Structural Optimization of 4-Chlorobenzoylpiperidine Derivatives for the Development of Potent, Reversible, and Selective Monoacylglycerol Lipase (MAGL) Inhibitors

J Med Chem. 2016 Nov 23;59(22):10299-10314. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01459. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

Abstract

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) inhibitors are considered potential therapeutic agents for a variety of pathological conditions, including several types of cancer. Many MAGL inhibitors are reported in literature; however, most of them showed an irreversible mechanism of action, which caused important side effects. The use of reversible MAGL inhibitors has been only partially investigated so far, mainly because of the lack of compounds with good MAGL reversible inhibition properties. In this study, starting from the (4-(4-chlorobenzoyl)piperidin-1-yl)(4-methoxyphenyl)methanone (CL6a) lead compound that showed a reversible mechanism of MAGL inhibition (Ki = 8.6 μM), we started its structural optimization and we developed a new potent and selective MAGL inhibitor (17b, Ki = 0.65 μM). Furthermore, modeling studies suggested that the binding interactions of this compound replace a structural water molecule reproducing its H-bonds in the MAGL binding site, thus identifying a new key anchoring point for the development of new MAGL inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases / metabolism
  • Piperidines / chemical synthesis
  • Piperidines / chemistry
  • Piperidines / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • 4-chlorobenzoylpiperidine
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Piperidines
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases