Cynthia Tallant

Discovery and optimization of small-molecule ligands for the CBP/p300 bromodomains.

Small-molecule inhibitors that target bromodomains outside of the bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) sub-family are lacking. Here, we describe highly potent and selective ligands for the bromodomain module of the human lysine acetyl transferase CBP/p300, developed from a series of 5-isoxazolyl-benzimidazoles. Our starting point was a fragment hit, which was optimized into a more potent and selective lead using parallel synthesis employing Suzuki couplings, benzimidazole-forming reactions, and reductive aminations. The selectivity of the lead compound against other bromodomain family members was investigated using a thermal stability assay, which revealed some inhibition of the structurally related BET family members. To address the BET selectivity issue, X-ray crystal structures of the lead compound bound to the CREB binding protein (CBP) and the first bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4(1)) were used to guide the design of more selective compounds. The crystal structures obtained revealed two distinct binding modes. By varying the aryl substitution pattern and developing conformationally constrained analogues, selectivity for CBP over BRD4(1) was increased. The optimized compound is highly potent (Kd = 21 nM) and selective, displaying 40-fold selectivity over BRD4(1). Cellular activity was demonstrated using fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP) and a p53 reporter assay. The optimized compounds are cell-active and have nanomolar affinity for CBP/p300; therefore, they should be useful in studies investigating the biological roles of CBP and p300 and to validate the CBP and p300 bromodomains as therapeutic targets.

CBP30, a selective CBP/p300 bromodomain inhibitor, suppresses human Th17 responses

Significance Epigenetic inhibitors have shown considerable promise for the treatment of malignant and inflammatory diseases. We present here the detailed characterization of a potent and highly selective inhibitor of the bromodomains of CBP (CREB binding protein)/p300. Functional preclinical data studying cells derived from patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis (two human Th17-driven diseases) show that selective inhibition of the CBP/p300 bromodomain with CBP30 strongly reduces secretion of IL-17A, without having the broader and potentially deleterious effects on cytokine production and gene transcription of the pan-BET (bromo and extraterminal domain protein family) inhibitor JQ1. CBP/p300 play a significant role in IL-17A production, and CBP/p300 inhibition is a promising therapeutic strategy in human type-17–mediated diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Th17 responses are critical to a variety of human autoimmune diseases, and therapeutic targeting with monoclonal antibodies against IL-17 and IL-23 has shown considerable promise. Here, we report data to support selective bromodomain blockade of the transcriptional coactivators CBP (CREB binding protein) and p300 as an alternative approach to inhibit human Th17 responses. We show that CBP30 has marked molecular specificity for the bromodomains of CBP and p300, compared with 43 other bromodomains. In unbiased cellular testing on a diverse panel of cultured primary human cells, CBP30 reduced immune cell production of IL-17A and other proinflammatory cytokines. CBP30 also inhibited IL-17A secretion by Th17 cells from healthy donors and patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Transcriptional profiling of human T cells after CBP30 treatment showed a much more restricted effect on gene expression than that observed with the pan-BET (bromo and extraterminal domain protein family) bromodomain inhibitor JQ1. This selective targeting of the CBP/p300 bromodomain by CBP30 will potentially lead to fewer side effects than with the broadly acting epigenetic inhibitors currently in clinical trials.

LP99: Discovery and Synthesis of the First Selective BRD7/9 Bromodomain Inhibitor

The bromodomain-containing proteins BRD9 and BRD7 are part of the human SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes BAF and PBAF. To date, no selective inhibitor for BRD7/9 has been reported despite its potential value as a biological tool or as a lead for future therapeutics. The quinolone-fused lactam LP99 is now reported as the first potent and selective inhibitor of the BRD7 and BRD9 bromodomains. Development of LP99 from a fragment hit was expedited through balancing structure-based inhibitor design and biophysical characterization against tractable chemical synthesis: Complexity-building nitro-Mannich/lactamization cascade processes allowed for early structure–activity relationship studies whereas an enantioselective organocatalytic nitro-Mannich reaction enabled the synthesis of the lead scaffold in enantioenriched form and on scale. This epigenetic probe was shown to inhibit the association of BRD7 and BRD9 to acetylated histones in vitro and in cells. Moreover, LP99 was used to demonstrate that BRD7/9 plays a role in regulating pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion.

Discovery and Characterization of GSK2801, a Selective Chemical Probe for the Bromodomains BAZ2A and BAZ2B

Bromodomains are acetyl-lysine specific protein interaction domains that have recently emerged as a new target class for the development of inhibitors that modulate gene transcription. The two closely related bromodomain containing proteins BAZ2A and BAZ2B constitute the central scaffolding protein of the nucleolar remodeling complex (NoRC) that regulates the expression of noncoding RNAs. However, BAZ2 bromodomains have low predicted druggability and so far no selective inhibitors have been published. Here we report the development of GSK2801, a potent, selective and cell active acetyl-lysine competitive inhibitor of BAZ2A and BAZ2B bromodomains as well as the inactive control compound GSK8573. GSK2801 binds to BAZ2 bromodomains with dissociation constants (KD) of 136 and 257 nM for BAZ2B and BAZ2A, respectively. Crystal structures demonstrated a canonical acetyl-lysine competitive binding mode. Cellular activity was demonstrated using fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) monitoring displacement of GFP-BAZ2A from acetylated chromatin. A pharmacokinetic study in mice showed that GSK2801 had reasonable in vivo exposure after oral dosing, with modest clearance and reasonable plasma stability. Thus, GSK2801 represents a versatile tool compound for cellular and in vivo studies to understand the role of BAZ2 bromodomains in chromatin biology.

