Bio

Robert K. Leśniak joined the Medicinal Chemistry Knowledge Center at Stanford ChEM-H in 2018 as a postdoctoral fellow. Prior to coming to Stanford, he worked with Professor Chris Schofield at the University of Oxford, as a postdoctoral research associate, designing novel antibiotics for the European gram-negative antibacterial engine (ENABLE) and UK Medical Research Council (MRC). Dr Leśniak also completed his DPhil under the guidance of Professor Schofield as a BHF-CRE studentship recipient, which involved the design and implementation of small molecules targeting Fe(II), 2-oxoglutarate dependent oxygenase enzymes involved in carnitine biosynthesis and hypoxic response as a means to treat cardiovascular disease. In addition, work on small-molecule modulation of bacterial metallo-beta-lactamases to combat antibiotic resistance was also carried out. Dr Leśniak completed his undergraduate at the University of Bristol, and worked at GlaxoSmithKline, North Carolina, developing inhibitors of bromodomains and histone acetyl-transferases. He is currently an instructor and medicinal chemist working with Professor Thomas Montine at the Stanford School of Medicine on the design of neurotransmitter prodrugs.

Academic Appointments

  • Instructor, Pathology

Professional Education

  • MSci, University of Bristol, MSci in Chemistry (2012)
  • DPhil, Oxford University, Chemical Biology (2017)

Contact

All Publications

  • Enantiomers of 2-methylglutamate and 2-methylglutamine selectively impact mouse brain metabolism and behavior. Scientific reports Wawro, A. M., Gajera, C. R., Baker, S. A., Lesniak, R. K., Fischer, C. R., Saw, N. L., Shamloo, M., Montine, T. J. 2021; 11 (1): 8138

    Abstract

    Imbalance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission is implicated in a wide range of psychiatric and neurologic disorders. Here we tested the hypothesis that insertion of a methyl group on the stereogenic alpha carbon of L-Glu or L-Gln would impact the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt and the glutamate-glutamine cycle. (S)-2-methylglutamate, or (S)-2MeGlu, was efficiently transported into brain and synaptosomes where it was released by membrane depolarization in a manner equivalent to endogenous L-Glu. (R)-2MeGlu was transported less efficiently into brain and synaptosomes but was not released by membrane depolarization. Each enantiomer of 2MeGlu had limited activity across a panel of over 30 glutamate and GABA receptors. While neither enantiomer of 2MeGlu was metabolized along the GABA shunt, (S)-2MeGlu was selectively converted to (S)-2-methylglutamine, or (S)-2MeGln, which was subsequently slowly hydrolyzed back to (S)-2MeGlu in brain. rac-2MeGln was also transported into brain, with similar efficiency as (S)-2MeGlu. A battery of behavioral tests in young adult wild type mice showed safety with up to single 900mg/kg dose of (R)-2MeGlu, (S)-2MeGlu, or rac-2MeGln, suppressed locomotor activity with single≥100mg/kg dose of (R)-2MeGlu or (S)-2MeGlu. No effect on anxiety or hippocampus-dependent learning was evident. Enantiomers of 2MeGlu and 2MeGln show promise as potential pharmacologic agents and imaging probes for cells that produce or transport L-Gln.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-021-87569-1

    View details for PubMedID 33854131

  • Imitation of β-lactam binding enables broad-spectrum metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors Nature Chemistry Brem, J., Panduwawala, T., Ulf Hansen, J., Hewitt, J., Liepins, E., Donets, P., Espina, L., J. M. Farley, A., Shubin, K., Gomez Campillos, G., Kiuru, P., Shishodia, S., Krahn, D., Leśniak, R. K., et al 2021

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41557-021-00831-x

  • Enantiomers of 4-aminopentanoic acid act as false GABAergic neurotransmitters and impact mouse behavior. Journal of neurochemistry Wawro, A. M., Gajera, C. R., Baker, S. A., Leśniak, R. K., Montine, K. S., Fischer, C. R., Saw, N. L., Shamloo, M., Montine, T. J. 2021

    Abstract

    Imbalance in the metabolic pathway linking excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission has been implicated in multiple psychiatric and neurologic disorders. Recently, we described enantiomer-specific effects of 2-methylglutamate, which is not decarboxylated to the corresponding methyl analogue of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): 4-aminopentanoic acid (4APA). Here we tested the hypothesis that 4APA also has enantiomer-specific actions in brain. Mouse cerebral synaptosome uptake (nmol/mg protein over 30 min) of (R)-4APA or (S)-4APA was time- and temperature dependent; however, the R enantiomer had greater uptake, reduction of endogenous GABA concentration, and release following membrane depolarization than did the S enantiomer. (S)-4APA exhibited some weak agonist (GABAA α4β3δ, GABAA α5β2γ2, and GABAB B1/B2) and antagonist (GABAA α6β2γ2) activity while (R)-4APA showed weak agonist activity only with GABAA α5β2γ2. Both 4APA enantiomers (100 mg/kg IP) were detected in mouse brain 10 min after injection, and by one hour had reached concentrations that were stable over six hours; both enantiomers were cleared rapidly from mouse serum over six hours. Two-month old mice had no mortality following 100 to 900 mg/kg IP of each 4APA enantiomer but ded have similar dose-dependent reduction in distance moved in a novel cage. Neither enantiomer at 30 or 100 mg/kg impacted outcomes in twenty-three measures of well-being, activity chamber, or withdrawal from hotplate. Our results suggest that enantiomers of 4APA are active in mouse brain, and that (R)-4APA may act as a novel false neurotransmitter of GABA. Future work will focus on disease models and on possible applications as neuroimaging agents.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/jnc.15474

    View details for PubMedID 34273193

  • High-Throughput Crystallography Reveals Boron-Containing Inhibitors of a Penicillin-Binding Protein with Di- and Tricovalent Binding Modes JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY Newman, H., Krajnc, A., Bellini, D., Eyermann, C. J., Boyle, G. A., Paterson, N. G., McAuley, K. E., Lesniak, R. K., Gangar, M., von Delft, F., Brem, J., Chibale, K., Schofield, C. J., Dowson, C. G. 2021

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00717

  • F-19 NMR studies on gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase provide mechanistic insights and suggest a dual inhibition mode CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS Lesniak, R. K., Rydzik, A. M., Kamps, J. G., Kahn, A., Claridge, T. W., Schofield, C. J. 2019; 55 (98): 14717–20

    Abstract

    The final step in the biosynthesis of l-carnitine in humans is catalysed by the 2-oxoglutarate and ferrous iron dependent oxygenase, γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX). 1H and 19F NMR studies inform on the BBOX mechanism including by providing evidence for cooperativity between monomers in substrate/some inhibitor binding. The value of the 19F NMR methods is demonstrated by their use in the design of new BBOX inhibitors.

    View details for DOI 10.1039/c9cc06466d

    View details for Web of Science ID 000501305100032

    View details for PubMedID 31702759

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6927413

  • Small-molecules that covalently react with a human prolyl hydroxylase - towards activity modulation and substrate capture CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS Bush, J. T., Lesniak, R. K., Yeh, T., Belle, R., Kramer, H., Tumber, A., Chowdhury, R., Flashman, E., Mecinovic, J., Schofield, C. J. 2019; 55 (8): 1020–23

    Abstract

    We describe covalently binding modulators of the activity of human prolyl hydroxylase domain 2 (PHD2) and studies towards a strategy for photocapture of PHD2 substrates. Reversible active site binding of electrophile bearing compounds enables susbsequent covalent reaction with a lysine residue (K408) in the flexible C-terminal region of PHD2 to give a modified protein that retains catalytic activity.

