Structure-activity relationships of triazolopyridine oxazole p38 inhibitors: identification of candidates for clinical development

The synthesis, structure-activity relationship, in vivo activity, and metabolic profile for a series of triazolopyridine-oxazole based p38 inhibitors are described. The deficiencies of the lead structure in the series, CP-808844, were overcome by changes to the C4 aryl group and the triazole side-chain culminating in the identification of several potential clinical candidates.     

Pro-interleukin (IL)-1�� Shares a Core Region of Stability as Compared with Mature IL-1�� While Maintaining a Distinctly Different Configurational Landscape: A COMPARATIVE HYDROGEN/DEUTERIUM EXCHANGE MASS SPECTROMETRY STUDY*

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a master cytokine involved in initiating the innate immune response in vertebrates (Dinarello, C. A. (1994) FASEB J. 8, 1314–1325). It is first synthesized as an inactive 269-residue precursor (pro-interleukin-1β or pro-IL-1β). Pro-IL-1β requires processing by caspase-1 to generate the active, mature 153-residue cytokine. In this study, we combined hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and enzymatic digestion comparative studies to investigate the configurational landscape of pro-IL-1β and the role the N terminus plays in modulating the landscape. We find that the N terminus keeps pro-IL-1β in a protease-labile state while maintaining a core region of stability in the C-terminal region, the eventual mature protein. In mature IL-1β, this highly protected region maps back to the area protected earliest in the NMR studies characterizing an on-route kinetic refolding intermediate. This protected region also encompasses two important functional loops that participate in the IL-1β/receptor binding interface required for biological activity. We propose that the purpose of the N-terminal precursor region in pro-IL-1β is to suppress the function of the eventual mature region while keeping a structurally and also functionally important core region primed for the final folding into the native, active state of the mature protein. The presence of the self-inhibiting precursor region provides yet another layer of regulation in the life cycle of this important cytokine.Nearly all cell types respond to interleukin (IL)-1β,⁴ in a very sensitive manner, via binding to the interleukin-1 receptor type 1 (IL-1RI) (2). Although essential in the immune response, overproduction of IL-1β can lead to both acute (sepsis) as well as chronic (rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, obesity, and diabetes) disease states (3). Thus, the expression, activation, and secretion of this cytokine are tightly controlled (4). Although many cell types express IL-1β, it is predominately produced and secreted by monocytes and macrophages (1). The protein is synthesized as a biologically inactive 269-residue precursor molecule, pro-interleukin-1β (pro-IL-1β), and the 153-residue active mature IL-1β is generated from the C-terminal domain. Processing of the proprotein involves the recently discovered NALP-1 and NALP-3 inflammasomes, which are responsible for activating procaspase-1 (5). The inflammasome function is integral in wound repair as well as for combating infection (6–9).In vivo, the 31-kDa pro-IL-1β precursor is processed to the active C-terminal 17-kDa form by the interleukin-1 converting enzyme, caspase-1 (10, 11). Caspase-1 is a cysteine protease that recognizes two cleavage sites in pro-IL-1β, the Asp²⁷↓Gly²⁸ and Asp¹¹⁶↓Ala¹¹⁷ peptide bonds (Fig. 1A). These cleavage sites are conserved across mammals (12–14). The activation pathway is believed to proceed with cleavage first at Asp²⁷↓Gly²⁸ (site 1) followed by Asp¹¹⁶↓Ala¹¹⁷ (site 2). These processing events lead to the generation of the mature, active IL-1β from the C-terminal domain of pro-IL-1β (15). After cleavage, the mature protein is exported via a cell-specific non-classical pathway (16). The events leading from caspase-1 activation to active IL-1β secretion are poorly understood and constitute an area of active research (16–20).Open in a separate windowFIGURE 1.A, a schematic of pro-interleukin-1β processing by caspase-1. The two caspase-1 cleavage sites are labeled by residue/number. The products for the cleavage scenario are represented as smaller blocks, and the final mature protein as the actual three-dimensional structure shown in blue (Protein Data Bank code 6I1B (74)). B, panel i, important features are highlighted on the structure of mature IL-1β. Residues Tyr⁶⁸ (residue 184 in pro-IL-1β) and Trp¹²⁰ (236 in pro-IL-1β) are indicated by red side chain stick representation. The two loops important for binding at the third Ig domain of the receptor are indicated by blue spheres (the basic/hydrophobic 90s loop, which encompasses residues 85–99 in mature and 201–216 in pro-IL-1β) and yellow spheres (the β-bulge, residues 46–53 and 162–169). The numbering corresponds to mature and pro-IL-1β, respectively. Panel ii, after rotating the structure 90°, the individual trefoils are labeled by color (trefoil 1 in orange, trefoil 2 in yellow, and trefoil 3 in blue). The structural features described in panel i maintain the same coloring. Panel iii, the two-dimensional splay diagram of the trefoils labeled by color as in panel ii showing the 3-fold symmetry of the secondary structure elements.The native structure of IL-1β is classified as a β-trefoil. The global protein-fold contains three pseudo-symmetric βββloopβ motifs that coalesce to form a six-stranded barrel with three hairpins that form a six-stranded cap closing one end of the barrel (see Fig. 1B) (21). Mature IL-1β refolds relatively slowly (22), accessing multiple routes including a major route with a detectable intermediate population (23, 24). Recently, this slow folding has been attributed to repacking of a functionally important loop (the β-bulge) in the mature protein (see Fig. 1B, i) (25–27). Although much information is known about the structure, folding, and function of mature IL-1β, there is little information available on pro-IL-1β, despite the central importance of this molecule in mediating critical inflammatory processes (28–30). What is known is that the presence of the N-terminal 116 amino acids results in a highly protease-sensitive protein with no biological activity (31). Folding of mature IL-1β is believed to occur after cleavage of pro-IL-1β in vivo. Therefore, structural analysis of the precursor is essential for a better understanding of the role the precursor region plays in regulating folding events leading to the generation of the eventual mature protein.The crystal structure of pro-IL-1β has not been determined, despite approximately 25 years of intensive efforts directed toward this goal, as a result of the dynamic nature of this molecule (32–34). Therefore, we used structure-sensitive methods to compare pro-IL-1β in reference to the mature protein. Optical methods in combination with hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometric analysis (DXMS) and enzymatic digestion were used to investigate how the N-terminal precursor region modulates the properties of the C-terminal mature domain. DXMS is a well established technique for characterizing proteins refractory to standard crystallographic or NMR structure determination techniques (35–37). Taken together, our results indicate that the N terminus inhibits folding to the fully active trefoil structure in the C-terminal region, but maintains the protein in a conformation that is primed for efficient folding upon release after caspase-1 cleavage.     