Structure Enabled Design of BAZ2-ICR, A Chemical Probe Targeting the Bromodomains of BAZ2A and BAZ2B.

The bromodomain containing proteins BAZ2A/B play essential roles in chromatin remodeling and regulation of noncoding RNAs. We present the structure based discovery of a potent, selective, and cell active inhibitor 13 (BAZ2-ICR) of the BAZ2A/B bromodomains through rapid optimization of a weakly potent starting point. A key feature of the presented inhibitors is an intramolecular aromatic stacking interaction that efficiently occupies the shallow bromodomain pockets. 13 represents an excellent chemical probe for functional studies of the BAZ2 bromodomains in vitro and in vivo.

Discovery of a Chemical Tool Inhibitor Targeting the Bromodomains of TRIM24 and BRPF

TRIM24 is a transcriptional regulator as well as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. It is overexpressed in diverse tumors, and high expression levels have been linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. TRIM24 contains a PHD/bromodomain offering the opportunity to develop protein interaction inhibitors that target this protein interaction module. Here we identified potent acetyl-lysine mimetic benzimidazolones TRIM24 bromodomain inhibitors. The best compound of this series is a selective BRPF1B/TRIM24 dual inhibitor that bound with a KD of 137 and 222 nM, respectively, but exerted good selectivity over other bromodomains. Cellular activity of the inhibitor was demonstrated using FRAP assays as well as cell viability data.

Structure-Based Design of an in Vivo Active Selective BRD9 Inhibitor

Components of the chromatin remodelling switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex are recurrently mutated in tumors, suggesting that altering the activity of the complex plays a role in oncogenesis. However, the role that the individual subunits play in this process is not clear. We set out to develop an inhibitor compound targeting the bromodomain of BRD9 in order to evaluate its function within the SWI/SNF complex. Here, we present the discovery and development of a potent and selective BRD9 bromodomain inhibitor series based on a new pyridinone-like scaffold. Crystallographic information on the inhibitors bound to BRD9 guided their development with respect to potency for BRD9 and selectivity against BRD4. These compounds modulate BRD9 bromodomain cellular function and display antitumor activity in an AML xenograft model. Two chemical probes, BI-7273 (1) and BI-9564 (2), were identified that should prove to be useful in further exploring BRD9 bromodomain biology in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

Selective targeting of the BRG/PB1 bromodomains impairs embryonic and trophoblast stem cell maintenance.

PFI-3, a novel inhibitor targeting the bromodomains of essential components of the BAF/PBAF complex, affects the differentiation of ESC and TSC. Mammalian SWI/SNF [also called Brg/Brahma-associated factors (BAFs)] are evolutionarily conserved chromatin-remodeling complexes regulating gene transcription programs during development and stem cell differentiation. BAF complexes contain an ATP (adenosine 5′-triphosphate)–driven remodeling enzyme (either BRG1 or BRM) and multiple protein interaction domains including bromodomains, an evolutionary conserved acetyl lysine–dependent protein interaction motif that recruits transcriptional regulators to acetylated chromatin. We report a potent and cell active protein interaction inhibitor, PFI-3, that selectively binds to essential BAF bromodomains. The high specificity of PFI-3 was achieved on the basis of a novel binding mode of a salicylic acid head group that led to the replacement of water molecules typically maintained in other bromodomain inhibitor complexes. We show that exposure of embryonic stem cells to PFI-3 led to deprivation of stemness and deregulated lineage specification. Furthermore, differentiation of trophoblast stem cells in the presence of PFI-3 was markedly enhanced. The data present a key function of BAF bromodomains in stem cell maintenance and differentiation, introducing a novel versatile chemical probe for studies on acetylation-dependent cellular processes controlled by BAF remodeling complexes.

Design and synthesis of potent and selective inhibitors of BRD7 and BRD9 bromodomains

Emerging evidence suggests bromodomain-containing proteins 7 and 9 (BRD7 and BRD9) have roles in the regulation of human transcription and disease including cancer. We describe potent and selective inhibitors of the BRD7 and BRD9 bromodomains intended for use as tools to elucidate the biological roles of BRD7 and BRD9 in healthy and diseased cells.

Molecular basis of histone tail recognition by human TIP5 PHD finger and bromodomain of the chromatin remodeling complex NoRC.

Summary Binding of the chromatin remodeling complex NoRC to RNA complementary to the rDNA promoter mediates transcriptional repression. TIP5, the largest subunit of NoRC, is involved in recruitment to rDNA by interactions with promoter-bound TTF-I, pRNA, and acetylation of H4K16. TIP5 domains that recognize posttranslational modifications on histones are essential for recruitment of NoRC to chromatin, but how these reader modules recognize site-specific histone tails has remained elusive. Here, we report crystal structures of PHD zinc finger and bromodomains from human TIP5 and BAZ2B in free form and bound to H3 and/or H4 histones. PHD finger functions as an independent structural module in recognizing unmodified H3 histone tails, and the bromodomain prefers H3 and H4 acetylation marks followed by a key basic residue, KacXXR. Further low-resolution analyses of PHD-bromodomain modules provide molecular insights into their trans histone tail recognition, required for nucleosome recruitment and transcriptional repression of the NoRC complex.