Total Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Target Identification of Rare Abies Sesquiterpenoids

J Am Chem Soc. 2018 Dec 19;140(50):17465-17473. doi: 10.1021/jacs.8b07652. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Abstract

Abiespiroside A (1), beshanzuenone C (2), and beshanzuenone D (3) belong to the Abies sesquiterpenoid family. Beshanzuenones C (2) and D (3) are isolated from the critically endangered Chinese fir tree species Abies beshanzuensis and demonstrated weak inhibiting activity against protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). We describe herein the first total syntheses of these Abies sesquiterpenoids relying on the sustainable and inexpensive chiral pool molecule (+)-carvone. The syntheses feature a palladium-catalyzed hydrocarbonylative lactonization to install the 6,6-fused bicyclic ring system and a Dreiding-Schmidt reaction to build the oxaspirolactone moiety of these target molecules. Our chemical total syntheses of these Abies sesquiterpenoids have enabled (i) the validation of beshanzuenone C's weak PTP1B inhibiting potency, (ii) identification of new synthetic analogs with promising and selective protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 inhibiting potency, and (iii) preparation of azide-tagged probe molecules for target identification via a chemoproteomic approach. The latter has resulted in the identification and evaluation of DNA polymerase epsilon subunit 3 (POLE3) as one of the novel cellular targets of these Abies sesquiterpenoids and their analogs. More importantly, via POLE3 inactivation by probe molecule 29 and knockdown experiment, we further demonstrated that targeting POLE3 with small molecules may be a novel strategy for chemosensitization to DNA damaging drugs such as etoposide in cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abies / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cyclization
  • DNA Polymerase III / antagonists & inhibitors
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Etoposide / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Nucleoproteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemical synthesis
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Sesquiterpenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nucleoproteins
  • POLE3 protein, human
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Etoposide
  • DNA Polymerase III
  • Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11