4-arylazo-3,5-diamino-1H-pyrazole CDK inhibitors: SAR study, crystal structure in complex with CDK2, selectivity, and cellular effects

Kryštof, Vladimír; Cankař, Petr; Fryšová, I.; Slouka, J.; Kontopidis, G.; Džubák, P.; Hajdúch, M.; Srovnal, J.; de Azevedo Jr., W.F.; Orság, Martin; Paprskářová, Martina; Rolčík, Jakub; Látr, Aleš; Fischer, P.M.; Strnad, Miroslav
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 49 [22]: 6500-6509, 2006

Keywords: DEPENDENT KINASE INHIBITORS; POLYMERASE-II TRANSCRIPTION; TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR
Abstract: In a routine screening of our small-molecule compound collection we recently identified 4-arylazo-3,5-diamino-1H-pyrazoles as a novel group of ATP antagonists with moderate potency against CDK2-cyclin E. A preliminary SAR study based on 35 analogues suggests ways in which the pharmacophore could be further optimized, for example, via substitutions in the 4-aryl ring. Enzyme kinetics studies with the lead compound and X-ray crystallography of an inhibitor-CDK2 complex demonstrated that its mode of inhibition is competitive. Functional kinase assays confirmed the selectivity toward CDKs, with a preference for CDK9cyclin T1. The most potent inhibitor, 4-[(3,5-diamino-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) diazenyl] phenol 31b (CAN508), reduced the frequency of S-phase cells of the cancer cell line HT-29 in antiproliferation assays. Further observed cellular effects included decreased phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein and the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II, inhibition of mRNA synthesis, and induction of the tumor suppressor protein p53, all of which are consistent with inhibition of CDK9.
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IEB authors: Miroslav Strnad