Structure-activity relationships of 2alpha-substituted androstenedione analogs as aromatase inhibitors and their aromatization reactions.

Aromatase catalyzes the conversion of androstenedione (1a, AD) to estrone through three sequential oxygenations of the 19-methyl group. To gain insight into the spatial nature of the AD binding (active) site of aromatase in relation to the catalytic function of the enzyme, we tested for the ability of 2α-substituted (halogeno, alkyl, hydroxy, and alkoxy) ADs (1b–1i) to inhibit aromatase in human placental microsomes as well as their ability to serve as a substrate for the enzyme. All of the steroids inhibited the enzyme in a competitive manner with the apparent Ki's ranging from 45 to 1150nM. 2α-Halogeno (F, Cl, and Br) and 2α-alkyl (CH3 and CH2CH3) steroids 1b–1f were powerful to good inhibitors (Ki=45–171nM) whereas steroids 1g–1i, having an oxygen function (hydroxy or alkoxy) at C-2α, were poor inhibitors (Ki=670–1150nM). Aromatization of some of the steroids with placental microsomes was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, indicating that the aromatization rate of the bromide 1d was about two-fold that of the natural substrate AD and that of 2α-methoxide 1h was similar to that of AD. Kinetic analysis of the aromatization of androgens revealed that a good substrate was not essentially a good inhibitor for aromatase.