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Selective substitution of a sulfur atom by carbon in a highly potent 13-membered cyclic disulfide was accomplished by intramolecular displacement of a bromide. The potency of the resulting thioethers in the VCAM/VLA-4 assay was dependent on ring size and the position of the sulfur atom.

The Asp-Pro sequence of the cyclic peptide Ac-HN-Tyr-Cys*-Asp-Pro-Cys*-OH (1) could be replaced with the achiral dipeptide mimetic 1-(2-aminoethyl)cyclpentylcarboxylic acid with retention of potent inhibition of the VCAM-VLA-4 interaction.

A series of N-(N-benzylpyroglutamyl)-4-substituted-L-phenylalanine derivatives was prepared as VLA-4/VCAM antagonists. Analogues substituted by electron deficient benzoylamino groups bearing bulky ortho substituents had low-nM potency in an ELISA assay and low-microM activity in a cell based assay.

We have identified a series of low molecular weight (Mr < 500) N-acylphenylalanines that are effective inhibitors of the VCAM-VLA-4 interaction. Investigation of the SAR of the N-acyl moiety led to the identification of N-benzylpyroglutamyl derivatives as being particularly potent.

Hydroxylation of aspartic acid to erythro-beta-aspartic acid (Hya) occurs in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like modules in numerous extracellular proteins with diverse functions. Several EGF-like modules with the consensus sequence for hydroxylation bind Ca2+, and it has therefore been suggested that the hydroxyl group is essential for Ca2+ binding. To determine directly the influence of beta-hydroxylation on calcium binding in the EGF-like modules from coagulation factors IX and X, we have now measured calcium binding to both the fully beta-hydroxylated and the non-beta-hydroxylated modules of the two proteins. At low ionic strength, the Hya-containing module of factor X has a slightly higher Ca2+ affinity, but at physiological salt concentrations this difference is no longer significant for either factor IX or X. Analysis of the 1H NMR chemical shift differences between the hydroxylated and nonhydroxylated factor X modules show that hydroxylation has no effect on the domain fold. Furthermore, measurements on factor IX show that hydroxylation has no effect on the Ca2+/Mg2+ specificity of the ion binding site. We conclude that the hydroxyl group is not a direct ligand for the calcium ion in these EGF-like modules, nor is it essential for high-affinity Ca2+ binding.

A series of analogs of Ac-CCK-7 [Ac-Tyr(SO3H)-Met28-Gly29-Trp-Met-Asp- Phe-NH2, (1)] were prepared in which the Met28-Gly29 dipeptide was replaced by omega-aminoalkanoic acids. Compounds were assessed in binding assays using homogenated rat pancreatic membranes and bovine striatum as the source of CCK-A and CCK-B receptors, respectively, and for anorectic activity after intraperitoneal administration to rats. The analog incorporating 4-aminobutanoic acid (5) was only 8 times less potent than 1 in the pancreatic binding assay, was more potent in the striatal binding assay, and was more potent than 1 in reducing food intake in rats. Using a bioactive cyclic analog of Ac-CCK-7 as a template, several rigid spacers were designed and tested as substitutes for the Met28-Gly29 dipeptide. The analogs incorporating 3-aminobenzoic acid (20) and (1S)-trans-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid (26) proved highly effective in the binding assays and as anorectic agents. We hypothesize that for stimulation of CCK-A receptors, the main function of the N-terminal tripeptide of Ac-CCK-7 is to orient the tyrosine sulfate with respect to Trp30 and that the bioactive arrangement of these elements lies among those which are readily available to both 20 and 26. NOESY and distance-constrained molecular dynamics experiments carried out on 20 and 26 identified conformations in which the relative orientation of the tyrosine hydroxide and the alpha-carbon atom of tryptophan were similar, providing the basis for further drug design efforts.

