title: 3-(4-Aroyl-1-methyl-1H-2-pyrrolyl)-N-hydroxy-2-alkylamides as a new class of synthetic histone deacetylase inhibitors. 1. Design, synthesis, biological evaluation, and binding mode studies performed through three different docking procedures.
abstract: Recently we reported a novel series of hydroxamates, called 3-(4-aroyl-1H-2-pyrrolyl)-N-hydroxy-2-propenamides (APHAs), acting as HDAC inhibitors (Massa, S.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 2001, 44, 2069-2072). Among them, 3-(4-benzoyl-1-methyl-1H-2-pyrrolyl)-N-hydroxy-2-propenamide 1 was chosen as lead compound, and its binding mode into the modeled HDAC1 catalytic core together with its histone hyperacetylation, antiproliferative, and cytodifferentiating properties in cell-based assays were investigated (Mai, A.; et al. J. Med. Chem. 2002, 45, 1778-1784). Here we report the results of some chemical manipulations performed on (i) the aroyl portion at the C4-pyrrole position, (ii) the N(1)-pyrrole substituent, and (iii) the hydroxamate moiety of 1 to determine structure-activity relationships and to improve enzyme inhibitory activity of APHAs. In the 1 structure, pyrrole N(1)-substitution with groups larger than methyl gave a reduction in HDAC inhibiting activity, and replacement of hydroxamate function with various non-hydroxamate, metal ion-complexing groups yielded poorly active or totally inactive compounds. On the contrary, proper substitution at the C4-position favorably affected enzyme inhibiting potency, leading to 8 (IC50 = 0.1 micro M) and 9 (IC50 = 1.0 micro M) which were 38- and 3.8-fold more potent than 1 in in vitro anti-HD2 assay. Against mouse HDAC1, 8 showed an IC50 = 0.5 micro M (IC50 of 1 = 4.9 micro M), and also in cell-based assay, 8 was endowed with higher histone hyperacetylating activity than 1, although it was less potent than TSA and SAHA. Such enhancement of inhibitory activity can be explained by the higher flexibility of the pyrrole C4-substituent of 8 which accounts for a considerably better fitting into the HDAC1 pocket and a more favorable enthalpy ligand receptor energy compared to 1. The enhanced fit allows a closer positioning of 8 hydroxamate moiety to the zinc ion. These findings were supported by extensive docking studies (SAD, DOCK, and Autodock) performed on both APHAs and reference drugs (TSA and SAHA).
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Studi Farmaceutici, Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza", P. le A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonello
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massa
authors.forename: Rino
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ragno
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cerbara
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jesacher
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loidl
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brosch
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D015195:Drug Design; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D056284:Histone Deacetylase 1; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000737:chemistry; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011485:Protein Binding; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D021281:Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: C471865:3-(1-methyl-4-phenylacetyl-1H-2-pyrrolyl)-N-hydroxypropenamide; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; D006877:Hydroxamic Acids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D011758:Pyrroles; C110550:HDAC1 protein, human; D056284:Histone Deacetylase 1; D006655:Histone Deacetylases