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P D Gesellchen

Publications and source records attributed to P D Gesellchen.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Structure-activity study of tripeptide thrombin inhibitors using alpha-alkyl amino acids and other conformationally constrained amino acid substitutions.

In our continuing effort to design novel thrombin inhibitors, a series of conformationally constrained amino acids (e.g. alpha-alkyl, N-alkyl cyclic, etc.) were utilized in a systematic structure-activity study of the P3, P2, and P1 positions of tripeptide arginal thrombin inhibitors. Early examples of this effort include: D-MePhe-Pro-Arg-H (15), Boc-D-Phg-Pro-Arg-H (18), D-1-Tiq-Pro-Arg-H (23, D-1-Tiq = D-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylcarbonyl), and Boc-D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H (25).10a,20 The current work clarifies the contribution of each residue of the tripeptide arginals toward the potent and selective inhibition of thrombin relative to that of t-PA and plasmin. The alpha-methylarginal modification in the P1 residue resulted in analogs 30 (D-MePhe at P3) and 32 (D-1-Tiq at P3) which had lower potency toward thrombin while exhibiting improved selectivity. Analogs modified at the P2 site were found to be very sensitive to the conformational changes induced by variations in side chain ring size with the flexible pipecolinic acid 31 being 2 orders of magnitude less potent at thrombin inhibition than the conformationally constrained azetidine analog 20. Examination of the P3 binding region indicated that alpha-alkylphenylglycine residues resulted in a tendency to exhibit substantial improvements in selectivity over the nonalkylated residues. Combinations of optimal P3 and P2 changes led to compounds TFA-D-Phg(alpha Et)-Azt-Arg-H (16), TFA-D-Phg(alpha Me)-Azt-Arg-H (17), Ac-D-Phg(alpha Me)-Azt-Arg-H (21), TFA-D-Phg(alpha Me)-Pro-Arg-H (27), 30, and 32, which are clearly more selective for thrombin versus plasmin than the nonconformationally constrained compounds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Highly selective tripeptide thrombin inhibitors.

Tripeptide aldehydes such as Boc-D-Phe-Pro-Arg-H (51) exhibit potent direct inhibition of thrombin. This distinction offers important insight for the design of more potent and selective serine protease inhibitors which may be useful pharmacological tools and hold promise for development of clinically useful agents. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) on a series of anticoagulant peptides with high selectivity for the enzyme thrombin are discussed. The SAR is centered on a series of di- and tripeptide arginine aldehydes based on the structure of 51. The structural and conformational role of the amino acid residue in position 1 was investigated by substitution with conformationally restricted aromatic amino acids, aromatic acids, and a dipeptide isostere containing the psi[CH2N] amide bond replacement. Many of these peptides demonstrate potent antithrombotic activity along with selectivity toward thrombin, determined by comparison of in vitro inhibitory effects on trypsin, plasmin, factor Xa, and tissue plasminogen activator. Compound 5f, D-1-Tiq-Pro-Arg-H.sulfate is highly active and the most selective tripeptide aldehyde inhibitor of thrombin reported to date.

Aldehydes↗

Reversible tripeptide thrombin inhibitors as adjunctive agents to coronary thrombolysis: a comparison with heparin in a canine model of coronary artery thrombosis.

Direct inhibition of thrombin with agents such as hirudin and argatroban reduces reocclusion rates during experimental coronary thrombolysis. We compared the adjunctive potential of the tripeptide thrombin inhibitor D-methyl-phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginal (LY294468) during thrombolysis with tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) with the less specific tripeptide thrombin inhibitor Boc-D-phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginal (LY178207) and the standard anticoagulant heparin. The left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was isolated proximal to the first main branch, and coronary blood flow (CBF) was measured in 26 anesthetized dogs. Thrombogenesis was initiated by electrolytic injury of the intimal surface of the artery, producing an occlusive thrombus. Thrombolytic/adjunctive therapy was started 1 h later in the following groups: (a) t-PA alone (0.9 mg/kg, 1-h infusion), (b) t-PA + LY294468 (0.5 or 1 mg/kg/h, 2-h infusion), (c) t-PA + LY178207 (0.5 or 1 mg/kg/h, 2-h infusion), and (d) t-PA + heparin (80 U/kg bolus + 30 U/kg/h, 2-h infusion). LY294468 provided antireocclusive efficacy (time to reocclusion = > 200 min as compared with 65 min for t-PA alone; six of nine patent vessels vs. zero of six, respectively, at the end of the experiment), with no bleeding liability during t-PA-induced thrombolysis. Heparin and LY178207 were ineffective adjunctive agents. Heparin, however, significantly increased template bleeding times. LY294468 was effective as an adjunctive agent during thrombolysis and may represent a safer (less bleeding) and more effective adjunctive agent than heparin.

Animals↗

Substrate specificity of isopenicillin N synthase.

Highly purified isopenicillin N synthase (IPNS) from two sources (naturally occurring in Penicillium chrysogenum and that expressed in Escherichia coli via a cloned gene derived from Cephalosporium acremonium) have been isolated and utilized in vitro to test synthetic modifications of the natural substrate, (L-alpha-amino-delta-adipyl)-L-cysteinyl-D-valine (ACV). A very sensitive procedure utilizing the ability of beta-lactams to induce the synthesis of beta-lactamase was employed to determine whether an ACV analogue could serve as a substrate for IPNS. A wide variety of amino and carboxyl terminal tripeptide substitutions were examined and found to elicit positive beta-lactamase induction profiles. However, none of these modifications were found to function as efficiently as a substrate as ACV. One of the beta-lactam products which was formed from the reaction of IPNS and the tripeptide analogue was independently synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity. Modification of the L-cysteine residue in the second position of ACV resulted in tripeptides that were unable to serve as substrates. Conversion of the D-valine residue in the third position of ACV to an aromatic amino acid or to a highly electronegative residue such as trifluorovaline resulted in elimination of substrate activity and creation of an inhibitor of the enzyme.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The rapid identification of HIV protease inhibitors through the synthesis and screening of defined peptide mixtures.

Small peptides with activity as enzyme inhibitors, hormone antagonists, or other peptide mimetics, can be identified by synthesizing and screening large numbers of peptides as defined mixtures. Several coupling reactions, each with a different amino acid, can be conducted simultaneously and then combined to generate a near equimolar mixture before coupling additional residues. The peptide mixtures are recovered free from the matrix and in quantities sufficient for screening in many assays. We describe the rapid identification of a potent peptide inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus protease from twenty-two mixtures containing more than 240,000 tetrapeptides.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding and pharmacologic properties of peptides derived from human and rat angiotensin II (AII) mRNA.

We investigated the binding and pharmacologic properties of peptides encoded by complementary mRNA derived from the human and rat angiotensinogen gene (human and rat IIA, respectively). Human IIA (identical with AII in 4 amino acids) inhibited binding of [125I]AII to rat adrenal glomerulosa particles (Ki = 0.62 +/- 0.09 microM) and competitively blocked, with similar potency, the ability of three AII receptor agonists to contract rabbit aorta. Rat IIA affected neither [125I]AII binding to glomerulosa particles nor the contractile response of AII. We conclude that rat IIA does not interact with AII or its receptors and that human IIA acts as a competitive inhibitor of AII at the receptor level.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Effects of MSH on food intake, body weight and coat color of the yellow obese mouse.

Viable yellow obese mice (Avy/a) were treated for 10 days with 5, 15, 50 or 150 micrograms/d of either alpha-MSH or desacetyl-MSH. The half-maximal effect on weight gain occurred with a dose of 5 micrograms/d for desacetyl-MSH and at a 30 fold higher level of 150 micrograms/d for alpha-MSH. In contrast, the half-maximal stimulation of eumelanin production by alpha-MSH occurred at 15 micrograms/d and with desacetyl-MSH at 150 micrograms/d, a 10-fold increase. Desacetyl-MSH produced a dose-related increase in the weight of muscle, as well as white and brown adipose tissue. Desacetyl-MSH and alpha-MSH both increased plasma corticosterone concentrations, but desacetyl-MSH was more potent. In a 2 x 2 factorial designed study, body weight was significantly increased in viable yellow mice only by treatment with desacetyl-MSH but in the lean animals, both alpha-MSH and desacetyl-MSH increased body weight. Food intake was significantly different between genotypes, and was stimulated by desacetyl-MSH. These studies demonstrate potent differences in biological actions on food intake, body weight, and a variety of organ weights between acetylated and desacetylated forms of MSH.

Animals↗

Opioid antinociceptive effects of delta-receptor antagonists.

