Novel 3-Substituted 7-Phenylpyrrolo[3,2-f]quinolin-9(6H)-ones as Single Entities with Multitarget Antiproliferative Activity

J Med Chem. 2015 Oct 22;58(20):7991-8010. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00805. Epub 2015 Oct 7.

Abstract

A series of chemically modified 7-phenylpyrrolo[3,2-f]quinolinones was synthesized and evaluated as anticancer agents. Among them, the most cytotoxic (subnanomolar GI50 values) amidic derivative 5f was shown to act as an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization (IC50, 0.99 μM) by binding to the colchicine site with high affinity. Moreover, 5f induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle in a concentration dependent manner, followed by caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death. Compound 5f also showed lower toxicity in nontumoral cells, suggesting selectivity toward cancer cells. Additional experiments revealed that 5f inhibited the enzymatic activity of multiple kinases, including AURKA, FLT3, GSK3A, MAP3K, MEK, RSK2, RSK4, PLK4, ULK1, and JAK1. Computational studies showed that 5f can be properly accommodated in the colchicine binding site of tubulin as well as in the ATP binding clefts of all examined kinases. Our data indicate that the excellent antiproliferative profile of 5f may be derived from its interactions with multiple cellular targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Colchicine / metabolism
  • Drug Interactions
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / chemical synthesis*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology*
  • Quinolones / chemical synthesis*
  • Quinolones / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin / biosynthesis
  • Tubulin / drug effects
  • Tubulin Modulators / chemical synthesis*
  • Tubulin Modulators / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 3-(cyclopropylmethanone)-7-phenyl-H-pyrrolo(3,2-f)quinolin-9(6H)-one
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrroles
  • Quinolones
  • Tubulin
  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Colchicine

Associated data

  • PDB/1RJB
  • PDB/1SA0
  • PDB/4AFJ
  • PDB/4E4N
  • PDB/4EL9
  • PDB/4JXF