Discovery of potent and selective inhibitors of human aminopeptidases ERAP1 and ERAP2 by screening libraries of phosphorus-containing amino acid and dipeptide analogues

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2016 Aug 15;26(16):4122-6. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.06.062. Epub 2016 Jun 25.

Abstract

A collection of fifty phosphonic and phosphinic acids was screened for inhibition of ERAP1 and ERAP2, the human endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidases. The cooperative action of these enzymes is manifested by trimming a variety of antigenic precursors to be presented on the cell surface by major histocompatibility class I. The SAR studies revealed several potent compounds, particularly among the phosphinic dipeptide analogues, that were strong inhibitors of ERAP2 (Ki=100-350nM). A wide structural diversity of the applied organophosphorus compounds, predominantly non-proteinogenic analogues, allowed identification of representatives selective toward only one form of ERAP. For example, N'-substituted α,β-diaminophosphonates and phosphinates exhibited potency only toward ERAP2, which is in agreement with the P1 basic substrate-oriented specificity. Such discriminating ligands are invaluable tools for elucidating the precise role of a particular aminopeptidase in the concerted function of antigen processing and in human diseases.

Keywords: Antigenic peptide processing; Metalloaminopeptidases; Organophosphorus inhibitors; SAR studies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / chemistry*
  • Aminopeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Aminopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Dipeptides / chemistry*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Metals / chemistry
  • Metals / metabolism
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / metabolism*
  • Phosphinic Acids / chemistry
  • Phosphinic Acids / metabolism*
  • Phosphorous Acids / chemistry
  • Phosphorous Acids / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Dipeptides
  • Metals
  • Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
  • Phosphinic Acids
  • Phosphorous Acids
  • phosphonic acid
  • Aminopeptidases
  • ERAP1 protein, human
  • ERAP2 protein, human