Reilly K. Gwinn , Padmanabhan Mannangatti , Shahid Maqbool Mir , Shikha Kumari , Mai K. Le , Swadesh K. Das , Paul B. Fisher , Webster L. Santos
{"title":"Substituted 1-(benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)-3-phenylurea derivatives as anti-invasion agents","authors":"Reilly K. Gwinn , Padmanabhan Mannangatti , Shahid Maqbool Mir , Shikha Kumari , Mai K. Le , Swadesh K. Das , Paul B. Fisher , Webster L. Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing small molecule drugs to treat metastatic cancer remains challenging and relies on the identification of novel druggable targets within the multistep metastatic cascade. To this end, the pro-metastatic scaffolding protein, MDA-9/Syntenin-1 was identified and confirmed as a suitable target uniquely involved in the multiple stages of metastasis. Recently, the first-in class PDZ1 domain inhibitor for MDA-9, PDZ1i, was identified displaying significant anti-invasion activity improving survival in an in vivo glioblastoma and in multiple metastatic cancer mouse models. Herein, we report a focused library of substituted 1-(benzo[<em>d</em>]thiazol-2-yl)-3-phenylurea derivatives inspired by the anti-invasion and anti-metastatic agent, PDZ1i. Our studies revealed that 1-(benzo[<em>d</em>]thiazol-2-yl)-3-phenylurea analogs bearing 6-trifluoromethyl (<strong>3y</strong>) and 6-bromo (<strong>3aa</strong>) substituents display anti-invasion activity comparable to PDZ1i. However, compounds <strong>3y</strong> and <strong>3aa</strong> displayed overall decreased cancer cell selectivity and MDA-9 activity relative to PDZ1i. Nonetheless, the reported 1-(benzo[<em>d</em>]thiazol-2-yl)-3-phenylurea derivatives serve as promising starting points for future development of small molecule anti-invasion agents with potential to prevent and treat metastatic cancers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130568"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146103294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shi Xiang , Mengjiao Lv , Chenghao Wang , Zhichao Wang , Hui Chen , Pei Lv , Chao Yang
{"title":"Design, synthesis, and mechanism of anti-cancer activity of novel spiro tetramic acids","authors":"Shi Xiang , Mengjiao Lv , Chenghao Wang , Zhichao Wang , Hui Chen , Pei Lv , Chao Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130566","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130566","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Targeted therapies have pioneered a more effective new pathway in cancer treatment by leveraging their precision-targeting advantages. Spiro tetramic acids are a kind of unique pyrrolidine-2,4-dione core structure containing a spiro ring structure, primarily employed as agro-chemicals with limited application in the field of anti-cancer. In this paper, fourteen novel 3-acetyl and 3-phenyl spiro tetramic acids were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-proliferation in cancer cells. 3-Acetyl and 3-phenyl spirotetramic acids exhibited toxic effects against tested cancer cell lines. Among the 14 compounds, compound <strong>8d</strong> was the most effective against RKO and H1299 with Half Maximal Inhibitory Concentration (IC<sub>50</sub>) 3 ± 1 and 19 ± 2 μM. Further molecular structural prediction, bioinformatics analysis, and molecular docking revealed that compound <strong>8d</strong> may target MMP1, MMP7 and PLK1. Additionally, <strong>8d</strong> induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase by increasing the expression of p21 protein and decreasing the expression of CCND1 and CCNB1 proteins. <strong>8d</strong> also induced cell apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathways, as evidenced by alterations in the expressions of pertinent proteins, including Bcl-2 and Bax. These results indicated that the novel spirotetramine derivative <strong>8d</strong> is a potential anti-cancer candidate drug and provides a new structural basis for the development of anti-cancer drugs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130566"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146096765","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Mohammed Zabiulla , Prabodh Ranjan , Archakam Ranganatham , Mohd Athar , Shivaraj Yellappa
{"title":"Integrated approach to design 5-indolyl-pyrazoles as anti-TB agent","authors":"K. Mohammed Zabiulla , Prabodh Ranjan , Archakam Ranganatham , Mohd Athar , Shivaraj Yellappa","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study reports a structure-guided design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel class of hybrid molecules combining indole and pyrazole scaffolds-both known for their broad pharmacological profiles. A series of 5-indolyl-pyrazole derivatives (n = <strong>z1</strong>–<strong>z44</strong>) were synthesized and characterized through <sup>1</sup>H/<sup>13</sup>C NMR and HR-MS analysis. The synthesized compounds were screened against <em>H37Rv</em> and two multidrug-resistant clinically isolated <em>strains M.tb*</em> and <em>M.tb**</em>. Several derivatives (notably <strong>z</strong><strong>1</strong> and <strong>z</strong><strong>8</strong>) showed potent inhibition at concentrations as low as 25 μg/mL may be even more potent at lower concentrations and a comparative analysis could be possible. Complementary molecular docking studies were conducted using the <em>InhA</em> enzyme (PDB ID: <span><span>4TZK</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>), a validated target in mycolic acid biosynthesis. Lead compounds demonstrated favorable binding energies (e.g., −6.35 kcal/mol for <strong>z1</strong>), engaging key active-site residues (PHE97, MET103, PHE149, TYR158) through hydrophobic, π-stacking, and <em>van der Waals</em> interactions, alongside critical contact with the <em>NAD</em><sup><em>+</em></sup> cofactor. Interaction fingerprint analysis correlated ligand-residue contacts with biological activity, underscoring the importance of aromatic planarity and substituent modulation for effective <em>InhA</em> inhibition. This integrated synthetic-biological-computational workflow lays a promising foundation for the development of next-generation anti-TB agents with improved efficacy against resistant strains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130534"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146099891","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhenxi Su , Yiwu Wu , Yijie Su , Yuhan He , Jieyin Liu , Deng-Gao Zhao
{"title":"Synthesis and anticancer activity of parthenolide-based PROTACs for IKKβ degradation","authors":"Zhenxi Su , Yiwu Wu , Yijie Su , Yuhan He , Jieyin Liu , Deng-Gao Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130571","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130571","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Parthenolide is a natural IκB kinase β (IKKβ) inhibitor. Converting it into a PROTAC (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) may lead to improved pharmacological efficacy. Herein, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a novel series of parthenolide-based PROTACs. Among them, compound <strong>8</strong> exhibited potent anti-proliferative activity, especially against triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Mechanistic studies revealed that <strong>8</strong> acts as an effective IKKβ degrader, inducing degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (DC<sub>50</sub> = 7.15 μM, 91.24% degradation at 10 μM). Furthermore, treatment with <strong>8</strong> was associated with significant apoptosis and G1-phase cell cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 cells. This work provides initial evidence that the parthenolide scaffold can be leveraged for targeted protein degradation, supporting the future development of IKKβ-directed degraders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130571"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Anggit Fitria , Yehezkiel Steven Kurniawan , Eti Nurwening Sholikhah , Harno Dwi Pranowo , Jumina
{"title":"Allyl-functionalized calix[4]resorcinarenes against breast cancer cells: Synthesis, cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and computational insights","authors":"Anggit Fitria , Yehezkiel Steven Kurniawan , Eti Nurwening Sholikhah , Harno Dwi Pranowo , Jumina","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The present study is intended as an initial exploration of allyl-functionalized calix[4]resorcinarenes (<strong>4a–4f</strong>) as cytotoxic agents. These derivatives were obtained <em>via</em> the <em>O</em>-allylation of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (vanillin) and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with resorcinol, pyrogallol, or 2-methylresorcinol. All compounds were examined for their <em>in vitro</em> anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). Among them, analogue <strong>4a</strong> exhibited moderate cytotoxicity in breast cancer cell lines, <em>i.e.</em>, MCF-7 cells (IC<sub>50</sub> = 8.27 μM), showing notable cytotoxicity in the low micromolar range, comparable to that of cisplatin and within the same order of magnitude as doxorubicin. Accompanied by apoptosis profiling, compound <strong>4a</strong> at 1 × and 2 × IC<sub>50</sub> showed a concentration-dependent increase in apoptosis cell death compared to untreated controls. Meanwhile, computational studies were conducted to explore potential interactions with EGFR as a putative target, suggesting that compound <strong>4a</strong> may possibly interact with EGFR through hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic contacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130540"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145987614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Junfeng Wang , Jiamin Luo , Zhiguo Mang , Shuai Zhang , Chengtao Sun , Guoyin Kai , Huan Xu , Hao Li
