Publication Date
1-11-2024
Journal
ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters Journal
DOI
10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00464
PMID
38229743
PMCID
PMC10788937
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
1-2-2024
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Deuterated compounds, JQ1, Metabolic stability
Abstract
The bromodomain inhibitor (+)-JQ1 is a highly validated chemical probe; however, it exhibits poor in vivo pharmacokinetics. To guide efforts toward improving its pharmacological properties, we identified the (+)-JQ1 primary metabolite using chemical catalysis methods. Treatment of (+)-JQ1 with tetrabutylammonium decatungstate under photochemical conditions resulted in selective formation of an aldehyde at the 2-position of the thiophene ring [(+)-JQ1-CHO], which was further reduced to the 2-hydroxymethyl analog [(+)-JQ1-OH]. Comparative LC/MS analysis of (+)-JQ1-OH to the product obtained from liver microsomes suggested (+)-JQ1-OH as the major metabolite of (+)-JQ1. The 2-thienyl position was then substituted to generate a trideuterated (−CD3, (+)-JQ1-D) analog having half-lives that were 1.8- and 2.8-fold longer in mouse and human liver microsomes, respectively. This result unambiguously confirmed (+)-JQ1-OH as the major metabolite of (+)-JQ1. These studies demonstrate an efficient process for studying drug metabolism and identifying the metabolic soft spots of bioactive compounds.
Graphical Abstract
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