The identification of a novel lead class for phosphodiesterase 2 inhibition by fragment-based drug design

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2017 Dec 1;27(23):5167-5171. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2017.10.054. Epub 2017 Oct 23.

Abstract

We have identified a novel PDE2 inhibitor series using fragment-based screening. Pyrazolopyrimidine fragment 1, while possessing weak potency (Ki = 22.4 μM), exhibited good binding efficiencies (LBE = 0.49, LLE = 4.48) to serve as a start for structure-based drug design. With the assistance of molecular modeling and X-ray crystallography, this fragment was developed into a series of potent PDE2 inhibitors with good physicochemical properties. Compound 16, a PDE2 selective inhibitor, was identified that exhibited favorable rat pharmacokinetic properties.

Keywords: Fragment-based screening; PDE2; Phosphodiesterase 2; Structure-based drug design.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2 / metabolism
  • Drug Design*
  • Half-Life
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Isoenzymes / metabolism
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry
  • Pyrazoles / metabolism
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacokinetics
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / metabolism
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacokinetics
  • Rats
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • pyrazolylpyrimidine
  • Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 2