Structure-Activity Relationship Studies of Pyrimidine-4-Carboxamides as Inhibitors of N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine Phospholipase D

J Med Chem. 2021 Jan 14;64(1):481-515. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01441. Epub 2020 Dec 31.

Abstract

N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) is regarded as the main enzyme responsible for the biosynthesis of N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), a family of bioactive lipid mediators. Previously, we reported N-(cyclopropylmethyl)-6-((S)-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-1-yl)-2-((S)-3-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)pyrimidine-4-carboxamide (1, LEI-401) as the first potent and selective NAPE-PLD inhibitor that decreased NAEs in the brains of freely moving mice and modulated emotional behavior [Mock Nat Chem. Biol., 2020, 16, 667-675]. Here, we describe the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of a library of pyrimidine-4-carboxamides as inhibitors of NAPE-PLD that led to the identification of LEI-401. A high-throughput screening hit was modified at three different substituents to optimize its potency and lipophilicity. Conformational restriction of an N-methylphenethylamine group by replacement with an (S)-3-phenylpiperidine increased the inhibitory potency 3-fold. Exchange of a morpholine substituent for an (S)-3-hydroxypyrrolidine reduced the lipophilicity and further increased activity by 10-fold, affording LEI-401 as a nanomolar potent inhibitor with drug-like properties. LEI-401 is a suitable pharmacological tool compound to investigate NAPE-PLD function in vitro and in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry*
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Carboxylic Acids / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines / chemistry*
  • Phospholipases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Phospholipases / chemistry
  • Pyrimidines / chemistry*
  • Pyrimidines / pharmacology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amides
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine
  • Phosphatidylethanolamines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Phospholipases
  • pyrimidine