3-5-diethoxy-4-aminomethylpyridine and benzylamine

In order to obtain substrate-like inhibitors of copper amine oxidases (CAOs), a class of enzymes involved in important cellular processes as well as in crosslinking of elastin and collagen and removal of biogenic primary amines, we synthesized a set of benzylamine derivatives properly substituted at positions 2 and 6 and studied their biological activity towards some members of CAOs. With benzylamines 6, 7, 8 containing linear alkoxy groups we obtained reversible inhibitors of benzylamine oxidase (BAO), very active and selective toward diamine oxidase (DAO), lysyl oxidase (LO) and monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) characterized by a certain toxicity consequent to the crossing of the brain barrier. Poorly toxic, up to very active, reversible inhibitors of BAO, very selective toward DAO, LO and MAO B, were obtained with benzylamines 10, 11, 12 containing hydrophilic ω-hydroxyalkoxy groups. With benzylamines 13, 14, 15, containing linear alkyl groups endowed with steric, but not conjugative effects for the absence of properly positioned oxygen atoms, we synthesized moderately active inhibitors of BAO reversible and selective toward DAO, LO and MAO B. The cross examination of the entire biological data brought us to the conclusion that the bioactive synthesized compounds most likely exert their physiological role of reversible inhibitors in consequence of the formation of a plurality of hydrogen bonds or hydrophobic non-covalent interactions with proper sites in the protein. Accordingly, the reported inhibitors may be considered as a set of research tools for general biological studies and the formation of enzyme complexes useful for X-ray structure determinations aimed at the design of more sophisticated inhibitors to always better modulate the protein activity without important side effects.

Topics: Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); Benzylamines; Molecular Structure; Structure-Activity Relationship

In mice deprived of food for 12 h, the i.c.v. or i.p. administration of benzylamine, a substrate common to both monoamine oxidase B and semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidases, dose-dependently inhibited feeding. This effect was significantly potentiated by selective monoamine oxidase A and B inhibition, suggesting that central monoamines, known to be substrates of these enzymes may be released. The i.p. administration of semicarbazide-sensitive benzylamine oxidase inhibitors, B24 (3,5-ethoxy-4-aminomethylpyridine) and MDL 72274 ((E)-2-phenyl-3-chloroallylamine) strongly potentiated the effect of i.p. but not i.c.v.-administered benzylamine. The hypophagic effect of benzylamine was evaluated following i.c.v. administration, in comparison with the effect of the sympathomimetic compound amphetamine or the K(+) channel blocker tetraethylammonium, as reference compounds. Our results make it possible to define benzylamine as a centrally acting hypophagic compound devoid of amphetamine-like motor stimulatory effects and point to a role of B24 and MDL 72274 as specific peripheral enhancers of the pharmacological effects of benzylamine.

Topics: Allyl Compounds; Amphetamine; Animals; Benzylamines; Clorgyline; Dopamine Agents; Drug Synergism; Feeding Behavior; Male; Mice; Monoamine Oxidase; Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; Motor Activity; Piperazines; Propylamines; Pyridines; Selegiline; Serotonin Antagonists; Substrate Specificity; Tetraethylammonium

B24, 3,5-diethoxy-4-aminomethylpyridine, is a specific inhibitor of the semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase with high affinity for benzylamine (BnNH2.SSAO). It is a site-directed inhibitor of pig plasma benzylamine oxidase (BAO) with an affinity for the enzyme much higher than that for benzylamine. B24 inhibition is dependent on the molar ratio B24/BAO because the inhibitor reacts mole to mole with the enzyme and benzylamine appears to be ineffective in removing the inhibitor from the adduct [EI]. B24 is a weak substrate of BAO and for this reason the degree of inhibition (when the molar ratio B24/BAO is lower than 1) decreases with the incubation time as well as with the preincubation time. This decrease is dependent on the gradual release of free enzyme which reacts with the substrate, giving [ES] without any interfering free B24. When the B24/BAO molar ratio is higher than 1, the free enzyme released by the oxidative deamination of B24 reacts with the substrate, but the free B24 present competitively inhibits the formation of [ES] and the affinity of benzylamine is therefore reduced. This is the reason why B24, in the kinetic experiments in which the inhibitor is not pre-incubated with the enzyme, may appear to be a competitive inhibitor or a mixed inhibitor, mainly competitive. When B24 is preincubated with the enzyme and the initial rate of benzylamine oxidation is measured, it appears as a non-competitive inhibitor becoming a mixed one only when the B24/BAO molar ratio is high and the incubation time is long.

Topics: Aldehydes; Animals; Benzylamine Oxidase; Benzylamines; Enzyme Inhibitors; Models, Chemical; Oxidation-Reduction; Pyridines; Spectrophotometry; Swine

A semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase with affinity for benzylamine (Bz.SSAO) was found in the human heart. This enzymatic activity has a K(m) of 278 +/- 35.3 microM and a V(m) of 114.7 +/- 14.7 nmol mg-1 min-1 (mean +/- SE of eight hearts) for benzylamine and is strongly inhibited by 1 mM histamine and by B24, a specific inhibitor of Bz.SSAO. No diamine oxidase activity was found in the human heart. The levels of MAo and B were assayed: MAO A showed a K(m) of 137.1 +/- 16.2 microM and a V(m) of 10.4 +/- 2.5 nmol mg-1 min-1 for serotonin; MAo B had a K(m) of 9.9 +/- 1.6 microM and V(m) of 4.3 +/- 1.1 nmol mg-1 min-1 for beta-phenylethylamine (mean +/- SE of seven hearts). The human heart has high MAO B activity and Bz.SSAO with histaminase activity.

Topics: Adult; Aging; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); Amines; Benzylamine Oxidase; Benzylamines; Binding, Competitive; Cardiomyopathies; Enzyme Inhibitors; Female; Histamine; Humans; Kinetics; Male; Middle Aged; Monoamine Oxidase; Myocardium; Putrescine; Pyridines; Semicarbazides

Investigate the reaction conditions which allow the measurement of high affinity histamine oxidation.. Isolated rat white adipocytes.. The histaminase activity of rat white adipocytes and its inhibition by B24 and MDL 72274 was measured fluorimetrically or radiochemically in different experimental conditions.. Histamine oxidation by rat white adipocytes is enhanced by elevated pH and by the presence of bicarbonate ions. Under these conditions the oxidative deamination of histamine by white adipocytes, becomes comparable to that of other histaminases, suggesting that this amine oxidase activity may play a role in the catabolism of histamine in vivo. The specific semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) inhibitors MDL 72274 and B24 inhibit the oxidation of both histamine and benzylamine by the adipocyte preparation.. Although there are kinetic differences between the behaviour of these two amine substrates, these results would be consistent with a SSAO being responsible for both activities.

Topics: Adipocytes; Allyl Compounds; Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing); Animals; Benzaldehydes; Benzylamines; Bicarbonates; Carbon Radioisotopes; Cell Separation; Enzyme Inhibitors; Histamine; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Isotope Labeling; Male; Octoxynol; Oxidation-Reduction; Propylamines; Pyridines; Rats; Rats, Wistar