<p>The ubiquitin-proteasome system is responsible for cellular protein recycling, and it is a crucial system to maintain proper protein balances in cells. Proteasome is the main component of the system, and the system is tightly related to multiple cellular processes. Malfunction of the proteasome could lead to various diseases including cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and autoimmune diseases. As a result, researchers have been developing small molecules to target the proteasome to regulate its function. Currently, three small molecules have been approved by FDA as proteasome inhibitors to treat hematological cancer multiple myeloma. However, these small molecules inhibit the same enzymatic subunit on the proteasome and drug resistance has been observed among patients administrating these proteasome inhibitors. To develop new small molecules to target the proteasome, we started to investigate the 19S regulatory particle of the proteasome. In this work, we presented a workflow of discovering a small molecule selective binder, TXS-8, to 19S regulatory particle subunit Rpn-6. We also developed a series of assays to investigate the impact of small molecule on proteasome activity. At last, we introduced the binding site study of TXS-8, development of TXS-8-based PROTAC and new proteasome probe development.</p> <p>We first developed a one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) library to screen with Rpn-6 to discover potential binders to Rpn-6. After careful evaluation and validation, TXS-8 was discovered as the best hit from the screening. Our covalent pull-down experiment with cell lysate later confirmed TXS-8 as a selective binder of Rpn-6 and proteomic analysis of the pulled down protein also validated Rpn-6 as the major target of TXS-8.</p> <p>We then investigated the impact of TXS-8 in Rpn-6 overexpressed cancer cells like Ramos B-cell and multiple myeloma. TXS-8 was four-fold more toxic in these cells comparing to our control HEK-293T cells. To understand the cause of cell death when dosed with TXS-8, we began to investigate the impact of TXS-8 on proteasome activity, but some preliminary results were inconsistent. By the same time, there is also lack of a general workflow to investigate the impact of small molecules on proteasome activity. Therefore, we developed a three-step process to illustrate the general workflow using TXS-8 as an example. We first knocked down Rpn-6 in HEK-293T cells and monitored proteasome activity changes with a cell permeable probe our lab developed. We then transfected HEK-293T cells with a full-length foreign protein and knocked down Rpn-6 in these cells. We later monitored the degradation of the foreign protein when dosed with TXS-8. In the last step, we monitored the proteasome activity changes in primary cell lines when dosed with TXS-8. From these three steps, we successfully demonstrated a general workflow to investigate if a small molecule can affect proteasome activity. We also concluded that TXS-8 was unable to affect proteasome activity at non-lethal concentration.</p> <p> To further investigate TXS-8 and provide guidance for future structural optimization to improve potency, we proposed two methods on investigating the general binding site of TXS-8 on Rpn-6 using cross-linking techniques that is currently ongoing. We also modified TXS-8 into proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) to investigate if TXS-8-based PROTAC can improve toxicity and selectively induce Rpn-6 degradation in cells. However, no significant cell toxicity or Rpn-6 degradation was observed when dosed with TXS-8-based PROTACs.</p> Finally, Due to limitation of cell permeable probes, we were unable to investigate the impact of TXS-8 on the caspase-like β1 and trypsin-like β2 subunit of the proteasome in our previous studies. Although TXS-8 did not alter the chymotrypsin-like activity at non-lethal concentration, examining the effect of TXS-8 on the caspase-like and trypsin-like activity could still benefit our research. Besides, we also desire to expand our proteasome activity toolbox by developing more sensitive proteasome probes. Therefore, by analyzing and combing the commercially available proteasome probes and LLVY-Rh probes, we decided to develop selective proteasome probes for the β1 and β2 subunit to provide useful tools for future potential small molecule proteasome regulator characterization.

