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De-la-Torre P, Martínez-García C, Gratias P, Mun M, Santana P, Akyuz N, González W, Indzhykulian AA, Ramírez D. Identification of Druggable Binding Sites and Small Molecules as Modulators of TMC1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.05.583611. [PMID: 38826329 PMCID: PMC11142246 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.05.583611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Our ability to hear and maintain balance relies on the proper functioning of inner ear sensory hair cells, which translate mechanical stimuli into electrical signals via mechano-electrical transducer (MET) channels, composed of TMC1/2 proteins. However, the therapeutic use of ototoxic drugs, such as aminoglycosides and cisplatin, which can enter hair cells through MET channels, often leads to profound auditory and vestibular dysfunction. Despite extensive research on otoprotective compounds targeting MET channels, our understanding of how small molecule modulators interact with these channels remains limited, hampering the discovery of novel compounds. Here, we propose a structure-based screening approach, integrating 3D-pharmacophore modeling, molecular simulations, and experimental validation. Our pipeline successfully identified several novel compounds and FDA-approved drugs that reduced dye uptake in cultured cochlear explants, indicating MET modulation activity. Molecular docking and free-energy estimations for binding allowed us to identify three potential drug binding sites within the channel pore, phospholipids, and key amino acids involved in modulator interactions. We also identified shared ligand-binding features between TMC and structurally related TMEM16 protein families, providing novel insights into their distinct inhibition, while potentially guiding the rational design of MET-channel-specific modulators. Our pipeline offers a broad application to discover small molecule modulators for a wide spectrum of mechanosensitive ion channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro De-la-Torre
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Paul Gratias
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew Mun
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paula Santana
- Facultad de Ingeniería, Instituto de Ciencias Químicas Aplicadas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nurunisa Akyuz
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wendy González
- Center for Bioinformatics and Molecular Simulations (CBSM), University of Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Artur A. Indzhykulian
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School and Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Ramírez
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Concepción, Chile
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2
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Park SJ, Song IH, Yeom GS, Nimse SB. The microtubule cytoskeleton: A validated target for the development of 2-Aryl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116106. [PMID: 38181711 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, a series of 2-Aryl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole derivatives were developed to target intra- and extracellular microtubule networks. Compounds O-7 and O-10 showed impressive anti-proliferative activity across various tested cell lines, demonstrating selectivity indexes of 151.7 and 61.9, respectively. O-7 achieved an IC50 value of 0.236 ± 0.096 μM, while O-10 showed an IC50 value of 0.622 ± 0.13 μM against A549 cell lines. The induction of early-stage apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner further underscored the potential of O-7 and O-10 as effective anti-proliferative agents. O-7 and O-10 exhibited substantial inhibition of wound closure, with wound closure percentages decreasing from 23% at 0 μM to 0.43% and 2.62% at 20 μM, respectively. Colony formation reduction rates were impressive, with O-7 at 74.2% and O-10 at 81.2%. These results indicate that the O-7 and O-10 can impede cancer cell migration and have a high potential to curtail colony formation. The mode of action investigations for O-7 and O-10 revealed that O-7 could inhibit in vitro tubulin polymerization and disrupt the intracellular microtubule cytoskeleton. This disruption led to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, indicating that O-7 exerts its anticancer activity through microtubule destabilization. However, O-10 shows a different mode of action than O-7 and requires further investigation. Overall, our study showcases the potential of the synthesized benzimidazole derivatives as novel and selective anticancer agents, motivating further exploration of their pharmacological properties and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jeong Park
- Institute of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea
| | - In-Ho Song
- Institute of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea
| | - Gyu Seong Yeom
- Institute of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea
| | - Satish Balasaheb Nimse
- Institute of Applied Chemistry and Department of Chemistry, Hallym University, Chuncheon 200702, South Korea.
