Potent Th2 Cytokine Bias of Natural Killer T Cell by CD1d Glycolipid Ligands: Anchoring Effect of Polar Groups in the Lipid Component

Th2‐biasing CD1d ligands are attractive potential candidates for adjuvants and therapeutic drugs. However, the number of potent ligands is limited, and their biasing mechanism remain unclear. Herein, a series of novel Th2‐biasing CD1d glycolipid ligands, based on modification of their lipid part, have been identified. These have shown high binding affinities and efficient Th2 cytokine production. Importantly, the truncated acyl chain containing variants still retain their binding affinities and agonistic activities, which can be associated with an “anchoring effect,” that is, formation of a buried hydrogen bond between a polar group on the acyl chain and the CD1d lipid‐binding pocket. The analysis indicated that the appearance rates of ligand–CD1d complexes on the cell surface were involved in Th2‐biasing responses. The designed ligands, having the anchor in the shorter lipid part, are one of the most potent Th2‐biasing ligands among the known ligands.     

Application of Fragment‐Based Screening to the Design of Inhibitors of Escherichia coli DsbA

The thiol‐disulfide oxidoreductase enzyme DsbA catalyzes the formation of disulfide bonds in the periplasm of Gram‐negative bacteria. DsbA substrates include proteins involved in bacterial virulence. In the absence of DsbA, many of these proteins do not fold correctly, which renders the bacteria avirulent. Thus DsbA is a critical mediator of virulence and inhibitors may act as antivirulence agents. Biophysical screening has been employed to identify fragments that bind to DsbA from Escherichia coli. Elaboration of one of these fragments produced compounds that inhibit DsbA activity in vitro. In cell‐based assays, the compounds inhibit bacterial motility, but have no effect on growth in liquid culture, which is consistent with selective inhibition of DsbA. Crystal structures of inhibitors bound to DsbA indicate that they bind adjacent to the active site. Together, the data suggest that DsbA may be amenable to the development of novel antibacterial compounds that act by inhibiting bacterial virulence.     

Chemical Synthesis and Immunological Evaluation of Helicobacter pylori Serotype O6 Tridecasaccharide O‐Antigen Containing a dd‐Heptoglycan

The development of glycoconjugate vaccines against Helicobacter pylori is challenging. An exact epitope of the H. pylori lipo‐polysaccharide (LPS) O‐antigens that contain Lewis determinant oligosaccharides and unique dd ‐heptoglycans has not yet been identified. Reported here is the first total synthesis of H. pylori serotype O6 tridecasaccharide O‐antigen containing a terminal Le^y tetrasaccharide, a unique α‐(1→3)‐, α‐(1→6)‐, and α‐(1→2)‐linked heptoglycan, and a β‐d ‐galactose connector, by an [(2×1)+(3+8)] assembly sequence. Seven oligosaccharides covering different portions of the entire O‐antigen were prepared for immunological investigations with a particular focus on elucidation of the roles of the dd ‐heptoglycan and Le^y tetrasaccharide. Glycan microarray analysis of sera from rabbits immunized with isolated serotype O6 LPS revealed a humoral immune response to the α‐(1→3)‐linked heptoglycan, a key motif for designing glycoconjugate vaccines for H. pylori serotype O6.     

Synthesis and Evaluation of a 2,11‐Cembranoid‐Inspired Library

The 2,11‐cembranoid family of natural products has been used as inspiration for the synthesis of a structurally simplified, functionally diverse library of octahydroisobenzofuran‐based compounds designed to augment a typical medicinal chemistry library screen. Ring‐closing metathesis, lactonisation and SmI₂‐mediated methods were exemplified and applied to the installation of a third ring to mimic the nine‐membered ring of the 2,11‐cembranoids. The library was assessed for aqueous solubility and permeability, with a chemical‐space analysis performed for comparison to the family of cembranoid natural products and a sample set of a screening library. Preliminary investigations in cancer cells showed that the simpler scaffolds could recapitulate the reported anti‐migratory activity of the natural products.     

