2 Drugs from Natural Products—Animal Sources J. A . H O G G
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The Upjohn C o . , Kalamazoo, M i c h . 49001
Comparative through and
the
analysis
prostaglandin
certain
developments
reveals
some
genesis.
of
the
timetables
events in the development
the
break
when field
viewed
hormone
in relation
of science
as a
factors
which
most influenced
their
factor
in regulating
pace
was the emergence
in other fields of science. served to stimulate
of new supporting
The breakthrough
the pace.
Despite
the
technology
event itself
numerous
the influence
of advances
is recognizable.
of the steroid in the science The
potential
but
of drug discovery
in
for drug
high as judged
of numerous
fields.
new
effort
developments,
from animal sources remains emerging
often
similarities
between the two fields the pattern of the prostaglandin has not been a duplication general
to
whole,
The most prominent
of progress
of
fields, in the
depicting
of the steroid
by the
discovery promise
η analysis a n d e v a l u a t i o n o f the scientific aspects of d r u g d i s c o v e r y f r o m a n i m a l o r i g i n s h o u l d p r o v i d e some e n l i g h t e n m e n t o n t h e f u t u r e of this d r u g source.
M o s t of t h e major classifications of d r u g c a n d i d a t e
substances k n o w n to b e p r o d u c e d b y t h e v a r i o u s a n i m a l categories ( T a b l e I ) are s t i l l u n d e r a c t i v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o d a y . H o w e v e r , since this entire
field
is so vast, o n l y t w o categories are d i s c u s s e d : t h e steroid
h o r m o n e field a n d the p r o s t a g l a n d i n s .
T h e f o r m e r is o l d e r i n v i n t a g e
a n d m o r e m a t u r e i n its d e v e l o p m e n t w h i l e t h e latter is a field i n w h i c h there are as yet no p r o d u c t s i n t h e r a p e u t i c use. N e i t h e r category is l i m i t e d i n o r i g i n t o m a m m a l i a n s a n d i n t h e case of steroids n o t e v e n to a n i m a l s . T h e s e t w o e x c i t i n g fields of d r u g research are a n a l y z e d b y u s i n g timetables f o r e a c h w h i c h d e p i c t b r e a k t h r o u g h events.
Perhaps
some
of t h e lessons l e a r n e d f r o m t h e steroid experience m a y b e u s e d i n d e v e l o p i n g the p r o s t a g l a n d i n s . 14
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
Animal
Table I. Animal
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15
Sources Drugs from Animal Sources Drug (Candidate) Substances
Category
Vertebrates aquatic terrestrial
steroid hormones peptide hormones vitamins enzymes
Invertebrates aquatic t e r r e s t r i a l (e.g., insects)
vaccines prostaglandins miscellaneous pheromones p r e d a t o r - p r e y defense p a r a s i t e - h o s t defense
Steroid Hormones F i g u r e 1 shows t h e basic c a r b o n structures f o r these t w o classes of substances. A l l steroids c o n t a i n t h e
perhydrocyclopentanophenanthrene
r i n g system w h i l e t h e c a r b o n skeleton basic to a l l p r o s t a g l a n d i n s has b e e n c a l l e d p r o s t a n o i c a c i d . T h e s t e r o i d h o r m o n e s are discussed
PERHYDROCYCLOPENTANOPHENANTHRENE
Figure
1.
Basic carbon
first.
PROSTANOIC ACID
skeletons of steroids glandins
and
prosta-
T h e sequence of events w h i c h n o r m a l l y occurs i n the d i s c o v e r y of a n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g substance is u s u a l l y i n i t i a t e d b y some
biological
event w h i c h signals t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of d r u g p o t e n t i a l . T h i s " b i o d e t e c t i o n " e n d p o i n t m a y o r m a y n o t r e v e a l a specific area of m e d i c i n a l interest f o r the u n k n o w n substance.
I n some instances t h e i n i t i a l b i o l o g i c a l a c t i v i t y
c a n b e d e v e l o p e d i n t o a q u a n t i t a t i v e assay m e t h o d , w h i c h c a n t h e n b e u s e d to g u i d e the i s o l a t i o n of active substance.
M o s t h o r m o n a l substances
are present i n t i n y amounts so that i s o l a t i o n cannot b e a c h i e v e d w i t h o u t the h e l p of s u c h a n assay. T h i s is e s p e c i a l l y true f o r t h e p r i m a r y steroid h o r m o n e s s h o w n i n T a b l e I I . T h e i s o l a t i o n o f estrone w o u l d h a v e b e e n m u c h d e l a y e d h a d Z o n d e k n o t d i s c o v e r e d that the u r i n e of p r e g n a n t w o m e n is a m u c h r i c h e r source t h a n o v a r i a n extract, w h e r e its presence h a d first b e e n
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
detected.
16
DRUG
DISCOVERY
T h e m a g n i t u d e of the task i n v o l v e d i n one of these isolations c a n
be
a p p r e c i a t e d f r o m the fact that B u t e n a n d t was a b l e to isolate o n l y 20 m g of p u r e progesterone f r o m 625 k g of ovaries o b t a i n e d f r o m 50,000 sows. T h e large scale extractions w e r e c a r r i e d out b y S c h e r i n g A G laboratories. T h e first testicular h o r m o n e isolated was androsterone, a m e t a b o l i t e of testosterone.
T h i s also w a s a c h i e v e d b y B u t e n a n d t starting w i t h a n
extract f r o m 15,000 liters of u r i n e s u p p l i e d b y S c h e r i n g f r o m w h i c h he o b t a i n e d o n l y 15 m g of p u r e crystals.
F o u r years later, L a q u e r isolated
10 m g of the p r i m a r y m a l e sex h o r m o n e , testosterone, f r o m 100 k g of Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
steer testis. I n a l l cases o n this table the k e y to i s o l a t i o n w a s the q u a n t i t a t i v e bioassay as l i s t e d . Table II.
Source Concentrations of Steroid Hormones
Hormone Estrone
Concentration
Source human pregnancy urine pregnant mare urine palm kernel
Progesterone
sow ovaries
Testosterone
Hydrocortisone
urine
beef a d r e n a l
1 mg/liter
Assay A l l e n - D o i s y (1)
10 m g / l i t e r 18 mg/50 k g 625 k g y i e l d e d 20 m g
C o r n e r - A l l e n (2)
1 mg/liter (15,000 liters y i e l d e d 15 m g ( 5 )
C o x c o m b test
37 mg/1000 l b
Ingle w o r k test (4)
T h e dates of these isolations a n d others of the p r i m a r y s t e r o i d horm o n e g r o u p are r e c o r d e d i n T a b l e III.
T h i s o v e r a l l t i m e t a b l e of events
also shows other k e y stages i n the d i s c o v e r y a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of drugs f r o m n a t u r a l sources.
M o s t of these stages n o r m a l l y o c c u r b u t not a l w a y s
i n the o r d e r l i s t e d . The members s i m i l a r i n structure.
of this g r o u p of n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g hormones
are
I n their b i o c h e m i c a l e v o l u t i o n nature has u s e d a
c o m m o n r a w m a t e r i a l — n a m e l y , cholesterol, yet their p h y s i o l o g i c a l roles are vastly different. It w o u l d seem that nature is the o r i g i n a l p r a c t i t i o n e r of m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n . T h e most s t r i k i n g fact r e v e a l e d o n this chart is that the i s o l a t i o n , structure, a n d p a r t i a l synthesis of a l l of the p r i m a r y hormones i n each class, e x c e p t i n g aldosterone, w e r e a c h i e v e d c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h i n the 1930's, a ten-year p e r i o d . It w o u l d be t e m p t i n g to assume f r o m this t a b l e that structure d e t e r m i n a t i o n a n d synthesis are r o u t i n e consequences of the isolation.
T h e isolations of this entire g r o u p , e x c e p t i n g aldosterone,
c u r r e d rather close together.
oc-
H o w e v e r , the reasons w h i c h e x p l a i n the
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
Animal
HOGG
17
Sources
Table III.
Steroid Hormones—Discovery Development (Timetable)"
and
50
54
58
62
1
1
1
1
19 30
(i)
Estrone
(i)
M a l e Hormones Testosterone Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
(2)
(4)
(5,6)
(4)
(1,2,3,6)
(4)
(30) (1)(2) (2,3)
(3)
" L e g e n d : (1) i s o l a t i o n , (2) structure, (3) t h e r a p e u t i c use, (6) analogs.
(5 )
(4) (6) (4)
(1)
(1,2)
Aldosterone (5)
46
1
( 3)
(2,6) (5) (3) (1,2,3)
Progesterone
DOC
42
38
1
Female Hormones Equilenin
A d r e n a l Steroids Cortisone
34
p a r t i a l synthesis. (4)
(4) t o t a l synthesis,
r a p i d b r e a k t h r o u g h s i n structure a n d synthesis seen here relate to p r e c e d i n g events a n d are of c o n s i d e r a b l e i m p o r t a n c e to the process of n a t u r a l p r o d u c t d r u g d i s c o v e r y . T h e s e reasons are discussed b e l o w . T h e t o t a l synthesis of these substances l a g g e d another d o z e n years a n d t h e n b r o k e across the b o a r d . G i f t e d scientists i n b o t h i n d u s t r y a n d universities w e r e responsible for d e v e l o p i n g the necessary
technology.
Scientists i n b o t h e n v i r o n m e n t s w e r e m o t i v a t e d b y the c h a l l e n g e
and
i m p o r t a n c e of the goals set u p b y the successes of the steroid h o r m o n e decade.
T h e risk for the i n d u s t r i a l scientist to b e c o m e i n v o l v e d at this
early stage is greater since he is also a c c o u n t a b l e for the p r a c t i c a l i t y of his results. T h e t h e r a p e u t i c u t i l i z a t i o n of steroids d i d not r e a c h significant p r o portions u n t i l the early 1950's, f o l l o w i n g the cortisone b r e a k t h r o u g h i n 1949.
M e r c k a n d C o . assumed the p r i m a r y risk for d e v e l o p i n g m e t h o d -
o l o g y a n d p r e p a r i n g large quantities of cortisone f o r c l i n i c a l e v a l u a t i o n . H e n c h , at the M a y o C l i n i c , t h e n d i s c o v e r e d the c l i n i c a l efficacy of c o r t i sone i n r e l i e v i n g the s y m p t o m s of arthritis.
O n e immediately obvious
c o n s e q u e n c e of this b r e a k t h r o u g h , n o w w e l l k n o w n , was a w o r l d - w i d e , u p w a r d surge of s t e r o i d research i n general a n d a d r e n a l steroid research in particular. I n a d d i t i o n to the c o m p e t i t i o n to exploit the m e d i c a l markets so l o n g sought for, other t e c h n i c a l factors c o n t r i b u t e d to the research b u i l d u p t h r o u g h the 1950's. T h e n o w r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e steroid substances w e r e i d e a l m o d e l s to s t u d y stereochemistry,
reaction mechanisms
a n d rates,
c o n f o r m a t i o n a l analysis, a n d the a p p l i c a t i o n of n e w instruments to structure c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n . A l l of these studies, a l t h o u g h not necessarily a i m e d
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
18
DRUG
DISCOVERY
at d r u g d i s c o v e r y , w e r e nonetheless c o n t r i b u t o r y . Scientific b r e a k t h r o u g h c o n t i n u e d to a d d f u e l to the fire. T h e m i c r o b i o l o g i c a l 11-oxygenation of Peterson a n d M u r r a y ( 5 )
i n 1952 greatly e x p a n d e d the t e c h n i c a l c a p a -
b i l i t y to p r o d u c e steroids.
T h e synthesis of the h i g h l y active 9-fluoro
a n a l o g of h y d r o c o r t i s o n e i n 1954 b y F r i e d (6)
was the f o r e r u n n e r of a
vast a d r e n a l steroid a n a l o g p r o g r a m . H o w e v e r , the concept of m o l e c u l a r m o d i f i c a t i o n (i.e., analogs)
was not n e w to the steroid
stilbestrol was s y n t h e s i z e d b y C o o k ( 7 )
field.
Diethyl-
at a b o u t the t i m e the
estrone
structure w a s e l u c i d a t e d , p r e s u m a b l y not b y d e s i g n b u t i n c o n n e c t i o n Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
w i t h studies o n the structure of estrone.
Probably few analog programs
c a n m a t c h the scope of the m o d i f i e d estrogen p r o g r a m t h a t f o l l o w e d . M e t h y l t e s t o s t e r o n e was s y n t h e s i z e d i n the same year that saw the b i r t h of testosterone itself.