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3
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Ramos S, Vicente-Blázquez A, López-Rubio M, Gallego-Yerga L, Álvarez R, Peláez R. Frentizole, a Nontoxic Immunosuppressive Drug, and Its Analogs Display Antitumor Activity via Tubulin Inhibition. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17474. [PMID: 38139302 PMCID: PMC10744269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimitotic agents are one of the more successful types of anticancer drugs, but they suffer from toxicity and resistance. The application of approved drugs to new indications (i.e., drug repurposing) is a promising strategy for the development of new drugs. It relies on finding pattern similarities: drug effects to other drugs or conditions, similar toxicities, or structural similarity. Here, we recursively searched a database of approved drugs for structural similarity to several antimitotic agents binding to a specific site of tubulin, with the expectation of finding structures that could fit in it. These searches repeatedly retrieved frentizole, an approved nontoxic anti-inflammatory drug, thus indicating that it might behave as an antimitotic drug devoid of the undesired toxic effects. We also show that the usual repurposing approach to searching for targets of frentizole failed in most cases to find such a relationship. We synthesized frentizole and a series of analogs to assay them as antimitotic agents and found antiproliferative activity against HeLa tumor cells, inhibition of microtubule formation within cells, and arrest at the G2/M phases of the cell cycle, phenotypes that agree with binding to tubulin as the mechanism of action. The docking studies suggest binding at the colchicine site in different modes. These results support the repurposing of frentizole for cancer treatment, especially for glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Ramos
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alba Vicente-Blázquez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Marta López-Rubio
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura Gallego-Yerga
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Raquel Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Peláez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain; (S.R.); (M.L.-R.); (L.G.-Y.); (R.Á.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
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4
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Horgan MJ, Zell L, Siewert B, Stuppner H, Schuster D, Temml V. Identification of Novel β-Tubulin Inhibitors Using a Combined In Silico/ In Vitro Approach. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6396-6411. [PMID: 37774242 PMCID: PMC10598795 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Due to their potential as leads for various therapeutic applications, including as antimitotic and antiparasitic agents, the development of tubulin inhibitors offers promise for drug discovery. In this study, an in silico pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach targeting the colchicine binding site of β-tubulin was employed. Several structure- and ligand-based models for known tubulin inhibitors were generated. Compound databases were virtually screened against the models, and prioritized hits from the SPECS compound library were tested in an in vitro tubulin polymerization inhibition assay for their experimental validation. Out of the 41 SPECS compounds tested, 11 were active tubulin polymerization inhibitors, leading to a prospective true positive hit rate of 26.8%. Two novel inhibitors displayed IC50 values in the range of colchicine. The most potent of which was a novel acetamide-bridged benzodiazepine/benzimidazole derivative with an IC50 = 2.9 μM. The screening workflow led to the identification of diverse inhibitors active at the tubulin colchicine binding site. Thus, the pharmacophore models show promise as valuable tools for the discovery of compounds and as potential leads for the development of cancer therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark James Horgan
- Institute
of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Zell
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Bianka Siewert
- Institute
of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hermann Stuppner
- Institute
of Pharmacy/Pharmacognosy, Center for Chemistry and Biomedicine, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 80-82, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Daniela Schuster
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
| | - Veronika Temml
- Institute
of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Strubergasse 21, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
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Gallego-Yerga L, Chiliquinga AJ, Peláez R. Novel Tetrazole Derivatives Targeting Tubulin Endowed with Antiproliferative Activity against Glioblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11093. [PMID: 37446273 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing awareness of the structure of microtubules has made tubulin a relevant target for the research of novel chemotherapies. Furthermore, the particularly high sensitivity of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells to microtubule disruption could open new doors in the search for new anti-GBM treatments. However, the difficulties in developing potent anti-tubulin drugs endowed with improved pharmacokinetic properties necessitates the expansion of medicinal chemistry campaigns. The application of an ensemble pharmacophore screening methodology helped to optimize this process, leading to the development of a new tetrazole-based tubulin inhibitor. Considering this scaffold, we have synthesized a new family of tetrazole derivatives that achieved remarkable antimitotic effects against a broad panel of cancer cells, especially against GBM cells, showing high selectivity in comparison with non-tumor cells. The compounds also exerted high aqueous solubility and were demonstrated to not be substrates of efflux pumps, thus overcoming the main limitations that are usually associated with tubulin binding agents. Tubulin polymerization assays, immunofluorescence experiments, and flow cytometry studies demonstrated that the compounds target tubulin and arrest cells at the G2/M phase followed by induction of apoptosis. The docking experiments agreed with the proposed interactions at the colchicine site and explained the structure-activity relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gallego-Yerga
