Mixed-lineage kinase 1 and mixed-lineage kinase 3 subtype-selective dihydronaphthyl[3,4-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-5-ones: optimization, mixed-lineage kinase 1 crystallography, and oral in vivo activity in 1-methyl-4-phenyltetrahydropyridine models

J Med Chem. 2008 Sep 25;51(18):5680-9. doi: 10.1021/jm8005838. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

The optimization of the dihydronaphthyl[3,4-a]pyrrolo[3,4-c]carbazole-5-one R(2) and R(12) positions led to the identification of the first MLK1 and MLK3 subtype-selective inhibitors within the MLK family. Compounds 14 (CEP-5104) and 16 (CEP-6331) displayed good potency for MLK1 and MLK3 inhibition with a greater than 30- to 100-fold selectivity for related family members MLK2 and DLK. Compounds 14 and 16 were orally active in vivo in a mouse MPTP biochemical efficacy model that was comparable to the first-generation pan-MLK inhibitor 1 (CEP-1347). The MLK1 structure-activity relationships were supported by the first-reported X-ray crystal structure of MLK1 bound with 16.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Carbazoles / administration & dosage
  • Carbazoles / chemistry
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mice
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinase Kinase 11
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Pyrrolidinones / administration & dosage
  • Pyrrolidinones / chemistry
  • Pyrrolidinones / pharmacology*
  • Rats

Substances

  • 2-isopropoxy-12-(2-hydroxyethyl)-13,14-dihydronaphthol(2,1-a)pyrrolo(3,4-c)carbazole-5-one
  • 2-methoxy-12-(2-hydroxyethyl)-13,14-dihydronaphthol(2,1-a)pyrrolo(3,4-c)carbazole-5-one
  • Carbazoles
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrrolidinones
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases
  • MAP3K9 protein, human