Conjugates of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid as Pin1 inhibitors displaying anti-prostate cancer ability

Publication date: Available online 4 August 2017
Source:Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry
Author(s): Kun Li, Tianyi Ma, Jingjing Cai, Min Huang, Hongye Guo, Di Zhou, Shenglin Luan, Jinyu Yang, Dan Liu, Yongkui Jing, Linxiang Zhao
Twenty-six conjugates of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid were designed and synthesized as Pin1 inhibitors. Most of these semi-synthetic compounds showed improved Pin1 inhibitory activity and anti-proliferative effects against prostate cancer cells as compared to 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid and GA. Compounds 10a and 12i were the most potent to inhibit growth of prostate cancer PC-3 with GI50 values of 7.80 μM and 3.52 μM, respectively. The enzyme inhibition ratio of nine compounds at 10 μM was over 90%. Structure-activity relationships indicated that both appropriate structure at ring C of GA and suitable length of linker between GA skeleton and benzimidazole moiety had significant impact on improving activity. Western blot assay revealed that 10a decreased the level of cell cycle regulating protein cyclin D1. Thus, these compounds might represent a novel anti-proliferative agent working through Pin1 inhibition.

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