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Abou Hajal A, Bryce RA, Amor BB, Atatreh N, Ghattas MA. Boosting the Accuracy and Chemical Space Coverage of the Detection of Small Colloidal Aggregating Molecules Using the BAD Molecule Filter. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:4991-5005. [PMID: 38920403 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c00363] [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: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The ability to conduct effective high throughput screening (HTS) campaigns in drug discovery is often hampered by the detection of false positives in these assays due to small colloidally aggregating molecules (SCAMs). SCAMs can produce artifactual hits in HTS by nonspecific inhibition of the protein target. In this work, we present a new computational prediction tool for detecting SCAMs based on their 2D chemical structure. The tool, called the boosted aggregation detection (BAD) molecule filter, employs decision tree ensemble methods, namely, the CatBoost classifier and the light gradient-boosting machine, to significantly improve the detection of SCAMs. In developing the filter, we explore models trained on individual data sets, a consensus approach using these models, and, third, a merged data set approach, each tailored for specific drug discovery needs. The individual data set method emerged as most effective, achieving 93% sensitivity and 90% specificity, outperforming existing state-of-the-art models by 20 and 5%, respectively. The consensus models offer broader chemical space coverage, exceeding 90% for all testing sets. This feature is an important aspect particularly for early stage medicinal chemistry projects, and provides information on applicability domain. Meanwhile, the merged data set models demonstrated robust performance, with a notable sensitivity of 79% in the comprehensive 10-fold cross-validation test set. A SHAP analysis of model features indicates the importance of hydrophobicity and molecular complexity as primary factors influencing the aggregation propensity. The BAD molecule filter is readily accessible for the public usage on https://molmodlab-aau.com/Tools.html. This filter provides a new, more robust tool for aggregate prediction in the early stages of drug discovery to optimize hit rates and reduce associated testing and validation overheads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallah Abou Hajal
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
| | - Richard A Bryce
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Boulbaba Ben Amor
- Core42, Inception/G42, Abu Dhabi 2282, United Arab Emirates
- IMT Nord Europe, Villeneuve D'Ascq 59650 France
| | - Noor Atatreh
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammad A Ghattas
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi 112612, United Arab Emirates
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2
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Shi S, Fu L, Yi J, Yang Z, Zhang X, Deng Y, Wang W, Wu C, Zhao W, Hou T, Zeng X, Lyu A, Cao D. ChemFH: an integrated tool for screening frequent false positives in chemical biology and drug discovery. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:W439-W449. [PMID: 38783035 PMCID: PMC11223804 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
High-throughput screening rapidly tests an extensive array of chemical compounds to identify hit compounds for specific biological targets in drug discovery. However, false-positive results disrupt hit compound screening, leading to wastage of time and resources. To address this, we propose ChemFH, an integrated online platform facilitating rapid virtual evaluation of potential false positives, including colloidal aggregators, spectroscopic interference compounds, firefly luciferase inhibitors, chemical reactive compounds, promiscuous compounds, and other assay interferences. By leveraging a dataset containing 823 391 compounds, we constructed high-quality prediction models using multi-task directed message-passing network (DMPNN) architectures combining uncertainty estimation, yielding an average AUC value of 0.91. Furthermore, ChemFH incorporated 1441 representative alert substructures derived from the collected data and ten commonly used frequent hitter screening rules. ChemFH was validated with an external set of 75 compounds. Subsequently, the virtual screening capability of ChemFH was successfully confirmed through its application to five virtual screening libraries. Furthermore, ChemFH underwent additional validation on two natural products and FDA-approved drugs, yielding reliable and accurate results. ChemFH is a comprehensive, reliable, and computationally efficient screening pipeline that facilitates the identification of true positive results in assays, contributing to enhanced efficiency and success rates in drug discovery. ChemFH is freely available via https://chemfh.scbdd.com/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Shi
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, P.R. China
| | - Li Fu
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Jiacai Yi
- School of Computer Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, P.R. China
| | - Ziyi Yang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Xiaochen Zhang
- School of Information Technology, Shangqiu Normal University, Shangqiu, Henan 476000, P.R. China
| | - Youchao Deng
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Wenxuan Wang
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
| | - Chengkun Wu
- School of Computer Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, P.R. China
| | - Wentao Zhao
- School of Computer Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan 410073, P.R. China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China
| | - Xiangxiang Zeng
- College of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, P.R. China
| | - Aiping Lyu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, P.R. China
| | - Dongsheng Cao
- Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410013, P.R. China
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3
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Morita K, Moriwaki T, Habe S, Taniguchi-Ikeda M, Hasegawa T, Minato Y, Aoi T, Maruyama T. Molecular Aggregation Strategy for Inhibiting DNases. JACS AU 2024; 4:2262-2266. [PMID: 38938790 PMCID: PMC11200219 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
This study highlights the novel potential of molecular aggregates as inhibitors of a disease-related protein. Enzyme inhibitors have been studied and developed as molecularly targeted drugs and have been applied for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infections. In many cases, enzyme inhibitors that are used for therapeutic applications interact directly with enzymes in a molecule-to-molecule manner. We found that the aggregates of a small compound, Mn007, inhibited bovine pancreatic DNase I. Once Mn007 molecules formed aggregates, they exhibited inhibitory effects specific to DNases that require divalent metal ions. A DNase secreted by Streptococcus pyogenes causes streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). STSS is a severe infectious disease with a fatality rate exceeding 30% in patients, even in this century. S. pyogenes disrupts the human barrier system against microbial infections through the secreted DNase. Until now, the discovery/development of a DNase inhibitor has been challenging. Mn007 aggregates were found to inhibit the DNase secreted by S. pyogenes, which led to the successful suppression of S. pyogenes growth in human whole blood. To date, molecular aggregation has been outside the scope of drug discovery. The present study suggests that molecular aggregation is a vast area to be explored for drug discovery and development because aggregates of small-molecule compounds can inhibit disease-related enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Morita
- Department
of Chemical Science and
Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Research
Center for Membrane and Film Technology, Kobe University, 1-1
Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Tomoko Moriwaki
- Department
of Chemical Science and
Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Habe
- Department
of Chemical Science and
Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Mariko Taniguchi-Ikeda
- Department
of Clinical Genetics, Fujita Health University
Hospital 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-chou, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Tadao Hasegawa
- Department
of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical
Sciences, Nagoya City University, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yusuke Minato
- Department
of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Fujita
Health University, 1-98
Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-chou, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Takashi Aoi
- Division
of Stem Cell Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, 7-5-1
Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Maruyama
- Department
of Chemical Science and
Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Research
Center for Membrane and Film Technology, Kobe University, 1-1
Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
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Nesabi A, Kalayan J, Al-Rawashdeh S, Ghattas MA, Bryce RA. Molecular dynamics simulations as a guide for modulating small molecule aggregation. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2024; 38:11. [PMID: 38470532 PMCID: PMC10933209 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-024-00557-1] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Small colloidally aggregating molecules (SCAMs) can be problematic for biological assays in drug discovery campaigns. However, the self-associating properties of SCAMs have potential applications in drug delivery and analytical biochemistry. Consequently, the ability to predict the aggregation propensity of a small organic molecule is of considerable interest. Chemoinformatics-based filters such as ChemAGG and Aggregator Advisor offer rapid assessment but are limited by the assay quality and structural diversity of their training set data. Complementary to these tools, we explore here the ability of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations as a physics-based method capable of predicting the aggregation propensity of diverse chemical structures. For a set of 32 molecules, using simulations of 100 ns in explicit solvent, we find a success rate of 97% (one molecule misclassified) as opposed to 75% by Aggregator Advisor and 72% by ChemAGG. These short timescale MD simulations are representative of longer microsecond trajectories and yield an informative spectrum of aggregation propensities across the set of solutes, capturing the dynamic behaviour of weakly aggregating compounds. Implicit solvent simulations using the generalized Born model were less successful in predicting aggregation propensity. MD simulations were also performed to explore structure-aggregation relationships for selected molecules, identifying chemical modifications that reversed the predicted behaviour of a given aggregator/non-aggregator compound. While lower throughput than rapid cheminformatics-based SCAM filters, MD-based prediction of aggregation has potential to be deployed on the scale of focused subsets of moderate size, and, depending on the target application, provide guidance on removing or optimizing a compound's aggregation propensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azam Nesabi
