Development of test systems for the discovery of selective human aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) and 11beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) inhibitors. Discovery of a new lead compound for the therapy of congestive heart failure, myocardial fibrosis and hypertension.
Two key players in adrenal steroid hormone biosynthesis are the human mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 that catalyze the final steps in the biosynthesis of cortisol and aldosterone, respectively. Overproduction of both hormones contributes to a number of severe diseases, as illustrated by the association of elevated aldosterone levels with hypertension and higher mortality in congestive heart failure, and by Cushing's syndrome as the clinical correlate of chronic hypercortisolism. Thus, CYP11B1 and CYP11B2 comprise new targets for drug treatment and selective inhibitors of both enzymes are of high pharmacological interest. To facilitate the search for such compounds, we have established novel test procedures using recombinant fission yeast strains that stably express these enzymes. The aim of this study was to compare the inhibition profiles displayed by these enzymes in established mammalian cell culture test systems to those obtained with the new fission yeast assays, and to evaluate the usefulness of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe strains as screening systems for the identification of novel lead compounds. Using these test systems, we were able to identify a new and very selective CYP11B2 inhibitor (SIAS-1) that displayed no detectable interference with CYP11B1 activity.
Bureik
Matthias
M
Department of Biochemistry, Saarland University, D-66041 Saarbrücken, Germany.
Hübel
Katja
K
Dragan
Calin-Aurel
CA
Scher
Jochen
J
Becker
Hans
H
Lenz
Natalie
N
Bernhardt
Rita
R
D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004719:Endomyocardial Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012568:Schizosaccharomyces; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013379:Substrate Specificity / Q000187:drug effects
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007854:Lead; D019405:Cytochrome P-450 CYP11B2; D013252:Steroid 11-beta-Hydroxylase