Synthesis of a new class of uridine phosphorylase inhibitors

A green four-component synthesis of zwitterionic alkyl/benzyl pyrazolyl barbiturates and their photophysical studies

A novel series of unsymmetrically substituted alkyl/benzyl pyrazolyl barbiturates incorporating highly biologically active pyrazolone and barbiturate moieties was synthesized by four-component reactions of a mixture of ethyl acetoacetate, hydrazine hydrate, aldehydes and barbituric acid/thiobarbituric acid in ethanol without using a catalyst. The photophysical properties of the newly designed alkyl/benzyl pyrazolyl barbiturates were studied, and good quantum yield of some products indicated a definitive scope in the field of biochemical applications. Single-crystal X-ray crystallographic studies revealed that the newly synthesized compounds exist in zwitterionic form. The zwitterionic nature of the new chimera makes them interesting candidates for drug delivery as zwitterionic drugs are known to have highly water soluble properties, specific protein absorption, slow recognition by immune system, slow blood clearance from body and can constantly diffuse and deposit throughout the physiological pH.

Reaction of 6-aminouracils with aldehydes in water as both solvent and reactant under FeCl3·6H2O catalysis: towards 5-alkyl/arylidenebarbituric acids

5-Alkyl/arylidenebarbituric acids were efficiently synthesized through an FeCl₃·6H₂O catalyzed domino reaction of 6-aminouracils, water and aldehydes with water serving a dual role as both solvent and reactant, under benign conditions.

Synthesis of a Series of perfluoroalkyl containing spiro cyclic barbituric acid derivatives

An efficient and versatile method for the preparation of a series of perfluoroalkyl containing spiro cyclic barbituric acid derivatives is described. 7,9-Dimethyl-2-(iodomethyl)-3-(perfluoroalkylmethyl) 7,9-diazaspiro[4.5]decane-6,8,10-trione were prepared in good yields from 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, MS spectra and elemental analysis.

Sequential one-pot bimetallic Ir(iii)/Pd(0) catalysed mono-/bis-alkylation and spirocyclisation processes of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid and allenes

Microwave assisted indirect functionalization of alcohols with 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid followed by spirocyclisation employing a sequential one-pot Ir(III)/Pd(0) catalysed process, involving the formation of three new C-C bonds, one spirocyclic ring and one di- or tri-substituted exocyclic alkene, is described.

Effect of administration of 5-(phenylselenenyl)acyclouridine, an inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase, on the anti-tumor efficacy of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine against murine colon tumor C26-10

The effect of co-administration of 5-(phenylselenenyl)acyclouridine (PSAU), a new uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3) inhibitor, on the efficacy of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) was tested against murine colon C26-10 tumor xenografts. In contrast to our previous results with human tumors, co-administration of PSAU with FdUrd decreased instead of increasing the efficacy of FdUrd against tumor growth. However, co-administration of PSAU with FdUrd (300 mg/kg/day) protected the mice completely from the 83% mortality induced by the same dose of FdUrd alone. Enzyme studies indicated that UrdPase in colon C26-10 tumors is responsible for the catabolism of FdUrd to 5-fluorouracil (FUra), as colon C26-10 tumors do not have thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase, EC 2.4.2.4). In contrast, colon C26-10 tumors had extraordinarily high UrdPase activity (300 micromol/min/mg protein), which was at least 200-fold higher than the highest UrdPase activity in any of the human xenografts we tested previously. Furthermore, the activities of UrdPase and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase, EC 2.4.2.10) were 192- and 2-fold higher, respectively, while that of dihydrouracil dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.1.2) was 1000-fold lower in the tumor than in the host liver. It is suggested that FdUrd exerts its anticancer effects against colon C26-10 tumors mainly through the catabolism of FdUrd to FUra by UrdPase, which then could be anabolized to 5-fluorouridine 5'-monophosphate (FUMP) by OPRTase and ultimately to other toxic 5-fluorouridine nucleotides, hence inducing the observed FdUrd toxic effects. Co-administration of PSAU with FdUrd inhibited UrdPase and the catabolism of FdUrd to FUra. This would result in the observed reduction of the antitumor efficacy of FdUrd. In addition, the increase in plasma uridine concentration induced by PSAU as well as the catabolism of FUra by the high dihydrouracil dehydrogenase activity in the liver also may have circumvented any residual FUra toxic effects against the host. These results clearly demonstrate that the anticancer efficacy of the combination of UrdPase inhibitors and FdUrd is not general and is dependent largely on the type of tumor under treatment and the mode of FdUrd metabolism in these tumors.

Modulation of 5-fluorouracil host toxicity by 5-(benzyloxybenzyl)barbituric acid acyclonucleoside, a uridine phosphorylase inhibitor, and 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyluridine, a prodrug of uridine

Administration of 200 mg/kg of 5-fluorouracil (FUra) to mice bearing human colon carcinoma DLD-1 xenografts resulted in 100% mortality. Oral administration of 2000 mg/kg of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyluridine (TAU), a prodrug of uridine, in combination with 120 mg/kg of 5-(benzyloxybenzyl)barbituric acid acyclonucleoside (BBBA), the most potent known inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2. 3), 2 hr after the administration of the same dose of FUra completely protected the mice (100% survival) from the toxicity of FUra. This combination also reduced tumor weight by 67% compared with 46% achieved by the maximum tolerated dose (50 mg/kg) of FUra alone. Similarly, administration of BBBA plus TAU 1 hr before or 4 hr after the administration of FUra reduced the tumor weight by 53 and 37%, respectively. However, these schedules were less effective in protecting the host from the toxicity of FUra than when the treatment was carried out at 2 hr after FUra administration. TAU alone did not protect from FUra host toxicity. The efficiency of the BBBA plus TAU combination in rescuing from FUra host toxicities is attributed to the exceptional effectiveness of this combination in raising and maintaining higher plasma uridine concentrations than those achieved by TAU alone or by equimolar doses of uridine (Ashour et al., Biochem Pharmacol 51: 1601-1612, 1996). The present results suggest that the BBBA plus TAU combination can provide a better substitute for the massive doses of uridine required to achieve the high levels of uridine necessary to rescue or protect from FUra host toxicities without the toxic side-effects associated with such doses of uridine. The combination of TAU plus BBBA may also allow the escalation of FUra doses for better chemotherapeutic efficacy. Alternatively, the combination may be used as a rescue regimen in the occasional cases where cancer patients receive a lethal overdose of FUra.

Uridine phosphorylase inhibitors: chemical modification of benzyloxybenzyl-barbituric acid and its effects on urdpase inhibition

5-(o-Benzyloxy)benzylbarbituric acid (6) and 5-(p-benzyloxy)benzylbarbituric acid (7) were prepared and their inhibitory activities compared to 5-(m-benzyloxy)-benzylbarbituric acid (BBB) a known, potent inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase). Compounds 6 and 7 were 18-fold and 51-fold less active, respectively, than BBB in inhibiting UrdPase. These data provide solid evidence that the 5-benzylbarbituric acids possessing meta substituents are the most active inhibitors. In addition, 2-thioBBB (11) was synthesized and it was shown to be as active an inhibitor as BBB.