Cholecystokinin represents a family of gut hormones which among other activities, have been proposed to participate in satiety signaling. Ac-CCK-7[Ac-Tyr(SO3H)-Met-Gly-Trp30-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 (2)] possesses the full spectrum of activity and potency of the intact hormone; thus analogs of 2 may be useful as anorectic agents. A series of derivatives has been prepared in which the tryptophan indole moiety of 2 has been modified. The new compounds were assayed in CCK binding assays using homogenated rat pancreatic membranes and bovine striatum as a source of CCK-A and CCK-B receptors respectively and in vivo in rats for anorectic activity. Although previous studies have concluded that the indole ring of Trp30 is a critical pharmacophore for the interaction of CCK with both its A and B type receptors, we find 2-Nal30-Ac-CCK-7 (20) to be nearly equipotent to 2 in both CCK binding and as an anorectic agent sensitive to blockade by the Merck CCK-A receptor antagonist MK-329. The extreme structural sensitivity of this anorectic activity is illustrated by the 1-naphthylalanine30 (19) and (benzo[b]thien-2-yl)alanine30 (21) analogs which are 30 and 100 times less potent than 2 respectively. Other mono- and bicyclic Trp30 replacements, including substituted phenylalanines, 3-quinolinylalanine, and 2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro)naphthylalanine, gave inactive compounds.

Previous work indicates that both the C-terminal phenylalanine amide and the tryptophan moieties of cholecystokinin (CCK) are critical pharmacophores for interaction with either the A or B receptor subtypes. We have examined a series of analogs of Ac-CCK-7 [Ac-Tyr(SO3H)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe33-NH2] (2) in which the phenyl ring of the C-terminal Phe-NH2 has been modified. Compounds were assessed in binding assays using homogenated rat pancreatic membranes and bovine striatum as the source of CCK-A and CCK-B receptors respectively and for anorectic activity after intraperitoneal administration to rats. Substitution of a number of cycloalkyl or bicyclic aryl moieties for the phenyl ring of phenylalanine33 including cyclopentyl (20), cyclohexyl (21), cyclooctyl (23), 2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro)naphthyl (26), 2-naphthyl (27), and 1-naphthyl (29) led to analogs with 10-70 times the anorectic potency of 2. The anorectic activity of 21 was blocked by the specific CCK-A receptor antagonist MK-329. Other bulky aliphatic groups in place of the phenylalanine33 aromatic ring such as isopropyl, 2-adamantyl and cyclohexylmethyl gave derivatives similar to 2 in potency. While most of the new compounds were comparable to CCK in binding assays, 23, 26, 27 and 29 were exceptionally potent with IC50s 10(-11)-10(-14) M in the pancreas. Compounds 23 and 29 were further evaluated for their ability to stimulate amylase secretion and found to have potencies similar to that of CCK. The dissociation between potency in the binding and amylase secretion assays suggests that they may interact with a high affinity binding site which is not coupled to amylase secretion. We conclude that CCK receptors possess a generous hydrophobic pocket capable of accommodating large alkyl groups in place of the side chain of phenylalanine33 and that the pharmacological profile of CCK analogs can be tailored by appropriate exploitation of this finding.

