Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry最新文献

Bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) requires the NusG factor to facilitate transcription, with the RNAP clamp-helix domain (CH) serving as the primary binding site for NusG and representing a promising target for antimicrobial intervention. In previous work, we unprecedentedly developed a pharmacophore model based on key clamp-helix residues (R270, R278, R281) at RNAP CH essential for NusG binding, which led to the identification of a hit compound exhibiting modest antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae. In this study, we designed a new class of triaryl inhibitors via scaffold hopping, substituting the linear structure of the hit compound with a benzene ring. Antimicrobial testing showed that several newly synthesised lead compounds achieved the minimum inhibitory concentration of 1 µg/mL against drug-resistant S. pneumoniae, superior to some marketed antibiotics. The following inhibitory and cell-based assays demonstrated the potential of these triaryl compounds as promising candidates for further development as novel antimicrobial agents.

This review discusses the critical roles of Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Kinase (ATM), ATM and Rad3-related Kinase (ATR), and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) in the DNA damage response (DDR) and their implications in cancer. Emphasis is placed on the intricate interplay between these kinases, highlighting their collaborative and distinct roles in maintaining genomic integrity and promoting tumour development under dysregulated conditions. Furthermore, the review covers ongoing clinical trials, patent literature, and medicinal chemistry campaigns on ATM/ATR/DNA-PK inhibitors as antitumor agents. Notably, the medicinal chemistry campaigns employed robust drug design strategies and aimed at assembling new structural templates with amplified DDR kinase inhibitory ability, as well as outwitting the pharmacokinetic liabilities of the existing DDR kinase inhibitors. Given the success attained through such endeavours, the clinical pipeline of DNA repair kinase inhibitors is anticipated to be supplemented by a reasonable number of tractable entries (DDR kinase inhibitors) soon.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies affecting men worldwide, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is a primary treatment approach. CYP17A1 inhibitors like abiraterone target the steroidogenic pathway to reduce androgen levels, but their clinical efficacy is limited by drug resistance and adverse effects. This study reports the synthesis and evaluation of novel CYP17A1 inhibitors derived from a previously identified hit compound. Several analogs were synthesised, including an unexpected di-cyano derivative, which demonstrated increased potency against CYP17A1 compared to abiraterone. Biological assays revealed that these compounds significantly inhibited CYP17A1 enzymatic activity and altered steroid biosynthesis. Among the newly synthesised inhibitors, compound 11 showed the highest potency (IC₅₀ = 4 nM) and the related compound 14 presented a template for further development. A combined docking and molecular dynamics approach was used to identify the possible target binding modes of the compounds.

Xuetongsu (XTS, Schisanlactone E) is one of the main active compounds and considered as the star molecule isolated from Kadsura heteroclita (Roxb.) Craib. In order to improve XTS anti-tumour bioactivities, a series of novel XTS derivatives were designed and synthesised by introducing an amide bond at the parent. Anti-proliferative assays on four different human tumour cell lines (BGC-823, HepG-2, HCT-116, and MCF-7) showed that the anti-tumour activities of most derivatives increased greatly compared to the parent XTS, and especially, compounds A-7, A-14, and A-18 exhibited multiple anti-tumour effects. Among them, compound A-7 has the best biological activities on the four tumour cell lines with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 13.86 to 20.71 μM, which could significantly increase the fraction of apoptotic cells according to flow cytometry experience. Further study demonstrated that A-7 could induce apoptosis on HepG-2 cells through influencing the key apoptotic related proteins, such as Bcl-2, Bax, and cleaved Caspase-3.

Based on conformational preference of SMART analogues and conformational constraint strategy, two series of new tubulin polymerisation inhibitors (4a - 4k and 5a - 5h/6a - 6h) were designed via hydrogen bonding, steric effect (for 4a - 4k) and ring-closing approach by fused five- and seven-membered ring (for 5a - 5h/6a - 6h) which was first adopted in the design of new SMART analogues. Among these compounds, 4k and 5a showed potent activities with IC₅₀ values of 15 nM and 6 nM against PC-3 cell line. Mechanism studies indicated that 4k and 5a could inhibit tubulin polymerisation, arrest cell cycle at G₂/M phase, induce cell apoptosis, and inhibit cell migration and colony formation. Molecular docking suggested that compounds 4k and 5a could bind into the colchicine binding site at the pose similar to DAMA-colchicine. Western blot assays revealed that 4k and 5a regulated the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins. Prediction of physicochemical properties indicated good drug-likeness of 4k and 5a.

