1
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Wallace-Povirk A, O'Connor C, Dekhne AS, Bao X, Nayeen MJ, Schneider M, Katinas JM, Wong-Roushar J, Kim S, Polin L, Li J, Back JB, Dann CE, Gangjee A, Hou Z, Matherly LH. Mitochondrial and Cytosolic One-Carbon Metabolism Is a Targetable Metabolic Vulnerability in Cisplatin-Resistant Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:809-822. [PMID: 38377173 PMCID: PMC11150100 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0550] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
One-carbon (C1) metabolism is compartmentalized between the cytosol and mitochondria with the mitochondrial C1 pathway as the major source of glycine and C1 units for cellular biosynthesis. Expression of mitochondrial C1 genes including SLC25A32, serine hydroxymethyl transferase (SHMT) 2, 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2, and 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 1-like was significantly elevated in primary epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) specimens compared with normal ovaries. 5-Substituted pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine antifolates (AGF347, AGF359, AGF362) inhibited proliferation of cisplatin-sensitive (A2780, CaOV3, IGROV1) and cisplatin-resistant (A2780-E80, SKOV3) EOC cells. In SKOV3 and A2780-E80 cells, colony formation was inhibited. AGF347 induced apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. In IGROV1 cells, AGF347 was transported by folate receptor (FR) α. AGF347 was also transported into IGROV1 and SKOV3 cells by the proton-coupled folate transporter (SLC46A1) and the reduced folate carrier (SLC19A1). AGF347 accumulated to high levels in the cytosol and mitochondria of SKOV3 cells. By targeted metabolomics with [2,3,3-2H]L-serine, AGF347, AGF359, and AGF362 inhibited SHMT2 in the mitochondria. In the cytosol, SHMT1 and de novo purine biosynthesis (i.e., glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase) were targeted; AGF359 also inhibited thymidylate synthase. Antifolate treatments of SKOV3 cells depleted cellular glycine, mitochondrial NADH and glutathione, and showed synergistic in vitro inhibition toward SKOV3 and A2780-E80 cells when combined with cisplatin. In vivo studies with subcutaneous SKOV3 EOC xenografts in SCID mice confirmed significant antitumor efficacy of AGF347. Collectively, our studies demonstrate a unique metabolic vulnerability in EOC involving mitochondrial and cytosolic C1 metabolism, which offers a promising new platform for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Aamod S Dekhne
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Xun Bao
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Md Junayed Nayeen
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mathew Schneider
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jade M Katinas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | | | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jessica B Back
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Charles E Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
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2
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Zhang Y, Luo Z, Guo L, Zhang H, Su T, Tan Z, Ren Q, Zhang C, Fu Y, Xing R, Guo R, Shi X, Guo H, Liu Y, Wang L. Discovery of novel tumor-targeted near-infrared probes with 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as targeting ligands. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 262:115914. [PMID: 37925763 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115914] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the overexpression of folate receptors (FRs) in certain types of cancers, a variety of FR-targeted fluorescent probes for tumor detection have been developed. However, the reported probes almost all have the same targeting ligand of folic acid with various fluorophores and/or linkers. In the present study, a series of novel tumor-targeted near-infrared (NIR) molecular fluorescent probes were designed and synthesized based on previously reported 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates. All newly synthesized probes showed specific FR binding in vitro, whereas GT-NIR-4 and GT-NIR-5 with a benzene and a thiophene ring, respectively, on the side chain of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine exhibited better FR binding affinity than that of GT-NIR-6 with folic acid as targeting ligand. GT-NIR-4 also showed high tumor uptake in KB tumor-bearing mice with good pharmacokinetic properties and biological safety. This work demonstrates the first attempt to replace folic acid with antifolates as targeting ligands for tumor-targeted NIR probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Zijun Luo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Lixiao Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Haofeng Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Tongdan Su
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Zhenzhen Tan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Qian Ren
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Can Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Yan Fu
- Core Facilities and Centers, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Ruijuan Xing
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Ran Guo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Xiaowei Shi
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Huicai Guo
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China.
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hebei Medical University, 361 East Zhongshan Road, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Innovative Drug Research and Evaluation, Shijiazhuang, 050017, PR China.
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3
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Kaku K, Ravindra MP, Tong N, Choudhary S, Li X, Yu J, Karim M, Brzezinski M, O’Connor C, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Discovery of Tumor-Targeted 6-Methyl Substituted Pemetrexed and Related Antifolates with Selective Loss of RFC Transport. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1682-1691. [PMID: 38116433 PMCID: PMC10726441 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pemetrexed and related 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates are substrates for the ubiquitously expressed reduced folate carrier (RFC), and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) and folate receptors (FRs) which are more tumor-selective. A long-standing goal has been to discover tumor-targeted therapeutics that draw from one-carbon metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells and are selective for transport by FRs and PCFT over RFC. We discovered that a methyl group at the 6-position of the pyrrole ring in the bicyclic scaffold of 5-substituted 2-amino-4-oxo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates 1-4 (including pemetrexed) abolished transport by RFC with modest impacts on FRs or PCFT. From molecular modeling, loss of RFC transport involves steric repulsion in the scaffold binding site due to the 6-methyl moiety. 6-Methyl substitution preserved antiproliferative activities toward human tumor cells (KB, IGROV3) with selectivity over IOSE 7576 normal ovary cells and inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis. Thus, adding a 6-methyl moiety to 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates affords tumor transport selectivity while preserving antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna Kaku
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Manasa P. Ravindra
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Nian Tong
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Shruti Choudhary
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Xinxin Li
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Jianming Yu
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Mohammad Karim
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Madelyn Brzezinski
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Carrie O’Connor
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular
Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Larry H. Matherly
- Molecular
Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department
of Pharmacology, Wayne State University
School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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4
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Nayeen MJ, Katinas JM, Magdum T, Shah K, Wong JE, O’Connor CE, Fifer AN, Wallace-Povirk A, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Dann CE, Gangjee A. Structure-Based Design of Transport-Specific Multitargeted One-Carbon Metabolism Inhibitors in Cytosol and Mitochondria. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11294-11323. [PMID: 37582241 PMCID: PMC10461232 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Multitargeted agents provide tumor selectivity with reduced drug resistance and dose-limiting toxicities. We previously described the multitargeted 6-substituted pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine antifolate 1 with activity against early- and late-stage pancreatic tumors with limited tumor selectivity. Structure-based design with our human serine hydroxymethyl transferase (SHMT) 2 and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) structures, and published X-ray crystal structures of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase/inosine monophosphate cyclohydrolase (ATIC), SHMT1, and folate receptor (FR) α and β afforded 11 analogues. Multitargeted inhibition and selective tumor transport were designed by providing promiscuous conformational flexibility in the molecules. Metabolite rescue identified mitochondrial C1 metabolism along with de novo purine biosynthesis as the targeted pathways. We identified analogues with tumor-selective transport via FRs and increased SHMT2, SHMT1, and GARFTase inhibition (28-, 21-, and 11-fold, respectively) compared to 1. These multitargeted agents represent an exciting new structural motif for targeted cancer therapy with substantial advantages of selectivity and potency over clinically used antifolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md. Junayed Nayeen
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Jade M. Katinas
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
| | - Tejashree Magdum
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Khushbu Shah
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Jennifer E. Wong
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
| | - Carrie E. O’Connor
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Alexandra N. Fifer
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Molecular
Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Larry H. Matherly
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Molecular
Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos
Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Charles E. Dann
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47408, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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5
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Tong N, Wong-Roushar J, Wallace-Povirk A, Shah Y, Nyman MC, Katinas JM, Schneider M, O’Connor C, Bao X, Kim S, Li J, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Dann CE, Gangjee A. Multitargeted 6-Substituted Thieno[2,3- d]pyrimidines as Folate Receptor-Selective Anticancer Agents that Inhibit Cytosolic and Mitochondrial One-Carbon Metabolism. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2023; 6:748-770. [PMID: 37200803 PMCID: PMC10186366 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Multitargeted agents with tumor selectivity result in reduced drug resistance and dose-limiting toxicities. We report 6-substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds (3-9) with pyridine (3, 4), fluorine-substituted pyridine (5), phenyl (6, 7), and thiophene side chains (8, 9), for comparison with unsubstituted phenyl (1, 2) and thiophene side chain (10, 11) containing thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds. Compounds 3-9 inhibited proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO) expressing folate receptors (FRs) α or β but not the reduced folate carrier (RFC); modest inhibition of CHO cells expressing the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) by 4, 5, 6, and 9 was observed. Replacement of the side-chain 1',4'-phenyl ring with 2',5'-pyridyl, or 2',5'-pyridyl with a fluorine insertion ortho to l-glutamate resulted in increased potency toward FR-expressing CHO cells. Toward KB tumor cells, 4-9 were highly active (IC50's from 2.11 to 7.19 nM). By metabolite rescue in KB cells and in vitro enzyme assays, de novo purine biosynthesis was identified as a targeted pathway (at 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFTase) and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase)). Compound 9 was 17- to 882-fold more potent than previously reported compounds 2, 10, and 11 against GARFTase. By targeted metabolomics and metabolite rescue, 1, 2, and 6 also inhibited mitochondrial serine hydroxymethyl transferase 2 (SHMT2); enzyme assays confirmed inhibition of SHMT2. X-ray crystallographic structures were obtained for 4, 5, 9, and 10 with human GARFTase. This series affords an exciting new structural platform for potent multitargeted antitumor agents with FR transport selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Tong
