4-(Phenylamino)pyrrolopyrimidines: potent and selective, ATP site directed inhibitors of the EGF-receptor protein tyrosine kinase

Synthesis and Development of Highly Selective Pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine CSF1R Inhibitors Targeting the Autoinhibited Form

Colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF1R) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that controls the differentiation and maintenance of most tissue-resident macrophages, and the inhibition of CSF1R has been suggested as a possible therapy for a range of human disorders. Herein, we present the synthesis, development, and structure-activity relationship of a series of highly selective pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines, showing subnanomolar enzymatic inhibition of this receptor and with excellent selectivity toward other kinases in the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) family. The crystal structure of the protein and 23 revealed that the binding conformation of the protein is DFG-out-like. The most promising compounds in this series were profiled for cellular potency and subjected to pharmacokinetic profiling and in vivo stability, indicating that this compound class could be relevant in a potential disease setting. Additionally, these compounds inhibited primarily the autoinhibited form of the receptor, contrasting the behavior of pexidartinib, which could explain the exquisite selectivity of these structures.

Synthesis of novel pyrroles and fused pyrroles as antifungal and antibacterial agents

Pyrroles and its fused forms possess antimicrobial activities, they can easily interact with biomolecules of living systems. A series of substituted pyrroles, and its fused pyrimidines and triazines forms have been synthesised, all newly synthesised compound structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. Generally, the compounds inhibited growth of some important human pathogens, the best effect was given by: 2a, 3c, 4d on Gram-positive bacteria and was higher on yeast (C. albicans), by 5c on Gram-negative bacteria and by 5a then 3c on filamentous fungi (A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum). Such results present good antibacterial and antifungal potential candidates to help overcome the global problem of antibiotic resistance and opportunistic infections outbreak. Compound 3c gave the best anti-phytopathogenic effect at a 50-fold lower concentration than Kocide 2000, introducing a safe commercial candidate for agricultural use. The effect of the compounds on DNA was monitored to detect the mode of action.

Targeting Tyrosine Kinases in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Why, Who and How?

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a myeloid malignancy carrying a heterogeneous molecular panel of mutations participating in the blockade of differentiation and the increased proliferation of myeloid hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The historical "3 + 7" treatment (cytarabine and daunorubicin) is currently challenged by new therapeutic strategies, including drugs depending on the molecular landscape of AML. This panel of mutations makes it possible to combine some of these new treatments with conventional chemotherapy. For example, the FLT3 receptor is overexpressed or mutated in 80% or 30% of AML, respectively. Such anomalies have led to the development of targeted therapies using tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this review, we document the history of TKI targeting, FLT3 and several other tyrosine kinases involved in dysregulated signaling pathways.

Pyrrolopyrazoles: Synthesis, Evaluation and Pharmacological Screening as Antidepressant Agents

BACKGROUND

Pyrroles and fused pyrroles are of great interest as biologically active compounds, among these activities; antidepressant activity is of special concern.

OBJECTIVE

Synthesis of a series of pyrrolopyrazoles and their pyrimidine derivatives and their characterization using spectral data to be monitored for antidepressant activity using behavioral techniques.

METHODS

A control group was administered the vehicle i.p., positive control group received fluoxetine as standard and all other groups were administered the tested compounds. The groups were subjected to tail suspension test (TST) to determine the antidepressant activity compared with fluoxetine as a standard drug. The compounds exhibiting antidepressant activity were then used to analyze changes in serotonin (5HT) level in the brain of albino mice.

RESULTS

TST results showed that both pyrazoles and pyrazolopyrimidines derivatives exhibit promising anti-depressant activity.

CONCLUSION

Compounds [pyrazoles & pyrazlopyrimidines] showed promising antidepressant activity possibly mediated by the increased levels of 5HT.

