Determination of the microscopic equilibrium dissociation constants for risedronate and its analogues reveals two distinct roles for the nitrogen atom in nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs

Fluorescent Bisphosphonate and Carboxyphosphonate Probes: A Versatile Imaging Toolkit for Applications in Bone Biology and Biomedicine

A bone imaging toolkit of 21 fluorescent probes with variable spectroscopic properties, bone mineral binding affinities, and antiprenylation activities has been created, including a novel linking strategy. The linking chemistry allows attachment of a diverse selection of dyes fluorescent in the visible to near-infrared range to any of the three clinically important heterocyclic bisphosphonate bone drugs (risedronate, zoledronate, and minodronate or their analogues). The resultant suite of conjugates offers multiple options to "mix and match" parent drug structure, fluorescence emission wavelength, relative bone affinity, and presence or absence of antiprenylation activity, for bone-related imaging applications.

The inhibition of human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates. Elucidating the role of active site threonine 201 and tyrosine 204 residues using enzyme mutants

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS) is the major molecular target of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs), used clinically as bone resorption inhibitors. We investigated the role of threonine 201 (Thr201) and tyrosine 204 (Tyr204) residues in substrate binding, catalysis and inhibition by N-BPs, employing kinetic and crystallographic studies of mutated FPPS proteins. Mutants of Thr201 illustrated the importance of the methyl group in aiding the formation of the Isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) binding site, while Tyr204 mutations revealed the unknown role of this residue in both catalysis and IPP binding. The interaction between Thr201 and the side chain nitrogen of N-BP was shown to be important for tight binding inhibition by zoledronate (ZOL) and risedronate (RIS), although RIS was also still capable of interacting with the main-chain carbonyl of Lys200. The interaction of RIS with the phenyl ring of Tyr204 proved essential for the maintenance of the isomerized enzyme-inhibitor complex. Studies with conformationally restricted analogues of RIS reaffirmed the importance of Thr201 in the formation of hydrogen bonds with N-BPs. In conclusion we have identified new features of FPPS inhibition by N-BPs and revealed unknown roles of the active site residues in catalysis and substrate binding.

Mechanistic insights into protonation state as a critical factor in hFPPS enzyme inhibition

Zoledronate and risedronate are the most powerful available nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates used in the treatment of bone-resorption disorders. Knowledge about inhibition mechanisms of these molecules is based on available crystallographic structures of human farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (hFPPS). However, there is a lack of information explaining the inhibition potency of these two molecules compared to the natural substrate, dimethylallyl pyrophosphate. We carried out a molecular dynamics study that shown: (1) that NBPs potency is related to higher electrostatic interactions with the metallic cluster of the active site than to the natural substrate, and (2) the protonation of the R2 side chain is a critical factor to stabilize the NBPs into a closely irreversible ternary complex with the hFPPS.

In vitro studies in a myelogenous leukemia cell line suggest an organized binding of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase inhibitors

A small set of isoprenoid bisphosphonates ethers has been tested in the K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cell line to determine their impact on isoprenoid biosynthesis. Five of these compounds inhibit geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGDPS) with IC50 values below 1 μM in enzyme assays, but in cells their apparent activity is more varied. In particular, the isomeric C-geranyl-O-prenyl and C-prenyl-O-geranyl bisphosphonates are quite different in their activity with the former consistently demonstrating greater impairment of geranylgeranylation in cells but the latter showing greater impact in the enzyme assays with GGDPS. Together, these findings suggest an organized binding of these inhibitors in the two hydrophobic channels of the geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase enzyme.

Synthesis of isoprenoid bisphosphonate ethers through C-P bond formations: Potential inhibitors of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase

A set of bisphosphonate ethers has been prepared through sequential phosphonylation and alkylation of monophosphonate ethers. After formation of the corresponding phosphonic acid salts, these compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit the enzyme geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGDPS). Five of the new compounds show IC50 values of less than 1 μM against GGDPS with little to no activity against the related enzyme farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS). The most active compound displayed an IC50 value of 82 nM when assayed with GGDPS, and no activity against FDPS even at a 10 μM concentration.

