Hydroxyethylene isosteres of selective neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

ABSTRACT: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important second messenger molecule for blood pressure homeostasis, as a neurotransmitter, and in the immune defense system. Excessive NO can lead to neurodegeneration and connective tissue damage. Three different isozymes of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase regulate NO production in endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS), and macrophage (iNOS) cells. Whereas creating a lower level of NO in some cells could be beneficial, it also could be detrimental to the protective effects that NO has on other cells. Therefore, it is essential that therapeutic NOS inhibitors be made that are subtype selective. Previously, we reported a series of nitroarginine-containing dipeptide amides as potent and selective nNOS inhibitors. Here we synthesize peptidomimetic hydroxyethylene isoste

SUBMITTER: Erdal EP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2001161 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature