Publications by authors named "Stephen E Webber"

Dysregulated translation of mRNA plays a major role in tumorigenesis. Mitogen-activated protein kinase interacting kinases (MNK)1/2 are key regulators of mRNA translation integrating signals from oncogenic and immune signaling pathways through phosphorylation of eIF4E and other mRNA binding proteins. Modulation of these key effector proteins regulates mRNA, which controls tumor/stromal cell signaling.

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We present Illuminator, a user-friendly web front end to computational models such as docking and 3D shape similarity calculations. Illuminator was specifically created to allow non-experts to design and submit molecules to computational chemistry programs. As such it provides a simple user interface allowing users to submit jobs starting from a 2D structure.

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A novel series of non-nucleoside small molecules containing a tricyclic dihydropyridinone structural motif was identified as potent HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors. Driven by structure-based design and building on our previous efforts in related series of molecules, we undertook extensive SAR studies, in which we identified a number of metabolically stable and very potent compounds in genotype 1a and 1b replicon assays. This work culminated in the discovery of several inhibitors, which combined potent in vitro antiviral activity against both 1a and 1b genotypes, metabolic stability, good oral bioavailability, and high C(12) (PO)/EC(50) ratios.

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The discovery of 5,5'- and 6,6'-dialkyl-5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-ones as potent inhibitors of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) is described. Several of these agents also display potent antiviral activity in cell culture experiments (EC50 <0.10 microM).

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5,6-Dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-one analogs were discovered as a novel class of inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. Among these, compound 4ad displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays (IC(50) (1b)<10nM; IC(50) (1a)<25nM, EC(50) (1b)=16nM), good in vitro DMPK properties, as well as moderate oral bioavailability in monkeys (F=24%).

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Structural studies of antibiotics not only provide a shortcut to medicine allowing for rational structure-based drug design, but may also capture snapshots of dynamic intermediates that become 'frozen' after inhibitor binding. Myxopyronin inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase (RNAP) by an unknown mechanism. Here we report the structure of dMyx--a desmethyl derivative of myxopyronin B--complexed with a Thermus thermophilus RNAP holoenzyme.

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The synthesis of 4-(1',1'-dioxo-1',4'-dihydro-1'lambda(6)-benzo[1',2',4']thiadiazin-3'-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-ones bearing 6-amino substituents as potent inhibitors of the HCV RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (NS5B) is described. Several of these agents also display potent antiviral activity in cell culture experiments (EC(50)<0.10 microM).

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Hexahydro-pyrrolo- and hexahydro-1H-pyrido[1,2-b]pyridazin-2-one analogs were discovered as a novel class of inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. Among these, compound 4c displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays (IC(50) (1b) <10 nM; EC(50) (1b)=34 nM) as well as good stability towards human liver microsomes (HLM t(1/2) =59 min).

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4-(1,1-Dioxo-1,4-dihydro-1lambda(6)-benzo[1,4]thiazin-3-yl)-5-hydroxy-2H-pyridazin-3-one analogs were discovered as a novel class of inhibitors of HCV NS5B polymerase. Structure-based design led to the identification of compound 3a that displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays (1b IC(50)<10 nM; 1b EC(50)=1.1 nM) as well as good stability toward human liver microsomes (HLM t(1/2)>60 min).

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A novel series of HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitors comprising 1,1-dioxoisothiazoles and benzo[b]thiophene-1,1-dioxides were designed, synthesized, and evaluated. SAR studies guided by structure-based design led to the identification of a number of potent NS5B inhibitors with nanomolar IC(50) values. The most potent compound exhibited IC(50) less than 10nM against the genotype 1b HCV polymerase and EC(50) of 70 nM against a genotype 1b replicon in cell culture.

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Pyrrolo[1,2-b]pyridazin-2-one analogs were discovered as a novel class of inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. Structure-based design led to the discovery of compound 3 k, which displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays (IC(50) (1b)<10nM; EC(50) (1b)=12 nM) as well as good stability towards human liver microsomes (HLM t(1/2)>60 min).

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5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. Lead optimization led to the discovery of compound 3a, which displayed potent inhibitory activities in biochemical and replicon assays [IC(50) (1b)<10nM; IC(50) (1a)=22 nM; EC(50) (1b)=5nM], good stability toward human liver microsomes (HLM t(1/2)>60 min), and high ratios of liver to plasma concentrations 12h after a single oral administration to rats.

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5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as potent inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase focusing on the optimization of their drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) profiles. This investigation led to the discovery of potent inhibitors with improved DMPK properties.

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Translation inhibitors of the 3,5-diamino-piperidine series act as aminoglycoside mimetics that inhibit bacterial growth. Here we show antibacterial SAR in the presence and absence of serum with a particular focus toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

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5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. The synthesis, structure-activity relationships (SAR), metabolic stability, and structure-based design approach for this new class of compounds are discussed.

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5-Hydroxy-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of genotype 1 HCV NS5B polymerase. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) associated with variation of the pyridazinone 2- and 6-substituents is discussed. The synthesis and metabolic stability of this new class of compounds are also described.

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ANA975, a 5-amino-3-beta -D-ribofuranosyl-3H-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-2-one derivative, was synthesized in the search of an oral prodrug of isatoribine, a small molecule toll-like receptor 7 (TLR-7) agonist. Several strategies were studied to enable the kilogram-scale synthesis of ANA975. Three general total syntheses are described.

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W/C emulsions were stabilized using hydrophobic silica particles adsorbed at the interface, resulting in average droplet diameters as low as 7.5 microm. A porous cross-linked shell was formed about a hydrophilic (colloidal and fumed) silica core with a trifunctional silylating agent, (heptadecafluoro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrodecyl)triethyoxysilane, to render the particles CO(2)-philic.

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Based upon observations from our initial findings, additional myxopyronin B analogs have been prepared and tested for in vitro inhibitory activity against DNA-dependent RNA polymerase and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

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Our previous photophysical study of water soluble perylene diimides (WS-PDIs) has suggested that WS-PDIs are present in aqueous solution in partially aggregated form (Tang, T. J.; Qu, J.

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Multilayer films of water-soluble anionic and cationic perylene diimide (PDI) moieties have been prepared using the molecular layer-by-layer method described in an earlier publication (Tang, T. J.; Qu, J.

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Aminoglycoside antibiotics target an internal RNA loop within the bacterial ribosomal decoding site. Here, we describe the synthesis and SAR of novel 3,5-diamino-piperidine derivatives as aminoglycoside mimetics, and show they act as inhibitors of bacterial translation and growth.

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Recently the synthesis of water-soluble and fluorescent perylene diimides has been reported (Müllen, K.; et al. Angew.

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Electrostatic repulsion stabilizes micrometer-sized water droplets with spacings greater than 10 microm in an ultralow dielectric medium, CO2 (epsilon = 1.5), at elevated pressures. The morphology of the water/CO2 emulsion is characterized by optical microscopy and laser diffraction as a function of height.

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