Studies with deuterated drugs

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Intramolecular Hydroalkoxylation Deuteration Reactions of Unactivated Alkynyl Alcohols

Using D2O as a deuterium source, a method for the deuteration of intra- and extra-cyclic methylene has been developed for cyclic ethers with moderate yield and excellent deuterium incorporation. This transformation features superb functional group tolerance in a wide range of alkynols. Notably, the critical factor to achieve high deuterium incorporation is determined by the hydrogen isotope exchange reaction of an unstable oxonium ion. This novel methodology provides an efficient and concise synthetic route to a number of valuable deuterated cyclic ethers that are often difficult to prepare with other methods.

Emerging Role of Deuterium/Protium Disbalance in Cell Cycle and Apoptosis

Deuterium, a stable isotope of hydrogen, is a component of water and organic compounds. It is the second most abundant element in the human body after sodium. Although the concentration of deuterium in an organism is much lower than that of protium, a wide variety of morphological, biochemical, and physiological changes are known to occur in deuterium-treated cells, including changes in fundamental processes such as cell division or energy metabolism. The mode and degree of changes in cells and tissues, both with an increase and a decrease in the concentration of deuterium, depends primarily on the time of exposure, as well as on the concentration. The reviewed data show that plant and animal cells are sensitive to deuterium content. Any shifts in the D/H balance outside or inside cells promote immediate responses. The review summarizes reported data on the proliferation and apoptosis of normal and neoplastic cells in different modes of deuteration and deuterium depletion in vivo and in vitro. The authors propose their own concept of the effects of changes in deuterium content in the body on cell proliferation and death. The altered rate of proliferation and apoptosis indicate a pivotal role of the hydrogen isotope content in living organisms and suggest the presence of a D/H sensor, which is yet to be detected.

Recent Updates on the Development of Deuterium-Containing Drugs for the Treatment of Cancer

Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. In 2020, 19.3 million cancer cases and 10 million deaths were reported in the world. It is supposed that the prevalence of cancer cases will rise to 28.4 million by 2040. Chemotherapy-based regimens have a narrow therapeutic index, severe adverse drug reactions, and lack metabolic stability. Besides, the metabolism of anticancer produces several non-active and toxic metabolites that reduce exposure of the target site to the parent drug. Therefore, developing better-tolerated and effective new anticancer drugs and modification of the existing anticancer drugs to minimize toxicity and increase efficacy has become a very urgent need. Deuterium incorporation reduces the metabolism of certain drugs that are breakdown by pathways involving hydrogen-carbon bond scission. For example, CYP450 mediated oxidative metabolism of drugs that involves the breakdown of a hydrogen-carbon bond affected by deuteration. Deuterium incorporation into the drug increases the half-life and reduces the dose, which provides better safety and efficacy. Deutetrabenazine is the first deuterated form of tetrabenazine approved to treat chorea associated with Huntington’s disease and tardive dyskinesia. The study revealed that Deutetrabenazine has fewer neuropsychiatric side effects with favorable safety than tetrabenazine. The current review highlights the deuterium kinetic isotope effect on drug metabolism, deuterated compound pharmacokinetic property, and safety profile. Besides, this review explains the deuterated anticancer drug development update status.

Direct nitrogen interception from chitin/chitosan for imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines

A catalyst-free one-pot methodology that enables direct nitrogen interception of chitosan/chitin for imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines was developed. This strategy features direct synthesis of important deuterated imidazo[1,5-a]pyridines and tridentate ligands. In particular, a broad group of previously inaccessible products including saturated 1-alkylimidazo[1,5-a]pyridines are unprecedently synthesized by this protocol.

Anomeric Stereoauxiliary Cleavage of the C−N Bond of d ‐Glucosamine for the Preparation of Imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines

The targeted cleavage of the C−N bonds of alkyl primary amines in sustainable compounds of biomass according to a metal‐free pathway and the conjunction of nitrogen in the synthesis of imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines are still highly challenging. Despite tremendous progress in the synthesis of imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines over the past decade, many of them can still not be efficiently prepared. Herein, we report an anomeric stereoauxiliary approach for the synthesis of a wide range of imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines after cleaving the C−N bond of d‐glucosamine (α‐2° amine) from biobased resources. This new approach expands the scope of readily accessible imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridines relative to existing state‐of‐the‐art methods. A key strategic advantage of this approach is that the α‐anomer of d‐glucosamine enables C−N bond cleavage via a seven‐membered ring transition state. By using this novel method, a series of imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine derivatives (>80 examples) was synthesized from pyridine ketones (including para‐dipyridine ketone) and aldehydes (including para‐dialdehyde). Imidazo[1,5‐a]pyridine derivatives containing diverse important deuterated C(sp²)−H and C(sp³)−H bonds were also efficiently achieved.