{"title":"Combined antitumor efficacy of a new tanshinone IIA analog and irinotecan with alleviating gastrointestinal side effect","authors":"Junfeng Wang , Jiamin Luo , Zhiguo Mang , Shuai Zhang , Chengtao Sun , Guoyin Kai , Huan Xu , Hao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>1,6,6-Trimethyl-2-((4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)methyl)phenanthrol[1,2-<em>b</em>]furan-7,10,11(6<em>H</em>)-trione (TA401), a newly synthesized tanshinone IIA analog, was developed to enhance the anti-tumor effect of CPT-11 in combined therapy and alleviate its gastrointestinal side effect. The combined cytotoxicity on HT29 and HCT116 colorectal cancer cells induced by TA401 and CPT-11 was comprehensively evaluated <em>in vitro</em>. The classical apoptosis pathway, including Bax, BCL-2, caspase 3, the phosphorylation level of ERK and AKT, was also examined to illustrate molecular mechanisms of the synergistic apoptosis both <em>in vitro</em> and <em>in vivo</em>. Synergistic suppression of colorectal cancer cell proliferation by TA401 and CPT-11 was observed at a fixed ratio (TA401:CPT-11 at 1:20). The apoptosis induced by combined treatment was triggered by activation of classical apoptotic pathway and decreased expression of TOP I, which was further confirmed <em>in vivo</em>. In addition, diarrheic side effect of CPT-11 was reduced by TA401 in the combined treatment. TA401 effectively promoted the anti-tumor effects of CPT-11 with alleviated side effects, which may be developed as a potential candidate for the combined therapy with CPT-11 against colorectal cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130563"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146083769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dongyu Wang , Shengkai Cui , Jingyi Yuan, Yuyang Li, Yujie Zhang, Yuao Zhang, Weizheng Fan, Chunlei Tang
{"title":"Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of cytochrome P450 CYP11A1 inhibitors","authors":"Dongyu Wang , Shengkai Cui , Jingyi Yuan, Yuyang Li, Yujie Zhang, Yuao Zhang, Weizheng Fan, Chunlei Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study addresses drug resistance in castration-resistant prostate cancer by developing novel inhibitors of CYP11A1, the key rate-limiting enzyme in androgen synthesis. Based on the clinical candidate Opevesostat, two series of 23 new compounds were designed and synthesized using a 4<em>H</em>-pyran-4-one core to explore structure-activity relationships at the C2 and C6 positions.Compound <strong>II-4</strong> exhibited potent inhibitory activity (95.2% at 100 nM; IC₅₀ = 26.7 nM), comparable to Opevesostat (IC₅₀ = 20.4 nM). Importantly, <strong>II-4</strong> showed superior selectivity against CYP1A2, 2C9, and 2D6 (2- to 4-fold improvement), attributed to hydrophobic interactions between its C6 methyl group and Ile 84.These results highlight <strong>II-4</strong> as a promising lead compound with optimized activity and selectivity, providing valuable insights for overcoming resistance in prostate cancer therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130567"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146103254","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Karis Texidor , Dilhumar Uyghur , Noah Wiese , Lindsey O. Davis , Mandy Green , Farjana Sharmen , Adil Ijaz , Kamani M. Barnes , Madison Bagett , Jishi Ye , Stacy M. Abbang , Wenying Piao , Jason Ying Kuen Chan , Yuen-Keng Ng , Vivian W.Y. Lui , Marco Orecchioni , Matteo Borgini
{"title":"Synthesis and characterization of bicyclo[1.1.0]butane amides and 5-methylene-3-azabicyclo[5.1.0]octan-4-ones as covalent modifiers","authors":"Karis Texidor , Dilhumar Uyghur , Noah Wiese , Lindsey O. Davis , Mandy Green , Farjana Sharmen , Adil Ijaz , Kamani M. Barnes , Madison Bagett , Jishi Ye , Stacy M. Abbang , Wenying Piao , Jason Ying Kuen Chan , Yuen-Keng Ng , Vivian W.Y. Lui , Marco Orecchioni , Matteo Borgini","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Covalent inhibitors have re-emerged as powerful therapeutic agents, offering the ability to modulate “undruggable” proteins including oncogenic drivers that have eluded traditional drug discovery efforts. Expanding the repertoire of electrophilic moieties remains a critical frontier in covalent drug discovery. Here, we report a Rh(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of <em>N</em>-allyl bicyclo[1.1.0]butane amides (BCB amides) to access the 5-methylene-3-azabicyclo[5.1.0]octan-4-one (MABO) scaffold via strain-release reactivity. Both <em>N</em>-allyl BCB amides and MABOs can react with nucleophiles, highlighting their potential as electrophilic moieties for covalent drug design. Kinetic assays against glutathione revealed that selected <em>N</em>-allyl BCB amides and MABOs exhibit half-lives comparable to that of (±)-sotorasib, whose enantiomerically pure form received FDA approval as an anticancer drug. Biological evaluation in human-derived head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) models identified specific BCB amides and MABO compounds capable of modulating cancer cell growth. The toxicity of the compounds was evaluated by flow cytometry in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and by monitoring LDH release in the monocytic cell line THP-1, both under basal and activated conditions. Together, these findings suggest that BCB amides and MABOs represent promising classes of electrophilic scaffolds for covalent drug discovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146137021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Luiz Alberto Ferreira , Angelo Matheus Torres Santos , Rodrigo Cabral de Araújo-Filho , Emanuelly Karla Araújo-Padilha , Clara Andrezza Crisóstomo Bezerra Costa , Johnnatan Duarte de Freitas , Joanna Cytarska , Krzysztof Z. Łączkowski , Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior , Silvia Helena Cardoso
