Novel reversible methionine aminopeptidase-2 (MetAP-2) inhibitors based on purine and related bicyclic templates

The natural product fumagillin 1 and derivatives like TNP-470 2 or beloranib 3 bind to methionine aminopeptidase 2 (MetAP-2) irreversibly. This enzyme is critical for protein maturation and plays a key role in angiogenesis. In this paper we describe the synthesis, MetAP-2 binding affinity and structural analysis of reversible MetAP-2 inhibitors. Optimization of enzymatic activity of screening hit 10 (IC50: 1 mu M) led to the most potent compound 27 (IC50: 0.038 mu M), with a concomitant improvement in LLE from 2.1 to 4.2. Structural analysis of these MetAP-2 inhibitors revealed an unprecedented conformation of the His339 side-chain imidazole ring being co-planar sandwiched between the imidazole of His331 and the aryl-ether moiety, which is bound to the purine scaffold. Systematic alteration and reduction of H-bonding capability of this metal binding moiety induced an unexpected 180 flip for the triazolo [1,5-a]pyrimdine bicyclic template. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.