Dual-specificity tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) is a potential drug target because of its role in the development of Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. The selective DYRK1A inhibitor 10-iodo-11H-indolo[3,2-c]quinoline-6-carboxylic acid (KuFal194), a large, flat and lipophilic molecule, suffers from poor water solubility, limiting its use as chemical probe in cellular assays and animal models. Based on the structure of KuFal194, 7-chloro-1H-indole-3-carbonitrile was selected as fragment template for the development of smaller and less lipophilic DYRK1A inhibitors. By modification of this fragment, a series of indole-3-carbonitriles was designed and evaluated as potential DYRK1A ligands by molecular docking studies. Synthesis and in vitro assays on DYRK1A and related protein kinases identified novel double-digit nanomolar inhibitors with submicromolar activity in cell culture assays.

Since hyperactivity of the protein kinase DYRK1A is linked to several neurodegenerative disorders, DYRK1A inhibitors have been suggested as potential therapeutics for Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease. Most published inhibitors to date suffer from low selectivity against related kinases or from unfavorable physicochemical properties. In order to identify DYRK1A inhibitors with improved properties, a series of new chemicals based on [b]-annulated halogenated indoles were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for biological activity. Analysis of crystal structures revealed a typical type-I binding mode of the new inhibitor 4-chlorocyclohepta[b]indol-10(5H)-one in DYRK1A, exploiting mainly shape complementarity for tight binding. Conversion of the DYRK1A inhibitor 8-chloro-1,2,3,9-tetrahydro-4H-carbazol-4-one into a corresponding Mannich base hydrochloride improved the aqueous solubility but abrogated kinase inhibitory activity.

A series of ruthenium(II) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands of the general type (arene)(NHC)Ru(II)X₂ (where X = halide) was prepared, characterized, and evaluated as antibacterial agents in comparison to the respective metal free benzimidazolium cations. The ruthenium(II) NHC complexes generally triggered stronger bacterial growth inhibition than the metal free benzimidazolium cations. The effects were much stronger against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) than against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and all complexes were inactive against the fungus Candida albicans. Moderate inhibition of bacterial thioredoxin reductase was confirmed for selected complexes, indicating that inhibition of this enzyme might be a contributing factor to the antibacterial effects.

SUMMARY: Benzoic acid‐derived compounds, such as polyprenylated benzophenones and xanthones, attract the interest of scientists due to challenging chemical structures and diverse biological activities. The genus Hypericum is of high medicinal value, as exemplified by H. perforatum. It is rich in benzophenone and xanthone derivatives, the biosynthesis of which requires the catalytic activity of benzoate‐coenzyme A (benzoate‐CoA) ligase (BZL), which activates benzoic acid to benzoyl‐CoA. Despite remarkable research so far done on benzoic acid biosynthesis in planta, all previous structural studies of BZL genes and proteins are exclusively related to benzoate‐degrading microorganisms. Here, a transcript for a plant acyl‐activating enzyme (AAE) was cloned from xanthone‐producing Hypericum calycinum cell cultures using transcriptomic resources. An increase in the HcAAE1 transcript level preceded xanthone accumulation after elicitor treatment, as previously observed with other pathway‐related genes. Subcellular localization of reporter fusions revealed the dual localization of HcAAE1 to cytosol and peroxisomes owing to a type 2 peroxisomal targeting signal. This result suggests the generation of benzoyl‐CoA in Hypericum by the CoA‐dependent non‐β‐oxidative route. A luciferase‐based substrate specificity assay and the kinetic characterization indicated that HcAAE1 exhibits promiscuous substrate preference, with benzoic acid being the sole aromatic substrate accepted. Unlike 4‐coumarate‐CoA ligase and cinnamate‐CoA ligase enzymes, HcAAE1 did not accept 4‐coumaric and cinnamic acids, respectively. The substrate preference was corroborated by in silico modeling, which indicated valid docking of both benzoic acid and its adenosine monophosphate intermediate in the HcAAE1/BZL active site cavity.

Malaria is a widespread infectious disease that threatens a large proportion of the population in tropical and subtropical areas. Given the emerging resistance against the current standard anti-malaria chemotherapeutics, the development of alternative drugs is urgently needed. New anti-malarials representing chemotypes unrelated to currently used drugs have an increased potential for displaying novel mechanisms of action and thus exhibit low risk of cross-resistance against established drugs. Phenotypic screening of a small library (32 kinase-inhibitor analogs) against Plasmodium falciparum NF54-luc asexual erythrocytic stage parasites identified a diarylthioether structurally unrelated to registered drugs. Hit expansion led to a series in which the most potent congener displayed nanomolar antiparasitic activity (IC₅₀ = 39 nM, 3D7 strain). Structure–activity relationship analysis revealed a thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine on one side of the thioether linkage as a prerequisite for antiplasmodial activity. Within the series, the oxazole derivative KuWei173 showed high potency (IC₅₀ = 75 nM; 3D7 strain), good solubility in aqueous solvents (1.33 mM), and >100-fold selectivity toward human cell lines. Rescue experiments identified inhibition of the plasmodial coenzyme A synthesis as a possible mode of action for this compound class. The class of antiplasmodial bishetarylthioethers reported here has been shown to interfere with plasmodial coenzyme A synthesis, a mechanism of action not yet exploited for registered anti-malarial drugs. The oxazole congener KuWei173 displays double-digit nanomolar antiplasmodial activity, selectivity against human cell lines, high drug likeness, and thus represents a promising chemical starting point for further drug development.

The preparation of the organoboron compounds 4-(2-hydroxy-2,2-diphenylacetyl)-6,6-pentamethylene-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxa-4-aza-2-boracyclohexane, 6, 4-(2,2-difluoro-5,5-diphenyl-1,3-dioxa-2-borata-4-cyclopentylidene)-6,6-pentamethylene-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxa-4-azonia-2-boracyclohexane, 14a, and 4-[2,2-difluoro-5,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxa-2-borata-4-cyclopentylidene]-6,6-pentamethylene-2-phenyl-1,3-dioxa-4-azonia-2-boracyclohexane, 14b, are reported. Crystals of 6 are triclinic, [ ], a = 8.7348(5), b = 11.0529(6), c = 14.104(1) Å, α = 65.781(5)°, β = 72.147(6)°, γ = 79.928(6)°, Z = 2, ρ_c = 1.130 g cm⁻³, and crystals of 14b•1/2 CH₂Cl₂ are also triclinic, [ ], a = 11.799(1), b = 13.464(2), c = 10.047(2) Å, α = 103.28(2)°, β = 92.60(2)°, γ = 79.752(8)°, Z = 2, ρ_c = 1.285 g cm⁻³. The structures were solved by direct methods and were refined by full-matrix least-squares procedures to final R values of 0.040 and 0.060 for 3881 and 3221 reflections with I ≥ 3σ(I), respectively. Compound 6 has a six-membered cycloboronate structure, bond distances involving the trigonal planar boron atom being (N)O—B = 1.390(2), (C)O—B = 1.345(2), and B—C(phenyl) = 1.557(2) Å. Compound 14b represents a derivative of 6 in which an intramolecularly hydrogen-bonded hydrogen atom has been replaced by a difluoroboron moiety and represents the first structurally characterized compound containing both a phenylboronate and a difluoroboron chelate ring within the same molecule. Bond lengths in 14b involving the trigonal planar boron atom are (N)O—B = 1.403(5), (C)O—B = 1.326(5), and B—C(phenyl) = 1.550(5) Å and those involving the tetrahedral boron atom are O—B = 1.427(5) and 1.547(5), F—B = 1.353(5) and 1.382(5) Å.