Development of Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives as Potent Glutathione Transferase Omega-1 Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2020 Mar 26;63(6):2894-2914. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01391. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Abstract

Glutathione transferase omega-1 (GSTO1-1) is an enzyme whose function supports the activation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 that are implicated in a variety of inflammatory disease states for which small-molecule inhibitors are sought. The potent reactivity of the active-site cysteine has resulted in reported inhibitors that act by covalent labeling. In this study, structure-activity relationship (SAR) elaboration of the reported GSTO1-1 inhibitor C1-27 was undertaken. Compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity toward purified recombinant GSTO1-1 and for indicators of target engagement in cell-based assays. As covalent inhibitors, the kinact/KI values of selected compounds were determined, as well as in vivo pharmacokinetics analysis. Cocrystal structures of key novel compounds in complex with GSTO1-1 were also solved. This study represents the first application of a biochemical assay for GSTO1-1 to determine kinact/KI values for tested inhibitors and the most extensive set of cell-based data for a GSTO1-1 inhibitor SAR series reported to date. Our research culminated in the discovery of 25, which we propose as the preferred biochemical tool to interrogate cellular responses to GSTO1-1 inhibition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzenesulfonamides
  • Drug Development
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Glutathione Transferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Glutathione Transferase / chemistry
  • Glutathione Transferase / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfonamides / chemistry*
  • Sulfonamides / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides
  • GSTO1 protein, human
  • Glutathione Transferase