PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G Waksman

Publications and source records attributed to G Waksman.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

Neuronal localization of the neutral endopeptidase 'enkephalinase' in rat brain revealed by lesions and autoradiography.

The cellular localization of rat brain enkephalinase was studied after induction of selective unilateral lesions using in vitro quantitative autoradiography of the specific binding of the enzyme inhibitor [3H]-N-[(2RS)-3-hydroxyaminocarbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]glycine ([3H]HACBO-Gly). Twenty-one days following injection of kainic acid in the caudate-putamen (CP) [3H]HACBO-Gly binding was locally decreased by 52% with a concomitant reduction of 67 and 78% in the ipsilateral substantia nigra (SN) and globus pallidus (GP), respectively. Inhibition of axonal transport in the CP by unilateral stereotaxic injection of colchicine induced a large (30-60%) and progressive decrease in enkephalinase labelling within the ipsilateral GP and SN. Taken together these results strongly suggest that in the CP a large fraction of enkephalinase is localized on intrinsic striatal neurones, and that the enzyme present both in the GP and the SN is partly localized on nerve terminals originating from neurones in the CP. No change in [3H]HACBO-Gly binding was observed in the CP following injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in the nigrostriatal bundle, contrasting with the 30% depletion in opioid receptors. This would indicate that enkephalinase is present in only very low amounts, if at all, on striatal dopaminergic nerve terminals.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Autoradiographic comparison of the distribution of the neutral endopeptidase "enkephalinase" and of mu and delta opioid receptors in rat brain.

The neutral endopeptidase EC 3.4.24.11, also designated enkephalinase, has been visualized by in vitro autoradiography using the tritiated inhibitor [3H]-N-[(2RS)-3-hydroxyaminocarbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl] glycine, ([3H]HACBO-Gly). Specific binding of [3H]HACBO-Gly (Kd = 0.4 +/- 0.05 nM) corresponding to 85% of the total binding to brain slices was inhibited by 1 microM thiorphan, a selective inhibitor of enkephalinase, but remained unchanged in the presence of captopril, a selective inhibitor of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Very high levels of [3H]HACBO-Gly binding were found in the choroid plexus and the substantia nigra. High levels were present in the caudate putamen, globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercle, and in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord. Moderate densities were found in parts of the amygdala, the periaqueductal gray matter, the interpeduncular nucleus, and the molecular layer of the cerebellum. The distribution of enkephalinase was compared to that of mu and delta opioid receptors, selectively labeled with [3H]Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-glycinol and [3H]Tyr-D-Thr-Gly-Phe-Leu-Thr, respectively. In the caudate putamen, [3H]HACBO-Gly binding overlapped the clustered mu sites but appeared more closely related to the diffusely distributed delta sites. High levels of enkephalinase and mu opioid binding sites were present at the level of the periaqueductal gray matter and in the substantia gelatinosa of the spinal cord, regions where only sparse delta opioid receptors could be detected. The association of enkephalinase with delta and mu opioid receptors in these areas is consistent with the observed role of the enzyme in regulating the effects of opioid peptides in striatal dopamine release and analgesia, respectively. Except for the choroid plexus and the cerebellum, the close similarity observed in numerous rat brain areas between the distribution of enkephalinase and that of mu and/or delta opioid binding sites could account for most of the pharmacological effects elicited by enkephalinase inhibitors.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

In vitro and in vivo effects of kelatorphan on enkephalin metabolism in rodent brain.

