Synthesis of the L-arginine congener L-Indospicine and evaluation of its interaction with nitric oxide synthase

Synthesis of l-indospicine, [5,5,6-2H3]-l-indospicine and l-norindospicine

Indospicine is a non-proteogenic amino acid that accumulates as the free amino acid in livestock grazing Indigofera plant species and causes both reproductive losses and hepatotoxic effects.

N-Sulfonylbenzotriazoles as Advantageous Reagents for C-Sulfonylation

[Structure: see text]. Reactions of readily available N-(alkyl-, aryl-, and heteroarylsulfonyl)benzotriazoles 3a-h with diverse nitriles, reactive heteroaromatics, alkylheteroaromatics, sulfones, and esters produced alpha-cyanoalkyl sulfones 5a-i, sulfonylheteroaromatics 7a-e, alpha-(sulfonylalkyl)heterocycles 9a-f, alpha-sulfonylalkyl sulfones 11a-g, and esters of alpha-sulfonyl acids 14a-c, respectively, in synthetically useful to excellent yields. The results represent the first examples of the successful application of sulfonylazoles for C-sulfonylation.

L-arginine analogs as alternate substrates for nitric oxide synthase

The L-arginine analogs, N(delta)-methyl-L-arginine (deltaMA) and L-canavanine, were used to probe the role of the N delta nitrogen of L-arginine in the reaction catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). deltaMA was synthesized and found to be a partial alternate substrate and a weak, reversible inhibitor of NOS with a Ki equal to 1.4 mM. deltaMA undergoes hydroxylation; however, it is not converted further, hence it functions as a partial substrate. L-Canavanine was converted to an L-homoserine presumably via initial hydroxylation and decomposition. The mechanism of this reaction and products of this reaction were not probed further.

Synthesis of analogs of (1,4)-3- and 5-imino oxazepane, thiazepane, and diazepane as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthases

A series of 3- and 5-imino analogs from oxazepane, thiazepane, and diazepane was prepared and evaluated as inhibitors of human nitric oxide synthesis (NOS). The most potent iNOS inhibitor was the thiazepane analog 25 (IC(50) = 0.19 microM).

Alternative nitric oxide-producing substrates for NO synthases

Nitric oxide (NO) is a key inter- and intracellular molecule involved in the maintenance of vascular tone, neuronal signaling, and host response to infection. The biosynthesis of NO in mammals involves a two-step oxidation of L-arginine (L-Arg) to citrulline and NO catalyzed by a particular class of heme-thiolate proteins, called NO-synthases (NOSs). The NOSs successively catalyze the Nomega-hydroxylation of the guanidine group of L-Arg with formation of Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) and the oxidative cleavage of the CN(OH) bond of NOHA with formation of citrulline and NO. During the last decade, a great number of compounds bearing a CNH or CNOH function have been synthesized and studied as possible NO-producing substrates of recombinant NOSs. This includes derivatives of L-Arg and NOHA, N-alkyl (or aryl) guanidines, N,N'- or N,N-disubstituted guanidines, N-alkyl (or aryl) N'-hydroxyguanidines, N- (or O-) disubstituted N'-hydroxyguanidines, as well as amidoximes, ketoximes, and aldoximes. However, only those involving the NHC(NH2)=NH (or NOH) moiety have led to a significant formation of NO. All the N-monosubstituted N'-hydroxyguanidines that are well recognized by the NOS active site lead to NO with catalytic efficiences (kcat/Km) up to 50% of that of NOHA. This is the case of many N-aryl and N-alkyl N'-hydroxyguanidines, provided that the aryl or alkyl substituent is small enough to be accommodated by a NOS hydrophobic site located in close proximity of the NOS "guanidine binding site." As far as N-substituted guanidines are concerned, few compounds bearing a small alkyl group have been found to act as NO-producing substrates. The kcat value found for the best compound may reach 55% of the kcat of L-Arg oxidation. However, the best catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) that was obtained with N-(4,4,4-trifluorobutyl) guanidine is only 100-fold lower than that of L-Arg. In a general manner, NOS II is a better catalyst that NOS I and III for the oxidation of exogenous guanidines and N-hydroxyguanidines to NO. This is particularly true for guanidines as the ones acting as substrates for NOS II have been found to be almost inactive for NOS I and NOS III. Thus, a good NO-producing guanidine substrate for the two latter isozymes remains to be found.

First non-alpha-amino acid guanidines acting as efficient NO precursors upon oxidation by NO-synthase II or activated mouse macrophages

A study of the oxidation of a series of guanidines related to L-arginine (L-Arg) and of various alkyl- and arylguanidines, by recombinant NO-synthase II (NOS II), led us to the discovery of the first non-alpha-amino acid guanidine substrate of NOS, acting as an efficient NO precursor. This compound, 3-(trifluoromethyl)propylguanidine, 4, led to a rate of NO formation (k(cat) = 220 +/- 50 min(-1)) only 2 times lower than that of L-Arg. Formation of 1 mol of NO upon NOS II-catalyzed oxidation of 4 occurred with consumption of 2.9 mol of NADPH, which corresponds to a 52% coupling between electron transfer and oxygenation of its guanidine function. Its oxidation by activated mouse macrophages in an L-Arg-free medium resulted in NO(2)(-) formation that was inhibited by classical NOS inhibitors with a rate only 2-3 times lower than that observed with L-Arg itself. These results open the way toward the research of selective, stable guanidine substrates of NOS that could be interesting, new NO donors after in situ oxidation by a given NOS isoform.

