Conformational analysis of cyclophostin and designed analogs in comparison with the potent IP3 receptor agonist adenophostin A

A conformational analysis of 5'-6"-tethered cyclophostin was carried out in comparison with the mother compound, adenophostin A, which has a potent IP3 receptor agonistic activity. The global minimum 3'-endo/anti conformation of cyclophostin elucidated by a molecular dynamics simulation was in accord with NMR spectroscopic data. In contrast, the 2'-endo/syn conformation was dominant with respect to adenophostin A. Despite the constraint introduced by the tether, the spatial arrangement of the three phosphate groups and the adenine moiety, which are essential for the extremely high potency, was changed only moderately in comparison with adenophostin A. The observed high potency of cyclophostin (EC50 = 38 nM) also indicates that it closely resembles the bioactive conformation of adenophostin A (EC50 = 7 nM). These results led us to estimate the probable active conformation of adenophostin A by comparison with the stable conformations of cyclophostin. Finally, two other tethered analogs were designed and are expected to exhibit high potencies comparable to adenophostin A.