Synthesis of Deuterated (E)-Alkene through Xanthate-Mediated Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange Reactions

Herein we have developed a reversible hydrogen-deuterium exchange reaction of nonactivated olefins. By using EtOCS₂K as a mediator, the H/D exchange reaction was realized through repeated addition and elimination reactions, demonstrating reversible H/D exchange between ordinary olefins and deuterated olefins. Using the lowest cost D₂O without precious metal catalysts and ligands, a broad spectrum of compatibility of functional groups was achieved.

B12X11(H2)−: exploring the limits of isotopologue selectivity of hydrogen adsorption

We study the isotopologue-selective binding of dihydrogen at the undercoordinated boron site of B₁₂X₁₁⁻ (X = H, F, Cl, Br, I, CN) using ab initio quantum chemistry. With a Gibbs free energy of H₂ attachment reaching up to 80 kJ mol⁻¹ (ΔG at 300 K for X = CN), these sites are even more attractive than most undercoordinated metal centers studied so far. We thus believe that they can serve as an edge case close to the upper limit of isotopologue-selective H₂ adsorption sites. Differences of the zero-point energy of attachment average 5.0 kJ mol⁻¹ between D₂ and H₂ and 2.7 kJ mol⁻¹ between HD and H₂, resulting in hypothetical isotopologue selectivities as high as 2.0 and 1.5, respectively, even at 300 K. Interestingly, even though attachment energies vary substantially according to the chemical nature of X, isotopologue selectivities remain very similar. We find that the H–H activation is so strong that it likely results in the instantaneous heterolytic dissociation of H₂ in all cases (except, possibly, for X = H), highlighting the extremely electrophilic nature of B₁₂X₁₁⁻ despite its negative charge. Unfortunately, this high reactivity also makes B₁₂X₁₁⁻ unsuitable for practical application in the field of dihydrogen isotopologue separation. Thus, this example stresses the two-edged nature of strong H₂ affinity, yielding a higher isotopologue selectivity on the one hand but risking dissociation on the other, and helps define a window of adsorption energies into which a material for selective adsorption near room temperature should ideally fall.

The extreme H₂ affinity of B₁₂X₁₁⁻ gives a glimpse of how higher selectivities in adsorptive isotopologue separation may be achieved.

Nickel-Catalyzed Asymmetric Transfer Hydrogenation and α-Selective Deuteration of N-Sulfonyl Imines with Alcohols: Access to α-Deuterated Chiral Amines

A nickel-catalyzed enantioselective transfer hydrogenation and deuteration of N-sulfonyl imines was developed. Excellent α-selectivity and high deuterium content were achieved by using inexpensive 2-propanol-d₈ as a deuterium source. As a highlight, no deuteration of β-C-H and the remote C-H of N-sulfonyl amines occurred, which is hard to achieve using other imines or by hydrogen isotope exchange with D₂O. Mechanism studies indicated a stepwise pathway through the [Ni-D] intermediate.

A free radical alkylation of quinones with olefins

We demonstrated herein an Fe(iii)-mediated radical alkylation of quinones. A wide range of bioactive molecules with quinone motifs can be rapidly synthesized by using readily available and inexpensive NaBH4/NaBD4 with alkenes at room temperature under open flask conditions.

Lipid bilayer position and orientation of novel carprofens, modulators of γ-secretase in Alzheimer's disease

γ-Secretase is an integral membrane protein complex and is involved in the cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein APP to produce amyloid-β peptides. Amyloid-β peptides are considered causative agents for Alzheimer's disease and drugs targeted at γ-secretase are investigated as therapeutic treatments. We synthesized new carprofen derivatives, which showed γ-secretase modulating activity and determined their precise position, orientation, and dynamics in lipid membranes by combining neutron diffraction, solid-state NMR spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics simulations. Our data indicate that the carprofen derivatives are inserted into the membrane interface, where the exact position and orientation depends on the lipid phase. This knowledge will help to understand the docking of carprofen derivatives to γ-secretase and in the design of new potent drugs. The approach presented here promises to serve as a general guideline how drug/target interactions in membranes can be analyzed in a comprehensive manner.

