Computational explanation for bioactivation mechanism of targeted anticancer agents mediated by cytochrome P450s: A case of Erlotinib

PLoS One. 2017 Jun 19;12(6):e0179333. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179333. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

EGFR inhibitors, even with therapeutics superiorities in anticancer, can cause idiosyncratic pulmonary and hepatic toxicities that are associated with the reactive electrophile bioactivated by Cytochrome P450s (P450s). Until now, neither has the electrophilic intermediate been caught experimentally, nor has the subtle mechanism been declared. Herein, the underlying mechanism of bioactivation mediated by P450s was explored by DFT calculations for a case of EGFR inhibitor, Erlotinib. Based on the calculation and analysis, we suggest that with other metabolites, reactive electrophiles of Erlotinib: epoxide and quinine-imine, can be generated by several steps along the oxidative reaction pathway. The generation of epoxide needs two steps: (1) the addition of Erlotinib to Compound I (Cpd I) and (2) the rearrangement of protons. Whereas, quinine-imine needs a further oxidation step (3) via which quinone is generated and ultimately turns into quinine-imine. Although both reactive electrophiles can be produced for either face-on or side-on pose of Erlotinib, the analysis of energy barriers indicates that the side-on path is preferred in solvent environment. In the rate-determining step, e.g. the addition of Erlotinib to the porphyrin, the reaction barrier for side-on conformation is decreased in aqueous and protein environment compared with gas phase, whereas, the barrier for face-on pose is increased in solvent environment. The simulated mechanism is in good agreement with the speculation in previous experiment. The understanding of the subtle mechanism of bioactivation of Erlotinib will provide theoretical support for toxicological mechanism of EGFR inhibitors.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Epoxy Compounds / chemistry
  • Epoxy Compounds / metabolism
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride / chemistry
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride / metabolism*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Quantum Theory
  • Quinones / chemistry
  • Quinones / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Epoxy Compounds
  • Quinones
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • Erlotinib Hydrochloride
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A

Grants and funding

The work was funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (grant no.81173124 to C.-Z.A, https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantindex/funcindex/prjsearch-list&81500354 to Y.-Z.J, https://isisn.nsfc.gov.cn/egrantindex/funcindex/prjsearch-list) and Shenzhen Science Foundation (grant no. JCYJ20160308104109234 to YZ Jiang).