Hiding in plain sight: Optimizing topoisomerase IIα inhibitors into Hsp90ß selective binders.

Due to their impact on several oncogenic client proteins, the Hsp90 family of chaperones has been widely studied for the development of potential anticancer agents. Although several Hsp90 inhibitors have entered clinical trials, most were unsuccessful because they induced a heat shock response (HSR). This issue can be circumvented by using isoform-selective inhibitors, but the high similarity in the ATP-binding sites between the isoforms presents a challenge. Given that Hsp90 shares a conserved Bergerat fold with bacterial DNA gyrase B and human topoisomerase IIα, we repurposed our ATP-competitive inhibitors of these two proteins for Hsp90 inhibition. We virtually screened a library of in-house inhibitors and identified eleven hits for evaluation of Hsp90 binding. Among these, compound 11 displayed low micromolar affinity for Hsp90 and demonstrated a 12-fold selectivity for Hsp90ß over its closest isoform, Hsp90α. Out of 29 prepared analogs, 16 showed a preference for Hsp90ß over Hsp90α. Furthermore, eleven of these compounds inhibited the growth of several cancer cell lines in vitro. Notably, compound 24e reduced intracellular levels of Hsp90 client proteins in MCF-7 cells, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase without inducing HSR. This inhibitor exhibited at least a 27-fold preference for Hsp90ß and was selective against topoisomerase IIα, a panel of 22 representative protein kinases, and proved to be non-toxic in a zebrafish larvae toxicology model. Finally, molecular modeling, corroborated by STD NMR studies, and the binding of 24e to the S52A mutant of Hsp90α confirmed that the serine to alanine switch drives the selectivity between the two cytoplasmic isoforms.

First dual inhibitors of human topoisomerase IIα and Hsp90 C-terminal domain inhibit the growth of Ewing sarcoma in vitro and in vivo.

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα) are members of the GHKL protein superfamily, both with clinically validated roles as anticancer drug targets. We report the discovery of the first class of dual inhibitors targeting the ATP-binding site of TopoIIα and the C-terminal domain of Hsp90, displaying potent cancer growth inhibition both in vitro and in vivo. Initially, a known TopoIIα inhibitor, compound 3, was shown to bind to the C-terminal domain of Hsp90, but not to its ATP-binding N-terminal domain. Nineteen analogs were then prepared and evaluated to investigate the structure-activity relationships, several of which inhibited the growth of SK-N-MC Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro. Compound 3 emerged as one of the most potent growth inhibitors (IC50 = 0.33 ± 0.04 µM), demonstrating the ability to induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in SK-N-MC cells in vitro, and to slow the growth of Ewing sarcoma in vivo in a zebrafish model.

Discovery of new Hsp90-Cdc37 protein-protein interaction inhibitors: in silico screening and optimization of anticancer activity.

The interaction between heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) and Hsp90 co-chaperone cell-division cycle 37 (Cdc37) is crucial for the folding and maturation of several oncogenic proteins, particularly protein kinases. This makes the inhibition of this protein-protein interaction (PPI) an interesting target for developing new anticancer compounds. However, due to the large interaction surface, developing PPI inhibitors is challenging. In this work, we describe the discovery of new Hsp90-Cdc37 PPI inhibitors using a ligand-based virtual screening approach. Initial hit compounds showed Hsp90 binding, resulting in anticancer activity in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. To optimize their antiproliferative effect, 35 analogs were prepared. Binding affinity for Hsp90 was determined for the most promising compounds, 8c (K d = 70.8 µM) and 13g (K d = 73.3 µM), both of which interfered with the binding of Cdc37 to Hsp90. This resulted in anticancer activity against Ewing sarcoma (SK-N-MC), breast cancer (MCF-7), and leukemia (THP-1) cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, compounds 8c and 13g demonstrated the ability to induce apoptosis in the Ewing sarcoma cell line and caused a decrease in the levels of several known Hsp90 client proteins in MCF-7 cells, all without inducing the heat shock response.

