First Insight on Small Molecules as Cardiac Calsequestrin Stabilizers

[Image: see text] Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is caused by mutations of cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2) that impair its characteristic ability of Ca(2+)-induced polymerization–depolymerization. However, stabilizing the CASQ2 polymer by pharmacological agents to treat CPVT has not been reported so far. Here, we tested whether small molecules can stabilize CASQ2 polymers. We synthesized 24 glycinate/alaninate/acetate α-pyranone analogs and conducted the CASQ2 depolymerization assay. Most of the molecules of this class of compounds inhibited the depolymerization of the protein upon Ca(2+) chelation by ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid. Structure–activity relationship studies revealed that the compounds with the 4-fluoro-phenyl group at the C-6 position of the pyranone ring and open-chain primary amine at C-4 are the most active of the class. This is the first report of an α-pyranone class of compounds with the ability to stabilize CASQ2 polymers and opens up the possibility to target Ca(2+)-release disorders via modulation of CASQ2 polymerization.