Improving metabolic stability with deuterium: The discovery of HWL-066, a potent and long-acting free fatty acid receptor 1 agonists

The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1) is a potential target due to its function in enhancing of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. The FFA1 agonist GW9508 has great potential for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but it has been suffering from high plasma clearance probably because the phenylpropanoic acid is vulnerable to β-oxidation. To identify orally available analog without influence on the unique pharmacological mechanism of GW9508, we tried to interdict the metabolically labile group by incorporating two deuterium atoms at the α-position of phenylpropionic acid affording compound 4 (HWL-066). As expected, HWL-066 revealed a lower clearance (CL = 0.23 L^-1  hr^-1  kg^-1 ), higher maximum concentration (C_max  = 5907.47 μg/L), and longer half-life (T_1/2  = 3.50 hr), resulting in a 2.8-fold higher exposure than GW9508. Moreover, the glucose-lowering effect of HWL-066 was far better than that of GW9508 and comparable with TAK-875. Different from glibenclamide, no side-effect of hypoglycemia was observed in mice after oral administrating HWL-066 (80 mg/kg).

Deuterium- and Tritium-Labelled Compounds: Applications in the Life Sciences

Hydrogen isotopes are unique tools for identifying and understanding biological and chemical processes. Hydrogen isotope labelling allows for the traceless and direct incorporation of an additional mass or radioactive tag into an organic molecule with almost no changes in its chemical structure, physical properties, or biological activity. Using deuterium-labelled isotopologues to study the unique mass-spectrometric patterns generated from mixtures of biologically relevant molecules drastically simplifies analysis. Such methods are now providing unprecedented levels of insight in a wide and continuously growing range of applications in the life sciences and beyond. Tritium (³ H), in particular, has seen an increase in utilization, especially in pharmaceutical drug discovery. The efforts and costs associated with the synthesis of labelled compounds are more than compensated for by the enhanced molecular sensitivity during analysis and the high reliability of the data obtained. In this Review, advances in the application of hydrogen isotopes in the life sciences are described.

The stable isotope method for determining absolute bioavailability

The bioavailability of a drug is usually assessed in healthy subjects. However, it is reasonable to expect that significant alterations in bioavailability may occur in actual patients with different diseases or in individuals belonging to special populations. Relatively few studies have been conducted to examine this possibility. The stable isotope method is well suited to compare absolute bioavailability in patients and healthy subjects. Studies in which this method was used indicate that significant changes in the bioavailability of some drugs are particularly likely in patients with advanced liver disease and in those whose splanchnic blood flow is reduced. The expectation is that bioavailability in neonates, children, and pregnant women may also differ from that in non-pregnant adults.

Radical trideuteromethylation with deuterated dimethyl sulfoxide in the synthesis of heterocycles and labelled building blocks

A selective introduction of trideuteromethyl groups for the synthesis of labelled compounds under radical reaction conditions is demonstrated.

The Influence of Bioisosteres in Drug Design: Tactical Applications to Address Developability Problems

The application of bioisosteres in drug discovery is a well-established design concept that has demonstrated utility as an approach to solving a range of problems that affect candidate optimization, progression, and durability. In this chapter, the application of isosteric substitution is explored in a fashion that focuses on the development of practical solutions to problems that are encountered in typical optimization campaigns. The role of bioisosteres to affect intrinsic potency and selectivity, influence conformation, solve problems associated with drug developability, including P-glycoprotein recognition, modulating basicity, solubility, and lipophilicity, and to address issues associated with metabolism and toxicity is used as the underlying theme to capture a spectrum of creative applications of structural emulation in the design of drug candidates.

Large deuterium isotope effects and their use: a historical review

Isotope effects are differences in the properties of the isotopes of an element resulting in different reaction rates of a corresponding compound, in equilibrium constants and in the spectra. Shortly after the discovery of stable isotopes of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon, Jacob Bigeleisen formulated a theory of isotope effects and calculated possible maximum values. Large isotope effects of (2)H (deuterium) against (1)H (protium) were seen to possibly influence interpretations of reaction mechanisms if corresponding labelling is used. Much work was invested to ensure the safety of deuterium use in men in spite of the large isotope effect. On the other hand, large deuterium isotope effects gave rise to several practical applications. Examples are the enhancement of the stability of some technical products against oxidative and against hydrolytic degradation (oils, pharmaceuticals) as well as alterations of the detoxification metabolism of pharmaceuticals in vivo.

