Biochemical and biological properties of methotrexate analogs containing D-glutamic acid or D-erythro, threo-4-fluoroglutamic acid

Bacterial defluorination of 4-fluoroglutamic acid

Fluorinated amino acids are used as enzyme inhibitors, mechanistic probes and in the production of pharmacologically active peptides. Because enantiomerically pure 4-fluoroglutamate is difficult to prepare, the selective degradation of the L-isomer is a potentially convenient method of obtaining D-4-fluoroglutamate from the racemate. In this paper, we describe our investigations on the degradation of 4-fluoroglutamate by bacteria. Fluoride ion was detected in resting-cell cultures of a number of bacteria that were incubated with racemic 4-fluoroglutamate. Analysis of the culture supernatants by chiral gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that only the L-isomer was degraded. The degradation of 4-fluoroglutamate was also examined in cell-free extracts of Streptomyces cattleya and Proteus mirabilis, and it was observed that equimolar concentrations of fluoride ion and ammonia were generated. The activity was located in the soluble fraction of cell extracts, thus is not related to the L-2-amino-4-chloro-4-pentenoic acid dehydrochlorinase previously identified in membrane fractions of P. mirabilis.

Further studies on the interaction of nonpolyglutamatable aminopterin analogs with dihydrofolate reductase and the reduced folate carrier as determinants of in vitro antitumor activity

Thirteen structural analogs of the potent nonpolyglutamatable dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor N(alpha)-(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)-N(delta)-hemiphthaloyl-L-ornithine (PT523) with modifications in the side chain, the para-aminobenzoyl moiety, or the 9,10-bridge were evaluated for the ability to inhibit human recombinant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), to utilize the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for influx, and to inhibit the growth of CCRF-CEM human leukemia cells in culture. In spectrophotometric assays of the kinetics of the reduction of dihydrofolate by DHFR in the presence of NADPH, these compounds had K(i) values ranging from 0.2 to 1.3pM, and thus were not greatly different in potency from the parent drug PT523. By comparison, the K(i) values of aminopterin (AMT), methotrexate (MTX), and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin (EDX) were 3.7, 4.8, and 11pM. In assays of competitive inhibition of [3H]MTX influx into CCRF-CEM cells, the K(i) values ranged from 0.21 to 7.3 micro M, as compared with 0.71, 5.4, and 1.1 micro M for PT523, AMT, and EDX. The K(t) for MTX was also re-analyzed and found to be 4.7 micro M, in better agreement with the literature than our previously reported value of 7.1 micro M. The IC(50) values of these compounds as inhibitors of the growth of CCRF-CEM cells after 72hr of drug exposure ranged from 0.53 to 55nM, and were qualitatively consistent with the other results.

Biological properties of fluoroglutamate-containing analogs of folates and methotrexate with altered capacities to form poly (gamma-glutamate) metabolites

Fluoroglutamate-containing analogs of folates and methotrexate (MTX) with altered capacities for poly (gamma-glutamate) metabolism were synthesized to probe the biological roles of polyglutamates. Compared to folic acid, DL-e,t-gamma-fluorofolic acid, a compound that is a poor substrate for polyglutamylation, was approximately 25-fold less potent in promoting growth of folate-depleted H35 rat hepatoma cells. DL-beta,beta-Difluorofolic acid, a compound that forms diglutamates more readily than does folic acid, was at least equivalent to folic acid in potency. Leucovorin (LV), a reduced folate, was 30-fold more potent than folic acid in promoting growth, whereas the analogous form of DL-e,t-gamma-fluorofolate, DL-e,t-gamma-fluoroleucovorin (DL-e,t-gamma-FLV) was only 4-fold more potent than folic acid. Both LV and DL-e,t-gamma-FLV protected or "rescued" cells from the growth inhibitory effects of MTX; however a 37- to 46-fold higher concentration of the fluoro analog was required. Folic acid, DL-e,t-gamma-fluorofolic acid, LV, and DL-e,t-gamma-FLV each potentiated the growth inhibitory effect of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine on CCRF-CEM human leukemia cells; higher concentrations of fluorinated analogs again were required. Stereochemically pure L-t-gamma-fluoromethotrexate (L-t-gamma-FMTX), a poor substrate for polyglutamylation, was evaluated as a cell growth inhibitor. In continuous exposure, L-t-gamma-FMTX), was 7-fold less potent than MTX as an inhibitor of CCRF-CEM growth. Results with these fluorinated folate and MTX analogs offer insight into the importance of polyglutamate metabolism to these biological and pharmacological effects.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of DL-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid and DL-gamma,gamma-difluoromethotrexate

