Michael Prakesch

Advances in Solution- and Solid-Phase Synthesis toward the Generation of Natural Product-like Libraries

Chemical Reviews is published by the American Chemical Society. 1155 Sixteenth Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036 Review Advances in Solutionand Solid-Phase Synthesis toward the Generation of Natural Product-like Libraries Jyoti P. Nandy, Michael Prakesch, Shahriar Khadem, P. Thirupathi Reddy, Utpal Sharma, and Prabhat Arya Chem. Rev., 2009, 109 (5), 1999-2060• Publication Date (Web): 27 February 2009 Downloaded from http://pubs.acs.org on May 13, 2009

Small Molecule Kinase Inhibitor Screen Identifies Polo-Like Kinase 1 as a Target for Neuroblastoma Tumor-Initiating Cells

Neuroblastoma (NB) is an often fatal pediatric tumor of neural crest origin. We previously isolated NB tumor-initiating cells (NB TIC) from bone marrow metastases that resemble cancer stem cells and form metastatic NB in immunodeficient animals with as few as ten cells. To identify signaling pathways important for the survival and self-renewal of NB TICs and potential therapeutic targets, we screened a small molecule library of 143 protein kinase inhibitors, including 33 in clinical trials. Cytostatic or cytotoxic drugs were identified that targeted PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase)/Akt, PKC (protein kinase C), Aurora, ErbB2, Trk, and Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1). Treatment with PLK1 siRNA or low nanomolar concentrations of BI 2536 or BI 6727, PLK1 inhibitors in clinical trials for adult malignancies, were cytotoxic to TICs whereas only micromolar concentrations of the inhibitors were cytotoxic for normal pediatric neural stem cells. Furthermore, BI 2536 significantly inhibited TIC tumor growth in a therapeutic xenograft model, both as a single agent and in combination with irinotecan, an active agent for relapsed NB. Our findings identify candidate kinases that regulate TIC growth and survival and suggest that PLK1 inhibitors are an attractive candidate therapy for metastatic NB.

Structure and mechanism of action of the hydroxy-aryl-aldehyde class of IRE1 endoribonuclease inhibitors.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress activates the unfolded protein response and its dysfunction is linked to multiple diseases. The stress transducer IRE1α is a transmembrane kinase endoribonuclease (RNase) that cleaves mRNA substrates to re-establish ER homeostasis. Aromatic ring systems containing hydroxy-aldehyde moieties, termed hydroxy aryl aldehydes (HAA), selectively inhibit IRE1α RNase and thus represent a novel chemical series for therapeutic development. We solved crystal structures of murine IRE1α in complex with three HAA inhibitors. HAA inhibitors engage a shallow pocket at the RNase active site through pi-stacking interactions with His910 and Phe889, an essential Schiff base with Lys907 and a H-bond with Tyr892. Structure activity studies and mutational analysis of contact residues define the optimal chemical space of inhibitors and validate the inhibitor binding site. These studies lay the foundation for understanding both the biochemical and cellular functions of IRE1α using small molecule inhibitors and suggest new avenues for inhibitor design.

The discovery of small molecule chemical probes of Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-1.

A tetrahydroaminoquinoline-based library was generated with the goals of finding small molecule modulators of protein-protein interactions. Several library members as well as other related intermediates were tested for their ability to bind to Bcl-X(L) and Mcl-1 by in silico and (15)N NMR studies. The NMR study led to the identification of the tetrahydroaminoquinoline-based nude scaffold, 7 as a weak binder (K(d)=200 microM for Bcl-X(L) and K(d)=300 microM for Mcl-1) to both proteins. Using this scaffold as the starting material, we then synthesized a focused library of only 9 derivatives by applying the principles of a fragment-based approach. All these derivatives were then tested by NMR and this led to the discovery of a novel, small molecule (MIPRALDEN, 17) as a binder to Mcl-1 and Bcl-X(L) (K(D)=25 and 70 microM). This finding is novel because to our knowledge there are not many small molecules known in the literature that bind to Mcl-1.

Use of Kinase Inhibitors to Correct ΔF508-CFTR Function

The most common mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF) is a deletion of Phe at position 508 (ΔF508-CFTR). ΔF508-CFTR is a trafficking mutant that is retained in the ER, unable to reach the plasma membrane. To identify compounds and drugs that rescue this trafficking defect, we screened a kinase inhibitor library enriched for small molecules already in the clinic or in clinical trials for the treatment of cancer and inflammation, using our recently developed high-content screen technology (Trzcinska-Daneluti et al. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 8:780, 2009). The top hits of the screen were further validated by (1) biochemical analysis to demonstrate the presence of mature (Band C) ΔF508-CFTR, (2) flow cytometry to reveal the presence of ΔF508-CFTR at the cell surface, (3) short-circuit current (Isc) analysis in Ussing chambers to show restoration of function of the rescued ΔF508-CFTR in epithelial MDCK cells stably expressing this mutant (including EC50 determinations), and importantly (4) Isc analysis of Human Bronchial Epithelial (HBE) cells harvested from homozygote ΔF508-CFTR transplant patients. Interestingly, several inhibitors of receptor Tyr kinases (RTKs), such as SU5402 and SU6668 (which target FGFRs, VEGFR, and PDGFR) exhibited strong rescue of ΔF508-CFTR, as did several inhibitors of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK or p38 pathways (e.g. (5Z)-7-oxozeaenol). Prominent rescue was also observed by inhibitors of GSK-3β (e.g. GSK-3β Inhibitor II and Kenpaullone). These results identify several kinase inhibitors that can rescue ΔF508-CFTR to various degrees, and suggest that use of compounds or drugs already in the clinic or in clinical trials for other diseases can expedite delivery of treatment for CF patients.

