Structural Basis of Nanomolar Inhibition of Tumor-Associated Carbonic Anhydrase IX: X‑Ray Crystallographic and Inhibition Study of Lipophilic Inhibitors with Acetazolamide Backbone

This study provides a structure–activity relationship study of a series of lipophilic carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibitors with an acetazolamide backbone. The inhibitors were tested against the tumor-expressed CA isozyme IX (CA IX), and the cytosolic CA I, CA II, and membrane-bound CA IV. The study identified several low nanomolar potent inhibitors against CA IX, with lipophilicities spanning two log units. Very potent pan-inhibitors with nanomolar potency against CA IX and sub-nanomolar potency against CA II and CA IV, and with potency against CA I one order of magnitude better than the parent acetazolamide 1 were also identified in this study, together with compounds that displayed selectivity against membrane-bound CA IV. A comprehensive X-ray crystallographic study (12 crystal structures), involving both CA II and a soluble CA IX mimetic (CA IX-mimic), revealed the structural basis of this particular inhibition profile and laid the foundation for further developments toward more potent and selective inhibitors for the tumor-expressed CA IX.