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La nature contient un grand nombre de molécules naturelles à visée thérapeutique. Depuis plusieurs années, la chimie médicinale ne cesse de s’en inspirer afin de développer de nouvelles thérapies pour améliorer le quotidien des personnes atteintes de certaines pathologies. Cette thèse traitera de la conception de molécules hétérocycliques comme inhibiteurs d’enzymes et médiateurs d’interactions protéine-protéine. Les molécules bioactives sont la pierre angulaire de la chimie thérapeutique. Depuis la découverte de l’Aspirine en 1899, elles n’ont cessé d’impacter la société à plusieurs niveaux et ont contribué à l’amélioration de la qualité de vie des patients. Il y a cependant, plusieurs pathologies pour lesquelles il n’existe à ce jour aucun remède, ce qui met en exergue les limitations de la chimie médicinale et implique le développement de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques. La stéato-hépatite non-alcoolique ou NASH (Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis) est une maladie caractérisée par une accumulation de graisses dans le foie, menant à la formation de tissus cicatriciels sur le foie. Ces derniers altèrent les fonctions hépatiques du foie et peuvent mener à la cirrhose si aucun traitement n’est administré. A ce jour, il existe aucun médicament pour guérir de NASH. La serine-thréonine kinase 25 (STK25) est une sérine-thréonine kinase, qui serait impliquée dans le développement de la maladie de NASH. Ainsi, le premier chapitre de cette thèse rapporte la synthèse de triazolo-oxazines comme inhibiteurs potentiels de STK25. Il s’agit de la première approche inhibitrice rapportée dans la littérature. Des tests biologiques ont été effectués et la modélisation moléculaire des triazolo-oxazines a été réalisée. Face au problème de pharmacorésistance et l’absence de remèdes pour certaines maladies, il y a un besoin urgent pour de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques est présent. Depuis quelques années, les dégradeurs ciblés de protéines suscitent un engouement. En effet, ces derniers induisent la dégradation de protéines défectueuses en recrutant les complexes de ligase E3. Cette stratégie vient pallier l’absence de sites de liaison, caractéristique de plusieurs protéines impliquées dans le développement de cancers. Parmi les dégradeurs de protéines, il y a les agrafes moléculaires et les PROTACs. Dans le second chapitre de cette thèse, la synthèse de molécules hétérocycliques comme ligand de la ligase E3 DCAF15 pour le développement éventuel de nouveaux PROTACS sera rapportée. L’outil de modélisation moléculaire a permis la sélection de molécules indoliques comportant le motif -lactame et pyrrolidine . Bien qu’ils aient été synthétisés comme un mélange racémique, des tests pour la synthèse asymétrique de ces derniers seront également discuter. Les maladies infectieuses ravagent les pays de l’Amérique latine et l’Afrique subsaharienne. Les ressources insuffisantes, les conditions sanitaires et l’instabilité des régimes politiques rendent difficile l’administration et l’acheminement de traitements. Parmi ces maladies infectieuses, il y a la leishmaniose, la trypanosomiase humaine africaine et la trypanosomiase humaine américaine lesquelles sont toutes causés par des protozoaires. Dans le troisième chapitre, des molécules hétérocycliques, comportant le motif imidazolo-oxazine seront synthétisés comme candidats potentiels pour le traitement de ces maladies infectieuses. / Nature has provided an infinite number of bioactive small molecules for therapeutic benefits. For many years, it has inspired medicinal chemistry to develop new therapies to improve the well-being of humankind. This thesis will be about the conception of heterocyclic small molecules as enzyme inhibitors and protein-protein interaction mediators. Small molecules are the cornerstone of therapeutic chemistry. Since the discovery of Aspirin in 1899, small molecules have had a significant impact on several levels and have contributed to the improvement of quality of life. Nonetheless, many diseases still have no remedy; hence there exists a need for new therapeutic strategies. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, (NASH) is a disease characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver, leading to the formation of scars on the liver. These scars will affect the different functions of the liver and can even lead to cirrhosis if not treated. Up until now, there is no drug for NASH. STK25 is a serine-threonine kinase, suspected to be involved in the mechanism of action of NASH. The first chapter in this thesis involves the synthesis of triazolo-oxazines as potential STK25 inhibitors for NASH treatment. It is the first example of an enzymatic approach for NASH treatment. The synthesis of potential inhibitors was designed based of molecular modeling of other inhibitors targeting CDK. In a second chapter, a new approach of small molecules degraders that recruits E3 ligases complexes for the degradation of protein is described. Among the small molecule degraders, there are molecular glues and PROTACs. This chapter will describe the design and the synthesis of heterocyclic molecules as DCAF15 ligands for the eventual development of new PROTACs. Molecular docking has been useful for the selection of the - lactams et pyrrolidines small molecules. Infectious diseases have tremendous consequences in Latin America and Africa. The lack of means, health hazards and the political instability of governments make difficult the supply and administration of treatments. Among the infectious diseases, there are Leishmaniasis, human African trypanosomiasis, human American trypanosomiasis, which are caused by bacteria. In the third chapter, imidazolo-oxazine small molecules will be synthesized as potential candidates for the treatment of these parasitic infections.