Development of 3-(4-aminosulphonyl)-phenyl-2-mercapto-3H-quinazolin-4-ones as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isoforms involved in tumorigenesis and glaucoma

A series of heterocyclic benzenesulfonamides incorporating 2-mercapto-3H-quinazolin-4-one tails were prepared by condensation of substituted anthranilic acids with 4-isothiocyanato-benzenesulfonamide. These sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA IX and XII (trans-membrane, tumor-associated enzymes). They acted as medium potency inhibitors of hCA I (K_Is of 81.0–3084 nM), being highly effective as hCA II (K_Is in the range of 0.25–10.8 nM), IX (K_Is of 3.7–50.4 nM) and XII (K_Is of 0.60–52.9 nM) inhibitors. These compounds should thus be of interest as preclinical candidates in pathologies in which the activity of these enzymes should be inhibited, such as glaucoma (CA II and XII as targets) or some tumors in which the activity of three isoforms (CA II, IX and XII) is dysregulated.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IX and XII with benzene sulfonamides incorporating 4- and 3-nitrophthalimide moieties

A series of 4 and 5 nitro-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl benzenesulfonamide derivatives (compounds 1–8) was synthesized by reaction of benzenesulfonamide derivatives with 4 and 3-nitrophthalic anhydrides. These new sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the zinc metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) and more specifically against the human (h) cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. Most of the novel compounds were medium potency-weak hCA I inhibitors (K_is in the range of 295–10,000 nM), but were more effective hCA II inhibitors (K_is of 1.7–887 nM). The tumor-associated hCA IX was also inhibited, with K_is in the micromolar range, whereas against hCA XII the inhibition constants were in the range of 90–3746 nM. The structure–activity relationship (SAR) with this series of sulfonamides is straightforward, with the main features leading to good activity for each isoforms being established. The high sequence hCA alignment homology and molecular docking studies was performed in order to rationalize the activities reported and binding mode to different hCA as inhibitors.     

Fluorescent sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitors incorporating 1,2,3-triazole moieties: Kinetic and X-ray crystallographic studies

Fluorescent sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors (CAIs) were essential for demonstrating the role played by the tumor-associated isoform CA IX in acidification of tumors, cancer progression towards metastasis and for the development of imaging and therapeutic strategies for the management of hypoxic tumors which overexpress CA IX. However, the presently available such compounds are poorly water soluble which limits their use. Here we report new fluorescent sulfonamides 7, 8 and 10 with increased water solubility. The new derivatives showed poor hCA I inhibitory properties, but were effective inhibitors against the hCA II (K_Is of 366–127 nM), CA IX (K_Is of 8.1–36.9 nM), CA XII (K_Is of 4.1–20.5 nM) and CA XIV (K_Is of 12.8–53.6 nM). A high resolution X-ray crystal structure of one of these compounds bound to hCA II revealed the factors associated with the good inhibitory properties. Furthermore, this compound showed a three-fold increase of water solubility compared to a similar derivative devoid of the triazole moiety, making it an interesting candidate for ex vivo/in vivo studies.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Diazenylbenzenesulfonamides are potent and selective inhibitors of the tumor-associated isozymes IX and XII over the cytosolic isoforms I and II

A series of diazenylbenzenesulfonamides, azo-dye derivatives of sulfanilamide or metanilamide incorporating phenol and amine moieties, were tested for inhibition of the tumor-associated isozymes of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), CA IX and XII. These compounds showed moderate-low inhibitory activities against the cytosolic isoforms CA I and II (offtargets) and excellent, low nanomolar inhibitory activity against the transmembrane CA IX and XII (K_Is in the range of 3.5–63 nM against CA IX and 5.0–69.4 nM against CA XII, respectively). The selectivity ratio for inhibiting the tumor-associated CA IX over the offtarget CA II was in the range of 15–104 for these diazenylbenzenesulfonamides, making them among the most isoform-selective inhibitors targeting tumor-associated CAs (over the ubiquitous CA II). Since CA IX/XII were recently shown to be both therapeutic and diagnostic targets for hypoxic solid tumors overexpressing these proteins, such compounds held promise for the management of hypoxic tumors, which are largely non-responsible to classical chemo- and radio-therapy.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of N-substituted saccharin derivatives as selective inhibitors of tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase XII

A series of N-alkylated saccharin derivatives were synthesized and tested for the inhibition of four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4. 2.1.1): the transmembrane tumor-associated CA IX and XII, and the cytosolic CA I and II. Most of the reported derivatives inhibited CA XII in the nanomolar/low micromolar range, hCA IX with K_Is ranging between 11 and 390 nM, whereas they were inactive against both CA I (K_Is >50 μM) and II (K_Is ranging between 39.1 nM and 50 μM). Since CA I and II are off-targets of antitumor carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs), the obtained results represent an encouraging achievement for the development of new anticancer candidates without the common side effects of non-selective CAIs. Moreover, the lack of an explicit zinc binding function on these inhibitors opens the way towards the exploration of novel mechanisms of inhibition that could explain the high selectivity of these compounds for the inhibition of the transmembrane, tumor-associated isoforms over the cytosolic ones.     

