Structural insights into selective small molecule activation of PKG1α.

cGMP-dependent protein kinase I-α (PKG1α) is a target for pulmonary arterial hypertension due to its role in the regulation of smooth muscle function. While most work has focused on regulation of cGMP turnover, we recently described several small molecule tool compounds which were capable of activating PKG1α via a cGMP independent pathway. Selected molecules were crystallized in the presence of PKG1α and were found to bind to an allosteric site proximal to the low-affinity nucleotide binding domain. These molecules act to displace the switch helix and cause activation of PKG1α representing a new mechanism for the activation and control of this critical therapeutic path. The described structures are vital to understanding the function and control of this key regulatory pathway.

Small molecule photocatalysis enables drug target identification via energy transfer.

Over half of new therapeutic approaches fail in clinical trials due to a lack of target validation. As such, the development of new methods to improve and accelerate the identification of cellular targets, broadly known as target ID, remains a fundamental goal in drug discovery. While advances in sequencing and mass spectrometry technologies have revolutionized drug target ID in recent decades, the corresponding chemical-based approaches have not changed in over 50 y. Consigned to outdated stoichiometric activation modes, modern target ID campaigns are regularly confounded by poor signal-to-noise resulting from limited receptor occupancy and low crosslinking yields, especially when targeting low abundance membrane proteins or multiple protein target engagement. Here, we describe a broadly general platform for photocatalytic small molecule target ID, which is founded upon the catalytic amplification of target-tag crosslinking through the continuous generation of high-energy carbene intermediates via visible light-mediated Dexter energy transfer. By decoupling the reactive warhead tag from the small molecule ligand, catalytic signal amplification results in unprecedented levels of target enrichment, enabling the quantitative target and off target ID of several drugs including (+)-JQ1, paclitaxel (Taxol), dasatinib (Sprycel), as well as two G-protein-coupled receptors-ADORA2A and GPR40.

Mechanistic insights on novel small molecule allosteric activators of cGMP-dependent protein kinase PKG1α.

cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) represents a compelling drug target for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. PKG1 is the major effector of beneficial cGMP signaling which is involved in smooth muscle relaxation and vascular tone, inhibition of platelet aggregation and signaling that leads to cardioprotection. In this study, a novel piperidine series of activators previously identified from an ultrahigh-throughput screen were validated to directly bind partially activated PKG1α and subsequently enhance its kinase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Compounds from initial optimization efforts showed an ability to activate PKG1α independent of the endogenous activator, cGMP. We demonstrate these small molecule activators mimic the effect of cGMP on the kinetic parameters of PKG1α by positively modulating the KM of the peptide substrate and negatively modulating the apparent KM for ATP with increase in catalytic efficiency, kcat. In addition, these compounds also allosterically modulate the binding affinity of cGMP for PKG1α by increasing the affinity of cGMP for the high-affinity binding site (CNB-A) and decreasing the affinity of cGMP for the low-affinity binding site (CNB-B). We show the mode of action of these activators involves binding to an allosteric site within the regulatory domain, near the CNB-B binding site. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reported non-cGMP mimetic small molecules shown to directly activate PKG1α. Insights into the mechanism of action of these compounds will enable future development of cardioprotective compounds that function through novel modes of action for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Discovery of the First Non-cGMP Mimetic Small Molecule Activators of cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase 1 α (PKG1α).

PKG1α is a central node in cGMP signaling. Current therapeutics that look to activate this pathway rely on elevation of cGMP levels and subsequent activation of PKG1α. Direct activation of PKG1α could potentially drive additional efficacy without associated side effects of blanket cGMP elevation. We undertook a high-throughput screen to identify novel activators. After triaging through numerous false positive hits, attributed to compound mediated oxidation and activation of PKG1α, a piperidine series of compounds was validated. The hit 1 was a weak activator with EC50 = 47 µM. The activity could be improved to single digit micromolar, as seen in compounds 21 and 25 (7.0 and 3.7 µM, respectively). Several compounds were tested in a pVASP cell-based assay, and for compounds with moderate permeability, good agreement was observed between the biochemical and functional assays. These compounds will function as efficient tools to further interrogate PKG1α biology.

