Effect of stereochemistry of Δlac-acetogenins on the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase)

Δlac-Acetogenins are a new type of inhibitors of bovine heart mitochondrial complex I (NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase). We synthesized a series of Δlac-acetogenins in which the stereochemistry around the hydroxylated tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring moiety was systematically modified, and examined their inhibitory effect on complex I. The present results revealed that the inhibitory effects of the bis-THF ring analogs are much more potent than those of the mono-THF ring analogs and that the stereochemistry around the bis-THF ring moiety significantly influences the inhibitory effect. The profiles of the structure-activity relationship observed for Δlac-acetogenins were entirely different from those for natural-type acetogenins.