Low molecular weight compounds were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography from the maggot or haemolymph extracts of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, three compounds were obtained: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (molecular weight 138 Da), p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (molecular weight 152 Da) and octahydro-dipyrrolo[1,2-a;1',2'-d] pyrazine-5,10-dione (molecular weight 194 Da), also known as the cyclic dimer of proline (or proline diketopiperazine or cyclo[Pro,Pro]). All three molecules revealed antibacterial activity when tested against Micrococcus luteus and/or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the effect was even more pronounced when these molecules were tested in combination and caused lysis of these bacteria.

Bisphosphonates are clinically used mainly to reduce bone resorption. We studied the transplacental effects of two bisphosphonates on the fetal skeleton in rats. Pregnant rats were treated during days 11-20 of pregnancy with daily subcutaneous injections of 0.1 mg/kg of alendronate or a newly synthesized bisphosphonate, VS-b6. This period of pregnancy was chosen because the active development of bones from mesenchyme through cartilaginous models occurs during that time. Histological examination of midlongitudinal sections of the 21-day-old fetuses showed an increase in the amount of diaphyseal bone trabeculae with slight shortening of the diaphysis in the experimental fetuses, in comparison to controls. Computerized histomorphometric studies similarly showed an increase in the amount of diaphyseal bone trabeculae with a concomitant decrease in bone marrow volume, but no change in cartilage volume. In addition, chemical analysis of the fetal bones showed an increase in calcium content in the treated fetuses. 14C-alendronate was shown to pass through the rat placenta and accumulate in the fetuses, most probably in their bones. This is presumed because bisphosphonates are known to accumulate in bone, being stored there for long periods of time. It is important, in light of our results, to give careful consideration to the treatment of women with bisphosphonates at childbearing age, whenever this is needed.

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This work was aimed at improving the absorption of bisphosphonates by targeting carrier systems in the intestine and the intestinal peptide carrier system (hPEPT1), in particular. (14)C-Labeled pamidronate and alendronate as well as radiolabeled and "cold" peptidyl-bisphosphonates, Pro-[(3)H]Phe-[(14)C]pamidronate, and Pro-[(3)H]Phe-[(14)C]alendronate were synthesized. In situ single-pass perfusion studies revealed competitive inhibition of transport by Pro-Phe, suggesting peptide carrier-mediated transport. Prodrug transport in the Caco-2 cell line was significantly better than that of the parent drugs, and the prodrugs exhibited high affinity to the intestinal tissue. Oral administration of the dipeptidyl prodrugs resulted in a 3-fold increase in drug absorption following oral administration in rats, and the bioavailability of Pro-Phe-alendronate was 3.3 (F(TIBIA)) and 1.9 (F(URINE)) times higher than that of the parent drug. The results indicate that the oral absorption of bisphosphonates can be improved by peptidyl prodrugs via the hPEPT1; however, other transporters may also be involved.

Overactive matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are associated with a variety of disease states. Therefore, their inhibition is a highly desirable goal. Yet, more than a decade of worldwide activity has not produced even one clinically useful inhibitor. Because of the crucial role of zinc in the activity of the enzyme, the design of inhibitors is usually based upon a so-called zinc binding group (ZBG). Yet, many of the hitherto synthesized potent inhibitors failed clinically, presumably because they bind stronger to metals other than zinc. We have developed in vivo potent inhibitors based on the carbamoylphosphonic group as a putative ZBG. In this paper we report stability constants for Ca(II), Mg(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) complexes of two potent, in vivo active, MMP inhibitors, cyclopentylcarbamoylphosphonic acid (1) and 2-( N, N-dimethylamino)ethylcarbamoylphosphonic acid (2). Precipitation prevented the determination of stability constants for iron(III) complexes of1 and2. For comparison with carbamoylphosphonates1 and2, we synthesized 2-cyclohexyl-1,1-difluoroethylphosphonic acid (3), which does not inhibit MMP, and determined the stability constants of its complexes with Mg(II), Ca(II) and Zn(II). Comparison with the values obtained from the complexes of1 and2 with those from3 indicates participation of the C=O group in the metal binding of the former compounds. The complex stability orders for both1 and2 are Ca(II)8 the dimethylamino group of compound2 can also participate in the binding of the transition metals Cu and Zn. On the other hand, the amino group in carbamoylphosphonic acid2 lowers the stability of the complexes with metals favoring oxygen ligands (Ca, Mg and Fe) and increases the selectivity towards Zn. These results are helpful for rationalizing the results observed on our MMP inhibitors hitherto examined, and are expected to be useful for the design of new selective inhibitors.

