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The anthranilic acid diamides represent the more recent class of nonpeptide CCK(1) receptor antagonists. This class is characterized by the presence of anthranilic acid, used as a molecular scaffold, and two pharmacophores selected from the C-terminal tetrapeptide of CCK. The lead compound coded VL-0395, endowed with sub-micromolar affinity towards CCK(1) receptors, was characterized by the presence of Phe and 2-indole moiety at the C- and N-termini of anthranilic acid, respectively. Herein we describe the first step of the anthranilic acid C-terminal optimization using, instead of Phe, aminoacids belonging to the primary structure of CCK-8 and other not coded residues. Thus we demonstrate that the CCK(1) receptor affinity depends on the nature of the aminoacidic side chain as well as that the free carboxy group of the alpha-aminoacids is crucial for the binding. The R enantiomers of the most active compounds represent the eutomers of this class of antagonists confirming thus the stereo preference of the receptor. Moreover this SAR study demonstrates that the receptor binding pocket, that host the aminoacidic side chain, results much more tolerant respect to that accommodating the indole ring. As a result, an appropriate variation of the aminoacidic side chain could provide a better CCK(1) receptor affinity diorthosis.

A series of C-terminal anthranoyl-anthranilic acid derivatives arising from a strict bond disconnection approach of asperlicin were synthesized and examined for their CCK receptor affinities. These compounds represent the second step of our investigation directed toward the search for alternative substructures of asperlicin as a starting point for the development of a new class of CCK ligands. The obtained micromolar affinities for CCK-A rather than CCK-B receptor confirm that the anthranilic acid dimer represents a useful template for the development of selective CCK-A receptor ligands.

The anthranilic acid diamides represent the most recent class of nonpeptide CCK(1) receptor (CCK(1)-R) antagonists. Herein we describe the second phase of the anthranilic acid C-terminal optimization using nonproteinogenic amino acids containing a phenyl ring in their side chain. The Homo-Phe derivative 2 (VL-0797) enhanced 12-fold the affinity for the rat CCK(1)-R affinity and 15-fold for the human CCK(1)-R relative to the reference compound 12 (VL-0395). The eutomer of 2 (6) exhibited a nanomolar range affinity toward the human CCK(1)-R and was at least 400-fold selective for the CCK(1)-R over the CCK(2)-R. Molecular docking in the modeled CCK(1)-R and its validation by site-directed mutagenesis experiments showed that the 6 binding site overlaps that occupied by the C-terminal bioactive region of the natural agonist CCK. Owing to their interesting properties, new compounds provided by this study represent a solid basis for further advances aimed at synthesis of clinically valuable CCK(1)-R antagonists.

The hydrosoluble triazene derivatives of phenylacetic, phenylbutyric and cinnamic acid have been synthesized and their logP and pKa values were simultaneously determined according to a multiparametric fitting of potentiometric data. The antitumor activity caused by the synthesized compounds in mice bearing either Lewis lung carcinoma or TLX5 lymphoma was evaluated and discussed in comparison with the parent compound (p-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)benzoic acid potassium salt (DM-COOK, CAS 70055-49-1). The tested compounds were at least as active as DM-COOK, the cinnamic and the phenylacetic derivatives being the more active compounds in mice bearing TLX5 lymphoma and Lewis lung carcinoma, respectively.

A series of 2-methyl-3-amino-4(H)-quinazolinone and of 2-phenyl-3-amino-4(H)-quinazolinone derivatives were synthesized and examined for their CCK receptor affinities. These compounds displayed micromolar affinities for CCK-B rather than CCK-A receptor and the obtained results confirm that the 4(3H)-quinazolinone nucleous represent a useful template for the development of selective CCK-B receptor ligands.

We have described previously an innovative bond disconnection strategy of asperlicin, a naturally occurring CCK receptor antagonist, leading to anthranilic acid dimer and tryptophan synthons. We have also demonstrated that when the tryptophan residue is connected to the C- or N-terminal sides of the anthranilic acid dimer, compounds with similar micromolar CCK-A receptor affinities are obtained. In order to investigate the binding effects of different N-terminal substitution, in this paper we describe a new series of anthranilic acid dimer derivatives, characterized by the presence of the tryptophan residue in the C-terminus of the dimer. Among the compounds synthesized, the N-1H-indol-3-propionyl derivative exhibited an improved, at the micromolar range, affinity for the CCK-A receptor in comparison to that of either, the N-unsubstituted derivative and asperlicin. The lead compound emerging from this key step of our investigation represents the new starting point for the development of a new class of CCK-A receptor ligands.

