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Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase in vitro and inhibition of bone resorption in vivo by nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates.

Abstract
It has long been known that small changes to the structure of the R(2) side chain of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates can dramatically affect their potency for inhibiting bone resorption in vitro and in vivo, although the reason for these differences in antiresorptive potency have not been explained at the level of a pharmacological target. Recently, several nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates were found to inhibit osteoclast-mediated bone resorption in vitro by inhibiting farnesyl diphosphate synthase, thereby preventing protein prenylation in osteoclasts. In this study, we examined the potency of a wider range of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, including the highly potent, heterocycle-containing zoledronic acid and minodronate (YM-529). We found a clear correlation between the ability to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase in vitro, to inhibit protein prenylation in cell-free extracts and in purified osteoclasts in vitro, and to inhibit bone resorption in vivo. The activity of recombinant human farnesyl diphosphate synthase was inhibited at concentrations > or = 1 nM zoledronic acid or minodronate, the order of potency (zoledronic acid approximately equal to minodronate > risedronate > ibandronate > incadronate > alendronate > pamidronate) closely matching the order of antiresorptive potency. Furthermore, minor changes to the structure of the R(2) side chain of heterocycle-containing bisphosphonates, giving rise to less potent inhibitors of bone resorption in vivo, also caused a reduction in potency up to approximately 300-fold for inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase in vitro. These data indicate that farnesyl diphosphate synthase is the major pharmacological target of these drugs in vivo, and that small changes to the structure of the R(2) side chain alter antiresorptive potency by affecting the ability to inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase.
AuthorsJ E Dunford, K Thompson, F P Coxon, S P Luckman, F M Hahn, C D Poulter, F H Ebetino, M J Rogers
JournalThe Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 296 Issue 2 Pg. 235-42 (Feb 2001) ISSN: 0022-3565 [Print] United States
PMID11160603 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
Chemical References
  • Diphosphonates
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Nitrogen Compounds
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • Geranyltranstransferase
  • Mevalonic Acid
Topics
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)
  • Animals
  • Bone Resorption (prevention & control)
  • Diphosphonates (chemistry, pharmacology)
  • Enzyme Inhibitors (chemistry, pharmacology)
  • Geranyltranstransferase
  • Indicators and Reagents
  • Mevalonic Acid (metabolism)
  • Nitrogen Compounds (chemistry, pharmacology)
  • Osteoclasts (metabolism)
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Prenylation
  • Rabbits
  • Recombinant Proteins (chemistry)
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

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