Replacement of the hydroxamic acid group in the selective HDAC8 inhibitor PCI-34051.

PCI-34051 is a valuable tool to interrogate the therapeutic effects of selective inhibition of HDAC8. However, it has not advanced to clinical trials, perhaps due to poor PK or off-target effects. We hypothesized that the presence of a hydroxamic acid (HA) group in PCI-34051 contributed to its lack of advancement. Therefore, we replaced the HA in the PCI-34051 scaffold with a series of moieties that have the potential to bind to Zn and evaluated their activity in a HDAC8 assay. Surprisingly, none of the replacements effectively mimicked the HA, and analogs lost significant potency. Evaluation of the analogs' affinity to Zn indicated that none had affinity for Zn within the same range as the HA. These studies point to the difficulty in the application of bioisosteric replacements for Zn binding motifs.

Structure-property relationships of fluorinated carboxylic acid bioisosteres.

Fluorinated alcohols and phenols are potentially useful as bioisosteres of the carboxylic acid functional group. To enable a direct comparison of the properties of fluorinated carboxylic acid surrogates with those of other commonly used, non-fluorinated bioisosteres, we conducted a structure-property relationship (SPR) study based on matched molecular pair (MMP) analyses. A series of representative examples have been characterized by experimentally determining physicochemical properties, such as acidity (pKa), lipophilicity (logD7.4), and permeability (PAMPA). The results presented can help estimate the relative changes in physicochemical properties that may be attainable by replacing the carboxylic acid functional group with fluorine containing surrogate structures.

Ferroptosis as a Novel Therapeutic Target for Friedreich's Ataxia.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neuro- and cardio-degenerative disorder characterized by ataxia, sensory loss, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In most cases, the disorder is caused by GAA repeat expansions in the first introns of both alleles of the FXN gene, resulting in decreased expression of the encoded protein, frataxin. Frataxin localizes to the mitochondrial matrix and is required for iron-sulfur-cluster biosynthesis. Decreased expression of frataxin is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, mitochondrial iron accumulation, and increased oxidative stress. Ferropotosis is a recently identified pathway of regulated, iron-dependent cell death, which is biochemically distinct from apoptosis. We evaluated whether there is evidence for ferroptotic pathway activation in cellular models of FRDA. We found that primary patient-derived fibroblasts, murine fibroblasts with FRDA-associated mutations, and murine fibroblasts in which a repeat expansion had been introduced (knockin/knockout) were more sensitive than normal control cells to erastin, a known ferroptosis inducer. We also found that the ferroptosis inhibitors ethyl 3-(benzylamino)-4-(cyclohexylamino)benzoate (SRS11-92) and ethyl 3-amino-4-(cyclohexylamino)benzoate, used at 500 nM, were efficacious in protecting human and mouse cellular models of FRDA treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis [L-buthionine (S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO)], whereas caspase-3 inhibitors failed to show significant biologic activity. Cells treated with FAC and BSO consistently showed decreased glutathione-dependent peroxidase activity and increased lipid peroxidation, both hallmarks of ferroptosis. Finally, the ferroptosis inhibitor SRS11-92 decreased the cell death associated with frataxin knockdown in healthy human fibroblasts. Taken together, these data suggest that ferroptosis inhibitors may have therapeutic potential in FRDA.

A threonine turnstile defines a dynamic amphiphilic binding motif in the AAA ATPase p97 allosteric binding site.

The turnstile motion of two neighboring threonines sets up a dynamic side chain interplay that can accommodate both polar and apolar ligands in a small molecule allosteric protein binding site. A computational model based on SAR data and both X-ray and cryo-EM structures of the AAA ATPase p97 was used to analyze the effects of paired threonines at the inhibitor site. Specifically, the Thr side chain hydroxyl groups form a hydrogen bonding network that readily accommodates small, highly polar ligand substituents. Conversely, diametric rotation of the χ1 torsion by 150-180° orients the side chain ß-methyl groups into the binding cleft, creating a hydrophobic pocket that can accommodate small, apolar substituents. This motif was found to be critical for rationalizing the affinities of a structurally focused set of inhibitors of p97 covering a > 2000-fold variation in potencies, with a preference for either small-highly polar or small-apolar groups. The threonine turnstile motif was further validated by a PDB search that identified analogous binding modes in ligand interactions in PKB, as well as by an analysis of NMR structures demonstrating additional gear-like interactions between adjacent Thr pairs. Combined, these data suggest that the threonine turnstile motif may be a general feature of interest in protein binding pockets.

