Vanillin-derived antiproliferative compounds influence Plk1 activity.

We synthesized a series of vanillin-derived compounds and analyzed them in HeLa cells for their effects on the proliferation of cancer cells. The molecules are derivatives of the lead compound SBE13, a potent inhibitor of the inactive conformation of human polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1). Some of the new designs were able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation to a similar extent as the lead structure. Two of the compounds ((({4-[(6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methoxy]-3-methoxyphenyl}methyl)(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amine) and (({4-[(4-chlorophenyl)methoxy]-3-methoxyphenyl}methyl)(pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amine)) were much stronger in their capacity to reduce HeLa cell proliferation and turned out to potently induce apoptosis and reduce Plk1 kinase activity in vitro.

Extending the structure-activity relationship of anthranilic acid derivatives as farnesoid X receptor modulators: development of a highly potent partial farnesoid X receptor agonist.

The ligand activated transcription factor nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is involved as a regulator in many metabolic pathways including bile acid and glucose homeostasis. Therefore, pharmacological activation of FXR seems a valuable therapeutic approach for several conditions including metabolic diseases linked to insulin resistance, liver disorders such as primary biliary cirrhosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and certain forms of cancer. The available FXR agonists, however, activate the receptor to the full extent which might be disadvantageous over a longer time period. Hence, partial FXR activators are required for long-term treatment of metabolic disorders. We here report the SAR of anthranilic acid derivatives as FXR modulators and development, synthesis, and characterization of compound 51, which is a highly potent partial FXR agonist in a reporter gene assay with an EC50 value of 8 ± 3 nM and on mRNA level in liver cells.