[Possible effect of E-selectine on structure and function of arterial vessels in patients with metabolic syndrome].

PubMed

Voloshyna, O O; Lyzohub, V H; Romanenko, I M

2007-01-01

Endothelial dysfunction and endothelial cells activation as it was shown in patients with ischemic heart disease play important role in atherosclerosis progression and the development of cardiovascular events. Relationship between E-selectine and functional/ structural changes of the arterial vessels in patients with metabolic syndrome was not explored. We revealed that both activation of the endothelial cells and structural/functional changes of the arterial wall mostly depend on obesity and dislipedemia and in less extent on carbohydrates metabolism disorders.

Cytotoxic constituents of propolis from Myanmar and their structure-activity relationship.

PubMed

Li, Feng; Awale, Suresh; Tezuka, Yasuhiro; Kadota, Shigetoshi

2009-12-01

Thirteen cycloartane-type tritepenes (1-13) and four prenylated flavanones (14-17) isolated from propolis collected in Myanmar, were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of six different cancer cell lines; three murine cancer cell lines (colon 26-L5 carcinoma, B16-BL6 melanoma, and Lewis lung carcinoma) and three human cancer cell lines (lung A549 adenocarcinoma, cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma). Among them, a cycloartane-type triterpene, 3alpha,27-dihydroxycycloart-24E-en-26-oic acid (3), showed the most potent cytotoxicity against B16-BL6 cells with an IC(50) value of 5.91 microM, comparable to those of positive controls, doxorubicin (IC(50), 5.66 microM) and 5-fluorouracil (IC(50), 4.88 microM). In addition, (2S)-5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy-8,3'-diprenylflavanone (14) exhibited strong cytotoxicity against all the tested cancer cell lines with the IC(50) values ranging from 14.0 to 26.4 microM. Based on the observed results, the structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Involvement of PKC and ROS in the cytotoxic mechanism of anti-leukemic decursin and its derivatives and their structure-activity relationship in human K562 erythroleukemia and U937 myeloleukemia cells.

PubMed

Kim, Hyeon Ho; Sik Bang, Sung; Seok Choi, Jin; Han, Hogyu; Kim, Ik-Hwan

2005-06-08

Protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in the proliferation and differentiation of various cell types including normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells. Recently, various PKC modulators were used as a chemotherapeutic agent of leukemia. Decursin (1), a pyranocoumarin from Angelica gigas, exhibits the cytotoxic effects on various human cancer cell lines and in vitro PKC activation. For the development of more effective anticancer agents with PKC modulation activity, 11 decursin derivatives 2-12 were chemically synthesized and evaluated for their ability to act as a tumor-suppressing PKC activator and as an antagonist to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a tumor-promoting PKC activator. In the presence of phosphatidylserine (PS), all of 12 compounds 1-12 activated PKC (mainly alpha, beta, and gamma isozymes) but only three compounds 1-3 activated PKC even in the absence of PS. Six compounds 1-6 containing the coumarin structure were cytotoxic to human K562 erythroleukemia and U937 myeloleukemia cells. A cytotoxic mechanism of decursin and its derivatives was investigated using TUR cells, a PKC betaII-deficient variant of U937 cells. Among six compounds 1-6 with cytotoxicity to K562 and U937 leukemia cells, only three compounds 1-3 were cytotoxic to TUR cells. Therefore, compounds 1-3 and 4-6 inhibit the proliferation of leukemia cells in a PKC betaII-independent and dependent manner, respectively, indicating that the side chain of compounds determines the dependency of their cytotoxicity on PKC betaII. To further elucidate the cytotoxic mechanism of compounds 1 and 2, levels of PKC isozymes and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were investigated. Compounds 1-2 induced the down-regulation of PKC alpha and betaII in K562 cells and the production of ROS in U937 cells. Thus, PKC and ROS are probably important factors in the cytotoxic mechanism of compounds 1-2. From these results, the structure-activity relationship of decursin and its derivatives is as follows: (i) the coumarin structure is required for anti-leukemic activity and (ii) the side chain is a determinant of PKC activation and the cytotoxic mechanism in leukemia cells.

CLEFMA- An Anti-Proliferative Curcuminoid from Structure Activity Relationship Studies on 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones

PubMed Central

Lagisetty, Pallavi; Vilekar, Prachi; Sahoo, Kaustuv; Anant, Shrikant; Awasthi, Vibhudutta

2010-01-01

3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones are being advanced as synthetic analogs of curcumin for anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. We performed structure-activity relationship studies, by testing several synthesized 3,5-bis(benzylidene)-4-piperidones for anti-proliferative activity in lung adenocarcinoma H441 cells. Compared to the lead compound 1, or 3,5-bis(2-fluorobenzylidene)-4-piperidone, five compounds were found to be more potent (IC50 < 30 μM), and sixteen compounds possessed reduced cell-killing efficacy (IC50 > 50 μM). Based on the observations, we synthesized 4-[3,5-bis(2-chlorobenzylidene-4-oxo-piperidine-1-yl)-4-oxo-2-butenoic acid] (29 or CLEFMA) as a novel analog of 1. CLEFMA was evaluated for anti-proliferative activity in H441 cells, and was found to be several folds more potent than compound 1. We did not find apoptotic cell population in flow cytometry, and the absence of apoptosis was confirmed by the lack of caspase cleavage. The electron microscopy of H441cells indicated that CLEFMA and compound 1 induce autophagic cell death that was inhibited by specific autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine. The results suggest that the potent and novel curcuminoid, CLEFMA, offers an alternative mode of cell death in apoptosis-resistant cancers. PMID:20638855

Structure-activity relationship of S-trityl-L-cysteine analogues as inhibitors of the human mitotic kinesin Eg5.

PubMed

Debonis, Salvatore; Skoufias, Dimitrios A; Indorato, Rose-Laure; Liger, François; Marquet, Bernard; Laggner, Christian; Joseph, Benoît; Kozielski, Frank

2008-03-13

The human kinesin Eg5 is a potential drug target for cancer chemotherapy. Eg5 specific inhibitors cause cells to block in mitosis with a characteristic monoastral spindle phenotype. Prolonged metaphase block eventually leads to apoptotic cell death. S-trityl-L-cysteine (STLC) is a tight-binding inhibitor of Eg5 that prevents mitotic progression. It has proven antitumor activity as shown in the NCI 60 tumor cell line screen. It is of considerable interest to define the minimum chemical structure that is essential for Eg5 inhibition and to develop more potent STLC analogues. An initial structure-activity relationship study on a series of STLC analogues reveals the minimal skeleton necessary for Eg5 inhibition as well as indications of how to obtain more potent analogues. The most effective compounds investigated with substitutions at the para-position of one phenyl ring have an estimated K i (app) of 100 nM in vitro and induce mitotic arrest with an EC 50 of 200 nM.

The NMR Structure of Human Obestatin in Membrane-Like Environments: Insights into the Structure-Bioactivity Relationship of Obestatin

PubMed Central

Gurriarán-Rodríguez, Uxía; Mosteiro, Carlos S.; Álvarez-Pérez, Juan C.; Otero-Alén, María; Camiña, Jesús P.; Gallego, Rosalía; García-Caballero, Tomás; Martín-Pastor, Manuel; Casanueva, Felipe F.; Jiménez-Barbero, Jesús; Pazos, Yolanda

2012-01-01

The quest for therapeutic applications of obestatin involves, as a first step, the determination of its 3D solution structure and the relationship between this structure and the biological activity of obestatin. On this basis, we have employed a combination of circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and modeling techniques to determine the solution structure of human obestatin (1). Other analogues, including human non-amidated obestatin (2) and the fragment peptides (6–23)-obestatin (3), (11–23)-obestatin (4), and (16–23)-obestatin (5) have also been scrutinized. These studies have been performed in a micellar environment to mimic the cell membrane (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Furthermore, structural-activity relationship studies have been performed by assessing the in vitro proliferative capabilities of these peptides in the human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line ARPE-19 (ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation, Ki67 expression, and cellular proliferation). Our findings emphasize the importance of both the primary structure (composition and size) and particular segments of the obestatin molecule that posses significant α-helical characteristics. Additionally, details of a species-specific role for obestatin have also been hypothesized by comparing human and mouse obestatins (1 and 6, respectively) at both the structural and bioactivity levels. PMID:23056203

The NMR structure of human obestatin in membrane-like environments: insights into the structure-bioactivity relationship of obestatin.

PubMed

Alén, Begoña O; Nieto, Lidia; Gurriarán-Rodríguez, Uxía; Mosteiro, Carlos S; Álvarez-Pérez, Juan C; Otero-Alén, María; Camiña, Jesús P; Gallego, Rosalía; García-Caballero, Tomás; Martín-Pastor, Manuel; Casanueva, Felipe F; Jiménez-Barbero, Jesús; Pazos, Yolanda

2012-01-01

The quest for therapeutic applications of obestatin involves, as a first step, the determination of its 3D solution structure and the relationship between this structure and the biological activity of obestatin. On this basis, we have employed a combination of circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and modeling techniques to determine the solution structure of human obestatin (1). Other analogues, including human non-amidated obestatin (2) and the fragment peptides (6-23)-obestatin (3), (11-23)-obestatin (4), and (16-23)-obestatin (5) have also been scrutinized. These studies have been performed in a micellar environment to mimic the cell membrane (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Furthermore, structural-activity relationship studies have been performed by assessing the in vitro proliferative capabilities of these peptides in the human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line ARPE-19 (ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation, Ki67 expression, and cellular proliferation). Our findings emphasize the importance of both the primary structure (composition and size) and particular segments of the obestatin molecule that posses significant α-helical characteristics. Additionally, details of a species-specific role for obestatin have also been hypothesized by comparing human and mouse obestatins (1 and 6, respectively) at both the structural and bioactivity levels.

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship study on anti-cancer activity of 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivatives against human lung cancer A549 cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cho, Sehyeon; Choi, Min Ji; Kim, Minju; Lee, Sunhoe; Lee, Jinsung; Lee, Seok Joon; Cho, Haelim; Lee, Kyung-Tae; Lee, Jae Yeol

2015-03-01

A series of 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivatives with anti-cancer activities against human lung cancer A549 cells were subjected to three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies using the comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA) approaches. The most potent compound, 1 was used to align the molecules. As a result, the best prediction was obtained with CoMSIA combined the steric, electrostatic, hydrophobic, hydrogen bond donor, and hydrogen bond acceptor fields (q2 = 0.720, r2 = 0.897). This model was validated by an external test set of 6 compounds giving satisfactory predictive r2 value of 0.923 as well as the scrambling stability test. This model would guide the design of potent 3,4-dihydroquinazoline derivatives as anti-cancer agent for the treatment of human lung cancer.

Cytotoxic constituents from Brazilian red propolis and their structure-activity relationship.

PubMed

Li, Feng; Awale, Suresh; Tezuka, Yasuhiro; Kadota, Shigetoshi

2008-05-15

Several classes of flavonoids [flavanoids (1-10), flavonol (11), isoflavones (12-18), isoflavanones (19-22), isoflavans (23-26), chalcones (27-30), auronol (31), pterocarpans (32-37), 2-arylbenzofuran (38), and neoflavonoid (39)] and lignans (40-42) isolated from the MeOH extract of Brazilian red propolis were investigated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of six different cancer cell lines including murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma, murine B16-BL6 melanoma, murine Lewis lung carcinoma, human lung A549 adenocarcinoma, human cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma, and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines. Based on the observed results, structure-activity relationships were discussed. Among the tested compounds, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxyflavanone (3) exhibited the most potent activity against B16-BL6 (IC(50), 6.66microM), LLC (IC(50), 9.29microM), A549 (IC(50), 8.63microM), and HT-1080 (IC(50), 7.94microM) cancer cell lines, and mucronulatol (26) against LLC (IC(50), 8.38microM) and A549 (IC(50), 9.9microM) cancer cell lines. These activity data were comparable to those of the clinically used anticancer drugs, 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, against the tested cell lines, suggesting that 3 and 26 are the good candidates for future anticancer drug development.

Synthesis and Structure activity relationships of EGCG Analogues, A Recently Identified Hsp90 Inhibitor

PubMed Central

Khandelwal, Anuj; Hall, Jessica

2014-01-01

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the principal polyphenol isolated from green tea, was recently shown to inhibit Hsp90, however structure-activity relationships for this natural product have not yet been produced. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of EGCG analogues to establish structure-activity relationships between EGCG and Hsp90. All four rings as well as the linker connecting the C- and the D-rings were systematically investigated, which led to the discovery of compounds that inhibit Hs90 and display improvement in efficacy over EGCG. Anti-proliferative activity of all the analogues was determined against MCF-7 and SKBr3 cell lines and Hsp90 inhibitory activity of four most potent analogues was further evaluated by western blot analyses and degradation of Hsp90-dependent client proteins. Prenyl substituted aryl ester of 3,5-dihydroxychroman-3-ol ring system was identified as novel scaffold that exhibit Hsp90 inhibitory activity. PMID:23834230

New insights into the structure-function relationships and therapeutic applications of cholera-like enterotoxins.

PubMed

Hirst, Timothy R; Fraser, Sylvia; Soriani, Marco; Aman, A Tholib; de, Haan Lolke; Hearn, Arron; Merritt, Ethan

2002-02-01

Cholera toxin and E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin are structurally homologous proteins comprised of an enzymatically active A-subunit and five B-subunits that bind with high affinity to GM1-ganglioside receptors found on the surface of mammalian cells. The B-subunits have long been thought of simply as trafficking vehicles that trigger entry and subsequent delivery of the 'toxic' A-subunit into cells. Indeed, such is the capacity of the B-subunits to enter cells, that they have been developed as generic carriers for attachment and delivery of a variety of peptides into mammalian cells. However, the B-subunits also appear to possess discrete 'signalling functions', that induce both transcription factor and cell activation. These are thought to be directly responsible for the potent immunomodulatory properties of the B-subunits, and have resulted in their use as adjuvants and as agents to suppress inflammatory immune disorders. The relationship between the signalling properties of the B-subunits and their capacity to act as trafficking vehicles has remained unclear. In an effort to understand the structural requirements for these two functions, a set of mutant B-subunits, with amino acid substitutions at position His-57, have been generated and studied. Importantly, such mutant B-subunits retain an ability to bind with high affinity to GM1 and to traffic into cells, but have entirely lost their capacity to activate immune cell populations. Thus, while binding via GM1 appears to be sufficient to trigger cellular uptake it is not sufficient to activate signal transduction. The His-57 region is therefore speculated to be actively engaged in triggering signalling events, possibly via cognate interaction with other cell surface molecules.

