Noncovalent tripeptidyl benzyl- and cyclohexyl-amine inhibitors of the cysteine protease caspase-1

J Med Chem. 2010 Mar 25;53(6):2651-5. doi: 10.1021/jm901790w.

Abstract

Potent and noncovalent inhibitors of caspase-1 were produced by incorporating a secondary amine (reduced amide) isostere in place of the conventional electrophile (e.g., aldehyde) that normally confers high potency to cysteine protease inhibitors. Benzyl- or cyclohexylamines produced potent, reversible, and competitive inhibitors that were selective for caspase-1 (e.g., K(i) = 47 nM) over caspases 3 and 8 with minimal cytotoxicity. Unlike most cysteine protease inhibitors, these compounds do not react covalently and indiscriminately with thiols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines / chemical synthesis
  • Amines / chemistry
  • Amines / pharmacology*
  • Benzene / chemistry
  • Caspase 1 / chemistry
  • Caspase 1 / metabolism
  • Caspase Inhibitors*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cyclohexylamines / chemical synthesis
  • Cyclohexylamines / chemistry
  • Cyclohexylamines / pharmacology
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Amines
  • Caspase Inhibitors
  • Cyclohexylamines
  • Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors
  • Caspase 1
  • Benzene