Discovery of a Highly Selective Glycogen Synthase Kinase‐3 Inhibitor (PF‐04802367) That Modulates Tau Phosphorylation in the Brain: Translation for PET Neuroimaging

Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) regulates multiple cellular processes in diabetes, oncology, and neurology. N‐(3‐(1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)propyl)‐5‐(3‐chloro‐4‐methoxyphenyl)oxazole‐4‐carboxamide (PF‐04802367 or PF‐367) has been identified as a highly potent inhibitor, which is among the most selective antagonists of GSK‐3 to date. Its efficacy was demonstrated in modulation of tau phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Whereas the kinetics of PF‐367 binding in brain tissues are too fast for an effective therapeutic agent, the pharmacokinetic profile of PF‐367 is ideal for discovery of radiopharmaceuticals for GSK‐3 in the central nervous system. A ¹¹C‐isotopologue of PF‐367 was synthesized and preliminary PET imaging studies in non‐human primates confirmed that we have overcome the two major obstacles for imaging GSK‐3, namely, reasonable brain permeability and displaceable binding.     

An Unusual Intramolecular Halogen Bond Guides Conformational Selection

PIK‐75 is a phosphoinositide‐3‐kinase (PI3K) α‐isoform‐selective inhibitor with high potency. Although published structure–activity relationship data show the importance of the NO₂ and the Br substituents in PIK‐75, none of the published studies could correctly determine the underlying reason for their importance. In this publication, we report the first X‐ray crystal structure of PIK‐75 in complex with the kinase GSK‐3β. The structure shows an unusual U‐shaped conformation of PIK‐75 within the active site of GSK‐3β that is likely stabilized by an atypical intramolecular Br???NO₂ halogen bond. NMR and MD simulations show that this conformation presumably also exists in solution and leads to a binding‐competent preorganization of the PIK‐75 molecule, thus explaining its high potency. We therefore suggest that the site‐specific incorporation of halogen bonds could be generally used to design conformationally restricted bioactive substances with increased potencies.     

HMG-CoA还原酶抑制剂三维药效团的构建

以作用于鼠肝脏细胞的21个3-羟基-3-甲基戊二酰辅酶A(HMG-CoA)还原酶抑制剂(RI)为训练集, 训练集化合物具备结构多样性, 来源于相同药理模型, 活性值IC50范围在0.3-8000 nmol·L-1. 利用Catalyst 计算HMG-CoA还原酶抑制剂最优药效团由一个氢键受体, 一个氢键给体, 一个疏水基团和一个芳香环特征组成. 药效团模型Fixed cost值, Total cost值和Configuration cost值分别为88.75、111.5 和16.98. 训练集化合物活性计算值与实测值相关系数为0.8883, 偏差值为1.269, 交叉验证结果表明, 药效团模型具有较高的置信度, 对测试集化合物活性值的预测结果显示有较好的预测能力, 可用于数据库搜索发现新的具有该活性的化合物, 也可用于中药或天然产物药物的研究开发.     

Insights into the Pamamycin Biosynthesis

Pamamycins are macrodiolides of polyketide origin with antibacterial activities. Their biosynthesis has been proposed to utilize succinate as a building block. However, the mechanism of succinate incorporation into a polyketide was unclear. Here, we report identification of a pamamycin biosynthesis gene cluster by aligning genomes of two pamamycin‐producing strains. This unique cluster contains polyketide synthase (PKS) genes encoding seven discrete ketosynthase (KS) enzymes and one acyl‐carrier protein (ACP)‐encoding gene. A cosmid containing the entire set of genes required for pamamycin biosynthesis was successfully expressed in a heterologous host. Genetic and biochemical studies allowed complete delineation of pamamycin biosynthesis. The pathway proceeds through 3‐oxoadipyl‐CoA, a key intermediate in the primary metabolism of the degradation of aromatic compounds. 3‐Oxoadipyl‐CoA could be used as an extender unit in polyketide assembly to facilitate the incorporation of succinate.     

马来酰亚胺类GSK-3β抑制剂的QSAR研究及分子设计

为了研究马来酰亚胺类化合物抑制活性与分子结构的定量构效关系,在分子理论的基础上计算了67个马来酰亚胺类化合物的电性距离矢量,通过最佳变量子集回归的方法,建立了抑制活性的五元线性回归模型,模型的传统相关系数(R2)和交叉验证相关系数(RCV2)分别为0.864和0.825.该模型经过Jackknife法检验、交叉验证、F检验及外部检验法证明具有良好的稳健性和预测能力.根据进入模型的5个变量分析,影响马来酰亚胺类GSK-3β抑制剂抑制活性的主要结构基团是-NH-,=O(或-OH),≡CH,Cl-及-O-(或-S-).同时基于QSAR模型设计了6个抑制活性显著提高的马来酰亚胺类分子,并预测了它们的抑制活性.     

具有全新机理的DNA旋转酶抑制剂的筛选及抑菌活性

利用具有新机制的抗耐药菌DNA旋转酶抑制剂GSK299423与DNA旋转酶的晶体复合物(PDB code:2XCS)构建基于配体-受体复合物的药效团模型, 诱骗集(Decoy set)验证结果表明该药效团模型具有较强的活性识别能力. 将药效团模型与分子对接相结合用于筛选化合物库, 通过抑菌活性测定, 获得了具有抗多药耐药菌活性的DNA旋转酶抑制剂LTH02.     

Binding Model and 3D-QSAR of 3-（2-Chloropyrid-5- ylmethylamino）-2-cyanoacrylates as PSⅡ Electron Transport Inhibitor

The binding model of 3-（2-chloropyrid-5-ylmethylamino）-2-cyanoacrylate photosystem Ⅱ （PSⅡ） electron transport inhibitors with the D 1 protein of PSII was built. The high herbicidal activity of this kind of inhibitors was explained by docking studies： in addition to usual factors, the N atom on the pyridine ring could form an H-bond with the backbone amide of Phe265 on the D1 protein. 3D-QSAR analysis on sixteen 3-（2-chloropyrid-5-yl- methylamino）-2-cyanoacrylate compounds was performed using CoMFA method to explain the nature of interactions between the compounds and D1 protein. These studies may provide useful insights for designing new PSII electron transport inhibitors.     

The Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis fibronectin attachment protein, a toll-like receptor 4 agonist, enhances dendritic cell-based cancer vaccine potency

In this study, we showed the direct interaction between Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis fibronectin attachment protein (FAP) and toll-like receptor4 (TLR4) via co-localization and binding by using confocal microscopy and co-immunoprecipitation assays. FAP triggered the expression of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines in a TLR4-dependent manner. In addition, FAP-induced cytokine expression in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) was modulated in part by glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). FAP-induced expression of CD80, CD86, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, and MHC class II in TLR4(+/+) BMDCs was not observed in TLR4(-/-) BMDCs. Furthermore, FAP induced DC-mediated CD8(+) T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity, and suppressed tumor growth with DC-based tumor vaccination in EG7 thymoma murine model. Taken together, these results indicate that the TLR4 agonist, FAP, a potential immunoadjuvant for DC-based cancer vaccination, improves the DC-based immune response via the TLR4 signaling pathway.     

氧肟酸类组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂的药效团模型研究

基于24个目前已知的氧肟酸类组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂,我们运用Catalyst软件建立了一个三维药效团模型。其中,最好的药效团模型1,包含了四个化学特征（一个氢键供体,一个芳环和两个疏水基）,相关系数达到0.946,并由另外20个化合物进行了测试验证。我们第一次特征性描述了组蛋白去乙酰化酶的帽子（CAP）部分。我们的研究结果对于设计全新组蛋白去乙酰化酶抑制剂具有很好的指导作用。     

A three-dimensional chemical phase pharmacophore mapping,QSAR modelling and electronic feature analysis of benzofuran salicylic acid derivatives as LYP inhibitors

Lymphoid tyrosine phosphatase (LYP), encoded by the PTPN22 gene, has a critical negative regulatory role in T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) and emerged as a promising drug target for human autoimmune diseases. A five-point pharmacophore with two hydrogen bond acceptors, one hydrogen bond donor and two aromatic ring features was generated for a series of benzofuran salicylic acid derivatives as LYP inhibitors in order to elucidate their anti-autoimmune activity. The generated pharmacophore yielded a significant 3D-QSAR model with r² of 0.9146 for a training set of 27 compounds. The model also showed excellent predictive power with Q² of 0.7068 for a test set of eight compounds. The investigation of the 3D-QSAR model has revealed the structural insights which could lead to more potent analogues. The most active and inactive compounds were further subjected to electronic structure analysis using density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/3?21^?G level to support the 3D-QSAR predictions. The results obtained from this study are expected to be useful in the proficient design and development of benzofuran salicylic acid derivatives as inhibitors of LYP.     

