TMTugce Gur Maz

Tugce Gur Maz

*This is an algorithmically generated author record based on publicly available information.

Current Organizations / Institutes

The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article


Tugce Gur Maz has a total of 33 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:


Latest Publications

  • 2‐Phenylbenzothiazoles featuring heteroaryl sulfonamide end‐capping substructures as developable mPGES‐1 inhibitors

    by Tansu Yalçın, Paul M. Jordan, Abdurrahman Olğaç, Philipp Dahlke, Tuğçe Gür Maz, Erden Banoglu, Oliver Werz, Burcu Çalışkan

    The inhibition of human microsomal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) is a promising therapeutic modality for developing next‐generation anti‐inflammatory medications. In this study, we present novel 2‐phenylbenzothiazole derivatives featuring heteroaryl sulfonamide end‐capping substructures as inhibitors of human mPGES‐1, with IC50 values in the range of 0.72–3.40 µM in a cell‐free assay of PGE2 formation. Notably, compound 21, featuring a quinoxalinedione ring in its sulfonamide segment, effectively suppresses PGE2 biosynthesis at a low micromolar concentration (IC50 = 0.72 µM) with exceptional selectivity against cyclooxygenase (COX)‐1, COX‐2, 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX), and FLAP. This compound offers a novel chemical scaffold for developing safer and more effective anti‐inflammatory agents.


  • Synthesis of some piperazine/piperidine amides of chromone-2-carboxylic acid as potential soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors

    by Tugce Gur Maz, Huseyin Burak Caliskan

    Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is implicated as a new therapeutic approach against inflammatory disorders in the context of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In the course of our ongoing research on sEH inhibitors, we synthesized novel piperididine/piperazine amide derivatives of the chromone-2-carboxylic acid, and evaluated their inhibitory properties against human sEH. The chemical structures of the target compounds (2-5, 7-9) were elucidated by means of 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and HRMS spectra. Initial screening of final compounds against sEH at a final concentration of 10 micromolar led to the identification of compound 7, which inhibited sEH activity in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 = 1.75 micromolar. Therefore, this chromen-2-amide derivative 7 decorated with benzyl piperidine on the amide side can be regarded as a novel lead structure, which pave the way of developing new analogues with improved inhibitory activities against sEH.


  • Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Aryl‐Tailored Oxadiazole‐thiones as New Urease Inhibitors

    by Tugce Gur Maz, H. Burak Caliskan, Irfan Capan, Burcu Caliskan, Berrin Özçelik, Erden Banoglu

    The ubiquitous chronic gastric infections that cause major human health disorders like gastritis and ulcers can be treated using drugs targeting the Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) urease. Targeted eradication therapy is essential given the growing ineffectiveness of current treatment regimens due to broad‐spectrum antibiotic resistance, significant side effects, and low compliance. Therefore, we here report the development of a new series of 1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2‐thiones with various aryl tail groups (compounds 20 – 27 ) as effective urease inhibitors. The most promising analog 5‐[(4‐methoxyphenoxy)methyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐2‐thione ( 21) inhibited the urease activity with an IC 50 value of 26.6 μM. In addition, kinetic studies revealed the competitive inhibition pattern for 21 with a K i value of 8.72 μM indicating the potent and specific binding interactions with the urease active site. Molecular docking analysis of 21 inside the active pocket of the urease highlighted several important interactions with amino acid residues such as H492, H519 and R439, which pave the way for further development of improved urease inhibitors with potential application as anti‐infective agents.


  • Open Access

    Benzoxazolone-5-Urea Derivatives as Human Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase (sEH) Inhibitors

    by Tugce Gur Maz, Beyzanur Koc, Paul M. Jordan, Kübra İbIş, Burcu Çalışkan, Oliver Werz, Erden Banoglu

    Inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is indicated as a new therapeutic modality against a variety of inflammatory diseases, including metabolic, renal, and cardiovascular disorders. In our ongoing research on sEH inhibitors, we synthesized novel benzoxazolone-5-urea analogues with highly potent sEH inhibitory properties inspired by the crystallographic fragment scaffolds incorporating a single H-bond donor/acceptor pair. The tractable SAR results indicated that the aryl or benzyl fragments flanking the benzoxazolone-urea scaffold conferred potent sEH inhibition, and compounds 31-39 inhibited the sEH activity with IC50 values in the range of 0.39-570 nM. Docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations with the most potent analogue 33 provided valuable insights into potential binding interactions of the inhibitor in the sEH binding region. In conclusion, benzoxazolone-5-ureas furnished with benzyl groups on the urea function can be regarded as novel lead structures, which allow the development of advanced analogues with enhanced properties against sEH.


  • Development and molecular modeling studies of new thiadiazole piperazine urea derivatives as potential fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitors

    by Tugce Gur Maz, Sumeyye Turanlı, H. Burak Caliskan, Burcu Çalışkan, Erden Banoglu

    A series of novel piperazine urea derivatives with thiadiazole moieties were designed, synthesized, and investigated for their inhibition potential against human fatty acid amide hydrolase (hFAAH). The urea derivatives possessing p‐chlorophenylthiadiazole and benzylpiperazine fragments (19–22) were effective inhibitors of hFAAH. Notably, compounds with 4‐chlorobenzyl (19) and 4‐fluorobenzyl (20) tails at the piperazine side were identified as the most active inhibitors with IC50 values of 0.13 and 0.22 µM, respectively. The preincubation test of 19 was in agreement with the irreversible binding mechanism. Molecular docking was performed to explore the potential binding interactions with key amino acid residues at the FAAH active site. These newly identified inhibitors could serve as leads for the further development of potent and selective FAAH inhibitors for FAAH‐associated diseases.


