Discovery and structure activity relationship of small molecule inhibitors of toxic β-amyloid-42 fibril formation

J Biol Chem. 2012 Oct 5;287(41):34786-800. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.357665. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Abstract

Increasing evidence implicates Aβ peptides self-assembly and fibril formation as crucial events in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease. Thus, inhibiting Aβ aggregation, among others, has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention for this disorder. Herein, we employed 3-aminopyrazole as a key fragment in our design of non-dye compounds capable of interacting with Aβ42 via a donor-acceptor-donor hydrogen bond pattern complementary to that of the β-sheet conformation of Aβ42. The initial design of the compounds was based on connecting two 3-aminopyrazole moieties via a linker to identify suitable scaffold molecules. Additional aryl substitutions on the two 3-aminopyrazole moieties were also explored to enhance π-π stacking/hydrophobic interactions with amino acids of Aβ42. The efficacy of these compounds on inhibiting Aβ fibril formation and toxicity in vitro was assessed using a combination of biophysical techniques and viability assays. Using structure activity relationship data from the in vitro assays, we identified compounds capable of preventing pathological self-assembly of Aβ42 leading to decreased cell toxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytotoxins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cytotoxins / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Peptide Fragments / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Pyrazoles / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • 3-aminopyrazole
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Cytotoxins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Pyrazoles
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)