Douglas S. Williamson

Novel adenosine-derived inhibitors of 70 kDa heat shock protein, discovered through structure-based design

The design and synthesis of novel adenosine-derived inhibitors of HSP70, guided by modeling and X-ray crystallographic structures of these compounds in complex with HSC70/BAG-1, is described. Examples exhibited submicromolar affinity for HSP70, were highly selective over HSP90, and some displayed potency against HCT116 cells. Exposure of compound 12 to HCT116 cells caused significant reduction in cellular levels of Raf-1 and Her2 at concentrations similar to that which caused cell growth arrest.

Antagonists of the human adenosine A2A receptor. Part 3 Design and synthesis of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines and 6-arylpurines

A series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine, pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine and 6-arylpurine adenosine A(2A) antagonists is described. Many examples were highly selective against the human A(1) receptor sub-type and were active in an in vivo model of Parkinsons disease.

Adenosine-Derived Inhibitors of 78 kDa Glucose Regulated Protein (Grp78) ATPase: Insights into Isoform Selectivity.

78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78) is a heat shock protein (HSP) involved in protein folding that plays a role in cancer cell proliferation. Binding of adenosine-derived inhibitors to Grp78 was characterized by surface plasmon resonance and isothermal titration calorimetry. The most potent compounds were 13 (VER-155008) with K(D) = 80 nM and 14 with K(D) = 60 nM. X-ray crystal structures of Grp78 bound to ATP, ADPnP, and adenosine derivative 10 revealed differences in the binding site between Grp78 and homologous proteins.

Antagonists of the human adenosine A2A receptor. Part 2: Design and synthesis of 4-arylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine derivatives

We describe herein the discovery and development of a series of 4-arylthieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines which are potent adenosine A(2A) receptor antagonists. These novel compounds show high degrees of selectivity against the human A(1), A(2B) and A(3) receptor sub-types. Moreover, a number of these compounds show promising activity in vivo, suggesting potential utility in the treatment of Parkinsons disease.

Antagonists of the human A(2A) receptor. Part 6: Further optimization of pyrimidine-4-carboxamides

Antagonists of the human A(2A) receptor have been reported to have potential therapeutic benefit in the alleviation of the symptoms associated with neurodegenerative movement disorders such as Parkinsons disease. As part of our efforts to discover potent and selective antagonists of this receptor, we herein describe the detailed optimization and structure-activity relationships of a series of pyrimidine-4-carboxamides. These optimized derivatives display desirable physiochemical and pharmacokinetic profiles, which have led to promising oral activity in clinically relevant models of Parkinsons disease.

Selective LRRK2 kinase inhibition reduces phosphorylation of endogenous Rab10 and Rab12 in human peripheral mononuclear blood cells

Genetic variation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene is associated with risk of familial and sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). To support clinical development of LRRK2 inhibitors as disease-modifying treatment in PD biomarkers for kinase activity, target engagement and kinase inhibition are prerequisite tools. In a combined proteomics and phosphoproteomics study on human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) treated with the LRRK2 inhibitor Lu AF58786 a number of putative biomarkers were identified. Among the phospho-site hits were known LRRK2 sites as well as two phospho-sites on human Rab10 and Rab12. LRRK2 dependent phosphorylation of human Rab10 and human Rab12 at positions Thr73 and Ser106, respectively, was confirmed in HEK293 and, more importantly, Rab10-pThr73 inhibition was validated in immune stimulated human PBMCs using two distinct LRRK2 inhibitors. In addition, in non-stimulated human PBMCs acute inhibition of LRRK2 with two distinct LRRK2 inhibitor compounds reduced Rab10-Thr73 phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner with apparent IC50’s equivalent to IC50’s on LRRK2-pSer935. The identification of Rab10 phosphorylated at Thr73 as a LRRK2 inhibition marker in human PBMCs strongly support inclusion of assays quantifying Rab10-pThr73 levels in upcoming clinical trials evaluating LRRK2 kinase inhibition as a disease-modifying treatment principle in PD.

Transient treatment with CDK inhibitors eliminates proliferative potential even when their abilities to evoke apoptosis and DNA damage are blocked

Transient treatment with small molecule CDK inhibitors is toxic to cancer cells and leads to depletion of anti-apoptotic proteins and Chk1, coupled with DNA damage and induction of apoptosis. Here we have examined, which of these phenomena are necessary for CDK inhibitors to have an anti-proliferative effect. We find that 24 hours treatment with either a primarily CDK2-specific, or a primarily CDK7/9-specific, antagonist eliminates proliferative potential even if apoptosis is blocked and the tendency of CDK inhibition to result in DNA damage is overcome by expression of recombinant Chk1. Loss of proliferative potential is correlated with irreversible suppression of biomarkers of cell cycle progression. CDK inhibitors dramatically reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins, Mcl-1 and XIAP, but siRNA-mediated suppression of Mcl-1 and XIAP did not induce cell death in the osteosarcoma cells used in this study. Finally, we found that many literature CDK inhibitors do not effectively suppress the CDK/cyclin complexes responsible for cell-cycle progression at the minimum doses required to block proliferation: some are only effective after a substantial delay and may act via inhibition of CDK7.

The synthesis of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoid analogues from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline.

The potent neuroexcitatory activity of kainoid amino acids in the mammalian CNS places new analogues in high demand as tools for neuropharmacological research. A range of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoids has been synthesised in a parallel fashion via mesylate displacement by a number of aromatic and heteroaromatic thiolates upon (2S,3S,4R)-1-benzoyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl-4-methanesulfo nyloxy pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 8, which is obtainable in eight steps from trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline 5.

The synthesis of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoid analogues from trans-4-hydroxy-l-proline

Abstract The potent neuroexcitatory activity of kainoid amino acids in the mammalian CNS places new analogues in high demand as tools for neuropharmacological research. A range of 4-arylsulfanyl-substituted kainoids has been synthesised in a parallel fashion via mesylate displacement by a number of aromatic thiolates upon (2 S ,3 S ,4 R )-1-benzoyl-3-tert-butoxycarbonylmethyl-4-methanesulfonyloxypyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid methyl ester 9 , which is obtainable in eight steps from trans -4-hydroxy- l -proline 5 .

Development of LRRK2 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Linkage and genome-wide association studies have identified a genetic risk locus for late-onset Parkinsons disease in chromosome 12, originally identified as PARK6. The causative gene was identified to code for a large multifunctional protein, LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2). The combined genetic and biochemical evidence supports a hypothesis in which the LRRK2 kinase function is causally involved in the pathogenesis of sporadic and familial forms of PD, and therefore that LRRK2 kinase inhibitors could be useful for treatment. Although LRRK2 has so far not been crystallised, the use of homology modelling and crystallographic surrogates has allowed the optimisation of chemical structures such that compounds of high selectivity with good brain penetration and appropriate pharmacokinetic properties are now available for understanding the biology of LRRK2 in vitro and in vivo. This chapter reviews LRRK2 biology, the structural biology of LRRK2 and gives an overview of inhibitors of LRRK2.