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Eltayeb K, Alfieri R, Fumarola C, Bonelli M, Galetti M, Cavazzoni A, Digiacomo G, Galvani F, Vacondio F, Lodola A, Mor M, Minari R, Tiseo M, La Monica S, Giorgio Petronini P. Targeting metabolic adaptive responses induced by glucose starvation inhibits cell proliferation and enhances cell death in osimertinib-resistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116161. [PMID: 38522556 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Osimertinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting mutant EGFR, has received approval for initial treatment in patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). While effective in both first- and second-line treatments, patients eventually develop acquired resistance. Metabolic reprogramming represents a strategy through which cancer cells may resist and adapt to the selective pressure exerted by the drug. In the current study, we investigated the metabolic adaptations associated with osimertinib-resistance in NSCLC cells under low glucose culture conditions. We demonstrated that, unlike osimertinib-sensitive cells, osimertinib-resistant cells were able to survive under low glucose conditions by increasing the rate of glucose and glutamine uptake and by shifting towards mitochondrial metabolism. Inhibiting glucose/pyruvate contribution to mitochondrial respiration, glutamine deamination to glutamate, and oxidative phosphorylation decreased the proliferation and survival abilities of osimertinib-resistant cells to glucose starvation. Our findings underscore the remarkable adaptability of osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cells in a low glucose environment and highlight the pivotal role of mitochondrial metabolism in mediating this adaptation. Targeting the metabolic adaptive responses triggered by glucose shortage emerges as a promising strategy, effectively inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting cell death in osimertinib-resistant cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamal Eltayeb
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Alfieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Claudia Fumarola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Mara Bonelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Maricla Galetti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL-Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, Monte Porzio Catone, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavazzoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Graziana Digiacomo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Minari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Marcello Tiseo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy
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2
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La Monica S, Vacondio F, Eltayeb K, Lodola A, Volta F, Viglioli M, Ferlenghi F, Galvani F, Galetti M, Bonelli M, Fumarola C, Cavazzoni A, Flammini L, Verzè M, Minari R, Petronini PG, Tiseo M, Mor M, Alfieri R. Targeting glucosylceramide synthase induces antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in osimertinib-resistant NSCLC cell models. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6491. [PMID: 38499619 PMCID: PMC10948837 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57028-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor osimertinib has been approved for the first-line treatment of EGFR-mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. Despite its efficacy, patients develop resistance. Mechanisms of resistance are heterogeneous and not fully understood, and their characterization is essential to find new strategies to overcome resistance. Ceramides are well-known regulators of apoptosis and are converted into glucosylceramides (GlcCer) by glucosylceramide synthase (GCS). A higher content of GlcCers was observed in lung pleural effusions from NSCLC patients and their role in osimertinib-resistance has not been documented. The aim of this study was to determine the therapeutic potential of inhibiting GCS in NSCLC EGFR-mutant models resistant to osimertinib in vitro and in vivo. Lipidomic analysis showed a significant increase in the intracellular levels of glycosylceramides, including GlcCers in osimertinib resistant clones compared to sensitive cells. In resistant cells, the GCS inhibitor PDMP caused cell cycle arrest, inhibition of 2D and 3D cell proliferation, colony formation and migration capability, and apoptosis induction. The intratumoral injection of PDMP completely suppressed the growth of OR xenograft models. This study demonstrated that dysregulation of ceramide metabolism is involved in osimertinib-resistance and targeting GCS may be a promising therapeutic strategy for patients progressed to osimertinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Kamal Eltayeb
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesco Volta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Martina Viglioli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Galvani
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Maricla Galetti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, INAIL-Italian Workers' Compensation Authority, 00078, Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Mara Bonelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Claudia Fumarola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Cavazzoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Lisa Flammini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Michela Verzè
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Minari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Tiseo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy.
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy.
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Alfieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43126, Parma, Italy
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3
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Tognolini M, Lodola A, Giorgio C. Drug discovery: In silico dry data can bypass biological wet data? Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:340-344. [PMID: 37872106 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent and extraordinary increase in computer power, along with the availability of efficient algorithms based on artificial intelligence, has prompted a large number of inexperienced scientists to challenge the complex and yet competitive world of drug discovery, by pretending to identify new hits through the sole use of computer aided drug design (CADD). Does the golden era of dry data run the risk of overshadowing the importance of wet data and, in doing so, forget that in silico and biological data need each other in successful preclinical drug discovery programmes?
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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4
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Medrano FJ, de la Hoz-Rodríguez S, Martí S, Arafet K, Schirmeister T, Hammerschmidt SJ, Müller C, González-Martínez Á, Santillana E, Ziebuhr J, Romero A, Zimmer C, Weldert A, Zimmermann R, Lodola A, Świderek K, Moliner V, González FV. Peptidyl nitroalkene inhibitors of main protease rationalized by computational and crystallographic investigations as antivirals against SARS-CoV-2. Commun Chem 2024; 7:15. [PMID: 38238420 PMCID: PMC10796436 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01104-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to represent a global public health issue. The viral main protease (Mpro) represents one of the most attractive targets for the development of antiviral drugs. Herein we report peptidyl nitroalkenes exhibiting enzyme inhibitory activity against Mpro (Ki: 1-10 μM) good anti-SARS-CoV-2 infection activity in the low micromolar range (EC50: 1-12 μM) without significant toxicity. Additional kinetic studies of compounds FGA145, FGA146 and FGA147 show that all three compounds inhibit cathepsin L, denoting a possible multitarget effect of these compounds in the antiviral activity. Structural analysis shows the binding mode of FGA146 and FGA147 to the active site of the protein. Furthermore, our results illustrate that peptidyl nitroalkenes are effective covalent reversible inhibitors of the Mpro and cathepsin L, and that inhibitors FGA145, FGA146 and FGA147 prevent infection against SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Medrano
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | | | - Sergio Martí
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Kemel Arafet
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Tanja Schirmeister
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and BiomedicalSciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan J Hammerschmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and BiomedicalSciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Christin Müller
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Águeda González-Martínez
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Santillana
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Schubertstrasse 81, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Antonio Romero
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Collin Zimmer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and BiomedicalSciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Annabelle Weldert
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and BiomedicalSciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Robert Zimmermann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and BiomedicalSciences, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
| | - Florenci V González
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
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5
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Guidetti L, Zappia A, Scalvini L, Ferrari FR, Giorgio C, Castelli R, Galvani F, Vacondio F, Rivara S, Mor M, Urbinati C, Rusnati M, Tognolini M, Lodola A. Molecular Determinants of EphA2 and EphB2 Antagonism Enable the Design of Ligands with Improved Selectivity. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6900-6911. [PMID: 37910792 PMCID: PMC10647059 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
With the aim of identifying novel antagonists selective for the EphA receptor family, a combined experimental and computational approach was taken to investigate the molecular basis of the recognition between a prototypical Eph-ephrin antagonist (UniPR1447) and two representative receptors of the EphA and EphB subfamilies, namely, EphA2 and EphB2 receptors. The conformational free-energy surface (FES) of the binding state of UniPR1447 within the ligand binding domain of EphA2 and EphB2, reconstructed from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations performed on the microsecond time scale, was exploited to drive the design and synthesis of a novel antagonist selective for EphA2 over the EphB2 receptor. The availability of compounds with this pharmacological profile will help discriminate the importance of these two receptors in the insurgence and progression of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Guidetti
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alfonso Zappia
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Ferrari
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
- Microbiome
Research Hub, Università degli Studi
di Parma, Parco Area
delle scienze 11/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Chiara Urbinati
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Molecolare Traslazionale, Università
degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia 25121, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Dipartimento
di Medicina Molecolare Traslazionale, Università
degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia 25121, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
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Festuccia C, Corrado M, Rossetti A, Castelli R, Lodola A, Gravina GL, Tognolini M, Giorgio C. A Pharmacological Investigation of Eph-Ephrin Antagonism in Prostate Cancer: UniPR1331 Efficacy Evidence. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1452. [PMID: 37895923 PMCID: PMC10609876 DOI: 10.3390/ph16101452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Eph kinases are the largest receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family in humans. PC3 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells are a well-established model for studying Eph-ephrin pharmacology as they naturally express a high level of EphA2, a promising target for new cancer therapies. A pharmacological approach with agonists did not show significant efficacy on tumor growth in prostate orthotopic murine models, but reduced distal metastasis formation. In order to improve the comprehension of the pharmacological targeting of Eph receptors in prostate cancer, in the present work, we investigated the efficacy of Eph antagonism both in vitro and in vivo, using UniPR1331, a small orally bioavailable Eph-ephrin interaction inhibitor. UniPR1331 was able to inhibit PC3 cells' growth in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, affecting the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis. Moreover, UniPR1331 promoted the PC3 epithelial phenotype, downregulating epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. As a consequence, UniPR1331 reduced in vitro PC3 migration, invasion, and vasculomimicry capabilities. The antitumor activity of UniPR1331 was confirmed in vivo when administered alone or in combination with cytotoxic drugs in PC3-xenograft mice. Our results demonstrated that Eph antagonism is a promising strategy for inhibiting prostate cancer growth, especially in combination with cytotoxic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Festuccia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio (Coppito), 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (A.R.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Miriam Corrado
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.C.); (R.C.); (A.L.); (M.T.)
| | - Alessandra Rossetti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio (Coppito), 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (A.R.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.C.); (R.C.); (A.L.); (M.T.)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.C.); (R.C.); (A.L.); (M.T.)
| | - Giovanni Luca Gravina
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio (Coppito), 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (A.R.); (G.L.G.)
