Dalal A. Abou El Ella

Molecular modeling study and synthesis of quinazolinone-arylpiperazine derivatives as α1-adrenoreceptor antagonists.

Three series of new 2-[(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl) methyl]quinazolin-4(3H)-ones 4a-c, Ethyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-oxo-3-[2-(4-substituted piperazin-1-yl)acetamido/propanamido]-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-carboxylates 9a-f and their 2-methyl analogues 13a-l were designed and synthesized as promising α1-adrenoceptor antagonists. The final compounds were evaluated for their in vivo hypotensive activity in normotensive cats. The most potent hypotensive quinazolinone derivatives 4b, 9e, 13i, 13j were further tested on isolated thoracic aortic rings of male Wister rats. All the tested compounds displayed α1-blocking activity with IC50 ranging from 0.2 to 0.4 mM less than prazosin. Furthermore, in the present work, molecular modeling study using Accelrys Discovery Studio 2.1 software was performed by mapping the synthesized compounds to the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist hypothesis in order to predict their mechanism of action. Compound 13j which has the best-fitting score displayed the highest in vivo and in vitro activity among the tested compounds.

Amido/ureidosubstituted benzenesulfonamides-isatin conjugates as low nanomolar/subnanomolar inhibitors of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isoform XII

By using a molecular hybridization approach, two series of amido/ureidosubstituted benzenesulfonamides incorporating substituted-isatin moieties were synthesized. The prepared derivatives were in vitro evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) I, II (cytosolic) and IX, XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated) isoforms. All these isoforms were inhibited in variable degrees by the sulfonamides reported here. hCA I was inhibited with KIs in the range of 7.9-894 nM, hCA II in the range of 7.5-1645 nM (with one compound having a KI > 10 μM); hCA IX in the range of 5.0-240 nM, whereas hCA XII in the range of 0.47-2.83 nM. As all these isoforms are involved in various pathologies, in which their inhibition can be exploited therapeutically, the derivatives reported here may represent interesting extensions to the field of CA inhibitors of the sulfonamide type.

Lonazolac analogues: molecular modeling, synthesis, and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity

A novel series of 1,3-diarylpyrazole derivatives (4–8), analogues to lonazolac, were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their anti-inflammatory as well as analgesic activities. To target preferential cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, the design of these compounds was based upon two different molecular modeling studies. The first study included fit-comparison study of conformational models of compounds 4–8 with a novel validated COX-2 inhibitors hypothesis generated from the corresponding leads I–V using Hip-Hop CATALYST software. The second study included docking study of the designed compounds 4–8 with binding site of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes using internal coordinate mechanics (ICM)-Pro software. The reported Akaho method was then used to predict the COX-2 preferentiality of the designed compounds. The designed molecules were synthesized and screened for in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. Compounds 4a, 6a, and 8b showed high activity in comparison with indomethacin, consistent with virtual molecular modeling studies.

1-Piperazinylphthalazines as potential VEGFR-2 inhibitors and anticancer agents: Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation

In our endeavor towards the development of effective VEGFR-2 inhibitors, three novel series of phthalazine derivatives based on 1-piperazinyl-4-arylphthalazine scaffold were synthesized. All the newly prepared phthalazines 16a-k, 18a-e and 21a-g were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activity against VEGFR-2. In particular, compounds 16k and 21d potently inhibited VEGFR-2 at sub-micromolar IC50 values 0.35 ± 0.03 and 0.40 ± 0.04 μM, respectively. Moreover, seventeen selected compounds 16c-e, 16g, 16h, 16j, 16k, 18c-e and 21a-g were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity according to US-NCI protocol, where compounds 16k and 21d proved to be the most potent anticancer agents. While, compound 16k exhibited potent broad spectrum anticancer activity with full panel GI50 (MG-MID) value of 3.62 μM, compound 21d showed high selectivity toward leukemia and prostate cancer subpanels [subpanel GI50 (MG-MID) 3.51 and 5.15 μM, respectively]. Molecular docking of compounds16k and 21d into VEGFR-2 active site was performed to explore their potential binding mode.

Increasing the binding affinity of VEGFR-2 inhibitors by extending their hydrophobic interaction with the active site: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-substituted-4-(4-methoxybenzyl)phthalazine derivatives

A series of anilinophthalazine derivatives 4a-j was initially synthesized and tested for its VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity where it showed promising activity (IC50 = 0.636-5.76 μM). Molecular docking studies guidance was used to improve the binding affinity for series 4a-j towards VEGFR-2 active site. This improvement was achieved by increasing the hydrophobic interaction with the hydrophobic back pocket of the VEGFR-2 active site lined with the hydrophobic side chains of Ile888, Leu889, Ile892, Val898, Val899, Leu1019 and Ile1044. Increasing the hydrophobic interaction was accomplished by extending the anilinophthalazine scaffold with a substituted phenyl moiety through an uriedo linker which should give this extension the flexibility required to accommodate itself deeply into the hydrophobic back pocket. As planned, the designed uriedo-anilinophthalazines 7a-i showed superior binding affinity than their anilinophthalazine parents (IC50 = 0.083-0.473 μM). In particular, compounds 7g-i showed IC50 of 0.086, 0.083 and 0.086 μM, respectively, which are better than that of the reference drug sorafenib (IC50 = 0.09 μM).

ACE inhibitors hypothesis generation for selective design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-mercapto-2-methyl-propanoyl-pyrrolidine-3-imine derivatives as antihypertensive agents

A series of new 3-mercapto-2-methyl-propanoyl-pyrrolidine derivatives (V, VIa-e) were designed. A new validated ACE inhibitors pharmacophore model (hypothesis) was generated for the first time in this research from the biologically active (frozen) conformation of Lisinopril-Human ACE complex that was downloaded from PDB, using stepwise technique of CATALYST modules. The molecular modeling compare-fit study of the designed molecules (V, VIa-e), with such ACE inhibitors hypothesis was fulfilled, and several compounds showed significant high simulation fit values. The compounds with high fit values were synthesized and biologically evaluated in vivo as hypotensive agents. It appears that the in vivo hypotensive activity of compounds V, VIa, VIb, and VIe was consistent with their molecular modeling results, and compound VIe showed the highest activity in comparison to Captopril.

Molecular design and synthesis of HCV inhibitors based on thiazolone scaffold

A series of thiazolone derivatives was designed and synthesized as potential HCV NS5B allosteric polymerase inhibitors at the allosteric site thumb II. Their antiviral activity was evaluated and molecular modeling was utilized to give further envision on their probable binding modes in the allosteric binding site. Among the tested molecules, compound 9b displayed sub-micromolar inhibitory activity with an EC50 of 0.79 μM indicating excellent potency profile. It also showed good safety profile (CC50≥75 μM and SI≥94.3).

Integrated structure-based activity prediction model of benzothiadiazines on various genotypes of HCV NS5b polymerase (1a, 1b and 4) and its application in the discovery of new derivatives

This work presents the first structure-based activity prediction model for benzothiadiazines against various genotypes of HCV NS5b polymerase (1a, 1b and 4).The model is a comprehensive workflow of structure-based field template followed by guided docking. The field template was used as a pre-filter and a tool to provide hits in good orientation and position. It was created based on detailed molecular interaction field analysis which includes Topomer CoMFA, grid independent analysis and Superstar. On the other hand, Guided docking was used as a refinement and assessment tool. It was actively directed by two scores: Moldock score as an interaction descriptor (r(2)=0.65) and a template similarity score as a measure for accurate binding-mode compliance. The docking template was based on energy-based pharmacophore analysis. The whole procedure was formulated and tweaked for both screening (ROC of AUC=0.91) and activity prediction (r(2) of 0.8) for the genotype 1a. In order to widen the model scope, linear interaction energy was used as a tool for predicting activities of other genotypes based on the docked ligand poses while mutation binding energy was used to investigate the effect of each amino acid mutation in genotype 4. The model was applied for structure-based fragment hopping by screening a library designed by reaction enumeration. A top scoring hit was used to generate a focused library such that it has lower TPSA than the original class ligands and thus better pharmacokinetic properties. After that, experimental validation was carried out by the synthesis of this library and its biological evaluation which yielded compounds that exhibit EC(50) ranging from 1.86 to 23 μM.

6-Aryl and heterocycle quinazoline derivatives as potent EGFR inhibitors with improved activity toward gefitinib-sensitive and -resistant tumor cell lines.

A group of novel anilinoquinazoline derivatives with variable aryl and heterocyclic substituents at position 6 were synthesized and tested for their EGFR‐inhibitory activity. Aryl and heterocyclic rings were attached to the quinazoline scaffold through different linkages such as imine, amide, and thiourea. Most of the aryl and heterocyclic derivatives showed potent inhibition of wild‐type EGFR with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range. Among these, thiourea derivatives 6 a, 6 b and compound 10 b also retained significant activity toward the gefitinib‐insensitive EGFRT790M/L858R mutant, displaying up to 24‐fold greater potency than gefitinib. In addition, cell growth inhibitory activity was tested against cancer cell lines with wild‐type (KB cells) and mutant EGFR (H1975 cells). Several compounds including 6 a were found to be more potent than the reference compound gefitinib toward both cell lines, as was the case for compound 10 b against H1975 cells. Therefore, compounds 6 a and 10 b in particular may serve as new leads for the development of inhibitors effective against wild‐type EGFR as well as gefitinib‐resistant mutants.

Computer-Based Ligand Design and Synthesis of Some New Sulfonamides Bearing Pyrrole or Pyrrolopyrimidine Moieties Having Potential Antitumor and Radioprotective Activities

A series of new Pyrrole and pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives ( 5–15 ) was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity. The design of these compounds was based upon the molecular modeling simulation of the fitting values and conformational energy values of the best-fitted conformers to VEGFRTK inhibitors hypothesis. This hypothesis was generated from its corresponding lead compounds using CATALYST software. Some of the newly synthesized compounds 8 , 11 , 12 , and 13 showed interesting cytotoxic activity compared with Doxorubicin as a reference drug. These results are nearly consistent with the molecular modeling studies. Moreover, Compound 7 showed significant radioprotective activity.