi.

We present the results of the first detailed study of the molecular and cellular basis of the antiproliferative effects of the bisphosphonate risedronate (Ris) on Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Ris and related compounds, which block poly-isoprenoid biosynthesis at the level of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, are currently used for the treatment of bone resorption disorders, but also display selective activity against trypanosomatid and apicomplexan parasites. Ris induced a dose-dependent effect on growth of the extracellular epimastigote form of T. cruzi; complete growth arrest and cell lysis ensued at 150 microM. Growth inhibition was associated with depletion of the parasite's endogenous sterols, but complete growth arrest and loss of cell viability took place before full depletion of these compounds, suggesting that disappearance of other essential poly-isoprenoids is involved in its anti-parasitic action. Ris had a variety of effects on cellular ultrastructure, including mitochondrial swelling, disorganisation of other organelles, such as reservosomes and the kinetoplast, together with the appearance of autophagic vesicles and progressive vacuolization of the cytoplasm. Ris had selective antiproliferative effects against the clinically relevant amastigote form of T. cruzi, and at 100 microM, was able to prevent completely the development of T. cruzi infection of murine muscle heart or Vero cells, and to cure cultures which were already infected. Ris induced drastic ultrastructural alterations in the intracellular parasites and blocked amastigote to trypomastigote differentiation, with no biochemical or ultrastructural effects on the host cells, which fully recovered their normal structure and activity after treatment. Ris is, therefore, a promising lead compound for the development of new drugs against T. cruzi.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2003

A density functional theory investigation of Fe-N-O bonding in heme proteins and model systems.

We report the results of a series of density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the Mössbauer quadrupole splittings and isomer shifts in NO heme model compounds, together with the results of calculations of the Mössbauer quadrupole splittings, isomer shifts, and electron paramagnetic resonance hyperfine coupling constants in a model Fe(II)(NO)(imidazole) complex as a function of Fe-NO bond length and Fe-N-O bond angle. The results of the Mössbauer quadrupole splitting and isomer shift calculations on the NO heme model compounds show good accord between theory and experiment, with the largest errors being observed for structures having the largest crystallographic R(1) values. The results of the property surface calculations were then used to calculate Fe-NO bond length and Fe-N-O bond angle probability surfaces (Z-surfaces) for a nitrosyl hemoglobin, using, in addition, an energy filter. The results obtained yielded a most probable Fe-NO bond length (r) of 1.79 A and an Fe-N-O bond angle (beta) of 136 degrees -137 degrees. This bond length is somewhat longer than those observed in most model compounds but may be due, at least in part, to hydrogen bond formation with the distal His residue. Bond elongation was also observed in a geometry optimized Fe(II)(NO)(imidazole) complex hydrogen bonded to an imidazole residue, in which we find r = 1.76-1.78 A and beta = 137 degrees -138 degrees. The computed bond angles are close to the canonical approximately 140 degrees value found in most model systems. Highly bent Fe-N-O bond angles or very long Fe-NO bond lengths seem unlikely to occur in proteins, due to their high energies. We also investigated the molecular orbitals and spin densities in each of the six coordinate systems investigated and found the orbitals and spin densities to be generally similar those described previously for five coordinate systems. Taken together, these results show that Mössbauer quadrupole splittings and isomer shifts, in addition to electron paramagnetic resonance hyperfine coupling constants, can now be calculated for nitrosyl heme systems with relatively good accuracy and that the results so obtained can be used to determine Fe-N-O geometries in metalloproteins. The Z-surface approach is thus applicable to both diamagnetic (CO) and paramagnetic (NO) heme proteins with in both cases the metal-ligand binding geometries found in the proteins being very close to those seen in model systems.

Hemeproteins↗

PubMed2003

3-D QSAR investigations of the inhibition of Leishmania major farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase by bisphosphonates.

