• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.3760-3764
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• 2010

We screened 10,000 heterocyclic small molecules and identified a novel hit core skeleton of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl) imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives. It has been selected as a potential glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) activator and demonstrated its effects in increasing GLP-1 secretion, and thereby increasing the glucose responsiveness in both in vitro and pharmacology analyses. Further studies are currently underway to optimize the potency and selectivity of 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate derivatives (hit compounds 2 and 8), and address their in vivo efficacy and therapeutic potential. These molecules may serve as useful evidence showing that compounds with a 3-(8-chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-yl)phenyl acetate moiety are selective GLP-1R agonists, and have potential as anti-diabetic treatment agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.718-729
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• 2022

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the most common primary esophageal malignancy with poor prognosis. Here, due to the necessity for exploring potential therapies against ESCC, we obtained the gene expression data on ESCC from the TCGA and GEO databases. Venn diagram analysis was applied to identify common targets. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by Cytoscape software, and the hub targets were extracted from the network via cytoHubba. The potential hub nodes as drug targets were found by pharmacophore-based virtual screening and molecular modeling, and the antitumor activity was evaluated through in vitro studies. A total of 364 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in ESCC were identified. Pathway enrichment analyses suggested that most DEGs were mainly involved in the cell cycle. Three hub targets were retrieved, including CENPF, CCNA2 (cyclin A), and CCNB1 (cyclin B1), which were highly expressed in esophageal cancer and associated with prognosis. Moreover, amentoflavone, a promising drug candidate found by pharmacophore-based virtual screening, showed antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects and induced G1 in esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. Taken together, our findings suggested that amentoflavone could be a potential cell cycle inhibitor targeting cyclin B1, and is therefore expected to serve as a great therapeutic agent for treating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.253-258
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• 2016

In this study, nano-micelled curcumin was produced with natural sea salt with a view to comparing the in silico molecular binding affinity of pure curcumin compound to the active site of transthyretin. Using an optical light microscope and an electron microscope, it was found that the structure of the surface and the cross-section of nano-micelled curcumin was significantly different from natural sea salt. In particular, the crystal structure and nano-components in the nano-micelled curcumin were united, and the layer was more strongly stabilized than untreated salts. In the virtual 3D structure, in silico molecular docking study, the ligand binding affinity of nano-micelled curcumin to the transthyretin active site was found to be higher than that of pure curcumin. In addition, a nano-micelled curcumin formula interacted with more amino acid residues of transthyretin domains. The pharmacophore feature of the nano-micelled curcumin also showed more condensed and constrained features than normal curcumin. These results suggest that nano-micelled curcumin may effectively bind to and stabilize transthyretin, thereby regulating transthyretin-related physiological diseases. Collectively, the nano-micelled curcumin process suggests that normal curcumin can be modified more efficiently into the novel bio-functional chemical formula to stabilize the transthyretin structure. Therefore, the nano-micelled curcumin process can be applied to the field of the regulation of Alzheimer's disease.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1994.04a
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• pp.324-324
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• 1994

5, 8-Quinolinedione모핵은 항진균, 항균, 항암제등의 pharmacophore 이다. 그리고 신약 창제의 lead compound로 생체내 전자전달계에 작용하여 환원을 받으면 quinone semiradical과 superoxide를 생성하여 진균, 세균등을 공격하여 항진균, 항균작용이 예상된다. 새로운 항진균제를 개발하기 위해 6-chloro-7-(halo-phenyl)-5,8-quinolindione유도체 (RCK1-12)을 합성하여 이들 화합물에 대하여 항균작용 및 항진균작용을 검색했다.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.181-182
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• 2002

Recentadvancesin '-omics ' technologies enable us to discover more diverse disease- relevant target proteins, which encourages us to find out more target-specific novel lead compounds as new drug candidates. Therefore, high-throughput screening (HTS) becomes an essential tool in this area. Among many HTS tools, in silico HTS is a very fast and cost-effective tool to try to derive a new lead compound for any new targets, especially when the target protein structures are known or readily modeled. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.183-185
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• 2002

The discovery of new ligands with affinity and selectivity for the dopamine $D_2$ receptor subtypes is an important area in medicinal chemistry. The distribution of the $D_2$ receptors in the limbic areas of brain suggests that these receptors may be particularly an attractive target for the design of potential selective antipsychotic drugs without causing extrapyramidal side effects. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Biophysical Society Conference
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• 1996.07a
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• pp.23-23
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• 1996

A working molecular model of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor is built based on the seven transmembrane helix structure of the recently refined bacteriorhodopsin atomic coordinates. A multiple copy simultaneous search (MCSS) method is used to search the pharmacophore of angiotensin on the surface of the receptor. Multiple copies of amino acid fragments and organic functional groups are scattered around the possible binding site and the time dependent. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.346.1-346.1
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• 2002

FXR (farnesoid X-activated receptor) is a member of nuclear steroid hormone receptor superfamily and especially a orphan receptor, which are able to control mevalonate pathway upon activation by binding of the specific ligands. We. have launched our study for development of FXR specific ligands getting on in lead discovery. A promising lead stilbene analog was obtained through the screening of a set of library compounds which was previously targeted for other nuclear receptors. And then synthetic modilication of the lead was perfoumde. In addition. fishing a new pharmacophore was fried by UNITT aearch. which brought new structural features.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1717-1722
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• 2008

The 70 kDa heat-shock protein (Hsp70) involved in various cellular functions, such as protein folding, translocation and degradation, regulates apoptosis in cancer cells. Recently, it has been reported that the green tea flavonoid (−)-epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) induces apoptosis in numerous cancer cell lines and could inhibit the anti-apoptotic effect of human Hsp70 ATPase domain (hATPase). In the present study, docking model between EGCG and hATPase was determined using automated docking study. Epi-gallo moiety in EGCG participated in hydrogen bonds with side chain of K71 and T204, and has metal chelating interaction with hATPase. Hydroxyl group of catechin moiety also participated in metal chelating hydrogen bond. Gallate moiety had two hydrogen bondings with side chains of E268 and K271, and hydrophobic interaction with Y15. Based on this docking model, we determined two pharmacophore maps consisted of six or seven features, including three or four hydrogen bonding acceptors, two hydrogen bonding donors, and one lipophilic. We searched a flavonoid database including 23 naturally occurring flavonoids and 10 polyphenolic flavonoids with two maps, and myricetin and GC were hit by map I. Three hydroxyl groups of B-ring in myricetin and gallo moiety of GC formed important hydrogen bonds with hATPase. 7-OH of A-ring in myricetin and OH group of catechin moiety in GC are hydrogen bond donors similar to gallate moiety in EGCG. From these results, it can be proposed that myricetin and GC can be potent inhibitors of hATPase. This study will be helpful to understand the mechanism of inhibition of hATPase by EGCG and give insights to develop potent inhibitors of hATPase.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.397-404
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• 2020

Adiponectin secretion-promoting compounds have therapeutic potentials in human metabolic diseases. Diallyl biphenyl-type neolignan compounds, magnolol, honokiol, and 4-O-methylhonokiol, from a Magnolia officinalis extract were screened as adiponectin-secretion promoting compounds in the adipogenic differentiation model of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSCs). In a target identification study, magnolol, honokiol, and 4-O-methylhonokiol were elucidated as PPARα and PPARγ dual modulators. Diallyl biphenyl-type neolignans affected the transcription of lipid metabolism-associated genes in a different way compared to those of specific PPAR ligands. The diallyl biphenyl-type neolignan structure provides a novel pharmacophore of PPARα/γ dual modulators, which may have unique therapeutic potentials in diverse metabolic diseases.