Modification of the N-terminus of peptidomimetic protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors: identification of analogues with cellular activity.

Low molecular weight peptidomimetic compounds based on O-malonyl tyrosine and O-carboxymethyl salicylic acid are potent inhibitors of PTP1B. Modifications of the N-terminal Boc-Phe moiety were undertaken in an effort to improve physical chemical properties and to achieve cellular activity. Although Phe ultimately proved to be the optimal N-terminal amino acid, several viable replacements for the Boc group were identified, two of which afforded analogues that were effective at enhancing the insulin-stimulated uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by L6 myocytes.

Investigation of potential bioisosteric replacements for the carboxyl groups of peptidomimetic inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B: identification of a tetrazole-containing inhibitor with cellular activity.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) constitute a diverse family of enzymes that, together with protein tyrosine kinases, control the level of intracellular tyrosine phosphorylation, thus regulating many cellular functions. PTP1B negatively regulates insulin signaling, in part, by dephosphorylating key tyrosine residues within the regulatory domain of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor, thereby attenuating receptor kinase activity. Inhibitors of PTP1B would therefore have the potential of prolonging the phosphorylated (activated) state of the insulin receptor and are anticipated to be a novel treatment of the insulin resistance characteristic of type 2 diabetes. We previously reported a series of small molecular weight peptidomimetics as competitive inhibitors of PTP1B, with the most active analogues having K(i) values in the low nanomolar range. Furthermore, we confirmed that the O-carboxymethyl salicylic acid moiety is a remarkably effective novel phosphotyrosine mimetic. Because of the low cell permeability of this compound class, it was important to investigate the possibility of replacing one or both of the remaining carboxyl groups while maintaining PTP1B inhibitory activity. The analogues described herein further support the importance of an acidic functionality at both positions of the tyrosine head moiety. An important discovery was the ortho tetrazole analogue 29 (K(i) = 2.0 microM), which was equipotent to the dicarboxylic acid analogue 2 (K(i) = 2.0 microM). Solution of the X-ray cocrystal structure of the ortho tetrazole analogue 29 bound to PTP1B revealed that the tetrazole moiety is well-accommodated in the active site and binds in a fashion similar to the ortho carboxylate analogue 2 reported previously. This novel monocarboxylic acid analogue revealed significantly higher Caco-2 cell permeability as compared to all previous compounds. Furthermore, compound 29 exhibited modest enhancement of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake by L6 myocytes.

Synthesis and biological activity of a novel class of small molecular weight peptidomimetic competitive inhibitors of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) negatively regulates insulin signaling in part by dephosphorylating key tyrosine residues within the regulatory domain of the beta-subunit of the insulin receptor (IR), thereby attenuating receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Inhibition of PTP1B is therefore anticipated to improve insulin resistance and has recently become the focus of discovery efforts aimed at identifying new drugs to treat type II diabetes. We previously reported that the tripeptide Ac-Asp-Tyr(SO(3)H)-Nle-NH(2) is a surprisingly effective inhibitor of PTP1B (K(i) = 5 microM). With the goal of improving the stability and potency of this lead, as well as attenuating its peptidic character, an analogue program was undertaken. Specific elements of the initial phase of this program included replacement of the N- and C-termini with non-amino acid components, modification of the tyrosine subunit, and replacement of the tyrosine sulfate with other potential phosphate mimics. The most potent analogue arising from this effort was triacid 71, which inhibits PTP1B competitively with a K(i) = 0.22 microM without inhibiting SHP-2 or LAR at concentrations up to 100 microM. Overall, the inhibitors generated in this work showed little or no enhancement of insulin signaling in cellular assays. However, potential prodrug triester 70 did induce enhancements in 2-deoxyglucose uptake into two different cell lines with concomitant augmentation of the tyrosine phosphorylation levels of insulin-signaling molecules. Key elements of the overall SAR reported herein include confirmation of the effectiveness and remarkable PTP1B-specificity of the novel tyrosine phosphate bioisostere, O-carboxymethyl salicylic acid; demonstration that the tyrosine skeleton is optimal relative to closely related structures; replacement of the p-1 aspartic acid with phenylalanine with little effect on activity; and demonstration that inhibitory activity can be maintained in the absence of an N-terminal carboxylic acid. An X-ray cocrystal structure of an analogue bearing a neutral N-terminus (69) bound to PTP1B is reported that confirms a mode of binding similar to that of peptidic substrates.