Design, synthesis, and qualitative structure-activity evaluations of novel β-secretase inhibitors as potential Alzheimer's drug leads

Taleb H. Al-Tel, Mohammad H. Semreen, Raed A. Al-Qawasmeh, Marco F. Schmidt, Raafat El-Awadi, Mustafa Ardah, Rania Zaarour, Shashidhar N. Rao, Omar El-Agnaf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have identified highly selective imidazopyr-idines armed with benzimidazol and/or arylimidazole as potent β-secretase inhibitors. The most effective and selective analogues demonstrated low nanomolar potency for the BACE1 enzyme as measured by FRET and cell-based (ELISA) assays and exhibited comparable affinity (K I) and high ligand efficiency (LE). In addition, these motifs were highly selective (>200) against the structurally related aspartyl protease BACE2. Our design strategy followed a traditional SAR approach and was supported by molecular modeling studies based on the previously reported hydroxyethylene transition state inhibitor derived from iso-phthalic acid I. Of the most potent compounds, 34 displayed an IC 50 for BACE1 of 18 nM and exhibited cellular activity with an EC 50 of 37 nM in the cell-based ELISA assay, as well as high affinity (K I = 17 nM) and ligand efficiency (LE = 1.7 kJ/mol). Compound 34 was found to be 204-fold more selective for BACE1 compared to the closely related aspartyl protease BACE2. (Figure presented)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8373-8385
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume54
Issue number24
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 22 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Drug Discovery

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