Discovery of CC-930, an orally active anti-fibrotic JNK inhibitor.

In this Letter we describe the discovery of potent, selective, and orally active aminopurine JNK inhibitors. Improving the physico-chemical properties as well as increasing the potency and selectivity of a subseries with rat plasma exposure, led to the identification of four structurally diverse inhibitors. Differentiation based on PK profiles in multiple species as well as activity in a chronic efficacy model led to the identification of 1 (CC-930) as a development candidate, which is currently in Phase II clinical trial for IPF.

Aminopurine based JNK inhibitors for the prevention of ischemia reperfusion injury.

In this Letter we describe the optimization of an aminopurine lead (1) with modest potency and poor overall kinase selectivity which led to the identification of a series of potent, selective JNK inhibitors. Improvement in kinase selectivity was enabled by introduction of an aliphatic side chain at the C-2 position. CC-359 (2) was selected as a potential clinical candidate for diseases manifested by ischemia reperfusion injury.

Substrate recognition and ubiquitination of SCFSkp2/Cks1 ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase.

p27, an important cell cycle regulator, blocks the G(1)/S transition in cells by binding and inhibiting Cdk2/cyclin A and Cdk2/cyclin E complexes (Cdk2/E). Ubiquitination and subsequent degradation play a critical role in regulating the levels of p27 during cell cycle progression. Here we provide evidence suggesting that both Cdk2/E and phosphorylation of Thr(187) on p27 are essential for the recognition of p27 by the SCF(Skp2/Cks1) complex, the ubiquitin-protein isopeptide ligase (E3).

In vitro SCFbeta-Trcp1-mediated IkappaBalpha ubiquitination assay for high-throughput screen.

An increasing body of evidence indicates that constitutive activation of NF-kappaB contributes to tumorigenesis and inflammation. Ubiquitination and degradation of IkappaB plays an essential role in NF-kappaB activation. Here we describe an in vitro IkappaBalpha ubiquitination assay system in which purified E1, E2, SCF(beta-Trcp1) E3, IkappaBalpha, IKK2, and Ub were used to generate ubiquitinated IkappaBalpha.

Mechanism-based inactivation of thioredoxin reductase from Plasmodium falciparum by Mannich bases. Implication for cytotoxicity.

Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is the homodimeric flavoenzyme that catalyzes reduction of thioredoxin disulfide (Trx). For Plasmodium falciparum, a causative agent of tropical malaria, TrxR is an essential protein which has been validated as a drug target. The high-throughput screening of 350000 compounds has identified Mannich bases as a new class of TrxR mechanism-based inhibitors.