Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118554
Farked S. Wahoodi , Antonio Fernández , Juan Sainz , Fernando Rodríguez-Serrano , Fernando J. Reyes-Zurita , Rachid Chahboun
A mild, sustainable, and cost-effective arylation of rosin-acids is reported. This new approach, based on a regio- and diastereoselective Friedel-crafts alkylation, enabled the synthesis of fourteen new resin acid derivatives. Selected compounds were screened for cytotoxic activity against three human tumor cell lines. Remarkably, quinone 14 exhibited significant activity: Against HL-60 cells (IC₅₀ = 5.94 μM) cell, and phenol 11f displayed selective cytotoxic activity against HT-29 cells (IC₅₀ = 8.90 μM) cells. Flow cytometry confirmed apoptosis as the primary mechanism of cell death, reaching 78% in HL-60 (14) and 72.6% in HT-29 (11 g), with minimal necrosis. Cell-cycle analysis showed S-phase arrest in HL-60 (14) and G0/G1 arrest in HT-29 (11f/11 g). Consistently, ΔΨm assays showed near-complete collapse in HL-60 (14) and significant depolarization in HT-29 (11 g). In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity of some synthesized compounds was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. All tested compounds achieved 70–100% NO inhibition at subcytotoxic concentrations. Derivatives 13 and 14 showed the highest activity (IC50 NO = 0.85 μM and 5.43 μM, respectively). Overall, this green arylation approach enables rapid access to 7-aryl methyl ester dehydroabietic acid libraries with significant cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities
{"title":"Regio- and Diastereoselective Arylation of rosin acids: A practical strategy for bioactive compounds discovery","authors":"Farked S. Wahoodi , Antonio Fernández , Juan Sainz , Fernando Rodríguez-Serrano , Fernando J. Reyes-Zurita , Rachid Chahboun","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A mild, sustainable, and cost-effective arylation of rosin-acids is reported. This new approach, based on a regio- and diastereoselective Friedel-crafts alkylation, enabled the synthesis of fourteen new resin acid derivatives. Selected compounds were screened for cytotoxic activity against three human tumor cell lines. Remarkably, quinone <strong>14</strong> exhibited significant activity: Against HL-60 cells (IC₅₀ = 5.94 <span>μ</span>M) cell, and phenol <strong>11f</strong> displayed selective cytotoxic activity against HT-29 cells (IC₅₀ = 8.90 <span>μ</span>M) cells. Flow cytometry confirmed apoptosis as the primary mechanism of cell death, reaching 78% in HL-60 (<strong>14</strong>) and 72.6% in HT-29 (<strong>11 g</strong>), with minimal necrosis. Cell-cycle analysis showed S-phase arrest in HL-60 (<strong>14</strong>) and G<sub>0</sub>/G<sub>1</sub> arrest in HT-29 (<strong>11f</strong>/<strong>11 g</strong>). Consistently, ΔΨm assays showed near-complete collapse in HL-60 (<strong>14</strong>) and significant depolarization in HT-29 (<strong>11 g</strong>). In addition, the anti-inflammatory activity of some synthesized compounds was assessed in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. All tested compounds achieved 70–100% NO inhibition at subcytotoxic concentrations. Derivatives <strong>13</strong> and <strong>14</strong> showed the highest activity (IC<sub>50 NO</sub> = 0.85 μM and 5.43 μM, respectively). Overall, this green arylation approach enables rapid access to 7-aryl methyl ester dehydroabietic acid libraries with significant cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 118554"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118553
Vivekananda Saha , Ajinur Hossain , Khairud Zaman Miraj , Nasim Sepay , Souvik Sarkar , Subarna Roy , Jungkyun Im , Goutam Biswas
Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of twenty-five N-substituted benzotriazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents targeting methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) enzymes. The compounds were synthesized following a conventional procedure and characterized by spectroscopic techniques, including 1H and 13C NMR, FT-IR, and LCMS, for structural endorsement. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations over 100 ns revealed strong binding affinities and stable complex formation between several N-substituted benzotriazole derivatives and MAP type-I, outperforming the reference anticancer drugs in key protein-ligand interactions. Additionally, the compound 4g showed the highest Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MMPBSA) energy of −12.53 ± 4.3 kcal/mol, with a major contribution from TYR-196 and TRP-353 amino acid residues. Pharmacokinetic profiling using ADMET tools showed that most compounds possessed favorable drug-like properties, suitable absorption, and low toxicity. Biological assays demonstrated significant cytotoxicity, with an IC50 value of 34.8 μM for 4g. The relative apoptotic rates of HeLa cancer cell lines using selected derivatives against the control showed notable therapeutic outcomes for 4g, 6d, and 6f. In summary, this integrated approach highlights N-substituted benzotriazole scaffolds as promising modular precursors for the development of targeted anticancer therapies focused on metabolic enzyme inhibition.