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | | | - Rafael Peláez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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6
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Gallego-Yerga L, Ceña V, Peláez R. Potent and Selective Benzothiazole-Based Antimitotics with Improved Water Solubility: Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation as Novel Anticancer Agents. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1698. [PMID: 37376146 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15061698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The design of colchicine site ligands on tubulin has proven to be a successful strategy to develop potent antiproliferative drugs against cancer cells. However, the structural requirements of the binding site endow the ligands with low aqueous solubility. In this work, the benzothiazole scaffold is used to design, synthesize, and evaluate a new family of colchicine site ligands exhibiting high water solubility. The compounds exerted antiproliferative activity against several human cancer cell lines, due to tubulin polymerization inhibition, showing high selectivity toward cancer cells in comparison with non-tumoral HEK-293 cells, as evidenced by MTT and LDH assays. The most potent derivatives, containing a pyridine moiety and ethylurea or formamide functionalities, displayed IC50 values in the nanomolar range even in the difficult-to-treat glioblastoma cells. Flow cytometry experiments on HeLa, MCF7, and U87MG cells showed that they arrest the cell cycle at the G2/M phases at an early time point (24 h), followed by apoptotic cell death 72 h after the treatment. Tubulin binding was confirmed by microtubule network disruption observed via confocal microscopy. Docking studies support favorable interaction of the synthesized ligands at the colchicine binding site. These results validate the proposed strategy to develop potent anticancer colchicine ligands with improved water solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gallego-Yerga
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Valentín Ceña
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Rafael Peláez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
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7
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Computational Approaches to the Rational Design of Tubulin-Targeting Agents. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020285. [PMID: 36830654 PMCID: PMC9952983 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are highly dynamic polymers of α,β-tubulin dimers which play an essential role in numerous cellular processes such as cell proliferation and intracellular transport, making them an attractive target for cancer and neurodegeneration research. To date, a large number of known tubulin binders were derived from natural products, while only one was developed by rational structure-based drug design. Several of these tubulin binders show promising in vitro profiles while presenting unacceptable off-target effects when tested in patients. Therefore, there is a continuing demand for the discovery of safer and more efficient tubulin-targeting agents. Since tubulin structural data is readily available, the employment of computer-aided design techniques can be a key element to focus on the relevant chemical space and guide the design process. Due to the high diversity and quantity of structural data available, we compiled here a guide to the accessible tubulin-ligand structures. Furthermore, we review different ligand and structure-based methods recently used for the successful selection and design of new tubulin-targeting agents.
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8
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González M, Ellahioui Y, Gallego L, Vicente-Blázquez A, Álvarez R, Medarde M, Peláez R. Novel amino analogs of the trimethoxyphenyl ring in potent colchicine site ligands improve solubility by the masked polar group incorporation (MPGI) strategy. Bioorg Chem 2023; 131:106282. [PMID: 36459777 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The low aqueous solubility of colchicine site antimitotic agents, of which the trimethoxyphenyl (A ring) is a heavy contributor, is a serious drawback in their clinical development. We have designed new A ring analogs with chameleonic masked polar amino groups able to increase aqueous solubility and also behave as non-polar through intramolecular hydrogen bonds when bound to tubulin. We have incorporated these new A rings in several scaffolds (sulfonamides, combretastatins, phenstatins, isocombretastatins), synthesized, and assayed 43 representatives. The amino analogs show improved aqueous solubility and some of them (8, 60Z, and 67) nanomolar anti-proliferative potencies against human cancer cell lines, with the most favorable substituent being a 3-methylamino group. The antiproliferative effect relates to tubulin inhibition as shown by in vitro tubulin polymerization inhibition, immunofluorescence microscopy, and cell cycle and apoptosis analysis by flow cytometry. The compounds arrest the cell cycle of treated cells in G2/M and later develop an apoptotic response. Docking studies suggested binding at the colchicine site of tubulin with good agreement with the DFT models of the new structural variations made. The 3-methylamino-4,5‑dimethoxyphenyl moiety is an example of the masked polar group incorporation (MPGI) strategy for soluble ligands binding to hydrophobic sites and a good trimethoxyphenyl ring replacement for the development of new colchicine site ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam González
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Younes Ellahioui
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura Gallego
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Alba Vicente-Blázquez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Raquel Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Manuel Medarde
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Rafael Peláez
- Laboratorio de Química Orgánica y Farmacéutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales de la Universidad de Salamanca (CIETUS). Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, E-37007 Salamanca, Spain.
