The posttranslational modification of chromatin through
acetylation
at selected histone lysine residues is governed by histone acetyltransferases
(HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs). The significance of this
subset of the epigenetic code is interrogated and interpreted by an
acetyllysine-specific protein–protein interaction with bromodomain
reader modules. Selective inhibition of the bromo and extra C-terminal
domain (BET) family of bromodomains with a small molecule is feasible,
and this may represent an opportunity for disease intervention through
the recently disclosed antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties
of such inhibitors. Herein, we describe the discovery and structure–activity
relationship (SAR) of a novel, small-molecule chemical probe for BET
family inhibition that was identified through the application of structure-based
fragment assessment and optimization techniques. This has yielded
a potent, selective compound with cell-based activity (PFI-1) that
may further add to the understanding of BET family function within
the bromodomains.
Through fragment-based drug design focused on engaging the active site of IRAK4 and leveraging three-dimensional topology in a ligand-efficient manner, a micromolar hit identified from a screen of a Pfizer fragment library was optimized to afford IRAK4 inhibitors with nanomolar potency in cellular assays. The medicinal chemistry effort featured the judicious placement of lipophilicity, informed by co-crystal structures with IRAK4 and optimization of ADME properties to deliver clinical candidate PF-06650833 (compound 40). This compound displays a 5-unit increase in lipophilic efficiency from the fragment hit, excellent kinase selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties suitable for oral administration.
The first total synthesis of chloropeptin II (1, complestatin) is disclosed. Key elements of the approach include the use of an intramolecular Larock indole synthesis for the initial macrocyclization, adopting conditions that permit utilization of a 2-bromoaniline, incorporating a terminal alkyne substituent (−SiEt3) that sterically dictates the indole cyclization regioselectivity, and benefiting from an aniline protecting group (−Ac) that enhances the atropdiastereoselectivity and diminishes the strained indole reactivity toward subsequent electrophilic reagents. Not only did this key reaction provide the fully functionalized right-hand ring system of 1 in superb conversion (89%) and good atropdiastereoselectivity (4:1 R:
S), but it also represents the first reported example of what will prove to be a useful Larock macrocyclization strategy. Subsequent introduction of the left-hand ring system enlisting an aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction for macrocyclization with biaryl ether formation completed the assemblage of the core bicyclic structure of 1. Intrinsic in the design of the approach and by virtue of the single-step acid-catalyzed conversion of chloropeptin II (1) to chloropeptin I (2), the route also provides a total synthesis of 2.
The acetyl post-translational modification of chromatin at selected histone lysine residues is interpreted by an acetyl-lysine specific interaction with bromodomain reader modules. Here we report the discovery of the potent, acetyl-lysine competitive and cell active inhibitor PFI-3 that binds to certain Family VIII bromodomains while displaying significant, broader bromodomain family selectivity. The high specificity of PFI-3 for Family VIII was achieved through a novel bromodomain binding mode of a phenolic head group that led to the unusual displacement of water molecules that are generally retained by most other bromodomain inhibitors reported to date. The medicinal chemistry program that led to PFI-3 from an initial fragment screening hit is described in detail and additional analogues with differing Family VIII bromodomain selectivity profiles are also reported. We also describe the full pharmacological characterization of PFI-3 as a chemical probe, along with phenotypic data on adipocyte and myoblast cell differentiation assays.
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