Selective and Bioavailable HDAC6 2-(Difluoromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole Substrate Inhibitors and Modeling of Their Bioactivation Mechanism.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a unique member of the HDAC family mainly targeting cytosolic nonhistone substrates, such as α-tubulin, cortactin, and heat shock protein 90 to regulate cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and mitosis in tumors. We describe the identification and characterization of a series of 2-(difluoromethyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles (DFMOs) as selective nonhydroxamic acid HDAC6 inhibitors. By comparing structure-activity relationships and performing quantum mechanical calculations of the HDAC6 catalytic mechanism, we show that potent oxadiazoles are electrophilic substrates of HDAC6 and propose a mechanism for the bioactivation. We also observe that the inherent electrophilicity of the oxadiazoles makes them prone to degradation in water solution and the generation of potentially toxic products cannot be ruled out, limiting the developability for chronic diseases. However, the oxadiazoles demonstrate high oral bioavailability and low in vivo clearance and are excellent tools for studying the role of HDAC6 in vitro and in vivo in rats and mice.

Discovery of the Oral Leukotriene C4 Synthase Inhibitor (1S,2S)-2-({5-[(5-Chloro-2,4-difluorophenyl)(2-fluoro-2-methylpropyl)amino]-3-methoxypyrazin-2-yl}carbonyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic Acid (AZD9898) as a New Treatment for Asthma.

While bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids are the mainstay of asthma treatment, up to 50% of asthmatics remain uncontrolled. Many studies show that the cysteinyl leukotriene cascade remains highly activated in some asthmatics, even those on high-dose inhaled or oral corticosteroids. Hence, inhibition of the leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) enzyme could provide a new and differentiated core treatment for patients with a highly activated cysteinyl leukotriene cascade. Starting from a screening hit (3), a program to discover oral inhibitors of LTC4S led to (1S,2S)-2-({5-[(5-chloro-2,4-difluorophenyl)(2-fluoro-2-methylpropyl)amino]-3-methoxypyrazin-2-yl}carbonyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (AZD9898) (36), a picomolar LTC4S inhibitor (IC50 = 0.28 nM) with high lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE = 8.5), which displays nanomolar potency in cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cell, IC50,free = 6.2 nM) and good in vivo pharmacodynamics in a calcium ionophore-stimulated rat model after oral dosing (in vivo, IC50,free = 34 nM). Compound 36 mitigates the GABA binding, hepatic toxicity signal, and in vivo toxicology findings of an early lead compound 7 with a human dose predicted to be 30 mg once daily.

Structural basis for selective inhibition of antibacterial target MraY, a membrane-bound enzyme involved in peptidoglycan synthesis.

The rapid growth of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections is of major concern for human health. Therefore, it is of great importance to characterize novel targets for the development of antibacterial drugs. One promising protein target is MraY (UDP-N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide: undecaprenyl phosphate N-acetylmuramyl-pentapeptide-1-phosphate transferase or MurNAc-1-P-transferase), which is essential for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Here, we summarize recent breakthroughs in structural studies of bacterial MraYs and the closely related human GPT (UDP-N-acetylglucosamine: dolichyl phosphate N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase or GlcNAc-1-P-transferase). We present a detailed comparison of interaction modes with the natural product inhibitors tunicamycin and muraymycin D2. Finally, we speculate on possible routes to design an antibacterial agent in the form of a potent and selective inhibitor against MraY.

Crystal structure of microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase provides insight into diversity in the MAPEG superfamily.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a key mediator in inflammatory response. The main source of inducible PGE2, microsomal PGE2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1), has emerged as an interesting drug target for treatment of pain. To support inhibitor design, we have determined the crystal structure of human mPGES-1 to 1.2 Å resolution. The structure reveals three well-defined active site cavities within the membrane-spanning region in each monomer interface of the trimeric structure. An important determinant of the active site cavity is a small cytosolic domain inserted between transmembrane helices I and II. This extra domain is not observed in other structures of proteins within the MAPEG (Membrane-Associated Proteins involved in Eicosanoid and Glutathione metabolism) superfamily but is likely to be present also in microsomal GST-1 based on sequence similarity. An unexpected feature of the structure is a 16-Å-deep cone-shaped cavity extending from the cytosolic side into the membrane-spanning region. We suggest a potential role for this cavity in substrate access. Based on the structure of the active site, we propose a catalytic mechanism in which serine 127 plays a key role. We have also determined the structure of mPGES-1 in complex with a glutathione-based analog, providing insight into mPGES-1 flexibility and potential for structure-based drug design.