Steroids are still b e i n g c h e m i c a l l y m o d i f i e d t o d a y .
Some i n d i c a t i o n of the m a g n i t u d e of the steroid effort is n o t e d b y F i e s e r a n d F i e s e r ( 8 ) , w h o o b s e r v e d that even as early as 1936 p u b l i c a tions w e r e a p p e a r i n g at the rate of 300 per year. that i n 1960 there w e r e 1,123
A p p l e z w e i g (9)
notes
r e p o r t e d analogs e m u l a t i n g the n a t u r a l
hormones. T a b l e I V p r o v i d e s a q u i c k v i s u a l i m p r e s s i o n of some 50 or 60 separate d r u g entities, e x c l u d i n g d e r i v a t i v e s a n d f o r m u l a t i o n s , a v a i l a b l e for therap e u t i c use i n the U n i t e d States t o d a y .
Progress i n p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l
a n d f a m i l y p l a n n i n g w a s c e r t a i n l y e n h a n c e d b y the d e v e l o p m e n t of the steroid-based p i l l , w h i c h contains progestins a n d estrogens.
However,
the entire steroid h o r m o n e d e v e l o p m e n t w o u l d have b e e n d e l a y e d m a r k e d l y h a d it not b e e n for p r e c e d i n g d e v e l o p m e n t s , o u t l i n e d i n T a b l e V . T h e h i g h l i g h t s i n the l o n g h i s t o r y of research
that p r e c e d e d
the
steroid h o r m o n e era of the 1930's are s h o w n here. T h i s t i m e t a b l e records the d i s c o v e r y a n d c h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n of a select f e w f r o m l i t e r a l l y h u n d r e d s of n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g steroid substances,
w h i c h w e r e later to
become
i m p o r t a n t as r a w materials i n man's p r e o c c u p a t i o n w i t h steroid synthesis. D u r i n g this p e r i o d it was l e a r n e d that cholesterol, first d i s c o v e r e d
(10)
i n 1812 a n d c h a r a c t e r i z e d s t r u c t u r a l l y i n 1932, is a c t u a l l y the b i o g e n e t i c r a w m a t e r i a l for a l l of the steroid h o r m o n e s ; i n t u r n , it is p r e c e d e d b i o g e n e t i c a l l y b y the i s o p r e n o i d — s q u a l e n e — a fact w h i c h was suggested as a p o s s i b i l i t y l o n g before the structure of cholesterol b e c a m e k n o w n .
Ex-
cept f o r cholesterol a n d the b i l e acids these substances are of p l a n t o r i g i n , so that the subject of d r u g d i s c o v e r y f r o m a n i m a l sources d i v o r c e d e n t i r e l y f r o m p l a n t sources.
cannot
be
O f the m a i n steroid classifications
o n l y the c a r d i a c glycosides are not represented.
Although medically
i m p o r t a n t , the latter are of p l a n t o r i g i n a n d have not b e c o m e m e a n i n g f u l to steroid h o r m o n e research.
A l l of the steroid substances s h o w n i n this
table have b e e n or n o w are i m p o r t a n t r a w materials u s e d to m a n u f a c t u r e steroid h o r m o n e s .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
Animal
19
Sources
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Table IV.
Available D r u g Entities
Corticosteroids
Progestins
Betamethasone Cortisone Desoxycorticosterone Dexamethasone Fludrocortisone Fluprednisolone Hydrocortisone Methylprednisolone Paramethasone Prednisolone Prednisone Triamcinolone
Dydrogesterone (Duphaston) Ethisterone (Pranone) Hydroxyprogesterone (Prodox) Medroxyprogesterone (Provera) Norethindrone (Norlutin) Progesterone Contraceptives C h l o r m a d i n o n e -f- m e s t r a n o l (C-Quens) D i m e t h i s t e r o n e -f- e t h i n y l estradiol (Oracon) E t h y n o d i o l + mestranol (Ovulen) Medroxyprogesterone + ethinyl estradiol (Provest) Norethindrone + ethinyl estradiol (Norlestrin) Norethindrone + mestranol ( Ortho-No vum) Norethynodrel + mestranol (Enovid-E)
Androgenic
Agents
Topical A.LF. Agents Dichlorisone (Diloderm) Flurandrenolide (Cordran) Fluocinolone (Synalar) Fluorometholone (Oxylone) Hydrocortamate (Magnacort) Anabolic
Agents
Ethylestrenol (Maxibolen) Methandrostenolone (Dianabol) Nandrolone (Durabolin) Norethandrolone (Nilevar) Oxandrolone (Anavar) Oxymetholone (Adroyd) Stanazolol (Winstrol)
Estrogens
Fluoxymesterone (Halotestin) Methyltestosterone Stanolone ( N e o d r o l ) Testosterone
Estradiol Estriol Estrone E t h i n y l estradiol
Miscellaneous D e h y d r o c h o l i c a c i d (choleretic) D i g i t a l i s (cardiotonic ( m i x t u r e of steroid glycosides)) D i h y d r o t a c h y s t e r o l ( t r e a t m e n t of h y p o p a r a t h y r o i d i s m ) Dromostanolone (2a-methylandrostan-170-ol-3-one, 17-propionate b o l i c - a n d r o g e n i c , for cancer o n l y ) H y d r o x y d i o n e ( V i a d r i l ) (anesthetic) Pregnenolone (listed i n M o d e l l , use u n k n o w n ) Medrysone (ophthalmic) Sitosterols (antihypercholesterolemic) V i t a m i n D (Calciferol) (vitamin)
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
(ana-
20
DRUG
The
120-year-long
investigation on
the
structure
of
DISCOVERY
cholesterol,
m a r k e d e s p e c i a l l y b y the b r i l l i a n t research of W i n d a u s a n d W i e l a n d i n the e a r l y 1900s, s u c c e e d e d i n 1932.