Divalent Cations Slow Activation of EAG Family K Channels through Direct Binding to S4

Voltage-gated K⁺ channels share a common voltage sensor domain (VSD) consisting of four transmembrane helices, including a highly mobile S4 helix that contains the major gating charges. Activation of ether-a-go-go (EAG) family K⁺ channels is sensitive to external divalent cations. We show here that divalent cations slow the activation rate of two EAG family channels (Kv12.1 and Kv10.2) by forming a bridge between a residue in the S4 helix and acidic residues in S2. Histidine 328 in the S4 of Kv12.1 favors binding of Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺, whereas the homologous residue Serine 321 in Kv10.2 contributes to effects of Mg²⁺ and Ni²⁺. This novel finding provides structural constraints for the position of transmembrane VSD helices in closed, ion-bound EAG family channels. Homology models of Kv12.1 and Kv10.2 VSD structures based on a closed-state model of the Shaker family K⁺ channel Kv1.2 match these constraints. Our results suggest close conformational conservation between closed EAG and Shaker family channels, despite large differences in voltage sensitivity, activation rates, and activation thresholds.     

Synthesis of phenyl-adducted cyclodextrin through the click reaction

A new derivative of β-cyclodextrin (CD) has been made incorporating the phenyl group through the use of click reaction. The resulting product suggests a self-association phenomenon through the formation of inclusion compound between the phenyl group and CD. The product has been characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.     

Enhancement of the Ca2+-triggering steps of native membrane fusion via thiol-reactivity

Ca²⁺-triggered membrane fusion is the defining step of exocytosis. Isolated urchin cortical vesicles (CV) provide a stage-specific preparation to study the mechanisms by which Ca²⁺ triggers the merger of two apposed native membranes. Thiol-reactive reagents that alkylate free sulfhydryl groups on proteins have been consistently shown to inhibit triggered fusion. Here, we characterize a novel effect of the alkylating reagent iodoacetamide (IA). IA was found to enhance the kinetics and Ca²⁺ sensitivity of both CV-plasma membrane and CV–CV fusion. If Sr²⁺, a weak Ca²⁺ mimetic, was used to trigger fusion, the potentiation was even greater than that observed for Ca²⁺, suggesting that IA acts at the Ca²⁺-sensing step of triggered fusion. Comparison of IA to other reagents indicates that there are at least two distinct thiol sites involved in the underlying fusion mechanism: one that regulates the efficiency of fusion and one that interferes with fusion competency.     

