Designed nanomolar small-molecule inhibitors of Ena/VASP EVH1 interaction impair invasion and extravasation of breast cancer cells

Battling metastasis through inhibition of cell motility is considered a promising approach to support cancer therapies. In this context, Ena/VASP-depending signaling pathways, in particular interactions with their EVH1 domains, are promising targets for pharmaceutical intervention. However, protein-protein interactions involving proline-rich segments are notoriously difficult to address by small molecules. Hence, structure-based design efforts in combination with the chemical synthesis of additional molecular entities are required. Building on a previously developed nonpeptidic micromolar inhibitor, we determined 22 crystal structures of ENAH EVH1 in complex with inhibitors and rationally extended our library of conformationally defined prolinederived modules (ProMs) to succeed in developing a nanomolar inhibitor (K-d = 120 nM, MW = 734 Da). In contrast to the previous inhibitor, the optimized compounds reduced extravasation of invasive breast cancer cells in a zebrafish model. This study represents an example of successful, structure-guided development of low molecular weight inhibitors specifically and selectively addressing a proline-rich sequence-recognizing domain that is characterized by a shallow epitope lacking defined binding pockets. The evolved high-affinity inhibitor may now serve as a tool in validating the basic therapeutic concept, i.e., the sup pression of cancer metastasis by inhibiting a crucial protein- protein interaction involved in actin filament processing and cell migration

A Stereoselective Synthesis of the ACE Inhibitor Trandolapril

A conceptually novel and stereoselective synthesis of the enantiopure octahydroindole building block and its conversion into the ACE inhibitor trandolapril was achieved. Key steps include the -allylation of a protected l -pyroglutamic acid derivative, a highly diastereoselective Hosomi-Sakurai reaction and a Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis of a 4,5-diallylated proline. This way, the synthesis of trandolapril was efficiently achieved in 25% overall yield (12 steps)

Design and Synthesis of Building Blocks for PPII-Helix Secondary-Structure Mimetics: A Stereoselective Entry to 4-Substituted 5-Vinylprolines (vol 2018, pg 455, 2018)

In the course of our studies towards the synthesis of proline-based secondary-structure mimetics, we developed a straightforward methodology for the diastereoselective preparation of 4-alkyl-5-vinyl-substituted proline derivatives. Starting from N-Boc-protected tert-butyl pyroglutamate, -alkylation, lactam reduction and acid-catalyzed methanolysis afforded 4-alkyl-5-methoxyproline derivatives. After BF3-induced formation of an N-acyl-iminium intermediate, the introduction of the 5-vinyl side chain was achieved with high diastereoselectivity by using vinylmagnesium bromide in the presence of AlCl3 or CuBrSMe2 to afford either the cis- or the trans-product, respectively. The utility of the method was demonstrated in the rapid and efficient construction of new diproline mimetics rigidified in a polyproline-type II helix (PPII) conformation

Synthesis of B-Ring-Modified Steroids through BF₃-Promoted Rearrangement/Substitution of 6β-Hydroxy-5,19-cyclosteroids

The BF₃·Et₂O-promoted reaction of 3β-acetoxy-5,19-cyclo-pregnan-6β-ol-20-one with different nucleophiles was investigated. B-<i>homo</i> steroids (3β-acetoxy-B-homo-6a-β-alkoxy-pregna-5(10)-en-20-ones) were obtained with primary and secondary alcohols, while the reaction with common carboxylic acids selectively afforded the corresponding 3β-acetoxy-6β-(acyloxymethyl)-pregna-5(10)-en-20-ones. The transformations are supposed to proceed via the rearrangement of a cyclopropyl-methyl cation (bicyclobutonium) intermediate, which is regioselectively opened in dependence on the nucleophile employed. The method represents an efficient, diversity-oriented entry to new B-ring-modified steroids, which are of potential pharmaceutical relevance