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Hennes E, Lucas B, Scholes NS, Cheng XF, Scott DC, Bischoff M, Reich K, Gasper R, Lucas M, Xu TT, Pulvermacher LM, Dötsch L, Imrichova H, Brause A, Naredla KR, Sievers S, Kumar K, Janning P, Gersch M, Murray PJ, Schulman BA, Winter GE, Ziegler S, Waldmann H. Monovalent Pseudo-Natural Product Degraders Supercharge the Native Degradation of IDO1 by KLHDC3. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.10.602857. [PMID: 39026748 PMCID: PMC11257573 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.10.602857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) modulates protein function beyond inhibition of enzyme activity or protein-protein interactions. Most degraders function by proximity induction, and directly bridge an E3 ligase with the target to be degraded. However, many proteins might not be addressable via proximity-based degraders, and other challenges, such as resistance acquisition, exist. Here, we identified pseudo-natural products derived from (-)-myrtanol, termed iDegs, that inhibit and induce degradation of the immunomodulatory enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) by a distinct mechanism. iDegs induce a unique conformational change and, thereby, boost IDO1 ubiquitination and degradation by the cullin-RING E3 ligase CRL2KLHDC3, which we identified to also mediate native IDO1 degradation. Therefore, iDegs supercharge the native proteolytic pathway of IDO1, rendering this mechanism of action distinct from traditional degrader approaches involving proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) or molecular-glue degraders (MGDs). In contrast to clinically explored IDO1 inhibitors, iDegs reduce formation of kynurenine by both inhibition and induced degradation of the enzyme and should also modulate non-enzymatic functions of IDO1. This unique mechanism of action may open up new therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of cancer beyond classical inhibition of IDO1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Hennes
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Belén Lucas
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Natalie S. Scholes
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Xiu-Fen Cheng
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Daniel C. Scott
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Matthias Bischoff
- Compound Management and Screening Center Otto-Hahn-Str.11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Katharina Reich
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Raphael Gasper
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Zentrale Einheit für Kristallographie und Biophysik, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - María Lucas
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, Universidad de Cantabria-CSIC, C/Albert Einstein 22, PCTCAN, 39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Teng Teng Xu
- Immunoregulation Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Pulvermacher
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Lara Dötsch
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hana Imrichova
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Brause
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Kesava Reddy Naredla
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sonja Sievers
- Compound Management and Screening Center Otto-Hahn-Str.11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Kamal Kumar
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Petra Janning
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Malte Gersch
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
- Chemical Genomics Centre, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Peter J. Murray
- Immunoregulation Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Brenda A. Schulman
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
- Department of Molecular Machines and Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Georg E. Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Slava Ziegler
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie, Abteilung Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
- Technische Universität Dortmund, Fakultät Chemie und Chemische Biologie, Otto-Hahn-Straße 6, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
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Chen L, Wang K, Wang L, Wang W, Wang L, Wang W, Li J, Liu X, Wang M, Ruan B. Design and synthesis of pterostilbene derivatives bearing triazole moiety that might treat DSS-induced colitis in mice through modulation of NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 263:115949. [PMID: 37989058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115949] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a series of novel anti-inflammatory compounds with high activity and low toxicity were designed and synthesized based on the natural product pterostilbene skeleton. According to the strategy of pharmacophore combination, we introduced thiazole moiety into pterostilbene skeleton to design and synthesize a novel series of pterostilbene derivatives (a total of 41 compounds), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells were screened for anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxicity. Among them, compound 8 was found to be the most active (against NO: IC50 = 0.6 μM) compared with pterostilbene and indomethacin. Anti-inflammatory mechanism studies revealed that compound 8 inhibited pro-inflammatory cytokines by blocking the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo experiments showed that compound 8 had a good relieving effect on DSS-induced acute colitis in mice, and also demonstrated a good safety in acute toxicity experiments. In conclusion, compound 8 may be a promising anti-inflammatory lead compound in the treatment of acute colitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuzeng Chen
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, PR China
| | - Ke Wang
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Lingyun Wang
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Lifan Wang
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Wei Wang
- Hefei Food and Drug Inspection Center, Hefei, 230071, PR China
| | - Jia Li
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Mengya Wang
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China
| | - Banfeng Ruan
- School of Biology, Food and Environment, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, PR China.
