1
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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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2
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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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3
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Kovalev IS, Zyryanov GV, Santra S, Majee A, Varaksin MV, Charushin VN. Folic Acid Antimetabolites (Antifolates): A Brief Review on Synthetic Strategies and Application Opportunities. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27196229. [PMID: 36234766 PMCID: PMC9573478 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27196229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimetabolites of folic acid represent a large group of drugs and drug candidates, including those for cancer chemotherapy. In this current review, the most common methods and approaches are presented for the synthesis of therapeutically significant antimetabolites of folic acid, which are Methotrexate (MTX), Raltitrexed (Tomudex, ZD1694), Pralatrexate, Pemetrexed, TNP-351, and Lometrexol. In addition, the applications or uses of these folic acid antimetabolites are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor S. Kovalev
- Department of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Grigory V. Zyryanov
- Department of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovskiy Institute of Organic Synthesis, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- Correspondence: or (G.V.Z.); (A.M.)
| | - Sougata Santra
- Department of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Adinath Majee
- Department of Chemistry, Visva-Bharati (A Central University), Santiniketan 731235, India
- Correspondence: or (G.V.Z.); (A.M.)
| | - Mikhail V. Varaksin
- Department of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovskiy Institute of Organic Synthesis, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Valery N. Charushin
- Department of Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
- I. Ya. Postovskiy Institute of Organic Synthesis, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620219 Yekaterinburg, Russia
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4
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Wang C, Zhang M, Shi S, Jiang Y, Fei X, Liu L, Ye D, Zhang S. Interaction mechanism of novel fluorescent antifolates targeted with folate receptors α and β via molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations. J Mol Model 2022; 28:205. [PMID: 35780236 DOI: 10.1007/s00894-022-05210-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Eight novel fluorescent antifolates were designed and docked with folate receptors FRα and FRβ. The structures of the complexes were further calculated by molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. The binding energies were calculated by molecular docking and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) studies. The binding energy differences between FRα and FRβ (|Ebα|-|Ebβ|) values for compounds 3 and 8 were 1.3 and 1.1 kcal/mol calculated by molecular docking, and 13.9 and 10.4 kcal/mol by MM-PBSA simulation, respectively. The results indicated that compounds 3 and 8 may be the best candidates for targeted drug delivery to FRα. The binding structures, interaction residues, negatively charged pocket volume, and surface area were analyzed for all the complexes. We further calculated the root mean square displacement and secondary structural elements of the bound complexes using molecular dynamics simulations. The purpose of this study is to design novel antifolates targeted to FRα and FRβ, and to further distinguish between cancer cells and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuihong Wang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Meiling Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuhui Shi
- School of Mathematics and Physics, Handan College, Handan, China
| | - Yue Jiang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuening Fei
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Lijuan Liu
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dan Ye
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shouchao Zhang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
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5
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Chawla P, Teli G, Gill RK, Narang RK. An Insight into Synthetic Strategies and Recent Developments of Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202102555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Chawla
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry ISF College of Pharmacy Moga Punjab India
- Pooja Chawla Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry ISF College of Pharmacy Moga 142001 Punjab India
| | - Ghanshyam Teli
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry ISF College of Pharmacy Moga Punjab India
| | - Rupinder Kaur Gill
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry ISF College of Pharmacy Moga Punjab India
| | - Raj Kumar Narang
- Department of Pharmaceutics ISF College of Pharmacy Moga Punjab India
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6
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Xu Y, Wang W, Yao J, Yang M, Guo Y, Deng Z, Mao Q, Li S, Duan L. Comparative proteomics suggests the mode of action of a novel molluscicide against the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata, intermediate host of Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2021; 247:111431. [PMID: 34813866 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2021.111431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic parasitic nematode that is the most common cause of human eosinophilic meningitis. The invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata is an important intermediate host of A. cantonensis and contributes to its spread. P. canaliculata control will help prevent its invasion and transmission of A. cantonensis. The new molluscicide PBQ (1-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(pyridin-3-yl)urea) exhibits great potency against P. canaliculata and has low toxicity against mammals and non-target aquatic organisms. We studied the mode of action of PBQ using TMT-based comparative quantitative proteomics analysis between PBQ-treated and control P. canaliculata snails. A total of 3151 proteins were identified, and 245 of these proteins were significantly differentially expressed with 135 downregulated and 110 upregulated. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses identified GO terms and KEGG pathways involved in de novo purine biosynthesis, ribosome components and translation process were significantly enriched and downregulated. The results indicated that PBQ treatment had substantial effects on the synthesis of genetic material, translation process, and protein synthesis of P. canaliculata and were likely the main cause of snail mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxiang Xu
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Weisi Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Junmin Yao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Minli Yang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China.
