Phosphonate inhibitors of protein-tyrosine and serine/threonine phosphatases

Development of Biologically Active Compounds on the Basis of Phosphonic and Phosphinic Acid Functionalities

Phosphonic and phosphinic acids, especially α-heteroatom-substituted ones, possess unique structural and physical features which enable them to act as hydrotically stable analogs to biological phosphates in biological processes. They also act as mimetics in the transition state of the protease-induced hydrolysis of dipeptides. The first half of this review focuses on selected new synthetic methods developed by our research group for the stereoselective synthesis of α-heteroatom-substituted phosphonic and phosphinic acid derivatives, including modified nucleotide analogs and phosphinyl dipeptide isosteres. In the latter half, this review summarizes the utility of difluoromethylenephosphonic acids and phosphonic acid esters in the development of enzyme inhibitors against protein tyrosine phosphatases, sphingomyelinases, purine nucleoside phosphorylases and thrombin. The enzyme inhibitors developed were used as probes to elucidate signal transductions and the mechanisms of enzyme actions. The findings of the studies are briefly described.

Role of DOP on the alkaline phosphatase activity of size fractionated plankton in coastal waters in the NW Mediterranean Sea (Toulon Bay, France)

The particulate material was fractionated into 5 size classes (>90μ, 50-90μ, 6-50μ, 1-6μ, and <1μ). DOP was analysed as easily (DOPh, DOPpa) and less easily hydrolysable compounds (DOPox). Based on Vmax, 94% of the high affinity AP activity was due to <50μ cells and 77% to <1μ cells. 83% of the low affinity activity was due to >90μ cells. The high affinity activities were negatively correlated with DOP for the <50μ classes. These correlations came mostly from DOPox. They were more significant when NO₃+NO₂ concentrations were high, when DIP concentrations were low and when N/P ratio was >10. At lower N/P ratios, AP was more significantly correlated with DIP. The low affinity activities showed significant negative correlation with DIP and with DOP and DOPox for the >90μ class. The inhibition of AP activities by DOPox may originate from stable compounds interfering with DIP for the control of AP synthesis.

Analysis of phosphorylation-dependent protein-protein interactions of histone h3

Multiple posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of histone proteins including site-specific phosphorylation of serine and threonine residues govern the accessibility of chromatin. According to the histone code theory, PTMs recruit regulatory proteins or block their access to chromatin. Here, we report a general strategy for simultaneous analysis of both of these effects based on a SILAC MS scheme. We applied this approach for studying the biochemical role of phosphorylated S10 of histone H3. Differential pull-down experiments with H3-tails synthesized from l- and d-amino acids uncovered that histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1) and retinoblastoma-binding protein 7 (RBBP7) are part of the protein network, which interacts with the unmodified H3-tail. An additional H3-derived bait containing the nonhydrolyzable phospho-serine mimic phosphonomethylen-alanine (Pma) at S10 recruited several isoforms of the 14-3-3 family and blocked the recruitment of HAT1 and RBBP7 to the unmodified H3-tail. Our observations provide new insights into the many functions of H3S10 phosphorylation. In addition, the outlined methodology is generally applicable for studying specific binding partners of unmodified histone tails.

Discovery and structure–activity relationships of novel sulfonamides as potent PTP1B inhibitors

A series of novel sulfonamides containing a single difluoromethylene-phosphonate group were discovered to be potent inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. Structure-activity relationships around the scaffold were investigated, leading to the identification of compounds with IC50 or Ki values in the low nanomolar range. These sulfonamide-based inhibitors exhibit 100 and 30 times higher inhibitory activity than the corresponding tertiary amines and carboxamides, respectively.

Structure-based design of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B inhibitors

Using structure-based design, a new class of inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) has been identified, which incorporate the 1,2,5-thiadiazolidin-3-one-1,1-dioxide template.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases: their role in insulin action and potential as drug targets

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are the enzymes responsible for the selective dephosphorylation of tyrosine residues. PTPases function to regulate a wide array of biological responses mediated by growth factors and other stimuli by balancing the cellular level of phosphotyrosine in concert with their counterparts, protein tyrosine kinases. The important roles which PTPases play in regulating intracellular signalling and, ultimately, biological function along with the recent availability of information regarding their structural features has highlighted them as potential targets for pharmacological modulation. This is demonstrated by the increased level of activity directed towards the identification of novel small-molecule PTPase inhibitors. The rationale and potential utility of this drug discovery approach is discussed here, with particular emphasis on its application for the treatment of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

Aurintricarboxylic acid blocks in vitro and in vivo activity of YopH, an essential virulent factor of Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague

Yersinia are causative agents in human diseases ranging from gastrointestinal syndromes to Bubonic Plague. There is increasing risk of misuse of infectious agents, such as Yersinia pestis, as weapons of terror as well as instruments of warfare for mass destruction. YopH is an essential virulence factor whose protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity is required for Yersinia pathogenicity. Consequently, there is considerable interest in developing potent and selective YopH inhibitors as novel anti-plague agents. We have screened a library of 720 structurally diverse commercially available carboxylic acids and identified 26 YopH inhibitors with IC50 values below 100 mum. The most potent and specific YopH inhibitor is aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA), which exhibits a Ki value of 5 nm for YopH and displays 6-120-fold selectivity in favor of YopH against a panel of mammalian PTPs. To determine whether ATA can block the activity of YopH in a cellular context, we have examined the effect of ATA on T-cell signaling in human Jurkat cells transfected with YopH. We show that YopH severely decreases the T-cell receptor-induced cellular tyrosine phosphorylation, ERK1/2 activity, and interleukin-2 transcriptional activity. We demonstrate that ATA can effectively block the inhibitory activity of YopH and restore normal T-cell function. These results provide a proof-of-concept for the hypothesis that small molecule inhibitors that selectively target YopH may be therapeutically useful. In addition, it is expected that potent and selective YopH inhibitors, such as ATA, should be useful reagents to delineate YopH's cellular targets in plague and other pathogenic conditions caused by Yersinia infection.

Peptidic alpha-ketocarboxylic acids and sulfonamides as inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases

One common approach for designing protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) inhibitors is to incorporate a nonhydrolyzable phosphotyrosine (pTyr) mimic into a peptide substrate for PTPases. This report describes the synthesis of three such nonhydrolyzable pTyr mimics that contain alpha-ketoacid, alpha-hydroxyacid, and methylenesulfonamide functional groups in place of the phosphate. These pTyr mimics were incorporated into the peptide sequence Ac-Asp-Ala-Asp-Glu-X-Leu-NH(2), where X is the pTyr mimic, and analyzed for activity against the Yersinia PTPase and PTP1B.

3D-QSAR CoMFA and CoMSIA on protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors

3D-QSAR and molecular modeling was performed on a series of benzofuran/benzothiophene biphenyls as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) inhibitors with anti-hyperglycemic activity. Evaluation of 92 compounds served to establish the model, which was validated by evaluation of an external set of 26 compounds. The lowest energy conformer of most active compound (compound 54) obtained from simulated annealing was used as a template structure for the alignment. The best predictions were obtained with the CoMFA model from RMS fit and A log P as additional descriptor (r(2)(cv)=0.615, r(2)=0.842), and with the CoMSIA combined steric, electrostatic, and lipophilic fields (r(2)(cv)=0.597, r(2)=0.910). The 3D-QSAR model was then superimposed to the PTP 1B active site, giving direct contour maps of the different fields. Further comparison of the contour maps from the 3D-QSAR showed high level of compatibility with the active site of PTP 1B enzyme.