  • Open Access

    Shifting the Biosynthesis of Leukotrienes Toward Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators by the 5-Lipoxygenase-Activating Protein (FLAP) Antagonist BRP-201

    by Christian Kretzer, Paul M Jordan, Rossella Bilancia, Antonietta Rossi, Tuğçe Gür Maz, Erden Banoglu, Ulrich S Schubert, Oliver Werz

    Background and Purpose: Lipid mediators (LM) play crucial roles in the complex inflammation process with respect to initiation, maintenance, and resolution. Proinflammatory leukotrienes (LTs), generated by 5-lipoxygenase (LOX) and the 5-LOX-activating protein (FLAP), initiate and maintain inflammation while specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) formed by various LOXs as key enzymes promote inflammation resolution and the return to homeostasis. Since 5-LOX also contributes to SPM biosynthesis, smart pharmacological manipulation of the 5-LOX pathway and accompanied activation of 12-/15-LOXs may accomplish suppression of LT formation but maintain or even elevate SPM formation. Here, we demonstrated that the FLAP antagonist BRP-201 possesses such pharmacological profile and causes a switch from LT toward SPM formation. Methods and Results: Comprehensive LM metabololipidomics with activated human monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) of M1 or M2 phenotype showed that BRP-201 strongly inhibits LT formation induced by bacterial exotoxins. In parallel, SPM levels and 12/15-LOX-derived products were markedly elevated, in particular in M2-MDM. Intriguingly, in unstimulated MDM, BRP-201 induced formation of 12/15-LOX products including SPM and caused 15-LOX-1 subcellular redistribution without affecting 5-LOX. Experiments with HEK293 cells stably expressing either 5-LOX with or without FLAP, 15-LOX-1 or 15-LOX-2 confirmed suppression of 5-LOX product formation due to FLAP antagonism by BRP-201 but activated 15-LOX-1 in the absence of FLAP. Finally, in zymosan-induced murine peritonitis, BRP-201 (2 mg/kg, ip) lowered LT levels but elevated 12/15-LOX products including SPMs. Conclusion: BRP-201 acts as FLAP antagonist but also as 12/15-LOX activator switching formation of pro-inflammatory LTs toward inflammation-resolving SPM, which reflects a beneficial pharmacological profile for intervention in inflammation.


  • Novel potent benzimidazole-based microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1) inhibitors derived from BRP-201 that also inhibit leukotriene C4 synthase

    by Azize Gizem Ergül, Tuğçe Gür Maz, Christian Kretzer, Abdurrahman Olğaç, Paul M. Jordan, Burcu Çalışkan, Oliver Werz, Erden Banoglu


  • Exploration of anti-tyrosinase effect of Geranium glaberrimum Boiss. & Heldr. with in silico approach and survey of 21 Geranium species

    by Ovgu Celikler Ozer, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Burcu Çalışkan, F. Sezer Senol Deniz, Alper Gokbulut, Tugçe Gur Maz, Ayhan Aysal, Esra Emerce, Suhaib Shekfeh, Ahmet Kahraman, et al.


  • Open Access

    Optimisation by Design of Experiment of Benzimidazol-2-One Synthesis under Flow Conditions

    by Serena Mostarda, Tugçe Gür Maz, Alessandro Piccinno, Bruno Cerra, Erden Banoglu

    A novel flow-based approach for the preparation of benzimidazol-2-one (1) scaffold by the 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (CDI)-promoted cyclocarbonylation of o-phenylenediamine (2) is reported. Starting from a preliminary batch screening, the model reaction was successfully translated under flow conditions and optimised by means of design of experiment (DoE). The method allowed the efficient preparation of this privileged scaffold and to set up a general protocol for the multigram-scale preparation in high yield, purity, and productivity, and was successfully applied for the multigram flow synthesis of N-(2-chlorobenzyl)-5-cyano-benzimidazol-2-one, which is a key synthon for hit-to-lead explorations in our anti-inflammatory drug discovery program.


  • Open Access

    Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of methyl 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylate

    by Abdullah Aydin, Mehmet Akkurt, Zehra Tugce Gur, Erden Banoglu

    The title compound, C13H12Cl2N2O2, crystallizes with six molecules in the asymmetric unit, such that, the 1H-pyrazole rings are essentially planar. The six molecules are stabilized by intramolecular C-H···N and C-H···Cl interactions and the crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular C-H···O hydrogen bonds, forming molecular sheets into paralel to the (-1 1 0) plane. These sheets are connected to each other by C-H···O hydrogen bonds and C-H···π interactions. In the Hirshfeld surface analysis, the H···H, Cl···H/H···Cl, C···H/H···C, O···H/H···O, N···H/H···N, Cl···Cl, Cl···O/O···Cl interactions add to 95.8% of the intermolecular contacts of the Hirshfeld surface area. The remaining contributions (2.9%) correspond to Cl···C/C···Cl, C···O/O···C, O···O and N···N interactions. Crystal Data for C13H12Cl2N2O2 (M = 299.15 g/mol): Triclinic, space group P-1 (no. 2), a = 12.0505(10) Å, b = 12.3189(11) Å, c = 29.184(3) Å, α = 88.565(4)°, β = 89.296(4)°, γ = 76.833(4)°, V = 4217.0(7) Å3, Z = 12, T = 296(2) K, μ(MoKα) = 0.460 mm-1, Dcalc = 1.414 g/cm3, 83073 reflections measured (2.8° ≤ 2Θ ≤ 47°), 12426 unique (Rint = 0.0411, Rsigma = 0.0235) which were used in all calculations. The final R1 was 0.0662 (I > 2σ(I)) and wR2 was 0.2481 (all data).