| | - Yunhai Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhuohui Deng
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Research and Training of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Qiang Mao
- Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Surveillance, Research and Training of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Guangzhou, 511430, China
| | - Shizhu Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Liping Duan
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, 200234, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Centre for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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7
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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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8
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Cuthbertson CR, Arabzada Z, Bankhead A, Kyani A, Neamati N. A Review of Small-Molecule Inhibitors of One-Carbon Enzymes: SHMT2 and MTHFD2 in the Spotlight. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:624-646. [PMID: 33860190 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is a key hallmark of cancer and shifts cellular metabolism to meet the demands of biomass production necessary for abnormal cell reproduction. One-carbon metabolism (1CM) contributes to many biosynthetic pathways that fuel growth and is comprised of a complex network of enzymes. Methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil were pioneering drugs in this field and are still widely used today as anticancer agents as well as for other diseases such as arthritis. Besides dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase, two other enzymes of the folate cycle arm of 1CM have not been targeted clinically: serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) and methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (MTHFD). An increasing body of literature suggests that the mitochondrial isoforms of these enzymes (SHMT2 and MTHFD2) are clinically relevant in the context of cancer. In this review, we focused on the 1CM pathway as a target for cancer therapy and, in particular, SHMT2 and MTHFD2. The function, regulation, and clinical relevance of SHMT2 and MTHFD2 are all discussed. We expand on previous clinical studies and evaluate the prognostic significance of these critical enzymes by performing a pan-cancer analysis of patient data from the The Cancer Genome Atlas and a transcriptional coexpression network enrichment analysis. We also provide an overview of preclinical and clinical inhibitors targeting the folate pathway, the methionine cycle, and folate-dependent purine biosynthesis enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine R Cuthbertson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 1600 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Zahra Arabzada
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 1600 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Armand Bankhead
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.,Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Armita Kyani
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 1600 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Nouri Neamati
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy and the Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 1600 Huron Parkway, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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9
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Dekhne AS, Hou Z, Gangjee A, Matherly LH. Therapeutic Targeting of Mitochondrial One-Carbon Metabolism in Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2245-2255. [PMID: 32879053 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
One-carbon (1C) metabolism encompasses folate-mediated 1C transfer reactions and related processes, including nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis, antioxidant regeneration, and epigenetic regulation. 1C pathways are compartmentalized in the cytosol, mitochondria, and nucleus. 1C metabolism in the cytosol has been an important therapeutic target for cancer since the inception of modern chemotherapy, and "antifolates" targeting cytosolic 1C pathways continue to be a mainstay of the chemotherapy armamentarium for cancer. Recent insights into the complexities of 1C metabolism in cancer cells, including the critical role of the mitochondrial 1C pathway as a source of 1C units, glycine, reducing equivalents, and ATP, have spurred the discovery of novel compounds that target these reactions, with particular focus on 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 and serine hydroxymethyltransferase 2. In this review, we discuss key aspects of 1C metabolism, with emphasis on the importance of mitochondrial 1C metabolism to metabolic homeostasis, its relationship with the oncogenic phenotype, and its therapeutic potential for cancer.