We report the activities of 62 bisphosphonates as inhibitors of the Leishmania major mevalonate/isoprene biosynthesis pathway enzyme, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase. The compounds investigated exhibit activities (IC(50) values) ranging from approximately 100 nM to approximately 80 microM (corresponding to K(i) values as low as 10 nM). The most active compounds were found to be zoledronate (whose single-crystal X-ray structure is reported), pyridinyl-ethane-1-hydroxy-1,1-bisphosphonates or picolyl aminomethylene bisphosphonates. However, N-alicyclic aminomethylene bisphosphonates, such as incadronate (N-cycloheptyl aminomethylene bisphosphonate), as well as aliphatic aminomethylene bisphosphonates containing short (n = 4, 5) alkyl chains, were also active, with IC(50) values in the 200-1700 nM range (corresponding to K(i) values of approximately 20-170 nM). Bisphosphonates containing longer or multiple (N,N-) alkyl substitutions were inactive, as were aromatic species lacking an o- or m-nitrogen atom in the ring, or possessing multiple halogen substitutions or a p-amino group. To put these observations on a more quantitative structural basis, we used three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship techniques: comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA), to investigate which structural features correlated with high activity. Training set results (N = 62 compounds) yielded good correlations with each technique (R(2) = 0.87 and 0.88, respectively), and were further validated by using a training/test set approach. Test set results (N = 24 compounds) indicated that IC(50) values could be predicted within factors of 2.9 and 2.7 for the CoMFA and CoMSIA methods, respectively. The CoMSIA fields indicated that a positive charge in the bisphosphonate side chain and a hydrophobic feature contributed significantly to activity. Overall, these results are of general interest since they represent the first detailed quantitative structure-activity relationship study of the inhibition of an expressed farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase enzyme by bisphosphonate inhibitors and that the activity of these inhibitors can be predicted within about a factor of 3 by using 3D-QSAR techniques.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A quantitative structure-activity relationship and pharmacophore modeling investigation of aryl-X and heterocyclic bisphosphonates as bone resorption agents.

We have used quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) techniques, together with pharmacophore modeling, to investigate the relationships between the structures of a wide variety of geminal bisphosphonates and their activity in inhibiting osteoclastic bone resorption. For aryl-X (X = alkyl, oxyalkyl, and sulfanylalkyl) derivatives of pamidronate and one alendronate, a molecular field analysis (MFA) yielded an R(2) value of 0.900 and an F-test of 54 for a training set of 29 compounds. Using reduced training sets, the activities of 20 such compounds were predicted with an average error of 2.1 over a 4000x range in activity. Such good results were only obtained when using the X-ray crystallographic structure of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) bound to the target enzyme, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPP synthase), to guide the initial molecular alignment. For a series of heterocyclic bisphosphonates, use of the MFA method yielded an R(2) of 0.873 and an F-test of 36 for a training set of 26 compounds. Using a reduced training set, the activities of 20 compounds were predicted with an average error of 2.5 over a 2000x range in activity. With the heterocyclic compounds, test calculations indicated the importance of correct choice of protonation of the heterocyclic rings. For example, thiazoles, pyrazoles, and triazoles have low ( approximately 2-3) pK(a) values and the derived bisphosphonates are inactive in bone resorption since they cannot readily be side chain protonated and are thus poor carbocation reactive intermediate analogues. On the other hand, aminothiazoles, imidazoles, pyridyl, and aminopyridyl species typically have pK(a) values in the range approximately 5-9 and, in the absence of unfavorable steric interactions, the corresponding bisphosphonates are generally good inhibitors. However, aminoimidazole bisphosphonates are generally less active, since their pK(a)s ( approximately 11) are so high, due to guanidinium-like resonance, that they cannot readily be deprotonated, which we propose results in poor cellular uptake. The results of pharmacophore modeling using the Catalyst program revealed the importance of two negative ionizable and one positive charge feature for both aryl-X and heterocyclic pharmacophores, together with the presence of a distal hydrophobic feature in the aryl bisphosphonate and a more proximal aromatic feature in the heterocyclic bisphosphonate pharmacophores. When taken together, these results show that it is now possible to predict the activity, within a factor of about 2.3, of a wide range of aryl-X and heterocyclic bisphosphonates. The results emphasize the importance of utilizing crystallographic structural information to guide the initial alignment of extended bisphosphonates, and in the case of heterocyclic bisphosphonates, the importance of side chain protonation state. These simple ideas may facilitate the design of other, novel bisphosphonates, of use in bone resorption therapy, and as antiparasitic and immunotherapeutic agents.

