Cyclipostins and cyclophostin analogs inhibit the antigen 85C from Mycobacterium tuberculosis both in vitro and in vivo.

An increasing prevalence of cases of drug-resistant tuberculosis requires the development of more efficacious chemotherapies. We previously reported the discovery of a new class of cyclipostins and cyclophostin (CyC) analogs exhibiting potent activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis both in vitro and in infected macrophages. Competitive labeling/enrichment assays combined with MS have identified several serine or cysteine enzymes in lipid and cell wall metabolism as putative targets of these CyC compounds. These targets included members of the antigen 85 (Ag85) complex (i.e. Ag85A, Ag85B, and Ag85C), responsible for biosynthesis of trehalose dimycolate and mycolylation of arabinogalactan. Herein, we used biochemical and structural approaches to validate the Ag85 complex as a pharmacological target of the CyC analogs. We found that CyC7ß, CyC8ß, and CyC17 bind covalently to the catalytic Ser124 residue in Ag85C; inhibit mycolyltransferase activity (i.e. the transfer of a fatty acid molecule onto trehalose); and reduce triacylglycerol synthase activity, a property previously attributed to Ag85A. Supporting these results, an X-ray structure of Ag85C in complex with CyC8ß disclosed that this inhibitor occupies Ag85C's substrate-binding pocket. Importantly, metabolic labeling of M. tuberculosis cultures revealed that the CyC compounds impair both trehalose dimycolate synthesis and mycolylation of arabinogalactan. Overall, our study provides compelling evidence that CyC analogs can inhibit the activity of the Ag85 complex in vitro and in mycobacteria, opening the door to a new strategy for inhibiting Ag85. The high-resolution crystal structure obtained will further guide the rational optimization of new CyC scaffolds with greater specificity and potency against M. tuberculosis.

Synthesis of Phostones via the Palladium-Catalyzed Ring Opening of Epoxy Vinyl Phosphonates.

The reaction of epoxy aldehydes with tetraethyl methylenediphosphonate gave γ,δ-epoxy vinyl phosphonates. The palladium-catalyzed addition of primary alcohols gave the monoprotected diols as single diastereoisomers. The trans- and cis-epoxides lead to opposite ( syn and anti) diastereoisomers of the addition products. The alkene of the vinyl phosphonates was subjected to hydrogenation, and the resulting saturated phosphonates underwent base-catalyzed cyclization to give phostones with a very high diastereoselectivity in the formation of the new chiral center at the phosphorus atom.

The Chemistry and Biology of Cyclophostin, the Cyclipostins and Related Compounds.

Cyclophostin, the cyclipostins and the salinipostins are structurally related cyclic enolphosphate natural products. This mini review describes their isolation, synthesis and biological activities. In addition, the synthesis and biological activities of monocyclic enolphosphate and mono and bicyclic enolphosphonate analogs are presented.

Enantioseparation of α-Hydroxyallylphosphonates and Phosphonoallylic Carbonate Derivatives on Chiral Stationary Phases Using Sequential UV, Polarimetric, and Refractive Index Detection.

Chromatographic separation of the enantiomers of parent compounds dimethyl α-hydroxyallyl phosphonate and 1-(dimethoxyphosphoryl) allyl methyl carbonate was demonstrated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using Chiralpak AS-H and ad-H chiral stationary phases (CSP), respectively, using a combination of UV, polarimetric, and refractive index detectors. A comparison was made of the separation efficiency and elution order of enantiomeric α-hydroxyallyl phosphonates and their carbonate derivatives on commercially available polysaccharide AS, ad, OD, IC-3, and Whelk-O 1 CSPs. In general, the α-hydroxyallyl phosphonates were resolved on the AS-H CSP, whereas the carbonate derivatives and were preferentially resolved on the ad-H CSP. The impact of aryl substitution on the resolution of analytes and was evaluated. Thermodynamic parameters determined for enantioselective adsorption hydroxyphosphonates and on the AS-H CSP and carbonate on the ad-H CSP demonstrated enthalpic control for separation of the enantiomers. Chirality 28:656-662, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Synthesis of non-racemic α-hydroxyphosphonates via asymmetric phospho-aldol reaction.

It has been more than 50 years since the first phospho-aldol reactions of dialkyl phosphites were reported. These efficient P-C bond-forming reactions have become the cornerstone of methods for the synthesis of α-hydroxyphosphonates and, by numerous available substitution reactions, the synthesis of other α- and γ-substituted phosphonates and phosphonic acids. Much of the interest in α- and γ-substituted phosphonates and phosphonic acids has been stimulated by reports of their biological activity, which is often dependent upon their absolute and relative stereochemistry. In this chapter, we review diastereoselective and enantioselective additions of dialkyl phosphites to aldehydes and ketones, otherwise called the phospho-aldol, Pudovik or Abramov reactions.