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.C.); (R.C.); (A.L.); (M.T.)
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (M.C.); (R.C.); (A.L.); (M.T.)
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7
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Galvani F, Pala D, Cuzzolin A, Scalvini L, Lodola A, Mor M, Rizzi A. Unbinding Kinetics of Muscarinic M3 Receptor Antagonists Explained by Metadynamics Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:2842-2856. [PMID: 37053454 PMCID: PMC10170513 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
The residence time (RT), the time for which a drug remains bound to its biological target, is a critical parameter for drug design. The prediction of this key kinetic property has been proven to be challenging and computationally demanding in the framework of atomistic simulations. In the present work, we setup and applied two distinct metadynamics protocols to estimate the RTs of muscarinic M3 receptor antagonists. In the first method, derived from the conformational flooding approach, the kinetics of unbinding is retrieved from a physics-based parameter known as the acceleration factor α (i.e., the running average over time of the potential deposited in the bound state). Such an approach is expected to recover the absolute RT value for a compound of interest. In the second method, known as the tMETA-D approach, a qualitative estimation of the RT is given by the time of simulation required to drive the ligand from the binding site to the solvent bulk. This approach has been developed to reproduce the change of experimental RTs for compounds targeting the same target. Our analysis shows that both computational protocols are able to rank compounds in agreement with their experimental RTs. Quantitative structure-kinetics relationship (SKR) models can be identified and employed to predict the impact of a chemical modification on the experimental RT once a calibration study has been performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Chemistry Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Alberto Cuzzolin
- Chemistry Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
- Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Rizzi
- Chemistry Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
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Ferrari FR, Giorgio C, Zappia A, Ballabeni V, Bertoni S, Barocelli E, Scalvini L, Galvani F, Mor M, Lodola A, Tognolini M. Pharmacological characterization of second generation FXR agonists as effective EphA2 antagonists: A successful application of target hopping approach. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 209:115452. [PMID: 36792038 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
It is well demonstrated the key role of Eph-ephrin system, specifically of EphA2 receptor, in supporting tumor growth, invasion, metastasis and neovascularization. We previously identified FXR agonists as eligible antagonists of Eph-ephrin system. Herein we characterize new commercially available FXR (Farnesoid X Receptor) agonists as potential Eph ligands including Cilofexor, Nidufexor, Tropifexor, Turofexorate isopropyl and Vonafexor. Our exploration based on molecular modelling investigations and binding assays shows that Cilofexor binds specifically and reversibly to EphA2 receptor with a Ki value in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, Cilofexor interferes with the phosphorylation of EphA2 and the cell retraction and rounding in PC3 prostate cancer cells, both events depending on EphA2 activation. In conclusion, we can confirm that target hopping can be a successful approach to discover new moiety of protein-protein inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Romana Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alfonso Zappia
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Vigilio Ballabeni
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Simona Bertoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Barocelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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9
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Arafet K, Scalvini L, Galvani F, Martí S, Moliner V, Mor M, Lodola A. Mechanistic Modeling of Lys745 Sulfonylation in EGFR C797S Reveals Chemical Determinants for Inhibitor Activity and Discriminates Reversible from Irreversible Agents. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1301-1312. [PMID: 36762429 PMCID: PMC9976278 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Targeted covalent inhibitors hold promise for drug discovery, particularly for kinases. Targeting the catalytic lysine of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has attracted attention as a new strategy to overcome resistance due to the emergence of C797S mutation. Sulfonyl fluoride derivatives able to inhibit EGFRL858R/T790M/C797S by sulfonylation of Lys745 have been reported. However, atomistic details of this process are still poorly understood. Here, we describe the mechanism of inhibition of an innovative class of compounds that covalently engage the catalytic lysine of EGFR, through a sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) process, with the help of hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) and path collective variables (PCVs) approaches. Our simulations identify the chemical determinants accounting for the irreversible activity of agents targeting Lys745 and provide hints for the further optimization of sulfonyl fluoride agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemel Arafet
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy,BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Sergio Martí
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy,Microbiome
Research Hub, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy,. Phone: +39 0521 905062. Fax: +39 0521 905006
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10
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Papa A, Pasquini S, Galvani F, Cammarota M, Contri C, Carullo G, Gemma S, Ramunno A, Lamponi S, Gorelli B, Saponara S, Varani K, Mor M, Campiani G, Boscia F, Vincenzi F, Lodola A, Butini S. Development of potent and selective FAAH inhibitors with improved drug-like properties as potential tools to treat neuroinflammatory conditions. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 246:114952. [PMID: 36462439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The neuroprotective performance against neuroinflammation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) can be remarkably improved by indirect stimulation mediated by the pharmacological inhibition of the key ECS catabolic enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Based on our previous works and aiming to discover new selective FAAH inhibitors , we herein reported a new series of carbamate-based FAAH inhibitors (4a-t) which showed improved drug disposition properties compared to the previously reported analogues 2a-b. The introduction of ionizable functions allowed us to obtain new FAAH inhibitors of nanomolar potency characterized by good water solubility and chemical stability at physiological pH. Interesting structure-activity relationships (SARs), deeply analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, were obtained. All the newly developed inhibitors showed an excellent selectivity profile evaluated against monoacylglycerol lipase and cannabinoid receptors. The reversible mechanism of action was determined by a rapid dilution assay. Absence of toxicity was confirmed in mouse fibroblasts NIH3T3 (for compounds 4e, 4g, 4n-o, and 4s) and in human astrocytes cell line 1321N1 (for compounds 4e, 4n, and 4s). The absence of undesired cardiac effects was also confirmed for compound 4n. Selected analogues (compounds 4e, 4g, 4n, and 4s) were able to reduce oxidative stress in 1321N1 astrocytes and exhibited notable neuroprotective effects when tested in an ex vivo model of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Papa
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Silvia Pasquini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Farmaceutiche e Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Mariarosaria Cammarota
- Divisione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Chiara Contri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gabriele Carullo
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Sandra Gemma
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Ramunno
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Salerno, Viale Giovanni Paolo II 132, 84084, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Stefania Lamponi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Beatrice Gorelli
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Simona Saponara
- Dipartiment di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Katia Varani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy; Microbiome Research Hub, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Campiani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Francesca Boscia
- Divisione di Farmacologia, Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131, Napoli, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vincenzi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Traslazionale, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefania Butini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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11
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Galvani F, Scalvini L, Rivara S, Lodola A, Mor M. Mechanistic Modeling of Monoglyceride Lipase Covalent Modification Elucidates the Role of Leaving Group Expulsion and Discriminates Inhibitors with High and Low Potency. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:2771-2787. [PMID: 35580195 PMCID: PMC9198976 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Inhibition of monoglyceride
lipase (MGL), also known as monoacylglycerol
lipase (MAGL), has emerged as a promising approach for treating neurological
diseases. To gain useful insights in the design of agents with balanced
potency and reactivity, we investigated the mechanism of MGL carbamoylation
by the reference triazole urea SAR629 (IC50 = 0.2 nM) and
two recently described inhibitors featuring a pyrazole (IC50 = 1800 nM) or a 4-cyanopyrazole (IC50 = 8 nM) leaving
group (LG), using a hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM)
approach. Opposite to what was found for substrate 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (2-AG), covalent modification of MGL by azole
ureas is controlled by LG expulsion. Simulations indicated that changes
in the electronic structure of the LG greatly affect reaction energetics
with triazole and 4-cyanopyrazole inhibitors following a more accessible
carbamoylation path compared to the unsubstituted pyrazole derivative.