DL-4,4-Difluoroglutamic acid (DL-4,4-F2Glu) and its methotrexate analogue, DL-gamma,gamma-difluoromethotrexate (DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX), were synthesized and evaluated as alternate substrates or inhibitors of folate-dependent enzymes. Synthesis of DL-4,4-F2Glu involved the nitroaldol reaction of ethyl nitroacetate with a difluorinated aldehyde ethyl hemiacetal as a key step. Attempted ligation of DL-4,4-F2Glu to methotrexate (MTX), catalyzed by human folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase (FPGS), revealed that DL-4,4-F2Glu is a poor alternate substrate. DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX was synthesized by a route proceeding through N-[4-(methylamino)benzoyl]-4,4-difluoroglutamic acid di-tert-butyl ester followed by alkylation with 6-(bromomethyl)-2,4-pteridinediamine hydrobromide. DL-gamma,gamma-F2MTX was found to be neither a substrate nor an inhibitor of human FPGS. The fluorinated analogue of MTX, however, inhibits DHFR and cell growth with the same potency as MTX.

Synthesis and biological activity of folic acid and methotrexate analogues containing L-threo-(2S,4S)-4-fluoroglutamic acid and DL-3,3-difluoroglutamic acid

The stereospecific syntheses of L-threo-gamma-fluoromethotrexate (1t) and L-threo-gamma-fluorofolic acid (3t) are reported. Compounds 1t and 3t have no substrate activity with folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase isolated from CCRF-CEM human leukemia cells, and compound 1t inhibits human dihydrofolate reductase at similar levels as methotrexate. The synthesis of DL-3,3-difluoroglutamic acid (6) and its incorporation into DL-beta,beta-difluorofolic acid (4) are also reported. Compound 4 acts as a better substrate for human CCRF-CEM folylpoly-gamma-glutamate synthetase than folic acid (V/K = ca. 7-fold greater). Thus, replacement of the glutamate moiety of methotrexate and folic acid with 4-fluoroglutamic acid and 3,3-difluoroglutamic acid results in folates and antifolates with altered polyglutamylation activity.

High-affinity rabbit antibodies directed against methotrexate: production, purification, characterization, and pharmacokinetics in the rat

We describe the production, purification, characterization, and disposition of rabbit polyclonal methotrexate antibodies. These antibodies are prepared for subsequent testing of a drug delivery approach to reduce systemic toxicity upon regional administration of methotrexate. The polyclonal antibodies were raised in New Zealand white female rabbits immunized with a methotrexate-bovine serum albumin conjugate. The anti-methotrexate antibodies were sequestered from rabbit serum through the use of a protein-G affinity column which allowed for purification of up to 100 mg of rabbit IgG in 30-40 min. The extent of purification was demonstrated through SDS-PAGE and calculation of specific binding activity relative to total protein concentration. The purified antibodies have been shown to have high affinity (Keq range: 1.8 x 10(8) to 8.75 x 10(9) M-1) and high selectivity for methotrexate. Preliminary pharmacokinetic studies of the purified antibodies in the rat following a 6 mg/kg intravenous infusion (n = 4) indicate a steady state volume of distribution of 38.0 +/- 11.2 mL kg-1, a systemic clearance of 0.92 +/- 0.67 mL kg-1 h-1 and an elimination half life of 28.9 +/- 7.9 h (mean +/- SD).