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3
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Gan X, Wang F, Luo J, Zhao Y, Wang Y, Yu C, Chen J. Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) based on celastrol induce multiple protein degradation for triple-negative breast cancer treatment. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 192:106624. [PMID: 37898394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106624] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
The pursuit of single drugs targeting multiple targets has become a prominent trend in modern cancer therapeutics. Natural products, known for their multi-targeting capabilities, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness, hold great potential for the development of multi-target drugs. However, their therapeutic efficacy is often hindered by complex structural modifications and limited anti-tumor activity. In this study, we present a novel approach using celastrol (CST)-based Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs) for breast cancer therapy. Through rational design, we have successfully developed compound 6a, a potent multiple protein degrader capable of selectively degrading GRP94 and CDK1/4 in tumor cells via the endogenous ubiquitin-proteasome system. Furthermore, compound 6a has demonstrated remarkable inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration, and induction of apoptosis in 4T1 cells through cell cycle arrest and activation of the Bcl-2/Bax/cleaved Caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. In vivo administration of compound 6a has effectively suppressed tumor growth with an acceptable safety profile. Our findings suggest that the CST-based PROTACs described herein can be readily extended to other natural products, offering a potential avenue for the development of natural product-based PROTACs for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelan Gan
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Jianguo Luo
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yunfei Zhao
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Chao Yu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Jun Chen
- Chongqing Key Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Metabolism Research, Chongqing Pharmacodynamic Evaluation Engineering Technology Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, No.1 Yixueyuan Road, Chongqing 400016, China.
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4
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Hu Q, Zhang W, Wei F, Huang M, Shu M, Song D, Wen J, Wang J, Nian Q, Ma X, Zeng J, Zhao Y. Human diet-derived polyphenolic compounds and hepatic diseases: From therapeutic mechanisms to clinical utilization. Phytother Res 2024; 38:280-304. [PMID: 37871899 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on the potential ameliorative effects of polyphenolic compounds derived from human diet on hepatic diseases. It discusses the molecular mechanisms and recent advancements in clinical applications. Edible polyphenols have been found to play a therapeutic role, particularly in liver injury, liver fibrosis, NAFLD/NASH, and HCC. In the regulation of liver injury, polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, primarily targeting the TGF-β, NF-κB/TLR4, PI3K/AKT, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. In the regulation of liver fibrosis, polyphenolic compounds effectively reverse the fibrotic process by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Furthermore, polyphenolic compounds show efficacy against NAFLD/NASH by inhibiting lipid oxidation and accumulation, mediated through the AMPK, SIRT, and PPARγ pathways. Moreover, several polyphenolic compounds exhibit anti-HCC activity by suppressing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. This inhibition primarily involves blocking Akt and Wnt signaling, as well as inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, clinical trials and nutritional evidence support the notion that certain polyphenols can improve liver disease and associated metabolic disorders. However, further fundamental research and clinical trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of dietary polyphenols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qichao Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Wei
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Meilan Huang
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengyao Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Dan Song
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianxia Wen
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jundong Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qing Nian
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhao Zeng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- TCM Regulating Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanling Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
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5
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Gong Y, Wang S, Chen XB, Yu B. Utilizing natural products as new E3 ligase ligands for targeted protein degradation. Chin J Nat Med 2023; 21:881-883. [PMID: 38143101 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(23)60500-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Gong