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9
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Panobinostat Synergistically Enhances the Cytotoxicity of Microtubule Destabilizing Drugs in Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232113019. [PMID: 36361809 PMCID: PMC9657298 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecologic neoplasia and has the highest mortality rate, which is mainly due to late-stage diagnosis and chemotherapy resistance. There is an urgent need to explore new and better therapeutic strategies. We have previously described a family of Microtubule Destabilizing Sulfonamides (MDS) that does not trigger multidrug-mediated resistance in OC cell lines. MDS bind to the colchicine site of tubulin, disrupting the microtubule network and causing antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects. In this work, a novel microtubule-destabilizing agent (PILA9) was synthetized and characterized. This compound also inhibited OC cell proliferation and induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Interestingly, PILA9 was significantly more cytotoxic than MDS. Here, we also analyzed the effect of these microtubule-destabilizing agents (MDA) in combination with Panobinostat, a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor. We found that Panobinostat synergistically enhanced MDA-cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, we observed that Panobinostat and MDA induced α-tubulin acetylation and that the combination of both agents enhanced this effect, which could be related to the observed synergy. Altogether, our results suggest that MDA/Panobinostat combinations could represent new therapeutic strategies against OC.
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A novel tubulin inhibitor, 6h, suppresses tumor-associated angiogenesis and shows potent antitumor activity against non-small cell lung cancers. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102063. [PMID: 35618020 PMCID: PMC9218517 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor angiogenesis is closely associated with the metastasis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a highly vascularized solid tumor. However, novel therapeutics are lacking for the treatment of this cancer. Here, we developed a series of 2-aryl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-5-substituted-1,2,3-triazol analogs (6a-6x) as tubulin colchicine-binding site inhibitors, aiming to find a novel promising drug candidate for NSCLC treatment. We first identified 2-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-5-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole (6h) as a hit compound, which inhibited angiogenesis induced by NSCLC cells both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, our data showed that 6h could tightly bind to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin and inhibit tubulin polymerization. We also found that 6h could effectively induce G2/M cell cycle arrest of A549 and H460 cells, inhibit cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Furthermore, we showed 6h had the potential to inhibit the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, two basic characteristics of tumor metastasis. Finally, we found 6h could effectively inhibit tumor progression in A549 xenograft mouse models with minimal toxicity. Taken together, these findings provide strong evidence for the development of 6h as a promising microtubule colchicine-binding site inhibitor for NSCLC treatment.
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Boichuk S, Syuzov K, Bikinieva F, Galembikova A, Zykova S, Gankova K, Igidov S, Igidov N. Computational-Based Discovery of the Anti-Cancer Activities of Pyrrole-Based Compounds Targeting the Colchicine-Binding Site of Tubulin. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092873. [PMID: 35566235 PMCID: PMC9101527 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the tubulin-binding agents (TBAs) that are widely used in the clinic for cancer therapy, tumor resistance to TBAs (both inherited and acquired) significantly impairs their effectiveness, thereby decreasing overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, especially for the patients with metastatic, recurrent, and unresectable forms of the disease. Therefore, the development of novel effective drugs interfering with the microtubules’ dynamic state remains a big challenge in current oncology. We report here about the novel ethyl 2-amino-1-(furan-2-carboxamido)-5-(2-aryl/tert-butyl-2-oxoethylidene)-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates (EAPCs) exhibiting potent anti-cancer activities against the breast and lung cancer cell lines in vitro. This was due to their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and induce cell cycle arrest in M-phase. As an outcome, the EAPC-treated cancer cells exhibited a significant increase in apoptosis, which was evidenced by the expression of cleaved forms of PARP, caspase-3, and increased numbers of Annexin-V-positive cells. By using the in silico molecular modeling methods (e.g., induced-fit docking, binding metadynamics, and unbiased molecular dynamics), we found that EAPC-67 and -70 preferentially bind to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin. Lastly, we have shown that the EAPCs indicated above and colchicine utilizes a similar molecular mechanism to inhibit tubulin polymerization via targeting the T7 loop in the β-chain of tubulin, thereby preventing the conformational changes in the tubulin dimers required for their polymerization. Collectively, we identified the novel and potent TBAs that bind to the colchicine-binding site and disrupt the microtubule network. As a result of these events, the compounds induced a robust cell cycle arrest in M-phase and exhibited potent pro-apoptotic activities against the epithelial cancer cell lines in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergei Boichuk
- Department of Pathology, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia; (K.S.); (F.B.); (A.G.)
