title: Novel Benzimidazole Inhibitors of Botulinum Neurotoxin/A Display Enzyme and Cell-Based Potency.
abstract: Botulinum Neurotoxins (BoNTs) are used therapeutically and in cosmetics, providing potential for bioterrorist activity, thus driving the search for small-molecule BoNT inhibitors. This report describes a 70,000-compound screen for inhibition of BoNT/A using a FRET assay to detect proteolysis of a peptide substrate. Hits were confirmed, followed by evaluation to determine compound specificity. Inhibitors fell into three main chemical classes, and on the basis of potency and specificity of inhibition, the activities of two chemotypes were examined further. Compounds exhibited specificity for BoNT/A LC inhibition with respect to other metalloproteases and displayed activity in a neuronal assay for botulinum intoxication.
authors.affiliation: Microbiotix, Inc., One Innovation Drive, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ruthel
authors.forename: Jonathan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nuss
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Wanner
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ramdas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Norton P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Peet
authors.forename: Sina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bavari
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Bowlin