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Nature Reviews. Drug Discovery Sep 2023The development of bioactive small molecules as probes or drug candidates requires discovery platforms that enable access to chemical diversity and can quickly reveal... (Review)
Review
The development of bioactive small molecules as probes or drug candidates requires discovery platforms that enable access to chemical diversity and can quickly reveal new ligands for a target of interest. Within the past 15 years, DNA-encoded library (DEL) technology has matured into a widely used platform for small-molecule discovery, yielding a wide variety of bioactive ligands for many therapeutically relevant targets. DELs offer many advantages compared with traditional screening methods, including efficiency of screening, easily multiplexed targets and library selections, minimized resources needed to evaluate an entire DEL and large library sizes. This Review provides accounts of recently described small molecules discovered from DELs, including their initial identification, optimization and validation of biological properties including suitability for clinical applications.
Topics: Humans; Small Molecule Libraries; Drug Discovery; DNA; Ligands; Gene Library
PubMed: 37328653
DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00713-6 -
Theranostics 2021Low back pain (LBP) is a major reason for disability, and symptomatic intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) contributes to roughly 40% of all LBP cases. Current... (Review)
Review
Low back pain (LBP) is a major reason for disability, and symptomatic intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration (IDD) contributes to roughly 40% of all LBP cases. Current treatment modalities for IDD include conservative and surgical strategies. Unfortunately, there is a significant number of patients in which conventional therapies fail with the result that these patients remain suffering from chronic pain and disability. Furthermore, none of the current therapies successfully address the underlying biological problem - the symptomatic degenerated disc. Both spinal fusion as well as total disc replacement devices reduce spinal motion and are associated with adjacent segment disease. Thus, there is an unmet need for novel and stage-adjusted therapies to combat IDD. Several new treatment options aiming to regenerate the IVD are currently under investigation. The most common approaches include tissue engineering, growth factor therapy, gene therapy, and cell-based treatments according to the stage of degeneration. Recently, the regenerative activity of small molecules (low molecular weight organic compounds with less than 900 daltons) on IDD was demonstrated. However, small molecule-based therapy in IDD is still in its infancy due to limited knowledge about the mechanisms that control different cell signaling pathways of IVD homeostasis. Small molecules can act as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidative, and anabolic agents, which can prevent further degeneration of disc cells and enhance their regeneration. This review pursues to give a comprehensive overview of small molecules, focusing on low molecular weight organic compounds, and their potential utilization in patients with IDD based on recent , and pre-clinical studies.
Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Humans; Inflammation; Intervertebral Disc; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration; Oxidative Stress; Regeneration
PubMed: 33391459
DOI: 10.7150/thno.48987 -
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical... Apr 2023Activation of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) is a crucial non-IgE pathway for mast cell activation associated with allergic reactions and...
BACKGROUND
Activation of Mas-related G protein-coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) is a crucial non-IgE pathway for mast cell activation associated with allergic reactions and inflammation. Only a few peptides and small compounds targeting MRGPRX2 have been reported, with limited information on their pharmacologic activity.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to develop novel small molecule MRGPRX2 antagonists to treat MRGPRX2-mediated allergies and inflammation.
METHODS
A computational approach was used to design novel small molecules as MRGPRX2 antagonists. The short-listed molecules were synthesized and characterized by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry as well as nuclear magnetic resonance. Inhibitory activity on MRGPRX2 signaling was assessed in vitro by using functional bioassays (β-hexosaminidase, calcium flux, and chemokine synthesis) and receptor activation assays (β-arrestin recruitment and Western blot analysis) in human LAD-2 mast cells and HTLA cells. In vivo effects of the novel MRGPRX2 antagonists were assessed using a mouse model of acute allergy and systemic anaphylaxis.
RESULTS
The novel small molecules demonstrated higher binding affinity with MRGPRX2 in the docking study. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration is in the low micromolar range (5-21 μM). The small molecules inhibited not only the early phase of mast cell activation but also the late phase, associated with chemokine and prostaglandin release. Further, Western blot analysis revealed inhibition of downstream phospholipase C-γ, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, and Akt signaling pathway. Moreover, in the mouse models of allergies, small molecule administration effectively blocks acute, systemic allergic reactions and inflammation and prevents systemic anaphylaxis.
CONCLUSION
The small molecules might hold a significant therapeutic promise to treat MRGPRX2-mediated allergies and inflammation.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Humans; Anaphylaxis; Disease Models, Animal; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Chemokines; Mast Cells; Inflammation; Receptors, Neuropeptide; Cell Degranulation; Nerve Tissue Proteins
PubMed: 36581009
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.12.805 -
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences :... Mar 2021As a naturally occurring class of gene regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted much attention as promising targets for therapeutic development. However, RNAs... (Review)
Review
As a naturally occurring class of gene regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted much attention as promising targets for therapeutic development. However, RNAs including miRNAs have long been considered undruggable, and most efforts have been devoted to using synthetic oligonucleotides to regulate miRNAs. Encouragingly, recent findings have revealed that miRNAs can also be drugged with small molecules that directly target miRNAs. In this review paper, we give a summary of recently emerged small-molecule inhibitors (SMIs) and small-molecule degraders (SMDs) for miRNAs. SMIs are small molecules that directly bind to miRNAs to inhibit their biogenesis, and SMDs are bifunctional small molecules that upon binding to miRNAs induce miRNA degradation. Strategies for discovering SMIs and developing SMDs were summarized. Applications of SMIs and SMDs in miRNA inhibition and cancer therapy were also introduced. Overall, SMIs and SMDs introduced here have high potency and specificity in miRNA inhibition. We envision that these small molecules will pave the way for developing novel therapeutics toward miRNAs that were previously considered undruggable.
Topics: Animals; Gene Expression Regulation; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Humans; MicroRNAs; Molecular Structure; Nucleic Acid Conformation; RNA Stability; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 33052435
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03676-8 -
Cell Chemical Biology Mar 2021Profiling approaches such as gene expression or proteome profiling generate small-molecule bioactivity profiles that describe a perturbed cellular state in a rather... (Review)
Review
Profiling approaches such as gene expression or proteome profiling generate small-molecule bioactivity profiles that describe a perturbed cellular state in a rather unbiased manner and have become indispensable tools in the evaluation of bioactive small molecules. Automated imaging and image analysis can record morphological alterations that are induced by small molecules through the detection of hundreds of morphological features in high-throughput experiments. Thus, morphological profiling has gained growing attention in academia and the pharmaceutical industry as it enables detection of bioactivity in compound collections in a broader biological context in the early stages of compound development and the drug-discovery process. Profiling may be used successfully to predict mode of action or targets of unexplored compounds and to uncover unanticipated activity for already characterized small molecules. Here, we review the reported approaches to morphological profiling and the kind of bioactivity that can be detected so far and, thus, predicted.
Topics: Drug Discovery; Drug Industry; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Humans; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 33740434
DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2021.02.012 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2022Unsatisfactory physicochemical properties of macromolecular drugs seriously hinder their application in tumor immunotherapy. However, these problems can be effectively... (Review)
Review
Unsatisfactory physicochemical properties of macromolecular drugs seriously hinder their application in tumor immunotherapy. However, these problems can be effectively solved by small-molecule compounds. In the promising field of small-molecule drug development, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) offers a novel mode of action in the interactions between small molecules and therapeutic targets (mainly proteins). This revolutionary technology has shown considerable impact on several proteins related to tumor survival but is rarely exploited in proteins associated with immuno-oncology up until now. This review attempts to comprehensively summarize the well-studied and less-developed immunological targets available for PROTAC technology, as well as some targets to be explored, aiming to provide more options and opportunities for the development of small-molecule-based tumor immunotherapy. In addition, some novel directions that can magnify and broaden the protein degradation efficiency are mentioned to improve PROTAC design in the future.
Topics: Drug Development; Immunotherapy; Neoplasms; Proteolysis
PubMed: 36080223
DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175439 -
Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Target protein degrader is a new paradigm in the small molecule drug discovery field and relates to the term 'event-driven pharmacology'. Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3... (Review)
Review
Target protein degrader is a new paradigm in the small molecule drug discovery field and relates to the term 'event-driven pharmacology'. Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is a significant target for treating acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A few FLT3 kinase inhibitors are currently used in the clinic for AML patients. However, resistance to current FLT3 inhibitors has emerged, and strategies to overcome this resistance are required. Small molecules downregulating FLT3 protein level are reported, exhibiting antileukemic effects against AML cell lines. Small molecules with various mechanisms such as Hsp90 inhibition, proteasome inhibition, RET inhibition, and USP10 inhibition are explained. In addition, reports of FLT3 as a client of Hsp90, current knowledge of the ubiquitin proteasome system for FLT3 degradation, the relationship with FLT3 phosphorylation status and susceptibility of FLT3 degradation are discussed.
PubMed: 35337118
DOI: 10.3390/ph15030320 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2019Multicomponent Reactions appear to be ideal for any form of synthesis, because of their numerous advantages in terms of sustainability and selectivity in building up...
Multicomponent Reactions appear to be ideal for any form of synthesis, because of their numerous advantages in terms of sustainability and selectivity in building up complex molecular architectures, with high molecular diversity. This Special Issue collects seven contributions which expand our knowledge about Multicomponent Reactions, providing a good overview about innovative reactivities and applications.
Topics: Drug Design; Drug Discovery; Humans; Molecular Structure; Small Molecule Libraries
PubMed: 31252514
DOI: 10.3390/molecules24132372 -
SLAS Discovery : Advancing Life... Apr 2021Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a recent strategy, utilizing the cell's proteostasis machinery to deplete specific proteins. This represents a paradigm shift in... (Review)
Review
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a recent strategy, utilizing the cell's proteostasis machinery to deplete specific proteins. This represents a paradigm shift in early drug discovery, away from occupancy-driven to event-driven mechanisms.Recent efforts have focused on the development of proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). These heterobifunctional molecules combine a target-specific binding moiety linked to an E3 ligase ligand and trigger selective ubiquitination of the target protein, marking it for proteasomal degradation. While these molecules can be highly efficacious, they generally have unfavorable physicochemical properties due to their large size.In contrast, smaller molecules that induce degradation could represent an attractive, simple option to overcoming the limitations of both traditional modulators and PROTACs. These molecules may have a range of mechanisms: recruitment of an E3 ligase (molecular glues), introduction of hydrophobic areas, or inducing local unfolding, each of which triggers degradation.We recently completed a high-throughput screen of 111,000 compounds in a cellular HiBiT assay in an effort to identify such molecules. Preliminary analysis indicates that we have been able to identify alternative small-molecule degraders. We highlight methods for triage, characterization, selectivity, and mode of action. In summary, we believe that these types of small-molecule degraders, which may possibly have more acceptable physicochemical properties than the inherently larger heterobifunctional molecules, are an exciting approach for inducing TPD, and we illustrate that a general screening approach can be successful in identifying useful start points for developing such molecules.
Topics: Drug Discovery; Eukaryotic Cells; High-Throughput Screening Assays; Humans; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Ligands; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Binding; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Protein Unfolding; Proteolysis; Proteomics; Proteostasis; Small Molecule Libraries; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; Ubiquitination
PubMed: 33632029
DOI: 10.1177/2472555221991104 -
Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica. B Dec 2022Immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Current cancer immunotherapies are mostly antibody-based, thus possessing advantages in regard to... (Review)
Review
Immunotherapy has led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer. Current cancer immunotherapies are mostly antibody-based, thus possessing advantages in regard to pharmacodynamics (., specificity and efficacy). However, they have limitations in terms of pharmacokinetics including long half-lives, poor tissue/tumor penetration, and little/no oral bioavailability. In addition, therapeutic antibodies are immunogenic, thus may cause unwanted adverse effects. Therefore, researchers have shifted their efforts towards the development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy, as small molecules may overcome the above disadvantages associated with antibodies. Further, small molecule-based immunomodulators and therapeutic antibodies are complementary modalities for cancer treatment, and may be combined to elicit synergistic effects. Recent years have witnessed the rapid development of small molecule-based cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we describe the current progress in small molecule-based immunomodulators (inhibitors/agonists/degraders) for cancer therapy, including those targeting PD-1/PD-L1, chemokine receptors, stimulator of interferon genes (STING), Toll-like receptor (TLR), etc. The tumorigenesis mechanism of various targets and their respective modulators that have entered clinical trials are also summarized.
PubMed: 36562003
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.11.007