Antonella Converso

Development of thioquinazolinones, allosteric Chk1 kinase inhibitors.

A high throughput screening campaign was designed to identify allosteric inhibitors of Chk1 kinase by testing compounds at high concentration. Activity was then observed at K(m) for ATP and at near-physiological concentrations of ATP. This strategy led to the discovery of a non-ATP competitive thioquinazolinone series which was optimized for potency and stability. An X-ray crystal structure for the complex of our best inhibitor bound to Chk1 was solved, indicating that it binds to an allosteric site approximately 13A from the ATP binding site. Preliminary data is presented for several of these compounds.

Development of a sp2–sp3 Stille Cross-Coupling for Rapid Synthesis of HIV NNRTI Doravirine Analogues

The development of a C(sp2)-C(sp3) cross-coupling reaction for rapid, parallel synthesis of analogues of two HIV NNRTI clinical candidates is described. This method allowed easy access to the C-ring space using a practical alkylation with commercially available tributyl(iodomethyl)stannane followed by a palladium-catalyzed coupling with a variety of aryl halides (I, Br) in the presence of copper chloride. Optimization and scope of this method are reported.

Adenosine analogue inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase.

Elevated plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels are an independent risk factor for the onset and progression of Alzheimers disease. Reduction of Hcy to normal levels therefore presents a new approach for disease modification. Hcy is produced by the cytosolic enzyme S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY), which converts S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) to Hcy and adenosine. Herein we describe the design and characterization of novel, substrate-based S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase inhibitors with low nanomolar potency in vitro and robust activity in vivo.