| 1. |
- Begnini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Cell Permeability of Isomeric Macrocycles : Predictions and NMR Studies
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-5875. ; 12:6, s. 983-990
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conformation-dependent 3D descriptors have been shown to provide better predictions of the physicochemical properties of macrocycles than 2D descriptors. However, the computational identification of relevant conformations for macrocycles is nontrivial. Herein, we report that the Caco- 2 cell permeability difference between a pair of diastereomeric macrocycles correlated with their solvent accessible 3D polar surface area and radius of gyration. The descriptors were calculated from the macrocycles’ solution- phase conformational ensembles and independently from ensembles obtained by conformational sampling. Calculation of the two descriptors for three other stereo- and regioisomeric macrocycles also allowed the correct ranking of their cell permeability. Methods for conformational sampling may thus allow ranking of passive permeability for moderatelyflexible macrocycles, thereby contributing to the prioritization of macro- cycles for synthesis in lead optimization.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Begnini, Fabio
(författare)
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Discovery of Novel Macrocyclic Ligands for Difficult Targets : Applications to Natural Product Derived Keap1 Inhibitors
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The development of small-molecule ligands for biological targets that possess large, featureless or highly polar binding sites is a challenging task. This thesis is focused on a novel lead generation strategy to identify macrocyclic ligands for difficult-to-drug targets, as well as on the relationship between cell permeability and the conformations of macrocycles.A database of natural products was investigated to compile a set of macrocyclic cores to be used for in silico screening on difficult-to-drug targets. Docking of this set on Keap1, a target considered challenging due to its large and polar binding site, identified the core of the natural product cyclothialidine as a starting point for lead generation. Synthesis and evaluation of a small number of analogues provided a novel macrocyclic Keap1 inhibitor with potency in the low micromolar range that displayed cellular activity. Investigation of the structure-activity relationship of the lead inhibitor identified two positions amenable for optimization. In silico libraries were constructed at both positions using structure-based design to improve the affinity for Keap1. Subsequent synthesis of approximately 100 compounds led to an optimized lead series with potency in the low nanomolar range, providing a 100-fold improvement from the starting point. Additionally, the difference in passive cell permeability for a pair of diastereoisomeric macrocycles was rationalized on the basis of differences in their solution-phase conformations, that were determined by NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, for two sets of moderately flexible isomeric macrocycles, it was shown that the molecular descriptors predicted from conformational sampling correlated with cell permeability. This method may find use for prioritization of macrocycles prior to embarking on demanding synthetic routes.
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| 4. |
- Begnini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Importance of Binding Site Hydration and Flexibility Revealed When Optimizing a Macrocyclic Inhibitor of the Keap1-Nrf2 Protein-Protein Interaction
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 65:4, s. 3473-3517
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Upregulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 by inhibition of the interaction with its negative regulator Keap1 constitutes an opportunity for the treatment of disease caused by oxidative stress. We report a structurally unique series of nanomolar Keap1 inhibitors obtained from a natural product-derived macrocyclic lead. Initial exploration of the structure-derived macrocyclic lead. Initial exploration of the structure-activity relationship of the lead, followed by structure-guided optimization, resulted in a 100-fold improvement in inhibitory potency. The macrocyclic core of the nanomolar inhibitors positions three pharmacophore units for productive interactions with key residues of Keap1, including R415, R483, and Y572. Ligand optimization resulted in the displacement of a coordinated water molecule from the Keap1 binding site and a significantly altered thermodynamic profile. In addition, minor reorganizations of R415 and R483 were accompanied by major differences in affinity between ligands. This study therefore indicates the importance of accounting both for the hydration and flexibility of the Keap1 binding site when designing high-affinity ligands.
