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Chessum N, Jones K, Pasqua E, Tucker M. Recent advances in cancer therapeutics. PROGRESS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2015; 54:1-63. [PMID: 25727702 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmch.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the past 20 years, cancer therapeutics has undergone a paradigm shift away from the traditional cytotoxic drugs towards the targeting of proteins intimately involved in driving the cancer phenotype. The poster child for this alternative approach to the treatment of cancer is imatinib, a small-molecule kinase inhibitor designed to target chronic myeloid leukaemia driven by the BCR-ABL translocation in a defined patient population. The improvement in survival achieved by treatment of this patient cohort with imatinib is impressive. Thus, the aim is to provide efficacy but with low toxicity. The role of the medicinal chemist in oncology drug discovery is now closely aligned with the role in most other therapeutic areas with high-throughput and/or fragment-based screening, structure-based design, selectivity, pharmacokinetic optimisation and pharmacodynamic biomarker modulation, all playing a familiar part in the process. In this chapter, we selected four areas in which compounds are either approved drugs or in clinical trials. These are chaperone inhibitors, kinase inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors and inhibitors of protein-protein interactions. Even within these areas, we have been selective, particularly for kinase inhibitors, and our aim has been to exemplify newer approaches and novel aspects of medicinal chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Chessum
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Keith Jones
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Elisa Pasqua
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Tucker
- Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
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202
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Uehara Y, Inoue M, Fukuda K, Yamakoshi H, Hosoi Y, Kanda H, Oshima M, Iwabuchi Y, Shibata H. Inhibition of β-catenin and STAT3 with a curcumin analog suppresses gastric carcinogenesis in vivo. Gastric Cancer 2015; 18:774-83. [PMID: 25331984 PMCID: PMC4572076 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-014-0434-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/14/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Potent chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer has not been completely established. Many molecularly targeted therapies are under investigation, but their therapeutic outcomes are not promising because they do not target specific and/or critical targets of gastric carcinogenesis. Although the molecular basis of gastric carcinogenesis remains poorly understood, nuclear localization of β-catenin was observed in approximately 50 % of gastric cancer specimens. Recent studies have suggested that activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) contributes to gastric carcinogenesis in a mouse model. A newly synthesized curcumin analog has inhibitory potential against β-catenin and STAT3. METHODS Using a transgenic mouse model of gastric cancer in which β-catenin, cyclooxygenase 2, and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 activation is induced, we examined a curcumin analog with the most enhanced potential for treating gastric cancer through oral administration. Inhibition of these targets was demonstrated using microarray and immunohistochemical analyses. RESULTS The curcumin analog GO-Y031 decreased the incidence of gastric carcinogenesis to 54.5 % of that of the control (50.0 % vs 91.7 %, p = 0.043), and tumor size was reduced to 51.6 % of that of the control (1.6 mm vs 3.1 mm, p = 0.03). β-Catenin and STAT3 levels were suppressed to 26.2 % (p = 0.00023) and 44.8 % (p = 0.025), respectively, of those of the control. Moreover, macrophage infiltration was suppressed with GO-Y031. CONCLUSION β-Catenin and STAT3 can be pharmacologically inhibited in vivo with a curcumin analog, which effectively inhibits β-catenin and STAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiko Uehara
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masahiro Inoue
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita, 010-8543, Japan
| | - Koji Fukuda
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita, 010-8543, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamakoshi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshio Hosoi
- Department of Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kanda
- Division of Pathology, Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanobu Oshima
- Division of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Iwabuchi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Shibata
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Hondo 1-1-1, Akita, 010-8543, Japan.
