Synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones as potential antileukemic agents

The synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones bearing one "mitoxantrone side arm" and another (aminoalkyl)amino moiety has been described. These unsymmetrical anthracene-9,10-diones exhibit cytotoxic activity against L1210 leukemia cells and antitumor activity against P388 leukemia in mice.

Lack of competition between cytochrome c and anthraquinone type drugs for the reductive sites of NADH dehydrogenase

We have shown that (i) the cytochrome c reductase activity of the commercial NADH dehydrogenase does not perturb its ability to catalyse the reduction of various antitumor compounds of the anthracycline class, (ii) the reduction of these compounds by NADH, catalysed by commercial NADH dehydrogenase, correlates with their reduction by NADH catalysed by microsomes. Moreover, our data strongly suggest that two catalytic sites are present, one for cytochrome c and one for quinone type compounds.

Relationship between ionophoric and haemolytic activities of perimycin A and vacidin A, two polyene macrolide antifungal antibiotics

The ionophoric and hemolytic activities of two antifungal aromatic heptaenes: vacidin A and perimycin A, were studied on human red blood cells. Measurements of hemolysis, K+ influx and efflux, H+ movement and potential difference across the cell membrane, show that the hemolytic activity, being related to the K+ permeability induced by the polyene, is strongly dependent on the ability of this polyene to induce H+ movement. It was shown that: (1) both antibiotics have approximately the same efficiency in inducing K+ permeability, but a 100-fold difference in their hemolytic activity; (2) their hemolytic activity is related to their ability to induce H+ movement; (3) the protonophoric activity requires the existence of a free carboxyl group in the macrolide ring, as in vacidin A. The hemolytic activity is determined by the intrinsic efficiency of a K+/H+ exchange induced by this polyene. With perimycin A, which lacks the free carboxyl group, the hemolytic activity is dependent on the Cl- conductive flux which slows down the K+ flux.

Synthesis and antineoplastic evaluation of 1,4-bis(aminoalkanamido)-9,10-anthracenediones

The effect of the replacement of amino groups, attached to the anthraquinone ring in [(aminoalkyl)amino]-anthraquinones, by an amido function on DNA binding, cytotoxicity, and antileukemic activity has been studied. The corresponding 1,4-bis(aminoalkanamido)-9,10-anthracenediones have been synthesized and examined. It has been concluded that such modification does not exclude the DNA binding and cytotoxicity of mentioned compounds but decreases or abolishes the in vivo antileukemic activity.

Structural basis for the binding of antitumor anthracycline antibiotics to model membranes: circular dichroism studies

Circular dichroism was used to compare the binding of several anthracycline antitumor antibiotics to sonicated phosphatidylcholine vesicles. Daunorubicin analogues, differing from the parent by structural changes in the amino sugar moiety of the molecule, were tested both with vesicles that contained negatively charged phospholipids and with neutral vesicles. The self-association properties of the analogues were also investigated. Binding to negatively charged vesicles was not strictly dependent on electrostatic interactions, since the characteristics of daunorubicin binding were totally different from those of Adriamycin (doxorubicin). Furthermore, the cardiotoxicity of these molecules did not have its origin in their quantitatively preferential electrostatic binding to negatively charged cardiolipin-containing membranes: DR-19, a daunorubicin derivative having lower cardiotoxicity than the parent compound, which bound to negatively charged vesicles in a manner quite similar to that of Adriamycin, whereas DR-10, another daunorubicin derivative with higher cardiotoxicity, bound poorly to negatively charged vesicles.

An alternative concept for the molecular nature of the peroxidating ability of anthracycline anti-tumor antibiotics and anthracenodiones

Quantum chemical calculations of model anthraquinone molecules using the CNDO/2 method have revealed that superoxide anion radical formation following the single electron transfer mediated by anthraquinone anti-tumor antibiotics may occur in aerobic conditions as a result of the direct addition of an electron to the anthraquinone-oxygen low energy charge transfer complex that is formed with singlet oxygen. Cyclovoltammetric measurements have been performed in order to provide experimental evidence supporting the hypothesis. The structural requirements for an anthraquinone molecule not exhibiting peroxidating ability by the above mechanism have been postulated. They include maximum symmetry of electron density distribution (symmetry of the molecule), a decrease of the electron density of the pi electron system and an increase in the rigidity of the molecule.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships in amphotericin B derivatives

The quantitative structure-activity relationships studies of amphotericin B and its 16 semisynthetic derivatives obtained by modification at carboxyl and amino groups have been done. The results of five biological tests were subjected to principal component analysis, a numerical method useful in the investigation of large sets of data. For some compounds, also, interaction with lipidic vesicles was investigated by spectroscopic methods. The results obtained indicate that: (i) The presence of positively charged nitrogen atom (protonable or bearing fixed charge) is indispensable for biological activity and antibiotic-sterol interaction; (ii) The lack of free carboxyl group in the molecule favours the differentiation between cholesterol and ergosterol containing cells.

