N-(1-Benzyl-3,5-dimethyl‑1H‑pyrazol-4-yl)benzamides: Antiproliferative activity and effects on mTORC1 and autophagy

Teng Ai, Rose Willett, Jessica Williams, Rui Ding, Daniel J. Wilson, Jiashu Xie, Do Hyung Kim, Rosa Puertollano, Liqiang Chen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Guided by antiproliferative activity in MIA PaCa-2 cells, we have performed preliminary structure−activity relationship studies on N-(1-benzyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzamides. Two selected compounds showed submicromolar antiproliferative activity and good metabolic stability. Both compounds reduced mTORC1 activity and increased autophagy at the basal level. In addition, they disrupted autophagic flux by interfering with mTORC1 reactivation and clearance of LC3-II under starvation/refeed conditions, as evidenced by accumulation of LC3-II and abnormal LC3 labeled punctae. Therefore, N-(1benzyl-3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzamides may represent a new class of autophagy modulators that possesses potent anticancer activity and potentially a novel mechanism of action.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)90-95
Number of pages6
JournalACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 12 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Chemical Society.

Keywords

  • Anticancer agents
  • Autophagy
  • Autophagy modulator
  • MTOR
  • Pancreatic cancer

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