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Caspases have been strongly implicated to play an essential role in apoptosis. A critical question regarding the role(s) of these proteases is whether selective inhibition of an effector caspase(s) will prevent cell death. We have identified potent and selective non-peptide inhibitors of the effector caspases 3 and 7. The inhibition of apoptosis and maintenance of cell functionality with a caspase 3/7-selective inhibitor is demonstrated for the first time, and suggests that targeting these two caspases alone is sufficient for blocking apoptosis. Furthermore, an x-ray co-crystal structure of the complex between recombinant human caspase 3 and an isatin sulfonamide inhibitor has been solved to 2.8-A resolution. In contrast to previously reported peptide-based caspase inhibitors, the isatin sulfonamides derive their selectivity for caspases 3 and 7 by interacting primarily with the S(2) subsite, and do not bind in the caspase primary aspartic acid binding pocket (S(1)). These inhibitors blocked apoptosis in murine bone marrow neutrophils and human chondrocytes. Furthermore, in camptothecin-induced chondrocyte apoptosis, cell functionality as measured by type II collagen promoter activity is maintained, an activity considered essential for cartilage homeostasis. These data suggest that inhibiting chondrocyte cell death with a caspase 3/7-selective inhibitor may provide a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of osteoarthritis, or other disease states characterized by excessive apoptosis.

The nature of the inhibition of thiol proteases by a new class of mechanism-based inhibitors, 1,5-diacylcarbohydrazides, is described. These potent, time-dependent, active-site spanning inhibitors include compounds that are selective for cathepsin K, a cysteine protease unique to osteoclasts. The 1,5-diacylcarbohydrazides are slow substrates for members of the papain superfamily with inhibition resulting from slow enzyme decarbamylation. Enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2,2'-N, N'-bis(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L- leucinylcarbohydrazide is accompanied by formation of a hydrazide-containing product and a carbamyl-enzyme intermediate that is sufficiently stable to be observed by mass spectrometry and NMR. Stopped-flow studies yield a saturation limited value of 43 s(-)(1) for the rate of cathepsin K acylation by 2,2'N, N'-bis(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-leucinylcarbohydrazide. Inhibition potency varies among proteases tested as reflected by 2-3 orders of magnitude differences in K(i) and K(obs)/I, but all eventually form the same stable covalent intermediate. Reactivation rates are equivalent for all enzymes tested (1 x 10(-)(4) s(-)(1)), indicating hydrolysis of a common carbamyl-enzyme form. NMR spectroscopic studies with cathepsin K and 2,2'-N,N'-bis(benzyloxycarbonyl)-L-leucinylcarbohydrazide provide evidence of inhibitor cleavage to generate a covalent carbamyl-enzyme intermediate rather than a tetrahedral complex. The product Cbz-leu-hydrazide does not appear enzyme-bound after cleavage in the NMR spectra, suggesting that the stable inhibited form of the enzyme is the thioester complex. 1, 5-diacylcarbohydrazides represent a new class of unreactive cysteine protease inhibitors that share a common mechanism of action across members of the papain superfamily. Both S and S' subsite interactions are exploited in achieving high selectivity and potency.

Cathepsin K (EC 3.4.22.38) is a cysteine protease of the papain superfamily which is selectively expressed within the osteoclast. Several lines of evidence have pointed to the fact that this protease may play an important role in the degradation of the bone matrix. Potent and selective inhibitors of cathepsin K could be important therapeutic agents for the control of excessive bone resorption. Recently a series of peptide aldehydes have been shown to be potent inhibitors of cathepsin K. In an effort to design more selective and metabolically stable inhibitors of cathepsin K, a series of electronically attenuated alkoxymethylketones and thiomethylketones inhibitors have been synthesized. The X-ray co-crystal structure of one of these analogues in complex with cathepsin K shows the inhibitor binding in the primed side of the enzyme active site with a covalent interaction between the active site cysteine 25 and the carbonyl carbon of the inhibitor. ©

Recent advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis have allowed researchers to begin targeting undesired apoptosis, in an attempt to moderate its occurrence. Unscheduled apoptosis appears to transpire in numerous diseases, both acute (e.g., stroke, liver degeneration) and chronic (e.g., osteoarthritis, neurodegeneration). There is a clear unmet medical need for better therapies for such diseases. The most active area of research involves a novel family of cysteine proteases which have been termed the caspases. In a number of isolated cell systems, the caspases have been shown to be involved in molecular pathways leading to apoptosis in response to apoptotic stimuli and evidence is mounting for pivotal roles for members of this novel protease family in degenerative diseases. Inhibition of caspase activity is predicted to be beneficial for degenerative diseases and this review summarises the current status and some of the issues of targeting apoptosis as a disease-modifying therapy.

