Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is known to precipitate and form aggregates with zinc and copper ions in vitro and, in vivo in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Metal-ion-chelation was suggested as therapy for the metal-ion-induced Aβ aggregation, metal-ion overload, and oxidative stress. In a quest for biocompatible metal-ion chelators potentially useful for AD therapy, we tested a series of nucleoside 5'-phosphorothioate derivatives as re-solubilization agents of Cu(+)/Cu(2+)/Zn(2+)-induced Aβ-aggregates, and inhibitors of Fenton reaction in Cu(+) or Fe(2+)/H(2)O(2) system. The most promising chelator in this series was found to be APCPP-γ-S. This nucleotide was found to be more efficient than EDTA in re-solubilization of Aβ(40)-Cu(2+) aggregates as observed by the lower diameter, d(H), (86 vs. 64 nm, respectively) obtained in dynamic light scattering measurements. Likewise, APCPP-γ-S dissolved Aβ(40)-Cu(+) and Aβ(42)-Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) aggregates, as monitored by (1)H-NMR and turbidity assays, respectively. Furthermore, addition of APCPP-γ-S to nine-day old Aβ(40)-Cu(2+)/Zn(2+) aggregates, resulted in size reduction as observed by transition electron microscopy (diameter reduction from 2.5 to 0.1 μm for Aβ(40)-Cu(2+) aggregates). APCPP-γ-S proved to be more efficient than ascorbic acid and GSH in reducing OH radical production in Fe(2+)/H(2)O(2) system (IC(50) values 85, 216 and, 92 μM, respectively). Therefore, we propose APCPP-γ-S as a potential AD therapy capable of both reducing OH radical production and re-solubilization of Aβ(40/42)-M(n+) aggregates.

On the basis of the high affinity of Zn(2+) to sulfur and imidazole, we targeted nucleotides such as GDP-β-S, ADP-β-S, and AP3(β-S)A, as potential biocompatible Zn(2+)-chelators. The thiophosphate moiety enhanced the stability of the Zn(2+)-nucleotide complex by about 0.7 log units. ATP-α,β-CH2-γ-S formed the most stable Zn(2+)-complex studied here, log K 6.50, being ~0.8 and ~1.1 log units more stable than ATP-γ-S-Zn(2+) and ATP-Zn(2+) complexes, and was the major species, 84%, under physiological pH. Guanine nucleotides Zn(2+) complexes were more stable by 0.3-0.4 log units than the corresponding adenine nucleotide complexes. Likewise, AP3(β-S)A-zinc complex was ~0.5 log units more stable than AP3A complex. (1)H- and (31)P NMR monitored Zn(2+) titration showed that Zn(2+) coordinates with the purine nucleotide N7-nitrogen atom, the terminal phosphate, and the adjacent phosphate. In conclusion, replacement of a terminal phosphate by a thiophosphate group resulted in decrease of the acidity of the phosphate moiety by approximately one log unit, and increase of stability of Zn(2+)-complexes of the latter analogues by up to 0.7 log units. A terminal phosphorothioate contributed more to the stability of nucleotide-Zn(2+) complexes than a bridging phosphorothioate.

A new transformation of methylene-bis(phosphonic dichloride) into tetrathiobisphosphonate derivatives is reported. The reaction of methylene-bis(phosphonic dichloride) with 1,2-ethanedithiol in bromoform in the presence of AlCl3 formed methylene-bis(1,3,2-dithiaphospholane-2-sulfide), which gave rise to O,O′-diester-methylenediphosphonotetrathioate analogues 1a–k upon reaction with phenols and alkyl alcohols in the presence of DBU. Reaction mechanisms are proposed, and all products were characterized by 31P, 13C, and 1H NMR. An X-ray crystal structure was obtained for intermediate 2. The potential of the novel scaffold for selective coordination of metal-ions was examined by coordination of Hg(II) and Pb(II) by 1f, as determined by FT-IR, and chelation of Zn(II), but not Ca(II), by 1b, as determined by 31P/1H NMR. UV–vis measurements of 1g–Ni(II) mixture revealed a 2:1 ligand:metal complex. These derivatives are potential antioxidants, and their ability to inhibit ·OH formation in Fenton reactions was quantified by ESR measurements. Analogue 1g proved to be a most potent antioxidant (IC50 53 μM), inhibiting the Cu(I)-catalyzed Fenton reaction at lower concentrations than GSH, ascorbic acid, and EDTA. Analogue 1c inhibited the Fe(II)-catalyzed Fenton reaction at about the same concentrations as ascorbic acid (IC50 83 vs 93 μM). In summary, the novel compounds, 1a–k, proved to chelate various borderline/soft Lewis acid metal-ions, and may be useful as antioxidants and metal extractors.