Biologically relevant assays were used to compare the potency of kelatorphan (N-[3(R)-[(hydroxyamino)carbonyl]-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]-L-alanine) as inhibitor of the peptidase-induced metabolism of enkephalins to that of bestatin, a non-specific inhibitor of aminopeptidase and thiorphan, a highly potent blocker of the neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) designated as enkephalinase. Kelatorphan almost completely inhibited the formation of the three metabolites [3H]Tyr, [3H]Tyr-Gly and [3H]Tyr-Gly-Gly produced by incubation of [3H][Tyr1,Met5]enkephalin with rat striatal slices. Co-administered with [Met5]enkephalin in mouse brain, kelatorphan was able to prevent by 80% the degradation of the exogenous peptide. Moreover, a mixture of thiorphan (1 microM) and bestatin (20 microM) or kelatorphan alone (20 microM) induced a 2.2 to 2.5-fold increase in endogenous [Met5]enkephalin overflow after evoked depolarization of superfused rat striatal slices. In this assay, kelatorphan was the only compound to increase by 63% the basal level of released [Met5]enkephalin. Kelatorphan was about 100 times less potent than bestatin to inhibit the total rat striatal aminopeptidases, but as efficient (IC50 = 4 X 10(-7) M) as bestatin to inhibit a minor aminopeptidase activity resembling aminopeptidase M. Therefore the reported enhanced analgesic potency of kelatorphan with regard to the association of bestatin and thiorphan is very likely related to its ability to almost completely inhibit enkephalin-degrading enzymes (including the Tyr-Gly releasing peptidase) and to its better selectivity for the biologically relevant aminopeptidase M. Kelatorphan would be a valuable probe, preferable to the association of bestatin and thiorphan, to investigate the physiological functions regulated by a phasic enkephalinergic activity.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1985

Binding of the bidentate inhibitor [3H]HACBO-Gly to the rat brain neutral endopeptidase "enkephalinase".

The synthesis and binding properties to rat brain tissue of the enkephalinase inhibitor [3H] N-[(R,S)-3-hydroxyaminocarbonyl-2-benzyl-1-oxopropyl]-glycine ([3H]HACBO-Gly, 45 Ci/mmole) is reported. [3H]HACBO-Gly binding to membranes from various rat brain tissue is saturable (KD = 0.4 +/- 0.05 nM) and linearly related to the amount of tissue. Non specific binding is less than 15% of total binding at the KD concentration. The regional distribution of [3H]HACBO-Gly binding and enkephalinase activity are closely correlated with highest levels in striatum and substantia nigra. The efficiency of inhibitors of various peptidases (thiorphan, captopril, bestatin ...) to inhibit [3H]HACBO-Gly binding or enkephalinase activity are similar. These results indicate that [3H]HACBO-Gly binds selectively to enkephalinase. This compound should help to clarify the localization of the enzyme in the CNS.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Kelatorphan: a full inhibitor of enkephalin degrading enzymes. Biochemical and pharmacological properties, regional distribution of enkephalinase in rat brain by use of a tritiated derivative.

New potent inhibitors of enkephalin degrading enzymes were obtained by synthesis of compounds bearing a bidentate group. Among these bidentates, Kelatorphan, N-[(R)-3-(N-hydroxy)-carboxamido-2-benzylpropanoyl]-L-alanine, is in vitro a full inhibitor of enkephalinase, dipeptidylaminopeptidase and aminopeptidase. In vivo Kelatorphan (i.c.v. administered in mice) prevents exogenous enkephalin from peptidase degradation. The analgesic effect of Kelatorphan is at least equal to that of the association of bestatin and thiorphan. An analogue of Kelatorphan was tritiated and was used as a specific marker of enkephalinase. Thus the distribution of enkephalinase in rat brain was studied: striatum corpus and substantia nigra were particularly labelled.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1985

New bidentates as full inhibitors of enkephalin-degrading enzymes: synthesis and analgesic properties.