Discovery of indoline-based, natural-product-like compounds as probes of focal adhesion kinase signaling pathways.

With the goal of identifying small molecule modulators of protein-protein interactions, we developed a solid-phase synthesis method, which was then successfully utilized in a library generation of 164 aminoindoline-derived, natural-product-like compounds. This library and several other related intermediates synthesized during this project were then subjected to different biological assays in search of small molecule modulators of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-mediated signaling pathways. This study included (i) an in vitro, full length FAK inhibition assay, (ii) a cell proliferation assay, and (iii) a wound healing assay. In FAK inhibition assay, eight library members (5-12) and three aminoindoline derivatives (13, 14, and 2) were identified as promising candidates. Compounds 13 and 2 inhibited the FAK activity by 25-45% at 10 microM. These two lead compounds also showed activity in a wound healing assay. To our knowledge, these aminoindoline-derived small molecules belong to a new family of FAK inhibitors.

Size reduction of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots by a peptidic amyloid supergelator.

Anchoring of a self-assembling dipeptide on the surface of core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots resulted in a competition between coordination of the surface atoms of the QDs and the strong tendency for the dipeptide to self-assemble in toluene. This resulted in a mild QD etching and in a corresponding increase in the band gap of the nanocrystals whose photoluminescent emission gradually turns blue with time. The FmocLeuLeuOH dipeptide supergelator self-assembles in fibrils in which the Fmoc groups are surrounded by the pendant isobutyl side chains of the leucine residues with vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and liquid- and solid-state NMR attributes of twist anti-parallel β-sheets.

Building skeletally diverse architectures on the Indoline Scaffold: the discovery of a chemical probe of focal adhesion kinase signaling networks.

Inspired by bioactive indoline alkaloid natural products, here, we report a divergent synthesis approach that led to skeletally diverse indoline alkaloid-inspired compounds. The natural product-inspired compounds obtained were then subjected to a series of in vitro and cellular assays to examine their properties as modulators of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity. This study resulted in the identification of a promising lead inhibitor of FAK (42), which also showed activity in a wound healing and cell invasion assay. The in silico study of the lead compound (42) was also undertaken.

Reagent-based, modular, tandem Michael approach for obtaining different indoline alkaloid-inspired polycyclic architectures.

A modular, reagent-based approach to obtain different indoline alkaloid-inspired, tetracyclic architectures is developed. With the use of TBSOTf as a Lewis acid, we report here a tandem Michael-based approach that led to the synthesis of a diastereomeric mixture of tetracyclic derivatives with two additional six-membered rings. By simply changing the Lewis acid to TMSOTf, we were able to obtain a different tetracyclic compound having additional functionalized 5- and 7-membered rings with complete stereocontrol.

Abstract 4989: Selective inhibitors of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 kinase domain

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) is a key player in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions. IRE1 is a highly conserved ER-membrane protein activated by the unfolded protein response (UPR) or other ER-stressors, such as hypoxia and glucose deprivation. Stress causes IRE1 to undergo oligomerization and autophosphorylation, which triggers nonconventional splicing of XBP-1 mRNA by its cytosolic endonuclease domain. The resulting spliced XBP-1 protein (XBP-1s) is a transcription factor that serves to increase the protein folding capacity and ultimately restore homeostasis of the ER. Thus, sustained IRE1 activity promotes cell survival and inhibition of IRE1 may be a potential therapeutic target for diseases associated with chronic ER-stress, such as neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes, and cancer. Proper RNase function of IRE1 is dependent upon autophosphorylation of the kinase domain. We therefore screened a library of 380 known kinase inhibitors, consisting of tool compounds and compounds already in clinical use, for those with activity against the human IRE1 kinase domain. As a result, a number of compounds were found that potently inhibit phosphorylation of a biotin-STK peptide substrate in the presence of human IRE1 (IC50 < 1 μM), as determined by HTRF (homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence). The lead compounds were then screened in cell-based assays. Several ATP-mimetic compounds with diverse chemotypes were found to inhibit expression of XBP-1s in human cancer cells under pharmacologically-induced acute ER-stress. Furthermore, transcriptional targets of XBP-1s and phosphorylation of IRE1 were also negatively affected by these compounds. Interestingly one compound in particular, a known ROCK1 (Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1) inhibitor (OICR000287A), was significantly more toxic to cells under acute ER-stress than to unstressed cells. This study suggests that development of ATP-competitive inhibitors of human IRE1 is a promising therapeutic strategy for ER-stress related diseases including myeloma, pancreatic and other secretory cancers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4989. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4989