Interaction of 14C-labelled amphotericin B derivatives with human erythrocytes: relationship between binding and induced K+ leak

Four 14C-labelled amphotericin B (Am B) derivatives with different net electric charges were examined: zwitterionic N-fructosyl Am B, positively charged N-fructosyl Am B methyl ester, negatively charged N-acetyl Am B and neutral N-acetyl Am B methyl ester. The binding of these four derivatives to human red cells and their octanol-water partition coefficients were measured. Simple partitioning between red cells and buffer was found for the four compounds, regardless of concentration, within a range of 10(-8) and 10(-4) M. This indicates the absence of cooperativity and saturability of binding at least in this concentration range. The constant partition coefficients were found to be three to five times higher for the two methyl ester derivatives than for the two non-esterified compounds. All partition coefficients were proportional to those found for the octanol-water system. Efficiency in inducing K+ leak from red cells was measured during the binding experiments. Despite the higher partition coefficients of the two methyl ester derivatives, they were found to have much lower ionophoric efficiency than the two non-esterified compounds. These results are discussed in terms of the mechanism of permeability pathway formation by polyene antibiotics.

Synthesis and antileukemic activity of N-enamine derivatives of daunorubicin, 5-iminodaunorubicin, and doxorubicin

Eleven N-enamine derivatives of daunorubicin and of its 5-imino analogue as well as of doxorubicin have been synthesized and evaluated for antileukemic activity in vitro and in vivo. Comparison of biological activities of examined compounds with other enamine derivatives of daunorubicin, reported earlier by us, has indicated that the optimal activity is shown by N-(1-carboethoxypropen-1-yl-2)daunorubicin.

Synthesis and biological properties of N3-(4-methoxyfumaroyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid dipeptides, a novel group of antimicrobial agents

A series of dipeptides with N3-(4-methoxyfumaroyl)-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (FMDP), the irreversible inhibitor of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase from bacteria and fungi, have been synthesized and their antibacterial and antifungal properties in vitro evaluated. The results demonstrate that these peptides inhibit the growth of a number of the tested microorganisms, especially pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The results of competitive antagonism studies indicate specific peptide transport of the peptides via peptide permeases as drug delivery system and gives evidence for the high selectivity of the action upon the cells, as a result of the inhibition of generation of glucosamine.

Amides of polyene macrolide aureofacin. Synthesis and biological properties

Synthesis and biological properties of a number of amides of polyene macrolide antibiotic aureofacin obtained in the reaction of the antibiotic with various glycine esters are described.

New N-amino acid derivatives of daunorubicin

New N-amino acid derivatives of daunorubicin have been obtained by acylation of daunorubicin amino group with alpha, beta, and gamma amino acids and their N,N-dibenzyl derivatives. The results of the antitumor activity determination have evidenced that the change of the amino function position in the daunorubicin derivatives, in relation to that of the parent antibiotic, causes the loss of activity.

Antibiotic tetaine--a selective inhibitor of chitin and mannoprotein biosynthesis in Candida albicans

The antibiotic tetaine inhibits in Candida albicans the biosynthesis of two important cell wall constituents, chitin and mannoprotein. This effect is a consequence of inactivation of the enzyme glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase. Due to the lack of glucosamine-6-phosphate the effective secretion of mannoprotein enzymes, acid phosphatase and invertase, by Candida albicans spheroplasts is inhibited. In the presence of tetaine, probably a modified mannoprotein, lacking a branched polymannan, is synthesized. The antibiotic action decreases the viability of Candida albicans cells, especially that of mycelial forms of this fungus.

Synthesis of N3-fumaramoyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid analogues, the irreversible inhibitors of glucosamine synthetase

Several analogues of N3-fumaramoyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase activity. The syntheses were accomplished by acylation reaction of N2-tert.-butoxycarbonyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (Boc-A2pr) or N2-tert.-butoxycarbonyl-L-2,4-diaminobutanoic acid (Boc-A2-bu) with the N-succinimidoyl esters of several derivatives of alpha, beta-unsaturated acids 2a-d followed by deprotection of the Boc groups. The obtained compounds were tested for inhibition of glucosamine synthetase isolated from Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results indicated that among the synthesized compounds, N3-4-methoxyfumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (FMDP) was the most powerful inhibitor of glucosamine synthetase.

Inactivation of glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase from Salmonella typhimurium LT2 by fumaroyl diaminopropanoic acid derivatives, a novel group of glutamine analogs

