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Nobutaka Fujii

Publications and source records attributed to Nobutaka Fujii.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Structure-activity relationships of cyclic peptide-based chemokine receptor CXCR4 antagonists: disclosing the importance of side-chain and backbone functionalities.

Previously, we have identified a highly potent CXCR4 antagonist 2 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] and its Arg2 epimer 3 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-D-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] by the screening of cyclic pentapeptide libraries that were designed based on the structure-activity relationship studies on 14-residue peptidic CXCR4 antagonist 1. In the present study, a new series of analogues of 2 and 3 were synthesized to evaluate the influences of peptide side-chain and backbone modification on bioactivities. Based on the Ala-scanning study, in which each residue in 2 and 3 was replaced with Ala having the identical chirality, substitution of Arg3 and Nal4 [Nal = L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine] with Ala (compounds 6, 7, 10, 11) led to significant loss of the potency, indicating these amino acids are more important contributors to the bioactivity. For the cyclic peptide backbone, several modifications including d/l-Ala or cyclic amino acids substitution at the Gly5 position and sequential N-methylation on amide nitrogens were conducted. Among the analogues, compounds 13 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-Arg2-Arg3-Nal4-D-Ala5-)] and 32 [cyclo(-D-Tyr1-D-MeArg2-Arg3-Nal4-Gly5-)] were close in potency to the most potent lead 2. NMR and conformational analysis indicated that both of these analogues favor the same backbone conformation as 2, whereas similar analysis of less potent analogues indicates that an altered backbone conformation is favored. The conformational analysis showed that steric repulsion by a 1,3-allylic strain-like effect across the planar peptide bond might contribute to the conformational preferences of cyclic pentapeptides.

Alanine↗
PubMed2007

Therapeutic potential of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 antagonists as multifunctional agents.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 possesses multiple critical functions in normal and pathologic physiology. CXCR4 is a G-protein-coupled receptor that transduces signals of its endogenous ligand, the chemokine CXCL12 (stromal cell-derived factor-1, SDF-1). The interaction between CXCL12 and CXCR4 plays an important role in the migration of progenitors during embryologic development of the cardiovascular, hemopoietic, central nervous systems, and so on. This interaction is also known to be involved in several intractable disease processes, including HIV infection, cancer cell metastasis, leukemia cell progression, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and pulmonary fibrosis. It is conjectured that this interaction may be a critical therapeutic target in all of these diseases, and several CXCR4 antagonists have been proposed as potential drugs. Fourteen-mer peptides, T140 and its analogues, were previously developed in our laboratory as specific CXCR4 antagonists that were identified as HIV-entry inhibitors, anti-cancer-metastatic agents, anti-chronic lymphocytic/acute lymphoblastic leukemia agents, and anti-RA agents. Cyclic pentapeptides, such as FC131 [cyclo(D-Tyr-Arg-Arg-L-3-(2-naphthyl)alanine-Gly)], were also previously found as CXCR4 antagonist leads based on pharmacophores of T140. This review article describes the elucidation of multiple functions of CXCR4 antagonists and the development of a number of low-molecular weight CXCR4 antagonists involving FC131 analogues and other compounds with different scaffolds including linear-type structures.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2007

Fmoc-based solid-phase synthesis of GPR54-agonistic pentapeptide derivatives containing alkene- and fluoroalkene-dipeptide isosteres.

Fmoc-protected Phe-Gly-type (Z)-alkene dipeptide isostere (ADI) and (E)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isostere (FADI) were synthesized and applied to Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). These cis-peptide bond mimetics were introduced into a bioactive pentapeptide [H-Amb-Phe-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH(2); Amb = 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid], which has potent GPR54 agonistic activity. The resulting pentapeptide derivatives showed low GPR54 agonistic activity, as compared with the parent peptide and (E)-ADI-containing derivative. This suggests that the trans-amide conformer of Phe-Gly peptide bond of the parent peptide would be significantly important for bioactivity. Contrary to our expectations, a (Z)-FADI-containing derivative exhibited essentially no activity, revealing the necessity of critical validation of FADI-bioisosterism.

Alkenes↗
PubMed2007

Bromoallenes as allyl dication equivalents in the presence or absence of palladium(0): direct construction of bicyclic sulfamides containing five- to eight-membered rings by tandem cyclization of bromoallenes.