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Jennifer Wong-Roushar
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Yesha Shah
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Morgan C. Nyman
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jade M. Katinas
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Mathew Schneider
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Carrie O’Connor
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Xun Bao
- Barbara
Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Barbara
Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Jing Li
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Barbara
Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Barbara
Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Larry H. Matherly
- Department
of Oncology, Wayne State University School
of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department
of Pharmacology, Wayne State University
School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Charles E. Dann
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division
of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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6
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Matherly LH, Schneider M, Gangjee A, Hou Z. Biology and therapeutic applications of the proton-coupled folate transporter. Expert Opin Drug Metab Toxicol 2022; 18:695-706. [PMID: 36239195 PMCID: PMC9637735 DOI: 10.1080/17425255.2022.2136071] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT; SLC46A1) was discovered in 2006 as the principal mechanism by which folates are absorbed in the intestine and the causal basis for hereditary folate malabsorption (HFM). In 2011, it was found that PCFT is highly expressed in many tumors. This stimulated interest in using PCFT for cytotoxic drug targeting, taking advantage of the substantial levels of PCFT transport and acidic pH conditions commonly associated with tumors. AREAS COVERED We summarize the literature from 2006 to 2022 that explores the role of PCFT in the intestinal absorption of dietary folates and its role in HFM and as a transporter of folates and antifolates such as pemetrexed (Alimta) in relation to cancer. We provide the rationale for the discovery of a new generation of targeted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with selective PCFT transport and inhibitory activity toward de novo purine biosynthesis in solid tumors. We summarize the benefits of this approach to cancer therapy and exciting new developments in the structural biology of PCFT and its potential to foster refinement of active structures of PCFT-targeted anti-cancer drugs. EXPERT OPINION We summarize the promising future and potential challenges of implementing PCFT-targeted therapeutics for HFM and a variety of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry H. Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Mathew Schneider
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
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Mustière R, Lagardère P, Hutter S, Deraeve C, Schwalen F, Amrane D, Masurier N, Azas N, Lisowski V, Verhaeghe P, Mazier D, Vanelle P, Primas N. Pd-catalyzed C-C and C-N cross-coupling reactions in 2-aminothieno[3,2- d]pyrimidin-4(3 H)-one series for antiplasmodial pharmacomodulation. RSC Adv 2022; 12:20004-20021. [PMID: 35865200 PMCID: PMC9264115 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01687g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In 2015, we identified gamhepathiopine (M1), a 2-tert-butylaminothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one antiplasmodial hit targeting all development stages of the human malarial parasite P. falciparum. However, this hit compound suffers from sensitivity to hepatic oxidative metabolism. Herein, we describe the synthesis of 33 new compounds in the 2-aminothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one series modulated at position 6 of this scaffold. The modulations were performed using three palladium-catalyzed cross coupling reactions, namely Suzuki-Miyaura, Sonogashira, and Buchwald-Hartwig. For the latter, we developed the reaction conditions. Then, we evaluated the synthesized compounds for their antiplasmodial activity on the K1 P. falciparum strain and their cytotoxicity on the human HepG2 cell line. Although we did not obtain a compound better than M1 in terms of the antiplasmodial activity, we identified compound 1g bearing a piperidine at position 6 of the thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one ring with an improved cytotoxicity and metabolic stability. 1g is an interesting new starting point for further pharmacomodulation studies. This study also provides valuable antiplasmodial SAR data regarding the nature of the ring at position 6, the possible substituent on this ring, and the introduction of a spacer between this ring and the thienopyrimidinone moiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Mustière
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie Marseille France
| | - Prisca Lagardère
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques Montpellier France
| | - Sébastien Hutter
- Aix Marseille Université, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME Marseille France
| | - Céline Deraeve
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UPR 8241, UPS Toulouse France
| | - Florian Schwalen
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UPR 8241, UPS Toulouse France
| | - Dyhia Amrane
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie Marseille France
| | - Nicolas Masurier
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques Montpellier France
| | - Nadine Azas
- Aix Marseille Université, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME Marseille France
| | - Vincent Lisowski
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, ENSCM, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques Montpellier France
| | - Pierre Verhaeghe
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS UPR 8241, UPS Toulouse France.,CHU de Nîmes, service de pharmacie Nimes France
| | - Dominique Mazier
- Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses (CIMI), INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne Université Paris France
| | - Patrice Vanelle
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie Marseille France .,Service Central de la Qualité et de l'Information Pharmaceutiques, AP-HM, Hôpital Conception Marseille France
| | - Nicolas Primas
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, ICR UMR 7273, Equipe Pharmaco-Chimie Radicalaire, Faculté de Pharmacie Marseille France .,Service Central de la Qualité et de l'Information Pharmaceutiques, AP-HM, Hôpital Conception Marseille France
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Wallace-Povirk A, Rubinsak L, Malysa A, Dzinic SH, Ravindra M, Schneider M, Glassbrook J, O'Connor C, Hou Z, Kim S, Back J, Polin L, Morris RT, Gangjee A, Gibson H, Matherly LH. Targeted therapy of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates in a syngeneic mouse model of high grade serous ovarian cancer and the impact on the tumor microenvironment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11346. [PMID: 35790779 PMCID: PMC9256750 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14788-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Novel therapies are urgently needed for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. In addition, therapies that target unique vulnerabilities in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of EOC have largely been unrealized. One strategy to achieve selective drug delivery for EOC therapy involves use of targeted antifolates via their uptake by folate receptor (FR) proteins, resulting in inhibition of essential one-carbon (C1) metabolic pathways. FRα is highly expressed in EOCs, along with the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT); FRβ is expressed on activated macrophages, a major infiltrating immune population in EOC. Thus, there is great potential for targeting both the tumor and the TME with agents delivered via selective transport by FRs and PCFT. In this report, we investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel cytosolic C1 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine inhibitor AGF94, with selectivity for uptake by FRs and PCFT and inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis, against a syngeneic model of ovarian cancer (BR-Luc) which recapitulates high-grade serous ovarian cancer in patients. In vitro activity of AGF94 was extended in vivo against orthotopic BR-Luc tumors. With late-stage subcutaneous BR-Luc xenografts, AGF94 treatment resulted in substantial anti-tumor efficacy, accompanied by significantly decreased M2-like FRβ-expressing macrophages and increased CD3+ T cells, whereas CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were unaffected. Our studies demonstrate potent anti-tumor efficacy of AGF94 in the therapy of EOC in the context of an intact immune system, and provide a framework for targeting the immunosuppressive TME as an essential component of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa Rubinsak
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Agnes Malysa
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sijana H Dzinic
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Manasa Ravindra
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
| | - Mathew Schneider
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - James Glassbrook
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Jessica Back
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Robert T Morris
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA.
| | - Heather Gibson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
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9
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4-Substituted Thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines as Dual-Stage Antiplasmodial Derivatives. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070820. [PMID: 35890119 PMCID: PMC9323797 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the major health problems worldwide. The increasing resistance of Plasmodium to approved antimalarial drugs requires the development of novel antiplasmodial agents that can effectively prevent and/or treat this disease. Based on the structure of Gamhepathiopine, a 2-tert-butylaminothieno[3,2-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one hit, active on the sexual and asexual stages of the parasite and thanked for the introduction of various substituents at position 4 of the thienopyrimidine core by nucleophilic aromatic substitution and pallado-catalyzed coupling reactions, a series of 4-substituted thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines were identified as displaying in vitro activities against both the erythrocytic stage of P. falciparum and the hepatic stage of P. berghei. Among the 28 compounds evaluated, the chloro analogue of Gamhepathiopine showed good activity against the erythrocytic stage of P. falciparum, moderate toxicity on HepG2, and better activity against hepatic P. berghei parasites, compared to Gamhepathiopine.
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10
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Hou Z, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. The evolving biology of the proton‐coupled folate transporter: New insights into regulation, structure, and mechanism. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22164. [PMID: 35061292 PMCID: PMC8978580 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101704r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The human proton‐coupled folate transporter (PCFT; SLC46A1) or hPCFT was identified in 2006 as the principal folate transporter involved in the intestinal absorption of dietary folates. A rare autosomal recessive hereditary folate malabsorption syndrome is attributable to human SLC46A1 variants. The recognition that hPCFT was highly expressed in many tumors stimulated substantial interest in its potential for cytotoxic drug targeting, taking advantage of its high‐level transport activity under acidic pH conditions that characterize many tumors and its modest expression in most normal tissues. To better understand the basis for variations in hPCFT levels between tissues including human tumors, studies have examined the transcriptional regulation of hPCFT including the roles of CpG hypermethylation and critical transcription factors and cis elements. Additional focus involved identifying key structural and functional determinants of hPCFT transport that, combined with homology models based on structural homologies to the bacterial transporters GlpT and LacY, have enabled new structural and mechanistic insights. Recently, cryo‐electron microscopy structures of chicken PCFT in a substrate‐free state and in complex with the antifolate pemetrexed were reported, providing further structural insights into determinants of (anti)folate recognition and the mechanism of pH‐regulated (anti)folate transport by PCFT. Like many major facilitator proteins, hPCFT exists as a homo‐oligomer, and evidence suggests that homo‐oligomerization of hPCFT monomeric proteins may be important for its intracellular trafficking and/or transport function. Better understanding of the structure, function and regulation of hPCFT should facilitate the rational development of new therapeutic strategies for conditions associated with folate deficiency, as well as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit Michigan USA
- Department of Oncology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Michigan USA
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Duquesne University Pittsburgh Pennsylvania USA
| | - Larry H. Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute Detroit Michigan USA
- Department of Oncology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Michigan USA
- Department of Pharmacology Wayne State University School of Medicine Detroit Michigan USA
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11
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Folate Transport and One-Carbon Metabolism in Targeted Therapies of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010191. [PMID: 35008360 PMCID: PMC8750473 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010191] [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: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
New therapies are urgently needed for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. To identify new approaches for targeting EOC, metabolic vulnerabilities must be discovered and strategies for the selective delivery of therapeutic agents must be established. Folate receptor (FR) α and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) are expressed in the majority of EOCs. FRβ is expressed on tumor-associated macrophages, a major infiltrating immune population in EOC. One-carbon (C1) metabolism is partitioned between the cytosol and mitochondria and is important for the synthesis of nucleotides, amino acids, glutathione, and other critical metabolites. Novel inhibitors are being developed with the potential for therapeutic targeting of tumors via FRs and the PCFT, as well as for inhibiting C1 metabolism. In this review, we summarize these exciting new developments in targeted therapies for both tumors and the tumor microenvironment in EOC.
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12
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Wallace-Povirk A, Tong N, Wong-Roushar J, O'Connor C, Zhou X, Hou Z, Bao X, Garcia GE, Li J, Kim S, Dann CE, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Discovery of 6-substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine analogs as dual inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis in folate receptor expressing human tumors. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 37:116093. [PMID: 33773393 PMCID: PMC8058616 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We discovered 6-substituted thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds (3-9) with 3-4 bridge carbons and side-chain thiophene or furan rings for dual targeting one-carbon (C1) metabolism in folate receptor- (FR) expressing cancers. Synthesis involved nine steps starting from the bromo-aryl carboxylate. From patterns of growth inhibition toward Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing FRα or FRβ, the proton-coupled folate transporter or reduced folate carrier, specificity for uptake by FRs was confirmed. Anti-proliferative activities were demonstrated toward FRα-expressing KB tumor cells and NCI-IGROV1 ovarian cancer cells. Inhibition of de novo purine biosynthesis at both 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) was confirmed by metabolite rescue, metabolomics and enzyme assays. X-ray crystallographic structures were obtained with compounds 3-5 and human GARFTase. Our studies identify first-in-class C1 inhibitors with selective uptake by FRs and dual inhibition of enzyme targets in de novo purine biosynthesis, resulting in anti-tumor activity. This series affords an exciting new platform for selective multi-targeted anti-tumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Nian Tong
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States
| | | | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Xilin Zhou
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Xun Bao
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Gloria E Garcia
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Charles E Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201, United States; Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States.
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13
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O'Connor C, Wallace-Povirk A, Ning C, Frühauf J, Tong N, Gangjee A, Matherly LH, Hou Z. Folate transporter dynamics and therapy with classic and tumor-targeted antifolates. Sci Rep 2021; 11:6389. [PMID: 33737637 PMCID: PMC7973545 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85818-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
There are three major folate uptake systems in human tissues and tumors, including the reduced folate carrier (RFC), folate receptors (FRs) and proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). We studied the functional interrelationships among these systems for the novel tumor-targeted antifolates AGF94 (transported by PCFT and FRs but not RFC) and AGF102 (selective for FRs) versus the classic antifolates pemetrexed, methotrexate and PT523 (variously transported by FRs, PCFT and RFC). We engineered HeLa cell models to express FRα or RFC under control of a tetracycline-inducible promoter with or without constitutive PCFT. We showed that cellular accumulations of extracellular folates were determined by the type and levels of the major folate transporters, with PCFT and RFC prevailing over FRα, depending on expression levels and pH. Based on patterns of cell proliferation in the presence of the inhibitors, we established transport redundancy for RFC and PCFT in pemetrexed uptake, and for PCFT and FRα in AGF94 uptake; uptake by PCFT predominated for pemetrexed and FRα for AGF94. For methotrexate and PT523, uptake by RFC predominated even in the presence of PCFT or FRα. For both classic (methotrexate, PT523) and FRα-targeted (AGF102) antifolates, anti-proliferative activities were antagonized by PCFT, likely due to its robust activity in mediating folate accumulation. Collectively, our findings describe a previously unrecognized interplay among the major folate transport systems that depends on transporter levels and extracellular pH, and that determines their contributions to the uptake and anti-tumor efficacies of targeted and untargeted antifolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie O'Connor
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Changwen Ning
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Josephine Frühauf
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Nian Tong
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Departments of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 E. Canfield, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, USA.
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14
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Dekhne AS, Ning C, Nayeen MJ, Shah K, Kalpage H, Frühauf J, Wallace-Povirk A, O'Connor C, Hou Z, Kim S, Hüttemann M, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. Cellular Pharmacodynamics of a Novel Pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidine Inhibitor Targeting Mitochondrial and Cytosolic One-Carbon Metabolism. Mol Pharmacol 2019; 97:9-22. [PMID: 31707355 DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.117937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate-dependent one-carbon (C1) metabolism is compartmentalized in the mitochondria and cytosol and is a source of critical metabolites for proliferating tumors. Mitochondrial C1 metabolism including serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 (SHMT2) generates glycine for de novo purine nucleotide and glutathione biosynthesis and is an important source of NADPH, ATP, and formate, which affords C1 units as 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and 5,10-methylene-tetrahydrofolate for nucleotide biosynthesis in the cytosol. We previously discovered novel first-in-class multitargeted pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine inhibitors of SHMT2 and de novo purine biosynthesis at glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase with potent in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy toward pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. In this report, we extend our findings to an expanded panel of pancreatic cancer models. We used our lead analog AGF347 [(4-(4-(2-amino-4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)butyl)-2-fluorobenzoyl)-l-glutamic acid] to characterize pharmacodynamic determinants of antitumor efficacy for this series and demonstrated plasma membrane transport into the cytosol, uptake from cytosol into mitochondria, and metabolism to AGF347 polyglutamates in both cytosol and mitochondria. Antitumor effects of AGF347 downstream of SHMT2 and purine biosynthesis included suppression of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, and glutathione depletion with increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Our results provide important insights into the cellular pharmacology of novel pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine inhibitors as antitumor compounds and establish AGF347 as a unique agent for potential clinical application for pancreatic cancer, as well as other malignancies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This study establishes the antitumor efficacies of novel inhibitors of serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2 and of cytosolic targets toward a panel of clinically relevant pancreatic cancer cells and demonstrates the important roles of plasma membrane transport, mitochondrial accumulation, and metabolism to polyglutamates of the lead compound AGF347 to drug activity. We also establish that loss of serine catabolism and purine biosynthesis resulting from AGF347 treatment impacts mammalian target of rapamycin signaling, glutathione pools, and reactive oxygen species, contributing to antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamod S Dekhne
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Changwen Ning
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Md Junayed Nayeen
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Khushbu Shah
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Hasini Kalpage
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Josephine Frühauf
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Maik Hüttemann
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine/Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (A.S.D., J.F., A.W.-P., C.O., Z.H., S.K., L.H.M.); Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (M.J.N., K.S., A.G.); Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics (H.K., M.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China (C.N.); and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., S.K., M.H., L.H.M.)
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15
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Discovery of amide-bridged pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as tumor targeted classical antifolates with selective uptake by folate receptor α and inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Bioorg Med Chem 2019; 27:115125. [PMID: 31679978 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2019.115125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We previously showed that classical 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates bind to folate receptor (FR) α and the target purine biosynthetic enzyme glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) with different cis and trans conformations. In this study, we designed novel analogs of this series with an amide moiety in the bridge region that can adopt both the cis and trans lowest energy conformations. This provides entropic benefit, by restricting the number of side-chain conformations of the unbound ligand to those most likely to promote binding to FRα and the target enzyme required for antitumor activity. NMR of the most active compound 7 showed both cis and trans amide bridge conformations in ~1:1 ratio. The bridge amide group in the best docked poses of 7 in the crystal structures of FRα and GARFTase adopted both cis and trans conformations, with the lowest energy conformations predicted by Maestro and evidenced by NMR within 1 kcal/mol. Compound 7 showed ~3-fold increased inhibition of FRα-expressing cells over its non-restricted parent analog 1 and was selectively internalized by FRα over the reduced folate carrier (RFC), resulting in significant in vitro antitumor activity toward FRα-expressing KB human tumor cells. Antitumor activity of 7 was abolished by treating cells with adenosine but was incompletely protected by 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICA) at higher drug concentrations, suggesting GARFTase and AICA ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFTase) in de novo purine biosynthesis as the likely intracellular targets. GARFTase inhibition by compound 7 was confirmed by an in situ cell-based activity assay. Our results identify a "first-in-class" classical antifolate with a novel amide linkage between the scaffold and the side chain aryl L-glutamate that affords exclusive selectivity for transport via FRα over RFC and antitumor activity resulting from inhibition of GARFTase and likely AICARFTase. Compound 7 offers significant advantages over clinically used inhibitors of this class that are transported by the ubiquitous RFC, resulting in dose-limiting toxicities.