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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
| | - Zhanjun Hou
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan
| | - 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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10
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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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11
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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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12
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13
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Jiang Y, Wang C, Zhang M, Fei X, Gu Y. Interacted mechanism of functional groups in ligand targeted with folate receptor via docking, molecular dynamic and MM/PBSA. J Mol Graph Model 2018; 87:121-128. [PMID: 30537642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Twenty novel compounds with different functional groups (-COOH, -OH, -NH2 and -CH3) were designed to study the interaction mechanism of ligands with folate receptors (FRs). The optimized structure and the dipole moment of the novel compounds were calculated by a density functional tight-binding method (DFTB). The binding mechanism of the compounds with FRs was studied by molecular docking, molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and MM/PBSA free energy calculations. The binding energies, root mean square displacement and root mean square fluctuation of the complexes were analyzed to further illustrate the effect of the functional groups. The functional groups play important roles in stabilizing the bound complexes. Compared to other groups, -OH is more stably linked with the compound. These data provide a theoretical basis for the design of novel compounds targeted with FRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Jiang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
| | - Cuihong Wang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Meiling Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuening Fei
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yingchun Gu
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
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14
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Wang C, Jiang Y, Zhang M, Fei X, Gu Y. Novel fluorescent antifolates that target folate receptors α and β: Molecular dynamics and density functional theory study. J Mol Graph Model 2018; 85:40-47. [PMID: 30055477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2018.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Nine novel fluorescent antifolates, 1-9, were designed and docked with FRα and FRβ. The binding energies of the bound complexes were determined by molecular docking and MM-PBSA studies. The structural properties of the complexes FR-FOL, FR-7, FR-8 and FR-9 were analyzed in detail via molecular docking and molecular dynamics studies. We further calculated the root mean square displacement and root mean square fluctuation of the bound complexes using molecular dynamics simulations. Since compounds 7, 8 and 9 are promising candidate in distinguishing FRα from FRβ, the hydrogen bond properties of complexes FRα-7, FRα-8 and FRα-9 were studied by a dispersion complemented density functional tight-binding method. The purpose of this study is to provide a rationale for the design of novel fluorescent antifolates targeted with FRα and FRβ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuihong Wang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yue Jiang
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
| | - Meiling Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuening Fei
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Yingchun Gu
- School of Science, TianJin ChengJian University, Tianjin, China
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15
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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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16
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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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17
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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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18
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Wang C, Jiang Y, Fei X, Gu Y. Design and interaction mechanism of ligand targeted with folate receptor α and β. J PHYS ORG CHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/poc.3719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Wang
- School of Science; TianJin ChengJian University; Tianjin China
| | - Y. Jiang
- School of Science; TianJin ChengJian University; Tianjin China
| | - X. Fei
- School of Science; TianJin ChengJian University; Tianjin China
| | - Y. Gu
- School of Science; TianJin ChengJian University; Tianjin China
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19
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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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20
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Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Antineoplastic Drug Loading and Delivery. MEDICINES 2017; 4:medicines4040087. [PMID: 29168760 PMCID: PMC5750611 DOI: 10.3390/medicines4040087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells are a population of undifferentiated multipotent adult cells possessing extensive self-renewal properties and the potential to differentiate into a variety of mesenchymal lineage cells. They express broad anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity on the immune system and after transplantation can interact with the surrounding microenvironment, promoting tissue healing and regeneration. For this reason, mesenchymal stromal cells have been widely used in regenerative medicine, both in preclinical and clinical settings. Another clinical application of mesenchymal stromal cells is the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents to neoplastic cells, maximizing the cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and minimizing collateral damage to non-neoplastic tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells are home to the stroma of several primary and metastatic neoplasms and hence can be used as vectors for targeted delivery of antineoplastic drugs to the tumour microenvironment, thereby reducing systemic toxicity and maximizing antitumour effects. Paclitaxel and gemcitabine are the chemotherapeutic drugs best loaded by mesenchymal stromal cells and delivered to neoplastic cells, whereas other agents, like pemetrexed, are not internalized by mesenchymal stromal cells and therefore are not suitable for advanced antineoplastic therapy. This review focuses on the state of the art of advanced antineoplastic cell therapy and its future perspectives, emphasizing in vitro and in vivo preclinical results and future clinical applications.