Structural study of the location of the phenyl tail of benzene sulfonamides and the effect on human carbonic anhydrase inhibition

The crystal structure of 4-phenylacetamidomethyl-benzenesulfonamide (4ITP) bound to human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) II is reported. 4ITP is a medium potency hCA I and II inhibitor (K_Is of 54–75 nM), a strong mitochondrial CA VA/VB inhibitor (K_Is of 8.3–8.6 nM) and a weak transmembrane CA inhibitor (K_Is of 136–212 nM against hCA IX and XII). This elongated compound binds in an extended conformation to hCA II, with its tail lying towards the hydrophobic half of the active site whereas the sulfonamide moiety coordinates the zinc ion. The present structure was compared to that of structurally related aromatic sulfonamides, such as 4-phenylacetamido-benzene-sulfonamide (3OYS), 4-(2-mercaptophenylacetamido)-benzene-sulfonamide (2HD6) and 4-(3-nitrophenyl)-ureido-benzenesulfonamide (3N2P). Homology models of the hCA I, VA, VB, IX and XII structures were build which afforded an understanding of the amino acids involved in the binding of these compounds to these isoforms. The main conclusion of the study is that the orientation of the tail moiety and the presence of flexible linkers as well polar groups in it, strongly influence the potency and the selectivity of the sulfonamides for the inhibition of cytosolic, mitochondrial or transmembrane CA isoforms.     

Substituted benzene sulfonamides incorporating 1,3,5-triazinyl moieties potently inhibit human carbonic anhydrases II,IX and XII

A series of benzene sulfonamides incorporating 1,3,5-triazinyl moieties were synthesized using cyanuric chloride as starting material. Inhibition studies against human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms I, II (cytosolic) and IX, XII (transmembrane, tumor-associated) isoforms were performed with the new compounds. hCA I was modestly inhibited (K_Is in the range of 87 nM–4.35 μM), hCA II was moderately inhibited by most of the new compounds (K_Is in the range of 12.5–130 nM), whereas the tumor associated isoforms were potently inhibited, with K_Is in the range of 1.2–34.1 nM against hCA IX and of 2.1–33.9 against hCA XII, respectively. Docking studies of some of the new compounds showed an effective binding mode within the enzyme active site, as demonstrated earlier by X-ray crystallography for structurally-related sulfonamides incorporating 1,3,5-triazinyl functionalities.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors; Fluorinated phenyl sulfamates show strong inhibitory activity and selectivity for the inhibition of the tumor-associated isozymes IX and XII over the cytosolic ones I and II

A series of fluorinated-phenylsulfamates have been prepared by sulfamoylation of the corresponding phenols and the inhibition of four physiologically relevant carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isozymes, the cytosolic CA I and II (off-targets), and the transmembrane, tumor-associated CA IX and XII is investigated. Unlike the lead molecule (phenylsulfamate), a very potent CA I and II inhibitor and a modest CA IX/XII inhibitor, the fluorinated sulfamates were stronger inhibitors of CA IX (K_Is of 2.8–47 nM) and CA XII (K_Is of 1.9–35 nM) than of CA I (K_Is of 53–415 nM) and CA II (K_Is of 20–113 nM). Some of these compounds were selective CA IX over CA II inhibitors, with selectivity ratios in the range of 11.4–12.1, making them interesting candidates for targeting hypoxic tumors overexpressing CA IX and/or XII.     

Synthesis 4-[2-(2-mercapto-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl)-ethyl]-benzenesulfonamides with subnanomolar carbonic anhydrase II and XII inhibitory properties

Condensation of substituted anthranilic acids with 4-isothiocyanatoethyl-benzenesulfonamide led to series of heterocyclic benzenesulfonamides incorporating 2-mercapto-quinazolin-4-one tails. These sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I and II (cytosolic isozymes), as well as hCA XII (a transmembrane, tumor-associated enzyme also involved in glaucoma-genesis). The new sulfonamides acted as medium potency inhibitors of hCA I (K_Is of 28.5–2954 nM), being highly effective as hCA II (K_Is in the range of 0.62–12.4 nM) and XII (K_Is of 0.54–7.11 nM) inhibitors. All substitution patterns present in these compounds (e.g., halogens, methyl and methoxy moieties, in positions 6, 7 and/or 8 of the 2-mercapto-quinazolin-4-one ring) led to highly effective hCA II/XII inhibitors. These compounds should thus be of interest as preclinical candidates in pathologies in which the activity of these enzymes should be inhibited, such as glaucoma (CA II and XII as targets) or some tumors in which the activity of isoforms CA II and XII is dysregulated.     