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16
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Dekhne AS, Shah K, Ducker GS, Katinas JM, Wong-Roushar J, Nayeen MJ, Doshi A, Ning C, Bao X, Frühauf J, Liu J, Wallace-Povirk A, O'Connor C, Dzinic SH, White K, Kushner J, Kim S, Hüttemann M, Polin L, Rabinowitz JD, Li J, Hou Z, Dann CE, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. Novel Pyrrolo[3,2- d]pyrimidine Compounds Target Mitochondrial and Cytosolic One-carbon Metabolism with Broad-spectrum Antitumor Efficacy. Mol Cancer Ther 2019; 18:1787-1799. [PMID: 31289137 PMCID: PMC6774887 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Folate-dependent one-carbon (C1) metabolism is compartmentalized into the mitochondria and cytosol and supports cell growth through nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis. Mitochondrial C1 metabolism, including serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) 2, provides glycine, NAD(P)H, ATP, and C1 units for cytosolic biosynthetic reactions, and is implicated in the oncogenic phenotype across a wide range of cancers. Whereas multitargeted inhibitors of cytosolic C1 metabolism, such as pemetrexed, are used clinically, there are currently no anticancer drugs that specifically target mitochondrial C1 metabolism. We used molecular modeling to design novel small-molecule pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine inhibitors targeting mitochondrial C1 metabolism at SHMT2. In vitro antitumor efficacy was established with the lead compounds (AGF291, AGF320, AGF347) toward lung, colon, and pancreatic cancer cells. Intracellular targets were identified by metabolic rescue with glycine and nucleosides, and by targeted metabolomics using a stable isotope tracer, with confirmation by in vitro assays with purified enzymes. In addition to targeting SHMT2, inhibition of the cytosolic purine biosynthetic enzymes, β-glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and/or 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase, and SHMT1 was also established. AGF347 generated significant in vivo antitumor efficacy with potential for complete responses against both early-stage and upstage MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic tumor xenografts, providing compelling proof-of-concept for therapeutic targeting of SHMT2 and cytosolic C1 enzymes by this series. Our results establish structure-activity relationships and identify exciting new drug prototypes for further development as multitargeted antitumor agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamod S Dekhne
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Khushbu Shah
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Gregory S Ducker
- Department of Chemistry/Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Jade M Katinas
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | | | - Md Junayed Nayeen
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Arpit Doshi
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Changwen Ning
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
| | - Xun Bao
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Josephine Frühauf
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jenney Liu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Sijana H Dzinic
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Kathryn White
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Seongho Kim
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Maik Hüttemann
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Joshua D Rabinowitz
- Department of Chemistry/Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Charles E Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan.
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17
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Regulation of differential proton-coupled folate transporter gene expression in human tumors: transactivation by KLF15 with NRF-1 and the role of Sp1. Biochem J 2019; 476:1247-1266. [PMID: 30914440 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Tumors can be therapeutically targeted with novel antifolates (e.g. AGF94) that are selectively transported by the human proton-coupled folate transporter (hPCFT). Studies were performed to determine the transcription regulation of hPCFT in tumors and identify possible mechanisms that contribute to the highly disparate levels of hPCFT in HepG2 versus HT1080 tumor cells. Transfection of hPCFT-null HT1080 cells with hPCFT restored transport and sensitivity to AGF94 Progressive deletions of the hPCFT promoter construct (-2005 to +96) and reporter gene assays in HepG2 and HT1080 cells confirmed differences in hPCFT transactivation and localized a minimal promoter to between positions -50 and +96. The minimal promoter included KLF15, GC-Box and NRF-1 cis-binding elements whose functional importance was confirmed by promoter deletions and mutations of core consensus sequences and reporter gene assays. In HepG2 cells, NRF-1, KLF15 and Sp1 transcripts were increased over HT1080 cells by ∼5.1-, ∼44-, and ∼2.4-fold, respectively. In Drosophila SL2 cells, transfection with KLF15 and NRF-1 synergistically activated the hPCFT promoter; Sp1 was modestly activating or inhibitory. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and supershifts confirmed differential binding of KLF15, Sp1, and NRF-1 to the hPCFT promoter in HepG2 and HT1080 cells that paralleled hPCFT levels. Treatment of HT1080 nuclear extracts (NE) with protein kinase A increased Sp1 binding to its consensus sequence by EMSA, suggesting a role for Sp1 phosphorylation in regulating hPCFT transcription. A better understanding of determinants of hPCFT transcriptional control may identify new therapeutic strategies for cancer by modulating hPCFT levels in combination with hPCFT-targeted antifolates.
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18
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Pathania S, Rawal RK. Pyrrolopyrimidines: An update on recent advancements in their medicinal attributes. Eur J Med Chem 2018; 157:503-526. [PMID: 30114661 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 08/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Fused heterocycles are reported to demonstrate variety of biological activities such as anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory, and are thus exhaustively utilized in the field of medicinal chemistry. Pyrrolopyrimidines is one of the major classes of fused heterocycles which are extensively reported throughout the literature. Several reports suggest that pyrrolopyrimidine as fused scaffold possess more diverse and potent pharmacological profile than individual pyrrole and pyrimidine nucleus. Different pathological targets require different structural attributes reflected via varied substitutions, thus in recent years, researchers have employed various synthetic strategies to achieve desired substitutions on the pyrrolopyrimidine nucleus. In this review, authors highlight the recent advancement in this area, special focus was laid on the pharmacological profile and structure-activity relationship studies (SAR) of various synthesized pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelly Pathania
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy (ISFCP), Moga, 142001, India; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, 151001, Punjab, India
| | - Ravindra K Rawal
- Department of Chemistry, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana, 133207, Ambala, Haryana, India.
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19
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Gaonkar S, Sunagar MG, Deshapande N, Belavagi NS, Joshi SD, Dixit SR, Khazi IAM. Synthesis and in vitro anticancer activity of 6-chloro-7-methyl-5H-[1,3,4]thiadiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives: molecular docking and interaction with bovine serum albumin. JOURNAL OF TAIBAH UNIVERSITY FOR SCIENCE 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/16583655.2018.1489036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Supreet Gaonkar
- Department of studies in Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, India
| | | | | | | | - Shrinivas D Joshi
- Novel Drug Design and Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, S.E.T.’s College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, India
| | - Sheshagiri R Dixit
- Novel Drug Design and Discovery Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, S.E.T.’s College of Pharmacy, Dharwad, India
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20
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Shah K, Raghavan S, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Development and validation of chemical features-based proton-coupled folate transporter/activity and reduced folate carrier/activity models (pharmacophores). J Mol Graph Model 2018; 81:125-133. [PMID: 29550744 PMCID: PMC5959037 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2018.02.007] [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: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
All clinically used antifolates lack transport selectivity for tumors over normal cells resulting in dose-limiting toxicities. There is growing interest in developing novel tumor-targeted cytotoxic antifolates with selective transport into tumors over normal cells via the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) over the ubiquitously expressed reduced folate carrier (RFC). A lack of X-ray crystal structures or predictive models for PCFT or RFC has hindered structure-aided drug design for PCFT-selective therapeutics. Four-point validated models (pharmacophores) were generated for PCFT/Activity (HBA, NI, RA, RA) and RFC/Activity (HBD, NI, HBA, HBA) based on inhibition (IC50) of proliferation of isogenic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells engineered to express only human PCFT or only RFC. Our results revealed substantial differences in structural features required for transport of novel molecules by these transporters which can be utilized for developing transporter-selective antifolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushbu Shah
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States
| | - Sudhir Raghavan
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 East Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 421 East Canfield Street, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, United States.
