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On the 5th and 12th of December 2021


A potential microtubule destabilizing series of new thirty-five Pyrrol-2-one, Pyridazin-3(2H)-one and Pyridazin-3
(2H)-one/oxime derivatives has been synthesized and tested for their antiproliferative activity against a panel of
60 human cancer cell lines. Compounds IVc, IVg and IVf showed a broad spectrum of growth inhibitory activity
against cancer cell lines representing renal, cancer of lung, colon, central nervous system, ovary, and kidney.
Among them, compound IVg was found to have broad spectrum anti-tumor activity against the tested nine tumor
subpanels with selectivity ratios ranging between 0.21 and 3.77 at the GI50 level. In vitro assaying revealed
tubulin polymerization inhibition by all active compounds IVc, IVg and IVf. The results of the docking study
revealed nice fitting of compounds IVc, IVf, and IVg into CA-4 binding site in tubulin. The three compounds
exhibited high binding affinities (ΔGb = - 12.49 to -12.99 kcal/mol) toward tubulin compared to CA-4 (- 8.87
kcal/mol). Investigation of the binding modes of the three compounds IVc, IVf, and IVg revealed that they
interacted mainly hydrophobically with tubulin and similar binding orientations to that of CA-4. These observations
suggest that tubulin is a possible target for these compounds.
A series of novel piperine–resveratrol hybrids 5a–h was designed, synthesized, and structurally elucidated
by IR, and 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR. Antiproliferative activities of 5a–h were evaluated by NCI against sixty
cancer cell lines. Compound 5b, possessing resveratrol pharmacophoric phenolic moieties, showed
a complete cell death against leukemia HL-60 (TB) and Breast cancer MDA-MB-468 with growth
inhibition percentage of 0.49 and 2.83, respectively. In addition, 5b recorded significant activity
against the other cancer cell lines with growth inhibition percentage between 80 to 95. New 5a–h
hybrids were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against Sirt-1 and Sirt-2 as molecular targets for their
antiproliferative action. Results showed that compounds 5a–h were more potent inhibitors of Sirt-2 than
Sirt-1 at 5 mm and 50 mm. Compound 5b showed the strongest inhibition of Sirt-2 (78 3% and 26 3%
inhibition at 50 mM and 5 mM, respectively). Investigation of intermolecular interaction via Hirschfeld
surface analysis indicates that these close contacts are mainly ascribed to the O–H/O hydrogen
bonding. To get insights into the Sirt-2 inhibitory mechanism, a docking study was performed where 5b
was found to fit nicely inside both extended C-pocket and selectivity pocket and could compete with
the substrate acyl-Lys. Another possible binding pattern showed that 5b could act by partial occlusion of
the NAD+ C-pocket. Collectively, these findings would contribute significantly to better understanding
the Sirt-2 inhibitory mechanism in order to develop a new generation of refined and selective Sirt-2
inhibitors.
A novel series of 19 quinoline/1,2,4-triazole hybrid 6a-i and 7a-j was synthesized and evaluated in vitro as dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitors. Compounds 6e, 6i , and 7e displayed the highest potency and selectivity for inhibiting COX-2 activity (IC 50 = 7.25, 8.13, and 8.48 nM, respectively; selectivity index (COX-1/COX- 2) = 44.89, 30.30, and 33.47, respectively) in comparison to celecoxib (COX-2 IC 50 = 42.60 nM; selectivity index (SI) = 8.05). The anti-inflammatory activity of the newly synthesized compounds was further examined in vivo using a carrageenan induced paw edema assay. Interestingly, the in vitro findings of the COX inhibitory assay were consistent with the in vivo assay. Moreover, 6e, 6i , and 7e showed a substantial reduction in serum concentrations of PGE 2 , TNF- α, IL-6. Molecular docking analysis of compounds 6e , 6 f, 6i, 7e , and 7f revealed high binding affinities toward COX-2 compared to COX-1, which was matched with the experimental results. In addition, these compounds exhibited different binding orientations into the active site of COX-2, which were dependent on the type of substitutions on N4 of the triazole ring. Among the tested derivatives, compounds 6e, 6i and 7e which showed high selectivity to COX-2, exhibited hydrogen bonding interactions with key amino acids in COX-2 such as Arg120, Arg513, and/or Glu524. In addition, the tested compounds also showed multiple hydrogen bonds with the Arg101, Val110, Arg138 or His130 in 5-LOX. These findings show, taken together, that those derivatives are good leads to potential anti-inflammatory agents with lowest gastric damage.
DNA gyrase is a promising target for antibacterial agents. Several classes of small molecule inhibitors have been discovered in recent decades, but none of these have reached the market. We have designed a small library of 1,2,4-oxadiazole/pyrrolidine hybrids with mid nanomolar inhibitory and potent antibacterial activities against DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. Compounds 9, 15, 16, 19, and 21 inhibited Escherichia coli DNA gyrase to a similar extent as the reference compound, novobiocin, with inhibitory values ranging from 120 nM to 270 nM. Compound 16 was one of the most potent compounds in the series, with an IC50 value of 120 nM against E. coli
gyrase, which is lower than the IC50 value of novobiocin (170 nM). Compound 16 had the highest inhibitory activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 24 and 62 ng/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, respectively, which compared favorably with ciprofloxacin (30 and 60 ng/mL, respectively). Compounds 9, 15, 19, and 21 were similar to novobiocin in terms of their activity against E. coli and S. aureus topoisomerase IV, while compound 16 was more potent than novobiocin.
Targeting the EGFR with small-molecule inhibitors is a confirmed valid strategy in cancer therapy. Since the FDA approval of the first EGFR-TKI, erlotinib, great efforts have been devoted to the discovery of new potent inhibitors. Until now, fourteen EGFR small-molecule inhibitors have been globally approved for the treatment of different types of cancers. Although these drugs showed high efficacy in cancer therapy, EGFR mutations have emerged as a big challenge for these drugs. In this review, we focus on the EGFR small-molecule inhibitors that have been approved for clinical uses in cancer therapy. These drugs are classified based on their chemical structures, target kinases, and pharmacological uses. The synthetic routes of these drugs are also discussed. The crystal structures of these drugs with their target kinases are also summarized and their bonding modes and interactions are visualized. Based on their binding interactions with the EGFR, these drugs are also classified into
reversible and irreversible inhibitors. The cytotoxicity of these drugs against different types of cancer cell lines is also summarized. In addition, the proposed metabolic pathways and metabolites of the fourteen drugs are discussed, with a primary focus on the active and reactive metabolites. Taken together, this review highlights the syntheses, target kinases, crystal structures, binding interactions, cytotoxicity, and metabolism of the fourteen globally approved EGFR inhibitors. These data should greatly help in the design of new EGFR inhibitors.