Improved N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors of DNA gyrase as antibacterial agents for high-priority bacterial strains.

In this work, we describe an improved series of N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors that exhibit potent activity against DNA gyrase and are highly effective against high-priority gram-positive bacteria. The most potent compounds show low nanomolar IC50 values against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase, and in addition, compound 7c also inhibits E. coli topoisomerase IV in the nanomolar concentration range, making it a promising candidate for the development of potent dual inhibitors for these enzymes. All tested compounds show high selectivity towards the human isoform DNA topoisomerase IIα. Compounds 6a, 6d, 6e and 6f show MIC values between 0.031 and 0.0625 µg/mL against vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and Enterococcus faecalis strains. Compound 6g shows an inhibitory effect against the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strain (MRSA) with a MIC of 0.0625 µg/mL and against the E. faecalis strain with a MIC of 0.125 µg/mL. In a time-kill assay, compound 6d showed a dose-dependent bactericidal effect on the MRSA strain and achieved bactericidal activity at 8 × MIC after 8 h. The duration of the post-antibiotic effect (PAE) on the MRSA strain for compound 6d was 2 h, which corresponds to the PAE duration for ciprofloxacin. The compounds were not cytotoxic at effective concentrations, as determined in an MTS assay on the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.

New N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors of DNA gyrase with improved antibacterial activity.

This study presents the discovery of a new series of N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors of bacterial DNA gyrase with improved antibacterial activity. The most potent inhibitors had low nanomolar IC50 values against Escherichia coli DNA gyrase (IC50; 2-20 nM) and E. coli topoisomerase IV (22i, IC50 = 143 nM). Importantly, none of the compounds showed activity against human DNA topoisomerase IIα, indicating selectivity for bacterial targets. Among the tested compounds, 22e emerged as the most effective against Gram-positive bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 0.25 µg mL-1 against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and MRSA, and 0.125 µg mL-1 against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. For Gram-negative bacteria, compounds 23b and 23c showed the greatest efficacy with MIC values ranging from 4 to 32 µg mL-1 against E. coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Acinetobacter baumannii ATCC 17978 and A. baumannii ATCC 19606. Notably, compound 23b showed promising activity against the clinically relevant Gram-negative pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 10031, with an MIC of 0.0625 µg mL-1. Furthermore, compounds 23a and 23c exhibited significantly lower susceptibility to resistance development compared to novobiocin in S. aureus ATCC 29213 and K. pneumoniae ATCC 10031. Overall, the most promising compounds of this series showed excellent on-target potency, marking a significant improvement over previous N-phenylpyrrolamide inhibitors.

Galectin-8N-Selective 4-Halophenylphthalazinone-Galactals Double π-Stack in a Unique Pocket.

Galectin-8 contains two different carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs). Selective inhibitors for at least one CRD are desirable for galectin-8 biology studies and potentially for pharmacological purposes. Structure-guided design led to the discovery of potent and selective glycomimetic-heterocycle hybrid ligands, with a 4-(p-bromophenyl)phthalazinone derivative displaying a 34 µM K d for galectin-8N (N-terminal CRD), no binding to galectin-8C (C-terminal CRD), -1, -3, -4N, -7, -9C, or -9N, and >40-fold selectivity over galectin-4C. Selectivity was achieved with the halogenated 4-phenylphthalazinone moiety occupying a galectin-8N-specific sub-pocket. A 1.30 Å resolution X-ray structure revealed the phthalazinone moiety stacking with Arg45 and the 4-bromophenyl moiety stacking both Arg59 and Tyr141 of galectin-8N. Physicochemical and in vitro ADME studies revealed a desirable LogD, which also translated to good passive permeability. The chemical, microsome, and plasma stability support these compounds as promising tool compounds and candidates for hit-to-lead optimization.

Targeting N-Acetylglucosaminidase in Staphylococcus aureus with Iminosugar Inhibitors.

