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Shrinidhi A, Dwyer TS, Scott JA, Watts VJ, Flaherty DP. Pyrazolo-Pyrimidinones with Improved Solubility and Selective Inhibition of Adenylyl Cyclase Type 1 Activity for Treatment of Inflammatory Pain. J Med Chem 2024; 67:18290-18316. [PMID: 39404162 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2024]
Abstract
Adenylyl cyclase isoform 1 (AC1) is considered a promising target for treating inflammatory pain. Our group identified the pyrazolyl-pyrimidinone scaffold as potent and selective inhibitors of Ca2+/CaM-mediated AC1 activity; however, the molecules suffered from poor aqueous solubility. The current study presents a strategy to improve aqueous solubility of the scaffold by reduction of crystal packing energy and increasing rotational degrees of freedom within the molecule. Structure-activity and property relationship studies identified the second generation lead 7-47A (AC10142A) that demonstrated and AC1 IC50 value of 0.26 μM and aqueous solubility of 74 ± 7 μM. After in vitro ADME characterization, the scaffold advanced to in vivo pharmacokinetic evaluation, demonstrating adequate levels of exposure. Finally, 7-47A exhibited antiallodynic efficacy in a rat complete Freund's adjuvant model for inflammatory pain showing improvement over previous iterations of this scaffold. These results further validate AC1 inhibition as a viable therapeutic strategy for treating chronic and inflammatory pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annadka Shrinidhi
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Tiffany S Dwyer
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jason A Scott
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Val J Watts
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, 207 South Martin Jischke Dr., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Daniel P Flaherty
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, 207 South Martin Jischke Dr., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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Chandra Jena B, Flaherty DP, O'Brien VP, Watts VJ. Biochemical pharmacology of adenylyl cyclases in cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 228:116160. [PMID: 38522554 PMCID: PMC11410551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116160] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Globally, despite extensive research and pharmacological advancement, cancer remains one of the most common causes of mortality. Understanding the signaling pathways involved in cancer progression is essential for the discovery of new drug targets. The adenylyl cyclase (AC) superfamily comprises glycoproteins that regulate intracellular signaling and convert ATP into cyclic AMP, an important second messenger. The present review highlights the involvement of ACs in cancer progression and suppression, broken down for each specific mammalian AC isoform. The precise mechanisms by which ACs contribute to cancer cell proliferation and invasion are not well understood and are variable among cancer types; however, AC overactivation, along with that of downstream regulators, presents a potential target for novel anticancer therapies. The expression patterns of ACs in numerous cancers are discussed. In addition, we highlight inhibitors of AC-related signaling that are currently under investigation, with a focus on possible anti-cancer strategies. Recent discoveries with small molecules regarding more direct modulation AC activity are also discussed in detail. A more comprehensive understanding of different components in AC-related signaling could potentially lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for personalized oncology and might enhance the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in the treatment of various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bikash Chandra Jena
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Daniel P Flaherty
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
| | - Valerie P O'Brien
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
| | - Val J Watts
- Borch Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA.
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Chen J, Ding Q, An L, Wang H. Ca2+-stimulated adenylyl cyclases as therapeutic targets for psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:949384. [PMID: 36188604 PMCID: PMC9523369 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.949384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the main secondary messengers, cyclic AMP (cAMP) and Ca2+ trigger intracellular signal transduction cascade and, in turn, regulate many aspects of cellular function in developing and mature neurons. The group I adenylyl cyclase (ADCY, also known as AC) isoforms, including ADCY1, 3, and 8 (also known as AC1, AC3, and AC8), are stimulated by Ca2+ and thus functionally positioned to integrate cAMP and Ca2+ signaling. Emerging lines of evidence have suggested the association of the Ca2+-stimulated ADCYs with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and autism. In this review, we discuss the molecular and cellular features as well as the physiological functions of ADCY1, 3, and 8. We further discuss the recent therapeutic development to target the Ca2+-stimulated ADCYs for potential treatments of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Dwyer TS, O’Brien JB, Ptak CP, LaVigne JE, Flaherty DP, Watts VJ, Roman DL. Protein-protein interaction-based high throughput screening for adenylyl cyclase 1 inhibitors: Design, implementation, and discovery of a novel chemotype. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:977742. [PMID: 36147328 PMCID: PMC9486168 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.977742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic and preclinical studies have implicated adenylyl cyclase 1 (AC1) as a potential target for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain. AC1 activity is increased following inflammatory pain stimuli and AC1 knockout mice show a marked reduction in responses to inflammatory pain. Previous drug discovery efforts have centered around the inhibition of AC1 activity in cell-based assays. In the present study, we used an in vitro approach focused on inhibition of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) between Ca2+/calmodulin (CaM) and AC1, an interaction that is required for activation of AC1. We developed a novel fluorescence polarization (FP) assay focused on the PPI between an AC1 peptide and CaM and used this assay to screen over 23,000 compounds for inhibitors of the AC1-CaM PPI. Next, we used a cellular NanoBiT assay to validate 21 FP hits for inhibition of the AC1-CaM PPI in a cellular context with full-length proteins. Based on efficacy, potency, and selectivity for AC1, hits 12, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 21 were prioritized. We then tested these compounds for inhibition of AC1 activity in cyclic AMP (cAMP) accumulation assays, using HEK293 cells stably expressing AC1. Hit 15 contained a dithiophene scaffold and was of particular interest because it shared structural similarities with our recently reported benzamide series of AC1 inhibitors. We next tested a small set of 13 compounds containing the dithiophene scaffold for structure-activity relationship studies. Although many compounds were non-selective, we observed trends for tuning AC1/AC8 selectivity based on heterocycle type and substituents. Having an ethyl on the central thiophene caused the scaffold to be more selective for AC8. Cyclization of the alkyl substituent fused to the thiophene significantly reduced activity and also shifted selectivity toward AC8. Notably, combining the fused cyclohexane-thiophene ring system with a morpholine heterocycle significantly increased potency at both AC1 and AC8. Through designing a novel FP screen and NanoBiT assay, and evaluating hits in cAMP accumulation assays, we have discovered a novel, potent, dithiophene scaffold for inhibition of the AC1- and AC8-CaM PPI. We also report the most potent fully efficacious inhibitor of AC8 activity known to-date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany S. Dwyer
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Joseph B. O’Brien
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Christopher P. Ptak
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Justin E. LaVigne
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Daniel P. Flaherty
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Val J. Watts
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - David L. Roman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States
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