1-Bromopinacolone, an active site-directed covalent inhibitor for acetylcholinesterase

Trimethyllysine Reader Proteins Exhibit Widespread Charge-Agnostic Binding via Different Mechanisms to Cationic and Neutral Ligands

In the last 40 years, cation-π interactions have become part of the lexicon of noncovalent forces that drive protein binding. Indeed, tetraalkylammoniums are universally bound by aromatic cages in proteins, suggesting that cation-π interactions are a privileged mechanism for binding these ligands. A prominent example is the recognition of histone trimethyllysine (Kme3) by the conserved aromatic cage of reader proteins, dictating gene expression. However, two proteins have recently been suggested as possible exceptions to the conventional understanding of tetraalkylammonium recognition. To broadly interrogate the role of cation-π interactions in protein binding interactions, we report the first large-scale comparative evaluation of reader proteins for a neutral Kme3 isostere, experimental and computational mechanistic studies, and structural analysis. We find unexpected widespread binding of readers to a neutral isostere with the first examples of readers that bind the neutral isostere more tightly than Kme3. We find that no single factor dictates the charge selectivity, demonstrating the challenge of predicting such interactions. Further, readers that bind both cationic and neutral ligands differ in mechanism: binding Kme3 via cation-π interactions and the neutral isostere through the hydrophobic effect in the same aromatic cage. This discovery explains apparently contradictory results in previous studies, challenges traditional understanding of molecular recognition of tetraalkylammoniums by aromatic cages in myriad protein-ligand interactions, and establishes a new framework for selective inhibitor design by exploiting differences in charge dependence.

Multi-inhibitor prodrug constructs for simultaneous delivery of anti-inflammatory agents to mustard-induced skin injury

The molecular pathology of sulfur mustard injury is complex, with at least nine inflammation-related enzymes and receptors upregulated in the zone of the insult. A new approach wherein inhibitors of these targets have been linked by hydrolyzable bonds, either one to one or via separate preattachment to a carrier molecule, has been shown to significantly enhance the therapeutic response compared with the individual agents. This article reviews the published work of the authors in this drug development domain over the last 8 years.

CH-π hydrogen bonds in biological macromolecules

This is a sequel to the previous Perspective "The CH-π hydrogen bond in chemistry. Conformation, supramolecules, optical resolution and interactions involving carbohydrates", which featured in a PCCP themed issue on "Weak Hydrogen Bonds - Strong Effects?": Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 13873-13900. Evidence that weak hydrogen bonds play an enormously important role in chemistry and biochemistry has now accumulated to an extent that the rigid classical concept of hydrogen bonds formulated by Pauling needs to be seriously revised and extended. The concept of a more generalized hydrogen bond definition is indispensable for understanding the folding mechanisms of proteins. The CH-π hydrogen bond, a weak molecular force occurring between a soft acid CH and a soft base π-electron system, among all is one of the most important and plays a functional role in defining the conformation and stability of 3D structures as well as in many molecular recognition events. This concept is also valuable in structure-based drug design efforts. Despite their frequent occurrence in organic molecules and bio-molecules, the importance of CH-π hydrogen bonds is still largely unknown to many chemists and biochemists. Here we present a review that deals with the evidence, nature, characteristics and consequences of the CH-π hydrogen bond in biological macromolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and polysaccharides). It is hoped that the present Perspective will show the importance of CH-π hydrogen bonds and stimulate interest in the interactions of biological macromolecules, one of the most fascinating fields in bioorganic chemistry. Implication of this concept is enormous and valuable in the scientific community.

Multisite carcinogenicity and respiratory toxicity of inhaled 1-bromopropane in rats and mice

Two-year 1-bromopropane (1-BP) inhalation studies were conducted because of the potential for widespread exposure, the lack of chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity data, and the known carcinogenicity of structurally related compounds. Male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1/N mice were exposed by inhalation to 0, 62.5 (mice only), 125, 250, or 500 (rats only) ppm 1-BP for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 105 weeks. Exposure of male and female rats to 1-BP resulted in significantly increased incidences of adenomas of the large intestine and skin neoplasms. In male rats, the incidence of malignant mesothelioma of the epididymis was statistically significantly increased at 500 ppm, but the biological significance of this common lesion is unclear. Incidences of pancreatic islet adenoma in male rats were significantly increased at all concentrations relative to concurrent controls but were within the historical control range for inhalation studies. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of 1-BP in male B6C3F1 mice; however, significantly increased incidences of alveolar/bronchiolar neoplasms of the lung were present in female mice. Exposure to 1-BP also resulted in increased incidences of nonneoplastic lesions in the nose of rats and mice, the larynx of rats and male mice, the trachea of female rats and male and female mice, and the lungs of mice. Inflammatory lesions with Splendore Hoeppli (S-H) material were present primarily in the nose and skin of exposed male and female rats, indicating that 1-BP caused immunosuppression.