Bacteria are capable of remarkable adaptations to their environment, including undesirable bacterial resistance to antibacterial agents. One of the most serious cases is an infection caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which has unfortunately also spread outside hospitals. Therefore, the development of new effective antibacterial agents is extremely important to solve the increasing problem of bacterial resistance. The bacteriolytic enzyme autolysin E (AtlE) is a promising new drug target as it plays a key role in the degradation of peptidoglycan in the bacterial cell wall. Consequently, disruption of function can have an immense impact on bacterial growth and survival. An in silico and in vitro evaluation of iminosugar derivatives as potent inhibitors of S. aureus (AtlE) was performed. Three promising hit compounds (1, 3 and 8) were identified as AtlE binders in the micromolar range as measured by surface plasmon resonance. The most potent compound among the SPR response curve hits was 1, with a KD of 19 µM. The KD value for compound 8 was 88 µM, while compound 3 had a KD value of 410 µM.

New Class of Hsp90 C-Terminal Domain Inhibitors with Anti-tumor Properties against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a treatment challenge and requires innovative therapies. Hsp90, crucial for the stability of numerous oncogenic proteins, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target. In this study, we present the optimization of the Hsp90 C-terminal domain (CTD) inhibitor TVS21. Biochemical methods, NMR binding studies, and molecular modeling were employed to investigate the binding of representative analogs to Hsp90. The newly synthesized analogs showed increased antiproliferative activity in breast cancer cell lines, including the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line. Compounds 89 and 104 proved to be the most effective, inducing apoptosis, slowing proliferation, and degrading key oncogenic proteins without inducing a heat shock response. In vivo, compound 89 showed comparable efficacy to the clinical candidate AUY922 and a better safety profile in a TNBC xenograft model. These results highlight the promise of Hsp90 CTD inhibitors for TNBC therapy, potentially filling a significant treatment gap.

Development of narrow-spectrum topoisomerase-targeting antibacterials against mycobacteria.

New 2-pyrrolamidobenzothiazole-based inhibitors of mycobacterial DNA gyrase were discovered. Among these, compounds 49 and 51, show excellent antibacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium abscessus with a notable preference for mycobacteria. Both compounds can penetrate infected macrophages and reduce intracellular M. tuberculosis load. Compound 51 is a potent inhibitor of DNA gyrase (M. tuberculosis DNA gyrase IC50 = 4.1 nM, Escherichia coli DNA gyrase IC50 of <10 nM), selective for bacterial topoisomerases. It displays low MIC90 values (M. tuberculosis: 0.63 µM; M. abscessus: 2.5 µM), showing specificity for mycobacteria, and no apparent toxicity. Compound 49 not only displays potent antimycobacterial activity (MIC90 values of 2.5 µM for M. tuberculosis and 0.63 µM for M. abscessus) and selectivity for mycobacteria but also exhibits favorable solubility (kinetic solubility = 55 µM) and plasma protein binding (with a fraction unbound of 2.9 % for human and 4.7 % for mouse). These findings underscore the potential of fine-tuning molecular properties to develop DNA gyrase B inhibitors that specifically target the mycobacterial chemical space, mitigating the risk of resistance development in non-target pathogens and minimizing harm to the microbiome.

Exploring the interaction of N-(benzothiazol-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with the GyrB ATP-binding site lipophilic floor: A medicinal chemistry and QTAIM study.

