Person:

Chorev, Michael

Translation initiation plays a critical role in cellular homeostasis, proliferation, differentiation and malignant transformation. Consistently, increasing the abundance of the eIF2·GTP·Met-tRNAi translation initiation complex transforms normal cells and contributes to cancer initiation and the severity of some anemia. The chemical modifiers of the eIF2·GTP·Met-tRNAi ternary complex are therefore invaluable tools for studying its role in the pathobiology of human disorders and for determining if this complex can be pharmacologically targeted for therapeutic purposes. Using a cell based assay, we identified N,N’-diarylureas as novel inhibitors of the ternary complex abundance. Direct functional-genetics and biochemical evidence demonstrated that the N,N’-diarylureas activate heme regulated inhibitor kinase, thereby phosphorylate eIF2α and reduce abundance of the ternary complex. Using tumor cell proliferation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo as paradigms, we demonstrate that N,N’-diarylureas are potent and specific tools for studying the role eIF2·GTP·Met-tRNAi ternary complex in the pathobiology of human disorders.

Side chain-to-side chain cyclizations represent a strategy to select a family of bioactive conformations by reducing the entropy and enhancing the stabilization of functional ligand-induced receptor conformations. This structural manipulation contributes to increased target specificity, enhanced biological potency, improved pharmacokinetic properties, increased functional potency, and lowered metabolic susceptibility. The CuI-catalyzed azide–alkyne 1,3-dipolar Huisgen’s cycloaddition, the prototypic click reaction, presents a promising opportunity to develop a new paradigm for an orthogonal bioorganic and intramolecular side chain-to-side chain cyclization. In fact, the proteolytic stable 1,4- or 4,1-disubstituted [1,2,3]triazolyl moiety is isosteric with the peptide bond and can function as a surrogate of the classical side chain-to-side chain lactam forming bridge. Herein we report the design, synthesis, conformational analysis, and functional biological activity of a series of i-to-i+5 1,4- and 4,1-disubstituted [1,2,3]triazole-bridged cyclopeptides derived from MT-II, the homodetic Asp5 to Lys10 side chain-to-side chain bridged heptapeptide, an extensively studied agonist of melanocortin receptors.

The 4EGI-1 is the prototypic inhibitor of eIF4E/eIF4G interaction, a potent inhibitor of translation initiation in vitro and in vivo and an efficacious anticancer agent in animal models of human cancers. We report on the design, synthesis, and in vitro characterization of a series of rigidified mimetic of this prototypic inhibitor in which the phenyl in the 2-(4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl) moiety was bridged into a tricyclic system. The bridge consisted one of the following: ethylene, methylene oxide, methylenesulfide, methylenesulfoxide, and methylenesulfone. Numerous analogues in this series were found to be markedly more potent than the parent prototypic inhibitor in the inhibition of eIF4E/eIF4G interaction, thus preventing the eIF4F complex formation, a rate limiting step in the translation initiation cascade in eukaryotes, and in inhibition of human cancer cell proliferation.