A series of new N-substituted anthranilic acid dimer derivatives having a C-terminal Phe residue was synthesized and evaluated for their affinity for CCK receptors. These compounds resulted from a blended approach based firstly on the use of an alternative substructure embedded within asperlicin and secondly on the derivatization of this template with substituents chosen considering the C-terminal primary structure of the endogenous ligand. Although these compounds exhibited a regnylogical-type organization similar to that of CCK-4, they are characterized by about 1000-fold greater affinity for CCK-A receptor than the C-terminal tetrapeptide.

A research is presented on quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies on the more recent class of non-peptidic CCK(1) receptor antagonists. Our results suggest that the balance of hydrophobicity and volume dependent polarizability term plays a key role in the antagonism of CCK(1) receptor. The size of the substitution of ligands at particular position which induce steric fit is crucial as well as their hydrophobic contribution. Indicator variables were used after the best model was found to account for the usual structural features. The CoMFA results show a good variance explanation and the best self-predictivity is slightly lower than 60% with both leave-one-out and random-group methods. The CoMFA molecular fields showed the importance of steric hindrance of the substituent. From the GRIND models it can be deduced that the shape differences of the molecules are secondary in the regulation of the activity, or better, that their polar substituents are capable of occupying the same zones of the space in the most of the cases.

The antitumor and antimetastatic effects of p-(3-methyl-1-triazeno)benzoic acid potassium salt (MM-COOK) as compared with those of the parent 3,3-dimethyl derivative (DM-COOK) were examined using Lewis lung carcinoma, MCa mammary carcinoma of the CBA mouse and TLX5 lymphoma. Similarly to DM-COOK, MM-COOK reduces metastasis formation and significantly prolongs the survival of mice bearing the Lewis lung carcinoma when given at a daily dose corresponding to one-half that of DM-COOK. Unlike DM-COOK, MM-COOK exhibits significant cytotoxicity to metastatic foci and pronounced inhibition of primary tumor development. MM-COOK also causes cytotoxic effects on TLX5 lymphoma cell growing in the peritoneal cavity, even when used at low doses. The antimetastatic effects observed in mice bearing MCa mammary carcinoma are unrelated to the inhibition of primary tumor growth and are more likely due to the selection of clones endowed with lower metastatic ability. It appears that MM-COOK exhibits the same antineoplastic activity as DM-COOK, but the former does so at a lower daily dose and produces interesting cytotoxic effects other than those reflecting its antimetastatic properties. It thus seems to be a valid alternative to DM-COOK, in view of the possible introduction of newer aryltriazenes into clinical use.

Starting from our lead compound, VL-0395, an anthranilic acid based CCK1 receptor antagonist, and following the well established "step by step" lead investigation strategy, we describe the final step of the anthranilic acid N-terminal optimization. Improvements for both affinity and selectivity towards CCK1 receptors have been accomplished through introduction of the fluoro substituent at C-5 and C-7 position of the indole ring together with the appropriate configuration of the aminoacidic chiral center.

The interaction between the 1-47 N-terminus of the CCK(1)-R and the anthranilic acid based antagonists has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. These antagonists interact with W39 of the N-terminal domain of the CCK(1)-R like that of the endogenous ligand CCK-8. This specific interaction was not found in other nonpeptide ligands of the CCK(1)-R. Conformational studies, using NMR and energy minimization procedures, have allowed formulation of a new hypothesis on the CCK(1)-R binding mode of the anthranilic antagonists.

In this phase of structure-affinity relationship study of VL-0395, a new anthranilic acid based CCK1 selective antagonist, we propose a series of unnatural aminoacidic derivatives. The result of this work is the identification of a new CCK ligand, which possesses an affinity (IC50 = 35 nm) one order of magnitude greater than the lead and, as a general rule, it points out how the hypothesized receptorial pocket which accommodates the Phe residue allows much more structural modification than that interacting with the N-terminal group. Hence, the modification of the C-terminal pharmacophoric group of our lead VL-0395 can not only enhance the affinity of anthranilic acid derivatives but can modulate the selectivity for one CCK receptor subtype or afford mixed antagonists.