N-Aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines, a new class of NO-donors after selective oxidation by nitric oxide synthases: structure-activity relationship

The formation of nitric oxide (NO) was followed during the oxidation of 37 N-hydroxyguanidines or related derivatives, including 18 new N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines, by recombinant inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II). Several N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines bearing a relatively small, electron-donating para subtituent, such as H, F, Cl, CH(3), OH, OCH(3), and NH(2), led to NO formation rates between 8 and 41% of that of NO formation from the natural NOS substrate, N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA). The characteristics of these reactions were very similar to those previously reported for the oxidation of NOHA by NOS:(i) the strict requirement of NOS containing (6R)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-L-biopterin, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, and O(2) for the oxidation to occur, (ii) the formation of NO and the corresponding urea in a 1:1 molar ratio, and (iii) a strong inhibitory effect of the classical NOS inhibitors such as N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine and S-ethyl-iso-thiourea. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that two structural factors are crucial for NO formation from compounds containing a C(triple bond)NOH function. The first one is the presence of a monosubstituted N-hydroxyguanidine function, since disubstituted N-hydroxyguanidines, amidoximes, ketoximes, and aldoximes failed to produce NO. The second one is the presence of a N-phenyl ring bearing a relatively small, not electron-withdrawing para substituent that could favorably interact with a hydrophobic cavity close to the NOS catalytic site. The k(cat) value for NOS II-catalyzed oxidation of N-para-fluorophenyl N'-hydroxyguanidine was 80% of that found for NOHA, and its k(cat)/K(m) value was only 9-fold lower than that of NOHA. Interestingly, the K(m) value found for NOS II-catalyzed oxidation of N-(3-thienyl) N'-hydroxyguanidine was 25 microM, almost identical to that of NOHA. Recombinant NOS I and NOS III also oxidize several N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines with the formation of NO, with a clearly different substrate specificity. The best substrates of the studied series for NOS I and NOS III were N-(para-hydroxyphenyl) and N-(meta-aminophenyl) N'-hydroxyguanidine, respectively. Among the studied compounds, the para-chlorophenyl and para-methylphenyl derivatives were selective substrates of NOS II. These results open the way toward a new class of selective NO donors after in situ oxidation by each NOS family.

Recognition of alpha-amino acids bearing various C=NOH functions by nitric oxide synthase and arginase involves very different structural determinants

Several alpha-amino acids bearing a C=NOH function separated from the Calpha carbon by two to five atoms have been synthesized and tested as substrates or inhibitors of recombinant nitric oxide synthases (NOS) I and II and as inhibitors of rat liver arginase (RLA). These include four N-hydroxyguanidines, N(omega)-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA) and its analogues homo-NOHA, nor-NOHA, and dinor-NOHA, two amidoximes bearing the -NH-C(CH(3))=NOH group, and two amidoximes bearing the -CH(2)-C(NH(2))=NOH group. Their behavior toward NOS and RLA was compared to that of the corresponding compounds bearing a C=NH function instead of the C=NOH function. The results obtained clearly show that efficient recognition of these alpha-amino acids by NOS and RLA involves very different structural determinants. NOS favors molecules bearing a -NH-C(R)=NH motif separated from Calpha by three or four CH(2) groups, such as arginine itself, with the necessary presence of delta-NH and omega-NH groups and a more variable R substituent. The corresponding molecules with a C=NOH function exhibit a much lower affinity for NOS. On the contrary, RLA best recognizes molecules bearing a C=NOH function separated from Calpha by three or four atoms, the highest affinity being observed in the case of three atoms. The presence of two omega-nitrogen atoms is important for efficient recognition, as in the two best RLA inhibitors, N(omega)-hydroxynorarginine and N(omega)-hydroxynorindospicine, which exhibit IC(50) values at the micromolar level. However, contrary to what was observed in the case of NOS, the presence of a delta-NH group is not important. These different structural requirements of NOS and RLA may be directly linked to the position of crucial residues that have been identified from crystallographic data in the active sites of both enzymes. Thus, binding of arginine analogues to NOS particularly relies on strong interactions of their delta-NH and omega-NH(2) groups with glutamate 371 (of NOS II), whereas binding of C=NOH molecules to RLA is mainly based on interactions of their terminal OH group with the binuclear Mn(II).Mn(II) cluster of the enzyme and on possible additional bonds between their omega-NH(2) group with histidine 141, glutamate 277, and one Mn(II) ion. The different modes of interaction displayed by both enzymes depend on their different catalytic functions and give interesting opportunities to design useful molecules to selectively regulate NOS and arginase.