Lipase-catalyzed preparation of optically active 1'-acetoxychavicol acetates and their structure-activity relationships in apoptotic activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells.

PubMed

Azuma, Hideki; Miyasaka, Keita; Yokotani, Tsuyoshi; Tachibana, Taro; Kojima-Yuasa, Akiko; Matsui-Yuasa, Isao; Ogino, Kenji

2006-03-15

Structure-activity relationships of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) for apoptotic activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells were investigated using optically active ACA and various racemic ACA analogues. Natural-type (or with different acyl group) ACA showed a high apoptotic activity, but the ortho or meta isomers, 4-deacetoxy analogue, and the 2'-3' dehydrogenated derivative had no effect, or a weak activity. Optically active (R)- and (S)-ACA were prepared by a lipase-catalyzed esterification. Using a mixture of vinyl acetate-tetrahydrofuran (1:1 v/v) as a solvent at refluxing temperature, optically pure (R)- and (S)-ACA were obtained (99.7% ee and 99.1% ee, respectively). The apoptosis-inducing effects of both enantiomers were compared by means of an MTT assay and the detection of typical apoptotic phenomena (DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and PARP cleavage) and these two activities were almost equal. These results indicate that the essential moieties of ACA for apoptotic activity against HL-60 cells are both the presence of a 4-acetoxyl group and an unsaturated double bond between C-2' and C-3', and that the configuration at the 1'-position is unrelated to activity.

Developing structure-activity relationships from an HTS hit for inhibition of the Cks1-Skp2 protein-protein interaction.

PubMed

Singh, Rajinder; Sran, Arvinder; Carroll, David C; Huang, Jianing; Tsvetkov, Lyuben; Zhou, Xiulan; Sheung, Julie; McLaughlin, John; Issakani, Sarkiz D; Payan, Donald G; Shaw, Simon J

2015-11-15

Structure-activity relationships have been developed around 5-bromo-8-toluylsulfonamidoquinoline 1 a hit compound in an assay for the interaction of the E3 ligase Skp2 with Cks1, part of the SCF ligase complex. Disruption of this protein-protein interaction results in higher levels of CDK inhibitor p27, which can act as a tumor suppressor. The results of the SAR developed highlight the relationship between the sulfonamide and quinoline nitrogen, while also suggesting that an aryl substituent at the 5-position of the quinoline ring contributes to the potency in the interaction assay. Compounds showing potency in the interaction assay result in greater levels of p27 and have been shown to inhibit cell growth of two p27 sensitive tumor cell lines. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Biological Activities of Sesterterpenoid-Type Ophiobolins.

PubMed

Tian, Wei; Deng, Zixin; Hong, Kui

2017-07-18

Ophiobolins (Ophs) are a group of tricarbocyclic sesterterpenoids whose structures contain a tricyclic 5-8-5 carbotricyclic skeleton. Thus far, 49 natural Ophs have been reported and assigned into A-W subgroups in order of discovery. While these sesterterpenoids were first characterized as highly effective phytotoxins, later investigations demonstrated that they display a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological characteristics such as phytotoxic, antimicrobial, nematocidal, cytotoxic, anti-influenza and inflammation-promoting activities. These bioactive molecules are promising drug candidates due to the developments of their anti-proliferative activities against a vast number of cancer cell lines, multidrug resistance (MDR) cells and cancer stem cells (CSCs). Despite numerous studies on the biological functions of Ophs, their pharmacological mechanism still requires further research. This review summarizes the chemical structures, sources, and biological activities of the oph family and discusses its mechanisms and structure-activity relationship to lay the foundation for the future developments and applications of these promising molecules.

STRUCTURE-FUNCTION RELATIONSHIPS IN THE ADIPOSE CELL

PubMed Central

Cushman, Samuel W.

1970-01-01

Pinocytic activity in the adipose cell has been examined by measuring the uptake of colloidal gold. Pinocytic activity occurs in the isolated adipose cell under all experimental conditions; a portion of the vesicular elements of the cell can be identified by electron microscopy as pinocytic in origin. The isolated adipose cell appears to take up serum albumin by pinocytosis. Pinocytic activity in the isolated adipose cell is enhanced by epinephrine, but not by insulin. The relationship between pinocytosis and the metabolic activity of the adipose cell has been studied by measuring simultaneously the uptake of radioactive colloidal gold, the incorporation of 14C-counts from U-glucose-14C into CO2, total lipid, triglyceride glycerol and triglyceride fatty acids, and the release of nonesterified fatty acids in the absence of hormones and in the presence of insulin or epinephrine. Correlations between hormone-produced alterations in lipid metabolism and in pinocytic activity suggest that intracellular nonesterified fatty acid levels are a factor in the regulation of both the cell's pinocytic activity and its metabolism and that pinocytosis in the adipose cell functions in the extracellular-intracellular transport of nonesterified fatty acids. PMID:5449179

Isolation, structures, and structure - cytotoxic activity relationships of withanolides and physalins from Physalis angulata.

PubMed

Damu, Amooru G; Kuo, Ping-Chung; Su, Chung-Ren; Kuo, Tsung-Hsiao; Chen, Tzu-Hsuan; Bastow, Kenneth F; Lee, Kuo-Hsiung; Wu, Tian-Shung

2007-07-01

Phytochemical investigation of Physalis angulata was initiated following primary biological screening. Fractionation of CHCl3 and n-BuOH solubles of the MeOH extract from the whole plant was guided by in vitro cytotoxic activity assay using cultured HONE-1 and NUGC cells and led to the isolation of seven new withanolides, withangulatins B-H (1-7), and a new minor physalin, physalin W (8), along with 14 known compounds, including physaprun A, withaphysanolide, dihydrowithanolide E, physanolide A, withaphysalin A, and physalins B, D, F, G, I, J, T, U, and V. New compounds (1-8) were fully characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR and MS) and the relative stereochemical assignments based on NOESY correlations and analysis of coupling constants. Biological evaluation of these compounds against a panel of human cancer cell lines showed broad cytotoxic activity. Withangulatin B (1) and physalins D (10) and F (11) displayed potent cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines with EC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 microg/mL. Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that withanolides and physalins with 4beta-hydroxy-2-en-1-one and 5beta,6beta-epoxy moieties are potential cytotoxic agents.

A Remarkably Simple Class of Imidazolium-Based Lipids and Their Biological Properties.

PubMed

Wang, Da; Richter, Christian; Rühling, Andreas; Drücker, Patrick; Siegmund, Daniel; Metzler-Nolte, Nils; Glorius, Frank; Galla, Hans-Joachim

2015-10-19

A series of imidazolium salts bearing two alkyl chains in the backbone of the imidazolium core were synthesized, resembling the structure of lipids. Their antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated using Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and eukaryotic cell lines including tumor cells. It is shown that the length of alkyl chains in the backbone is vital for the antibiofilm activities of these lipid-mimicking components. In addition to their biological activity, their surface activity and their membrane interactions are shown by film balance and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) measurements. The structure-activity relationship indicates that the distinctive chemical structure contributes considerably to the biological activities of this novel class of lipids. © 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The antiproliferative effect of acridone alkaloids on several cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Katase, E; Ogawa, K; Yano, M; Takemura, Y; Ju-ichi, M; Ito, C; Furukawa, H

1999-04-01

Fifteen acridone alkaloids were examined for their antiproliferative activity toward monolayers and suspension of several types of cancer and normal human cell lines. As a result, atalaphyllidine (9), 5-hydroxy-N-methylseverifoline (11), atalaphyllinine (12), and des-N-methylnoracronycine (13) showed potent antiproliferative activity against tumor cell lines, whereas they have weak cytotoxicity on normal human cell lines. The structure-activity relationship established from the results revealed that a secondary amine, hydroxyl groups at C-1 and C-5, and a prenyl group at C-2 played an important role for antiproliferative activities of the tetracyclic acridones.

Imidazopyridine-fused [1,3]-diazepinones part 2: Structure-activity relationships and antiproliferative activity against melanoma cells.

PubMed

Bellet, Virginie; Lichon, Laure; Arama, Dominique P; Gallud, Audrey; Lisowski, Vincent; Maillard, Ludovic T; Garcia, Marcel; Martinez, Jean; Masurier, Nicolas

2017-01-05

We recently described a pyrido-imidazodiazepinone derivative which could be a promising hit compound for the development of new drugs acting against melanoma cells. In this study, a series of 28 novel pyrido-imidazodiazepinones were synthesized and screened for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against the melanoma MDA-MB-435 cell line. Among the derivatives, seven of them showed 50% growth inhibitory activity at 1 μM concentration, and high selectivity against the melanoma cell line MDA-MB-435. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of cyclic amide/imide-bearing hydroxamic acid derivatives as class-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors.

PubMed

Shinji, Chihiro; Maeda, Satoko; Imai, Keisuke; Yoshida, Minoru; Hashimoto, Yuichi; Miyachi, Hiroyuki

2006-11-15

A series of hydroxamic acid derivatives bearing a cyclic amide/imide group as a linker and/or cap structure, prepared during our structural development studies based on thalidomide, showed class-selective potent histone deacetylase (HDAC)-inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the steric character of the substituent introduced at the cyclic amide/imide nitrogen atom, the presence of the amide/imide carbonyl group, the hydroxamic acid structure, the shape of the linking group, and the distance between the zinc-binding hydroxamic acid group and the cap structure are all important for HDAC-inhibitory activity and class selectivity. A representative compound (30w) showed potent p21 promoter activity, comparable with that of trichostatin A (TSA), and its cytostatic activity against cells of the human prostate cell line LNCaP was more potent than that of the well-known HDAC inhibitor, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA).

Analyzing structure-function relationships of artificial and cancer-associated PARP1 variants by reconstituting TALEN-generated HeLa PARP1 knock-out cells.

PubMed

Rank, Lisa; Veith, Sebastian; Gwosch, Eva C; Demgenski, Janine; Ganz, Magdalena; Jongmans, Marjolijn C; Vogel, Christopher; Fischbach, Arthur; Buerger, Stefanie; Fischer, Jan M F; Zubel, Tabea; Stier, Anna; Renner, Christina; Schmalz, Michael; Beneke, Sascha; Groettrup, Marcus; Kuiper, Roland P; Bürkle, Alexander; Ferrando-May, Elisa; Mangerich, Aswin

2016-12-01

Genotoxic stress activates PARP1, resulting in the post-translational modification of proteins with poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR). We genetically deleted PARP1 in one of the most widely used human cell systems, i.e. HeLa cells, via TALEN-mediated gene targeting. After comprehensive characterization of these cells during genotoxic stress, we analyzed structure-function relationships of PARP1 by reconstituting PARP1 KO cells with a series of PARP1 variants. Firstly, we verified that the PARP1\\E988K mutant exhibits mono-ADP-ribosylation activity and we demonstrate that the PARP1\\L713F mutant is constitutively active in cells. Secondly, both mutants exhibit distinct recruitment kinetics to sites of laser-induced DNA damage, which can potentially be attributed to non-covalent PARP1-PAR interaction via several PAR binding motifs. Thirdly, both mutants had distinct functional consequences in cellular patho-physiology, i.e. PARP1\\L713F expression triggered apoptosis, whereas PARP1\\E988K reconstitution caused a DNA-damage-induced G2 arrest. Importantly, both effects could be rescued by PARP inhibitor treatment, indicating distinct cellular consequences of constitutive PARylation and mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation. Finally, we demonstrate that the cancer-associated PARP1 SNP variant (V762A) as well as a newly identified inherited PARP1 mutation (F304L\\V762A) present in a patient with pediatric colorectal carcinoma exhibit altered biochemical and cellular properties, thereby potentially supporting human carcinogenesis. Together, we establish a novel cellular model for PARylation research, by revealing strong structure-function relationships of natural and artificial PARP1 variants. © The Author(s) 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Effect of coumarins on HL-60 cell differentiation.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Katase, E; Ogawa, K; Yano, M

2000-01-01

Twenty-eight coumarins, including 7 furocoumarins, were examined for their activity of induction of terminal differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing, nonspecific esterase, specific esterase and phagocytic activities. Esculetin, nordalbergin, 6,7-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin and imperatorin had strong activity among the coumarins examined. HL-60 cells treated with these coumarins differentiated into mature monocyte/macrophage. The structure-activity relationship established from the results revealed that 6,7-dihydroxy moiety had an important role in the induction of differentiation of HL-60.

The antiproliferative effect of coumarins on several cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Ogawa, K; Sugiura, M; Yano, M; Yoshizawa, Y

2001-01-01

Twenty-one coumarins were examined for their antiproliferative activity towards several cancer cell lines, namely lung carcinoma (A549), melanin pigment producing mouse melanoma (B16 melanoma 4A5), human T-cell leukemia (CCRF-HSB-2), and human gastric cancer, lymph node metastasized (TGBC11TKB). The structure-activity relationship established from the results revealed that the 6,7-dihydroxy moiety had an important role for their antiproliferative activity. Analysis of cell cycle distribution indicated that esculetin-treated cells accumulated in the G1 (at 400 microM) or in S phase (at 100 microM).

Structure-activity relationships for the impact of selected isothiazol-3-one biocides on glutathione metabolism and glutathione reductase of the human liver cell line Hep G2.

