RESUMO
Our continued effort toward the development of the imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine scaffold as Aurora kinase inhibitors is described. Bioisosteric approach was applied to optimize the 8-position of the core. Several new potent Aurora A/B dual inhibitors, such as 25k and 25l, were identified.
Assuntos
Imidazóis/química , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/química , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/antagonistas & inibidores , Pirazinas/química , Animais , Aurora Quinase A , Aurora Quinases , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Imidazóis/síntese química , Imidazóis/farmacocinética , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/síntese química , Inibidores de Proteínas Quinases/farmacocinética , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , Pirazinas/síntese química , Pirazinas/farmacocinética , RatosRESUMO
CDK2 inhibitors containing the related bicyclic heterocycles pyrazolopyrimidines and imidazopyrazines were discovered through high-throughput screening. Crystal structures of inhibitors with these bicyclic cores and two more related ones show that all but one have a common binding mode featuring two hydrogen bonds (H-bonds) to the backbone of the kinase hinge region. Even though ab initio computations indicated that the imidazopyrazine core would bind more tightly to the hinge, pyrazolopyrimidines gain an advantage in potency through participation of N4 in an H-bond network involving two catalytic residues and bridging water molecules. Further insight into inhibitor/CDK2 interactions was gained from analysis of additional crystal structures. Significant gains in potency were obtained by optimizing the fit of hydrophobic substituents to the gatekeeper region of the ATP binding site. The most potent inhibitors have good selectivity.