T h i s k n o w l e d g e w a s the k e y to the
structures of a l l steroid classes u n d e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g the steroid h o r m o n e s , w h i c h q u i c k l y f e l l i n p l a c e . W h e r e a s the b i r t h of t h e s t e r o i d h o r m o n e era has b e e n a t t r i b u t e d to the 1930-40 p e r i o d , w e see that this p e r i o d m a r k s i n s t e a d the m a t u r a t i o n of the steroid field as a w h o l e . C o n s i d e r a t i o n of the events before 1930, therefore, c a n not be e x c l u d e d i n s e a r c h i n g f o r significant factors i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g the process of
drug
Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
d i s c o v e r y f r o m n a t u r a l sources a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r steroid h o r m o n e s . T h e r e is some m e r i t i n t h i n k i n g of the p r e - s t e r o i d h o r m o n e era as the subconscious phase of s t e r o i d h o r m o n e research, the results of w h i c h later p r o v i d e d goals c l e a r l y r e l a t i n g to d r u g p o t e n t i a l . E a r l y research i n the separate s t e r o i d categories i n T a b l e V w e r e c o n d u c t e d w i t h o u t k n o w l edge of the s t r u c t u r a l s i m i l a r i t y that existed b e t w e e n t h e i r H o w e v e r , t h r o u g h o u t these w i d e l y separated relationships w e r e established.
members.
studies n u m e r o u s
inter
F o r e x a m p l e , i n 1919 the c o n v e r s i o n of
cholesterol to c h o l a n i c a c i d s h o w e d for the first t i m e that these t w o major categories are b o t h s t e r o i d a l . T h e established facts of e a c h series a c c u m u l a t e d over a c e n t u r y n o w b e c a m e a p p l i c a b l e to the other. T h e l o n g p e r i o d s of t i m e r e q u i r e d f o r these e a r l y d e v e l o p m e n t s h a v e no r e l a t i o n to the a v a i l a b i l i t y of the n a t u r a l s t e r o i d substances t h e y w e r e a b u n d a n t l y a v a i l a b l e f o r research purposes. contrast
to the
a v a i l a b i l i t y of steroid h o r m o n e
because
T h i s is i n sharp
substances
discussed
earlier. H o w e v e r , the entire science of o r g a n i c c h e m i s t r y w a s e m e r g i n g d u r i n g this p e r i o d so that the rate of progress i n steroid reseach
kept
p a c e w i t h the d e v e l o p i n g g e n e r a l m e t h o d o l o g y . Table V .
Precursors of Steroid Hormones (Timetable of Discovery) Steroid Hormone 1800 1 1
Sterols (hundreds) Cholesterol Ergosterol
15
30
45
60
75
90
1 I
1 I
1 ι
1 1
1 1
1 1
Sapogenins (40 ± ) Diosgenin
Cortisone Era
I
i
35
50 1 1
1 1
;â)
(2) (2)
(Î) (Î)
(20)
Cholicacid
α
2C
1 !
(i)
Stigmasterol Bile Acids
1905
Era
(2) (Î)
(2) ( i s o l a t i o n of gitogenin)
(i)
(2)
Legend: (1) isolation, (2) structure, (3) configuration.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
Animal
HOGG
Table V I .
Instrumental and Analytical Techniques Applied Steroid Research (Timetable) Application to Steroids
Instrument Ultraviolet absorption
1930
Paper chromatography I n f r a r e d spectrometry R o t a t o r y dispersion
e a r l y 1950's 1955
N u c l e a r magnetic resonance Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
21
Sources
X - r a y diffraction M a s s spectrometry Gas chromatography
1949
1958 late 1950's 1 9 5 8 - 59 1 9 5 9 - 60
to
Comment Beckman D U a v a i l a b l e 1940 by Zaffaroni Commercial instrument same y e a r Commercial instrument i n 1955-56
Instrumentation i n 1951-52
T h e entire p e r i o d , e s p e c i a l l y as w e a p p r o a c h the s t e r o i d h o r m o n e era, is m a r k e d b y the confluence of n u m e r o u s other lines of endeavor, b o t h c h e m i c a l a n d b i o l o g i c a l , w h i c h c u m u l a t i v e l y r e s u l t e d i n the r a p i d progress f r o m 1930 to 1940.
H o w e v e r , the goals of the i n d i v i d u a l re-
searchers of the t i m e w e r e u s u a l l y t e c h n i c a l i n nature. S ô d e r b a u m
reflects
this o n the o c c a s i o n of the N o b e l lectures of 1928 b y W i n d a u s a n d W i e l a n d w h e n he s a i d that the investigations o n steroids " w e r e a l l d e s i g n e d to e x p l a i n the i n t e r n a l structure of o r g a n i c materials, t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h one another a n d their transitions i n t o one a n o t h e r . " H e c o n t i n u e s : " f o r this reason t h e y are of f u n d a m e n t a l i m p o r t a n c e for o u r k n o w l e d g e of a n u m b e r of processes o c c u r r i n g i n b o t h the h e a l t h y a n d diseased org a n i s m , a n d therefore of greatest significance, not o n l y for the c h e m i s t r y as s u c h , b u t also f o r the sister sciences, p h y s i o l o g y a n d m e d i c i n e " F r o m this it is clear that the scientific c o m m u n i t y , o n the eve of
(II). the
steroid h o r m o n e era, h a d c l e a r l y sensed the p o t e n t i a l i m p o r t a n c e of the developing long
field.
It has also b e e n s a i d that W i n d a u s h e l d this v i e w
before. T h e s p r e a d of steroid research o n a w o r l d - w i d e basis is t y p i c a l of a
p h e n o m e n o n i n research i n w h i c h trends d e v e l o p spontaneously, r e s u l t i n g i n g l o b a l research teams a n d r e m a r k a b l y w e l l b a l a n c e d b u t c o m p e t i t i v e p r o g r a m s . E q u a l l y spontaneous is the a s s u m p t i o n of l e a d e r s h i p i n g u i d i n g s u c h trends; u s u a l l y one c a n i d e n t i f y a f e w pioneers w h o w e r e responsible f o r s h a p i n g the course of the o v e r a l l effort e v e n t h o u g h it is widespread. It w o u l d seem that the early s t e r o i d w o r k n o w stands as a m o d e l of basic research w h i c h i n its entirety p r o v i d e s e v i d e n c e that b a s i c research r e l a t i n g to n a t u r a l p r o d u c t s n e e d not be w i t h o u t p u r p o s e f u l d i r e c t i o n , a n d that p r i v a t e a n d p u b l i c f u n d s , p r o p e r l y a d m i n i s t e r e d i n s u p p o r t of s i m i l a r
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
22
DRUG
DISCOVERY
research, c a n b r i n g r i c h r e w a r d s . It is of interest that at least 10 research pioneers h a v e r e c e i v e d N o b e l p r i z e s f o r t h e i r research i n o r r e l a t e d to the s t e r o i d
field.
B e f o r e l e a v i n g the steroids to take u p the p r o s t a g l a n d i n s , i t is i m p o r tant t o assess t h e i m p a c t of m o d e r n i n s t r u m e n t a l a n d a n a l y t i c a l t e c h n i q u e s o n s t e r o i d h o r m o n e research.
T a b l e V I shows that t h e g e n e r a l use of
these t e c h n i q u e s i n s t e r o i d research b e g a n d u r i n g t h e 1950's, t o o late t o
Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
assist i n t h e s t e r o i d h o r m o n e era. T h e cortisone e r a t h r o u g h t h e 1950's
C00H
C00H C00H
8,11,14-EICOSATRIENOIC ACID
C00H
C00H
5.8.IIJ4-EIC0SATETRAENOIC ACID
C00H
C00H
'C00H
5,8,11,14,17-EICOSAPENTAENOIC ACID
C00H
Figure 2.
The naturally
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
occurring
2.
Animal
HOGG
benefitted
23
Sources
i n c r e a s i n g l y as j u d g e d b y the t i m e t a b l e
steroids s h o w n here.
of a p p l i c a t i o n to
H o w e v e r , as w e shift n o w to t h e e m e r g i n g field of
p r o s t a g l a n d i n research, w e see that several of these d e v e l o p i n g t e c h n i q u e s p r o v i d e d t h e k e y to o p e n i n g u p this
field.
Prostaglandins B i o d e t e c t i o n of t h e substances n o w k n o w n as t h e p r o s t a g l a n d i n s w a s first r e p o r t e d i n 1930 b y K u r z r o k a n d L i e b (12),
Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
0
0
w h o demonstrated
C00H
PGA, 0
OH 19-HYDROXY-PGBi
OH I9-HYDR0XY-PGA 0
0
PGA
PGB
2
0
2
0
υ
π
OH
I9-HYDR0XY-PGA
prostaglandins
υ
and their
"
OH
I9-HYDR0XY-PGB
2
2
precursors
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
24
DRUG
DISCOVERY
that f r e s h h u m a n semen c o u l d cause s t r o n g contractions or r e l e x a t i o n w h e n a p p l i e d to strips of the h u m a n uterus. N o t e that this date c o i n c i d e s w i t h the b e g i n n i n g of the s t e r o i d h o r m o n e era. It is a c u r i o u s c o i n c i d e n c e that i n the A u g u s t 1935 issue of Klinische
Wochenschrift
there a p p e a r e d
o n c o n s e c u t i v e pages the assignment of the n a m e p r o s t a g l a n d i n to this n e w substance b y v o n E u l e r ( 13 ) a n d the assignment of the t e r m progesterone to the n e w l y i s o l a t e d s t e r o i d a l c o r p u s l u t e u m h o r m o n e b y B u t e n a n d t
(14).
T h a t b o t h substances s h o u l d e v e n t u a l l y p r o m i s e means of p o p u l a t i o n c o n t r o l is e v e n m o r e i n t r i g u i n g . Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
F i g u r e 2 shows structures for the entire p r o s t a g l a n d i n f a m i l y .
The
s e c o n d c o l u m n shows the six p r i m a r y p r o s t a g l a n d i n s , so d e s i g n a t e d because i n t h e i r biogenesis none are precursors of the other.
T h e prosta-
g l a n d i n s m a y be d e f i n e d as l i p i d - l i k e , l o c a l h o r m o n e s , present i n n u m e r o u s m a m m a l i a n tissues. A m u s i n g b u t s u p e r f i c i a l analogies to the steroids are t h e c y c l o p e n t a n e r i n g , the 20 c a r b o n atoms, a n d the presence or absence of a n h y d r o x y l g r o u p at p o s i t i o n 11. M o r e m e a n i n g f u l is t h e i r f o r m a t i o n b i o g e n e t i c a l l y f r o m the essential p o l y u n s a t u r a t e d acids b y e n z y m e cata l y z e d c y c l i z a t i o n as s h o w n i n this squalene as p r e c u r s o r to cholesterol.
figure
(15),
a s t r i k i n g a n a l o g y to
T h e f a t t y a c i d precursors of the
p r o s t a g l a n d i n s are counterparts of the steroids of the p r e - h o r m o n e era, b u t the vast f a t t y a c i d t e c h n o l o g y d i d not m a t c h the steroid c o u n t e r p a r t i n c o n t r i b u t i n g later to the r a p i d d e v e l o p m e n t of p r o s t a g l a n d i n s , e x c e p t i n g t h e i r use as b i o s y n t h e t i c r a w m a t e r i a l . T a b l e V I I shows a p a r t i a l list of d e m o n s t r a t e d occurrences i n m a m m a l i a n tissues f o r the six p r i m a r y p r o s t a g l a n d i n s . I n the early years the facts that the p r o s t a g l a n d i n s are u b i q u i t o u s i n t h e i r d i s t r i b u t i o n , are r a p i d l y m e t a b o l i z e d , are not c i r c u l a t i n g hormones, a n d e l i c i t m u l t i p l e b i o l o g i c a l responses l e d some to argue that t h e y w o u l d never h a v e u s e f u l m e d i c i n a l properties.
O t h e r s i n t e r p r e t e d these facts i n just the opposite
way. T a b l e V I I I shows that the c o n c e n t r a t i o n of PGEi e q u i v a l e n t s i n several sources is v e r y s m a l l , a fact w h i c h accounts greatly f o r t h e del a y e d d e v e l o p m e n t of the p r o s t a g l a n d i n s . T h e s p e c i a l p r o b l e m of collecti n g large q u a n t i t i e s of some of these substances richest i n p r o s t a g l a n d i n s is o b v i o u s .
S h e e p v e s i c u l a r glands e v e n t u a l l y p r o v e d to b e the
p r a c t i c a l source.
most
T h e prostaglandin discovery a n d development time-
table s h o w n i n T a b l e I X , w h e n compared w i t h the steroid timetables, reveals some of t h e differences
as w e l l as s i m i l a r i t i e s b e t w e e n
these
developments. T h e p r o s t a g l a n d i n era b e g a n w i t h its b i o d e t e c t i o n b y K u r z r o k
(12)
i n 1930 i n h u m a n semen, w h i c h w a s s h o w n to contract or relax strips of h u m a n uterus. F o r the next 29 years p r o s t a g l a n d i n research m o v e d at a s l o w pace, a v e r a g i n g one p u b l i c a t i o n p e r year, w h i l e s t e r o i d h o r m o n e
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
Animal
Table VII. Source
Occurrence of Prostaglandins PGE,
PGE
PGE
PGF
+ + +
+ +
+ +
+ +
V e s i c u l a r g l a n d , sheep Seminal plasma, human sheep M e n s t r u a l fluid L u n g s , sheep
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25
Sources
Pig. bovine guinea p i g monkey man I r i s , sheep B r a i n , bovine cat T h y m u s , calf Pancreas, bovine A d r e n a l , cat Fat, rat K i d n e y , rabbit Intestine, frog S p i n a l c o r d , frog
2
la
PGF
+ +
+
+
+ + +
Table VIII.
