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Mishra MK, Singh VN, Ahmad K, Sharma S. Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of some novel diastereoselective monocyclic cis-β-lactams using 2-ethoxy carbonyl DCPN as a carboxylic acid activator. Mol Divers 2021; 25:2073-2087. [PMID: 32405920 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-020-10099-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel monocyclic cis-β-lactams were prepared from phenoxyacetic acid as ketene source and imines derived from 1-chloro-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-2-carbaldehyde and respective amine using ethyl 4,5-dichloro-6-oxopyridazine-1(6H)-carboxylate (or 2-ethoxy carbonyl DCPN) as a carboxylic acid activator. This is the first time 2-ethoxy carbonyl DCPN has been used as an acid activator in synthesis of β-lactams. The reaction was entirely diastereoselective leading to the formation cis-β-lactam derivatives. These newly synthesized cis-β-lactam were fully characterized by FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HRMS, CHNS and X-ray crystallography study. All this novel compound was also evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against certain strains of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. These compounds displayed moderate activity against using bacterial and fungal strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Kumar Mishra
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Patna, Ashok Raj Path, Patna, Bihar, 800005, India
| | - Vedeshwar Narayan Singh
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Patna, Ashok Raj Path, Patna, Bihar, 800005, India
| | - Khursheed Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Patna, Ashok Raj Path, Patna, Bihar, 800005, India
| | - Sitaram Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Patna, Ashok Raj Path, Patna, Bihar, 800005, India.
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2
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An efficient and eco-friendly synthesis, computational assay and antimicrobial evaluation of some novel diastereoselective monocyclic cis-β-lactams. J Mol Struct 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2020.128638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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3
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Anamthathmakula P, Winuthayanon W. Mechanism of semen liquefaction and its potential for a novel non-hormonal contraception†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:411-426. [PMID: 32529252 PMCID: PMC7523691 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Semen liquefaction is a proteolytic process where a gel-like ejaculated semen becomes watery due to the enzymatic activity of prostate-derived serine proteases in the female reproductive tract. The liquefaction process is crucial for the sperm to gain their motility and successful transport to the fertilization site in Fallopian tubes (or oviducts in animals). Hyperviscous semen or failure in liquefaction is one of the causes of male infertility. Therefore, the biochemical inhibition of serine proteases in the female reproductive tract after ejaculation is a prime target for novel contraceptive development. Herein, we will discuss protein components in the ejaculates responsible for semen liquefaction and any developments of contraceptive methods in the past that involve the liquefaction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prashanth Anamthathmakula
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Wipawee Winuthayanon
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Center for Reproductive Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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4
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Fu DJ, Zhang YF, Chang AQ, Li J. β-Lactams as promising anticancer agents: Molecular hybrids, structure activity relationships and potential targets. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 201:112510. [PMID: 32592915 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
β-Lactam, commonly referred as azetidin-2-one, is a multifunctional building block for synthesizing β-amino ketones, γ-amino alcohols, and other compounds. Besides its well known antibiotic activity, this ring system exhibits a wide range of activities, attracting the attention of researchers. However, the structurally diverse β-lactam analogues as anticancer agents and their different molecular targets are poorly discussed. The purpose of this review is 3-fold: (1) to explore the molecular hybridization approach to design β-lactams hybrids as anticancer agents; (2) the structure activity relationship of the most active anticancer β-lactams and (3) to summarize their antitumor mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Jun Fu
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun-Feng Zhang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - An-Qi Chang
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- Modern Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, People's Republic of China.