The computational protocol provided reaction barriers able to discriminate
between MGL inhibitors with different potencies. These results highlight
how QM/MM simulations can contribute to elucidating structure–activity
relationships and provide insights for the design of covalent inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Galvani
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy.,Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
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12
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Elisi GM, Scalvini L, Lodola A, Bedini A, Spadoni G, Rivara S. In silico drug discovery of melatonin receptor ligands with therapeutic potential. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:343-354. [PMID: 35255751 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2043846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neurohormone melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) regulates circadian rhythms exerting a variety of effects in the central nervous system and in periphery. These activities are mainly mediated by activation of MT1 and MT2 GPCRs. MT1/MT2 agonist compounds are used clinically for insomnia, depression, and circadian rhythm disturbances. AREA COVERED The following review describes the design strategies that have led to the identification of melatonin receptor ligands, guided by in silico approaches and molecular modeling. Initial ligand-based design, mainly relying on pharmacophore modeling and 3D-QSAR, has been flanked by structure-based virtual screening, given the recent availability of MT1 and MT2 crystal structures. Receptor ligands with different activity profiles, agonist/antagonist and subtype-selective compounds, are available. EXPERT OPINION An insight on the pharmacological characterization and therapeutic perspectives for relevant ligands is provided. In silico drug discovery has been instrumental in the design of novel ligands targeting melatonin receptors. Ligand-based approaches has led to the construction of a solid framework defining structure-activity relationships to obtain compounds with a tailored pharmacological profile. Structure-based techniques could integrate previous knowledge and provide compounds with novel chemotypes and pharmacological activity as drug candidates for disease conditions in which melatonin receptor ligands are currently being investigated, including cancer and pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Marco Elisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Annalida Bedini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | - Gilberto Spadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
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13
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Martí S, Arafet K, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, Świderek K, Moliner V. Impact of Warhead Modulations on the Covalent Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M pro Explored by QM/MM Simulations. ACS Catal 2022; 12:698-708. [PMID: 35036042 PMCID: PMC8751016 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.1c04661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, SARS-CoV-2, shows the need for effective antiviral treatments. Here, we present a simulation study of the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a cysteine hydrolase essential for the life cycle of the virus. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the inhibition process is explored by QM/MM umbrella sampling and free energy perturbation simulations at the M06-2X/MM level of theory for two proposed peptidyl covalent inhibitors that share the same recognition motif but feature distinct cysteine-targeting warheads. Regardless of the intrinsic reactivity of the modeled inhibitors, namely a Michael acceptor and a hydroxymethyl ketone activated carbonyl, our results confirm that the inhibitory process takes place by means of a two-step mechanism, in which the formation of an ion pair C145/H41 dyad precedes the protein-inhibitor covalent bond formation. The nature of this second step is strongly dependent on the functional groups in the warhead: while the nucleophilic attack of the C145 sulfur atom on the Cα of the double bond of the Michael acceptor takes place concertedly with the proton transfer from H41 to Cβ, in the compound with an activated carbonyl, the sulfur attacks the carbonyl carbon concomitant with a proton transfer from H41 to the carbonyl oxygen via the hydroxyl group. An analysis of the free energy profiles, structures along the reaction path, and interactions between the inhibitors and the different pockets of the active site on the protein shows a measurable effect of the warhead on the kinetics and thermodynamics of the process. These results and QM/MM methods can be used as a guide to select warheads to design efficient irreversible and reversible inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Martí
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Kemel Arafet
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Adrian J. Mulholland
- Centre
for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TS, United Kingdom
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- BioComp
Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castelló, Spain
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14
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Diotallevi A, Scalvini L, Buffi G, Pérez-Pertejo Y, De Santi M, Verboni M, Favi G, Magnani M, Lodola A, Lucarini S, Galluzzi L. Phenotype Screening of an Azole-bisindole Chemical Library Identifies URB1483 as a New Antileishmanial Agent Devoid of Toxicity on Human Cells. ACS Omega 2021; 6:35699-35710. [PMID: 34984300 PMCID: PMC8717589 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
We report the evaluation of a small library of azole-bisindoles for their antileishmanial potential, in terms of efficacy on Leishmania infantum promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes. Nine compounds showed good activity on L. infantum MHOM/TN/80/IPT1 promastigotes with IC50 values ranging from 4 to 10 μM. These active compounds were also tested on human (THP-1, HEPG2, HaCaT, and human primary fibroblasts) and canine (DH82) cell lines. URB1483 was selected as the best compound, with no quantifiable cytotoxicity in mammalian cells, to test the efficacy on intracellular amastigotes. URB1483 significantly reduced the infection index of both human and canine macrophages with an effect comparable to the clinically used drug pentamidine. URB1483 emerges as a new anti-infective agent with remarkable antileishmanial activity and no cytotoxic effects on human and canine cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurora Diotallevi
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Department
of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Gloria Buffi
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | | | - Mauro De Santi
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Michele Verboni
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Gianfranco Favi
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Mauro Magnani
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department
of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Lucarini
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
- . Tel: +39 0722 303333
| | - Luca Galluzzi
- Department
of Biomolecular Sciences, University of
Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino (PU), Italy
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15
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Ferlenghi F, Giorgio C, Incerti M, Guidetti L, Chiodelli P, Rusnati M, Tognolini M, Vacondio F, Mor M, Lodola A. Metabolic Soft Spot and Pharmacokinetics: Functionalization of C-3 Position of an Eph-Ephrin Antagonist Featuring a Bile Acid Core as an Effective Strategy to Obtain Oral Bioavailability in Mice. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 15:ph15010041. [PMID: 35056098 PMCID: PMC8779995 DOI: 10.3390/ph15010041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
UniPR129, an L-β-homotryptophan conjugate of the secondary bile acid lithocholic acid (LCA), acts as an effective protein-protein interaction (PPI) inhibitor of the Eph-ephrin system but suffers from a poor oral bioavailability in mice. To improve UniPR129 bioavailability, a metabolic soft spot, i.e., the 3α-hydroxyl group on the LCA steroidal ring, was functionalized to 3-hydroxyimine. In vitro metabolism of UniPR129 and 3-hydroxyimine derivative UniPR500 was compared in mouse liver subcellular fractions, and main metabolites were profiled by high resolution (HR-MS) and tandem (MS/MS) mass spectrometry. In mouse liver microsomes (MLM), UniPR129 was converted into several metabolites: M1 derived from the oxidation of the 3-hydroxy group to 3-oxo, M2-M7, mono-hydroxylated metabolites, M8-M10, di-hydroxylated metabolites, and M11, a mono-hydroxylated metabolite of M1. Phase II reactions were only minor routes of in vitro biotransformation. UniPR500 shared several metabolic pathways with parent UniPR129, but it showed higher stability in MLM, with a half-life (t1/2) of 60.4 min, if compared to a t1/2 = 16.8 min for UniPR129. When orally administered to mice at the same dose, UniPR500 showed an increased systemic exposure, maintaining an in vitro valuable pharmacological profile as an EphA2 receptor antagonist and an overall improvement in its physico-chemical profile (solubility, lipophilicity), if compared to UniPR129. The present work highlights an effective strategy for the pharmacokinetic optimization of aminoacid conjugates of bile acids as small molecule Eph-ephrin antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferlenghi
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Matteo Incerti
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Lorenzo Guidetti
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (P.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy; (P.C.); (M.R.)
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
- Correspondence: (F.V.); (M.M.); Tel.: +39-0521-905076 (F.V.); +39-0521-905059 (M.M.)
| | - Marco Mor
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
- Correspondence: (F.V.); (M.M.); Tel.: +39-0521-905076 (F.V.); +39-0521-905059 (M.M.)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy; (F.F.); (C.G.); (M.I.); (L.G.); (M.T.); (A.L.)
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16
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Abstract
![]()
The effects of the
neurohormone melatonin are mediated by the activation
of the GPCRs MT1 and MT2 in a variety of tissues.
Crystal structures suggest ligand access to the orthosteric binding
site of MT1 and MT2 receptors through a lateral
channel between transmembrane (TM) helices IV and V. We investigated
the feasibility of this lipophilic entry route for 2-iodomelatonin,
a nonselective agonist with a slower dissociation rate from the MT2 receptor, applying enhanced sampling simulations and free-energy
calculations. 2-Iodomelatonin unbinding was investigated with steered
molecular dynamics simulations which revealed different trajectories
passing through the gap between TM helices IV and V for both receptors.