Synthesis and comparison of the biological activity of monocyclic phosphonate, difluorophosphonate and phosphate analogs of the natural AChE inhibitor cyclophostin.

New monocyclic phosphate, phosphonate and difluorophosphonate analogs of the natural AChE inhibitor cyclophostin were synthesized and their activity toward human AChE examined. Surprisingly, the phosphate, phosphonate, and difluorophosphonate analogs all showed diminished activity when compared with the natural product.

Rat hormone sensitive lipase inhibition by cyclipostins and their analogs.

Cyclipostins are bicyclic lipophilic phosphate natural products. We report here that synthesized individual diastereomers of cyclipostins P and R have nanomolar IC50s toward hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). The less potent diastereomers of these compounds have 10-fold weaker IC50s. The monocyclic phosphate analog of cyclipostin P is nearly as potent as the bicyclic natural product. Bicyclic phosphonate analogs of both cyclipostins exhibit IC50s similar to those of the weaker diastereomer phosphates (about 400nM). The monocyclic phosphonate analog of cyclipostin P has similar potency. A series of monocyclic phosphonate analogs in which a hydrophobic tail extends from the lactone side of the ring are considerably poorer inhibitors, with IC50s around 50µM. Finally cyclophostin, a related natural product inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) that lacks the hydrocarbon tail of cyclipostins, is not active against HSL. These results indicate a critical SAR for these compounds, the hydrophobic tail. The smaller lactone ring is not critical to activity, a similarity shared with cyclophostin and AChE. The HSL kinetics of inhibition for the cyclipostin P trans diastereomer were examined in detail. The reaction is irreversible with a KI of 40nM and a rate constant for inactivation of 0.2min(-1). These results are similar to those observed for cyclophostin and AChE.

Trapping Hemiacetals with Phosphono Substituted Palladium π-Allyl Complexes for the Synthesis of Substituted Cyclic Ethers.

Oxidation of hydroxy substituted phosphono allylic carbonates gave the aldehyde substituted phosphonates in good yield. Stereospecific palladium (0)-catalyzed cyclization in the presence of methanol or water gave acetal tetrahydrofuran and tetrahydropyran vinyl phosphonate products derived from hemiacetal trapping. The tetrahydrofuran acetals undergo Lewis acid catalyzed addition of nucleophiles to give diastereoisomeric mixtures of substituted tetrahydrofurans.

Support of academic synthetic chemistry using separation technologies from the pharmaceutical industry.

The use of state-of-the-art separation tools from the pharmaceutical industry for addressing intractable separation problems from academic synthetic chemistry is evaluated, showing fast and useful results for the resolution of complex mixtures, separation of closely related components, visualization of difficult to detect compounds and purification of synthetic intermediates. Some recommendations for potential near term deployment of separation tools within academia and the evolution of next generation separation technologies are discussed.

A new class of salicylic acid derivatives for inhibiting YopH of Yersinia pestis.

Previously, we identified a class of salicylic acid derivatives that display inhibitory activity against the protein tyrosine phosphatase YopH from Yersinia pestis. Because docking study suggested that the large phenyl ring attaching to the salicylic acid core might be exposed to the solvent and might not contribute significantly to binding, we have developed a new class of compounds that no longer contain this phenyl ring. We first devised a synthetic scheme for the compounds and then developed an automated computational screening model surrounding this synthetic scheme to help select a small number of compounds for synthesis and experimental testing. Based on this computational screening model and the analysis of the structure-activity relationship of our previous class of compounds, we have synthesized eight compounds and found five that yield micromolar activity. When applying in a larger scale, the synthetic scheme and the computational screening model developed here should help to identify even more potent inhibitors in the future.

Relay cross metathesis reactions of vinylphosphonates.

Dimethyl (ß-substituted) vinylphosphonates do not readily undergo cross metathesis reactions with Grubbs catalyst and terminal alkenes. However, the corresponding mono- or diallyl vinylphosphonate esters undergo facile cross metathesis reactions. The improved reactivity is attributed to a relay step in the cross metathesis reaction mechanism.

Direct capture, inhibition and crystal structure of HsaD (Rv3569c) from M. tuberculosis.

