Ya-Juan Qin

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel pyrazoline-containing derivatives as potential tubulin assembling inhibitors

A series of novel pyrazoline-containing derivatives (15-47) has been designed, synthesized and evaluated for their biological activities. Among them, compound 18 displayed the most potent antiproliferative activity against A549, MCF-7 and HepG-2 cells line (IC50 = 0.07 μM, 0.05 μM, 0.03 μM, respectively) and the tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.88 μM), being comparable to CA-4. Furthermore, we also tested that compound 18 was a potent inducer of apoptosis in HepG-2 cells and it had cellular effects typical for microtubule interacting agents, causing accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. These studies, along with molecular docking, provided a new molecular scaffold for the further development of antitumor agents that target tubulin.

Sulfonamides containing coumarin moieties selectively and potently inhibit carbonic anhydrases II and IX: Design, synthesis, inhibitory activity and 3D-QSAR analysis

A series of sulfonamides containing coumarin moieties had been prepared that showed a very interesting profile for the inhibition of two human carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of the physiologically dominant isozymes hCA II and the tumor-associated isozyme hCA IX. The most potent inhibitor against hCA II and IX were compounds 5d (IC₅₀ = 23 nM) and 5l (IC₅₀ = 24 nM), respectively. These sulfonamides containing coumarin moieties may prove interesting lead candidates to target tumor-associated CA isozymes, wherein the CA domain is located extracellularly. Eighteen compounds were scrutinized by CoMFA and CoMSIA techniques of 3D quantitative structure-activity relationship. Nine of the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against human macrophage.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies of novel 1-benzene acyl-2-(1-methylindol-3-yl)-benzimidazole derivatives as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors

A series of 1-benzene acyl-2-(1-methylindol-3-yl)-benzimidazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors and for the cytotoxicity against anthropic cancer cell lines. Among the novel compounds, compound 11f was demonstrated the most potent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.5 μM) and antiproliferative activity against A549, HepG2 and MCF-7 (GI50 = 2.4, 3.8 and 5.1 μM, respectively), which was compared with the positive control colchicine and CA-4. We also evaluated that compound 11f could effectively induce apoptosis of A549 associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Docking simulation and 3D-QSAR model in these studies provided more information that could be applied to design new molecules with more potent tubulin inhibitory activity.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of metronidazole–thiazole derivatives as antibacterial inhibitors

A series of metronidazole-thiazole derivatives has been designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential antibacterial inhibitors. All the synthesized compounds were determined by elemental analysis, 1H NMR and MS. They were also tested for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as for the inhibition to FabH. The results showed that compound 5e exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity against E. coli FabH with IC50 of 4.9μM. Molecular modeling simulation studies were performed in order to predict the biological activity of proposed compounds. Toxicity assay of compounds 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e, 5g and 5i showed that they were noncytotoxic against human macrophage. The results revealed that these compounds offered remarkable viability.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 1-Methyl-1H-indole–Pyrazoline Hybrids as Potential Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors

A series of 1‐methyl‐1H‐indole–pyrazoline hybrids were designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Among them, compound e19 [5‐(5‐bromo‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxyphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carboxamide] showed the most potent inhibitory effect on tubulin assembly (IC50=2.12 μm) and in vitro growth inhibitory activity against a panel of four human cancer cell lines (IC50 values of 0.21–0.31 μm). Further studies confirmed that compound e19 can induce HeLa cell apoptosis, cause cell‐cycle arrest in G2/M phase, and disrupt the cellular microtubule network. These studies, along with molecular docking and 3D‐QSAR modeling, provide an important basis for further optimization of compound e19 as a potential anticancer agent.

Potentiating 1-(2-hydroxypropyl)-2-styryl-5-nitroimidazole derivatives against antibacterial agents: design, synthesis and biology analysis.

A series of novel 1-(2-hydroxypropyl)-2-styryl-5-nitroimidazole derivatives had been designed, synthesized, isolated and evaluated as potentiators of antibacterial agents. All these synthesized compounds were determined by elemental analysis, (1)H NMR, and MS. Their biological activities were also evaluated against two Gram-negative bacterial strains: Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and two Gram-positive bacterial strains: Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus subtilis by MTT method as potential FabH inhibitory. The results showed that compound 30 exhibited the most potent E. coli FabH inhibitory activity with IC50 of 4.6 μM. Molecular modeling simulation studies were performed in order to predict the biological activities of the proposed compounds. All compounds have been tested for toxicity by MTT assay on human macrophage.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modeling of 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amide derivatives as novel antitubulin agents

A series of 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amide derivatives (6a-w) were designed and synthesized as potential inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and as anticancer agents. The in vitro anticancer activities of these compounds were evaluated against three cancer cell lines by the MTT method. Among all the designed compounds, compound 6f exhibited the most potent anticancer activity against A549, MCF-7 and HepG2 cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 0.03 μM, 0.06 μM and 0.05 μM, respectively. Compound 6f also exhibited significant tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC₅₀=1.73 μM), which was superior to the positive control. The obtained results, along with a 3D-QSAR study and molecular docking that were used for investigating the probable binding mode, could provide an important basis for further optimization of compound 6f as a novel anticancer agent.

Combined Molecular Docking, 3D-QSAR, and Pharmacophore Model: Design of Novel Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors by Binding to Colchicine-binding Site.

Interference with dynamic equilibrium of microtubule–tubulin has proven to be a useful tactics in the clinic. Based on investigation into the structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies of tubulin polymerization inhibitors obtained from several worldwide groups, we attempted to design 691 compounds covering several main heterocyclic scaffolds as novel colchicine‐site inhibitors (CSIs). Evaluated by a series of combination of commonly used computer methods such as molecular docking, 3D‐QSAR, and pharmacophore model, we can obtain the ultimate 16 target compounds derived from five important basic scaffolds in the field of medicinal chemistry. Among these compounds, compound A‐132 with in silico moderate activity was synthesized, and subsequently validated for preliminary inhibition of tubulin polymerization by immunofluorescence assay. In additional, the work of synthesis and validation of biological activity for other 15 various structure compounds will be completed in our laboratory. This study not only developed a hierarchical strategy to screen novel tubulin inhibitors effectively, but also widened the spectrum of chemical structures of canonical CSIs.

Synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular docking studies of novel 1-(4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone-containing 1-methylindol derivatives as potential tubulin assembling inhibitors

A series of novel compounds (6a–6v) containing 1-methylindol and 1-(4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone skeletons were designed, synthesized and biologically evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors and anticancer agents. Among them, compound 6q showed the most potent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.98 μM) and in vitro growth inhibitory activity against A549, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines, with IC50 values of 0.15 μM, 0.17 μM, and 0.25 μM respectively, comparable to the positive control. Furthermore, compound 6q was a potent inducer of apoptosis in A549 cells and it had typical cellular effects for microtubule interacting agents, causing arrest of the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Confocal microscopy assay and molecular docking results further demonstrated that 6q could bind tightly to the colchicine site of tubulin and act as an anti-tubulin agent. These studies, along with 3D-QSAR modeling provided an important basis for further optimization of compound 6q as a potential anticancer agent.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular docking studies of novel chalcone oxime derivatives as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors

Microtubule-targeted drugs are at present indispensable for various types of cancer therapy worldwide. A series of chalcone oxime derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential tubulin polymerization inhibitors and for the cytotoxicity against anthropic cancer cell lines. These derivatives were completely demonstrated to have commendable inhibitory activity against tubulin polymerization by competing with the colchicine-binding site on tubulin, which was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest as well as promising antiproliferative activity. Among the novel compounds, compound 13 was demonstrated to have the most potent inhibitory activity (tubulin IC50 = 1.6 μM). Antiproliferative assay results displayed that compound 13 had potent antiproliferative activity against A549, Hela and MCF-7 with GI50 values of 2.1, 3.5 and 3.6 μM, respectively, which were compared with the positive control colchicine and CA-4. Docking simulation showed that compound 13 could bind tightly to the colchicine domain of tubulin and act as a tubulin polymerization inhibitor. We also built a 3D-QSAR model to provide more information that could be applied to design new molecules with more potent tubulin inhibitory activity.