PubMed

Arning, Jürgen; Dringen, Ralf; Schmidt, Maike; Thiessen, Anette; Stolte, Stefan; Matzke, Marianne; Bottin-Weber, Ulrike; Caesar-Geertz, Birgit; Jastorff, Bernd; Ranke, Johannes

2008-04-18

To investigate the toxic mode of action of isothiazol-3-one biocides the four compounds N-methylisothiazol-3-one (MIT), 5-chloro-N-methylisothiazol-3-one (CIT), N-octylisothiazol-3-one (OIT) and 4,5-dichloro-N-octylisothiazol-3-one (DCOIT) were purified and tested as single chemical entities for their effects on the human hepatoblastoma cell line Hep G2 and on isolated and cellular glutathione reductase GR). The two chlorinated substances CIT and DCOIT significantly decreased the amount of total cellular glutathione (GSx) in a dose and time dependent manner. Concomitantly, an increase in the level of oxidised glutathione (GSSG) was observed. The resulting shift in the GSH/GSSG ratio entailing the breakdown of the cellular thiol reduction potential was accompanied by necrotic morphological changes like swelling of the plasma membrane and subsequent lysis of the cells. Additionally, CIT and DCOIT were found to inhibit cellular GR in the cells in a concentration dependent manner. The T-SAR-based (thinking in terms of structure-activity relationships) comparison of the chlorine-substituted structures CIT and DCOIT with their non-chlorinated and less active analogues MIT and OIT identified the chlorine substituents and the resulting reaction mechanisms to be the key structural mediators of the observed toxic effects. Furthermore, differences in the activity of both chlorinated substances could be explained using the T-SAR approach to link the lipophilicity and the intrinsic glutathione-reactivity of the compounds to the expected target site concentrations inside the cells.

Functionalization of peptide nucleolipid bioconjugates and their structure anti-cancer activity relationship studies.

PubMed

Rana, Niki; Cultrara, Christopher; Phillips, Mariana; Sabatino, David

2017-09-01

In the search for more potent peptide-based anti-cancer conjugates the generation of new, functionally diverse nucleolipid derived D-(KLAKLAK) 2 -AK sequences has enabled a structure and anti-cancer activity relationship study. A reductive amination approach was key for the synthesis of alkylamine, diamine and polyamine derived nucleolipids as well as those incorporating heterocyclic functionality. The carboxy-derived nucleolipids were then coupled to the C-terminus of the D-(KLAKLAK) 2 -AK killer peptide sequence and produced with and without the FITC fluorophore for investigating biological activity in cancer cells. The amphiphilic, α-helical peptide-nucleolipid bioconjugates were found to exhibit variable effects on the viability of MM.1S cells, with the histamine derived nucleolipid peptide bioconjugate displaying the most significant anti-cancer effects. Thus, functionally diverse nucleolipids have been developed to fine-tune the structure and anti-cancer properties of killer peptide sequences, such as D-(KLAKLAK) 2 -AK. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and QSAR study of novel α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone derivatives as antifungal agents.

PubMed

Wu, Yong-Ling; Wang, De-Long; Guo, En-Hui; Song, Shuang; Feng, Jun-Tao; Zhang, Xing

2017-03-01

Thirty-six new α-benzylidene-γ-lactone compounds based α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone substructure were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for antifungal activities in vitro against six plant pathogenic fungi and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum lagenarium were investigated. Compounds 5c-3 and 5c-5 with the halogen atom exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against B. cinerea (IC 50 =22.91, 18.89μM). The structure-activity relationships (SARs) analysis indicated that the derivatives with electron-withdrawing substituents at the meta- or para-positions improves the activity. Via the heuristic method, the generated quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model (R 2 =0.961) revealed a strong correlation of antifungal activity against B. cinerea with molecular structures of these compounds. Meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of 20 representative derivatives was tested in the human tumor cells line (HepG2) and the hepatic L02 cells line, the result indicated that the synthesized compounds showed significant inhibitory activity and limited selectivity. Compound 5c-5 has the highest fungicidal activity with IC 50 =18.89μM (against B. cinerea.) but low cytotoxicity with IC 50 =35.4μM (against HepG2 cell line) and IC 50 =68.8μM (against Hepatic L02 cell line). These encouraging results can be providing an alternative, promising use of α-benzylidene-γ-lactone through the design and exploration of eco-friendly fungicides with low toxicity and high efficiency. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antiproliferative effect of isopentenylated coumarins on several cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Ogawa, K; Sugiura, M; Yano, M; Yoshizawa, Y; Ito, C; Furukawa, H

2001-01-01

33 coumarins, mainly the simple isopentenylated coumarins and derived pyrano- and furanocoumarins, were examined for their antiproliferative activity towards several cancer and normal human cell lines. The pyrano- and furanocoumarins showed strong activity against the cancer cell lines, whereas they had weak antiproliferative activity against the normal human cell lines. The decreasing rank order of potency was osthenone (10), clausarin (25), clausenidin (26), dentatin (24), nordentatin (23), imperatorin (29), seselin (27), xanthyletin (21), suberosin (17), phebalosin (8) and osthol (12). The structure-activity relationship established from the results revealed that the 1,1-dimethylallyl and isopentenyl groups have an important role for antiproliferative activity.

Antiproliferative activity of flavonoids on several cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Katase, E; Ogawa, K; Yano, M

1999-05-01

Twenty-seven Citrus flavonoids were examined for their antiproliferative activities against several tumor and normal human cell lines. As a result, 7 flavonoids were judged to be active against the tumor cell lines, while they had weak antiproliferative activity against the normal human cell lines. The rank order of potency was luteolin, natsudaidain, quercetin, tangeretin, eriodictyol, nobiletin, and 3,3',4',5,6,7,8-heptamethoxyflavone. The structure-activity relationship established from comparison among these flavones and flavanones showed that the ortho-catechol moiety in ring B and a C2-C3 double bond were important for the antiproliferative activity. As to polymethoxylated flavones, C-3 hydroxyl and C-8 methoxyl groups were essential for high activity.

Synthesis of hetero annulated isoxazolo-, pyrido- and pyrimido carbazoles: Screened for in vitro antitumor activity and structure activity relationships, a novel 2-amino-4-(3'-bromo-4'-methoxyphenyl)-8-chloro-11H-pyrimido[4,5-a]carbazole as an antitumor agent.

PubMed

Murali, Karunanidhi; Sparkes, Hazel A; Rajendra Prasad, Karnam Jayarampillai

2017-03-10

Claisen-Schmidt condensation of 2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-1-one with 3-bromo-4-methoxy benzaldehyde afforded the 2-(3'-bromo-4'-methoxybenzylidene)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazol-1-one 3. Compound 3 was allowed to react with different organic reactants, hydroxylamine hydrochloride, malononitrile and guanidine nitrate through condensation cum cycloaddition reactions to afford a series of the respective novel hetero annulated carbazoles such as isoxazolo-, pyrido- and pyrimido carbazoles. The structures of the compounds were established by FT-IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, X-ray diffraction and elemental analysis. The compounds have been screened for in vitro anti-tumor activity by MTT assay and displayed enviable selective growth inhibition on MCF-7 cell line compared to A-549 cell line. Apoptotic morphological changes in MCF-7 and A-549 cells were visualized using fluorescent microscopic technique. The preliminary structure activity relationships were also carried out. Data pointed out that among pyrimido carbazole compounds, 2-amino-4-(3'-bromo-4'-methoxyphenyl)-8-chloro-11H-pyrimido [4,5-a]carbazole could be exploited as an excellent therapeutic drug against cancer cell proliferation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

In vitro and in vivo structure and activity relationship analysis of polymethoxylated flavonoids: identifying sinensetin as a novel antiangiogenesis agent.

PubMed

Lam, In Kei; Alex, Deepa; Wang, You-Hua; Liu, Ping; Liu, Ai-Lin; Du, Guan-Hua; Lee, Simon Ming Yuen

2012-06-01

Polymethoxylated flavonoids are present in citrus fruit in a range of chemical structures and abundance. These compounds have potential for anticarcinogenesis, antitumor, and cardiovascular protective activity, but the effect on angiogenesis has not been well studied. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro and zebrafish (Danio rerio) in vivo models were used to screen and identify the antiangiogenesis activity of seven polymethoxylated flavonoids; namely, hesperetin, naringin, neohesperidin, nobiletin, scutellarein, scutellarein tetramethylether, and sinensetin. Five, excluding naringin and neohesperidin, showed different degrees of potency of antiangiogenesis activity. Sinensetin, which had the most potent antiangiogenesis activity and the lowest toxicity, inhibited angiogenesis by inducing cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in HUVEC culture and downregulating the mRNA expressions of angiogenesis genes flt1, kdrl, and hras in zebrafish. The in vivo structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that a flavonoid with a methoxylated group at the C3' position offers a stronger antiangiogenesis activity, whereas the absence of a methoxylated group at the C8 position offers lower lethal toxicity in addition to enhancing the antiangiogenesis activity. This study provides new insight into how modification of the chemical structure of polymethoxylated flavonoids affects this newly identified antiangiogenesis activity. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Cytotoxic activity of aminoderivatized cationic chitosan derivatives.

PubMed

Lee, Jung-Kul; Lim, Hyun-Soo; Kim, Jung-Hoe

2002-10-21

Chitosan derivatives were prepared by dialkylaminoalkylation and reductive amination followed by quaternization. In this study, the cytotoxic activity of the chitosan derivatives was investigated and a relationship between structure and activity is suggested. The cationic chitosan derivatives elicited dose-dependent inhibitory effects on the proliferation of tumor cell lines.

Insight into the structural requirements of aminopyrimidine derivatives for good potency against both purified enzyme and whole cells of M. tuberculosis: combination of HQSAR, CoMSIA, and MD simulation studies.

PubMed

Punkvang, Auradee; Hannongbua, Supa; Saparpakorn, Patchreenart; Pungpo, Pornpan

2016-05-01

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein kinase B (PknB) is critical for growth and survival of M. tuberculosis within the host. The series of aminopyrimidine derivatives show impressive activity against PknB (IC50 < .5 μM). However, most of them show weak or no cellular activity against M. tuberculosis (MIC > 63 μM). Consequently, the key structural features related to activity against of both PknB and M. tuberculosis need to be investigated. Here, two- and three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (2D and 3D QSAR) analyses combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed with the aim to evaluate these key structural features of aminopyrimidine derivatives. Hologram quantitative structure-activity relationship (HQSAR) and CoMSIA models constructed from IC50 and MIC values of aminopyrimidine compounds could establish the structural requirements for better activity against of both PknB and M. tuberculosis. The NH linker and the R1 substituent of the template compound are not only crucial for the biological activity against PknB but also for the biological activity against M. tuberculosis. Moreover, the results obtained from MD simulations show that these moieties are the key fragments for binding of aminopyrimidine compounds in PknB. The combination of QSAR analysis and MD simulations helps us to provide a structural concept that could guide future design of PknB inhibitors with improved potency against both the purified enzyme and whole M. tuberculosis cells.

Design and synthesis of formononetin-dithiocarbamate hybrids that inhibit growth and migration of PC-3 cells via MAPK/Wnt signaling pathways

PubMed Central

Fu, Dong-Jun; Zhang, Li; Song, Jian; Mao, Ruo-Wang; Zhao, Ruo-Han; Liu, Ying-Chao; Hou, Yu-Hui; Li, Jia-Huan; Yang, Jia-Jia; Jin, Cheng-Yun; Li, Ping; Zi, Xiao-Lin; Liu, Hong-Min; Zhang, Sai-Yang; Zhang, Yan-Bing

2017-01-01

A series of novel formononetin-dithiocarbamate derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity against three selected cancer cell line (MGC-803, EC-109, PC-3). The first structure-activity relationship (SAR) for this formononetin-dithiocarbamate scaffold is explored in this report with evaluation of 14 variants of the structural class. Among these analogues, tert-butyl 4-(((3-((3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H–chromen-7-yl)oxy)propyl)thio)carbonothioyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (8i) showed the best inhibitory activity against PC-3 cells (IC50 = 1. 97 µM). Cellular mechanism studies elucidated 8i arrests cell cycle at G1 phase and regulates the expression of G1 checkpoint-related proteins in concentration-dependent manners. Furthermore, 8i could inhibit cell growth via MAPK signaling pathway and inhibit migration via Wnt pathway in PC-3 cells. PMID:28038329

Discovery of Benzofuran Derivatives that Collaborate with Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) to Promote Neuroprotection.

PubMed

Wakabayashi, Takeshi; Tokunaga, Norihito; Tokumaru, Kazuyuki; Ohra, Taiichi; Koyama, Nobuyuki; Hayashi, Satoru; Yamada, Ryuji; Shirasaki, Mikio; Inui, Yoshitaka; Tsukamoto, Tetsuya

2016-05-26

A series of benzofuran derivatives with neuroprotective activity in collaboration with IGF-1 was discovered using a newly developed cell-based assay involving primary neural cells prepared from rat hippocampal and cerebral cortical tissues. A structure-activity relationship study identified compound 8 as exhibiting potent activity and brain penetrability. An in vitro pharmacological study demonstrated that although IGF-1 and 8 individually exhibited the neuroprotective effect, the latter acted in collaboration with IGF-1 to enhance neuroprotective activity.

SOD activity of carboxyfullerenes predicts their neuroprotective efficacy: A structure-activity study

PubMed Central

Ali, Sameh Saad; Hardt, Joshua I.; Dugan, Laura L.

2008-01-01

Superoxide radical anion is a biologically important oxidant that has been linked to tissue injury and inflammation in several diseases. Here we carried out a structure-activity study on 6 different carboxyfullerene superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics with distinct electronic and biophysical characteristics. Neurotoxicity via NMDA receptors, which involves intracellular superoxide, was used as a model to evaluate structure-activity relationships between reactivity towards superoxide and neuronal rescue by these drugs. A significant correlation between neuroprotection by carboxyfullerenes and their ki towards superoxide radical was observed. Computer-assistant molecular modeling demonstrated that the reactivity towards superoxide is sensitive to changes in dipole moment which are dictated not only by the number of carboxyl groups, but also by their distribution on the fullerene ball. These results indicate that the SOD activity of these cell-permeable compounds predicts neuroprotection, and establishes a structure-activity relationship to aid in future studies on the biology of superoxide across disciplines. PMID:18656425

A Rhodium(III) Complex as an Inhibitor of Neural Precursor Cell Expressed, Developmentally Down-Regulated 8-Activating Enzyme with in Vivo Activity against Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

PubMed

Zhong, Hai-Jing; Wang, Wanhe; Kang, Tian-Shu; Yan, Hui; Yang, Yali; Xu, Lipeng; Wang, Yuqiang; Ma, Dik-Lung; Leung, Chung-Hang

2017-01-12

We report herein the identification of the rhodium(III) complex [Rh(phq) 2 (MOPIP)] + (1) as a potent and selective ATP-competitive neural precursor cell expressed, developmentally down-regulated 8 (NEDD8)-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor. Structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that the overall organometallic design of complex 1 was important for anti-inflammatory activity. Complex 1 showed promising anti-inflammatory activity in vivo for the potential treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Whole-Cell-Based Assay To Evaluate Structure Permeation Relationships for Carbapenem Passage through the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Porin OprD.

