scholarly journals Expanding Circle of Inhibition: Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Bcl-2 as Anticancer Cell and Antiangiogenic Agents

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (25) ◽  
pp. 4180-4188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin D. Zeitlin ◽  
Isaac J. Zeitlin ◽  
Jacques E. Nör
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Antiangiogenic Agents ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Cellular Survival ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Expanding Circle ◽  
Molecular Ligand

The specific targeting of diseases, particularly cancer, is a primary aim in drug development, as specificity reduces unwelcome effects on healthy tissue and increases drug efficacy at the target site. Drug specificity can be increased by improving the delivery system or by selecting drugs with affinity for a molecular ligand specific to the disease state. The role of the prosurvival Bcl-2 protein in maintaining the normal balance between apoptosis and cellular survival has been recognized for more than a decade. Bcl-2 is vital during development, much less so in adults. It has also been noted that some cancers evade apoptosis and obtain a survival advantage through aberrant expression of Bcl-2. The new and remarkably diverse class of drugs, small-molecule inhibitors of Bcl-2 (molecular weight approximately 400 to 800 Daltons), is examined herein. We present the activities of these compounds along with clinical observations, where available. The effects of Bcl-2 inhibition on attenuation of tumor cell growth are discussed, as are studies revealing the potential for Bcl-2 inhibitors as antiangiogenic agents. Despite an enormous body of work published for the Bcl-2 family of proteins, we are still learning exactly how this group of molecules interacts and indeed what they do. The small-molecule inhibitors of Bcl-2, in addition to their therapeutic potential, are proving to be an important investigative tool for understanding the function of Bcl-2.

scholarly journals Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the RNA M6A Demethylases FTO Potently Support the Survival of Dopamine Neurons

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4537
Author(s):  
Simona Selberg ◽  
Li-Ying Yu ◽  
Olesja Bondarenko ◽  
Esko Kankuri ◽  
Neinar Seli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
System Development ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Cellular Survival ◽  
Midbrain Dopaminergic Neurons ◽  
Important Regulator ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

The fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), an RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase, is an important regulator of central nervous system development, neuronal signaling and disease. We present here the target-tailored development and biological characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of FTO. The active compounds were identified using high-throughput molecular docking and molecular dynamics screening of the ZINC compound library. In FTO binding and activity-inhibition assays the two best inhibitors demonstrated Kd = 185 nM; IC50 = 1.46 µM (compound 2) and Kd = 337 nM; IC50 = 28.9 µM (compound 3). Importantly, the treatment of mouse midbrain dopaminergic neurons with the compounds promoted cellular survival and rescued them from growth factor deprivation induced apoptosis already at nanomolar concentrations. Moreover, both the best inhibitors demonstrated good blood-brain-barrier penetration in the model system, 31.7% and 30.8%, respectively. The FTO inhibitors demonstrated increased potency as compared to our recently developed ALKBH5 m6A demethylase inhibitors in protecting dopamine neurons. Inhibition of m6A RNA demethylation by small-molecule drugs, as presented here, has therapeutic potential and provides tools for the identification of disease-modifying m6A RNAs in neurogenesis and neuroregeneration. Further refinement of the lead compounds identified in this study can also lead to unprecedented breakthroughs in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Small-molecule inhibitors of the RNA m6A demethylase FTO potently support the survival of dopamine neurons

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simona Selberg ◽  
Li-Ying Yu ◽  
Olesja Bondarenko ◽  
Esko Kankuri ◽  
Neinar Seli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
System Development ◽  
Nervous System Development ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Cellular Survival ◽  
Neuronal Signalling ◽  
Midbrain Dopamine ◽  
Induced Apoptosis

AbstractThe fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO), an RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase, is an important regulator of central nervous system development, neuronal signalling and disease. We present here the target-tailored development and biological characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of FTO. The active compounds were identified using high-throughput molecular docking and molecular dynamics screening of the ZINC compound library. In FTO binding and activity-inhibition assays the two best inhibitors demonstrated Kd = 185 nM; IC50 = 1.46 μM (compound 2) and Kd = 337 nM; IC50 = 28.9 μM (compound 3). Importantly, the treatment of mouse midbrain dopamine neurons with the compounds promoted cellular survival and rescued them from growth factor deprivation induced apoptosis already at nanomolar concentrations. Moreover, these inhibitors demonstrated good blood-brain-barrier penetration in the model system, 31.7% and 30.8%, respectively. The compounds 2 and 3 protected dopamine neurons with greater potency than our recently developed alkylation repair homolog protein 5 (AlkBH5) m6A demethylase inhibitors. Inhibition of m6A RNA demethylation by small-molecule drugs, as presented here, has therapeutic potential and provides tools for the identification of disease-modifying m6A RNAs in neurogenesis and neuroregeneration. Further refinement of the lead compounds identified in this study, can also lead to unprecedented breakthroughs in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Cdc-Like Kinases (CLKs): Biology, Chemical Probes, and Therapeutic Potential

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (20) ◽  
pp. 7549
Author(s):  
Paula Martín Moyano ◽  
Václav Němec ◽  
Kamil Paruch
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Protein Kinases ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Chemical Biology ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Chemical Probes ◽  
The Family

Protein kinases represent a very pharmacologically attractive class of targets; however, some members of the family still remain rather unexplored. The biology and therapeutic potential of cdc-like kinases (CLKs) have been explored mainly over the last decade and the first CLK inhibitor, compound SM08502, entered clinical trials only recently. This review summarizes the biological roles and therapeutic potential of CLKs and their heretofore published small-molecule inhibitors, with a focus on the compounds’ potential to be utilized as quality chemical biology probes.