Cysteine kinetics and oxidation at different intakes of methionine and cystine in young adults

BACKGROUND

We previously studied methionine kinetics and oxidation with the tracer L-[1-(13)C, methyl-(2)H(3)]methionine.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to explore methionine-cysteine interrelations in adults by using L-[1-(13)C]cysteine under different dietary conditions.

DESIGN

In experiment 1, 12 adults consumed a protein-free diet for 6 d. On day 7, methionine (n = 6) or cysteine (n = 6) oxidation rates were measured during an 8-h continuous infusion of L-[1-(13)C, methyl-(2)H(3)]methionine or L-[1-(13)C]cysteine, respectively. In experiment 2, 6 young men consumed 3 diets for 6 d each before a tracer study on day 7 with L-[1-(13)C]cysteine. The amounts (in mg*kg(-)(1)*d(-)(1)) of methionine and cysteine, respectively, were: high-methionine (HM) diet, 13 and 0; low-methionine (LM) diet, 6.5 and 0; and methionine-plus-cystine (MC) diet, 6.5 and 5.6. Cysteine flux and oxidation rates were determined and sulfur amino acid (SAA, methionine plus cysteine) balances were estimated.

RESULTS

In experiment 1, rates of methionine and cysteine oxidation were similar to losses predicted from obligatory nitrogen losses. In experiment 2, SAA balance was less negative when subjects consumed the HM diet than the LM and MC diets (interaction, P = 0.034), largely because of a difference in fed-state balance (HM compared with LM, P < 0.01; HM compared with MC, P < 0.05). There was no evidence of a sparing effect of dietary cystine on the methionine requirement.

CONCLUSION

These studies support use of [1-(13)C]cysteine for studying whole-body SAA oxidation and conclusions that maintenance of SAA balance is best achieved by supplying methionine at approximately the FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations for total SAA intake (13 mg*kg(-)(1)*d(-)(1)).

Pharmacological uses and perspectives of heavy water and deuterated compounds

Since the discovery of D2O (heavy water) and its use as a moderator in nuclear reactors, its biological effects have been extensively, although seldom deeply, studied. This article reviews these effects on whole animals, animal cells, and microorganisms. Both "solvent isotope effects," those due to the special properties of D2O as a solvent, and "deuterium isotope effects" (DIE), which result when D replaces H in many biological molecules, are considered. The low toxicity of D2O toward mammals is reflected in its widespread use for measuring water spaces in humans and other animals. Higher concentrations (usually >20% of body weight) can be toxic to animals and animal cells. Effects on the nervous system and the liver and on formation of different blood cells have been noted. At the cellular level, D2O may affect mitosis and membrane function. Protozoa are able to withstand up to 70% D2O. Algae and bacteria can adapt to grow in 100% D2O and can serve as sources of a large number of deuterated molecules. D2O increases heat stability of macromolecules but may decrease cellular heat stability, possibly as a result of inhibition of chaperonin formation. High D2O concentrations can reduce salt- and ethanol-induced hypertension in rats and protect mice from gamma irradation. Such concentrations are also used in boron neutron capture therapy to increase neutron penetration to boron compounds bound to malignant cells. D2O is more toxic to malignant than normal animal cells, but at concentrations too high for regular therapeutic use. D2O and deuterated drugs are widely used in studies of metabolism of drugs and toxic substances in humans and other animals. The deuterated forms of drugs often have different actions than the protonated forms. Some deuterated drugs show different transport processes. Most are more resistant to metabolic changes, especially those changes mediated by cytochrome P450 systems. Deuteration may also change the pathway of drug metabolism (metabolic switching). Changed metabolism may lead to increased duration of action and lower toxicity. It may also lead to lower activity, if the drug is normally changed to the active form in vivo. Deuteration can also lower the genotoxicity of the anticancer drug tamoxifen and other compounds. Deuteration increases effectiveness of long-chain fatty acids and fluoro-D-phenylalanine by preventing their breakdown by target microorganisms. A few deuterated antibiotics have been prepared, and their antimicrobial activity was found to be little changed. Their action on resistant bacteria has not been studied, but there is no reason to believe that they would be more effective against such bacteria. Insect resistance to insecticides is very often due to insecticide destruction through the cytochrome P450 system. Deuterated insecticides might well be more effective against resistant insects, but this potentially valuable possibility has not yet been studied.Key words: deuterium, heavy water, D2O, deuterium isotope effects.