Identification of new pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potent VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitors: Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) plays a crucial role in cancer angiogenesis. In the current study, a series of novel pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine based-compounds was designed and synthesized as VEGFR-2 inhibitors, in accordance to the structure activity relationship (SAR) studies of known type II VEGFR-2 inhibitors. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit VEGFR-2 kinase enzyme in vitro. All the tested compounds demonstrated highly potent dose-related VEGFR-2 inhibition with IC₅₀ values in nanomolar range. Among these compounds, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives carrying biaryl urea moieties (12d and 15c) exhibited IC₅₀ values of 11.9 and 13.6 nM respectively. Additionally, most of the newly synthesized final compounds were tested on 60 human cancer cell lines. Docking of these compounds into the inactive conformation of VEGFR-2 was performed which showed comparable binding modes to that of the FDA approved VEGFR-2 kinase inhibitors. These newly discovered potent kinase inhibitors could be considered as potential candidates for the development of new targeted anticancer agent.

6-Aryl-4-amino-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole 2'-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (benzo-fused 7-deaza-dATP analogues): Synthesis, fluorescent properties, enzymatic incorporation into DNA and DNA-protein binding study

Four 6-substituted 4-amino-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole 2'-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dA(BX)TPs) were prepared by glycosylation of 4,6-dichloropyrimidoindole followed by ammonolysis, cross-coupling and triphosphorylation. They were found to be moderate to good substrates for DNA polymerases in primer extension. They also exerted fluorescence with emission maxima 335-378nm. When incorporated to oligonucleotide probes, they did not show significant mismatch discrimination but the 6-benzofuryl 4-amino-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole nucleotide displayed a useful sensitivity to protein binding in experiment with SSB protein.

Design, synthesis, assessment, and molecular docking of novel pyrrolopyrimidine (7-deazapurine) derivatives as non-nucleoside hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase inhibitors

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly persistent and presents an unmet medical need requiring more effective treatment options. This has spurred intensive efforts to discover novel anti-HCV agents. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), NS5B of HCV, constitutes a selective target for drug discovery due to its absence in human cells; also, it is the centerpiece for viral replication. Here, we synthesized novel pyrrole, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and pyrrolo[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-c]pyrimidine derivatives. The non-toxic doses of these compounds on Huh 7.5 cell line were determined and their antiviral activity against HCVcc genotype 4a was examined. Compounds 7j, 7f, 5c, 12i and 12f showed significant anti HCV activity. The percent of reduction for the non-toxic doses of 7j, 7f, 5c, 12i and 12f were 90%, 76.7±5.8%, 73.3±5.8%, 70% and 63.3±5.8%, respectively. The activity of these compounds was interpreted by molecular docking against HCV NS5B polymerase enzyme.

Synthesis of [1,2,4]Triazolo[3,4-b]Pteridines as a Novel Class of Heterocyclic Compounds

A series of pteridine derivatives have been synthesised through intramolecular cyclisation of 2,4-dichloro-6-methyl-5-nitro pyrimidine with various esters of amino acids. The subsequently reaction of pteridines with hydrazine hydrate and then with triethylorthoesters obtained quantitatively the desired [1,2,4]triazolo[3,4-b]pteridine derivatives as a novel heterocyclic system.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel pyrroles and pyrrolopyrimidines as anti-hyperglycemic agents

A series of pyrrole and pyrrolopyrimidine derivatives were examined for their in vivo antihyperglycemic activity. Compounds Ia-c,e, and IVg showed promising antihyperglycemic activity equivalent to a well-known standard antihyperglycemic drug, Glimepiride (Amaryl, 4 mg/kg). In this paper, we examine and discuss the structure-activity relationships and antihyperglycemic activity of these compounds.