The difluoromethylenesulfonic acid group as a monoanionic phosphate surrogate for obtaining PTP1B inhibitors

Three peptides, 7-9, bearing sulfono(difluoromethyl)phenylalanine (F(2)Smp, 2), a nonhydrolyzable, monoanionic phosphotyrosine mimetic, were prepared and evaluated as PTP1B inhibitors. The most effective inhibitor was the nonapeptide, ELEF(F(2)Smp)MDYE-NH(2), (9) which exhibited a K(i) of 360 nM. A comparison of F(2)Smp-bearing peptides 7 [DADE(F(2)Smp)LNH(2), K(i)=3.4 microM] and 8 [EEDE(F(2)Smp)LNH(2), K(i)=0.74 microM] with their phosphono(difluoromethyl)phenylalanine (F(2)Pmp)-bearing analogues indicated that F(2)Smp is not as effective a pTyr mimetic as F(2)Pmp by 100- to 130-fold. Although F(2)Smp is not as effective as F(2)Pmp, a comparison of peptide 7 with analagous peptides bearing other monoanionic pTyr mimetics recently reported in the literature indicates that F(2)Smp is about 65-fold more effective than any other non-hydrolyzable, monanionic pTyr mimetic reported to date. To further assess the difluoromethylenesulfonic acid (DFMS) group as a monoanionic phosphate mimetic, a series of 24 nonpeptidyl biaryl compounds bearing the DFMS group were prepared using polymer-supported methodologies and screened for PTP1B inhibition. Several of these compounds were selected for further study and their IC(50)'s compared to their difluoromethylenephosphonic (DFMP) analogues. The differences in IC(50)'s between the DFMS and DFMP non-peptidyl compounds was not as great as with the F(2)Smp- and F(2)Pmp-bearing peptides. Possible reasons for this and its implication to the design of small molecule PTP1B inhibitors is discussed.

Molecular modeling of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) inhibitors

Binding modes of a series of aryloxymethylphosphonates and monoanionic biosteres of phosphate group from a series of benzylic alpha,alpha-diflluoro phosphate and its biosteres as protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP 1B) inhibitors have been identified by molecular modeling techniques. We have performed docking and molecular dynamics simulations of these inhibitors with PTP 1B enzyme. The initial conformation of the inhibitors for docking was obtained from simulated annealing technique. Solvent accessible surface area calculations suggested that active site of PTP 1B is highly hydrophobic. The results indicate that for aryloxymethylphosphonates, in addition to hydrogen bonding interactions, Tyr46, Arg47, Asp48, Val49, Glu115, Lys116, Lys120 amino acid residues of PTP 1B are responsible for governing inhibitor potency of the compounds. The sulfonate and tetrazole functional groups have been identified as effective monoanionic biosteres of phosphate group and biphenyl ring system due to its favorable interactions with Glu115, Lys116, Lys120 residues of PTP 1B found to be more suitable aromatic functionality than naphthalene ring system for benzylic alpha,alpha-diflluoro phosphate and its biosteres. The information generated from the present study should be useful in the design of more potent PTP 1B inhibitors as anti diabetic agents.

Phospho-Azatyrosine, a less effective protein-tyrosine phosphatase substrate than phosphotyrosine

Azatyrosine (AzaTyr, 4) is a natural product isolated from Streptomyces chibanesis, whose structure is characterized by a nitrogen atom in the aryl ring of a tyrosyl residue. This seemingly minor modification to the tyrosyl residue results in profound physiological effects, as AzaTyr has been shown to promote permanent reversion of ras-dependent transformed cells to the normal phenotype in culture and to inhibit chemical induction of carcinogenesis in transgenic mice bearing oncogenic human ras. The mechanisms underlying these effects are not known, however ras-pathways involve an intricate balance between both protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). The present study was undertaken to examine the general utility of AzaTyr as a structural motif for PTP inhibitor design by examining the phospho-azatyrosine (pAzaTyr)-containing peptide Ac-Asp-Ala-Asp-Glu-pAzaTyr-Leu-amide (8) in a PTP1 enzyme system. Kinetic analysis indicated that 8 binds with a Km value of 210 microM and a catalytic turnover rate, kcat of 52 s(-1). This represents a greater than 50-fold reduction in binding affinity relative to the parent phosphotyrosine-containing peptide, indicating that the aryl nitrogen adversely affects binding affinity. The much lower PTP affinity of the pAzaTyr-containing peptide reduces the potential utility of the AzaTyr pharmacophore for PTP inhibitor design. These results are discussed from the point of view that incorporation of AzaTyr residues into proteins could result in perturbation of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation,dephosphorylation cascades that control signal transduction processes, including ras-dependent pathways.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B in diabetes