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21
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Ravindra M, Wilson MR, Tong N, O'Connor C, Karim M, Polin L, Wallace-Povirk A, White K, Kushner J, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Fluorine-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3- d]Pyrimidine Analogues with Tumor Targeting via Cellular Uptake by Folate Receptor α and the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter and Inhibition of de Novo Purine Nucleotide Biosynthesis. J Med Chem 2018; 61:4228-4248. [PMID: 29701475 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Novel fluorinated 2-amino-4-oxo-6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine analogues 7-12 were synthesized and tested for selective cellular uptake by folate receptors (FRs) α and β or the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) and for antitumor efficacy. Compounds 8, 9, 11, and 12 showed increased in vitro antiproliferative activities (∼11-fold) over the nonfluorinated analogues 2, 3, 5, and 6 toward engineered Chinese hamster ovary and HeLa cells expressing FRs or PCFT. Compounds 8, 9, 11, and 12 also inhibited proliferation of IGROV1 and A2780 epithelial ovarian cancer cells; in IGROV1 cells with knockdown of FRα, 9, 11, and 12 showed sustained inhibition associated with uptake by PCFT. All compounds inhibited glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase, a key enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. Molecular modeling studies validated in vitro cell-based results. NMR evidence supports the presence of an intramolecular fluorine-hydrogen bond. Potent in vivo efficacy of 11 was established with IGROV1 xenografts in severe compromised immunodeficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasa Ravindra
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
| | - Mike R Wilson
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Nian Tong
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Mohammad Karim
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
| | - Lisa Polin
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Kathryn White
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
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22
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Ravindra M, Wallace-Povirk A, Karim MA, Wilson MR, O'Connor C, White K, Kushner J, Polin L, George C, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Tumor Targeting with Novel Pyridyl 6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3- d]Pyrimidine Antifolates via Cellular Uptake by Folate Receptor α and the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter and Inhibition of De Novo Purine Nucleotide Biosynthesis. J Med Chem 2018; 61:2027-2040. [PMID: 29425443 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-targeted specificities of 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine analogues of 1, where the phenyl side-chain is replaced by 3',6' (5, 8), 2',5' (6, 9), and 2',6' (7, 10) pyridyls, were analyzed. Proliferation inhibition of isogenic Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing folate receptors (FRs) α and β were in rank order, 6 > 9 > 5 > 7 > 8, with 10 showing no activity, and 6 > 9 > 5 > 8, with 10 and 7 being inactive, respectively. Antiproliferative effects toward FRα- and FRβ-expressing cells were reflected in competitive binding with [3H]folic acid. Only compound 6 was active against proton-coupled folate receptor (PCFT)-expressing CHO cells (∼4-fold more potent than 1) and inhibited [3H]methotrexate uptake by PCFT. In KB and IGROV1 tumor cells, 6 showed <1 nM IC50, ∼2-3-fold more potent than 1. Compound 6 inhibited glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine biosynthesis and showed potent in vivo efficacy toward subcutaneous IGROV1 tumor xenografts in SCID mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manasa Ravindra
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Mohammad A Karim
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
| | - Mike R Wilson
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Kathryn White
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Lisa Polin
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Christina George
- Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program , Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 421 East Canfield Street , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Oncology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States.,Department of Pharmacology , Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit , Michigan 48201 , United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15282 , United States
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23
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Matherly LH, Hou Z, Gangjee A. The promise and challenges of exploiting the proton-coupled folate transporter for selective therapeutic targeting of cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2018; 81:1-15. [PMID: 29127457 PMCID: PMC5756103 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-017-3473-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This review considers the "promise" of exploiting the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) for selective therapeutic targeting of cancer. PCFT was discovered in 2006 and was identified as the principal folate transporter involved in the intestinal absorption of dietary folates. The recognition that PCFT was highly expressed in many tumors stimulated substantial interest in using PCFT for cytotoxic drug targeting, taking advantage of its high level transport activity under the acidic pH conditions that characterize many tumors. For pemetrexed, among the best PCFT substrates, transport by PCFT establishes its importance as a clinically important transporter in malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer. In recent years, the notion of PCFT-targeting has been extended to a new generation of tumor-targeted 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine compounds that are structurally and functionally distinct from pemetrexed, and that exhibit near exclusive transport by PCFT and potent inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Based on compelling preclinical evidence in a wide range of human tumor models, it is now time to advance the most optimized PCFT-targeted agents with the best balance of PCFT transport specificity and potent antitumor efficacy to the clinic to validate this novel paradigm of highly selective tumor targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 421 East Canfield Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 421 East Canfield Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15282, USA
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24
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Improved conditions for a direct and regioselective synthesis of 8-carboxyethyl-7-deazaguanine. Tetrahedron Lett 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2017.03.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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25
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Hou Z, Gattoc L, O'Connor C, Yang S, Wallace-Povirk A, George C, Orr S, Polin L, White K, Kushner J, Morris RT, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. Dual Targeting of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Via Folate Receptor α and the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter with 6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidine Antifolates. Mol Cancer Ther 2017; 16:819-830. [PMID: 28138029 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Folate uptake in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) involves the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), both facilitative transporters and folate receptor (FR) α. Although in primary EOC specimens, FRα is widely expressed and increases with tumor stage, PCFT was expressed independent of tumor stage (by real-time RT-PCR and IHC). EOC cell line models, including cisplatin sensitive (IGROV1 and A2780) and resistant (SKOV3 and TOV112D) cells, expressed a 17-fold range of FRα and similar amounts (within ∼2-fold) of PCFT. Novel 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates AGF94 and AGF154 exhibited potent antiproliferative activities toward all of the EOC cell lines, reflecting selective cellular uptake by FRα and/or PCFT over RFC. When IGROV1 cells were pretreated with AGF94 at pH 6.8, clonogenicity was potently inhibited, confirming cell killing. FRα was knocked down in IGROV1 cells with lentiviral shRNAs. Two FRα knockdown clones (KD-4 and KD-10) showed markedly reduced binding and uptake of [3H]folic acid and [3H]AGF154 by FRα, but maintained high levels of [3H]AGF154 uptake by PCFT compared to nontargeted control cells. In proliferation assays, KD-4 and KD-10 cells preserved in vitro inhibition by AGF94 and AGF154, compared to a nontargeted control, attributable to residual FRα- and substantial PCFT-mediated uptake. KD-10 tumor xenografts in severe-compromised immune-deficient mice were likewise sensitive to AGF94 Collectively, our results demonstrate the substantial therapeutic potential of novel 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with dual targeting of PCFT and FRα toward EOCs that express a range of FRα, along with PCFT, as well as cisplatin resistance. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(5); 819-30. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. .,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Leda Gattoc
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Si Yang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Christina George
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Steve Orr
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Kathryn White
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Robert T Morris
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan. .,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan.,Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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26
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Golani LK, Wallace-Povirk A, Deis SM, Wong J, Ke J, Gu X, Raghavan S, Wilson MR, Li X, Polin L, de Waal PW, White K, Kushner J, O'Connor C, Hou Z, Xu HE, Melcher K, Dann CE, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Tumor Targeting with Novel 6-Substituted Pyrrolo [2,3-d] Pyrimidine Antifolates with Heteroatom Bridge Substitutions via Cellular Uptake by Folate Receptor α and the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter and Inhibition of de Novo Purine Nucleotide Biosynthesis. J Med Chem 2016; 59:7856-76. [PMID: 27458733 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Targeted antifolates with heteroatom replacements of the carbon vicinal to the phenyl ring in 1 by N (4), O (8), or S (9), or with N-substituted formyl (5), acetyl (6), or trifluoroacetyl (7) moieties, were synthesized and tested for selective cellular uptake by folate receptor (FR) α and β or the proton-coupled folate transporter. Results show increased in vitro antiproliferative activity toward engineered Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing FRs by 4-9 over the CH2 analogue 1. Compounds 4-9 inhibited de novo purine biosynthesis and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase). X-ray crystal structures for 4 with FRα and GARFTase showed that the bound conformations of 4 required flexibility for attachment to both FRα and GARFTase. In mice bearing IGROV1 ovarian tumor xenografts, 4 was highly efficacious. Our results establish that heteroatom substitutions in the 3-atom bridge region of 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines related to 1 provide targeted antifolates that warrant further evaluation as anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalit K Golani
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace-Povirk
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Siobhan M Deis
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jennifer Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jiyuan Ke
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute , 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Xin Gu
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute , 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Sudhir Raghavan
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Mike R Wilson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Xinxin Li
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Lisa Polin
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Parker W de Waal
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute , 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Kathryn White
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - H Eric Xu
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute , 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States.,Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, VARI-SIMM Center, Center for Structure and Function of Drug Targets, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Shanghai 201203, People's Republic of China
| | - Karsten Melcher
- Laboratory of Structural Sciences and Laboratory of Structural Biology and Biochemistry, Van Andel Research Institute , 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503, United States
| | - Charles E Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Deis SM, Doshi A, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A, Dann CE. Structural and Enzymatic Analysis of Tumor-Targeted Antifolates That Inhibit Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Formyltransferase. Biochemistry 2016; 55:4574-82. [PMID: 27439469 PMCID: PMC5238714 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Pemetrexed and methotrexate are antifolates used for cancer chemotherapy and inflammatory diseases. These agents have toxic side effects resulting, in part, from nonspecific cellular transport by the reduced folate carrier (RFC), a ubiquitously expressed facilitative transporter. We previously described 2-amino-4-oxo-6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with modifications of the side chain linker and aromatic ring that are poor substrates for RFC but are efficiently transported via folate receptors (FRs) and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). These targeted antifolates are cytotoxic in vitro toward FR- and PCFT-expressing tumor cells and in vivo with human tumor xenografts in immune-compromised mice, reflecting selective cellular uptake. Antitumor efficacy is due to inhibition of glycinamide ribonucleotide (GAR) formyltransferase (GARFTase) activity in de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides. This study used purified human GARFTase (formyltransferase domain) to assess in vitro inhibition by eight novel thieno- and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates. Seven analogues (AGF23, AGF71, AGF94, AGF117, AGF118, AGF145, and AGF147) inhibited GARFTase with Ki values in the low- to mid-nanomolar concentration range, whereas AGF50 inhibited GARFTase with micromolar potency similar to that of PMX. On the basis of crystal structures of ternary complexes with GARFTase, β-GAR, and the monoglutamyl antifolates, differences in inhibitory potencies correlated well with antifolate binding and the positions of the terminal carboxylates. Our data provide a mechanistic basis for differences in inhibitory potencies between these novel antifolates and a framework for future structure-based drug design. These analogues could be more efficacious than clinically used antifolates, reflecting their selective cellular uptake by FRs and PCFT and potent GARFTase inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan M. Deis
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Arpit Doshi
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Larry H. Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Charles E. Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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28
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Functional and mechanistic roles of the human proton-coupled folate transporter transmembrane domain 6-7 linker. Biochem J 2016; 473:3545-3562. [PMID: 27514717 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT; SLC46A1) is a folate-proton symporter expressed in solid tumors and is used for tumor-targeted delivery of cytotoxic antifolates. Topology modeling suggests that the PCFT secondary structure includes 12 transmembrane domains (TMDs) with TMDs 6 and 7 linked by an intracellular loop (positions 236-265) including His247, implicated as functionally important. Single-cysteine (Cys) mutants were inserted from positions 241 to 251 in Cys-less PCFT and mutant proteins were expressed in PCFT-null (R1-11) HeLa cells; none were reactive with 2-aminoethyl methanethiosulfonate biotin, suggesting that the TMD6-7 loop is intracellular. Twenty-nine single alanine mutants spanning the entire TMD6-7 loop were expressed in R1-11 cells; activity was generally preserved, with the exception of the 247, 250, and 251 mutants, partly due to decreased surface expression. Coexpression of PCFT TMD1-6 and TMD7-12 half-molecules in R1-11 cells partially restored transport activity, although removal of residues 252-265 from TMD7-12 abolished transport. Chimeric proteins, including a nonhomologous sequence from a thiamine transporter (ThTr1) inserted into the PCFT TMD6-7 loop (positions 236-250 or 251-265), were active, although replacement of the entire loop with the ThTr1 sequence resulted in substantial loss of activity. Amino acid replacements (Ala, Arg, His, Gln, and Glu) or deletions at position 247 in wild-type and PCFT-ThTr1 chimeras resulted in differential effects on transport. Collectively, our findings suggest that the PCFT TMD6-7 connecting loop confers protein stability and may serve a unique functional role that depends on secondary structure rather than particular sequence elements.
