Exploring aigialomycin d and its analogues as protein kinase inhibitors for cancer targets

Natural resorcylic acid lactones: A chemical biology approach for anticancer activity

Resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) are fungal polyketides that consist of a β-resorcylic acid residue (2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid) embedded in a macrolactone ring. RALs exhibit a broad range of biological activities, including anticancer activities. Following discovery of the selective Hsp90 inhibition activity of radicicol, the kinase inhibition activity of hypothemycin, monocillin II, 5Z-7-oxo-zeaenol, and L-783,277 RALs, and the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) inhibition activity of the RAL zearalenone, have attracted great attention as potential therapeutics for cancer treatment. In this minireview, we focus on natural RALs that possess cytotoxic activities [IC₅₀ values < 10 μM (or 4-5 μg/ml)], discussing their structures, isolation, occurrence, biological activities, and anticancer molecular mechanisms.

Update on the Development of MNK Inhibitors as Therapeutic Agents

Mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting kinases 1 and 2 (MNK1/2) represent a central class of enzymes that are activated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. MNK1 and MNK2 coordinate cellular signaling, control production of inflammatory chemokines, and regulate cell proliferation and survival. MNK1/2 are referred to as serine/threonine kinases as they phosphorylate serine or threonine residues on their substrates. Upon activation, MNK1/2 phosphorylate eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) at Ser209, which in turn initiates ribosome assembly and protein translation. Deleterious overexpression of MNK1/2 and/or eIF4E have been reported in several diseases including cancers, neurological disorders, autism, and inflammation. Recently, there have been intense efforts toward the development of potent and selective inhibitors of MNK1/2 in both academia and industry. Herein, we review the current understanding of the structural and biological aspects of MNK1/2 and provide an update of pharmacological inhibitors of MNK1/2 including candidates in clinical trials.

Anticancer activities, structure-activity relationship, and mechanism of action of 12-, 14-, and 16-membered macrolactones

Cancer remains one of the major causes of death worldwide despite the encouraging breakthroughs in the discovery of novel chemotherapeutic agents in recent years. The development of new effective anticancer candidates still represents a challenging endeavor due to the severe anticancer demands and the emergence of drug-resistant, especially multidrug-resistant, cancers. Macrolactones could regulate multiple signaling pathways in cancer cells and demonstrated potential anticancer effects, including inhibition of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenic activity. Accordingly, macrolactones possess excellent efficacy against both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant cancer cells, and the rational design of macrolactones may provide valuable therapeutic interventions for cancers. The purpose of this review is as follows: (1) outline the recent advances made in the development of 12-, 14-, and 16-membered macrolactones with anticancer potential; (2) summarize the structure-activity relationship; and (3) discuss their anticancer mechanisms.

Progress in developing MNK inhibitors

The MNKs (mitogen-activated protein kinase-interacting protein kinases) phosphorylate eIF4E (eukaryotic initiation factor 4 E) at serine 209; eIF4E plays an important role in the translation of cytoplasmic mRNAs, all of which possess a 5' 'cap' structure to which eIF4E binds. Elevated levels of eIF4E, p-eIF4E and/or the MNK protein kinases have been found in many types of cancer, including solid tumors and leukemia. MNKs also play a role in metabolic disease. Regulation of the activities of MNKs (MNK1 and MNK2), control the phosphorylation of eIF4E, which in turn has a close relationship with the processes of tumor development, cell migration and invasion, and energy metabolism. MNK knock-out mice display no adverse effects on normal cells or phenotypes suggesting that MNK may be a potentially safe targets for the treatment of various cancers. Several MNK inhibitors or 'degraders' have been identified. Initially, some of the inhibitors were developed from natural products or based on other protein kinase inhibitors which inhibit multiple kinases. Subsequently, more potent and selective inhibitors for MNK1/2 have been designed and synthesized. Currently, three inhibitors (BAY1143269, eFT508 and ETC-206) are in various stages of clinical trials for the treatment of solid cancers or leukemia, either alone or combined with inhibitors of other protein kinase. In this review, we summarize the diverse MNK inhibitors that have been reported in patents and other literature, including those with activities in vitro and/or in vivo.

Beta resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) from fungi: chemistry, biology, and biosynthesis

β-Resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) are one of the major polyketides produced by fungi, and some of them have a diverse array of biological activities. Most RALs feature a 14-membered macrocyclic ring fused to β-resorcylic acid (2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid). In this review, more than 100 RAL-type of compounds are structurally classified into three groups; 14-membered RALs with 17R configuration, 14-membered RALs with 17S configuration, and benzopyranones/benzofuranones, and they are reviewed comprehensively in terms of chemistry, biological activities, and biosynthetic pathways.

Palladium-catalyzed ortho-halogen-induced deoxygenative approach of alkyl aryl ketones to 2-vinylbenzoic acids

The 2-vinylbenzoic acids have wide applications in the field of polymer chemistry and are key precursors for the synthesis of important bioactive molecules. Herein, an ortho-halogen-induced deoxygenative approach for the generation of 2-vinylbenzoic acids from alkyl aryl ketones by palladium catalysis is discovered and explored. This approach requires no base or stoichiometric additives and can be carried out through a simple one-step process. Furthermore, the present reaction is scalable up to one-gram scale. The commercially available palladium on carbon (5 wt%) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst and showed excellent recyclability (<5 times) without significant loss in catalytic activity. Pleasingly, under our optimized conditions, the alpha alkyl substituted 2-iodoacetophenones exhibit good diastereoselectivity and predominantly (E)-2-vinylbenzoic acids were obtained with good to excellent yields.