We synthesized a series of adenine/guanine 2',3'- or 3',5'-bisphosphate and -bisphosphorothioate analogues, 1-6, as potential Cu(+)/Fe(2+) chelators, with a view to apply them as biocompatible and water-soluble antioxidants. We found that electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR)-monitored inhibition of OH radicals production from H2O2, in an Fe(2+)-H2O2 system, by bisphosphate derivatives 1, 3, and 5 (IC50 = 36, 24, and 40 μM, respectively), was more effective than it was by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), by a factor of 1.5, 2, and 1.4, respectively. Moreover, 2'-deoxyadenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate, 1, was 1.8- and 4.7-times more potent than adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP), respectively. The bisphosphorothioate derivatives 2, 4, and 6 (IC50 = 92, 50, and 80 μM, respectively), exhibited a dual antioxidant activity, acting as both metal-ion chelators and radical scavengers [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assay data indicates IC50 = 50, 70, and 108 μM vs 27 μM for Trolox]. Only 2'-deoxyadenosine-3',5'-bisphosphorothioate, 2, exhibited good inhibition of Cu(+)-induced H2O2 decomposition (IC50 = 78 vs 224 μM for EDTA). Nucleoside-bisphosphorothioate analogues (2, 4, and 6) were weaker inhibitors than the corresponding bisphosphate analogues (1, 3, and 5), due to intramolecular oxidation under Fenton reaction conditions. (1)H- and (31)P NMR monitored Cu(+) titration of 2, showed that Cu(+) was coordinated by both 3',5'-bisphosphorothioate groups, as well as N7-nitrogen atom, while adenosine-2',3'-bisphosphorothioate, 6, coordinated Cu(+) only by 2',3'-bisphosphorothioate groups. In conclusion, an additional terminal phosphate group on AMP/guanosine 5'-monophosphate (GMP) resulted in Fe(2+)-selective chelators highly potent as Fenton reaction inhibitors.

Metal chelators are potential therapeutic agents for treating diseases such as Wilson's and Alzheimer's where the pathology involves an excess of metal-ions (Cu(II) and Zn(II)/Cu(II)/Fe(II/III), respectively). In addition to the high affinity of the metal-ion to the chelators, metal selectivity of the chelators is essential to achieve the therapeutic goal, that is, the successful removal of excess of harmful metal-ions in a physiological extracellular medium rich in alkali and alkali earth metal-ions. For this purpose, we synthesized a novel chelator, methylenediphosphonotetrathioate (MDPT) which is the tetrathio analogue of methylenediphosphonic acid (MDP). MDPT was synthesized from bis-methylene(phosphonicdichloride) in a 3-step synthesis and a 31% overall yield. MDPT formed a stable complex with Zn(II) (log K = 10.84), which is 10(7) times more stable than the corresponding Ca(II) complex. Moreover, the MDPT-Zn(II) complex was 50-fold more stable than the MDP-Zn(II) complex. In addition, MDPT was found to inhibit the Cu(I)-catalyzed Fenton reaction (IC50 26 μM) 2.5 times more potently than a Fe(II)-catalyzed Fenton reaction, and 2.5 times more potently than EDTA (IC50 64 μM) in the Cu(I)/H2O2 system, as monitored by electron spin resonance (ESR). Furthermore, MDPT was found to be relatively stable in both acidic (pD 1.9, t(½) = 71.5 h) and basic media (pD 12.4, t(½) = 81 h) as monitored by (31)P/(1)H NMR. However, MDPT was not stable in air because of intramolecular oxidation and disulfide formation (33% oxidation after 27 h). In conclusion, MDPT was found to be a water-soluble chelator showing a clear preference to soft/borderline metal-ions and a remarkable selectivity to those metal-ions vs Ca(II) ions. The relative sensitivity of MDPT to oxidation may limit its use; however, the application of MDPT in acidic or basic media will increase its lifetime.