Richard Beresis

Molecular modeling aided design of nicotinic acid receptor GPR109A agonists.

A homology model of the nicotinic acid receptor GPR109A was constructed based on the X-ray crystal structure of bovine rhodopsin. An HTS hit was docked into the homology model. Characterization of the binding pocket by a grid-based surface calculation of the docking model suggested that a larger hydrophobic body plus a polar tail would improve interaction between the ligand and the receptor. The designed compounds were synthesized, and showed significantly improved binding affinity and activation of GPR109A.

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists

With an increasingly aging population, the need for effective treatment of cardiovascular diseases (eg, heart failure, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease) cannot be overemphasized. The vital importance of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists for treating cardiovascular conditions has only been appreciated in the last decade. The re-emergence of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists has provided clinicians with an important tool towards complete blockade of the reninangiotensin-aldosterone axis.

Disubstituted pyrimidines as Lck inhibitors

We have developed a family of 4-benzimidazolyl-N-piperazinethyl-pyrimidin-2-amines that are subnanomolar inhibitors of Lck. A subset of these Lck inhibitors, with heterocyclic substituents at the benzimidazole C5, are also low-nanomolar inhibitors of cellular IL2 release.