Shyam Krishnan

Reversible targeting of noncatalytic cysteines with chemically tuned electrophiles

Targeting noncatalytic cysteine residues with irreversible acrylamide-based inhibitors is a powerful approach for enhancing pharmacological potency and selectivity. Nevertheless, concerns about off-target modification motivate the development of reversible cysteine-targeting strategies. Here we show that electron-deficient olefins, including acrylamides, can be tuned to react with cysteine thiols in a rapidly reversible manner. Installation of a nitrile group increased the olefins’ intrinsic reactivity, yet paradoxically eliminated the formation of irreversible adducts. Incorporation of these electrophiles into a noncovalent kinase recognition scaffold produced slowly dissociating, covalent inhibitors of the p90 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, RSK. A cocrystal structure revealed specific noncovalent interactions that stabilize the complex by positioning the electrophilic carbon near the targeted cysteine. Disruption of these interactions by protein unfolding or proteolysis promoted instantaneous cleavage of the covalent bond. Our results establish a chemistry-based framework for engineering sustained covalent inhibition without accumulating permanently modified proteins and peptides.

Catalytic Enantioselective Stereoablative Alkylation of 3‐Halooxindoles: Facile Access to Oxindoles with C3 All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters

From 2 to 1! Racemic tertiary halooxindoles proceed to enantioenriched oxindoles bearing all-carbon quaternary stereocenters as a result of a catalytic enantioselective stereoablative process (see scheme). The application of this procedure allows for the rapid asymmetric construction of biologically significant alkaloid core motifs.

Pd-Catalyzed Enantioselective Aerobic Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols: Applications to the Total Synthesis of Alkaloids

Enantioselective syntheses of the alkaloids (-)-aurantioclavine, (+)-amurensinine, (-)-lobeline, and (-)- and (+)-sedamine are described. The syntheses demonstrate the effectiveness of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric oxidation of secondary alcohols in diverse contexts and the ability of this methodology to set the absolute configuration of multiple stereocenters in a single operation. The utility of an aryne C-C insertion reaction in accessing complex polycyclic frameworks is also described.

Electrophilic fragment-based design of reversible covalent kinase inhibitors.

Fragment-based ligand design and covalent targeting of noncatalytic cysteines have been employed to develop potent and selective kinase inhibitors. Here, we combine these approaches, starting with a panel of low-molecular-weight, heteroaryl-susbstituted cyanoacrylamides, which we have previously shown to form reversible covalent bonds with cysteine thiols. Using this strategy, we identify electrophilic fragments with sufficient ligand efficiency and selectivity to serve as starting points for the first reported inhibitors of the MSK1 C-terminal kinase domain. Guided by X-ray co-crystal structures, indazole fragment 1 was elaborated to afford 12 (RMM-46), a reversible covalent inhibitor that exhibits high ligand efficiency and selectivity for MSK/RSK-family kinases. At nanomolar concentrations, 12 blocked activation of cellular MSK and RSK, as well as downstream phosphorylation of the critical transcription factor, CREB.

Covalent docking of large libraries for the discovery of chemical probes

Chemical probes that form a covalent bond with a protein target often show enhanced selectivity, potency, and utility for biological studies. Despite these advantages, protein-reactive compounds are usually avoided in high-throughput screening campaigns. Here we describe a general method (DOCKovalent) for screening large virtual libraries of electrophilic small molecules. We apply this method prospectively to discover reversible covalent fragments that target distinct protein nucleophiles, including the catalytic serine of AmpC β-lactamase and noncatalytic cysteines in RSK2, MSK1, and JAK3 kinases. We identify submicromolar to low-nanomolar hits with high ligand efficiency, cellular activity and selectivity, including the first reported reversible covalent inhibitors of JAK3. Crystal structures of inhibitor complexes with AmpC and RSK2 confirm the docking predictions and guide further optimization. As covalent virtual screening may have broad utility for the rapid discovery of chemical probes, we have made the method freely available through an automated web server (http://covalent.docking.org).

Design of Reversible, Cysteine-Targeted Michael Acceptors Guided by Kinetic and Computational Analysis

Electrophilic probes that covalently modify a cysteine thiol often show enhanced pharmacological potency and selectivity. Although reversible Michael acceptors have been reported, the structural requirements for reversibility are poorly understood. Here, we report a novel class of acrylonitrile-based Michael acceptors, activated by aryl or heteroaryl electron-withdrawing groups. We demonstrate that thiol adducts of these acrylonitriles undergo β-elimination at rates that span more than 3 orders of magnitude. These rates correlate inversely with the computed proton affinity of the corresponding carbanions, enabling the intrinsic reversibility of the thiol-Michael reaction to be tuned in a predictable manner. We apply these principles to the design of new reversible covalent kinase inhibitors with improved properties. A cocrystal structure of one such inhibitor reveals specific noncovalent interactions between the 1,2,4-triazole activating group and the kinase. Our experimental and computational study enables the design of new Michael acceptors, expanding the palette of reversible, cysteine-targeted electrophiles.

A diastereodivergent synthetic strategy for the syntheses of communesin F and perophoramidine.

An efficient, unified, and stereodivergent approach toward communesin F and perophoramidine was examined. The C(3) all-carbon quaternary center of an oxindole was smoothly constructed by base-promoted indolone-malonate alkylation chemistry. The complementary relative stereochemistry of the crucial vicinal quaternary centers found in communesin F and perophoramidine was selectively installed by substrate-controlled decarboxylative allylic alkylations.

Evolution of a Unified, Stereodivergent Approach to the Synthesis of Communesin F and Perophoramidine

Expedient synthetic approaches to the highly functionalized polycyclic alkaloids communesin F and perophoramidine are described using a unified approach featuring a key decarboxylative allylic alkylation to access a crucial and highly congested 3,3-disubstituted oxindole. Described are two distinct, stereoselective alkylations that produce structures in divergent diastereomeric series possessing the critical vicinal all-carbon quaternary centers needed for each synthesis. Synthetic studies toward these challenging core structures have revealed a number of unanticipated modes of reactivity inherent to these complex alkaloid scaffolds. Additionally, several novel and interesting intermediates en route to the target natural products, such as an intriguing propellane hexacyclic oxindole encountered in the communesin F sequence, are disclosed. Indeed, such unanticipated structures may prove to be convenient strategic intermediates in future syntheses.