Omar Moukha-Chafiq

Synthesis and biological activity of some 4-substituted 1-[1-(2,3-dihydroxy-1-propoxy)methyl-1,2,3-triazol-(4 & 5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines

Cycloaddition of 7a, b with 6 gave, after separation and deprotection, two regioisomers 10a, b and 11a, b. The deprotected acyclic nucleoside 10a used as the precursor for the preparation of 4-amino (12), 4-methylamino (13), 4-benzylamino (14), 4-methoxy (15) and 4-hydroxy (16) analogues. All acyclic nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against HIV-1(IIIB), HIV-2(ROD) in MT-4 cells, for their anti-tumor activity and for their inhibitory effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. No marked activity was found.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of some 4-substituted 1-[1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1,2,3-triazol-(4 &5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo- 13,4-dipyrimidines.

The synthesis of 1-[1-(4-hydroxybutyl)-1,2,3-triazol-(4 and 5)-ylmethyl] -1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 11a,b, 12a,b and 13–17 as carboacyclic nucleosides is described. The compounds 8a,b were condensed, separately, with compound 7 via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to afford, after separation and deprotection, 1,4-regioisomers 11a,b and 1,5-regioisomers 12a,b. The deprotected carboacyclic nucleosides 11a served as precursor for the preparation of 4-amino 13, 4-methylamino 14, 4-benzylamino 15, 4-methoxy 16 and 4-hydroxy 17 analogues. All deprotected carboacyclic nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1(IIIB), HIV-2(ROD), various DNA viruses, a variety of tumor-cell lines and tuberculosis. No marked biological activity was found.

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF 4-SUBSTITUTED 1-[1-(2-HYDROXYETHOXY)- METHYL-1,2,3-TRIAZOL-(4 & 5)-YLMETHYL]-1H-PYRAZOLO[3,4-d]PYRIMIDINES

The chemical synthesis of some 4-substituted 1-[1-(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl-1,2,3-triazol-(4 and 5)-ylmethyl]-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 12a,b, 13a,b and 14–23 as acyclic nucleosides is described. Treatment of (2-acetoxyethoxy)methylbromide with sodium azide afforded (2-acetoxyethoxy)methylazide 9. The heterocycles 6a,b were alkylated, separately, with propargyl bromide to obtain, regioselectively, 4-(methyl and benzyl)thio-1-(prop-2-ynyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 7a,b. These N1-alkylated products were condensed with compound 9 via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to obtain, after separation and deprotection, 1,4 and 1,5-regioisomers 12a,b and 13a,b. The deprotected acyclic nucleosides 12a and 13a served as precursors for the preparation of 4-amino (14 and 15), 4-methylamino (16 and 17), 4-benzylamino (18 and 19), 4-methoxy (20 and 21) and 4-hydroxy (22 and 23) analogues. Compounds 7a,b and all deprotected acyclic nucleosides were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1(IIIB) and HIV-2(ROD) in MT-4 cells and for their anti-tumor activity. No marked activity was found. However, initial evaluation of 6a,b, 7a,b, 12a,b, 13a,b and 14–23 showed that compound 7b has marked activity against M. tuberculosis.

Unique Functional and Structural Properties of the LRRK2 Protein ATP-binding Pocket

Background: LRRK2 kinase activity is linked to neurodegeneration. Results: Novel small molecule inhibitors provide insight into the structure and function of the LRRK2 kinase domain. Conclusion: A unique ATP-binding pocket structure in LRRK2 allows for potent and specific activity-selective and mutant-selective small molecules. Significance: Novel structure-activity relationships can be exploited for the development of new classes of kinase inhibitors. Pathogenic mutations in the LRRK2 gene can cause late-onset Parkinson disease. The most common mutation, G2019S, resides in the kinase domain and enhances activity. LRRK2 possesses the unique property of cis-autophosphorylation of its own GTPase domain. Because high-resolution structures of the human LRRK2 kinase domain are not available, we used novel high-throughput assays that measured both cis-autophosphorylation and trans-peptide phosphorylation to probe the ATP-binding pocket. We disclose hundreds of commercially available activity-selective LRRK2 kinase inhibitors. Some compounds inhibit cis-autophosphorylation more strongly than trans-peptide phosphorylation, and other compounds inhibit G2019S-LRRK2 more strongly than WT-LRRK2. Through exploitation of structure-activity relationships revealed through high-throughput analyses, we identified a useful probe inhibitor, SRI-29132 (11). SRI-29132 is exquisitely selective for LRRK2 kinase activity and is effective in attenuating proinflammatory responses in macrophages and rescuing neurite retraction phenotypes in neurons. Furthermore, the compound demonstrates excellent potency, is highly blood-brain barrier-permeant, but suffers from rapid first-pass metabolism. Despite the observed selectivity of SRI-29132, docking models highlighted critical interactions with residues conserved in many protein kinases, implying a unique structural configuration for the LRRK2 ATP-binding pocket. Although the human LRRK2 kinase domain is unstable and insoluble, we demonstrate that the LRRK2 homolog from ameba can be mutated to approximate some aspects of the human LRRK2 ATP-binding pocket. Our results provide a rich resource for LRRK2 small molecule inhibitor development. More broadly, our results provide a precedent for the functional interrogation of ATP-binding pockets when traditional approaches to ascertain structure prove difficult.

Studies of the Biogenic Amine Transporters. 15. Identification of Novel Allosteric Dopamine Transporter Ligands with Nanomolar Potency

Novel allosteric modulators of the dopamine transporter (DAT) have been identified. We have shown previously that SRI-9804 [N-(diphenylmethyl)-2-phenyl-4-quinazolinamine], SRI-20040 [N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)-2-phenyl-4-quinazolinamine], and SRI-20041 [N-(3,3-diphenylpropyl)-2-phenyl-4-quinazolinamine] partially inhibit [125I]RTI-55 ([125I]3β-(4′-iodophenyl)tropan-2β-carboxylic acid methyl ester) binding and [3H]dopamine ([3H]DA) uptake, slow the dissociation rate of [125I]RTI-55 from the DAT, and allosterically modulate d-amphetamine–induced, DAT-mediated DA release. We synthesized and evaluated the activity of >500 analogs of these ligands and report here on 36 selected compounds. Using synaptosomes prepared from rat caudate, we conducted [3H]DA uptake inhibition assays, DAT binding assays with [3H]WIN35428 ([3H]2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)tropane), and DAT-mediated release assays with either [3H]MPP+ ([3H]1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium) or [3H]DA. We observed three groups of [3H]DA uptake inhibitors: 1) full-efficacy agents with a one-site fit, 2) full-efficacy agents with a two-site fit, and 3) partial-efficacy agents with a one-site fit—the focus of further studies. These agents partially inhibited DA, serotonin, and norepinephrine uptake, yet were much less potent at inhibiting [3H]WIN35428 binding to the DAT. For example, SRI-29574 [N-(2,2-diphenylethyl)-2-(imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-6-yl)quinazolin-4-amine] partially inhibited DAT uptake, with an IC50 = 2.3 ± 0.4 nM, without affecting binding to the DAT. These agents did not alter DAT-mediated release of [3H]MPP+ in the absence or presence of 100 nM d-amphetamine. SRI-29574 had no significant effect on the d-amphetamine EC50 or Emax value for DAT-mediated release of [3H]MPP+. These studies demonstrate the existence of potent DAT ligands that partially block [3H]DA uptake, without affecting DAT binding or d-amphetamine–induced [3H]MPP+ release. These compounds may prove to be useful probes of biogenic amine transporter function as well as novel therapeutics.

SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF SOME ACYCLIC α-(1H-PYRAZOLO[3,4-d]PYRIMIDIN-4-YL)THIOALKYLAMIDE NUCLEOSIDES

ABSTRACT The chemical synthesis of some acyclic α-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)thioalkylamide nucleosides (10–12)a–c is described. The treatment of 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-thione 1 with compounds 2a–c gave, regioselectively, ethyl α-(1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-yl)thioalkylates 3a-c, respectively. These heterocycles were alkylated, separately, with alkylating agents 4, 5 and 6 to give, regioselectively, the N1-acyclic nucleosides (7-9)a-c which were deprotected to afford the desired products (10-12)a-c. All synthetic compounds were characterized on the basis of their physical and spectroscopic properties. The products (10-12)a–c were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of HIV-1 (IIIB), HIV-2 (ROD), various DNA viruses, a variety of tumor-cell lines and M. tuberculosis. No marked biological activity was found.

SYNTHESIS OF SOME ACYCLONUCLEOSIDES α-(PYRAZOLO[3,4-d]PYRIMIDIN-4-YLTHIO)-ALKYLAMIDES

The synthesis of some acyclic α-(pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ylthio)alkylamide nucleosides is described.

Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of Some C2-, C4-, and C6-Substituted Pyrazolo[3,4-D]Pyrimidine Acyclonucleosides with the Alkylating Chains of ACV, HBG, and ISO-DHPG

A useful route to obtain trisubstituted pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines 14–17 is described. Those later were coupled with the alkylating agents 18–20 as in ACV, HBG, and iso-DHPG to give, after deprotection, the desired acylonucleosides 33–44. Almost all of the new compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects against the replication of various DNA viruses in culture.

Identification of quinazoline compounds as novel potent inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer cells.

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is critical for the initiation and progression of most colon cancers, and has emerged as one of the most promising targets for colorectal cancer chemoprevention and treatment. In this study, we have discovered a structurally related series of quinazolines as potent inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colorectal cancer cells harboring mutations in CTNNB1 or APC. We showed that the quinazoline leads suppressed Wnt/β-catenin signaling without altering the level of β-catenin protein in colorectal cancer cells, suggesting that they act on the downstream elements of the pathway. Moreover, the quinazoline leads displayed potent anticancer activities with IC50 values between 4.9 and 17.4 μM in colorectal cancer cells. Importantly, we also found that a structurally related quinazoline lacking inhibitory effect on Wnt/β-catenin signaling was unable to suppress colorectal cancer cell proliferation. Together, these results suggest that the quinazoline lead compounds identified in this study have therapeutic potential for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.

Parallel Solution-Phase Synthesis and General Biological Activity of a Uridine Antibiotic Analog Library

A small library of ninety four uridine antibiotic analogs was synthesized, under the Pilot Scale Library (PSL) Program of the NIH Roadmap initiative, from amine 2 and carboxylic acids 33 and 77 in solution-phase fashion. Diverse aldehyde, sulfonyl chloride, and carboxylic acid reactant sets were condensed to 2, leading after acid-mediated hydrolysis, to the targeted compounds 3–32 in good yields and high purity. Similarly, treatment of 33 with diverse amines and sulfonamides gave 34–75. The coupling of the amino terminus of d-phenylalanine methyl ester to the free 5′-carboxylic acid moiety of 33 followed by sodium hydroxide treatment led to carboxylic acid analog 77. Hydrolysis of this material gave analog 78. The intermediate 77 served as the precursor for the preparation of novel dipeptidyl uridine analogs 79–99 through peptide coupling reactions to diverse amine reactants. None of the described compounds show significant anticancer or antimalarial acivity. A number of samples exhibited a variety of promising inhibitory, agonist, antagonist, or activator properties with enzymes and receptors in primary screens supplied and reported through the NIH MLPCN program.