title: Investigation of the active site of aminopeptidase A using a series of new thiol-containing inhibitors.
abstract: Aminopeptidase A (APA) and aminopeptidase N (APN) are two metallopeptidases which have been suggested to be involved in the enzymatic cascade of the renin-angiotensin system. APA liberates angotensin III from angiotensin II by releasing the N-terminal aspartate, and APN participates in the inactivation of angiotensin III. As the role of angiotensin III in the regulation of blood pressure in the central nervous system and at the periphery is controversial, it was of interest to develop selective and efficient inhibitors of APA. Starting from Glu-thiol(1), which was the first efficient APA inhibitor described, but however is equipotent on APA (Ki = 0.14 microM) and APN (Ki = 0.12 microM), beta-amino thiols bearing various carboxyalkyl chains have been synthesized and their inhibitory potencies measured on both purified enzymes. Compounds containing a carboxylated aromatic ring inhibited APA and APN with Ki values in the micromolar range but were slightly more active on APA. Conversely, inhibitors containing a cyclohexyl ring were more efficient on APN. Various modifications of the structure of Glu-thiol decreased inhibitory activity on both enzymes but increased the selectivity for APA, and compound 9d ((S)-4-amino-6-mercaptohexanoic acid) was 23 times more potent on APA (Ki = 2.0 microM) than on APN (Ki = 45 microM).
authors.affiliation: Unité de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire et Structurale, U266 INSERM, URA D 1500 CNRS, Université René Descartes, UFR des sciences pharmaceutiques et biologiques, Paris, France.
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Chauvel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coric
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Llorens-Cortès
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Roques
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Fournié-Zaluski
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000614:Aminocaproates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D000626:Aminopeptidases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000737:chemistry*; D001665:Binding Sites; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D003500:Cyclization; D003514:Cyclohexylamines / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D004220:Disulfides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D005971:Glutamates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase; D008745:Methylation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000614:Aminocaproates; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D004220:Disulfides; D005971:Glutamates; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C087142:6,6'-dithiobis(4-aminohexanoic acid) bis(trifluoroacetate); C087143:1,1'-dithiobis(2-amino-3-(4-(carboxymethyl)cyclohexyl)propane) bis(trifluoroacetate); D000626:Aminopeptidases; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D043384:Glutamyl Aminopeptidase