1400W is a slow, tight binding, and highly selective inhibitor of inducible nitric-oxide synthase in vitro and in vivo

N-(3-(Aminomethyl)benzyl)acetamidine (1400W) was a slow, tight binding inhibitor of human inducible nitric- oxide synthase (iNOS). The slow onset of inhibition by 1400W showed saturation kinetics with a maximal rate constant of 0.028 s-1 and a binding constant of 2.0 microM. Inhibition was dependent on the cofactor NADPH. L-Arginine was a competitive inhibitor of 1400W binding with a Ks value of 3.0 microM. Inhibited enzyme did not recover activity after 2 h. Thus, 1400W was either an irreversible inhibitor or an extremely slowly reversible inhibitor of human iNOS with a Kd value </= 7 nM. In contrast, inhibition of human neuronal NOS and endothelial NOS (eNOS) was relatively weaker, rapidly reversible, and competitive with L-arginine, with Ki values of 2 microM and 50 microM, respectively. Thus, 1400W was at least 5000-fold selective for iNOS versus eNOS. This selectivity was similar to that observed in rat aortic rings, in which 1400W was greater than 1000-fold more potent against rat iNOS than eNOS. Finally, 1400W was greater than 50-fold more potent against iNOS than eNOS in a rat model of endotoxin-induced vascular injury. Thus, the potency and selectivity of 1400W inhibition of iNOS both in vitro and in vivo were far greater than of any previously described iNOS Inhibitor.