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Jas Kalayan
- Daresbury Laboratory, Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC), Keckwick Lane, Daresbury, Warrington, WA4 4AD, UK
| | - Sara Al-Rawashdeh
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | | | - Richard A Bryce
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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5
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Serafim MSM, Kronenberger T, Rocha REO, Rosa ADRA, Mello TLG, Poso A, Ferreira RS, Abrahão JS, Kroon EG, Mota BEF, Maltarollo VG. Aminopyrimidine Derivatives as Multiflavivirus Antiviral Compounds Identified from a Consensus Virtual Screening Approach. J Chem Inf Model 2024; 64:393-411. [PMID: 38194508 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01505] [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: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Around three billion people are at risk of infection by the dengue virus (DENV) and potentially other flaviviruses. Worldwide outbreaks of DENV, Zika virus (ZIKV), and yellow fever virus (YFV), the lack of antiviral drugs, and limitations on vaccine usage emphasize the need for novel antiviral research. Here, we propose a consensus virtual screening approach to discover potential protease inhibitors (NS3pro) against different flavivirus. We employed an in silico combination of a hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) model and molecular docking on characterized binding sites followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which filtered a data set of 7.6 million compounds to 2,775 hits. Lastly, docking and MD simulations selected six final potential NS3pro inhibitors with stable interactions along the simulations. Five compounds had their antiviral activity confirmed against ZIKV, YFV, DENV-2, and DENV-3 (ranging from 4.21 ± 0.14 to 37.51 ± 0.8 μM), displaying aggregator characteristics for enzymatic inhibition against ZIKV NS3pro (ranging from 28 ± 7 to 70 ± 7 μM). Taken together, the compounds identified in this approach may contribute to the design of promising candidates to treat different flavivirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Sá Magalhães Serafim
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- Excellence Cluster "Controlling Microbes to Fight Infections" (CMFI), Tübingen 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
| | - Rafael Eduardo Oliveira Rocha
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Amanda Del Rio Abreu Rosa
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Thaysa Lara Gonçalves Mello
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Antti Poso
- Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical/Medicinal Chemistry and Tübingen Center for Academic Drug Discovery (TüCAD2), Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, Tübingen 72076, Germany
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio 70211, Finland
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Tübingen 70211, Germany
| | - Rafaela Salgado Ferreira
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Jonatas Santos Abrahão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Erna Geessien Kroon
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Bruno Eduardo Fernandes Mota
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Gonçalves Maltarollo
- Departamento de Produtos Farmacêuticos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
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6
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Krátký M, Nováčková K, Svrčková K, Švarcová M, Štěpánková Š. New 3-amino-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one-based inhibitors of acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase: synthesis and activity. Future Med Chem 2024; 16:59-74. [PMID: 38047370 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0268] [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: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: 2-Thioxothiazolidin-4-one represents a versatile scaffold in drug development. The authors used it to prepare new potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors that can be utilized, e.g., to treat Alzheimer's disease. Materials & methods: 3-Amino-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one was modified at the amino group or active methylene, using substituted benzaldehydes. The derivatives were evaluated for inhibition of AChE and BChE (Ellman's method). Results & conclusion: The derivatives were obtained with yields of 52-94%. They showed dual inhibition with IC50 values from 13.15 μM; many compounds were superior to rivastigmine. The structure-activity relationship favors nitrobenzylidene and 3,5-dihalogenosalicylidene scaffolds. AChE was inhibited noncompetitively, whereas BChE was inhibited with a mixed type of inhibition. Molecular docking provided insights into molecular interactions. Each enzyme is inhibited by a different binding mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Krátký
- Department of Organic & Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Karolína Nováčková
- Department of Organic & Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Katarína Svrčková
- Department of Biological & Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, 532 10, Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Švarcová
- Department of Organic & Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Akademika Heyrovského 1203, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkinje University, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Štěpánková
- Department of Biological & Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573, 532 10, Pardubice, Czech Republic
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Chen J, Farraj RA, Limonta D, Tabatabaei Dakhili SA, Kerek EM, Bhattacharya A, Reformat FM, Mabrouk OM, Brigant B, Pfeifer TA, McDermott MT, Ussher JR, Hobman TC, Glover JNM, Hubbard BP. Reversible and irreversible inhibitors of coronavirus Nsp15 endoribonuclease. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105341. [PMID: 37832873 PMCID: PMC10656235 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019, has resulted in the largest pandemic in recent history. Current therapeutic strategies to mitigate this disease have focused on the development of vaccines and on drugs that inhibit the viral 3CL protease or RNA-dependent RNA polymerase enzymes. A less-explored and potentially complementary drug target is Nsp15, a uracil-specific RNA endonuclease that shields coronaviruses and other nidoviruses from mammalian innate immune defenses. Here, we perform a high-throughput screen of over 100,000 small molecules to identify Nsp15 inhibitors. We characterize the potency, mechanism, selectivity, and predicted binding mode of five lead compounds. We show that one of these, IPA-3, is an irreversible inhibitor that might act via covalent modification of Cys residues within Nsp15. Moreover, we demonstrate that three of these inhibitors (hexachlorophene, IPA-3, and CID5675221) block severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 replication in cells at subtoxic doses. This study provides a pipeline for the identification of Nsp15 inhibitors and pinpoints lead compounds for further development against coronavirus disease 2019 and related coronavirus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rabih Abou Farraj
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel Limonta
- Department of Cell Biology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA; Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Evan M Kerek
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ashim Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Filip M Reformat
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ola M Mabrouk
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Benjamin Brigant
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tom A Pfeifer
- High Throughput Biology Facility, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mark T McDermott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - John R Ussher
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Tom C Hobman
- Department of Cell Biology, Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - J N Mark Glover
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Basil P Hubbard
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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8
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Chuong P, Statsyuk A. Selective Smurf1 E3 ligase inhibitors that prevent transthiolation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.14.562361. [PMID: 37873387 PMCID: PMC10592800 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.14.562361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Smurf1 is a HECT E3 ligase that is genetically micro-duplicated in human patients and is associated with osteoporosis. Smurf1 -/- mice on the other hand show an increase in bone density as they age, while being viable and fertile. Therefore, Smurf1 is a promising drug target to treat osteoporosis. This paper reports the discovery, synthesis, and biochemical characterization of highly selective Smurf1 inhibitors. We show that these compounds inhibit the catalytic HECT domain of Smurf1 with 500 nM IC 50 , but they do not inhibit closely related Smurf2 ligase, which is 80% identical to Smurf1. We show that Smurf1 inhibitors act by preventing the trans-thiolation reaction between Smurf1 and E2∼Ub thioesters. Our preliminary studies show that the C-lobe of Smurf1 alone does not contribute to the observed high selectivity of Smurf1 inhibitors.