A role for protein tyrosine phosphatases in the negative regulation of insulin signaling and a putative involvement in the insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes have been postulated since their discovery. The recent demonstration that mice lacking the protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP-1B) have enhanced insulin sensitivity validates this. Furthermore, when fed a high fat diet, these mice maintained insulin sensitivity and were resistant to obesity, suggesting that inhibition of PTP-1B activity could be a novel way of treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. This commentary reviews our current knowledge of PTP-1B in insulin signaling and its role in diabetes and discusses the development of potent and selective PTP-1B inhibitors.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases: structure, mechanism, and inhibitor discovery

Protein-tyrosine kinases (PTKs) and their associated signaling pathways are crucial for the regulation of numerous cell functions including growth, mitogenesis, motility, cell-cell interactions, metabolism, gene transcription, and the immune response. Since tyrosine phosphorylation is reversible and dynamic in vivo, the phosphorylation states of proteins are governed by the opposing actions of PTKs and protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). In this light, both PTKs and PTPs play equally important roles in signal transduction in eukaryotic cells, and comprehension of mechanisms behind the reversible pTyr-dependent modulation of protein function and cell physiology must necessarily encompass the characterization of PTPs as well as PTKs. In spite of the large number of PTPs identified to date and the emerging role played by PTPs in disease, a detailed understanding of the role played by PTPs in signaling pathways has been hampered by the absence of PTP-specific agents. Such PTP-specific inhibitors could potentially serve as useful tools in determining the physiological significance of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in complex cellular signal transduction pathways and may constitute valuable therapeutics in the treatment of several human diseases. The goal of this review is therefore to summarize current understandings of PTP structure and mechanism of catalysis and the relationship of these to PTP inhibitor development. The review is organized such that enzyme structure is covered first, followed by mechanisms of catalysis then PTP inhibitor development. In discussing PTP inhibitor development, nonspecific inhibitors and those obtained by screening methods are initially presented with the focus then shifting to inhibitors that utilize a more structure-based rationale.

Examination of novel non-phosphorus-containing phosphotyrosyl mimetics against protein-tyrosine phosphatase-1B and demonstration of differential affinities toward Grb2 SH2 domains

Inhibitory potencies were compared of several mono- and dicarboxy-based pTyr mimetics in Grb2 SH2 domain versus PTP1B assays. Although in both systems pTyr residues provide critical binding elements, significant differences in the manner of recognition exist between the two. This is reflected in the current study, where marked variation in relative potencies was observed between the two systems. Of particular note was the poor potency of all monocarboxy-based pTyr mimetics against PTP1B when incorporated into a hexapeptide platform. The recently reported high PTP1B inhibitory potency of similar phenylphosphate mimicking moieties displayed in small molecule, non-peptide structures, raises questions on the limitations of using peptides as platforms for pTyr mimetics in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors.

2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid is a general, competitive inhibitor of protein-tyrosine phosphatases

Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) are critically involved in regulation of signal transduction processes. Members of this class of enzymes are considered attractive therapeutic targets in several disease states, e.g. diabetes, cancer, and inflammation. However, most reported PTP inhibitors have been phosphorus-containing compounds, tight binding inhibitors, and/or inhibitors that covalently modify the enzymes. We therefore embarked on identifying a general, reversible, competitive PTP inhibitor that could be used as a common scaffold for lead optimization for specific PTPs. We here report the identification of 2-(oxalylamino)-benzoic acid (OBA) as a classical competitive inhibitor of several PTPs. X-ray crystallography of PTP1B complexed with OBA and related non-phosphate low molecular weight derivatives reveals that the binding mode of these molecules to a large extent mimics that of the natural substrate including hydrogen bonding to the PTP signature motif. In addition, binding of OBA to the active site of PTP1B creates a unique arrangement involving Asp(181), Lys(120), and Tyr(46). PTP inhibitors are essential tools in elucidating the biological function of specific PTPs and they may eventually be developed into selective drug candidates. The unique enzyme kinetic features and the low molecular weight of OBA makes it an ideal starting point for further optimization.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel class of protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors

Nonpeptidyl aryloxymethylphosphonates were prepared and evaluated as protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors. The results suggest that aryloxymethylphosphonates are effective nonhydrolyzable phosphotyrosine surrogates and provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms by which phosphate mimics inhibit phosphatase function.

