Download MendeleyX-ray Structure-Guided Discovery of a Potent Benzimidazole Glutaminyl Cyclase Inhibitor That Shows Activity in a Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model.
Mou, J., Ning, X.L., Wang, X.Y., Hou, S.Y., Meng, F.B., Zhou, C., Wu, J.W., Li, C., Jia, T., Wu, X., Wu, Y., Chen, Y., Li, G.B.(2024) J Med Chem 67: 8730-8756
- PubMed: 38817193
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00049
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:
8XFV, 8XGA, 8XGB, 8XGT, 8XGY - PubMed Abstract:
The secretory glutaminyl cyclase (sQC) and Golgi-resident glutaminyl cyclase (gQC) are responsible for N-terminal protein pyroglutamation and associated with various human diseases. Although several sQC/gQC inhibitors have been reported, only one inhibitor, PQ912, is currently undergoing clinic trials for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. We report an X-ray crystal structure of sQC complexed with PQ912, revealing that the benzimidazole makes "anchor" interactions with the active site zinc ion and catalytic triad. Structure-guided design and optimization led to a series of new benzimidazole derivatives exhibiting nanomolar inhibition for both sQC and gQC. In a MPTP-induced Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model, BI-43 manifested efficacy in mitigating locomotor deficits through reversing dopaminergic neuronal loss, reducing microglia, and decreasing levels of the sQC/gQC substrates, α-synuclein, and CCL2. This study not only offers structural basis and new leads for drug discovery targeting sQC/gQC but also provides evidence supporting sQC/gQC as potential targets for PD treatment.
Organizational Affiliation:
Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