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5
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Mishra MK, Sharma S, Ahmad K, Singh VN. Stereoselective Synthesis of Novel Monocyclic cis‐β‐Lactams Bearing 1,3,4‐Thiadiazole Nucleus: Bioactive Agents and Potential Synthons. ChemistrySelect 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202000552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Kumar Mishra
- Department of ChemistryNational Institute of Technology Patna Ashok Raj Path Patna 800005 Bihar India
| | - Sitaram Sharma
- Department of ChemistryNational Institute of Technology Patna Ashok Raj Path Patna 800005 Bihar India
| | - Khursheed Ahmad
- Department of ChemistryNational Institute of Technology Patna Ashok Raj Path Patna 800005 Bihar India
| | - Vedeshwar Narayan Singh
- Department of ChemistryNational Institute of Technology Patna Ashok Raj Path Patna 800005 Bihar India
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6
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Masurier N, Arama DP, El Amri C, Lisowski V. Inhibitors of kallikrein-related peptidases: An overview. Med Res Rev 2017; 38:655-683. [DOI: 10.1002/med.21451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Masurier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS; Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques; Montpellier Cedex France
| | - Dominique P. Arama
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS; Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques; Montpellier Cedex France
| | - Chahrazade El Amri
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 8256; Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Integrated Cellular Ageing and Inflammation, Molecular & Functional Enzymology; Paris France
| | - Vincent Lisowski
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS; Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques; Montpellier Cedex France
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7
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Galla Z, Beke F, Forró E, Fülöp F. Enantioselective hydrolysis of 3,4-disubstituted β-lactams. An efficient enzymatic method for the preparation of a key Taxol side-chain intermediate. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcatb.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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8
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Kojtari A, Shah V, Babinec JS, Yang C, Ji HF. Structure-Based Drug Design of Diphenyl α-Aminoalkylphosphonates as Prostate-Specific Antigen Antagonists. J Chem Inf Model 2014; 54:2967-79. [DOI: 10.1021/ci500371c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arben Kojtari
- Department
of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Vishal Shah
- Department
of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Jacob S. Babinec
- Department
of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Catherine Yang
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Hai-Feng Ji
- Department
of Chemistry, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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9
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Sotiropoulou G, Pampalakis G. Targeting the kallikrein-related peptidases for drug development. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2012; 33:623-34. [PMID: 23089221 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2012] [Revised: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 09/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLKs) constitute a family of 15 serine proteases. Recent studies have shed light on key physiological functions of KLK enzymes and implicate their deregulation in major human pathologies such as neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases, skin conditions, asthma, and cancer. Consequently, KLKs have emerged as novel targets for pharmacological intervention. Given the pleiotropic roles of KLKs, both activators and inhibitors of KLK activities are of therapeutic interest. For example, inhibitors of hyperactive KLKs in the epidermis would be effective against excess skin desquamation and inflammation, whereas KLK activators could benefit hyperkeratosis caused by diminished KLK proteolysis. Expression of active KLKs by cancer cells and tissues can be exploited to target prodrugs that are proteolytically cleaved to release a cytotoxic compound or a cytolytic toxin at the site of KLK protease activity. Here, we review current approaches for the design and testing of KLK-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Sotiropoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Greece.
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10
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In vitro evaluation of the antielastase activity of polycyclic β-lactams. Bioorg Chem 2012; 45:29-35. [PMID: 23064125 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
A series of bi- and tricyclic β-lactam compounds was synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of cleavage of synthetic substrates in vitro by the serine proteases Human Leukocyte Elastase (HLE), Human Leukocyte Proteinase 3 (HLPR3) and Porcine Pancreatic Elastase (PPE). The obtained results have permitted us to describe a homobenzocarbacephem compound as HLE and HLPR3 inhibitor, to observe the positive effect that the styryl group exerts on the HLE inhibitory activity in polycyclic β-lactam compounds and to conclude that the hydroxyl function decreases the HLE inhibitory activity or rules it out completely.
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11
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LeBeau AM, Kostova M, Craik CS, Denmeade SR. Prostate-specific antigen: an overlooked candidate for the targeted treatment and selective imaging of prostate cancer. Biol Chem 2010; 391:333-43. [PMID: 20180648 DOI: 10.1515/bc.2010.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The role of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or kallikrein-related peptidase 3 (KLK3) as a biomarker for prostate cancer is well known; however, the precise physiological role of it's serine protease activity in prostate cancer remains a mystery. PSA is produced at high levels by both androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancers. Studies have documented high levels of active PSA in the milieu surrounding osseous and soft tissue metastases. This evidence, coupled with growing experimental evidence, suggests that PSA plays an important role in the pathobiology of prostate cancer. These observations support the development of PSA-selective inhibitors as useful tools for the targeted treatment and imaging of prostate cancer. Here, we review the research that has been conducted to date on developing selective inhibitors for PSA. The different approaches used to determine PSA substrate specificity and for creating inhibitors are discussed. In addition, the unique active site characteristics of PSA and how these motifs aided our research in developing PSA targeted agents are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M LeBeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 2131, USA.
