David J. Lapinsky

Recent developments and applications of clickable photoprobes in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology

Photoaffinity labeling is a well-known biochemical technique that has grown significantly since the turn of the century, principally due to its combination with bioorthogonal/click chemistry reactions. This review highlights new developments and applications of clickable photoprobes in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. In particular, recent examples of clickable photoprobes for target identification, activity- or affinity-based protein profiling (ABPP or AfBPP), characterization of sterol- or lipid-protein interactions and characterization of ligand-binding sites are presented.

Three-Membered Ring Systems

Abstract This report provides an overview of synthetically valuable and intriguing methods that pertain to the reactions and synthesis of three-membered heterocycles, principally epoxides and aziridines.

Azido-iodo-N-benzyl derivatives of threo-methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta): Rational design, synthesis, pharmacological evaluation, and dopamine transporter photoaffinity labeling

In contrast to tropane-based compounds such as benztropine and cocaine, non-tropane-based photoaffinity ligands for the dopamine transporter (DAT) are relatively unexplored. Towards addressing this knowledge gap, ligands were synthesized in which the piperidine nitrogen of 3- and 4-iodomethylphenidate was substituted with a benzyl group bearing a photoreactive azide. Analog (±)-3a demonstrated modest DAT affinity and a radioiodinated version was shown to bind covalently to rat striatal DAT and hDAT expressed in cultured cells. Co-incubation of (±)-3a with nonradioactive d-(+)-methylphenidate or (-)-2-β-carbomethoxy-3-β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane (β-CFT, WIN-35,428, a cocaine analog) blocked DAT labeling. Compound (±)-3a represents the first successful example of a DAT photoaffinity ligand based on the methylphenidate scaffold. Such ligands are expected to assist in mapping non-tropane ligand-binding pockets within plasma membrane monoamine transporters.

A novel photoaffinity ligand for the dopamine transporter based on pyrovalerone.

Non-tropane-based photoaffinity ligands for the dopamine transporter (DAT) are relatively unexplored in contrast to tropane-based compounds such as cocaine. In order to fill this knowledge gap, a ligand was synthesized in which the aromatic ring of pyrovalerone was substituted with a photoreactive azido group. The analog 1-(4-azido-3-iodophenyl)-2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-pentan-1-one demonstrated appreciable binding affinity for the DAT (K(i)=78+/-18 nM), suggesting the potential utility of a radioiodinated version in structure-function studies of this protein.

Novel Azido-Iodo Photoaffinity Ligands for the Human Serotonin Transporter Based on the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (S)-Citalopram

Three photoaffinity ligands (PALs) for the human serotonin transporter (hSERT) were synthesized based on the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), (S)-citalopram (1). The classic 4-azido-3-iodo-phenyl group was appended to either the C-1 or C-5 position of the parent molecule, with variable-length linkers, to generate ligands 15, 22, and 26. These ligands retained high to moderate affinity binding (Ki = 24–227 nM) for hSERT, as assessed by [3H]5-HT transport inhibition. When tested against Ser438Thr hSERT, all three PALs showed dramatic rightward shifts in inhibitory potency, with Ki values ranging from 3.8 to 9.9 μM, consistent with the role of Ser438 as a key residue for high-affinity binding of many SSRIs, including (S)-citalopram. Photoactivation studies demonstrated irreversible adduction to hSERT by all ligands, but the reduced (S)-citalopram inhibition of labeling by [125I]15 compared to that by [125I]22 and [125I]26 suggests differences in binding mode(s). These radioligands will be useful for characterizing the drug–protein binding interactions for (S)-citalopram at hSERT.

Chapter 3 - Three-Membered Ring Systems

Publisher Summary Three-membered ring systems, epoxides and aziridines in particular, are excellent synthetic intermediates. This is largely because of their ability to be converted into other functional groups, such as diols, diamines, and amino alcohols to name a few. While the synthesis of aziridines and epoxides can be quite challenging, the rewards for a selective and high-yielding synthesis can be substantial. Epoxides are possibly the most studied of the three-membered heterocycles. While host methods for the synthesis of epoxides have been developed, work continues, especially in the development of more chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective methods. The development of new metal-based epoxidation catalysts continues to garner significant levels of activity. The use of a Mn-based catalyst with a water-soluble ligand provides excellent yields of the corresponding epoxides. In earlier studies, the use of a hydrazinium salt as a nitrogen transfer agent in combination with base proved to be a synthetically useful method for the synthesis of aziridine. Hydrazinium salt can be readily prepared as either the iodide or nitrate salt, although the iodide synthesis is more convenient.

Appendage and Scaffold Diverse Fully Functionalized Small-Molecule Probes via a Minimalist Terminal Alkyne-Aliphatic Diazirine Isocyanide

This paper highlights a bifunctional isocyanide that contains a photoreactive aliphatic diazirine for protein target capture and a terminal alkyne for click chemistry-based proteomics. Specifically, this isocyanide was employed in five different multicomponent reactions to produce 10 different fully functionalized small-molecule probes (FFSMPs) containing eight different chemical scaffolds. We anticipate this bifunctional isocyanide can be used to create FFSMP libraries of much greater chemical diversity toward identifying compounds with novel mechanisms of action via integrated phenotypic screening and target identification.

Clickable photoaffinity ligands for the human serotonin transporter based on the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (S)-citalopram

To date, the development of photoaffinity ligands targeting the human serotonin transporter (hSERT), a key protein involved in disease states such as depression and anxiety, have been radioisotope-based (i.e., 3H or 125I). This letter instead highlights three derivatives of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) (S)-citalopram that were rationally designed and synthesized to contain a photoreactive benzophenone or an aryl azide for protein target capture via photoaffinity labeling and a terminal alkyne or an aliphatic azide for click chemistry-based proteomics. Specifically, clickable benzophenone-based (S)-citalopram photoprobe 6 (hSERT Ki = 0.16 nM) displayed 11-fold higher binding affinity at hSERT when compared to (S)-citalopram (hSERT Ki = 1.77 nM), and was subsequently shown to successfully undergo tandem photoaffinity labeling-biorthogonal conjugation using purified hSERT. Given clickable photoprobes can be used for various applications depending on which reporter is attached by click chemistry subsequent to photoaffinity labeling, photoprobe 6 is expected to find value in structure-function studies and other research applications involving hSERT (e.g., imaging).