Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors have sparked great controversy in the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease. There is little doubt that Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors work synergistically with Levodopa to reduce several major debilitating symptoms. Multiple other medications provide a similar symptomatic benefit when combined with Levodopa; thus, a symptomatic benefit alone does little to advance current Parkinson’s treatment. The great controversy in treatment then comes from the possibility that Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors modify the natural course of Parkinson’s Disease. This class of drug protected nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in many cellular and animal studies. Clinical studies involving Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are more controversial. Several studies have shown results that suggest a neuroprotective effect while other have not. This may be because the tools used to assess PD progression are inadequate. To see a clear decrease in nigrostriatal dopaminergic death, and thus prove a neuroprotective effect, more advanced techniques to measure the progression of Parkinson’s Disease must be developed. Given the controversy it will be important to revisit the benefits of MAO-B inhibitors once more advanced progression techniques are available.

Rationale: The serotonergic system is involved in the modulation of emotion and plays an important role for personality and vulnerability for psychiatric disorders. In the papers included in this thesis, we investigate three biological factors that have been studied in relation to psychiatric symptoms: Platelet monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity, and variations in the MAO-A and the serotonin transporter (5HTT) genes. We also study intensity dependent auditory evoked potentials (IAEP) as an intermediate phenotype for serotonergic capacity. Platelet MAO-B has been shown to be a biological marker for the properties of monoamine systems, with low activity being associated with vulnerability for high scores of sensation seeking, monotony avoidance, and impulsiveness, as well as for susceptibility for alcoholism. Functional polymorphisms in the promoter of the genes encoding MAO-A and the serotonin transporter result in high- or low- activity alleles that have been associated with numerous psychiatric symptoms. One hypothesis for the shaping of personality is that these genotype variants have prenatal effects on the wiring of the brain. Thus, exploring how the development of the brain is affected by different prenatal serotonin levels is relevant in this context. Observations: (i) Platelet MAOB activity was associated with monoamine metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid from cisterna magna in monkeys, as well as with voluntary alcohol intake, alcohol-induced aggression, and alcohol sensitivity. (ii) The long 5HTTLPR allele was associated with increased IAEP. (iii) The functional MAOA and 5HTT polymorphisms were associated with symptoms of ADHD-related traits in a population based sample of Swedish adolescents. Associations of these candidate genes with ADHD scores were strenghtened when the platelet MAOB activity was combined with genotype. (iv) Our pilot data showed that treatment of pregnant mice with 5HTT blocking antidepressives resulted in more serotonergic cellbodies in lateral wings of dorsal raphe in the offspring, when compared to saline treatment. Conclusions: Our studies support the notion that platelet MAOB activity and IAEP are endophenotypes for monoaminergic capacity and related behaviours. The functional candidate polymorphisms in MAOA and 5HTT were linked to behaviour, however, the cause-relationship is unclear and the explanation for the associations need to be further investigated, possibly with focus on prenatal effects of the polymorphisms.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-containing enzyme attached to the mitochondrial outer membrane of neurons, glia, and other cells. Its roles include regulation of the levels of biogenic and xenobiotic amines in the brain and peripheral tissues by catalyzing their oxidative deamination. On the basis of their substrate and inhibitor specificities, two isoforms of MAO have been described (A and B). Due to their role in the metabolism of catecholamines neurotransmitters, MAO-A and MAO-B have long been of pharmacological interest. Accordingly, and reversible and irreversible inhibitors of MAO-A and MAO-B have been used in the clinics to treat neurological disorders including depression and Parkinson´s disease. Since the demonstration that I2- imidazoline sites are associated with mitochondrial membranes 15 years ago, several studies have provided evidence that these sites represent regions on MAOs. In line with this view, it has been demonstrated that imidazoline derivatives inhibit MAO activity. This effect has been attributed to a high affinity I2 binding site on MAO-B (I2B) and to a similar lower affinity site on MAO-A (I2A). This