Chemical synthesis, pharmacological evaluation and in silico analysis of new 2, 3, 3a, 4, 5, 6-hexahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole derivatives as potential anti-mitotic agents. Issue 16 (15th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Minu, Maninder; Singh, Deepti; Mahaddalkar, Tejashree; Lopus, Manu; Winter, Philip; Ayoub, Ahmed T.; Missiaen, Kristal; Tilli, Tatiana Martins; Pasdar, Manijeh; Tuszynski, Jack
• Is Part Of: Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry letters. Volume 26:Issue 16(2016)
• Page Start: 3855
• Page End: 3861
• Publication Date: 2016-08-15
• Subjects: EDG electron donating group -- EWG electron withdrawing groups -- MT microtubule -- SAR structure activity relationship; Hexahydropyrazole -- Anti-mitotic -- Tubulin -- Docking -- Tubulin binding assay -- Colchicine-binding assay; Bioorganic chemistry -- Periodicals; Pharmaceutical chemistry -- Periodicals; 572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.07.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-894X

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: We have synthesized new, biologically active mono- and di-substituted 2, 3, 3a, 4, 5, 6-hexahydrocyclopenta[ c ]pyrazole derivatives bearing electron withdrawing groups and electron donating groups. These derivative structures were characterized by their spectral and analytical data. The newly synthesized hexahydropyrazole analogues were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against breast and lung cancer cell lines using a cytotoxicity bioassay. To understand their mechanism of action, tubulin binding assays were performed which pointed to their binding to microtubules in a mode similar to but not identical to colchicine, as evidenced by their K D value evaluation. Computational docking studies also suggested binding near the colchicine binding site on tubulin. These results were further confirmed by colchicine-binding assays on the most active compounds, which indicated that they bound to tubulin near but not at the colchicine site. The moderate cytotoxic effects of these compounds may be due to the presence of electron donating groups on the para-position of the phenyl ring, along with the hexahydropyrazole core nucleus. The observed anti-cancer activity based on inhibition of microtubule formation may be helpful in designing more potent compounds with a hexahydropyrazole moiety.