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9
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Pidugu LS, Servius HW, Sevdalis SE, Cook ME, Varney KM, Pozharski E, Drohat AC. Characterizing inhibitors of human AP endonuclease 1. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280526. [PMID: 36652434 PMCID: PMC9847973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
AP endonuclease 1 (APE1) processes DNA lesions including apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and 3´-blocking groups, mediating base excision repair and single strand break repair. Much effort has focused on developing specific inhibitors of APE1, which could have important applications in basic research and potentially lead to clinical anticancer agents. We used structural, biophysical, and biochemical methods to characterize several reported inhibitors, including 7-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid (CRT0044876), given its small size, reported potency, and widespread use for studying APE1. Intriguingly, NMR chemical shift perturbation (CSP) experiments show that CRT0044876 and three similar indole-2-carboxylic acids bind a pocket distal from the APE1 active site. A crystal structure confirms these findings and defines the pose for 5-nitroindole-2-carboxylic acid. However, dynamic light scattering experiments show the indole compounds form colloidal aggregates that could bind (sequester) APE1, causing nonspecific inhibition. Endonuclease assays show the compounds lack significant APE1 inhibition under conditions (detergent) that disrupt aggregation. Thus, binding of the indole-2-carboxylic acids at the remote pocket does not inhibit APE1 repair activity. Myricetin also forms aggregates and lacks APE1 inhibition under aggregate-disrupting conditions. Two other reported compounds (MLS000552981, MLS000419194) inhibit APE1 in vitro with low micromolar IC50 and do not appear to aggregate in this concentration range. However, NMR CSP experiments indicate the compounds do not bind specifically to apo- or Mg2+-bound APE1, pointing to a non-specific mode of inhibition, possibly DNA binding. Our results highlight methods for rigorous interrogation of putative APE1 inhibitors and should facilitate future efforts to discover compounds that specifically inhibit this important repair enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmi S. Pidugu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Hardler W. Servius
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Spiridon E. Sevdalis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mary E. Cook
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kristen M. Varney
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Edwin Pozharski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics, Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (EP); (ACD)
| | - Alexander C. Drohat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail: (EP); (ACD)
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10
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Choo MZY, Chai CLL. Promoting GAINs (Give Attention to Limitations in Assays) over PAINs Alerts: no PAINS, more GAINs. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202100710. [PMID: 35146933 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202100710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many concepts and guidelines in medicinal chemistry have been introduced to aid in successful drug discovery and development. An example is the concept of Pan-Assay Interference Compounds (PAINS) and the elimination of such nuisance compounds from high-throughput screening (HTS) libraries. PAINs, along with other guidelines in medicinal chemistry, are like double-edged swords. If used appropriately, they may be beneficial for drug discovery and development. However, rigid and blind use of such concepts can hinder productivity. In this perspective, we introduce GAINS (give attention to limitations in assays) and highlight its relevance for successful drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malcolm Z Y Choo
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
| | - Christina L L Chai
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore, Singapore, 117543, Singapore
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11
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Kulabaş N, Türe A, Bozdeveci A, Krishna VS, Alpay Karaoğlu Ş, Sriram D, Küçükgüzel İ. Novel fluoroquinolones containing 2‐arylamino‐2‐oxoethyl fragment: Design, synthesis, evaluation of antibacterial and antituberculosis activities and molecular modeling studies. J Heterocycl Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jhet.4430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Necla Kulabaş
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University İstanbul Turkey
| | - Aslı Türe
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University İstanbul Turkey
| | - Arif Bozdeveci
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Art and Sciences Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Rize Turkey
| | - Vagolu Siva Krishna
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Pharmacy Group Birla Institute of Technology and Science Hyderabad India
| | - Şengül Alpay Karaoğlu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Art and Sciences Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University Rize Turkey
| | - Dharmarajan Sriram
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Laboratory, Pharmacy Group Birla Institute of Technology and Science Hyderabad India
| | - İlkay Küçükgüzel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University İstanbul Turkey
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12
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Using filters in virtual screening: A comprehensive guide to minimize errors and maximize efficiency. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.armc.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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13
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Discovery of Highly Potent Fusion Inhibitors with Potential Pan-Coronavirus Activity That Effectively Inhibit Major COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs) in Pseudovirus-Based Assays. Viruses 2021; 14:v14010069. [PMID: 35062273 PMCID: PMC8780828 DOI: 10.3390/v14010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the discovery of several highly potent small molecules with low-nM potency against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV; lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50: 13 nM), SARS-CoV-2 (IC50: 23 nM), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV; IC50: 76 nM) in pseudovirus-based assays with excellent selectivity index (SI) values (>5000), demonstrating potential pan-coronavirus inhibitory activities. Some compounds showed 100% inhibition against the cytopathic effects (CPE; IC100) of an authentic SARS-CoV-2 (US_WA-1/2020) variant at 1.25 µM. The most active inhibitors also potently inhibited variants of concern (VOCs), including the UK (B.1.1.7) and South African (B.1.351) variants and the Delta variant (B.1.617.2) originally identified in India in pseudovirus-based assay. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis with one potent inhibitor confirmed that it binds to the prefusion SARS-CoV-2 spike protein trimer. These small-molecule inhibitors prevented virus-mediated cell-cell fusion. The absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) data for one of the most active inhibitors, NBCoV1, demonstrated drug-like properties. An in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK) study of NBCoV1 in rats demonstrated an excellent half-life (t1/2) of 11.3 h, a mean resident time (MRT) of 14.2 h, and oral bioavailability. We expect these lead inhibitors to facilitate the further development of preclinical and clinical candidates.
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14
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LaPlante SR, Roux V, Shahout F, LaPlante G, Woo S, Denk MM, Larda ST, Ayotte Y. Probing the free-state solution behavior of drugs and their tendencies to self-aggregate into nano-entities. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:5250-5273. [PMID: 34707256 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00612-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The free-state solution behaviors of drugs profoundly affect their properties. Therefore, it is critical to properly evaluate a drug's unique multiphase equilibrium when in an aqueous enviroment, which can comprise lone molecules, self-associating aggregate states and solid phases. To date, the full range of nano-entities that drugs can adopt has been a largely unexplored phenomenon. This protocol describes how to monitor the solution behavior of drugs, revealing the nano-entities formed as a result of self-associations. The procedure begins with a simple NMR 1H assay, and depending on the observations, subsequent NMR dilution, NMR T2-CPMG (spin-spin relaxation Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) and NMR detergent assays are used to distinguish between the existence of fast-tumbling lone drug molecules, small drug aggregates and slow-tumbling colloids. Three orthogonal techniques (dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy) are also described that can be used to further characterize any large colloids. The protocol can take a non-specialist between minutes to a few hours; thus, libraries of compounds can be evaluated within days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R LaPlante
- Université du Québec, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Quebec, Canada.
- NMX Research and Solutions, Inc., Laval, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Valérie Roux
- Université du Québec, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fatma Shahout
- Université du Québec, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Simon Woo
- Université du Québec, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Maria M Denk
- NMX Research and Solutions, Inc., Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sacha T Larda
- NMX Research and Solutions, Inc., Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yann Ayotte
- Université du Québec, INRS-Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Laval, Quebec, Canada
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15
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Dinis TBV, e Silva FA, Sousa F, Freire MG. Advances Brought by Hydrophilic Ionic Liquids in Fields Involving Pharmaceuticals. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 14:6231. [PMID: 34771756 PMCID: PMC8585031 DOI: 10.3390/ma14216231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The negligible volatility and high tunable nature of ionic liquids (ILs) have been the main drivers of their investigation in a wide diversity of fields, among which is their application in areas involving pharmaceuticals. Although most literature dealing with ILs is still majorly devoted to hydrophobic ILs, evidence on the potential of hydrophilic ILs have been increasingly provided in the past decade, viz., ILs with improved therapeutic efficiency and bioavailability, ILs with the ability to increase drugs' aqueous solubility, ILs with enhanced extraction performance for pharmaceuticals when employed in biphasic systems and other techniques, and ILs displaying low eco/cyto/toxicity and beneficial biological activities. Given their relevance, it is here overviewed the applications of hydrophilic ILs in fields involving pharmaceuticals, particularly focusing on achievements and advances witnessed during the last decade. The application of hydrophilic ILs within fields involving pharmaceuticals is here critically discussed according to four categories: (i) to improve pharmaceuticals solubility, envisioning improved bioavailability; (ii) as IL-based drug delivery systems; (iii) as pretreatment techniques to improve analytical methods performance dealing with pharmaceuticals, and (iv) in the recovery and purification of pharmaceuticals using IL-based systems. Key factors in the selection of appropriate ILs are identified. Insights and perspectives to bring renewed and effective solutions involving ILs able to compete with current commercial technologies are finally provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa B. V. Dinis
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.B.V.D.); (F.A.eS.)
| | - Francisca A. e Silva
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.B.V.D.); (F.A.eS.)
| | - Fani Sousa
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6201-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Mara G. Freire
- CICECO—Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (T.B.V.D.); (F.A.eS.)
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16
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Barbeya oleoides Leaves Extracts: In Vitro Carbohydrate Digestive Enzymes Inhibition and Phytochemical Characterization. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26206229. [PMID: 34684810 PMCID: PMC8540058 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26206229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study investigated the in vitro inhibitory potential of different solvent extracts of leaves of Barbeya oleoides on key enzymes related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) in combination with an aggregation assay (using 0.01% Triton X-100 detergent) to assess the specificity of action. The methanol extract was the most active in inhibiting α-glucosidase and α-amylase, with IC50 values of 6.67 ± 0.30 and 25.62 ± 4.12 µg/mL, respectively. However, these activities were significantly attenuated in the presence of 0.01% Triton X-100. The chemical analysis of the methanol extract was conducted utilizing a dereplication approach combing LC-ESI-MS/MS and database searching. The chemical analysis detected 27 major peaks in the negative ion mode, and 24 phenolic compounds, predominantly tannins and flavonol glycosides derivatives, were tentatively identified. Our data indicate that the enzyme inhibitory activity was probably due to aggregation-based inhibition, perhaps linked to polyphenols.