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12
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Singh P, LeBeau AM, Lilja H, Denmeade SR, Isaacs JT. Molecular insights into substrate specificity of prostate specific antigen through structural modeling. Proteins 2010; 77:984-93. [PMID: 19705489 DOI: 10.1002/prot.22524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Prostate Specific Antigen's (PSA) role as a biomarker for prostate cancer is well established but the physiological role of its serine protease activity in the pathobiology of normal prostate and prostate carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. In light of recent studies that implicate PSA's enzymatic activity in the initiation and/or progression of prostate cancer, we performed a molecular modeling study of substrate binding at the catalytic site of PSA wherein a PSA-selective substrate (HSSKLQ) was docked in an acyl-enzyme conformation to a three-dimensional homology model of PSA. Additionally, virtual positional scanning studies were conducted to gain mechanistic insights into substrate recognition of PSA. Subsequently, 13 novel peptide substrates of 6-aa length and four peptide substrates with varying length were synthesized and assayed for PSA hydrolysis to evaluate the experimental validity of docking insights. Additionally, six novel aldehyde-containing transition state analog inhibitors were synthesized and tested for their inhibitory potencies. The experimental data on the hydrolysis rates of the newly synthesized substrates and inhibitory potencies of the aldehyde peptides agreed with the docking predictions, providing validation of the docking methodology and demonstrating its utility towards the design of substrate-mimetic inhibitors that can be used to explore PSA's role in the pathobiology of prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratap Singh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
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13
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LeBeau AM, Banerjee SR, Pomper MG, Mease RC, Denmeade SR. Optimization of peptide-based inhibitors of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as targeted imaging agents for prostate cancer. Bioorg Med Chem 2009; 17:4888-93. [PMID: 19541487 PMCID: PMC3087300 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2009.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2009] [Revised: 06/03/2009] [Accepted: 06/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease biomarker that may play a role in prostate cancer development and progression. The inhibition of PSA's enzymatic activity with small molecule inhibitors is an attractive and, as of yet, unexploited target. Previously, we reported a series of peptidyl aldehyde and boronic acid based inhibitors of PSA. In this study, the structural requirements in the P2 and P3 positions of peptide-based PSA inhibitors are explored through the substitution of a series of natural and unnatural amino acids in these positions. This analysis demonstrated a preference for hydrophobic residues in the P2 position and amino acids with the potential to hydrogen bond in the P3 position. Using this information, a peptide boronic acid inhibitor with the sequence Cbz-Ser-Ser-Gln-Nle-(boro)-Leu was identified with a K(i) for PSA of 25nM. The attachment of a bulky metal chelating group to the amino terminal of this peptide did not adversely affect PSA inhibition. This result suggests that a platform of PSA inhibitor chelates could be developed as SPECT or PET-based imaging agents for prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. LeBeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Sangeeta R. Banerjee
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Martin G. Pomper
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ronnie C. Mease
- Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Samuel R. Denmeade
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
- The Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
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14
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LeBeau AM, Singh P, Isaacs JT, Denmeade SR. Prostate-specific antigen is a "chymotrypsin-like" serine protease with unique P1 substrate specificity. Biochemistry 2009; 48:3490-6. [PMID: 19281249 PMCID: PMC3341666 DOI: 10.1021/bi9001858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a serine protease belonging to the human kallikrein family, is best known as a prostate cancer biomarker. Emerging evidence suggests that PSA may also play a salient role in prostate cancer development and progression. With large amounts of enzymatically active PSA continuously and selectively produced by all stages of prostate cancer, PSA is an attractive target. PSA inhibitors, therefore, may represent a promising class of therapeutics and/or imaging agents. PSA displays chymotrypsin-like specificity, cleaving after hydrophobic residues, in addition to possessing a unique ability to cleave after glutamine in the P1 position. In this study, we investigated the structural motifs of the PSA S1 pocket that give it a distinct architecture and