{"title":"Harnessing N-substituted benzotriazole scaffolds as potent methionine aminopeptidase inhibitors: from chemical design to cellular efficacy","authors":"Vivekananda Saha , Ajinur Hossain , Khairud Zaman Miraj , Nasim Sepay , Souvik Sarkar , Subarna Roy , Jungkyun Im , Goutam Biswas","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herein, we present the synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation of twenty-five N-substituted benzotriazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents targeting methionine aminopeptidase (MAP) enzymes. The compounds were synthesized following a conventional procedure and characterized by spectroscopic techniques, including <sup>1</sup>H and <sup>13</sup>C NMR, FT-IR, and LCMS, for structural endorsement. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations over 100 ns revealed strong binding affinities and stable complex formation between several N-substituted benzotriazole derivatives and MAP type-I, outperforming the reference anticancer drugs in key protein-ligand interactions. Additionally, the compound <strong>4g</strong> showed the highest Mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MMPBSA) energy of −12.53 ± 4.3 kcal/mol, with a major contribution from TYR-196 and TRP-353 amino acid residues. Pharmacokinetic profiling using ADMET tools showed that most compounds possessed favorable drug-like properties, suitable absorption, and low toxicity. Biological assays demonstrated significant cytotoxicity, with an IC<sub>50</sub> value of 34.8 μM for <strong>4g</strong>. The relative apoptotic rates of HeLa cancer cell lines using selected derivatives against the control showed notable therapeutic outcomes for <strong>4g</strong>, <strong>6d</strong>, and <strong>6f</strong>. In summary, this integrated approach highlights N-substituted benzotriazole scaffolds as promising modular precursors for the development of targeted anticancer therapies focused on metabolic enzyme inhibition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 118553"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145957412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118549
Lena Trifonov, Helena I. Boshoff, Jose Santinni O. Roma, Yixuan Fan, He Eun Forbes, Clifton E. Barry III, Sangmi Oh
The discovery of novel chemical matter with antitubercular activity that could feed into the tuberculosis (TB) drug discovery pipeline addresses the need to develop novel drugs that inhibit growth of both drug sensitive and drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Whole cell-based screening yielded a 2-amino-3,4-dihydroquinazoline core as a novel hit and preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) study around the structure was performed with 16 analogs derivatized in diverse structural points to determine the pharmacophore. The promising antitubercular activity of L16, the lead compound of this series was shown to be non-toxic to eukaryotic cells and had a novel mechanism of action since it lacked activity against known promiscuous targets of the pathogen. Additionally, L16 retained activity against different drug-resistant clinical strains. Although the MIC was improved significantly without any cytotoxicity, flat SAR, no identifiable target and equivalent activities of the two stereoisomers of the hit compound led us to abandon further optimization of this series.
