Enzymes irreversible inhibitors

This class of inhibitors usually acts irreversibly by permanently blocking the active site of an enzyme upon covalent bond formation with an amino acid residue. Very tight-binding, noncovalent inhibitors often also act in an irreversible fashion with half-Hves of the enzyme-inhibitor complex on the order of days or weeks. At these limits, distinction between covalent and noncovalent becomes functionally irrelevant. The mode of inactivation of this class of inhibitors can be divided into two phases the inhibitors first bind to the enzyme in a noncovalent fashion, and then undergo subsequent covalent bond formation. 

The often fast binding step of the inhibitor I to the enzyme E, forming the enzyme inhibitor complex E-I, is followed by a rate-determining inactivation step to form a covalent bond. The evaluation of affinity labels is based on the fulfillment of the following criteria (/) irreversible, active site-directed inactivation of the enzyme upon the formation of a stable covalent linkage with the activated form of the inhibitor, (2) time- and concentration-dependent inactivation showing saturation kinetics, and (3) a binding stoichiometry of 1 1 of inhibitor to the enzyme s active site (34). 

Enzyme inhibitors are classified in several ways. The inhibitor may interact either reversibly or irreversibly with the enzyme. Reversible inhibitors interact with the enzyme through noncovalent association/dissociation reactions. In contrast, irreversible inhibitors usually cause stable, covalent alterations in the enzyme. That is, the consequence of irreversible inhibition is a decrease in the concentration of active enzyme. The kinetics observed are consistent with this interpretation, as we shall see later. 

If the inhibitor combines irreversibly with the enzyme—for example, by covalent attachment—the kinetic pattern seen is like that of noncompetitive inhibition, because the net effect is a loss of active enzyme. Usually, this type of inhibition can be distinguished from the noncompetitive, reversible inhibition case since the reaction of I with E (and/or ES) is not instantaneous. Instead, there is a time-dependent decrease in enzymatic activity as E + I El proceeds, and the rate of this inactivation can be followed. Also, unlike reversible inhibitions, dilution or dialysis of the enzyme inhibitor solution does not dissociate the El complex and restore enzyme activity. 

Impurities or the ions of the liquid themselves may act as reversible or irreversible enzyme inhibitors. 

One of the most efficient plasmin inhibitor is a2-PI (70 kDa), which is synthesized by the liver, secreted into the blood circulation, where its concentration is 1 pM. It rapidly forms equimolar complex with plasmin, and in this complex, the active site of the enzyme is irreversibly blocked. The complex, thereafter, is removed by the liver. It is remarkable that when plasmin is bound to its substrate (fibrin), it is protected against its primarily inhibitor, a2-PI the rate of inactivation decreases by 400-fold (Fig. 4) [3]. 

A case similar to the slow, practically irreversible inhibition of jack bean a-D-mannosidase by swainsonine is represented by the interaction of castanospermine with isomaltase and rat-intestinal sucrase. Whereas the association constants for the formation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex were similar to those of other slow-binding glycosidase inhibitors (6.5 10 and 0.3 10 M s for sucrase and isomaltase, respectively), the dissociation constant of the enzyme-inhibitor complex was extremely low (3.6 10 s for sucrase) or could not be measured at all (isomaltase), resulting in a virtually irreversible inhibition. Danzin and Ehrhard discussed the strong binding of castanospermine in terms of the similarity of the protonated inhibitor to a D-glucosyl oxocarbenium ion transition-state, but were unable to give an explanation for the extremely slow dissociation of the enzyme-inhibitor complex. 

The initial hydroxylation of tryptophan, rather than the decarboxylation of 5-HTP, appears to be the rate-limiting step in serotonin synthesis. Therefore, the inhibition of this reaction results in a marked depletion of the content of 5-HT in brain. The enzyme inhibitor most widely used in experiments is parachlorophenylalanine (PCPA). In vivo, PCPA irreversibly inhibits tryptophan hydroxylase, presumably by incorporating itself into the enzyme to produce an inactive protein. This results in a long-lasting reduction of 5-HT levels. Recovery of enzyme activity, and 5-HT biosynthesis, requires the synthesis of new enzyme. Marked increases in mRNA for tryptophan hydroxylase are found in the raphe nuclei 1-3 days after administration of PCPA [6]. 

Dehydroarachidonic acid analogs in which one Z-olefinic unit is replaced by a triple bond are irreversible inhibitors of the lipoxygenasses which normally deliver dioxygen to the corresponding site of arachidonic acid. The inactivation appears to be a consequence of dioxygenation at the acetylinic unit to from a vinyl hydroperoxide which undergoes rapid 0-0 homolysis. Synthetic routes to these interesting enzyme inhibitors are outlined below. 

Finally, the whole process of reactive immunization opens up the opportunity of using mechanism-based inhibitors as haptens, capable of actively promoting a desired mechanism by contrast to their conventional use as irreversible enzyme inhibitors. 