Inhibition of the transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase lar by 3S-peptide-I enhances insulin receptor phosphorylation in intact cells

3S-peptide-I, a tris-sulfotyrosyl dodecapeptide that corresponds to the major autophosphorylation domain within the insulin receptor beta-subunit, selectively enhances insulin signal transduction by specifically inhibiting dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor catalyzed by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases). Because of the potential role of the transmembrane PTPase LAR in the regulation of insulin signaling, we assessed the effect of 3S-peptide-I on recombinant LAR PTPase activity and in McA-RH7777 rat hepatoma cells overexpressing full-length LAR protein (McA4B/LAR). 3S-peptide-I significantly reduced insulin receptor dephosphorylation by recombinant LAR (p < 0.001) while blocking dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor by approximately 72% in semi-permeabilized McA4B/LAR cells (p < 0.001). Increased LAR expression resulted in 40% reduction in ligand-mediated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor compared with null vector control (p < 0.001). However, treatment of intact McA4B/LAR cells with a fatty acid derivative of 3S-peptide-I (50 microM) led to an enhancement of insulin-stimulated receptor phosphorylation by 89% (p < 0.001). As a result, control and McA4B/LAR cells showed comparable steady-state levels of insulin receptor phosphorylation in the presence of insulin. These findings provide evidence that 3S-peptide-I may improve insulin responsiveness in intact cells by inhibiting LAR, an enzyme whose activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of alpha,alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid derivatives as small molecular inhibitors of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B

A series of alpha,alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acids having a hydrophobic functional group were prepared via the Stille coupling reaction from halogenated alpha,alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonates. Evaluation of inhibitory activity toward protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP 1B) revealed that the ethynyl, phenylethynyl and (E)-styryl groups on the benzene nuclei increased the inhibitory activity of alpha,alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid. Inhibitory activities significantly increased upon introducing both (E)-styryl and bis-methylsulfonamide functional groups onto the benzene nuclei of alpha,alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid.

Novel phosphate mimetics for the design of non-peptidyl inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases

Benzylic alpha,alpha-difluorosulfonates, alpha,alpha-difluorotetrazoles, and alpha,alpha-difluorocarboxylates of type 5 and 6 were synthesized and examined as potential phosphate biosteres for PTP1B inhibition. The alpha,alpha-difluorosulfonates and alpha,alpha-difluorotetrazoles were found to be more effective inhibitors than the analogous compounds bearing the fluoromalonyl group, a phosphate biostere currently being used for PTP inhibition.

Structure-based design and synthesis of small molecule protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitors

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) inhibitors are attractive as potential signal transduction-directed therapeutics which may be useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases. We have previously reported the X-ray structure of 1,1-difluoro-1-(2-naphthalenyl)methyl] phosphonic acid (4) complexed with the human the protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and its use in the design of an analogue which binds with higher affinity within the catalytic site (Burke, T. R., Jr. et al. Biochemistry 1996, 35, 15989). In the current study, new naphthyldifluoromethyl phosphonic acids were designed bearing acidic functionality intended to interact with the PTP1B Arg47, which is situated just outside the catalytic pocket. This residue has been shown previously to provide key interactions with acidic residues of phosphotyrosyl-containing peptide substrates. Consistent with trends predicted by molecular dynamics calculations, the new analogues bound with 7- to 14-fold higher affinity than the parent 4, in principal validating the design rationale.