Deuterium isotope effects on caffeine metabolism

The aim of this work was to study the influence of labelling on caffeine metabolism according to the incubation mode. It has been observed that labelling induces an isotopic effect on metabolisation speed: apparent half-lives are systematically increased. Moreover, isotopic effects are in agreement with those previously observed for retention times. Qualitatively, caffeine labelling systematically induces metabolic variations to the detriment of the metabolic pathway that induces the loss of the trideuteromethyl group. Caffeine accumulation and the release of the main metabolites have been studied with respect to isotopic effects on crossing the cell membrane. It has been demonstrated that, in most of the cases, accumulation decreased and that either metabolite release was increased or no isotopic effect was observed.

Use of stable isotopes for evaluation of drug delivery systems: comparison of ibuprofen release in vivo and in vitro from two biphasic release formulations utilizing different rate-controlling polymers

Certain delivery systems are intended to release the active ingredient in different phases to obtain the desired therapeutic effect. For these formulations, such as a bilayer tablet, it is desirable to distinguish and measure the release of drug from the different phases simultaneously. Mass spectrometric methods were developed to measure three ibuprofen isotopomers in serum and two in dissolution fluid. The analytical methods were linear (r > or = 0.992) over the concentration range of interest and recovery was greater than 99.2% for all isotopomers. Coadministration of [2H0]ibuprofen, [2H4]ibuprofen, and [2H7]ibuprofen to male beagles demonstrated that the isotopomers were bioequivalent and verified the absence of any kinetic isotope effect due to deuterium incorporation (p = 0.286). These methods were then used to evaluate a bilayer tablet formulation composed of an immediate release layer of 100 mg [2H4]ibuprofen and a sustained release layer with a drug load of 300 mg [2H0]ibuprofen. Two different rate-controlling polymer matrices that provided similar in vitro dissolution profiles were compared in the sustained release phase, while the immediate release formulation remained the same. In male beagles, the HPMC matrix delivered a significantly greater amount of ibuprofen (p < 0.05). The AUC was threefold greater for HPMC (1067 +/- 437 nmole*h/ml) versus EUDRAGIT (320 +/- 51), and Cmax was nearly four times greater (145 +/- 62.1 nmole/ml for HPMC versus 37.9 +/- 14.4 for EUDRAGIT).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Phenylalanine conversion to tyrosine: comparative determination with L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine and L-[1-13C]phenylalanine as tracers in man

The in vivo rate of conversion of phenylalanine to tyrosine (PheOH) can be estimated using combinations of stable isotope-labeled phenylalanine and tyrosine. We have compared in four healthy adult men the rates of phenylalanine conversion to tyrosine based on the following pairs of primed, continuous tracer infusions administered simultaneously: (1) L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine and 2H2-tyrosine with a 2H4-tyrosine prime, and (2) L-[1-13C]phenylalanine and 2H2-tyrosine with a 1-13C-tyrosine prime. Phenylalanine oxidation was determined from measurement of 13CO2 excretion in expired air. Tracers were given for 8 hours, with subjects being in the postabsorptive state during the first 3 hours and in the fed state during the remaining 5 hours. Mean (+/- SD) rates (mumol.kg-1.h-1) of phenylalanine conversion to tyrosine for fasted and fed states, respectively, were 5.1 +/- 2.9 and 6.8 +/- 3.4 with 2H5-phenylalanine and significantly higher (P < .05) at 11.1 +/- 5.6 and 12.7 +/- 7.7 with 13C-phenylalanine as tracer. Phenylalanine oxidation was 9.9 +/- 2.0 and 13.5 +/- 2.6, respectively, for fasted and fed states, and these mean values did not differ (P > .1) from the rate of phenylalanine conversion to tyrosine determined using 13C-phenylalanine. These results indicate the need for caution in interpreting kinetic aspects of phenylalanine metabolism when based on isotopic data from multideuterated phenylalanine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Simultaneous separation and determination (in serum) of phenytoin and carbamazepine and their deuterated analogues by high-performance liquid chromatography--ultraviolet detection for tracer studies