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17
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Abstract
"There's plenty of room at the bottom" (Richard Feynman, 1959): an invitation for (metalla)carboranes to enter the (new) field of nanomedicine. For two decades, the number of publications on boron cluster compounds designed for potential applications in medicine has been constantly increasing. Hundreds of compounds have been screened in vitro or in vivo for a variety of biological activities (chemotherapeutics, radiotherapeutics, antiviral, etc.), and some have shown rather promising potential for further development. However, until now, no boron cluster compounds have made it to the clinic, and even clinical trials have been very sparse. This review introduces a new perspective in the field of medicinal boron chemistry, namely that boron-based drugs should be regarded as nanomedicine platforms, due to their peculiar self-assembly behaviour in aqueous solutions, and treated as such. Examples for boron-based 12- and 11-vertex clusters and appropriate comparative studies from medicinal (in)organic chemistry and nanomedicine, highlighting similarities, differences and gaps in physicochemical and biological characterisation methods, are provided to encourage medicinal boron chemists to fill in the gaps between chemistry laboratory and real applications in living systems by employing bioanalytical and biophysical methods for characterising and controlling the aggregation behaviour of the clusters in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gozzi
- Institute of Inorganic ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and MineralogyLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 2904103LeipzigGermany
- Institute of Analytical ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and MineralogyLeipzig UniversityLinnéstr. 304103LeipzigGermany
- Institute of Medicinal Physics and BiophysicsFaculty of MedicineLeipzig UniversityHärtelstr. 16–1804107LeipzigGermany
| | - Benedikt Schwarze
- Institute of Medicinal Physics and BiophysicsFaculty of MedicineLeipzig UniversityHärtelstr. 16–1804107LeipzigGermany
| | - Evamarie Hey‐Hawkins
- Institute of Inorganic ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and MineralogyLeipzig UniversityJohannisallee 2904103LeipzigGermany
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18
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Allen SJ, Dower CM, Liu AX, Lumb KJ. Detection of Small-Molecule Aggregation with High-Throughput Microplate Biophysical Methods. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 12:e78. [PMID: 32150343 DOI: 10.1002/cpch.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Small-molecule drug discovery can be hindered by the formation of aggregates that act as non-selective inhibitors of drug targets. Such aggregates appear as false positives in high-throughput screening campaigns and can bedevil structure-activity relationships during compound optimization. Protocols are described for resonant waveguide grating (RWG) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) as microplate-based high-throughput approaches to identify compound aggregation. Resonant waveguide grating and dynamic light scattering give equivalent results for the compound test set, as assessed with Bland-Altman analysis. © 2019 The Authors. Basic Protocol 1: Resonant waveguide grating (RWG) in 384-well or 1536-well plate format to detect compound aggregation Basic Protocol 2: Dynamic light scattering (DLS) in 384-well plate format to detect compound aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Allen
- Lead Discovery & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Corey M Dower
- Lead Discovery & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Annie X Liu
- Lead Discovery & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
| | - Kevin J Lumb
- Lead Discovery & Profiling, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC, Spring House, Pennsylvania
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19
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Szabó K, Maccari R, Ottanà R, Gyémánt G. Extending the investigation of 4-thiazolidinone derivatives as potential multi-target ligands of enzymes involved in diabetes mellitus and its long-term complications: A study with pancreatic α-amylase. Carbohydr Res 2020; 499:108220. [PMID: 33341220 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2020.108220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial disease, which is frequently complicated by the development of hyperglycaemia-induced chronic complications. The therapy of diabetes mellitus often requires combinations of two or more drugs in order both to control glycaemic levels and to prevent hyperglycaemia-induced dangerous affairs. The application of multi-target agents, which are able to control simultaneously several pathogenic mechanisms, represents a useful alternative and, in fact, their discovery is a pursued aim of the research. Some (5-arylidene-4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-3-yl)acetic acids, which we had previously reported as inhibitors of selected enzymes critically implicated in diabetes mellitus, were tested against pancreatic α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase. These enzymes catalyse the hydrolysis of dietary oligo- and polysaccharides into monosaccharides and, consequently, are responsible for postprandial hyperglycaemia; therefore, their inhibition is one of the possible strategies to control glycaemic levels in diabetes mellitus. In addition, we investigated the aggregation tendency of the tested compounds, through direct and indirect methods, in order to evaluate the mechanism of their multiple action and discover if aggregation may contribute to the inhibition of the target enzymes. Overall, compounds 1, 3 and 4 exhibited the most favourable profile since they were shown to act as multi-target inhibitors of enzymes involved in pathways related to diabetes mellitus, without producing aggregates even at high micromolar concentrations and, therefore, can be promising agents for further developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kármen Szabó
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Rosanna Maccari
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Viale SS. Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Rosaria Ottanà
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata, Viale SS. Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - Gyöngyi Gyémánt
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem Tér 1, 4032, Debrecen, Hungary.
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20
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Gangarde Y, T. K. S, Panigrahi NR, Mishra RK, Saraogi I. Amphiphilic Small-Molecule Assemblies to Enhance the Solubility and Stability of Hydrophobic Drugs. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:28375-28381. [PMID: 33163821 PMCID: PMC7643322 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c04395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Amphiphilic assemblies made from diverse synthetic building blocks are well known for their biomedical applications. Here, we report the synthesis of gemini-type amphiphilic molecules that form stable assemblies in water. The assembly property of molecule M2 in aqueous solutions was first inferred from peak broadening observed in the proton NMR spectrum. This was supported by dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The assembly formed from M2 (M2agg) was used to solubilize the hydrophobic drugs curcumin and doxorubicin at physiological pH. M2agg was able to effectively solubilize curcumin as well as protect it from degradation under UV irradiation. Upon solubilization in M2agg, curcumin showed excellent cell permeability and higher toxicity to cancer cells over normal cells, probably because of enhanced cellular uptake and increased stability. M2agg also showed pH-dependent release of doxorubicin, resulting in controlled toxicity on cancer cell lines, making it a promising candidate for the selective delivery of drugs to cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh
M. Gangarde
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
| | - Sajeev T. K.
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
| | - Nihar R. Panigrahi
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
| | - Ram K. Mishra
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
| | - Ishu Saraogi
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science
Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute
of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066, Madhya
Pradesh, India
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21
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Dalvit C, Veronesi M, Vulpetti A. Fluorine NMR functional screening: from purified enzymes to human intact living cells. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2020; 74:613-631. [PMID: 32347447 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-020-00311-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The substrate- or cofactor-based fluorine NMR screening, also known as n-FABS (n fluorine atoms for biochemical screening), represents a powerful method for performing a direct functional assay in the search of inhibitors or enhancers of an enzymatic reaction. Although it suffers from the intrinsic low sensitivity compared to other biophysical techniques usually applied in functional assays, it has some distinctive features that makes it appealing for tackling complex chemical and biological systems. Its strengths are represented by the easy set-up, robustness, flexibility, lack of signal interference and rich information content resulting in the identification of bona fide inhibitors and reliable determination of their inhibitory strength. The versatility of the n-FABS allows its application to either purified enzymes, cell lysates or intact living cells. The principles, along with theoretical, technical and practical aspects, of the methodology are discussed. Furthermore, several applications of the technique to pharmaceutical projects are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Veronesi
- D3-PharmaChemistry, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Vulpetti
- Global Discovery Chemistry, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, 4002, Basel, Switzerland
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22
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Brewitz L, Tumber A, Zhang X, Schofield CJ. Small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients of approved cancer therapeutics inhibit human aspartate/asparagine-β-hydroxylase. Bioorg Med Chem 2020; 28:115675. [PMID: 33069066 PMCID: PMC7588595 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2020.115675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Human aspartate/asparagine-β-hydroxylase (AspH) is a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG) dependent oxygenase that catalyses the hydroxylation of Asp/Asn-residues of epidermal growth factor-like domains (EGFDs). AspH is reported to be upregulated on the cell surface of invasive cancer cells in a manner distinguishing healthy from cancer cells. We report studies on the effect of small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of human cancer therapeutics on the catalytic activity of AspH using a high-throughput mass spectrometry (MS)-based inhibition assay. Human B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2)-protein inhibitors, including the (R)-enantiomer of the natural product gossypol, were observed to efficiently inhibit AspH, as does the antitumor antibiotic bleomycin A2. The results may help in the design of AspH inhibitors with the potential of increased selectivity compared to the previously identified Fe(II)-chelating or 2OG-competitive inhibitors. With regard to the clinical use of bleomycin A2 and of the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax, the results suggest that possible side-effects mediated through the inhibition of AspH and other 2OG oxygenases should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennart Brewitz
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony Tumber
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaojin Zhang
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom; Laboratory of Drug Design and Discovery, Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, OX1 3TA Oxford, United Kingdom.
