Cation-π and π-π stacking interactions allow selective inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase by modified quinine and cinchonidine alkaloids

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011 Jan 28;404(4):935-40. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.12.084. Epub 2010 Dec 23.

Abstract

Scaffold varied quaternized quinine and cinchonidine alkaloid derivatives were evaluated for their selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory potential. K(i) values were between 0.4-260.5μM (non-competitive inhibition) while corresponding K(i)values to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ranged from 7.0-400μM exhibiting a 250-fold selectivity for BChE. Docking arrangements (GOLD, PLANT) revealed that the extended aromatic moieties and the quaternized nitrogen of the inhibitors were responsible for specific π-π stacking and π-cation interactions with the choline binding site and the peripheral anionic site of BChE's active site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Butyrylcholinesterase / chemistry*
  • Catalytic Domain / drug effects
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Cinchona Alkaloids / chemistry*
  • Cinchona Alkaloids / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Quinine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Quinine / chemistry
  • Quinine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Cinchona Alkaloids
  • cinchonidine
  • Quinine
  • Butyrylcholinesterase