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21
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Fales KR, Njoroge FG, Brooks HB, Thibodeaux S, Torrado A, Si C, Toth JL, Mc Cowan JR, Roth KD, Thrasher KJ, Frimpong K, Lee MR, Dally RD, Shepherd TA, Durham TB, Margolis BJ, Wu Z, Wang Y, Atwell S, Wang J, Hui YH, Meier TI, Konicek SA, Geeganage S. Discovery of N-(6-Fluoro-1-oxo-1,2-dihydroisoquinolin-7-yl)-5-[(3R)-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-1-yl]thiophene-2-sulfonamide (LSN 3213128), a Potent and Selective Nonclassical Antifolate Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide Ribonucleotide Formyltransferase (AICARFT) Inhibitor Effective at Tumor Suppression in a Cancer Xenograft Model. J Med Chem 2017; 60:9599-9616. [PMID: 29072452 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of cancer is unbridled proliferation that can result in increased demand for de novo synthesis of purine and pyrimidine bases required for DNA and RNA biosynthesis. These synthetic pathways are frequently upregulated in cancer and involve various folate-dependent enzymes. Antifolates have a proven record as clinically used oncolytic agents. Our recent research efforts have produced LSN 3213128 (compound 28a), a novel, selective, nonclassical, orally bioavailable antifolate with potent and specific inhibitory activity for aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (AICARFT), an enzyme in the purine biosynthetic pathway. Inhibition of AICARFT with compound 28a results in dramatic elevation of 5-aminoimidazole 4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (ZMP) and growth inhibition in NCI-H460 and MDA-MB-231met2 cancer cell lines. Treatment with this inhibitor in a murine based xenograft model of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) resulted in tumor growth inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Fales
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - F George Njoroge
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Harold B Brooks
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Stefan Thibodeaux
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Alicia Torrado
- Centro de Investigación Lilly , S. A., Avda. de la Industria 30, 28108 Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Chong Si
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - James L Toth
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Jefferson R Mc Cowan
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Kenneth D Roth
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Kenneth J Thrasher
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Kwame Frimpong
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Matthew R Lee
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Robert D Dally
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Timothy A Shepherd
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Timothy B Durham
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Brandon J Margolis
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Zhipei Wu
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Yong Wang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Shane Atwell
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Jing Wang
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Yu-Hua Hui
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Timothy I Meier
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Susan A Konicek
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
| | - Sandaruwan Geeganage
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company , Indianapolis, Indiana 46285, United States
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22
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Facchetti G, Petrella F, Spaggiari L, Rimoldi I. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: State of the art and advanced cell therapy. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 142:266-270. [PMID: 28800871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy highly resistant to chemotherapy, with a response rate of 20% of patients and for this reason an efficient treatment is still a challenge. Platinum-based chemotherapy in association with a third-generation antifolate is the front-line standard of care whereas any second-line treatment was approved for MPM thus making it a pathology that evokes the need for new therapeutic agents. Different platinum-drugs were synthesised and tested as an option for patients who are not candidates to cisplatin-based therapy. Among these, monofunctional cationic antineoplastic platinum compounds received a special attention in the last decade. Alternative strategies to the commonly used combination-therapy resulted from the use of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) widely used in the field of regenerative medicine and recently proposed as natural carriers for a selective delivery of chemotherapeutic agents and from the use of immune checkpoint and kinase inhibitors. The present short review shed light on the recent state of art and the future perspectives relative to MPM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Facchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Petrella
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Spaggiari
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-oncology, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono 7, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Rimoldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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23