A series of analogues of the satiety-inducing peptide cholecystokinin (CCK-8) was prepared in which the sulfated tyrosine required for activation of peripheral receptors was replaced with a carboxy(alkyl)- or tetrazolyl(alkyl)-phenylalanine to investigate whether an organic acid could serve the role of the sulfate group at the receptor. The necessary intermediates were prepared by previously reported procedures or by alkylation of carboxy(alkyl)- or tetrazolyl(alkyl)phenylmethyl bromides with a glycine-derived anion followed by protecting-group manipulations, and these were incorporated into derivatives of acetyl-CCK-7 using solid-phase synthesis. Peptide analogues were evaluated in a CCK-binding assay for affinity for either peripheral (CCK-A) receptors using homogenated rat pancreatic membranes as the receptor source or for central (CCK-B) receptors using bovine striatum as the receptor source. They were further evaluated for effects on food intake in rats after intraperitoneal (ip) injection. A number of the compounds reported are active in the CCK-A receptor binding assay although less potent than acetyl-CCK-7 and decrease food intake with comparable potency to acetyl-CCK-7. In a meal feeding model designed to assess appetite suppressant activity, acetyl-CCK-7 has an ED50 of 7 nmol/kg ip, while the ED50s of Ac-Phe(4-CH2CO2H)-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 (28) and Ac-Phe[4-(tetrazol-5-yl)]-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 (34) were 9 and 11 nmol/kg ip, respectively. An analogue of 28 lacking the N-terminal acetamido group, 3-[4-(carboxymethyl)-phenyl]propanoyl-Met-Gly-Trp-Met-Asp-Phe-NH2 (50), was also active in the meal feeding assay with an ED50 of 3 nmol/kg ip. Its anorexic effect was blocked by simultaneous administration of the CCK-A receptor antagonist MK 329, indicating that the observed anorexic activity is mediated by CCK-A receptors. We conclude from this work that the requirement for a negative charge at the CCK-A receptor provided in the natural substrate by a sulfate group can be satisfied by organic acids.

A series of N-[4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl] 3-substituted propenyl carboxamide derivatives bearing an unsaturated bicyclic moiety in the 3-position was prepared and evaluated for PAF (platelet activating factor) antagonist activity. These compounds represent conformationally constrained direct analogues of the corresponding potent 5-aryl-pentadienecarboxamides (5). Most of the new compounds were active in a PAF-binding assay employing whole, washed dog platelets as the receptor source and inhibited PAF-induced bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs after intravenous administration. However, oral activity in the PAF-induced bronchoconstriction model was highly sensitive to the nature and substitution of the bicyclic ring system. The most interesting compounds included [R-(E)]-(1-butyl-6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)-N-[1-methyl-4-(3- pyridinyl)butyl]-2-propenamide (4b), [R-(E)]-(3-butyl-6-methoxy-2- benzo[b]thiophene-yl)-N-[1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-2-propenamide (4k), and [R-(E)]-(3-butyl-6-methoxy-1-methyl-2-indoly)-N-[1-ethyl-4- (3-pyridinyl)butyl]-2-propenamide (4l) which inhibited PAF-induced broncho-constriction in guinea pigs with IC50s of 3.0-5.4 mg/kg, when the animals were challenged 2 h after drug treatment. They were also highly effective 6 h after a 50 mg/kg oral dose. This study supports the notion that the key remote aromatic ring present in the 5-arylpentadienecarboxamides (5) is preferentially coplanar with the diene system for good PAF antagonist activity.

The disposition of the new antiarrhythmic agent cibenzoline (CBZ) (racemic 4,5-dihydro-2-(2,2-diphenylcyclopropyl)-1H-imidazole) in three male dogs was investigated after oral administration of 13.8 mg/kg of 14C-CBZ base. Within 6 days, 60.5 +/- 6.0% of the dose was excreted in urine and 19.2 +/- 4.6% in feces. In 0-24-hr urine, unchanged drug was excreted (41.6% of the dose) as well as the unconjugated 4,5-dehydro metabolite (DHCBZ, 3.7%), conjugated p-hydroxybenzophenone (0.8%, only in one dog), and a phenolic metabolite, p-hydroxycibenzoline (HCBZ) in a rearranged form (RHCBZ) at 5.2% of the dose (free plus conjugated). Studies with synthetic HCBZ indicated that unrearranged HCBZ was excreted and that rearrangement occurred during purification. CBZ from dog urine displayed slight optical activity, based on ORD/CD data, corresponding to an optical purity of 15% of the S-(-)-CBZ, indicating a limited extent of stereoselective metabolism of CBZ in dogs. After an oral 50-mg/kg dose of 14C-CBZ succinate, male rats excreted in 3 days 27.0 +/- 2.8% in urine and 41.5 +/- 2.6% of the dose in feces, and in a repeated experiment 32.1 +/- 1.9% in urine and 54.5 +/- 0.7% in feces. CBZ (7.6%) and DHCBZ (0.2%) were determined in 0-24-hr urine, and CBZ (4.2%) and RHCBZ (4.2% of the dose) were determined in 0-24-hr feces. RHCBZ (3.1%), m-methoxy p-hydroxycibenzoline (8.3%), and p-hydroxybenzophenone (5.3% of the dose) were identified as glucuronide/sulfate conjugates in bile from rats. Evidence that p-hydroxybenzophenone arose from an unstable unidentified metabolite is discussed.

