N-[1-Aryl-2-(1-imidazolo)ethyl]-guanidine derivatives as potent inhibitors of the bovine mitochondrial F1F0 ATP hydrolase

New Mechanistic Insights on Carbon Nanotubes' Nanotoxicity Using Isolated Submitochondrial Particles, Molecular Docking, and Nano-QSTR Approaches

Single-walled carbon nanotubes can induce mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase nanotoxicity through inhibition. To completely characterize the mechanistic effect triggering the toxicity, we have developed a new approach based on the combination of experimental and computational study, since the use of only one or few techniques may not fully describe the phenomena. To this end, the in vitro inhibition responses in submitochondrial particles (SMP) was combined with docking, elastic network models, fractal surface analysis, and Nano-QSTR models. In vitro studies suggest that inhibition responses in SMP of F0F1-ATPase enzyme were strongly dependent on the concentration assay (from 3 to 5 µg/mL) for both pristine and COOH single-walled carbon nanotubes types (SWCNT). Besides, both SWCNTs show an interaction inhibition pattern mimicking the oligomycin A (the specific mitochondria F0F1-ATPase inhibitor blocking the c-ring F0 subunit). Performed docking studies denote the best crystallography binding pose obtained for the docking complexes based on the free energy of binding (FEB) fit well with the in vitro evidence from the thermodynamics point of view, following an affinity order such as: FEB (oligomycin A/F0-ATPase complex) = -9.8 kcal/mol > FEB (SWCNT-COOH/F0-ATPase complex) = -6.8 kcal/mol ~ FEB (SWCNT-pristine complex) = -5.9 kcal/mol, with predominance of van der Waals hydrophobic nano-interactions with key F0-ATPase binding site residues (Phe 55 and Phe 64). Elastic network models and fractal surface analysis were performed to study conformational perturbations induced by SWCNT. Our results suggest that interaction may be triggering abnormal allosteric responses and signals propagation in the inter-residue network, which could affect the substrate recognition ligand geometrical specificity of the F0F1-ATPase enzyme in order (SWCNT-pristine > SWCNT-COOH). In addition, Nano-QSTR models have been developed to predict toxicity induced by both SWCNTs, using results of in vitro and docking studies. Results show that this method may be used for the fast prediction of the nanotoxicity induced by SWCNT, avoiding time- and money-consuming techniques. Overall, the obtained results may open new avenues toward to the better understanding and prediction of new nanotoxicity mechanisms, rational drug design-based nanotechnology, and potential biomedical application in precision nanomedicine.

Nanozymes as Enzyme Inhibitors

Nanozyme is a type of nanomaterial with intrinsic enzyme-like activity. Following the discovery of nanozymes in 2007, nanozyme technology has become an emerging field bridging nanotechnology and biology, attracting research from multi-disciplinary areas focused on the design and synthesis of catalytically active nanozymes. However, various types of enzymes can be mimicked by nanomaterials, and our current understanding of nanozymes as enzyme inhibitors is limited. Here, we provide a brief overview of the utility of nanozymes as inhibitors of enzymes, such as R-chymotrypsin (ChT), β-galactosidase (β-Gal), β-lactamase, and mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase, and the mechanisms underlying inhibitory activity. The advantages, challenges and future research directions of nanozymes as enzyme inhibitors for biomedical research are further discussed.

Effects of metformin and other biguanides on oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria

The biguanide metformin is widely prescribed for Type II diabetes and has anti-neoplastic activity in laboratory models. Despite evidence that inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory complex I by metformin is the primary cause of its cell-lineage-specific actions and therapeutic effects, the molecular interaction(s) between metformin and complex I remain uncharacterized. In the present paper, we describe the effects of five pharmacologically relevant biguanides on oxidative phosphorylation in mammalian mitochondria. We report that biguanides inhibit complex I by inhibiting ubiquinone reduction (but not competitively) and, independently, stimulate reactive oxygen species production by the complex I flavin. Biguanides also inhibit mitochondrial ATP synthase, and two of them inhibit only ATP hydrolysis, not synthesis. Thus we identify biguanides as a new class of complex I and ATP synthase inhibitor. By comparing biguanide effects on isolated complex I and cultured cells, we distinguish three anti-diabetic and potentially anti-neoplastic biguanides (metformin, buformin and phenformin) from two anti-malarial biguanides (cycloguanil and proguanil): the former are accumulated into mammalian mitochondria and affect oxidative phosphorylation, whereas the latter are excluded so act only on the parasite. Our mechanistic and pharmacokinetic insights are relevant to understanding and developing the role of biguanides in new and existing therapeutic applications, including cancer, diabetes and malaria.

