Structure-Guided Design of a Brain-Penetrant Covalent Inhibitor of Human Butyrylcholinesterase with In Vivo Procognitive Efficacy
Peter Mastnak-Sokolov, Urban Košak, Anže Meden, Damijan Knez, Simon Žakelj, Selena Horvat, Anja Pišlar, Jakob Kljun, Alexandre Igert, José Dias, Florian Nachon, Xavier Brazzolotto, Martin Novak, Vendula Rydlova, Jana Zdarova Karasova, Ondřej Soukup, Aleksandra Manik, Jan Detka, Kinga Sałat, Stanislav GobecAbstract
Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) has emerged as a validated therapeutic target for the management of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms, particularly in advanced stages when acetylcholinesterase activity declines. Despite the numerous BChE inhibitors reported, only the cymserine derivative bisnorcymserine has progressed to clinical evaluation. Here, we report the design and characterization of a novel selective human BChE (hBChE) inhibitor, N-benzylpyrrolidine carbamate (S)-(+)-14. Kinetic analyses and X-ray crystallography of the hBChE−inhibitor complex confirm a covalent mechanism of inhibition. Compound (S)-(+)-14 demonstrates favorable metabolic stability and achieves brain exposure following intraperitoneal administration in mice. In a scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment model, (S)-(+)-14 improves cognitive performance without causing cholinergic adverse effects or motor deficits. Collectively, these findings identify (S)-(+)-14 as a structurally validated, brain-penetrant covalent hBChE inhibitor and highlight its promise as a lead compound for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.