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Acylphosphonic acids ( 5 ) and methyl hydrogen acylphosphonates (3) were synthesized by di-and mono-demethylation of dimethyl acylphosphonates (I ). Spectroscopic data (i.r., 31P and 'H n.m.r.) are reported for these types of compounds for the first time. Examination of their hydrolytic stability under acidic and basic conditions revealed that except for methyl hydrogen acylphosphonates (3) that are unstable under highly alkaline pH conditions, the C-P bond in these types of compounds is stable in most cases. Nucleophilic reagents, e.g. amines, borohydride, or hydroxylamine react with the carbonyl group of ionized acylphosphonates with the preservation of the C-P bond, to yield or-imino-, a-hydroxy-, or or-oxyimino-alkylphosphononate anions, respectively. Semi-empirical quantum mechanical (MNDO/H) calculations were performed on benzoylphosphonic acid (5c) and on the esters and anions derived from it, as representatives of their classes, in order to assess bond lengths and preferred conformations, and to estimate charges on the carbonyl and phosphoryt groups. Calculations show that for both neutral and ionized (anions) compounds free rotation around the C-P bond is expected due to the low energy barriers.Phosphonic acid analogues of naturally occurring phosphates or of carboxylic acids have attracted considerable interest as potential regulators, mediators, or inhibitors of metabolic processes.'.* In the large group of compounds prepared and studied, there is an abundance of analogues of lipids, sugar phosphates, nucleotides, or amino acids,2 etc., containing C-P bonds in a variety of structures. However, the compounds hitherto studied belong almost entirely to the class of alkylphosphonates with only a handful of examples of acylphosphonates among them.3 The few instances of reported acylphosphonic acids or monoesters have been prepared, characterized, and used as salts, mostly for studying their biochemical properties. The free alkyl hydrogen acylphosphonates and dihydrogen acylphosphonates (acylphosphonic acids) have never been reported, and their chemical and physical properties have not been described. Assumptions about the chemical properties of acylphosphonic acids and of their monoesters have been based on the properties of the d i e~t e r s .~ Such extrapolations cannot be justified since ionization of the phosphoryl group should influence considerably the reactivity of the whole molecule. There exists information in the recent literature regarding the hydrolytic behaviour of specific and unusual acylphosphonic acids (see below), that can hardly be considered as representative compounds of their classes. In view of this, a systematic study of these acids is required, as it is a prerequisite to the design of novel biologically active compounds based upon these functional groups. Consequently we describe in this paper the preparation and physical and chemical properties of some representative acylphosphonic acids and monoesters. We have recently reported that acylphosphonic acids and monoesters undergo t...

cis-2-Aminocyclohexylcarbamoylphosphonic acid ( cis-ACCP) was evaluated in vitro and in two in vivo cancer metastasis models. It reduced metastasis formation in mice by approximately 90% when administered by a repetitive once daily dosing regimen of 50 mg/kg via oral or intraperitoneal routes and was nontoxic up to 500 mg/kg, following intraperitoneal administration daily for two weeks. Pharmacokinetic investigation of cis-ACCP in rats revealed distribution restricted into the extracellular fluid, which is the site of action for the antimetastatic activity and rapid elimination ( t 1/2 approximately 19 min) from blood. Sustained and prolonged absorption ( t 1/2 approximately 126 min) occurred via paracellular mechanism along the small and large intestine with overall bioavailability of 0.3%. The in vivo concentrations of cis-ACCP in the blood in rats was above the minimal concentration for antimetastatic/MMP-inhibitory activity, thus explaining the prolonged action following once daily administration. Finally, 84% of the intravenously administered cis-ACCP to rats was excreted intact in the urine.