A highly regioselective synthesis of bicyclic sulfamides is described. Based on our recent discovery that bromoallenes can act as allyl dication equivalents in the presence of a palladium catalyst and alcohol, we investigated tandem cyclization of bromoallenes bearing a sulfamide group. It is found that some bromoallenes act as allyl dication equivalents even in the absence of a palladium(0) catalyst to afford cyclosulfamides containing five- or six-membered rings. While the palladium-free cyclization is dependent on the substrate structure affording the bicyclic sulfamides through the first cyclization onto the proximal or central carbon atom of the bromoallenes, the palladium-catalyzed reaction strongly promotes the first cyclization onto the central allenic carbon atom to afford bicyclic sulfamides containing a seven- or eight-membered ring. Formation of two types of bicyclic sulfamides from single bromoallenes by simply changing the reaction conditions is also described.

Alkadienes↗
PubMed2006

Direct assessment of CXCR4 mutant conformations reveals complex link between receptor structure and G(alpha)(i) activation.

Ligand binding to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is thought to induce changes in receptor conformation that translate into activation of downstream effectors. The link between receptor conformation and activity is still insufficiently understood, as current models of GPCR activation fail to take an increasing amount of experimental data into account. To elucidate structure-function relationships in GPCR activation, we used bioluminescence resonance energy transfer to directly assess the conformation of mutants of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. We analyzed substitutions in the arginine cage DRY motif and in the conserved asparagine N(3.35)119, which are pivotal molecular switches for receptor conformation and activation. G(alpha)(i) activation of the mutants was either similar to wild-type CXCR4 (D133N, Y135A, and N119D) or resulted in loss of activity (R134A and N119K). Mutant N119S was constitutively active but further activated by agonist. Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer analysis suggested no simple correlation between conformational changes in response to ligand binding and activation of G(alpha)(i) by the mutants. Different conformations of active receptors were detected (for wild-type CXCR4, D133N, and N119S), suggesting that different receptor conformations are able to trigger G(alpha)(i) activity. Several conformations were also found for inactive mutants. These data provide biophysical evidence for different receptor conformations being active with respect to a single readout. They support models of GPCR structure-activity relationships that take this conformational flexibility of active receptors into account.

Amino Acid Substitution↗
PubMed2006

Structure-activity relationship study on small peptidic GPR54 agonists.

Metastin (kisspeptin-54) is an endogenous ligand that modulates gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion through the interaction with a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), GPR54. The short-chain C-terminal decapeptide amide, metastin (45-54) (kisspeptin-10), exerts the identical bioactivities to metastin, such as metastasis suppression of cancer cells and inhibition of trophoblast migration and invasion. In order to understand the structural requirement for GPR54 agonistic activity, structure-activity relationship (SAR) study on pentapeptide-based C-terminal metastin analogues was carried out. As a result, H-Amb-Nal(2)-Gly-Leu-Arg-Trp-NH2 34 was identified as a novel GPR54 agonist that possessed the most potent GPR54 agonistic activity reported so far.

Alkylation↗
PubMed2006

Stereoselective synthesis of (Z)-alkene-containing proline dipeptide mimetics.

In peptides and proteins, the peptide bond between an amino acid and proline exists as an equilibrium mixture of the cis-imide and trans-imide due to the low energy barrier in their interconversion. This feature greatly influences the structure and function of the proline-containing peptides and proteins. Therefore, restricting the amide bond with an (E)- or (Z)-alkene should provide a promising method for elucidating the structure-activity relationships of the peptide and the proteins. In this report, the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of cis-alanylproline (Ala-Pro) type (Z)-alkene dipeptide mimetic is described. The key steps of this synthesis are to introduce a C3 unit onto a gamma-phosphoryloxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated-delta-lactam with an organocopper-mediated anti-S(N)2' reaction and subsequently construct a five-membered proline-like cyclic structure with an intramolecular Suzuki coupling reaction. Hydrolysis of the amide bond in the resulting bicyclic lactam yields the desired cis-Ala-Pro type (Z)-alkene dipeptide isostere. The presented synthetic methodology should be applicable to the general syntheses of other cis-aminoacylproline type (Z)-alkene dipeptide mimetics.

