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Han J, Konno H, Sato T, Soloshonok VA, Izawa K. Tailor-made amino acids in the design of small-molecule blockbuster drugs. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 220:113448. [PMID: 33906050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The role of amino acids (AAs) in modern health industry is well-appreciated. Residues of individual AAs, or their chemical modifications, such as diamines and amino alcohols, are frequently found in the structures of modern pharmaceuticals. The goal of this review article, is to emphasize that, currently, tailor-made AAs serve as key structural features in many most successful pharmaceuticals, so-called blockbuster drugs. In the present article, we profile 14 small-molecule drugs, underscoring the breadth of structural variety of AAs applications in numerous therapeutic areas. For each compound, we provide spectrum of biological activity, medicinal chemistry discovery, and synthetic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlin Han
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hiroyuki Konno
- Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Sato
- Hamari Chemicals Ltd., 1-19-40, Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-0034, Japan
| | - Vadim A Soloshonok
- Department of Organic Chemistry I, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel Lardizábal 3, 20018, San Sebastián, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, María Díaz de Haro 3, Plaza Bizkaia, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Kunisuke Izawa
- Hamari Chemicals Ltd., 1-19-40, Nankokita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka, 559-0034, Japan.
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Dobrydnev AV, Tkachuk TM, Atamaniuk VP, Popova MV. Quercetin-Amino Acid Conjugates are Promising Anti-Cancer Agents in Drug Discovery Projects. Mini Rev Med Chem 2020; 20:107-122. [PMID: 31595850 DOI: 10.2174/1389557519666191009152007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Quercetin is a plant flavonoid with great potential for the prevention and treatment of disease. Despite the curative application of quercetin is hampered by low bioavailability, its core serves as a scaffold for generating more potent compounds with amplified therapeutic window. This review aims to describe recent advances in the improvement of the pharmacokinetic profile of quercetin via the amino acid prodrug approach which offers wide structural diversity, physicochemical and biological properties improvement. According to the findings, conjugation of quercetin with amino acids results in increased solubility, stability, cellular permeability as well as biological activity. In particular quercetin- amino acid conjugates exhibited potent anticancer, MDR-reversal and antibiotic resistance reversal activities. The synthetic pathways and examples of quercetin-amino acid conjugates are considered. Practical considerations and challenges associated with the development of these prodrugs are also discussed. This mini-review covers the literature on quercetin-amino acid conjugates since 2001 when the first thematic work was published.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey V Dobrydnev
- SMC Ecopharm Ltd., Naberezhno-Korchuvatska Street 136-B, Kyiv 03045, Ukraine
| | - Tetiana M Tkachuk
- SMC Ecopharm Ltd., Naberezhno-Korchuvatska Street 136-B, Kyiv 03045, Ukraine
| | - Viktor P Atamaniuk
- SMC Ecopharm Ltd., Naberezhno-Korchuvatska Street 136-B, Kyiv 03045, Ukraine
| | - Maria V Popova
- Chemistry Department, National Taras Shevchenko University of Kyiv, Lva Tolstoho Street 12, Kyiv 01033, Ukraine
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Vale N, Ferreira A, Matos J, Fresco P, Gouveia MJ. Amino Acids in the Development of Prodrugs. Molecules 2018; 23:E2318. [PMID: 30208629 PMCID: PMC6225300 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Revised: 08/30/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although drugs currently used for the various types of diseases (e.g., antiparasitic, antiviral, antibacterial, etc.) are effective, they present several undesirable pharmacological and pharmaceutical properties. Most of the drugs have low bioavailability, lack of sensitivity, and do not target only the damaged cells, thus also affecting normal cells. Moreover, there is the risk of developing resistance against drugs upon chronic treatment. Consequently, their potential clinical applications might be limited and therefore, it is mandatory to find strategies that improve those properties of therapeutic agents. The development of prodrugs using amino acids as moieties has resulted in improvements in several properties, namely increased bioavailability, decreased toxicity of the parent drug, accurate delivery to target tissues or organs, and prevention of fast metabolism. Herein, we provide an overview of models currently in use of prodrug design with amino acids. Furthermore, we review the challenges related to the permeability of poorly absorbed drugs and transport and deliver on target organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno Vale
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, 45, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Abigail Ferreira
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
- LAQV&REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Joana Matos
- SpiroChem AG, Rosental Area, WRO-1074-3, Mattenstrasse 24, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Paula Fresco
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Maria João Gouveia
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
- Department of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Vig BS, Huttunen KM, Laine K, Rautio J. Amino acids as promoieties in prodrug design and development. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2013; 65:1370-85. [PMID: 23099277 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2012] [Revised: 10/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Prodrugs are biologically inactive agents that upon biotransformation in vivo result in active drug molecules. Since prodrugs might alter the tissue distribution, efficacy and the toxicity of the parent drug, prodrug design should be considered at the early stages of preclinical development. In this regard, natural and synthetic amino acids offer wide structural diversity and physicochemical properties. This review covers the use of amino acid prodrugs to improve poor solubility, poor permeability, sustained release, intravenous delivery, drug targeting, and metabolic stability of the parent drug. In addition, practical considerations and challenges associated with the development of amino acid prodrugs are also covered.
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Pisters PW, Pearlstone DB. Protein and amino acid metabolism in cancer cachexia: investigative techniques and therapeutic interventions. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 1993; 30:223-72. [PMID: 8260072 DOI: 10.3109/10408369309084669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome characterized primarily by diminished nutrient intake and progressive tissue depletion that is manifest clinically as anorexia and host weight loss. The gradual loss of host protein stores is central to this process. This review outlines the techniques that have been used to evaluate human amino acid metabolism, their application in patients with cancer cachexia, and possible therapeutic interventions designed to overcome alterations in host protein and amino acid metabolism associated with malignant cachexia. The techniques of nitrogen balance and 3-methylhistidine excretion provide indirect estimates of overall nitrogen metabolism and skeletal muscle myofibrillar protein breakdown. Measurement of circulating amino acid concentrations, particularly when combined with assessment of arterial-venous differences and regional amino acid balance allows for investigation of interorgan amino acid metabolism. One of the most significant advances in in vivo amino acid metabolic research has been the development of labeled amino acid tracer studies to evaluate whole body and regional amino acid kinetics. The use of stable and unstable amino acid isotopes in these techniques is reviewed in detail. Virtually all of these techniques have now been employed in the evaluation of human cancer cachexia. The results of studies evaluating amino acid concentrations, regional amino acid balance, and 3-methylhistidine excretion are summarized. The use of regional and whole body kinetic studies in cancer cachexia are reviewed extensively. Most investigators have observed increased rates of whole body protein turnover, synthesis, and catabolism in both weight-stable and weight-losing cancer patients. Some studies have suggested a relationship between the extent of disease and the degree of aberration in amino acid kinetic parameters. Investigators have attempted to reverse some of these alterations by provision of substrate (nutritional support) or administration of specific pharmacologic or anabolic agents such as hydrazine sulfate, insulin, growth hormone, and beta-2 agonists. The role of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in cancer and its effects on protein and amino acid kinetics and tumor growth are addressed. The possible benefits of specific amino acid nutritional formulations with increased branched chain amino acids, arginine, and glutamine are reviewed. Although many of these approaches appear promising, significant impact on clinically definable parameters remains to be demonstrated. A better understanding of the underlying protein catabolic mechanisms of cancer cachexia will likely lead to more effective therapies to reverse the protein calorie malnutrition associated with cancer cachexia.
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Affiliation(s)
- P W Pisters
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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