Pyrimidinopyrimidine inhibitors of ketohexokinase: exploring the ring C2 group that interacts with Asp-27B in the ligand binding pocket.

Inhibitors of ketohexokinase (KHK) have potential for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. We have continued studies on a pyrimidinopyrimidine series of potent KHK inhibitors by exploring the 2-position substituent (R(3)) that interacts with Asp-27B in the ATP-binding region of KHK (viz. 1, 2; Table 1). We found that increased spacing between the terminal ammonium group and the heterocyclic scaffold (viz. 16-20), such that interaction with Asp-27B is not possible, still results in potent KHK inhibition (IC(50)=15-50 nM). We propose a new interaction with Asp-194, which serves to expand the pyrimidinopyrimidine pharmacophore.

Inhibitors of Ketohexokinase: Discovery of Pyrimidinopyrimidines with Specific Substitution that Complements the ATP-Binding Site.

Attenuation of fructose metabolism by the inhibition of ketohexokinase (KHK; fructokinase) should reduce body weight, free fatty acids, and triglycerides, thereby offering a novel approach to treat diabetes and obesity in response to modern diets. We have identified potent, selective inhibitors of human hepatic KHK within a series of pyrimidinopyrimidines (1). For example, 8, 38, and 47 exhibited KHK IC50 values of 12, 7, and 8 nM, respectively, and also showed potent cellular KHK inhibition (IC50 < 500 nM), which relates to their intrinsic potency vs KHK and their ability to penetrate cells. X-ray cocrystal structures of KHK complexes of 3, 8, and 47 revealed the important interactions within the enzyme's adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP)-binding pocket.

Potent, nonpeptide inhibitors of human mast cell tryptase. Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel spirocyclic piperidine amide derivatives.

We have explored a series of spirocyclic piperidine amide derivatives (5) as tryptase inhibitors. Thus, 4 (JNJ-27390467) was identified as a potent, selective tryptase inhibitor with oral efficacy in two animal models of airway inflammation (sheep and guinea pig asthma models). An X-ray co-crystal structure of 4 x tryptase revealed a hydrophobic pocket in the enzyme's active site, which is induced by the phenylethynyl group and is comprised of amino acid residues from two different monomers of the tetrameric protein.

Exploration of potential prodrugs of RWJ-445167, an oxyguanidine-based dual inhibitor of thrombin and factor Xa.

Compound 2 (RWJ-445167; 3DP-10017), a dual inhibitor of thrombin and factor Xa, was advanced into human clinical studies. However, its oral bioavailability in humans proved to be below acceptable limits. To address this issue, we explored a prodrug approach involving numerous guanidine derivatives. Prodrug candidates of classes A (carbamate derivatives), B (imidate derivatives), and C (alkyl and acyl derivatives), compounds 3-6, were synthesized and evaluated for anticoagulant activity at 2 h after oral administration to rats. In comparison to the parent drug (2), little worthwhile improvement was observed for the prodrug candidates.

In-depth study of tripeptide-based alpha-ketoheterocycles as inhibitors of thrombin. Effective utilization of the S1' subsite and its implications to structure-based drug design.