We have shown previously that cathepsin K, a recently identified member of the papain superfamily of cysteine proteases, is expressed selectively in osteoclasts and is the predominant cysteine protease in these cells. Based upon its abundant cell type-selective expression, potent endoprotease activity at low pH and cellular localization at the bone interface, cathepsin K has been proposed to play a specialized role in osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. In this study, we evaluated a series of peptide aldehydes and demonstrated that they are potent cathepsin K inhibitors. These compounds inhibited osteoclast-mediated bone resorption in fetal rat long bone (FRLB) organ cultures in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Selected compounds were also shown to inhibit bone resorption in a human osteoclast-mediated assay in vitro. Chz-Leu-Leu-Leu-H (in vitro enzyme inhibition Ki,app = 1.4 nM) inhibited parathyroid hormone (PTH)-stimulated resorption in the FRLB assay with an IC-50 of 20 nM and inhibited resorption by isolated human osteoclasts cultured on bovine cortical bone slices with an IC-50 of 100 nM. In the adjuvant-arthritic (AA) rat model, in situ hybridization studies demonstrated high levels of cathepsin K expression in osteoclasts at sites of extensive bone loss in the distal tibia. Cbz-Leu-Leu-Leu-H (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) significantly reduced this bone loss, as well as the associated hind paw edema. In the thyroparathyriodectomized rat model, Cbz-Leu-Leu-Leu-H inhibited the increase in blood ionized calcium induced by a 6 h infusion of PTH. These data indicate that inhibitors of cathepsin K are effective at reducing osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and may have therapeutic potential in diseases of excessive bone resorption such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis.

The synthesis and in vitro inhibitory studies against human types 1 and 2 steroid 5α-reductase of a series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acids is reported. A (4-carboxy)phenyl substituent at C-7 provides a compound with activity against both isozymes. The structural features responsible for activity are discussed.

Human cathepsin K is a recently identified protein with high primary sequence homology to members of the papain cysteine protease superfamily including cathepsins S, L, and B and is selectively expressed in osteoclasts (Drake, F. H., Dodds, R., James, I., Connor, J., Debouck, C., Richardson, S., Lee, E., Rieman, D., Barthlow, R., Hastings, G., and Gowen, M.(1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 12511-12516). To characterize its catalytic properties, cathepsin K has been expressed in baculovirus-infected SF21 cells and the soluble recombinant protein isolated from growth media was purified. Purified protein includes an inhibitory pro-leader sequence common to this family of protease. Conditions for enzyme activation upon removal of the pro-sequence have been identified. Fluorogenic peptides have been identified as substrates for mature cathepsin K. In addition, two protein components of bone matrix, collagen and osteonectin, have been shown to be substrates of the activated protease. Cathepsin K is inhibited by E-64 and leupeptin, but not by pepstatin, EDTA, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, or phenanthroline, consistent with its classification within the cysteine protease class. Leupeptin has been characterized as a slow binding inhibitor of cathepsin K (kobs/[I] = 273,000 M–1•s–1). Cathepsin K may represent the elusive protease implicated in degradation of protein matrix during bone resorption and represents a novel molecular target in treatment of disease states associated with excessive bone loss such as osteoporosis.

A series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acids has been prepared and evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of human recombinant steroid 5α-reductase. 7-Bromo-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acid, 8c, is a potent and selective non-steroidal inhibitor of human type-1 steroid 5α-reductase (Ki,app 26 nM). The inhibitory activity relationships of steroidal and non-steroidal inhibitors, with 4-aza, 6-aza, diene acid, aryl acid and nitro-alkenes functionalities, are considered.

A series of 4a-methyl-3,4,4,4a-9-tetrahydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acids and 2-phosphinic acids has been prepared and evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of human recombinant steroid 5α-reductase. 7-Chloro-4a-methyl-3,4,4,4a-9-tetrahydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acid 5, is a marginally selective inhibitor of human type 2 steroid 5α-reductase (Ki,app = 260 nM). The phosphinic acid compounds, 8 and 9, are weak inhibitors of types 1 and 2 steroid 5α-reductase.

A preparative chiral HPLC separation of each of the four stereoisomers of LY191704 [(±)-1, and (±)-3] and LY266111 [(±)-2, and (±)-4] is reported. All eight compounds have been evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of recombinant human type 1 and type 2 steroid 5α-reductase. The trans enantiomers of LY266111, (+)-2 and (−)-2, show equal and potent inhibition of the type 1 isozyme. The cis enantiomers of LY266111, (+)-4 and (−)-4, and the unsaturated analogue 6 show significantly reduced type 1 inhibitory activity. The cis and trans enantiomeric pairs of LY191704 [(+)-1, (−)-1, (+)-3, and (−)-3] and the unsaturated analog 5 display similar and potent activity against the type 1 isozyme. All compounds display relatively poor activity against the human type 2 isozyme.

