Computational Approaches for the Design of Novel Anticancer Compounds Based on Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine Derivatives as TRAP1 Inhibitor

Small molecule inhibitors targeting heat shock protein 90: An updated review

As a molecular chaperone, heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) plays important roles in the folding, stabilization, activation, and degradation of over 500 client proteins, and is extensively involved in cell signaling, proliferation, and survival. Thus, it has emerged as an important target in a variety of diseases, including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infections. Therefore, targeted inhibition of HSP90 provides a valuable and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of HSP90-related diseases. This review aims to systematically summarize the progress of research on HSP90 inhibitors in the last five years, focusing on their structural features, design strategies, and biological activities. It will refer to the natural products and their derivatives (including novobiocin derivatives, deguelin derivatives, quinone derivatives, and terpenoid derivatives), and to synthetic small molecules (including resorcinol derivatives, pyrazoles derivatives, triazole derivatives, pyrimidine derivatives, benzamide derivatives, benzothiazole derivatives, and benzofuran derivatives). In addition, the major HSP90 small-molecule inhibitors that have moved into clinical trials to date are also presented here.

Thiazolo-pyridopyrimidines: An in silico evaluation as a lead for CDK4/6 inhibition, synthesis and cytotoxicity screening against breast cancer cell lines

Introduction

Pyridopyrimidines belong to a class of compounds characterized by the presence of nitrogen as heteroatoms. These compounds exhibit diverse biological effects, particularly showing promise as anticancer agents, including actions that inhibit CDK4/6.

Methods

We designed and synthesized a range of substituted thiazolo-pyridopyrimidines (4a-p). Computational ADME/T analysis and molecular docking were performed using the crystal structure of CDK4/6. Subsequently, we synthesized the top-scoring compounds, characterized them using IR, NMR, and Mass spectroscopy, and assessed their impact on MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 cell lines using the SRB assay. To further evaluate stability, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for the two most promising compounds within the binding site.

Results

The docking scores indicated stronger interactions for compounds 4a, 4c, 4d, and 4g. As a result, these specific compounds (4a, 4c, 4d, and 4g) were chosen for synthesis and subsequent screening to assess their cytotoxic effects. Remarkably, compounds 4c and 4a exhibited the most promising activity in terms of their IC50 values across both tested cell lines. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation studies uncovered an elevated level of stability within the 4c-6OQO complex.

Conclusion

By integrating insights from computational, in vitro, and molecular dynamics simulation findings, compound 4c emerges as a leading candidate for future investigations. The presence of a polar hydroxyl group at the C2 position of the 8-phenyl substitution on the pyridopyrimidine rings appears to contribute to the heightened activity of the compound. Further enhancements to cytotoxic potential could be achieved through structural refinements.