Heterocyclic analogues of L-citrulline as inhibitors of the isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and identification of N(delta)-(4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)ornithine as a potent inhibitor

L-Thiocitrulline is a known potent inhibitor of several isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). To explore the structure-activity relationships (SARs) for this molecule in more depth than has previously been reported, three analogues substituted at the sulphur of the isothioureas have been synthesised. In two of these, the S-substituent was 'tied back' sterically by cyclisation to the nitrogen remote from the amino-acid unit. N(delta)-(4,5-Dihydrothiazol-2-yl)ornithine was identified as an inhibitor of rat inducible and constitutive isoforms of NOS and of a constitutive NOS derived from a human tumour xenograft. Analogous N(delta)-(thiazol-2-yl)ornithines were less active, whereas the corresponding N(delta)-(oxazol-2-yl)ornithine and N(delta)-(pyrimidin-2-yl)ornithine failed completely to inhibit NOS. A new efficient preparation of the critical synthetic intermediate, N(alpha)-Boc-thiocitrulline t-butyl ester, has been developed. Further exploration of the SAR with 2-amino-5-(heterocyclylthio)pentanoic acids (synthesised from 2-(Boc-amino)-5-bromopentanoic acid t-butyl ester), with N-(4-aminobutyl)thiourea and with 2-(4-aminobutylamino)-4,5-dihydrothiazole enabled refinement of our previous model for binding of the substrate, L-arginine, and the inhibitors to NOS.

Efficient formation of nitric oxide from selective oxidation of N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines by inducible nitric oxide synthase

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS II) efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of N-(4-chlorophenyl)N'-hydroxyguanidine 1 by NADPH and O2, with concomitant formation of the corresponding urea and NO. The characteristics of this reaction are very similar to those of the NOS-dependent oxidation of endogenous Nomega-hydroxy-L-arginine (NOHA), i.e., (i) the formation of products resulting from an oxidation of the substrate C=N(OH) bond, the corresponding urea and NO, in a 1:1 molar ratio, (ii) the absolute requirement of the tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) cofactor for NO formation, and (iii) the strong inhibitory effects of L-arginine (L-arg) and classical inhibitors of NOSs. N-Hydroxyguanidine 1 is not as good a substrate for NOS II as is NOHA (Km = 500 microM versus 15 microM for NOHA). However, it leads to relatively high rates of NO formation which are only 4-fold lower than those obtained with NOHA (Vm = 390 +/- 50 nmol NO min-1 mg protein-1, corresponding roughly to 100 turnovers min-1). Preliminary results indicate that some other N-aryl N'-hydroxyguanidines exhibit a similar behavior. These results show for the first time that simple exogenous compounds may act as NO donors after oxidative activation by NOSs. They also suggest a possible implication of NOSs in the oxidative metabolism of certain classes of xenobiotics.

Substrate specificity of NO synthases: detailed comparison of L-arginine, homo-L-arginine, their N omega-hydroxy derivatives, and N omega-hydroxynor-L-arginine

A detailed comparison of the oxidation of five compounds closely related to L-arginine (Arg) by purified recombinant neuronal and macrophage NO synthases (NOS I and NOS II) was performed. Homo-L-arginine (homo-Arg) is oxidized by both NOSs in the presence of NADPH with major formation of NO and homo-L-citrulline, with a molar ratio of close to 1, and minor formation of N omega-hydroxyhomo-L-arginine (homo-NOHA). Oxidation of homo-NOHA by the two NOSs also leads to NO and homocitrulline in a 1:1 molar ratio. On the contrary, N omega-hydroxynor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA) is a very poor substrate of NOS I and II, which fails to produce significant amounts of nitrite. The catalytic efficiency of both NOSs markedly decreases in the order Arg > NOHA > homo-Arg > homo-NOHA, as shown by the 20- and 10-fold decrease of kcat/Km observed for NOS I and NOS II, respectively, when comparing Arg to homo-NOHA. The greater loss of catalytic efficiency for homo-Arg, when compared to that for Arg, appears to occur at the first step (N-hydroxylation) of the reaction. In that regard, it is noteworthy that the Vm values for NOHA and homo-NOHA oxidation are very similar (about 1 and 2 micromol of NO min-1 mg of protein-1 for NOS I and II, respectively). In fact, lengthening of the Arg chain by one CH2 leads not only to markedly decreased kcat/Km but also to clear disturbances in NOS functioning. This is shown by a greater accumulation of the N omega-hydroxyguanidine intermediate (homo-NOHA:homocitrulline ratio between 0.2 and 0.4) and an increased consumption of NADPH for NO formation (between 2.0 and 2.6 mol of NADPH consumed for the formation of 1 mol of NO in the case of homo-Arg, instead of 1.5 mol in the case of Arg). Most of the above results could be interpreted by comparing the possible positionings of the various substrates relative to the two NOS active oxygen species which are believed to be responsible for the two steps of the reaction.