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29
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Wilson MR, Hou Z, Yang S, Polin L, Kushner J, White K, Huang J, Ratnam M, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. Targeting Nonsquamous Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer via the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter with 6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3-d]Pyrimidine Thienoyl Antifolates. Mol Pharmacol 2016; 89:425-34. [PMID: 26837243 DOI: 10.1124/mol.115.102798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pemetrexed (PMX) is a 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolate used for therapy of nonsquamous nonsmall cell lung cancer (NS-NSCLC). PMX is transported by the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). Unlike RFC, PCFT is active at acidic pH levels characterizing the tumor microenvironment. By real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, PCFT transcripts and proteins were detected in primary NS-NSCLC specimens. In six NS-NSCLC cell lines (A549, H1437, H460, H1299, H1650, and H2030), PCFT transcripts and proteins were detected by real-time RT-PCR and western blots, respectively. 6-Substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates related to PMX [compound 1 (C1) and compound 2 (C2), respectively] are selective substrates for PCFT over RFC. In the NS-NSCLC cell lines, both [(3)H]PMX and [(3)H]C2 were transported by PCFT. C1 and C2 inhibited proliferation of the NS-NSCLC cell lines; A549, H460, and H2030 cells were more sensitive to C1 than to PMX. C1 and C2 inhibited glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis. When treated at pH 6.8, which favors PCFT uptake, C1 and C2 inhibited clonogenicity of H460 cells greater than PMX; PMX inhibited clonogenicity more than C1 or C2 at pH 7.2, which favors RFC transport over PCFT. Knockdown of PCFT in H460 cells resulted in decreased [(3)H]PMX and [(3)H]C2 transport and decreased growth inhibition by C1 and C2, and to a lesser extent by PMX. In vivo efficacy of C1 was seen toward H460 tumor xenografts in severe-combined immunodeficient mice. Our results suggest that 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates offer significant promise for treating NS-NSCLC by selective uptake by PCFT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike R Wilson
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Si Yang
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Lisa Polin
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Kathryn White
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Jenny Huang
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Manohar Ratnam
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology (M.R.W., Z.H., L.P., J.K., K.W., J.H., M.R., L.H.M.), and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (Z.H., L.P., M.R., L.H.M.); and Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (S.Y., A.G.)
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Saikia L, Roudragouda P, Thakur AJ. A one pot, two-step synthesis of 5-arylpyrrolo[2,3- d ]pyrimidines and screening of their preliminary antibacterial properties. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2016; 26:992-998. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.12.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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31
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De Coen LM, Heugebaert TSA, García D, Stevens CV. Synthetic Entries to and Biological Activity of Pyrrolopyrimidines. Chem Rev 2015; 116:80-139. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laurens M. De Coen
- Department of Sustainable
Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links
653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas S. A. Heugebaert
- Department of Sustainable
Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links
653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daniel García
- Department of Sustainable
Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links
653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Christian V. Stevens
- Department of Sustainable
Organic Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure links
653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Wang L, Wallace A, Raghavan S, Deis SM, Wilson MR, Yang S, Polin L, White K, Kushner J, Orr S, George C, O'Connor C, Hou Z, Mitchell-Ryan S, Dann CE, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. 6-Substituted Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine Thienoyl Regioisomers as Targeted Antifolates for Folate Receptor α and the Proton-Coupled Folate Transporter in Human Tumors. J Med Chem 2015; 58:6938-59. [PMID: 26317331 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
2-Amino-4-oxo-6-substituted-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolate thiophene regioisomers of AGF94 (4) with a thienoyl side chain and three-carbon bridge lengths [AGF150 (5) and AGF154 (7)] were synthesized as potential antitumor agents. These analogues inhibited proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) sublines expressing folate receptors (FRs) α or β (IC50s < 1 nM) or the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) (IC50 < 7 nM). Compounds 5 and 7 inhibited KB, IGROV1, and SKOV3 human tumor cells at subnanomolar concentrations, reflecting both FRα and PCFT uptake. AGF152 (6) and AGF163 (8), 2,4-diamino-5-substituted-furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thiophene regioisomers, also inhibited growth of FR-expressing CHO and KB cells. All four analogues inhibited glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase). Crystal structures of human GARFTase complexed with 5 and 7 were reported. In severe combined immunodeficient mice bearing SKOV3 tumors, 7 was efficacious. The selectivity of these compounds for PCFT and for FRα and β over the ubiquitously expressed reduced folate carrier is a paradigm for selective tumor targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Adrianne Wallace
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Sudhir Raghavan
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Siobhan M Deis
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Mike R Wilson
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Si Yang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Lisa Polin
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Kathryn White
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Juiwanna Kushner
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Steven Orr
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Christina George
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Carrie O'Connor
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Shermaine Mitchell-Ryan
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Charles E Dann
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University , Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute , 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine , Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Chen XB, Yan SJ, Su A, Liu W, Lin J. Catalyst-free three-component domino reactions for regioselective synthesis of multi-functional fused pyrroles. Tetrahedron 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2015.05.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Zhao R, Visentin M, Goldman ID. Determinants of the activities of antifolates delivered into cells by folate-receptor-mediated endocytosis. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2015; 75:1163-73. [PMID: 25847479 PMCID: PMC4442060 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-015-2733-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Elements in the endocytic process that are determinants of the activities of antifolates delivered by folate-receptor alpha (FRα) were explored. METHODS Antifolate growth inhibition was assessed with a 1- or 5-day exposure in reduced folate carrier-null HeLa cell lines that express a high level of FRα in the presence or absence of the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). pH-dependent rates of dissociation from FRα were also determined. RESULTS With a 1-day drug exposure which is relevant to the pulse clinical administration of these drugs, FRα expression enhanced raltitrexed activity and modestly enhanced ZD9331 activity, but did not significantly augment the activity of pemetrexed or lomotrexol. With a 5-day drug exposure, FRα-mediated growth inhibition was increased for raltitrexed and ZD9331 and emerged for lomotrexol. While the FRα-augmented activity of lomotrexol and raltitrexed did not require PCFT, augmentation of ZD9331 activity required the co-expression of PCFT with both 1- and 5-day exposures. In contrast, there was no augmentation of pemetrexed activity by FRα under any condition. The activities of these agents correlated with their rate of dissociation from the receptor at acidic pH: raltitrexed > ZD9331 > lomotrexol > pemetrexed consistent with insufficient pemetrexed release from FRα for export from the endosomes. CONCLUSIONS FRα is unlikely to contribute to the pharmacological activity of antifolates, such as pemetrexed, that bind tightly to, and dissociate slowly from, the receptor particularly when the exposure time is brief. While PCFT was required for FRα-mediated ZD9931 activity, the activities of the other antifolates was independent of PCFT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongbao Zhao
- Departments of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Chanin 628, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA,
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Structural determinants of human proton-coupled folate transporter oligomerization: role of GXXXG motifs and identification of oligomeric interfaces at transmembrane domains 3 and 6. Biochem J 2015; 469:33-44. [PMID: 25877470 DOI: 10.1042/bj20150169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The human proton-coupled folate transporter (hPCFT) is expressed in solid tumours and is active at pHs characterizing the tumour microenvironment. Recent attention focused on exploiting hPCFT for targeting solid tumours with novel cytotoxic anti-folates. hPCFT has 12 transmembrane domains (TMDs) and forms homo-oligomers with functional significance. The hPCFT primary sequence includes GXXXG motifs in TMD2 (G(93)XXXG(97)) and TMD4 (G(155)XXXG(159)). To investigate roles of these motifs in hPCFT function, stability and surface expression, we mutated glycine to leucine to generate single or multiple substitution mutants. Only the G93L and G159L mutants preserved substantial [(3)H]methotrexate (Mtx) transport when expressed in hPCFT-null (R1-11) HeLa cells. Transport activity of the glycine-to-leucine mutants correlated with surface hPCFT by surface biotinylation and confocal microscopy with ECFP*-tagged hPCFTs, suggesting a role for GXXXG in hPCFT stability and intracellular trafficking. When co-expressed in R1-11 cells, haemagglutinin-tagged glycine-to-leucine mutants and His10-tagged wild-type (WT) hPCFT co-associated on nickel affinity columns, suggesting that the GXXXG motifs are not directly involved in hPCFT oligomerization. This was substantiated by in situ FRET experiments with co-expressed ECFP*- and YFP-tagged hPCFT. Molecular modelling of dimeric hPCFT structures showed juxtaposed TMDs 2, 3, 4 and 6 as potential structural interfaces between monomers. hPCFT cysteine insertion mutants in TMD3 (Q136C and L137C) and TMD6 (W213C, L214C, L224C, A227C, F228C, F230C and G231C) were expressed in R1-11 cells and cross-linked with 1,6-hexanediyl bismethanethiosulfonate, confirming TMD juxtapositions. Altogether, our results imply that TMDs 3 and 6 provide critical interfaces for formation of hPCFT oligomers, which might be facilitated by the GXXXG motifs in TMD2 and TMD4.
