Design and synthesis of novel tellurodibenzoic acid compounds as kidney-type glutaminase (KGA) inhibitors.

Organotellurium compounds have been reported as an immune-modulator sensitizing chemotherapeutics. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a series of novel tellurodibenzoic acids as mimics of diphenylarsenic acid (DPAA) and potential selective KGA inhibitors. Representative compound 3B exhibited potent inhibition of KGA and glutamine-dependent HCT-116 cells. Stability experiments indicated that 3B has excellent stability under acidic (HCOOH), basic (NH·HO) and oxidative (HO) conditions, but reacts with β-ME, DTT and lysine which suggested that compound 3B may interact with cysteine or lysine residues. Moreover, molecular docking disclosed that compound 3B binds to the allosteric site of the GAC tetramer containing Arg-Lys-Leu-Phe-Tyr-Glu, which helped to rationalize the SAR and further design and optimization. Taken together, compound 3B could be used as a starting point for the development of new KGA inhibitors.