Development of an Efficient Enzyme Production and Structure-Based Discovery Platform for BACE1 Inhibitors.

BACE1 (Beta-site Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) Cleaving Enzyme 1) is a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer's Disease (AD). However, efficient expression, purification, and crystallization systems are not well described or detailed in the literature nor are approaches for treatment of enzyme kinetic data for potent inhibitors well described. We therefore developed a platform for expression and purification of BACE1, including protein refolding from E.coli inclusion bodies, in addition to optimizing a reproducible crystallization procedure of BACE1 bound with inhibitors. We also report a detailed approach to the proper analysis of enzyme kinetic data for compounds that exhibit either rapid-equilibrium or tight-binding mechanisms. Our methods allow for the purification of ∼15 mg of BACE1 enzyme from 1 L of culture which is higher than reported yields in the current literature. To evaluate the data analysis approach developed here, a well-known potent inhibitor and two of its derivatives were tested, analyzed, and compared. The inhibitory constants (Ki) obtained from the kinetic studies are in agreement with dissociation constants (Kd) that were also determined using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments. The X-ray structures of these three compounds in complex with BACE1 were readily obtained and provide important insight into the structure and thermodynamics of the BACE1-inhibitor interactions.

Design, synthesis, biological and structural evaluation of functionalized resveratrol analogues as inhibitors of quinone reductase 2.

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxylstilbene) has been proposed to elicit a variety of positive health effects including protection against cancer and cardiovascular disease. The highest affinity target of resveratrol identified so far is the oxidoreductase enzyme quinone reductase 2 (QR2), which is believed to function in metabolic reduction and detoxification processes; however, evidence exists linking QR2 to the metabolic activation of quinones, which can lead to cell toxicity. Therefore, inhibition of QR2 by resveratrol may protect cells against reactive intermediates and eventually cancer. With the aim of identifying novel inhibitors of QR2, we designed, synthesized, and tested two generations of resveratrol analogue libraries for inhibition of QR2. In addition, X-ray crystal structures of six of the resveratrol analogues in the active site of QR2 were determined. Several novel inhibitors of QR2 were successfully identified as well as a compound that inhibits QR2 with a novel binding orientation.

Synthesis of novel МТ3 receptor ligands via an unusual Knoevenagel condensation.

New 5-acetamido-substituted melatonin derivatives were efficiently synthesized in excellent yields via Knoevenagel condensation. The relative binding affinity of new synthesized compounds to MT3 receptor was tested via enzymatic assays and the X-ray structures of the most potent compounds were determined in complex with MT3.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of potent quinoline and pyrroloquinoline ammosamide analogues as inhibitors of quinone reductase 2.

A variety of ammosamide B analogues have been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of quinone reductase 2 (QR2). The potencies of the resulting series of QR2 inhibitors range from 4.1 to 25,200 nM. The data provide insight into the structural parameters necessary for QR2 inhibitory activity. The natural product ammosamide B proved to be a potent QR2 inhibitor, and the potencies of the analogues generally decreased as their structures became more distinct from that of ammosamide B. Methylation of the 8-amino group of ammosamide B was an exception, resulting in an increase in quinone reductase 2 inhibitory activity from an IC(50) of 61 nM to IC(50) 4.1 nM.