Development of predictive pharmacophore model for in silico screening,and 3D QSAR CoMFA and CoMSIA studies for lead optimization,for designing of potent tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme inhibitors

A chemical feature-based pharmacophore model was developed for Tumor Necrosis Factor-α converting enzyme (TACE) inhibitors. A five point pharmacophore model having two hydrogen bond acceptors (A), one hydrogen bond donor (D) and two aromatic rings (R) with discrete geometries as pharmacophoric features was developed. The pharmacophore model so generated was then utilized for in silico screening of a database. The pharmacophore model so developed was validated by using four compounds having proven TACE inhibitory activity which were grafted into the database. These compounds mapped well onto the five listed pharmacophoric features. This validated pharmacophore model was also used for alignment of molecules in CoMFA and CoMSIA analysis. The contour maps of the CoMFA/CoMSIA models were utilized to provide structural insight for activity improvement of potential novel TACE inhibitors. The pharmacophore model so developed could be used for in silico screening of any commercial/in house database for identification of TACE inhibiting lead compounds, and the leads so identified could be optimized using the developed CoMSIA model. The present work highlights the tremendous potential of the two mutually complementary ligand-based drug designing techniques (i.e. pharmacophore mapping and 3D-QSAR analysis) using TACE inhibitors as prototype biologically active molecules.     

Evaluation of potential inhibitors of squalene synthase based on virtual screening and in vitro studies

Squalene synthase (SQS) is a potential target for hyperlipidemia treatment. To identify novel chemical scaffolds of SQS inhibitors, we generated 3D-QSAR pharmacophore models using HypoGen. The best quantitative pharmacophore model, Hypo 1, was selected for virtual screening using two chemical databases, Specs and Traditional Chinese Medicine database (TCM). The best-mapped hit compounds were then subjected to filtering by Lipinski^’s rule of five and docking studies to refine the hits. Finally, five compounds were selected from the top-ranked hit compounds for SQS inhibitory assay in vitro. Three of these compounds could inhibit SQS in vitro, and should be further evaluated pre-clinically as a treatment for hyperlipidemia.     

Role of bridging water molecules in GSK3β-inhibitor complexes: insights from QM/MM, MD, and molecular docking studies

The role of water molecules is increasingly gaining interest in drug design, and several studies have highlighted their paramount contributions to the specificity and the affinity of ligand binding. In this study, we employ the two-layer ONIOM-based quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and molecular docking studies to investigate the effect of bridging water molecules at the GSK3β-inhibitors interfaces. The results obtained from the ONIOM geometry optimization and AIM analysis corroborated the presence of bridging water molecules that form hydrogen bonds with protein side chain of Thr138 and/or backbone of Gln185, and mediate interactions with inhibitors in the 10 selected GSK3β-inhibitor complexes. Subsequently, MD simulations carried out on a representative system of 1R0E demonstrated that the bridging water molecule is stable at the GSK3β-inhibitor interface and appears to contribute to the stability of the protein-inhibitor interactions. Furthermore, molecular docking studies of GSK3β-inhibitor complexes indicated that the inhibitors can increase binding affinities and the better docked conformation of inhibitors can be obtained by inclusion of the bridging water molecules, especially for the flexible inhibitors, in docking experiments into individual protein conformations. Our results elucidate the importance of bridging water molecules at the GSK3β-inhibitor interfaces and suggest that they might prove useful in rational drug design.     

