Design and synthesis of a series of α-benzyl phenylpropanoic acid-type peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma partial agonists with improved aqueous solubility.

In the continuing study directed toward the development of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (hPPARγ) agonist, we attempted to improve the water solubility of our previously developed hPPARγ-selective agonist 3, which is insufficiently soluble for practical use, by employing two strategies: introducing substituents to reduce its molecular planarity and decreasing its hydrophobicity via replacement of the adamantyl group with a heteroaromatic ring. The first approach proved ineffective, but the second was productive. Here, we report the design and synthesis of a series of α-benzyl phenylpropanoic acid-type hPPARγ partial agonists with improved aqueous solubility. Among them, we selected (R)-7j, which activates hPPARγ to the extent of about 65% of the maximum observed with a full agonist, for further evaluation. The ligand-binding mode and the reason for the partial-agonistic activity are discussed based on X-ray-determined structure of the complex of hPPARγ ligand-binding domain (LBD) and (R)-7j with previously reported ligand-LDB structures. Preliminal apoptotic effect of (R)-7j against human scirrhous gastric cancer cell line OCUM-2MD3 is also described.

Design, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a series of α-substituted phenylpropanoic acid PPARγ agonists to further investigate the stereochemistry-activity relationship.

We previously demonstrated that the α-benzylphenylpropanoic acid-type PPARγ-selective agonist 6 exhibited a reversed stereochemistry-activity relationship, that is, the (R)-enantiomer is a more potent PPARγ agonist than the (S)-enantiomer, compared with structurally similar α-ethylphenylpropanoic acid-type PPAR agonists. Here, we designed, synthesized and evaluated the optically active α-cyclohexylmethylphenylpropanoic acid derivatives 7 and α-phenethylphenylpropanoic acid derivatives 8, respectively. Interestingly, α-cyclohexylmethyl derivatives showed reversal of the stereochemistry-activity relationship [i.e., (R) more potent than (S)], like α-benzyl derivatives, whereas α-phenethyl derivatives showed the 'normal' relationship [(S) more potent than (R)]. These results suggested that the presence of a branched carbon atom at the ß-position with respect to the carboxyl group is a critical determinant of the reversed stereochemistry-activity relationship.

Structure-based design, synthesis, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-preventive effect of phenylpropanoic acid peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α-selective agonists.

A series of α-ethylphenylpropanoic acid derivatives was prepared as candidate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α-selective agonists, based on our PPARα/δ dual agonist 3 as a lead compound. Structure-activity relationship studies clearly indicated that the steric bulkiness and position of the distal hydrophobic tail part are critical for PPARα agonistic activity and PPARα selectivity, as had been predicted from a molecular-modeling study. A representative compound blocked the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in an animal model.

Design, synthesis, and structural analysis of phenylpropanoic acid-type PPARγ-selective agonists: discovery of reversed stereochemistry-activity relationship.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-mediated transcription factor with roles in glucose, lipid, and lipoprotein homeostasis, and PPARγ ligands are expected have therapeutic potential in these as well as other areas. We report here the design, synthesis, crystallographic analysis, and computational studies of α-benzylphenylpropanoic acid PPARγ agonists. Interestingly, these compounds show a reversal of the stereochemistry-transactivation activity relationship observed with other phenylpropanoic acid ligands.