A hallmark of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb), the aetiologic agent of tuberculosis, is its ability to metabolise host-derived lipids. However, the enzymes and mechanisms underlying such metabolism are still largely unknown. We previously reported that the Cyclophostin & Cyclipostins (CyC) analogues, a new family of potent antimycobacterial molecules, react specifically and covalently with (Ser/Cys)-based enzymes mostly involved in bacterial lipid metabolism. Here, we report the synthesis of new CyC alkyne-containing inhibitors (CyCyne ) and their use for the direct fishing of target proteins in M. tb culture via bio-orthogonal click-chemistry activity-based protein profiling (CC-ABPP). This approach led to the capture and identification of a variety of enzymes, and many of them involved in lipid or steroid metabolisms. One of the captured enzymes, HsaD (Rv3569c), is required for the survival of M. tb within macrophages and is thus a potential therapeutic target. This prompted us to further explore and validate, through a combination of biochemical and structural approaches, the specificity of HsaD inhibition by the CyC analogues. We confirmed that the CyC bind covalently to the catalytic Ser114 residue, leading to a total loss of enzyme activity. These data were supported by the X-ray structures of four HsaD-CyC complexes, obtained at resolutions between 1.6 and 2.6 Å. The identification of mycobacterial enzymes directly captured by the CyCyne probes through CC-ABPP paves the way to better understand and potentially target key players at crucial stages of the bacilli life cycle.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of purpurealidin E-derived marine sponge metabolites: aplysamine-2, aplyzanzine A, and suberedamines A and B.

Five purpurealidin-derived marine secondary sponge metabolies have been synthesized through the carbodiimide coupling of an appropriate bromotyrosine unit. The structure elucidations have been confirmed through direct comparison with spectroscopic data of isolated natural products. Aplyzanzine A has been shown to be the most active product against a broad bacterial and fungal screen, demonstrating MIC values 2 to 4 times lower than the other metabolites in this study. Compounds 2, 3, 4a, and 5-7 exhibit a modest inhibition against slow growing mycobacteria (MIC 25-50 µg/mL), including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. iso-Anomoian A and suberedamine B showed antitumor activity in the NCI-DTP60 cell line screen at single-digit micromolar concentrations, with iso-anomoian A inhibiting 53 cell lines. These molecules present novel scaffolds for further optimization.

Synthesis and Biological Characterization of Fluorescent Cyclipostins and Cyclophostin Analogues: New Insights for the Diagnosis of Mycobacterial-Related Diseases.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have a significantly higher risk of acquiring nontuberculous mycobacteria infections, predominantly due to Mycobacterium abscessus, than the healthy population. Because M. abscessus infections are a major cause of clinical decline and morbidity in CF patients, improving treatment and the detection of this mycobacterium in the context of a polymicrobial culture represents a critical component to better manage patient care. We report here the synthesis of fluorescent Dansyl derivatives of four active cyclipostins and cyclophostin analogues (CyCs) and provide new insights regarding the CyC's lack of activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, and above all into their mode of action against intramacrophagic M. abscessus cells. Our results pointed out that the intracellularly active CyC accumulate in acidic compartments within macrophage cells, that this accumulation appears to be essential for their delivery to mycobacteria-containing phagosomes, and consequently, for their antimicrobial effect against intracellular replicating M. abscessus, and that modification of such intracellular localization via disruption of endolysosomal pH strongly affects the CyC accumulation and efficacy. Moreover, we discovered that these fluorescent compounds could become efficient probes to specifically label mycobacterial species with high sensitivity, including M. abscessus in the presence several other pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Collectively, all present and previous data emphasized the therapeutic potential of unlabeled CyCs and the attractiveness of the fluorescent CyC as a potential new efficient diagnostic tool to be exploited in future diagnostic developments against mycobacterial-related infections, especially against M. abscessus.

Lipolytic enzymes inhibitors: A new way for antibacterial drugs discovery.

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) still remains the deadliest infectious disease worldwide with 1.5 million deaths in 2018, of which about 15% are attributed to resistant strains. Another significant example is Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus), a nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) responsible for cutaneous and pulmonary infections, representing up to 95% of NTM infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. M. abscessus is a new clinically relevant pathogen and is considered one of the most drug-resistant mycobacteria for which standardized chemotherapeutic regimens are still lacking. Together the emergence of M. tb and M. abscessus multi-drug resistant strains with ineffective and expensive therapeutics, have paved the way to the development of new classes of anti-mycobacterial agents offering additional therapeutic options. In this context, specific inhibitors of mycobacterial lipolytic enzymes represent novel and promising antibacterial molecules to address this challenging issue. The results highlighted here include a complete overview of the antibacterial activities, either in broth medium or inside infected macrophages, of two families of promising and potent anti-mycobacterial multi-target agents, i.e. oxadiazolone-core compounds (OX) and Cyclophostin & Cyclipostins analogs (CyC); the identification and biochemical validation of their effective targets (e.g., the antigen 85 complex and TesA playing key roles in mycolic acid metabolism) together with their respective crystal structures. To our knowledge, these are the first families of compounds able to target and impair replicating as well as intracellular bacteria. We are still impelled in deciphering their mode of action and finding new potential therapeutic targets against mycobacterial-related diseases.