study investigated the effect of 4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazole-2-substituted compounds on MAO activity in vitro by spectrophotometric and fluorimetric methods using kynuramine as substrate. Among the compounds that inhibited MAO-A (3c-e, 3j), compound 3d was 73-fold more selective towards MAO-A than MAO-B. Among the compounds that selectively inhibited MAO-B (3g-I, 3k, 3o), imidazoline 3g was shown to be potent with Ki value of 5,3 μM. Some of compounds that selectively bind to I2-sites, such as 3l (benazoline), 3n (2-BFI), and 3p (BU224) showed good inhibitory activity especially against MAO-B. Imidazolines inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B activities in liver with less selectively than in rat brain. The compounds 3d and 3g reversibly inhibited MAO, and kinetics studies showed that compound 3d and 3g inhibited MAO in a mixed manner (decreased Vmax and increased Km values). These results confirm that imidazolines inhibit MAO activity and suggest a relationship between I2 binding site and modulation of central MAO / A monoamina oxidase (MAO) é uma enzima que contém o dinucleotídeo adenina-flavina (FAD) e que está presente na membrana externa da mitocôndria de células neuronais, glia e outras células. Seu papel inclui a regulação dos níveis de aminas biogênicas e xenobióticas no cérebro e em tecidos periféricos pela desaminação oxidativa. Com base na especificidade a substrato e inibidores, são descritas duas isoformas da MAO (A e B). Devido aos seus papéis no metabolismo das catecolaminas neurotransmissoras, a MAO-A e a MAO-B são consideradas farmacologicamente interessantes, e inibidores reversíveis e irreversíveis destas isoformas são usados clinicamente para tratar doenças neurológicas incluindo depressão e doença de Parkinson. Nos últimos 15 anos, desde a demonstração que sítios I2 estão associados com frações da membrana mitocondrial, muitos estudos provem evidências de que estes sítios representam regiões da MAO. Além disso, alguns estudos têm demonstrado que derivados imidazolínicos são capazes de inibir a atividade da MAO. Este efeito tem sido atribuído a sítios I2 de alta afinidade na MAO-B (I2B) e a um sítio similar de baixa afinidade na MAO-A (I2A). Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o efeito in vitro de compostos 4,5-diidro-1H-imidazol-2-substituídos sobre a atividade da enzima monoamina oxidase através de métodos espectrofotométricos e fluorimétricos usando quinuramina como substrato. Entre os compostos estudados que inibiram preferencialmente a MAO-A (3c-e, 3j) apenas o composto 3d foi seletivo, apresentando um Ki para a MAO-A de aproximadamente 73 vezes menor do que seu Ki para MAO-B. Entre os compostos obtidos que seletivamente inibiram MAO-B (3g-l, 3K, 3o), apenas a imidazolina 3g mostrou ser potente, com valores de Ki de 5,3 μM. Alguns compostos que exercem ligação potente e seletiva à sítios I2, como o 3l (benazolina), 3n (2-BFI) e 3p (BU224) mostraram boa atividade inibitória especialmente contra MAO-B. Em fígado de ratos, as imidazolinas inibiram com menos seletividade a MAO-A e MAO-B quando comparado com cérebro de ratos. Os compostos 3d e 3g inibiram a MAO de maneira reversível e apresentaram inibição de natureza mista (diminuindo o valor de Vmáx e aumentando o valor de Km) sobre a enzima MAO. Estes resultados confirmam que drogas imidazolinas podem inibir a atividade da MAO e sugerem uma relação entre sítios I2 e a modulação da atividade da enzima.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Alzheimer s disease (AD) is biochemically characterized by the occurrence of extracellular deposits of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ) and intracellular deposits of the hyperphosphorylated tau protein, which are causally related to the pathological hallmarks senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) activity, an enzyme involved in the oxidation of biogenic monoamines, is particularly high around the senile plaques and increased in AD patients in middle to late clinical stages of the disease. Selegiline, a selective and irreversible MAO-B inhibitor, improves learning and memory in AD patients. Notwithstanding, its mechanism of action is still not completely known. The current study aimed to investigate whether selegiline improves the Aβ25-35 induced cognitive deficit in the object recognition task in mice. In addition, we investigated whether selegiline alters MAO-B and MAO-A activities in the hippocampus, perirhinal and remaining cerebral cortices of Aβ25-35-injected mice. Acute (1 and 10 mg/kg, p.o., immediately post-training) and subchronic (10 mg/kg, p.o., seven days after Aβ25-35 injection and immediately post-training) administration of selegiline reversed the cognitive impairment induced by Aβ25-35 (3 nmol, i.c.v.). Acute administration of selegiline (1 mg/kg, p.o.) in combination with Aβ25-35 (3 nmol) decreased MAO-B activity in the perirhinal and remaining cerebral cortices. Acute administration of selegiline (10 mg/kg, p.o.) decreased MAO-B activity in hippocampus, perirhinal and remaining cerebral