Examining Targeted Protein Degradation from Physiological and Analytical Perspectives: Enabling Translation between Cells and Subjects.

The ability to target specific proteins for degradation may open a new door toward developing therapeutics. Although effort in chemistry is essential for advancing this modality, i.e., one needs to generate proteolysis targeting chimeras (bifunctional molecules, also referred to as PROTACS) or "molecular glues" to accelerate protein degradation, we suspect that investigations could also benefit by directing attention toward physiological regulation surrounding protein homeostasis, including the methods that can be used to examine changes in protein kinetics. This perspective will first consider some metabolic scenarios that might be of importance when one aims to change protein abundance by increasing protein degradation. Specifically, could protein turnover impact the apparent outcome? We will then outline how to study protein dynamics by coupling stable isotope tracer methods with mass spectrometry-based detection; since the experimental conditions could have a dramatic effect on protein turnover, special attention is directed toward the application of methods for quantifying protein kinetics using in vitro and in vivo models. Our goal is to present key concepts that should enable mechanistically informed studies which test targeted protein degradation strategies.

Identification of novel bifunctional HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

OBJECTIVES: The increasing prevalence of mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) that confer resistance to existing NRTIs and NNRTIs underscores the need to develop RT inhibitors with novel mode-of-inhibition and distinct resistance profiles. METHODS: Biochemical assays were employed to identify inhibitors of RT activity and characterize their mode of inhibition. The antiviral activity of the inhibitors was assessed by cell-based assays using laboratory HIV-1 isolates and MT4 cells. RT variants were purified via avidin affinity columns. RESULTS: Compound A displayed equal or greater potency against many common NNRTI-resistant RTs (K103N and Y181C RTs) relative to WT RT. Despite possessing certain NNRTI-like properties, such as being unable to inhibit an engineered variant of RT lacking an NNRTI-binding pocket, we found that compound A was dependent on Mg2+ for binding to RT. Optimization of compound A led to more potent analogues, which retained similar activities against WT and K103N mutant viruses with submicromolar potency in a cell-based assay. One of the analogues, compound G, was crystallized in complex with RT and the structure was determined at 2.6 Å resolution. The structure indicated that compound G simultaneously interacts with the active site (Asp186), the highly conserved primer grip region (Leu234 and Trp229) and the NNRTI-binding pocket (Tyr188). CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal a novel class of RT bifunctional inhibitors that are not sensitive to the most common RT mutations, which can be further developed to address the deficiency of current RT inhibitors.

Concise syntheses and HCV NS5B polymerase inhibition of (2'R)-3 and (2'S)-2'-ethynyluridine-10 and related nucleosides.

(2'R)-Ethynyl uridine 3, and its (2'S)-diastereomer 10, are synthesised in a divergent fashion from the inexpensive parent nucleoside. Both nucleoside analogues are obtained from a total of 5 simple synthetic steps and 3 trivial column chromatography purifications. To evaluate their effectiveness against HCV NS5B polymerase, the nucleosides were converted to their respective 5'-O-triphosphates. Subsequently, this lead to the discovery of the 2'-ß-ethynyl 18 and -propynyl 20 nucleotides having significantly improved potency over Sofosbuvir triphosphate 24.

Can We Make Small Molecules Lean? Optimization of a Highly Lipophilic TarO Inhibitor.

We describe our optimization efforts to improve the physicochemical properties, solubility, and off-target profile of 1, an inhibitor of TarO, an early stage enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway for wall teichoic acid (WTA) synthesis. Compound 1 displayed a TarO IC50 of 125 nM in an enzyme assay and possessed very high lipophilicity (clogP = 7.1) with no measurable solubility in PBS buffer. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies resulted in a series of compounds with improved lipophilic ligand efficiency (LLE) consistent with the reduction of clogP. From these efforts, analog 9 was selected for our initial in vivo study, which in combination with subefficacious dose of imipenem (IPM) robustly lowered the bacterial burden in a neutropenic Staphylococci murine infection model. Concurrent with our in vivo optimization effort using 9, we further improved LLE as exemplified by a much more druglike analog 26.

