Cinnamates and cinnamamides inhibit fungal 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

The 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17beta-HSDs) have important roles in the regulation of steroid hormone actions through their catalysis of the oxidation or reduction of estrogens and androgens at position 17. Dysfunctions of the human 17beta-HSDs have been associated with reproduction disorders, neuronal diseases and the development of hormone-dependent forms of cancers. Therefore, these enzymes represent interesting targets for the development of new drugs. Here we present a series of new cinnamic acid esters and amides that inhibit the oxidative and reductive reaction catalyzed by 17beta-HSD from the fungus Cochliobolus lunatus, a model enzyme of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. We found that esters of unsubstituted cinnamic acid were better inhibitors than esters of 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamic acid. Cinnamates were also more potent inhibitors than structurally related cinnamamides. The compounds presented in this paper are potential leads for the development of inhibitors of human 17beta-HSD isoforms, which may prove to have different therapeutic applications.