New 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimides as protein kinase inhibitors

Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds - Several previously unknown derivatives of 3,4-bis(indol-1-yl)maleimide, as well as 3-(2,3-dihydroindol-1-yl)-4-(indol-1-yl)maleimide were synthesized as...     

Inverse in silico screening for identification of kinase inhibitor targets

Protein kinases are clinically relevant, attractive drug targets for cancer. One major problem with kinase inhibitors is broad promiscuity, causing off-target actions and side effects. In silico prediction of targets of a compound would immensely facilitate and accelerate drug development. Using a virtual "inverse" screening approach, where single compounds are docked into protein structures from a database, we identify among known targets of indirubin derivatives phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) as a target of one derivative (6BIO) in particular. This prediction is functionally supported by an in vitro kinase assay, inhibition of intracellular phosphorylation of PDK1-substrates, and inhibition of endothelial cell migration, which highly depends on PDK1. Virtual inverse screening combined with biological tests, thus, is proposed as a valuable tool for the drug discovery process and re-examination of already established kinase inhibitors.     

7-(2-Anilinopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-benzazepin-2-ones Designed by a “Cut and Glue” Strategy Are Dual Aurora A/VEGF-R Kinase Inhibitors

Although overexpression and hyperactivity of protein kinases are causative for a wide range of human cancers, protein kinase inhibitors currently approved as cancer drugs address only a limited number of these enzymes. To identify new chemotypes addressing alternative protein kinases, the basic structure of a known PLK1/VEGF-R2 inhibitor class was formally dissected and reassembled. The resulting 7-(2-anilinopyrimidin-4-yl)-1-benzazepin-2-ones were synthesized and proved to be dual inhibitors of Aurora A kinase and VEGF receptor kinases. Crystal structures of two representatives of the new chemotype in complex with Aurora A showed the ligand orientation in the ATP binding pocket and provided the basis for rational structural modifications. Congeners with attached sulfamide substituents retained Aurora A inhibitory activity. In vitro screening of two members of the new kinase inhibitor family against the cancer cell line panel of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) showed antiproliferative activity in the single-digit micromolar concentration range in the majority of the cell lines.     

Diversity-oriented synthesis of pochonins and biological evaluation against a panel of kinases

Pochonins A-F were recently characterized as six new members of the naturally occurring family of 14-membered resorcylic acid lactones. As there are a high number of ATPase and kinase inhibitors among natural resorcylic lactones, a library based on the pochonin scaffold, with five points of diversity, was prepared which includes diversity beyond that of the natural analogues. The library was synthesized by using solid-supported reagents amenable to automation. Testing the library for its inhibition against a panel of 24 kinases at 10 microM afforded a >14 % hit rate. These results demonstrate the potential of the resorcylides towards the inhibition of therapeutically relevant kinases.