TarO-specific inhibitors of wall teichoic acid biosynthesis restore ß-lactam efficacy against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

The widespread emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has dramatically eroded the efficacy of current ß-lactam antibiotics and created an urgent need for new treatment options. We report an S. aureus phenotypic screening strategy involving chemical suppression of the growth inhibitory consequences of depleting late-stage wall teichoic acid biosynthesis. This enabled us to identify early-stage pathway-specific inhibitors of wall teichoic acid biosynthesis predicted to be chemically synergistic with ß-lactams. We demonstrated by genetic and biochemical means that each of the new chemical series discovered, herein named tarocin A and tarocin B, inhibited the first step in wall teichoic acid biosynthesis (TarO). Tarocins do not have intrinsic bioactivity but rather demonstrated potent bactericidal synergy in combination with broad-spectrum ß-lactam antibiotics against diverse clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci as well as robust efficacy in a murine infection model of MRSA. Tarocins and other inhibitors of wall teichoic acid biosynthesis may provide a rational strategy to develop Gram-positive bactericidal ß-lactam combination agents active against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

In vitro characterization of MK-1439, a novel HIV-1 nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are a mainstay of therapy for treating human immunodeficiency type 1 virus (HIV-1)-infected patients. MK-1439 is a novel NNRTI with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 12, 9.7, and 9.7 nM against the wild type (WT) and K103N and Y181C reverse transcriptase (RT) mutants, respectively, in a biochemical assay. Selectivity and cytotoxicity studies confirmed that MK-1439 is a highly specific NNRTI with minimum off-target activities. In the presence of 50% normal human serum (NHS), MK-1439 showed excellent potency in suppressing the replication of WT virus, with a 95% effective concentration (EC95) of 20 nM, as well as K103N, Y181C, and K103N/Y181C mutant viruses with EC95 of 43, 27, and 55 nM, respectively. MK-1439 exhibited similar antiviral activities against 10 different HIV-1 subtype viruses (a total of 93 viruses). In addition, the susceptibility of a broader array of clinical NNRTI-associated mutant viruses (a total of 96 viruses) to MK-1439 and other benchmark NNRTIs was investigated. The results showed that the mutant profile of MK-1439 was superior overall to that of efavirenz (EFV) and comparable to that of etravirine (ETR) and rilpivirine (RPV). Furthermore, E138K, Y181C, and K101E mutant viruses that are associated with ETR and RPV were susceptible to MK-1439 with a fold change (FC) of <3. A two-drug in vitro combination study indicated that MK-1439 acts nonantagonistically in the antiviral activity with each of 18 FDA-licensed drugs for HIV infection. Taken together, these in vitro data suggest that MK-1439 possesses the desired properties for further development as a new antiviral agent.

Discovery of MK-1439, an orally bioavailable non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor potent against a wide range of resistant mutant HIV viruses.

The optimization of a novel series of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) led to the identification of pyridone 36. In cell cultures, this new NNRTI shows a superior potency profile against a range of wild type and clinically relevant, resistant mutant HIV viruses. The overall favorable preclinical pharmacokinetic profile of 36 led to the prediction of a once daily low dose regimen in human. NNRTI 36, now known as MK-1439, is currently in clinical development for the treatment of HIV infection.

Conversion of systemically-distributed triazole-based stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) uHTS hits into liver-targeted SCD inhibitors.

It has been demonstrated that once-a-day dosing of systemically-distributed SCD inhibitors leads to adverse events in eye and skin. Herein, we describe our efforts to convert a novel class of systemically-distributed potent triazole-based uHTS hits into liver-targeted SCD inhibitors as a means to circumvent chronic toxicity.