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Tian C, Wang M, Han Z, Fang F, Zhang Z, Wang X, Liu J. Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 6-substituted pyrrolo [3,2-d] pyrimidine analogues as antifolate antitumor agents. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 138:630-643. [PMID: 28711701 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A series of novel 6-substituted pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidine analogues (10a, 11a-13a, 15a, 17a, 18a, 27a and 28a) have been designed and synthesized as antifolate antitumor agents. The anti-proliferative activities of these compounds against HL60, A549, H1299, Hela, HCT116 and HT29 tumor cells were evaluated. Most of the compounds exhibited micromolar anti-proliferative potencies. Compound 15a, the most potent one, has GI50 value of 0.73, 1.72, and 8.92 μM against A549, H1299 and HL60 cells, respectively. The cell cycle distribution assay displayed that 15a could increase the accumulation of G2/M-phase cells. 15a showed low potency in induction of apoptosis. However, the inhibition of A549 cell colony formation was observed. These indicated that the tumor cell death relied on the irreversible effect of 15a on clonogenicity and cell proliferation. The identification of targeted pathway of 15a implied that the anti-proliferative potencies of 15a probably act through dual inhibition of thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Tian
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zifei Han
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhili Zhang
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaowei Wang
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Junyi Liu
- Department of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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24
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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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25
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Schmitt DL, Cheng YJ, Park J, An S. Sequestration-Mediated Downregulation of de Novo Purine Biosynthesis by AMPK. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:1917-24. [PMID: 27128383 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic partitioning of de novo purine biosynthetic enzymes into multienzyme compartments, purinosomes, has been associated with increased flux of de novo purine biosynthesis in human cells. However, we do not know of a mechanism by which de novo purine biosynthesis would be downregulated in cells. We have investigated the functional role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in the regulation of de novo purine biosynthesis because of its regulatory action on lipid and carbohydrate biosynthetic pathways. Using pharmacological AMPK activators, we have monitored subcellular localizations of six pathway enzymes tagged with green fluorescent proteins under time-lapse fluorescence single-cell microscopy. We revealed that only one out of six pathway enzymes, formylglycinamidine ribonucleotide synthase (FGAMS), formed spatially distinct cytoplasmic granules after treatment with AMPK activators, indicating the formation of single-enzyme self-assemblies. In addition, subsequent biophysical studies using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching showed that the diffusion kinetics of FGAMS were slower when it localized inside the self-assemblies than within the purinosomes. Importantly, high-performance liquid chromatographic studies revealed that the formation of AMPK-promoted FGAMS self-assembly caused the reduction of purine metabolites in HeLa cells, indicating the downregulation of de novo purine biosynthesis. Collectively, we demonstrate here that the spatial sequestration of FGAMS by AMPK is a mechanism by which de novo purine biosynthesis is downregulated in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle L. Schmitt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Yun-ju Cheng
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Junyong Park
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
| | - Songon An
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, ‡Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, Maryland 21250, United States
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26
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Dhimitruka I, Eubank TD, Gross AC, Khramtsov VV. New class of 8-aryl-7-deazaguanine cell permeable fluorescent probes. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2015; 25:4593-6. [PMID: 26320620 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2015.08.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A one step synthesis of fluorescent 8-aryl-(7-deazaguanines) has been accomplished. Probes exhibit blue to green high quantum yield fluorescence in a variety of organic and aqueous solutions, high extinction coefficients, and large Stokes shifts often above 100 nm. The probes are highly cell permeable, and exhibit stable bright fluorescence once intracellular; therefore are suited to the design of biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilirian Dhimitruka
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, and Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Timothy D Eubank
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University Health Sciences, Morgantown, VW 26506, United States
| | - Amy C Gross
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, and Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
| | - Valery V Khramtsov
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, and Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
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27
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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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28