Synthesis and biological activity of benzo-fused 7-deazaadenosine analogues. 5- and 6-substituted 4-amino- or 4-alkylpyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides

Two series of new 4-aminopyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides bearing phenyl or hetaryl group at position 5 or 6 have been prepared by Suzuki or Stille cross-coupling reactions employing X-Phos ligand with (het)arylboronic acids or stannanes. A series of 4-substituted nucleosides has been also prepared by Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings or nucleophilic substitution. Some of these compounds displayed moderate antiviral activities against HCV and dengue viruses.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 2-mercapto-3-phenethylquinazoline bearing anilide fragments as potential antitumor agents: molecular docking study

A novel series of 2-(3-phenethyl-4(3H)quinazolin-2-ylthio)-N-substituted anilide and substituted phenyl 2-(3-phenethyl-4(3H) quinazolin-2-ylthio)acetate were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their in-vitro antitumor activity. Compound 15 possessed remarkable broad-spectrum antitumor activity which almost sevenfold more active than the known drug 5-FU with GI50 values of 3.16 and 22.60 μM, respectively. Compound 15 exhibited remarkable growth inhibitory activity pattern against renal cancer (GI50=1.77 μM), colon cancer (GI50=2.02 μM), non-small cell lung cancer (GI50=2.04 μM), breast cancer (GI50=2.77 μM), ovarian cancer (GI50=2.55 μM) and melanoma cancer (GI50=3.30 μM). Docking study was performed for compound 15 into ATP binding site of EGFR-TK which showed similar binding mode to erlotinib.

Synthesis and biological activity of 5-chloro-N⁴-substituted phenyl-9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole-2,4-diamines as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 inhibitors and antiangiogenic agents

Inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling pathways is an important area for the development of novel anticancer agents. Numerous multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) have been recently approved for the treatment of cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) is the principal mediator of tumor angiogenesis. In an effort to develop ATP-competitive VEGFR-2 selective inhibitors the 5-chloro-N(4)-substituted phenyl-9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole-2,4-diamine scaffold was designed. The synthesis of the target compounds involved N-(4,5-dichloro-9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-yl)-2,2-dimethylpropanamide) as a common intermediate. A nucleophilic displacement of the 4-chloro group of the common intermediate by appropriately substituted anilines afforded the target compounds. Biological evaluation indicated that compound 5 is a potent and selective VEGFR-2 inhibitor comparable to sunitinib and semaxinib.

Synthesis and anticancer activity of some fused pyrimidines and related heterocycles

On account of the reported anticancer of pyrimidine and condensed pyrimidine, a new pyrimido [3,2-b]-1,2,4,5-tetrazine 3a , b , 5c , d , 6, 9, pyrimido [3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazine 10, 11, pyrimido [3,2-b]-1,2,4-triazole 12 and pyrimidine derivatives 1,2a , b , 4c , d , 8, 13, 14, 15 and 16 were synthesized through different chemical reactions. Structures of all synthesized compounds were supported by spectral and elemental analyses. The obtained compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antitumor activity against human liver cancer cell line (HEPG2).

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 4,6-disubstituted pyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides

A series of new pyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides bearing phenyl or hetaryl group at position 4 has been prepared by selective Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of the corresponding protected 4,6-dichloropyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleoside with (het)arylboronic acids or stannanes followed by deprotection. Further cross-couplings under harsher conditions and employing X-Phos ligand proceeded at the position 6 leading to 4,6-disubstituted pyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides. Some of these compounds displayed antiviral activity against Dengue virus.

Drug discovery prospect from untapped species: indications from approved natural product drugs

Due to extensive bioprospecting efforts of the past and technology factors, there have been questions about drug discovery prospect from untapped species. We analyzed recent trends of approved drugs derived from previously untapped species, which show no sign of untapped drug-productive species being near extinction and suggest high probability of deriving new drugs from new species in existing drug-productive species families and clusters. Case histories of recently approved drugs reveal useful strategies for deriving new drugs from the scaffolds and pharmacophores of the natural product leads of these untapped species. New technologies such as cryptic gene-cluster exploration may generate novel natural products with highly anticipated potential impact on drug discovery.