Glucose Metabolism,Islet Architecture,and Genetic Homogeneity in Imprinting of [Ca2+]i and Insulin Rhythms in Mouse Islets

We reported previously that islets isolated from individual, outbred Swiss-Webster mice displayed oscillations in intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) that varied little between islets of a single mouse but considerably between mice, a phenomenon we termed “islet imprinting.” We have now confirmed and extended these findings in several respects. First, imprinting occurs in both inbred (C57BL/6J) as well as outbred mouse strains (Swiss-Webster; CD1). Second, imprinting was observed in NAD(P)H oscillations, indicating a metabolic component. Further, short-term exposure to a glucose-free solution, which transiently silenced [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations, reset the oscillatory patterns to a higher frequency. This suggests a key role for glucose metabolism in maintaining imprinting, as transiently suppressing the oscillations with diazoxide, a K_ATP-channel opener that blocks [Ca²⁺]_i influx downstream of glucose metabolism, did not change the imprinted patterns. Third, imprinting was not as readily observed at the level of single beta cells, as the [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations of single cells isolated from imprinted islets exhibited highly variable, and typically slower [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations. Lastly, to test whether the imprinted [Ca²⁺]_i patterns were of functional significance, a novel microchip platform was used to monitor insulin release from multiple islets in real time. Insulin release patterns correlated closely with [Ca²⁺]_i oscillations and showed significant mouse-to-mouse differences, indicating imprinting. These results indicate that islet imprinting is a general feature of islets and is likely to be of physiological significance. While islet imprinting did not depend on the genetic background of the mice, glucose metabolism and intact islet architecture may be important for the imprinting phenomenon.     

Patterns of 15N assimilation and growth of methanotrophic ANME-2 archaea and sulfate-reducing bacteria within structured syntrophic consortia revealed by FISH-SIMS

Methane release from the oceans is controlled in large part by syntrophic interactions between anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (DSS), frequently found as organized consortia. An understanding of the specifics of this symbiotic relationship and the metabolic heterogeneity existing between and within individual methane-oxidizing aggregates is currently lacking. Here, we use the microanalytical method FISH-SIMS (fluorescence in situ hybridization-secondary ion mass spectrometry) to describe the physiological traits and anabolic activity of individual methanotrophic consortia, specifically tracking ¹⁵N-labelled protein synthesis to examine the effects of organization and size on the metabolic activity of the syntrophic partners. Patterns of ¹⁵N distribution within individual aggregates showed enhanced ¹⁵N assimilation in ANME-2 cells relative to the co-associated DSS revealing a decoupling in anabolic activity between the partners. Protein synthesis in ANME-2 cells was sustained throughout the core of individual ANME-2/DSS consortia ranging in size range from 4 to 20 μm. This indicates that metabolic activity of the methane-oxidizing archaea is not limited to, or noticeably enhanced at the ANME−2/DSS boundary. Overall, the metabolic activity of both syntrophic partners within consortia was greater than activity measured in representatives of the ANME-2 and DSS observed alone, with smaller ANME-2/DSS aggregates displaying a tendency for greater ¹⁵N uptake and doubling times ranging from 3 to 5 months. The combination of ¹⁵N-labelling and FISH-SIMS provides an important perspective on the extent of heterogeneity within methanotrophic aggregates and may aid in constraining predictive models of activity and growth by these syntrophic consortia.     

Web-based weight management programs in an integrated health care setting: a randomized, controlled trial

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a Web‐based tailored behavioral weight management program compared with Web‐based information‐only weight management materials. Research Methods and Procedures: Participants, 2862 eligible overweight and obese (BMI = 27 to 40 kg/m²) members from four regions of Kaiser Permanente's integrated health care delivery system, were randomized to receive either a tailored expert system or information‐only Web‐based weight management materials. Weight change and program satisfaction were assessed by self‐report through an Internet‐based survey at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up periods. Results: Significantly greater weight loss at follow‐up was found among participants assigned to the tailored expert system than among those assigned to the information‐only condition. Subjects in the tailored expert system lost a mean of 3 ± 0.3% of their baseline weight, whereas subjects in the information‐only condition lost a mean of 1.2 ± 0.4% (p < 0.0004). Participants were also more likely to report that the tailored expert system was personally relevant, helpful, and easy to understand. Notably, 36% of enrollees were African‐American, with enrollment rates higher than the general proportion of African Americans in any of the study regions. Discussion: The results of this large, randomized control trial show the potential benefit of the Web‐based tailored expert system for weight management compared with a Web‐based information‐only weight management program.