Effects of modifications in the pentose moiety and conformational changes on the binding of nucleoside ligands to uridine phosphorylase from Toxoplasma gondii

One hundred and fifty analogues of uridine, with various modifications to the uracil and pentose moieties, have been tested and compared with uridine with respect to their potency to bind to uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3) from Toxoplasma gondii. The effects of the alpha- and beta-anomers, the L- and D-enantiomers, as well as restricted syn and anti rotamers, on binding were examined. Pseudo-, lyxo-, 2,3'-anhydro-2'-deoxy-, 6,5'-cyclo-, 6,3'-methano-, O5',6-methano- and carbocyclic uridines did not bind to the enzyme. Ribosides bound better than the corresponding xylosides, which were better than the deoxyribosides. The binding of deoxyribosides was in the following manner: 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides > 2',5'-dideoxynucleosides > 2'-deoxyribosides > 3'- and 5'-deoxyribosides. alpha-2'-Deoxyribosides bound to the enzyme, albeit less tightly than the corresponding beta-anomers. The acyclo- and 2,2'-anhydrouridines bound strongly, with the 2,2'-anhydro-derivatives being the better ligands. 2,5'-Anhydrouridine bound to UrdPase less effectively than 2,2'-anhydrouridine and acyclouridine. Arabinosyluracil was at best a very poor ligand, but bound better if a benzyl group was present at the 5-position of the pyrimidine ring. This binding was enhanced further by adding a 5-benzyloxybenzyl group. A similar enhancement of the binding by increased hydrophobicity at the 5-position of the pyrimidine ring was observed with ribosides, alpha- and beta-anomers of the 2'-deoxyribosides, acyclonucleosides, and 2,2'-anhydronucleosides. Among all the compounds tested, 5-(benzyloxybenzyl)-2,2'-anhydrouridine was identified as the best ligand of T. gondii UrdPase with an apparent Ki value of 60 +/- 3 nM. It is concluded that the presence of an N-glycosyl bond is a prerequisite for a nucleoside ligand to bind to T. gondii UrdPase. On the other hand, the presence of a 2'-, 3'-, or 5'-hydroxyl group, or an N-glycosyl bond in the beta-configuration, enhanced but was not essential for binding. Furthermore, the potency of the binding of 2,2'-anhydrouridines (fixed high syn isomers) in contrast to the weaker binding of the 6,1'-anhydro- or 2,5'-anhydrouridines (fixed syn isomers), and the complete lack of binding of the 6,5'-cyclo, O5',6-methano- and 6,3'-methanouridines (fixed anti isomers) to T. gondii UrdPase indicate that the binding of ligands to this enzyme is in the syn/high syn conformation around the N-glycosyl bond. The results also indicate that the parasite but not the mammalian host UrdPase can participate in hydrogen bonding with N3 of the pyrimidine ring of nucleoside ligands. T. gondii UrdPase also has a larger hydrophobic pocket adjacent to the C5 of the pyrimidine moiety than the host enzyme, and can accommodate modifications in the pentose moiety which cannot be tolerated by the host enzyme. Most prominent among these modifications is the absence and/or lack of the ribo orientation of the 3'-hydroxyl group, which is a requirement for a ligand to bind to mammalian UrdPase. These differences between the parasite and host, enzymes can be useful in designing specific inhibitors or "subversive" substrates for T. gondii UrdPase.

5-(m-Benzyloxybenzyl)barbituric acid acyclonucleoside, a uridine phosphorylase inhibitor, and 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyluridine, a prodrug of uridine, as modulators of plasma uridine concentration. Implications for chemotherapy

