1
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Danilack AD, Dickson CJ, Soylu C, Fortunato M, Rodde S, Munkler H, Hornak V, Duca JS. Reactivities of acrylamide warheads toward cysteine targets: a QM/ML approach to covalent inhibitor design. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2024; 38:21. [PMID: 38693331 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-024-00560-6] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Covalent inhibition offers many advantages over non-covalent inhibition, but covalent warhead reactivity must be carefully balanced to maintain potency while avoiding unwanted side effects. While warhead reactivities are commonly measured with assays, a computational model to predict warhead reactivities could be useful for several aspects of the covalent inhibitor design process. Studies have shown correlations between covalent warhead reactivities and quantum mechanic (QM) properties that describe important aspects of the covalent reaction mechanism. However, the models from these studies are often linear regression equations and can have limitations associated with their usage. Applications of machine learning (ML) models to predict covalent warhead reactivities with QM descriptors are not extensively seen in the literature. This study uses QM descriptors, calculated at different levels of theory, to train ML models to predict reactivities of covalent acrylamide warheads. The QM/ML models are compared with linear regression models built upon the same QM descriptors and with ML models trained on structure-based features like Morgan fingerprints and RDKit descriptors. Experiments show that the QM/ML models outperform the linear regression models and the structure-based ML models, and literature test sets demonstrate the power of the QM/ML models to predict reactivities of unseen acrylamide warhead scaffolds. Ultimately, these QM/ML models are effective, computationally feasible tools that can expedite the design of new covalent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron D Danilack
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
| | - Callum J Dickson
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Cihan Soylu
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mike Fortunato
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Stephane Rodde
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, Novartis Campus, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hagen Munkler
- Technical Research & Development, Novartis Pharma AG, Novartis Campus, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Viktor Hornak
- Merck Research Laboratories, 33 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jose S Duca
- Biomedical Research, Novartis, 181 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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2
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Nam K, Shao Y, Major DT, Wolf-Watz M. Perspectives on Computational Enzyme Modeling: From Mechanisms to Design and Drug Development. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:7393-7412. [PMID: 38405524 PMCID: PMC10883025 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c09084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Understanding enzyme mechanisms is essential for unraveling the complex molecular machinery of life. In this review, we survey the field of computational enzymology, highlighting key principles governing enzyme mechanisms and discussing ongoing challenges and promising advances. Over the years, computer simulations have become indispensable in the study of enzyme mechanisms, with the integration of experimental and computational exploration now established as a holistic approach to gain deep insights into enzymatic catalysis. Numerous studies have demonstrated the power of computer simulations in characterizing reaction pathways, transition states, substrate selectivity, product distribution, and dynamic conformational changes for various enzymes. Nevertheless, significant challenges remain in investigating the mechanisms of complex multistep reactions, large-scale conformational changes, and allosteric regulation. Beyond mechanistic studies, computational enzyme modeling has emerged as an essential tool for computer-aided enzyme design and the rational discovery of covalent drugs for targeted therapies. Overall, enzyme design/engineering and covalent drug development can greatly benefit from our understanding of the detailed mechanisms of enzymes, such as protein dynamics, entropy contributions, and allostery, as revealed by computational studies. Such a convergence of different research approaches is expected to continue, creating synergies in enzyme research. This review, by outlining the ever-expanding field of enzyme research, aims to provide guidance for future research directions and facilitate new developments in this important and evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangho Nam
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, United States
| | - Yihan Shao
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University
of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Dan T. Major
- Department
of Chemistry and Institute for Nanotechnology & Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel
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3
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Liu R, Vázquez-Montelongo EA, Ma S, Shen J. Quantum Descriptors for Predicting and Understanding the Structure-Activity Relationships of Michael Acceptor Warheads. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:4912-4923. [PMID: 37463342 PMCID: PMC10837637 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Predictive modeling and understanding of chemical warhead reactivities have the potential to accelerate targeted covalent drug discovery. Recently, the carbanion formation free energies as well as other ground-state electronic properties from density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been proposed as predictors of glutathione reactivities of Michael acceptors; however, no clear consensus exists. By profiling the thiol-Michael reactions of a diverse set of singly- and doubly-activated olefins, including several model warheads related to afatinib, here we reexamined the question of whether low-cost electronic properties can be used as predictors of reaction barriers. The electronic properties related to the carbanion intermediate were found to be strong predictors, e.g., the change in the Cβ charge accompanying carbanion formation. The least expensive reactant-only properties, the electrophilicity index, and the Cβ charge also show strong rank correlations, suggesting their utility as quantum descriptors. A second objective of the work is to clarify the effect of the β-dimethylaminomethyl (DMAM) substitution, which is incorporated in the warheads of several FDA-approved covalent drugs. Our data suggest that the β-DMAM substitution is cationic at neutral pH in solution and promotes acrylamide's intrinsic reactivity by enhancing the charge accumulation at Cα upon carbanion formation. In contrast, the inductive effect of the β-trimethylaminomethyl substitution is diminished due to steric hindrance. Together, these results reconcile the current views of the intrinsic reactivities of acrylamides and contribute to large-scale predictive modeling and an understanding of the structure-activity relationships of Michael acceptors for rational TCI design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruibin Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Erik A Vázquez-Montelongo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Shuhua Ma