Alendronate↗

PubMed2003

Structure and mechanism of action of isopentenylpyrophosphate-dimethylallylpyrophosphate isomerase.

We have obtained the three-dimensional X-ray crystallographic structure of a C67A mutant Escherichia coli isopentenylpyrophosphate-dimethylallylpyrophosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.3.2) complexed with the bromohydrin of isopentenylpyrophosphate, at 1.93 A resolution. The overall backbone fold is very similar to that obtained previously for the wild-type enzyme in the presence of a divalent metal cation (Mn2+ or Mg2+). However, in the new structure, there are two metal binding sites, not just one. The first metal binding site is occupied by Mn2+, coordinated to three histidine and two glutamate residues, while the second is occupied by Mg2+, coordinated to two bromohydrin-ligand phosphate oxygens, the carbonyl oxygen of A67, a carboxyl oxygen of E87, and two water molecules. The C3 hydroxyl group of the bromohydrin inhibitor is involved in a short hydrogen bond to the carboxyl group of E116, one of the two Mn-bound glutamates. The structure obtained is consistent with a mechanism of action of the enzyme in which the carboxyl group of E116 protonates the double bond in isopentenylpyrophosphate, forming a carbocation, followed by removal of a C2 proton by the thiolate of C67, in the wild-type enzyme. The inhibition of the enzyme by a wide variety of other potent inhibitors is also readily explained on the basis of the bromohydrin inhibitor structure.

Carbon-Carbon Double Bond Isomerases↗

PubMed2003

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is an essential enzyme in Trypanosoma brucei. In vitro RNA interference and in vivo inhibition studies.

We report the cloning and sequencing of a gene encoding the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) of Trypanosoma brucei. The protein (TbFPPS) is an attractive target for drug development because the growth of T. brucei has been shown to be inhibited by analogs of its substrates, the nitrogen containing bisphosphonates currently in use in bone resorption therapy. The protein predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the gene has 367 amino acids and a molecular mass of 42 kDa. Several sequence motifs found in other FPPSs are present in TbFPPS, including an 11-mer peptide insertion present also in the Trypanosoma cruzi FPPS. Heterologous expression of TbFPPS in Escherichia coli produced a functional enzyme that was inhibited by several nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, such as pamidronate and risedronate. Risedronate was active in vivo against T. brucei infection in mice (giving a 60% survival rate), but pamidronate was not effective. The essential nature of TbFPPS was studied using RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit the expression of the gene. Expression of TbFPPS double-stranded RNA in procyclic trypomastigotes caused specific degradation of mRNA. After 4 days of RNAi, the parasite growth rate declined and the cells subsequently died. Similar results were obtained with bloodstream form trypomastigotes, except that the RNAi system in this case was leaky and mRNA levels and parasites recovered with time. Molecular modeling and structure-activity investigations of enzyme and in vitro growth inhibition data resulted in similar pharmacophores, further validating TbFPPS as the target for bisphosphonates. These results establish that FPPS is essential for parasite viability and validate this enzyme as a target for drug development.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2003

Hydronium (cycloheptylammonio)methylene-1,1-bisphosphonate (hydronium incadronate).

The structure of the title compound, H(3)O(+).C(8)H(18)NO(6)P(2)(-), adopts a zwitterionic form containing an alkylammonium group, a hydronium ion, and two negatively charged phosphonate groups. The cycloheptyl side chain adopts a twist-chair conformation. The crystal packing is dominated by an extensive hydrogen-bonding network.

Bone Resorption↗

PubMed2003

Three hydrates of the bisphosphonate risedronate, consisting of one molecular and two ionic structures.

