Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of B-Cell Lymphoma 6 Inhibitors of N-Phenyl-4-pyrimidinamine Derivatives Bearing Potent Activities against Tumor Growth

Expanding the Structural Diversity of Tubulin-Targeting Agents: Development of Highly Potent Benzimidazoles for Treating Fungal Diseases

Benzimidazoles, the representative pharmacophore of fungicides, have excellent antifungal potency, but their simple structure and single site of action have hindered their wider application in agriculture. In order to extend the structural diversity of tubulin-targeted benzimidazoles, novel benzimidazole derivatives were prepared by introducing the attractive pyrimidine pharmacophore. 2-((6-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)pyrimidin-4-yl)thio)-1H-benzo[d]imidazole (A25) exhibited optimal antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (S. s.), affording an excellent half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of 0.158 μg/mL, which was higher than that of the reference agent carbendazim (EC50 = 0.594 μg/mL). Pot experiments revealed that compound A25 (200 μg/mL) had acceptable protective activity (84.7%) and curative activity (78.1%), which were comparable with that of carbendazim (protective activity: 90.8%; curative activity: 69.9%). Molecular docking displayed that multiple hydrogen bonds and π-π interactions could be formed between A25 and β-tubulin, resulting in a stronger bonding effect than carbendazim. Fluorescence imaging revealed that the structure of intracellular microtubules can be changed significantly after A25 treatment. Overall, these remarkable antifungal profiles of constructed novel benzimidazole derivatives could facilitate the application of novel microtubule-targeting agents.

Can O-GIcNAc Transferase (OGT) Complex Be Used as a Target for the Treatment of Hematological Malignancies?

The circulatory system is a closed conduit system throughout the body and consists of two parts as follows: the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic system. Hematological malignancies usually grow and multiply in the circulatory system, directly or indirectly affecting its function. These malignancies include multiple myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma. O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) regulates the function and stability of substrate proteins through O-GlcNAc modification. Abnormally expressed OGT is strongly associated with tumorigenesis, including hematological malignancies, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. In cells, OGT can assemble with a variety of proteins to form complexes to exercise related biological functions, such as OGT/HCF-1, OGT/TET, NSL, and then regulate glucose metabolism, gene transcription, cell proliferation, and other biological processes, thus affecting the development of hematological malignancies. This review summarizes the complexes involved in the assembly of OGT in cells and the role of related OGT complexes in hematological malignancies. Unraveling the complex network regulated by the OGT complex will facilitate a better understanding of hematologic malignancy development and progression.

Discovery of Unique Bis-Substituted Aromatic Amide Derivatives as Novel Highly Potent Antibiotics for Combating Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Due to the increasing antibiotic resistance, developing novel antimicrobials to fight infections caused by resistant bacteria is imperative. Herein, a series of novel bis-substituted aromatic amides were designed and synthesized through modifying the hit compound 1, and their antimicrobial activities were evaluated. Among them, compound 4t, as the most potent lead, exhibited excellent antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive bacteria, including clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates, while keeping weak hemolytic and mammalian cytotoxic activities. Furthermore, compound 4t displayed rapid bactericidal capabilities, low tendency to produce resistance, and favorable capacities to destroy bacterial biofilms. Further explorations indicated that compound 4t induces bacterial death by binding to cardiolipin (CL) on the bacterial membrane, disrupting the cell membrane, and facilitating the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, compound 4t showed remarkable anti-MRSA activity in vivo, demonstrating compound 4t could be developed as a potential candidate to combat MRSA infections.

