Discovery and Optimization of 5-Hydroxy-Diclofenac toward a New Class of Ligands with Nanomolar Affinity for the CaMKIIα Hub Domain

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II α (CaMKIIα) is a brain-relevant kinase involved in long-term potentiation and synaptic plasticity. We have recently pinpointed the CaMKIIα hub domain as the long-sought-after high-affinity target of γ-hydroxybutyrate ligands substantiated with a high-resolution cocrystal of 5-hydroxydiclofenac (3). Herein, we employed in silico approaches to rationalize and guide the synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a new series of analogues circumventing chemical stability problems associated with 3. The oxygen-bridged analogue 4d showed mid-nanomolar affinity and notable ligand-induced stabilization effects toward the CaMKIIα hub oligomer. Importantly, 4d displayed superior chemical and metabolic stability over 3 by showing excellent chemical stability in phosphate-buffered saline and high resistance to form reactive intermediates and subsequent sulfur conjugates. Altogether, our study highlights 4d as a new CaMKIIα hub high-affinity ligand with enhanced pharmacokinetic properties, representing a powerful tool compound for allosteric regulation of kinase activity with subtype specificity.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Vol/bind65
Udgave nummer9
Sider (fra-til)6656-6676
ISSN0022-2623
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2022

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation (R277-2018-260 and R181-2014-3493), the Novo Nordisk Foundation (ECOU and NNF17OC0028664), and the Drug Research Academy.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Chemical Society.

ID: 312028949