PubMed

Iyer, Ramkumar; Sylvester, Mark A; Velez-Vega, Camilo; Tommasi, Ruben; Durand-Reville, Thomas F; Miller, Alita A

2017-04-14

The global emergence of antibiotic resistance, especially in Gram-negative bacteria, is an urgent threat to public health. Discovery of novel classes of antibiotics with activity against these pathogens has been impeded by a fundamental lack of understanding of the molecular drivers underlying small molecule uptake. Although it is well-known that outer membrane porins represent the main route of entry for small, hydrophilic molecules across the Gram-negative cell envelope, the structure-permeation relationship for porin passage has yet to be defined. To address this knowledge gap, we developed a sensitive and specific whole-cell approach in Escherichia coli called titrable outer membrane permeability assay system (TOMAS). We used TOMAS to characterize the structure porin-permeation relationships of a set of novel carbapenem analogues through the Pseudomonas aeruginosa porin OprD. Our results show that small structural modifications, especially the number and nature of charges and their position, have dramatic effects on the ability of these molecules to permeate cells through OprD. This is the first demonstration of a defined relationship between specific molecular changes in a substrate and permeation through an isolated porin. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that impact antibiotic transit through porins should provide valuable insights to antibacterial medicinal chemistry and may ultimately allow for the rational design of porin-mediated uptake of small molecules into Gram-negative bacteria.

Peptide dendrimer/lipid hybrid systems are efficient DNA transfection reagents: structure--activity relationships highlight the role of charge distribution across dendrimer generations.

PubMed

Kwok, Albert; Eggimann, Gabriela A; Reymond, Jean-Louis; Darbre, Tamis; Hollfelder, Florian

2013-05-28

Efficient DNA delivery into cells is the prerequisite of the genetic manipulation of organisms in molecular and cellular biology as well as, ultimately, in nonviral gene therapy. Current reagents, however, are relatively inefficient, and structure-activity relationships to guide their improvement are hard to come by. We now explore peptide dendrimers as a new type of transfection reagent and provide a quantitative framework for their evaluation. A collection of dendrimers with cationic and hydrophobic amino acid motifs (such as KK, KA, KH, KL, and LL) distributed across three dendrimer generations was synthesized by a solid-phase protocol that provides ready access to dendrimers in milligram quantities. In conjunction with a lipid component (DOTMA/DOPE), the best reagent, G1,2,3-KL ((LysLeu)8(LysLysLeu)4(LysLysLeu)2LysGlySerCys-NH2), improves transfection by 6-10-fold over commercial reagents under their respective optimal conditions. Emerging structure-activity relationships show that dendrimers with cationic and hydrophobic residues distributed in each generation are transfecting most efficiently. The trigenerational dendritic structure has an advantage over a linear analogue worth up to an order of magnitude. The success of placing the decisive cationic charge patterns in inner shells rather than previously on the surface of macromolecules suggests that this class of dendrimers significantly differs from existing transfection reagents. In the future, this platform may be tuned further and coupled to cell-targeting moieties to enhance transfection and cell specificity.

Sesterterpenes as tubulin tyrosine ligase inhibitors. First insight of structure-activity relationships and discovery of new lead.

PubMed

Dal Piaz, Fabrizio; Vassallo, Antonio; Lepore, Laura; Tosco, Alessandra; Bader, Ammar; De Tommasi, Nunziatina

2009-06-25

Twenty-four new sesterterpenes, compounds 1-24, were isolated from the aerial parts of Salvia dominica. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments as well as ESIMS analysis and chemical methods. The evaluation of the biological activity of Salvia dominica sesterterpenes by means of a panel of chemical and biological approaches, including chemical proteomics, surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements, and biochemical assays were realized. Obtained results showed that 18 out of the 24 sesterterpene lactones isolated from Salvia dominica interact with tubulin-tyrosine ligase (TTL) an enzyme involved in the tyrosination cycle of the C-terminal of tubulin, and inhibit TTL activity in cancer cells. Besides, results of our studies provided an activity/structure relationship that can be used to design effective TTL inhibitors.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors with triazole-linked cap group.

PubMed

Chen, Po C; Patil, Vishal; Guerrant, William; Green, Patience; Oyelere, Adegboyega K

2008-05-01

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibition is a recent, clinically validated therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Small molecule HDAC inhibitors identified so far fall in to three distinct structural motifs: the zinc-binding group (ZBG), a hydrophobic linker, and a recognition cap group. Here we report the suitability of a 1,2,3-triazole ring as a surface recognition cap group-linking moiety in suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid-like (SAHA-like) HDAC inhibitors. Using "click" chemistry (Huisgen cycloaddition reaction), several triazole-linked SAHA-like hydroxamates were synthesized. Structure-activity relationship revealed that the position of the triazole moiety as well as the identity of the cap group markedly affected the in vitro HDAC inhibition and cell growth inhibitory activities of this class of compounds.

In vitro anticancer activity, toxicity and structure-activity relationships of phyllostictine A, a natural oxazatricycloalkenone produced by the fungus Phyllosticta cirsii

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le Calve, Benjamin; Lallemand, Benjamin; Perrone, Carmen

2011-07-01

The in vitro anticancer activity and toxicity of phyllostictine A, a novel oxazatricycloalkenone recently isolated from a plant-pathogenic fungus (Phyllosticta cirsii) was characterized in six normal and five cancer cell lines. Phyllostictine A displays in vitro growth-inhibitory activity both in normal and cancer cells without actual bioselectivity, while proliferating cells appear significantly more sensitive to phyllostictine A than non-proliferating ones. The main mechanism of action by which phyllostictine displays cytotoxic effects in cancer cells does not seem to relate to a direct activation of apoptosis. In the same manner, phyllostictine A seems not to bind or bond with DNA asmore » part of its mechanism of action. In contrast, phyllostictine A strongly reacts with GSH, which is a bionucleophile. The experimental data from the present study are in favor of a bonding process between GSH and phyllostictine A to form a complex though Michael attack at C=C bond at the acrylamide-like system. Considering the data obtained, two new hemisynthesized phyllostictine A derivatives together with three other natural phyllostictines (B, C and D) were also tested in vitro in five cancer cell lines. Compared to phyllostictine A, the two derivatives displayed a higher, phyllostictines B and D a lower, and phyllostictine C an almost equal, growth-inhibitory activity, respectively. These results led us to propose preliminary conclusions in terms of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) analyses for the anticancer activity of phyllostictine A and its related compounds, at least in vitro.« less

Application of quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models to predict ozone toxicity in the lung.

PubMed

Kafoury, Ramzi M; Huang, Ming-Ju

2005-08-01

The sequence of events leading to ozone-induced airway inflammation is not well known. To elucidate the molecular and cellular events underlying ozone toxicity in the lung, we hypothesized that lipid ozonation products (LOPs) generated by the reaction of ozone with unsaturated fatty acids in the epithelial lining fluid and cell membranes play a key role in mediating ozone-induced airway inflammation. To test our hypothesis, we ozonized 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) and generated LOPs. Confluent human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to the derivatives of ozonized POPC-9-oxononanoyl, 9-hydroxy-9-hydroperoxynonanoyl, and 8-(5-octyl-1,2,4-trioxolan-3-yl-)octanoyl-at a concentration of 10 muM, and the activity of phospholipases A2 (PLA2), C (PLC), and D (PLD) was measured (1, 0.5, and 1 h, respectively). Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models were utilized to predict the biological activity of LOPs in airway epithelial cells. The QSAR results showed a strong correlation between experimental and computed activity (r = 0.97, 0.98, 0.99, for PLA2, PLC, and PLD, respectively). The results indicate that QSAR models can be utilized to predict the biological activity of the various ozone-derived LOP species in the lung. Copyright 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A feedback mechanism converts individual cell features into a supracellular ECM structure in Drosophila trachea

PubMed Central

Öztürk-Çolak, Arzu; Moussian, Bernard; Araújo, Sofia J; Casanova, Jordi

2016-01-01

The extracellular matrix (ECM), a structure contributed to and commonly shared by many cells in an organism, plays an active role during morphogenesis. Here, we used the Drosophila tracheal system to study the complex relationship between the ECM and epithelial cells during development. We show that there is an active feedback mechanism between the apical ECM (aECM) and the apical F-actin in tracheal cells. Furthermore, we reveal that cell-cell junctions are key players in this aECM patterning and organisation and that individual cells contribute autonomously to their aECM. Strikingly, changes in the aECM influence the levels of phosphorylated Src42A (pSrc) at cell junctions. Therefore, we propose that Src42A phosphorylation levels provide a link for the ECM environment to ensure proper cytoskeletal organisation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09373.001 PMID:26836303

Structural Dynamics and Activity of Nanocatalysts Inside Fuel Cells by in-operando Atomic Pair Distribution Studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasai, Binay

We present the results from a study aimed at clarifying the relationship between the atomic structure and activity of nanocatalysts for chemical reactions driving fuel cells, such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Using in-operando high-energy X-ray diffraction we tracked the evolution of the atomic structure and activity of noble metal-transition metal(NM-TM) nanocatalysts for ORR as they function at the cathode of a fully operational proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Data were analyzed in terms of atomic pair distribution functions and compared to the current output of the PEMFC, which was also recorded during the experiments. The comparison revealed that under actual operating conditions, NM-TM nanocatalysts can undergo structural changes that differ significantly in both length-scale and dynamics and so can suffer losses in their ORR activity that differ significantly in both character and magnitude. Therefore, we argue that strategies for reducing ORR activity losses should implement steps for achieving control not only over the length but also over the time-scale of the structural changes of NM-TM NPs that indeed occur during PEMFC operation.

Structure-activity relationship studies of chalcone leading to 3-hydroxy-4,3',4',5'-tetramethoxychalcone and its analogues as potent nuclear factor kappaB inhibitors and their anticancer activities.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Balasubramanian; Johnson, Thomas E; Lad, Rahul; Xing, Chengguo

2009-11-26

Chalcone is a privileged structure, demonstrating promising anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. One potential mechanism is to suppress nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation. The structures of chalcone-based NF-kappaB inhibitors vary significantly that there is minimum information about their structure-activity relationships (SAR). This study aims to establish SAR of chalcone-based compounds to NF-kappaB inhibition, to explore the feasibility of developing simple chalcone-based potent NF-kappaB inhibitors, and to evaluate their anticancer activities. Three series of chalcones were synthesized in one to three steps with the key step being aldol condensation. These candidates demonstrated a wide range of NF-kappaB inhibitory activities, some of low micromolar potency, establishing that structural complexity is not required for NF-kappaB inhibition. Lead compounds also demonstrate potent cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells. Their cytotoxicities correlate moderately well with their NF-kappaB inhibitory activities, suggesting that suppressing NF-kappaB activation is likely responsible for at least some of the cytotoxicities. One lead compound effectively inhibits lung tumor growth with no signs of adverse side effects.

17β-Hydroxywithanolides as Sensitizers of Renal Carcinoma Cells to Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) Mediated Apoptosis: Structure-Activity Relationships.

PubMed

Xu, Ya-Ming; Brooks, Alan D; Wijeratne, E M Kithsiri; Henrich, Curtis J; Tewary, Poonam; Sayers, Thomas J; Gunatilaka, A A Leslie

2017-04-13

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a cancer with poor prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate of patients with metastatic RCC is 5-10%. Consequently, treatment of metastatic RCC represents an unmet clinical need. Screening of a 50 000-member library of natural and synthetic compounds for sensitizers of RCC cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis led to identification of the 17β-hydroxywithanolide (17-BHW), withanolide E (1), as a promising lead. To explore structure-activity relationships, we obtained natural and semisynthetic withanolides 1, 2a, 2c, and 3-36 and compared their ability to sensitize TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in a panel of renal carcinoma cells. Our findings revealed that 17-BHWs with a α-oriented side chain are superior to known TRAIL-sensitizing withanolides belonging to withaferin A class with a β-oriented side chain and demonstrated that the 17-BHW scaffold can be modified to enhance sensitization of RCCs to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, thereby assisting development of natural-product-inspired drugs to treat metastatic RCC.

Structure-activity relationship study of Aib-containing amphipathic helical peptide-cyclic RGD conjugates as carriers for siRNA delivery.

PubMed

Wada, Shun-Ichi; Takesada, Anna; Nagamura, Yurie; Sogabe, Eri; Ohki, Rieko; Hayashi, Junsuke; Urata, Hidehito

2017-12-15

The conjugation of Aib-containing amphipathic helical peptide with cyclo(-Arg-Gly-Asp-d-Phe-Cys-) (cRGDfC) at the C-terminus of the helix peptide (PI) has been reported to be useful for constructing a carrier for targeted siRNA delivery into cells. In order to explore structure-activity relationships for the development of potential carriers for siRNA delivery, we synthesized conjugates of Aib-containing amphipathic helical peptide with cRGDfC at the N-terminus (PII) and both the N- and C-termini (PIII) of the helical peptide. Furthermore, to examine the influence of PI helical chain length on siRNA delivery, truncated peptides containing 16 (PIV), 12 (PV), and 8 (PVI) amino acid residues at the N-terminus of the helical chain were synthesized. PII and PIII, as well as PI, could deliver anti-luciferase siRNA into cells to induce the knockdown of luciferase stably expressed in cells. In contrast, all of the truncated peptides were unlikely to transport siRNA into cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Acridones as inducers of HL-60 cell differentiation.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Katase, E; Ogawa, K; Yano, M; Takemura, Y; Ju-ichi, M; Ito, C; Furukawa, H

1999-03-01

Fifteen acridone alkaloids were examined for their activity of induction of human promyelocytic leukemia cell (HL-60) differentiation. HL-60 cells were differentiated into mature monocyte/macrophage by atalaphyllidine (9), atalaphyllinine (12), and des-N-methylnoracronycine (13). The activities of NBT reduction, nonspecific esterase, and phagocytosis, were induced by 2.5 microM of 9, 12, and 13. After a 4-day treatment, 9, 12, and 13 at 10 microM inhibited clonal proliferation of HL-60 cells by 28, 96, and 63%, respectively. The structure-activity relationship established from the results revealed that hydroxyl group at C-1 and prenyl group at C-2 had an important role.

