Peptides prodrug derivatives

FIGURE 36.9 Imine, enamine and peptide prodrugs derived from amino functions. 

Rasmussen, G. J., Bundgaard, H., Prodrugs of peptides 15. 4-Imida-zolidinone prodrug derivatives of enkephalines to prevent aminopep-tidase-catalyzed metabolism in plasma and absorptive mucosae, Int. J. 

A series of peptide prodrugs ofh-a-methyldopa were prepared and shown to exhibit high affinity for the peptide carrier system [32], In an in situ intestinal perfusion model, the prodrugs Phe-L-a-methyldopa (6.10) and l-a-methyldopa-Phe (6.11) showed permeabilities that were 10- and 20-times higher, respectively, than that of L-a-methyldopa. The other derivatives examined (Gly- and Pro-L-a-methyldopa, L-a-methyldopa-Pro) also had better permeabilities. These and other results indicate that the peptide transport system has a relatively low substrate specificity and can indeed be targeted by peptide prodrugs to improve absorption [33],... 

Increased permeability is just one prerequisite in the development of useful peptide prodrugs. Another condition is that efficient bioactivation must follow absorption. Mucosal cell enzymes able to hydrolyze peptides include exopeptidases such as aminopeptidases and carboxypeptidases, endopepti-dases, and dipeptidases such as cytosolic nonspecific dipeptidase (EC 3.4.13.18), Pro-X dipeptidase (prolinase, EC 3.4.13.4), and X-Pro dipeptidase (prolidase, EC 3.4.13.9). For example, L-a-methyldopa-Pro was shown to be a good substrate for both the peptide transporter and prolidase. This dual affinity is not shared by all dipeptide derivatives, and, indeed, dipeptides that lack an N-terminal a-amino group are substrates for the peptide transporter but not for prolidase [29] [33] [34],... 

The oral absorption of an entirely different class of drugs, namely bisphosphonates, has also been improved by a peptide prodrug strategy [36]. The drugs pamidronate (6.13, n=2) and alendronate (6.13, n=3) were deriv-atized with the Pro-Phe-dipeptidyl unit to yield the prodrugs Pro-Phe-pamidronate (6.14, n=2) and Pro-Phe-alendronate (6.14, n=3), the ob-... 

G. J. Rasmussen, H. Bundgaard, Prodrugs of Peptides. 15. 4-hnidazolidinone Prodrug Derivatives of Enkephalins to Prevent Aminopeptidase-Catalyzed Metabohsm in Plasma and Absorptive Mucosa , Int. J. Pharm. 1991, 76, 113- 122. 

Enalaprilat and SQ27,519 are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors with poor oral absorption. Enalapril and fosinopril are dipeptide and amino acid derivatives of enalaprilat and SQ27,519, respectively [51] (Fig. 10). Both prodrugs are converted via deesterification to the active drug by hepatic biotransformation. In situ rat perfusion of enalapril indicated a nonpassive absorption mechanism via the small peptide carrier-mediated transport system. In contrast to the active parent, enalapril renders enalaprilat more peptide-like, with higher apparent affinity for the peptide carrier. The absorption of fosinopril was predominantly passive. Carrier-mediated transport was not demonstrated, but neither was its existence ruled out. 

H. Bundgaard, J. Mpss, Prodrugs of Peptides. 6. Bioreversible Derivatives of Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) with Increased Lipophilicity and Resistance to Cleavage by the TRH-Specific Serum Enzyme , Pharm. Res. 1990, 7, 885-892. 

The 3-(2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylphenyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid shown in Fig. 8.23, as well as another phenylpropanoic derivative presented below, have been used as pro-moieties to prepare a number of prodrugs of therapeutic peptides [169] [238], Of interest here is that the pro-moiety is linked to the peptide by both amide and ester bonds to form a cyclic, double prodrug, the two-step activation of which is schematized in Fig. 8.24. Briefly, enzymatic hydrolysis of the ester bond unmasks a nucleophile (in this case, a phenol) that carries out an intramolecular attack on the amide bond, resulting in cy-clization of the pro-moiety and elimination of the peptide. [Leu5]enkephalin was one of the therapeutic peptides used to validate the concept, as illustrated in Fig. 8.25 [241],... 

The two-step activation of oxazolidinones is depicted in Fig. 8.26. Hydrolysis yields an A-(l -hydroxy alkyl) derivative, which breaks down to liberate the peptide or A-acylamino acid (Fig. 8.26, Reactions a and b). Since oxazolidinones are prepared by the condensation of a peptide and an aldehyde (Fig. 8.26, Reaction c), the reverse reaction (i. e., one-step activation) cannot be excluded. Examples of this type of prodrug are provided by a series of oxazolidinones of the general structure 8.190 (R = PhCH20 R = H, Me, i-Pr, or PhCH2 R" = H, Me, or Ph Fig. 8.26) [248]. In phosphate buf-... 

H. Bundgaard, G. J. Rasmussen, Prodrugs of Peptides. 11. Chemical and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Kinetics of N-Acyloxymethyl Derivatives of a Peptide-Like Bond , Pharm. Res. 1991, 8, 1238-1242. 

Some cyclic AT-Mannich bases have also been reported, for example, the imidazolidin-4-ones (11.116) that were investigated as potential prodrugs of peptides (11.117) [141], The imidazolidin-4-ones, prepared by allowing the peptide to react with acetone under dehydrating conditions, are bases with pKa values of 3 - 4. For most of the derivatives, hydrolysis is spontaneous the protonated form (i.e., at pH < 2) reacts ca. 10 - 30 times slower than does the neutral form (pH > 6). Very large differences in reactivity were noted,... 

Fujita, H. and Yoshikawa, M. (1999). LKPNM A prodrug-type ACE-inhibitory peptide derived from fish protein. Immunopharmacology 44,123-127. 

A relatively novel class of derivatives is obtained by the covalent incorporation of organometallic moieties into cellulose. For example, cellulose ferro-cenyl derivatives have been prepared by esterification of cellulose with an intermediate derived from ferrocene carboxylic acid and triphenyl phosphite in the presence of pyridine [84]. An enzymatically cleavable cellulose ester has been developed [85], and prodrugs have been coupled to the hydroxyl or carboxyl functions of C-terminal aromatic amino acids of cellulose peptide derivatives for controlled release applications [86]. 

ACE inhibitor drugs were developed by modelling interaction with the active site of the enzyme of a snake-venom-derived bradykinin-potentiating peptide, and from this the necessary structure of non-peptide inhibitors was inferred. The first such ACE inhibitor used medicinally was caplopril. Later examples in clinical use include cilazapril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, trandolapril. Several ACE inhibitors are now administered clinically as prodrugs - which have good bioavailability, but are inactive in their own right. They are then converted to the active molecule in vivo, usually by esterases (e.g. enalapril to enalaprilat. and ramipril to ramiprilat). 

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