ATP synthase and the actions of inhibitors utilized to study its roles in human health, disease, and other scientific areas

ATP synthase, a double-motor enzyme, plays various roles in the cell, participating not only in ATP synthesis but in ATP hydrolysis-dependent processes and in the regulation of a proton gradient across some membrane-dependent systems. Recent studies of ATP synthase as a potential molecular target for the treatment of some human diseases have displayed promising results, and this enzyme is now emerging as an attractive molecular target for the development of new therapies for a variety of diseases. Significantly, ATP synthase, because of its complex structure, is inhibited by a number of different inhibitors and provides diverse possibilities in the development of new ATP synthase-directed agents. In this review, we classify over 250 natural and synthetic inhibitors of ATP synthase reported to date and present their inhibitory sites and their known or proposed modes of action. The rich source of ATP synthase inhibitors and their known or purported sites of action presented in this review should provide valuable insights into their applications as potential scaffolds for new therapeutics for human and animal diseases as well as for the discovery of new pesticides and herbicides to help protect the world's food supply. Finally, as ATP synthase is now known to consist of two unique nanomotors involved in making ATP from ADP and P(i), the information provided in this review may greatly assist those investigators entering the emerging field of nanotechnology.

Mitochondrial drugs

Mitochondria are cellular organelles that perform pivotal functions essential for ATP production, homeostasis, and metabolism. Moreover, mitochondria are integral to a variety of cell death and survival pathways. These roles identify mitochondria as a potential target for drugs to treat metabolic and hyperproliferative diseases. Differences in the redox state of pathogenic versus non-pathogenic cells may be exploited to achieve selective anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activity against target cell populations. Pro-oxidant drugs, such as Trisenox and Elesclomol, are demonstrating clinical utility in the treatment of cancer. Results obtained with Bz-423 in mice demonstrate the potential for mitochondria-targeted drugs to control disorders of immune function. Research associating an elevated oxidant state with mitochondrial damage, degenerative disease, and aging dictates the need for a better understanding of when and how pharmacological manipulation of mitochondrial function provides most therapeutic benefit.

Mechanism of inhibition of bovine F1-ATPase by resveratrol and related polyphenols

The structures of F(1)-ATPase from bovine heart mitochondria inhibited with the dietary phytopolyphenol, resveratrol, and with the related polyphenols quercetin and piceatannol have been determined at 2.3-, 2.4- and 2.7-A resolution, respectively. The inhibitors bind to a common site in the inside surface of an annulus made from loops in the three alpha- and three beta-subunits beneath the "crown" of beta-strands in their N-terminal domains. This region of F(1)-ATPase forms a bearing to allow the rotation of the tip of the gamma-subunit inside the annulus during catalysis. The binding site is a hydrophobic pocket between the C-terminal tip of the gamma-subunit and the beta(TP) subunit, and the inhibitors are bound via H-bonds mostly to their hydroxyl moieties mediated by bound water molecules and by hydrophobic interactions. There are no equivalent sites between the gamma-subunit and either the beta(DP) or the beta(E) subunit. The inhibitors probably prevent both the synthetic and hydrolytic activities of the enzyme by blocking both senses of rotation of the gamma-subunit. The beneficial effects of dietary resveratrol may derive in part by preventing mitochondrial ATP synthesis in tumor cells, thereby inducing apoptosis.

A switch in enantiomer preference between mitochondrial F1F0-ATPase chemotypes

The preferred absolute configuration of two series of F(1)F(0)-ATP synthase inhibitors was determined. Although the configuration of the active enantiomer in each series is different, each series presents the same 'triaryl' pharmacophore to the enzyme binding site.

Benzodiazepine-based selective inhibitors of mitochondrial F1F0 ATP hydrolase

A series of benzodiazepine-based inhibitors of mitochondrial F(1)F(0) ATP hydrolase were prepared and evaluated for their ability to selectively inhibit the enzyme in the forward direction. Compounds from this series showed excellent potency and selectivity for ATP hydrolase versus ATP synthase, suggesting a potentially beneficial profile useful for the treatment of ischemic heart disease.