Identification of SRC as a potent drug target for asthma, using an integrative approach of protein interactome analysis and in silico drug discovery

Network-biology inspired modeling of interactome data and computational chemistry have the potential to revolutionize drug discovery by complementing conventional methods. We consider asthma, a complex disease characterized by intricate molecular mechanisms, for our study. We aim to integrate prediction of potent drug targets using graph-theoretical methods and subsequent identification of small molecules capable of modulating activity of the best target. In this work, we construct the protein interactome underlying this disease: Asthma Protein Interactome (API). Using a strategy based on network analysis of the interactome, we identify a set of potential drug targets for asthma. Topologically and dynamically, v-src sarcoma (Schmidt-Ruppin A-2) viral oncogene homolog (SRC) emerges as the most central target in API. SRC is known to play an important role in promoting airway smooth muscle cell growth and facilitating migration in airway remodeling. From interactome analysis, and with the reported role in respiratory mechanisms, SRC emerges as a promising drug target for asthma. Further, we proceed to identify leads for SRC from a public database of small molecules. We predict two potential leads for SRC using ligand-based virtual screening methodology.

N⁴-(3-Bromophenyl)-7-(substituted benzyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potent multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors: design, synthesis, and in vivo evaluation

With the goal of developing multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors that display potent inhibition against PDGFRβ and VEGFR-2 we designed and synthesized eleven N(4)-(3-bromophenyl)-7-(substitutedbenzyl) pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 9a-19a. These compounds were obtained from the key intermediate N(4)-(3-bromophenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine 29. Various arylmethyl groups were regiospecifically attached at the N7 of 29 via sodium hydride induced alkylation with substituted arylmethyl halides. Compounds 11a and 19a were potent dual inhibitors of PDGFRβ and VEGFR-2. In a COLO-205, in vivo tumor mouse model 11a demonstrated inhibition of tumor growth, metastasis, and tumor angiogenesis that was better than or comparable to the standard compound TSU-68 (SU6668, 8).

Pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking and virtual screening for EGFR (HER 1) tyrosine kinase inhibitors

A pharmacophore model has been developed using diverse classes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibitors useful in the treatment of human tumours. Among the top 10 generated hypotheses, the second hypothesis, with one hydrogen bond acceptor, one ring aromatic and three hydrophobic features, was found to be the best on the basis of Cat Scramble validation as well as test set prediction (r(training) = 0.89, r(test) = 0.82). The model also maps well to the external test set molecules as well as clinically active molecules and corroborates the docking studies. Finally, 10 hits were identified as potential leads after virtual screening of ZINC database for EGFR TK inhibition. The study may facilitate the designing and discovery of novel EGFR TK inhibitors.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors: Multi-targeted or single-targeted?

Since in most tumors multiple signaling pathways are involved, many of the inhibitors in clinical development are designed to affect a wide range of targeted kinases. The most important tyrosine kinase families in the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the ABL, SCR, platelet derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor families. Both multi-kinase inhibitors and single-kinase inhibitors have advantages and disadvantages, which are related to potential resistance mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, selectivity and tumor environment. In different malignancies various tyrosine kinases are mutated or overexpressed and several resistance mechanisms exist. Pharmacokinetics is influenced by interindividual differences and differs for two single targeted inhibitors or between patients treated by the same tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Different tyrosine kinase inhibitors have various mechanisms to achieve selectivity, while differences in gene expression exist between tumor and stromal cells. Considering these aspects, one type of inhibitor can generally not be preferred above the other, but will depend on the specific genetic constitution of the patient and the tumor, allowing personalized therapy. The most effective way of cancer treatment by using tyrosine kinase inhibitors is to consider each patient/tumor individually and to determine the strategy that specifically targets the consequences of altered (epi)genetics of the tumor. This strategy might result in treatment by a single multi kinase inhibitor for one patient, but in treatment by a couple of single kinase inhibitors for other patients.