The binding of FK506 and rapamycin to their cytosolic receptor FKBP12 is an intermediate step in the paths leading to their potent immunosuppressive properties. One of the amino acids defining the hydrophobic binding cleft for the macrocycles is Tyr82, which is thought to form a hydrogen bond with the amide oxygens of the common pipecolyl structural element within the two macrolides. To understand better the influence of this amino acid residue in catalytic activity (cis-trans peptidyl prolyl isomerization) and ligand binding properties, a Tyr82 to Leu site-specific modification of FKBP12 was prepared, purified and characterized. Kinetic experiments have demonstrated that the Tyr82 to Leu modification has a greater effect on catalytic properties than on ligand binding affinities, a result which indicates that these inhibitors may not be binding as true transition-state analogues. In an additional test for cellular function, expression of both wild-type and mutant human FKBP12 in a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae rendered resistant to rapamycin by deletion of the gene encoding a cytosolic rapamycin binding protein (RPB1), the yeast homologue of FKBP12, restored wild-type drug sensitivity.

A series of non-macrocyclic pipecolyl α-ketoamides were prepared and evaluated as FKBP cis-trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerase inhibitors. These compounds exhibited inhibition constants as low as 2 nM. Their design was based on a consideration of the common FKBP-binding elements of FK506 and rapamycin. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.

A series of 3-carboxymethyl steroids has been prepared and assayed in vitro as inhibitors of steroid 5α-reductase isolated from human prostatic tissue. Potent inhibition was observed with analogs from both androstene and estratriene families. Phosphonic and sulfonic acid analogs were also prepared and found to lack significant inhibitory activity.

A number of pipecolinate dilactones have been synthesized as simplified macrocyclic mimics of the binding domains in rapamycin (1) and FK506 (2). Crystallographic studies of these compounds indicate that the conformation of the pipecolinyl α-ketoamide region is preorganized for binding to FKBP. This is confirmed by the ability of these analogs to inhibit the FKBP cis-trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerase activity.

The synthesis and in vitro inhibitory studies against human types 1 and 2 steroid 5α-reductase of a series of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrene-2-carboxylic acids is reported. A (4-carboxy)phenyl substituent at C-7 provides a compound with activity against both isozymes. The structural features responsible for activity are discussed.

3-Phosphinic acid and 3-phosphonic acid steroids are presented as a new class of steroid 5α-reductase (SR) inhibitors. Representative compounds have been studied as inhibitors of prostatic SR from human, rat, and cynomolgus monkey ( Macaca fascicularis ). The most potent of the phosphinic acid inhibitors of the human enzyme activity demonstrated nanomolar inhibition constants, while the affinities of the phosphonic acids were diminished. Comparison of compound potency revealed interspecies variability with the best correlation on K i K m for the two primate SRs. Results from dead-end and multiple inhibition analyses with 17β-( N,N -diisopropylcarbamoyl)androsta-3,5-diene-3-phosphinic acid ( 2a ) and 17β-( N,N -diisopropylcarbamoyl)androsta-3,5-diene-3-phosphinic acid ( 3a ) were consistent with the preferential binding of these compounds to an enzyme-NADP + complex. The pH profiles of solubilized rat liver SR inhibition by 2a and 3a indicated preferential binding of the phosphinic and phosphonic acids as the anion and the monoanion, respectively.

Fluorescence and NMR spectral data have suggested an interaction between the single tryptophan in cyclophilin (CyP) and its high affinity ligand cyclosporin A (CsA). To study this interaction, a site mutation of Trp 121 to Ala was introduced into human cyclophilin (CyP) and the encoded protein was expressed in E. coli . The Ala 121 mutant was shown to catalyze the peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (rotomase) reaction with several peptide substrates, albeit at less than ten percent the rate of the purified recombinant human CyP. Values for the apparent inhibition constant (K i,app ) of cyclosporin A with the human CyP and the Ala 121 mutant were determined to be 1.6 ± 0.4 nM and 640 ± 90 nM, respectively by tight-binding inhibition analysis. The greater loss of affinity for CsA binding (400-fold) than for rotomase catalysis (20 fold) suggests that the catalytic and CsA binding properties associated with CyP can be decoupled as has been observed with an homologous protein found in E. coli ( Liu, J. & Walsh, C.T. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87 , 4028–4032 ).

The synthesis of 17β-(N, N-diisopropylcarbamoyl)estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-sulfonic acid (3) has been accomplished. Sulfonate 3 was designed as a novel inhibitor of human steroid 5 α-reductase based on considerations of enzyme mechanisms, and exhibits an inhibition constant in the low nanomolar range.

