Novel FFA1 (GPR40) agonists containing spirocyclic periphery: polar azine periphery as a driver of potency

Exploration of Spirocyclic Derivatives of Ciprofloxacin as Antibacterial Agents

The previously reported as well as newly synthesized derivatives of the 1-oxa-9-azaspiro[5.5]undecane were employed in the synthesis of thirty-six derivatives of ciprofloxacin using commercially available 7-chloro-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid and the literature protocol involving the preparation of boron chelate complex to facilitate nucleophilic aromatic substitution. All new fluoroquinolone derivatives were tested against two gram-positive as well as three gram-negative strains of bacteria. With the activity spectrum of the new derivatives being substantially narrower than that of ciprofloxacin, compounds were distinctly active against two of the five strains: gram-negative Acinetobacter baumannii 987^® and gram-positive Bacillus cereus 138^®. Towards these two strains, a large group of compounds displayed equal or higher potency than ciprofloxacin.

Recent Updates on Free Fatty Acid Receptor 1 (GPR-40) Agonists for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

The global incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has enthused the development of new antidiabetic targets with low toxicity and long-term stability. In this respect, free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), which is also recognized as a G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), is a novel target for the treatment of T2DM. FFAR1/GPR40 has a high level of expression in β-cells of the pancreas, and the requirement of glucose for stimulating insulin release results in immense stimulation to utilise this target in the medication of T2DM.

METHODS

The data used for this review is based on the search of several scienctific databases as well as various patent databases. The main search terms used were free fatty acid receptor 1, FFAR1, FFAR1 agonists, diabetes mellitus, G protein-coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), GPR40 agonists, GPR40 ligands, type 2 diabetes mellitus and T2DM.

RESULTS

The present review article gives a brief overview of FFAR1, its role in T2DM, recent developments in small molecule FFAR1 (GPR40) agonists reported till now, compounds of natural/plant origin, recent patents published in the last few years, mechanism of FFAR1 activation by the agonists, and clinical status of the FFAR1/GPR40 agonists.

CONCLUSION

The agonists of FFAR1/GRP40 showed considerable potential for the therapeutic control of T2DM. Most of the small molecule FFAR1/GPR40 agonists developed were aryl alkanoic acid derivatives (such as phenylpropionic acids, phenylacetic acids, phenoxyacetic acids, and benzofuran acetic acid derivatives) and thiazolidinediones. Some natural/plant-derived compounds, including fatty acids, sesquiterpenes, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, isoquinoline, and indole alkaloids, were also reported as potent FFAR1 agonists. The clinical investigations of the FFAR1 agonists demonstrated their probable role in the improvement of glucose control. Though, there are some problems still to be resolved in this field as some FFAR1 agonists terminated in the late phase of clinical studies due to "hepatotoxicity." Currently, PBI-4050 is under clinical investigation by Prometic. Further investigation of pharmacophore scaffolds for FFAR1 full agonists as well as multitargeted modulators and corresponding clinical investigations will be anticipated, which can open up new directions in this area.

Exploration of the nitrogen heterocyclic periphery around the core of the advanced FFA1 agonist fasiglifam (TAK-875)

Three types of heterocyclic moieties-piperidines fused to a heteroaromatic moiety-were explored as potential periphery motifs for the pharmacophoric core of fasiglifam (TAK-875), with fasiglifam being the most advanced agonist of free fatty acid receptor 1, a promising target for therapeutic intervention in type 2 diabetes. Several observed structure-activity relationship trends were corroborated by in silico docking results. Balanced selection based on potency and Caco-2 permeability advanced six compounds to cellular efficacy tests (glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rat insulinoma INS1E cells). This led to the nomination of compound 16a (LK1408, 3-[4-({4-[(3-{[(2-fluorobenzyl)oxy]methyl}-1-methyl-1,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-pyrazolo[4,3-c]pyridin-5-yl)methyl]benzyl}oxy)phenyl]propanoic acid hydrochloride) as the lead for further development.

Attachment of a 5-nitrofuroyl moiety to spirocyclic piperidines produces non-toxic nitrofurans that are efficacious in vitro against multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A selectively antimycobacterial compound belonging to the nitrofuran class of antimicrobials has been developed via conjugation of the nitrofuran moiety to a series of spirocyclic piperidines through an amide linkage. It proved to have comparable activity against drug-sensitive (H37Rv) strain as well as multidrug-resistant, patient-derived strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The compound is druglike, showed no appreciable cytotoxicity toward human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 in concentrations up to 100 μM and displayed low toxicity when evaluated in mice.

Biochemical Characterization of the Detoxifying Enzyme Glutathione Transferase P1-1 from the Camel Camelus Dromedarius

Glutathione transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) is a primary line of defense against toxicities of electrophile compounds and oxidative stress and therefore is involved in stress-response and cell detoxification. In the present study, we investigated the catalytic and structural properties of the glutathione transferase (GST) isoenzyme P1-1 from Camelus dromedarius (CdGSTP1-1). Recombinant CdGSTP1-1 was produced in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. Kinetic analysis revealed that CdGSTP1-1 displays broad substrate specificity and shows high activity towards halogenated aryl-compounds, isothiocyanates and hydroperoxides. Computation analysis and structural comparison of the catalytic and ligand binding sites of CdGSTP1-1 with other pi class GSTs allowed the identification of major structural variations that affect the active site pocket and the catalytic mechanism., Affinity labeling and kinetic inhibition studies identified key regions that form the ligandin-binding site (L-site) and gave further insights into the mechanism of non-substrate ligand recognition. The results of the present study provide new information into camelid detoxifying mechanism and new knowledge into the diversity and complex enzymatic functions of GST superfamily.