Recently we described an innovative class of non-peptide CCK 1 antagonists keeping appropriate pharmacophoric groups on the anthranilic acid employed as a molecular scaffold. The lead compound obtained, VL-0395 , characterized by the presence of Phe and the 2-indole moiety at the C- and N-termini of anthranilic acid, respectively, is endowed with submicromolar affinity towards CCK 1 receptors. Thus, we have prepared and tested on CCK receptors a library of VL-0395 analogues in order to investigate the precise topological and essential key interactions of the 2-indole group of the lead with the CCK 1 receptor. The obtained results confirm that this group establishes very specific interactions with this receptor sub-site and may be viewed as a “needle” group.

Having successfully obtained new CCK 1 ligands holding appropriate groups on the anthranilic acid dimer used as molecular scaffold we were interested in increasing their micromolar affinity for the CCK 1 receptors by modifying the spatial relationship of the main pharmacophoric groups. Since, we have proposed simplified analogues reducing the anthranilic acid dimer to a monomer. In this stage of our research program we have prepared and tested on CCK receptors a series of N -substituted anthranilic acid derivatives keeping a Phe residue at the C-terminal site. The indole-2-carbonyl group imparts the best CCK 1 receptor binding affinity (compound 1 : IC 50 =197.5 nM) while a sharp decrease in binding affinity is observed for the other indole containing derivatives. Moreover, in order to support the different binding behaviour observed for the synthesized compounds, a conformational investigation was carried out. Finally, on the basis of the main pharmacophoric groups of the obtained new lead compound ( 1 ) (coded VL-0395 ) a receptor binding hypothesis has been provided.

A series of new N-substituted anthranilic acid dimer derivatives having a C-terminal Phe residue was synthesized and evaluated for their affinity for CCK receptors. These compounds resulted from a blended approach based firstly on the use of an alternative substructure embedded within asperlicin and secondly on the derivatization of this template with substituents chosen considering the C-terminal primary structure of the endogenous ligand. Although these compounds exhibited a regnylogical-type organization similar to that of CCK-4, they are characterized by about 1000-fold greater affinity for CCK-A receptor than the C-terminal tetrapeptide.

A series of C-terminal anthranoyl-anthranilic acid derivatives arising from a strict bond disconnection approach of asperlicin were synthesized and examined for their CCK receptor affinities. These compounds represent the second step of our investigation directed toward the search for alternative substructures of asperlicin as a starting point for the development of a new class of CCK ligands. The obtained micromolar affinities for CCK-A rather than CCK-B receptor confirm that the anthranilic acid dimer represents a useful template for the development of selective CCK-A receptor ligands.

We have described previously an innovative bond disconnection strategy of asperlicin, a naturally occurring CCK receptor antagonist, leading to anthranilic acid dimer and tryptophan synthons. We have also demonstrated that when the tryptophan residue is connected to the C- or N-terminal sides of the anthranilic acid dimer, compounds with similar micromolar CCK-A receptor affinities are obtained. In order to investigate the binding effects of different N-terminal substitution, in this paper we describe a new series of anthranilic acid dimer derivatives, characterized by the presence of the tryptophan residue in the C-terminus of the dimer. Among the compounds synthesized, the N-1H-indol-3-propionyl derivative exhibited an improved, at the micromolar range, affinity for the CCK-A receptor in comparison to that of either, the N-unsubstituted derivative and asperlicin. The lead compound emerging from this key step of our investigation represents the new starting point for the development of a new class of CCK-A receptor ligands.

Polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of various chain length were used to crosslink lysozyme onto an insoluble support such as oxirane. A very high degree of modification and no inactivation of lysozyme were obtained with PEG 20000, but enzymatic activity increased up to 20 times at pH 3.0, at which point the activity of the native enzyme was lower when using Leuconostok oenus as a macromolecular substrate.

Lipase from Candida rugosa was modified with methoxy(polyethylene glycol)– p -nitrophenyl carbonate (NPC–mPEG). A total of 34 out of 35 lysine chains were substituted, and the modified lipase retained 98% of the hydrolytic activity of the non-modified enzyme. mPEG-lipase is perfectly soluble in organic solvent and efficiently catalyzes the esterification of lauric acid, with nearly 100% of yield over 6 h in toluene. Moreover, mPEG-lipase exhibits a preference for the S -isomer over the R -isomer in the stereoselective resolution of racemic naproxen.