Potent non-peptidyl inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B

The development of inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) has recently been the subject of intensive investigation due to their potential as chemotherapeutics and as tools for studying signal transduction pathways. Here we report the evaluation of a variety of small molecule, non-peptidyl inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), bearing the alpha, alpha-difluoromethylenephosphonic acid (DFMP) group, a non-hydrolyzable phosphate mimetic. A series of phenyl derivatives bearing a single DFMP group were initially surveyed. In general, these were not significantly more potent inhibitors than the parent compound, alpha, alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid, with the exception being the meta-phenyl substituted species which decreased the IC50 by approximately 17-fold relative to alpha, alpha-difluorobenzylphosphonic acid. However, certain compounds bearing two DFMP moieties were very potent inhibitors. Some of these are among the most potent small molecule inhibitors of any PTP reported to date with the best one exhibiting a Ki of 1.5 microM. The structural basis for these results are discussed. One of the bis-DFMP inhibitors was examined in detail and it was found that the fluorines were essential for potent inhibition. Inhibition was independent of pH between pH 5.5-7.2 suggesting that both the mono and dianionic forms of the individual DFMP groups bind equally well. The trends observed in the inhibitory potency of these compounds with PTP1B were very similar to the trends observed by other workers on the K(m)'s of the analogous phenylphosphate substrates with rat PTP1. This indicates that studies of non-peptidyl substrates with rat PTP1 can be used as a guide for the development of human PTP1B inhibitors.

Properties of pervanadate and permolybdate. Connexin43, phosphatase inhibition, and thiol reactivity as model systems

Pervanadate and permolybdate are irreversible protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, with IC50 values of 0.3 and 20 microM, respectively, in intact cells. Maximal inhibition was obtained within 1 min at higher concentrations of the compounds. They induced prominent changes in the phosphorylation status of the gap junction protein, connexin43. These effects were utilized as model systems to assess the stability and inactivation of the compounds. Although the concentrated stock solutions were relatively stable, the diluted compounds were unstable. The biological activity had decreased to 20-30% after 6 h of incubation in a phosphate buffer, 1 h in phosphate buffer with 10% fetal calf serum, and 1-3 minutes in culture medium. Thiols reacted rapidly with the compounds and inactivated them (initial reaction rates with cysteine: permolybdate > pervanadate > H2O2). Catalase inactivated the compounds, and permolybdate was the more sensitive. The cells inactivated permolybdate faster than pervanadate. Cellular inactivation of permolybdate, and to a lesser degree pervanadate, appeared to be partly dependent on catalase and thiols. However, a general decrease in cellular thiols was not the mediator of the biological effects of pervanadate or permolybdate. Mathematical modeling of the thiol reactivity suggested that monoperoxovanadate at maximum could possess 20% of the biological activity of diperoxovanadate.

Naphthalenebis[alpha,alpha-difluoromethylenephosphonates] as potent inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases

A series of naphthalenebis(difluoromethylenephosphonates) were prepared and compared to their monosubstituted counterparts as inhibitors of the protein phosphatases, PTP1B, CD45 and PP2A. In general, the bissubstituted compounds were better inhibitors than the mono derivatives and some of these are among the most potent, nonpeptidyl inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatases, PTP1B and CD45, reported to date.

A characterization of permolybdate and its effect on cellular tyrosine phosphorylation, gap junctional intercellular communication and phosphorylation status of the gap junction protein, connexin43

Biological and analytical characterizations of permolybdate (a mixture of H2O2 and molybdate) were done. Molybdate (10 mM) and molybdenum(V) chloride (3 mM) did not affect gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), phosphorylation status of connexin43 (Cx43) or cellular tyrosine phosphorylation in early passage hamster embryonic cells (mainly fibroblast-like). High concentrations of H2O2 (3-10 mM) affected some of the parameters. Acidified permolybdate was clearly more stable than the unadjusted permolybdate. The maximum biological potency of acidified permolybdate was found at a molar ratio of 2:1 (H2O2:molybdate). The mixtures of molybdenum(V) chloride and H2O2 gave a maximum effect at 4:1 molar ratio (H2O2:molybdenum(V)). This can be explained by decomposition of H2O2 and by the generation of less biologically active compounds. Spectrophotometric analyses of the mixtures corroborated the biological results. The Mo(V) electron spin resonance spectrum disappeared upon addition of H2O2 to Mo(V) solutions, and no spectrum appeared when H2O2 was mixed with Mo(VI). Thus, permolybdate is probably diperoxomolybdate, a Mo(VI) compound. Regardless of the parent metal salt, the H2O2/metal salt mixtures showed concentration-dependent biphasic responses with an initial decrease in GJIC followed by an increase. A dissociation between alteration in Cx43 phosphorylation status and GJIC was obtained under certain conditions. The biological activities of permolybdate were only partially mimicked by phenylarsine oxide, an alternative protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor.

