Phenceptin: a biomimetic model of the phenytoin receptor

Abstract

5,5-Diphenylhydanytoin (phenytoin) is the most widely used anticonvulsant drug, but has many side effects. Although its chemical mode of action is unknown, phenytoin is believed to function primarily by interference with the transport of sodium ions across the neuronal membrane. Structure–activity and lipophilicity–activity studies suggest that the drug interacts with its receptor through hydrogen bonding to the N3—C4 amide bond, and an aromatic–aromatic interaction with the C5 substituent. Since sodium channels are cysteine-rich peptides, whose function depends upon the cysteine[Formula: see text]cystine redox process, it has been hypothesized that the action of the phenytoin receptor may be mimicked by a properly designed cyclodepsipeptide containing a cystinyl moiety, a cavity lined with five oxygen atoms oriented in the trigonal-bipyramidal manner appropriate for selective transport of sodium ions, and a site for the binding of phenytoin. A computer programme and strategy were developed to permit the three-dimensional structures of potential target molecules to be viewed, prior to synthesis. Use of this programme led to the discovery of Boc-L-cystinyl-glycyl-L-prolyl-glycyl-L-prolyl-L-cystine-OCHPh2. This compound, termed phenceptin, was synthesized from a linear precursor containing tert-butoxycarbonyl protection at the N-terminus, benzhydryl ester protection at the C-terminus, and trityl protection at sulfur. Detritylation and cyclization to phenceptin were accomplished with iodine in methanol–pyridine. Using an n-octanol membrane to study the kinetics of ion transport, phenceptin was found to transport sodium ions selectively, but only in its oxidized, cyclic form. This transport was inhibited significantly by one mol-equiv. of phenytoin, and not at all by biologically inactive analogs of the drug. The nature of the binding of phenytoin to phenceptin was examined by nuclear magnetic resonance, in n-C8D17-OH solvent, and found to involve hydrogen bonding of the drug to a glycine residue whose oxygen atom is involved in complexation to sodium ions.