{"title":"Development of coumarin-3-thiosemicarbazones and coumarin-3-oximes as potent inhibitors of mushroom tyrosinase/tyrosine hydroxylase","authors":"Luiz Alberto Ferreira , Angelo Matheus Torres Santos , Rodrigo Cabral de Araújo-Filho , Emanuelly Karla Araújo-Padilha , Clara Andrezza Crisóstomo Bezerra Costa , Johnnatan Duarte de Freitas , Joanna Cytarska , Krzysztof Z. Łączkowski , Edeildo Ferreira da Silva-Júnior , Silvia Helena Cardoso","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130583","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130583","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tyrosinase is a copper-dependent oxidase that catalyzes the rate-limiting steps of melanogenesis, directly linking its overexpression to hyperpigmentation disorders and melanoma progression. Previously our researcher team found that a coumarin–thiosemicarbazone analog exhibited potent anti-tyrosinase activity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 42.16 ± 5.16 μM). Herein, as part of our efforts in this field of study, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a new series of coumarin derivatives functionalized with thiosemicarbazone and/or oxime moieties as potent tyrosinase inhibitors. The most active compound, <strong>B5</strong>, exhibited an IC₅₀ value of 21.91 ± 0.26 μM, showing 3.3- and 17.6-fold higher inhibitory potency than kojic and ascorbic acids, respectively. Kinetic studies revealed a mixed inhibition pattern, suggesting multiple enzyme–inhibitor interactions. <em>In silico</em> 100-ns molecular dynamics simulations against <em>Agaricus bisporus</em> tyrosinase (PDB ID: <span><span>2Y9X</span><svg><path></path></svg></span>) confirmed the structural stability of the <strong>B5</strong>–tyrosinase complex, with a mean RMSD of 1.85 Å for the enzyme and 0.3 Å for the ligand. The thiosemicarbazone moiety played a pivotal role in complex stabilization through hydrogen bonding and coordination with catalytic Cu<sup>2+</sup> ions, while hydrophobic and π-stacking contacts contributed to binding persistence. Altogether, these findings highlight compound <strong>B5</strong> as a promising lead compound for developing next-generation tyrosinase inhibitors with potential dermatological and photoprotective applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130583"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146171822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ce Shi , Weisen Zhong , Guowei Qiang , Panjunjie Ying , Junyu Guo , Yameng Si , Jie Mou
{"title":"Novel anticancer paeonol derivatives possessing a nitric oxide donor moiety as TrxR inhibitors: design, synthesis, biological evaluation","authors":"Ce Shi , Weisen Zhong , Guowei Qiang , Panjunjie Ying , Junyu Guo , Yameng Si , Jie Mou","doi":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bmcl.2026.130555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in determining tumor progression and treatment response. Within the TME, redox processes mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) are critically involved in regulating intercellular and intracellular signaling. In this study, we hypothesized that conjugating an NO-releasing moiety to paeonol derivatives and introducing a chalcone structure to enhance thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) targeting would yield compounds with potent anticancer activity. Accordingly, a series of mono- and di-substituted nitrate derivatives were synthesized. The inhibitory activities of all synthesized compounds were evaluated against BGC823, HCT116, Hep G2, and MCF-7 cell lines using the CCK-8 assay. Among the paeonol chalcone derivatives, compound <strong>11f</strong> exhibited significant antiproliferative activity across the tested cancer cell panel. It was identified as a promising candidate with potent TrxR inhibitory activity (IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.26 ± 0.17 μM in vitro; IC<sub>50</sub> = 0.33 μM in vivo). Furthermore, compound <strong>11f</strong> induced S-phase arrest and promoted apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. These findings underscore the enhanced anticancer potential of paeonol chalcone derivatives, attributable to the synergistic effects of NO and ROS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":256,"journal":{"name":"Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters","volume":"135 ","pages":"Article 130555"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146045921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}