For one of these unbinding trajectories from the MT1 receptor,
an umbrella-sampling protocol with path-collective variables provided
a calculated energy barrier consistent with the experimental dissociation
rate. The side-chain flexibility of Tyr5.38 was significantly different
in the two receptor subtypes, as assessed by metadynamics simulations,
and during ligand unbinding it frequently assumes an open conformation
in the MT1 but not in the MT2 receptor, favoring
2-iodomelatonin egress. Taken together, our simulations are consistent
with the possibility that the gap between TM IV and V is a way of
connecting the orthosteric binding site and the membrane core for
lipophilic melatonin receptor ligands. Our simulations also suggest
that the open state of Tyr5.38 generates a small pocket on the surface
of MT1 receptor, which could participate in the recognition
of MT1-selective ligands and may be exploited in the design
of new selective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gian Marco Elisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy.,Microbiome Research Hub, University of Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
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17
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Ferlenghi F, Scalvini L, Vacondio F, Castelli R, Bozza N, Marseglia G, Rivara S, Lodola A, La Monica S, Minari R, Petronini PG, Alfieri R, Tiseo M, Mor M. A sulfonyl fluoride derivative inhibits EGFR L858R/T790M/C797S by covalent modification of the catalytic lysine. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113786. [PMID: 34464874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of the C797S mutation in EGFR is a frequent mechanism of resistance to osimertinib in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the present work, we report the design, synthesis and biochemical characterization of UPR1444 (compound 11), a new sulfonyl fluoride derivative which potently and irreversibly inhibits EGFRL858R/T790M/C797S through the formation of a sulfonamide bond with the catalytic residue Lys745. Enzymatic assays show that compound 11 displayed an inhibitory activity on EGFRWT comparable to that of osimertinib, and it resulted more selective than the sulfonyl fluoride probe XO44, recently reported to inhibit a significant part of the kinome. Neither compound 11 nor XO44 inhibited EGFRdel19/T790M/C797S triple mutant. When tested in Ba/F3 cells expressing EGFRL858R/T790M/C797S, compound 11 resulted significantly more potent than osimertinib at inhibiting both EGFR autophosphorylation and proliferation, even if the inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation by compound 11 in Ba/F3 cells was not long lasting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Nicole Bozza
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Silvia Rivara
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Silvia La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Minari
- Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Alfieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marcello Tiseo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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18
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Chan HTH, Moesser MA, Walters RK, Malla TR, Twidale RM, John T, Deeks HM, Johnston-Wood T, Mikhailov V, Sessions RB, Dawson W, Salah E, Lukacik P, Strain-Damerell C, Owen CD, Nakajima T, Świderek K, Lodola A, Moliner V, Glowacki DR, Spencer J, Walsh MA, Schofield CJ, Genovese L, Shoemark DK, Mulholland AJ, Duarte F, Morris GM. Discovery of SARS-CoV-2 M pro peptide inhibitors from modelling substrate and ligand binding. Chem Sci 2021; 12:13686-13703. [PMID: 34760153 PMCID: PMC8549791 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc03628a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is central to viral maturation and is a promising drug target, but little is known about structural aspects of how it binds to its 11 natural cleavage sites. We used biophysical and crystallographic data and an array of biomolecular simulation techniques, including automated docking, molecular dynamics (MD) and interactive MD in virtual reality, QM/MM, and linear-scaling DFT, to investigate the molecular features underlying recognition of the natural Mpro substrates. We extensively analysed the subsite interactions of modelled 11-residue cleavage site peptides, crystallographic ligands, and docked COVID Moonshot-designed covalent inhibitors. Our modelling studies reveal remarkable consistency in the hydrogen bonding patterns of the natural Mpro substrates, particularly on the N-terminal side of the scissile bond. They highlight the critical role of interactions beyond the immediate active site in recognition and catalysis, in particular plasticity at the S2 site. Building on our initial Mpro-substrate models, we used predictive saturation variation scanning (PreSaVS) to design peptides with improved affinity. Non-denaturing mass spectrometry and other biophysical analyses confirm these new and effective 'peptibitors' inhibit Mpro competitively. Our combined results provide new insights and highlight opportunities for the development of Mpro inhibitors as anti-COVID-19 drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- H T Henry Chan
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Marc A Moesser
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford 24-29 St Giles' Oxford OX1 3LB UK
| | - Rebecca K Walters
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tika R Malla
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Rebecca M Twidale
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tobias John
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Helen M Deeks
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Tristan Johnston-Wood
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Victor Mikhailov
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Richard B Sessions
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - William Dawson
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science 7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku Kobe Hyogo 650-0047 Japan
| | - Eidarus Salah
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Petra Lukacik
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Claire Strain-Damerell
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - C David Owen
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Takahito Nakajima
- RIKEN Center for Computational Science 7-1-26 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku Kobe Hyogo 650-0047 Japan
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Biocomp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castello Spain
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma Parco Area delle Scienze, 27/A 43124 Parma Italy
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Biocomp Group, Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castello Spain
| | - David R Glowacki
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - James Spencer
- Intangible Realities Laboratory, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Martin A Walsh
- Diamond Light Source Ltd, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0DE UK
- Research Complex at Harwell, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus Didcot OX11 0FA UK
| | - Christopher J Schofield
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Luigi Genovese
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, IRIG-MEM-L_Sim 38000 Grenoble France
| | - Deborah K Shoemark
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building University Walk Bristol BS8 1TD UK
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol Cantock's Close Bristol BS8 1TS UK
| | - Fernanda Duarte
- Chemistry Research Laboratory, Department of Chemistry and the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research 12 Mansfield Road Oxford OX1 3TA UK
| | - Garrett M Morris
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford 24-29 St Giles' Oxford OX1 3LB UK
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19
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Rusnati M, Paiardi G, Tobia C, Urbinati C, Lodola A, D'Ursi P, Corrado M, Castelli R, Wade RC, Tognolini M, Chiodelli P. Correction: Cholenic acid derivative UniPR1331 impairs tumor angiogenesis via blockade of VEGF/VEGFR2 in addition to Eph/ephrin. Cancer Gene Ther 2021; 29:1070. [PMID: 34593982 PMCID: PMC9293753 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00391-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rusnati
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giulia Paiardi
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.,Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chiara Tobia
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Chiara Urbinati
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Pasqualina D'Ursi
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council (ITB-CNR), Segrate, MI, Italy
| | - Miriam Corrado
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Rebecca C Wade
- Molecular and Cellular Modeling Group, Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies, Heidelberg, Germany.,Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH), DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.,Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Paola Chiodelli
- Experimental Oncology and Immunology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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20
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Ghidini A, Scalvini L, Palese F, Lodola A, Mor M, Piomelli D. Different roles for the acyl chain and the amine leaving group in the substrate selectivity of N-Acylethanolamine acid amidase. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:1411-1423. [PMID: 34256657 PMCID: PMC8279155 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1912035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) is an N-terminal nucleophile (Ntn) hydrolase that catalyses the intracellular deactivation of the endogenous analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). NAAA inhibitors counteract this process and exert marked therapeutic effects in animal models of pain, inflammation and neurodegeneration. While it is known that NAAA preferentially hydrolyses saturated fatty acid ethanolamides (FAEs), a detailed profile of the relationship between catalytic efficiency and fatty acid-chain length is still lacking. In this report, we combined enzymatic and molecular modelling approaches to determine the effects of acyl chain and polar head modifications on substrate recognition and hydrolysis by NAAA. The results show that, in both saturated and monounsaturated FAEs, the catalytic efficiency is strictly dependent upon fatty acyl chain length, whereas there is a wider tolerance for modifications of the polar heads. This relationship reflects the relative stability of enzyme-substrate complexes in molecular dynamics simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ghidini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Francesca Palese
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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21
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Pala D, Scalvini L, Elisi GM, Lodola A, Mor M, Spadoni G, Ferrara FF, Pavoni E, Roscilli G, Milazzo FM, Battistuzzi G, Rivara S, Giannini G. New classes of potent heparanase inhibitors from ligand-based virtual screening. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 35:1685-1696. [PMID: 32907434 PMCID: PMC7534336 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1811701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparanase is a validated target in cancer therapy and a potential target for several inflammatory pathologies. A ligand-based virtual screening of commercial libraries was performed to expand the chemical space of small-molecule inhibitors. The screening was based on similarity with known inhibitors and was performed in several runs, starting from literature compounds and progressing through newly discovered inhibitors. Among the fifty-five tested compounds, nineteen had IC50 values lower than 5 µM and some showed remarkable potencies. Importantly, tere- and isophthalamides derivatives belong to new structural classes of heparanase inhibitors and some of them showed enzyme affinities (61 and 63, IC50 = 0.32 and 0.12 µM, respectively) similar to those of the most potent small-molecule inhibitors reported so far. Docking studies provided a comprehensive binding hypothesis shared by compounds with significant structural diversity. The most potent inhibitors reduced cell invasiveness and inhibited the expression of proangiogenic factors in tumour cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Elisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Gilberto Spadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Urbino, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
