81276-02-0

Anthracycline chemotherapeutics are highly effective, but their clinical usefulness is hampered by adverse side effects such as cardiotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is a cytochrome P450 epoxygenase in human cardiomyocytes that converts arachidonic acid (AA) to cardioprotective epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) regioisomers. Herein, we performed biochemical studies to understand the interaction of anthracycline derivatives (daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, 5-iminodaunorubicin, zorubicin, valrubicin, and aclarubicin) with CYP2J2. We utilized fluorescence polarization (FP) to assess whether anthracyclines bind to CYP2J2. We found that aclarubicin bound the strongest to CYP2J2 despite it having large bulky groups. We determined that ebastine competitively inhibits anthracycline binding, suggesting that ebastine and anthracyclines may share the same binding site. Molecular dynamics and ensemble docking revealed electrostatic interactions between the anthracyclines and CYP2J2, contributing to binding stability. In particular, the glycosamine groups in anthracyclines are stabilized by binding to glutamate and aspartate residues in CYP2J2 forming salt bridge interactions. Furthermore, we used iterative ensemble docking schemes to gauge anthracycline influence on EET regioisomer production and anthracycline inhibition on AA metabolism. This was followed by experimental validation of CYP2J2-mediated metabolism of anthracycline derivatives using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation analysis and inhibition of CYP2J2-mediated AA metabolism by these derivatives. Taken together, we use both experimental and theoretical methodologies to unveil the interactions of anthracycline derivatives with CYP2J2. These studies will help identify alternative mechanisms of how anthracycline cardiotoxicity may be mediated through the inhibition of cardiac P450, which will aid in the design of new anthracycline derivatives with lower toxicity.

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes metabolize arachidonic acid (AA) to several biologically active epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). Repurposing clinically-approved drugs could provide safe and readily available means

Herein, we characterize a generally applicable transformation of fatty acid epoxides by lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes that results in the formation of a five-membered endoperoxide ring in the end product. We demonstrated this transformation using soybean LOX-1 in the metabolism of 15,16-epoxy-α-linolenic acid, and murine platelet-type 12-LOX and human 15-LOX-1 in the metabolism of 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET). A detailed examination of the transformation of the two enantiomers of 15,16-epoxy-α-linolenic acid by soybean LOX-1 revealed that the expected primary product, a 13 S-hydroperoxy-15,16-epoxide, underwent a nonenzymatic transformation in buffer into a new derivative that was purifi ed by HPLC and identified by UV, LC-MS, and 1H-NMR as a 13,15-endoperoxy-16-hydroxy-octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid. The configuration of the endoperoxide (cis or trans side chains) depended on the steric relationship of the new hydroperoxy moiety to the enantiomeric configuration of the fatty acid epoxide. The reaction mechanism involves intramolecular nucleophilic substitution (SNi) between the hydroperoxy (nucleophile) and epoxy group (electrophile). Equivalent transformations were documented in metabolism of the enantiomers of 14,15-EET by the two mammalian LOX enzymes, 15-LOX-1 and platelet-type 12-LOX. We conclude that this type of transformation could occur naturally with the co-occurrence of LOX and cytochrome P450 or peroxygenase enzymes, and it could also contribute to the complexity of products formed in the autoxidation reactions of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

The endocannabinoids, anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), are arachidonic acid (AA) derivatives that are known to regulate human cardiovascular functions. CYP2J2 is the primary cytochrome P450 in the human heart and is most well known for the metabolism of AA to the biologically active epoxyeicosatrienoic acids. In this study, we demonstrate that both 2-AG and AEA are substrates for metabolism by CYP2J2 epoxygenase in the model membrane bilayers of nanodiscs. Reactions of CYP2J2 with AEA formed four AEA-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, whereas incubations with 2-AG yielded detectable levels of only two 2-AG epoxides. Notably, 2-AG was shown to undergo enzymatic oxidative cleavage to form AA through a NADPH-dependent reaction with CYP2J2 and cytochrome P450 reductase. The formation of the predominant AEA and 2-AG epoxides was confirmed using microsomes prepared from the left myocardium of porcine and bovine heart tissues. The nuances of the ligand-protein interactions were further characterized using spectral titrations, stopped-flow small-molecule ligand egress, and molecular modeling. The experimental and theoretical data were in agreement, which showed that substitution of the AA carboxylic acid with the 2-AG ester-glycerol changes the binding interaction of these lipids within the CYP2J2 active site, leading to different product distributions. In summary, we present data for the functional metabolomics of AEA and 2-AG by a membrane-bound cardiovascular epoxygenase.

Cytochromes P450 (CYPs) metabolize polyun-saturated long-chain fatty acids (PUFA-LC) to several classes of oxygenated metabolites. Through use of human recombinant CYPs, we recently showed that CYP1A1, -2C19, -2D6, -2E1, and -3A4 are mainly hydroxylases, whereas CYP1A2, -2C8, -2C9, and -2J2 are mainly epoxygenases of arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), respectively. It is worth noting that the last double bond of these PUFAs, i.e., ω6 in AA or ω3 in EPA and DHA, respectively, was preferentially epoxidized. In this study, we have characterized the stereoselectivity of this epoxidation reaction by comparison with the PUFA-LC epoxide stereoisomers obtained from the enantioselective bacterial CYP102A1 F87V. The stereoselectivity of the epoxidation of the last olefi n of AA (ω6), EPA (ω3), or DHA (ω3) differed between the CYP isoforms but was similar for EPA and DHA. These data give additional insight into the PUFA-LC epoxide enantiomers generated by the hepatic CYPs. Copyright

The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) is thought to be mediated primarily by the cytochromes P450 (P450s) from the 2 family (2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 2J2). In contrast, P450s of the 4 family are primarily involved in omega oxidation of AA (4A11 and 4A22). The ability to determine enantioselective formation of the regioisomeric EETs is important in order to establish their potential biological activities and to asses which P450 isoforms are involved in their formation. It has been extremely difficult to analyze individual EET enantiomers in biological fluids because they are present in only trace amounts and they are extremely difficult to separate from each other. In addition, the deuterium-labeled internal standards that are commonly used for stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses have different LC retention times when compared with the corresponding protium forms. Therefore, quantification by LC/MS-based methodology can be compromised by differential suppression of ionization of the closely eluting isomers. We report the preparation of [13C20]-EET analog internal standards and the use of a validated high-sensitivity chiral LC/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (ECAPCI)-MS method for the trace analysis of endogenous EETs as their pentafluorobenzyl (PFB) ester derivatives. The assay was then used to show the exquisite enantioselectivity of P4502C19-, P4502D6-, P4501A1-, and P4501B1-mediated conversion of AA into EETs and to quantify the enantioselective formation of EETs produced by AA metabolism in a mouse epithelial hepatoma (Hepa) cell line. Copyright

The present invention provides methods of treating avian pulmonary hypertension syndrome by administering to an avian subject a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase (“sEHI”), alone or co-administered in combination with a cis-epoxyeicosantrienoic acid (“EET”). The invention also provides nucleic acid and amino acid sequences of an avian soluble epoxide hydrolase.

The use of dimethyldioxirane (DMD) as the epoxidizing agent for polyunsaturated fatty acids was investigated. With fatty acid methyl esters, this is a convenient method for avoiding acidic conditions, using different solvents, and simplifying the isolation procedures, with less contamination due to by-products. The reagent was also tested with free fatty acids in water. In this case, the supramolecular organization of fatty acids influenced the reaction outcome, and the epoxidation showed interesting regioselective features. The C=C bonds closest to the aqueous-micelle interface is the most favored for the interaction with dimethyldioxirane. The preferential epoxidation of linoleic acid (=(9Z,12Z)-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acid) to the 9,10-monoepoxy derivative was achieved, with a high yield and 65% regioselectivity. In case of arachidonic acid (=(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid) micelles, the regioselective outcome with formation of the four possible monoepoxy isomers was studied under different conditions. It resulted to be a convenient synthesis of 'cis-5,6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid' (=3-[(2Z,5Z,8Z)-tetradeca-2,5,8- trienyl]oxiran-2-butanoic acid), whereas in reverse micelles, epoxidation mostly gave 'cis-14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (= (5Z,8Z,11Z)-13-(3-pentyloxiran-2- yl)trideca-5,8,11-trienoic acid).

It has now been discovered that inhibitors of soluble epoxide hydrolase (“sEH”) are useful in reducing the severity of or inhibiting the progression of obstructive pulmonary diseases, restrictive airway diseases, and asthma. Administering a cis-epoxyeicosantrienoic acid (“EET”) in addition to the inhibitor is at least additive, and may be synergistic, in reducing or inhibiting these conditions and diseases, as measured by reduced numbers of neutrophils present in the lung. The inhibitor of sEH may be a nucleic acid, such as a small interfering RNA.

(Equation presented) An effective pathway is described for the synthesis of (11R,12S)-oxidoarachidonic acid (1) from the achiral precursors shown.

Both enantiomers of the epoxygenase metabolites 8,9- and 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) were synthesized by a convergent strategy utilizing dimethyl D- or L-malate and erythrospecific epoxidation.

Incubation of arachidonic acid with a reconstituted enzymatic system containing a purified preparation of the major, phenobarbital-inducible form of rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, NADPH, cytochrome b5, and NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase affords as the principal products four regioisomeric cis-epoxides: 5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs).Their absolute configurations were established by conversion to the corresponding hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) methyl esters, derivatization with dehydroabiethylisocyanate, and chromatographic analysis.Except for 5,6-EET, the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed epoxidation is highly enantioselective.

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