Novel sulfonamide bearing coumarin scaffolds as selective inhibitors of tumor associated carbonic anhydrase isoforms IX and XII

Four novel scaffolds consisting of total 24 compounds (1a–1o, 2a–2c, 3a–3c and 4a–4c) bearing aromatic sulfonamide and coumarin moieties connected through various linkers were synthesized in order to synergize the inhibition potential of both the moieties against four selected human carbonic anhydrase isoforms (hCA I, II, IX & XII). All compounds were found to be potent inhibitors of tumor associated hCA IX & XII while at the same time required large amounts to inhibit off-targeted housekeeping hCA I & II. Selectivity was more pronounced against hCA II over I, and hCA XII over IX. Results were compared with antitumor drug acetazolamide. One derivative 2b of series 2 was found to be a better selective inhibitor of hCA IX and XII.     

Synthesis and exploration of 2-morpholino-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl acrylamide derivatives for their effects against carbonic anhydrase I,II, IX and XII isoforms as a non-sulfonamide class of inhibitors

Novel series of 2-morpholino-4-phenylthiazol-5-yl acrylamide derivatives (8a–s) have been synthesized and explored as a non-sulfonamide class of carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors. The newly synthesized molecules were evaluated for their CA inhibitory potency against four isoforms: the cytosolic isozyme hCA I, II as well as trans-membrane tumor associated isoform hCA IX and hCA XII taking acetazolamide (AAZ) as standard drug. The results revealed that most of the compounds showed good activity against hCA II, IX, and XII whereas none of them were active against hCA I (K_i >100 μM). It is observed that the physiologically most important cytosolic isoform hCA II was inhibited by these molecules in the range of K_i 9.3–77.7 μM. It is also found the both the transmembrane isoforms hCA IX and XII were also inhibited with K_is ranging between 54.7–96.7 μM and 4.6–8.8 μM, respectively. The binding modes of the active compounds within the catalytic pockets of hCA II, IX and XII were evaluated by docking studies. This new non-sulfonamide class of selective inhibitors of hCA II, IX and XII over the hCA I isoform may be used for further understanding the physiological roles of some of these isoforms in various pathologies.     

New thiopyrimidine-benzenesulfonamide conjugates as selective carbonic anhydrase II inhibitors: synthesis,in vitro biological evaluation,and molecular docking studies

In the present work, a new series of thiopyrimidine-benzenesulfonamide conjugates was designed, synthesized and tested as carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitors. Our design strategy was based on the molecular hybridization of the benzenesulfonamide moiety as a zinc binding group (ZBG), an alkylated thiopyrimidine moiety as a spacer and (un)substituted phenyl moieties with various electronic and hydrophobic environments as a tail. The designed and synthesized compounds were evaluated against four human (h) CA isoforms hCA I, hCA II, hCA IX and hCA XII. Series 6 showed promising activity and selectivity toward the cytosolic isoforms hCA I and hCA II versus the membrane bound isoforms hCA IX and hCA XII. Compounds 6e and 6f showed K_i of 0.04 µM against hCA II with a selectivity of 15.8- to 980-fold towards hCA II over hCA I, hCA IX, hCA XII isoforms. Molecular docking in the hCA II active site attributed the promising inhibitory activity of series 6 to the interaction of their sulfonamide moiety with the active site Zn²⁺ ion as well as its hydrogen bonding with the key amino acids Thr199 and Thr200. Through hydrophobic interaction, the benzenesulfonamide and the thiopyrimidine moieties interact with the hydrophobic side chains of the amino acids Val121/Leu198 and Ile91/Phe131, respectively. These results indicated that the designed and synthesized series is an interesting scaffold that can be further optimized for the development of selective antiglaucoma drugs.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis,molecular docking,cytotoxic and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, IX,XII with novel benzenesulfonamides incorporating pyrrole,pyrrolopyrimidine and fused pyrrolopyrimidine moieties

A series of novel pyrroles, pyrrolopyrimidines, pyrazolopyrrolopyrimidine, triazolopyrrolopyrimidines, tetrazolopyrrolopyrimidine, triazinopyrrolopyrimidines and pyrrolopyrimidotriazepines bearing the biologically active benzenesulfonamide moiety were synthesized by using pyrrole-o-amino-carbonitrile as key intermediate. All the synthesized compounds were evaluated for their in vitro carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) inhibitory effects against the human (h) isoforms hCA I, II, IX and XII. Among the tested derivatives, compounds 16, 18 and 20–24 showed potent activity as inhibitors for the tumor associated transmembrane isoforms (hCA IX and XII) in the nanomolar and subnanomolar range, with high selectivity. All compounds underwent cytotoxic activity assays on human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) showing effective activity, comparable to that of the clinically used drug doxorubicin.     

Synthesis,biological evaluation and in silico studies with 4-benzylidene-2-phenyl-5(4H)-imidazolone-based benzenesulfonamides as novel selective carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitors endowed with anticancer activity

In the presented work, we report the synthesis of a series of 4-benzylidene-2-phenyl-5(4H)-imidazolone-based benzenesulfonamides 7a-f via the Erlenmeyer–Plöchl reaction. All the prepared imidazolones 7a-f were evaluated as inhibitors of human (h) carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) cytosolic isoforms hCA I and II, as well as transmembrane tumor-associated isoforms hCA IX and XII. All the tested hCA isoforms were inhibited by the prepared imidazolones 7a-f in variable degrees with the following K_Is ranges: 673.2–8169 nM for hCA I, 61.2–592.1 nM for hCA II, 23–155.4 nM for hCA XI, and 21.8–179.6 nM for hCA XII. In particular, imidazolones 7a, 7e, and 7f exhibited good selectivity towards the tumor-associated isoforms (CAs IX and XII) over the off-target cytosolic (CAs I and II) with selectivity index (SI) in the range of 6.2–19.4 and 3.3–8, respectively. Moreover, imidazolones 7a-f were screened for their anticancer activity in one dose (10⁻⁵ M) assay against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines according to US-NCI protocol. Furthermore, 7a, 7e and 7f were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against colorectal cancer HCT-116 and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. Furthermore, 7e and 7f were screened for cell cycle disturbance and apoptosis induction in HCT-116 cells. Finally, a molecular docking study was carried out to rationalize the obtained results.     

Syntesis of thio- and seleno-acetamides bearing benzenesulfonamide as potent inhibitors of human carbonic anhydrase II and XII

A novel series of thio- and seleno-acetamides bearing benzenesulfonamide were synthetized and tested as human carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These compounds were tested for the inhibition of four human (h) isoforms, hCA I, II, IX, and XII, involved in pathologies such as glaucoma (CA II and XII) or cancer (CA IX/XII). Several derivatives showed potent inhibition activity in low nanomolar range such as 3a, 4a, 7a and 8a. Furthermore, based on the tail approach we explain the interesting and selective inhibition profile of compound such as 5a and 9a, which were more selective for hCA I, 9b which was selective for hCA II, 3f selective for hCA IX and finally, 3e and 4b selective for hCA XII, over the other three isoforms. They are interesting leads for the development of more effective and isoform-selective 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.     

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.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Synthesis and inhibition of the human carbonic anhydrase isoforms I,II, VII,IX and XII with benzene sulfonamides incorporating 4,5,6,7-tetrabromophthalimide moiety

A series of 4,5,6,7-tetrabromo-1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl benzenesulfonamide derivatives (compounds 1–8) was synthesized by reaction of benzene sulfonamide derivatives with 4,5,6,7-tetrabromophthalic anhydride moiety. 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, II and VII and the transmembrane tumor-associated isoform hCA IX and XII. The new compounds were good hCA I inhibitors (Kis in the range of 143 to >10,000 nM), but were moderately effective, as hCA II inhibitors (Kis of 47–190 nM) and poor hCA VII inhibitors (Kis in the range of 54–175 nM) compared to acetazolamide. The tumor-associated hCA IX was effectively inhibited with Kis ranging between 8.5 and 234 nM and hCA XII with inhibition constants in the range of 6.1–197 nM with high selectivity ratio. 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 study of compounds was performed to rationalize the SAR reported over here.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of coumarin-3-carboxamides as selective carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

A series of novel 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamides was synthesized by the reaction of 7-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carboxylic acid with various substituted aromatic amines. The newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the four physiologically relevant human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms CA I, CA II, CA IX and CA XII. The CA inhibition results show that the newly synthesized 7-hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxamides (4a-n) exhibited selective inhibition of the tumor associated isoforms, CA IX and CA XII over CA I and II isoforms. The inhibition constants ranged from sub micromolar to low micromolar. Amongst all the compounds tested, compound 4m was the most effective inhibitor exhibiting sub micromolar potency against both hCA IX and hCA XII, with a K_i of 0.2 µM. Therefore, it can be anticipated that compound 4m can serve as a lead for development of anticancer therapy by exhibiting a novel mechanism of action. The binding modes of the most potent compounds within hCA IX and XII catalytic clefts were investigated by docking studies.     