specificity when compared to the S1 pocket of chymotrypsin. Using the previously described PSA substrate Ser-Ser-Lys-Leu-Gln (SSKLQ) as a template, peptide aldehyde based inhibitors containing novel P1 aldehydes were made and tested against both proteases. Glutamine derivative aldehydes were highly specific for PSA while inhibitors with hydrophobic P1 aldehydes were potent inhibitors of both proteases with K(i) values <500 nM. The crystal structure of PSA was used to generate a model that allowed GOLD docking studies to be performed to further understand the critical interactions required for inhibitor binding to the S1 pockets of PSA and chymotrypsin. In conclusion, these results provide experimental and structural evidence that the S1 specificity pocket of PSA is distinctly different from that of chymotrypsin and that the development of highly specific PSA inhibitors is feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M. LeBeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
| | - Pratap Singh
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
- The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
| | - John T. Isaacs
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
- The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
| | - Samuel R. Denmeade
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
- The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD, 21231
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15
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LeBeau AM, Singh P, Isaacs JT, Denmeade SR. Potent and selective peptidyl boronic acid inhibitors of the serine protease prostate-specific antigen. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 15:665-74. [PMID: 18635003 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2008.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2008] [Revised: 05/09/2008] [Accepted: 05/28/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer cells produce high (microgram to milligram/milliliter) levels of the serine protease Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). PSA is enzymatically active in the extracellular fluid surrounding prostate cancers but is found at 1,000- to 10,000-fold lower concentrations in the circulation, where it is inactivated due to binding to abundant serum protease inhibitors. The exclusive presence of high levels of active PSA within prostate cancer sites makes PSA an attractive candidate for targeted imaging and therapeutics. A synthetic approach based on a peptide substrate identified first peptide aldehyde and then boronic acid inhibitors of PSA. The best of these had the sequence Cbz-Ser-Ser-Lys-Leu-(boro)Leu, with a K(i) for PSA of 65 nM. The inhibitor had a 60-fold higher K(i) for chymotrypsin. A validated model of PSA's catalytic site confirmed the critical interactions between the inhibitor and residues within the PSA enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron M LeBeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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16
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Koistinen H, Wohlfahrt G, Mattsson JM, Wu P, Lahdenperä J, Stenman UH. Novel small molecule inhibitors for prostate-specific antigen. Prostate 2008; 68:1143-51. [PMID: 18500692 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prostate-specific antigen (PSA or KLK3) has been shown to inhibit angiogenesis, but it might also have tumor promoting activities. Thus, it may be possible to modulate prostate cancer growth by stimulating or inhibiting the activity of PSA. To this end we have previously identified peptides that stimulate the activity of PSA. As peptides have several limitations as drug molecules, we screened a chemical library to find drug-like compounds that could be used to modulate the function(s) of PSA. METHODS Almost 50,000 compounds were analyzed for their ability to modulate PSA activity towards a fluorescent PSA-substrate. The ability of the most active compounds to affect the anti-angiogenic activity of PSA was analyzed by human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation assay. RESULTS In the initial screening we identified two compounds that inhibited PSA activity. Based on these, similar compounds were selected and tested for activity to define structure-activity relationships. Several compounds with micromolar IC50-values were found, but they were not entirely specific towards PSA, e.g., they inhibited chymotrypsin, which has similar substrate specificity as PSA. However, it was possibly to improve the selectivity of the compounds towards PSA by small structural changes. These compounds inhibited the anti-angiogenic activity of PSA in the HUVEC model, proving that the proteolytic activity of PSA is essential for inhibition of angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS We found several PSA inhibitors that could be useful tools for studying the role of PSA in cancer models and in normal physiology as showed in angiogenesis model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannu Koistinen
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
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