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22
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Arafet K, Serrano-Aparicio N, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, González FV, Świderek K, Moliner V. Mechanism of inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 M pro by N3 peptidyl Michael acceptor explained by QM/MM simulations and design of new derivatives with tunable chemical reactivity. Chem Sci 2020; 12:1433-1444. [PMID: 34163906 PMCID: PMC8179034 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06195f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is essential for replication of the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, and one of the main targets for drug design. Here, we simulate the inhibition process of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with a known Michael acceptor (peptidyl) inhibitor, N3. The free energy landscape for the mechanism of the formation of the covalent enzyme-inhibitor product is computed with QM/MM molecular dynamics methods. The simulations show a two-step mechanism, and give structures and calculated barriers in good agreement with experiment. Using these results and information from our previous investigation on the proteolysis reaction of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we design two new, synthetically accessible N3-analogues as potential inhibitors, in which the recognition and warhead motifs are modified. QM/MM modelling of the mechanism of inhibition of Mpro by these novel compounds indicates that both may be promising candidates as drug leads against COVID-19, one as an irreversible inhibitor and one as a potential reversible inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemel Arafet
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma Italy
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol UK
| | - Florenci V González
- Departament de Química Inorgànica i Orgànica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Katarzyna Świderek
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
| | - Vicent Moliner
- Departament de Química Física i Analítica, Universitat Jaume I 12071 Castelló Spain
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23
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Scalvini L, Ghidini A, Lodola A, Callegari D, Rivara S, Piomelli D, Mor M. N-Acylethanolamine Acid Amidase (NAAA): Mechanism of Palmitoylethanolamide Hydrolysis Revealed by Mechanistic Simulations. ACS Catal 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.0c02903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghidini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Donatella Callegari
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
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24
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Abstract
Introduction: The Eph-ephrin is a cell-cell communication system generating a forward signal in cell expressing Eph receptors and a reverse signal in ephrin-ligand expressing cells. While clearly involved in the insurgence and progression of cancer, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulated by this system needs development; this is a hurdle to the development of therapeutic strategies that can target the Eph receptors and/or their ephrin ligands.Areas covered: We have taken the opportunity to share some key questions on the most effective strategies to target the Eph-ephrin system. This article is based on our experience of the field and therefore is a Perspective and not comprehensive examination of the literature.Expert opinion: Targeting of the Eph-ephrin system has emerged as a potentially valuable approach for cancer therapy. Pharmacological tools have been reported in the last 15 years and these include forward signaling blockers such as kinases inhibitors and antagonists of forward and reverse signaling. Also, biologics including antibodies and recombinant proteins have been developed and some have reached early clinical stages. Data deem the Eph-ephrin system as a signaling axis that is an elusive target. A better understanding of the basic pharmacology behind the activity of available agents and a comprehensive knowledge of the ephrin biology are necessary. We are looking forward to knowing the opinion of the readers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zanotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy
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25
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Piomelli D, Scalvini L, Fotio Y, Lodola A, Spadoni G, Tarzia G, Mor M. N-Acylethanolamine Acid Amidase (NAAA): Structure, Function, and Inhibition. J Med Chem 2020; 63:7475-7490. [PMID: 32191459 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
N-Acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) is an N-terminal cysteine hydrolase primarily found in the endosomal-lysosomal compartment of innate and adaptive immune cells. NAAA catalyzes the hydrolytic deactivation of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), a lipid-derived peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α) agonist that exerts profound anti-inflammatory effects in animal models. Emerging evidence points to NAAA-regulated PEA signaling at PPAR-α as a critical control point for the induction and the resolution of inflammation and to NAAA itself as a target for anti-inflammatory medicines. The present Perspective discusses three key aspects of this hypothesis: the role of NAAA in controlling the signaling activity of PEA; the structural bases for NAAA function and inhibition by covalent and noncovalent agents; and finally, the potential value of NAAA-targeting drugs in the treatment of human inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Yannick Fotio
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-4625, United States
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Gilberto Spadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Giorgio Tarzia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I- 43124 Parma, Italy
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26
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Incerti M, Russo S, Corrado M, Giorgio C, Ballabeni V, Chiodelli P, Rusnati M, Scalvini L, Callegari D, Castelli R, Vacondio F, Ferlenghi F, Tognolini M, Lodola A. Optimization of EphA2 antagonists based on a lithocholic acid core led to the identification of UniPR505, a new 3α-carbamoyloxy derivative with antiangiogenetic properties. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 189:112083. [PMID: 32000051 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The EphA2 receptor has been validated in animal models as new target for treating tumors depending on angiogenesis and vasculogenic mimicry. In the present work, we extended our current knowledge on structure-activity relationship (SAR) data of two related classes of antagonists of the EphA2 receptor, namely 5β-cholan-24-oic acids and 5β-cholan-24-oyl l-β-homotryptophan conjugates, with the aim to develop new antiangiogenic compounds able to efficiently prevent the formation of blood vessels. As a result of our exploration, we identified UniPR505, N-[3α-(Ethylcarbamoyl)oxy-5β-cholan-24-oyl]-l-β-homo-tryptophan (compound 14), as a submicromolar antagonist of the EphA2 receptor capable to block EphA2 phosphorylation and to inhibit neovascularization in a chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Incerti
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Russo
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Miriam Corrado
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Vigilio Ballabeni
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Castelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy.
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27
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Abstract
Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) hybrid technique is emerging as a reliable computational method to investigate and characterize chemical reactions occurring in enzymes. From a drug discovery perspective, a thorough understanding of enzyme catalysis appears pivotal to assist the design of inhibitors able to covalently bind one of the residues belonging to the enzyme catalytic machinery. Thanks to the current advances in computer power, and the availability of more efficient algorithms for QM-based simulations, the use of QM/MM methodology is becoming a viable option in the field of covalent inhibitor design. In the present review, we summarized our experience in the field of QM/MM simulations applied to drug design problems which involved the optimization of agents working on two well-known drug targets, namely fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In this context, QM/MM simulations gave valuable information in terms of geometry (i.e., of transition states and metastable intermediates) and reaction energetics that allowed to correctly predict inhibitor binding orientation and substituent effect on enzyme inhibition. What is more, enzyme reaction modelling with QM/MM provided insights that were translated into the synthesis of new covalent inhibitor featured by a unique combination of intrinsic reactivity, on-target activity, and selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Lodola
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - Donatella Callegari
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Drug Design and Discovery Group, Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Ferlenghi F, Castelli R, Scalvini L, Giorgio C, Corrado M, Tognolini M, Mor M, Lodola A, Vacondio F. Drug-gut microbiota metabolic interactions: the case of UniPR1331, selective antagonist of the Eph-ephrin system, in mice. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 180:113067. [PMID: 31891876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.113067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 12/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The interest on the role of gut microbiota in the biotransformation of drugs and xenobiotics has grown over the last decades and a deeper understanding of the mutual interactions is expected to help future improvements in the fields of drug development, toxicological risk assessment and precision medicine. In this paper, a microbiome drug metabolism case is presented, involving a lipophilic small molecule, N-(3β-hydroxy-Δ5-cholen-24-oyl)-l-tryptophan, UniPR1331, active as antagonist of the Eph-ephrin system and effective in vivo in a murine orthotopic model of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Following the administration of a single 30 mg/kg dose (p.o.) to mice, maximal plasma levels were reached 30 min after dosing and rapidly declined thereafter. To explain the observed in vivo behaviour, in vitro phase I and II metabolism assays were conducted employing mouse and human liver subcellular fractions and profiling main metabolites by means of tandem (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-HR-MS). In the presence of in vitro mouse liver fractions, UniPR1331 showed a low phase I metabolic clearance, despite the identification of a 3-oxo and several hydroxylated metabolites. Conversely, after oral administration of UniPR1331 to mice, a novel isobaric metabolite was detected that (i) was subjected, as parent UniPR1331, to enterohepatic circulation (ii) had not been previously identified in vitro in mouse liver microsomes and (iii) was not observed forming after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of UniPR1331. An in vitro faecal fermentation assay produced the same chemical entity supporting a major role of gut microbiota in the in vivo clearance of UniPR1331.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferlenghi
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Miriam Corrado
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy.
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/a, 43124, Parma, Italy.