The use of stable isotope-labeled tracer compounds is the safest and most effective method to perform many steady state pharmacokinetic and drug interaction studies. We describe a method by which the heavily deuterated 2H10 analogues of carbamazepine (2H10 CBZ) and phenytoin (2H10 PHT) can be chromatographically separated by high-performance liquid chromatography from unlabeled CBZ and PHT. All compounds are quantitated against an internal standard (IS) (10,11-dihydrocarbamazepine) and measured using conventional UV detection rather than mass spectrometry. Baseline resolution of extracted serum containing 2H10 CBZ, CBZ, 2H10 PHT, PHT and IS is achieved on a heated (55 degrees C) 25 cm x 4.6 mm BioAnalytical Systems Phase II 5 microns ODS column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of water-acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran (80:16:4, v/v/v) at 1.2 ml/min. Eluting compounds were monitored at a UV wavelength of 214 nm. Calculated resolution of 2H10 CBZ from CBZ and of 2H10 PHT from PHT were 1.3. Serum standard curves were linear (R greater than or equal to 0.999) over a range of 0.5-14 micrograms/ml for 2H10 CBZ, 0.5-20 micrograms/ml for CBZ, 0.5-20 micrograms/ml for 2H10 PHT, and 0.5-30 micrograms/ml for PHT. Within-day percent relative standard deviations (precision) were less than 6% in all cases.

Deuterium oxide as a tracer for measurement of compliance in pediatric clinical drug trials

We tested the hypothesis that a deuterium oxide (D2O) tracer could discriminate among patterns of clinically significant, imperfect compliance during drug trials. A model was developed to predict deuterium concentration during multiple dose regimens. After developing a regression equation to predict one of the model parameters for children, we selected healthy children (N = 20) at random to receive one of five 10-day D2O regimens. Five urine samples were obtained from each child during 15 days and analyzed for deuterium level by mass spectrometry. Each child's height, weight, age, and the first four urinary deuterium levels were used to estimate the amount and timing of deuterium administration. These estimates were compared with the five regimens to determine the closest match between estimate and regimen. The closest matching regimen was the regimen actually administered to 19 (95%) of the 20 children. Two of these children had D2O administration estimates that could be confused with another regimen. The correlation between the model's predicted levels and the measured levels of all urine samples was 0.96. We conclude that a D2O tracer shows excellent promise as a quantitative method of assessing compliance with liquid medications under specified conditions.

Study of isotope effects on protein binding by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of theophylline-phenobarbitone and 2H, 13C, 15N isotopomers

We describe a comparative study of human serum albumin (HSA) binding by equilibrium dialysis (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C, 3 h) for two groups of isotopic analogues: theophylline and 1-C(2H3)theophylline; unlabelled, 5(ethyl(2H5],-5(phenyl(2H5] and 1,3-15N;2-13C-phenobarbitone. Bound and free drug fractions are quantified by combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In three instances, protein binding parameters are greatly affected by isotopic substitution, namely for: theophylline and 1-C(2H3)theophylline with isotope effects on total binding site concentration (N), affinity constant (Ka) and extent of HSA binding (%) respectively, equal to: NL/NH = 0.51; KaL/KaH = 1.78; %L/%H = 0.96 (L (light) and H (heavy) represent the unlabelled and labelled analogue respectively); phenobarbitone/-5-(phenyl(2H5]phenobarbitone, NL/NH = 1.72; KaL/KaH = 0.56; %L/%H = 1.26; phenobarbitone/1,3-15N;2-13C phenobarbitone, NL/NH = 2.95; KaL/KaH = 0.44; %L/%H = 1.32, together with a change from one (saturable) to two (saturable + non-saturable) families of albumin binding sites in the latter case. Contrasting with these data, no HSA binding isotope effect was observed on phenobarbitone C5 ethyl deuteration.

Study of deuterium isotope effects on protein binding by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Caffeine and deuterated isotopomers

A study of the binding to human serum albumin (HSA) of caffeine and its deuterated isotopomers, 1-C2H3-,3-C2H3-, 1,7-(C2H3)2-, 3,7-(C2H3)2- and 1,3,7-(C2H3)3-caffeine, was performed by equilibrium dialysis. Free and bound fractions were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Important and significant (Fischer and Student tests) isotope effects were observed on binding parameters: sites total concentration (N = 1732 microM for 1,3,7-(C2H3)3-caffeine versus 822 microM for caffeine; number of sites (n = 3 for 1,3,7-(C2H3)3-caffeine v. 1 for caffeine); and extent of binding (46% for 1,3,7-(C2H3)3-caffeine v. 27% for caffeine). A study of competition for HSA binding between caffeine and its 1,3,7-(C2H3)3- and 3,7-(C2H3)2-isotopomers confirmed the results obtained in direct binding studies. These isotope effects are discussed in terms of (a) tools for molecular pharmacology, (b) precautions to be taken when such labelled drugs are used in clinical pharmacology.

