Roy J. Vaz

Characterization of HERG potassium channel inhibition using CoMSiA 3D QSAR and homology modeling approaches

A data set consisting of twenty-two sertindole analogues and ten structurally diverse inhibitors, spanning a wide range in potency, was analyzed using CoMSiA. A homology model of HERG was constructed from the crystal structure of the open MthK potassium channel. A complementary relationship between our CoMSiA and homology models is apparent when the long inhibitor axis is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pore, with the tail region pointed toward the selectivity filter. The key elements of the pharmacophore, the CoMSiA and the homology model are: (1) The hydrophobic feature optimally consists of an aromatic group that is capable of engaging in pi-stacking with a Phe656 side chain. Optionally, a second aromatic or hydrophobic group present in some inhibitors may contact an additional Phe656 side chain. (2) The basic nitrogen appears to undergo a pi-cation interaction with Tyr652. (3) The pore diameter (12A+), and depth of the selectivity loop relative to the intracellular opening, act as constraints on the conformation-dependent inhibitor dimensions.

A crowdsourcing evaluation of the NIH chemical probes.

Between 2004 and 2008, the US National Institutes of Health Molecular Libraries and Imaging initiative pilot phase funded 10 high-throughput screening centers, resulting in the deposition of 691 assays into PubChem and the nomination of 64 chemical probes. We crowdsourced the Molecular Libraries and Imaging initiative output to 11 experts, who expressed medium or high levels of confidence in 48 of these 64 probes.

Characterization of the radical trapping activity of a novel series of cyclic nitrone spin traps.

α-Phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) is a nitrone spin trap, which has shown efficacy in animal models of oxidative stress, including stroke, aging, sepsis, and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. We have prepared a series of novel cyclic variants of PBN and evaluated them for radical trapping activity in vitro. Specifically, their ability to inhibit iron-induced lipid peroxidation in liposomes was assessed, as well as superoxide anion (O) and hydroxyl radical (OH) trapping activity as determined biochemically and using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. All cyclic nitrones tested were much more potent as inhibitors of lipid peroxidation than was PBN. The unsubstituted cyclic variant MDL 101,002 was approximately 8-fold more potent than PBN. An analysis of the analogs of MDL 101,002 revealed a direct correlation of activity with lipophilicity. However, lipophilicity does not solely account for the difference between MDL 101,002 and PBN, inasmuch as the calculated octanol/water partition coefficient for MDL 101,002 is 1.01 as compared to 1.23 for PBN. This indicated the cyclic nitrones are inherently more effective radical traps than PBN in a membrane system. The most active compound was a dichloro analog in the seven-membered ring series (MDL 104,342), which had an IC of 26 μM, which was 550-fold better than that of PBN. The cyclic nitrones were shown to trap OH with MDL 101,002 being 20-25 times more active than PBN as assessed using 2-deoxyribose and p-nitrosodimethylaniline as substrates, respectively. Trapping of OH by MDL 101,002 was also examined by using ESR spectroscopy. When Fentons reagent was used, the OH adduct of MDL 101,002 yielded a six-line spectrum with hyperfine coupling constants distinct from that of PBN. Importantly, the half-life of the adduct was nearly 5 min, while that of PBN is less than 1 min at physiologic pH. MDL 101,002 also trapped the O radical to yield a six-line spectrum with coupling constants very distinct from that of the OH adduct. In mice, the cyclic nitrones ameliorated the damaging effects of oxidative stress induced by ferrous iron injection into brain tissue. Similar protection was not afforded by the lipid peroxidation inhibitor U74006F, thus implicating radical trapping as a unique feature in the prevention of cell injury. Together, the in vivo activity, the stability of the nitroxide adducts, and the ability to distinguish between trapping of OH and O suggest the cyclic nitrones to be ideal reagents for the study of oxidative cell injury.

A novel computational method for comparing vibrational circular dichroism spectra.