Two aldehydic nucleotide derivatives have found use as affinity labels. The magnesium salt of (64), formed by oxidation of ATP with periodate, is a competitive inhibitor of pyruvate carboxylase with respect to [Mg. ATP2-],100 and (65), obtained from the / -anomer of 5-formyluridine-5 -triphosphate on treatment with alkali, is a non-competitive and reversible inhibitor of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from E. coli.101 In each case, addition of borohydride gives stoicheiometric covalent linkage of the nucleotide to the enzyme, with irreversible inactivation. It is thought that condensation with lysine occurs to give a Schiff s base intermediate, which undergoes subsequent reduction. 

There are currently three approved MAOis in the United States phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and isocarboxizide (Marplan). These medications are all nonselective, irreversible inhibitors of the MAO enzymes. Being irreversible, the MAOis permanently deactivate the MAO enzyme molecule when they bind it, and being nonselective, they block the actions of both the MAO-A and MAO-B enzyme subtypes. By deactivating the MAO-A enzyme, MAOis increase the activity of both norepinephrine and serotonin. Blocking the MAO-B enzyme adds little to their effectiveness but causes many problematic side effects. 

An irreversible enzyme inhibitor of clinical value is aspirin, which inhibits cyclooxygenase and dierefore prostaglandin formation (Chapter 11). 

B. R. Baker, Design of Active-Site-Directed Irreversible Enzyme Inhibitors-, The Organic Chemistry of the Enzymic Active Site, John Wiley, Inc. New York, 1967... 

In contrast to the inhibitors such as neostigmine and related compounds described above, where the intermediate complexes hydrolyse slowly, these toxic compounds form complexes that do not hydrolyse. The enzyme becomes irreversibly bound to the toxin and, as a result, ceases to function. These agents all have leaving groups that can be displaced by the serine hydroxyl of the enzyme, leading to stable addition products. 

We may consider enzyme inhibitors as either irreversible or reversible inhibitors. Some inhibitors become covalently linked to the enzyme and are bound so strongly that they cannot be removed. As a result, the enzyme activity decreases and eventually becomes zero. 

Most enzyme inhibitors act reversibly—i. e., they do not cause any permanent changes in the enzyme. However, there are also irreversible inhibitors that permanently modify the target enzyme. The mechanism of action of an inhibitor—its inhibition type—can be determined by comparing the kinetics (see p.92) of the inhibited and uninhibited reactions (B). This makes it possible to distinguish competitive inhibitors (left) from noncompetitive inhibitors (right), for example. Allosteric inhibition is particularly important for metabolic regulation (see below). 

A potent enzyme inhibitor (abbreviated DEP) that acts by ethoxyformylation of proteins, usually at histidine residues. DEP is an irreversible inhibitor of ribonuclease, and rinsing glassware with a 0.1% (weight/volume) DEP solution is recommended to render glassware nuclease-free. Aqueous solutions must be freshly prepared for maximal effectiveness, because DEP will hydrolyze in 6-12 hours at neutral pH. 

Active-site-directed irreversible enzyme inhibitor,... 

In addition to the assessment of reversible inhibition, the role played by mechanism-based inhibitors (irreversible inhibitors) provides a focus during lead development, as it can result in a more profound and prolonged effect than that suggested by the therapeutic dose or exposure. Mechanism-based inhibition (MBI) occurs as a result of the CYP generating reactive intermediates that bind to the enzyme causing irreversible loss of activity. Oxidative metabolism via that CYP is only restored upon re-synthesis of that enzyme. Three mechanisms have been reported showing how intermediate species act as mechanism-based inhibitors ... 

I.A. McDonald, J.M. Lacoste, P. Bey, M.G. Palfreyman, M. Zreika, Enzyme-activated irreversible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase Phenylallylamine stmcture-activity relationships, J. Med. Chem. 28 (1985) 186-193. 

Interactions with metabolic enzymes fluorinated amino acids are peptidomi-metic units or reactive entities used to design either reversible enzyme inhibitors (analogues of substrates) or irreversible enzyme inhibitors (mechanism-based inhibitors). 

Enzyme inhibitors can be designed through different ways taking into account the effects of fluorine substitution on the behavior of a substrate toward the enzyme. Many fluorinated inhibitors (reversible or irreversible) have been studied. In this chapter, we only consider cases in which fluorine atoms play a determinant role in the inhibition and which are of importance in dmg discovery. We successively focus on the following ... 

Enzyme inhibitors inhibit the action of enzymes either reversibly or irreversibly. Since enzymes are such pervasive, powerful biological catalysts, inhibitors can act as potent drugs. Broadly categorized, enzyme inhibitors may be either irreversible or reversible. 

Suicide Enzyme Inhibitors. Snicide substrates are irreversible enzyme inhibitors that bind covalently. The reactive anchoring group is catalytically activated by the enzyme itself through the enzyme-inhibitor complex. The enzyme thus produces its own inhibitor from an originally inactive compound, and is perceived to commit suicide. To design a substrate, the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme as well as the nature of the functional gronps at the enzyme active site must be known. Conversely, successful inhibition provides valuable information about the structure and mechanism of an enzyme. Componnds that form carbanions are especially usefnl in this regard. Pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes form such carbanions readily becanse... 

R. R. Rando (1974). Mechanism based irreversible enzyme inhibitors. Annu. Rep. Med. Chem. 9 234-243. 

---