How Membrane-Active Peptides Get into Lipid Membranes.

PubMed

Sani, Marc-Antoine; Separovic, Frances

2016-06-21

The structure-function relationship for a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from the skin of Australian tree frogs is discussed and compared with that of peptide toxins from bee and Australian scorpion venoms. Although these membrane-active peptides induce a similar cellular fate by disrupting the lipid bilayer integrity, their lytic activity is achieved via different modes of action, which are investigated in relation to amino acid sequence, secondary structure, and membrane lipid composition. In order to better understand what structural features govern the interaction between peptides and lipid membranes, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which translocate through the membrane without compromising its integrity, are also discussed. AMPs possess membrane lytic activities that are naturally designed to target the cellular membrane of pathogens or competitors. They are extremely diverse in amino acid composition and often show specificity against a particular strain of microbe. Since our antibiotic arsenal is declining precariously in the face of the rise in multiantibiotic resistance, AMPs increasingly are seen as a promising alternative. In an effort to understand their molecular mechanism, biophysical studies of a myriad of AMPs have been reported, yet no unifying mechanism has emerged, rendering difficult the rational design of drug leads. Similarly, a wide variety of cytotoxic peptides are found in venoms, the best known being melittin, yet again, predicting their activity based on a particular amino acid composition or secondary structure remains elusive. A common feature of these membrane-active peptides is their preference for the lipid environment. Indeed, they are mainly unstructured in solution and, in the presence of lipid membranes, quickly adsorb onto the surface, change their secondary structure, eventually insert into the hydrophobic core of the membrane bilayer, and finally disrupt the bilayer integrity. These steps define the molecular mechanism by which these membrane-active peptides lyse membranes. The last class of membrane-active peptides discussed are the CPPs, which translocate across the lipid bilayer without inducing severe disruption and have potential as drug vehicles. CPPs are typically highly charged and can show antimicrobial activity by targeting an intracellular target rather than via a direct membrane lytic mechanism. A critical aspect in the structure-function relationship of membrane-active peptides is their specific activity relative to the lipid membrane composition of the cell target. Cell membranes have a wide diversity of lipids, and those of eukaryotic and prokaryotic species differ greatly in composition and structure. The activity of AMPs from Australian tree frogs, toxins, and CPPs has been investigated within various lipid systems to assess whether a relationship between peptide and membrane composition could be identified. NMR spectroscopy techniques are being used to gain atomistic details of how these membrane-active peptides interact with model membranes and cells, and in particular, competitive assays demonstrate the difference between affinity and activity for a specific lipid environment. Overall, the interactions between these relatively small sized peptides and various lipid bilayers give insight into how these peptides function at the membrane interface.

Outside-in control -Does plant cell wall integrity regulate cell cycle progression?

PubMed

Gigli-Bisceglia, Nora; Hamann, Thorsten

2018-04-13

During recent years it has become accepted that plant cell walls are not inert objects surrounding all plant cells but are instead highly dynamic, plastic structures. They are involved in a large number of cell biological processes and contribute actively to plant growth, development and interaction with environment. Therefore, it is not surprising that cellular processes can control plant cell wall integrity while, simultaneously, cell wall integrity can influence cellular processes. In yeast and animal cells such a bi-directional relationship also exists between the yeast/animal extra-cellular matrices and the cell cycle. In yeast, the cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism and a dedicated plasmamembrane integrity checkpoint are mediating this relationship. Recent research has yielded insights into the mechanism controlling plant cell wall metabolism during cytokinesis. However, knowledge regarding putative regulatory pathways controlling adaptive modifications in plant cell cycle activity in response to changes in the state of the plant cell wall are not yet identified. In this review, we summarize similarities and differences in regulatory mechanisms coordinating extra cellular matrices and cell cycle activity in animal and yeast cells, discuss the available evidence supporting the existence of such a mechanism in plants and suggest that the plant cell wall integrity maintenance mechanism might also control cell cycle activity in plant cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The inhibitory effects of a rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) domain from ginseng pectin on galectin-3 and its structure-activity relationship.

PubMed

Gao, Xiaoge; Zhi, Yuan; Sun, Lin; Peng, Xiaoxia; Zhang, Tao; Xue, Huiting; Tai, Guihua; Zhou, Yifa

2013-11-22

Pectin has been shown to inhibit the actions of galectin-3, a β-galactoside-binding protein associated with cancer progression. The structural features of pectin involved in this activity remain unclear. We investigated the effects of different ginseng pectins on galectin-3 action. The rhamnogalacturonan I-rich pectin fragment, RG-I-4, potently inhibited galectin-3-mediated hemagglutination, cancer cell adhesion and homotypic aggregation, and binding of galectin-3 to T-cells. RG-I-4 specifically bound to the carbohydrate recognition domain of galectin-3 with a dissociation constant of 22.2 nm, which was determined by surface plasmon resonance analysis. The structure-activity relationship of RG-I-4 was investigated by modifying the structure through various enzymatic and chemical methods followed by activity tests. The results showed that (a) galactan side chains were essential to the activity of RG-I-4, whereas arabinan side chains positively or negatively regulated the activity depending on their location within the RG-I-4 molecule. (b) The activity of galactan chain was proportional to its length up to 4 Gal residues and largely unchanged thereafter. (c) The majority of galactan side chains in RG-I-4 were short with low activities. (d) The high activity of RG-I-4 resulted from the cooperative action of these side chains. (e) The backbone of the molecule was very important to RG-I-4 activity, possibly by maintaining a structural conformation of the whole molecule. (f) The isolated backbone could bind galectin-3, which was insensitive to lactose treatment. The novel discovery that the side chains and backbone play distinct roles in regulating RG-I-4 activity is valuable for producing highly active pectin-based galectin-3 inhibitors.

Structure-Activity Relationships for the Antifungal Activity of Selective Estrogen Receptor Antagonists Related to Tamoxifen

PubMed Central

Butts, Arielle; Martin, Jennifer A.; DiDone, Louis; Bradley, Erin K.; Mutz, Mitchell; Krysan, Damian J.

2015-01-01

Cryptococcosis is one of the most important invasive fungal infections and is a significant contributor to the mortality associated with HIV/AIDS. As part of our program to repurpose molecules related to the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen as anti-cryptococcal agents, we have explored the structure-activity relationships of a set of structurally diverse SERMs and tamoxifen derivatives. Our data provide the first insights into the structural requirements for the antifungal activity of this scaffold. Three key molecular characteristics affecting anti-cryptococcal activity emerged from our studies: 1) the presence of an alkylamino group tethered to one of the aromatic rings of the triphenylethylene core; 2) an appropriately sized aliphatic substituent at the 2 position of the ethylene moiety; and 3) electronegative substituents on the aromatic rings modestly improved activity. Using a cell-based assay of calmodulin antagonism, we found that the anti-cryptococcal activity of the scaffold correlates with calmodulin inhibition. Finally, we developed a homology model of C. neoformans calmodulin and used it to rationalize the structural basis for the activity of these molecules. Taken together, these data and models provide a basis for the further optimization of this promising anti-cryptococcal scaffold. PMID:26016941

Design and synthesis of formononetin-dithiocarbamate hybrids that inhibit growth and migration of PC-3 cells via MAPK/Wnt signaling pathways.

PubMed

Fu, Dong-Jun; Zhang, Li; Song, Jian; Mao, Ruo-Wang; Zhao, Ruo-Han; Liu, Ying-Chao; Hou, Yu-Hui; Li, Jia-Huan; Yang, Jia-Jia; Jin, Cheng-Yun; Li, Ping; Zi, Xiao-Lin; Liu, Hong-Min; Zhang, Sai-Yang; Zhang, Yan-Bing

2017-02-15

A series of novel formononetin-dithiocarbamate derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity against three selected cancer cell line (MGC-803, EC-109, PC-3). The first structure-activity relationship (SAR) for this formononetin-dithiocarbamate scaffold is explored in this report with evaluation of 14 variants of the structural class. Among these analogues, tert-butyl 4-(((3-((3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-7-yl)oxy)propyl)thio)carbonothioyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (8i) showed the best inhibitory activity against PC-3 cells (IC 50  = 1.97 μM). Cellular mechanism studies elucidated 8i arrests cell cycle at G1 phase and regulates the expression of G1 checkpoint-related proteins in concentration-dependent manners. Furthermore, 8i could inhibit cell growth via MAPK signaling pathway and inhibit migration via Wnt pathway in PC-3 cells. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Antiproliferative terpenoids from almond hulls (Prunus dulcis): identification and structure-activity relationships.

PubMed

Amico, Vincenzo; Barresi, Vincenza; Condorelli, Daniele; Spatafora, Carmela; Tringali, Corrado

2006-02-08

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the EtOAc crude extract from Sicilian almond hulls, a waste material from Prunus dulcis crop, allowed identification of 10 constituents, isolated as pure compounds (1-5, 7, and 10) or unseparable mixtures (5 + 6 and 8 + 9). All compounds were subjected to spectroscopic analysis and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide bioassay on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. In addition to the main components oleanolic (1), ursolic (2), and betulinic (3) acids, the 2-hydroxy analogues alphitolic (4), corosolic (5), and maslinic (6) acids, as well as the related aldehydes, namely, betulinic (7), oleanolic (8), and ursolic (9), were identified. From a more polar fraction, the beta-sitosterol 3-O-glucoside (10) was also identified. A sample of commercially available betulin (11) was also included in bioassays as further support to a structure-activity relationship study. Betulinic acid showed antiproliferative activity toward MCF-7 cells (GI50 = 0.27 microM), higher than the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil.

Synthesis, structure-activity relationship of novel substituted 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates as potential anti-mycobacterial and anticancer agents.

PubMed

Raju, B China; Rao, R Nageswara; Suman, P; Yogeeswari, P; Sriram, D; Shaik, Thokhir Basha; Kalivendi, Shasi Vardhan

2011-05-15

Series of 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives 7a-7zb, 8a-8d and 9a-9d were synthesized and screened for their in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv (MTB) and cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines including A549, SK-N-SH and HeLa. The results indicate that six compounds are more potent and 7za is most effective anti-mycobacterial derivative compared to the standard drugs Ethambutol and Ciprofloxacin. However, 12 compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against human neuroblastoma cell line; amongst them the compound 7v is most effective compared to the standard drug Doxorubicin. This is the first report assigning in vitro anti-mycobacterial, anticancer and structure-activity relationship for this new class of 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential effects of triterpene glycosides, frondoside A and cucumarioside A2-2 isolated from sea cucumbers on caspase activation and apoptosis of human leukemia cells.

PubMed

Jin, Jun-O; Shastina, Valeria V; Shin, Sung-Won; Xu, Qi; Park, Joo-In; Rasskazov, Valery A; Avilov, Sergey A; Fedorov, Sergey N; Stonik, Valentin A; Kwak, Jong-Young

2009-02-18

Frondoside A is a pentaoside having an acetyl moiety at the aglycon ring and xylose as a third monosaccharide residue. Cucumarioside A(2)-2 is a pentaoside having glucose as a third monosaccahride unit. We compared the effects of frondoside A and A(2)-2 for cell death-inducing capability with close attention paid to structure-activity relationships. Both frondoside A and A(2)-2 strongly induced apoptosis of leukemic cells. Frondoside A-induced apoptosis was more potent and rapid than A(2)-2-induced apoptosis. A(2)-2-induced but not frondoside A-induced apoptosis was caspase-dependent. This suggests that holothurians may induce apoptosis of leukemic cells caspase-dependently or -independently, depending on the holothurian structure.

Testing Nucleoside Analogues as Inhibitors of Bacillus anthracis Spore Germination In Vitro and in Macrophage Cell Culture ▿

PubMed Central

Alvarez, Zadkiel; Lee, Kyungae; Abel-Santos, Ernesto

2010-01-01

Bacillus anthracis, the etiological agent of anthrax, has a dormant stage in its life cycle known as the endospore. When conditions become favorable, spores germinate and transform into vegetative bacteria. In inhalational anthrax, the most fatal manifestation of the disease, spores enter the organism through the respiratory tract and germinate in phagosomes of alveolar macrophages. Germinated cells can then produce toxins and establish infection. Thus, germination is a crucial step for the initiation of pathogenesis. B. anthracis spore germination is activated by a wide variety of amino acids and purine nucleosides. Inosine and l-alanine are the two most potent nutrient germinants in vitro. Recent studies have shown that germination can be hindered by isomers or structural analogues of germinants. 6-Thioguanosine (6-TG), a guanosine analogue, is able to inhibit germination and prevent B. anthracis toxin-mediated necrosis in murine macrophages. In this study, we screened 46 different nucleoside analogues as activators or inhibitors of B. anthracis spore germination in vitro. These compounds were also tested for their ability to protect the macrophage cell line J774a.1 from B. anthracis cytotoxicity. Structure-activity relationship analysis of activators and inhibitors clarified the binding mechanisms of nucleosides to B. anthracis spores. In contrast, no structure-activity relationships were apparent for compounds that protected macrophages from B. anthracis-mediated killing. However, multiple inhibitors additively protected macrophages from B. anthracis. PMID:20921305

Modifications of the chemical structure of phenolics differentially affect physiological activities in pulvinar cells of Mimosa pudica L. I. Multimode effect on early membrane events.