- Department of Chemistry, Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Towson University, Towson, Maryland 21252, United States
| | - Jana Shen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
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4
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McAulay K, Bilsland A, Bon M. Reactivity of Covalent Fragments and Their Role in Fragment Based Drug Discovery. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:1366. [PMID: 36355538 PMCID: PMC9694498 DOI: 10.3390/ph15111366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragment based drug discovery has long been used for the identification of new ligands and interest in targeted covalent inhibitors has continued to grow in recent years, with high profile drugs such as osimertinib and sotorasib gaining FDA approval. It is therefore unsurprising that covalent fragment-based approaches have become popular and have recently led to the identification of novel targets and binding sites, as well as ligands for targets previously thought to be 'undruggable'. Understanding the properties of such covalent fragments is important, and characterizing and/or predicting reactivity can be highly useful. This review aims to discuss the requirements for an electrophilic fragment library and the importance of differing warhead reactivity. Successful case studies from the world of drug discovery are then be examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten McAulay
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Marta Bon
- Cancer Research Horizons—Therapeutic Innovation, Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Garscube Estate, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- Exscientia, The Schrödinger Building, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GE, UK
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5
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Ertl P, Gerebtzoff G, Lewis RA, Muenkler H, Schneider N, Sirockin F, Stiefl N, Tosco P. Chemical reactivity prediction: current methods and different application areas. Mol Inform 2021; 41:e2100277. [PMID: 34964302 DOI: 10.1002/minf.202100277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The ability to predict chemical reactivity of a molecule is highly desirable in drug discovery, both ex vivo (synthetic route planning, formulation, stability) and in vivo: metabolic reactions determine pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics and potential toxic effects, and early assessment of liabilities is vital to reduce attrition rates in later stages of development. Quantum mechanics offer a precise description of the interactions between electrons and orbitals in the breaking and forming of new bonds. Modern algorithms and faster computers have allowed the study of more complex systems in a punctual and accurate fashion, and answers for chemical questions around stability and reactivity can now be provided. Through machine learning, predictive models can be built out of descriptors derived from quantum mechanics and cheminformatics, even in the absence of experimental data to train on. In this article, current progress on computational reactivity prediction is reviewed: applications to problems in drug design, such as modelling of metabolism and covalent inhibition, are highlighted and unmet challenges are posed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard A Lewis
- Computer-Aided Drug Design, Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Windlesham, SWITZERLAND
| | - Hagen Muenkler
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Inc, SWITZERLAND
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Tosco
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Inc, SWITZERLAND
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6
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Abstract
Covalent drugs offer higher efficacy and longer duration of action than their noncovalent counterparts. Significant advances in computational methods for modeling covalent drugs are poised to shift the paradigm of small molecule therapeutics within the next decade. This viewpoint discusses the advantages of a two-state model for ranking reversible and irreversible covalent ligands and of more complex models for dissecting reaction mechanisms. The relation between these models highlights the complexity and diversity of covalent drug binding and provides opportunities for mechanism-based rational design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Lyna Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91709, United States
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7
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Costa AM, Bosch L, Petit E, Vilarrasa J. Computational Study of the Addition of Methanethiol to 40+ Michael Acceptors as a Model for the Bioconjugation of Cysteines. J Org Chem 2021; 86:7107-7118. [PMID: 33914532 PMCID: PMC8631706 DOI: 10.1021/acs.joc.1c00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A long series of Michael acceptors are studied computationally as potential alternatives to the maleimides that are used in most antibody-drug conjugates to link Cys of mAbs with cytotoxic drugs. The products of the reaction of methanethiol (CH3SH/MeSH, as a simple model of Cys) with N-methylated ethynesulfonamide, 2-ethynylpyridinium ion, propynamide, and methyl ethynephosphonamidate (that is, with HC≡C-EWG) are predicted by the M06-2X/6-311+G(d,p) method to be thermodynamically more stable, in relation to their precursors, than that of MeSH with N-methylmaleimide and, in general, with H2C═CH-EWG; calculations with AcCysOMe and tBuSH are also included. However, for the addition of the anion (MeS-), which is the reactive species, the order changes and N-methylated 2-vinylpyridinium ion, 2,3-butadienamide, and maleimide may give more easily the anionic adducts than several activated triple bonds; moreover, the calculated ΔG⧧ values increase following the order HC≡C-SO2NHMe, N-methylmaleimide, HC≡C-PO(OMe)NHMe, and HC≡C-CONHMe. In other words, MeS- is predicted to react more rapidly with maleimides than with ethynephosphonamidates and with propynamides, in agreement with the experimental results. New mechanistic details are disclosed regarding the advantageous use of some amides, especially of ethynesulfonamides, which, however, are more prone to double additions and exchange reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Costa
