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Wang X, Yun Y, Chen L, Guo S, Niu B, Fang J, Yuan Q, Shen J, Xie X, Wang K. A novel approach to exploit Small-Molecule glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor agonists with high potency. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 107:117761. [PMID: 38795571 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117761] [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: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Small-molecule glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists are recognized as promising therapeutics for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Danuglipron, an investigational small-molecule agonist, has demonstrated high efficacy in clinical trials. However, further development of danuglipron is challenged by a high rate of gastrointestinal adverse events. While these effects may be target-related, it is plausible that the carboxylic acid group present in danuglipron may also play a role in these outcomes by affecting the pharmacokinetic properties and dosing regimen of danuglipron, as well as by exerting direct gastrointestinal irritation. Therefore, this study aims to replace the problematic carboxylic acid group by exploring the internal binding cavity of danuglipron bound to GLP-1R using a water molecule displacement strategy. A series of novel triazole-containing compounds have been designed and synthesized during the structure-activity relationship (SAR) study. These efforts resulted in the discovery of compound 2j with high potency (EC50 = 0.065 nM). Moreover, docking simulations revealed that compound 2j directly interacts with the residue Glu387 within the internal cavity of GLP-1R, effectively displacing the structural water previously bound to Glu387. Subsequent in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that compound 2j had comparable efficacy to danuglipron in enhancing insulin secretion and improving glycemic control. Collectively, this study offers a practicable approach for the discovery of novel small-molecule GLP-1R agonists based on danuglipron, and compound 2j may serve as a lead compound to further exploit the unoccupied internal cavity of danuglipron's binding pocket.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ying Yun
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Lili Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shimeng Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Buying Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiahui Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qianting Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jianhua Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China; Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, China.
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 555 Zu Chong Zhi Road, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Duan H, Hu K, Zheng D, Cheng Y, Zhang Z, Wang Y, Liang L, Hu J, Luo T. Recognition and release of uridine and hCNT3: From multivariate interactions to molecular design. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 223:1562-1577. [PMID: 36402394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.145] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
As a vital target for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs, human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3) has been widely concerned. Nevertheless, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of molecular interactions and motion mechanism has greatly hindered the development of novel inhibitors against hCNT3. In this paper, molecular recognition of hCNT3 with uridine was investigated with molecular docking, conventional molecular dynamics (CMD) simulations and adaptive steered molecular dynamics (ASMD) simulations; and then, the uridine derivatives with possibly highly inhibitory activity were designed. The result of CMD showed that more water-mediated H-bonds and lower binding free energy both explained higher recognition ability and transported efficiency of hCNT3. While during the ASMD simulation, nucleoside transport process involved the significant side-chain flip of residues F321 and Q142, a typical substrate-induced conformational change. By considering electronegativity, atomic radius, functional group and key H-bonds factors, 25 novel uridine derivatives were constructed. Subsequently, the receptor-ligand binding free energy was predicted by solvated interaction energy (SIE) method to determine the inhibitor c8 with the best potential performance. This work not only revealed molecular recognition and release mechanism of uridine with hCNT3, but also designed a series of uridine derivatives to obtain lead compounds with potential high activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaichuan Duan
- Department of Head, Neck and Mammary Gland Oncology, Cancer Center, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kaixuan Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou, China
| | - Dan Zheng
- Department of Head, Neck and Mammary Gland Oncology, Cancer Center, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Department of Head, Neck and Mammary Gland Oncology, Cancer Center, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zelan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yueteng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Liang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianping Hu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal and Edible Plants Resources Development of Sichuan Education Department, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Luo
- Department of Head, Neck and Mammary Gland Oncology, Cancer Center, Clinical Research Center for Breast, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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