Novel SHP-1 inhibitors tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor-1 and analogs with preclinical anti-tumor activities as tolerated oral agents

Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) has been implicated as a potential cancer therapeutic target by its negative regulation of immune cell activation and the activity of the SHP-1 inhibitor sodium stibogluconate that induced IFN-gamma(+) cells for anti-tumor action. To develop more potent SHP-1-targeted anti-cancer agents, inhibitory leads were identified from a library of 34,000 drug-like compounds. Among the leads and active at low nM for recombinant SHP-1, tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor-1 (TPI-1) selectively increased SHP-1 phospho-substrates (pLck-pY394, pZap70, and pSlp76) in Jurkat T cells but had little effects on pERK1/2 or pLck-pY505 regulated by phosphatases SHP-2 or CD45, respectively. TPI-1 induced mouse splenic-IFN-gamma(+) cells in vitro, approximately 58-fold more effective than sodium stibogluconate, and increased mouse splenic-pLck-pY394 and -IFN-gamma(+) cells in vivo. TPI-1 also induced IFN-gamma(+) cells in human peripheral blood in vitro. Significantly, TPI-1 inhibited ( approximately 83%, p < 0.002) the growth of B16 melanoma tumors in mice at a tolerated oral dose in a T cell-dependent manner but had little effects on B16 cell growth in culture. TPI-1 also inhibited B16 tumor growth and prolonged tumor mice survival as a tolerated s.c. agent. TPI-1 analogs were identified with improved activities in IFN-gamma(+) cell induction and in anti-tumor actions. In particular, analog TPI-1a4 as a tolerated oral agent completely inhibited the growth of K1735 melanoma tumors and was more effective than the parental lead against MC-26 colon cancer tumors in mice. These results designate TPI-1 and the analogs as novel SHP-1 inhibitors with anti-tumor activity likely via an immune mechanism, supporting SHP-1 as a novel target for cancer treatment.

Single agents with designed combination chemotherapy potential: synthesis and evaluation of substituted pyrimido[4,5-b]indoles as receptor tyrosine kinase and thymidylate synthase inhibitors and as antitumor agents

Combinations of antiangiogenic agents (AAs) with cytotoxic agents have shown significant promise in cancer treatment, and several such clinical trials are currently underway. We have designed, synthesized, and evaluated two compounds that each inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) for antiangiogenic effects and also inhibit human thymidylate synthase (hTS) for cytotoxic effects in single agents. The synthesis of these compounds involved the nucleophilic displacement of the common intermediate 5-chloro-9H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indole-2,4-diamine with appropriate benzenethiols. The inhibitory potency of both these single agents against VEGFR-2, PDGFR-beta, and hTS is better than or close to standards. In a COLO-205 xenograft mouse model, one of the analogs significantly decreased tumor growth (tumor growth inhibition (TGI) = 76% at 35 mg/kg), liver metastases, and tumor blood vessels compared with a standard drug and with control and thus demonstrated potent tumor growth inhibition, inhibition of metastasis, and antiangiogenic effects in vivo. These compounds afford combination chemotherapeutic potential in single agents.

Synthesis of certain pyrrole derivatives as antimicrobial agents

In an effort to establish new pyrroles and pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidines with improved antimicrobial activity we report here the synthesis and in vitro microbiological evaluation of a series of pyrrole derivatives. A series of new 2-aminopyrrole-3-carbonitriles (1a-d) were synthesized from the reaction of benzoin, primary aromatic amines and malononitrile, from which a number of pyrrole derivatives (2a-d to 5a-d) and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (6a-d to 10a, d) were synthesized. The in vitro antimicrobial testing of the synthesized compounds was carried out against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Some of the prepared compounds, [2-amino-1-(2-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitriles (1b), 2-amino-3-carbamoyl-1-(3-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrroles (2b), N-(3-cyano-1-(2-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-acetamides (3b), N-(3-cyano-1-(3-methylphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-acetamides (3c), 2-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-3-tetrazolo-1H-pyrroles (5d), 7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo [2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones (7d), 7-(3-methylphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-thione (9b) and N-(7-(2-methylphenyl)-5,6-diphenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidine)-N-aryl amines (10a)] showed potent antimicrobial activity.