    View details for DOI 10.1039/c8cc07706a

    View details for Web of Science ID 000458544800038

    View details for PubMedID 30452037

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6350621

  • The Jumonji-C oxygenase JMJD7 catalyzes (3S)-lysyl hydroxylation of TRAFAC GTPases (vol 14, pg 688, 2018) NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY Markolovic, S., Zhuang, Q., Wilkins, S. E., Eaton, C. D., Abboud, M. I., Katz, M. J., McNeil, H. E., Lesniak, R. K., Hall, C., Struwe, W. B., Konietzny, R., Davis, S., Yang, M., Ge, W., Benesch, J. P., Kessler, B. M., Ratcliffe, P. J., Cockman, M. E., Fischer, R., Wappner, P., Chowdhury, R., Coleman, M. L., Schofield, C. J. 2018; 14 (10): 988

    Abstract

    In the version of this article initially published, authors Sarah E. Wilkins, Charlotte D. Eaton, Martine I. Abboud and Maximiliano J. Katz were incorrectly included in the equal contributions footnote in the affiliations list. Footnote number seven linking to the equal contributions statement should be present only for Suzana Markolovic and Qinqin Zhuang, and the statement should read "These authors contributed equally: Suzana Markolovic, Qinqin Zhuang." The error has been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

    View details for PubMedID 29950663

  • The Jumonji-C oxygenase JMJD7 catalyzes (3S)-lysyl hydroxylation of TRAFAC GTPases NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY Markolovic, S., Zhuang, Q., Wilkins, S. E., Eaton, C. D., Abboud, M. I., Katz, M. J., McNeil, H. E., Lesniak, R. K., Hall, C., Struwe, W. B., Konietzny, R., Davis, S., Yang, M., Ge, W., Benesch, J. P., Kessler, B. M., Ratcliffe, P. J., Cockman, M. E., Fischer, R., Wappner, P., Chowdhury, R., Coleman, M. L., Schofield, C. J. 2018; 14 (7): 688-+

    Abstract

    Biochemical, structural and cellular studies reveal Jumonji-C (JmjC) domain-containing 7 (JMJD7) to be a 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes (3S)-lysyl hydroxylation. Crystallographic analyses reveal JMJD7 to be more closely related to the JmjC hydroxylases than to the JmjC demethylases. Biophysical and mutation studies show that JMJD7 has a unique dimerization mode, with interactions between monomers involving both N- and C-terminal regions and disulfide bond formation. A proteomic approach identifies two related members of the translation factor (TRAFAC) family of GTPases, developmentally regulated GTP-binding proteins 1 and 2 (DRG1/2), as activity-dependent JMJD7 interactors. Mass spectrometric analyses demonstrate that JMJD7 catalyzes Fe(II)- and 2OG-dependent hydroxylation of a highly conserved lysine residue in DRG1/2; amino-acid analyses reveal that JMJD7 catalyzes (3S)-lysyl hydroxylation. The functional assignment of JMJD7 will enable future studies to define the role of DRG hydroxylation in cell growth and disease.

    View details for PubMedID 29915238

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6027965

  • Crystallographic analyses of isoquinoline complexes reveal a new mode of metallo-beta-lactamase inhibition CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS Li, G., Brem, J., Lesniak, R., Abboud, M. I., Lohans, C. T., Clifton, I. J., Yang, S., Jimenez-Castellanos, J., Avison, M. B., Spencer, J., McDonough, M. A., Schofield, C. J. 2017; 53 (43): 5806–9

    Abstract

    Crystallographic analyses of the VIM-5 metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) with isoquinoline inhibitors reveal non zinc ion binding modes. Comparison with other MBL-inhibitor structures directed addition of a zinc-binding thiol enabling identification of potent B1 MBL inhibitors. The inhibitors potentiate meropenem activity against clinical isolates harboring MBLs.

    View details for DOI 10.1039/c7cc02394d

    View details for Web of Science ID 000402296200003

    View details for PubMedID 28470248

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5516270

  • Human carnitine biosynthesis proceeds via (2S, 3S)-3-hydroxy-N-epsilon-trimethyllysine CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS Lesniak, R. K., Markolovic, S., Tars, K., Schofield, C. J. 2017; 53 (2): 440–42

    Abstract

    Nε-Trimethyllysine hydroxylase (TMLH) catalyses the first step in mammalian biosynthesis of carnitine, which plays a crucial role in fatty acid metabolism. The stereochemistry of the 3-hydroxy-Nε-trimethyllysine product of TMLH has not been defined. We report enzymatic and asymmetric synthetic studies, which define the product of TMLH catalysis as (2S,3S)-3-hydroxy-Nε-trimethyllysine.

