Bioactivation of isoxazole-containing bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors

The 3,5-dimethylisoxazole motif has become a useful and popular acetyl-lysine mimic employed in isoxazole-containing bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) inhibitors but may introduce the potential for bioactivations into toxic reactive metabolites. As a test, we coupled deep neural models for quinone formation, metabolite structures, and biomolecule reactivity to predict bioactivation pathways for 32 BET inhibitors and validate the bioactivation of select inhibitors experimentally. Based on model predictions, inhibitors were more likely to undergo bioactivation than reported non-bioactivated molecules containing isoxazoles. The model outputs varied with substituents indicating the ability to scale their impact on bioactivation. We selected OXFBD02, OXFBD04, and I-BET151 for more in-depth analysis. OXFBD\u27s bioactivations were evenly split between traditional quinones and novel extended quinone-methides involving the isoxazole yet strongly favored the latter quinones. Subsequent experimental studies confirmed the formation of both types of quinones for OXFBD molecules, yet traditional quinones were the dominant reactive metabolites. Modeled I-BET151 bioactivations led to extended quinone-methides, which were not verified experimentally. The differences in observed and predicted bioactivations reflected the need to improve overall bioactivation scaling. Nevertheless, our coupled modeling approach predicted BET inhibitor bioactivations including novel extended quinone methides, and we experimentally verified those pathways highlighting potential concerns for toxicity in the development of these new drug leads

Fragment-Based Identification of Ligands for Bromodomain-Containing Factor 3 of Trypanosoma Cruzi

The Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) parasite is the cause of Chagas disease, a neglected disease endemic in South America. The life cycle of the T. cruzi parasite is complex and includes transitions between distinct life stages. This change in phenotype (without a change in genotype) could be controlled by epigenetic regulation, and might involve the bromodomain-containing factors 1-5 (TcBDF1-5). However, little is known about the function of the TcBDF1-5. Here we describe a fragment-based approach to identify ligands for T. cruzi bromodomain-containing factor 3 (TcBDF3). We expressed a soluble construct of TcBDF3 in E. coli, and used this to develop a range of biophysical assays for this protein. Fragment screening identified twelve compounds that bind to the TcBDF3 bromodomain. Based on this screen, we developed functional ligands containing a fluorescence or 19F reporter group, and a photo-crosslinking probe for TcBDF3. These tools compounds will be invaluable in future studies on the function of TcBDF3 and will provide insight into the biology of T. cruzi

Fragment-Based Identification of Ligands for Bromodomain-Containing Factor 3 of Trypanosoma cruzi

The Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) parasite is the cause of Chagas disease, a neglected disease endemic in South America. The life cycle of the T. cruzi parasite is complex and includes transitions between distinct life stages. This change in phenotype (without a change in genotype) could be controlled by epigenetic regulation, and might involve the bromodomain-containing factors 1–5 (TcBDF1–5). However, little is known about the function of the TcBDF1–5. Here we describe a fragment-based approach to identify ligands for T. cruzi bromodomain-containing factor 3 (TcBDF3). We expressed a soluble construct of TcBDF3 in E. coli, and used this to develop a range of biophysical assays for this protein. Fragment screening identified 12 compounds that bind to the TcBDF3 bromodomain. On the basis of this screen, we developed functional ligands containing a fluorescence or 19F reporter group, and a photo-crosslinking probe for TcBDF3. These tool compounds will be invaluable in future studies on the function of TcBDF3 and will provide insight into the biology of T. cruzi

Controlling Intramolecular Interactions in the Design of Selective, High-Affinity, Ligands for the CREBBP Bromodomain

CREBBP (CBP or KAT3A) and its paralogue P300 (also KAT3B) are lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) that are essential for human development. They each comprise ten domains through which they interact with over 400 proteins, making them important transcriptional co-activators, and key nodes in the human protein-protein interactome. The bromodomain of CREBBP and P300 enables binding of acetylated lysine residues from histones, and a number of other important proteins, including p53, p73, E2F and GATA1. Here we report work to develop a high affinity, small molecule, ligand for the CREBBP and P300 bromodomains [(−)-OXFBD05] that shows >100-fold selectivity over the BET bromodomains. Key to the development of (−)-OXFBD05 were fundamental studies on molecular conformation in solution and when bound to the CREBBP bromodomain. In particular, the effect of an intramolecular hydrogen bond on solution state conformation, and use of an amide bioisostere, enabled the development of (−)-OXFBD05. Initial cellular studies using this ligand demonstrate that inhibition of the CREBBP/P300 bromodomain in HCT116 colon cancer cells results in lowered levels of c-Myc, and a modest but repeatable reduction in H3K18 acetylation. In hypoxia (2), inhibition of the CREBBP/P300 bromodomain results in enhanced stabilization of HIF-1α. This presents an opportunity for modulating proteins that are affected by HIF-1α levels, including ACE2, which mediates SARS-CoV-2 infection of human cells.</p