Re‐engineering the Immune Response to Metastatic Cancer: Antibody‐Recruiting Small Molecules Targeting the Urokinase Receptor

Developing selective strategies to treat metastatic cancers remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report the first antibody‐recruiting small molecule (ARM) that is capable of recognizing the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a uniquely overexpressed cancer cell‐surface marker, and facilitating the immune‐mediated destruction of cancer cells. A co‐crystal structure of the ARM‐U2/uPAR complex was obtained, representing the first crystal structure of uPAR complexed with a non‐peptide ligand. Finally, we demonstrated that ARM‐U2 substantially suppresses tumor growth in vivo with no evidence of weight loss, unlike the standard‐of‐care agent doxorubicin. This work underscores the promise of antibody‐recruiting molecules as immunotherapeutics for treating cancer.     

Synthesis‐Enabled Probing of Mitosene Structural Space Leads to Improved IC50 over Mitomycin C

A DNA crosslinking approach, which is distinct but related to the double alkylation by mitomycin C, involving a novel electrophilic spiro‐cyclopropane intermediate is hypothesized. Rational design and substantial structural simplification permitted the expedient chemical synthesis and rapid discovery of MTSB‐6, a mitomycin C analogue which is twice as potent as mitomycin C against the prostate cancer cells. MTSB‐6 shows improvements in its selective action against noncancer prostate cells over mitomycin C. This hypothesis‐driven discovery opens novel yet synthetically accessible mitosene structural space for discovering more potent and less toxic therapeutic candidates.     

Rational Design of Selenadiazole Derivatives to Antagonize Hyperglycemia‐Induced Drug Resistance in Cancer Cells

Hyperglycemia is an important factor for chemoresistance of hepatocellular carcinoma patients with diabetes to therapeutics. In the present study, a series of selenadiazole derivatives have been rationally designed, synthesized, and found be able to antagonize drug resistance in HepG2 cells to doxorubicin (DOX) under simulated diabetes conditions. Hyperglycemia could promote the cell proliferation through upregulation of ERK and AKT phosphorylation. However, the synthetic selenadiazole derivatives effectively potentiated the cellular uptake of DOX and enhanced the antiproliferative activity of DOX on HepG2 cells by induction of apoptosis, via regulation of ROS‐mediated AMPK activation, inhibition of mTORC1, and an increase in DNA damage. The selenadiazole derivatives that possess an increased lipophilicity could enhance the cellular uptake and anticancer efficacy of DOX. Taken together, this study provides a rational design strategy of selenadiazole derivatives to overcome hyperglycemia‐induced drug resistance.     

Insight into the Inhibition of Drug‐Resistant Mutants of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase EGFR

Targeting acquired drug resistance represents the major challenge in the treatment of EGFR‐driven non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Herein, we describe the structure‐based design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel class of covalent EGFR inhibitors that exhibit excellent inhibition of EGFR‐mutant drug‐resistant cells. Protein X‐ray crystallography combined with detailed kinetic studies led to a deeper understanding of the mode of inhibition of EGFR‐T790M and provided insight into the key principles for effective inhibition of the recently discovered tertiary mutation at EGFR‐C797S.     

Arylfluorosulfate‐Based Electrophiles for Covalent Protein Labeling: A New Addition to the Arsenal

Selective covalent modification of a targeted protein is a powerful tool in chemical biology and drug discovery, with applications ranging from identification and characterization of proteins and their functions to the development of targeted covalent inhibitors. Most covalent ligands contain an affinity motif and an electrophilic warhead that reacts with a nucleophilic residue of the targeted protein. Because the electrophilic warhead is prone to react and modify off‐target nucleophiles, its reactivity should be balanced carefully to maximize target selectivity. Arylfluorosulfates have recently emerged as latent electrophiles for selective labeling of context‐specific tyrosine and lysine residues in protein pockets. Here, we review the recent but intense introduction of arylfluorosulfates into the arsenal of available warheads for selective covalent modification of proteins. We highlight the untapped potential of this functional group for use in chemical biology and drug discovery.     

The Discovery of 2‐Aminobenzimidazoles That Sensitize Mycobacterium smegmatis and M. tuberculosis to β‐Lactam Antibiotics in a Pattern Distinct from β‐Lactamase Inhibitors

A library of 2‐aminobenzimidazole derivatives was screened for the ability to suppress β‐lactam resistance in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Several non‐bactericidal compounds were identified that reversed intrinsic resistance to β‐lactam antibiotics in a manner distinct from β‐lactamase inhibitors. Activity also translates to M. tuberculosis, with a lead compound from this study potently suppressing carbenicillin resistance in multiple M. tuberculosis strains (including multidrug‐resistant strains). Preliminary mechanistic studies revealed that the lead compounds act through a mechanism distinct from that of traditional β‐lactamase inhibitors.     

Design and Synthesis of High‐Affinity Dimeric Inhibitors Targeting the Interactions between Gephyrin and Inhibitory Neurotransmitter Receptors

Gephyrin is the central scaffolding protein for inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. Here we describe the development of dimeric peptides that inhibit the interaction between gephyrin and these receptors, a process which is fundamental to numerous synaptic functions and diseases of the brain. We first identified receptor‐derived minimal gephyrin‐binding peptides that displayed exclusive binding towards native gephyrin from brain lysates. We then designed and synthesized a series of dimeric ligands, which led to a remarkable 1220‐fold enhancement of the gephyrin affinity (K_D=6.8 nM ). In X‐ray crystal structures we visualized the simultaneous dimer‐to‐dimer binding in atomic detail, revealing compound‐specific binding modes. Thus, we defined the molecular basis of the affinity‐enhancing effect of multivalent gephyrin inhibitors and provide conceptually novel compounds with therapeutic potential, which will allow further elucidation of the gephyrin–receptor interplay.     

An αv‐RGD Integrin Inhibitor Toolbox: Drug Discovery Insight,Challenges and Opportunities

There is a requirement for efficacious and safe medicines to treat diseases with high unmet need. The resurgence in αv‐RGD integrin inhibitor drug discovery is poised to contribute to this requirement. However, drug discovery in the αv integrin space is notoriously difficult due to the receptors being structurally very similar as well as the polar zwitterionic nature of the pharmacophore. This Review aims to guide drug discovery research in this field through an αv inhibitor toolbox, consisting of small molecules and antibodies. Small‐molecule αv tool compounds with extended profiles in αvβ1, 3, 5, 6 and 8 cell adhesion assays, with key physicochemical properties, have been collated to assist in the selection of the right tool for the right experiment. This should also facilitate an understanding of partial selectivity profiles of compounds generated in different assays across research institutions. Prospects for further αv integrin research and the critical importance of target validation are discussed, where increased knowledge of the selectivity for individual RGD αv integrins is key. Insights into the design of small‐molecule RGD chemotypes for topical or oral administration are provided and clinical findings on advanced molecules are examined.     

Drug Design Inspired by Nature: Crystallographic Detection of an Auto‐Tailored Protease Inhibitor Template

De novo drug discovery is still a challenge in the search for potent and selective modulators of therapeutically relevant target proteins. Here, we disclose the unexpected discovery of a peptidic ligand 1 by X‐ray crystallography, which was auto‐tailored by the therapeutic target MMP‐13 through partial self‐degradation and subsequent structure‐based optimization to a highly potent and selective β‐sheet peptidomimetic inhibitor derived from the endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The incorporation of non‐proteinogenic amino acids in combination with a cyclization strategy proved to be key for the de novo design of TIMP peptidomimetics. The optimized cyclic peptide 4 (ZHAWOC7726) is membrane permeable with an IC₅₀ of 21 nm for MMP‐13 and an attractive selectivity profile with respect to a polypharmacology approach including the anticancer targets MMP‐2 (IC₅₀: 170 nm ) and MMP‐9 (IC₅₀: 140 nm ).     

Immunological Evaluation of Co‐Assembling a Lipidated Peptide Antigen and Lipophilic Adjuvants: Self‐Adjuvanting Anti‐Breast‐Cancer Vaccine Candidates

Co‐assembling vaccines composed of a lipidated HER2‐derived antigenic CH401 peptide and either a lipophilic adjuvant, Pam₃CSK₄, α‐GalCer, or lipid A 506, were evaluated as breast cancer vaccine candidates. This vaccine design was aimed to inherit both antigen multivalency and antigen‐specific immunostimulation properties, observed in reported self‐adjuvanting vaccine candidates, by using self‐assembly and adjuvant‐conjugated antigens. Under vaccination concentrations, respective lipophilic adjuvants underwent co‐assembly with lipidated CH401, which boosted the anti‐CH401 IgG and IgM production. In particular, α‐GalCer was responsible for the most significant immune activation. Therefore, the newly developed vaccine design enabled the optimization of adjuvants against the antigenic CH401 peptide in a simple preparatory manner. Overall, the co‐assembling vaccine design opens the door for efficient and practical self‐adjuvanting vaccine development.