3-AMINO-2-TETRALONE DERIVATIVES - NOVEL POTENT AND SELECTIVE INHIBITORS OF AMINOPEPTIDASE-M (EC-3.4.11.2)

Derivatives of 3-amino-2-tetralone were evaluated for their ability to selectively inhibit the membrane-bound zinc-dependent aminopeptidase (EC 3.4.11.2), isolated from porcine kidney. These novel nonpeptidic compounds are potent competitive inhibitors of the enzyme. Some of them have K-i values in the nanomolar range (g, K-i = 80 nM). Moreover, these inhibitors are selective for aminopeptidase-M (AP-M) since they do not inhibit aspartate aminopeptidase and arginine aminopeptidase and only poorly inhibit cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase at high concentrations (g, K-i = 70 mu M). The availability of inhibitors which are selective for AP-M with respect to other mammalian aminopeptidases may aid in identifying new endogenous substrates and thus clarify the physiological or pathophysiological role(s) of AP-M. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.