Selective inhibition of human carbonic anhydrases by novel amide derivatives of probenecid: Synthesis,biological evaluation and molecular modelling studies

Novel amide derivatives of probenecid, a well-known uricosuric agent, were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs, EC 4.2.1.1). The transmembrane isoforms (hCA IX and XII) were potently and selectively inhibited by some of them. The proposed chemical modification led to a complete loss of hCA II inhibition (K_is > 10,000 nM) and enhanced the inhibitory activity against the tumour-associated hCA XII (compound 4 showed a K_i value of 15.3 nM). The enzyme inhibitory data have also been validated by docking studies of the compounds within the active site of hCA XII.     

Coumarinyl-substituted sulfonamides strongly inhibit several human carbonic anhydrase isoforms: solution and crystallographic investigations

We investigated a series of coumarinyl-substituted aromatic sulfonamides as inhibitors of four carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms with medical applications, the cytosolic hCA I, and II, and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. Compounds incorporating 7-methoxy-coumarin-4-yl-acetamide-tails and benzenesulfonamide and benzene-1,3-disulfonamide scaffolds showed medium potency inhibition of hCA I (K_Is of 73–131 nM), effective hCA II inhibition (K_Is of 9.1–36 nM) and less effective hCA IX and XII inhibition (K_Is of 55–128 nM). Only one compound, the derivatized 4-amino-6-trifluoromethyl-benzene-1,3-disulfonamide with the coumarinyl tail, showed effective inhibition of the transmembrane isoforms, with K_Is of 5.9–14.2 nM, although it was less effective as hCA I and II inhibitor (K_Is of 36–120 nM). An X-ray crystal structure of hCA II in complex with 4-(7-methoxy-coumarin-4-yl-acetamido)-benzenesulfonamide (K_I of 9.1 nM against hCA II) showed the intact inhibitor coordinated to the zinc ion from the enzyme active site by the sulfonamide moiety, and participating in a edge-to-face stacking with Phe131, in addition to other hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with water molecules and amino acid residues from the active site. Thus, sulfonamides incorporating coumarin rings have a distinct inhibition mechanism compared to the coumarins, and may lead to compounds with interesting inhibition profiles against various α-CAs found in mammals or parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum.     

Benzenesulfonamide bearing 1,2,4-triazole scaffolds as potent inhibitors of tumor associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms hCA IX and hCA XII

Three series of novel heterocyclic compounds (3a–3g, 4a–4g and 5a–5g) containing benzenesulfonamide moiety and incorporating a 1,2,4-triazole ring, have been synthesized and investigated as inhibitors against four isomers of the α-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1), comprising hCAs I and II (cytosolic, ubiquitous isozymes) and hCAs IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor associated isozymes). Against the human isozymes hCA I and II, compounds of two series (3a–3g and 4a–4g) showed K_i values in the range of 84–868 nM and 5.6–390 nM, respectively whereas compounds of series 5a–5g were found to be poor inhibitors (K_i values exceeding 10,000 nM in some cases). Against hCA IX and XII, all the tested compounds exhibited excellent to moderate inhibitory potential with K_i values in the range of 2.8–431 nM and 1.3–63 nM, respectively. Compounds 3d, 3f and 4f exhibited excellent inhibitory potential against all of the four isozymes hCA I, II, IX and XII, even better than the standard drug acetazolamide (AZA) whereas compound of the series 5a–5g were comparatively less potent but more selective towards hCA IX and XII.     

A novel library of saccharin and acesulfame derivatives as potent and selective inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase IX and XII isoforms

Small libraries of N-substituted saccharin and N-/O-substituted acesulfame derivatives were synthesized and tested as atypical and selective inhibitors of four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I, II, IX and XII, EC 4.2.1.1). Most of them inhibited hCA XII in the low nanomolar range, hCA IX with K_Is ranging between 19 and 2482 nM, whereas they were poorly active against hCA II (K_Is >10 μM) and hCA I (K_Is ranging between 318 nM and 50 μM). Since hCA I and II are ubiquitous off-target isoforms, whereas the cancer-related isoforms hCA IX and XII were recently validated as drug targets, these results represent an encouraging achievement in the development of new anticancer candidates. Moreover, the lack of a classical zinc binding group in the structure of these inhibitors opens innovative, yet unexplored scenarios for different mechanisms of inhibition that could explain the high inhibitory selectivity. A computational approach has been carried out to further rationalize the biological data and to characterize the binding mode of some of these inhibitors.     

4-Functionalized 1,3-diarylpyrazoles bearing 6-aminosulfonylbenzothiazole moiety as potent inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase isoforms hCA I,II, IX and XII

A series of 24 novel heterocyclic compounds—functionalized at position 4 with aldehyde (5a–5f), carboxylic acid (6a–6f), nitrile (7a–7f) and oxime (8a–8f) functional groups—bearing 6-aminosulfonybenzothiazole moiety at position 1 of pyrazole has been synthesized and investigated for the inhibition of four isoforms of the α-class carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1), comprising hCAs I and II (cytosolic, ubiquitous isozymes) and hCAs IX and XII (transmembrane, tumor associated isozymes). Against the human isozyme hCA I, compounds 6a–6f showed medium-weak inhibitory potential with K_i values in the range of 157–690 nM with 6a showing better potential than the standard drug acetazolamide (AZA). Against hCA II, all the compounds showed excellent to moderate inhibition with K_i values of compounds 5a, 5d, 5f, 6a–6f, 8d and 8f lower than 12 nM (K_i of AZA). Against hCA IX, all the compounds showed moderate inhibition with the exception of 6e which showed nearly 9 fold a better profile compared to AZA, whereas against hCA XII, four compounds 6e, 7a, 7b and 7d showed K_i in the same order as that of AZA. Carboxylic acid 6e was found to be an excellent inhibitor of both hCA IX and XII, with K_i values of 2.8 nM and 5.5 nM, respectively.     

Coumarins incorporating hydroxy- and chloro-moieties selectively inhibit the transmembrane,tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX and XII over the cytosolic ones I and II

A series of coumarins incorporating hydroxy-, chloro- and/or chloromethyl-moieties in positions 3-, 4-, 6- and 7- of the heterocyclic ring were investigated for the inhibition of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). These coumarins were very weak or ineffective as inhibitors of the house-keeping, offtarget isoforms CA I and II, but showed effective, submicromolar inhibition of the transmembrane, tumor-associated isoforms CA IX and XII. The nature and position of the groups substituting the coumarin ring greatly influenced CA inhibitory properties. 6-Hydroxycoumarin showed K_Is >100 μM against CA I and II, of 0.198 μM against CA IX and of 0.683 μM against CA XII, being thus a selective, efficient inhibitor for the tumor-associated over cytosolic isoforms. These compounds are also excellent leads for designing isoform-selective enzyme inhibitors.     

Sulfonamides incorporating heteropolycyclic scaffolds show potent inhibitory action against carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IX and XII

Three series of polycyclic compounds possessing either primary sulfonamide or carboxylic acid moieties as zinc-binding groups were investigated as inhibitors of four physiologically relevant CA isoforms, the cytosolic hCA I and II, as well as the transmembrane hCA IX and XII. Most of the new sulfonamides reported here showed excellent inhibitory effects against isoforms hCA II, IX and XII, but no highly isoform-selective inhibition profiles. On the other hand, the carboxylates selectively inhibited hCA IX (K_Is ranging between 40.8 and 92.7 nM) without inhibiting significantly the other isoforms. Sulfonamides/carboxylates incorporating polycyclic ring systems such as benzothiopyranopyrimidine, pyridothiopyranopyrimidine or dihydrobenzothiopyrano[4,3-c]pyrazole may be considered as interesting candidates for exploring the design of isoform-selective CAIs with various pharmacologic applications.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Comparison of chlorthalidone,indapamide, trichloromethiazide,and furosemide X-ray crystal structures in adducts with isozyme II,when several water molecules make the difference