A series of N-[4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxamides was prepared, and the compounds were evaluated for platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist activity in a binding assay employing washed, whole dog platelets and in vivo for their ability to inhibit PAF-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig. The inclusion of a methyl group in the R configuration on the side-chain carbon adjacent to the carboxamide nitrogen atom of these derivatives resulted in a marked enhancement of potency in the binding assay for compounds unsubstituted in the biphenyl 2-position and, more importantly, in improved oral bioavailability. Previous work with related pyrido[2,1-b]-quinazoline-8-carboxamides suggests that the presence of such an alkyl group improves bioavailability by rendering the resulting compounds resistant to degradation by liver amidases. The most interesting compounds to emerge from this work are (R)-2-bromo-3',4'-dimethoxy-N-[1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-1,1'-bi phe nyl- 4-carboxamide (33) and (R)-2-butyl-3',4'-dimethoxy-N-[1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]- 1,1'-biphenyl-4-carboxamide (40) each of which inhibits PAF-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig by greater than 55%. 6 h after an oral dose of 50 mg/kg.

A series of nine 3-substituted 1-adamantylthioureas was prepared and tested for antiviral activity against influenza A2/Asian/J305 virus in vivo and in vitro. Protective dose 50 values were calculated for three of the compounds. One of these compounds, 7, has antiviral activity which compares favorably with that of amantadine.

Members of a series of basic amide and ester derivatives of 2-substituted pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-8-carboxylic acids were prepared and evaluated for their ability to prevent slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) induced contractions of guinea pig ilea. The results indicate that the presence of a branched-chain alkyl group in the 2-position and a sterically demanding substituted aminoethyl carboxylate or carboxamide in the 8-position give optimal in vitro activity. The phenylpiperazine 25 was further found to block SRS-A-related symptomatology after intravenous administration in two animal models.

A series of N-[(heteroaryl)alkyl]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolines were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the binding of radiolabeled platelet activating factor (PAF) to its receptor on dog platelets. The most potent compounds in this series were found to be pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-8-carboxamides possessing a four- or six-carbon chain between the carboxamide nitrogen atom and a 3-pyridinyl or 5-pyrimidinyl moiety. Since earlier metabolism studies with pyridoquinazolinecarboxamides suggest that the carboxamide moiety is labile to hydrolysis in vivo, attempts were made to find isosteric replacements for this group. The substitutions examined led to a loss of activity; however, insertion of a methyl group on the carbon atom alpha to the carboxamide nitrogen led to an enantioselective enhancement of potency. (R)-2-(1-Methylethyl)-N-[1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-11-oxo-11H- pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-8-carboxamide (34) was more potent than the corresponding S enantiomer in the PAF binding assay and was also shown to be more resistant to degradation by amidases present in whole liver homogenates obtained from guinea pig, dog, and squirrel monkey. The corresponding rac-2-(1-methylethyl)-N-[1-methyl-4-(3-pyridinyl)butyl]-11-oxo-11H- pyrido[2,1-b]quinazoline-8-carboxamide (33) was found to inhibit transient PAF-induced thrombocytopenia and decreases in blood pressure in guinea pigs after intravenous or oral administration and to have a duration of action of greater than 5 h after an oral dose of 200 mg/kg. Compound 33 thus represents the prototype of a new class of orally active PAF antagonists.