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203
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Doveston RG, Tosatti P, Dow M, Foley DJ, Li HY, Campbell AJ, House D, Churcher I, Marsden SP, Nelson A. A unified lead-oriented synthesis of over fifty molecular scaffolds. Org Biomol Chem 2015; 13:859-65. [DOI: 10.1039/c4ob02287d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sourcing large numbers of lead-like compounds is a major challenge; a unified synthetic approach enabled the efficient synthesis of 52 diverse lead-like molecular scaffolds from just 13 precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mark Dow
- School of Chemistry
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
| | | | - Ho Yin Li
- School of Chemistry
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
| | | | - David House
- GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre
- Stevenage
- UK
| | - Ian Churcher
- GlaxoSmithKline Medicines Research Centre
- Stevenage
- UK
| | | | - Adam Nelson
- School of Chemistry
- University of Leeds
- Leeds
- UK
- Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology
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204
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Adams LA, Sharma P, Mohanty B, Ilyichova OV, Mulcair MD, Williams ML, Gleeson EC, Totsika M, Doak BC, Caria S, Rimmer K, Horne J, Shouldice SR, Vazirani M, Headey SJ, Plumb BR, Martin JL, Heras B, Simpson JS, Scanlon MJ. Application of Fragment-Based Screening to the Design of Inhibitors ofEscherichia coliDsbA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201410341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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205
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Adams LA, Sharma P, Mohanty B, Ilyichova OV, Mulcair MD, Williams ML, Gleeson EC, Totsika M, Doak BC, Caria S, Rimmer K, Horne J, Shouldice SR, Vazirani M, Headey SJ, Plumb BR, Martin JL, Heras B, Simpson JS, Scanlon MJ. Application of fragment-based screening to the design of inhibitors of Escherichia coli DsbA. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2014; 54:2179-84. [PMID: 25556635 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201410341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2014] [Revised: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Adams
- Medicinal Chemistry, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, 381 Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3052 (Australia) http://www.pharm.monash.edu.au
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206
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Lau YH, de Andrade P, McKenzie GJ, Venkitaraman AR, Spring DR. Linear aliphatic dialkynes as alternative linkers for double-click stapling of p53-derived peptides. Chembiochem 2014; 15:2680-3. [PMID: 25354189 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201402374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated linear aliphatic dialkynes as a new structural class of i,i+7 linkers for the double-click stapling of p53-based peptides. The optimal combination of azido amino acids and dialkynyl linker length for MDM2 binding was determined. In a direct comparison between aliphatic and aromatic staple scaffolds, the aliphatic staples resulted in superior binding to MDM2 in vitro and superior p53-activating capability in cells when using a diazidopeptide derived from phage display. This work demonstrates that the nature of the staple scaffold is an important factor that can affect peptide bioactivity in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Heng Lau
- University Chemical Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW (UK)
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207
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Structure-based inhibition of protein-protein interactions. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 94:480-8. [PMID: 25253637 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are emerging as attractive targets for drug design because of their central role in directing normal and aberrant cellular functions. These interactions were once considered "undruggable" because their large and dynamic interfaces make small molecule inhibitor design challenging. However, landmark advances in computational analysis, fragment screening and molecular design have enabled development of a host of promising strategies to address the fundamental molecular recognition challenge. An attractive approach for targeting PPIs involves mimicry of protein domains that are critical for complex formation. This approach recognizes that protein subdomains or protein secondary structures are often present at interfaces and serve as organized scaffolds for the presentation of side chain groups that engage the partner protein(s). Design of protein domain mimetics is in principle rather straightforward but is enabled by a host of computational strategies that provide predictions of important residues that should be mimicked. Herein we describe a workflow proceeding from interaction network analysis, to modeling a complex structure, to identifying a high-affinity sub-structure, to developing interaction inhibitors. We apply the design procedure to peptidomimetic inhibitors of Ras-mediated signaling.
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208
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Hsu WCJ, Nilsson CL, Laezza F. Role of the axonal initial segment in psychiatric disorders: function, dysfunction, and intervention. Front Psychiatry 2014; 5:109. [PMID: 25191280 PMCID: PMC4139700 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2014.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The progress of developing effective interventions against psychiatric disorders has been limited due to a lack of understanding of the underlying cellular and functional mechanisms. Recent research findings focused on exploring novel causes of psychiatric disorders have highlighted the importance of the axonal initial segment (AIS), a highly specialized neuronal structure critical for spike initiation of the action potential. In particular, the role of voltage-gated sodium channels, and their interactions with other protein partners in a tightly regulated macromolecular complex has been emphasized as a key component in the regulation of neuronal excitability. Deficits and excesses of excitability have been linked to the pathogenesis of brain disorders. Identification of the factors and regulatory pathways involved in proper AIS function, or its disruption, can lead to the development of novel interventions that target these mechanistic interactions, increasing treatment efficacy while reducing deleterious off-target effects for psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Chun Jim Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- M.D.–Ph.D. Combined Degree Program, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Carol Lynn Nilsson