Ionic complex of risedronate with positively charged deoxycholic acid derivative: evaluation of physicochemical properties and enhancement of intestinal absorption in rats

Risedronate is widely used clinically to treat osteoporosis, Paget's disease, hypercalcemia, bone metastasis, and multiple myeloma. However, its oral efficacy is restricted due to its low bioavailability and severe gastrointestinal adverse effects. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of deoxycholic acid derivatives on the permeability and oral bioavailability of risedronate by increasing its lipophilicity and affinity to bile transporters. We synthesized two bile acid derivatives, N(α)-deoxycholyl-L-lysyl-methylester (DCK) and N(α)-deoxycholyl-L-lysyl-hydroxide (HDCK) as oral absorption enhancers. After ionic complex formation with the bile acid derivatives, the complexes were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction. Their artificial membrane permeabilities and bioavailabilities in rats were investigated in comparison with pure risedronate. Complex formation with DCK or HDCK demonstrated that risedronate existed in an amorphous form in the complex. A physical complex of risedronate with DCK enhanced the apparent membrane permeability of risedronate significantly but pure risedronate was not permeable. An in vivo study revealed that the C max and AUClast of risedronate/DCK (1:2) complex were 1.92- and 2.64-fold higher than those of pure risedronate, respectively. Thus, the risedronate/DCK complex can improve the oral absorption of risedronate and patient compliance by reducing dose frequency and adverse reactions.

Farnesyl diphosphate synthase, the target for nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate drugs, is a peroxisomal enzyme in the model system Dictyostelium discoideum

NBP (nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate) drugs protect against excessive osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. After binding to bone mineral, they are taken up selectively by the osteoclasts and inhibit the essential enzyme FDPS (farnesyl diphosphate synthase). NBPs inhibit also growth of amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum in which their target is again FDPS. A fusion protein between FDPS and GFP (green fluorescent protein) was found, in D. discoideum, to localize to peroxisomes and to confer resistance to the NBP alendronate. GFP was also directed to peroxisomes by a fragment of FDPS comprising amino acids 1–22. This contains a sequence of nine amino acids that closely resembles the nonapeptide PTS2 (peroxisomal targeting signal type 2): there is only a single amino acid mismatch between the two sequences. Mutation analysis confirmed that the atypical PTS2 directs FDPS into peroxisomes. Furthermore, expression of the D. discoideum FDPS–GFP fusion protein in strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in peroxisomal protein import demonstrated that import of FDPS into peroxisomes was blocked in a strain lacking the PTS2-dependent import pathway. The peroxisomal location of FDPS in D. discoideum indicates that NBPs have to cross the peroxisomal membrane before they can bind to their target.

Thermodynamic dissociation constants of risedronate using spectrophotometric and potentiometric pH-titration

Risedronate inhibits bone resorption in diseases like osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, tumor bone diseases or the malfunction of phosphocalcium metabolism. The acid-base properties of risedronate in an aqueous solution have been studied in a pH range from 2 to 12 and can be described in terms of four dissociation steps: pK a,2, pK a,4, pK a,5 (related to the dissociation of POH groups) and pK a,3 related to the dissociation of protonated amino group NH3+. The mixed dissociation constants were determined at different ionic strengths I = 0.02 to 0.20 mol dm−3 KCl and of 25°C and 37°C using pH-spectrophotometric and pH-potentiometric titration methods. Determination of group parameters L 0, H T might lead to false estimates of common parameters p K a;therefore, the computational strategy employed is important. A comparison between the two programs ESAB and HYPERQUAD demonstrated that the ESAB program provides a better fit of potentiometric titration curve. The thermodynamic dissociation constants pK aT were estimated by a nonlinear regression of (pK a, I) data and a Debye-Hückel equation at 25°C and 37°C, pK a,2T = 2.37(1) and 2.44(1), pK a,3T = 6.29(3) and 6.26(1), pK a,4T = 7.48(1) and 7.46(2) and pK a,5T = 9.31(7) and 8.70(3) at 25°C and 37°C using pH-spectroscopic data and pK a,2T = 2.48(3) and 2.43(1), pK a,3T= 6.12(2) and 6.10(2), pK a,4T = 7.25(2) and 7.23(1) and pK a,5T = 12.04(5) and 11.81(2) at 25°C and 37°C. The ascertained estimates of three dissociation constants pK a,3, pK a,4, pK a,5 are in agreement with the predicted values obtained using PALLAS