Structure-Permeability Relationship of Semipeptidic Macrocycles-Understanding and Optimizing Passive Permeability and Efflux Ratio

J Med Chem. 2020 Jul 9;63(13):6774-6783. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00013. Epub 2020 May 26.

Abstract

We herein report the first thorough analysis of the structure-permeability relationship of semipeptidic macrocycles. In total, 47 macrocycles were synthesized using a hybrid solid-phase/solution strategy, and then their passive and cellular permeability was assessed using the parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) and Caco-2 assay, respectively. The results indicate that semipeptidic macrocycles generally possess high passive permeability based on the PAMPA, yet their cellular permeability is governed by efflux, as reported in the Caco-2 assay. Structural variations led to tractable structure-permeability and structure-efflux relationships, wherein the linker length, stereoinversion, N-methylation, and peptoids site-specifically impact the permeability and efflux. Extensive nuclear magnetic resonance, molecular dynamics, and ensemble-based three-dimensional polar surface area (3D-PSA) studies showed that ensemble-based 3D-PSA is a good predictor of passive permeability.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Macrocyclic Compounds / metabolism*
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Peptides / chemistry*
  • Permeability

Substances

  • Macrocyclic Compounds
  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Peptides