Pahk Thepchatri

Neuroprotection by selective allosteric potentiators of the EP2 prostaglandin receptor

Activation of the Gαs-coupled EP2 receptor for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) promotes cell survival in several models of tissue damage. To advance understanding of EP2 functions, we designed experiments to develop allosteric potentiators of this key prostaglandin receptor. Screens of 292,000 compounds identified 93 that at 20 μM (i) potentiated the cAMP response to a low concentration of PGE2 by > 50%; (ii) had no effect on EP4 or β2 adrenergic receptors, the cAMP assay itself, or the parent cell line; and (iii) increased the potency of PGE2 on EP2 receptors at least 3-fold. In aqueous solution, the active compounds are largely present as nanoparticles that appear to serve as active reservoirs for bioactive monomer. From 94 compounds synthesized or purchased, based on the modification of one hit compound, the most active increased the potency of PGE2 on EP2 receptors 4- to 5-fold at 10 to 20 μM and showed substantial neuroprotection in an excitotoxicity model. These small molecules represent previously undescribed allosteric modulators of a PGE2 receptor. Our results strongly reinforce the notion that activation of EP2 receptors by endogenous PGE2 released in a cell-injury setting is neuroprotective.

Systematic Approaches towards the Development of Host-Directed Antiviral Therapeutics

Since the onset of antiviral therapy, viral resistance has compromised the clinical value of small-molecule drugs targeting pathogen components. As intracellular parasites, viruses complete their life cycle by hijacking a multitude of host-factors. Aiming at the latter rather than the pathogen directly, host-directed antiviral therapy has emerged as a concept to counteract evolution of viral resistance and develop broad-spectrum drug classes. This approach is propelled by bioinformatics analysis of genome-wide screens that greatly enhance insights into the complex network of host-pathogen interactions and generate a shortlist of potential gene targets from a multitude of candidates, thus setting the stage for a new era of rational identification of drug targets for host-directed antiviral therapies. With particular emphasis on human immunodeficiency virus and influenza virus, two major human pathogens, we review screens employed to elucidate host-pathogen interactions and discuss the state of database ontology approaches applicable to defining a therapeutic endpoint. The value of this strategy for drug discovery is evaluated, and perspectives for bioinformatics-driven hit identification are outlined.

Discovery of aminoquinolines as a new class of potent inhibitors of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90): Synthesis, biology, and molecular modeling

The molecular chaperone Hsp90 plays important roles in maintaining malignant phenotypes. Recent studies suggest that Hsp90 exerts high-affinity interactions with multiple oncoproteins, which are essential for the growth of tumor cells. As a result, research has focused on finding Hsp90 probes as potential and selective anticancer agents. In a high-throughput screening exercise, we identified quinoline 7 as a moderate inhibitor of Hsp90. Further hit identification, SAR studies, and biological investigation revealed several synthetic analogs in this series with micromolar activities in both fluorescent polarization (FP) assay and a cell-based Western blot (WB) assay. These compounds represent a new class of Hsp90 inhibitors with simple chemical structures.

Synthesis and SAR study of N-(4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxynaphthalene-1-yl)phenyl)-arylsulfonamides: heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitors with submicromolar activity in an in vitro assay.

Heat shock protein 90 is emerging as an important target in cancer chemotherapy. In a program directed toward identifying novel chemical probes for Hsp90, we found N-(4-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxynaphthalene-1-yl)phenyl)benzene sulfonamide as an Hsp90 inhibitor with very weak activity. In this report, we present a new and general method for the synthesis of a variety of analogs around this scaffold, and discuss their structure-activity relationships.

Asymmetric synthesis of host-directed inhibitors of myxoviruses

Summary High-throughput screening (HTS) previously identified benzimidazole 1 (JMN3-003) as a compound with broad antiviral activity against different influenza viruses and paramyxovirus strains. In pursuit of a lead compound from this series for development, we sought to increase both the potency and the aqueous solubility of 1. Lead optimization has achieved compounds with potent antiviral activity against a panel of myxovirus family members (EC50 values in the low nanomolar range) and much improved aqueous solubilities relative to that of 1. Additionally, we have devised a robust synthetic strategy for preparing 1 and congeners in an enantio-enriched fashion, which has allowed us to demonstrate that the (S)-enantiomers are generally 7- to 110-fold more potent than the corresponding (R)-isomers.

Cancer and virus leads by HTS, chemical design and SEA data mining.

A variety of medicinal chemistry approaches can be used for the identification of hits, generation of leads and to accelerate the development of drug candidates. The Emory Chemical and Biology Discovery Center (ECBDC) has been an active participant in the NIHs high-throughput screening (HTS) endeavor to identify potent small molecule probes for poorly studied proteins. Several of Emorys projects relate to cancer or virus infection. We have chosen three successful examples including discovery of potent measles virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitors, development of Heat Shock Protein 90 (Hsp90) blockers and identification of angiogenesis inhibitors using transgenic Zebrafish as a HTS model. In parallel with HTS, a unique component of the Emory virtual screening (VS) effort, namely, substructure enrichment analysis (SEA) program has been utilized in several cases.