2,3-Dihydro-1H-imidazo(1,2-b)pyrazole: a new inhibitor of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis

New tricks of well-known aminoazoles in isocyanide-based multicomponent reactions and antibacterial activity of the compounds synthesized

The well-known aminoazoles, 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole and 5-amino-N-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides, were studied as an amine component in Ugi and Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé multicomponent reactions. The first example of an application of aminoazoles in an Ugi four-component reaction was discovered and novel features of a Groebke-Blackburn-Bienaymé cyclocondensation are established and discussed. The heterocycles obtained were evaluated for their antibacterial activity and several of them demonstrated a weak antimicrobial effect, but for most of the compounds a 30-50% increase in biomass of Gram-positive strains (mainly B. subtilis) compared to control was observed.

Facile synthesis of 1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles via a sequential one-pot synthetic approach

5-Aminopyrazole-4-carbonitrile and ethyl 5-aminopyrazole-4-carboxylate, as potential trifunctional building blocks are introduced in a facile, chemo- and regioselective multicomponent assembly of imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazoles via the Groebke–Blackburn–Bienaymé reaction (GBB reaction). Besides the synthetic elaboration of a green-compatible isocyanide-based access in three-component mode, we describe an operationally simple, one-pot two-step GBB protocol for the rapid construction of a 46 membered imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole library with yields up to 83%.

Fused Imidazopyrazoles: Synthetic Strategies and Medicinal Applications

The current review summarizes the known synthetic routes of fused imidazopyrazoles. This review is classified into two main categories based on the type of annulations, for example, annulation of the imidazole ring onto a pyrazole scaffold or annulation of the pyrazole ring onto an imidazole scaffold. Some medicinal applications of imidazopyrazoles are mentioned.

Biochemical modulation of cytosine arabinoside

1-beta-D arabinofuranosylcytosine (ara-C) is an analog of the naturally occurring nucleoside 2'-deoxycytidine which is a potent antileukemic agent in man. Because the metabolism (and, ultimately, the effectiveness) of this agent is regulated by multiple processes involved in pyrimidine biosynthesis, attempts to improve its efficacy through biochemical modulation have been the focus of intense interest. These approaches have included combination of ara-C with inhibitors of de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis, deaminase inhibitors, nucleoside transport blockers, nucleosides, and more recently, hematopoietic growth factors. Although potentiation of ara-C metabolism and cytotoxicity has been documented in multiple experimental in vitro and in vivo experimental systems, clinical studies in humans have thus far failed to document definitive improvements in ara-C selectivity and efficacy through biochemical modulation. It is likely that such improvements will require the identification of more optimal schedules, sequences and dose relationships, and possibly combined modality approaches.

Effects of nucleotide pool imbalances on the excision repair of ultraviolet-induced damage in the DNA of human diploid fibroblasts

Recent studies in our laboratory and others have demonstrated that DNA polymerase inhibitors such as the ara nucleosides, aphicolin and dideoxythymidine are potent inhibitors of the DNA excision repair process in confluent human fibroblasts as evidenced by the agent-dependent accumulation of single-strand interruptions in the DNA of UV-irradiated, but not in unirradiated, cellular DNA. In rapidly cycling cells, on the other hand, these agents are weak inhibitors at best but when used in combination with the ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor, hydroxyurea, a significant enhancement of inhibitory capacity is seen. In an attempt to better understand the mechanism of repair inhibition by DNA polymerase inhibitors, and the nature of this hydroxyurea enhancement, experiments were initiated in which the effects of a series of ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors on dNTP pools and on the DNA repair process were determined in both quiescent cultures and log-phase cultures of human fibroblasts. It was determined that hydroxyurea, deoxyadenosine, pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (TSC), pyrozoloimidazole (IMPY), 3,5-diamino-1,2,4-triazole (guanazole), 3,4,5-trihydroxy benzohydroxamic acid (THBA) and 3,4-dihydroxy benzohydroxamic acid (DHBA) are all effective inhibitors of the DNA repair process in confluent cells but not in log-phase cells. Moreover, the effects of these inhibitors can be reversed by the addition of certain combinations of deoxynucleosides. These reversal studies and the direct analysis of dNTP pool modulation by these compounds in log phase and confluent cultures support the notion that specific pool depletions rather than general imbalance of pools gives rise to the inhibition of the DNA excision repair process.

Inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase alter DNA repair in human fibroblasts through specific depletion of purine deoxynucleotide triphosphates

Hydroxyurea, deoxyadenosine, pyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone, pyrazoloimidazole, 3,5-diamino-1,2,4 triazole (guanazole), 3,4,5-trihydroxy benzohydroxamic acid and 3,4-dihydroxy benzohydroxamic acid were examined for their effects on cellular dNTP pools, DNA excision repair, DNA replication and deoxynucleoside uptake in human diploid fibroblasts. All 7 agents were effective inhibitors of the UV excision repair process in noncycling quiescent cells, but not in rapidly dividing log-phase cells. This differential effect clearly demonstrates dependency upon modulation of cellular purine dNTP pool levels at the level of the reductase. Repair synthesis is shown to be less sensitive to all 7 reductase inhibitors than is replicative synthesis. Studies on cellular uptake of labeled DNA precursors in inhibitor-treated cells support the notion that deoxynucleosides cannot channel into the replicative synthesis process whereas they are readily utilized at repairing sites.

GC analysis of imidazopyrazole in plasma using nitrogen-specific detection

A sensitive, specific GC assay for imidazopyrazole in plasma was developed using nitrogen-specific detection. The samples are extracted with methylene chloride containing 7-bromo-imidazopyrazole as the internal standard and the extract derivatized with pentaflourobenzoyl chloride prior to isothermal chromatography on an OV-17 column. Peak-height ratio measurements produced linear standard curves over the concentration range of 0.045-40 microgram/ml. The practical limit of sensitivity was 50 ng/ml and typical between-run variability for replicate analysis of a control specimen produced a coefficient of variation of 5.1%. This method is applicable to the study of the pharmacokinetics of imidazopyrazole following therapeutic doses and was used to support such studies in parallel with Phase I clinical studies in children.

Studies on the clinical pharmacokinetics of imidazopyrazole

Plasma decay kinetics were analyzed for seven patients (400-5700 mg) during a Phase I clinical trial of imidazopyrazole. A two-compartment open pharmacokinetic model was able to account for the data. The median alpha-phase half-life was found to be 0.65 hour, with a median beta-phase half-life of 23.1 hours. Twelve per cent of the administered drug was excreted unchanged in 72 hours, whereas the total amount of imidazopyrazole equivalents excreted in that period was 38.6%. The median plasma equivalent space was found to be 15.9 l./m2, and volume of distribution at steady state was 40.2 l./m2. Renal and plasma clearance for imidazopyrazole was found to be 0.2 and 1.7 l./m2/hr, respectively.

Some biochemical properties of Chinese hamster cells sensitive and resistant to actinomycin D

A graded series of drug-resistant Chinese hamster sublines has been examined for biochemical changes accompanying resistance to actinomycin D. The most highly resistant subline, DC-3F/AD X, is maintained at 10 microg/ml of the antibiotic. It was shown that over 250 times more actinomycin D is required to inhibit RNA synthesis in this subline than in the parental DC-3F line. The DC-3F/AD X subline was also shown to have a somewhat reduced capacity to transport uridine as compared to parental cells. Sensitive cells took up over 50 times more tritiated antibiotic than the most resistant cells, as determined in a 1-h assay. Uptake of actinomycin D was shown to be temperature-dependent in both resistant and sensitive cells and was not influenced by various metabolic inhibitors. Resistance could not be explained by a rapid uptake and release of the antibiotic, as demonstrated in efflux experiments, or by its metabolism. In addition, highly resistant cells which are cross-resistant to puromycin were shown to have a reduced capacity to take up labeled puromycin. These studies provide further evidence indicating that the mechanism of resistance to actinomycin D is reduced permeability to drug and suggesting that cell membrane alteration accounts for resistance to both actinomycin D and puromycin.