Preparation of a Kröhnke Pyridine Combinatorial Library Suitable for Solution-Phase Biological Screening

MYC the oncogene from hell: Novel opportunities for cancer therapy

Cancer comprises a heterogeneous disease, characterized by diverse features such as constitutive expression of oncogenes and/or downregulation of tumor suppressor genes. MYC constitutes a master transcriptional regulator, involved in many cellular functions and is aberrantly expressed in more than 70 % of human cancers. The Myc protein belongs to a family of transcription factors whose structural pattern is referred to as basic helix-loop-helix-leucine zipper. Myc binds to its partner, a smaller protein called Max, forming an Myc:Max heterodimeric complex that interacts with specific DNA recognition sequences (E-boxes) and regulates the expression of downstream target genes. Myc protein plays a fundamental role for the life of a cell, as it is involved in many physiological functions such as proliferation, growth and development since it controls the expression of a very large percentage of genes (∼15 %). However, despite the strict control of MYC expression in normal cells, MYC is often deregulated in cancer, exhibiting a key role in stimulating oncogenic process affecting features such as aberrant proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, genomic instability and oncogenic transformation. In this review we aim to meticulously describe the fundamental role of MYC in tumorigenesis and highlight its importance as an anticancer drug target. We focus mainly on the different categories of novel small molecules that act as inhibitors of Myc function in diverse ways hence offering great opportunities for an efficient cancer therapy. This knowledge will provide significant information for the development of novel Myc inhibitors and assist to the design of treatments that would effectively act against Myc-dependent cancers.

Taking the Myc out of cancer: toward therapeutic strategies to directly inhibit c-Myc

c-Myc is a transcription factor that is constitutively and aberrantly expressed in over 70% of human cancers. Its direct inhibition has been shown to trigger rapid tumor regression in mice with only mild and fully reversible side effects, suggesting this to be a viable therapeutic strategy. Here we reassess the challenges of directly targeting c-Myc, evaluate lessons learned from current inhibitors, and explore how future strategies such as miniaturisation of Omomyc and targeting E-box binding could facilitate translation of c-Myc inhibitors into the clinic.

4,6-Dihydroxysalicylic Acid-Catalyzed Oxidative Condensation of Benzylic Amines and Aromatic Ketones for the Preparation of 2,4,6-Trisubstituted Pyridines and Its Application to Metal-Free Synthesis of G-Quadruplex Binding Ligands

4,6-Dihydroxysalicylic acid was activated under air to catalyze the one-pot oxidative condensation reaction of benzylamines with acetophenones in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O, affording 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridines in yields of 59-91%. During this metal-free oxidative condensation reaction, the benzylamines not only provided the aryl moiety at the 4-position of the pyridines but also acted as the nitrogen donor. This method can be applied to the metal-free synthesis of G-quadruplex binding ligands by the sequential addition of 4-chlorobutyryl chloride and pyrrolidine to the reaction system of the 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyridine synthesis.

Therapeutic Inhibition of Myc in Cancer. Structural Bases and Computer-Aided Drug Discovery Approaches

Myc (avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog) represents one of the most sought after drug targets in cancer. Myc transcription factor is an essential regulator of cell growth, but in most cancers it is overexpressed and associated with treatment-resistance and lethal outcomes. Over 40 years of research and drug development efforts did not yield a clinically useful Myc inhibitor. Drugging the "undruggable" is problematic, as Myc inactivation may negatively impact its physiological functions. Moreover, Myc is a disordered protein that lacks effective binding pockets on its surface. It is well established that the Myc function is dependent on dimerization with its obligate partner, Max (Myc associated factor X), which together form a functional DNA-binding domain to activate genomic targets. Herein, we provide an overview of the knowledge accumulated to date on Myc regulation and function, its critical role in cancer, and summarize various strategies that are employed to tackle Myc-driven malignant transformation. We focus on important structure-function relationships of Myc with its interactome, elaborating structural determinants of Myc-Max dimer formation and DNA recognition exploited for therapeutic inhibition. Chronological development of small-molecule Myc-Max prototype inhibitors and corresponding binding sites are comprehensively reviewed and particular emphasis is placed on modern computational drug design methods. On the outlook, technological advancements may soon provide the so long-awaited Myc-Max clinical candidate.