New compounds were designed to fully inhibit the in vitro metabolism of enkephalins, ensured by three different metallopeptidases. For this purpose, bidentate ligands as hydroxamate and N-hydroxy-N-formylamino groups were selected as highly potent metal coordinating agents and introduced on Phe-Gly and Phe-Ala related structures. Compounds corresponding to the general formula HC(O)N(OH)CH2CH(CH2Ph)CONHCH2COOH (compound 7) and HN(OH)C(O)CH2CH(CH2Ph)CONHCH(R)COOH (compound 11, R = H; compound 13, R = CH3) behave as full inhibitors of the three enzymes, with IC50's in the nanomolar range for enkephalinase, from 0.3 microM to 1 nM for dipeptidylaminopeptidase, and in the micromolar range for a biologically relevant aminopeptidase. Two diastereoisomers of the most active inhibitor 13 were separated by HPLC and their stereochemistry was assigned by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Both isomers were efficient as enkephalinase blockers, but only the RS isomer, designated kelatorphan, was able to strongly inhibit aminopeptidase and dipeptidylaminopeptidase. Intracerebroventricular injection in mice of these mixed inhibitors, especially kelatorphan, led to naloxone reversible analgesic responses (hot-plate test) that were slightly better than those produced by a mixture of thiorphan and bestatin, two potent inhibitors of enkephalinase and aminopeptidase, respectively. Kelatorphan was also more efficient in potentiating the analgesia induced by a subanalgesic dose of Met-enkephalin. All these results support a physiological role in pain transmission for enkephalinase and a probably synaptic aminopeptidase M.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1984

Bidentate peptides: highly potent new inhibitors of enkephalin degrading enzymes.

Three series of bidentates bearing an hydroxamic or an N-Acyl-N-hydroxy amino group on structures related to Phe-Gly or Phe-Ala exhibit strong inhibitory potency against purified enkephalinase with IC50 values in the 4 to 15 nM range. As with thiol-containing inhibitors, such as thiorphan, the most active compounds are those in which a methylene spacer separates the benzyl P1' moiety from the Zn coordinating residue. Formation of a bidentate complex with the metal enzyme is clearly demonstrated by a loss of potency of three order of magnitude following the removal of one component of the bidentate group. All the compounds studied are unable to interact with angiotensin converting enzyme (IC50 greater than 10,000 nM). Moreover, compounds of the general formula HONHCO-CH2-CH(CH2 phi)-CONH-CH(R)-COOH belonging to the most active series of enkephalinase blockers (IC50 approximately 4 nM) behave also as highly potent and competitive inhibitors (IC50 approximately 10 nM) of a Tyr-Gly releasing dipeptidylaminopeptidase purified from rat brain. The pure steroisomer [(R)-3-(N-hydroxy)carboxamido-2-benzylpropanoyl]-L-alanine designated kelatorphan, exhibits also a relatively good inhibitory potency against aminopeptidases (IC50 approximately 10 microM) and can be considered as the first virtually complete inhibitor of enkephalin metabolism. This very interesting property of inhibiting all three enzymes of enkephalin metabolism could enhance the required selectivity for a possible clinical use of these inhibitors as new analgesic and psychoactive drugs.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1984

Analgesic effects of kelatorphan, a new highly potent inhibitor of multiple enkephalin degrading enzymes.

Kelatorphan, [(R)-3-(N-hydroxy)-carboxamido-2-benzylpropanoyl]-L-alanine, represents the first virtually complete inhibitor of enkephalins metabolism with KI = 1.4 nM against enkephalinase, KI = 2 nM against the Gly2 -Gly3 cleaving dipeptidylaminopeptidase and KI = 7 microM on aminopeptidase activity. The analgesic effect of [Met5]enkephalin was potentiated 50000 times (ED50 approximately 10 ng) by intracerebroventricular co-administration in mice of kelatorphan (50 micrograms). This effect was significantly higher than that produced by bestatin (50 micrograms) + thiorphan (50 micrograms). Kelatorphan alone was at least two-fold more potent as analgesic than the above mixture of inhibitors.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1984

Differences in the structural requirements for selective interaction with neutral metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase) or angiotensin-converting enzyme. Molecular investigation by use of new thiol inhibitors.

