Undesired versus designed enzymatic cleavage of linkers for liver targeting

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2014 Feb 15;24(4):1144-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.12.126. Epub 2014 Jan 8.

Abstract

A design for the selective release of drug molecules in the liver was tested, involving the attachment of a representative active agent by an ester linkage to various 2-substituted 5-aminovaleric acid carbamates. The anticipated pathway of carboxylesterase-1-mediated carbamate cleavage followed by lactamization and drug release was frustrated by unexpectedly high sensitivity of the ester linkage toward hydrolysis by carboxylesterase-2 and other microsomal components.

Keywords: Carboxylesterase; Cleavable linkers; Drug targeting; Liver targeting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids, Neutral / chemical synthesis
  • Amino Acids, Neutral / chemistry
  • Amino Acids, Neutral / pharmacology*
  • Carbamates / chemical synthesis
  • Carbamates / chemistry
  • Carbamates / pharmacology*
  • Carboxylesterase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Carboxylesterase / metabolism
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amino Acids, Neutral
  • Carbamates
  • 5-aminovaleric acid
  • Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases
  • CES1 protein, human
  • CES2 protein, human
  • Carboxylesterase