3
+
+
PGF
2a
S
+ + + + + + + + + +
+
+
+
Concentration of Prostaglandins
Tissue
PGE
Sheep v e s i c u l a r g l a n d H u m a n semen Cat thymus D o g s p i n a l cord
10-500 /xgram/gram 2 5 - 7 8 0 /^gram/ml 0.8 /xgram/gram 104 ttgram/gram
Sheep l u n g H u m a n lung
0.5 /xgram/gram 0.02 /xgram/gram
t
Equivalent
PGF
2a
research m a t u r e d a n d r e a c h e d its p e a k d u r i n g the same p e r i o d of t i m e . T h e s e e a r l y p u b l i c a t i o n s e m a n a t e d l a r g e l y f r o m a f e w laboratories:
von
E u l e r i n Sweden, Goldblatt i n England, and Bergstrom i n Sweden.
This
is i n sharp contrast to the effort o n steroid h o r m o n e a n d
pre-hormone
steroids, w h i c h o c c u r r e d i n m a n y laboratories a r o u n d the w o r l d .
Even
t h o u g h W i n d a u s has
other
been
c a l l e d the f a t h e r of steroids,
many
pioneers are r e c o g n i z e d . P r o b a b l y the most significant factor i n the s l o w p a c e d u r i n g the e a r l y years ( 1930-1956 ) w a s the scarcity of the n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g m a terials w h i c h c o n t a i n e d o n l y l o w levels of the active substances.
When
B e r g s t r o m of the K a r o l i n s k a Institute, w h o likes to "isolate t h i n g s , " c a m e b a c k to the p r o b l e m i n 1956-57, he b r o u g h t w i t h h i m a vast
experience
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
26
DRUG
DISCOVERY
w i t h nature's a c i d i c substances, the b i l e acids, a n d essential f a t t y acids, fields
i n w h i c h he w a s a l r e a d y p r o m i n e n t .
This background was
an
i m p o r t a n t a d j u n c t to the task at h a n d a n d p r o b a b l y e n h a n c e d t h e f a s c i n a t i o n f o r i s o l a t i n g this u n k n o w n a c i d i c l i p i d - l i k e substance c a l l e d prostaglandin. T w o i m p o r t a n t d i f f e r e n t i a l t e c h n o l o g i c a l factors contrasted the r e a l b e g i n n i n g of the p r o s t a g l a n d i n era i n 1956 a n d the steroid h o r m o n e era of the 1930's.
O n e of these is the m a t u r a t i o n of m o d e r n i n s t r u m e n t a l
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Table IX.
1930
First Clue
34
38
The Prostaglandins—Discovery
4%
46
Early Characterization (16-19)
Prostaglandin
50
Interim A c t i v i t y (20)
K,
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
Animal
27
Sources
a n d a n a l y t i c a l t e c h n i q u e s , w h i c h a r r i v e d too late to h e l p i n the s t e r o i d hormone breakthroughs.
G a s c h r o m a t o g r a p h y , mass s p e c t r o m e t r y , a n d
u l t r a m i c r o a n a l y t i c a l t e c h n i q u e s w e r e a p p l i e d i n a series of b r i l l i a n t i n vestigations f r o m w h i c h the structure (23,
24)
of PGEi ( 1 9 6 2 ) as w e l l
as the w h o l e f a m i l y of n e w p r o s t a g l a n d i n substances e m e r g e d ( b y 1966 ). I s o l a t i o n w a s g u i d e d b y the s m o o t h m u s c l e strip assay.
T h e s e achieve-
ments s t a n d as the classic e x a m p l e of the first structure e l u c i d a t i o n of a
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and Development (Timetable) 54
62
66
70
I
I
I
74
Future
Clinical
Isolation (21,22) « S t r u c t u r e (23, 24)
Biology
Biosynthesis (25-27)
Metabolism (28)
Analogs
Total Synthesis (29-32)
j
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
28
DRUG
DISCOVERY
f a m i l y of n e w a n d i m p o r t a n t n a t u r a l p r o d u c t s u t i l i z i n g a d v a n c e d i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n , e s p e c i a l l y mass spectrometry. T h e other i m p o r t a n t difference f r o m the steroid hormones
is t h e
c o m p l e t e absence of awareness of t i e - i n w i t h investigations a l o n g other lines o f n a t u r a l p r o d u c t research p r i o r to t h e structure w h i c h w e r e therefore essentially de novo.
determinations,
H o w e v e r , after t h e structures
b e c a m e k n o w n , three different laboratories ( 2 5 - 2 7 ) i n d e p e n d e n t l y recogn i z e d t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of t h e C » u n s a t u r a t e d fatty acids as b i o s y n t h e t i c 0
precursors ( F i g u r e 2 ) . T h u s the essential fatty a c i d t e c h n o l o g y b e c a m e Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
u s e f u l to t h e p r o s t a g l a n d i n effort b u t at a later p o i n t o n t h e t i m e t a b l e — n a m e l y as r e a d i l y a v a i l a b l e s t a r t i n g m a t e r i a l f o r e n z y m a t i c i n tissue homogenates
to t h e p r o s t a g l a n d i n s .
d u c e d i n this m a n n e r t h e b i o l o g i c a l phase
conversion
W i t h prostaglandins proof p r o s t a g l a n d i n s
became
possible. T h e U p j o h n C o . w h i c h h o l d s a basic U . S . patent to this process ( 2 7 ) , p r o v i d e d h u n d r e d s of laboratories w i t h research quantities of the prostaglandins. I n d u s t r i a l c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h a c a d e m i c institutions w a s characteristic d u r i n g the s t e r o i d d e v e l o p m e n t s .