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Asghari T, Bakavoli M, Eshghi H, Saberi S, Ebrahimpour Z. Synthesis of 5,5′-(ethane-1,2-diyl)bis(3-((5-bromo-6-methyl-2-tertiaryaminopyrimidin-4-yl)thio)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-amines) and Their Novel bis-cyclized Products, 1,2-bis(pyrimido[5,4e][1,2,4] triazolo[3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazin-3-yl)ethane, as Potential Inhi. J Heterocycl Chem 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jhet.2421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tayebe Asghari
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; 91775-1436 Mashhad Iran
| | - Mehdi Bakavoli
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; 91775-1436 Mashhad Iran
| | - Hossein Eshghi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; 91775-1436 Mashhad Iran
| | - Sattar Saberi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; 91775-1436 Mashhad Iran
| | - Zahra Ebrahimpour
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Ferdowsi University of Mashhad; 91775-1436 Mashhad Iran
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Wang Y, Mitchell-Ryan S, Raghavan S, George C, Orr S, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Novel 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as dual inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and as potential antitumor agents. J Med Chem 2015; 58:1479-93. [PMID: 25602637 DOI: 10.1021/jm501787c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
A new series of 5-substituted thiopheneyl pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 6-11 with varying chain lengths (n = 1-6) were designed and synthesized as hybrids of the clinically used anticancer drug pemetrexed (PMX) and our 6-substituted thiopheneyl pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 2c and 2d with folate receptor (FR) α and proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) uptake specificity over the reduced folate carrier (RFC) and inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis at glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase). Compounds 6-11 inhibited KB human tumor cells in the order 9 = 10 > 8 > 7 > 6 = 11. Compounds 8-10 were variously transported by FRα, PCFT, and RFC and, unlike PMX, inhibited de novo purine nucleotide rather than thymidylate biosynthesis. The antiproliferative effects of 8 and 9 appeared to be due to their dual inhibitions of both GARFTase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase. Our studies identify a unique structure-activity relationship for transport and dual target inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiang Wang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Synthesis and antitumor activity of a novel series of 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potential nonclassical antifolates targeting both thymidylate and purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 93:142-55. [PMID: 25668494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.01.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of 2-amino-4-oxo-6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines were designed and synthesized as potential nonclassical antifolates targeting both thymidylate and purine nucleotide biosynthesis. Condensation of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine with ethyl-4-chloroacetoacetate and subsequent hydrolysis afforded the key intermediate, 2-amino-4-oxo-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6-yl-acetic acid. Coupling with various amino acid methyl esters followed by saponification and condensation with 3-(aminomethyl)pyridine provided target compounds 1-9. The new compounds exhibited micromolar to submicromolar antiproliferative potencies against a panel of tumor cell lines including KB, A549 and HepG2. Growth inhibition of compound 2 toward KB cells resulted in cytotoxicity and G1/G2-phase accumulation, and was partially protected by excess thymidine and adenosine, but was completely reversed in the combination of thymidine and adenosine, indicating both thymidylate and de novo purine nucleotide synthesis as the targeted pathway. However, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICA) protection was incomplete, suggesting inhibition of both glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) and AICA ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFTase). The results of the docking studies show that 2 could bind and inhibit both thymidylate synthase (TS) and the two folate-dependent purine biosynthetic enzymes (GARFTase and AICARFTase), which is consistent with the results of in vitro metabolic assays. Our studies establish that compound 2 is an excellent lead analog as a multitargeted antifolate for further structure optimization.
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Golani LK, George C, Zhao S, Raghavan S, Orr S, Wallace A, Wilson MR, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Structure-activity profiles of novel 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates with modified amino acids for cellular uptake by folate receptors α and β and the proton-coupled folate transporter. J Med Chem 2014; 57:8152-66. [PMID: 25234128 PMCID: PMC4191586 DOI: 10.1021/jm501113m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Structure-activity relationships for cellular uptake and inhibition of cell proliferation were studied for 2-amino-4-oxo-6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates in which the terminal l-glutamate of the parent structure (7) was replaced by natural or unnatural amino acids. Compounds 7 and 10-13 were selectively inhibitory toward folate receptor (FR) α-expressing Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Antiproliferative effects of compounds 7 and 9-13 toward FRα- and FRβ-expressing CHO cells were only partly reflected in binding affinities to FRα and FRβ or in the docking scores with molecular models of FRα and FRβ. Compounds 7 and 11 were potent inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine biosynthesis in KB human tumor cells. These studies establish for the first time the importance of the α- and γ-carboxylic acid groups, the length of the amino acid, and the conformation of the side chain for transporter binding and biological activity of 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine thienoyl antifolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalit K Golani
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Shao KP, Zhang XY, Chen PJ, Xue DQ, He P, Ma LY, Zheng JX, Zhang QR, Liu HM. Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrimidine–benzimidazol hybrids as potential anticancer agents. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:3877-81. [PMID: 25001482 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.06.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Revised: 06/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Zhao R, Goldman ID. The proton-coupled folate transporter: physiological and pharmacological roles. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2014; 13:875-80. [PMID: 24383099 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have identified the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) as the mechanism by which folates are absorbed across the apical brush-border membrane of the small intestine and across the basolateral membrane of the choroid plexus into the cerebrospinal fluid. Both processes are defective when there are loss-of-function mutations in this gene as occurs in the autosomal recessive disorder hereditary folate malabsorption. Because this transporter functions optimally at low pH, antifolates are being developed that are highly specific for PCFT in order to achieve selective delivery to malignant cells within the acidic environment of solid tumors. PCFT has a spectrum of affinities for folates and antifolates that narrows and increases at low pH. Residues have been identified that play a role in folate and proton binding, proton coupling, and oscillation of the carrier between its conformational states.
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Synthesis, in vitro antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of novel pyrimidine–benzimidazol combinations. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:2741-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Matherly LH, Wilson MR, Hou Z. The major facilitative folate transporters solute carrier 19A1 and solute carrier 46A1: biology and role in antifolate chemotherapy of cancer. Drug Metab Dispos 2014; 42:632-49. [PMID: 24396145 PMCID: PMC3965896 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.113.055723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 01/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the biology of the major facilitative membrane transporters, the reduced folate carrier (RFC) (Solute Carrier 19A1) and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) (Solute Carrier 46A1). Folates are essential vitamins, and folate deficiency contributes to a variety of health disorders. RFC is ubiquitously expressed and is the major folate transporter in mammalian cells and tissues. PCFT mediates the intestinal absorption of dietary folates and appears to be important for transport of folates into the central nervous system. Clinically relevant antifolates for cancer, such as methotrexate and pralatrexate, are transported by RFC, and loss of RFC transport is an important mechanism of methotrexate resistance in cancer cell lines and in patients. PCFT is expressed in human tumors, and is active at pH conditions associated with the tumor microenvironment. Pemetrexed is an excellent substrate for both RFC and PCFT. Novel tumor-targeted antifolates related to pemetrexed with selective membrane transport by PCFT over RFC are being developed. In recent years, there have been major advances in understanding the structural and functional properties and the regulation of RFC and PCFT. The molecular bases for methotrexate resistance associated with loss of RFC transport and for hereditary folate malabsorption, attributable to mutant PCFT, were determined. Future studies should continue to translate molecular insights from basic studies of RFC and PCFT biology into new therapeutic strategies for cancer and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology (L.H.M., M.R.W., Z.H.) and Department of Pharmacology (L.H.M.), Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; and Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan (L.H.M., Z.H.)