CH/π hydrogen bonds as evidenced in the substrate specificity of acetylcholine esterase

The crystal structure of acetylcholine esterase (AchE) in complex with various inhibitors, investigated as drugs for improvement of the cognitive ability of early stage Alzheimer's disease, has been analyzed with the use of our program CHPI. A number of CH/pi hydrogen bonds have been disclosed in the binding of the inhibitors with Torpedo californica AchE. It has been demonstrated that, in order to be effective in the binding with AchE, C-H bonds in the inhibitor need not be polarized.

Territrems: Naturally Occurring Specific Irreversible Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase

Territrem B (TRB), a fungal metabolite isolated from Aspergillus terreus, potently and noncompetitively inhibited Electrophorus acetylcholinesterase (AChE EC 3.1.1.7), but had no inhibitory effect on horse serum butyrylcholinesterase (BtChE EC 3.1.1.8). The TRB-treated AChE did not recover its enzyme activity after either dialysis or dilution of the inhibited enzyme. The binding of [(14)C]TRB to AChE, but not to BtChE, was demonstrated. The concentrations of territrems required for 50% inhibition of AChE were: TRA 2.4 x 10(-8) M; TRB 1.9 x 10(-8) M; TRC 1.5 x 10(-8) M; TRA' 9.8 x 10(-8) M; TRB' 9.2 x 10(-8) M. Copyright 1996 S. Karger AG, Basel

Active-site peptides of acetylcholinesterase of Electrophorus electricus: labelling of His-440 by 1-bromo-[2-14C]pinacolone and Ser-200 by tritiated diisopropyl fluorophosphate

To characterize the structure of the active site of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from the electric organ of E. electricus, we identified sites of incorporation of two active-site affinity labels, [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate ([3H]DFP), and 1-bromo-2-[14C]pinacolone ([14C]BrPin). AChE was isolated, purified, inactivated and digested with trypsin, and peptides containing 3H or 14C were purified by reverse-phase HPLC and characterized by N-terminal sequence analysis. [3H]DFP, labelling Ser-200, was found in a single peptide, QVTIFGESAGAASVGMHLLSPDSR, 83% identical with the sequence from Thr-193 to Arg-216 deduced for AChE of T. californica, with Gln, Ala, Leu, and Asp in place of Thr-193, Gly-203, Ile-210 and Gly-214, respectively, and 87% identical with that from bovine and human brain AChEs. Inactivation by [14C]BrPin led to two radioactive peptides. One, ASNLVWPEWMGVIHGYEIEFVFGLPLEK, was 96% identical with that extending from Ala-427 to Lys-454 of T. californica. Release of 14C in cycle 14 established reaction of [14C]BrPin with active-site His-440, protected by 5-trimethylammonio-2-pentanone (TAP). The other peptide, LLXVTENIDDAER, 77% homologous with that of T. californica extending from Leu-531 to Arg-543, had label associated with the third cycle, not protected by TAP, corresponding to Asn-533. The slow inactivation of eel AChE by reaction of [14C]BrPin at His-440 contrasts with that of AChE from T. nobiliana, where it reacts rapidly with a free cysteine, Cys-231, not present in eel AChE. For both AChEs, inactivation by BrPin prevents subsequent reaction with [3H]DFP, and prior inactivation by DFP does not prevent reactions with [14C]BrPin.

General occurrence of binding to acetylcholinesterase-substrate complex in noncompetitive inhibition and in inhibition by substrate