N-(Benzothiazole-2-yl)pyrrolamide DNA gyrase inhibitors with benzyl or phenethyl substituents attached to position 3 of the benzothiazole ring or to the carboxamide nitrogen atom were prepared and studied for their inhibition of Escherichia coli DNA gyrase by supercoiling assay. Compared to inhibitors bearing the substituents at position 4 of the benzothiazole ring, the inhibition was attenuated by moving the substituent to position 3 and further to the carboxamide nitrogen atom. A co-crystal structure of (Z)-3-benzyl-2-((4,5-dibromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonyl)imino)-2,3-dihydrobenzo[d]-thiazole-6-carboxylic acid (I) in complex with E. coli GyrB24 (ATPase subdomain) was solved, revealing the binding mode of this type of inhibitor to the ATP-binding pocket of the E. coli GyrB subunit. The key binding interactions were identified and their contribution to binding was rationalised by quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) analysis. Our study shows that the benzyl or phenethyl substituents bound to the benzothiazole core interact with the lipophilic floor of the active site, which consists mainly of residues Gly101, Gly102, Lys103 and Ser108. Compounds with substituents at position 3 of the benzothiazole core were up to two orders of magnitude more effective than compounds with substituents at the carboxamide nitrogen. In addition, the 6-oxalylamino compounds were more potent inhibitors of E. coli DNA gyrase than the corresponding 6-acetamido analogues.

Identification of a Novel Structural Class of HV1 Inhibitors by Structure-Based Virtual Screening.

The human voltage-gated proton channel, hHV1, is highly expressed in various cell types including macrophages, B lymphocytes, microglia, sperm cells and also in various cancer cells. Overexpression of HV1 has been shown to promote tumor formation by highly metastatic cancer cells, and has been associated with neuroinflammatory diseases, immune response disorders and infertility, suggesting a potential use of hHV1 inhibitors in numerous therapeutic areas. To identify compounds targeting this channel, we performed a structure-based virtual screening on an open structure of the human HV1 channel. Twenty selected virtual screening hits were tested on Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transiently expressing hHV1, with compound 13 showing strong block of the proton current with an IC50 value of 8.5 µM. Biological evaluation of twenty-three additional analogs of 13 led to the discovery of six other compounds that blocked the proton current by more than 50% at 50 µM concentration. This allowed for an investigation of structure-activity relationships. The antiproliferative activity of the selected promising hHV1 inhibitors was investigated in the cell lines MDA-MB-231 and THP-1, where compound 13 inhibited growth with an IC50 value of 9.0 and 8.1 µM, respectively. The identification of a new structural class of HV1 inhibitors contributes to our understanding of the structural requirements for inhibition of this ion channel and opens up the possibility of investigating the role of HV1 inhibitors in various pathological conditions and in cancer therapy.

Exploration and optimisation of structure-activity relationships of new triazole-based C-terminal Hsp90 inhibitors towards in vivo anticancer potency.

The development of new anticancer agents is one of the most urgent topics in drug discovery. Inhibition of molecular chaperone Hsp90 stands out as an approach that affects various oncogenic proteins in different types of cancer. These proteins rely on Hsp90 to obtain their functional structure, and thus Hsp90 is indirectly involved in the pathophysiology of cancer. However, the most studied ATP-competitive inhibition of Hsp90 at the N-terminal domain has proven to be largely unsuccessful clinically. Therefore, research has shifted towards Hsp90 C-terminal domain (CTD) inhibitors, which are also the focus of this study. Our recent discovery of compound C has provided us with a starting point for exploring the structure-activity relationship and optimising this new class of triazole-based Hsp90 inhibitors. This investigation has ultimately led to a library of 33 analogues of C that have suitable physicochemical properties and several inhibit the growth of different cancer types in the low micromolar range. Inhibition of Hsp90 was confirmed by biophysical and cellular assays and the binding epitopes of selected inhibitors were studied by STD NMR. Furthermore, the most promising Hsp90 CTD inhibitor 5x was shown to induce apoptosis in breast cancer (MCF-7) and Ewing sarcoma (SK-N-MC) cells while inducing cause cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells. In MCF-7 cells, it caused a decrease in the levels of ERα and IGF1R, known Hsp90 client proteins. Finally, 5x was tested in zebrafish larvae xenografted with SK-N-MC tumour cells, where it limited tumour growth with no obvious adverse effects on normal zebrafish development.

Estimation of passive gastrointestinal absorption of new dual DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibitors using PAMPA and biopartitioning micellar chromatography and quantitative structure-retention relationship analysis.

DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV play significant role in maintaining the correct structure of DNA during replication and they have been identified as validated targets in antibacterial drug discovery. Inadequate pharmacokinetic properties are responsible for many failures during drug discovery and their estimation in the early phase of this process maximizes the chance of getting useful drug candidates. Passive gastrointestinal absorption of a selected group of thirteen dual DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibitors was estimated using two in vitro tests - parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and biopartitioning micellar chromatography (BMC). Due to good correlation between obtained results, passive gastrointestinal absorption of remaining ten compounds was estimated using only BMC. With this experimental setup, it was possible to identify compounds with high values of retention factors (k) and highest expected passive gastrointestinal absorption, and compounds with low values of k for which low passive gastrointestinal absorption is predicted. Quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) modelling was performed by creating multiple linear regression (MLR), partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machines (SVM) models. Descriptors with the highest influence on retention factor were identified and their interpretation can be used for the design of new compounds with improved passive gastrointestinal absorption.

Discovery of two non-UDP-mimic inhibitors of O-GlcNAc transferase by screening a DNA-encoded library.

Finding potent inhibitors of O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) has proven to be a challenge, especially because the diversity of published inhibitors is low. The large majority of available OGT inhibitors are uridine-based or uridine-like compounds that mimic the main interactions of glycosyl donor UDP-GlcNAc with the enzyme. Until recently, screening of DNA-encoded libraries for discovering hits against protein targets was dedicated to a few laboratories around the world, but has become accessible to wider public with the recent launch of the DELopen platform. Here we report the results and follow-up of a DNA-encoded library screening by using the DELopen platform. This led to the discovery of two new hits with structural features not resembling UDP. Small focused libraries bearing those two scaffolds were made, leading to low micromolar inhibition of OGT and elucidation of their structure-activity relationship.

Benzothiazole DNA gyrase inhibitors and their conjugates with siderophore mimics: design, synthesis and evaluation.

Benzothiazole-based bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibitors are promising new antibacterial agents with potent activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The aim of this study was to improve the uptake of these inhibitors into the cytoplasm of Gram-negative bacteria by conjugating them to the small siderophore mimics. The best conjugate 18b displayed potent Escherichia coli DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibition. The interaction analysis of molecular dynamics simulation trajectory showed the important contribution of the siderophore mimic moiety to binding affinity. By NMR spectroscopy, we demonstrated that the hydroxypyridinone moiety alone was responsible for the chelation of iron(iii). Moreover, 18b showed an enhancement of antibacterial activity against E. coli JW5503 in an iron-depleted medium, clearly indicating an increased uptake of 18b in this bacterial strain.

Virtual Screening Assisted Search for Inhibitors of the Translocated Intimin Receptor of Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli.

This study aimed to identify inhibitors of the translocated intimin receptor (Tir) of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). EPEC is an intestinal pathogen that causes diarrhea and is a major health concern worldwide. Because Tir is a key virulence factor involved in EPEC pathogenesis, inhibiting its function is a potential strategy for controlling EPEC infections. Virtual screening was applied to chemical libraries to search for compounds that inhibit Tir-mediated bacterial adherence to host cells. Three sites were targeted using the cocrystal structure published earlier. A selection of compounds was then assessed in a cell-based infection model and fluorescence microscopy assay. The results of this study provide a basis for further optimization and testing of Tir inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for EPEC infections.

Exploring the 5-Substituted 2-Aminobenzothiazole-Based DNA Gyrase B Inhibitors Active against ESKAPE Pathogens.