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29
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Castelli R, Scalvini L, Vacondio F, Lodola A, Anselmi M, Vezzosi S, Carmi C, Bassi M, Ferlenghi F, Rivara S, Møller IR, Rand KD, Daglian J, Wei D, Dotsey EY, Ahmed F, Jung KM, Stella N, Singh S, Mor M, Piomelli D. Benzisothiazolinone Derivatives as Potent Allosteric Monoacylglycerol Lipase Inhibitors That Functionally Mimic Sulfenylation of Regulatory Cysteines. J Med Chem 2019; 63:1261-1280. [PMID: 31714779 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
We describe a set of benzisothiazolinone (BTZ) derivatives that are potent inhibitors of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), the primary degrading enzyme for the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (2-AG). Structure-activity relationship studies evaluated various substitutions on the nitrogen atom and the benzene ring of the BTZ nucleus. Optimized derivatives with nanomolar potency allowed us to investigate the mechanism of MGL inhibition. Site-directed mutagenesis and mass spectrometry experiments showed that BTZs interact in a covalent reversible manner with regulatory cysteines, Cys201 and Cys208, causing a reversible sulfenylation known to modulate MGL activity. Metadynamics simulations revealed that BTZ adducts favor a closed conformation of MGL that occludes substrate recruitment. The BTZ derivative 13 protected neuronal cells from oxidative stimuli and increased 2-AG levels in the mouse brain. The results identify Cys201 and Cys208 as key regulators of MGL function and point to the BTZ scaffold as a useful starting point for the discovery of allosteric MGL inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Castelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale Biopharmanet-tec , Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze , Tecnopolo Padiglione 33 , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Mattia Anselmi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Stefano Vezzosi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Caterina Carmi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Michele Bassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Francesca Ferlenghi
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale Biopharmanet-tec , Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze , Tecnopolo Padiglione 33 , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale Biopharmanet-tec , Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze , Tecnopolo Padiglione 33 , I-43124 Parma , Italy
| | - Ingvar R Møller
- Department of Pharmacy , Universitetsparken 2 , DK-2100 Copenhagen , Denmark
| | - Kasper D Rand
- Department of Pharmacy , Universitetsparken 2 , DK-2100 Copenhagen , Denmark
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nephi Stella
- Department of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195-7280 , United States
| | - Simar Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , University of Washington , Seattle , Washington 98195-7280 , United States
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco , Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A , I-43124 Parma , Italy.,Centro Interdipartimentale Biopharmanet-tec , Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze , Tecnopolo Padiglione 33 , I-43124 Parma , Italy
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Abstract
Introduction: fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of tyrosine-kinase receptors whose signaling cascade regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Deregulation of the FGFR pathway is recognized as a driving factor in tumor development. On this basis, FGFR is an attractive target for anti-cancer small-molecule therapeutic agents.Areas covered: This review summarizes patent and literature publications spanning from 2015 to 2019 pertaining to small-molecule FGFR kinase inhibitors.Expert opinion: The first generation of non-covalent FGFR inhibitors is characterized by a broad spectrum of activity and a relatively high toxicity profile. The second generation of FGFR inhibitors shows higher selectivity and a more favorable toxicity profile, but the clinical use appears restricted only to small subsets of cancers strongly dependent on FGFR signaling. Nevertheless, erdafitinib has been approved for the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma, becoming the first marketed selective FGFR inhibitor. The insurgence of mutant kinases, resistant to available therapies, has led to the development of irreversible FGFR inhibitors. The adoption of safer and more selective covalent inhibitors might supersede reversible inhibitors in specific therapeutic areas. Alternative strategies, such as FGF trapping by protein or small-molecule therapeutics, deserve attention and further investigations to unravel their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Grandi A, Zini I, Palese S, Giorgio C, Tognolini M, Marchesani F, Bruno S, Flammini L, Cantoni AM, Castelli R, Lodola A, Fusari A, Barocelli E, Bertoni S. Targeting the Eph/Ephrin System as Anti-Inflammatory Strategy in IBD. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:691. [PMID: 31297055 PMCID: PMC6606944 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Besides their long-known critical role in embryonic growth and in cancer development and progression, erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma type B (EphB) receptor tyrosine kinases and their ephrin-B ligands are involved in the modulation of immune responses and in remodeling and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal epithelial layer. These processes are critically involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory-based disorders of the gut, like inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Accordingly, our aim was to investigate the role of the EphB/ephrin-B system in intestinal inflammation by assessing the local and systemic effects produced by its pharmacological manipulation in 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)- (Th1-dependent model) and dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)- (innate response model) induced colitis in mice. To this purpose, we administered chimeric Fc-conjugated proteins, allegedly able to uni-directionally activate either forward (ephrin-B1-Fc) or reverse (EphB1-Fc) signaling, and the soluble monomeric EphB4 extracellular domain protein, that, simultaneously interfering with both signaling pathways, acts as EphB/ephrin-B antagonist.The blockade of the EphB/ephrin-B forward signaling by EphB4 and EphB1-Fc was ineffective against DSS-induced colitis while it evoked remarkable beneficial effects against TNBS colitis: it counteracted all the evaluated inflammatory responses and the changes elicited on splenic T lymphocytes subpopulations, without preventing the appearance of a splice variant of ephrin-B2 gene elicited by the haptenating agent in the colon. Interestingly, EphB4, preferentially displacing EphB4/ephrin-B2 interaction over EphB1/ephrin-B1 binding, was able to promote Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα) release by splenic mononuclear cells in vitro. On the whole, the collected results point to a potential role of the EphB/ephrin-B system as a pharmacological target in intestinal inflammatory disorders and suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of its blockade seemingly works through the modulation of immune responses, independent of the changes at the transcriptional and translational level of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Grandi
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Irene Zini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Palese
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Stefano Bruno
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Lisa Flammini
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Antonella Fusari
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Simona Bertoni
- Food and Drug Department, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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32
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Fumarola C, Bozza N, Castelli R, Ferlenghi F, Marseglia G, Lodola A, Bonelli M, La Monica S, Cretella D, Alfieri R, Minari R, Galetti M, Tiseo M, Ardizzoni A, Mor M, Petronini PG. Expanding the Arsenal of FGFR Inhibitors: A Novel Chloroacetamide Derivative as a New Irreversible Agent With Anti-proliferative Activity Against FGFR1-Amplified Lung Cancer Cell Lines. Front Oncol 2019; 9:179. [PMID: 30972293 PMCID: PMC6443895 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFR1-4) have a critical role in the progression of several human cancers, including Squamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (SQCLC). Both non-selective and selective reversible FGFR inhibitors are under clinical investigation for the treatment of patients with tumors harboring FGFR alterations. Despite their potential efficacy, the clinical development of these drugs has encountered several challenges, including toxicity, and the appearance of drug resistance. Recent efforts have been directed at development of irreversible FGFR inhibitors, which have the potential to exert superior anti-proliferative activity in tumors carrying FGFR alterations. With this in mind, we synthetized, and investigated a set of novel inhibitors possessing a warhead potentially able to covalently bind a cysteine in the P-loop of FGFR. Among them, the chloroacetamide UPR1376 resulted able to irreversible inhibit FGFR1 phosphorylation in FGFR1 over-expressing cells generated from SQCLC SKMES-1 cells. In addition, this compound inhibited cell proliferation in FGFR1-amplified H1581 cells with a potency higher than the reversible inhibitor BGJ398 (infigratinib), while sparing FGFR1 low-expressing cells. The anti-proliferative effects of UPR1376 were demonstrated in both 2D and 3D systems and were associated with the inhibition of MAPK and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. UPR1376 inhibited cell proliferation also in two BGJ398-resistant cell clones generated from H1581 by chronic exposure to BGJ398, although at concentrations higher than those effective in the parental cells, likely due to the persistent activation of the MAPK pathway associated to NRAS amplification. Combined blockade of FGFR1 and MAPK signaling, by UPR1376 and trametinib respectively, significantly enhanced the efficacy of UPR1376, providing a means of circumventing resistance to FGFR1 inhibition. Our findings suggest that the insertion of a chloroacetamide warhead on a suitable scaffold, as exemplified by UPR1376, is a valuable strategy to develop a novel generation of FGFR inhibitors for the treatment of SQCLC patients with FGFR alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Fumarola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Nicole Bozza
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Mara Bonelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Cretella
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Alfieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberta Minari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Maricla Galetti
- Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) Research Center, Parma, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Center of Excellence for Toxicological Research, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marcello Tiseo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ardizzoni
- Division of Medical Oncology, Sant'Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital and Alma Mater University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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33
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Giorgio C, Incerti M, Pala D, Russo S, Chiodelli P, Rusnati M, Cantoni A, Di Lecce R, Barocelli E, Bertoni S, Ravassard P, Manenti F, Piemonti L, Ferlenghi F, Lodola A, Tognolini M. Inhibition of Eph/ephrin interaction with the small molecule UniPR500 improves glucose tolerance in healthy and insulin-resistant mice. Pharmacol Res 2019; 141:319-330. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Castelli R, Bozza N, Cavazzoni A, Bonelli M, Vacondio F, Ferlenghi F, Callegari D, Silva C, Rivara S, Lodola A, Digiacomo G, Fumarola C, Alfieri R, Petronini PG, Mor M. Balancing reactivity and antitumor activity: heteroarylthioacetamide derivatives as potent and time-dependent inhibitors of EGFR. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 162:507-524. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.11.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Revised: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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Spadoni G, Bedini A, Furiassi L, Mari M, Mor M, Scalvini L, Lodola A, Ghidini A, Lucini V, Dugnani S, Scaglione F, Piomelli D, Jung KM, Supuran CT, Lucarini L, Durante M, Sgambellone S, Masini E, Rivara S. Identification of Bivalent Ligands with Melatonin Receptor Agonist and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibitory Activity That Exhibit Ocular Hypotensive Effect in the Rabbit. J Med Chem 2018; 61:7902-7916. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Gilberto Spadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Annalida Bedini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Lucia Furiassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Michele Mari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghidini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucini
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, I-20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvana Dugnani
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, I-20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Scaglione
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-Oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, I-20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Claudiu T. Supuran
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche e Nutraceutiche, Università degli Studi di Firenze, via Ugo Shiff 6, I-50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Laura Lucarini
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA, Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Mariaconcetta Durante
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA, Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Silvia Sgambellone
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA, Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Emanuela Masini
- Dipartimento NEUROFARBA, Sezione di Farmacologia e Tossicologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, I-50019 Firenze, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A I-43124 Parma, Italy
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Jedwabny W, Lodola A, Dyguda-Kazimierowicz E. Theoretical Model of EphA2-Ephrin A1 Inhibition. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23071688. [PMID: 29997324 PMCID: PMC6099714 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
This work aims at the theoretical description of EphA2-ephrin A1 inhibition by small molecules. Recently proposed ab initio-based scoring models, comprising long-range components of interaction energy, is tested on lithocholic acid class inhibitors of this protein–protein interaction (PPI) against common empirical descriptors. We show that, although limited to compounds with similar solvation energy, the ab initio model is able to rank the set of selected inhibitors more effectively than empirical scoring functions, aiding the design of novel compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiktoria Jedwabny
- Department of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50370 Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43100 Parma, Italy.