A novel methuosis inducer DZ-514 possesses antitumor activity via activation of ROS-MKK4-p38 axis in triple negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most malignant tumors with poor prognosis. Methuosis is a new type of nonapoptotic cell death characterized by the accumulation of cytoplasmic vacuoles. In this study, we synthesized and screened a series of N-phenyl-4-pyrimidinediamine derivatives in TNBC cells, finding that DZ-514 was the best compound with high toxicity independent of the inhibition of BCL6. DZ-514 decreased cell viability, inhibited cell cycle progression, and induced caspase-independent cell death in TNBC cells. Interestingly, DZ-514 induced cytoplasm vacuolation, which could be blocked by Baf A1, the V-ATPase inhibitor. Furthermore, we found that DZ-514-induced vacuoles were derived from macropinosomes rather than autophagosomes. Most importantly, methuosis induced by DZ-514 was partially mediated by activating the ROS-MKK4-p38 axis. Finally, we demonstrated that DZ-514 significantly inhibited tumor growth in an HCC1806 xenograft mouse model. These findings revealed that the novel methuosis inducer DZ-514 could be developed for TNBC treatment.

B-cell Lymphoma 6 Inhibitors: Current Advances and Prospects of Drug Development for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphomas

B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a transcriptional repressor that regulates the differentiation of B lymphocytes and mediates the formation of germinal centers (GCs) by recruiting corepressors through the BTB domain of BCL6. Physiological processes regulated by BCL6 involve cell activation, differentiation, DNA damage, and apoptosis. BCL6 is highly expressed when the gene is mutated, leading to the malignant proliferation of cells and drives tumorigenesis. BCL6 overexpression is closely correlated with tumorigenesis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other lymphomas, and BCL6 inhibitors can effectively inhibit some lymphomas and overcome resistance. Therefore, targeting BCL6 might be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating lymphomas. Herein, we comprehensively review the latest development of BCL6 inhibitors in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and discuss the overview of the pharmacophores of BCL6 inhibitors and their efficacies in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the current advances in BCL6 degraders are provided.

BCL6 is regulated by the MAPK/ELK1 axis and promotes KRAS-driven lung cancer

Mutational activation of KRAS is a common oncogenic event in lung cancer, yet effective therapies are still lacking. Here, we identify B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) as a lynchpin in KRAS-driven lung cancer. BCL6 expression was increased upon KRAS activation in lung tumor tissue in mice and was positively correlated with the expression of KRAS-GTP, the active form of KRAS, in various human cancer cell lines. Moreover, BCL6 was highly expressed in human KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinomas and was associated with poor patient survival. Mechanistically, the MAPK/ERK/ELK1 signaling axis downstream of mutant KRAS directly regulated BCL6 expression. BCL6 maintained the global expression of prereplication complex components; therefore, BCL6 inhibition induced stalling of the replication fork, leading to DNA damage and growth arrest in KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells. Importantly, BCL6-specific knockout in lungs significantly reduced the tumor burden and mortality in the LSL-Kras^G12D/+ lung cancer mouse model. Likewise, pharmacological inhibition of BCL6 significantly impeded the growth of KRAS-mutant lung cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. In summary, our findings reveal a crucial role of BCL6 in promoting KRAS-addicted lung cancer and suggest BCL6 as a therapeutic target for the treatment of this intractable disease.

Discovering cell-active BCL6 inhibitors: effectively combining biochemical HTS with multiple biophysical techniques, X-ray crystallography and cell-based assays

By suppressing gene transcription through the recruitment of corepressor proteins, B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) protein controls a transcriptional network required for the formation and maintenance of B-cell germinal centres. As BCL6 deregulation is implicated in the development of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, we sought to discover novel small molecule inhibitors that disrupt the BCL6-corepressor protein-protein interaction (PPI). Here we report our hit finding and compound optimisation strategies, which provide insight into the multi-faceted orthogonal approaches that are needed to tackle this challenging PPI with small molecule inhibitors. Using a 1536-well plate fluorescence polarisation high throughput screen we identified multiple hit series, which were followed up by hit confirmation using a thermal shift assay, surface plasmon resonance and ligand-observed NMR. We determined X-ray structures of BCL6 bound to compounds from nine different series, enabling a structure-based drug design approach to improve their weak biochemical potency. We developed a time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer biochemical assay and a nano bioluminescence resonance energy transfer cellular assay to monitor cellular activity during compound optimisation. This workflow led to the discovery of novel inhibitors with respective biochemical and cellular potencies (IC50s) in the sub-micromolar and low micromolar range.