cortices, regardless of Aβ25-35 or Aβ35-25 treatment. MAO-A activity was not altered by selegiline or Aβ25-35. In summary, the current findings further support a role for MAO-B in the cognitive deficits observed in AD. / A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é bioquimicamente caracterizada por depósitos extracelulares de peptídeo beta amiloide (Aβ) e de proteína tau hiperfosforilada, que são causalmente relacionadas com as características patológicas, placas neuríticas e emaranhados neurofibrilares. A atividade da monoamina oxidase B (MAO-B), uma enzima envolvida na oxidação de monoaminas biogênicas, é particularmente elevada ao redor das placas senis e aumenta nos pacientes com DA em estágios clínicos de moderado a grave. A selegilina, um inibidor seletivo e irreversível da MAO-B, é relatada por melhorar a memória e o aprendizado em pacientes com DA. Porém, seu mecanismo de ação ainda não é completamente conhecido. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar se a selegilina melhora o déficit cognitivo induzido por Aβ25-35. na tarefa de reconhecimento de objetos em camundongos. Além disso, investigou-se a atividade da MAO-A e da MAO-B no hipocampo, no córtex cerebral e no córtex perirrinal de camundongos injetados com Aβ25-35 e com selegilina. Administração aguda (1 e 10 mg/kg, p.o., imediatamente pós-treino) e subcrônica (10 mg/kg, p.o., por sete dias depois da injeção do Aβ25-35 e imediatamente pós-treino) de selegilina preveniu o prejuízo da memória induzido pelo Aβ25-35 (3 nmol, icv). A administração aguda de selegilina (1 mg/kg, p.o.) em combinação com Aβ25-35 (3 nmol) diminuiu a atividade da MAO-B no córtex perirrinal e córtex cerebral. A administração aguda de selegilina (10 mg/kg, p.o.) diminuiu a atividade da MAO-B no hipocampo, no córtex cerebral e no córtex perirrinal independentemente da presença de Aβ25-35. A atividade da MAO-A não foi alterada pelo tratamento com selegilina ou Aβ25-35 em nenhuma das estruturas estudadas. Em resumo, os dados atuais suportam um papel adicional para a MAO-B no déficit cognitivo observado na DA.

A monoaminoxidase (MAO) é uma enzima importante, que pode atuar como alvo terapêutico. Inibidores da MAO-A apresentam atividade no tratamento de distúrbios de humor, enquanto os inibidores seletivos da MAO-B tem uso, especialmente, no tratamento da Doença de Parkinson. O conhecimento das interações ENZIMA-INIBIDOR é importante no planejamento de fármacos. Nesse contexto, foram realizados estudos das enzimas MAO-A e MAO-B com diferentes ligantes, através da combinação das metodologias de docking, Dinâmica Molecular e Ensemble Docking. Foram escolhidos os ligantes derivados da 1,4-naftoquinona (1,4-NQ), lapachol, menadiona, norlapachol, A2, B2 e C2, os inibidores comerciais clorgilina (MAO-A) e selegilina (MAO-B) e os substratos naturais serotonina (MAO-A) e dopamina (MAO-B). Os resultados do docking mostraram interação de todos os ligantes com algum dos resíduos da "gaiola aromática" (FAD, Tyr407/Tyr444 para MAO-A, Tyr398/Tyr435 para MAO-B), uma importante região catalítica da MAO. Além disso, a seletividade observada experimentalmente da menadiona com a MAO-B também foi observada no docking. Através da DM, foi possível observar algumas diferenças conformacionais entre as estruturas da MAO-A e MAO-B, que podem explicar a seletividade entre as duas isoformas, como por exemplo, distâncias entre resíduos do sítio ativo e ligações de hidrogênio. A partir do Ensemble Docking, foi verificado que a conformação do receptor influencia significativamente o escore das interações ENZIMA+LIGANTE para ligantes volumosos. / Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an important enzyme that acts as therapeutic target. MAO-A inhibitors show pharmacological activity in the treatment of mood disorders, whereas MAO-B inhibitors are used especially in treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Knowledge of enzyme-inhibitor interactions is important in drug design. Therefore, studies of MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes with different ligands were performed by combining docking, Molecular Dynamics and Ensemble Docking methodologies. Ligands derived from 1,4-naphthoquinone, lapachol, menadione, nor-lapachol, A2, B2, C2, commercial inhibitors clorgyline (MAO-A) and selegiline (MAO-B) and the natural substrates serotonin (MAO-A) and dopamine (MAO-B) were chosen. The docking results shows interactions of all ligands with some residue of the "aromatic cage” (FAD cofactor, Tyr407/Tyr444 for MAO-A and Tyr398/Tyr435 for MAO-B), an important catalytic region of MAO. Furthermore, the experimentally observed selectivity of menadione with MAO-B was also observed by Docking. In Molecular Dynamics results, conformational differences were observed between MAO-A and MAO-B structures, which could explain the selectivity observed between isoforms, e.g. distances between residues of the active site and hydrogen bonds. Ensemble Docking results shows that the conformation of the receptor significantly influence the score of ENZYME+LIGAND interactions for bulky ligands.

