Identification of potent, nonabsorbable agonists of the calcium-sensing receptor for GI-specific administration.

Modulation of gastrointestinal nutrient sensing pathways provides a promising a new approach for the treatment of metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity. The calcium-sensing receptor has been identified as a key receptor involved in mineral and amino acid nutrient sensing and thus is an attractive target for modulation in the intestine. Herein we describe the optimization of gastrointestinally restricted calcium-sensing receptor agonists starting from a 3-aminopyrrolidine-containing template leading to the identification of GI-restricted agonist 19 (GSK3004774).

Discovery of 4-Amino-8-quinoline Carboxamides as Novel, Submicromolar Inhibitors of NAD-Hydrolyzing Enzyme CD38.

Starting from the micromolar 8-quinoline carboxamide high-throughput screening hit 1a, a systematic exploration of the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the 4-, 6-, and 8-substituents of the quinoline ring resulted in the identification of approximately 10-100-fold more potent human CD38 inhibitors. Several of these molecules also exhibited pharmacokinetic parameters suitable for in vivo animal studies, including low clearances and decent oral bioavailability. Two of these CD38 inhibitors, 1ah and 1ai, were shown to elevate NAD tissue levels in liver and muscle in a diet-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6 mouse model.

Enzymatic- and iridium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of a benzothiazepinylphosphonate bile acid transporter inhibitor.

A synthesis of the benzothiazepine phosphonic acid 3, employing both enzymatic and transition metal catalysis, is described. The quaternary chiral center of 3 was obtained by resolution of ethyl (2-ethyl)norleucinate (4) with porcine liver esterase (PLE) immobilized on Sepabeads. The resulting (R)-amino acid (5) was converted in two steps to aminosulfate 7, which was used for construction of the benzothiazepine ring.

Discovery of a highly potent, nonabsorbable apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter inhibitor (GSK2330672) for treatment of type 2 diabetes.

The apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) transports bile salts from the lumen of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to the liver via the portal vein. Multiple pharmaceutical companies have exploited the physiological link between ASBT and hepatic cholesterol metabolism, which led to the clinical investigation of ASBT inhibitors as lipid-lowering agents. While modest lipid effects were demonstrated, the potential utility of ASBT inhibitors for treatment of type 2 diabetes has been relatively unexplored.

The human ACC2 CT-domain C-terminus is required for full functionality and has a novel twist.

Inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) may prevent lipid-induced insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, making the enzyme an attractive pharmaceutical target. Although the enzyme is highly conserved amongst animals, only the yeast enzyme structure is available for rational drug design. The use of biophysical assays has permitted the identification of a specific C-terminal truncation of the 826-residue human ACC2 carboxyl transferase (CT) domain that is both functionally competent to bind inhibitors and crystallizes in their presence.

Substrate specificity and novel selective inhibitors of TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) from two-dimensional substrate mapping.

We report a systematic analysis of the P1' and P2' substrate specificity of TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) using a peptide library and a novel analytical method, and we use the substrate specificity information to design novel reverse hydroxamate inhibitors. Initial truncation studies, using the amino acid sequence around the cleavage site in precursor-TNF-alpha, showed that good turnover was obtained with the peptide DNP-LAQAVRSS-NH2. Based on this result, 1000 different peptide substrates of the form Biotin-LAQA-P1'-P2'-SSK(DNP)-NH2 were prepared, with 50 different natural and unnatural amino acids at P1' in combination with 20 different amino acids at P2'.

Hantzsch synthesis of pyrazolo[1',2':1,2]pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridines: partial agonists of the calcitonin receptor.

Small molecule calcitonin receptor agonists are of potential utility in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Bicycloeneamine 1 was a useful intermediate in the synthesis of pyrazolopyridine calcitonin receptor partial agonists 2a-f. Dihydropyridines 10a-c were conveniently prepared by reaction of 1 with Knoevenagel adducts 9a-c, or in the case of 10d, by a three component reaction with 1, beta-ketoester 7b, and aldehyde 8c.