A series of A-ring unsaturated 3-nitrosteroids has been prepared and assayed in vitro as inhibitors of steroid 5α-reductase. One of these compounds, 3-nitro-5α-androst-3-ene-17β-diisopropylcarboxamide (4), inhibits the human enzyme with a Ki of 50 nM and exhibits competitive inhibition versus testosterone. Potent oral activity of 4 was demonstrated in cynomolgus monkeys.

A Candida albicans cDNA and its genomic counterpart were isolated from λ phage libraries using a human T-cell cyclophilin (Cyp) cDNA as a hybridization probe. The clones contain a 486-bp open reading frame predicting a 162-amino acid, approx. 18 kDa protein which is similar in size to, and which shares 68 and 81% homology with, human T-cell Cyp and cytosolic Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cyp, respectively. Northern blots show the presence of a single mRNA species of about 800 bp. However, genomic Southern blots suggest the presence of at least one other Cyp-related gene in C. albicans. The cDNA was engineered for expression in Escherichia coli, and the resulting recombinant protein, like mammalian Cyps, exhibited a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity which was sensitive to inhibition by cyclosporin A in vitro. These results indicate that the gene which we have cloned encodes a C. albicans Cyp. We designate this gene CYP1 ( c y clo p hilin ) . Interestingly, the predicted C. albicans protein contains only two cysteine residues which do not align with any of the four cysteines conserved among mammalian Cyps. This suggests that the PPIase catalytic mechanism may not involve an enzyme-bound hemithioorthoamide, as previously reported for porcine Cyp.

A series of 17 beta-carbamoyl-1,3,5(10)-estratriene-3-carboxylic acids has been prepared and evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of human and rat prostatic steroid 5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.1.30). Potent inhibition of the human enzyme, in particular, was observed and preliminary studies using rat enzyme suggest that the inhibition results from the formation of an enzyme-NADP(+)-inhibitor complex. The compounds were synthesized from estrone, generally employing a differentiated bis-triflate carbonylation strategy.

Daniel F. Veber, Dennis S. Yamashita, Hye-Ja Oh, Brian R. Smith, Kevin Salyers, Mark Levy, Chao-Pin Lee, Antonia Marzulli, Phil Smith, Ted Tomaszek, David Tew, Michael McQueney, George B. Stroup, Michael W. Lark, Ian E. James, and Maxine Gowen 6 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Preclinical Pharmacokinetics, Bioformulations and Drug Delivery, Molecular Recognition, Protein Biochemistry, and Bone & Cartilage Biology, SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, PA 19406, U.S.A.

Apoptosis was induced in a human chondrocyte cell line, T/C 28a4, by treatment with various stimuli, including camptothecin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, staurosporine, okadaic acid, and reduced serum conditions. All stimuli induced a cytosolic DEVDase activity, coincident with apoptosis. Caspase activities in the lysates were characterized and quantitated with peptide cleavage profiles. To confirm that the results were not related to the immortalized nature of the cell line, primary human chondrocytes also were shown to undergo apoptosis under similar conditions, which resulted in increased cytosolic DEVDase activity. There was little or no caspase-1 (interleukin-1beta-converting enzyme) or caspase-8-like activity in the apoptotic cells. In all cases, the irreversible nonselective caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK, and the caspase-3-selective inhibitor, Ac-DMQD-CHO, inhibited DEVDase activity and apoptosis, whereas the caspase-1-selective inhibitor, Ac-YVAD-CHO, had no effect. Human chondrocytes were stably and transiently transfected with a type-II collagen gene (COL2A1) regulatory sequence driving a luciferase reporter as a specific marker of chondrocyte gene expression. Treatment of the cells with camptothecin or tumor necrosis factor-alpha plus cycloheximide significantly inhibited COL2A1 transcriptional activity. Significantly, cotreatment with Z-VAD-FMK or Ac-DMQD-CHO maintained COL2A1-reporter gene activity, indicating that the prevention of apoptosis by caspase-3 inhibition was sufficient to maintain cell functionality as assessed by the retention of type-II collagen promoter activity.

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of a tetrapeptidyl substrate combinatorial array directed toward the caspases is described. Testing of this array with caspases 1 and 4 gave substrate hydrolytic profiles characteristic of each caspase, and permitted the identification of efficiently processed substrates. A comparison of this approach to that using a positional scanning library is presented.