Three different hydrates of risedronate were obtained by varying the pH of a solution containing the compound. At the pH values used, the N atom of the pyridine group is protonated and the compounds are zwitterionic. Crystals obtained directly from the synthesis resulted in risedronate monohydrate, or [1-hydroxy-1-phosphono-2-(pyridinium-3-yl)ethyl]phosphonate monohydrate, C(7)H(11)NO(7)P(2).H(2)O, (I), in which just one phosphonate group is negatively charged. Recrystallizations at pH values of 2 and 4 yielded risedronate dihydrate, or sodium [1-hydroxy-2-(pyridinium-3-yl)ethane-1,2-diyl]bis(phosphonate) dihydrate, Na(+).C(7)H(10)NO(7)P(2)(-).2H(2)O, (II). Finally, recrystallizations at pH values of 7 and 8 produced risedronate 2.5-hydrate, or sodium [1-hydroxy-2-(pyridinium-3-yl)ethane-1,2-diyl]bis(phosphonate) 2.5-hydrate, Na(+).C(7)H(10)NO(7)P(2)(-).2.5H(2)O, (III). At these four pH values, both phosphonate groups in (II) and (III) are negatively charged and coordinated to an Na(+) ion. Crystals of (II), i.e. those grown at pH values of 2 and 4, have isomorphous polymeric ion aggregate structures with geminal phosphonate and alcohol groups coordinated to the same Na(+) ion. On the other hand, crystals of (III), i.e. those grown at pH values of 7 and 8, have isomorphism polymeric ion aggregate structures with geminal phosphonate and alcohol groups coordinated to different Na(+) ions.

Alanine↗

PubMed2002

Nuclear magnetic resonance shifts in paramagnetic metalloporphyrins and metalloproteins.

We report the first detailed investigation of the (1)H, (13)C, (15)N, and (19)F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic shifts in paramagnetic metalloprotein and metalloporphyrin systems. The >3500 ppm range in experimentally observed hyperfine shifts can be well predicted by using density functional theory (DFT) methods. Using spin-unrestricted methods together with large, locally dense basis sets, we obtain very good correlations between experimental and theoretical results: R(2) = 0.941 (N = 37, p < 0.0001) when using the pure BPW91 functional and R(2) = 0.981 (N = 37, p < 0.0001) when using the hybrid functional, B3LYP. The correlations are even better for C(alpha) and C(beta) shifts alone: C(alpha), R(2) = 0.996 (N = 8, p < 0.0001, B3LYP); C(beta), R(2) = 0.995 (N = 8, p < 0.0001, B3LYP), but are worse for C(meso), in part because of the small range in C(meso) shifts. The results of these theoretical calculations also lead to a revision of previous heme and proximal histidine residue (13)C NMR assignments in deoxymyoglobin which are confirmed by new quantitative NMR measurements. Molecular orbital (MO) analyses of the resulting wave functions provide a graphical representation of the spin density distribution in the [Fe(TPP)(CN)(2)](-) (TPP = 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrinato) system (S = (1)/(2)), where the spin density is shown to be localized primarily in the d(xz) (or d(yz)) orbital, together with an analysis of the frontier MOs in Fe(TPP)Cl (S = (5)/(2)), Mn(TPP)Cl (S = 2), and a deoxymyoglobin model (S = 2). The ability to now begin to predict essentially all heavy atom NMR hyperfine shifts in paramagnetic metalloporphyrins and metalloproteins using quantum chemical methods should open up new areas of research aimed at structure prediction and refinement in paramagnetic systems in much the same way that DFT methods have been used successfully in the past to predict/refine elements of diamagnetic heme protein structures.

Iron↗

PubMed2002

Mössbauer quadrupole splittings and electronic structure in heme proteins and model systems: a density functional theory investigation.

