Stereoselective hydrolysis of ICRF-187 (dexrazoxane) and ICRF-186 by dihydropyrimidine amidohydrolase.

The enzymatic ring-opening hydrolyses of the doxorubicin cardioprotective agents (+)-(S)-ICRF-187 (dexrazoxane), (-)-(R)-ICRF-186, and rac-ICRF-159 by the enzyme dihydropyrimidine amidohydrolase (DHPase) have been studied. ICRF-187 underwent enzymatic ring-opening hydrolysis by DHPase 4.5 times faster than did ICRF-186. It was also shown that DHPase opens only one ring of ICRF-186 and does not act on this one-ring open hydrolysis product, as has been observed for ICRF-187. Differences in the rates at which the two optical isomers are acted upon by DHPase suggest that they could have differing protective effects.