Despite the similarities in their mechanism of action, the structural requirements for selective interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme or enkephalinase are different. Inhibitory potency of a series of new mercaptoalkanoyl amino acids were determined on pure angiotensin-converting enzyme (EC 3.4.15.1) from porcine plasma and on neutral metalloendopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) purified from rat brain. This latter enzyme, first designated as enkephalinase, seems to be synaptically involved in the degradation of enkephalins. All tested compounds, whose design was based on the classical active-site model of metallopeptidases, are reversible and competitive inhibitors of both enzymes. Owing to the remarkable similarity in the general topology of metallopeptidases, the differences in optimal binding requirements to enkephalinase and angiotensin-converting enzyme were interpreted from crystallographic studies on related enzymes such as thermolysin and carboxypeptidase A. The large size of the S'1 subsite of enkephalinase allows efficient binding (Ki approximately equal to 2-30 nM) of aromatic and bulky hydrophobic residues such as a cyclohexyl ring. In contrast, a methyl group in position P'1 favors inhibitory potency against angiotensin-converting enzyme while a cyclohexyl ring leads to a complete loss of activity. This feature could mean that optimal binding of the Zn atom present in the catalytic site is a more stringent requirement in angiotensin-converting enzyme than in enkephalinase. An increase in the size of the P'2 component of thiol inhibitors potentiates the affinity for angiotensin-converting enzyme without a significant change on enkephalinase. Finally, methylation of the ultimate amide bond of inhibitors produces a 30-fold decrease in potency towards enkephalinase but does not affect the binding of angiotensin-converting enzyme. These findings allow a rational design of selective inhibitors of enkephalinase, an essential prerequisite for their possible clinical use as new analgesic and psycho-active agents.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1984

[Regional distribution of enkephalinase in the rat brain by autoradiography].

The first visualization of enkephalinase (neutral metalloendopeptidase, E.C.3.4.24.11) in rat brain was obtained by autoradiography, using a new tritiated inhibitor: [3H]N-[( R,S )3-(N-hydroxy) carboxamido-2-benzyl propanoyl]glycine (3H-HCBP-Gly). The preliminary analysis of sections clearly showed a discrete localization of enkephalinase in enkephalin enriched regions, such as caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and substantia nigra. Moreover 3H-HCBP-Gly binding also occurred in choroid plexus and spinal cord.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Differential recognition of "enkephalinase" and angiotensin-converting enzyme by new carboxyalkyl inhibitors.

New carboxylalkyl compounds derived from Phe-Leu and corresponding to the general formula C6H5-CH2-CH(R)CO-L.Leu with R = -COOH, 3, R = -CH2-COOH, 4, R = -NH-CH2-COOH, 5, R = -NH-(CH2)2-COOH, 6, have been found to inhibit the breakdown of the Gly3-Phe4 bond of [3H] Leu-enkephalin or [3H]D.Ala2-Leu-enkephalin resulting from the action of the mouse striatal metallopeptidases: "enkephalinase" or angiotensin-converting enzyme (A.C.E.). The carboxyl coordinating ability of the Zn atom seems to be significantly higher in ACE than in "enkephalinase". Moreover, IC50 values against "enkephalinase" were found in the same range whatever the length of the chain bearing the carboxyl group whereas a well-defined position of this group with respect to the Zn atom is required for strong ACE inhibition. These features suggest a larger degree of freedom of the carboxyalkyl moieties within the active site of "enkephalinase". Therefore the differential recognition of active sites of both peptidases leads to: i) N-(carboxymethyl)-L-Phe-L-Leu, 5, a competitive inhibitor of "enkephalinase" (KI = 0.7 microM) and ACE (KI = 1.2 microM) which could be used as mixed inhibitor for both enzymes; ii) N-[(R,S)-2-carboxy, 3-benzylpropanoyl]-L-Leucine, 3, a full competitive inhibitor of "enkephalinase" (KI = 0.34 microM) which does not interact with ACE (IC50 greater than 10,000 microM). This compound can be considered as the first example of a new series of highly potent and specific "enkephalinase" inhibitors.

Amino Acids↗