The first biologically active synthetic analogues of FK228, the depsipeptide histone deacetylase inhibitor

Alexander Yurek-George, Alexander Richard Liam Cecil, Alex Hon Kit Mo, Shijun Wen, Helen Rogers, Fay Habens, Satoko Maeda, Minoru Yoshida, Graham Packham, A. Ganesan

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    93 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    The FK228 and spiruchostatin bicyclic depsipeptide natural products are among the most potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors known. Although FK228 is in advanced clinical trials, the complexity of the natural products has precluded mechanistic studies and the discovery of structure−activity relationships. By total synthesis, we have prepared the first depsipeptide analogues. Our results prove that the dehydrobutyrine residue in FK228 is not essential, and other residues can be substituted without loss of HDAC inhibitory activity. Conformational restriction by the macrocyclic scaffold is important, as a linear peptide was inactive. The intramolecular disulfide formed with a cysteine side chain can be removed provided the zinc-binding thiol is protected to ensure good cellular availability. Like the natural products, the analogues are selective against class I isoforms, with nanomolar inhibition of class I HDAC1 and significantly less potency against class II HDAC6.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)5720-5726
    Number of pages7
    JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
    Volume50
    Issue number23
    Early online date24 Oct 2007
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2007

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