A set of synthetic approaches were developed and applied to the synthesis of eight frame-shifted farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) analogs. These analogs bear increased or decreased methylene units between the double bonds and/or diphosphate moieties of the isoprenoid structure. Evaluation versus mammalian FTase revealed that small structural changes can lead to dramatic changes in substrate ability.

We report the design and synthesis of novel FTPA-triazole compounds as potent inhibitors of isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt), through a focus on thioether and isoprenoid mimetics. These mimetics were coupled utilizing a copper-assisted cycloaddition to assemble the potential inhibitors. Using the resulting triazole from the coupling as an isoprenyl mimetic resulted in the biphenyl-substituted FTPA triazole 10n. This lipid-modified analogue is a potent inhibitor of Icmt (IC50 = 0.8 ± 0.1 μM; calculated Ki = 0.4 μM).Keywords: dipolar cycloaddition; Isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt); prenylcysteine; Ras; S-farnesyl-thiopropionic acid (FTPA); triazole

Human protein isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (hIcmt) is the enzyme responsible for the α-carboxyl methylation of the C-terminal isoprenylated cysteine of CaaX proteins, including Ras proteins. This specific posttranslational methylation event has been shown to be important for cellular transformation by oncogenic Ras isoforms. This finding led to interest in hIcmt inhibitors as potential anti-cancer agents. Previous analog studies based on N-acetyl-S-farnesylcysteine identified two prenylcysteine-based low micromolar inhibitors (1a and 1b) of hIcmt, each bearing a phenoxyphenyl amide modification. In this study, a focused library of analogs of 1a and 1b was synthesized and screened versus hIcmt, delineating structural features important for inhibition. Kinetic characterization of the most potent analogs 1a and 1b established that both inhibitors exhibited mixed-mode inhibition and that the competitive component predominated. Using the Cheng–Prusoff method, the Ki values were determined from the IC50 values. Analog 1a has a KIC of 1.4 ± 0.2 μM and a KIU of 4.8 ± 0.5 μM while 1b has a KIC of 0.5 ± 0.07 μM and a KIU of 1.9 ± 0.2 μM. Cellular evaluation of 1b revealed that it alters the subcellular localization of GFP-KRas, and also inhibits both Ras activation and Erk phosphorylation in Jurkat cells.

A substrate-based approach to human isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (hIcmt) inhibitors via systematic modulation of both the amide and the prenyl regions of N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-L-cysteine (AFC) led to potent inhibitors of this promising anti-cancer target. However, to date, molecules containing changes to the important carboxylate pharmacophore have not been extensively explored as Icmt inhibitors. We synthesized a set of 39 analogs in which the carboxylate region was chemically redefined using a farnesyl thiopropionic acid (FTPA) backbone. Herein, we demonstrated that modifications of carboxylate motif can lead to potent, sub-micromolar inhibitor of the enzyme. Our most potent inhibitor, analog 12, demonstrated an in vitro IC50 value of 860 nM and cellular effects consistent with hIcmt inhibition.

Through the use of a 1,2-metalate rearrangement, six 7-substituted farnesol analogs were generated in a concise manner. This new synthetic route allowed us to quickly prepare several diverse farnesyl diphosphate analogs with interesting biological activities against mammalian protein-farnesyl transferase.

Prenylcysteine derivatives are of interest for a variety of different biological reasons, including probing the CaaX protein processing pathway. A solid-phase synthesis protocol for the preparation of prenylcysteines using 2-chlorotrityl chloride resin as a solid support has been developed. A series of novel amide-modified farnesylcysteine analogs were synthesized in both high purity and yield under mild conditions. The farnesylcysteine analogs were evaluated using human isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase as a biological target, and several new inhibitors, one with significantly enhanced potency, were identified.