{"title":"Structure-activity relationship study of a new class of 2-amino-3,4-dihydroquinazolines as antitubercular agents","authors":"Lena Trifonov, Helena I. Boshoff, Jose Santinni O. Roma, Yixuan Fan, He Eun Forbes, Clifton E. Barry III, Sangmi Oh","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118549","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118549","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The discovery of novel chemical matter with antitubercular activity that could feed into the tuberculosis (TB) drug discovery pipeline addresses the need to develop novel drugs that inhibit growth of both drug sensitive and drug resistant strains of <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em> (<em>Mtb</em>). Whole cell-based screening yielded a 2-amino-3,4-dihydroquinazoline core as a novel hit and preliminary structure-activity relationship (SAR) study around the structure was performed with 16 analogs derivatized in diverse structural points to determine the pharmacophore. The promising antitubercular activity of <strong>L16</strong>, the lead compound of this series was shown to be non-toxic to eukaryotic cells and had a novel mechanism of action since it lacked activity against known promiscuous targets of the pathogen. Additionally, <strong>L16</strong> retained activity against different drug-resistant clinical strains. Although the MIC was improved significantly without any cytotoxicity, flat SAR, no identifiable target and equivalent activities of the two stereoisomers of the hit compound led us to abandon further optimization of this series.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118549"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145950921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118551
Guoquan Wan , Chao Gao , Fei Teng , Qifan Tang , Jumei Zeng , Luoting Yu
Tuberculosis remains a global health crisis, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains and limitations of current therapies. Aiming to the essential enzyme DprE1 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, we designed and synthesized 34 novel quinolinone derivatives as non-covalent inhibitors. Among them, compound 27 demonstrated remarkable activity against Mtb H37Ra, with an MIC value of 0.2 ng/mL, and displayed low cytotoxicity against A549 cells. Further resistance profiling and molecular docking studies confirmed DprE1 as the primary target of the compounds, with the Y314H mutation being responsible for the development of resistance. These findings highlighted compound 27 as a suitable lead for developing novel and effective DprE1 inhibitors.
{"title":"Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel quinolinone derivatives as DprE1 inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis","authors":"Guoquan Wan , Chao Gao , Fei Teng , Qifan Tang , Jumei Zeng , Luoting Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118551","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118551","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tuberculosis remains a global health crisis, exacerbated by the emergence of drug-resistant strains and limitations of current therapies. Aiming to the essential enzyme DprE1 in <em>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</em>, we designed and synthesized 34 novel quinolinone derivatives as non-covalent inhibitors. Among them, compound <strong>27</strong> demonstrated remarkable activity against Mtb H37Ra, with an MIC value of 0.2 ng/mL, and displayed low cytotoxicity against A549 cells. Further resistance profiling and molecular docking studies confirmed DprE1 as the primary target of the compounds, with the Y314H mutation being responsible for the development of resistance. These findings highlighted compound <strong>27</strong> as a suitable lead for developing novel and effective DprE1 inhibitors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118551"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145916305","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118550
Yuxi Zhou , Weina Wang , Cui Lv , Jiaqi Wu , Shuo Lv , Luqian He , Xinyu Zhao , Xi Qin , Binbin Tian , Renhao Chen , Chuanlong Guo , Longjiang Huang , Haibo Yu
In pursuit of novel antiepileptic agents with improved safety profiles, a series of novel 7-substituted-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiepileptic activity using the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (Sc-PTZ) and maximal electroshock seizure (MES) models in vivo. Compound 6c showed significant antiepileptic effects in the MES model, with an ED₅₀ value of 13.70 mg/kg. Its TD₅₀ was greater than 261.85 mg/kg, yielding a protective index (PI) >19.11. The antiepileptic efficacy of 6c surpassed that of the reference drugs phenytoin and valproate. Notably, 6c exhibited no neurotoxicity at its maximum soluble concentration, indicating a favorable safety profile. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed stable binding of 6c within the cavity of the Nav1.2 subunit (PDB: 6J8E). Further electrophysiological evaluation demonstrated state-dependent blockade of Nav1.2 channels: at 10 μM, compound 6c inhibited the inactivated state by 65 ± 18 % (n = 3), with dose-dependent inhibition characterized by an IC₅₀ value of 5.39 ± 0.81 μM (n = 5). These results suggest that compound 6c is a promising lead candidate for the development of novel antiepileptic agents with high efficacy and low neurotoxicity. Preliminary in vitro assessment in rat liver microsomes indicated moderate metabolic stability for 6c, supporting its potential for further development.