- Organic
Chemistry Section,
Facultat de Química, Universitat
de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lluís Bosch
- Organic
Chemistry Section,
Facultat de Química, Universitat
de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Elena Petit
- Organic
Chemistry Section,
Facultat de Química, Universitat
de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jaume Vilarrasa
- Organic
Chemistry Section,
Facultat de Química, Universitat
de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Barcelona 08028, Catalonia, Spain
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8
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Zanetti-Polzi L, Smith MD, Chipot C, Gumbart JC, Lynch DL, Pavlova A, Smith JC, Daidone I. Tuning Proton Transfer Thermodynamics in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease: Implications for Catalysis and Inhibitor Design. J Phys Chem Lett 2021; 12:4195-4202. [PMID: 33900080 PMCID: PMC8097931 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.1c00425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The catalytic reaction in SARS-CoV-2 main protease is activated by a proton transfer (PT) from Cys145 to His41. The same PT is likely also required for the covalent binding of some inhibitors. Here we use a multiscale computational approach to investigate the PT thermodynamics in the apo enzyme and in complex with two potent inhibitors, N3 and the α-ketoamide 13b. We show that with the inhibitors the free energy cost to reach the charge-separated state of the active-site dyad is lower, with N3 inducing the most significant reduction. We also show that a few key sites (including specific water molecules) significantly enhance or reduce the thermodynamic feasibility of the PT reaction, with selective desolvation of the active site playing a crucial role. The approach presented is a cost-effective procedure to identify the enzyme regions that control the activation of the catalytic reaction and is thus also useful to guide the design of inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanetti-Polzi
- Center
S3, CNR Institute of Nanoscience, Via Campi 213/A, I-41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Micholas Dean Smith
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 309 Ken and Blaire Mossman Bldg., 1311 Cumberland
Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Chris Chipot
- UMR 7019, Université de Lorraine, Laboratoire
International Associé CNRS, 54506 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
- University
of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, 1110 West Green Street, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - James C. Gumbart
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Diane L. Lynch
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Anna Pavlova
- School
of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia 30332, United States
| | - Jeremy C. Smith
- Department
of Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 309 Ken and Blaire Mossman Bldg., 1311 Cumberland
Avenue, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
- UT/ORNL
Center for Molecular Biophysics, Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
| | - Isabella Daidone
- Department
of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University
of L’Aquila, Via
Vetoio, I-67010 L’Aquila, Italy
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9
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Arafet K, Serrano-Aparicio N, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, González FV, Świderek K, Moliner V. Mechanism of inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M pro by N3 peptidyl Michael acceptor explained by QM/MM simulations and design of new derivatives with tunable chemical reactivity. Chem Sci 2020; 12:1433-1444. [PMID: 34163906 PMCID: PMC8179034 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06195f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is essential for replication of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the main targets for drug design. Here, we simulate the inhibition process of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with a known Michael acceptor (peptidyl) inhibitor, N3. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the formation of the covalent enzyme-inhibitor product is computed with QM/MM molecular dynamics methods. The simulations show a two-step mechanism, and give structures and calculated barriers in good agreement with experiment. Using these results and information from our previous investigation on the proteolysis reaction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we design two new, synthetically accessible N3-analogues as potential inhibitors, in which the recognition and warhead motifs are modified. QM/MM modelling of the mechanism of inhibition of Mpro by these novel compounds indicates that both may be promising candidates as drug leads against COVID-19, one as an irreversible inhibitor and one as a potential reversible inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemel Arafet
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma Italy
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol UK
| | - Florenci V González
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
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10
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Świderek K, Moliner V. Revealing the molecular mechanisms of proteolysis of SARS-CoV-2 M pro by QM/MM computational methods. Chem Sci 2020; 11:10626-10630. [PMID: 34094317 PMCID: PMC8162313 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc02823a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 Mpro is one of the enzymes essential for the replication process of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. This work is focused on exploring its proteolysis reaction by means of QM/MM methods. The resulting free energy landscape of the process provides valuable information on the species appearing along the reaction path and suggests that the mechanism of action of this enzyme, taking place in four steps, slightly differs from that of other cysteine proteases. Our predictions, which are in agreement with some recently published experimental data, can be used to guide the design of COVID-19 antiviral compounds with clinical potential. The molecular mechanism of the proteolysis reaction catalyzed by SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, one of the enzymes essential for the replication process of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is described using computational QM/MM methods.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Świderek