scholarly journals A phenolic small molecule inhibitor of RNase L prevents cell death from ADAR1 deficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (40) ◽  
pp. 24802-24812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salima Daou ◽  
Manisha Talukdar ◽  
Jinle Tang ◽  
Beihua Dong ◽  
Shuvojit Banerjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Protein Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Rnase L ◽  
Oligoadenylate Synthetase ◽  
In Cells

The oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS)–RNase L system is an IFN-inducible antiviral pathway activated by viral infection. Viral double-stranded (ds) RNA activates OAS isoforms that synthesize the second messenger 2-5A, which binds and activates the pseudokinase-endoribonuclease RNase L. In cells, OAS activation is tamped down by ADAR1, an adenosine deaminase that destabilizes dsRNA. Mutation of ADAR1 is one cause of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), an interferonopathy in children. ADAR1 deficiency in human cells can lead to RNase L activation and subsequent cell death. To evaluate RNase L as a possible therapeutic target for AGS, we sought to identify small-molecule inhibitors of RNase L. A 500-compound library of protein kinase inhibitors was screened for modulators of RNase L activity in vitro. We identified ellagic acid (EA) as a hit with 10-fold higher selectivity against RNase L compared with its nearest paralog, IRE1. SAR analysis identified valoneic acid dilactone (VAL) as a superior inhibitor of RNase L, with 100-fold selectivity over IRE1. Mechanism-of-action analysis indicated that EA and VAL do not bind to the pseudokinase domain of RNase L despite acting as ATP competitive inhibitors of the protein kinase CK2. VAL is nontoxic and functional in cells, although with a 1,000-fold decrease in potency, as measured by RNA cleavage activity in response to treatment with dsRNA activator or by rescue of cell lethality resulting from self dsRNA induced by ADAR1 deficiency. These studies lay the foundation for understanding novel modes of regulating RNase L function using small-molecule inhibitors and avenues of therapeutic potential.

scholarly journals Multi-Functional Diarylurea Small Molecule Inhibitors of TRPV1 with Therapeutic Potential for Neuroinflammation

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 898-913 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Feng ◽  
Larry V. Pearce ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Changrui Xing ◽  
Brienna K. A. Herold ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential

scholarly journals Small-Molecule Inhibitors of the Protein Methyltransferase SET7/9 Identified in a High-Throughput Screen

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 1102-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola-Jane Francis ◽  
Martin Rowlands ◽  
Paul Workman ◽  
Keith Jones ◽  
Wynne Aherne
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Human Tumor ◽  
Tumor Cell Line ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Aberrant Expression ◽  
Compound Screening ◽  
Protein Methyltransferase ◽  
Adenosyl Methionine

Aberrant expression of chromatin-modifying enzymes (CMEs) is associated with a range of human diseases, including cancer. CMEs are now an important target area in drug discovery. Although the role that histone and protein (lysine) methyltransferases (PMTs) play in the regulation of transcription and cell growth is increasingly recognized, few small-molecule inhibitors of this class of enzyme have been reported. Here we describe an assay suitable for primary compound screening for the identification of PMT inhibitors. The assay followed the methylation of histones in the presence of the PMT SET7/9 and the radioactive cofactor S-adenosyl-methionine using scintillating microplates (FlashPlate) and was used to screen approximately 65 000 compounds (% coefficient of variation = 10%; Z′ = 0.6). The hits identified from a library of more than 63 000 diverse small molecules included a series of rhodanine compounds with micromolar activity. A screen of the National CancerInstitute Diversity Set (2000 compounds) identified an orsein derivative that inhibited SET7/9 (~20 µM) and showed modest growth inhibition associated with the expected cellular phenotype of reduced histone methylation in a human tumor cell line. The assay represents a useful tool for the identification of inhibitors of PMT activity.

scholarly journals Structural Basis of SARS-CoV-2– and SARS-CoV–Receptor Binding and Small-Molecule Blockers as Potential Therapeutics

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 465-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hariharan Sivaraman ◽  
Shi Yin Er ◽  
Yeu Khai Choong ◽  
Edem Gavor ◽  
J. Sivaraman
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecule ◽  
Receptor Binding ◽  
Viral Entry ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Structural Basis ◽  
Virus Receptor ◽  
Fusion Inhibitors ◽  
Human Coronaviruses ◽  
Transmembrane Serine Protease

Over the past two decades, deadly coronaviruses, with the most recent being the severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) 2019 pandemic, have majorly challenged public health. The path for virus invasion into humans and other hosts is mediated by host–pathogen interactions, specifically virus–receptor binding. An in-depth understanding of the virus–receptor binding mechanism is a prerequisite for the discovery of vaccines, antibodies, and small-molecule inhibitors that can interrupt this interaction and prevent or cure infection. In this review, we discuss the viral entry mechanism, the known structural aspects of virus–receptor interactions (SARS-CoV-2 S/humanACE2, SARS-CoV S/humanACE2, and MERS-CoV S/humanDPP4), the key protein domains and amino acid residues involved in binding, and the small-molecule inhibitors and other drugs that have (as of June 2020) exhibited therapeutic potential. Specifically, we review the potential clinical utility of two transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2)-targeting protease inhibitors, nafamostat mesylate and camostat mesylate, as well as two novel potent fusion inhibitors and the repurposed Ebola drug, remdesivir, which is specific to RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, against human coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

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