We present a new series of 2-aminobenzothiazole-based DNA gyrase B inhibitors with promising activity against ESKAPE bacterial pathogens. Based on the binding information extracted from the cocrystal structure of DNA gyrase B inhibitor A, in complex with Escherichia coli GyrB24, we expanded the chemical space of the benzothiazole-based series to the C5 position of the benzothiazole ring. In particular, compound E showed low nanomolar inhibition of DNA gyrase (IC50 < 10 nM) and broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against pathogens belonging to the ESKAPE group, with the minimum inhibitory concentration < 0.03 µg/mL for most Gram-positive strains and 4-16 µg/mL against Gram-negative E. coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. To understand the binding mode of the synthesized inhibitors, a combination of docking calculations, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and MD-derived structure-based pharmacophore modeling was performed. The computational analysis has revealed that the substitution at position C5 can be used to modify the physicochemical properties and antibacterial spectrum and enhance the inhibitory potency of the compounds. Additionally, a discussion of challenges associated with the synthesis of 5-substituted 2-aminobenzothiazoles is presented.

Immunosuppressive effects of new thiophene-based KV1.3 inhibitors.

Voltage-gated potassium channel KV1.3 inhibitors have been shown to be effective in preventing T-cell proliferation and activation by affecting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. Here, we present the structure-activity relationship, KV1.3 inhibition, and immunosuppressive effects of new thiophene-based KV1.3 inhibitors with nanomolar potency on K+ current in T-lymphocytes and KV1.3 inhibition on Ltk- cells. The new KV1.3 inhibitor trans-18 inhibited KV1.3 -mediated current in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated T-lymphocytes with an IC50 value of 26.1 nM and in mammalian Ltk- cells with an IC50 value of 230 nM. The KV1.3 inhibitor trans-18 also had nanomolar potency against KV1.3 in Xenopus laevis oocytes (IC50 = 136 nM). The novel thiophene-based KV1.3 inhibitors impaired intracellular Ca2+ signaling as well as T-cell activation, proliferation, and colony formation.

Correction: Gubic et al. Design of New Potent and Selective Thiophene-Based KV1.3 Inhibitors and Their Potential for Anticancer Activity. Cancers 2022, 14, 2595.

In the original publication [...].

New aryl and acylsulfonamides as state-dependent inhibitors of Nav1.3 voltage-gated sodium channel.

Voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) play an essential role in neurotransmission, and their dysfunction is often a cause of various neurological disorders. The Nav1.3 isoform is found in the CNS and upregulated after injury in the periphery, but its role in human physiology has not yet been fully elucidated. Reports suggest that selective Nav1.3 inhibitors could be used as novel therapeutics to treat pain or neurodevelopmental disorders. Few selective inhibitors of this channel are known in the literature. In this work, we report the discovery of a new series of aryl and acylsulfonamides as state-dependent inhibitors of Nav1.3 channels. Using a ligand-based 3D similarity search and subsequent hit optimization, we identified and prepared a series of 47 novel compounds and tested them on Nav1.3, Nav1.5, and a selected subset also on Nav1.7 channels in a QPatch patch-clamp electrophysiology assay. Eight compounds had an IC50 value of less than 1 µM against the Nav1.3 channel inactivated state, with one compound displaying an IC50 value of 20 nM, whereas activity against the inactivated state of the Nav1.5 channel and Nav1.7 channel was approximately 20-fold weaker. None of the compounds showed use-dependent inhibition of the cardiac isoform Nav1.5 at a concentration of 30 µM. Further selectivity testing of the most promising hits was measured using the two-electrode voltage-clamp method against the closed state of the Nav1.1-Nav1.8 channels, and compound 15b displayed small, yet selective, effects against the Nav1.3 channel, with no activity against the other isoforms. Additional selectivity testing of promising hits against the inactivated state of the Nav1.3, Nav1.7, and Nav1.8 channels revealed several compounds with robust and selective activity against the inactivated state of the Nav1.3 channel among the three isoforms tested. Moreover, the compounds were not cytotoxic at a concentration of 50 µM, as demonstrated by the assay in human HepG2 cells (hepatocellular carcinoma cells). The novel state-dependent inhibitors of Nav1.3 discovered in this work provide a valuable tool to better evaluate this channel as a potential drug target.