Modular Biomimetic Strategy Enabled Discovery of Simplified Pseudo-Natural Macrocyclic P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors Capable of Overcoming Multidrug Resistance

J Med Chem. 2023 Feb 23;66(4):2550-2565. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01424. Epub 2023 Feb 2.

Abstract

Natural macrocycles have shown impressive activity to overcome P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR). However, the total synthesis and structural modification of natural macrocycles are challenging, which would hamper the deeper investigations of their structure-activity relationship (SAR) and drug likeness. Herein, we describe a modular biomimetic strategy to expeditiously achieve a new class of macrocycles featuring polysubstituted 1,3-diene, which efficiently inhibited P-gp and reversed MDR in cancer cells. The SAR analysis revealed that the size and linker of the macrocycles are important structural characteristics to restore activity. Particularly, 32 containing a naphthyl group and (d)-Phe moiety has higher potency with an excellent reversal fold than verapamil at a concentration of 5 μM, which induces conformational change of P-gp and inhibits its function instead of altering P-gp expression. Furthermore, 23 and 32 were identified to be attractive leads, which possess a good pharmacokinetic profile and antitumor activity in a KBV200 xenograft mouse model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomimetics*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm*
  • Humans
  • Mice

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B