A monoaminoxidase (MAO) é uma enzima importante, que pode atuar como alvo terapêutico. Inibidores da MAO-A apresentam atividade no tratamento de distúrbios de humor, enquanto os inibidores seletivos da MAO-B tem uso, especialmente, no tratamento da Doença de Parkinson. O conhecimento das interações ENZIMA-INIBIDOR é importante no planejamento de fármacos. Nesse contexto, foram realizados estudos das enzimas MAO-A e MAO-B com diferentes ligantes, através da combinação das metodologias de docking, Dinâmica Molecular e Ensemble Docking. Foram escolhidos os ligantes derivados da 1,4-naftoquinona (1,4-NQ), lapachol, menadiona, norlapachol, A2, B2 e C2, os inibidores comerciais clorgilina (MAO-A) e selegilina (MAO-B) e os substratos naturais serotonina (MAO-A) e dopamina (MAO-B). Os resultados do docking mostraram interação de todos os ligantes com algum dos resíduos da "gaiola aromática" (FAD, Tyr407/Tyr444 para MAO-A, Tyr398/Tyr435 para MAO-B), uma importante região catalítica da MAO. Além disso, a seletividade observada experimentalmente da menadiona com a MAO-B também foi observada no docking. Através da DM, foi possível observar algumas diferenças conformacionais entre as estruturas da MAO-A e MAO-B, que podem explicar a seletividade entre as duas isoformas, como por exemplo, distâncias entre resíduos do sítio ativo e ligações de hidrogênio. A partir do Ensemble Docking, foi verificado que a conformação do receptor influencia significativamente o escore das interações ENZIMA+LIGANTE para ligantes volumosos. / Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an important enzyme that acts as therapeutic target. MAO-A inhibitors show pharmacological activity in the treatment of mood disorders, whereas MAO-B inhibitors are used especially in treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Knowledge of enzyme-inhibitor interactions is important in drug design. Therefore, studies of MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes with different ligands were performed by combining docking, Molecular Dynamics and Ensemble Docking methodologies. Ligands derived from 1,4-naphthoquinone, lapachol, menadione, nor-lapachol, A2, B2, C2, commercial inhibitors clorgyline (MAO-A) and selegiline (MAO-B) and the natural substrates serotonin (MAO-A) and dopamine (MAO-B) were chosen. The docking results shows interactions of all ligands with some residue of the "aromatic cage” (FAD cofactor, Tyr407/Tyr444 for MAO-A and Tyr398/Tyr435 for MAO-B), an important catalytic region of MAO. Furthermore, the experimentally observed selectivity of menadione with MAO-B was also observed by Docking. In Molecular Dynamics results, conformational differences were observed between MAO-A and MAO-B structures, which could explain the selectivity observed between isoforms, e.g. distances between residues of the active site and hydrogen bonds. Ensemble Docking results shows that the conformation of the receptor significantly influence the score of ENZYME+LIGAND interactions for bulky ligands.