PubMed

Rocher, Françoise; Dédaldéchamp, Fabienne; Saeedi, Saed; Fleurat-Lessard, Pierrette; Chollet, Jean-Francois; Roblin, Gabriel

2014-11-01

A study of the structure-activity relationship carried out on several benzoic acid-related phenolics indicates that this type of compounds hinders the osmocontractile reaction of pulvinar cells in the range of 0-100%. Tentatively, we tried to find a way that could explain this differential action. With this aim, the relationship between the inhibitory effect and important molecular physico-chemical parameters (namely lipophilicity and degree of dissociation) was drawn. In addition, the effect of a variety of these compounds was investigated on their capacity to modify the electrical transmembrane potential and induce modifications in proton fluxes. Finally, using plasma membrane vesicles purified from pulvinar tissues, we examined the effects of some selected compounds on the proton pump activity and catalytic activity of the plasma membrane H(+)-ATPase. Taken together, the results indicate that a modification of the molecular structure of phenolics may induce important variation in the activity of the compound on these early membrane events. Among the tested phenolics, salicylic acid (SA) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, aspirin) are of particuler note, as they showed atypical effects on the physiological processes studied. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Quantitative Structure-Cytotoxicity Relationship of Bioactive Heterocycles by the Semi-empirical Molecular Orbital Method with the Concept of Absolute Hardness

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishihara, Mariko; Sakagami, Hiroshi; Kawase, Masami; Motohashi, Noboru

The relationship between the cytotoxicity of N-heterocycles (13 4-trifluoromethylimidazole, 15 phenoxazine and 12 5-trifluoromethyloxazole derivatives), O-heterocycles (11 3-formylchromone and 20 coumarin derivatives) and seven vitamin K2 derivatives against eight tumor cell lines (HSC-2, HSC-3, HSC-4, T98G, HSG, HepG2, HL-60, MT-4) and a maximum of 15 chemical descriptors was investigated using CAChe Worksystem 4.9 project reader. After determination of the conformation of these compounds and approximation to the molecular form present in vivo (biomimetic) by CONFLEX5, the most stable structure was determined by CAChe Worksystem 4.9 MOPAC (PM3). The present study demonstrates the best relationship between the cytotoxic activity and molecular shape or molecular weight of these compounds. Their biological activities can be estimated by hardness and softness, and by using η-χ activity diagrams.

Structure-activity relationship of antiparasitic and cytotoxic indoloquinoline alkaloids, and their tricyclic and bicyclic analogues.

PubMed

Van Baelen, Gitte; Hostyn, Steven; Dhooghe, Liene; Tapolcsányi, Pál; Mátyus, Péter; Lemière, Guy; Dommisse, Roger; Kaiser, Marcel; Brun, Reto; Cos, Paul; Maes, Louis; Hajós, György; Riedl, Zsuzsanna; Nagy, Ildikó; Maes, Bert U W; Pieters, Luc

2009-10-15

Based on the indoloquinoline alkaloids cryptolepine (1), neocryptolepine (2), isocryptolepine (3) and isoneocryptolepine (4), used as lead compounds for new antimalarial agents, a series of tricyclic and bicyclic analogues, including carbolines, azaindoles, pyrroloquinolines and pyrroloisoquinolines was synthesized and biologically evaluated. None of the bicyclic compounds was significantly active against the chloroquine-resistant strain Plasmodium falciparum K1, in contrast to the tricyclic derivatives. The tricyclic compound 2-methyl-2H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (9), or 2-methyl-beta-carboline, showed the best in vitro activity, with an IC(50) value of 0.45 microM against P. falciparum K1, without apparent cytotoxicity against L6 cells (SI>1000). However, this compound was not active in the Plasmodium berghei mouse model. Structure-activity relationships are discussed and compared with related naturally occurring compounds.

Vinblastine 20' Amides: Synthetic Analogues That Maintain or Improve Potency and Simultaneously Overcome Pgp-Derived Efflux and Resistance.

PubMed

Lukesh, John C; Carney, Daniel W; Dong, Huijun; Cross, R Matthew; Shukla, Vyom; Duncan, Katharine K; Yang, Shouliang; Brody, Daniel M; Brütsch, Manuela M; Radakovic, Aleksandar; Boger, Dale L

2017-09-14

A series of 180 vinblastine 20' amides were prepared in three steps from commercially available starting materials, systematically exploring a typically inaccessible site in the molecule enlisting a powerful functionalization strategy. Clear structure-activity relationships and a structural model were developed in the studies which provided many such 20' amides that exhibit substantial and some even remarkable enhancements in potency, many that exhibit further improvements in activity against a Pgp overexpressing resistant cancer cell line, and an important subset of the vinblastine analogues that display little or no differential in activity against a matched pair of vinblastine sensitive and resistant (Pgp overexpressing) cell lines. The improvements in potency directly correlated with target tubulin binding affinity, and the reduction in differential functional activity against the sensitive and Pgp overexpressing resistant cell lines was found to correlate directly with an impact on Pgp-derived efflux.

POLYBROMINATED DEPHENYL ETHERS (PBDES) AND ORTHO-SUBSTITUTED POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS) AS NEUROENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS OF VASOPRESSIN RELEASE: EFFECTS DURING PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTIVATION IN VITRO AND STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS

EPA Science Inventory

The neuropeptide, vasopressin (VP) is synthesized in magnocellular neuroendocrine cells (MNCs) located within the supraoptic (SON) and paraventricular (PVN) nuclei of the mammalian hypothalamus. VP has multiple functions including maintenance of body fluid homeostasis, cardiovasc...

Synthesis and evaluation of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs as anti-cancer and anti-microbial agents.

PubMed

Alam, Mohammad Sayed; Nam, Young-Joo; Lee, Dong-Ung

2013-11-01

In the present study, a series of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs were synthesized and then evaluated in terms of their cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines, e.g. lung cancer (A549), ovarian cancer (SK-OV-3), skin cancer (SK-MEL-2), and colon cancer (HCT15), as well as anti-microbial activities against three microbes, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Aspergillus niger. The title compounds were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction of benzyl cyanide or p-nitrobenzyl cyanide with substituted benzaldehydes in good yields. Most of the compounds exhibited significant suppressive activities against the growth of all cancer cell lines. Compound 3c was most active in inhibiting the growth of A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells lines with IC50 values of 0.57, 0.14, 0.65, and 0.34 mg/mL, respectively, followed by compounds 3f, 3i, and 3h. Compound 3c exhibited 2.4 times greater cytotoxic activity against HCT15 cells, whereas it showed similar potency against SK-OV-3 cells to that of the standard anti-cancer agent doxorubicin. Structure-activity relationship study revealed that electron-donating groups at the para-position of phenyl ring B were more favorable for improved cytotoxic activity, whereas the presence of electron-withdrawing groups was unfavorable compare to unsubstituted acrylonitrile. An optimal electron density on phenyl ring A of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs was crucial for their cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines used in the present study. Qualitative structure-cytotoxic activity relationships were studied using physicochemical parameters; a good correlation between calculated polar surface area (PSA), a lipophobic parameter, and cytotoxic activity was found. Moreover, all compounds showed significant anti-bacterial activities against S. typhi, whereas compound 3k showed potent inhibition against both S. aureus and S. typhi bacterial strains. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Cytotoxic lanostane-type triterpenoids from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum and their structure–activity relationships

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhanggen; Su, Jiyan; Jiao, Chunwei; Xie, Yizhen; Yang, Burton B.

2017-01-01

We conducted a study of Ganoderma lucidum metabolites and isolated 35 lanostane-type triterpenoids, including 5 new ganoderols (1-5). By spectroscopy, we compared the structures of these compounds with known related compounds in this group. All of the isolated compounds were assayed for their effect against the human breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-231 and hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. Corresponding three-dimensional quantitative structure–activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were built and analyzed using Discovery Studio. These results provide further evidence for anti-cancer constituents within Ganoderma lucidum, and may provide a theoretical foundation for designing novel therapeutic compounds. PMID:28052025

Structure activity relationship of phenolic diterpenes from Salvia officinalis as activators of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 pathway

PubMed Central

Fischedick, Justin T; Standiford, Miranda; Johnson, Delinda A.; Johnson, Jeffrey A.

2013-01-01

Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor known to activate cytoprotective genes which may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In order to better understand the structure activity relationship of phenolic diterpenes from Salvia officinalis L., we isolated carnosic acid, carnosol, epirosmanol, rosmanol, 12-methoxy-carnosic acid, sageone, and carnosaldehyde using polyamide column, centrifugal partition chromatography, and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. Isolated compounds were screened in-vitro for their ability to active the Nrf2 and general cellular toxicity using mouse primary cortical cultures. All compounds except 12-methoxy-carnosic acid were able to activate the antioxidant response element. Furthermore both carnosol and carnoasldehyde were able to induce Nrf2-dependent gene expression as well as protect mouse primary cortical neuronal cultures from H2O2 induced cell death. PMID:23507152

Utilization of a quantitative mammalian cell mutation system, CHO/HGPRT, in experimental mutagenesis and genetic toxicology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hsie, A. W.; Couch, D. B.; O'Neill, J. P.

1977-01-01

Development of the CHO/HGPRT system is described and a host-mediated CHO/HGPRT assay is discussed. The following topics are discussed: evidence for the genetic origin of mutation induction in the CHO/HGPRT system; dose-response relationship for EMS-mediated mutation induction and cell lethality; apparent dosimetry of EMS-induced mutagenesis; structure-activity relationship of alkylating agents and ICR compounds; mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of congeners of two classes of nitrosi compounds; and preliminary validation of the CHO/HGPRT assay in predicting chemical carcinogenicity. (HLW)

Enzymatic formation of the bisfuran structure in aflatoxin biosynthesis.

PubMed Central

Wan, N C; Hsieh, D P

1980-01-01

A relatively stable enzyme system that converts versiconal hemiacetal acetate to versicolorin A was isolated from the soluble fraction of the homogenized cells of Aspergillus parasiticus ATCC 15517. The cell-free preparation did not require oxygen or oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate for activity, nor did it require dithiothreitol, polyclar (polyvinyl pyrrolidone), or glycerol for stabilization of activity. It was susceptible to inhibition by dichlorvos and cysteine. Isotope tracer studies revealed involvement of several intermediates in the conversion of versiconal hemiacetal acetate to versicolorin A. These findings confirm the biogenetic relationship of versiconal hemiacetal acetate and versicolorin A, and they confirm that the bisfuran ring structure in aflatoxins and related fungal metabolites is derived from the hemiacetal structure of versiconal hemiacetal acetate. Images PMID:7356313

Tools to Understand Structural Property Relationships for Wood Cell Walls

Treesearch

Joseph E. Jakes; Daniel J. Yelle; Charles R. Frihart

2011-01-01

Understanding structure-property relationships for wood cell walls has been hindered by the complex polymeric structures comprising these cell walls and the difficulty in assessing meaningful mechanical property measurements of individual cell walls. To help overcome these hindrances, we have developed two experimental methods: 1) two-dimensional solution state nuclear...

Design of Aminobenzothiazole Inhibitors of Rho Kinases 1 and 2 by Using Protein Kinase A as a Structure Surrogate.

PubMed

Judge, Russell A; Vasudevan, Anil; Scott, Victoria E; Simler, Gricelda H; Pratt, Steve D; Namovic, Marian T; Putman, C Brent; Aguirre, Ana; Stoll, Vincent S; Mamo, Mulugeta; Swann, Steven I; Cassar, Steven C; Faltynek, Connie R; Kage, Karen L; Boyce-Rustay, Janel M; Hobson, Adrian D

2018-03-16

We describe the design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships (SARs) of a series of 2-aminobenzothiazole inhibitors of Rho kinases (ROCKs) 1 and 2, which were optimized to low nanomolar potencies by use of protein kinase A (PKA) as a structure surrogate to guide compound design. A subset of these molecules also showed robust activity in a cell-based myosin phosphatase assay and in a mechanical hyperalgesia in vivo pain model. © 2018 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Investigating biological activity spectrum for novel quinoline analogues.

PubMed

Musiol, Robert; Jampilek, Josef; Kralova, Katarina; Richardson, Des R; Kalinowski, Danuta; Podeszwa, Barbara; Finster, Jacek; Niedbala, Halina; Palka, Anna; Polanski, Jaroslaw

2007-02-01

The lack of the wide spectrum of biological data is an important obstacle preventing the efficient molecular design. Quinoline derivatives are known to exhibit a variety of biological effects. In the current publication, we tested a series of novel quinoline analogues for their photosynthesis-inhibiting activity (the inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts (Spinacia oleracea L.) and the reduction of chlorophyll content in Chlorella vulgaris Beij.). Moreover, antiproliferative activity was measured using SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cell line. We described the structure-activity relationships (SAR) between the chemical structure and biological effects of the synthesized compounds. We also measured the lipophilicity of the novel compounds by means of the RP-HPLC and illustrate the relationships between the RP-HPLC retention parameter logK (the logarithm of capacity factor K) and logP data calculated by available programs.

Antiplasmodial activities and cytotoxic effects of aqueous extracts and sesquiterpene lactones from Neurolaena lobata.

PubMed

François, G; Passreiter, C M; Woerdenbag, H J; Van Looveren, M

1996-04-01

Aqueous and lipophilic extracts of Neurolaena lobata (Asteraceae), obtained from Guatemala, were tested against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Moreover, sesquiterpene lactones, of the germacranolide and furanoheliangolide type, isolated from N. lobata, were shown to be active against P. falciparum in vitro. In addition to their antiplasmodial activity, their cytotoxic effects on human carcinoma cell lines were evaluated. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Discovery of an ultra-short linear antibacterial tetrapeptide with anti-MRSA activity from a structure-activity relationship study.

PubMed

Lau, Qiu Ying; Ng, Fui Mee; Cheong, Jin Wei Darryl; Yap, Yi Yong Alvin; Tan, Yoke Yan Fion; Jureen, Roland; Hill, Jeffrey; Chia, Cheng San Brian

2015-11-13

The overuse and misuse of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria, including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the primary pathogen responsible for human skin and soft-tissue infections. Antibacterial peptides are known to kill bacteria by rapidly disrupting their membranes and are deemed plausible alternatives to conventional antibiotics. One advantage of their membrane-targeting mode of action is that bacteria are unlikely to develop resistance as changing their cell membrane structure and morphology would likely involve extensive genetic mutations. However, major concerns in using peptides as antibacterial drugs include their instability towards plasma proteases, toxicity towards human cells due to their membrane-targeting mode of action and high manufacturing cost. These concerns can be mitigated by developing peptides as topical agents, by the judicial selection of amino acids and developing very short peptides respectively. In this preliminary report, we reveal a linear, non-hemolytic tetrapeptide with rapid bactericidal activity against MRSA developed from a structure-activity relationship study based on the antimicrobial hexapeptide WRWRWR-NH2. Our finding opens promising avenues for the development of ultra-short antibacterials to treat multidrug-resistant MRSA skin and soft tissue infections. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effects of heterocyclic-based head group modifications on the structure-activity relationship of tocopherol-based lipids for non-viral gene delivery.

