Rational In Silico Design of Selective TMPRSS6 Peptidomimetic Inhibitors via Exploitation of the S2 Subpocket.

TMPRSS6 is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of iron overload due to its role in regulating levels of hepcidin. Although potent TMPRSS6 inhibitors have been previously developed, their lack of specificity requires optimization to avoid potential side effects before pursuing preclinical development with in vivo models. Here, using computer-aided drug design based on a TMPRSS6 homology model, we reveal that the S2 position of TMPRSS6 offers a potential avenue to achieve selectivity against other members of the TTSP family. Accordingly, we synthesized novel peptidomimetic molecules containing lipophilic amino acids at the P2 position to exploit this unexplored pocket. This enabled us to identify TMPRSS6-selective small molecules with low nanomolar affinity. Finally, pharmacokinetic parameters were determined, and a compound was found to be potent in cellulo toward its primary target while retaining TTSP-subtype selectivity and showing no signs of alteration in in vitro TEER experiments.

Synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-[(4-hy-droxy-phen-yl)amino]-5,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-4(5H)-one.

In the title mol-ecule, C21H17N3O2, the five-membered ring is slightly ruffled and dihedral angles between the pendant six-membered rings and the central, five-membered ring vary between 50.78 (4) and 86.78 (10)°. The exocyclic nitro-gen lone pair is involved in conjugated π bonding to the five-membered ring. In the crystal, a layered structure is generated by O-H⋯N and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds plus C-H⋯π(ring) and weak π-stacking inter-actions.

Synthesis, design, in silico, in vitro and in vivo (streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice) biological evaluation of novels N-arylacetamide derivatives.

The organic compounds 2-chloro-N-(aryl)acetamide (Ps13-Ps18) and 2-azido-N-(aryl)acetamide (148-153) were synthesized and analyzed using 1 H, 13C NMR. The acute oral toxicity study was carried out according to OECD guidelines, which approve that the compounds (Ps18 and 153) were nontoxic. In addition, the compounds were evaluated for its antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic properties (in vitro and in vivo) and for antioxidant activity by utilizing several tests as 1,1-diphenyl2-picrylhydrazyl DPPH, (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) ABTS, reducing power test FRAP and hydrogen peroxide activity H2O2. The molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the antidiabetic activity of Ps18 and 153 and compared with the experimental results. These compounds are a potent antidiabetic from both the experimental and molecular docking results. Finally, the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of Ps18 and 153 have been evaluated by using in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity analysis prediction.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

3-Methyl-2-(methyl-sulfan-yl)-5,5-diphenyl-3,5-di-hydro-4H-imidazol-4-one.

In the title mol-ecule, C17H16N2OS, the di-hydro-imidazolone ring is slightly puckered and the methyl-sulfanyl group is nearly coplanar with it. In the crystal, two sets of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form corrugated layers of mol-ecules parallel to the ac plane. The layers pack with normal van der Waals contacts between them.

15,15-Diphenyl-2,3,4,5,6,8,9,11,12-octa-hydro-imidazo[2,1-h][1,4,12]trioxa[7]thia-[9]azacyclo-tetra-decin-14(15H)-one.

The title mol-ecule, C23H26N2O4S, adopts a cup-shaped conformation. In the crystal, layers lying parallel to the ab plane are formed by C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds and C-H⋯π(ring) inter-actions. The layers stack along the c-axis direction through normal van der Waals inter-actions.

3-(2-Bromo-eth-yl)-5,5-di-phenyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione.

The imidazolidine ring in the title mol-ecule, C17H15BrN2O2, is slightly ruffled [r.m.s. deviation = 0.0192 Å], while the attached phenyl rings at the C atom at the position between the amine and carbonyl centres are rotated well out of its mean plane [dihedral angles with the imidazolidine ring = 63.60 (8) and 76.4 (1)°]. In the crystal, a three-dimensional network features N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds together with C-H⋯π(ring) inter-actions.

Synthesis, molecular docking, ADMET evaluation and in vitro cytotoxic activity evaluation on RD and L20B cell lines of 3-substituted 5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione derivatives.

Hydantoins comprise an important class of compounds which have long attracted attention due to their remarkable biological and pharmacological properties including antitumor and antiviral activities. As a continuation of our studies on hydantoins derivatives we report the successful synthesis of hydantoins derivatives. These synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against Vero cells L20B (African green monkey kidney cell line) and Human Rhabdomyosarcoma RD cell lines using methotrexate drug (MTX) as a reference drug in cytotoxic activity studies. The percentage of the cell line viability was carried out by using Trypan blue dye exclusion method. The tested compounds showed equipotent cytotoxicity effect against Vero cells (L20B) and a moderate effect against Human Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cell lines. These results exhibited better activity for 4a-b compounds than the reference drug methotrexate (MTX). Molecular docking studies indicated that the synthesized compounds are suitable inhibitors of humain dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) enzyme, which may explain the high antiproliferative activity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

New styrylquinoxaline: synthesis, structural, biological evaluation, ADMET prediction and molecular docking investigations.

