Discovery of PHGDH inhibitors by virtual screening and preliminary structure–activity relationship study

• Compound B2 bearing a benzene-1,3-diamine scaffold was identified as a novel PHGDH inhibitor. • Structure-activity relationship study led to the discovery of more potent compound C25 . • Molecular docking and mutagenesis experiment on PHGDH collectively revealed the binding site of C25 in the PHGDH. Phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) is abnormally expressed in numerous malignant tumor cells and catalyzes the first step of serine biosynthesis, thus becoming a key drug target for antitumor treatment. In this study, compound B2 bearing a benzene-1,3-diamine scaffold was identified by structure-based virtual screening as a novel PHGDH inhibitor with moderate enzymatic activity. The structure–activity relationship study led to the discovery of compound C25 possessing improved enzymatic inhibitory activity and potent inhibitory activity on the proliferation of cells overexpressing PHGDH. The enzyme kinetic assay confirmed that C25 inhibited PHGDH in a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) competitive manner. Molecular docking and mutagenesis experiment on PHGDH collectively revealed the binding site and key interaction residues of C25 in the PHGDH catalytic site. Taken together, this study provides information on the structural diversity for a further development of potent PHGDH inhibitors.