The antinociceptive effects of delta opioid receptor antagonists (ICI 154129 and ICI 174864) have been studied using the mouse writhing assay. When administered intracerebroventricularly (ICV), ICI 154129 and ICI 174864 produced dose-related inhibition of writhing with respective ED50's of 97 micrograms/mouse and 1.4 micrograms/mouse. Inhibition of writhing by ICI 174864 (3 micrograms, ICV) was antagonized by subcutaneous (SC) naloxone doses of 0.1 mg/kg and greater. Pretreatment of mice with 80 mg/kg (SC) of beta-funaltrexamine (beta-FNA), an irreversible mu-receptor antagonist, 28 hr before ICV injection of ICI 174864 shifted the dose-effect curve for ICI 174864 to the right (ED50 of 7.3 micrograms/mouse). When administered SC, ICI 174864 inhibited writhing with an ED50 of 8.5 mg/kg. Maximal inhibition occurred 30 min after SC administration and decreased 50% by 2 hr. After beta-FNA pretreatment, doses of ICI 174864 as high as 80 mg/kg (SC) did not inhibit writhing. There was no antinociceptive effect of ICI 174864 in mice chronically maintained on morphine, i.e., chronic morphine produced cross-tolerance to the delta antagonist. These results show that delta-selective receptor antagonists produced antinociception which was related to the mu-receptor, but was probably not a result of direct agonist action.

Analgesics↗

Opioid agonist activity of ICI 174864 and its carboxypeptidase degradation product, LY281217.

The opioid peptide antagonist, ICI 174864 ([allyl]2-Tyr-alpha-amino-isobutyric acid (Aib)-Aib-Phe-Leu-OH), can produce analgesic effects in mice. The present study explored the possibility that ICI 174864 1) may have affinity and agonist efficacy at mu receptors and/or 2) may form a carboxypeptidase degradation product in vivo that possesses mu agonist activity. In vitro, ICI 174864 (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) inhibited the twitch in the electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens (ED50 = 90 microM) and guinea pig ileum (ED50 greater than 10(-4) M). The in vitro partial agonist activity of ICI 174864 was due to interaction with delta and not mu receptors because the apparent dissociation constant for naloxone using ICI 174864 as the agonist was similar to the apparent dissociation constant for the interaction of naloxone with delta and not mu receptors. Thus, ICI 174864 is a weak partial agonist at delta receptors with little affinity or efficacy at mu receptors. The incubation of ICI 174864 with carboxypeptidase A generated a peptide, LY281217 [(allyl)2-Tyr-Aib-Aib-Phe-OH], which was a more potent agonist in the mouse vas deferens and guinea pig ileum than ICI 174864. The agonist activity of LY281217 was due to interaction with mu and not delta receptors because LY281217 was approximately 100-fold more potent than ICI 174864 as an agonist in the guinea pig ileum, the apparent dissociation constant for naloxone using LY281217 as the agonist was similar to the apparent dissociation constant for the interaction of naloxone with mu receptors and the delta selective antagonist.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analgesics, Opioid↗

Alkylating derivatives of amino acids and peptides. Synthesis of N-maleoylamino acids, [1-(N-maleoylglycyl)cysteinyl]oxytocin. Effects on vasopressin-stimulated water loss from isolated toad bladder.

A method for the preparation of N-maleoylamino acids and esters is reported. These compounds were shown to inhibit both the oxytocin-induced smooth muscle contraction in the isolated rat uterus and the vasopressin-induced water loss from the isolated toad bladder. The inhibitory ability of the maleimides in the toad bladder assay was found to be related to their corresponding partition coefficients by the equation: log 1/C = -0.055 (log P) 2 + 0.227 log P + 3.96. N-Maleoylamino acids can be coupled to peptides to form alkylating reagents which react rapidly with sulfhydryl groups. The synthesis of [1-(N-maleoylglycyl)cysteinyl]oxytocin (3) and [1=(N-maleoyl-11-aminoundecanoyl)cysteinyl]oxytocin (4) as potential affinity labeling reagents is described. These oxytocin analogs were shown to readily react with sulfhydryl-containing compounds; however, neither 3 nor 4 was seen to inhibit in the rat uterus assay at concentrations up to 3 times 10(-5)M. When tested on the mucosal and serosal surfaces of the toad bladder, assay inhibition was seen only on the mucosal surface. These results are discussed with respect to the possible existence of sulfhydryl groups at neurohypophyseal receptors.

Animals↗

Comparison of two penicillamine-containing enkephalins: mu, not delta, activity produces analgesia.

Two penicillamine-containing enkephalin analogs were compared for inhibition of mouse writhing after intracerebroventricular administration. The delta receptor-selective analog was less potent in inhibiting writhing than the non-selective analog. Inhibition of writhing produced by the delta-selective analog was antagonized by very low doses of naloxone, and produced additive analgesic effects with the delta receptor antagonist, ICI 174864. These results suggest that inhibition of writhing was produced by mu receptor agonist activity, and not delta receptor agonist activity.

Analgesia↗