T h e same is also true f o r the prosta-
g l a n d i n s . P r i o r to the K a r o l i n s k a assault o n the p r o s t a g l a n d i n structure, 1200
1100
1000
1930
Figure 3.
1940
1950
1960
Accumulated publications taglandins
1970
on pros-
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
David
Animal
29
Sources
Weisblat arranged for T h e
U p j o h n C o . to assist the
project
t h r o u g h s u p p o r t for c o l l e c t i n g large quantities of sheep s e m i n a l v e s i c u l a r g l a n d s ; this c o l l a b o r a t i o n , i n v o l v i n g a n exchange of materials a n d tech n o l o g y , has c o n t i n u e d .
Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
Table X .
Areas of Potentials Use for Prostaglandins
M u l t i p l e smooth muscle properties Intermediary metabolism P h y s i o l o g y of the c e n t r a l nervous s y s t e m Gastrointestinal physiology Cardiovascular physiology Reproductive physiology W i t h the p r o s t a g l a n d i n structures k n o w n , the goal for t o t a l synthesis was established.
S u c h studies b e g a n i n several laboratories l o n g b e f o r e
clear e v i d e n c e of t h e r a p e u t i c p o t e n t i a l was established.
T h e first s y n
thesis of a p r o s t a n o i c a c i d , one of the metabolites of p r o s t a g l a n d i n E was r e p o r t e d ( 2 9 )
i n 1966.
1 ?
Since then the t o t a l synthesis of a l l of the
p r i m a r y p r o s t a g l a n d i n s has b e e n r e p o r t e d (30-32).
These developments,
c o u p l e d w i t h the b i o s y n t h e t i c techniques, p r o v i d e d t e c h n o l o g y for a n a l o g synthesis, a n a c t i v i t y w h i c h also p r e c e d e d established t h e r a p e u t i c p o t e n tial.
S e v e r a l analogs p r e p a r e d b y the b i o s y n t h e t i c route h a v e b e e n re
ported.
I n our laboratories several h u n d r e d analogs a n d isomers
have
b e e n s y n t h e s i z e d , a n e n d e a v o r b a s e d o n the c o n v i c t i o n that the prosta g l a n d i n s w o u l d e v e n t u a l l y p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t role i n t h e r a p y . T h e u p s u r g e of interest i n p r o s t a g l a n d i n research
is d r a m a t i c a l l y
r e v e a l e d i n F i g u r e 3 w h i c h shows the n u m b e r of p u b l i c a t i o n s against t i m e . T h e a s y m p t o t i c increase i n p u b l i c a t i o n s f r o m 1965 to 1970 the r e n e w e d interest i n b i o l o g y m a d e possible b y the generous
reflects
aforementioned
d i s t r i b u t i o n of b i o s y n t h e t i c p r o s t a g l a n d i n s for b i o l o g i c a l re
search. T h e c l i n i c a l phase of p r o s t a g l a n d i n research is n o w w e l l a d v a n c e d i n the U n i t e d States a n d a b r o a d . T a b l e X s u m m a r i z e s some of the areas of b i o l o g i c a l a n d m e d i c a l interest.
T h e c l i n i c a l efficacy of PGEo a n d
P G F « i n a b o r t i o n a n d l a b o r i n d u c t i o n has b e e n established. 2
Clinical
studies i n c a r d i o v a s c u l a r disease a n d as gastric antisecretory agents are also i n progress.
T h e a l l e v i a t i o n of the s y m p t o m s of a s t h m a i n h u m a n s
w i t h the Ε p r o s t a g l a n d i n s has b e e n r e p o r t e d
(34).
T h e genèses of d r u g d e v e l o p m e n t s , i l l u s t r a t e d s p e c i f i c a l l y b y
the
steroid hormones a n d p r o s t a g l a n d i n s , are n u r t u r e d b y the d e v e l o p m e n t s i n the b a s i c sciences a n d are often extensions of research a i m e d at other goals. P r o b a b l y the greatest single factor i n p a c i n g the rate of d i s c o v e r y a n d d e v e l o p m e n t of n e w fields is the a v a i l a b i l i t y of a d e q u a t e t e c h n o l o g y .
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
30
DRUG
DISCOVERY
Patterns of d r u g d e v e l o p m e n t are o b v i o u s f o r b o t h fields discussed. T h e s e patterns are variations of the order i n w h i c h the k e y stages o n the t i m e t a b l e occur. N o t o b v i o u s is the f o r m u l a for i n i t i a t i v e . W h e r e a s integ r a t e d w o r l d w i d e trends i n v o l v i n g g l o b a l research teams e v o l v e as gene r a l awareness i n a n y g i v e n field increases, the b r e a k t h r o u g h s into t r u l y v i r g i n t e r r i t o r y come f r o m those v e r y f e w leaders w i t h i n t u i t i o n a n d
Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
insight.
24-METHYLENECHOLESTEROL
CHOLESTEROL
COOH
•COOH
3«, 7«, 12—TRIHYDROXY-25COPROSTANIC ACID (25« AND 25/3 FROM FROG BILE; 25- FROM CROCODILE BILE)
CHOLIC ACID
COOH
H
OH 15-EPI PGA
PGA,
2
(ACETATE, METHYL ESTER)
Figure 4.
Evolutionary
variation in chemical species
T h e r e c o r d of the past a n d the h i g h p r o m i s e i n c u r r e n t l y e m e r g i n g n e w fields of n a t u r a l p r o d u c t s of a n i m a l o r i g i n attest to the p o t e n t i a l f o r the f u t u r e i n this
field.
T h e p r o b a b i l i t y for f u t u r e d i s c o v e r y of e n t i r e l y
n e w classes of substances of a n i m a l o r i g i n cannot without breakthroughs
be guessed.
i n t o n e w areas, several a c t i v e
fields
of
Even today
p r o m i s e c o n t e m p o r a r y b r e a k t h r o u g h s w h i c h w i l l b e c o m e the h i s t o r i c a l
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.
2.
HOGG
Animal
31
Sources
accounts o f t o m o r r o w s success stories—e.g., t h e p e p t i d e h o r m o n e
field
w h e r e i n progress has k e p t p a c e w i t h e m e r g i n g t e c h n o l o g y . H o w e v e r , substances of a n i m a l o r i g i n w h i c h serve to regulate b o d y f u n c t i o n h a v e u n i q u e p o t e n t i a l f o r t h e r a p e u t i c usefulness r e l a t i v e t o other substances o f n a t u r a l o r i g i n .
