Pharmacological targeting of MTHFD2 suppresses acute myeloid leukemia by inducing thymidine depletion and replication stress.

The folate metabolism enzyme MTHFD2 (methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase) is consistently overexpressed in cancer but its roles are not fully characterized, and current candidate inhibitors have limited potency for clinical development. In the present study, we demonstrate a role for MTHFD2 in DNA replication and genomic stability in cancer cells, and perform a drug screen to identify potent and selective nanomolar MTHFD2 inhibitors; protein cocrystal structures demonstrated binding to the active site of MTHFD2 and target engagement. MTHFD2 inhibitors reduced replication fork speed and induced replication stress followed by S-phase arrest and apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo, with a therapeutic window spanning four orders of magnitude compared with nontumorigenic cells.

NUDT15-mediated hydrolysis limits the efficacy of anti-HCMV drug ganciclovir.

Ganciclovir (GCV) is the first-line therapy against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), a widespread infection that is particularly dangerous for immunodeficient individuals. Closely resembling deoxyguanosine triphosphate, the tri-phosphorylated metabolite of GCV (GCV-TP) is preferentially incorporated by the viral DNA polymerase, thereby terminating chain extension and, eventually, viral replication. However, the treatment outcome of GCV varies greatly among individuals, therefore warranting better understanding of its metabolism.

Preclinical characterization of acyl sulfonimidamides: potential carboxylic acid bioisosteres with tunable properties.

Herein we present the preclinical characterization of novel compounds containing the linear acyl sulfonimidamide functionality. Specifically, we studied the pKa , lipophilicity, in vitro metabolic stability, plasma protein binding, Caco-2 permeability, and aqueous solubility for nine aryl acyl sulfonimidamides. In comparison with widely used carboxylic acid bioisosteres, the acyl sulfonimidamides were found to be less acidic and more lipophilic depending on the substitution pattern in the studied compounds.

Inhibition of Insulin-Regulated Aminopeptidase (IRAP) by Arylsulfonamides.

The inhibition of insulin-regulated aminopeptidase (IRAP, EC 3.4.11.

Synthesis of novel aryl and heteroaryl acyl sulfonimidamides via Pd-catalyzed carbonylation using a nongaseous precursor.

Hitherto unexplored aryl and heteroaryl acyl sulfonimidamides have been prepared through the development of a new Pd-catalyzed carbonylation protocol. This novel methodology, employing sulfonimidamides as nucleophiles and CO gas ex situ released from solid Mo(CO)6 in a sealed two-chamber system, yields a wide range of carbamate protected acyl sulfonimidamides in good to excellent yields.

Studies on Pd/NiFe(2)O(4) catalyzed ligand-free Suzuki reaction in aqueous phase: synthesis of biaryls, terphenyls and polyaryls.

Palladium supported on nickel ferrite (Pd/NiF(2)O(4)) was found to be a highly active catalyst for the Suzuki coupling reaction between various aryl halides and arylboronic acids. The reaction gave excellent yields (70-98%) under ligand free conditions in a 1:1 DMF/H(2)O solvent mixture, in short reaction times (10-60 min). The catalyst could be recovered easily by applying an external magnetic field.