Delayed treatment with PTBA analogs reduces postinjury renal fibrosis after kidney injury.

No therapies have been shown to accelerate recovery or prevent fibrosis after acute kidney injury (AKI). In part, this is because most therapeutic candidates have to be given at the time of injury and the diagnosis of AKI is usually made too late for drugs to be efficacious. Strategies to enhance post-AKI repair represent an attractive approach to address this. Using a phenotypic screen in zebrafish, we identified 4-(phenylthio)butanoic acid (PTBA), which promotes proliferation of embryonic kidney progenitor cells (EKPCs), and the PTBA methyl ester UPHD25, which also increases postinjury repair in ischemia-reperfusion and aristolochic acid-induced AKI in mice. In these studies, a new panel of PTBA analogs was evaluated. Initial screening was performed in zebrafish EKPC assays followed by survival assays in a gentamicin-induced AKI larvae zebrafish model. Using this approach, we identified UPHD186, which in contrast to UPHD25, accelerates recovery and reduces fibrosis when administered several days after ischemia-reperfusion AKI and reduces fibrosis after unilateral ureteric obstruction in mice. UPHD25 and 186 are efficiently metabolized to the active analog PTBA in liver and kidney microsome assays, indicating both compounds may act as PTBA prodrugs in vivo. UPHD186 persists longer in the circulation than UPHD25, suggesting that sustained levels of UPHD186 may increase efficacy by acting as a reservoir for renal metabolism to PTBA. These findings validate use of zebrafish EKPC and AKI assays as a drug discovery strategy for molecules that reduce fibrosis in multiple AKI models and can be administered days after initiation of injury.

Optimization of pyrazole-containing 1,2,4-triazolo-[3,4-b]thiadiazines, a new class of STAT3 pathway inhibitors.

Structure-activity relationship studies of a 1,2,4-triazolo-[3,4-b]thiadiazine scaffold, identified in an HTS campaign for selective STAT3 pathway inhibitors, determined that a pyrazole group and specific aryl substitution on the thiadiazine were necessary for activity. Improvements in potency and metabolic stability were accomplished by the introduction of an α-methyl group on the thiadiazine. Optimized compounds exhibited anti-proliferative activity, reduction of phosphorylated STAT3 levels and effects on STAT3 target genes. These compounds represent a starting point for further drug discovery efforts targeting the STAT3 pathway.

2-Guanidinoquinazolines as new inhibitors of the STAT3 pathway.

Synthesis and SAR investigation of 2-guanidinoquinazolines, initially identified in a high content screen for selective STAT3 pathway inhibitors, led to a more potent analog (11c) that demonstrated improved anti-proliferative activity against a panel of HNSCC cell lines.

Chemical methodology as a source of small-molecule checkpoint inhibitors and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) modulators.

Unique chemical methodology enables the synthesis of innovative and diverse scaffolds and chemotypes and allows access to previously unexplored "chemical space." Compound collections based on such new synthetic methods can provide small-molecule probes of proteins and/or pathways whose functions are not fully understood. We describe the identification, characterization, and evolution of two such probes. In one example, a pathway-based screen for DNA damage checkpoint inhibitors identified a compound, MARPIN (ATM and ATR pathway inhibitor) that sensitizes p53-deficient cells to DNA-damaging agents. Modification of the small molecule and generation of an immobilized probe were used to selectively bind putative protein target(s) responsible for the observed activity. The second example describes a focused library approach that relied on tandem multicomponent reaction methodologies to afford a series of modulators of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) molecular chaperone. The synthesis of libraries based on the structure of MAL3-101 generated a collection of chemotypes, each modulating Hsp70 function, but exhibiting divergent pharmacological activities. For example, probes that compromise the replication of a disease-associated polyomavirus were identified. These projects highlight the importance of chemical methodology development as a source of small-molecule probes and as a drug discovery starting point.

Mechanism of allosteric inhibition of human p97/VCP ATPase and its disease mutant by triazole inhibitors.

Human p97 ATPase is crucial in various cellular processes, making it a target for inhibitors to treat cancers, neurological, and infectious diseases. Triazole allosteric p97 inhibitors have been demonstrated to match the efficacy of CB-5083, an ATP-competitive inhibitor, in cellular models. However, the mechanism is not well understood. This study systematically investigates the structures of new triazole inhibitors bound to  both wild-type and disease mutant forms of p97 and measures their effects on function. These inhibitors bind at the interface of the D1 and D2 domains of each p97 subunit, shifting surrounding helices and altering the loop structures near the C-terminal α2 G helix to modulate domain-domain communications. A key structural moiety of the inhibitor affects the rotameric conformations of interacting side chains, indirectly modulating the N-terminal domain conformation in p97 R155H mutant. The differential effects of inhibitor binding to wild-type and mutant p97 provide insights into drug design with enhanced specificity, particularly for oncology applications.

Optimization of 1,2,4-Triazole-Based p97 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Cancer.

The AAA+ ATPase p97 (valosin-containing protein, VCP) is a master regulator of protein homeostasis and therefore represents a novel target for cancer therapy. Starting from a known allosteric inhibitor, NMS-873, we systematically optimized this scaffold, in particular, by applying a benzene-to-acetylene isosteric replacement strategy, specific incorporation of F, and eutomer/distomer identification, which led to compounds that exhibited nanomolar biochemical and cell-based potency. In cellular pharmacodynamic assays, robust effects on biomarkers of p97 inhibition and apoptosis, including increased levels of ubiquitinated proteins, CHOP and cleaved caspase 3, were observed. Compound (R)-29 (UPCDC-30766) represents the most potent allosteric inhibitor of p97 reported to date.

Validation of HDAC8 Inhibitors as Drug Discovery Starting Points to Treat Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI), a sudden loss of kidney function, is a common and serious condition for which there are no approved specific therapies. While there are multiple approaches to treat the underlying causes of AKI, no targets have been clinically validated. Here, we assessed a series of potent, selective competitive inhibitors of histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), a promising therapeutic target in an AKI setting. Using biochemical assays, zebrafish AKI phenotypic assays, and human kidney organoid assays, we show that selective HDAC8 inhibitors can lead to efficacy in increasingly stringent models. One of these, PCI-34051, was efficacious in a rodent model of AKI, further supporting the potential for HDAC8 inhibitors and, in particular, this scaffold as a therapeutic approach to AKI.

Affinity Capture of p97 with Small-Molecule Ligand Bait Reveals a 3.6 Å Double-Hexamer Cryoelectron Microscopy Structure.

Recent progress in the development of affinity grids for cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) typically employs genetic engineering of the protein sample such as histidine or Spy tagging, immobilized antibody capture, or nonselective immobilization via electrostatic interactions or Schiff base formation. We report a powerful and flexible method for the affinity capture of target proteins for cryo-EM analysis that utilizes small-molecule ligands as bait for concentrating human target proteins directly onto the grid surface for single-particle reconstruction. This approach is demonstrated for human p97, captured using two different small-molecule high-affinity ligands of this AAA+ ATPase. Four electron density maps are revealed, each representing a p97 conformational state captured from solution, including a double-hexamer structure resolved to 3.6 Å. These results demonstrate that the noncovalent capture of protein targets on EM grids modified with high-affinity ligands can enable the structure elucidation of multiple configurational states of the target and potentially inform structure-based drug design campaigns.

A small-molecule oxocarbazate inhibitor of human cathepsin L blocks severe acute respiratory syndrome and ebola pseudotype virus infection into human embryonic kidney 293T cells.

A tetrahydroquinoline oxocarbazate (PubChem CID 23631927) was tested as an inhibitor of human cathepsin L (EC 3.4.22.15) and as an entry blocker of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus and Ebola pseudotype virus. In the cathepsin L inhibition assay, the oxocarbazate caused a time-dependent 17-fold drop in IC(50) from 6.9 nM (no preincubation) to 0.4 nM (4-h preincubation). Slowly reversible inhibition was demonstrated in a dilution assay. A transient kinetic analysis using a single-step competitive inhibition model provided rate constants of k(on) = 153,000 M(-1)s(-1) and k(off) = 4.40 x 10(-5) s(-1) (K(i) = 0.29 nM). The compound also displayed cathepsin L/B selectivity of >700-fold and was nontoxic to human aortic endothelial cells at 100 muM. The oxocarbazate and a related thiocarbazate (PubChem CID 16725315) were tested in a SARS coronavirus (CoV) and Ebola virus-pseudotype infection assay with the oxocarbazate but not the thiocarbazate, demonstrating activity in blocking both SARS-CoV (IC(50) = 273 +/- 49 nM) and Ebola virus (IC(50) = 193 +/- 39 nM) entry into human embryonic kidney 293T cells. To trace the intracellular action of the inhibitors with intracellular cathepsin L, the activity-based probe biotin-Lys-C5 alkyl linker-Tyr-Leu-epoxide (DCG-04) was used to label the active site of cysteine proteases in 293T lysates. The reduction in active cathepsin L in inhibitor-treated cells correlated well with the observed potency of inhibitors observed in the virus pseudotype infection assay. Overall, the oxocarbazate CID 23631927 was a subnanomolar, slow-binding, reversible inhibitor of human cathepsin L that blocked SARS-CoV and Ebola pseudotype virus entry in human cells.

A Different Kind of Medicinal Chemistry Toolbox.

To attract and retain women in medicinal chemistry, a toolbox of resources and opportunities is suggested. Scientific meetings, books, affinity groups, training courses, and networks all can provide support and strategies to help increase the percentage of women in the field.

p97: An Emerging Target for Cancer, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Viral Infections.

The AAA+ ATPase, p97, also referred to as VCP, plays an essential role in cellular homeostasis by regulating endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), mitochondrial-associated degradation (MAD), chromatin-associated degradation, autophagy, and endosomal trafficking. Mutations in p97 have been linked to a number of neurodegenerative diseases, and overexpression of wild type p97 is observed in numerous cancers. Furthermore, p97 activity has been shown to be essential for the replication of certain viruses, including poliovirus, herpes simplex virus (HSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and influenza. Taken together, these observations highlight the potential for targeting p97 as a therapeutic approach in neurodegeneration, cancer, and certain infectious diseases. This Perspective reviews recent advances in the discovery of small molecule inhibitors of p97, their optimization and characterization, and therapeutic potential.

Author Correction: High-throughput identification of post-transcriptional utrophin up-regulators for Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) therapy.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

High-throughput identification of post-transcriptional utrophin up-regulators for Duchenne muscle dystrophy (DMD) therapy.

Upregulation of endogenous utrophin offers great promise for treating DMD, as it can functionally compensate for the lack of dystrophin caused by DMD gene mutations, without the immunogenic concerns associated with delivering dystrophin. However, post-transcriptional repression mechanisms targeting the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of utrophin mRNA significantly limit the magnitude of utrophin upregulation achievable by promoter activation. Using a utrophin 5'3'UTR reporter assay, we performed a high-throughput screen (HTS) for small molecules capable of relieving utrophin post-transcriptional repression. We identified 27 hits that were ranked using a using an algorithm that we designed for hit prioritization that we call Hit to Lead Prioritization Score (H2LPS). The top 10 hits were validated using an orthogonal assay for endogenous utrophin expression. Evaluation of the top scoring hit, Trichostatin A (TSA), demonstrated utrophin upregulation and functional improvement in the mdx mouse model of DMD. TSA and the other small molecules identified here represent potential starting points for DMD drug discovery efforts.

Identification of a Novel Oleic Acid Analog with Protective Effects in Multiple Cellular Models of Friedreich Ataxia.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder for which there is no cure or approved treatment. It is characterized by the loss or impaired activity of frataxin protein, which is involved in the biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters. Our previous studies suggested that cell death in FRDA may involve ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death requiring lipid peroxidation. Based on reports that oleic acid acts as a ferroptosis inhibitor, we evaluated whether it, other fatty acids, and fatty acid derivatives could rescue viability in cellular models of FRDA. We identified a trifluoromethyl alcohol analog of oleic acid that was significantly more potent than oleic acid itself. Further evaluation indicated that the effects were stereoselective, although a specific molecular target has not yet been identified. This work provides a potential starting point for therapeutics to treat FRDA, as well as a valuable probe molecule to interrogate FRDA pathophysiology.