Synthesis and Antiplasmodial Activity of Bisindolylcyclobutenediones

Malaria is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases. Because the causative Plasmodium parasites have developed resistances against virtually all established antimalarial drugs, novel antiplasmodial agents are required. In order to target plasmodial kinases, novel N-unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenediones were designed as analogs to the kinase inhibitory bisindolylmaleimides. Molecular docking experiments produced favorable poses of the unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenedione in the ATP binding pocket of various plasmodial protein kinases. The synthesis of the title compounds was accomplished by sequential Friedel-Crafts acylation procedures. In vitro screening of the new compounds against transgenic NF54-luc P. falciparum parasites revealed a set of derivatives with submicromolar activity, of which some displayed a reasonable selectivity profile against a human cell line. Although the molecular docking studies suggested the plasmodial protein kinase PfGSK-3 as the putative biological target, the title compounds failed to inhibit the isolated enzyme in vitro. As selective submicromolar antiplasmodial agents, the N-unsubstituted bisindolylcyclobutenediones are promising starting structures in the search for antimalarial drugs, albeit for a rational development, the biological target addressed by these compounds has yet to be identified.     

5-HT3受体拮抗剂药效团模型的构建

以31个来源于MDDR数据库中具有抑制鼠Bezold-Jarisch反射作用的5-HT3受体拮抗剂作为训练集化合物, 构建5-HT3受体拮抗剂药效团模型. 训练集化合物具备结构多样性, 来源于相同药理模型, 活性值ED50范围为0.05~320 μg/kg i.v.. 利用Catalyst计算5-HT3受体拮抗剂的最优药效团由一个氢键受体、一个疏水基团、一个正电离子化基团、一个芳香环特征和6个排除体积组成; Fixed cost值、Null cost 值、Δcost值和Configuration cost值分别为112.6, 172.0, 59.4和7.248. 训练集化合物活性的计算值与实测值相关系数为0.9031, 偏差值为0.8976, 基于Fischer的交叉验证结果表明药效团模型具有较高的置信度, 所得药效团对训练集化合物活性值的预测结果显示有较好的预测能力, 可用于数据库搜索指导发现新的具有该活性的先导化合物, 也可用于中药或天然产物药物研究开发.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel 4-Methyl-3-isoxazolidinone Derivatives

IntroductionSulfonylureas, as inhibitors of acetohydroxyacidsynthase(AHAS), are a class of herbicides that areused for crop protection. They are used for lowconcen-tration ranges(10—100 g of active ingredient/ha) andare advanced herbicides used in agricu…     

β分泌酶抑制剂的药效团模型研究

选择活性跨越0.002至25 μmol•L－1的4类共25个β分泌酶抑制剂作为训练集, 使用Catalyst软件包构建出药效团模型, 并通过对药效团的有效性分析, 筛选得到的最佳模型(correlCorrel＝0.969, Config＝16.32, Δcost＝62.422)由一个环芳香性、一个疏水中心、一个正电荷中心和一个氢键供体组成. 并用其它209个抑制剂组成测试集对模型进行验证, 结果表明该模型显示出较强的预测能力, 能够为进一步的数据库搜索, 寻找新型的β分泌酶抑制剂先导物提供依据.     

In silico design novel (5-imidazol-2-yl-4-phenylpyrimidin-2-yl)[2-(2-pyridylamino)ethyl]amine derivatives as inhibitors for glycogen synthase kinase 3 based on 3D-QSAR,molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a member of cellular kinase with various functions, such as glucose regulation, cellular differentiation, neuronal function and cell apoptosis. It has been proved as an important therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease. To better understand their structure–activity relationships and mechanism of action, an integrated computational study, including three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR), molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD), was performed on 79 (5-Imidazol-2-yl-4-phenylpyrimidin-2-yl)[2-(2-pyridylamino)ethyl]amine GSK-3 inhibitors. In this paper, we constructed 3D-QSAR using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) method. The results showed that the CoMFA model (q ² = 0.743, r² = 0.980) and the CoMSIA model (q² = 0.813, r² = 0.976) had stable and reliable predictive ability. The electrostatic and H-bond donor fields play important roles in the models. The contour maps of the model visually showed the relationship between the activity of compounds and their three-dimensional structure. Molecular docking was used to identify the key amino acid residues at the active site of GSK-3 and explore its binding mode with ligands. Based on 3D-QSAR models, contour maps and the binding feature between GSK-3 and inhibitor, we designed 10 novel compounds with good potential activity and ADME/T profile. Molecular dynamics simulation results validated that Ile62, Val70 and Lys85 located in the active site play a key role for GSK-3 complexed with inhibitors. These results might provide important information for designing GSK-3 inhibitors with high activity.