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Wróbel TM, Sharma K, Mannella I, Oliaro-Bosso S, Nieckarz P, Du Toit T, Voegel CD, Rojas Velazquez MN, Yakubu J, Matveeva A, Therkelsen S, Jørgensen FS, Pandey AV, Pippione AC, Lolli ML, Boschi D, Björkling F. Exploring the Potential of Sulfur Moieties in Compounds Inhibiting Steroidogenesis. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1349. [PMID: 37759751 PMCID: PMC10526780 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This study reports on the synthesis and evaluation of novel compounds replacing the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring on the chemical backbone structure of cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase/12,20-lyase (CYP17A1) inhibitors with a phenyl bearing a sulfur-based substituent. Initial screening revealed compounds with marked inhibition of CYP17A1 activity. The selectivity of compounds was thereafter determined against cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase, cytochrome P450 3A4, and cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase. Additionally, the compounds showed weak inhibitory activity against aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3). The compounds' impact on steroid hormone levels was also assessed, with some notable modulatory effects observed. This work paves the way for developing more potent dual inhibitors specifically targeting CYP17A1 and AKR1C3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz M. Wróbel
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20093 Lublin, Poland
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katyayani Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Iole Mannella
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | | | - Patrycja Nieckarz
- Department of Synthesis and Chemical Technology of Pharmaceutical Substances, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Therina Du Toit
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Clarissa Daniela Voegel
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Hospital Inselspital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Maria Natalia Rojas Velazquez
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jibira Yakubu
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Matveeva
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Søren Therkelsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Flemming Steen Jørgensen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Amit V. Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, University Children’s Hospital, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
- Translational Hormone Research Program, Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Agnese C. Pippione
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Marco L. Lolli
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Donatella Boschi
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Fredrik Björkling
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Marinović MA, Bekić SS, Kugler M, Brynda J, Škerlová J, Škorić DĐ, Řezáčová P, Petri ET, Ćelić AS. X-ray structure of human aldo-keto reductase 1C3 in complex with a bile acid fused tetrazole inhibitor: experimental validation, molecular docking and structural analysis. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:341-355. [PMID: 36846371 PMCID: PMC9945864 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00387b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) catalyzes the reduction of androstenedione to testosterone and reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapeutics. AKR1C3 is a target for treatment of breast and prostate cancer and AKR1C3 inhibition could be an effective adjuvant therapy in the context of leukemia and other cancers. In the present study, steroidal bile acid fused tetrazoles were screened for their ability to inhibit AKR1C3. Four C24 bile acids with C-ring fused tetrazoles were moderate to strong AKR1C3 inhibitors (37-88% inhibition), while B-ring fused tetrazoles had no effect on AKR1C3 activity. Based on a fluorescence assay in yeast cells, these four compounds displayed no affinity for estrogen receptor-α, or the androgen receptor, suggesting a lack of estrogenic or androgenic effects. A top inhibitor showed specificity for AKR1C3 over AKR1C2, and inhibited AKR1C3 with an IC50 of ∼7 μM. The structure of AKR1C3·NADP+ in complex with this C-ring fused bile acid tetrazole was determined by X-ray crystallography at 1.4 Å resolution, revealing that the C24 carboxylate is anchored to the catalytic oxyanion site (H117, Y55); meanwhile the tetrazole interacts with a tryptophan (W227) important for steroid recognition. Molecular docking predicts that all four top AKR1C3 inhibitors bind with nearly identical geometry, suggesting that C-ring bile acid fused tetrazoles represent a new class of AKR1C3 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja A. Marinović
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi SadTrg Dositeja Obradovića 221000 Novi SadSerbia
| | - Sofija S. Bekić
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi SadTrg Dositeja Obradovića 321000 Novi SadSerbia
| | - Michael Kugler
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo nám. 2Prague16610Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Brynda
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo nám. 2Prague16610Czech Republic
| | - Jana Škerlová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo nám. 2Prague16610Czech Republic
| | - Dušan Đ. Škorić
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi SadTrg Dositeja Obradovića 321000 Novi SadSerbia
| | - Pavlína Řezáčová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Czech Academy of SciencesFlemingovo nám. 2Prague16610Czech Republic
| | - Edward T. Petri
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi SadTrg Dositeja Obradovića 221000 Novi SadSerbia
| | - Andjelka S. Ćelić
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, University of Novi SadTrg Dositeja Obradovića 221000 Novi SadSerbia
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Möller G, Temml V, Cala Peralta A, Gruet O, Richomme P, Séraphin D, Viault G, Kraus L, Huber-Cantonati P, Schopfhauser E, Pachmayr J, Tokarz J, Schuster D, Helesbeux JJ, Dyar KA. Analogues of Natural Chalcones as Efficient Inhibitors of AKR1C3. Metabolites 2022; 12:99. [PMID: 35208174 PMCID: PMC8876231 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12020099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring substances are valuable resources for drug development. In this respect, chalcones are known to be antiproliferative agents against prostate cancer cell lines through various mechanisms or targets. Based on the literature and preliminary results, we aimed to study and optimise the efficiency of a series of chalcones to inhibit androgen-converting AKR1C3, known to promote prostate cancer. A total of 12 chalcones with different substitution patterns were synthesised. Structure-activity relationships associated with these modifications on AKR1C3 inhibition were analysed by performing enzymatic assays and docking simulations. In addition, the selectivity and cytotoxicity of the compounds were assessed. In enzymatic assays, C-6' hydroxylated derivatives were more active than C-6' methoxylated derivatives. In contrast, C-4 methylation increased activity over C-4 hydroxylation. Docking results supported these findings with the most active compounds fitting nicely in the binding site and exhibiting strong interactions with key amino acid residues. The most effective inhibitors were not cytotoxic for HEK293T cells and selective for 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases not primarily involved in steroid hormone metabolism. Nevertheless, they inhibited several enzymes of the steroid metabolism pathways. Favourable substitutions that enhanced AKR1C3 inhibition of chalcones were identified. This study paves the way to further develop compounds from this series or related flavonoids with improved inhibitory activity against AKR1C3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Möller
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (J.T.); (K.A.D.)
| | - Veronika Temml
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (V.T.); (E.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Antonio Cala Peralta
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Océane Gruet
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Pascal Richomme
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Denis Séraphin
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Guillaume Viault
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Luisa Kraus
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology and Clinical Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (L.K.); (P.H.-C.); (J.P.)
| | - Petra Huber-Cantonati
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology and Clinical Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (L.K.); (P.H.-C.); (J.P.)
| | - Elisabeth Schopfhauser
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (V.T.); (E.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Johanna Pachmayr
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Biology and Clinical Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (L.K.); (P.H.-C.); (J.P.)
| | - Janina Tokarz
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (J.T.); (K.A.D.)
| | - Daniela Schuster
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Institute of Pharmacy, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, 5020 Salzburg, Austria; (V.T.); (E.S.); (D.S.)
| | - Jean-Jacques Helesbeux
- University of Angers, SONAS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France; (A.C.P.); (O.G.); (P.R.); (D.S.); (G.V.); (J.-J.H.)
| | - Kenneth Allen Dyar
- Institute for Diabetes and Cancer, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany; (J.T.); (K.A.D.)
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