A monoaminoxidase (MAO) é uma enzima importante, que pode atuar como alvo terapêutico. Inibidores da MAO-A apresentam atividade no tratamento de distúrbios de humor, enquanto os inibidores seletivos da MAO-B tem uso, especialmente, no tratamento da Doença de Parkinson. O conhecimento das interações ENZIMA-INIBIDOR é importante no planejamento de fármacos. Nesse contexto, foram realizados estudos das enzimas MAO-A e MAO-B com diferentes ligantes, através da combinação das metodologias de docking, Dinâmica Molecular e Ensemble Docking. Foram escolhidos os ligantes derivados da 1,4-naftoquinona (1,4-NQ), lapachol, menadiona, norlapachol, A2, B2 e C2, os inibidores comerciais clorgilina (MAO-A) e selegilina (MAO-B) e os substratos naturais serotonina (MAO-A) e dopamina (MAO-B). Os resultados do docking mostraram interação de todos os ligantes com algum dos resíduos da "gaiola aromática" (FAD, Tyr407/Tyr444 para MAO-A, Tyr398/Tyr435 para MAO-B), uma importante região catalítica da MAO. Além disso, a seletividade observada experimentalmente da menadiona com a MAO-B também foi observada no docking. Através da DM, foi possível observar algumas diferenças conformacionais entre as estruturas da MAO-A e MAO-B, que podem explicar a seletividade entre as duas isoformas, como por exemplo, distâncias entre resíduos do sítio ativo e ligações de hidrogênio. A partir do Ensemble Docking, foi verificado que a conformação do receptor influencia significativamente o escore das interações ENZIMA+LIGANTE para ligantes volumosos. / Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an important enzyme that acts as therapeutic target. MAO-A inhibitors show pharmacological activity in the treatment of mood disorders, whereas MAO-B inhibitors are used especially in treatment of Parkinson's Disease. Knowledge of enzyme-inhibitor interactions is important in drug design. Therefore, studies of MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes with different ligands were performed by combining docking, Molecular Dynamics and Ensemble Docking methodologies. Ligands derived from 1,4-naphthoquinone, lapachol, menadione, nor-lapachol, A2, B2, C2, commercial inhibitors clorgyline (MAO-A) and selegiline (MAO-B) and the natural substrates serotonin (MAO-A) and dopamine (MAO-B) were chosen. The docking results shows interactions of all ligands with some residue of the "aromatic cage” (FAD cofactor, Tyr407/Tyr444 for MAO-A and Tyr398/Tyr435 for MAO-B), an important catalytic region of MAO. Furthermore, the experimentally observed selectivity of menadione with MAO-B was also observed by Docking. In Molecular Dynamics results, conformational differences were observed between MAO-A and MAO-B structures, which could explain the selectivity observed between isoforms, e.g. distances between residues of the active site and hydrogen bonds. Ensemble Docking results shows that the conformation of the receptor significantly influence the score of ENZYME+LIGAND interactions for bulky ligands.

No description available.

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are closely linked to the pathology of the disease. The main pathology of Parkinson’s disease consists of the degeneration of neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which leads to reduced amounts of dopamine in the brain. One of the treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease is to conserve dopamine by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for its catabolism. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) B isoform catalyses the oxidation of dopamine in the central nervous system and is therefore an important target for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Inhibition of MAO-B provides symptomatic relief for Parkinson’s disease patients by increasing endogenous dopamine levels as well as enhancing the levels of dopamine after administration of levodopa (L-dopa), the metabolic precursor of dopamine. Recent studies have shown that phthalide can be used as a scaffold for the design of reversible MAO inhibitors. Although phthalide is a weak MAO-B inhibitor, substitution on the C5 position of phthalide yields highly potent reversible MAO-B inhibitors. In the present study, sesamol and benzodioxane were used as scaffolds for the design of MAO inhibitors. The structures of sesamol and benzodioxane closely resemble that of phthalide, which suggests that these moieties may be useful for the design of MAO inhibitors. This study may be viewed as an exploratory study to discover new scaffolds for MAO inhibition. Since substitution at C5 of phthalide with a benzyloxy side chain yielded particularly potent MAO inhibitors, the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives possessed the benzyloxy substituent in the analogous positions to C5 of phthalide. These were the C5 and C6 positions of sesamol and benzodioxane, respectively. The sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised by reacting sesamol and 6- hydroxy-1,4-benzodioxane, respectively, with an appropriate alkyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). 