Human polymerase alpha inhibitors for skin tumors. Part 2. Modeling, synthesis and influence on normal and transformed keratinocytes of new thymidine and purine derivatives

Author(s)
Monika Höltje, Anja Richartz, Barbara Zdrazil, Anja Schwanke, Branislav Dugovic, Caterina Murruzzu, Hans-Ulrich Reissig, Hans Christian Korting, Burkhard Kleuser, Hans-Dieter Höltje, Monika Schäfer-Korting
Abstract

Recently, the three-dimensional structure of the active site of human DNA polymerase alpha (pol alpha) was proposed based on the application of molecular modeling methods and molecular dynamic simulations. The modeled structure of the enzyme was used for docking selective inhibitors (nucleotide analogs and the non-nucleoside inhibitor aphidicolin) in its active site in order to design new drugs for actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The resulting complexes explained the geometrical and physicochemical interactions of the inhibitors with the amino acid residues involved in binding to the catalytic site, and offered insight into the experimentally derived binding data. The proposed structures were synthesized and tested in vitro for their influence on human keratinocytes and relevant tumor cell lines. Effects were compared to aphidicolin which inhibits pol alpha in a non-competitive manner, as well as to diclofenac and 5-fluorouracil, both approved for therapy of actinic keratosis. Here we describe three new nucleoside analogs inhibiting keratinocyte proliferation by inhibiting DNA synthesis and inducing apoptosis and necrosis. Thus, the combination of modeling studies and in vitro tests should allow the derivation of new drug candidates for the therapy of skin tumors, given that the agents are not relevant substrates of nucleotide transporters expressed by skin cancer cells. Kinases for nucleoside activation were detected, too, corresponding with the observed effects of nucleoside analogs.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Freie Universität Berlin (FU), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Journal
Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry
Volume
25
Pages
250-265
No. of pages
16
ISSN
1475-6366
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3109/14756360903059579
Publication date
04-2010
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
301207 Pharmaceutical chemistry
Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/human-polymerase-alpha-inhibitors-for-skin-tumors-part-2-modeling-synthesis-and-influence-on-normal-and-transformed-keratinocytes-of-new-thymidine-and-purine-derivatives(f1cfe331-531a-477f-926a-4e9e8d5b432b).html