    View details for DOI 10.1039/c6cc08381a

    View details for Web of Science ID 000391736100035

    View details for PubMedID 27965989

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5644716

  • Discovery and Characterization of GSK2801, a Selective Chemical Probe for the Bromodomains BAZ2A and BAZ2B JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY Chen, P., Chaikuad, A., Bamborough, P., Bantscheff, M., Bountra, C., Chung, C., Fedorov, O., Grandi, P., Jung, D., Lesniak, R., Lindon, M., Mueller, S., Philpott, M., Prinjha, R., Rogers, C., Selenski, C., Tallant, C., Werner, T., Willson, T. M., Knapp, S., Drewry, D. H. 2016; 59 (4): 1410–24

    Abstract

    Bromodomains are acetyl-lysine specific protein interaction domains that have recently emerged as a new target class for the development of inhibitors that modulate gene transcription. The two closely related bromodomain containing proteins BAZ2A and BAZ2B constitute the central scaffolding protein of the nucleolar remodeling complex (NoRC) that regulates the expression of noncoding RNAs. However, BAZ2 bromodomains have low predicted druggability and so far no selective inhibitors have been published. Here we report the development of GSK2801, a potent, selective and cell active acetyl-lysine competitive inhibitor of BAZ2A and BAZ2B bromodomains as well as the inactive control compound GSK8573. GSK2801 binds to BAZ2 bromodomains with dissociation constants (KD) of 136 and 257 nM for BAZ2B and BAZ2A, respectively. Crystal structures demonstrated a canonical acetyl-lysine competitive binding mode. Cellular activity was demonstrated using fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) monitoring displacement of GFP-BAZ2A from acetylated chromatin. A pharmacokinetic study in mice showed that GSK2801 had reasonable in vivo exposure after oral dosing, with modest clearance and reasonable plasma stability. Thus, GSK2801 represents a versatile tool compound for cellular and in vivo studies to understand the role of BAZ2 bromodomains in chromatin biology.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00209

    View details for Web of Science ID 000371103600012

    View details for PubMedID 25799074

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4770311

  • Cation-pi Interactions Contribute to Substrate Recognition in gamma-Butyrobetaine Hydroxylase Catalysis CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL Kamps, J. G., Khan, A., Choi, H., Lesniak, R. K., Brem, J., Rydzik, A. M., McDonough, M. A., Schofield, C. J., Claridge, T. W., Mecinovic, J. 2016; 22 (4): 1270–76

    Abstract

    γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase (BBOX) is a non-heme Fe(II) - and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenase that catalyzes the stereoselective hydroxylation of an unactivated C-H bond of γ-butyrobetaine (γBB) in the final step of carnitine biosynthesis. BBOX contains an aromatic cage for the recognition of the positively charged trimethylammonium group of the γBB substrate. Enzyme binding and kinetic analyses on substrate analogues with P and As substituting for N in the trimethylammonium group show that the analogues are good BBOX substrates, which follow the efficiency trend N(+) >P(+) >As(+). The results reveal that an uncharged carbon analogue of γBB is not a BBOX substrate, thus highlighting the importance of the energetically favorable cation-π interactions in productive substrate recognition.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/chem.201503761

    View details for Web of Science ID 000368922500013

    View details for PubMedID 26660433

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4736438

  • Development and application of ligand-based NMR screening assays for gamma-butyrobetaine hydroxylase MEDCHEMCOMM Khan, A., Lesniak, R. K., Brem, J., Rydzik, A. M., Choi, H., Leung, I. H., McDonough, M. A., Schofield, C. J., Claridge, T. W. 2016; 7 (5): 873–80

    View details for DOI 10.1039/c6md00004e

    View details for Web of Science ID 000377139400015