A novel group of glutamine analogs, N3-fumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid (FDP) and its derivatives and analogs including amide (FCDP), methyl ester (FMDP) and its homologue, N4-(4-methoxyfumaroyl)-L-2,4-diaminobutanoic acid, inactivate glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase (L-glutamine: D-fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (hexose-isomerizing), EC 2.6.1.16), isolated from Salmonella typhimurium, by covalent modification. For comparative purposes, selected known glutamine analogs were also examined. Anticapsin, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine and, at high concentration, azaserine inactivate the enzyme. The pseudo-first-order rate constants show a hyperbolic dependence on inhibitor concentration for all the above-mentioned inhibitors, suggesting the formation of a reversible complex prior to covalent modification. Dissociation constants for inhibitors were determined and ranged from 10(-4) M for FCDP to 10(-6) M for FMDP. Albizziin, gamma-glutamylhydroxamate and, at low concentration, azaserine inhibit glucosamine synthetase only reversibly. All inhibitors tested are competitive in relation to glutamine. and competitive inhibitors, albizziin and gamma-glutamylhydroxamate protect the enzyme against inactivation. Fructose 6-phosphate accelerates the rate of inactivation. Some analogs of FDP, such as SMDP, CRDP, O-FMSer, MMDP and AADP, are not active against glucosamine-6-phosphate synthetase. The structure-activity relationship of the novel group of glutamine analogs is discussed and structural requirements for the activity of these compounds is established. It is postulated that the compounds examined can be classified as mechanism-based enzyme inactivators.

Effect of the polar head structure of polyene macrolide antifungal antibiotics on the mode of permeabilization of ergosterol- and cholesterol-containing lipidic vesicles studied by 31P-NMR

Natural polyene macrolide antibiotics and their N-acyl and methyl ester derivatives, which differ mainly in their electric net charge, were compared for their ability to increase the ionic permeability of large unilamella vesicles, using the proton-cation exchange method and 31P-NMR spectroscopy. The zwitterionic (amphotericin B, vacidin A) and negatively charged (N-N'-diacetyl vacidin) compounds induced permeability according to an all-or-none process on both cholesterol- and ergosterol-containing membranes. The same mechanism of permeability induction is obtained only on ergosterol-containing vesicles for positively charged antibiotics (perimycin A, vacidin A methyl ester, amphotericin B methyl ester). A different type of action is observed for the latter group of ionophores in cholesterol-containing vesicles. In this case, a progressive proton efflux occurs in which all of the vesicle population is involved. This qualitative difference in the kinetics of ionic fluxes induced by antibiotics without a free carboxyl group in cholesterol-containing as compared to ergosterol-containing membranes was ascribed to differences in polyene-sterol interactions as well as in the life time of the ionic path formed. This difference may provide a basis for the improvement of selective toxicity of this group of antifungal agents by rational modifications.

Differential inhibition of DNA and RNA biosynthesis in HeLa S3 cells by tetaine, a dipeptide antibiotic

A dipeptide antibiotic, tetaine, was found to diminish the rate of incorporation of 3H-labelled precursors into nucleic acids of intact and permeabilized HeLa S3 cells with concomitant negligible effect on protein synthesis. Comparison of the inhibitory effects of tetaine indicates that the antibiotic at 0.03-0.1 mM is a selective inhibitor of cellular DNA biosynthesis and, at higher concentration, of DNA and RNA biosynthesis. Tetaine is also an inhibitor of DNA and RNA polymerase reactions in a cell-free system, as determined using partially purified extracts from HeLa S3 cells that served as a source of the enzymes. The pretreatment experiments showed that tetaine inactivated the polymerases without affecting DNA template function. The tetaine effect on biosynthesis of nucleic acids in HeLa S3 cells can be attributed rather to the intact antibiotic than to the product of its enzymatic cleavage, anticapsin.

Synthetic derivatives of N3-fumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid inactivate glucosamine synthetase from Candida albicans

Synthetic derivatives of N3-fumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid constitute the novel group of glutamine analogs. They are powerful, competitive inhibitors of the glucosamine synthetase (2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose-6-phosphate ketol-isomerase (amino-transferring), EC 5.3.1.19) from Candida albicans with respect to glutamine and uncompetitive with respect to D-fructose 6-phosphate. Some of the compounds tested irreversibly inactivate glucosamine synthetase with Kinact values of 10(-4) to 10(-6) M. The addition of glutamine protects enzyme from the inactivation, while the absence of D-fructose 6-phosphate lowers the rate of inactivation. An ordered, sequential mechanism is suggested for binding of the inhibitors to the glutamine-binding site. A number of tested compounds act as active-site-directed, irreversible inhibitors. It is suggested that derivatives of N3-fumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid should be classified as mechanism-based enzyme inactivators. Structural requirements for an effective inactivator containing N3-fumaroyl-L-2,3-diaminopropanoic acid moiety are discussed.

The structure of amphotericin A. I. Mass spectrometric analysis of dodecahydroamphotericin A

Amphotericin A had been transformed into dodecahydroamphotericin A by hydrogenation. Subsequently, the product obtained was reduced with metal borohydrides or borodeuterides and derivatized to volatile compounds which were analyzed by mass spectrometry.

The structure of amphotericin A. II. The complete structure of the antibiotic

The structure of amphotericin A without the configuration of asymmetric carbon atoms has been elucidated. The stereochemistry of the sugar moiety has been determined. On the basis of homoscalar correlated 2D 1H spectra. of amphotericin A the position of the hemiketal moiety has been located, and the chemical shifts of all the protons in the antibiotic molecule have been determined.