{"title":"Novel 7-Substituted-1,2,4-Triazolopyrimidines targeting Nav1.2 channels as low-neurotoxicity antiepileptic agents","authors":"Yuxi Zhou , Weina Wang , Cui Lv , Jiaqi Wu , Shuo Lv , Luqian He , Xinyu Zhao , Xi Qin , Binbin Tian , Renhao Chen , Chuanlong Guo , Longjiang Huang , Haibo Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In pursuit of novel antiepileptic agents with improved safety profiles, a series of novel 7-substituted-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-<em>a</em>]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for antiepileptic activity using the subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (Sc-PTZ) and maximal electroshock seizure (MES) models <em>in vivo</em>. Compound <strong>6c</strong> showed significant antiepileptic effects in the MES model, with an ED₅₀ value of 13.70 mg/kg. Its TD₅₀ was greater than 261.85 mg/kg, yielding a protective index (PI) >19.11. The antiepileptic efficacy of <strong>6c</strong> surpassed that of the reference drugs phenytoin and valproate. Notably, <strong>6c</strong> exhibited no neurotoxicity at its maximum soluble concentration, indicating a favorable safety profile. Docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed stable binding of <strong>6c</strong> within the cavity of the Nav1.2 subunit (PDB: <span><span>6J8E</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>). Further electrophysiological evaluation demonstrated state-dependent blockade of Nav1.2 channels: at 10 μM, compound <strong>6c</strong> inhibited the inactivated state by 65 ± 18 % (<em>n</em> = 3), with dose-dependent inhibition characterized by an IC₅₀ value of 5.39 ± 0.81 μM (<em>n</em> = 5). These results suggest that compound <strong>6c</strong> is a promising lead candidate for the development of novel antiepileptic agents with high efficacy and low neurotoxicity. Preliminary <em>in vitro</em> assessment in rat liver microsomes indicated moderate metabolic stability for <strong>6c</strong>, supporting its potential for further development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118550"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118548
Xiaofeng Chen, Enyuan Zhang, Pan Wang, Lifeng Ning
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a key DNA repair enzyme targeted in cancer therapy. We developed an AI-assisted virtual screening workflow combining RG-MPNN for shape-based screening and PIGNet for docking rescoring to identify novel PARP1 inhibitors from an 18-million compound library. Five hits showed nanomolar activity, with Hit 1 exhibiting 8.03 nM IC₅₀ and a novel tricyclic scaffold. Comprehensive validation confirmed PARP1 inhibition, selective cytotoxicity in BRCA1-deficient cells, and favorable drug-like properties. Hit 1 represents a promising candidate for further development.
{"title":"AI-aided virtual screening and biological evaluation for discovering new potential poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitors","authors":"Xiaofeng Chen, Enyuan Zhang, Pan Wang, Lifeng Ning","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a key DNA repair enzyme targeted in cancer therapy. We developed an AI-assisted virtual screening workflow combining RG-MPNN for shape-based screening and PIGNet for docking rescoring to identify novel PARP1 inhibitors from an 18-million compound library. Five hits showed nanomolar activity, with Hit 1 exhibiting 8.03 nM IC₅₀ and a novel tricyclic scaffold. Comprehensive validation confirmed PARP1 inhibition, selective cytotoxicity in BRCA1-deficient cells, and favorable drug-like properties. Hit 1 represents a promising candidate for further development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 118548"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146035767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-04DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118546
Yiyun Song , Zepeng Liao , Xiang Ni , Dexiang Wang, Zhihao Qi, Qi Miao, Sheng Jiang, Kuojun Zhang
Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1), a pivotal negative regulator of immune signaling pathways, represents an attractive therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Supported by encouraging preliminary clinical data showing promising efficacy and manageable safety profiles in clinical trials, the rapid development of structurally diverse small-molecule HPK1 inhibitors continues. However, achieving high selectivity for HPK1 remains challenging due to significant sequence homology among the related kinase family. Emerging evidence also implicates HPK1's non-catalytic scaffolding function in tumor immune regulation, complicating traditional inhibition strategies. Notably, PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras (PROTAC) technology offers distinct advantages for targeting HPK1, driving significant momentum in the development of novel HPK1 PROTACs. This article provides a comprehensive update on recent advances in HPK1-targeted therapeutics, highlighting key progress in the evolution of structurally distinct small-molecule HPK1 inhibitors with improved selectivity, ADME and safety profiles, the development and pharmacological outcomes of HPK1-targeted PROTACs, as well as translational progress of clinical-stage candidates. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.
