Conformation–activity relationship on novel 4-pyridylmethylthio derivatives with antiangiogenic activity

Importance of Noncovalent Interactions Involving Sulfur Atoms in Thiopeptide Antibiotics─Glycothiohexide α and Nocathiacin I

Noncovalent interactions involving sulfur atoms play essential roles in protein structure and function by significantly contributing to protein stability, folding, and biological activity. Sulfur is a highly polarizable atom that can participate in many types of noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bonding, sulfur-π interactions, and S-lone pair interactions, but the impact of these sulfur-based interactions on molecular recognition and drug design is still often underappreciated. Here, we examine, using quantum chemical calculations, the roles of sulfur-based noncovalent interactions in complex naturally occurring molecules representative of thiopeptide antibiotics: glycothiohexide α and its close structural analogue nocathiacin I. While donor-acceptor orbital interactions make only very small contributions, electrostatic and dispersion contributions are predicted to be significant in many cases. In pursuit of understanding the magnitudes and nature of these noncovalent interactions, we made potential structural modifications that could significantly expand the chemical space of effective thiopeptide antibiotics.

α-Heteroarylation of Thioethers via Photoredox and Weak Brønsted Base Catalysis

We report the C-H activation of thioethers to α-thio alkyl radicals and their addition to N-methoxyheteroarenium salts for the redox-neutral synthesis of α-heteroaromatic thioethers. Studies are consistent with a two-step activation mechanism, where oxidation of thioethers to sulfide radical cations by a photoredox catalyst is followed by α-C-H deprotonation by a weak Brønsted base catalyst to afford α-thio alkyl radicals. Further, N-methoxyheteroarenium salts play additional roles as a source of methoxyl radical that contributes to α-thio alkyl radical generation and a sacrificial oxidant that regenerates the photoredox catalytic cycle.

Inconvertible p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene-core-star polystyrene conformers

Inconvertible star polystyrene conformers were synthesized by ATRP using initiators of different conformations from p-tert-butylthiacalix[4]arene. The influence of spatial structures of the star polystyrene conformers on properties was investigated.

Discovery and development of hepatitis C virus NS5A replication complex inhibitors

Lead inhibitors that target the function of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein have been identified by phenotypic screening campaigns using HCV subgenomic replicons. The demonstration of antiviral activity in HCV-infected subjects by the HCV NS5A replication complex inhibitor (RCI) daclatasvir (1) spawned considerable interest in this mechanistic approach. In this Perspective, we summarize the medicinal chemistry studies that led to the discovery of 1 and other chemotypes for which resistance maps to the NS5A protein and provide synopses of the profiles of many of the compounds currently in clinical trials. We also summarize what is currently known about the NS5A protein and the studies using NS5A RCIs and labeled analogues that are helping to illuminate aspects of both protein function and inhibitor interaction. We conclude with a synopsis of the results of notable clinical trials with HCV NS5A RCIs.

KDR inhibitor with the intramolecular non-bonded interaction: conformation-activity relationships of novel indole-3-carboxamide derivatives

We previously reported that compound 1, having a similar conformation to PTK787 (2) by forming a pseudo ring structure with an intramolecular non-bonded S-O interaction, exhibited a potent inhibitory activity against VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase (KDR). Applying the ideas of pseudo ring formations, we have designed three types of novel indole carboxamide derivatives 5-7 with an intramolecular hydrogen bonding or non-bonded S-O interaction. We describe the design and synthesis of 5-7, and also discuss the relationships of their KDR inhibitory activity and conformations that were stabilized by their intramolecular non-bonded interactions.

Suppression of hypoxia-induced HIF-1alpha accumulation by VEGFR inhibitors: Different profiles of AAL993 versus SU5416 and KRN633

The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is a heterodimeric basic helix-loop-helix transcriptional factor and the activated HIF plays pivotal roles in various pathological conditions, including inflammation and cancer. HIF-1alpha overexpression has been observed in many common human cancers, including brain, breast, colon, lung, ovary, and prostate, and HIF-mediated genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, are associated with tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion. Therefore, the pro-oncogenic protein HIF is a novel target of cancer therapy. We examined the effects of VEGFR inhibitors, AAL993, SU5416, and KRN633, on suppression of HIF-1alpha accumulation under the hypoxic condition. We found that VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, AAL993, SU5416, and KRN633, possess dual functions: inhibition of VEGFR signaling and HIF-1alpha expression under the hypoxic condition. The detailed mechanistic study indicated that SU5416 and KRN633 suppressed HIF-1alpha expression through inhibition of both Akt and ERK phosphorylation signaling pathways, whereas AAL993 suppressed HIF-1alpha expression through ERK inhibition without affecting Akt phosphorylation.