Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 (TRPM7) Ion Channel Inhibitors: Preliminary SAR and Conformational Studies of Xenicane Diterpenoids from the Hawaiian Soft Coral Sarcothelia edmondsoni

J Nat Prod. 2024 Apr 26;87(4):783-797. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00942. Epub 2024 Mar 27.

Abstract

Waixenicin A, a xenicane diterpene from the octocoral Sarcothelia edmondsoni, is a selective, potent inhibitor of the TRPM7 ion channel. To study the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of waixenicin A, we isolated and assayed related diterpenes from S. edmondsoni. In addition to known waixenicins A (1) and B (2), we purified six xenicane diterpenes, 7S,8S-epoxywaixenicins A (3) and B (4), 12-deacetylwaixenicin A (5), waixenicin E (6), waixenicin F (7), and 20-acetoxyxeniafaraunol B (8). We elucidated the structures of 3-8 by NMR and MS analyses. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 inhibited TRPM7 activity in a cell-based assay, while 5, 7, and 8 were inactive. A preliminary SAR emerged showing that alterations to the nine-membered ring of 1 did not reduce activity, while the 12-acetoxy group, in combination with the dihydropyran, appears to be necessary for TRPM7 inhibition. The bioactive compounds are proposed to be latent electrophiles by formation of a conjugated oxocarbenium ion intermediate. Whole-cell patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that waixenicin A inhibition is irreversible, consistent with a covalent inhibitor, and showed nanomolar potency for waixenicin B (2). Conformational analysis (DFT) of 1, 3, 7, and 8 revealed insights into the conformation of waixenicin A and congeners and provided information regarding the stabilization of the proposed pharmacophore.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetates*
  • Animals
  • Anthozoa* / chemistry
  • Diterpenes* / chemistry
  • Diterpenes* / isolation & purification
  • Diterpenes* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TRPM Cation Channels* / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Diterpenes
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • TRPM Cation Channels
  • TRPM7 protein, human
  • waixenicin A