{"title":"Targeting HPK1 for cancer immunotherapy: An update on recent medicinal chemistry advances","authors":"Yiyun Song , Zepeng Liao , Xiang Ni , Dexiang Wang, Zhihao Qi, Qi Miao, Sheng Jiang, Kuojun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1), a pivotal negative regulator of immune signaling pathways, represents an attractive therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Supported by encouraging preliminary clinical data showing promising efficacy and manageable safety profiles in clinical trials, the rapid development of structurally diverse small-molecule HPK1 inhibitors continues. However, achieving high selectivity for HPK1 remains challenging due to significant sequence homology among the related kinase family. Emerging evidence also implicates HPK1's non-catalytic scaffolding function in tumor immune regulation, complicating traditional inhibition strategies. Notably, PROteolysis-TArgeting Chimeras (PROTAC) technology offers distinct advantages for targeting HPK1, driving significant momentum in the development of novel HPK1 PROTACs. This article provides a comprehensive update on recent advances in HPK1-targeted therapeutics, highlighting key progress in the evolution of structurally distinct small-molecule HPK1 inhibitors with improved selectivity, ADME and safety profiles, the development and pharmacological outcomes of HPK1-targeted PROTACs, as well as translational progress of clinical-stage candidates. Finally, we discuss future perspectives and challenges in this rapidly evolving field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118546"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145916284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Most nascent glycoproteins entering the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo quality control via the calnexin/calreticulin (CNX/CRT) cycle, wherein Glc1Man9GlcNAc2 (G1M9)-type glycans play a crucial role in monitoring protein folding. We have recently identified an endo-α-mannosidase activity within the ER, designated as ER-EM, which facilitates the release of misfolded glycoproteins from this cycle by converting G1M9-proteins into Man8AGlcNAc2 (M8A)-proteins in a single step. ER-EM appears to function as a complex comprising UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase 1 (UGGT1), ERp57, and carboxylesterase 1D (Ces1d), although the role of Ces1d—primarily recognized for its involvement in lipid metabolism—in glycan-associated substrate recognition remains unclear. To elucidate the molecular basis of Ces1d-dependent recognition, we semi-synthesized a glycoprobe, G1M9-va-JW972, by conjugating the Ces1d-specific inhibitor JW972 to the aglycone of G1M9 using a linker via a click reaction. In the ER-EM reaction with this probe, M8A-va-piperidine was detected as an ER-EM product with the aglycone structural conversion via Ces1d-mediated hydrolysis of the JW972 moiety, demonstrating recognition of the substrate aglycone by the Ces1d component of ER-EM complex. Inhibition of the lipolysis site of Ces1d with WWL229 significantly reduced ER-EM activity, indicating that this site is essential for recognizing hydrophobic aglycones. Furthermore, the inactive substrate GlcMan-4MU was efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of the Ces1d lipolysis site-specific inhibitor WWL229, demonstrating that the association of the hydrophobic compound WWL229 with the Ces1d lipolysis site contributes to allosteric activation of ER-EM. Our findings provide important insights into the functional regulation of ER-EM complex, a novel therapeutic target for protein misfolding diseases.