Using binding models which were based on the X-ray crystal structure of an amino acid-based active site-spanning inhibitor complexed with cathepsin K, Cbz-leucine mimics have been developed, leading ultimately to the design of a potent cathepsin K inhibitor free of amino acid components. These mimics, which consist of alpha-substituted biphenylacetyl groups in place of Cbz-leucine moieties, effectively mimic all aspects of the Cbz-leucine moieties which are important for inhibitor binding. The predicted directions of binding for the inhibitors were confirmed by mass spectral analysis of their complexes with cathepsin K, which gave results consistent with acylation of the enzyme and loss of the acylhydrazine portion of the inhibitor which binds on the S' side of the active site. The binding models were found to be very predictive of relative inhibitor potency as well as direction of inhibitor binding. These results strengthen the validity of a strategy involving iterative cycles of structure-based design and inhibitor synthesis and evaluation for the discovery of non-peptide inhibitors.

Steroidal 3-carboxy-20-ketones have been prepared within two structural series, the androsta-3,5-dienes and the estra-1,3,5-trienes, as potential inhibitors of types 1 and 2 steroid 5α-reductase, the enzyme activity responsible for the final step in biosynthesis of dihydrotestosterone. These compounds are shown to be potent uncompetitive inhibitors of both human recombinant enzyme activities, defining a novel class of dual steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors.

The Cynomolgus monkey may provide an alternative pharmacological model in which to evaluate the efficacy of novel inhibitors of the two known human steroid 5α-reductase (SR) isoenzymes. To evaluate the suitability of this species at the level of the molecular targets, a Cynomolgus monkey prostate cDNA library was prepared and screened using human SR type 1 and 2 cDNAs as hybridization probes. Two distinct cDNA sequences were isolated encoding the monkey type 1 and 2 SR isoenzymes. These sequences share 93 and 95% amino acid sequence identity with their human enzyme counterparts, respectively. Difference in monkey type 1 SR, however, was found within the contiguous four amino acids corresponding to the regions in the human and rat sequences that have been proposed previously to influence steroid and inhibitor affinities. Subsequently, both monkey cDNAs were individually expressed in a mammalian cell (CHO) line. Enzyme activities of both monkey SRs were localized to the membrane fractions of CHO cell extracts. Like the human and rat enzymes, the monkey type 1 and type 2 SRs were most active at neutral and low pH, respectively. The results of inhibition studies with over 30 known SR inhibitors, including epristeride, 4MA, and finasteride, indicate that the monkey SR isoenzymes are functionally more similar to the human than the rat homologues. The results from initial velocity and inhibition studies as functions of pH with the human and monkey type 2 SRs also compare favorably. These results, together, suggest that the monkey SR isoenzymes are structurally and functionally comparable on a molecular level to their respective human counterparts, supporting the relevance and use of the Cynomolgus monkey as a pharmacological model for in vivo evaluation of SR inhibitors.

Specificity of an enzyme inhibitor can have profound implications upon the compound's therapeutic potential, utility and safety profile. As potent inhibitors of human steroid 5 alpha-reductase (SR) the 3-androstene-3-carboxylic acids, or steroidal acrylates, may be useful in treatment of diseases such as benign prostatic hyperplasia for which 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) appears to be a causative agent. To determine its specificity profile, the interactions of a representative compound from this class, N-(t-butyl)androst-3,5-diene-17 beta-carboxamide-3-carboxylic acid (epristeride, SK&F 105657), have been studied with 7 other steroid processing enzymes and 5 steroid hormone receptors. The affinity of epristeride for each of these 12 potential targets was found to be at least 1000-fold weaker than that for SR, the intended target. In addition, using samples of the individually expressed two known forms of human SRs, epristeride has been shown to be a selective inhibitor of the recombinant human SR type 2, the predominant activity found in the prostate of man. Nonetheless, the mechanisms of SR inhibition for both isoenzymes involve formation of a ternary complex with epristeride, NADP+, and enzyme. Epristeride, consequently, has been shown to be an uncompetitive inhibitor versus steroid substrate of both human SR isoenzymes. These results suggest that this 3-androstene-3-carboxylic acid is a specific and selective inhibitor of the human type 2 SR, and that epristeride is an attractive compound for further investigation as a safe and effective therapeutic agent in the potential treatment of disease states associated with DHT-induced tissue growth.