Thiazide and high ceiling diuretics were recently shown to inhibit all mammalian isoforms of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) with a very different profile as compared to classical inhibitors, such as acetazolamide, methazolamide, and ethoxzolamide. Some of these structurally related compounds have a very different behavior against the widespread isozyme CA II, with chlorthalidone, trichloromethiazide, and furosemide being efficient inhibitors against CA II (K_Is of 65–138 nM), whereas indapamide is a much weaker one (K_I of 2520 nM). Furthermore, some of these diuretics are quite efficient (low nanomolar) inhibitors of other isoforms, for example, chlorthalidone against hCA VB, VII, IX, and XIII; indapamide against CA VII, IX, XII, and XIII, trichloromethiazide against CA VII and IX, and furosemide against CA I and XIV. Examining the four X-ray crystal structures of their CA II adducts, we observed several (2–3) active site water molecules interacting with the chlorthalidone, trichloromethiazide, and furosemide scaffolds which may be responsible for this important difference of activity. Indeed, indapamide bound to CA II has no interactions with active site water molecules. Chlorthalidone bound within the CA II active site is in an enolic (lactimic) tautomeric form, with the enolic OH also participating in two strong hydrogen bonds with Asn67 and a water molecule. The newly evidenced binding modes of these diuretics may be exploited for designing better CA II inhibitors as well as compounds with selectivity/affinity for various isoforms with medicinal chemistry applications.     

5-Substituted-(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)thiophene-2-sulfonamides strongly inhibit human carbonic anhydrases I,II, IX and XII: Solution and X-ray crystallographic studies

We report here a series of 2-thiophene-sulfonamides incorporating 1-substituted aryl-1,2,3-triazolyl moieties, prepared by click chemistry from 5-ethynylthiophene-2-sulfonamide and substituted aryl azides. The new sulfonamides were investigated as inhibitors of the zinc metalloenzyme CA (EC 4.2.1.1), and more specifically against the human (h) cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II and the transmembrane, tumor-associated ones hCA IX and XII: The new compounds were medium–weak hCA I inhibitors (K_Is in the range of 224–7544 nM), but were compactly, highly effective, low nanomolar hCA II inhibitors (K_Is of 2.2–7.7 nM). The tumor-associated hCA IX was inhibited with K_Is ranging between 5.4 and 811 nM, whereas hCA XII with inhibition constants in the range of 3.4–239 nM. The X-ray crystal structure of the adducts of two such compounds bound to hCA II (one incorporating 1-naphthyl, the other one 3-cyanophenyl moieties) evidenced the reasons of the high affinity for hCA II. Highly favorable, predominantly hydrophobic interactions between the sulfonamide scaffold and the hCA II active site were responsible for the binding, in addition to the coordination of the sulfamoyl moiety to the zinc ion. The tails of the two inhibitors adopted very diverse orientations when bound to the active site, with the naphthyltriazolyl moiety orientated towards the hydrophobic half of the active site, and the 3-cyanophenyl one pointing towards the hydrophilic half. These data may be used for the structure-based drug design of even more effective hCA II inhibitors, with potential use as antiglaucoma agents or as diuretics.     

6-Triazolyl-substituted sulfocoumarins are potent,selective inhibitors of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrases IX and XII

A series of 6-substituted sulfocoumarins incorporating substituted-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl-/5-yl moieties were synthesized by employing click chemistry. The new sulfocoumarins incorporated cycloalkyl, tert-butyl and substituted aryl moieties at the triazole ring, and were investigated for the inhibition of four human (h) carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, the cytosolic hCA I and II; and the transmembrane, tumor-associated hCA IX and XII. The triazole-substituted sulfocoumarins did not inhibit the ubiquitous, off-target cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II (K_Is >10 μM) but showed effective inhibition against the two transmembrane CAs, with K_Is ranging from 7.2 to 10.5 nM against hCA IX, and between 5.5 and 17.7 nM against hCA XII. As hCA IX and XII are validated anti-tumor targets, such prodrug, isoform-selective inhibitors as the sulfocoumarins reported here, may be useful for identifying suitable drug candidates for clinical trials.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Two-prong versus mono-prong inhibitors of isoforms I,II, IX,and XII exemplified by photochromic cis-1,2-α-dithienylethene derivatives

We investigated the inhibition of five physiologically relevant CA isoforms with photochromic cis-1,2-α-dithienylethene-based compounds incorporating either a benzenesulfonamide and Cu(II)-iminodiacetic acid (IDA)-, bis-benzenesulfonamide-, bis-Cu(II)-IDA-, and bis-ethyleneglycol-methyl ether moieties, in both their open- and closed-ring forms. For hCA I the best inhibitors were the mono-prong bis-sulfonamide and the bis-Cu-IDA complexes (K_Is of 2–3 nM) in their open form. For hCA II, best inhibitors were the open and closed forms of the mono-prong bis-sulfonamide (K_Is of 13–18 nM). hCA IX was moderately inhibited by these compounds (K_Is of 9–376 nM) whereas hCA XII and XIV were less susceptible to inhibition (K_Is of 1.12–16.7 μM).