We report the results of a series of density functional theory (DFT) calculations aimed at predicting the (57)Fe Mössbauer electric field gradient (EFG) tensors (quadrupole splittings and asymmetry parameters) and their orientations in S = 0, (1)/(2), 1, (3)/(2), 2, and (5)/(2) metalloproteins and/or model systems. Excellent results were found by using a Wachter's all electron basis set for iron, 6-311G for other heavy atoms, and 6-31G for hydrogen atoms, BPW91 and B3LYP exchange-correlation functionals, and spin-unrestricted methods for the paramagnetic systems. For the theory versus experiment correlation, we found R(2) = 0.975, slope = 0.99, intercept = -0.08 mm sec(-)(1), rmsd = 0.30 mm sec(-)(1) (N = 23 points) covering a DeltaE(Q) range of 5.63 mm s(-)(1) when using the BPW91 functional and R(2) = 0.978, slope = 1.12, intercept = -0.26 mm sec(-)(1), rmsd = 0.31 mm sec(-)(1) when using the B3LYP functional. DeltaE(Q) values in the following systems were successfully predicted: (1) ferric low-spin (S = (1)/(2)) systems, including one iron porphyrin with the usual (d(xy))(2)(d(xz)d(yz))(3) electronic configuration and two iron porphyrins with the more unusual (d(xz)d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) electronic configuration; (2) ferrous NO-heme model compounds (S = (1)/(2)); (3) ferrous intermediate spin (S = 1) tetraphenylporphinato iron(II); (4) a ferric intermediate spin (S = (3)/(2)) iron porphyrin; (5) ferrous high-spin (S = 2) deoxymyoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin; and (6) ferric high spin (S = (5)/(2)) metmyoglobin plus two five-coordinate and one six-coordinate iron porphyrins. In addition, seven diamagnetic (S = 0, d(6) and d(8)) systems studied previously were reinvestigated using the same functionals and basis set scheme as used for the paramagnetic systems. All computed asymmetry parameters were found to be in good agreement with the available experimental data as were the electric field gradient tensor orientations. In addition, we investigated the electronic structures of several systems, including the (d(xy))(2)(d(xz),d(yz))(3) and (d(xz),d(yz))(4)(d(xy))(1) [Fe(III)/porphyrinate](+) cations as well as the NO adduct of Fe(II)(octaethylporphinate), where interesting information on the spin density distributions can be readily obtained from the computed wave functions.

Hemeproteins↗

PubMed2002

Monosodium [1-hydroxy-2-(1H-imidazol-3-ium-4-yl)ethane-1,1-diyl]bis(phosphonate) tetrahydrate (monosodium isozoledronate).

The title compound, Na(+).C(5)H(9)N(2)O(7)P(2)(-).4H(2)O, is an isomer of zoledronate, a potent bone antiresorptive bisphosphonate drug having significant activity against several parasitic protozoa. The crystal structure of isozoledronate consists of bisphosphonate dimers coordinated by two Na(+) ions. The dimers are held together through an extensive hydrogen-bonding network. The crystals exhibit non-merohedral twinning that roughly superimposes the a and b axes, and inverts the c axis.

Crystallography, X-Ray↗

PubMed2002

Quantitative structure--activity relations for gammadelta T cell activation by phosphoantigens.

gammadelta T cells help contribute to innate immunity and are activated by the natural phosphoantigens produced by the organisms responsible for causing, for example, tuberculosis, malaria, tularemia, and plague. They are also activated by synthetic phosphoantigens and are cytotoxic to tumor cells. Here, we show that it is now possible to accurately predict gammadelta T cell activation by both natural and synthetic phosphoantigens by using the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) techniques commonly used in drug design. This approach should be of use in developing novel immunotherapeutic agents as well as contributing to a better understanding of the immune system's response to infectious agents.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed2002

Magic-angle spinning (31)P NMR spectroscopy of condensed phosphates in parasitic protozoa: visualizing the invisible.

We report the results of a solid-state (31)P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic investigation of the acidocalcisome organelles from Trypanosoma brucei (bloodstream form), Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania major (insect forms). The spectra are characterized by a broad envelope of spinning sidebands having isotropic chemical shifts at approximately 0, -7 and -21 ppm. These resonances are assigned to orthophosphate, terminal (alpha) phosphates of polyphosphates and bridging (beta) phosphates of polyphosphates, respectively. The average polyphosphate chain length is approximately 3.3 phosphates. Similar results were obtained with whole L. major promastigotes. (31)P NMR spectra of living L. major promastigotes recorded under conventional solution NMR conditions had spectral intensities reduced with respect to solution-state NMR spectra of acid extracts, consistent with the invisibility of the solid-state phosphates. These results show that all three parasites contain large stores of condensed phosphates which can be visualized by using magic-angle spinning NMR techniques.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

An investigation of bone resorption and Dictyostelium discoideum growth inhibition by bisphosphonate drugs.

We report the results of 3D-QSAR/CoMFA investigations of the activity of bisphosphonate drugs, farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPSase) inhibitors, in the inhibition of bone resorption as well as the growth of Dictyostelium discoideum. In the case of D. discoideum, we find an experimental versus QSAR predicted pIC(50) R(2) value of 0.94 for 16 bisphosphonates over the 9-1200 microM range of IC(50) values, a cross-validated R(2) = 0.90, and a bootstrapped R(2) = 0.94, and we demonstrate that this approach has predictive utility (a 0.18 pIC(50) rms error for three test sets of 3 predictions). In bone resorption, we find an experimental versus predicted pLED (lowest effective dose) R(2) = 0.79 for 35 bisphosphonates over the 0.0001-1 mg of P/kg LED range, a cross-validated R(2) = 0.75, and a bootstrapped R(2) = 0.79. Two sets of 31 compounds were used as training sets for the predicted pLED values for two sets of 4 compounds which have an rms error of 0.44, larger than that found with D. discoideum. However, this can be attributed to the rather large uncertainties in the experimental bone resorption data which are almost all reported in decade steps (DeltapLED = 1). The CoMFA predicted (rat) bone antiresorptive pLED values are in agreement with literature (human recombinant) FPPSase inhibition results with an rms error of 0.45 (a factor of 2.8 error in activity prediction). We also report the single-crystal X-ray crystallographic structure of the compound most active in D. discoideum growth inhibition, 2-(3-picolyl)-aminomethylene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid. The structure clearly shows the presence of bond length alternation in the picolyl ring and a planar amino group linked by a very short (1.346 A) bond to the picolyl group, an amidinium-like structure which is also expected to occur in other highly active species such as minodronate and zoledronate. Overall, these results show that it is now possible to predict the activity of bisphosphonates using 3D-QSAR/CoMFA methods, although bone resorption studies should benefit from additional, accurate information on enzyme inhibition.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

PubMed2002

Activity of bisphosphonates against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense.

We report the results of a comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) investigation of the growth inhibition of the bloodstream form of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense trypomastigotes by bisphosphonates. A quantitative three-dimensional structure-activity relationship CoMFA model for a set of 26 bisphosphonates having a range of activity spanning approximately 3 orders of magnitude (minimum IC(50) = 220 nM; maximum IC(50) = 102 microM) yielded an R(2) value of 0.87 with a cross-validated R(2) value of 0.79. The predictive utility of this approach was tested for three sets of three compounds: the average pIC(50) error was 0.23. For the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, in general, the activity was aromatic- >> aliphatic-containing side chains. The activity of aromatic species lacking an alkyl ring substitution decreased from ortho to meta to para substitution; halogen substitutions also reduced activity. For the aliphatic bisphosphonates, the IC(50) values decreased nearly monotonically with increasing chain length (down to IC(50) = 2.0 microM for the n-C(11) alkyl side chain species). We also show, using a "rescue" experiment, that the molecular target of the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, risedronate, in T. b. rhodesiense is the enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase. In addition, we report the LD(50) values of bisphosphonates in a mammalian cell general toxicity screen and present a comparison between the therapeutic indices and the IC(50) values in the T. b. rhodesiense growth inhibition assay. Several bisphosphonates were found to have large therapeutic indices (> or =200:1) as well as low IC(50) values, suggesting their further investigation as antiparasitic agents against T. b. rhodesiense.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

(57)Fe Mössbauer isomer shifts of heme protein model systems: electronic structure calculations.