Total Synthesis and Structural Revision of Greensporone F and Dechlorogreensporone F

The first asymmetric total syntheses of the real isolation product (2S,5R,8R)-greensporone F and (2S,5R,8R)-dechlorogreensporone F, 14-membered resorcylic acid lactones with a cis-2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran ring system, was accomplished. The synthesis features a late-stage Lewis acid-catalyzed stereoselective intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction, E-selective ring-closing metathesis, De Brabander's esterification, and Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution as the key steps. Synthesis of both real isolation and erroneously proposed structure necessitated the revision of the absolute configuration of greensporone F and dechlorogreensporone F. The erroneous representation of (2S,5S,8S)-configuration in greensporone F and dechlorogreensporone F was assigned to be (2S,5R,8R) by comparison with the NMR data and specific rotation of the synthetic compounds with that of the reported data.

Resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) and their structural congeners: recent advances in their biosynthesis, chemical synthesis and biology

Resorcylic acid lactones (RALs) are naturally occurring 14-membered macrolactones that constitute a class of polyketides derived from fungal metabolites and that possess significant and promising biological activity.

Identification of the First Selective Activin Receptor-Like Kinase 1 Inhibitor, a Reversible Version of L-783277

We synthesized 1 (San78-130), a reversible version of L-783277, as a selective and potent ALK1 inhibitor. Our study showed that 1 possesses great kinase selectivity against a panel of 342 kinases and more potent activity against ALK1 than L-783277. Among the six ALK isotypes (ALK1-6), ALK1 is most significantly inhibited by compound 1. Compound 1 suppresses the BMP9-induced Smad1/5 pathway by mainly inhibiting ALK1 in C2C12 cells. Our molecular dynamics simulations suggest that H-bonding interaction between the C-4' hydroxyl group of 1 and Arg334 of ALK1 substantially contributes to the ALK1 inhibition. To the best of our knowledge, 1 is the first selective ALK1 inhibitor. Furthermore, compound 1 promoted angiogenesis in both endothelial tube formation and microfluidic chip based 3D angiogenesis assays, suggesting that 1 could be a lead compound for therapeutic angiogenesis agents. Our study may provide an insight into designing selective and potent inhibitors against ALK1.

An efficient synthesis of an exo-enone analogue of LL-Z1640-2 and evaluation of its protein kinase inhibitory activities

An efficient synthesis of an exo-enone analogue (5) of resorcylic acid lactone (RAL), natural product LL-Z1640-2 (1), has been achieved using a Ni-catalysed regioselective reductive coupling macrocyclisation of an alkyne-aldehyde as a key step. The synthetic route is significantly shorter than those for the natural product and avoids the isomerisation problem of the cis-double bond in the molecule. The preliminary biological evaluation showed that the exo-enone analogue is a potent inhibitor of several important kinases relevant to cancer drug development.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of semisynthetic zearalenone analogues

Zearalenone is a β-resorcylic acid macrolide with various biological activities. Herein we report the synthesis and cytotoxic activities of 34 zearalenone analogues against human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells as well as noncancerous Vero cells. Some zearalenone analogues showed moderately enhanced cytotoxic activities against the two cancer cell lines. We have discovered the potential lead compounds with diminished or no cytotoxicity to Vero cells. Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the double bond at the 1' and 2' positions of zearalenone core was crucial for cytotoxic activities on both cell lines. In addition, for zearalenol analogues, the unprotected hydroxyl group at C-2 and an alkoxy substituent at C-4 played key roles on cytotoxic effects of both cell lines.

Isolation, semisynthesis, covalent docking and transforming growth factor beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)-inhibitory activities of (5Z)-7-oxozeaenol analogues

(5Z)-7-Oxozeanol and related analogues were isolated and screened to explore their activity as TAK1 inhibitors. Seven analogues were synthesized and more than a score of natural products isolated that examined the role that different areas of the molecule contribute to TAK1 inhibition. A novel nonaromatic difluoro-derivative was synthesized that had similar potency compared to the lead. This is the first example of a nonaromatic compound in this class to have TAK1 inhibition. Covalent docking for the isolated and synthesized analogues was carried out and found a strong correlation between the observed activities and the calculated binding.

Modular total syntheses of the marine-derived resorcylic Acid lactones cochliomycins a and B using a late-stage nozaki-hiyama-kishi macrocyclization reaction

The natural products cochliomycin A (1) and cochliomycin B (2), two resorcylic acid lactones obtained from marine sources, have been prepared in a concise and stereocontrolled manner from the readily accessible building blocks 4-6. Olefin cross-metathesis, trans-esterification and Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi (NHK) macrocyclization reactions were employed in the key steps. Hydrolysis of the immediate precursor to cochliomycin B affords the resorcylic acid lactone zeaenol (24).

Recent investigations of bioactive natural products from endophytic, marine-derived, insect pathogenic fungi and Thai medicinal plants

Living organisms in Thailand are very diverse due to the unique geographical location of Thailand. The diversity of Thai bioresources has proven to be a rich source of biologically active compounds. The present review covers bioactive substances from Thai endophytic, marine-derived, insect pathogenic fungi and medicinal plants. Many new compounds isolated from Thai bioresources have diverse skeletons belonging to various classes of natural products. These compounds exhibited an array of biological activities, and some are of pharmaceutical interest. Bioactive compounds from Thai bioresources have not only attracted organic chemists to develop strategies for total synthesis, but also attracted (chemical) biologists to investigate the mechanisms of action. The chemistry and biology of some selected compounds are also discussed in this review.