Alkenes↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a new class of low molecular weight antagonists against the chemokine receptor CXCR4 having the dipicolylamine-zinc(II) complex structure.

Several low molecular weight nonpeptide compounds having the dipicolylamine-zinc(II) complex structure were identified as potent and selective antagonists of the chemokine receptor CXCR4. These compounds showed strong inhibitory activity against CXCL12 binding to CXCR4, and the top compound exhibited significant anti-HIV activity. Zinc(II)-dipicolylamine unit-containing compounds proved to be useful and attractive lead compounds for chemotherapy of these diseases as nonpeptide CXCR4 antagonists possessing the novel scaffold structure.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Synthesis of (Z)-alkene and (E)-fluoroalkene-containing diketopiperazine mimetics utilizing organocopper-mediated reduction-alkylation and diastereoselectivity examination using DFT calculations.

We have carefully examined the organocopper-mediated reduction-alkylation of gamma-acetoxy or gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated-delta-lactams for the synthesis of (Z)-alkene- or (E)-fluoroalkene-containing diketopiperazine mimetics. Reduction of acetates 2, 12, 14, and difluorolactam 18 with higher-order cuprate reagents (Me3CuLi2 x LiI x 3 LiBr), followed by trapping the resulting metal dienolate with an electrophile in a one-pot procedure gave alpha-alkylated-beta,gamma-unsaturated-delta-lactams in good yields. Because of side-chain steric repulsion, we found that alkylation using relatively large electrophiles such as BnBr gave mostly 3,6-trans isomers by kinetic trapping of metal enolates. On the other hand, MeI-mediated alkylations predominantly provided the unexpected 3,6-cis isomers despite the presence of a bulky benzyl side chain. Based on density functional theory calculations, we concluded that formation of the 3,6-cis isomers was due to the occurrence of oxa-pi-allyllithium complexes 29 and 31.

Alkenes↗
PubMed2006

Stereoselective synthesis of 3,6-disubstituted-3,6-dihydropyridin-2-ones as potential diketopiperazine mimetics using organocopper-mediated anti-SN2' reactions and their use in the preparation of low-molecule CXCR4 antagonists.

Organocopper-mediated anti-SN2' reactions of gamma-phosphoryloxy-alpha,beta-unsaturated-delta-lactams were used to prepare highly functionalized diketopiperazine mimetics. The substrate phosphates 24, 32, and 47 were prepared from alpha-amino acid-derived allylic alcohols 10 by a sequence of reactions that included ring-closing metathesis. In the reactions of phosphates with organocopper reagents, the addition of LiCl dramatically improved anti-SN2' selectivity, indicating that an organocopper cluster containing lithium chloride plays an important role in the determination of regioselectivity. This reaction system was applied to the preparation of novel low molecular weight CXCR4-chemokine receptor antagonists.

Copper↗
PubMed2006

Development of a 111In-labeled peptide derivative targeting a chemokine receptor, CXCR4, for imaging tumors.

