Model studies towards prodrugs of the glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON) containing a diazo precursor

Run Duo Gao, Niyada Hin, Eva Prchalová, Arindom Pal, Jenny Lam, Rana Rais, Barbara S. Slusher, Takashi Tsukamoto

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Two distinct diazo precursors, imidazotetrazine and nitrous amide, were explored as promoieties in designing prodrugs of 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), a glutamine antagonist. As a model for an imidazotetrazine-based prodrug, we synthesized (S)-2-acetamido-6-(8-carbamoyl-4-oxoimidazo[5,1-d][1,2,3,5]tetrazin-3(4H)-yl)-5-oxohexanoic acid (4) containing the entire scaffold of temozolomide, a precursor of the DNA-methylating agent clinically approved for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme. For a nitrous amide-based prodrug, we synthesized 2-acetamido-6-(((benzyloxy)carbonyl)(nitroso)amino)-5-oxohexanoic acid (5) containing a N-nitrosocarbamate group, which can be converted to a diazo moiety via a mechanism similar to that of streptozotocin, a clinically approved diazomethane-releasing drug containing an N-nitrosourea group. Preliminary characterization confirmed formation of N-acetyl DON (6), also known as duazomycin A, from compound 4 in a pH-dependent manner while compound 5 did not exhibit sufficient stability to allow further characterization. Taken together, our model studies suggest that further improvements are needed to translate this prodrug approach into glutamine antagonist-based therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number128321
JournalBioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Volume50
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 15 2021

Keywords

  • 6-Diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine
  • Prodrug
  • α-Diazoketone

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Drug Discovery
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Organic Chemistry

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