Raymond J. Patch

Identification of Diaryl Ether-Based Ligands for Estrogen-Related Receptor α as Potential Antidiabetic Agents

Estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) is an orphan nuclear receptor that has been functionally implicated in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Herein is described the development of diaryl ether based thiazolidenediones, which function as selective ligands against this receptor. Series optimization provided several potent analogues that inhibit the recruitment of a coactivator peptide fragment in in vitro biochemical assays (IC(50) < 150 nM) and cellular two-hybrid reporter assays against the ligand binding domain (IC(50) = 1-5 μM). A cocrystal structure of the ligand-binding domain of ERRα with lead compound 29 revealed the presence of a covalent interaction between the protein and ligand, which has been shown to be reversible. In diet-induced murine models of obesity and in an overt diabetic rat model, oral administration of 29 normalized insulin and circulating triglyceride levels, improved insulin sensitivity, and was body weight neutral. This provides the first demonstration of functional activities of an ERRα ligand in metabolic animal models.

Crystal structure of the tyrosine kinase domain of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (cFMS) in complex with two inhibitors.

The cFMS proto-oncogene encodes for the colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor, a receptor-tyrosine kinase responsible for the differentiation and maturation of certain macrophages. Upon binding its ligand colony-stimulating factor-1 cFMS autophosphorylates, dimerizes, and induces phosphorylation of downstream targets. We report the novel crystal structure of unphosphorylated cFMS in complex with two members of different classes of drug-like protein kinase inhibitors. cFMS exhibits a typical bi-lobal kinase fold, and its activation loop and DFG motif are found to be in the canonical inactive conformation. Both ATP competitive inhibitors are bound in the active site and demonstrate a binding mode similar to that of STI-571 bound to cABL. The DFG motif is prevented from switching into the catalytically competent conformation through interactions with the inhibitors. Activation of cFMS is also inhibited by the juxtamembrane domain, which interacts with residues of the active site and prevents formation of the activated kinase. Together the structures of cFMS provide further insight into the autoinhibition of receptor-tyrosine kinases via their respective juxtamembrane domains; additionally the binding mode of two novel classes of kinase inhibitors will guide the design of novel molecules targeting macrophage-related diseases.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel 3,4,6-substituted 2-quinolones as FMS kinase inhibitors

A series of 3,4,6-substituted 2-quinolones has been synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of the kinase domain of macrophage colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor (FMS). The fully optimized compound, 4-(4-ethyl-phenyl)-3-(2-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-2-quinolone-6-carbonitrile 21b, has an IC(50) of 2.5 nM in an in vitro assay and 5.0 nM in a bone marrow-derived macrophage cellular assay. Inhibition of FMS signaling in vivo was also demonstrated in a mouse pharmacodynamic model.

NEOPENTYL ESTER PROTECTING GROUPS FOR ARYLSULFONIC ACIDS

Abstract We report that neopentylsulfonate esters are stable to a variety of standard organic reaction conditions and are easily cleaved to sulfonic acids. We also discuss the use of N-Boc-4-amino-2,2-dimethylbutyl-1-sulfonate esters which may be cleaved under conditions that are suitable for solid phase synthesis.

Lipophilic bis-arylsulfonates as inhibitors of the CD4-gp120 interaction

Abstract A series of lipophilic bis-arylsulfonates was synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of the CD4-gp120 interaction. Structure-activity studies suggested a direct relationship between the nature and extent of lipophilicity and inhibitory potency.