5-(m-Benzyloxybenzyl)barbituric acid acyclonucleoside (BBBA), the most potent inhibitor known of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3), the enzyme responsible for uridine catabolism, and 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyluridine (TAU), a prodrug of uridine, were used to investigate the possibility of improving the bioavailability of oral uridine in mice. Oral BBBA administered at 30, 60, 120, and 240 mg/kg increased the concentration of plasma uridine (2.6 +/- 0.7 microM) by 3.2-, 4.6-, 5.4-, and 7.2-fold, respectively. After administration of 120 and 240 mg/kg BBBA, plasma uridine concentration remained 3- and 6-fold, respectively, higher than the plasma concentration at zero time (C0) for over 8 hr. On the other hand, BBBA did not change the concentration of plasma uracil. TAU was far more superior than uridine in improving the bioavailability of plasma uridine. The relative bioavailability of plasma uridine released from oral TAU (53%) was 7-fold higher than that (7.7%) obtained by oral uridine. Oral TAU at 460, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg achieved area under the curve (AUC) values of plasma uridine of 82, 288, and 754 mumol.hr/L, respectively. Coadministration of BBBA with uridine or TAU further improved the bioavailability of plasma uridine resulting from the administration of either alone and reduced the Cmax and AUC of plasma uracil. Coadministration of BBBA at 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg improved the relative bioavailability of uridine released from 2000 mg/kg TAU (53%) by 1.7-, 2.7-, and 3.9-fold, respectively, while coadministration of the same doses of BBBA with an equimolar dose of uridine (1320 mg/kg) increased the relative bioavailability of oral uridine (7.7%) by 4.1-, 5.3-, and 7.8-fold, respectively. Moreover, the AUC and Cmax of plasma uridine after BBBA (120 mg/kg) coadministration with TAU were 3.5- and 11.5-fold, respectively, higher than those obtained from coadministration of BBBA with an equimolar dose of uridine. The exceptional effectiveness of the BBBA plus TAU combination in elevating and sustaining high plasma uridine concentration can be useful in the management of medical disorders that are remedied by administration of uridine as well as to rescue or protect from host-toxicities of various chemotherapeutic pyrimidine analogues.

Effects of 5-benzylacyclouridine, an inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase, on the pharmacokinetics of uridine in rhesus monkeys: implications for chemotherapy

The effects of subcutaneous administration of 5-benzylacyclouridine (BAU), a uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase, EC 2.4.2.3) inhibitor, on uridine concentration in plasma and urine were evaluated in rhesus monkeys. Administration of BAU at 50, 100 and 250 mg/kg increased the plasma uridine baseline concentration 1.5-, 2.9-, and 3.2-fold, respectively. The basis for this moderate perturbation of plasma uridine by BAU was investigated using a tracer dose of 500 microCi 3H-uridine. Administration of 3H-uridine alone led to its rapid catabolism to uracil and dihydrouracil. Administration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU with 500 microCi 3H-uridine resulted in a 2.5-fold enhancement of 3H-uridine plasma levels and a substantial decrease in the plasma levels of uridine catabolites, suggesting inhibition of UrdPase activity by BAU in rhesus monkeys. Coadministration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU with 83.3 mg/kg uridine also reduced the plasma concentration of uracil and dihydrouracil, but it did not increase plasma uridine concentration above that of control animals receiving 83.3 mg/kg uridine alone. In animals receiving uridine alone at 83.3 or 25 mg/kg, approximately 10% of the administered dose was recovered in the urine within 6 h, with unchanged uridine being the major component. In contrast, administration of 83.3 mg/kg BAU increased the excretion of unchanged uridine to more than 32% of the total dose administered, even when the urinary excretion ratio of uracil to uridine was reduced ten-fold. Administration of multiple doses (three times per day) of BAU alone (83.3 mg/kg) or in the presence of uridine (83.3 mg/kg) did not enhance plasma uridine concentration further. In addition, uridine pharmacokinetics were associated with a time-dependent relationship as evidenced by an increased total plasma clearance, renal clearance and volume of distribution, resulting in a substantial decrease in uridine peak concentration with time. These results indicate that administration of BAU inhibits UrdPase activity in rhesus monkeys as manifested by decreased uracil and dihydrouracil plasma levels, as well as a lower urinary excretion ratio of uracil to uridine, as compared to control animals. However, plasma levels of unchanged uridine were not substantially enhanced by BAU in spite of the large increase in urinary excretion of unchanged uridine. This phenomenon was also observed when uridine was coadministered with BAU, suggesting that plasma uridine concentration in monkeys may be strongly regulated by the renal system as evidenced by the "spillover" of excess plasma uridine into urine. In addition, the pharmacokinetics of uridine were dose-independent, but time-dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)