Conformations of prostaglandin F 2alpha and recognition of prostaglandins by their receptors

Synthesis of Hexahydrocyclopentimidazol-2-(1H)-one derivatives displaying selective DP-receptor agonist properties

The rationale for investigating conformationally restricted analogues of BW245C as DP-receptor ligands and the syntheses of three such racemic bicyclic imidazolidinone analogues are described. Compounds 7 (BW587C), 8 (BW480C85), and 9 (BW572C85) were found to be potent inhibitors of human platelet aggregation and selective DP-receptor agonists in washed platelet and jugular vein isolated tissue assays.

Synthesis and platelet aggregation inhibiting activity of acid side-chain modified hydantoin prostaglandin analogues

A series of hydantoin prostaglandin analogues, in which the hexamethylene moiety of the acid side chain was replaced by other spacing groups possessing either ether, sulphide and/or olefin functionality, were prepared and evaluated for platelet aggregation inhibiting activity. The 4-thia analogue 13*) proved to be the most potent inhibitor (ca. 22x PGE1) and the 3-thia- and 3-oxa-analogues, 6 and 10 respectively, are approximately equipotent with BW245C (ca. 14x PGE1). Z-olefinic analogues (e.g. 11) were usually more potent than their E-isomers (e.g. 12). Structure-activity relationships are discussed in detail.

Conformation of receptor-associated PGI2: an investigation by molecular modeling

To elucidate the conformation of receptor-associated prostacyclin (PGI2), we first performed structure-activity correlation analysis of over 200 PGI2 analogues and derived from this analysis several crucial features pertaining to structural requirements for PGI2 activity [Ah-lim Tsai and Kenneth K. Wu, Eicosanoids, 2 (1989) 131-143]. These structural features proved to be useful guidelines for selecting 'model molecules' for further investigations by molecular mechanics. By properly selecting four analogues with either rigid or uniquely oriented alpha-side chain structure for geometric fitting, we succeeded in maximally minimizing the degree of freedom of the carboxylate terminus of PGI2. We were able to define the spatial relationship among the four critical functional groups, i.e., C1-COOH, C6a-O, C11-OH and C15-OH. More information is needed, however, to define the geometry of the omega-side chain, particularly for the moiety beyond C15. Nevertheless, results from structure-activity correlation analysis and molecular modeling provide useful information regarding the conformation of receptor-associated PGI2, which assumes an 'elongated' conformation instead of the traditional 'hairpin' structure.

X-ray structure determination of mexiprostil, a new gastroprotective 16-methoxy-16-methyl-PGE1 analogue

Mexiprostil is a new gastroprotective 16-methoxy-16-methyl-PGE1 methyl ester. To assign the absolute configuration at C-15, a crystalline high-melting C-1 ester analog 5 11,15-dihydroxy-16-methoxy-16-methyl-9-oxoprost-13-en-1-oic acid 4-(4-bromobenzamide)phenyl ester (15R, 16R) was prepared and submitted to single crystal X-ray analysis. Since C-8, C-11, C-12 and C-16 are shown to have R configurations, the X-ray diffraction results established that the configuration at C-15 is also R.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against prostaglandin E2: fine specificity and neutralization of biological effects

The specificity and heterogeneity of the immune response of BALB/c mice immunized with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) coupled to thyroglobulin was studied. All the animals (n = 50) responded to PGB2, a transformation product of PGE2. However, following repeated injections most of the animals (n = 30) were also able to respond to PGE2. Cellular hybridizations were performed and five anti-PGE2 monoclonal antibodies were isolated and analysed. They are mainly directed against the ring and the omega-chain of PGE2 but their specificity toward the alpha-chain is more limited. The association constants are greater than to 1 X 10(9) M-1. The monoclonal antibody 8E.57.71 (Ka = 1.3 X 10(10) M-1) is particularly convenient for sensitive radioimmunoassays (detection limit 25pg/ml, when iodinated tracer is used). Anti-PGE2 monoclonal antibodies were found to neutralize the specific binding of [3H]PGE2 to rat brain hypothalamic receptors and to inhibit the PGE2 induction of rat fundus muscular contraction.

Biophysical studies on molecular mechanism of abortifacient action of prostaglandins. VI. Conformation energy calculation on PGE2, PGF2 alpha and 15-(s)-methyl PGF2 alpha

This paper reports the conformation energy (CE) calculations on PGE2, PGE2 alpha and 15-(s)-methyl PGE2 alpha on the basis of empirical potential energy functions for the simultaneous rotations around C7-C8 (psi), C12-C13 (theta) and C14-C15 (phi) bonds. The variation of the minimum conformation energy E for each isoenergy map in the psi theta plane with respect to phi gives two minima around 90 degrees and 240 degrees in PGE2, 60 degrees and 245 degrees in PGF2 alpha, and 60 degrees and 150 degrees in 15-(s)-methyl PGF2 alpha. The latter two forms also have a small dip at 270 degrees. The pattern of allowed low energy conformations of PGF2 alpha and 15-(s)-methyl PGF2 alpha is quite similar and is characterized by the existence of six low energy regions.