Expression of PD-L1 and YWHAZ in Patients with Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: A Possible Association with the Prognosis of Lymphoma

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common pathological subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and is the most common type of adult lymphoma. Due to the poor prognosis of relapsed/refractory DLBCL, new drug targets and therapeutic methods are urgently needed. We investigated the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activating protein zeta (14-3-3ζ or YWHAZ) in patients with DLBCL. The purpose was to verify the expression levels of YWHAZ and PD-L1 and their relationships with the prognosis of DLBCL and to lay a foundation for further study on the role of YWHAZ and PD-L1 in DLBCL. Immunohistochemistry was used in 140 patients with DLBCL to test protein expression levels of YWHAZ and PD-L1. All patients were followed up in the hospital or by telephone or via WeChat. The positive expression rate of YWHAZ was 62.14% (87/140). The expression was negatively correlated with the positive expression of BAD (r = −0.177, P = 0.036) and positively correlated with the positive expression of BCL-2 (r = 0.180, P = 0.033). When the cut-off value for PD-L1 was established at 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, the corresponding positive expression rates of PD-L1 were 79.66% (94/118), 51.69% (61/118), 40.68% (48/118), and 36.44% (43/118). YWHAZ significantly affected the OS of DLBCL (P ≤ 0.001). The prognosis of the patients was related to the positive expression of PD-L1 when the cut-off value of PD-L1 was 5% (P = 0.033). However, positive expression of PD-L1 was not associated with the prognosis when the cut-off values of PD-L1 were 10% (P = 0.404), 15% (P = 0.208), and 20% (P = 0.408). The positive expression of YWHAZ (hazard ratio 6.215; 95% confidence interval 3.214-12.017; P < 0.05) was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS. YWHAZ may be an important oncogene in the occurrence and development of DLBCL and may be used as a therapeutic target. PD-L1 may be an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene in the occurrence and development of DLBCL. Different cut-off values of PD-L1 may affect the prognosis of DLBCL.

Novel Pyrimidine Derivatives Bearing a 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Skeleton: Design, Synthesis, and Antifungal Activity

In this study, twenty novel pyrimidine derivatives bearing a 1,3,4-thiadiazole skeleton were designed and synthesized. Then their antifungal activity against Botrytis cinereal (B. cinereal), Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea), and Phomopsis sp. were determined using the poison plate technique. Biological test results showed that compound 6h revealed lower EC₅₀ values (25.9 and 50.8 μg/ml) on Phompsis sp. than those of pyrimethanil (32.1 and 62.8 μg/ml).

Targeting key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation for cancer therapy: Current strategies and future prospective

The key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation play convergent roles in cellular homeostasis, and their dysfunction mediates aberrant gene expressions that underline the hallmarks of tumorigenesis. As tumor progression is dependent on such abnormal regulation of transcription, it is important to discover novel chemical entities as antitumor drugs that target key tumor-associated proteins involved in transcriptional regulation. Despite most key proteins (especially transcription factors) involved in transcriptional regulation are historically recognized as undruggable targets, multiple targeting approaches at diverse levels of transcriptional regulation, such as epigenetic intervention, inhibition of DNA-binding of transcriptional factors, and inhibition of the protein-protein interactions (PPIs), have been established in preclinically or clinically studies. In addition, several new approaches have recently been described, such as targeting proteasomal degradation and eliciting synthetic lethality. This review will emphasize on accentuating these developing therapeutic approaches and provide a thorough conspectus of the drug development to target key proteins involved in transcriptional regulation and their impact on future oncotherapy.

