5-Fluoroimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine Is a Privileged Fragment That Conveys Bioavailability to Potent Trypanosomal Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Inhibitors.
Zhang, Z., Koh, C.Y., Ranade, R.M., Shibata, S., Gillespie, J.R., Hulverson, M.A., Huang, W., Nguyen, J., Pendem, N., Gelb, M.H., Verlinde, C.L., Hol, W.G., Buckner, F.S., Fan, E.(2016) ACS Infect Dis 2: 399-404
- PubMed: 27627628 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsinfecdis.6b00036
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
4ZT2, 4ZT3, 4ZT4, 4ZT5, 4ZT6, 4ZT7 - PubMed Abstract: 
Fluorination is a well-known strategy for improving the bioavailability of drug molecules. However, its impact on efficacy is not easily predicted. On the basis of inhibitor-bound protein crystal structures, we found a beneficial fluorination spot for inhibitors targeting methionyl-tRNA synthetase of Trypanosoma brucei. In particular, incorporating 5-fluoroimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine into inhibitors leads to central nervous system bioavailability and maintained or even improved efficacy.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington , 1705 N.E. Pacific Street, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.