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We have identified 2-aminobenzylstatine derivatives that inhibit non-covalently the chymotrypsin-like activity of the human 20S proteasome. A structure-based optimisation approach has allowed us to improve the potency of this structural class of proteasome inhibitors from micromolar to nanomolar level. The new derivatives showed good selectivity against the trypsin-like and post-glutamyl-peptide hydrolytic activities of this enzyme.

The 2-aminobenzylstatine derivative 1 is a 20S proteasome inhibitor of a novel chemical type identified by high throughput screening. The compound specifically inhibits the chymotrypsin-like catalytic activity of the human proteasome with an IC50 value in the micromolar range. Using the crystal structure of the yeast proteasome, we modeled the structure of the human proteasome in complex with 1. As one of the first applications of the model in our oncology programme targeting the proteasome, we designed an analogue of the inhibitor having enhanced stacking/hydrophobic interactions with the enzyme. One order of magnitude in inhibitory potency was gained.

Novel 2,6,9-substituted purine derivatives represent a class of potent and selective inhibitors of CDK1/cyclinB. The synthesis, SAR and biological profile of selected compounds are described.