Potent inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatase by phosphotyrosine-mimic containing cyclic peptides

In an effort to derive potent and bioavailable protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors, we have previously reported hexameric peptides based on the epidermal growth factor receptor sequence EGFR988-993 (Asp-Ala-Asp-Glu-Xxx-Leu, where Xxx = Tyr), in which the tyrosyl residue has been replaced by the non-hydrolyzable phosphotyrosyl mimics phosphonomethylphenylalanine (Pmp), difluorophosphonomethylphenylalanine (F2Pmp) and O-malonyltyrosine (OMT). Inhibitory potencies (IC50 values) of these peptides against the tyrosine phosphatase PTP IB were 200, 0.2 and 10 microM, respectively. Since cellular penetration of peptides containing highly charged phosphonate residues is compromised, and good bioreversible protection strategies for the F2Pmp residue have not yet been reported, the OMT residue is of particular interest in that it affords potential new prodrug approaches. In the current study we have prepared cyclized versions of the OMT-containing EGFR988-993 peptide in order to increase its proteolytic stability and restrain conformational flexibility. Three different cyclic analogues were synthesized. Two of these were cyclized through the peptide backbone ('head to tail') using in one case a single glycine spacer (heptamer peptide) and in the second instance, two glycines (octamer peptide). In a PTPI-based assay the cyclic heptamer experienced a two-fold loss of potency (Ki = 25.2 +/- 3.9 microM) relative to the linear hexamer parent (Ki = 13 +/- 0.9 microM), while the cyclic octamer demonstrated a live-fold increase in potency (Ki = 2.60 +/- 0.11 microM). The third peptide was cyclized by means of a sulfide bridge between the side chain of a C-terminally added cysteine residue and the beta-carbon of a N-terminal acetyl residue. Although the overall size of this ring was identical to that exhibited by the preceding backbone-cyclized octamer, it displayed a three-fold enhancement in potency (Ki = 0.73 +/- 0.03 microM). The structural basis for the observed results are discussed. Conformation restrictions induced by cyclization could aid in defining geometries for peptidomimetic design. Finally, it can be speculated that cyclization of other liner PTP-inhibitory peptides, such as the F2Pmp-containing hexamer, may also increase their potency.

A peptide-based protein-tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor specifically enhances insulin receptor function in intact cells

3S-peptide-I is a synthetic tris-sulfotyrosyl dodecapeptide corresponding to the major site of insulin receptor autophosphorylation that potently inhibits dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor in a cell-free system and in digitonin-permeabilized Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells overexpressing the human insulin receptors (CHO/HIRc cells) (Liotta, A. S., Kole, H. K., Fales, H. M., Roth, J., and Bernier, M. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 22996-23001). In the present study, we found that 3S-peptide-I was not capable of inhibiting dephosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in digitonin-permeabilized CHO cells that overexpress human EGF receptors (CHO/EGF-R cells). Moreover, the addition of a N-stearyl derivative of 3S-peptide-I to intact CHO/HIRc cells caused a concentration-dependent increase in insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, with a maximum effect (approximately 2.7-fold) at 50 microM. In contrast, ligand-stimulated EGF receptor phosphorylation in CHO/EGF-R cells was not affected by the presence of stearyl 3S-peptide-I. Furthermore, treatment of CHO/HIRc cells with this N-stearyl peptide led to a significant enhancement of the insulin-induced association of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity with insulin receptor substrate 1 and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase. However, stearyl 3S-peptide-I had no effect on the EGF-stimulated activation of PI-3-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase in CHO/EGF-R cells. These data indicate that this tris-sulfotyrosyl dodecapeptide selectively enhances insulin signal transduction by specifically inhibiting dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor in intact cells.