Thrombin inhibitors are potentially useful in medicine for their anticoagulant and antithrombotic effects. We synthesized and evaluated diverse heterocycle-activated ketones based on the d-Phe-Pro-Arg, and related thrombin active-site recognition motifs, as candidate inhibitors. The peptide-based alpha-ketoheterocycles were typically prepared by either an imidate or a Weinreb amide route (Schemes 1 and 2), the latter of which proved to be more general. Test compounds were generally assayed for inhibition of human alpha-thrombin and bovine trypsin. From a structure-based design standpoint, the heterocycle allows one to explore and adjust interactions within the S1' subsite of thrombin. The preferred alpha-ketoheterocycle is a pi-rich 2-substituted azole with at least two heteroatoms proximal to the carbon bearing the keto group, and a preferred thrombin inhibitor is 2-ketobenzothiazole 3, with a potent K(i) value of 0.2 nM and ca. 15-fold selectivity over trypsin. 2-Ketobenzothiazole 13 exhibited exceedingly potent thrombin inhibition (K(i) = 0.000 65 nM; slow tight binding). Several alpha-ketoheterocycles had thrombin K(i) values in the range 0.1-400 nM. The "Arg" unit in the alpha-ketoheterocycles can be sensitive to stereomutation under mildy basic conditions. For example, 2-ketothiazoles 4 and 59 readily epimerize at pH 7.4, although they are fairly stable stereochemically at pH 3-4; thus, suitable conditions had to be selected for the enzymatic assays. Lead d-Phe-Pro-Arg 2-benzothiazoles 3, 4, and 68 displayed good selectivity for thrombin over other key coagulation enzymes (e.g., factor Xa, plasmin, protein Ca, uPA, tPA, and streptokinase); however, their selectivity for thrombin over trypsin was modest (<25-fold). Compounds 3, 4, and 68 exhibited potent in vitro antithrombotic activity as measured by inhibition of gel-filtered platelet aggregation induced by alpha-thrombin (IC(50) = 30-40 nM). They also proved to be potent anticoagulant/antithrombotic agents in vivo on intravenous administration, as determined in the canine arteriovenous shunt (ED(50) = 0.45-0.65 mg/kg) and the rabbit deep vein thrombosis (ED(50) = 0.1-0.4 mg/kg) models. Intravenous administration of 3, and several analogues, to guinea pigs caused hypotension and electrocardiogram abnormalities. Such cardiovascular side effects were also observed with some nonguanidine inhibitors and inhibitors having recognition motifs other than d-Phe-Pro-Arg. 2-Benzothiazolecarboxylates 4 and 68 exhibited significantly diminished cardiovascular side effects, and benzothiazolecarboxylic acid 4 had the best profile with respect to therapeutic index. The X-ray crystal structures of the ternary complexes 3-thrombin-hirugen and 4-thrombin-hirugen depict novel interactions in the S(1)' region, with the benzothiazole ring forming a hydrogen bond with His-57 and an aromatic stacking interaction with Trp-60D of thrombin's insertion loop. The benzothiazole ring of 3 displaces the Lys-60F side chain into a U-shaped gauche conformation, whereas the benzothiazole carboxylate of 4 forms a salt bridge with the side chain of Lys-60F such that it adopts an extended anti conformation. Since 3 has a 10-fold greater affinity for thrombin than does 4, any increase in binding energy resulting from this salt bridge is apparently offset by perturbations across the enzyme (viz. Figure 4). The increased affinity and selectivity of 2-ketobenzothiazole inhibitors, such as 3, may be primarily due to the aromatic stacking interaction with Trp-60D. However, energy contour calculations with the computer program GRID also indicate a favorable interaction between the benzothiazole sulfur atom and a hydrophobic patch on the surface of thrombin.

Potent, small-molecule inhibitors of human mast cell tryptase. Antiasthmatic action of a dipeptide-based transition-state analogue containing a benzothiazole ketone.

Inhibitors of human mast cell tryptase (EC 3.4.21.59) have therapeutic potential for treating allergic or inflammatory disorders. We have investigated transition-state mimetics possessing a heterocycle-activated ketone group and identified in particular benzothiazole ketone (2S)-6 (RWJ-56423) as a potent, reversible, low-molecular-weight tryptase inhibitor with a K(i) value of 10 nM. A single-crystal X-ray analysis of the sulfate salt of (2S)-6 confirmed the stereochemistry. Analogues 12 and 15-17 are also potent tryptase inhibitors. Although RWJ-56423 potently inhibits trypsin (K(i) = 8.1 nM), it is selective vs other serine proteases, such as kallikrein, plasmin, and thrombin. We obtained an X-ray structure of (2S)-6 complexed with bovine trypsin (1.9-A resolution), which depicts inter alia a hemiketal involving Ser-189, and hydrogen bonds with His-57 and Gln-192. Aerosol administration of 6 (2R,2S; RWJ-58643) to allergic sheep effectively antagonized antigen-induced asthmatic responses, with 70-75% blockade of the early response and complete ablation of the late response and airway hyperresponsiveness.