Biophysical studies on molecular mechanisms of abortifacient action of prostaglandins. V. CNDO/2 estimation of the relative affinities of the cations Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ to the carboxylic group

The paper describes the study of relative affinities of the cations Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ to the carboxylic group, their electronic structure and optimum binding positions on the basis of the CNDO/2 technique, using the well known supramolecular approach. The cation for this purpose was made to approach the carboxylic group in various possible directions in and out of the plane C1O1AO1B and the final parameters were evaluated for the optimum planar as well as nonplanar geometries. With the exception of Ca2+ the nonplanar geometries were always favoured over the planar ones for binding at O1A and O1B, whereas for symmetric binding between O1A and O1B planar geometries were favoured for Mg2+ and Ca2+. The distance between the cation and oxygen was slightly larger for this geometry and Etot which followed the order Mg2+ less than Ca2+ less than Na+ had the lowest value.

Molecular basis for prostaglandin potency. III. Tests of the significance of the "hairpin conformation" in biorecognition phenomena

Prostaglandin analogs of the PGF2 alpha, 15-epi-PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 type bearing the following methyl substitution patterns -- 15-Me, 16, 16-(Me)2, 17, 17-(Me)2, and 18, 18, 20-(Me)3 -- and analogs constrained to "hairpin" alignment [via 1, (omega-1)-olide formation] and to "non-hairpin" arrangements [via 1, 9- and 1, 15-olide formation] are compared in the following biological assays: contraction of uterine and gastro-intestinal smooth muscle strips, luteolytic antifertility potency in the hamster, binding affinity to two different PGF2 alpha-receptor preparations from bovine corpora lutea, binding to the PGE-specific receptors from rat kidney and liver, inhibition of ADP- induced aggregation of human platelet-rich-plasma, and the effect on rat blood blood pressure. The methylated prostaglandins were also concerted to the corresponding prostacyclins and examined as to action on the platelet and on rat blood pressure. All evidence points to topographically distinct receptors for F2 alpha-, E- and I2- type prostaglandins. Cross-reactivity is reduced in most of the analogs examined. Independent of the target organ or tissue, the receptors show common features based on the functional class of PG recognized. "Hairpin" alignment improves binding (and potency) only for the PGF2 alpha specific assays. PGE-specific binding and potency is disrupted to an increasing extent as the chain branching point is moved further from the 15-hydroxyl center. In contrast 16, 16-dimethylation is particularly disruptive for the PGI2/E1 platelet receptor interaction.

Thromboxane molecules do not adopt the prostaglandin hairpin conformation

The hairpin conformational hypothesis has been proposed to rationalise much of the structure-activity and receptor-binding data which have accumulated for the prostaglandin (PG) hormones. The hairpin conformation, thought to be necessary for PG activity, requires that the alpha- and omega-chains of the molecule be extended and in parallel alignment, separated by a van der Waals contact distance for the full length of the chains, with the ends of the chains approximately 5.5 A apart. The similarity between the structures of the thromboxanes (TXs) and the PGs suggests that the profile of activity of TXs, like that of PGs, centres on subtle conformational variation of the hairpin geometry. Thromboxane B2 (TXB2) is a stable hydrolysis product of a highly reactive, short-lived intermediate, thromboxane A2 (TXA2), which is formed from the prostaglandin endoperoxide (PGH2) as indicated in Fig. 1. An examination of molecular models of TXA2 and TXB2 suggests that the structural differences between the ring moieties may have much less influence in altering the side-chain conformation of TXs than do substitutents on the relatively more flexible cyclopentane ring of a PG molecule. We report here the first diffraction analysis of a thromboxane structure and note that the molecular conformation is not hairpin shaped.

Interaction between phenylephrine and prostaglandins E1 and F1 alpha on the contractile responses of vascular muscle

Prostaglandins (PGs) E1 or F1 alpha (1.4--8.4 x 10(-8) M) contracted strips of rabbit aorta and increased the contractions produced by 1--6 x 10(-7) M phenylephrine (PE). The addition of the PGs simultaneously with PE or after a low concentration of PE (2 x 10(-7) M) significantly increased the PE-induced contractions. However, when the PGs were added after a higher concentration of PE (6 x 10(-7) M) an additional increase in the PE-induced contraction was produced with PGF1 alpha but not with PGE1. Isobolic plots of the data obtained from the simultaneous addition of PE and the PGs indicate that both PGs interact with PE in a synergistic or potentiative manner, suggesting that their effects are mediated through different receptor mechanisms. Addition of the PGs after a high dose of PE indicates that there may also be either qualitative or quantitative differences between PGE1 and PGF1 alpha.