Rapamycin (Rm) is a macrolide antifungal agent related to FK506 that exhibits potent immunosuppressive properties which are mediated through interaction with specific cytoplasmic receptors (FKBPs or RBPs, for FK506- and Rm-binding proteins, respectively). These proteins possess peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity in vitro which is inhibited by the binding of Rm and FK506. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Rm sensitivity (Rms) is mediated by binding of the drug to RBP1, a homolog of the 12-kDa human FK506-binding protein (FKBP12); null mutations in the yeast RBP1 gene result in a recessive drug resistance phenotype. To identify missense mutations that define amino acid (aa) residues in RBP1 involved in drug sensitivity, we selected and genetically characterized over 250 independent Rmrrbp1 mutants and screened them for both RB1-specific mRNA and protein expression. Whereas all rbp1 mutants expressed abundant levels of RBP1 mRNA, stable RBP1 protein production was detected in only one mutant strain. The RBP1 gene was PCR-generated (in triplicate) from several rbp1 mutants and independent clones were sequenced. Most of the immunoblot-negative alleles were found to contain various types of null mutations; however, some alleles contained specific missense mutations that apparently affect protein stability in vivo. The single immunoblot-positive allele was found to contain a mutation altering a specific residue (Tyr89) which is conserved among the known FKBPs, and which, based on the solution and x-ray structures of human FKBP12, has been proposed to be part of a hydrophobic drug-binding pocket for FK506 and Rm. Analysis of [3H]Rm binding in rbp1 mutant vs. wild-type yeast cell extracts indicated that the Tyr89 → Asp (Y89D) change results in an approx. 95% loss of binding activity. These data confirm the assignment of this Tyr residue as being involved in Rm binding.

Cyclophilins (Cyps) constitute a highly conserved family of proteins present in a wide variety of organisms. Historically, Cyps were first identified by their ability to bind the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A (CsA) with high affinity; they later were found to have peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) activity, which catalyzes the folding of oligopeptides at proline-peptide bonds in vitro and may be important for protein folding in vivo. Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain at least two distinct Cyp-related PPIases encoded by the genes CYP1 and CYP2. A yeast strain (GL81) containing genomic disruptions of three known yeast PPIase-encoding genes [CYP1, CYP2 and RBP1 (for rapamycin-binding protein); Koltin et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 11 (1991) 1718–1723] was previously constructed and found to be viable. Soluble fractions of these cells possess residual CsA-sensitive PPIase activity (2–5% of that present in wild-type cells as assayed in vitro). We have purified an approx. 18-kDa protein exhibiting PPIase activity from a soluble fraction of GL81 cells and determined that its N-terminal amino acid (aa) sequence exhibits significant homology (but nonidentity) to the Cyp1 and Cyp2 proteins. We designate the gene for this new protein, CYP3. Using a degenerate oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) based on the N-terminal aa sequence, plus an internal oligo homologous to a conserved region within the portion of CYP1 and CYP2 that had been deleted in the genome, a CYP3-specific DNA fragment was generated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using GL81 genomic DNA as a substrate. This PCR fragment was used as a probe to isolate CYP3 genomic and cDNA clones. Chromosome blots indicate that CYP3 maps to chromosome VIII, and therefore is unlinked to either CYP1 or CYP2. The aa sequence of the deduced protein (Cyp3) exhibits 70% and 48% identity with Cyp1 and Cyp2, respectively. Like Cyp2, Cyp3 contains an N-terminal extension which may play a role in subcellular localization. Haploid cells carrying a genomic disruption of CYP3 are viable, indicating that it is nonessential gene. Furthermore, haploid cells carrying a genomic disruption of CYP1, CYP2, CYP3 and RBP1 are also viable, suggesting either that these enyzmes do not carry out an essential function, or that additional PPIases exist which can compensate for their specific absence.

Cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae contain a major cytosolic cyclophilin (Cyp)-related peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) which is the target for cyclosporin A (CsA) cytotoxicity and which is encoded by the CYP1 gene [Haendler et al., Gene 83 (1989) 39–46]. We recently identified a second Cyp-related gene in yeast, CYP2 [Koser et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 18 (1990) 1643] which predicts a protein with a hydrophobic leader sequence. A sequence lacking 33 codons from the 5′-end of the CYP2 open reading frame was generated by the polymerase chain reaction and engineered for expression in Escherichia coli . The corresponding recombinant truncated protein was purified and found to exhibit PPIase activity which was inhibited by CsA. The CYP2 gene is genetically unlinked to CYP1 . As with CYP1 , genomic disruption of CYP2 had no effect on haploid cell viability. Disruption of all three of the known yeast PPIase-encoding genes [ CYP1 , CYP2 , and RBP1 for rapamycinbinding protein; Koltin et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 11 (1991) 1718–1723] in the same haploid cell also resulted in no apparent cellular phenotype, suggesting either that none of these enzymes have an essential function or that additional PPIases can compensate for their specific absence. Whereas cells containing a genomic disruption of CYP1 exhibited a CsA-resistant phenotype, genomic disruption of CYP2 had no effect on CsA sensitivity. This suggests that the CYP1 gene product is the primary cellular target for CsA toxicity in yeast. Since both purified Cyps display CsA sensitivity in vitro, our data suggest that Cyp1 and Cyp2 differ in terms of their cellular function and/or localization.

