Aim: To develop probes for detecting the binding specificity between beta-secretase and substrate, and provide reliable biological activity data for further researching encircling substrate-based inhibitors.
Methods: To prepare the inhibitors, the hydroxyethylene (HE) segment including P1 and P1'was synthesized after multi-step reactions; the combination of all segments was then completed through solid phase synthesis. Recombinant human beta-secretase ectodomain (amino acid residues 1-460) was expressed as a secreted protein with a C-terminal His tag in insect cells using baculovirus infection, and all compounds were evaluated in this beta-secretase enzyme assay. In order to understand the interaction in detail, the theoretical methods, namely molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics-generalized-born surface area (MM-GBSA) analysis, were performed on the complex of beta-secretase and OM99-2 to obtain the geometrical and energetical information.
Results: We designed and constructed a positional scanning combinatorial library including 16 compounds; all members of the library were synthesized based on HE dipeptide isostere. Structure-activity relationship studies at the P4-P1 and P1' -P4'positions led to the discoveries of P and P'sides binding specificity and potent inhibitors 14, 18, and 22. The binding free energy on the whole system and every residue were compared to the biological assay result.
Conclusion: The removal of P4' yielded inhibitor 22 (A3 *B2) with high potency; further truncation of P3'gave inhibitor 18 (A3 *B1) with equal activity, implying that the right side of the inhibitors play a less important role and could be easily simplified, while change on the P side may cause substantial results.