A green ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent (UAE-DES) method was optimised for extracting flavonoid enzyme inhibitors from Blumea aromatica. Optimal conditions (choline chloride-1,4-butanediol 1:3 molar ratio, 43% water content, 50 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, 80 °C ultrasound for 48 min) yielded 3.15% total flavonoids, 45.2% higher than 50% ethanol extraction. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed cell wall disruption. The UAE-DES extract showed the strongest enzyme inhibition among all extracts tested (IC₅₀ 35.872 ± 0.294 µg/mL for α-glucosidase, 9.126 ± 0.285 μg/mL for tyrosinase), though the α-glucosidase inhibition was much weaker than acarbose, while tyrosinase inhibition was comparable to kojic acid. Six flavonoids were identified via UPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS, including scutellarein and corylin. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities (≤ -5 kcal/mol), with corylin showing the highest binding to both enzymes through hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions. This approach supports sustainable discovery of natural enzyme inhibitors for antidiabetic and skin-whitening applications.

This study evaluated Farnesiferol C (FC), a natural coumarin, as a potential topoisomerase IIα (TOP2A) inhibitor to enhance chemotherapy and ionising radiation (IR) efficacy in melanoma cells. Key targets were identified, followed by enrichment and gene expression analyses, and molecular docking and dynamics simulations. Upon extraction of FC from Ferula szowitsiana, cell treatment with FC, alone or combined with IR or temozolomide (TMZ), was performed, and viability and apoptosis were assessed. TOP2A emerged as a hub target, showing elevated expression in melanoma and a negative correlation with patient survival. Simulations demonstrated stable binding of FC at the ATP-binding site of TOP2A. Experimental data revealed selective cytotoxicity of FC on A375 melanoma cells (IC₅₀: 76.9 µM, SI: 4.97), sparing normal fibroblasts. Combination treatments with IR or TMZ further increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis. These findings suggest FC as a promising TOP2A inhibitor that potentiates the DNA damage effects of chemoradiotherapy in melanoma.

A series of kojic acid triazol thiosemicarbazide Schiff base derivatives were designed and synthesised. Evaluation on the inhibition of tyrosinase activity showed that these compounds possessed potent inhibit tyrosinase activity, and the compound 6w (IC₅₀ = 0.94 μM) exhibited the best inhibitory effect. Preliminary structure-activity relationships indicate that steric hindrance, halogen atom radius, and electron donating ability of functional groups have some impact on the inhibition of tyrosinase activity. Inhibition mechanism showed that compound 6w is a non-competitive mixed inhibitor, and this result was further confirmed by molecular docking. The fluorescence quenching mode of compound 6w is dynamic quenching, and interacts with tyrosinase by changing the amide structure of tyrosinase. Compound 6w has some anti-browning effect. Compound 6p had the strongest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 10.53 ± 0.014 μM), and compound 6w showed the best ABTS scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 3.03 ± 0.009 μM).

GH31 glycosidases are widespread across organisms, but remarkably, less than 1% of them have been biochemically characterised to date. Among them, human lysosomal acid α-glucosidase (GAA) stands out due to its link to Pompe disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by its deficiency. This disease results in glycogen accumulation, severe cellular damage, motor impairment, and premature death. Structural and functional studies of GAA mutants are challenging due to their instability and lack of activity, hindering their expression and purification. The GH31 enzyme MalA from a hyperthermophilic archaeon is explored here as a stable homolog of GAA. MalA is highly expressible, easy to purify, and structurally characterised. The R400H mutant in MalA, corresponding to the pathogenic GAA R600H mutation, revealed here a 1200-fold drop in specificity constant and >8 °C reduction in thermal stability. We propose MalA's as a robust model for studying GAA mutations and developing therapeutic chaperones.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays a crucial role in disrupting immune homeostasis and was overexpressed in immune cells. The inhibitors of MIF inhibit the release of inflammatory factors to treat sepsis. Herein, a series of compounds (termed as Hits 1-6) were discovered based on pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking, and interaction analysis. The biaryltriazole inhibitor 3a was used as the positive control. MST and ITC experiments showed that compared to 3a, Hit-1 possessed the highest affinity with MIF. MD simulations exhibited that Hit-1 stably bound to the active pocket of MIF. Pull down experiment showed that Hit-1 could interfere with the binding of MIF to CD74. Furthermore, RT-qPCR demonstrated that Hit-1 suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages including TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. These data demonstrate that Hit-1 may be a promising and high-affinity candidate compound treating sepsis.