Novel 3,4,7-Substituted Benzofuran Derivatives Having Binding Affinity to κ-Opioid Receptor.

A series of novel 3,4,7-trisubstituted benzofuran derivatives were synthesized, and their binding affinity to κ- (KOR) and µ-opioid receptors (MOR) were evaluated. Several aryl ethers showed moderate binding activities to KOR (IC50=3.9-11 µM) without binding to MOR.

Structure-activity relationship study of 4-(thiazol-5-yl)benzoic acid derivatives as potent protein kinase CK2 inhibitors.

Two classes of modified analogs of 4-(thiazol-5-yl)benzoic acid-type CK2 inhibitors were designed. The azabenzene analogs, pyridine- and pyridazine-carboxylic acid derivatives, showed potent protein kinase CK2 inhibitory activities [IC50 (CK2α)=0.014-0.017µM; IC50 (CK2α')=0.0046-0.010µM]. Introduction of a 2-halo- or 2-methoxy-benzyloxy group at the 3-position of the benzoic acid moiety maintained the potent CK2 inhibitory activities [IC50 (CK2α)=0.014-0.016µM; IC50 (CK2α')=0.0088-0.014µM] and led to antiproliferative activities [CC50 (A549)=1.5-3.3µM] three to six times higher than those of the parent compound.

GnRH suppresses excitability of visual processing neurons in the optic tectum.

Animals change their behavior in response to sensory cues in the environment as well as their physiological status. For example, it is generally accepted that their sexual behavior is modulated according to seasonal environmental changes or the individual's maturational/reproductive status, and neuropeptides have been suggested to play important roles in this process. Some behavioral modulation arises from neuropeptide modulation of sensory information processing in the central nervous system, but the neural mechanisms still remain unknown. Here we focused on the neural basis of neuropeptide modulation of visual processing in vertebrates. The terminal nerve neurons that contain gonadotropin-releasing hormone 3 (TN-GnRH3 neurons) are suggested to modulate reproductive behavior and have massive projections to the optic tectum (OT), which plays an important role in visual processing. In the present study, to examine whether GnRH3 modulates retino-tectal neurotransmission in the OT, we analyzed the effect of GnRH3 electrophysiologically and morphologically. We found that field potentials evoked by optic tract fiber stimulation, which represent retino-tectal neurotransmission, were modulated postsynaptically by GnRH3. Whole cell recording from postsynaptic neurons in the retino-tectal pathway suggested that GnRH3 activates large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels and thereby suppresses membrane excitability. Furthermore, our improved morphological analysis using fluorescently labeled GnRH peptides showed that GnRH receptors are localized mainly around the cell bodies of postsynaptic neurons. Our results indicate that TN-GnRH3 neurons modulate retino-tectal neurotransmission by suppressing the excitability of projection neurons in the OT, which underlies the neuromodulation of behaviorally relevant visual information processing by the neuropeptide GnRH3.

Development of novel CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7) ligands: selectivity switch from CXCR4 antagonists with a cyclic pentapeptide scaffold.

The CXC chemokine receptor 7 (CXCR7)/ACKR3 is a chemokine receptor that recognizes stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1)/CXCL12 and interferon-inducible T-cell α chemoattractant (I-TAC)/CXCL11. Here, we report the development of novel CXCR7-selective ligands with a cyclic pentapeptide scaffold through an SAR study of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) selective antagonist FC131 [cyclo(-d-Tyr-l-Arg-l-Arg-l-Nal-Gly-), Nal = 3-(2-naphthyl)alanine]. Substitution of Gly with l-Pro switched the receptor preference of the peptides from CXCR4 to CXCR7. The SAR study led to the identification of a potent CXCR7 ligand, FC313 [cyclo(-d-Tyr-l-Arg-l-MeArg-l-Nal-l-Pro-)], which recruits ß-arrestin to CXCR7. Investigations via receptor mutagenesis and molecular modeling experiments suggest a possible binding mode of the cyclic pentapeptide CXCR7 agonist.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the [d-MeAla(11)]-epimer of coibamide A.

Coibamide A is a highly potent antiproliferative cyclic depsipeptide, which was originally isolated from a Panamanian marine cyanobacterium. In this study, the synthesis of coibamide A has been investigated using Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis followed by the cleavage of the resulting linear peptide from the resin and its subsequent macrolactonization. The peptide sequence of the linear coibamide A precursor was constructed on a solid-support following the optimization of the coupling conditions, where numerous coupling agents were evaluated. The macrocyclization of the resulting linear peptide provided the [d-MeAla(11)]-epimer of coibamide A, which exhibited nanomolar cytotoxic activity towards a number of human cancer cell lines.

Synthesis of IB-01212 by multiple N-methylations of peptide bonds.

There are many natural peptides with multiple N-methylamino acids that exhibit potent attractive biological activities. N-methylation of a peptide bond(s) is also one of the standard approaches in medicinal chemistry of bioactive peptides, to improve the potency and physicochemical properties, especially membrane permeability. In this study, we investigated a facile synthesis process of N-methylated peptides via simultaneous N-methylation of several peptide bonds in the presence of peptide bonds that were not to be methylated. As a model study, we investigated the synthesis of the antiproliferative depsipeptide, IB-01212. We used a pseudoproline to protect the non-methylated peptide bond during a simultaneous N-methylation with MeI-Ag2O. Using further manipulations including a dimerization/cyclization process, IB-01212 and its derivatives were successfully synthesized. A preliminary structure-activity relationship study demonstrated that the symmetric structure contributed to the potent cytotoxic activity of IB-01212.

Development of novel neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) selective agonists with resistance to proteolytic degradation.

Neurokinin B (NKB) regulates the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) via activation of the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R). We evaluated the biological stability of NK3R selective agonists to develop novel NK3R agonists to regulate reproductive functions. On the basis of degradation profiles, several peptidomimetic derivatives were designed. The modification of senktide with (E)-alkene dipeptide isostere generated a novel potent NK3R agonist with high stability and prolonged bioactivity.

Design and synthesis of fluorescent probes for GPR54.

Kisspeptins are neuropeptides that induce the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone via the activation of the cognate receptor, G-protein coupled receptor 54 (GPR54). The kisspeptin-GPR54 axis is associated with the onset of puberty and the maintenance of the reproductive system. In this study, several fluorescent probes have been designed and synthesized for rat GPR54 through the modification of the N-terminus of rat kisspeptins to allow for the visualization of the expression and localization of kisspeptin receptor(s) in living cells and native tissues. The tetramethylrhodamine (TMR) and rhodamine green (RG)-labeled kisspeptins exhibited good binding and agonistic activities towards GPR54, and the results of the application studies demonstrated that these fluorescent probes could be used effectively for the detection of GPR54 receptors in flow cytometry and confocal microscopy experiments.

Optimization of diaryl amine derivatives as kinesin spindle protein inhibitors.

Structure-activity relationship studies of diaryl amine-type KSP inhibitors were carried out. Diaryl amine derivatives with a pyridine ring or urea group were less active when compared with the parent carboline and carbazole derivatives. Optimization studies of a lactam-fused diphenylamine-type KSP inhibitor revealed that the aniline NH group and 3-CF3 phenyl group were indispensable for potent KSP inhibition. Modification with a seven-membered lactam-fused phenyl group and a 4-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl group improved aqueous solubility while maintaining potent KSP inhibitory activity. From these studies, we identified novel diaryl amine-type KSP inhibitors with a favorable balance of potency and solubility.

Structure-activity relationship study of tachykinin peptides for the development of novel neurokinin-3 receptor selective agonists.

Neurokinin B (NKB) is a potential regulator of pulsatile gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion via activation of the neurokinin-3 receptor (NK3R). NKB with the consensus sequence of the tachykinin peptide family also binds to other tachykinin receptors [neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) and neurokinin-2 receptor (NK2R)] with low selectivity. In order to identify the structural requirements for the development of novel potent and selective NK3R agonists, a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of [MePhe(7)]-NKB and other naturally occurring tachykinin peptides was performed. The substitutions to naturally occurring tachykinins with Asp and MePhe improved the receptor binding and agonistic activity for NK3R. The corresponding substitutions to NKB provided an NK3R selective analog.

Characterization of the receptor binding residues of kisspeptins by positional scanning using peptide photoaffinity probes.

Kisspeptins, endogenous peptide ligands for GPR54, play an important role in GnRH secretion. Since in vivo administration of kisspeptins induces increased plasma LH levels, GPR54 agonists hold promise as therapeutic agents for the treatment of hormonal secretion diseases. To facilitate the design of novel potent GPR54 ligands, residues in kisspeptins that involve in the interaction with GPR54 were investigated by kisspeptin-based photoaffinity probes. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of novel kisspeptin-based photoaffinity probes, and the application to crosslinking experiments for GPR54-expressing cells.

Design and synthesis of a novel class of CK2 inhibitors: application of copper- and gold-catalysed cascade reactions for fused nitrogen heterocycles.

Two classes of fused nitrogen heterocycles were designed as CK2 inhibitor candidates on the basis of previous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. Various dipyrrolo[3,2-b:2',3'-e]pyridine and benzo[g]indazole derivatives were prepared using transition-metal-catalysed cascade and/or multicomponent reactions. Biological evaluation of these candidates revealed that benzo[g]indazole is a promising scaffold for potent CK2 inhibitors. The inhibitory activities on cell proliferation of these potent CK2 inhibitors are also presented.

Structure-based design of novel potent protein kinase CK2 (CK2) inhibitors with phenyl-azole scaffolds.

Protein kinase CK2 (CK2) is a ubiquitous serine/threonine protein kinase for hundreds of endogenous substrates. CK2 has been considered to be involved in many diseases, including cancers. Herein we report the discovery of a novel ATP-competitive CK2 inhibitor. Virtual screening of a compound library led to the identification of a hit 2-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole compound. Subsequent structural optimization resulted in the identification of a promising 4-(thiazol-5-yl)benzoic acid derivative.

Activation of Neuropeptide FF Receptors by Kisspeptin Receptor Ligands.

Kisspeptin is a member of the RFamide neuropeptide family that is implicated in gonadotropin secretion. Because kisspeptin-GPR54 signaling is implicated in the neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction, GPR54 ligands represent promising therapeutic agents against endocrine secretion disorders. In the present study, the selectivity profiles of GPR54 agonist peptides were investigated for several GPCRs, including RFamide receptors. Kisspeptin-10 exhibited potent binding and activation of neuropeptide FF receptors (NPFFR1 and NPFFR2). In contrast, short peptide agonists bound with much lower affinity to NPFFRs while showing relatively high selectivity toward GPR54. The possible localization of secondary kisspeptin targets was also demonstrated by variation in the levels of GnRH release from the median eminence and the type of GPR54 agonists used. Negligible affinity of the reported NPFFR ligands to GPR54 was observed and indicates the unidirectional cross-reactivity between both ligands.