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37
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Festuccia C, Gravina GL, Giorgio C, Mancini A, Pellegrini C, Colapietro A, Delle Monache S, Maturo MG, Sferra R, Chiodelli P, Rusnati M, Cantoni A, Castelli R, Vacondio F, Lodola A, Tognolini M. UniPR1331, a small molecule targeting Eph/ephrin interaction, prolongs survival in glioblastoma and potentiates the effect of antiangiogenic therapy in mice. Oncotarget 2018; 9:24347-24363. [PMID: 29849945 PMCID: PMC5966254 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor, showing high resistance to standard therapeutic approaches that combine surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. As opposed to healthy tissues, EphA2 has been found highly expressed in specimens of glioblastoma, and increased expression of EphA2 has been shown to correlate with poor survival rates. Accordingly, agents blocking Eph receptor activity could represent a new therapeutic approach. Herein, we demonstrate that UniPR1331, a pan Eph receptor antagonist, possesses significant in vivo anti-angiogenic and anti-vasculogenic properties which lead to a significant anti-tumor activity in xenograft and orthotopic models of GBM. UniPR1331 halved the final volume of tumors when tested in xenografts (p<0.01) and enhanced the disease-free survival of treated animals in the orthotopic models of GBM both by using U87MG cells (40 vs 24 days of control, p<0.05) or TPC8 cells (52 vs 16 days, p<0.01). Further, the association of UniPR1331 with the anti-VEGF antibody Bevacizumab significantly increased the efficacy of both monotherapies in all tested models. Overall, our data promote UniPR1331 as a novel tool for tackling GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Festuccia
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giovanni Luca Gravina
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Mancini
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Cristina Pellegrini
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Alessandro Colapietro
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Simona Delle Monache
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Maturo
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Roberta Sferra
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123, Brescia, Italy
| | - Annamaria Cantoni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Parma, 43100, Parma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, 43124, Parma, Italy
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Rivara S, Scalvini L, Lodola A, Mor M, Caignard DH, Delagrange P, Collina S, Lucini V, Scaglione F, Furiassi L, Mari M, Lucarini S, Bedini A, Spadoni G. Tetrahydroquinoline Ring as a Versatile Bioisostere of Tetralin for Melatonin Receptor Ligands. J Med Chem 2018; 61:3726-3737. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniel-Henri Caignard
- Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, F-78290 Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Philippe Delagrange
- Institut de Recherches Servier, 125 Chemin de Ronde, F-78290 Croissy sur Seine, France
| | - Simona Collina
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, I-27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Valeria Lucini
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, I-20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Scaglione
- Dipartimento di Oncologia ed Emato-oncologia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Vanvitelli 32, I-20129 Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Furiassi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Michele Mari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Simone Lucarini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Annalida Bedini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
| | - Gilberto Spadoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino “Carlo Bo”, Piazza Rinascimento 6, I-61029 Urbino, Italy
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39
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Callegari D, Ranaghan KE, Woods CJ, Minari R, Tiseo M, Mor M, Mulholland AJ, Lodola A. L718Q mutant EGFR escapes covalent inhibition by stabilizing a non-reactive conformation of the lung cancer drug osimertinib. Chem Sci 2018; 9:2740-2749. [PMID: 29732058 PMCID: PMC5911825 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04761d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Impact of L718Q mutation on the inhibitory activity of osimertinib on EGFR revealed by free-energy simulations.
Osimertinib is a third-generation inhibitor approved for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. It overcomes resistance to first-generation inhibitors by incorporating an acrylamide group which alkylates Cys797 of EGFR T790M. The mutation of a residue in the P-loop (L718Q) was shown to cause resistance to osimertinib, but the molecular mechanism of this process is unknown. Here, we investigated the inhibitory process for EGFR T790M (susceptible to osimertinib) and EGFR T790M/L718Q (resistant to osimertinib), by modelling the chemical step (i.e., alkylation of Cys797) using QM/MM simulations and the recognition step by MD simulations coupled with free-energy calculations. The calculations indicate that L718Q has a negligible impact on both the activation energy for Cys797 alkylation and the free-energy of binding for the formation of the non-covalent complex. The results show that Gln718 affects the conformational space of the EGFR–osimertinib complex, stabilizing a conformation of acrylamide which prevents reaction with Cys797.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Callegari
- Department of Food and Drug , University of Parma , Parma , Italy .
| | - K E Ranaghan
- School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
| | - C J Woods
- School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
| | - R Minari
- Medical Oncology Unit , University Hospital of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - M Tiseo
- Medical Oncology Unit , University Hospital of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - M Mor
- Department of Food and Drug , University of Parma , Parma , Italy .
| | - A J Mulholland
- School of Chemistry , University of Bristol , Bristol , UK
| | - A Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug , University of Parma , Parma , Italy .
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Ainsley J, Lodola A, Mulholland AJ, Christov CZ, Karabencheva-Christova TG. Combined Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics Studies of Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2018; 113:1-32. [PMID: 30149903 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The combined quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods have become a valuable tool in computational biochemistry and received versatile applications for studying the reaction mechanisms of enzymes. The approach combines the calculations of the electronic structure of the active site by QM, with modeling of the protein environment using MM force field, which allows the long-range electrostatics and steric effects on the enzyme reactivity to be accounted for. In this review, we review some key theoretical and computational aspects of the method and we also present some applications to particular enzymatic reactions such as tryptophan-7-halogenase, cyclooxygenase-1, and the epidermal growth factor receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Ainsley
- Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Christo Z Christov
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States.
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41
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Karabencheva-Christova TG, Torras J, Mulholland AJ, Lodola A, Christov CZ. Mechanistic Insights into the Reaction of Chlorination of Tryptophan Catalyzed by Tryptophan 7-Halogenase. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17395. [PMID: 29234124 PMCID: PMC5727139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17789-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophan 7-halogenase catalyzes chlorination of free tryptophan to 7-chlorotryptophan, which is the first step in the antibiotic pyrrolnitrin biosynthesis. Many biologically and pharmaceutically active natural products contain chlorine and thus, an understanding of the mechanism of its introduction into organic molecules is important. Whilst enzyme-catalyzed chlorination is accomplished with ease, it remains a difficult task for the chemists. Therefore, utilizing enzymes in the synthesis of chlorinated organic compounds is important, and providing atomistic mechanistic insights about the reaction mechanism of tryptophan 7-halogenase is vital and timely. In this work, we examined a mechanism for the reaction of tryptophan chlorination, performed by tryptophan 7-halogenase, by calculating potential energy and free energy surfaces using two different Combined Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical (QM/MM) methods both employing Density Functional Theory (DFT) for the QM region. Both computational strategies agree on the nature of the rate-limiting step and provided close results for the reaction barriers of the two reaction steps. The calculations for both the potential energy and the free energy profiles showed very similar geometric features and hydrogen bonding interactions for the characterized stationary points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana G Karabencheva-Christova
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, 49931, MI, USA.
