Design of Cytochrome P450 1B1 Inhibitors via a Scaffold-Hopping Approach

J Med Chem. 2023 Jan 12;66(1):398-412. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01368. Epub 2022 Dec 15.

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is a potential drug target in cancer research that is overexpressed in several solid tumors but is present only at low levels in healthy tissues. Its expression is associated with resistance to common chemotherapeutics, while inhibitors restore efficacy to these drugs in model systems. The majority of CYP1B1 inhibitors are derived from a limited number of scaffolds, and few have achieved outstanding selectivity against other human CYPs, which could impede clinical development. This study explores a new chemical space for CYP1B1 inhibitors using a scaffold-hopping approach and establishes 2,4-diarylthiazoles as a promising framework for further development. From a small library, compound 15 emerged as the lead, with picomolar CYP1B1 inhibition, and over 19,000-fold selectivity against its relative, CYP1A1. To investigate the activity of 15, molecular dynamics, optical spectroscopy, point mutations, and traditional structure-activity relationships were employed and revealed key interactions important for the development of CYP1B1 inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors* / pharmacology
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System