Small-molecule inhibitors of protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja070274n

Small molecules that inhibit the geranylgeranylation of K-Ras4B and RhoA by protein geranylgeranyltransferase type I (GGTase-I) were identified from chemical genetic screens of heterocycles synthesized through phosphine catalysis of allenes. To further improve the efficacy of the GGTase-I inhibitors (GGTIs), 4288 related compounds bearing core dihydropyrrole/pyrrolidine and tetrahydropyridine/piperidine scaffolds were synthesized on SynPhase lanterns in a split-pool manner through phosphine-catalyzed [3 + 2] and [4 + 2] annulations of resin-bound allenoates. Testing of the 4288 analogues resulted in several GGTIs exhibiting submicromolar IC₅₀ values. Because proteins such as Ras and Rho GTPases are implicated in oncogenesis and metastasis, these GGTIs might ultimately lead to the development of novel antitumor therapeutics. Copyright