Benzoisoquinolinediones as Potent and Selective Inhibitors of BRPF2 and TAF1/TAF1L Bromodomains

J Med Chem. 2017 May 11;60(9):4002-4022. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00306. Epub 2017 May 1.

Abstract

Bromodomains (BD) are readers of lysine acetylation marks present in numerous proteins associated with chromatin. Here we describe a dual inhibitor of the bromodomain and PHD finger (BRPF) family member BRPF2 and the TATA box binding protein-associated factors TAF1 and TAF1L. These proteins are found in large chromatin complexes and play important roles in transcription regulation. The substituted benzoisoquinolinedione series was identified by high-throughput screening, and subsequent structure-activity relationship optimization allowed generation of low nanomolar BRPF2 BD inhibitors with strong selectivity against BRPF1 and BRPF3 BDs. In addition, a strong inhibition of TAF1/TAF1L BD2 was measured for most derivatives. The best compound of the series was BAY-299, which is a very potent, dual inhibitor with an IC50 of 67 nM for BRPF2 BD, 8 nM for TAF1 BD2, and 106 nM for TAF1L BD2. Importantly, no activity was measured for BRD4 BDs. Furthermore, cellular activity was evidenced using a BRPF2- or TAF1-histone H3.3 or H4 interaction assay.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Histone Chaperones
  • Humans
  • Isomerism
  • Isoquinolines / chemistry
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacokinetics
  • Isoquinolines / pharmacology*
  • Microsomes, Liver / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transcription Factor TFIID / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Transcription Factors / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Histone Chaperones
  • Isoquinolines
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • TAF1L protein, human
  • TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
  • Transcription Factor TFIID
  • Transcription Factors
  • BRD1 protein, human
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • TATA-binding protein associated factor 250 kDa