The organic compound (E)-3-(4-methylstyryl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (SQO) with molecular formula C17H14N2O was synthesized and analyzed using single crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H, 13C NMR and FTIR spectroscopic techniques. The geometric parameters of the molecule was optimized by density-functional theory (DFT) choosing B3LYP with 6-31++G(d,p) basis set. For compatibility, the theoretical structure and experimental structure were overlapped with each other. Frontier molecular orbitals of the title compound were made, and energy gap between HOMO and LUMO was calculated. Molecular electrostatic potential map was generated finding electrophilic and nucleophilic attack centers using DFT method. Hirshfeld surface analysis (HSA) confirms active regions at the circumference of N1 atoms and O1 atoms that form intermolecular N1-H1···O1 hydrogen bond. The acute oral toxicity study was carried out according to OECD guideline, which approve that the compound SQO was non-toxic. In addition, this quinoxaline derivative was evaluated for its in vitro antidiabetic activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes and for antioxidant activity by utilizing several tests as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl, (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl benzthiazoline-6-sulfonicacid), reducing power test (FRAP) and hydrogen peroxide activity H2O2. The molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the antidiabetic activity of SQO and compared with the experimental results. SQO is a potent antidiabetic from both the experimental and molecular docking results. Finally, the physicochemical, pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of SQO have been evaluated by using in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity analysis prediction.

3-Isobutyl-5,5-di-phenyl-imidazolidine-2,4-dione.

The imidazolidine ring in the title mol-ecule, C19H20N2O2, is slightly 'ruffled'. In the crystal, a layer structure is generated by N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds plus C-H⋯π(ring) inter-actions.

2-Azido-N-(4-methyl-phen-yl)acetamide.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C9H10N4O, comprises three independent mol-ecules, two pairs of which differ significantly in the rotational orientation of the azido group and one pair having very similar conformations; the N-N-C-C torsion angles are -173.9 (2), -102.7 (2) and -173.6 (2)°. In the crystal, each independent mol-ecule forms N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds with its glide-plane-related counterparts, forming zigzag chains extending along the c-axis direction.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-azido-N-(4-fluoro-phen-yl)acetamide.

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C8H7FN4O, consists of two independent mol-ecules differing in the orientation of the azido group. Each mol-ecule forms N-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded chains along along the c-axis direction with its symmetry-related counterparts and the chains are connected by C-F⋯π(ring), C=O⋯π(ring) and slipped π-stacking inter-actions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of these inter-actions was performed.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-chloro-N-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)acetamide.

In the title mol-ecule, C9H10ClNO2, the meth-oxy group lies very close to the plane of the phenyl ring while the acetamido group is twisted out of this plane by 28.87 (5)°. In the crystal, a three-dimensional structure is generated by N-H⋯O, C-H⋯O and C-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds plus C-H⋯π(ring) inter-actions. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of the inter-molecular inter-actions was performed and indicated that C⋯H/H⋯C inter-actions make the largest contribution to the surface area (33.4%).

Design, synthesis, structural and molecular characterization, toxicity, psychotropic activity and molecular docking evaluation of a novel phenytoin derivative: 3-decyl-5,5-diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione.

The hydantoin scaffold is of substantial importance and it is commonly used in drug discovery. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel phenytoine (a hydantoin derivative) with high yield by the reaction of phenytoin with 1-bromodecyl agent. Namely, 3-decyl-5,5- diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (3DDID). The optimized geometry of the compound was calculated using density functional theory (DFT) method by B3LYP with 6-311++G(d,p) basis set. For this calculation, the X-ray data were used as initial values. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) surface and Frontier molecular orbitals (FOMs) were prepared for the compound. The crystal structure of the title compound contains intermolecular N-H···O, C-H···O hydrogen bonds and weak C-H···π interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis and 2D fingerprint plots of the molecule aid comparison of intermolecular interactions and these analysis reveals that two close contacts are associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The psychotropic activity evaluation of the synthesized compound was further explored using hole bored test for exploratory behaviors, dark//light box test for anxiolytic activity and Rota-road, traction, chimney testes were used to assess the myrelaxant effect. In addition, molecular modeling study was also conducted to rationalize the potential as neurotherapeutic drugs of our synthesized compound by predicting their binding modes, binding affinities and optimal orientation at the active site of the GABA-A receptor and Na+ channel. Finally, in silico ADMET predictions was also examined. HighlightsSynthesis, structural, and molecular characterization of a novel phenytoin derivative.DFT, XRD, and the Hirshfeld surface analysis of crystal structure was studied.Acute toxicity and psychotropic activity evaluation of 3-decyl-5,5 diphenylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (3DDID).Molecular modeling studies have been conducted to rationalize the obtained data and to determine the probable binding mode.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.