1. Academic Validation
  2. A Comprehensive In Vitro Characterization of a New Class of Indole-Based Compounds Developed as Selective Haspin Inhibitors

A Comprehensive In Vitro Characterization of a New Class of Indole-Based Compounds Developed as Selective Haspin Inhibitors

  • J Med Chem. 2024 Jul 22. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00718.
Vincenzo Vestuto 1 Tania Ciaglia 1 Simona Musella 1 Veronica Di Sarno 1 Gerardina Smaldone 1 Francesca Di Matteo 1 Maria Carmina Scala 1 Valeria Napolitano 1 Maria Rosaria Miranda 1 Giuseppina Amodio 2 Sara Novi 1 Giacomo Pepe 1 Manuela Giovanna Basilicata 3 Erica Gazzillo 1 Simona Pace 1 Isabel M Gomez-Monterrey 4 Marina Sala 1 Giuseppe Bifulco 1 Mario Felice Tecce 1 Pietro Campiglia 1 Carmine Ostacolo 1 Gianluigi Lauro 1 Michele Manfra 5 Alessia Bertamino 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via G. Paolo II 132 , Salerno , Fisciano 84084, Italy.
  • 2 Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana″, University of Salerno, Salerno , Baronissi 84034, Italy.
  • 3 Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Science, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", P.zza L. Miraglia 2, Naples 80138, Italy.
  • 4 Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, Via D. Montesano 49 , Naples 80131, Italy.
  • 5 Department of Science, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10 , Potenza 85100, Italy.
Abstract

Haspin is an emerging, but rather unexplored, divergent kinase involved in tumor growth by regulating the mitotic phase. In this paper, the in-silico design, synthesis, and biological characterization of a new series of substituted indoles acting as potent Haspin inhibitors are reported. The synthesized derivatives have been evaluated by FRET analysis, showing very potent Haspin inhibition. Then, a comprehensive in-cell investigation highlighted compounds 47 and 60 as the most promising inhibitors. These compounds were challenged for their synergic activity with paclitaxel in 2D and 3D cellular models, demonstrating a twofold improvement of the paclitaxel antitumor activity. Compound 60 also showed remarkable selectivity when tested in a panel of 70 diverse kinases. Finally, in-silico studies provided new insight about the chemical requirements useful to develop new Haspin inhibitors. Biological results, together with the drug-likeness profile of 47 and 60, make these derivatives deserving further studies.

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