Potent, selective pyrone-based inhibitors of stromelysin-1.

In an effort to develop alternatives to hydroxamate-based matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MPIs), we have utilized the drug discovery program LUDI enhanced with the structural coordinates of a bioinorganic model complex. This method has yielded the first pyrone-based MPIs. The inhibitors demonstrate nanomolar potency against MMP-3 and are selective for MMP-3 over MMP-2 and MMP-1. We postulate that the potency and unusual selectivity profile of these MPI is attributable to the pyrone chelating group.