Discovery of new ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating 1,3,5-triazine moieties as carbonic anhydrase I,II, IX and XII inhibitors

A series of twenty novel ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating 1,3,5-triazine moieties substituted on one side with aromatic amines and on the other side with dimethylamine, morpholine and piperidine is reported. The compounds were synthesized from the 4-(3-(4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)ureido)benzensulfonamide (1) by using stepwise nucleophilic substitution of the chlorine atoms of cyanuric chloride. The intermediates 2(a-e) and final compounds 3(a-o) were tested for their efficiency as carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors against four selected physiologically relevant human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms, namely, the cytosolic ones hCA I and II, and the transmembrane, tumor associated ones hCA IX, and XII. The compounds 2a, 2e and 3m showed the highest activity for hCA IX with K_is in the range of 11.8–14.6?nM. Most of the compounds showed high hCA IX selectivity over the abundant off-target isoforms hCA I and II. Since hCA IX is a validated drug target for anticancer/antimetastatic agents, these isoform-selective and potent inhibitors may be considered of interest for further medicinal/pharmacologic studies.     

Furazan and furoxan sulfonamides are strong α-carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and potential antiglaucoma agents

A series of furazan and furoxan sulfonamides were prepared and studied for their ability to inhibit human carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA I, hCA II, hCA IX, and hCA XII. The simple methyl substituted products 3–5 were potent inhibitors. Differing structural modifications of these leads had differing effects on potency and selectivity. In particular, products in which the sulfonamide group is separated from the hetero ring by a phenylene bridge retained high potency only on the hCA XII isoform. The sulfonamides 3–5 exerted intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effects in vivo in hypertensive rabbits more efficiently than dorzolamide. Some other products (39–42), although less effective in vitro hCA II/XII inhibitors, also effectively lowered IOP in two different animal models of glaucoma.     

Novel synthesized SLC-0111 thiazole and thiadiazole analogues: Determination of their carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity and molecular modeling studies

In the presented work, we report the design and synthesis of novel SLC-0111 thiazole and thiadiazole analogues (11a–d, 12a–d, 16a–c and 17a–d). A bioisosteric replacement approach was adopted to replace the 4-fluorophenyl tail of SLC-0111 with thiazole and thiadiazole ones, which were thereafter extended with lipophilic un/substituted phenyl moieties. All the newly synthesized SLC-0111 analogues were evaluated in vitro for their inhibitory activity towards a panel of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms (hCA I, II, IX and XII), using a stopped-flow CO₂ hydrase assay. All the examined isoforms were inhibited by the primary sulfonamide derivatives (11a–d and 12a–d) in variable degrees with the following K_I ranges: 162.6–7136 nM for hCA I, 9.0–833.6 nM for hCA II, 7.9–153.0 nM for hCA IX, and 9.4–94.0 nM for hCA XII. In particular, compounds 12b and 12d displayed 5.5-fold more potent inhibitory activity (K_Is = 8.3 and 7.9 nM, respectively) than SLC-0111 (K_I = 45 nM) towards hCA IX. Molecular docking study was carried out for 12d within the hCA IX (PDB 3IAI) active site, to justify its inhibitory activity.     

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Selective inhibition of human tumor-associated isozymes IX and XII and cytosolic isozymes I and II with some substituted-2-mercapto-benzenesulfonamides

A series of 2-mercapto-substituted-benzenesulfonamides has been prepared by a unique two-step procedure starting from the corresponding 2-chloro-substituted benzenesulfonamides. Compounds bearing an unsubstituted mercapto group and the corresponding S-benzoyl derivatives were investigated as inhibitors of four isoforms of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), i.e., the cytosolic, ubiquitous isozymes CA I and II, as well as the transmembrane, tumor associated isozymes CA IX and XII. These derivatives were medium potency hCA I inhibitors (K_Is in the range of 1.5–5.7 μM), two derivatives were strong hCA II inhibitors (K_Is in the range of 15–16 nM), whereas the others showed weak activity. These compounds inhibited hCA IX with inhibition constants in the range 160–1950 nM and hCA XII with inhibition constants in the range 1.2–413 nM. Some of these derivatives showed a certain degree of selectivity for inhibition of the tumor-associated over the cytosolic isoforms, being thus interesting leads for the development of potentially novel applications in the management of hypoxic tumors which overexpress CA IX and XII.     

Tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase isoform IX and XII inhibitory properties of certain isatin-bearing sulfonamides endowed with in vitro antitumor activity towards colon cancer

Three series of indolinone-based sulfonamides (3a–f, 6a–f and 9a–f) were in vitro evaluated as inhibitors of the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms hCA IX and XII, using a stopped-flow CO₂ hydrase assay. All the investigated sulfonamides displayed single- or double-digit nanomolar inhibitory activities towards both hCA IX (K_Is: 6.2–64.8 nM) and XII (K_Is: 7.1–55.6 nM) isoforms. All sulfonamides (3a–f, 6a–f and 9a–f) were in vitro examined for their potential anticancer activity against colorectal cancer HCT-116 and breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. Sulfonamide 9e was found to be the most potent counterpart against HCT-116 (IC₅₀ = 3.67 ± 0.33 µM). Sulfonamide 9e displayed good selectivity profile for inhibition of the tumor-associated isoforms (CAs IX & XII) over the off-target cytosolic CAs I and II. 9e was screened for cell cycle disturbance and apoptosis induction in HCT-116 cells. It was found to persuade cell cycle arrest at G₂-M stage as well as alter the Sub-G₁ phase. Also, 9e induced the intrinsic apoptotic mitochondrial pathway in HCT-116 cells via down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level with concurrent boosting the pro-apoptotic Bax, caspase-9, caspase-3, cytochrome C and p53 levels.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of coumarin-1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrids as selective carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

With an aim to develop novel heterocyclic hybrids as potent anticancer agents, we synthesized a series of coumarin-1,3,4-oxadiazole hybrids (7a-t) and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against the four physiologically relevant human carbonic anhydrase (hCA, EC 4.2.1.1) isoforms CA I, CA II, CA IX and CA XII. The CA inhibition results clearly indicated that the coumarin-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (7a-t) exhibited selective inhibition of the tumor associated isoforms, CA IX and CA XII over CA I and II isoforms. Among all, compound 7b, exhibited significant inhibition in lower micromolar potency against hCA XII, with a K_i of 0.16 µM and compound 7n, exhibited significant inhibition in lower micromolar potency against hCA IX, with a K_i of 2.34 µM respectively. Therefore, compound 7b and 7n could be the potential leads for development of selective anticancer agents by exhibiting a novel mechanism of action through hCA IX and XII inhibition.     

Synthesis of new 3-(2-mercapto-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamides with strong inhibition properties against the tumor associated carbonic anhydrases IX and XII

We report a series of novel metanilamide-based derivatives 3a–q bearing the 2-mercapto-4-oxo-4H-quinazolin-3-yl moiety as tail. All compounds were synthesized by means of straightforward condensation procedures and were investigated in vitro for their inhibition potency against the human (h) carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1.1) isoforms I, II, IX and XII. Among all compounds tested the 6-iodo 3g and the 7-fluoro 3i derivatives were the most potent inhibitors against the tumor associated CA IX and XII isoform (K_Is 1.5 and 2.7 nM respectively for the hCA IX and K_Is 0.57 and 1.9 nM respectively for the hCA XII).The kinetic data reported here strongly support compounds of this type for their future development as radiotracers in tumor pathologies which are strictly dependent on the enzymatic activity of the hCA IX and XII isoforms.     

Synthesis and inhibition potency of novel ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating GABA as tumor-associated carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors

New ureido benzenesulfonamides incorporating a GABA moiety as a linker between the ureido and the sulfonamide functionalities were synthesized and their inhibition potency determined against both the predominant cytosolic (hCA I and II) and the transmembrane tumor-associated (hCA IX and XII) isoforms of the metalloenzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1). The majority of these compounds were medium potency inhibitors of the cytosolic isoform hCA I and effective hCA II inhibitors, whereas they showed strong inhibition of the two transmembrane tumor-associated isoforms hCA IX and XII, with K_Is in nanomolar range. Only one derivative had a good selectivity for inhibition of the tumor-associated hCA IX target isoform over the cytosolic and physiologically dominant off-target hCA I and II, being thus a potential tool to develop new anticancer agents.