Backbone-Determined Antiarrhythmic Structure-Activity Relationships for a Mirror Image, Oligomeric Depsipeptide Natural Product

J Med Chem. 2024 Jul 25;67(14):12205-12220. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00923. Epub 2024 Jul 3.

Abstract

Cyclic oligomeric depsipeptides (COD) are a structural class within naturally occurring compounds with a wide range of biological activity. Verticilide is a COD (24-membered ring) that was identified by its inhibition of insect ryanodine receptor (RyR). We have since found that the enantiomer of verticilide (ent-verticilide, 1) is a potent inhibitor of mammalian RyR2, a cardiac calcium channel, and therefore a potential antiarrhythmic agent. Oddly, nat-verticilide does not inhibit RyR2. To further develop ent-verticilide as an antiarrhythmic, we explored potential SAR through systematic modification of the ester's functionality to both N-H and N-Me amides. The syntheses of these ent-verticilide-inspired analogs are detailed using a monomer-based platform enabled by enantioselective catalysis. Two analogs among 23 exhibited measurable reduction of calcium sparks in a functional assay of RyR2 activity. These findings illustrate the value of natural product-inspired therapeutic development, but the less-studied approach where the non-natural enantiomeric series harbors important SAR.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents* / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents* / pharmacology
  • Biological Products* / chemical synthesis
  • Biological Products* / chemistry
  • Biological Products* / pharmacology
  • Depsipeptides* / chemical synthesis
  • Depsipeptides* / chemistry
  • Depsipeptides* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel* / chemistry
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel* / metabolism
  • Stereoisomerism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Depsipeptides
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Biological Products
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents