Novel scaffold evolution through combinatorial 3D-QSAR model studies of two types of JNK3 inhibitors

JNK3 is an emerging target for neurodegenerative diseases including AD and PD, with histological selectivity. Specifically, in AD, JNK3 is the main protein kinase for APP phosphorylation, which is an important mechanism for Aβ processing, and a biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, targeting JNK3 is a reasonable strategy for drug discovery in neurodegenerative diseases. In order to find a novel scaffold for JNK3 inhibitors, we performed 3D-QSAR modeling studies with two different JNK3 inhibitor series. The CoMFA model was obtained with a q² value of 0.806 and an r² value of 0.850. Based on CoMFA and CoMSIA models, rational design was conducted and led to a novel scaffold, N-(thiophen-2-yl)-8H-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrido[1,2-c]pyrimidine-10-carboxamide.