Mining a Kröhnke Pyridine Library for Anti-Arenavirus Activity

Several arenaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever (HF) disease in humans and represent important public health problems in their endemic regions. In addition, evidence indicates that the worldwide-distributed prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus is a neglected human pathogen of clinical significance. There are no licensed arenavirus vaccines, and current antiarenavirus therapy is limited to an off-label use of ribavirin that is only partially effective. Therefore, there is an unmet need for novel therapeutics to combat human pathogenic arenaviruses, a task that will be facilitated by the identification of compounds with antiarenaviral activity that could serve as probes to identify arenavirus-host interactions suitable for targeting, as well as lead compounds to develop future antiarenaviral drugs. Screening of a combinatorial library of Krönhke pyridines identified compound KP-146 [(5-(5-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[ b][1,4] dioxin-6-yl)-4'-methoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)thiophene-2-carboxamide] as having strong anti-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) activity in cultured cells. KP-146 did not inhibit LCMV cell entry but rather interfered with the activity of the LCMV ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) responsible for directing virus RNA replication and gene transcription, as well as with the budding process mediated by the LCMV matrix Z protein. LCMV variants with increased resistance to KP-146 did not emerge after serial passages in the presence of KP-146. Our findings support the consideration of Kröhnke pyridine scaffold as a valuable source to identify compounds that could serve as tools to dissect arenavirus-host interactions, as well as lead candidate structures to develop antiarenaviral drugs.

Facile Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of Polycyclic Pyridines and Their Cytotoxicity Effects in Human Cancer Cell Lines

A three-component cascade method has been developed for the direct synthesis of polysubstituted pyridines. This strategy provides a very convenient route to pyridines using a variety of β-bromo-α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, 1,3-diketones, and ammonium acetate without any additional catalyst or metal salt under mild conditions. A variety of β-ketoesters and 4-hydroxycoumarin were also used instead of 1,3-diketones for the diverse synthesis of polycyclic pyridines. One of the synthesized pyridines has been unambiguously established by a single crystal XRD study. All of the synthesized pyridine derivatives were evaluated for their antiproliferative properties in vitro against the human cancer cell lines HeLa, Me180, and ZR751. Compounds 4{4,1} and 4{2,4} showed significant cytotoxicity in the human breast cancer cell line ZR751 and cervical cancer cell line Me180, respectively, and a few other compounds were found to have moderate activities.

Inhibitor of MYC identified in a Kröhnke pyridine library

In a fluorescence polarization screen for the MYC-MAX interaction, we have identified a novel small-molecule inhibitor of MYC, KJ-Pyr-9, from a Kröhnke pyridine library. The Kd of KJ-Pyr-9 for MYC in vitro is 6.5 ± 1.0 nM, as determined by backscattering interferometry; KJ-Pyr-9 also interferes with MYC-MAX complex formation in the cell, as shown in a protein fragment complementation assay. KJ-Pyr-9 specifically inhibits MYC-induced oncogenic transformation in cell culture; it has no or only weak effects on the oncogenic activity of several unrelated oncoproteins. KJ-Pyr-9 preferentially interferes with the proliferation of MYC-overexpressing human and avian cells and specifically reduces the MYC-driven transcriptional signature. In vivo, KJ-Pyr-9 effectively blocks the growth of a xenotransplant of MYC-amplified human cancer cells.

Development of a high-throughput screen and its use in the discovery of Streptococcus pneumoniae immunoglobulin A1 protease inhibitors

Streptococcus pneumoniae relies on a number of virulence factors, including immunoglobulin A1 protease (IgA1P), a Zn(2+) metalloprotease produced on the extracellular surface of the bacteria, to promote pathogenic colonization. IgA1P exhibits a unique function, in that it catalyzes the proteolysis of human IgA1 at its hinge region to leave the bacterial cell surface masked by IgA1 Fab, enabling the bacteria to evade the host's immune system and adhere to host epithelial cells to promote colonization. Thus, S. pneumoniae IgA1P has emerged as a promising antibacterial target; however, the lack of an appropriate screening assay has limited the investigation of this metalloprotease virulence factor. Relying on electrostatics-mediated AuNP aggregation, we have designed a promising high-throughput colorimetric assay for IgA1P. By using this assay, we have uncovered inhibitors of the enzyme that should be useful in deciphering its role in pneumococcal colonization and virulence.

