Discovery of benzimidazole derivatives as potent and selective aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) inhibitors with glucose consumption improving activity.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) plays vital physiological and toxicological functions in many areas, such as CNS, inflammation, metabolic disorders, and cancers. Overexpression of ALDH1A1 has been disclosed to play an important role in obesity, diabetes and other diseases, indicating the potential need for the identification and development of small molecule ALDH1A1 inhibitors. Herein, a series of benzimidazole derivatives was designed, synthesized and evaluated.

Specific non-genetic IAP-based protein erasers (SNIPERs) as a potential therapeutic strategy.

As a newly emerged technology, PROTAC (proteolysis targeting chimera) is a promising therapeutic strategy for varieties of diseases. Unlike small molecule inhibitors, PROTACs catalytically induce target proteins degradation, including currently "undruggable" target proteins. In addition, PROTACs can be a potentially successful strategy to overcome drug resistance.

Discovery and development of selective aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) inhibitors.

ALDH1A1, one important member of 19 ALDHs, can metabolize reactive aldehydes to their corresponding carboxylic acid derivatives and play important physiological and toxicological roles in many areas, including CNS, metabolic disorders, and cancers. Overexpression of ALDH1A1 correlates with poor prognosis and tumor aggressiveness, is associated with drug resistance in traditional chemotherapy for cancer treatment and contributes to obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. So, inhibition of ALDH1A1 may offer new therapeutic options for patients with cancer, obesity, diabetes, and inflammation.

Novel strategies targeting bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) for cancer drug discovery.

As epigenetic readers of the histone code, BRD4 is the most extensively and thoroughly studied member of BET family, which plays a critical role in many human diseases including cancer, inflammation, HIV infections, CNS disorders, and cardiovascular diseases and has been proved to be a promising therapeutic target for these diseases. To date, many small-molecule BRD4 inhibitors have been discovered, and some of them are in clinical trials for the treatment of different diseases. Due to the lack of selectivity of these small molecules for BRD4 BD1, BRD4 BD2 and/or other BET proteins, they exert some toxic side effects, including dizziness, nausea, and vomit.

Design, synthesis of 1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4-diones as potent and selective aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) inhibitors with glucose consumption improving activity.

LDH1A1, one of 19 NAD(P)-dependent aldehyde dehydrogenases, participates in multiple metabolic pathways and has been indicated to play an important role in obesity and diabetes. In this study, a series of 1,3-dimethylpyrimidine-2,4-diones were designed, synthesized and evaluated as novel selective aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 inhibitors. Among them, compounds 46, 50, 53, 56 and 57 exhibited excellent inhibitory activity against ALDH1A1 with IC values in the low nanomolar range and high selectivity over ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, ALDH2 and ALDH3A1.

Discovery of coumarin-based selective aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 inhibitors with glucose metabolism improving activity.

Overexpression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) is associated with the occurrence and development of obesity and insulin resistance. Herein, a series of coumarin-based ALDH1A1 inhibitors were designed, synthesized and evaluated. Among them, compounds 10, 14 and 26 exhibited potent inhibitory activity against ALDH1A1 and high selectivity over ALDH1A2, ALDH1A3, ALDH2 and ALDH3A1.