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23
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Ng S, Juang YC, Chandramohan A, Kaan HYK, Sadruddin A, Yuen TY, Ferrer-Gago FJ, Lee XC, Liew X, Johannes CW, Brown CJ, Kannan S, Aronica PG, Berglund NA, Verma CS, Liu L, Stoeck A, Sawyer TK, Partridge AW, Lane DP. De-risking Drug Discovery of Intracellular Targeting Peptides: Screening Strategies to Eliminate False-Positive Hits. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:1993-2001. [PMID: 33062184 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonspecific promiscuous compounds can mislead researchers and waste significant resources. This phenomenon, though well-documented for small molecules, has not been widely explored for the peptide modality. Here we demonstrate that two purported peptide-based KRas inhibitors, SAH-SOS1 A and cyclorasin 9A5, exemplify false-positive molecules-in terms of both their binding affinities and cellular activities. Through multiple gold-standard biophysical techniques, we unambiguously show that both peptides lack specific binding to KRas and instead induce protein unfolding. Although these peptides inhibited cellular proliferation, the activities appeared to be off-target on the basis of a counterscreen with KRas-independent cell lines. We further demonstrate that their cellular activities are derived from membrane disruption. Accordingly, we propose that to de-risk false-positive molecules, orthogonal binding assays and cellular counterscreens are indispensable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Tsz Ying Yuen
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore 138665
| | | | - Xue’Er Cheryl Lee
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore 138665
| | - Xi Liew
- Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, A*STAR, Singapore 138665
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lijuan Liu
- Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | | | - Tomi K. Sawyer
- Merck & Co., Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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24
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Szabó K, Hámori C, Gyémánt G. Gallotannins are non-specific inhibitors of α-amylase: Aggregates are the active species taking part in inhibition. Chem Biol Drug Des 2020; 97:349-357. [PMID: 32889761 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The versatile biological activity of gallotannins has been investigated for a long time, including their use as α-amylase inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The effectiveness of gallotannins on a wide range of enzymes refers to promiscuity. We proved that gallotannins are non-specific promiscuous α-amylase inhibitors, which exert their effect through their aggregates. A gallotannin of Aleppo oak origin fulfilled all the criteria for aggregators; significant changes could be observed in the IC50 values in the presence of Triton™ X-100 detergent (from 2.3 to 110 μg/ml) and after enzyme-inhibitor preincubation (from 2.3 to 0.65 μg/ml). Increasing the enzyme concentration also led to the moderation of the inhibition by gallotannin. In addition, we observed that gallotannin molecules are those, which are involved in aggregation, and discrete protein molecules are adsorbed to the aggregates. This was revealed by the increasing particle size of gallotannin, which became three orders of magnitude higher after 150 min, whereas the size of α-amylase remained unchanged. Consequently, gallotannins should be used as anti-diabetic drugs only if the necessity of higher dose due to their promiscuity is taken into account. Aggregation propensity should not be ignored in case of in vivo applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kármen Szabó
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Csaba Hámori
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gyöngyi Gyémánt
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
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25
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Pharmacomodulations of the benzoyl-thiosemicarbazide scaffold reveal antimicrobial agents targeting d-alanyl-d-alanine ligase in bacterio. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 200:112444. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Interaction between Myricetin Aggregates and Lipase under Simplified Intestinal Conditions. Foods 2020; 9:foods9060777. [PMID: 32545373 PMCID: PMC7353558 DOI: 10.3390/foods9060777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Myricetin, a flavonoid found in the plant kingdom, has previously been identified as a food molecule with beneficial effects against obesity. This property has been related with its potential to inhibit lipase, the enzyme responsible for fat digestion. In this study, we investigate the interaction between myricetin and lipase under simplified intestinal conditions from a colloidal point of view. The results show that myricetin form aggregates in aqueous medium and under simplified intestinal condition, where it was found that lipase is in its monomeric form. Although lipase inhibition by myricetin at a molecular level has been reported previously, the results of this study suggest that myricetin aggregates inhibit lipase by a sequestering mechanism as well. The size of these aggregates was determined to be in the range of a few nm to >200 nm.
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27
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Design and synthesis of 3,5-substituted 1,2,4-oxadiazoles as catalytic inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase IIα. Bioorg Chem 2020; 99:103828. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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28
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McDowell LL, Quinn CL, Leeds JA, Silverman JA, Silver LL. Perspective on Antibacterial Lead Identification Challenges and the Role of Hypothesis-Driven Strategies. SLAS DISCOVERY 2020; 24:440-456. [PMID: 30890054 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218818786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
For the past three decades, the pharmaceutical industry has undertaken many diverse approaches to discover novel antibiotics, with limited success. We have witnessed and personally experienced many mistakes, hurdles, and dead ends that have derailed projects and discouraged scientists and business leaders. Of the many factors that affect the outcomes of screening campaigns, a lack of understanding of the properties that drive efflux and permeability requirements across species has been a major barrier for advancing hits to leads. Hits that possess bacterial spectrum have seldom also possessed druglike properties required for developability and safety. Persistence in solving these two key barriers is necessary for the reinvestment into discovering antibacterial agents. This perspective narrates our experience in antibacterial discovery-our lessons learned about antibacterial challenges as well as best practices for screening strategies. One of the tenets that guides us is that drug discovery is a hypothesis-driven science. Application of this principle, at all steps in the antibacterial discovery process, should improve decision making and possibly the odds of what has become, in recent decades, an increasingly challenging endeavor with dwindling success rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L McDowell
- 1 Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer A Leeds
- 1 Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Emeryville, CA, USA
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29
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Ahmed A, Boulton S, Shao H, Akimoto M, Natarajan A, Cheng X, Melacini G. Recent Advances in EPAC-Targeted Therapies: A Biophysical Perspective. Cells 2019; 8:E1462. [PMID: 31752286 PMCID: PMC6912387 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The universal second messenger cAMP regulates diverse intracellular processes by interacting with ubiquitously expressed proteins, such as Protein Kinase A (PKA) and the Exchange Protein directly Activated by cAMP (EPAC). EPAC is implicated in multiple pathologies, thus several EPAC-specific inhibitors have been identified in recent years. However, the mechanisms and molecular interactions underlying the EPAC inhibition elicited by such compounds are still poorly understood. Additionally, being hydrophobic low molecular weight species, EPAC-specific inhibitors are prone to forming colloidal aggregates, which result in non-specific aggregation-based inhibition (ABI) in aqueous systems. Here, we review from a biophysical perspective the molecular basis of the specific and non-specific interactions of two EPAC antagonists-CE3F4R, a non-competitive inhibitor, and ESI-09, a competitive inhibitor of EPAC. Additionally, we discuss the value of common ABI attenuators (e.g., TX and HSA) to reduce false positives at the expense of introducing false negatives when screening aggregation-prone compounds. We hope this review provides the EPAC community effective criteria to evaluate similar compounds, aiding in the optimization of existing drug leads, and informing the development of the next generation of EPAC-specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alveena Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (A.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Stephen Boulton
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (A.A.); (S.B.)
| | - Hongzhao Shao
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (H.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Madoka Akimoto
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (H.S.); (M.A.)
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA;
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Integrative Biology & Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Giuseppe Melacini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (A.A.); (S.B.)
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada; (H.S.); (M.A.)
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30
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Salas-Sarduy E, Niemirowicz GT, José Cazzulo J, Alvarez VE. Target-based Screening of the Chagas Box: Setting Up Enzymatic Assays to Discover Specific Inhibitors Across Bioactive Compounds. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6672-6686. [PMID: 31284853 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190705160637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is endemic in Latin America with about 6 million people infected and many more being at risk. Only two drugs are available for treatment, Nifurtimox and Benznidazole, but they have a number of side effects and are not effective in all cases. This makes urgently necessary the development of new drugs, more efficient, less toxic and affordable to the poor people, who are most of the infected population. In this review we will summarize the current strategies used for drug discovery considering drug repositioning, phenotyping screenings and target-based approaches. In addition, we will describe in detail the considerations for setting up robust enzymatic assays aimed at identifying and validating small molecule inhibitors in high throughput screenings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emir Salas-Sarduy
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela T Niemirowicz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan José Cazzulo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina E Alvarez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnologicas Dr. Rodolfo A. Ugalde - Instituto Tecnologico de Chascomus (IIB-INTECH), Universidad Nacional de San Martin (UNSAM) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas (CONICET), Campus Miguelete, Av. 25 de Mayo y Francia, 1650 San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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31
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Boulton S, Selvaratnam R, Ahmed R, Van K, Cheng X, Melacini G. Mechanisms of Specific versus Nonspecific Interactions of Aggregation-Prone Inhibitors and Attenuators. J Med Chem 2019; 62:5063-5079. [PMID: 31074269 PMCID: PMC7255057 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
A common source of false positives in drug discovery is ligand self-association into large colloidal assemblies that nonspecifically inhibit target proteins. However, the mechanisms of aggregation-based inhibition (ABI) and ABI-attenuation by additives, such as Triton X-100 (TX) and human serum albumin (HSA), are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the molecular basis of ABI and ABI-attenuation through the lens of NMR and coupled thermodynamic cycles. We unexpectedly discover a new class of aggregating ligands that exhibit negligible interactions with proteins but act as competitive sinks for the free inhibitor, resulting in bell-shaped dose-response curves. TX attenuates ABI by converting inhibitory, protein-binding aggregates into nonbinding coaggregates, whereas HSA minimizes nonspecific ligand interactions by functioning as a reservoir for free inhibitor and preventing self-association. Hence, both TX and HSA are useful tools to minimize false positives arising from nonspecific binding but at the cost of potentially introducing false negatives due to suppression of specific interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Boulton
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Rajeevan Selvaratnam
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Health Network, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Rashik Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Katherine Van
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Integrative Biology and Pharmacology and Texas Therapeutics Institute, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Giuseppe Melacini
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4L8, Canada
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32
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Bergant K, Janežič M, Valjavec K, Sosič I, Pajk S, Štampar M, Žegura B, Gobec S, Filipič M, Perdih A. Structure-guided optimization of 4,6-substituted-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-ones as catalytic inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase IIα. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 175:330-348. [PMID: 31096154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Human DNA topoisomerases represent one of the key targets of modern chemotherapy. An emerging group of catalytic inhibitors of human DNA topoisomerase IIα comprises a new paradigm directed to circumvent the known limitations of topoisomerase II poisons such as cardiotoxicity and induction of secondary tumors. In our previous studies, 4,6-substituted-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-ones were discovered as catalytic inhibitors of topo IIα. Here, we report the results of our efforts to optimize several properties of the initial chemical series that did not exhibit cytotoxicity on cancer cell lines. Using an optimized synthetic route, a focused chemical library was designed aimed at further functionalizing substituents at the position 4 of the 1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one scaffold to enable additional interactions with the topo IIα ATP binding site. After virtual screening, selected 36 analogues were synthesized and experimentally evaluated for human topo IIα inhibition. The optimized series displayed improved inhibition of topo IIα over the initial series and the catalytic mode of inhibition was confirmed for the selected active compounds. The optimized series also showed cytotoxicity against HepG2 and MCF-7 cell lines and did not induce double-strand breaks, thus displaying a mechanism of action that differs from the topo II poisons on the cellular level. The new series represents a new step in the development of the 4,6-substituted-1,3,5-triazin-2(1H)-one class towards novel efficient anticancer therapies utilizing the catalytic topo IIα inhibition paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Bergant
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI 1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, SI 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Matej Janežič
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Katja Valjavec
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI 1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Izidor Sosič
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, SI 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stane Pajk
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, SI 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Štampar
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Bojana Žegura
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, SI 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Filipič
- National Institute of Biology, Department of Genetic Toxicology and Cancer Biology, Večna pot 111, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Perdih
- National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI 1001, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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33
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Reker D, Bernardes GJL, Rodrigues T. Computational advances in combating colloidal aggregation in drug discovery. Nat Chem 2019; 11:402-418. [PMID: 30988417 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-019-0234-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Small molecule effectors are essential for drug discovery. Specific molecular recognition, reversible binding and dose-dependency are usually key requirements to ensure utility of a novel chemical entity. However, artefactual frequent-hitter and assay interference compounds may divert lead optimization and screening programmes towards attrition-prone chemical matter. Colloidal aggregates are the prime source of false positive readouts, either through protein sequestration or protein-scaffold mimicry. Nevertheless, assessment of colloidal aggregation remains somewhat overlooked and under-appreciated. In this Review, we discuss the impact of aggregation in drug discovery by analysing select examples from the literature and publicly-available datasets. We also examine and comment on technologies used to experimentally identify these potentially problematic entities. We focus on evidence-based computational filters and machine learning algorithms that may be swiftly deployed to flag chemical matter and mitigate the impact of aggregates in discovery programmes. We highlight the tools that can be used to scrutinize libraries, and identify and eliminate these problematic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Reker
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Gonçalo J L Bernardes
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, UK.,Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago Rodrigues
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Wang R, Wang J, Liu Y, Zhang X, Liang X. Resonant waveguide grating based assays for colloidal aggregate detection and promiscuity characterization in natural products. RSC Adv 2019; 9:38055-38064. [PMID: 35541809 PMCID: PMC9075791 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra06466d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Small molecules, including natural compounds, in aqueous buffer that self-associate into colloidal aggregates is the main cause of false results in the early stage of drug discovery. Here we reported resonant waveguide grating (RWG) based assays to identify natural compound aggregation and characterize its influence on membrane receptors in living cells. We first applied a cell-free aggregation assay to determine compound critical aggregation concentration (CAC) values. Then we characterized the aggregators' influence on membrane receptors using three types of dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays. Results showed that colloidal aggregates may cause false activity in DMR desensitization assays; some of the false activities can be implied by the large response in DMR agonism assays and can further be identified by DMR antagonism assays. Furthermore, the aggregation mechanism was confirmed by addition of 0.025% tween-80, with cell signals attenuated and potency decreased. Finally, these observations were used for aggregate examination and promiscuity investigation of a traditional herbal medicine, Rhodiola rosea, which ultimately led to the revealing of the true target and reduced the risk of a bioactivity tracking process at the very first stage. This study highlights that the RWG based assays can be used as practical tools to distinguish between real and false hits to provide reliable results in the early stage of drug discovery. Resonant waveguide grating based assays to eliminate colloidal aggregate induced false activity involving natural products.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Wang
- Key Lab of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Dalian 116023
- China
| | - Jixia Wang
- Key Lab of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Dalian 116023
- China
| | - Yanfang Liu
- Key Lab of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Dalian 116023
- China
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science
- Soochow University
- Suzhou 215123
- China
| | - Xinmiao Liang
- Key Lab of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics
- Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Dalian 116023
- China
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35
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Ameryckx A, Thabault L, Pochet L, Leimanis S, Poupaert JH, Wouters J, Joris B, Van Bambeke F, Frédérick R. 1-(2-Hydroxybenzoyl)-thiosemicarbazides are promising antimicrobial agents targeting d-alanine-d-alanine ligase in bacterio. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 159:324-338. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.09.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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36
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Development of a high-content imaging assay for screening compound aggregation. Anal Biochem 2018; 559:30-33. [PMID: 30142329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2018.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Aggregated compounds can promiscuously and nonspecifically associate with proteins resulting in either false inhibition or activation of many different protein target classes. We developed a high-content imaging assay in a 384-well format using fluorescently labeled target proteins and an Operetta cell imager to screen for compound aggregates that interact with target proteins. The high-throughput assay can not only directly detect the interaction between compound aggregators and the target of interest, but also determine the critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of a given promiscuous small molecule.
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37
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Neidhardt MM, Schmitt K, Baro A, Schneider C, Bilitewski U, Laschat S. Self-assembly and biological activities of ionic liquid crystals derived from aromatic amino acids. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:20371-20381. [PMID: 30043016 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp03404d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The self-assembly of amino acid-derived ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) into lamellar or micellar-like aggregates suggests that they might interact with biological membranes. To get some insight, guanidinium chlorides derived from the natural l-amino acids phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) were synthesized and their mesomorphic properties were investigated via polarizing optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (SAXS, WAXS). Mesophase types depended on the number of alkoxy side chains. Phe- and Tyr-based ILCs with one and two side chains, respectively, self-assembled into smectic A bilayers (SmA2), while Dopa-derived ILCs with three side chains formed columnar (Colh) mesophases. The mesophase ranges for Phe ILCs increased steadily with side chain length, for Tyr- and Dopa-based ILCs, however, size matching effects were observed. To clarify whether the mesomorphic behaviour has an impact on biological properties, cytotoxic and antibacterial activities of the ILCs were studied. Phe and Tyr ILCs exhibited much higher cytotoxicities (against the L-929 mouse fibroblast cell line) and/or antibacterial activities (against Staphylococcus aureus) than Dopa ILCs, which were mostly inactive. Furthermore, within each series, the side chain length largely influenced the biological activity. Thus, the bulk mesophase behaviour appeared to correlate with the biological properties, in particular, the interactions with membranes, as shown by measuring the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in human monocytic U937 cells after treatment with the amino acid-based ILCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel M Neidhardt
- Institut für Organische Chemie, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 55, Stuttgart D-70569, Germany.
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38
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Liu X, Gao ZG, Wu Y, Stevens RC, Jacobson KA, Zhao S. Salvianolic acids from antithrombotic Traditional Chinese Medicine Danshen are antagonists of human P2Y 1 and P2Y 12 receptors. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8084. [PMID: 29795391 PMCID: PMC5967328 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26577-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Many hemorheologic Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs) that are widely-used clinically lack molecular mechanisms of action. We hypothesized that some of the active components of hemorheologic TCMs may function through targeting prothrombotic P2Y1 and/or P2Y12 receptors. The interactions between 253 antithrombotic compounds from TCM and these two G protein-coupled P2Y receptors were evaluated using virtual screening. Eleven highly ranked hits were further tested in radioligand binding and functional assays. Among these compounds, salvianolic acid A and C antagonized the activity of both P2Y1 and P2Y12 receptors in the low µM range, while salvianolic acid B antagonized the P2Y12 receptor. These three salvianolic acids are the major active components of the broadly-used hemorheologic TCM Danshen (Salvia militorrhiza), the antithrombotic molecular mechanisms of which were largely unknown. Thus, the combination of virtual screening and experimental validation identified potential mechanisms of action of multicomponent drugs that are already employed clinically.
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MESH Headings
- Alkenes/chemistry
- Alkenes/isolation & purification
- Alkenes/pharmacology
- Benzofurans/chemistry
- Benzofurans/isolation & purification
- Benzofurans/pharmacology
- Caffeic Acids/chemistry
- Caffeic Acids/isolation & purification
- Caffeic Acids/pharmacology
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry
- Fibrinolytic Agents/chemistry
- Fibrinolytic Agents/isolation & purification
- Fibrinolytic Agents/pharmacology
- Humans
- Lactates/chemistry
- Lactates/isolation & purification
- Lactates/pharmacology
- Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- Models, Molecular
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Molecular Structure
- Polyphenols/chemistry
- Polyphenols/isolation & purification
- Polyphenols/pharmacology
- Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/chemistry
- Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/isolation & purification
- Purinergic P2Y Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y1/chemistry
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y1/drug effects
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y1/metabolism
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12/chemistry
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12/drug effects
- Receptors, Purinergic P2Y12/metabolism
- Salvia miltiorrhiza/chemistry
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyang Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 20031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19A, Yuquan Road, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhan-Guo Gao
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Yiran Wu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | | | - Kenneth A Jacobson
- Molecular Recognition Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA
| | - Suwen Zhao
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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Ganesh AN, Donders EN, Shoichet BK, Shoichet MS. Colloidal aggregation: from screening nuisance to formulation nuance. NANO TODAY 2018; 19:188-200. [PMID: 30250495 PMCID: PMC6150470 DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2018.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
It is well known that small molecule colloidal aggregation is a leading cause of false positives in early drug discovery. Colloid-formers are diverse and well represented among corporate and academic screening decks, and even among approved drugs. Less appreciated is how colloid formation by drug-like compounds fits into the wider understanding of colloid physical chemistry. Here we introduce the impact that colloidal aggregation has had on early drug discovery, and then turn to the physical and thermodynamic driving forces for small molecule colloidal aggregation, including the particulate nature of the colloids, their critical aggregation concentration-governed formation, their mechanism of protein adsorption and subsequent inhibition, and their sensitivity to detergent. We describe methods that have been used extensively to both identify aggregate-formers and to study and control their physical chemistry. While colloidal aggregation is widely recognized as a problem in early drug discovery, we highlight the opportunities for exploiting this phenomenon in biological milieus and for drug formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahil N. Ganesh
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, ON,Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eric N. Donders
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, ON,Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California – San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Molly S. Shoichet
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, ON,Canada
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, ON, Canada
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Molly S. Shoichet, University of Toronto, 160 College Street, Room 514, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3E1,
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Hayes MP, Soto-Velasquez M, Fowler CA, Watts VJ, Roman DL. Identification of FDA-Approved Small Molecules Capable of Disrupting the Calmodulin-Adenylyl Cyclase 8 Interaction through Direct Binding to Calmodulin. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:346-357. [PMID: 28968502 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenylyl cyclases (AC) catalyze the formation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) from ATP and are involved in a number of disease states, making them attractive potential drug targets. AC8, in particular, has been implicated in several neurological disorders. While development of small molecule AC inhibitors has generated some chemical leads, the lack of inhibitor specificity among AC family members has limited the identification of successful drug candidates. Therefore, finding alternative novel methods to suppress AC activity are needed. Because only AC1 and AC8 are robustly stimulated by calmodulin (CaM), we set out to explore the mechanism of disrupting the AC/CaM interaction as a way to selectively inhibit AC8. Through the development and implementation of a novel biochemical high-throughput-screening paradigm, we identified six small molecules from an FDA-approved compound library that are capable of disrupting the AC8/CaM interaction. These compounds were also shown to be able disrupt formation of this complex in cells, ultimately leading to decreased AC8 activity. Interestingly, further mechanistic analysis determined that these compounds functioned by binding to CaM and blocking its interaction with AC8. While these particular compounds could inhibit CaM interaction with both AC1 and AC8, they provide significant proof of concept for inhibition of ACs through disruption of CaM binding. These compounds, as dual AC1/AC8 inhibitors, provide important tools for probing pathological conditions where AC1/AC8 activity are enhanced, such as chronic pain and ethanol consumption. Furthermore, unlike tools such as genetic deletion, these compounds can be used in a dose-dependent fashion to determine the role of AC/CaM interactions in these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P. Hayes
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Monica Soto-Velasquez
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Center for Drug
Discovery, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - C. Andrew Fowler
- NMR Facility, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Val J. Watts
- Department
of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Center for Drug
Discovery, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - David L. Roman
- Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Iowa Neuroscience Institute, Roy J. and
Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
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41
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Tiwari SV, Seijas JA, Vazquez-Tato MP, Sarkate AP, Karnik KS, Nikalje APG. Ionic Liquid-Promoted Synthesis of Novel Chromone-Pyrimidine Coupled Derivatives, Antimicrobial Analysis, Enzyme Assay, Docking Study and Toxicity Study. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23020440. [PMID: 29462951 PMCID: PMC6017654 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein, we report an environmentally friendly, rapid, and convenient ionic liquid ([Et3NH][HSO4])-promoted facile synthesis of ethyl 4-(6-substituted-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)-6-methyl-2-thioxo/oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives 4(a–f) and 4-(6-substituted-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)-6-methyl-2-thioxo/oxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5- carbohydrazide derivatives 6(a–f). All the synthesized derivatives 4(a–f) and 6(a–f) were evaluated for their in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity, by method recommended by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). The compound 6c bearing a fluoro group on the chromone ring and oxygen and a hydrazino group (–NHNH2) on the pyrimidine ring, was found to be the most potent antibacterial compound amongst the synthesized derivatives. The compound 6f bearing a methoxy group (–OCH3) on the chromone ring and sulphur group on the pyrimidine ring, was found to exhibit equipotent antifungal activity when compared with the standard drug miconazole. A d-alanine-d-alanine ligase (DdlB) enzyme assay study and an ergosterol extraction and quantitation assay study were performed to predict the mode of action of the synthesized compounds. A molecular docking study was performed to predict the binding interactions with receptors and mode of action of the synthesized derivatives. Further, analysis of the ADMET parameters for the synthesized compounds has shown that these compounds have good oral drug-like properties and can be developed as oral drug candidates. To establish the antimicrobial selectivity and safety, the most active compounds 6c and 6f were further tested for cytotoxicity against the human cancer cell line HeLa and were found to be non-cytotoxic in nature. An in vivo acute oral toxicity study was also performed for the most active compounds 6c and 6f and the results indicated that the compounds are non-toxic in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailee V Tiwari
- Y.B. Chavan College of Pharmacy, Dr. Rafiq Zakaria Campus, Rauza Baug, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431001, India.
| | - Julio A Seijas
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad of Santiago De Compostela, Alfonso X el Sabio, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
| | - Maria Pilar Vazquez-Tato
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad of Santiago De Compostela, Alfonso X el Sabio, 27002 Lugo, Spain.
| | - Aniket P Sarkate
- Department of Chemical Technology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431004, India.
| | - Kshipra S Karnik
- Department of Chemical Technology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431004, India.
| | - Anna Pratima G Nikalje
- Y.B. Chavan College of Pharmacy, Dr. Rafiq Zakaria Campus, Rauza Baug, Aurangabad, Maharashtra 431001, India.
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42
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A printable hydrogel microarray for drug screening avoids false positives associated with promiscuous aggregating inhibitors. Nat Commun 2018; 9:602. [PMID: 29426913 PMCID: PMC5807445 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-02956-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant problem in high-throughput drug screening is the disproportionate number of false hits associated with drug candidates that form colloidal aggregates. Such molecules, referred to as promiscuous inhibitors, nonspecifically inhibit multiple enzymes and are thus not useful as potential drugs. Here, we report a printable hydrogel-based drug-screening platform capable of non-ambiguously differentiating true enzyme inhibitors from promiscuous aggregating inhibitors, critical for accelerating the drug discovery process. The printed hydrogels can both immobilize as well as support the activity of entrapped enzymes against drying or treatment with a protease or chemical denaturant. Furthermore, the printed hydrogel can be applied in a high-throughput microarray-based screening platform (consistent with current practice) to rapidly ( <25 min) and inexpensively identify only clinically promising lead compounds with true inhibitory potential as well as to accurately quantify the dose–response relationships of those inhibitors, all while using 95% less sample than required for a solution assay. False positive results significantly slow down the drug discovery process. Here, the authors developed a gel serving as a screening platform in which enzymes can be stored, stabilized, and protected from most of the compounds that typically cause these misleading results.
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Jacobs KR, Guillemin GJ, Lovejoy DB. Development of a Rapid Fluorescence-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay to Identify Novel Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase Inhibitor Scaffolds. SLAS DISCOVERY 2018; 23:554-560. [PMID: 29420107 DOI: 10.1177/2472555218757180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a well-validated therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Huntington's disease (HD). This work reports a facile fluorescence-based KMO assay optimized for high-throughput screening (HTS) that achieves a throughput approximately 20-fold higher than the fastest KMO assay currently reported. The screen was run with excellent performance (average Z' value of 0.80) from 110,000 compounds across 341 plates and exceeded all statistical parameters used to describe a robust HTS assay. A subset of molecules was selected for validation by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, resulting in the confirmation of a novel hit with an IC50 comparable to that of the well-described KMO inhibitor Ro-61-8048. A medicinal chemistry program is currently underway to further develop our novel KMO inhibitor scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Jacobs
- 1 Neuroinflammation Group, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G J Guillemin
- 1 Neuroinflammation Group, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - D B Lovejoy
- 1 Neuroinflammation Group, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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44
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45
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Cross JB. Methods for Virtual Screening of GPCR Targets: Approaches and Challenges. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2017; 1705:233-264. [PMID: 29188566 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7465-8_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Virtual screening (VS) has become an integral part of the drug discovery process and is a valuable tool for finding novel chemical starting points for GPCR targets. Ligand-based VS makes use of biochemical data for known, active compounds and has been applied successfully to many diverse GPCRs. Recent progress in GPCR X-ray crystallography has made it possible to incorporate detailed structural information into the VS process. This chapter outlines the latest VS techniques along with examples that highlight successful applications of these methods. Best practices for increasing the likelihood of VS success, as well as ongoing challenges, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason B Cross
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77054, USA.
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46
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Ghattas MA, Bryce RA, Al Rawashdah S, Atatreh N, Zalloum WA. Comparative Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Aggregating and Non-Aggregating Inhibitor Solutions: Understanding the Molecular Basis of Promiscuity. ChemMedChem 2017; 13:500-506. [PMID: 29058775 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The presence of false positives in enzyme inhibition assays is a common problem in early drug discovery, especially for compounds that form colloid aggregates in solution. The molecular basis of these aggregates could not be thoroughly explored because of their transient stability. In this study we conducted comparative molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of miconazole, a strong aggregator, and fluconazole, a known non-aggregator. Interestingly, miconazole displays full aggregation within only 50 ns, whilst fluconazole shows no aggregation over the 500 ns simulation. The simulations indicate that the center of the aggregate is densely packed by the hydrophobic groups of miconazole, whereas polar and nonpolar groups comprise the surface to form a micelle-like colloid. The amphiphilic moment and planar nature of the miconazole structure appear to promote its aggregating behavior. The simulations also predict rapid aggregate formation for a second known promiscuous inhibitor, nicardipine. Thus, MD appears to be a useful tool to characterize aggregate-prone inhibitors at molecular-level detail and has the potential to provide useful information for drug discovery and formulation design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad A Ghattas
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, 64141, UAE
| | - Richard A Bryce
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sara Al Rawashdah
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, 64141, UAE
| | - Noor Atatreh
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, Al Ain, 64141, UAE
| | - Waleed A Zalloum
- Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Madaba, Amman, Jordan
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47
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Ehlert FGR, Linde K, Diederich WE. What Are We Missing? The Detergent Triton X-100 Added to Avoid Compound Aggregation Can Affect Assay Results in an Unpredictable Manner. ChemMedChem 2017; 12:1419-1423. [PMID: 28745428 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In this study we show that the detergent Triton X-100, which is widely used in screening campaigns, significantly decreases the binding affinities of some known specific inhibitors of HIV-1 protease and the well-established model protease endothiapepsin in a fluorescence-based assay. Surprisingly, other structurally related inhibitors remain entirely unaffected. As a consequence, those compounds that were affected would most likely have been misclassified as unspecific binders, although they are actually true positives, and thus could be considered excellent starting points for further hit optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian G R Ehlert
- Zentrum für Tumor- und Immunbiologie und Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Linde
- Zentrum für Tumor- und Immunbiologie und Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Wibke E Diederich
- Zentrum für Tumor- und Immunbiologie und Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Straße 3, 35043, Marburg, Germany
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48
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Blevitt JM, Hack MD, Herman KL, Jackson PF, Krawczuk PJ, Lebsack AD, Liu AX, Mirzadegan T, Nelen MI, Patrick AN, Steinbacher S, Milla ME, Lumb KJ. Structural Basis of Small-Molecule Aggregate Induced Inhibition of a Protein-Protein Interaction. J Med Chem 2017; 60:3511-3517. [PMID: 28300404 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
A prevalent observation in high-throughput screening and drug discovery programs is the inhibition of protein function by small-molecule compound aggregation. Here, we present the X-ray structural description of aggregation-based inhibition of a protein-protein interaction involving tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). An ordered conglomerate of an aggregating small-molecule inhibitor (JNJ525) induces a quaternary structure switch of TNFα that inhibits the protein-protein interaction between TNFα and TNFα receptors. SPD-304 may employ a similar mechanism of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Blevitt
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Michael D Hack
- Lead Discovery, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Krystal L Herman
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Paul F Jackson
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Paul J Krawczuk
- Immunology, Janssen R&D LLC , Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Alec D Lebsack
- Immunology, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Annie X Liu
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Taraneh Mirzadegan
- Lead Discovery, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Marina I Nelen
- Lead Discovery, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | - Aaron N Patrick
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
| | | | - Marcos E Milla
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , La Jolla, California 92121, United States
| | - Kevin J Lumb
- Emerging Science & Innovation, Discovery Sciences, Janssen R&D LLC , Spring House, Pennsylvania 19477, United States
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Tomohara K, Ito T, Onikata S, Kato A, Adachi I. Discovery of hyaluronidase inhibitors from natural products and their mechanistic characterization under DMSO-perturbed assay conditions. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2017; 27:1620-1623. [PMID: 28202328 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.01.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The present study discovered four novel hyaluronan-degrading enzyme (hyaluronidase) inhibitors including chikusetsusaponins and catechins through the activity-guided separation of Panax japonicus and Prunus salicina, respectively. Although the discovery resulted in identification of usual frequent hitters, subsequent mechanistic characterizations under our DMSO-perturbed assay conditions and related protocols revealed that chikusetusaponin IV would serve as an aggregating and non-specific binding inhibitor, while (-)-epicatechin would interact specifically with enzyme at the catalytic site or more likely at a kind of catechin-binding site with a relatively week inhibitory activity. The latter description might provide a possible explanation for the well-known fact that a series of catechin have been described as frequent hitters in biological assays with a moderate activity. Thus, the present study demonstrated a practical and robust methodology to characterize initial screening hits mechanistically molecule-by-molecule in the early stage of natural product-based drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Tomohara
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Tomohiro Ito
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Saika Onikata
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kato
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
| | - Isao Adachi
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
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50
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Duan D, Torosyan H, Elnatan D, McLaughlin CK, Logie J, Shoichet MS, Agard DA, Shoichet BK. Internal Structure and Preferential Protein Binding of Colloidal Aggregates. ACS Chem Biol 2017; 12:282-290. [PMID: 27983786 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Colloidal aggregates of small molecules are the most common artifact in early drug discovery, sequestering and inhibiting target proteins without specificity. Understanding their structure and mechanism has been crucial to developing tools to control for, and occasionally even exploit, these particles. Unfortunately, their polydispersity and transient stability have prevented exploration of certain elementary properties, such as how they pack. Dye-stabilized colloidal aggregates exhibit enhanced homogeneity and stability when compared to conventional colloidal aggregates, enabling investigation of some of these properties. By small-angle X-ray scattering and multiangle light scattering, pair distance distribution functions suggest that the dye-stabilized colloids are filled, not hollow, spheres. Stability of the coformulated colloids enabled investigation of their preference for binding DNA, peptides, or folded proteins, and their ability to purify one from the other. The coformulated colloids showed little ability to bind DNA. Correspondingly, the colloids preferentially sequestered protein from even a 1600-fold excess of peptides that are themselves the result of a digest of the same protein. This may reflect the avidity advantage that a protein has in a surface-to-surface interaction with the colloids. For the first time, colloids could be shown to have preferences of up to 90-fold for particular proteins over others. Loaded onto the colloids, bound enzyme could be spun down, resuspended, and released back into buffer, regaining most of its activity. Implications of these observations for colloid mechanisms and utility will be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Duan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
| | - Hayarpi Torosyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
| | - Daniel Elnatan
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Christopher K. McLaughlin
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Institute
of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
| | - Jennifer Logie
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Institute
of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
| | - Molly S. Shoichet
- Department
of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3E5
- Institute
of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G9
| | - David A. Agard
- Howard
Hughes Medical Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94158, United States
| | - Brian K. Shoichet
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Quantitative Biology Institute, University of California, San Francisco, 1700 Fourth Street, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, United States
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