To assess the relative importance of binding to enzyme-substrate complex (E.S) and to acetylenzyme (EA), noncompetitive inhibition has been studied in hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase (AcChE) of cationic and uncharged substrates - acetylcholine (AcCh), 3,3-dimethylbutyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, 2-(methylammonio)ethyl acetate, 2- (N,N-diethyl-N-n-butylammonio)ethyl acetate (DEBAAc) and 2-(methylsulfonyl)ethyl acetate. For the N-trimethyl quaternary ions related to AcCh, tetramethylammonium ion, choline and choline ethyl ether, noncompetitive inhibition (Ki(nonc) is more favorable with the slower substrates than with AcCh, i.e., when E.S greater than EA, and is attributed to formation of enzyme-substrate-inhibitor complexes, E.S.I'. Noncompetitive inhibition by tetraethyl-, tert-butyl- and isopropylammonium ions, and acetamidocholine and its lower dimethyl analogue, is also attributed to E.S.I' complexes. Peripheral binding of these inhibitors decreases acylation more than deacylation. Some tertiary dimethylamonio ions have more favorable Ki(nonc) values with AcCh, decreasing deacylation more than acylation. The substrate DEBAAc is a more effective noncompetitive than competitive inhibitor in hydrolysis of AcCh, indicating that it binds more strongly in a peripheral site than in the active site of the free enzyme. In its hydrolysis by AcChE, it acts as its own noncompetitive inhibitor, by this non-productive binding. Formation of E.S.I' complexes is a general characteristic of hydrolysis by AcChE and decrease in rates at high concentrations of AcCh and related substrates is attributed to peripheral regulatory site binding, formation of E.S.S' complexes, rather than to binding to the acetylenzyme.

Ligand exclusion on acetylcholinesterase

This paper examines covalent reactivity of AchE with respect to cationic and uncharged methylphosphonates and substrates in the absence and presence of cationic ligands selective for the active center and the peripheral anionic site. The organophosphorus inhibitors are enantiomeric alkyl methylphosphonothioates (1-5) containing cycloheptyl and isopropyl phosphono ester groups and S-methyl, S-n-pentyl, and S-[beta-(trimethylammonio)ethyl] leaving groups; these agents differ in their configuration about phosphorus and their steric, hydrophobic, and electrostatic characteristics. The synthetic substrates examined are acetylthiocholine, p-nitrophenyl acetate, and 7-acetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (7AMC). Antagonism of the methylphosphonothioate reaction by cationic ligands is strongly dependent on the nature of both the cation and the methylphosphonate but independent of the configuration about phosphorus. While all cations cause linear mixed inhibition of acetylthiocholine hydrolysis, there are observed a variety of inhibition patterns of 7AMC and p-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis that are distinctly nonlinear, as well as patterns in which the reciprocal plots intersect in the upper right quadrant. Strong antagonism of cationic (methylphosphonyl)thiocholines correlates very well with linear inhibition of acetylthiocholine. Ligands that cause only negligible antagonism of the uncharged methylphosphonates display nonlinear inhibition of uncharged substrates. These relationships, since they are most pronounced for peripheral site ligands and are strongly dependent on the charge carried by the reactant, suggest that the peripheral anionic site alters enzyme reactivity through an electrostatic interaction with the net negative active center. Such behavior indicates a potential role for the peripheral anionic site in conserving AchE catalytic efficiency within a narrow range of values.

Reactions of 1-bromo-2-[14C]pinacolone with acetylcholinesterase from Torpedo nobiliana. Effects of 5-trimethylammonio-2-pentanone and diisopropyl fluorophosphate

1-Bromo-2-[14C]pinacolone, (CH3)3C14COCH2Br [( 14C]BrPin), was prepared from [1-14C]acetyl chloride and tert-butylmagnesium chloride with cuprous chloride catalyst, followed by bromination. It was examined as an active-site directed label for acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) (AcChE). AcChE, isolated from Torpedo nobiliana, has k(cat) = (4.00 +/- 0.04).10(3) s-1, Km = 0.055 +/- 0.008 mM in hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine, and k(cat) = (5.6 +/- 0.2).10(3) s-1, Km = 0.051 +/- 0.003 mM in hydrolysis of acetylcholine. BrPin, binding in the trimethyl cavity, acts initially as a reversible competitive inhibitor, Ki = 0.20 +/- 0.09 mM, and, with time, as an irreversible covalently bound inactivator. Introduction of 14C from [14C]BrPin into Torpedo AcChE at pH 7.0 was followed by SDS-PAGE, autoradiography and scintillation counting, in the absence and presence of 5-trimethylammonio-2-pentanone (TAP), a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 0.075 +/- 0.001 mM) isosteric with acetylcholine; 1.8-1.9 14C was incorporated per inactivated enzyme unit at 50% inactivation. TAP retarded inactivation by [14C]BrPin, and prevented introduction of 0.9-1.1 14C per unit of enzyme protected. Prior inactivation of AcChE by BrPin prevents reaction with [3H]diisopropyl fluorophosphate [( 3H]DFP). Prior inactivation by DFP or [3H]DFP does not prevent reaction with [14C]BrPin, and this subsequent reaction with BrPin does not displace the [3H] moiety. [14C]BrPin alkylates a nucleophile in the active site, and this reaction does not alkylate or utilize the serine-hydroxyl.