Nakjeong Kim

Identification of a novel antiangiogenic agent; 4-(N-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)amino benzopyran analogues

A series of 4-(N-imidazol-2-ylmethyl)aminobenzopyran analogues, originally designed as K(ATP) openers for ischemic diseases, showed antiangiogenic properties through the inhibition of HUVEC tube formation. Especially one of p-Cl substituted analogues (4c) completely inhibited HUVEC tube formation at 10 microM. The compound 4c significantly inhibited tumor growth by 52% on A549 (human non small cell lung carcinoma) in nude mice xenografts without any significant side effects.

In silico identification of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 inhibitors and their chemosensitizing effects against cisplatin-resistant human gastric cancer cells

Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) enzyme is involved in the repair of DNA damages made by certain anticancer agents. It is suggested that PARP-1 inhibitors potentiate the cytotoxic effects and circumvent the resistance of DNA-modifying anticancer agents such as cisplatin. In this study, we conducted virtual screening of Korea Chemical Bank database targeting PARP-1 and identified several potent PARP-1 inhibitors with submicromolar IC50 values (77-79 nM). We then examined the chemosensitization of cisplatin by pre-treatment of PARP-1 inhibitors in cisplatin-resistant human gastric cancer cells. Our results show that PARP-1 inhibitors suppress the formation of poly(ADP-ribose) and enhance the cytotoxicity of cisplatin.

Synthesis and SAR investigations of novel 2-arylbenzimidazole derivatives as melanin-concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCH-R1) antagonists

Compounds containing 2-arybenzimidazole ring systems linked to arylpiperidines were synthesized and evaluated as MCH-R1 antagonists. The results of structure-activity relationship studies led to the identification of compound 4c as a potent MCH-R1 antagonist (IC(50)=1 nM). This compound also has good metabolic stability, and favorable pharmacokinetic and brain penetration properties. However 4c was found to be potent inhibitor of the hERG potassium channel.

Discovery of non-LBD inhibitor for androgen receptor by structure-guide design.

In this study, we synthesized the BF-3 binding small molecules, a series of pyridazinone-based compounds, as a novel class of non-LBP antiandrogens for treating prostate cancer by inhibiting androgen receptor. The new class compound was discovered to inhibitor the viability of AR-dependent human prostate LNCap cells and AR activity combining with the computational method. It showed a good physicochemical and PK property.