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Chen XB, Wang XY, Zhu DD, Yan SJ, Lin J. Three-component domino reaction synthesis of highly functionalized bicyclic pyrrole derivatives. Tetrahedron 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2013.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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45
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Hou Z, Matherly LH. Biology of the major facilitative folate transporters SLC19A1 and SLC46A1. CURRENT TOPICS IN MEMBRANES 2014; 73:175-204. [PMID: 24745983 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800223-0.00004-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the biology of the major facilitative membrane folate transporters, the reduced folate carrier (RFC), and the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT). Folates are essential vitamins, and folate deficiency contributes to a variety of heath disorders. RFC is ubiquitously expressed and is the major folate transporter in mammalian cells and tissues. PCFT mediates intestinal absorption of dietary folates. Clinically relevant antifolates such as methotrexate (MTX) are transported by RFC, and the loss of RFC transport is an important mechanism of MTX resistance. PCFT is abundantly expressed in human tumors and is active under pH conditions associated with the tumor microenvironment. Pemetrexed (PMX) is an excellent substrate for PCFT as well as for RFC. Novel tumor-targeted antifolates related to PMX with selective membrane transport by PCFT over RFC are being developed. The molecular picture of RFC and PCFT continues to evolve relating to membrane topology, N-glycosylation, energetics, and identification of structurally and functionally important domains and amino acids. The molecular bases for MTX resistance associated with loss of RFC function, and for the rare autosomal recessive condition, hereditary folate malabsorption (HFM), attributable to mutant PCFT, have been established. From structural homologies to the bacterial transporters GlpT and LacY, homology models were developed for RFC and PCFT, enabling new mechanistic insights and experimentally testable hypotheses. RFC and PCFT exist as homo-oligomers, and evidence suggests that homo-oligomerization of RFC and PCFT monomeric proteins may be important for intracellular trafficking and/or transport function. Better understanding of the structure and function of RFC and PCFT should facilitate the rational development of new therapeutic strategies for cancer as well as for HFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA; Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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Mitchell-Ryan S, Wang Y, Raghavan S, Ravindra MP, Hales E, Orr S, Cherian C, Hou Z, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Discovery of 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates as dual-acting inhibitors of glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase in de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis: implications of inhibiting 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase to ampk activation and antitumor activity. J Med Chem 2013; 56:10016-10032. [PMID: 24256410 DOI: 10.1021/jm401328u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We synthesized 5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates (compounds 5-10) with one-to-six bridge carbons and a benozyl ring in the side chain as antitumor agents. Compound 8 with a 4-carbon bridge was the most active analogue and potently inhibited proliferation of folate receptor (FR) α-expressing Chinese hamster ovary and KB human tumor cells. Growth inhibition was reversed completely or in part by excess folic acid, indicating that FRα is involved in cellular uptake, and resulted in S-phase accumulation and apoptosis. Antiproliferative effects of compound 8 toward KB cells were protected by excess adenosine but not thymidine, establishing de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis as the targeted pathway. However, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICA) protection was incomplete, suggesting inhibition of both AICA ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFTase) and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase). Inhibition of GARFTase and AICARFTase by compound 8 was confirmed by cellular metabolic assays and resulted in ATP pool depletion. To our knowledge, this is the first example of an antifolate that acts as a dual inhibitor of GARFTase and AICARFTase as its principal mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yiqiang Wang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
| | - Sudhir Raghavan
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
| | - Manasa Punaha Ravindra
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
| | - Eric Hales
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Steven Orr
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Christina Cherian
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Larry H Matherly
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201.,Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
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Zhao R, Diop-Bove N, Goldman ID. Enhanced receptor-mediated endocytosis and cytotoxicity of a folic acid-desacetylvinblastine monohydrazide conjugate in a pemetrexed-resistant cell line lacking folate-specific facilitative carriers but with increased folate receptor expression. Mol Pharmacol 2013; 85:310-21. [PMID: 24249723 DOI: 10.1124/mol.113.089110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The reduced folate carrier (RFC), proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT), and folate receptors (FR) are folate-specific transporters. Antifolates currently in the clinic, such as pemetrexed, methotrexate, and pralatrexate, are transported into tumor cells primarily via RFC. Folic acid conjugated to cytotoxics, a new class of antineoplastics, are transported into cells via FR-mediated endocytosis. To better define the role of PCFT in antifolate resistance, a methotrexate-resistant cell line, M160-8, was selected from a HeLa subline in which the RFC gene was deleted and PCFT was highly overexpressed. These cells were cross-resistant to pemetrexed. PCFT function and the PCFT mRNA level in M160-8 cells were barely detectable, and FR-α function and mRNA level were increased as compared with the parent cells. While pemetrexed rapidly associated with FR and was internalized within endosomes in M160-8 cells, consistent with FR-mediated transport, subsequent pemetrexed and (6S)-5-formyltetrahydrofolate export into the cytosol was markedly impaired. In contrast, M160-8 cells were collaterally sensitive to EC0905, a folic acid-desacetylvinblastine monohydrazide conjugate also transported by FR-mediated endocytosis. However, in this case a sulfhydryl bond is cleaved to release the lipophilic cytotoxic moiety into the endosome, which passively diffuses out of the endosome into the cytosol. Hence, resistance to pemetrexed in M160-8 cells was due to entrapment of the drug within the endosome due to the absence of PCFT under conditions in which the FR cycling function was intact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongbao Zhao
- Departments of Medicine (R.Z., I.D.G.) and Molecular Pharmacology (R.Z., N.D.-P., I.D.G.), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
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Wang Y, Cherian C, Orr S, Mitchell-Ryan S, Hou Z, Raghavan S, Matherly LH, Gangjee A. Tumor-targeting with novel non-benzoyl 6-substituted straight chain pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates via cellular uptake by folate receptor α and inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis. J Med Chem 2013; 56:8684-95. [PMID: 24111942 DOI: 10.1021/jm401139z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
A new series of 6-substituted straight side chain pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 3a-d with varying chain lengths (n = 5-8) was designed and synthesized as part of our program to provide targeted antitumor agents with folate receptor (FR) cellular uptake specificity and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFTase) inhibition. Carboxylic acids 4a-d were converted to the acid chlorides and reacted with diazomethane, followed by 48% HBr to generate the α-bromomethylketones 5a-d. Condensation of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxypyrimidine 6 with 5a-d afforded the 6-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 7a-d. Hydrolysis and subsequent coupling with diethyl l-glutamate and saponification afforded target compounds 3a-d. Compounds 3b-d showed selective cellular uptake via FRα and -β, associated with high affinity binding and inhibition of de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis via GARFTase, resulting in potent inhibition against FR-expressing Chinese hamster cells and human KB tumor cells in culture. Our studies establish, for the first time, that a side chain benzoyl group is not essential for tumor-selective drug uptake by FRα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiang Wang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University , 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
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Structures of human folate receptors reveal biological trafficking states and diversity in folate and antifolate recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:15180-8. [PMID: 23934049 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1308827110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antifolates, folate analogs that inhibit vitamin B9 (folic acid)-using cellular enzymes, have been used over several decades for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. Cellular uptake of the antifolates in clinical use occurs primarily via widely expressed facilitative membrane transporters. More recently, human folate receptors (FRs), high affinity receptors that transport folate via endocytosis, have been proposed as targets for the specific delivery of new classes of antifolates or folate conjugates to tumors or sites of inflammation. The development of specific, FR-targeted antifolates would be accelerated if additional biophysical data, particularly structural models of the receptors, were available. Here we describe six distinct crystallographic models that provide insight into biological trafficking of FRs and distinct binding modes of folate and antifolates to these receptors. From comparison of the structures, we delineate discrete structural conformations representative of key stages in the endocytic trafficking of FRs and propose models for pH-dependent conformational changes. Additionally, we describe the molecular details of human FR in complex with three clinically prevalent antifolates, pemetrexed (also Alimta), aminopterin, and methotrexate. On the whole, our data form the basis for rapid design and implementation of unique, FR-targeted, folate-based drugs for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.
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Connelly S, DeMartino JK, Boger DL, Wilson IA. Biological and structural evaluation of 10R- and 10S-methylthio-DDACTHF reveals a new role for sulfur in inhibition of glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase. Biochemistry 2013; 52:5133-44. [PMID: 23869564 DOI: 10.1021/bi4005182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Glycinamide ribonucleotide transformylase (GAR Tfase) is a folate-dependent enzyme in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway, which has long been considered a potential target for development of anti-neoplastic therapeutics. Here we report the biological and X-ray crystallographic evaluations of both independent C10 diastereomers, 10S- and 10R-methylthio-DDACTHF, bound to human GAR Tfase, including the highest-resolution apo GAR Tfase structure to date (1.52 Å). Both diastereomers are potent inhibitors (Ki = 210 nM for 10R, and Ki = 180 nM for 10S) of GAR Tfase and exhibit effective inhibition of human leukemia cell growth (IC₅₀ = 80 and 50 nM, respectively). Their inhibitory activity was surprisingly high, and these lipophilic C10-substituted analogues show distinct advantages over their hydrophilic counterparts, most strikingly in retaining potency in mutant human leukemia cell lines that lack reduced folate carrier protein activity (IC₅₀ = 70 and 60 nM, respectively). Structural characterization reveals a new binding mode for these diastereoisomers, in which the lipophilic thiomethyl groups penetrate deeper into a hydrophobic pocket within the folate-binding site. In silico docking simulations of three other sulfur-containing folate analogues also indicate that this hydrophobic cleft represents a favorable region for binding lipophilic substituents. Overall, these results suggest sulfur and its substitutions play an important role in not only the binding of anti-folates to GAR Tfase but also the selectivity and cellular activity (growth inhibition), thereby presenting new possibilities for the future design of potent and selective anti-folate drugs that target GAR Tfase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Connelly
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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