Inflammatory MedChem Flashcards
What do antimetabolites do and how?
Molecules that disrupt the metabolic function in the body:
- affect biochemical synthesis of functional molecules
- affect biochemical metabolism and recycling
Describe the functional groups in methotrexate which is essential for function:
NH2 at top of double aromatic group- stronger binding as increases H and ionic bonding so increase in potency
Middle tertiary amide- increase potency and decrease in side effects
Describe the role of folic acid:
Involved in the denovo synthesis of purines and pyrimidines therefore in DNA and RNA synthesis
Series of enzymatic steps lead to N5N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid, a CH2 donor
Main enzyme used is dyhydrofolate reductase
Describe the steps into how folic acid changes to its wanted product:
Folic acid-> dihydrofolate-> tetrahydrofolate-> N5N10-methylenetetrahydrofolic acid
Last step via a pyroxidal enzyme (serine into glycine)
How is N5N10 involved in the synthesis of purines?
It needs to be metabolised to N10 formyltetrahydrofolic acid (aldehyde) as it is an important precursor in the formation of the purine ring
This also affects guanine and adenosine synthesis
How is N5N10 involved in the synthesis of pyrimidines?
The conversion of uridylic acid to thymidine via thymidylate synthase
dUMP (Deoxyuridine monophosphate) to dTMP (deoxythymidine monophosphate )
How does methotrexate work?
It is a competitive reversible inhibitor of dihdrofolate reductase, so decreases formation of N5N10
The effect is larger on pyrimidine synthesis than purine
It has a stronger binding affinity (1nm) than folic acid but still reversible
Describe the metabolism of methotrexate:
Metabolised in vivo (like folic acid) to the polyglutamate which increases its size and shape and traps it inside the cells and therefore prolonges action
What is the rescue therapy for methotrexate and how?
Leucovorin- as methotrexate is toxic it acts an alternative CH2 donor molecule
Name other dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and how do they work?
Trimethoprim-binds to bacterial dihydrofolate reductase
Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole)- attacks synthesis pathway in two places
Pyrimethamine (antimalerial)-exploits difference between A/S of dihydrofolate reductase in mammals and plasmodium
What is mercaptopurine?
A prodrug of azathioprine
Mercaptopurine was readily metabolised by xanthine oxidase
What are two inactive metabolites of azathioprine and how are these produced?
Azathioprine is activated by glutathione conjugation to give mercaptopurine
Thiouric acid via xanthine oxidase metabolism
Methyl mercaptopurine via Thiopurine S-methyl transferase introducing a methyl group
Describe a pharmacogenomic effect which can cause azathioprine to become toxic:
In the Thiopurine S-methyl transferase pathway (TPMT), some people can have less of this enzyme so there is more levels of azathioprine
Describe the MoA of how azathioprine is converted to mercaptopurine:
Glutathione can attack the double bond on the imidazole ring
This is facilitated by having an electron withdrawing group present on the ring, so is electron deficient, so the carbon is more ready to react with the nucleophile
The electron is passed to the N group and back again
Describe the purine salvage pathway:
Mercaptopurine undergoes further metabolism and is the major pathway as an immune suppressant
Mercaptopurine acts as a substrate for Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) which converts mercaptopurine to Thionosine monophosphate (TIMP) to TGMP (guanine) and the DNA unit TdGTP
So acts as a substrate for DNA polymerase and incorporated into DNA/RNA
Why does azathioprine take a while to work?
The cell must replicate in order to see an effect
Describe de-novo purine synthesis:
Mercaptopurine undergoes further metabolism by inhibiting new purine synthesis (minor)
TPMT can metabolise TIMP to MeTIMP, which inhibits an early step in purine de novo synthesis, the synthesis of the ribose unit
What is the basic explanation of azathioprine MoA?
Affects DNA activity due to an incorporation of a false nucleotide
How does allopurinol work?
Inhibitor of xanthine oxidase as affects the biosynthesis of uric acid
It has 15-30x affinity of xanthine oxidase than xanthine
Means there is a build up of hypoxanthine and xanthine but these are harmless and readily excreted
Describe the structure of allopurinol:
Isomer of a purine (hypoxanthine)
Five membered ring
N positioned differently
Describe how uric acid is formed:
From the breakdown of adenine and guanine
Adenine (adenine deaminase) into hypoxanthine (xanthine oxidase) into xanthine
Guanine (guanine deaminase) into xanthine
Xanthine (xanthine oxidase) uric acid
How does uric acid cause gout?
Uric acid is only just soluble in the body, so when there is an excess, it precipitates out and causes pain
Could be caused by excess alcohol intake e.g beer or purine rich foods
Describe the metabolism of allopurinol:
Metabolised to oxypurinol and has a longer half life and is still active- most effect comes from oxypurinol
When can allopurinol be given?
Can’t be started until the patient is asymptomatic
How does Febuxostat work?
Another xanthine oxidase inhibitor
Binds in channel leading to active site and blocks entry of substrate
Binds to both oxidised and reduced form of enzyme so increased affinity and selectivity
More effective than allopurinol
What is Leflunamide used for?
RA
What does Leflunamide target?
Effects de novo synthesis of pyrimidines so lymphocytes can’t be replicated quickly as needed for inflammation
Also have activity against TKs and COX when used at high levels
What is the MoA of Leflunamide?
Blocks the 4th step in de novo prymidine synthesis
Reversible inhibitor of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (rate limiting step)