{"title":"Carboxylesterase 1d-mediated aglycone recognition is crucial for substrate processing and allosteric activation of endo-α-mannosidase in the endoplasmic reticulum","authors":"Akito Taira , Taiki Kuribara , Mitsuaki Hirose , Kiichiro Totani","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Most nascent glycoproteins entering the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo quality control <em>via</em> the calnexin/calreticulin (CNX/CRT) cycle, wherein Glc<sub>1</sub>Man<sub>9</sub>GlcNAc<sub>2</sub> (G1M9)-type glycans play a crucial role in monitoring protein folding. We have recently identified an <em>endo</em>-α-mannosidase activity within the ER, designated as ER-EM, which facilitates the release of misfolded glycoproteins from this cycle by converting G1M9-proteins into Man<sub>8A</sub>GlcNAc<sub>2</sub> (M8A)-proteins in a single step. ER-EM appears to function as a complex comprising UDP-Glc:glycoprotein glucosyltransferase 1 (UGGT1), ERp57, and carboxylesterase 1D (Ces1d), although the role of Ces1d—primarily recognized for its involvement in lipid metabolism—in glycan-associated substrate recognition remains unclear. To elucidate the molecular basis of Ces1d-dependent recognition, we semi-synthesized a glycoprobe, <strong>G1M9-va-JW972</strong>, by conjugating the Ces1d-specific inhibitor JW972 to the aglycone of G1M9 using a linker <em>via</em> a click reaction. In the ER-EM reaction with this probe, <strong>M8A-va-piperidine</strong> was detected as an ER-EM product with the aglycone structural conversion <em>via</em> Ces1d-mediated hydrolysis of the JW972 moiety, demonstrating recognition of the substrate aglycone by the Ces1d component of ER-EM complex. Inhibition of the lipolysis site of Ces1d with WWL229 significantly reduced ER-EM activity, indicating that this site is essential for recognizing hydrophobic aglycones. Furthermore, the inactive substrate <strong>GlcMan-4MU</strong> was efficiently hydrolyzed in the presence of the Ces1d lipolysis site-specific inhibitor WWL229, demonstrating that the association of the hydrophobic compound WWL229 with the Ces1d lipolysis site contributes to allosteric activation of ER-EM. Our findings provide important insights into the functional regulation of ER-EM complex, a novel therapeutic target for protein misfolding diseases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118547"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922154","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Searching for new effective small molecules targeting resistant strains of microorganisms is an emerging task for modern medicinal chemistry. Taking into account potential antimicrobial features of 4-thiazolidinone and 5-nitrofurane pharmacophores, two series of hybrid molecules were synthesized based on 5-nitrofuran-2-carbaldehyde, bioisosteric (E)-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)acrylaldehyde, and structure-modified 4-thiazolidinone scaffolds. For all synthesized compounds, antimicrobial activity screening and cytotoxicity evaluation were performed. Novel highly active hybrid molecules with a low level of toxicity were identified, showing high broad-spectrum activity towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, in particular Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and Aspergillus niger. A preliminary SAR analysis was performed, and key structural features that influence the manifestation of antimicrobial activity were highlighted. The obtained results will contribute to the rational design of novel agents of this pharmacological profile among 4-thiazolidinone-5-nitrofuran hybrids and related heterocyclic molecules.
{"title":"Synthesis and evaluation of novel 4-thiazolidinone-5-nitrofuran hybrids as promising antimicrobial agents","authors":"Volodymyr Horishny , Dmytro Mural , Iryna Kovalenko , Nataliya Finiuk , Iryna Ivasechko , Yulian Konechnyi , Iryna Tymchuk , Stepan Nedzelskyi , Yuliia Kozak , Tetyana Rumynska , Krzysztof Niemczuk , Monika Szymańska-Czerwińska , Victoriya Georgiyants , Rostyslav Stoika , Roman Lesyk , Serhii Holota","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2026.118545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Searching for new effective small molecules targeting resistant strains of microorganisms is an emerging task for modern medicinal chemistry. Taking into account potential antimicrobial features of 4-thiazolidinone and 5-nitrofurane pharmacophores, two series of hybrid molecules were synthesized based on 5-nitrofuran-2-carbaldehyde, bioisosteric <em>(E)</em>-3-(5-nitrofuran-2-yl)acrylaldehyde, and structure-modified 4-thiazolidinone scaffolds. For all synthesized compounds, antimicrobial activity screening and cytotoxicity evaluation were performed. Novel highly active hybrid molecules with a low level of toxicity were identified, showing high broad-spectrum activity towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, in particular <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Klebsiella pneumoniae</em>, <em>Corynebacterium diphtheriae</em>, and <em>Aspergillus niger</em>. A preliminary SAR analysis was performed, and key structural features that influence the manifestation of antimicrobial activity were highlighted. The obtained results will contribute to the rational design of novel agents of this pharmacological profile among 4-thiazolidinone-5-nitrofuran hybrids and related heterocyclic molecules.