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
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11
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McAulay K, Hoyt EA, Thomas M, Schimpl M, Bodnarchuk MS, Lewis HJ, Barratt D, Bhavsar D, Robinson DM, Deery MJ, Ogg DJ, Bernardes GJL, Ward RA, Waring MJ, Kettle JG. Alkynyl Benzoxazines and Dihydroquinazolines as Cysteine Targeting Covalent Warheads and Their Application in Identification of Selective Irreversible Kinase Inhibitors. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:10358-10372. [PMID: 32412754 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b13391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
With a resurgence in interest in covalent drugs, there is a need to identify new moieties capable of cysteine bond formation that are differentiated from commonly employed systems such as acrylamide. Herein, we report on the discovery of new alkynyl benzoxazine and dihydroquinazoline moieties capable of covalent reaction with cysteine. Their utility as alternative electrophilic warheads for chemical biological probes and drug molecules is demonstrated through site-selective protein modification and incorporation into kinase drug scaffolds. A potent covalent inhibitor of JAK3 kinase was identified with superior selectivity across the kinome and improvements in in vitro pharmacokinetic profile relative to the related acrylamide-based inhibitor. In addition, the use of a novel heterocycle as a cysteine reactive warhead is employed to target Cys788 in c-KIT, where acrylamide has previously failed to form covalent interactions. These new reactive and selective heterocyclic warheads supplement the current repertoire for cysteine covalent modification while avoiding some of the limitations generally associated with established moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily A Hoyt
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K
| | | | - Marianne Schimpl
- Discovery Sciences, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | | | | | - Derek Barratt
- Discovery Sciences, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | - Deepa Bhavsar
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Waltham, Massachusetts 02451, United States
| | | | - Michael J Deery
- Cambridge Centre for Proteomics, Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K
| | - Derek J Ogg
- Discovery Sciences, R&D BioPharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, U.K.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Universidad de Lisboa, Avenida Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Michael J Waring
- Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Chemistry, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Bedson Building, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, U.K
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12
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Palazzesi F, Hermann MR, Grundl MA, Pautsch A, Seeliger D, Tautermann CS, Weber A. BIreactive: A Machine-Learning Model to Estimate Covalent Warhead Reactivity. J Chem Inf Model 2020; 60:2915-2923. [PMID: 32250627 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.9b01058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, the pharmaceutical industry has paid closer attention to covalent drugs. Differently from standard noncovalent drugs, these compounds can exhibit peculiar properties, such as higher potency or longer duration of target inhibition with a potentially lower dosage. These properties are mainly driven by the reactive functional group present in the compound, the so-called warhead that forms a covalent bond with a specific nucleophilic amino-acid on the target. In this work, we report the possibility to combine ab initio activation energies with machine-learning to estimate covalent compound intrinsic reactivity. The idea behind this approach is to have a precise estimation of the transition state barriers, and thus of the compound reactivity, but with the speed of a machine-learning algorithm. We call this method "BIreactive". Here, we demonstrate this approach on acrylamides and 2-chloroacetamides, two warhead classes that possess different reaction mechanisms. In combination with our recently implemented truncation algorithm, we also demonstrate the possibility to use BIreactive not only for fragments but also for lead-like molecules. The generic nature of this approach allows also the extension to several other warheads. The combination of these factors makes BIreactive a valuable tool for the covalent drug discovery process in a pharmaceutical context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferruccio Palazzesi
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Markus R Hermann
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Marc A Grundl
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Alexander Pautsch
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Daniel Seeliger
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Christofer S Tautermann
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Alexander Weber
- Medicinal Chemistry, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorferstrasse 65, 88397 Biberach an der Riß, Germany
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13
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Jagger BR, Kochanek SE, Haldar S, Amaro RE, Mulholland AJ. Multiscale simulation approaches to modeling drug-protein binding. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2020; 61:213-221. [PMID: 32113133 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Simulations can provide detailed insight into the molecular processes involved in drug action, such as protein-ligand binding, and can therefore be a valuable tool for drug design and development. Processes with a large range of length and timescales may be involved, and understanding these different scales typically requires different types of simulation methodology. Ideally, simulations should be able to connect across scales, to analyze and predict how changes at one scale can influence another. Multiscale simulation methods, which combine different levels of treatment, are an emerging frontier with great potential in this area. Here we review multiscale frameworks of various types, and selected applications to biomolecular systems with a focus on drug-ligand binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin R Jagger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Sarah E Kochanek
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Susanta Haldar
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Rommie E Amaro
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States.
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
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