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiology, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, 125993 Moscow, Russia
- Biologically Active Terpenoids Laboratory, Kazan Federal University, 18 Kremlyovskaya St., 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-917-397-80-93; Fax: +7-843-236-06-52
| | - Kirill Syuzov
- Department of Pathology, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia; (K.S.); (F.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Firuza Bikinieva
- Department of Pathology, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia; (K.S.); (F.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Aigul Galembikova
- Department of Pathology, Kazan State Medical University, 420012 Kazan, Russia; (K.S.); (F.B.); (A.G.)
| | - Svetlana Zykova
- Department of Pharmacology, Perm State Academy of Pharmacy, 614990 Perm, Russia; (S.Z.); (K.G.); (S.I.); (N.I.)
| | - Ksenia Gankova
- Department of Pharmacology, Perm State Academy of Pharmacy, 614990 Perm, Russia; (S.Z.); (K.G.); (S.I.); (N.I.)
| | - Sergei Igidov
- Department of Pharmacology, Perm State Academy of Pharmacy, 614990 Perm, Russia; (S.Z.); (K.G.); (S.I.); (N.I.)
| | - Nazim Igidov
- Department of Pharmacology, Perm State Academy of Pharmacy, 614990 Perm, Russia; (S.Z.); (K.G.); (S.I.); (N.I.)
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Computational-Based Discovery of the Anti-Cancer Activities of Pyrrole-Based Compounds Targeting the Colchicine-Binding Site of Tubulin. Molecules 2022. [PMID: 35566235 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092873.(] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the tubulin-binding agents (TBAs) that are widely used in the clinic for cancer therapy, tumor resistance to TBAs (both inherited and acquired) significantly impairs their effectiveness, thereby decreasing overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates, especially for the patients with metastatic, recurrent, and unresectable forms of the disease. Therefore, the development of novel effective drugs interfering with the microtubules' dynamic state remains a big challenge in current oncology. We report here about the novel ethyl 2-amino-1-(furan-2-carboxamido)-5-(2-aryl/tert-butyl-2-oxoethylidene)-4-oxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylates (EAPCs) exhibiting potent anti-cancer activities against the breast and lung cancer cell lines in vitro. This was due to their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and induce cell cycle arrest in M-phase. As an outcome, the EAPC-treated cancer cells exhibited a significant increase in apoptosis, which was evidenced by the expression of cleaved forms of PARP, caspase-3, and increased numbers of Annexin-V-positive cells. By using the in silico molecular modeling methods (e.g., induced-fit docking, binding metadynamics, and unbiased molecular dynamics), we found that EAPC-67 and -70 preferentially bind to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin. Lastly, we have shown that the EAPCs indicated above and colchicine utilizes a similar molecular mechanism to inhibit tubulin polymerization via targeting the T7 loop in the β-chain of tubulin, thereby preventing the conformational changes in the tubulin dimers required for their polymerization. Collectively, we identified the novel and potent TBAs that bind to the colchicine-binding site and disrupt the microtubule network. As a result of these events, the compounds induced a robust cell cycle arrest in M-phase and exhibited potent pro-apoptotic activities against the epithelial cancer cell lines in vitro.
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