PubMed

Gosangi, Mallikarjun; Mujahid, Thasneem Yoosuf; Gopal, Vijaya; Patri, Srilakshmi V

2016-07-12

Gene therapy, a promising strategy for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids, is greatly dependent on the development of efficient vectors. In this study, we designed and synthesized several tocopherol-based lipids varying in the head group region. Here, we present the structure-activity relationship of stable aqueous suspensions of lipids that were synthetically prepared and formulated with 1,2-dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine (DOPE) as the co-lipid. The physicochemical properties such as the hydrodynamic size, zeta potential, stability and morphology of these formulations were investigated. Interaction with plasmid DNA was clearly demonstrated through gel binding and EtBr displacement assays. Further, the transfection potential was examined in mouse neuroblastoma Neuro-2a, hepatocarcinoma HepG2, human embryonic kidney and Chinese hamster ovarian cell lines, all of different origins. Cell-uptake assays with N-methylpiperidinium, N-methylmorpholinium, N-methylimidazolium and N,N-dimethylaminopyridinium head group containing formulations evidently depicted efficient cell uptake as observed by particulate cytoplasmic fluorescence. Trafficking of lipoplexes using an endocytic marker and rhodamine-labeled phospholipid DHPE indicated that the lipoplexes were not sequestered in the lysosomes. Importantly, lipoplexes were non-toxic and mediated good transfection efficiency as analyzed by β-Gal and GFP reporter gene expression assays which established the superior activity of lipids whose structures correlate strongly with the transfection efficiency.

New insights into the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of arzanol and effect of methylation on its biological properties.

PubMed

Rosa, Antonella; Atzeri, Angela; Nieddu, Mariella; Appendino, Giovanni

2017-06-01

The heterodimeric phloroglucinyl pyrone arzanol (Arz) has raised considerable interest because of its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity. We have investigated the effect of methylation of the pyrone moiety on the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Arz. This manoeuvre, that left the polyphenolic moiety unscathed, was nevertheless detrimental for antioxidant activity in both the cholesterol thermal degradation- and the Cu 2+ -induced liposome oxidation assays, providing evidence of structure-activity relationships that go beyond the preservation of the polyphenolic pharmacophore. The antioxidant activity of Arz was retained also in the Fe-NTA model of in vivo oxidative stress, with protective effect on the oxidative degradation of plasmatic lipids, unsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol. Both Arz and methylarzanol (Me-Arz) were devoid of toxic effect on colonic differentiated Caco-2 cells up to 100μM, but significantly reduced cancer Caco-2 cell viability at lower dosages. Arz could also selectively reduce viability of other cancer cell lines, [murine melanoma cells (B16F10 cells), human cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa cells)], suggesting that it can act as a selective modulator of cell processes typical of cancer cells. Taken together, our results qualify Arz as a lead structure for further in vivo investigation of its pharmacological potential. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In situ electrochemical high-energy X-ray diffraction using a capillary working electrode cell geometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Young, Matthias J.; Bedford, Nicholas M.; Jiang, Naisheng

The ability to generate new electrochemically active materials for energy generation and storage with improved properties will likely be derived from an understanding of atomic-scale structure/function relationships during electrochemical events. Here, the design and implementation of a new capillary electrochemical cell designed specifically forin situhigh-energy X-ray diffraction measurements is described. By increasing the amount of electrochemically active material in the X-ray path while implementing low-Zcell materials with anisotropic scattering profiles, an order of magnitude enhancement in diffracted X-ray signal over traditional cell geometries for multiple electrochemically active materials is demonstrated. This signal improvement is crucial for high-energy X-ray diffraction measurementsmore » and subsequent Fourier transformation into atomic pair distribution functions for atomic-scale structural analysis. As an example, clear structural changes in LiCoO 2under reductive and oxidative conditions using the capillary cell are demonstrated, which agree with prior studies. Accurate modeling of the LiCoO 2diffraction data using reverse Monte Carlo simulations further verifies accurate background subtraction and strong signal from the electrochemically active material, enabled by the capillary working electrode geometry.« less

Use of unnatural amino acids to probe structure-activity relationships and mode-of-action of antimicrobial peptides.

PubMed

Tossi, Alessandro; Scocchi, Marco; Zahariev, Sotir; Gennaro, Renato

2012-01-01

Endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can have multimodal mechanisms of bacterial inactivation, such as membrane lysis, interference with cell wall biosynthesis or membrane-based protein machineries, or translocation through the membrane to intracellular targets. The controlled variation of side-chain characteristics in their amino acid residues can provide much useful information on structure-activity relationships and mode-of-action, and also lead to improved activities. The small size and relatively low complexity of AMPs make them amenable to solid-phase peptide synthesis, facilitating the use of nonproteinogenic amino acids and vastly increasing the accessible molecular diversity of side chains. Here, we describe how such residues can be used to modulate such key parameters as cationicity, hydrophobicity, steric factors conformational stability, and H-bonding.

Characterization of anticancer agents by their growth inhibitory activity and relationships to mechanism of action and structure.

PubMed

Keskin, O; Bahar, I; Jernigan, R L; Beutler, J A; Shoemaker, R H; Sausville, E A; Covell, D G

2000-04-01

An analysis of the growth inhibitory potency of 122 anticancer agents available from the National Cancer Institute anticancer drug screen is presented. Methods of singular value decomposition (SVD) were applied to determine the matrix of distances between all compounds. These SVD-derived dissimilarity distances were used to cluster compounds that exhibit similar tumor growth inhibitory activity patterns against 60 human cancer cell lines. Cluster analysis divides the 122 standard agents into 25 statistically distinct groups. The first eight groups include structurally diverse compounds with reactive functionalities that act as DNA-damaging agents while the remaining 17 groups include compounds that inhibit nucleic acid biosynthesis and mitosis. Examination of the average activity patterns across the 60 tumor cell lines reveals unique 'fingerprints' associated with each group. A diverse set of structural features are observed for compounds within these groups, with frequent occurrences of strong within-group structural similarities. Clustering of cell types by their response to the 122 anticancer agents divides the 60 cell types into 21 groups. The strongest within-panel groupings were found for the renal, leukemia and ovarian cell panels. These results contribute to the basis for comparisons between log(GI(50)) screening patterns of the 122 anticancer agents and additional tested compounds.

Novel 1,4-naphthoquinone-based sulfonamides: Synthesis, QSAR, anticancer and antimalarial studies.

PubMed

Pingaew, Ratchanok; Prachayasittikul, Veda; Worachartcheewan, Apilak; Nantasenamat, Chanin; Prachayasittikul, Supaluk; Ruchirawat, Somsak; Prachayasittikul, Virapong

2015-10-20

A novel series of 1,4-naphthoquinones (33-44) tethered by open and closed chain sulfonamide moieties were designed, synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic and antimalarial activities. All quinone-sulfonamide derivatives displayed a broad spectrum of cytotoxic activities against all of the tested cancer cell lines including HuCCA-1, HepG2, A549 and MOLT-3. Most quinones (33-36 and 38-43) exerted higher anticancer activity against HepG2 cell than that of the etoposide. The open chain analogs 36 and 42 were shown to be the most potent compounds. Notably, the restricted sulfonamide analog 38 with 6,7-dimethoxy groups exhibited the most potent antimalarial activity (IC₅₀ = 2.8 μM). Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) study was performed to reveal important chemical features governing the biological activities. Five constructed QSAR models provided acceptable predictive performance (Rcv 0.5647-0.9317 and RMSEcv 0.1231-0.2825). Four additional sets of structurally modified compounds were generated in silico (34a-34d, 36a-36k, 40a-40d and 42a-42k) in which their activities were predicted using the constructed QSAR models. A comprehensive discussion of the structure-activity relationships was made and a set of promising compounds (i.e., 33, 36, 38, 42, 36d, 36f, 42e, 42g and 42f) was suggested for further development as anticancer and antimalarial agents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of quinolinone and quinoline-based P2X7 receptor antagonists and their anti-sphere formation activities in glioblastoma cells.

PubMed

Kwak, Seung-Hwa; Shin, Seungheon; Lee, Ji-Hyun; Shim, Jin-Kyoung; Kim, Minjeong; Lee, So-Deok; Lee, Aram; Bae, Jinsu; Park, Jin-Hee; Abdelrahman, Aliaa; Müller, Christa E; Cho, Steve K; Kang, Seok-Gu; Bae, Myung Ae; Yang, Jung Yoon; Ko, Hyojin; Goddard, William A; Kim, Yong-Chul

2018-05-10

Screening a compound library of quinolinone derivatives identified compound 11a as a new P2X7 receptor antagonist. To optimize its activity, we assessed structure-activity relationships (SAR) at three different positions, R 1 , R 2 and R 3 , of the quinolinone scaffold. SAR analysis suggested that a carboxylic acid ethyl ester group at the R 1 position, an adamantyl carboxamide group at R 2 and a 4-methoxy substitution at the R 3 position are the best substituents for the antagonism of P2X7R activity. However, because most of the quinolinone derivatives showed low inhibitory effects in an IL-1β ELISA assay, the core structure was further modified to a quinoline skeleton with chloride or substituted phenyl groups. The optimized antagonists with the quinoline scaffold included 2-chloro-5-adamantyl-quinoline derivative (16c) and 2-(4-hydroxymethylphenyl)-5-adamantyl-quinoline derivative (17k), with IC 50 values of 4 and 3 nM, respectively. In contrast to the quinolinone derivatives, the antagonistic effects of the quinoline compounds (16c and 17k) were paralleled by their ability to inhibit the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, from LPS/IFN-γ/BzATP-stimulated THP-1 cells (IC 50 of 7 and 12 nM, respectively). In addition, potent P2X7R antagonists significantly inhibited the sphere size of TS15-88 glioblastoma cells. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Antiproliferative activity of flavonoids: influence of the sequential methoxylation state of the flavonoid structure.

PubMed

Moghaddam, Ghazaal; Ebrahimi, Soltan Ahmad; Rahbar-Roshandel, Nahid; Foroumadi, Alireza

2012-07-01

Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss. has been used as part of an ethnobotanical remedy against many forms of human cancer in Iran. It has been demonstrated that a flavonoid named xanthomicrol from D. kotschyi contributes to its preferential antiproliferative activity against malignant cells. In the present study, the antiproliferative activity of its flavonoid fraction was further characterized. Using liquid-liquid extraction and a semi-preparative reversed-phase HPLC method, eight flavonoid aglycones were isolated from the aerial parts of the plant and their identities were confirmed through MS and NMR analyses as luteolin, naringenin, apigenin, isokaempferide, cirsimaritin, penduletin, xanthomicrol and calycopterin. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of each compound was evaluated against a panel of established normal and malignant cell lines using the MTT assay and some structure-activity relationships were observed. The hydroxyflavones (luteolin, apigenin and isokaempferide) exerted comparable antiproliferative activities against malignant and normal cells, while the methoxylated hydroxyflavones (cirsimaritin, penduletin, xanthomicrol and calycopterin) showed preferential activities against tumor cells. This activity may be of value in treating tumors as it would exert few side effects in normal tissues. Xanthomicrol selectively inhibited the growth of human gastric adenocarcinoma, while calycopterin selectively prevented human acute promyelocytic leukemia and human colon carcinoma cells proliferation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Structure related effects of flavonoid aglycones on cell cycle progression of HepG2 cells: Metabolic activation of fisetin and quercetin by catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT).

PubMed

Poór, Miklós; Zrínyi, Zita; Kőszegi, Tamás

2016-10-01

Dietary flavonoids are abundant in the Plant Kingdom and they are extensively studied because of their manifold pharmacological activities. Recent studies highlighted that cell cycle arrest plays a key role in their antiproliferative effect in different tumor cells. However, structure-activity relationship of flavonoids is poorly characterized. In our study the influence of 18 flavonoid aglycones (as well as two metabolites) on cell cycle distribution was investigated. Since flavonoids are extensively metabolized by liver cells, HepG2 tumor cell line was applied, considering the potential metabolic activation/inactivation of flavonoids. Our major observations are the followings: (1) Among the tested compounds diosmetin, fisetin, apigenin, lutelin, and quercetin provoked spectacular extent of G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. (2) Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase enzyme by entacapone decreased the antiproliferative effects of fisetin and quercetin. (3) Geraldol and isorhamnetin (3'-O-methylated metabolites of fisetin and quercetin, respectively) demonstrated significantly higher antiproliferative effect on HepG2 cells compared to the parent compounds. Based on these results, O-methylated flavonoid metabolites or their chemically modified derivatives may be suitable candidates of tumor therapy in the future. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

An Overview of Structurally Modified Glycyrrhetinic Acid Derivatives as Antitumor Agents.

PubMed

Xu, Bing; Wu, Gao-Rong; Zhang, Xin-Yu; Yan, Meng-Meng; Zhao, Rui; Xue, Nan-Nan; Fang, Kang; Wang, Hui; Chen, Meng; Guo, Wen-Bo; Wang, Peng-Long; Lei, Hai-Min

2017-06-02

Glycyrrhetinic Acid ( GA ), a triterpenoid aglycone component of the natural product glycyrrhizinic acid, was found to possess remarkable anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity in various cancer cell lines. Though GA was not as active as other triterpenes, such as betulinic acid and oleanolic acid, it could trigger apoptosis in tumor cells and it can be obtained easily and cheaply, which has stimulated scientific interest in using GA as a scaffold to synthesize new antitumor agents. The structural modifications of GA reported in recent decades can be divided into four groups, which include structural modifications on ring-A, ring-C, ring-E and multiple ring modifications. The lack of a comprehensive and recent review on this topic prompted us to gather more new information. This overview is dedicated to summarizing and updating the structural modification of GA to improve its antitumor activity published between 2005 and 2016. We reviewed a total of 210 GA derivatives that we encountered and compiled the most active GA derivatives along with their activity profile in different series. Furthermore, the structure activity relationships of these derivatives are briefly discussed. The included information is expected to be of benefit to further studies of structural modifications of GA to enhance its antitumor activity.

Structure-transfection activity relationships in a series of novel cationic lipids with heterocyclic head-groups.