We report the results of density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the (57)Fe Mössbauer isomer shifts (delta(Fe)) for a series of 24 inorganic, organometallic, and metalloprotein/metalloporphyrin model systems in S = 0, (1)/(2), 1, (3)/(2), 2, and (5)/(2) spin states. We find an excellent correlation between calculation and experiment over the entire 2.34 mm s(-1) range of isomer shifts: a 0.07-0.08 mm s(-1) rms deviation between calculation and experiment (corresponding to 3-4% of the total delta(Fe) range, depending on the functionals used) with R(2) values of 0.973 and 0.981 (p < 0.0001). The best results are obtained by using the hybrid exchange-correlation functional B3LYP, used previously for (57)Fe Mössbauer quadrupole splittings and (57)Fe NMR chemical shifts and chemical shielding anisotropies. The relativistically corrected value of alpha, alpha(rel), converges with the large basis set used in this work, but the exact values vary somewhat with the methods used: -0.253 a(0)(3) mm s(-1) (Hartree-Fock; HF); -0.316 a(0)(3) mm s(-1) (hybrid HF-DFT; B3LYP), or -0.367 a(0)(3) mm s(-1) (pure DFT; BPW91). Both normal and intermediate spin state isomer shifts are well reproduced by the calculations, as is the broad range of delta(Fe) values: from [Fe(VI)O(4)](2-) (-0.90 mm s(-1) expt; -1.01 mm s(-1) calc) to KFe(II)F(3) (1.44 mm s(-1) expt; 1.46 mm s(-1) calc). Molecular orbital analyses of all inorganic solids as well as all organometallic and metalloporphyrin systems studied reveal that there are three major core MO contributions to rho(tot)(0), the total charge density at the iron nucleus (and hence delta(Fe)), that do not vary with changes in chemistry, while the valence MO contributions are highly correlated with delta(Fe) (R(2) = 0.915-0.938, depending on the functionals used), and the correlation between the valence MO contributions and the total MO contribution is even better (R(2) = 0.965-0.976, depending on the functionals used). These results are of general interest since they demonstrate that DFT methods now enable the accurate prediction of delta(Fe) values in inorganic, organometallic, and metalloporphyrin systems in all spin states and over a very wide range of delta(Fe) values with a very small rms error.

Electrochemistry↗

PubMed2002

Radical cure of experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis by the bisphosphonate pamidronate.

The effects in vivo of the bisphosphonate drug pamidronate, used in bone resorption therapy, were investigated in an experimental model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Pamidronate at an intraperitoneal dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 5 days effects a radical cure of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Balb/c mice, as evidenced by long-term disappearance of lesions; disappearance of amastigotes in lesion sites, as determined by histopathological analysis and cultivation of material obtained from lesions; and polymerase chain reaction analysis of necropsy material, using probes specific for kinetoplast DNA. Pamidronate is, therefore, a new lead compound for the synthesis of drugs effective against cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Inhibition of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase by bisphosphonates and diphosphates: a potential route to new bone antiresorption and antiparasitic agents.

We report the inhibition of a human recombinant geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPSase) by 23 bisphosphonates and six azaprenyl diphosphates. The IC50 values range from 140 nM to 690 microM. None of the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates that inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase were effective in inhibiting the GGPPSase enzyme. Using three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship/comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) methods, we find a good correlation between experimental and predicted activity: R2 = 0.938, R(cv)2 = 0.900, R(bs)2 = 0.938, and F-test = 86.8. To test the predictive utility of the CoMFA approach, we used three training sets of 25 compounds each to generate models to predict three test sets of three compounds. The rms pIC50 error for the nine predictions was 0.39. We also investigated the pharmacophore of these GGPPSase inhibitors using the Catalyst method. The results demonstrated that Catalyst predicted the pIC50 values for the nine test set compounds with an rms error of 0.28 (R2 between experimental and predicted activity of 0.948).

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