Synthesis and kinetic analysis of some phosphonate analogs of cyclophostin as inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase.

Two new monocyclic analogs of the natural AChE inhibitor cyclophostin and two exocyclic enol phosphates were synthesized. The potencies and mechanisms of inhibition of the bicyclic and monocyclic enol phosphonates and the exocyclic enol phosphates toward human AChE are examined. One diastereoisomer of the bicyclic phosphonate exhibits an IC(50) of 3 microM. Potency is only preserved when the cyclic enol phosphonate is intact and conjugated to an ester. Kinetic analysis indicates both a binding and a slow inactivation step for all active compounds. Mass spectrometric analysis indicates that the active site Ser is indeed phosphorylated by the bicyclic phosphonate.

Synthesis of Phosphonomethyl Tetrahydrofurans via the Mori-Tamaru Reaction of Phosphonodienes.

Nickel-catalyzed reductive addition of phosphonodienes to aldehydes (the Mori-Tamaru reaction) gives hydroxy vinyl phosphonates in good yields with excellent control of the relative stereochemistry. Base-induced cyclization of the vinyl phosphonates yields phosphonomethyl-substituted tetrahydrofurans. Inversion of the hydroxyl stereochemistry by Mitsunobu reaction and then cyclization yields a different set of phosphonomethyl-substituted tetrahydrofuran diastereoisomers.

Total synthesis of rapamycin.

For over 30 years, rapamycin has generated a sustained and intense interest from the scientific community as a result of its exceptional pharmacological properties and challenging structural features. In addition to its well known therapeutic value as a potent immunosuppressive agent, rapamycin and its derivatives have recently gained prominence for the treatment of a wide variety of other human malignancies. Herein we disclose full details of our extensive investigation into the synthesis of rapamycin that culminated in a new and convergent preparation featuring a macro-etherification/catechol-templating strategy for construction of the macrocyclic core of this natural product.

Leaving Group Effects in a Series of Electrosprayed CcHhN1 Anthracene Derivatives.

We investigate the gas-phase structures and fragmentation pathways of model compounds of anthracene derivatives of the general formula CcHhN1 utilizing tandem mass spectrometry and computational methods. We vary the substituent alkyl chain length, composition, and degree of branching. We find substantial experimental and theoretical differences between the linear and branched congeners in terms of fragmentation thresholds, available pathways, and distribution of products. Our calculations predict that the linear substituents initially isomerize to form lower energy branched isomers prior to loss of the alkyl substituents as alkenes. The rate-determining chemistry underlying these related processes is dominated by the ability to stabilize the alkene loss transition structures. This task is more effectively undertaken by branched substituents. Consequently, analyte lability systematically increased with degree of branching (linear < secondary < tertiary). The resulting anthracen-9-ylmethaniminium ion generated from these alkene loss reactions undergoes rate-limiting proton transfer to enable expulsion of either hydrogen cyanide or CNH. The combination of the differences in primary fragmentation thresholds and degree of radical-based fragmentation processes provide a potential means of distinguishing compounds that contain branched alkyl chain substituents from those with linear ones.

Cyclipostins and Cyclophostin Analogues as Multitarget Inhibitors That Impair Growth of Mycobacterium abscessus.

Twelve new Cyclophostin and Cyclipostins analogues (CyC19-30) were synthesized, thus extending our series to 38 CyCs. Their antibacterial activities were evaluated against four pathogenic mycobacteria (Mycobacterium abscessus, Mycobacterium marinum, Mycobacterium bovis BCG, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and two Gram negative bacteria. The CyCs displayed very low toxicity toward host cells and were only active against mycobacteria. Importantly, several CyCs were active against extracellular M. abscessus (CyC17/CyC18ß/CyC25/CyC26) or intramacrophage residing mycobacteria (CyC7(α,ß)/CyC8(α,ß)) with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC50) values comparable to or better than those of amikacin or imipenem, respectively. An activity-based protein profiling combined with mass spectrometry allowed identification of the potential target enzymes of CyC17/CyC26, mostly being involved in lipid metabolism and/or in cell wall biosynthesis. Overall, these results strengthen the selective activity of the CyCs against mycobacteria, including the most drug-resistant M. abscessus, through the cumulative inhibition of a large number of Ser- and Cys-enzymes participating in key physiological processes.