High-throughput scintillation proximity assay for stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) catalyzes the synthesis of monounsaturated fatty acids and has been implicated in a number of disease states, including obesity and diabetes. To find small-molecule inhibitor leads, a high-throughput scintillation proximity assay (SPA) was developed using the hydrophobic binding characteristics of a glass microsphere scintillant bead to capture SCD1 from a crude lysate of recombinant SCD1 in Sf9 lysate coupled with the strong binding characteristics of an azetidine compound ([(3)H]AZE). The SPA assay was stable over 24 h and could detect compounds with micromolar to nanomolar potencies. A robust 1536-well high-throughput screening assay was developed with good signal-to-noise ratio (10:1) and excellent Z' factor (0.8). A screening collection of 1.6 million compounds was screened at 11 µM, and approximately 7700 compounds were identified as initial hits, exhibiting at least 35% inhibition of [(3)H]AZE binding. Further screening and confirmation with an SCD enzyme activity assay led to a number of new structural leads for inhibition of the enzyme. The SPA assay complements the enzyme activity assay for SCD1 as a tool for the discovery of novel leads in drug discovery.

Probing cathepsin S activity in whole blood by the activity-based probe BIL-DMK: cellular distribution in human leukocyte populations and evidence of diurnal modulation.

Using the cell-permeable, radioiodinated, irreversible inhibitor BIL-DMK, we probed active cysteine cathepsins in blood. Incubation of the probe in human whole blood followed by separation of white blood cells by dextran sedimentation led to the labeling of one major band at 24kDa. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed that the band resolved in a single protein spot and corresponded to cathepsin S based on its molecular mass, isoelectric point, and Western blot analysis using anti-human cathepsin S antibodies. Cathepsin S activity in human whole blood was dependent on the time of blood collection, suggesting that cathepsin S activity is subject to circadian variations. Separation of white blood cell populations using a magnetic cell sorter and further characterization by FACS (fluorescent-activated cell sorting) analysis demonstrated that the majority of active cathepsin S resided in the monocyte and neutrophil populations, whereas on a cell basis cathepsin S activity in granulocytes is 10-fold lower than that in monocytes. A whole blood cathepsin S assay was developed and used to measure cathepsin S inhibition in both in vitro and ex vivo conditions. To determine the correlation between the in vitro and ex vivo assays, a reversible cathepsin S inhibitor was dosed intravenously to a rhesus monkey. The inhibitor concentration required to inhibit 50% of the cathepsin S activity ex vivo correlated well with the concentration required to inhibit the enzyme in rhesus monkey whole blood in vitro. The results reported here demonstrate the utility of the activity-based probe BIL-DMK for the ex vivo assessment of cathepsin S inhibition.

Biological activity and preclinical efficacy of azetidinyl pyridazines as potent systemically-distributed stearoyl-CoA desaturase inhibitors.

Potent and orally bioavailable SCD inhibitors built on an azetidinyl pyridazine scaffold were identified. In a one-month gDIO mouse model of obesity, we demonstrated that there was no therapeutic index even at low doses; efficacy in preventing weight gain tracked closely with skin and eye adverse events. This was attributed to the local SCD inhibition in these tissues as a consequence of the broad tissue distribution observed in mice for this class of compounds. The search for new structural scaffolds which may display a different tissue distribution was initiated. In preparation for an HTS campaign, a radiolabeled azetidinyl pyridazine displaying low non-specific binding in the scintillation proximity assay was prepared.

2-Aryl benzimidazoles: human SCD1-specific stearoyl coenzyme-A desaturase inhibitors.

A series of potent, benzimidazole-based SCD inhibitors which demonstrate selectivity for the hSCD1 enzyme over the hSCD5 isoform are described. The compounds possess suitable cellular activity and pharmacokinetic properties which render them capable of inhibiting liver SCD activity in a mouse pharmacodynamic assay. These 2-aryl benzimidazoles may serve as valuable tools for studying selective hSCD1-inhibition.

Adenovirus IL-13-induced airway disease in mice: a corticosteroid-resistant model of severe asthma.