GSK137, a potent small-molecule BCL6 inhibitor with in vivo activity, suppresses antibody responses in mice

B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a zinc finger transcriptional repressor possessing a BTB-POZ (BR-C, ttk, and bab for BTB; pox virus and zinc finger for POZ) domain, which is required for homodimerization and association with corepressors. BCL6 has multiple roles in normal immunity, autoimmunity, and some types of lymphoma. Mice bearing disrupted BCL6 loci demonstrate suppressed high-affinity antibody responses to T-dependent antigens. The corepressor binding groove in the BTB-POZ domain is a potential target for small compound-mediated therapy. Several inhibitors targeting this binding groove have been described, but these compounds have limited or absent in vivo activity. Biophysical studies of a novel compound, GSK137, showed an in vitro pIC50 of 8 and a cellular pIC50 of 7.3 for blocking binding of a peptide derived from the corepressor silencing mediator for retinoid or thyroid hormone receptors to the BCL6 BTB-POZ domain. The compound has good solubility (128 μg/ml) and permeability (86 nM/s). GSK137 caused little change in cell viability or proliferation in four BCL6-expressing B-cell lymphoma lines, although there was modest dose-dependent accumulation of G1 phase cells. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice showed a profile compatible with achieving good levels of target engagement. GSK137, administered orally, suppressed immunoglobulin G responses and reduced numbers of germinal centers and germinal center B cells following immunization of mice with the hapten trinitrophenol. Overall, we report a novel small-molecule BCL6 inhibitor with in vivo activity that inhibits the T-dependent antigen immune response.

Design, Synthesis, and Pesticidal Activities of Pyrimidin-4-amine Derivatives Bearing a 5-(Trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole Moiety

It is important to discover new pesticides with new modes of action because of the increasing evolution of pesticide resistance. In this study, a series of novel pyrimidin-4-amine derivatives containing a 5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazole moiety were designed and synthesized. Their structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and HRMS. Bioassays indicated that the 29 compounds synthesized possessed excellent insecticidal activity against Mythimna separata, Aphis medicagini, and Tetranychus cinnabarinus and fungicidal activity against Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Among these pyrimidin-4-amine compounds, 5-chloro-N-(2-fluoro-4-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)benzyl)-6-(1-fluoroethyl)pyrimidin-4-amine (U7) and 5-bromo-N-(2-fluoro-4-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-3-yl)benzyl)-6-(1-fluoroethyl) pyrimidin-4-amine(U8) had broad-spectrum insecticidal and fungicidal activity. The LC₅₀ values were 3.57 ± 0.42, 4.22 ± 0.47, and 3.14 ± 0.73 mg/L for U7, U8, and flufenerim against M. separata, respectively. The EC₅₀ values were 24.94 ± 2.13, 30.79 ± 2.21, and 3.18 ± 0.21 mg/L for U7, U8, and azoxystrobin against P. cubensis, respectively. The AChE enzymatic activity testing revealed that the enzyme activities of compounds U7, U8, and flufenerim are 0.215, 0.184, and 0.184 U/mg prot, respectively. The molecular docking results of compounds U7, U8, and flufenerim with the AChE model demonstrated the opposite docking mode between compound U7 or U8 and positive control flufenerim in the active site of AChE. The structure-activity relationships are also discussed. This work provided excellent pesticide for further optimization. Density functional theory analysis can potentially be used to design more active compounds.

Progress toward B-Cell Lymphoma 6 BTB Domain Inhibitors for the Treatment of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Beyond

B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a master regulator of germinal center formation that produce antibody-secreting plasma cells and memory B-cells for sustained immune responses. The BTB domain of BCL6 (BCL6^BTB) forms a homodimer that mediates transcriptional repression by recruiting its corepressor proteins to form a biologically functional transcriptional complex. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) between the BCL6^BTB and its corepressors has emerged as a therapeutic target for the treatment of DLBCL and a number of other human cancers. This Perspective provides an overview of recent advances in the development of BCL6^BTB inhibitors from reversible inhibitors, irreversible inhibitors, to BCL6 degraders. Inhibitor design and medicinal chemistry strategies for the development of novel compounds will be provided. The binding mode of new inhibitors to BCL6^BTB are highlighted. Also, the in vitro and in vivo assays used for the evaluation of new compounds will be discussed.