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Fluorinated Gamma-carboline Derivatives as Promising Neuroprotective Candidates. Structure-Activity Relationships
Maria A Lapshina1, Elena F Shevtsova1, German L Perlovich2
1Department of Medical and Biological Chemistry, Preclinical Research Center, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds (IPAC RAS), Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Severny proezd, 142432, Chernogolovka, Russian Federation.
Fluorinated gamma-carboline derivatives were synthesized to inhibit FUS protein aggregation. Compound efficacy correlated with lipophilicity but inversely with hydrogen bond capacity, suggesting off-target interactions limit therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Drug design utilizes structure-property relationships for targeted delivery and minimized side effects.
- Investigating fluorinated gamma-carboline derivatives for their impact on FUS protein aggregation and related structure-activity relationships.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the anti-aggregation properties of novel fluorinated gamma-carboline derivatives.
- To establish structure-activity relationships (SAR) linking physicochemical properties to FUS protein anti-aggregation efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a series of fluorinated gamma-carboline derivatives.
- Evaluation of FUS protein aggregation inhibition in SH-SY5Y cells using confocal fluorescence microscopy.
- Determination of partition coefficients via isothermal saturation and calculation of molecular descriptors.
Main Results:
- Synthesized compounds demonstrated reduction of pathological FUS protein aggregation in a cellular model.
- Identified DF-302 and DF-402 as particularly active compounds, featuring methyl and trifluoromethyl groups, respectively.
- Revealed influence of substituents on compound distribution coefficients and established correlations between anti-aggregation activity and physicochemical properties.
Conclusions:
- A negative correlation exists between anti-aggregation efficacy and hydrogen bond acceptor capacity, indicating potential off-target interactions with membrane proteins.
- Lipophilicity positively correlates with FUS aggregate reduction, highlighting the importance of cellular penetration.
- Off-target binding may limit the therapeutic availability of these compounds for cytosolic FUS protein aggregates.
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