Comparison of the effects of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethylpyridine and 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine on ferrochelatase activity and heme biosynthesis in chick embryo liver cells in culture

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-486
Author(s):  
G. S. Marks ◽  
D. T. Allen ◽  
E. P. Sutherland ◽  
S. A. McCluskey ◽  
R. A. Whitney
Keyword(s):  
Aqueous Solution ◽  
Chick Embryo ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
Heme Biosynthesis ◽  
Cells In Culture ◽  
Embryo Liver ◽  
Cytochrome P 450 ◽  
Lowering Activity ◽  
Rapid Transformation

3-Ethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4-dimethylpyridine (EDP) was shown to lack the ferrochelatase-lowering activity of 3,5-diemoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (DDC) in chick embryo liver cells in culture. This was attributed to the inability of EDP to cause destruction of the heme moiety of cytochrome P-450 with concomitant formation of N-methylprotoporphyrin IX. EDP was less potent as a porphyrinogenic agent than DDC and caused the accumulation of uroporphyrin, heptacarboxylic porphyrin, and coproporphyrin in contrast with DDC which caused primarily protoporphyrin to accumulate. The inactivity of EDP as a ferrochelatase-lowering agent and its low porphyrinogenic potency was explained, at least in part, by its rapid transformation in aqueous solution to other nondihydropyridine products. The two ethoxycarbonyl substituents of DDC are therefore essential for N-methylprotoporphyrin formation, ferrochelatase-lowering activity, and optimal porphyrin-inducing activity.

The 1986 Upjohn Award Lecture. Interaction of chemicals with hemoproteins: implications for the mechanism of action of porphyrinogenic drugs and nitroglycerin

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 1111-1119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald S. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Chick Embryo ◽  
Guanylate Cyclase ◽  
Inhibitory Activity ◽  
Liver Cells ◽  
Enzymatic Reactions ◽  
Uroporphyrinogen Decarboxylase ◽  
Nitrite Ion ◽  
Catalytic Activation ◽  
Embryo Liver ◽  
Cytochrome P 450

The ferrochelatase inhibitory activity of a variety of analogues of 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydro-2,4,6-trimethylpyridine (DDC) was studied in chick embryo liver cells. The ferrochelatase inhibitory activity of the 4-butyl, 4-pentyl, and 4-hexyl analogues was considered to be due to catalytic activation by cytochrome P-450 leading to heme alkylation and formation of the corresponding N-alkylporphyrins. The relative ferrochelatase inhibitory activity of the DDC analogues has implications for a postulated model of the binding of porphyrins in the ferrochelatase active site. 3-[2-(2,4,6-Trimethylphenyl)thioethyl]-4-methylsydnone (TTMS) was shown to be a potent porphyrinogenic agent and to inhibit ferrochelatase in chick embryo liver cells. A related sydnone, 3-benzyl-4-phenylsydnone did not inhibit ferrochelatase activity. These results supported the idea that the porphyrinogenicity of TTMS was due to catalytic activation by cytochrome P-450 leading to heme alkylation and formation of N-vinylprotoporphyrin which inhibits ferrochelatase. Polychlorinated biphenyls, phenobarbital, nifedipine, and a large number of structurally different chemicals which are porphyrinogenic in chick embryo liver cells inhibit uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase by an unknown mechanism. Thus drug-induced porphyrin biosynthesis in chick embryo liver cell culture appears to be caused by inhibition of either ferrochelatase or uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. The biotransformation of nitroglycerin by human red blood cells is due to a combination of a sulfhydryl-dependent enzymatic process and an interaction with reduced hemoglobin. Biotransformation of nitroglycerin was shown to occur only with the deoxy form of hemoglobin and to involve a two-electron denization, resulting in the oxidation of two molecules of heme iron (II) per mole of nitroglycerin biotransformed to glyceryl dinitrate and nitrite anion. Since nitroglycerin biotransformation appears to be involved in the mechanism of nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation, we have suggested the following hypothesis: biotransformation of nitroglycerin in vascular smooth muscle might occur by interaction of nitroglycerin with the iron (ferrous) of guanylate cyclase-bound heme. The nitrite ion formed may be converted via nitrous acid to nitric oxide. This in turn would combine with the heme moiety of guanylate cyclase to activate the enzyme and through a series of enzymatic reactions cause vasodilation.

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