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Saiqi Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
| | - Bin Yu
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China; Pingyuan Laboratory, State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
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6
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Xue G, Xie J, Hinterndorfer M, Cigler M, Dötsch L, Imrichova H, Lampe P, Cheng X, Adariani SR, Winter GE, Waldmann H. Discovery of a Drug-like, Natural Product-Inspired DCAF11 Ligand Chemotype. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7908. [PMID: 38036533 PMCID: PMC10689823 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeted proteasomal and autophagic protein degradation, often employing bifunctional modalities, is a new paradigm for modulation of protein function. In an attempt to explore protein degradation by means of autophagy we combine arylidene-indolinones reported to bind the autophagy-related LC3B-protein and ligands of the PDEδ lipoprotein chaperone, the BRD2/3/4-bromodomain containing proteins and the BTK- and BLK kinases. Unexpectedly, the resulting bifunctional degraders do not induce protein degradation by means of macroautophagy, but instead direct their targets to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Target and mechanism identification reveal that the arylidene-indolinones covalently bind DCAF11, a substrate receptor in the CUL4A/B-RBX1-DDB1-DCAF11 E3 ligase. The tempered α, β-unsaturated indolinone electrophiles define a drug-like DCAF11-ligand class that enables exploration of this E3 ligase in chemical biology and medicinal chemistry programs. The arylidene-indolinone scaffold frequently occurs in natural products which raises the question whether E3 ligand classes can be found more widely among natural products and related compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Xue
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jianing Xie
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Matthias Hinterndorfer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marko Cigler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lara Dötsch
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hana Imrichova
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Philipp Lampe
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Xiufen Cheng
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Soheila Rezaei Adariani
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Georg E Winter
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany.
- Technical University Dortmund, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Dortmund, Germany.
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Chen S, Bi K, Liang H, Wu Z, Huang M, Chen X, Dong G, Sheng C. PROTAC derivatization of natural products for target identification and drug discovery: Design of evodiamine-based PROTACs as novel REXO4 degraders. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00318-1. [PMID: 37913903 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.10.014] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Natural products (NPs) play a crucial role in the development of therapeutic drugs. However, it is still highly challenging to identify the targets of NPs. Besides, NPs usually exert their pharmacological activities via acting on multiple targets or pathways, which also poses great difficulties for the target identification of NPs. OBJECTIVES Inspired by our continuous efforts in designing drug-like protein degraders, this study introduced a successful example for the target identification and drug discovery of natural products evodiamine by employing PROTAC technology. METHODS Taking advantages of proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), herein an integrated strategy combining PROTAC derivatization, quantitative proteomic analysis and binding affinity validation was developed for target identification and drug discovery of antitumor NP evodiamine. RESULTS In this study, both highly potent PROTACs and negative controls were designed for quantitative proteomic analysis. Furthermore, REXO4 was confirmed as a direct target of 3-fluoro-10-hydroxylevodiamine, which induced cell death through ROS. In addition, the PROTAC 13c effectively degraded REXO4 both in vitro and in vivo, leading to potent antitumor activities and reduced toxic side effects. CONCLUSION In summary, we developed an integrated strategy for the target identification and drug discovery of NPs, which was successfully applied to the PROTAC derivatization and target characterization of evodiamine. This proof-of-concept study highlighted the superiority of PROTAC technology in target identification of NPs and accelerated the process of NPs-based drug discovery, exhibiting broad application in NP-based drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuqiang Chen
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kaijian Bi
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Huixin Liang
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhe Wu
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqiang Dong
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunquan Sheng
- The Center for Basic Research and Innovation of Medicine and Pharmacy (MOE), School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China.