The mechanism of interaction between two 3-carboxy A-ring aryl steroids, 17 β -( N , N -disopropylcarboxamide)-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-carboxylic acid ( 1 ) and 17 β -( N -t-butylcarboxamide)-estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3-carboxylic acid ( 2 ), with rat hepatic and human prostatic steroid 5α-reductases has been investigated. Dead-end inhibition plots with 1 and 2 versus both substrates (testosterone and NADPH) were linear-uncompetitive using either enzyme, while double-inhibition analyses indicated cooperative binding to enzyme between NADP + and 1 or 2 . These results were interpreted within the ordered kinetic mechanism of steroid 5α-reductase to result from the preferential association of 3-carboxy A-ring aryl steroid to the enzyme-NADP + complex. The direct displacement by 2 of a radioligand known to associate to this same enzyme form provides further support for these conclusions.

The interactions of a series of newly discovered inhibitors of delta 4-3-oxo-steroid 5 alpha-reductase (SR; EC 1.3.1.30), the 3-androstene-3-carboxylic acids (steroidal acrylates), have been studied by using a solubilized rat liver enzyme preparation. As exemplified by one member of this series, 17 beta-[N,N-diisopropyl-carbamoyl)androst-3,5-diene-3-carboxylic acid (1a), the dead-end inhibition patterns of selected compounds in this class are best evaluated by a linear uncompetitive kinetic model versus either substrate, testosterone (T) or NADPH. These results were interpreted within the context of the preferentially ordered kinetic mechanism for rat liver SR to arise from the association of inhibitor to the binary complex of enzyme and NADP+. This proposed inhibition mechanism was supported by data from double-inhibition experiments implicating the synergistic binding of steroidal acrylate and NADP+ to SR. Further evidence for the preferential formation of this ternary complex was obtained from filtration binding assays with [3H]-1a, where radioligand association to protein was greatly enhanced in the presence of NADP+. The amount of [3H]-1a binding to protein was proportional to the specific activity of SR in the enzyme preparations, and the estimated dissociation constant from binding data by Scatchard analysis (Kd = 25 nM) was comparable to the inhibition constants estimated for SR activity (Ki = 12-26 nM). From the pH profile for inhibition of the solubilized liver SR with 1a, it is proposed that the anion of the steroidal acrylate (pK1 = 4.7 +/- 0.2) is the active inhibitory species, coordinating to a protonated active site functionality (pK2 = 7.5 +/- 0.1). On the basis of data from similar experiments with structural analogues of 1a, the determinants for binding recognition and inhibitory potency are compared to structural features of the putative enzyme-bound intermediate states. These compounds represent a potential therapeutic alternative in the treatment of 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone specific androgen dependent disease states.

A solubilized preparation of steroid 5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.1.30) from rat liver has been used in studies focused toward an understanding of the kinetic mechanism associated with enzyme catalysis. From the results of analyses with product and dead-end inhibitors, a preferentially ordered binding of substrates and release of products from the surface of the enzyme is proposed. The observations from these experiments were identical with those using the steroid 5 alpha-reductase activity associated with rat liver microsomes. The primary isotope effects on steady-state kinetic parameters when [4S-2H]NADPH was used also were consistent with an ordered kinetic mechanism. Normal isotope effects were observed for all three kinetic parameters (Vm/Km for both testosterone and NADPH and Vm) at all substrate concentrations used experimentally. Upon extrapolation to infinite concentration of testosterone, the isotope effect on Vm/Km for NADPH approached unity, indicating that the nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate is the first substrate binding to and the second product released from the enzyme. The isotope effects on Vm/Km for testosterone at infinite concentration of cofactor and on Vm were 3.8 +/- 0.5 and 3.3 +/- 0.4, respectively. Data from the pH profiles of these three steady-state parameters and the inhibition constants (1/Ki) of competitive inhibitors versus both substrates indicate that the binding of nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate involves coordination of its anionic 2'-phosphate to a protonated enzyme-associated base with an apparent pK near 8.0. From these results, relative limits have been placed on several of the internal rate constants used to describe the ordered mechanism of the rat liver steroid 5 alpha-reductase.

A series of unsaturated steroids bearing a 3-carboxy substituent has been prepared and assayed in vitro as inhibitors of human and rat prostatic steroid 5 alpha-reductase (EC 1.3.1.30). It is proposed that the observed tight binding of the 3-androstene-3-carboxylic acids is due to mimicry of a putative, high-energy, enzyme-bound enolate intermediate formed during the NADPH-dependent conjugate reduction of testosterone by steroid 5 alpha-reductase. These compounds were prepared through palladium(0)-catalyzed carbomethoxylations of enol (trifluoromethyl)sulfonates derived from 3-keto precursors. Modification of A and B ring unsaturation and substitution at C-3, -4, -6, and -11 was explored. Mono- and dialkylcarboxamides were employed as 17 beta side chains to enhance inhibitory activity with the human enzyme.

