Identification of 4-N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl]quinazoline-4,6-diamine as a novel, highly potent and specific inhibitor of mitochondrial complex I.

By probing the quinone substrate binding site of mitochondrial complex I with a focused set of quinazoline-based compounds, we identified substitution patterns as being critical for the observed inhibition. The structure activity relationship study also resulted in the discovery of the quinazoline 4-N-[2-(4-phenoxyphenyl)ethyl]quinazoline-4,6-diamine (EVP4593) as a highly potent inhibitor of the multisubunit membrane protein. EVP4593 specifically and effectively reduces the mitochondrial complex I-dependent respiration with no effect on the respiratory chain complexes II-IV. Similar to established Q-site inhibitors, EVP4593 elicits the release of reactive oxygen species at the flavin site of mitochondrial complex I. Recently, EVP4593 was nominated as a lead compound for the treatment of Huntingtons disease. Our results challenge the postulated primary mode-of-action of EVP4593 as an inhibitor of NF-κB pathway activation and/or store-operated calcium influx.