Carboxypeptidase-mediated release of methotrexate from methotrexate alpha-peptides

Methotrexate (MTX) alpha-peptides containing representative neutral (alanine), acidic (aspartic acid), and basic (arginine) amino acids were synthesized by a regiospecific route. Purity and authenticity of MTX-Ala, MTX-Asp, and MTX-Arg were established by TLC, HPLC, elemental analysis, and NMR and absorbance spectra. These peptides were hydrolyzed by carboxypeptidases to yield MTX and the amino acids. Reactions were monitored by using a ninhydrin assay for the amino acids and HPLC and spectrophotometric assays for MTX. Pancreatic carboxypeptidase A (CP-A) hydrolyzed MTX-Ala and, at a much slower rate, MTX-Asp and MTX-Arg. MTX-Ala was also a substrate for pancreatic carboxypeptidase B (CP-B); marginal activity was observed with this enzyme and MTX-Arg. Human serum hydrolyzed only MTX-Arg; biphasic inhibition of this activity by 2-(mercaptomethyl)-3-(guanidinoethyl)thiopropionate was consistent with the known presence of two types of endogenous carboxypeptidase (CP-N). Cytotoxicity of the MTX peptides toward L1210 cells in culture was enhanced considerably in the presence of the appropriate carboxypeptidases. MTX-Ala was much less toxic than MTX (ID50 values of 2.0 X 10(-6) M and 2.4 x 10(-8) M, respectively), but in the presence of CP-A the ID50 of the peptide improved to 8.5 X 10(-8) M. Similar results were obtained with MTX-Asp/CP-A and MTX-Ala/CP-B combinations. MTX-Arg showed good cytotoxicity (ID50 of 5.0 X 10(-8) M), due to CP-N activity in the fetal bovine serum of the culture medium; inclusion of CP-B lowered the ID50 to that of MTX. Possible clinical uses of MTX peptides are discussed.