Discovery of potent and selective sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) inhibitors using a fragment-based approach

J Med Chem. 2014 Oct 23;57(20):8340-57. doi: 10.1021/jm500777s. Epub 2014 Oct 2.

Abstract

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is one of the sirtuins, a family of NAD(+)-dependent deacetylases that act on a variety of histone and non-histone substrates. Accumulating biological functions and potential therapeutic applications have drawn interest in the discovery and development of SIRT2 inhibitors. Herein we report our discovery of novel SIRT2 inhibitors using a fragment-based approach. Inspired by the purported close binding proximity of suramin and nicotinamide, we prepared two sets of fragments, namely, the naphthylamide sulfonic acids and the naphthalene-benzamides and -nicotinamides. Biochemical evaluation of these two series provided structure-activity relationship (SAR) information, which led to the design of (5-benzamidonaphthalen-1/2-yloxy)nicotinamide derivatives. Among these inhibitors, one compound exhibited high anti-SIRT2 activity (48 nM) and excellent selectivity for SIRT2 over SIRT1 and SIRT3. In vitro, it also increased the acetylation level of α-tubulin, a well-established SIRT2 substrate, in both concentration- and time-dependent manners. Further kinetic studies revealed that this compound behaves as a competitive inhibitor against the peptide substrate and most likely as a noncompetitive inhibitor against NAD(+). Taken together, these results indicate that we have discovered a potent and selective SIRT2 inhibitor whose novel structure merits further exploration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dogs
  • Drug Design
  • Drug Discovery
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • MCF-7 Cells / drug effects
  • Madin Darby Canine Kidney Cells
  • Molecular Structure
  • Niacinamide / chemistry
  • Sirtuin 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Sulfonic Acids / chemistry
  • Suramin / chemistry
  • Suramin / pharmacology

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Ligands
  • Sulfonic Acids
  • Niacinamide
  • Suramin
  • SIRT2 protein, human
  • Sirtuin 2