Glycogen synthase kinase 3 as an anticancer drug target: novel experimental findings and trends in the design of inhibitors

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase participating in numerous pathways. Very important among them are cancer-related pathways, such as Wnt pathway and nuclear factor κB pathway. The recent findings concerning possible applicability of GSK-3 inhibitors as anticancer agents are summarized in this review, and controversies in the data are highlighted. The most actual concepts of GSK-3 inhibitor design are also thoroughly discussed.

Three-component heterocyclization of gem-bromofluorocyclopropanes with NOBF4: access to 4-fluoropyrimidine N-oxides

Novel three-component heterocyclization involving gem-bromofluorocyclopropanes, nitrosyl tetrafluoroborate, and a molecule of the solvent (nitrile) yielding previously unknown fluorinated pyrimidine N-oxides is described. A two-step synthetic approach to 4-fluoropyrimidine N-oxides from alkenes under mild conditions is developed using this reaction. Mechanistic aspects of the heterocyclization are discussed.

Combined QSAR studies of inhibitor properties of O-phosphorylated oximes toward serine esterases involved in neurotoxicity, drug metabolism and Alzheimer's disease

Oxime reactivation of serine esterases (EOHs) inhibited by organophosphorus (OP) compounds can produce O-phosphorylated oximes (POXs). Such oxime derivatives are of interest, because some of them can have greater anti-EOH potencies than the OP inhibitors from which they were derived. Accordingly, inhibitor properties of 58 POXs against four EOHs, along with pair-wise selectivities between them, have been analysed using different QSAR approaches. EOHs (with their abbreviations and consequences of inhibition in parentheses) comprised acetylcholinesterase (AChE: acute neurotoxicity; cognition enhancement), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE: inhibition of drug metabolism or stoichiometric scavenging of EOH inhibitors; cognition enhancement), carboxylesterase (CaE: inhibition of drug metabolism or stoichiometric scavenging of EOH inhibitors), and neuropathy target esterase (NTE: delayed neurotoxicity). QSAR techniques encompassed linear regression and backpropagation neural networks in conjunction with fragmental descriptors containing labelled atoms, Molecular Field Topology Analysis (MFTA), Comparative Molecular Similarity Index Analysis (CoMSIA), and molecular modelling. All methods provided mostly consistent and complementary information, and they revealed structural features controlling the 'esterase profiles', i.e. patterns of anti-EOH activities and selectivities of the compounds of interest. In addition, MFTA models were used to design a library of compounds having a cognition-enhancement esterase profile suitable for potential application to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

On mechanism of allosteric modulation of NMDA receptor via amino-terminal domains

A possible mechanism of action of the allosteric modulators of NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) receptors is proposed that involves the stabilization of the twisted closed-clamshell configuration of the amino-terminal domains of GluN1 and GluN2B subunits by negative modulators while positive modulators stabilize a roughly parallel tight arrangement of these domains. These respective motions may play an important role in the transition between the open-channel and closed-channel states of the receptor. In addition, some features of the negative modulator binding site found by means of the molecular dynamics study and pocket analysis can be used in the rational design of the allosteric NMDA receptor modulators.

Simulation of intramolecular hydrogen bond dynamics in manzamine A as a sensitive test for charge distribution quality

Subtle balance of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bond strength in aqueous solutions often governs the structure and dynamics of molecular species used as potential drugs and in supramolecular applications. In silico molecular dynamics study of water solution of manzamine A has been performed with different atomic charges in order to investigate the influence of charge distribution choice on predicting qualitative and quantitative features of the simulated systems. Various well known charge schemes (MK-ESP, RESP, Mulliken, AMI-BCC, Gasteiger-Hückel, Gasteiger-Marsili, MMFF94, and Dynamic Electronegativity Relaxation - DENR) led to qualitatively different pictures of dynamic behavior of the intramolecular hydrogen bond. The reported calculation framework represents a relatively rare case where differences in charge distributions lead to noticeable differences in simulated properties, thus providing a useful test case for force field and charge distribution development, provided high quality experiments are conducted to use as references.

Simulation of Intramolecular Hydrogen Bond Dynamics in Manzamine A as a Sensitive Test for Charge Distribution Quality

Subtle balance of inter- and intramolecular hydrogen bond strength in aqueous solutions often governs the structure and dynamics of molecular species used as potential drugs and in supramolecular applications. In silico molecular dynamics study of water solution of manzamine A has been performed with different atomic charges in order to investigate the influence of charge distribution choice on predicting qualitative and quantitative features of the simulated systems. Various well known charge schemes (MK-ESP, RESP, Mulliken, AM1-BCC, Gasteiger-Hückel, Gasteiger-Marsili, MMFF94, and Dynamic Electronegativity Relaxation - DENR) led to qualitatively different pictures of dynamic behavior of the intramolecular hydrogen bond. The reported calculation framework represents a relatively rare case where differences in charge distributions lead to noticeable differences in simulated properties, thus providing a useful test case for force field and charge distribution development, provided high quality experiments are conducted to use as references.

Signatures of the ATP-binding pocket as a basis for structural classification of the serine/threonine protein kinases of gram-positive bacteria

Eukaryotic-like serine/threonine protein kinases (ESTPKs) are widely spread throughout the bacterial genomes. These enzymes can be potential targets of new antibacterial drugs useful for the treatment of socially important diseases such as tuberculosis. In this study, ESTPKs of pathogenic, probiotic, and antibiotic-producing Gram-positive bacteria were classified according to the physicochemical properties of amino acid residues in the ATP-binding site of the enzyme. Nine residues were identified that line the surface of the adenine-binding pocket, and ESTPKs were classified based on these signatures. Twenty groups were discovered, five of them containing >10 representatives. The two most abundant groups contained >150 protein kinases that belong to the various branches of the phylogenetic tree, whereas certain groups are genus- or even species-specific. Homology modeling of the typical representatives of each group revealed that the classification is reliable, and the differences between the protein kinase ATP-binding pockets predicted based on their signatures are apparent in their structure. The classification is expected to be useful for the selection of targets for new anti-infective drugs.

Application of the bridgehead fragments for the design of conformationally restricted melatonin analogues

Conformationally constrained analogues of the hormone melatonin with a side chain incorporated into the bicyclic bridgehead core were synthesized based on the homology modeling and molecular docking studies performed for the MT(2) melatonin receptor. The methoxy-indole derivative fused with exo-N-acetamino-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane was found to possess nanomolar MT(2) receptor affinity.