The chemokine receptor CXCR4 is highly expressed in tumor cells and plays an important role in tumor metastasis. The aim of this study was to develop a radiopharmaceutical for the imaging of CXCR4-expressing tumors in vivo. Based on structure-activity relationships, we designed a 14-residue peptidic CXCR4 inhibitor, Ac-TZ14011, as a precursor for radiolabeled peptides. For 111In-labeling, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) was attached to the side chain of d-Lys(8) which is distant from the residues indispensable for the antagonistic activity. In-DTPA-Ac-TZ14011 inhibited the binding of a natural ligand, stromal cell-derived factor-1alpha, to CXCR4 in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 7.9 nM (Ac-TZ14011: 1.2 nM). In biodistribution experiments, more 111In-DTPA-Ac-TZ14011 accumulated in the CXCR4-expressing tumor than in blood or muscle. Furthermore, the tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle ratios were significantly reduced by coinjection of Ac-TZ14011, indicating a CXCR4-mediated accumulation in tumor. These findings suggested that 111In-DTPA-Ac-TZ14011 would be a potential agent for the imaging of CXCR4 expression in metastatic tumors in vivo.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The involvement of stromal derived factor 1alpha in homing and progression of multiple myeloma in the 5TMM model.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a lethal plasma cell cancer characterized by the monoclonal growth of cells in the bone marrow. To reach the bone marrow, MM cells need to be attracted by chemokines. Recently, it has been shown that chemokines can also be involved in the growth of several cancer types. Stromal cell derived factor 1a (SDF1alpha) or CXCL12 is known to play an important role as a chemokine for hematopoietic progenitor cells and human MM cells. We studied the effects of SDF1a in the 5TMM murine model. DESIGN AND METHODS: The in vitro effects of SDF1alpha were analyzed by gelatin zymography, adhesion, migration, proliferation, and chemoinvasion assays and by blockade with the CXCR4 inhibitor, 4F-benzoyl-TN14003. In vivo, diseased mice were treated with either vehicle or 4F-benzoyl-TN14003. RESULTS: In vitro SDF1alpha was capable of attracting both 5T2MM and 5T33MM cells and inducing a 1.6-fold increase in MMP9 production by the 5TMM cells, which was correlated with an increased invasive capacity. In addition, SDF1alpha induced a 20% increase in DNA synthesis in the 5TMM cells. All these effects could be blocked by the CXCR4 inhibitor, 4Fbenzoyl- TN14003. An in vivo study in the 5T33MM model showed that blocking CXCR4 led to a 20% reduction in bone marrow tumor load. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that SDF1alpha/CXCR4 is involved in the homing and the expansion of MM cells. Blocking CXCR4 could be useful in synergy with other anti-neoplastic treatments targeting the bone marrow microenvironment.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Transport characteristics of a novel peptide transporter 1 substrate, antihypotensive drug midodrine, and its amino acid derivatives.

Midodrine is an oral drug for orthostatic hypotension. This drug is almost completely absorbed after oral administration and converted into its active form, 1-(2',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminoethanol) (DMAE), by the cleavage of a glycine residue. The intestinal H+-coupled peptide transporter 1 (PEPT1) transports various peptide-like drugs and has been used as a target molecule for improving the intestinal absorption of poorly absorbed drugs through amino acid modifications. Because midodrine meets these requirements, we examined whether midodrine can be a substrate for PEPT1. The uptake of midodrine, but not DMAE, was markedly increased in PEPT1-expressing oocytes compared with water-injected oocytes. Midodrine uptake by Caco-2 cells was saturable and was inhibited by various PEPT1 substrates. Midodrine absorption from the rat intestine was very rapid and was significantly inhibited by the high-affinity PEPT1 substrate cyclacillin, assessed by the alteration of the area under the blood concentration-time curve for 30 min and the maximal concentration. Some amino acid derivatives of DMAE were transported by PEPT1, and their transport was dependent on the amino acids modified. In contrast to neutral substrates, cationic midodrine was taken up extensively at alkaline pH, and this pH profile was reproduced by a 14-state model of PEPT1, which we recently reported. These findings indicate that PEPT1 can transport midodrine and contributes to the high bioavailability of this drug and that Gly modification of DMAE is desirable for a prodrug of DMAE.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed2006

Potassium carbonate-promoted stereospecific 5-endo-trig cyclization of unactivated allenes in the absence of any transition metals.

Formation of 3-pyrrolines from simple unactivated allenes bearing a protected amino group under basic conditions is described. Treatment of alpha-amino allenes with potassium carbonate in DMF under reflux in the absence of any transition-metal catalysts gave the corresponding 3-pyrrolines in good to excellent yields, by 5-endo-trig mode cycloisomerization. The reaction of internal allenes with an axial chirality afforded the corresponding 3-pyrrolines in a stereoselective manner.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Unequivocal synthesis of (Z)-alkene and (E)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres to probe structural requirements of the peptide transporter PEPT1.

[reaction: see text] Described is a novel synthetic route for dipeptide isosteres containing (Z)-alkene and (E)-fluoroalkene units as cis-amide bond equivalents via organocopper-mediated reduction of gamma-acetoxy- or gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-unsaturated-delta-lactams. The synthesized isosteres were evaluated in terms of their affinities for the peptide transporter PEPT1. trans-Amide isosteres tended to possess higher affinities for PEPT1 as compared to the corresponding cis-amide bond equivalents.

Alkenes↗