B e r g m a n n i n h i s r e v i e w ( 3 5 ) o f t h e evo
l u t i o n a r y aspects of sterols o b s e r v e d that cholesterol, t h e d o m i n a n t sterol p r o d u c e d i n h i g h e r forms of a n i m a l l i f e , h a d n u m e r o u s c h e m i c a l l y r e l a t e d c o m p a n i o n s i n l o w e r forms of l i f e , o n e of w h i c h is 2,4-methylene
cho
lesterol. E v e n t h e b i l e acids a p p e a r i n different s t r u c t u r a l m o d i f i c a t i o n s Downloaded by UNIV QUEENSLAND on October 14, 2014 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: June 1, 1971 | doi: 10.1021/ba-1971-0108.ch002
i n l o w e r forms o f l i f e s u c h as t h e f r o g a n d c r o c o d i l e . B e r g m a n n defines the e m e r g e n c e o f cholesterol as t h e d o m i n a n t sterol i n h i g h e r a n i m a l s as a " p h e n o m e n o n of b i o - c h e m i c a l e v o l u t i o n " a n d c o n c l u d e s that " I t w o u l d a p p e a r that i n cholesterol w e witness t h e s u r v i v a l of t h e fittest s t e r o l . " A l r e a d y i n t h e n e w field o f p r o s t a g l a n d i n s w e h a v e a n e x a m p l e i n P. Homomalla,
a g o r g o n i a n of t h e c o r a l reefs a n d a l o w e r f o r m o f a n i m a l
life, w h i c h p r o d u c e s a p r o s t a g l a n d i n substance (36). differs f r o m P G A
2
This prostaglandin
o n l y i n t h e stereochemistry at carbon-15.
It is reasonable
( Figure 4)
to c o n c l u d e that t h e p e r p e t u a t i o n of r e g u l a t o r y
c h e m i c a l species o r their precursors as p r o d u c t s of m a m m a l i a n b i o c h e m istry is a result of t h e s u r v i v a l v a l u e they h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d to t h e o r g a n i s m they serve, a n d therefore s u c h substances w i l l i n some w a y d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y b e f o u n d to p l a y a role i n h u m a n m e d i c i n e .
Literature Cited (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)
Allen, E., Doisy, Ε. Α., J. Amer. Med. Assoc. (1923) 81, 819. Corner, G. W., Allen, W. M., Amer. J. Physiol. (1928) 86, 74. Fieser, L. F., Fieser, M., "Steroids," p. 503, Reinhold, New York, 1959. Ingle, D. J., Amer. J. Physiol. (1936) 622. Fieser, L. F., Fieser, M., op. cit., p. 673. Fried, J., Sabo, Emily F., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. (1954) 76, 1455. Cook, J. W., Dodds, E. C., Hewett, C. L., Nature (1937) 131, 56. Feiser, L. F., Fieser, M., op. cit., p. iii. Applezweig, Norman, "Steroid Drugs," p. 88, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1962. (10) Fieser, L. F., Fieser, M., op. cit., p. 3. (11) Söderbaum, H. G., presentation of Nobel prize in chemistry to Wieland and Windaus, in "Nobel Lectures in Chemistry, 1922-1941," p. 89, Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1966. (12) Kurzrok, R., Lieb, C.C.,Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. (1930) 28, 268. (13) von Euler, U. S., Klin. Wochenschr. (1935) 14, 1182. (14) Allen, W. M., Butenandt, Α., Corner, G. W., Slotta, Κ. H., Ibid. (15) Bergström, S., Carlson, L. Α., Weeks, J. R., "The Prostaglandins, a Family of Biologically Active Lipids,"Pharmacol.Rev. (1968) 20 (1), 1-48. (16) Goldblatt, M. W., Chem. Ind. (London) (1933) 52, 1056. (17) Goldblatt, M. W., J. Physiol. (London) (1935) 84, 208. (18) von Euler, U. S., Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. (1934) 175, 78. (19) von Euler, U. S., J. Physiol. (London) (1937) 88, 213. (20)Bergström,S., Nord. Med. (1949) 42, 1465.
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32
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(21) Bergström, S., Sjövall, J., Acta Chem. Scand. (1957) 11, 1086. (22) Ibid., (1960) 14, 1693, 1701. (23) Bergström, S., Ryhage, R., Samuelsson, B., Sjövall, J., Acta Chem. Scand. (1962) 16, 501. (24) Bergström, S., Ryhage, R., Samuelsson, B., Sjövall, J., J. Biol. Chem. (1963) 238, 3555. (25) Bergström, S., Danielsson, H., Samuelsson, B., Biophys. Acta (1964) 90, 207. (26) van Dorp, D. Α., Beerthuis, R. K., Nugteren, D. H., Vonkeman, H., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1964) 90, 204. (27) Beal, P. F. III, Fonken, G. S., Pike, J. E., U.S. Patent 3,296,091 (Jan. 3, 1967). (28) Bergström, S. et al., Pharmacol. Rev. (1968) 20 (1), 4, 30. (29) Beal, P. F. III, Babcock, J. C., Lincoln, F. H., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. (1966) 88, 3131. (30) Axen, U. F., Lincoln, F. H., Thompson, J. L., Chem. Commun. (1969) 303. (31) Just, G., Simonovitch, C., Lincoln, F. H., Schneider, W. P., Axen, U. F., Spero, G. B., Pike, J. E., J. Amer. Chem. Soc. (1969) 91, 5364. (32) Corey, E. J., Andersen, Ν. H., Carlson, R. M., Paust, J., Vedejs, E., Vlattas, I., Winter, R. Ε.K.,J.Amer. Chem. Soc. (1968) 90, 3245. (33) Struijk, C. B., Beerthuis, R. K., van Dorp, D. Α., Nobel Symposium 2, "Prostaglandins," p. 51, S. Bergström, B. Samuelsson, Eds., Almqvist and Wiksell, Stockholm, 1967. (34) Cuthbert, M. F., Brit. Med. J. (1969) 4, 723. (35) Bergmann, W., in "Cholesterol," R. P. Cook, Ed., Chap. 12, Academic, New York, 1958. (36) Weinheimer, A. J., Spraggins, R. L., Tetrahedron Letters (1969) 59, 5185. RECEIVED November 5, 1970.
In Drug Discovery; Bloom, B., et al.; Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1971.