Ya-Liang Zhang

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 novel 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives as potential BRAFV600E inhibitors

A series of novel 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazole derivatives (5 a-5 u) containing niacinamide moiety were synthesized and evaluated for biological activity as potential BRAF(V600E) inhibitors. Among them, compound 5h exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.33 μM for BRAF(V600E). Antiproliferative assay results indicated that compound 5h has better antiproliferative activity against WM266.4 and A375 in vitro with IC50 value of 2.63 and 3.16 μM, respectively, being comparable with the positive control vemurafenib. Molecular docking of 5h into the BRAF(V600E) active site was performed to determine the probable binding mode. Furthermore, molecular docking and 3D QSAR study by means of DS 3.5 (Discovery Studio 3.5, Accelrys, Co. Ltd) explored the binding modes and the structure and activity relationship (SAR) of these derivatives.

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.

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.

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.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of (1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl benzoate derivatives as potential BRAFV600E inhibitors

A series of (1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl benzoate derivatives (6a–10d) were designed, synthesized and evaluated as BRAFV600E inhibitors. Biological evaluation assays indicated that compound 10a showed the most potent inhibitory activity against A375, WM266.4 and BRAFV600E in vitro with IC50 values of 1.36 μM, 0.94 μM and 0.11 μM respectively compared with the positive compound vemurafenib. Furthermore, compound 10a showed highly selective BRAFV600E inhibitory activity in vitro. A docking simulation displayed that compound 10a could tightly bind the crystal structure of BRAFV600E at the active site. 3D-QSAR would provide a guideline to design and optimize more potent and positive BRAFV600E inhibitors based on the (1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methyl benzoate derivatives skeleton.

Evaluation of the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion studies of YMR-65, a tubulin polymerization inhibitor with potential anticancer activity, in rats using UPLC-MS/MS

Abstract 1. YMR-65, 5-(5-bromo-1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4, 5-dihydro-1H-pyrazole-1-carboxamide, is a new tubulin polymerization inhibitor with encouraging anticancer activity. 2. The validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS) method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion study of YMR-65 after oral and intravenous administration. The area under concentration-time curve (AUC0-∞) for YMR-65 were 151.67 ± 54.48 and 459.45 ± 49.23 ng/ml*h for oral and intravenous administration at the dosage of 1.5 mg/kg, respectively and the oral bioavailability was about 33.01%. Moreover, YMR-65 was extensively distributed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, stomach, intestine and testis and the highest were detected in heart, followed by stomach, intestine and liver. The majority of YMR-65 was excreted via feces and its accumulative excretion ratio during the period of 96 h was 19.83 ± 3.01%, but only 1.54 ± 0.37 and 0.215 ± 0.026% for urine within 96 h and bile within 10 h after intravenous administration, respectively, though the fecal and urine excretion were incomplete within 96 h. 3. In summary, this study defined the pharmacokinetic characteristics of YMR-65 in vivo and the important data can be a useful resource for further research and development.

Synthesis, molecular docking and biological evaluation of 1‐phenylsulfonyl‐2‐(1‐methylindol‐3‐yl)‐benzimidazole derivatives as novel potential tubulin assembling inhibitors

A series of new 1‐phenylsulphonyl‐2‐(1‐methylindol‐3‐yl)‐benzimidazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of tubulin polymerization and anthropic cancer cell lines. Among them, compound 33 displayed the most potent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity in vitro (IC50 = 1.41 μM) and strong antiproliferative activities against A549, Hela, HepG2 and MCF‐7 cell lines in vitro with GI50 value of 1.6, 2.7, 2.9 and 4.3 μM, respectively, comparable with the positive control colchicine (GI50 value of 4.1, 7.2, 9.5 and 14.5 μM, respectively) and CA‐4 (GI50 value of 2.2, 4.3, 6.4 and 11.4 μM, respectively). Simultaneously, we evaluated that compound 33 could effectively induce apoptosis of A549 associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Immunofluorescence microscopy also clearly indicated compound 33 a potent antimicrotubule agent. Docking simulation showed that compound 33 could bind tightly with the colchicine‐binding site and act as a tubulin inhibitor. Three‐dimensional‐QSAR model was also built to provide more pharmacophore understanding that could be used to design new agents with more potent tubulin assembling inhibitory activity in the future.

Pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic characteristics of YMR-65, a tubulin inhibitor, in tumor-bearing mice

&NA; YMR‐65, 5‐(5‐bromo‐1‐methyl‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)‐3‐(3‐methoxyphenyl)‐4, 5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazole‐1‐carboxamide, is a potential tubulin inhibitor exhibiting good anticancer activity. In our study, we illustrated the biological activities in HepG2 cells and the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles were evaluated in murine H22 hepatoma‐bearing mice. Molecular docking assay and colchicine competition assay indicated that YMR‐65 could bind tightly to the colchicine binding site of tubulin. Further investigation demonstrated that YMR‐65 arrested cells in the G2/M phase of cell cycle and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Compared with control group, the tumor growth inhibition determined by final relative volume of tumor/the initial tumor volume were 32.57%, 24.00% and 34.95%, respectively, for YMR‐65 (10 mg/kg), YMR‐65 (20 mg/kg) and CA4P (10 m/kg) groups. Besides there were no obvious body change or tissue damage (enhanced by histopathology study). YMR‐65 administration at 10 and 20 mg/kg in H22 tumor‐bearing mice resulted in 1.87‐ and 1.80‐fold longer half time (t1/2) and 0.36‐ and 0.78‐fold lower area under concentration‐time curve (AUC0–∞) in plasma in contrast with normal mice at 10 mg/kg. Furthermore, YMR‐65 showed a wide distribution to various tissues or tumor and the highest distribution index (the ratio of AUCtissue or tumor/AUCplasma) was found in tumor, which implied that it might accumulate in tumor after administration. In brief, our results indicated that YMR‐65 was a promising candidate with high antitumor efficacy and low tissue damage. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available.