Structure-Based Design and Synthesis of N-Substituted 3-Amino-β-Carboline Derivatives as Potent αβ-Tubulin Degradation Agents.

Abstract

So far, relatively few small molecules have been reported to promote tubulin degradation. Our previous studies have found that compound 2, a noncovalent colchicine-site ligand, was capable of promoting αβ-tubulin degradation. To further improve its antiproliferative activity, 66 derivatives or analogues of 2 were designed and synthesized based on 2-tubulin cocrystal structure. Among them, 12b displayed nanomolar potency against a variety of tumor cells, including paclitaxel- and adriamycin-resistant cell lines. 12b binds to the colchicine site and promotes αβ-tubulin degradation in a concentration-dependent manner via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. The X-ray crystal structure revealed that 12b binds in a similar manner as 2, but there is a slight conformation change of the B ring, which resulted in better interaction of 12b with surrounding residues. 12b effectively suppressed tumor growth at an i.v. dose of 40 mg/kg (3 times a week) on both A2780S (paclitaxel-sensitive) and A2780T (paclitaxel-resistant) ovarian xenograft models, with respective TGIs of 92.42 and 79.75% without obvious side effects, supporting its potential utility as a tumor-therapeutic compound.

• Authors: Yong Li, Yan Liu, Zejiang Zhu, Wei Yan, Chufeng Zhang, Zhuang Yang, Peng Bai, Minghai Tang, Mingsong Shi, Wen He, Suhong Fu, Jiang Liu, Kai Han, Jiewen Li, Lixin Xie, Haoyu Ye, Jianhong Yang, Lijuan Chen
• Journal: Journal of medicinal chemistry (J Med Chem) Vol. 65 Issue 3 Pg. 2675-2693 (02 10 2022) ISSN: 1520-4804 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35084853 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Carbolines
• Tubulin
• Tubulin Modulators

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Binding Sites
• Carbolines (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Drug Design
• Drug Resistance, Multiple (drug effects)
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm (drug effects)
• Female
• G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints (drug effects)
• Humans
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Molecular Structure
• Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Protein Binding
• Rats
• Structure-Activity Relationship
• Tubulin (chemistry, metabolism)
• Tubulin Modulators (chemical synthesis, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
• Mice