Effects of deuterium substitution on the chronotropic responses to some sympathomimetic amines in the isolated rat atria

In spontaneously beating rat atria the potencies for the chronotropic effects of the following deuterated phenylethylamine derivatives were higher than the potencies of the corresponding non-substituted (protio-) amines: alpha,alpha,d2-beta-phenylethylamine; alpha,alpha,beta,beta-d4-p-tyramine; alpha,alpha,beta,beta-d4-m-tyramine; alpha,alpha,beta-d3-p-octopamine. In contrast, alpha,alpha,beta-d3-noradrenaline and alpha,alpha,beta-d3-m-octopamine were equipotent with the corresponding protio-amines. Experiments performed in atria depleted of endogenous noradrenaline by pretreatment with reserpine and in atria exposed to the monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor pargyline indicated: a. p-octopamine had both direct and indirect effects, but the chronotropic responses to p-octopamine in tissues with normal MAO activity depended mostly on the direct action of the amine; deuterium substitution enhanced the indirect component of action of p-octopamine; b. m-octopamine possessed considerable indirect effects while d3-m-octopamine behaved as an amine of direct action. The substitution of deuterium for hydrogens in the alpha-carbon of the alkyl-side chain of phenylethylamines decreases the rate of deamination by MAO. Therefore, the results obtained with all the amines, except for m-octopamine and alpha, alpha,p-d3-m-octopamine, could be interpreted in terms of the direct, indirect or mixed action of those compounds and/or of the influence that MAO activity has on the chronotropic responses to these amines. The results obtained with protio- and deuterio-m-octopamine suggested that deuterium substitution, either at the alpha- or the beta-carbon, can alter some other mechanisms in addition to the enzymatic deamination.

Effect of deuterium substitution on the disposition of intraperitoneal tryptamine

To determine whether alpha,alpha-dideutero substitution in the side chain of the tryptamine molecule can exert primary isotope effects and enhance its bioavailability, equimolar mixtures of tryptamine (T) and either alpha,alpha-dideutero-tryptamine (alpha,alpha-[2H2]T) or beta,beta-dideutero-tryptamine (beta,beta-[2H2]T) were injected i.p. into rats. The amounts of these amines in the brain, liver and plasma were then measured at various times following the injection, and ratios between the deuterated T and T were computed. The ratio remained close to unity in plasma, but exceeded unity in the liver and brain when alpha,alpha-[2H2]T and T were injected; however, when beta,beta-[2H2]T and T were injected, the ratios were unity in all cases at all times. In the presence of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, the relative enrichment of alpha,alpha-[2H2]T compared to T was reduced. It is concluded that alpha,alpha-dideutero substitution exerts a primary isotope effect during oxidative deamination so that much more of this amine penetrates into, and persists in, the brain.

Relative bioavailability of metaproterenol in humans utilizing a single dose, stable isotope approach

The relative bioavailability of metaproterenol (3,5-dihydroxy-alpha-[(isopropylamino)methyl]benzyl alcohol) following a single dose (10-mg metaproterenol sulfate tablet) was studied in six normal male volunteers using coadministration of a solution of a deuterated analogue (metaproterenol-d7 sulfate). The bioavailability of the tablet formulation relative to that of the oral solution was 92 +/- 9%, with excellent power at the 5% significance level. Comparison of the coadministration of the labeled and unlabeled metaproterenol sulfate solutions in two subjects after a one-week washout demonstrated the absence of an isotope effect on either absorption or elimination. A GC-MS assay for metaproterenol was developed to measure plasma concentrations resulting from oral administration. The assay was linear over the range of 0.5-8 ng/mL, corresponding to typical plasma metaproterenol concentrations obtained after a single 10-mg oral dose. Accuracy and precision data were obtained at metaproterenol concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 ng/mL plasma to demonstrate the applicability of the assay for bioavailability studies. Following oral administration, metaproterenol showed peak plasma concentrations of 2.2 to 13 ng/mL at 0.75 to 3.0 h, with a terminal harmonic mean half-life of 2.1 h over the plasma concentration range studied. The renal clearance of 133-158 mL/min for metaproterenol slightly exceeds the glomerular filtration rate in humans.