(+/-)- trans -1-Diazo-8-methoxy-4a-methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydro-phenanthren-2-one has been prepared and evaluated in vitro as an inhibitor of type-1 (K i,app 120 nM) and type-2 (K i,app 2000 nM) human recombinant steroid 5α-reductases.

Several 3-oxo-4-aza steroids (1) have been identified as inhibitors of the 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase/3-keto-delta 5-steroid isomerase catalyzed conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone. By kinetically decoupling the two enzyme activities isolated from bovine adrenal cortex, it has been demonstrated that inhibition by 1 occurs through interference of both activities. A preferred ordered association of substrates to the 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase in which the cofactor binds prior to steroid was determined by isotope exchange at equilibrium. With this result, the dead-end inhibition patterns of 1 with the dehydrogenase were interpreted to originate from a preferred association of inhibitor within an enzyme ternate containing NADH; this proposal is supported by data from multiple inhibition analysis indicating synergistic binding of NADH and 1. Similarly, inhibition of the 3-keto-delta 5-steroid isomerase by the 3-oxo-4-aza steroids was enhanced in the presence of the positive effector NADH. On the basis of pH profiles upon Vm, Vm/Km, and 1/Ki for both enzyme activities, inhibition is proposed to result from the structural similarity of 1 to intermediate states formed upon enzyme catalysis.

(S)-4-Amino-5-halopentanoic acids were previously shown to irreversibly inhibit pig brain gamma-aminobutyric acid--alpha-ketoglutaric acid aminotransferase, and a mechanism for the inactivation was proposed (Silverman, R. B., & Levy M. A. (1980) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 95, 250). Evidence is presented to show that these compounds are mechanism-based inactivators, and experiments are described to elucidate their mechanism of action. The enzyme must be in the pyridoxal phosphate form for inactivation to occur, the gamma proton of the inactivators is removed in a rate-determining step, and one fluoride ion is released from 4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid per active site labeled. The change in the optical spectrum of the enzyme during inactivation suggests that the coenzyme is converted into the pyridoxamine phosphate form. Every turnover of inactivator leads to an inactivation event, i.e., the partition ratio is zero.

A novel A-ring pyrazole steroid, 2,3-bisaza-A-nor-1,5(10)-estradien-17 beta-ol (3), was synthesized as a potential inhibitor of steroidal NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductases. Compound 3 proved to be a potent inhibitor of 3(17)beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (from P. testosteroni) exhibiting a Ki of 90 +/- 20 nM. The activities of 3 alpha,20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (from S. hydrogenans), steroid-5 alpha-reductase (from rat prostate), and 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (from rat liver) were unaffected by pyrazole 3. Dead end inhibition studies indicate an ordered binding of cofactor prior to substrate or pyrazole inhibitor.

The novel bridged A ring steroid 1 was synthesized as a potential inhibitor of steroid 5α-reductase. The structure of the key synthetic intermediate, pentacyclic enedione 2 was confirmed by x-ray analysis.

Intraperitoneal injection into mice of varying concentrations of (S)-4-amino-5-fluoropentanoic acid ((S)-AFPA) produces a dose-dependent irreversible decrease in brain γ-aminobutyric acid-α-ketoglutaric acid aminotransferase (E.C. 2.6.1.19) activity. Concomitant with this inactivation is an increase in whole brain γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels. Four hours after a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of (S)-AFPA to mice, endogenous brain GABA concentrations increase to 16 times that of the untreated animals and the enzyme activity decreases to 20% that of the controls. The binding of (S)-AFPA to GABA receptors was more than three orders of magnitude poorer than for GABA itself.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an androgen-dependent disease which afflicts a large percentage of males over the age of fifty, and is usually treated by surgery. Dihydrotestosterone, a 5 alpha-reduced metabolite of testosterone, has been implicated as a causative factor in the progression of the disease, largely through the clinical study of males who are genetically deficient in the dihydrotestosterone-producing enzyme, steroid 5 alpha-reductase. As a result, inhibition of this enzyme has become a pharmacological strategy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia as well as other dihydrotestosterone-related disorders such as acne and male pattern baldness. In this review, Brian Metcalf and colleagues focus on the chemical and kinetic mechanisms of steroid 5 alpha-reductase, and known inhibitors of this enzyme, and discuss the rationale behind the design of a mechanistically distinct class of steroid 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors.