Discovery of Potent Small-Molecule SIRT6 Activators: Structure-Activity Relationship and Anti-Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Activity

J Med Chem. 2020 Sep 24;63(18):10474-10495. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01183. Epub 2020 Sep 9.

Abstract

SIRT6 activation is thought to be a promising target for the treatment of many diseases, particularly cancer. Herein, we report the discovery of a series of new small-molecule SIRT6 activators. Structure-activity relationship analyses led to the identification of the most potent compound, 2-(1-benzofuran-2-yl)-N-(diphenylmethyl) quinoline-4-carboxamide (12q), which showed an EC1.5 value of 0.58 ± 0.12 μM and an EC50 value of 5.35 ± 0.69 μM against SIRT6-dependent peptide deacetylation in FLUOR DE LYS assay. It exhibited weak or no activity against other HDAC family members as well as 415 kinases, indicating good selectivity for SIRT6. 12q significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells in vitro. It also markedly suppressed the tumor growth in a PDAC tumor xenograft model. This compound showed attractive pharmacokinetic properties. Overall, 12q could be a good lead compound for the treatment of PDAC, and it is worthy of further study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / drug therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enzyme Activators / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Activators / metabolism
  • Enzyme Activators / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Protein Binding
  • Quinolines / chemical synthesis
  • Quinolines / metabolism
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use*
  • Sirtuins / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Activators
  • Quinolines
  • SIRT6 protein, human
  • Sirtuins