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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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Visentin M, Unal ES, Najmi M, Fiser A, Zhao R, Goldman ID. Identification of Tyr residues that enhance folate substrate binding and constrain oscillation of the proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT-SLC46A1). Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2015; 308:C631-41. [PMID: 25608532 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00238.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) mediates intestinal folate absorption and transport of folates across the choroid plexus. This study focuses on the role of Tyr residues in PCFT function. The substituted Cys-accessibility method identified four Tyr residues (Y291, Y362, Y315, and Y414) that are accessible to the extracellular compartment; three of these (Y291, Y362, and Y315) are located within or near the folate binding pocket. When the Tyr residues were replaced with Cys or Ala, these mutants showed similar (up to 6-fold) increases in influx Vmax and Kt/Ki for [(3)H]methotrexate and [(3)H]pemetrexed. When the Tyr residues were replaced with Phe, these changes were moderated or absent. When Y315A PCFT was used as representative of the mutants and [(3)H]pemetrexed as the transport substrate, this substitution did not increase the efflux rate constant. Furthermore, neither influx nor efflux mediated by Y315A PCFT was transstimulated by the presence of substrate in the opposite compartment; however, substantial bidirectional transstimulation of transport was mediated by wild-type PCFT. This resulted in a threefold greater efflux rate constant for cells that express wild-type PCFT than for cells that express Y315 PCFT under exchange conditions. These data suggest that these Tyr residues, possibly through their rigid side chains, secure the carrier in a high-affinity state for its folate substrates. However, this may be achieved at the expense of constraining the carrier's mobility, thereby decreasing the rate at which the protein oscillates between its conformational states. The Vmax generated by these Tyr mutants may be so rapid that further augmentation during transstimulation may not be possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Visentin
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Ersin Selcuk Unal
- Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Mitra Najmi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Andras Fiser
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; and Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Rongbao Zhao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - I David Goldman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York; Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York;
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Kumar VP, Cisneros JA, Frey KM, Castellanos-Gonzalez A, Wang Y, Gangjee A, White AC, Jorgensen WL, Anderson KS. Structural studies provide clues for analog design of specific inhibitors of Cryptosporidium hominis thymidylate synthase-dihydrofolate reductase. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2014; 24:4158-61. [PMID: 25127103 PMCID: PMC4427026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2014.07.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Cryptosporidium is the causative agent of a gastrointestinal disease, cryptosporidiosis, which is often fatal in immunocompromised individuals and children. Thymidylate synthase (TS) and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) are essential enzymes in the folate biosynthesis pathway and are well established as drug targets in cancer, bacterial infections, and malaria. Cryptosporidium hominis has a bifunctional thymidylate synthase and dihydrofolate reductase enzyme, compared to separate enzymes in the host. We evaluated lead compound 1 from a novel series of antifolates, 2-amino-4-oxo-5-substituted pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as an inhibitor of Cryptosporidium hominis thymidylate synthase with selectivity over the human enzyme. Complementing the enzyme inhibition compound 1 also has anti-cryptosporidial activity in cell culture. A crystal structure with compound 1 bound to the TS active site is discussed in terms of several van der Waals, hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions with the protein residues and the substrate analog 5-fluorodeoxyuridine monophosphate (TS), cofactor NADPH and inhibitor methotrexate (DHFR). Another crystal structure in complex with compound 1 bound in both the TS and DHFR active sites is also reported here. The crystal structures provide clues for analog design and for the design of ChTS-DHFR specific inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya P Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Jose A Cisneros
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, PO Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA
| | - Kathleen M Frey
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | | | - Yiqiang Wang
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA
| | - Aleem Gangjee
- Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.
| | - A Clinton White
- Infectious Disease Division, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
| | - William L Jorgensen
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, 225 Prospect Street, PO Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA.
| | - Karen S Anderson
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
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31
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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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