Interleukin 13 (IL-13) is considered to be a key driver of the development of airway allergic inflammation and remodeling leading to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). How precisely IL-13 leads to the development of airway inflammation, AHR, and mucus production is not fully understood. In order to identify key mediators downstream of IL-13, we administered adenovirus IL-13 to specifically induce IL-13-dependent inflammation in the lungs of mice. This approach was shown to induce cardinal features of lung disease, specifically airway inflammation, elevated cytokines, AHR, and mucus secretion. Notably, the model is resistant to corticosteroid treatment and is characterized by marked neutrophilia, two hallmarks of more severe forms of asthma. To identify IL-13-dependent mediators, we performed a limited-scale two-dimensional SDS-PAGE proteomic analysis and identified proteins significantly modulated in this model. Intriguingly, several identified proteins were unique to this model, whereas others correlated with those modulated in a mouse ovalbumin-induced pulmonary inflammation model. We corroborated this approach by illustrating that proteomic analysis can identify known pathways/mediators downstream of IL-13. Thus, we have characterized a murine adenovirus IL-13 lung model that recapitulates specific disease traits observed in human asthma, and have exploited this model to identify effectors downstream of IL-13. Collectively, these findings will enable a broader appreciation of IL-13 and its impact on disease pathways in the lung.

Effect of cathepsin k inhibitor basicity on in vivo off-target activities.

Cathepsin K is a lysosomal cysteine protease that is a pharmacological target for the treatment of osteoporosis. Previous studies showed that basic, lipophilic cathepsin K inhibitors are lysosomotropic and have greater activities in cell-based assays against cathepsin K, as well as the physiologically important lysosomal cysteine cathepsins B, L, and S, than expected based on their potencies against these isolated enzymes. Long-term administration of the basic cathepsin K inhibitors N-(1-(((cyanomethyl)amino)carbonyl)cyclohexyl)-4-(2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)benzamide (L-006235) and balicatib to rats at a supratherapeutic dose of 500 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks resulted in increased tissue protein levels of cathepsin B and L but had no effect on cathepsin B and L message. This is attributed to the inhibitor engagement of these off-target enzymes and their stabilization to proteolytic degradation. No such increase in these tissue cathepsins was detected at the same dose of N-(cyanomethyl)-N(2)-{(1S)-2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[4'-methylsulfonyl)biphenyl-4-yl]ethyl}-l-leucinamide (L-873724), a potent nonbasic cathepsin K inhibitor with a similar off-target profile, although all three inhibitors provided similar plasma exposures. Using an activity-based probe, (125)I-BIL-DMK, in vivo inhibition of cathepsins B, L, and S was detected in tissues of mice given a single oral dose of L-006235 and balicatib, but not in mice given L-873724. In each case, similar tissue levels were achieved by all three compounds, thereby demonstrating the in vivo cathepsin selectivity of L-873724. In conclusion, basic cathepsin K inhibitors demonstrate increased off-target cysteine cathepsin activities than their nonbasic analogs and potentially have a greater risk of adverse effects associated with inhibition of these cathepsins.

Solid-phase analogue synthesis of caspase-3 inhibitors via palladium-catalyzed amination of 3-bromopyrazinones.

Caspase-3 is a cysteinyl protease that mediates apoptotic cell death. Its inhibition may have an important impact on the treatment of several degenerative diseases. Here we report the synthesis of reversible inhibitors via a solid-support palladium-catalyzed amination of 3-bromopyrazinones and the discovery of a pan-caspase reversible inhibitor.

Correlating the fractional inhibition of caspase-3 in NT2 cells with apoptotic markers using an active-caspase-3 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A rapid and quantitative method for measuring the activity and fractional inhibition of enzymes within their natural cellular environment remains an unmet need in drug discovery. We describe the use of a nonradioactive quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring intracellular caspase activity that is amenable to robotic automation. The ELISA specifically detects active-caspase-3 and was used to correlate the in-cell activity of caspase-3 with the progress of caspase-3-mediated events under varying concentrations of caspase-3 inhibitors in NT2 cells. We examined the cleavage of endogenous substrates (poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase and alphaII-spectrin), the extent of DNA fragmentation, and the autocatalytic removal of the caspase-3 prodomain as markers of caspase-3 activity. To impart inhibition of the downstream markers, a greater level of caspase-3 inhibition was required. Although the functional markers were found not to accurately predict intracellular caspase-3 activity, we found that the inhibition of intracellular caspase-3 was highly correlated (R(2) = 0.96) to the inhibition of DNA fragmentation. Also, by comparing the potency of the different inhibitors against the intracellular enzyme versus the purified enzyme, the effects of inhibitor functional groups on whole-cell activity were addressed.