1 research outputs found
Discovery, Structure–Activity Relationship, and Binding Mode of an Imidazo[1,2‑<i>a</i>]pyridine Series of Autotaxin Inhibitors
Autotaxin
(ATX) is a secreted enzyme playing a major role in the
production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) in blood through hydrolysis
of lysophosphatidyl choline (LPC). The ATX–LPA signaling axis
arouses a high interest in the drug discovery industry as it has been
implicated in several diseases including cancer, fibrotic diseases,
and inflammation, among others. An imidazo[1,2-<i>a</i>]pyridine
series of ATX inhibitors was identified out of a high-throughput screening
(HTS). A cocrystal structure with one of these compounds and ATX revealed
a novel binding mode with occupancy of the hydrophobic pocket and
channel of ATX but no interaction with zinc ions of the catalytic
site. Exploration of the structure–activity relationship led
to compounds displaying high activity in biochemical and plasma assays,
exemplified by compound <b>40</b>. Compound <b>40</b> was
also able to decrease the plasma LPA levels upon oral administration
to rats