A novel method, SimIR/VCD, for comparing experimental and calculated VCD (vibrational circular dichroism) spectra is developed, based on newly defined spectra similarities. With computationally optimized frequency scaling and shifting, a calculated spectrum can be easily identified to match an observed spectrum, which leads to an unbiased molecular chirality assignment. The time-consuming manual band-fitting work is greatly reduced. With (1S)-(-)-alpha-pinene as an example, it demonstrates that the calculated VCD similarity is correlated with VCD spectra matching quality and has enough sensitivity to identify variations in the spectra. The study also compares spectra calculated using different DFT methods and basis sets. Using this method should facilitate the spectra matching, reduce human error and provide a confidence measure in the chiral assignment using VCD spectroscopy.

Discovery of covalent inhibitors for MIF tautomerase via cocrystal structures with phantom hits from virtual screening.

Biochemical and X-ray crystallographic studies confirmed that hydroxyquinoline derivatives identified by virtual screening were actually covalent inhibitors of the MIF tautomerase. Adducts were formed by N-alkylation of the Pro-1 at the catalytic site with a loss of an amino group of the inhibitor.

The challenges of in silico contributions to drug metabolism in lead optimization

Importance of the field: The site of metabolism (SOM) predictions by CYP 3A4 are extremely important during the drug discovery process especially during the lead discovery or library design phases. With the ability to rapidly characterize metabolites from these enzymes, the challenges facing in silico contribution change during the drug optimization phase. Some of the challenges are addressed in this article. Some aspects of the SOM prediction software and methodology are discussed in this opinion article and examples of software utility in overcoming metabolic instability in drug optimization are shown. Areas covered in this review: SOM prediction by various approaches is discussed. Two ways of overcoming metabolic instability, blocking the metabolic softspots and rational modification of the instable molecule to avoid interaction with the CYP pocket, are discussed. The contribution plot in MetaSite and its use are discussed. What the reader will gain: The reader will gain an understanding of possible approaches to either blocking the metabolic softspot or rationally modifying the molecule using MetaSite software or docking approaches. Blocking metabolism using fluorination has risks especially introducing multifluorinated benzene rings in the molecule. Take home message: During the lead optimization phase of drug discovery, when metabolic instability is an issue in a series, in silico approaches can be used to modify the molecule in order to decrease clearance due to metabolism, even that due to CYP3A4.

The synthesis of aminobenzazepinones as anti-phenylalanine dipeptide mimics and their use in nep inhibition

Abstract A general and stereoselective synthesis of 4-aminobenzazepinones is presented. This peptidomimetic structure was used in the preparation of MDL 100,407, a potent inhibitor of NEP.

Fragment screening of inhibitors for MIF tautomerase reveals a cryptic surface binding site.

In the course of a fragment screening campaign by in silico docking followed by X-ray crystallography, a novel binding site for migration inhibitory factor (MIF) inhibitors was demonstrated. The site is formed by rotation of the side-chain of Tyr-36 to reveal a surface binding site in MIF that is hydrophobic and surrounded by aromatic side-chain residues. The crystal structures of two small inhibitors that bind to this site and of a quinolinone inhibitor, that spans the canonical deep pocket near Pro-1 and the new surface binding site, have been solved. These results suggest new opportunities for structure-based design of MIF inhibitors.

Human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene (HERG): A Chemist's Perspective

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the biology, the assay systems, potassium ion channel structure, models for human ether-a-go-go related gene (HERG) blockers, and the applications of these models. With the recent significant labeling or withdrawals of prescription medications, such as terfenadine, astemizole, and grepafloxacin from the marketplace due to their association with QT prolongation, interest in the ion channel HERG has increased. Pharmaceutical companies have launched tremendous efforts across the value chain in order to understand and alleviate compound interactions with this ion channel.

Novel Steroidal Vinyl Fluorides as Inhibitors of Steroid C17(20) Lyase

20-fluoro-17(20)-pregnenolone derivatives were designed as enol mimics of pregnenolone. All of the targeted, novel fluoroolefins were potent inhibitors of C17(20) lyase.