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Wang L, Jiang Q, Chen S, Wang S, Lu J, Gao X, Zhang D, Jin X. Natural epidithiodiketopiperazine alkaloids as potential anticancer agents: Recent mechanisms of action, structural modification, and synthetic strategies. Bioorg Chem 2023; 137:106642. [PMID: 37276722 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer has become a grave health crisis that threatens the lives of millions of people worldwide. Because of the drawbacks of the available anticancer drugs, the development of novel and efficient anticancer agents should be encouraged. Epidithiodiketopiperazine (ETP) alkaloids with a 2,5-diketopiperazine (DKP) ring equipped with transannular disulfide or polysulfide bridges or S-methyl moieties constitute a special subclass of fungal natural products. Owing to their privileged sulfur units and intriguing architectural structures, ETP alkaloids exhibit excellent anticancer activities by regulating multiple cancer proteins/signaling pathways, including HIF-1, NF-κB, NOTCH, Wnt, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR, or by inducing cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy. Furthermore, a series of ETP alkaloid derivatives obtained via structural modification showed more potent anticancer activity than natural ETP alkaloids. To solve supply difficulties from natural resources, the total synthetic routes for several ETP alkaloids have been designed. In this review, we summarized several ETP alkaloids with anticancer properties with particular emphasis on their underlying mechanisms of action, structural modifications, and synthetic strategies, which will offer guidance to design and innovate potential anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Qinghua Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Siyu Chen
- China Medical University-Queen's University of Belfast Joint College, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Siyi Wang
- The 1st Clinical Department, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Jingyi Lu
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Xun Gao
- Jiangsu Institute Marine Resources Development, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Dongfang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Xin Jin
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
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9
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Recent Advances in Synthetic Routes to Azacycles. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062737. [PMID: 36985708 PMCID: PMC10054516 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
A heterocycle is an important structural scaffold of many organic compounds found in pharmaceuticals, materials, agrochemicals, and biological processes. Azacycles are one of the most common motifs of a heterocycle and have a variety of applications, including in pharmaceuticals. Therefore, azacycles have received significant attention from scientists and a variety of methods of synthesizing azacycles have been developed because their efficient synthesis plays a vital role in the production of many useful compounds. In this review, we summarize recent approaches to preparing azacycles via different methods as well as describe plausible reaction mechanisms.
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10
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Synthesis of Oleanolic Acid-Dithiocarbamate Conjugates and Evaluation of Their Broad-Spectrum Antitumor Activities. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031414. [PMID: 36771080 PMCID: PMC9920998 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient and mild synthetic routes for bioactive natural product derivatives are of current interest for drug discovery. Herein, on the basis of the pharmacophore hybrid strategy, we report a two-step protocol to obtain a series of structurally novel oleanolic acid (OA)-dithiocarbamate conjugates in mild conditions with high yields. Moreover, biological evaluations indicated that representative compound 3e exhibited the most potent and broad-spectrum antiproliferative effects against Panc1, A549, Hep3B, Huh-7, HT-29, and Hela cells with low cytotoxicity on normal cells. In terms of the IC50 values, these OA-dithiocarbamate conjugates were up to 30-fold more potent than the natural product OA. These compounds may be promising hit compounds for the development of novel anti-cancer drugs.
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Kim S, Lim SW, Choi J. Drug discovery inspired by bioactive small molecules from nature. Anim Cells Syst (Seoul) 2022; 26:254-265. [PMID: 36605590 PMCID: PMC9809404 DOI: 10.1080/19768354.2022.2157480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products (NPs) have greatly contributed to the development of novel treatments for human diseases such as cancer, metabolic disorders, and infections. Compared to synthetic chemical compounds, primary and secondary metabolites from medicinal plants, fungi, microorganisms, and our bodies are promising resources with immense chemical diversity and favorable properties for drug development. In addition to the well-validated significance of secondary metabolites, endogenous small molecules derived from central metabolism and signaling events have shown great potential as drug candidates due to their unique metabolite-protein interactions. In this short review, we highlight the values of NPs, discuss recent scientific and technological advances including metabolomics tools, chemoproteomics approaches, and artificial intelligence-based computation platforms, and explore potential strategies to overcome the current challenges in NP-driven drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea, Seyun Kim
| | - Seol-Wa Lim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyeon Choi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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