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| 5. |
- Begnini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Mining Natural Products for Macrocycles to Drug Difficult Targets
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0022-2623 .- 1520-4804. ; 64:2, s. 1054-1072
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lead generation for difficult-to-drug targets that have large, featureless, and highly lipophilic or highly polar and/or flexible binding sites is highly challenging. Here, we describe how cores of macrocyclic natural products can serve as a high-quality in silico screening library that provides leads for difficult-to-drug targets. Two iterative rounds of docking of a carefully selected set of natural-product-derived cores led to the discovery of an uncharged macrocyclic inhibitor of the Keap1-Nrf2 protein- protein interaction, a particularly challenging target due to its highly polar binding site. The inhibitor displays cellular efficacy and is well-positioned for further optimization based on the structure of its complex with Keapl and synthetic access. We believe that our work will spur interest in using macrocyclic cores for in silico-based lead generation and also inspire the design of future macrocycle screening collections.
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| 6. |
- Begnini, Fabio, et al.
(författare)
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Structure-based optimization of a macrocyclic inhibitor of the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Activation of the transcription factor Nrf2 by inhibition of the interaction with its negative regulator Keap1 constitutes a potential opportunity for the treatment of oxidative stress related disease. Although highly potent inhibitors of the Keap1–Nrf2 protein-protein interaction (PPI) have been reported, these compounds are based on a few reoccurring scaffolds. Here, we report a novel, structurally unique series of double-digit nM Keap1 inhibitors obtained by optimization of a natural product-derived macrocyclic lead. Exploration of the structure-activity relationship, followed by structure-based design led to a 100-fold improvement in inhibitory potency compared to the starting point. The macrocyclic core positions the pharmacophores of the inhibitors suitably for productive interactions with key residues of Keap1, including R415 and R483; both of which contribute to the highly polar nature of the binding site for Nrf2. In addition, we discovered that minor, ligand-induced reorganizations of these two arginine residues are accompanied by major differences in binding affinity between compounds in the series.
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| 7. |
- Rainoldi, Giulia, et al.
(författare)
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Sequential Multicomponent Strategy for the Diastereoselective Synthesis of Densely Functionalized Spirooxindole-Fused Thiazolidines
- 2018
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Ingår i: ACS COMBINATORIAL SCIENCE. - : AMER CHEMICAL SOC. - 2156-8952 .- 2156-8944. ; 20:2, s. 98-105
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We developed two Ugi-type three-component reactions of spirooxindole-fused 3-thiazolines, isocyanides, and either carboxylic acids or trimethylsilyl azide, to give highly functionalized spirooxindole-fused thiazolidines. Two diverse libraries were generated using practical and robust procedures affording the products in typically good yields. The obtained thiazolidines proved to be suitable substrates for further transformations. Notably, both the Ugi-Joullie and the azido-Ugi reactions resulted highly diastereoselective, affording predominantly the trans-configured products, as confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.
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| 8. |
- Tyagi, Mohit, et al.
(författare)
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Drug Syntheses Beyond the Rule of 5
- 2020
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Ingår i: Chemistry - A European Journal. - : Wiley. - 0947-6539 .- 1521-3765. ; 26:1, s. 49-88
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Drugs in the chemical space beyond the rule of 5 (bRo5) can modulate targets with difficult binding sites while retaining cell permeability and oral absorption. Reviewing the syntheses of bRo5 drugs approved since 1990 highlights synthetic chemistry's contribution to drug discovery in this space. Initially, bRo5 drugs were mainly natural products and semi-synthetic derivatives. Later, peptidomimetics and de novo designed compounds, that include up to seven chiral centres and macrocyclic rings became dominant. These drugs are prepared by total synthesis, sometimes by routes of more than 25 steps with stereocentres originating from the chiral pool, or being installed by chiral induction or enzymatic resolution. Interestingly, ring-closing metathesis proved to be the method of choice for macrocyclisation in hepatitis C virus protease inhibitors. We conclude that structural simplification, planning of synthetic routes regarding incorporation of stereocentres and macrocyclisation, as well as incorporation of structural knowledge and consideration of chameleonic properties in design, should facilitate drug discovery in bRo5 space.
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