Design of mechanism-based inhibitors of transthyretin amyloidosis: studies with biphenyl ethers and new structural templates

J Med Chem. 2007 Nov 15;50(23):5589-99. doi: 10.1021/jm0700159. Epub 2007 Oct 19.

Abstract

Transthyretin (TTR), a tetrameric thyroxine (T4) carrier protein, is associated with a variety of amyloid diseases. In this study, we explore the potential of biphenyl ethers (BPE), which are shown to interact with a high affinity to its T4 binding site thereby preventing its aggregation and fibrillogenesis. They prevent fibrillogenesis by stabilizing the tetrameric ground state of transthyretin. Additionally, we identify two new structural templates (2-(5-mercapto-[1,3,4]oxadiazol-2-yl)-phenol and 2,3,6-trichloro-N-(4H-[1,2,4]triazol-3-yl) represented as compounds 11 and 12, respectively, throughout the manuscript) exhibiting the ability to arrest TTR amyloidosis. The dissociation constants for the binding of BPEs and compound 11 and 12 to TTR correlate with their efficacies of inhibiting amyloidosis. They also have the ability to inhibit the elongation of intermediate fibrils as well as show nearly complete (>90%) disruption of the preformed fibrils. The present study thus establishes biphenyl ethers and compounds 11 and 12 as very potent inhibitors of TTR fibrillization and inducible cytotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloidosis / drug therapy
  • Amyloidosis / metabolism*
  • Benzamides / chemistry*
  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Drug Design
  • Fluorescence
  • Glutaral / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Kinetics
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxadiazoles / chemistry*
  • Oxadiazoles / pharmacology
  • Phenyl Ethers / chemistry*
  • Phenyl Ethers / pharmacology
  • Prealbumin / chemistry
  • Prealbumin / metabolism*
  • Prealbumin / pharmacology
  • Protein Denaturation
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiazoles / chemistry
  • Triazoles / chemistry*
  • Triazoles / pharmacology
  • Tryptophan / chemistry

Substances

  • 2,3,6-trichloro-N-(4H-(1,2,4)triazol-3-yl)benzamide
  • 2-(5-mercapto-(1,3,4)oxadiazol-2-yl)phenol
  • Benzamides
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Oxadiazoles
  • Phenyl Ethers
  • Prealbumin
  • Thiazoles
  • Triazoles
  • thioflavin T
  • Tryptophan
  • Glutaral