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118545"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145916291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-02DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2025.118544
Adchata Konsue , Duangkamol Gleeson , Kiattawee Choowongkomon , Donald J.L. Jones , Pimkhuan Hannanta-anan , Robert G. Britton , M. Paul Gleeson
The epidermal growth factor receptor kinase (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase (TK) implicated in the uncontrolled growth of non-small cell lung cancer. EGFR-TK inhibitors have been used extensively, however inhibitor resistance often develops leading to disease progression. In this work, we report the computationally guided design and preparation of novel covalent 2,4-diaminopyrimidine EGFR-TK inhibitors, inspired by Osimertinib. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were performed on novel designs incorporating a 2-methyl-2H-indazol-6-amine at the 4-position of pyrimidine as well as various linkers and electrophiles. Calculations suggested swapping the 5-pyrimidine H atom for Cl would lead to a preferential “out” ligand conformation that favored T790M enzyme which was later confirmed experimentally. Compound 19 was the most potent inhibitor of WT EGFR (3.0 nM) observed, more potent than the EGFR WT inhibitor Erlotinib (5.9 nM). Compounds 48 and 49 demonstrated better activity for the double-mutant EGFR (3.0 & 2.0 nM, respectively) than Osimertinib (12.8 nM). The selectivity of these compounds for the DM was found to be comparable to Osimertinib (∼20 fold) while their phosphate buffer solubilities were > 50-fold better than both marketed drugs. Kinetic evaluation of 48 (propenamide moiety) vs 49 (acrylamide electrophile) confirms kinact/Ki values consistent with a covalent mode of action for the latter, but not the former.
{"title":"Computationally guided design of N4-(2-methyl-2H-indazol-6-yl)-N2-phenylpyrimidine-2,4-diamine inhibitors of EGFR kinase targeting Cys797","authors":"Adchata Konsue , Duangkamol Gleeson , Kiattawee Choowongkomon , Donald J.L. Jones , Pimkhuan Hannanta-anan , Robert G. Britton , M. Paul Gleeson","doi":"10.1016/j.bmc.2025.118544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmc.2025.118544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The epidermal growth factor receptor kinase (EGFR) is a tyrosine kinase (TK) implicated in the uncontrolled growth of non-small cell lung cancer. EGFR-TK inhibitors have been used extensively, however inhibitor resistance often develops leading to disease progression. In this work, we report the computationally guided design and preparation of novel covalent 2,4-diaminopyrimidine EGFR-TK inhibitors, inspired by Osimertinib. Molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanical (QM) calculations were performed on novel designs incorporating a 2-methyl-2<em>H</em>-indazol-6-amine at the 4-position of pyrimidine as well as various linkers and electrophiles. Calculations suggested swapping the 5-pyrimidine <img>H atom for <img>Cl would lead to a preferential “out” ligand conformation that favored T790M enzyme which was later confirmed experimentally. Compound <strong>19</strong> was the most potent inhibitor of WT EGFR (3.0 nM) observed, more potent than the EGFR WT inhibitor Erlotinib (5.9 nM). Compounds <strong>48</strong> and <strong>49</strong> demonstrated better activity for the double-mutant EGFR (3.0 & 2.0 nM, respectively) than Osimertinib (12.8 nM). The selectivity of these compounds for the DM was found to be comparable to Osimertinib (∼20 fold) while their phosphate buffer solubilities were > 50-fold better than both marketed drugs. Kinetic evaluation of <strong>48</strong> (propenamide moiety) vs <strong>49</strong> (acrylamide electrophile) confirms k<sub>inact</sub>/K<sub>i</sub> values consistent with a covalent mode of action for the latter, but not the former.</div><div>2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":255,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry","volume":"134 ","pages":"Article 118544"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145922075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}