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Fernanda Laezza
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Center for Addiction Research, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA
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209
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Luchini A, Espina V, Liotta LA. Protein painting reveals solvent-excluded drug targets hidden within native protein-protein interfaces. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4413. [PMID: 25048602 PMCID: PMC4109009 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying the contact regions between a protein and its binding partners is essential for creating therapies that block the interaction. Unfortunately, such contact regions are extremely difficult to characterize because they are hidden inside the binding interface. Here we introduce protein painting as a new tool that employs small molecules as molecular paints to tightly coat the surface of protein–protein complexes. The molecular paints, which block trypsin cleavage sites, are excluded from the binding interface. Following mass spectrometry, only peptides hidden in the interface emerge as positive hits, revealing the functional contact regions that are drug targets. We use protein painting to discover contact regions between the three-way interaction of IL1β ligand, the receptor IL1RI and the accessory protein IL1RAcP. We then use this information to create peptides and monoclonal antibodies that block the interaction and abolish IL1β cell signalling. The technology is broadly applicable to discover protein interaction drug targets. Identifying the site where a protein binds to another molecule is an important factor for the design of therapeutics intended to prevent this interaction. Here, the authors coat protein–receptor complexes with surface-binding molecules, and determine their interacting regions using mass spectrometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Luchini
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA
| | - Virginia Espina
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA
| | - Lance A Liotta
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, 10900 University Boulevard, Manassas, Virginia 20110, USA
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210
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Villoutreix BO, Kuenemann MA, Poyet JL, Bruzzoni-Giovanelli H, Labbé C, Lagorce D, Sperandio O, Miteva MA. Drug-Like Protein-Protein Interaction Modulators: Challenges and Opportunities for Drug Discovery and Chemical Biology. Mol Inform 2014; 33:414-437. [PMID: 25254076 PMCID: PMC4160817 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201400040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
[Formula: see text] Fundamental processes in living cells are largely controlled by macromolecular interactions and among them, protein-protein interactions (PPIs) have a critical role while their dysregulations can contribute to the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Although PPIs were considered as attractive pharmaceutical targets already some years ago, they have been thus far largely unexploited for therapeutic interventions with low molecular weight compounds. Several limiting factors, from technological hurdles to conceptual barriers, are known, which, taken together, explain why research in this area has been relatively slow. However, this last decade, the scientific community has challenged the dogma and became more enthusiastic about the modulation of PPIs with small drug-like molecules. In fact, several success stories were reported both, at the preclinical and clinical stages. In this review article, written for the 2014 International Summer School in Chemoinformatics (Strasbourg, France), we discuss in silico tools (essentially post 2012) and databases that can assist the design of low molecular weight PPI modulators (these tools can be found at www.vls3d.com). We first introduce the field of protein-protein interaction research, discuss key challenges and comment recently reported in silico packages, protocols and databases dedicated to PPIs. Then, we illustrate how in silico methods can be used and combined with experimental work to identify PPI modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno O Villoutreix
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
- CDithem, Faculté de Pharmacie, 1 rue du Prof Laguesse59000 Lille, France
| | - Melaine A Kuenemann
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
| | - Jean-Luc Poyet
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
- IUH, Hôpital Saint-LouisParis, France
- CDithem, Faculté de Pharmacie, 1 rue du Prof Laguesse59000 Lille, France
| | - Heriberto Bruzzoni-Giovanelli
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
- CIC, Clinical investigation center, Hôpital Saint-LouisParis, France
| | - Céline Labbé
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
| | - David Lagorce
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
| | - Olivier Sperandio
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
- CDithem, Faculté de Pharmacie, 1 rue du Prof Laguesse59000 Lille, France
| | - Maria A Miteva
- Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMRS 973 InsermParis 75013, France
- Inserm, U973Paris 75013, France
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211
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Focused chemical libraries--design and enrichment: an example of protein-protein interaction chemical space. Future Med Chem 2014; 6:1291-307. [PMID: 24773599 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.14.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the many obstacles in the development of new drugs lies in the limited number of therapeutic targets and in the quality of screening collections of compounds. In this review, we present general strategies for building target-focused chemical libraries with a particular emphasis on protein-protein interactions (PPIs). We describe the chemical spaces spanned by nine commercially available PPI-focused libraries and compare them to our 2P2I3D academic library, dedicated to orthosteric PPI modulators. We show that although PPI-focused libraries have been designed using different strategies, they share common subspaces. PPI inhibitors are larger and more hydrophobic than standard drugs; however, an effort has been made to improve the drug-likeness of focused chemical libraries dedicated to this challenging class of targets.
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212
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Abstract
Biomolecular crystallography underpins contemporary drug discovery. The author’s experiences in early (influenza) and recent (cancer) examples mark progress in the sophistication of approaches that have enabled a shift from simpler problems, as in enzyme inhibition, to complex problems, as in blocking protein–protein interactions.
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