Design, synthesis, and structure-affinity relationships of novel series of sialosides as CD22-specific inhibitors

Sialosides incorporating substituted amides or amines at 9-position of sialic acid moiety have been synthesized and evaluated as CD22 inhibitors. Several derivatives exhibited inhibitory potency in sub- to low micromolar range (e. g., 8o, 9d, 9g, and 9k showed IC 50 values 0.40, 0.47, 0.24, and 0.23 microM, respectively, for hCD22, while 8p, 8q, and 9f, showed IC 50 values 1.70, 2.90, and 4.10 microM, respectively, for mCD22). The most significant result was the strongly enhanced affinity of 9g and 9k containing 9-(2' or 4'-hydroxy-4-biphenyl) methylamino substituents (600-fold more potent for hCD22 than the corresponding 9-hydroxy derivative; 7a). Molecular modeling study was carried out to get some insights into the molecular basis of CD22 inhibition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic structure-affinity relationship study on inhibition of CD22.

9-fluorenylphosphines for the Pd-catalyzed sonogashira, suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig coupling reactions in organic solvents and water

The lithiation/alkylation of fluorene leads to various 9-alkyl-fluorenes (alkyl=Me, Et, iPr, -Pr, -C18H25) in>95% yields, for which lithiation and reaction with R2PCl (R=Cy, iPr, tBu) generates 9-alkyl, 9-PR2-fluorenes which constitute electron-rich and bulky phosphine ligands. The in-situ-formed palladium-phosphine complexes ([Na2PdCl4], phosphonium salt, base, substrates) were tested in the Sonogashira, Suzuki, and Buchwald-Hartwig reactions of aryl chlorides and aryl bromides in organic solvents. The Sonogashira coupling of aryl chlorides at 100-120 degrees C leads to>90% yields with 1 mol% of Pd catalyst. The Suzuki coupling of aryl chlorides typically requires 0.05 mol% of Pd catalyst at 100 degrees C in dioxane for quantitative product formation. To carry out "green" cross-coupling reactions in water, 9-ethylfluorenyldicyclohexylphosphine was reacted in sulphuric acid to generate the respective 2-sulfonated phosphonium salt. The Suzuki coupling of activated aryl chlorides by using this water-soluble catalyst requires only 0.01 mol% of Pd catalyst, while a wide range of aryl chlorides can be quantitatively converted into the respective coupling products by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water at 100 degrees C. Difficult substrate combinations, such as naphthylboronic acid or 3-pyridylboronic acid and aryl chlorides are coupled at 100 degrees C by using 0.1-0.5 mol% of catalyst in pure water to obtain the respective N-heterocycles in quantitative yields. The copper-free aqueous Sonogashira coupling of aryl bromides generates the respective tolane derivatives in>95% yield.

Solid Phase Synthesis of Pyridine-Based Derivatives from a 2-Chloro-5-Bromopyridine Scaffold

2-Chloro-5-bromopyridine was immobilized on polystyrene via selective introduction of a traceless silicon linker at the C-4 position. A useful scaffold was thus obtained, as demonstrated by efficient and selective reactions with polar and transition organometallic reagents, opening a new access to pyridine-based libraries of synthons and chromophores.

Synthesis and Characterization of Highly Conjugated, Chiral Bridging Ligands

This paper describes the synthesis of four chiral derivatives of the electronically highly conjugated tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine (TPPZ) bridging ligand, which are denoted (R)- and (S)-4,5- and 5,6-pineno-tetra-2-pyridylpyrazine (PTPPZ). Preparation of these ligands was undertaken through the use of commercially available, enantiomerically pure (1R)- and (1S)-alpha-pinene, which was functionalized and subsequently employed in a Krohnke pyridine synthesis involving a furan-substituted pyridinium salt to yield a chiral, furan-substituted pyridyl intermediate. Oxidative degradation and subsequent reduction of this furan led to a chiral, substituted 2-pyridylaldehyde, which underwent a pyridoin condensation followed by cyclization to produce the final PTPPZ ligands.

Parallel and combinatorial approaches for synthesis of ligands

Although new detection screening methods must still be developed, the actual main limitation in combinatorial chemistry seems to be the diversity of ligands that can be generated in terms of real structural and chemical diversity. Thus, there is a strong interest for the development of different strategies for the parallel or combinatorial synthesis of ligands. We report here a selection of recent attempts proposing 'open' approaches able to increase the diversity of molecular architecture truly accessible via parallel or combinatorial processes.