The long range goal of this work is to develop new classes of amino acids as potential inhibitors for amino acid decarboxylases. This class of enzymes ranks as one of the most important from the point of view of rational drug design. For example, irreversible inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase block the polyamine pathway required for rapid cell proliferation and thereby act as antineoplastic agents. The multi-million dollar antihypertensive drug, Aldomet, is an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase. Carbidopa, a peripheral DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor, is used in combination with L-DOPA for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. A new, efficient synthesis of racemic alpha-vinyl amino acids from the corresponding amino acids has been developed in these laboratories. Proposed is the extension of this methodology to the synthesis of optically pure D- and L-alpha-vinyl amino acids. Asymmetry will be induced through the use of a chiral auxiliary in the initial alkylation step or through chemical or enzymatic resolution of the racemic alpha- vinyl amino acids. New inhibitors will be tested for decarboxylase inhibition using steady state enzyme kinetics or a Kitz-Wilson analysis as appropriate to establish mode and potency of inhibition. Promising inhibitors will be submitted to the NCI for cytotoxicity assays.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29CA062034-04
Application #
2633864
Study Section
Bio-Organic and Natural Products Chemistry Study Section (BNP)
Program Officer
Beisler, John A
Project Start
1995-01-01
Project End
1999-12-31
Budget Start
1998-01-01
Budget End
1998-12-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Department
Chemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
555456995
City
Lincoln
State
NE
Country
United States
Zip Code
68588
Swyka, Robert A; Berkowitz, David B (2017) The In Situ Enzymatic Screening (ISES) Approach to Reaction Discovery and Catalyst Identification. Curr Protoc Chem Biol 9:285-305
Berkowitz, David B; Karukurichi, Kannan R; de la Salud-Bea, Roberto et al. (2008) Use of Fluorinated Functionality in Enzyme Inhibitor Development: Mechanistic and Analytical Advantages. J Fluor Chem 129:731-742
Karukurichi, Kannan R; de la Salud-Bea, Roberto; Jahng, Wan Jin et al. (2007) Examination of the new alpha-(2'Z-fluoro)vinyl trigger with lysine decarboxylase: the absolute stereochemistry dictates the reaction course. J Am Chem Soc 129:258-9
Berkowitz, David B; Wu, Bin; Li, Huijie (2006) A formal [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement route to quaternary alpha-vinyl amino acids: use of allylic N-PMP trifluoroacetimidates. Org Lett 8:971-4
Berkowitz, David B; Bose, Mohua; Choi, Sungjo (2002) In situ enzymatic screening (ISES): a tool for catalyst discovery and reaction development. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 41:1603-7