Towards targeting EGFR and COX-2 inhibitors: comprehensive computational studies on the role of chlorine group in novel thienyl-pyrazoline derivative

To enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy and overcome resistance, scientists must develop novel drugs or scaffolds that have a combined effect, such as the inhibition of EGFR and COX-2. This research employed virtual screening techniques, such as docking, and dynamics simulation, to predict chlorinated thienyl-pyrazoline derivatives that inhibit these proteins. The study proposed eleven (11) ligands with binding energies ranging from -7.8 kcal/mol to -8.7 kcal/mol for EGFR and -6.4 kcal/mol to -8.4 kcal/mol for COX-2. Ligands P1 and P11 exhibited the highest binding affinity for both proteins. The results of RMSD, RMSF, RoG, SASA the number of hydrogen bonds, and BAR free binding energy demonstrated the good stability of ligands P1 and P11 when binding to both proteins over 180 ns simulations. In addition, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity properties of the selected ligands were assessed to predict their toxicity and drug likeliness. Based on the results, these compounds can be proposed for further synthesis and in vitro studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Development of New Thiophene-Containing Triaryl Pyrazoline Derivatives as PI3Kγ Inhibitors

A series of new thiophene-containing triaryl pyrazoline derivatives, 3a–3t, were synthesized and evaluated regarding PI3K inhibition activity and anti-tumor potency based on a trial of introducing significant moieties, including pyrazoline and thiophene, and simplifying the parallel ring structures. Most of the tested compounds indicated potent PI3K inhibitory potency, with this series of compounds showing more potency for PI3Kγ than PI3Kα. The top hit 3s seemed more potent than the positive control LY294002 on inhibiting PI3Kγ (IC₅₀ values: 0.066 μM versus 0.777 μM) and more selective from PI3Kα (Index values: 645 versus 1.74). It could be inferred that the combination of para- and meta-, as well as the modification of the electron-donating moieties, led to the improvement in potency. The anti-proliferation inhibitory activity and the enzymatic inhibition potency indicated consistent tendencies. The top hit 3s could inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt by inhibiting PI3K through the PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway. The molecular docking simulation indicated that the binding pattern of 3s into PI3Kγ was preferable than that of PI3Kα, with more hydrogen bond, more π-involved interactions, and fewer π-sulfur interactions. The information in this work is referable for the further development of selective inhibitors for specific isoforms of PI3K.

Thiophene-containing compounds with antimicrobial activity

Thiophene, as a member of the group of five-membered heterocycles containing one heteroatom, is one of the simplest heterocyclic systems. Many synthetic strategies allow the accurate positioning of various functionalities onto the thiophene ring. This review provides a comprehensive, systematic and detailed account of the developments in the field of antimicrobial compounds featuring at least one thiophene ring in their structure, over the last decade.

Urease inhibitory kinetics, molecular docking, SAR and ADME studies of imine analogues

A series of synthesized imine derivatives (3a–m), including thio-semicarbazone, semicarbazone, thiazole and oxazole functional moieties, were examined for in vitro urease inhibition activity.

Pyrazole ring-containing isolongifolanone derivatives as potential CDK2 inhibitors: Evaluation of anticancer activity and investigation of action mechanism

Isolongifolanone is a high value-added sustainable natural product. Recent studies have demonstrated that isolongifolanone possesses anticancer activities. In this study, a series of novel pyrazole ring-containing isolongifolanone derivatives was designed, synthesized, and their anti-proliferative activities in three cancer cell lines were evaluated. Among them, compound 3b exhibited strongest antiproliferative ability on MCF-7 cancer cells and induced the generation of intracellular ROS and mitochondrial depolarization. More importantly, compound 3b still maintained antitumor activity in MCF-7 3D culture systems. The study on molecular mechanism suggested that compound 3b induced apoptosis via activation of caspase-3 and PARP, also via decreasing of Bcl-2 and increasing of Bax and p53. Moreover, compound 3b down-regulated the level of CDK2, a crucial cyclin-dependent kinase which is necessary for the progression of the cells out of the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Docking results showed that compound 3b could bind well with CDK2 by forming hydrogen bonds with amino acid residues (LYS89 and HIS84). These results suggested that compound 3b could be taken as a lead compound for anticancer agents.