Synthesis and biological evaluation of thiol-based inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II: discovery of an orally active GCP II inhibitor

J Med Chem. 2003 May 8;46(10):1989-96. doi: 10.1021/jm020515w.

Abstract

A series of 2-(thioalkyl)pentanedioic acids were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCP II, EC 3.4.17.21). The inhibitory potency of these thiol-based compounds against GCP II was found to be dependent on the number of methylene units between the thiol group and pentanedioic acid. A comparison of the SAR of the thiol-based inhibitors to that of the phosphonate-based inhibitors provides insight into the role of each of the two zinc-binding groups in GCP II inhibition. The most potent thiol-based inhibitor, 2-(3-mercaptopropyl)pentanedioic acid (IC(50) = 90 nM), was found to be orally bioavailable in rats and exhibited efficacy in an animal model of neuropathic pain following oral administration.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Analgesics / chemical synthesis*
  • Analgesics / chemistry
  • Analgesics / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Biological Availability
  • Carboxypeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Carboxypeptidases / chemistry
  • Constriction, Pathologic / complications
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II
  • Glutarates / chemical synthesis*
  • Glutarates / chemistry
  • Glutarates / pharmacology
  • Hot Temperature
  • Hyperalgesia / drug therapy
  • Hyperalgesia / etiology
  • Male
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / etiology
  • Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sciatic Nerve
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemical synthesis*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / chemistry
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / pharmacology

Substances

  • 2-(3-mercaptopropyl)pentanedioic acid
  • Analgesics
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Glutarates
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Carboxypeptidases
  • Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II