6-Hydroxy-1,4- benzodioxane, in turn, was synthesised from 1,4-benzodioxan-6-carboxaldehyde. The structures of the compounds were verified with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses, while the purities were estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sixteen sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised. To determine the inhibition potencies of the synthesised compounds the recombinant human MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes were used. The inhibition potencies were expressed as the corresponding IC50 values. The results showed that the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives are highly potent and selective inhibitors of MAO-B and to a lesser extent MAOA. The most potent MAO-B inhibitor was 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane with an IC50 value of 0.045 μM. All compounds examined displayed selectivity for the MAO-B isoform over MAO-A. Generally the benzodioxane derivatives were found to be more potent inhibitors of human MAO-A and MAO-B than the sesamol derivatives. The reversibility and mode of MAO-B inhibition of a representative derivative, 6-(3- bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane, was examined by measuring the degree to which the enzyme activity recovers after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor complexes, while Lineweaver- Burk plots were constructed to determine whether the mode of inhibition is competitive. Since MAO-B activity is completely recovered after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor mixtures, it was concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane binds reversibly to the MAO-B enzyme. The Lineweaver-Burk plots constructed were linear and intersected on the y-axis. Therefore it may be concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane is a competitive MAO-B inhibitor. To conclude, the C6-substituted benzodioxane derivatives are potent, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitors of human MAO-B. These compounds are therefore promising leads for the future development of therapy for Parkinson’s disease. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Parkinson’s disease is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder. The major symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are closely linked to the pathology of the disease. The main pathology of Parkinson’s disease consists of the degeneration of neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), which leads to reduced amounts of dopamine in the brain. One of the treatment strategies in Parkinson’s disease is to conserve dopamine by inhibiting the enzymes responsible for its catabolism. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) B isoform catalyses the oxidation of dopamine in the central nervous system and is therefore an important target for Parkinson’s disease treatment. Inhibition of MAO-B provides symptomatic relief for Parkinson’s disease patients by increasing endogenous dopamine levels as well as enhancing the levels of dopamine after administration of levodopa (L-dopa), the metabolic precursor of dopamine. Recent studies have shown that phthalide can be used as a scaffold for the design of reversible MAO inhibitors. Although phthalide is a weak MAO-B inhibitor, substitution on the C5 position of phthalide yields highly potent reversible MAO-B inhibitors. In the present study, sesamol and benzodioxane were used as scaffolds for the design of MAO inhibitors. The structures of sesamol and benzodioxane closely resemble that of phthalide, which suggests that these moieties may be useful for the design of MAO inhibitors. This study may be viewed as an exploratory study to discover new scaffolds for MAO inhibition. Since substitution at C5 of phthalide with a benzyloxy side chain yielded particularly potent MAO inhibitors, the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives possessed the benzyloxy substituent in the analogous positions to C5 of phthalide. These were the C5 and C6 positions of sesamol and benzodioxane, respectively. The sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised by reacting sesamol and 6- hydroxy-1,4-benzodioxane, respectively, with an appropriate alkyl bromide in the presence of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). 6-Hydroxy-1,4- benzodioxane, in turn, was synthesised from 1,4-benzodioxan-6-carboxaldehyde. The structures of the compounds were verified with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) analyses, while the purities were estimated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sixteen sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives were synthesised. To determine the inhibition potencies of the synthesised compounds the recombinant human MAO-A and MAO-B enzymes were used. The inhibition potencies were expressed as the corresponding IC50 values. The results showed that the sesamol and benzodioxane derivatives are highly potent and selective inhibitors of MAO-B and to a lesser extent MAOA. The most potent MAO-B inhibitor was 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane with an IC50 value of 0.045 μM. All compounds examined displayed selectivity for the MAO-B isoform over MAO-A. Generally the benzodioxane derivatives were found to be more potent inhibitors of human MAO-A and MAO-B than the sesamol derivatives. The reversibility and mode of MAO-B inhibition of a representative derivative, 6-(3- bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane, was examined by measuring the degree to which the enzyme activity recovers after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor complexes, while Lineweaver- Burk plots were constructed to determine whether the mode of inhibition is competitive. Since MAO-B activity is completely recovered after dialysis of enzyme-inhibitor mixtures, it was concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane binds reversibly to the MAO-B enzyme. The Lineweaver-Burk plots constructed were linear and intersected on the y-axis. Therefore it may be concluded that 6-(3-bromobenzyloxy)-1,4-benzodioxane is a competitive MAO-B inhibitor. To conclude, the C6-substituted benzodioxane derivatives are potent, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitors of human MAO-B. These compounds are therefore promising leads for the future development of therapy for Parkinson’s disease. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015