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK.
| | - Juan Torras
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Escola d'Enginyeria de Barcelona Est (EEBE), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, C. Eduard Maristany 10-14, 08019, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Adrian J Mulholland
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Pharmacy Department, Università di Parma, V. le P.G Usberti 27/A, Campus Universitario, 431124, Parma, Italy
| | - Christo Z Christov
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, 49931, MI, USA
- Centre for Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK
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42
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Giorgio C, Incerti M, Corrado M, Rusnati M, Chiodelli P, Russo S, Callegari D, Ferlenghi F, Ballabeni V, Barocelli E, Lodola A, Tognolini M. Pharmacological evaluation of new bioavailable small molecules targeting Eph/ephrin interaction. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 147:21-29. [PMID: 29129483 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Eph/ephrin system is an emerging target for cancer therapy but the lack of potent, stable and orally bioavailable compounds is impairing the development of the field. Since 2009 our research group has been devoted to the discovery and development of small molecules targeting Eph/ephrin system and our research culminated with the synthesis of UniPR129, a potent but problematic Eph/ephrin antagonist. Herein, we describe the in vitro pharmacological properties of two derivatives (UniPR139 and UniPR502) stemmed from structure of UniPR129. These two compounds acted as competitive and reversible antagonists of all Eph receptors reducing both ephrin-A1 and -B1 binding to EphAs and EphBs receptors in the low micromolar range. The compounds acted as antagonists inhibiting ephrin-A1-dependent EphA2 activation and UniPR139 exerted an anti-angiogenic effect, inhibiting HUVEC tube formation in vitro and VEGF-induced vessel formation in the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Finally, the oral bioavailability of UniPR139 represents a step forward in the search of molecules targeting the Eph/ephrin system and offers a new pharmacological tool useful for future in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Giorgio
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Incerti
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Miriam Corrado
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Rusnati
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Simonetta Russo
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Vigilio Ballabeni
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | | | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy.
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43
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Nawaz IM, Chiodelli P, Rezzola S, Paganini G, Corsini M, Lodola A, Di Ianni A, Mor M, Presta M. N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe (BOC2) inhibits the angiogenic activity of heparin-binding growth factors. Angiogenesis 2017; 21:47-59. [PMID: 29030736 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-017-9581-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The peptides N-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Leu-Phe-Leu-Phe (BOC2) and BOC-Met-Leu-Phe (BOC1) are widely used antagonists of formyl peptide receptors (FPRs), BOC2 acting as an FPR1/FPR2 antagonist whereas BOC1 inhibits FPR1 only. Extensive investigations have been performed by using these FPR antagonists as a tool to assess the role of FPRs in physiological and pathological conditions. Based on previous observations from our laboratory, we assessed the possibility that BOC2 may exert also a direct inhibitory effect on the angiogenic activity of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A). Our data demonstrate that BOC2, but not BOC1, inhibits the angiogenic activity of heparin-binding VEGF-A165 with no effect on the activity of the non-heparin-binding VEGF-A121 isoform. Endothelial cell-based bioassays, surface plasmon resonance analysis, and computer modeling indicate that BOC2 may interact with the heparin-binding domain of VEGF-A165, thus competing for heparin interaction and preventing the binding of VEGF-A165 to tyrosine kinase receptor VEGFR2, its phosphorylation and downstream signaling. In addition, BOC2 inhibits the interaction of a variety of heparin-binding angiogenic growth factors with heparin, including fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) whose angiogenic activity is blocked by the compound. Accordingly, BOC2 suppresses the angiogenic potential of human tumor cell lines that co-express VEGF-A and FGF2. Thus, BOC2 appears to act as a novel multi-heparin-binding growth factor antagonist. These findings caution about the interpretation of FPR-focusing experimental data obtained with this compound and set the basis for the design of novel BOC2-derived, FPR independent multi-target angiogenesis inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaz M Nawaz
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sara Rezzola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Paganini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Michela Corsini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Marco Mor
- Department of Food and Drug, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Lodola A, Bertolini S, Biagetti M, Capacchi S, Facchinetti F, Gallo PM, Pappani A, Mor M, Pala D, Rivara S, Visentini F, Corsi M, Capelli AM. Atropisomerism and Conformational Equilibria: Impact on PI3Kδ Inhibition of 2-((6-Amino-9H-purin-9-yl)methyl)-5-methyl-3-(o-tolyl)quinazolin-4(3H)-one (IC87114) and Its Conformationally Restricted Analogs. J Med Chem 2017; 60:4304-4315. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Serena Bertolini
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Matteo Biagetti
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Capacchi
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Facchinetti
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Maria Gallo
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Pappani
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento
di Scienze degli Alimenti e del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | | | - Mauro Corsi
- Aptuit s.r.l., Via Fleming 4, 37135 Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Capelli
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
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45
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Callegari D, Lodola A, Pala D, Rivara S, Mor M, Rizzi A, Capelli AM. Correction to Metadynamics Simulations Distinguish Short- and Long-Residence-Time Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:386. [PMID: 28151658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.7b00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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46
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Callegari D, Lodola A, Pala D, Rivara S, Mor M, Rizzi A, Capelli AM. Metadynamics Simulations Distinguish Short- and Long-Residence-Time Inhibitors of Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 8. J Chem Inf Model 2017; 57:159-169. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Callegari
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle
scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle
scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle
scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle
scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento
di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, Viale delle
scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Rizzi
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Capelli
- Chemistry
Research and Drug Design Department, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Largo F. Belloli 11/A, 43122 Parma, Italy
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47
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Incerti M, Russo S, Callegari D, Pala D, Giorgio C, Zanotti I, Barocelli E, Vicini P, Vacondio F, Rivara S, Castelli R, Tognolini M, Lodola A. Metadynamics for Perspective Drug Design: Computationally Driven Synthesis of New Protein-Protein Interaction Inhibitors Targeting the EphA2 Receptor. J Med Chem 2017; 60:787-796. [PMID: 28005388 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Metadynamics (META-D) is emerging as a powerful method for the computation of the multidimensional free-energy surface (FES) describing the protein-ligand binding process. Herein, the FES of unbinding of the antagonist N-(3α-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oyl)-l-β-homotryptophan (UniPR129) from its EphA2 receptor was reconstructed by META-D simulations. The characterization of the free-energy minima identified on this FES proposes a binding mode fully consistent with previously reported and new structure-activity relationship data. To validate this binding mode, new N-(3α-hydroxy-5β-cholan-24-oyl)-l-β-homotryptophan derivatives were designed, synthesized, and tested for their ability to displace ephrin-A1 from the EphA2 receptor. Among them, two antagonists, namely compounds 21 and 22, displayed high affinity versus the EphA2 receptor and resulted endowed with better physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties than the parent compound. These findings highlight the importance of free-energy calculations in drug design, confirming that META-D simulations can be used to successfully design novel bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Incerti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Simonetta Russo
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Donatella Callegari
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Carmine Giorgio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zanotti
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Barocelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Paola Vicini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Riccardo Castelli
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Tognolini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma , Parco Area delle Scienze 27/A, 43124 Parma, Italy.,Department of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University , Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
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Scalvini L, Vacondio F, Bassi M, Pala D, Lodola A, Rivara S, Jung KM, Piomelli D, Mor M. Free-energy studies reveal a possible mechanism for oxidation-dependent inhibition of MGL. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31046. [PMID: 27499063 PMCID: PMC4976315 DOI: 10.1038/srep31046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The function of monoacylglycerol lipase (MGL), a key actor in the hydrolytic deactivation of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol (2AG), is tightly controlled by the cell’s redox state: oxidative signals such as hydrogen peroxide suppress MGL activity in a reversible manner through sulfenylation of the peroxidatic cysteines, C201 and C208. Here, using as a starting point the crystal structures of human MGL (hMGL), we present evidence from molecular dynamics and metadynamics simulations along with high-resolution mass spectrometry studies indicating that sulfenylation of C201 and C208 alters the conformational equilibrium of the membrane-associated lid domain of MGL to favour closed conformations of the enzyme that do not permit the entry of substrate into the active site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Scalvini
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Federica Vacondio
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Michele Bassi
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Pala
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivara
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
| | - Kwang-Mook Jung
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States
| | - Daniele Piomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States.,Unit of Drug Discovery and Development, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, I-16163, Genova, Italy
| | - Marco Mor
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Parma, I-43124 Parma, Italy
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49
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Tognolini M, Lodola A. Targeting the Eph-ephrin System with Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Inhibitors. Curr Drug Targets 2016; 16:1048-56. [PMID: 26302794 DOI: 10.2174/1389450116666150825144457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Eph-ephrin system is emerging as a new potential target in several diseases including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation. In the last decade, several efforts have been made to develop small molecule antagonists of Eph receptors. Both natural and synthetic compounds were discovered with (poly) phenol and steroidal derivatives on one side and the α1 agonist doxazosin, 2,5-dimethylpyrrol- 1-yl-benzoic acids and amino acid conjugates of lithocholic acid on the other. In the present paper we critically present available data for these compounds and discuss their potential usefulness as pharmacological tools or as candidates for a lead-optimization program.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alessio Lodola
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Universita di Parma, Viale delle Scienze 27/a, 43124 Parma, Italia.
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50
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Tarozzi A, Marchetti C, Nicolini B, D'Amico M, Ticchi N, Pruccoli L, Tumiatti V, Simoni E, Lodola A, Mor M, Milelli A, Minarini A. Combined inhibition of the EGFR/AKT pathways by a novel conjugate of quinazoline with isothiocyanate. Eur J Med Chem 2016; 117:283-91. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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