PubMed

Ivanova, Ekaterina A; Maslov, Mikhail A; Kabilova, Tatyana O; Puchkov, Pavel A; Alekseeva, Anna S; Boldyrev, Ivan A; Vlassov, Valentin V; Serebrennikova, Galina A; Morozova, Nina G; Zenkova, Marina A

2013-11-07

Cationic liposomes are promising candidates for the delivery of various therapeutic nucleic acids. Here, we report a convenient synthesis of carbamate-type cationic lipids with various hydrophobic domains (tetradecanol, dialkylglycerol, cholesterol) and positively charged head-groups (pyridinium, N-methylimidazolium, N-methylmorpholinium) and data on the structure-transfection activity relationships. It was found that single-chain lipids possess high surface activity, which correlates with high cytotoxicity due to their ability to disrupt the cellular membrane by combined hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Liposomes containing these lipids also display high cytotoxicity with respect to all cell lines. Irrespective of chemical structures, all cationic lipids form liposomes with similar sizes and surface potentials. The characteristics of complexes composed of cationic liposomes and nucleic acids depend mostly on the type of nucleic acid and P/N ratios. In the case of oligodeoxyribonucleotide delivery, the transfection activity depends on the type of cationic head-group regardless of the type of hydrophobic domain: all types of cationic liposomes mediate efficient oligonucleotide transfer into 80-90% of the eukaryotic cells, and liposomes based on lipids with N-methylmorpholinium cationic head-group display the highest transfection activity. In the case of plasmid DNA and siRNA, the type of hydrophobic domain determines the transfection activity: liposomes composed of cholesterol-based lipids were the most efficient in DNA transfer, while liposomes containing glycerol-based lipids exhibited reasonable activity in siRNA delivery under serum-free conditions.

Structure-function relationships in the evolutionary framework of spermine oxidase.

PubMed

Cervelli, Manuela; Salvi, Daniele; Polticelli, Fabio; Amendola, Roberto; Mariottini, Paolo

2013-06-01

Spermine oxidase is a FAD-dependent enzyme that specifically oxidizes spermine, and plays a central role in the highly regulated catabolism of polyamines in vertebrates. The spermine oxidase substrate is specifically spermine, a tetramine that plays mandatory roles in several cell functions, such as DNA synthesis, cellular proliferation, modulation of ion channels function, cellular signalling, nitric oxide synthesis and inhibition of immune responses. The oxidative products of spermine oxidase activity are spermidine, H2O2 and the aldehyde 3-aminopropanal that spontaneously turns into acrolein. In this study the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships among spermine oxidase proteins from different vertebrate taxa allowed to infer their molecular evolutionary history, and assisted in elucidating the conservation of structural and functional properties of this enzyme family. The amino acid residues, which have been hypothesized or demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the enzymatic activity, and substrate specificity are here analysed to obtain a comprehensive and updated view of the structure-function relationships in the evolution of spermine oxidase.

The Thrombopoietin Receptor: Structural Basis of Traffic and Activation by Ligand, Mutations, Agonists, and Mutated Calreticulin.

PubMed

Varghese, Leila N; Defour, Jean-Philippe; Pecquet, Christian; Constantinescu, Stefan N

2017-01-01

A well-functioning hematopoietic system requires a certain robustness and flexibility to maintain appropriate quantities of functional mature blood cells, such as red blood cells and platelets. This review focuses on the cytokine receptor that plays a significant role in thrombopoiesis: the receptor for thrombopoietin (TPO-R; also known as MPL). Here, we survey the work to date to understand how this receptor functions at a molecular level throughout its lifecycle, from traffic to the cell surface, dimerization and binding cognate cytokine via its extracellular domain, through to its subsequent activation of associated Janus kinases and initiation of downstream signaling pathways, as well as the regulation of these processes. Atomic level resolution structures of TPO-R have remained elusive. The identification of disease-causing mutations in the receptor has, however, offered some insight into structure and function relationships, as has artificial means of receptor activation, through TPO mimetics, transmembrane-targeting receptor agonists, and engineering in dimerization domains. More recently, a novel activation mechanism was identified whereby mutated forms of calreticulin form complexes with TPO-R via its extracellular N-glycosylated domain. Such complexes traffic pathologically in the cell and persistently activate JAK2, downstream signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs), and other pathways. This pathologic TPO-R activation is associated with a large fraction of human myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Structure-activity relationships of 2, 4-disubstituted pyrimidines as dual ERα/VEGFR-2 ligands with anti-breast cancer activity.

PubMed

Luo, Guoshun; Tang, Zhichao; Lao, Kejing; Li, Xinyu; You, Qidong; Xiang, Hua

2018-04-25

Both ERα and VEGFR-2 are important targets for cancer therapies. Here a series of 2, 4-disubstituted pyrimidine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as dual ERα/VEGFR-2 ligands. Most of the derivatives exhibited potent activities in both enzymatic and cellular assays. Structure-activity relationship studies showed that a hydrogen-bonding interaction in the head section is important factors for the enhancement of ERα-binding affinity. The most potent compound II-9OH, an analog of 2-(4-hydroxylphenyl)pyrimidine, was 19-fold more efficacious than tamoxifen in MCF-7 cancer cells and exhibited the best ERα binding affinity (IC 50  = 1.64 μM) as well as excellent VEGFR-2 inhibition (IC 50  = 0.085 μM). Furthermore, this dual targeted compound II-9OH exerted significantly antiestrogenic property via suppressing the expression of progesterone receptor (PgR) mRNA in MCF-7 cells and also showed obvious in vivo angiogenesis inhibitory effects in CAM assay. An induction of apoptosis and a decrease in cell migration, accompanied by transduction inhibition of Raf-1/MAPK/ERK pathway, were observed in MCF-7 cells after treatment with II-9OH, suggesting that II-9OH is a promising candidate for the development of multifunctional agents targeting ERα and VEGFR-2 in the therapy of some breast cancers. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Dietary protection against free radicals: a case for multiple testing to establish structure-activity relationships for antioxidant potential of anthocyanic plant species.

PubMed

Philpott, Martin; Lim, Chiara Cheng; Ferguson, Lynnette R

2009-03-01

DNA damage by reactive species is associated with susceptibility to chronic human degenerative disorders. Anthocyanins are naturally occurring antioxidants, that may prevent or reverse such damage. There is considerable interest in anthocyanic food plants as good dietary sources, with the potential for reducing susceptibility to chronic disease. While structure-activity relationships have provided guidelines on molecular structure in relation to free hydroxyl-radical scavenging, this may not cover the situation in food plants where the anthocyanins are part of a complex mixture, and may be part of complex structures, including anthocyanic vacuolar inclusions (AVIs). Additionally, new analytical methods have revealed new structures in previously-studied materials. We have compared the antioxidant activities of extracts from six anthocyanin-rich edible plants (red cabbage, red lettuce, blueberries, pansies, purple sweetpotato skin, purple sweetpotato flesh and Maori potato flesh) using three chemical assays (DPPH, TRAP and ORAC), and the in vitro Comet assay. Extracts from the flowering plant, lisianthus, were used for comparison. The extracts showed differential effects in the chemical assays, suggesting that closely related structures have different affinities to scavenge different reactive species. Integration of anthocyanins to an AVI led to more sustained radical scavenging activity as compared with the free anthocyanin. All but the red lettuce extract could reduce endogenous DNA damage in HT-29 colon cancer cells. However, while extracts from purple sweetpotato skin and flesh, Maori potato and pansies, protected cells against subsequent challenge by hydrogen peroxide at 0 degrees C, red cabbage extracts were pro-oxidant, while other extracts had no effect. When the peroxide challenge was at 37 degrees C, all of the extracts appeared pro-oxidant. Maori potato extract, consistently the weakest antioxidant in all the chemical assays, was more effective in the Comet assays. These results highlight the dangers of generalising to potential health benefits, based solely on identification of high anthocyanic content in plants, results of a single antioxidant assay and traditional approaches to structure activity relationships. Subsequent studies might usefully consider complex mixtures and a battery of assays.

Structure-Activity Relationships of Small Molecule Autotaxin Inhibitors with a Discrete Binding Mode.

PubMed

Miller, Lisa M; Keune, Willem-Jan; Castagna, Diana; Young, Louise C; Duffy, Emma L; Potjewyd, Frances; Salgado-Polo, Fernando; Engel García, Paloma; Semaan, Dima; Pritchard, John M; Perrakis, Anastassis; Macdonald, Simon J F; Jamieson, Craig; Watson, Allan J B

2017-01-26

Autotaxin (ATX) is a secreted enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) to the bioactive lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and choline. The ATX-LPA signaling pathway is implicated in cell survival, migration, and proliferation; thus, the inhibition of ATX is a recognized therapeutic target for a number of diseases including fibrotic diseases, cancer, and inflammation, among others. Many of the developed synthetic inhibitors for ATX have resembled the lipid chemotype of the native ligand; however, a small number of inhibitors have been described that deviate from this common scaffold. Herein, we report the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a previously reported small molecule ATX inhibitor. We show through enzyme kinetics studies that analogues of this chemotype are noncompetitive inhibitors, and by using a crystal structure with ATX we confirm the discrete binding mode.

The design, synthesis, and evaluation of coumarin ring derivatives of the novobiocin scaffold that exhibit antiproliferative activity.

PubMed

Donnelly, Alison C; Mays, Jared R; Burlison, Joseph A; Nelson, John T; Vielhauer, George; Holzbeierlein, Jeffrey; Blagg, Brian S J

2008-11-21

Novobiocin, a known DNA gyrase inhibitor, binds to a nucleotide-binding site located on the Hsp90 C-terminus and induces degradation of Hsp90-dependent client proteins at approximately 700 microM in breast cancer cells (SKBr3). Although many analogues of novobiocin have been synthesized, it was only recently demonstrated that monomeric species exhibit antiproliferative activity against various cancer cell lines. To further refine the essential elements of the coumarin core, a series of modified coumarin derivatives was synthesized and evaluated to elucidate structure-activity relationships for novobiocin as an anticancer agent. Results obtained from these studies have produced novobiocin analogues that manifest low micromolar activity against several cancer cell lines.

Development of novobiocin analogues that manifest anti-proliferative activity against several cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Burlison, Joseph A; Avila, Christopher; Vielhauer, George; Lubbers, Donna J; Holzbeierlein, Jeffrey; Blagg, Brian S J

2008-03-21

Recent studies have shown that the DNA gyrase inhibitor, novobiocin, binds to a previously unrecognized ATP-binding site located at the C-terminus of Hsp90 and induces degradation of Hsp90-dependent client proteins at approximately 700 microM. As a result of these studies, several analogues of the coumarin family of antibiotics have been reported and shown to exhibit increased Hsp90 inhibitory activity; however, the monomeric species lacked the ability to manifest anti-proliferative activity against cancer cell lines at concentrations tested. In an effort to develop more efficacious compounds that produce growth inhibitory activity against cancer cell lines, structure-activity relationships were investigated surrounding the prenylated benzamide side chain of the natural product. Results obtained from these studies have produced the first novobiocin analogues that manifest anti-proliferative activity against several cancer cell lines.

Identification of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as potent HCK and FLT3-ITD dual inhibitors.

PubMed

Koda, Yasuko; Kikuzato, Ko; Mikuni, Junko; Tanaka, Akiko; Yuki, Hitomi; Honma, Teruki; Tomabechi, Yuri; Kukimoto-Niino, Mutsuko; Shirouzu, Mikako; Shirai, Fumiyuki; Koyama, Hiroo

2017-11-15

A series of novel pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines were synthesized by introducing 15 different amino acids to 7-cyclohexyl-5-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-4-amine. Compounds with potent activities against HCK and FLT3-ITD were evaluated in viability studies with acute myeloid leukemia cell line MV4-11. Our structure activity relationship analyses lead to the identification of compound 31, which exhibited potent HCK and FLT3-ITD inhibition and activity against the MV4-11 cell line. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and activity of novel analogs of hemiasterlin as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization: modification of the A segment.

PubMed

Yamashita, Ayako; Norton, Emily B; Kaplan, Joshua A; Niu, Chuan; Loganzo, Frank; Hernandez, Richard; Beyer, Carl F; Annable, Tami; Musto, Sylvia; Discafani, Carolyn; Zask, Arie; Ayral-Kaloustian, Semiramis

2004-11-01

Analogs of hemiasterlin (1) and HTI-286 (2), which contain various aromatic rings in the A segment, were synthesized as potential inhibitors of tubulin polymerization. The structure-activity relationships related to stereo- and regio-chemical effects of substituents on the aromatic ring in the A segment were studied. Analogs, which carry a meta-substituted phenyl ring in the A segment show comparable activity for inhibition of tubulin polymerization to 2, as well as in the cell proliferation assay using KB cells containing P-glycoprotein, compared to those of 1 and 2.

Establishment of a structure-activity relationship of 1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline-based kinase inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 as a lead for African sleeping sickness.

PubMed

Seixas, João D; Luengo-Arratta, Sandra A; Diaz, Rosario; Saldivia, Manuel; Rojas-Barros, Domingo I; Manzano, Pilar; Gonzalez, Silvia; Berlanga, Manuela; Smith, Terry K; Navarro, Miguel; Pollastri, Michael P

2014-06-12

Compound NVP-BEZ235 (1) is a potent inhibitor of human phospoinositide-3-kinases and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) that also showed high inhibitory potency against Trypanosoma brucei cultures. With an eye toward using 1 as a starting point for anti-trypanosomal drug discovery, we report efforts to reduce host cell toxicity, to improve the physicochemical properties, and to improve the selectivity profile over human kinases. In this work, we have developed structure-activity relationships for analogues of 1 and have prepared analogues of 1 with improved solubility properties and good predicted central nervous system exposure. In this way, we have identified 4e, 9, 16e, and 16g as the most promising leads to date. We also report cell phenotype and phospholipidomic studies that suggest that these compounds exert their anti-trypanosomal effects, at least in part, by inhibition of lipid kinases.

Structure-activity relationship of cyanine tau aggregation inhibitors

PubMed Central

Chang, Edward; Congdon, Erin E.; Honson, Nicolette S.; Duff, Karen E.; Kuret, Jeff

2009-01-01

A structure-activity relationship for symmetrical cyanine inhibitors of human tau aggregation was elaborated using a filter trap assay. Antagonist activity depended on cyanine heterocycle, polymethine bridge length, and the nature of meso- and N-substituents. One potent member of the series, 3,3’-diethyl-9-methylthiacarbocyanine iodide (compound 11), retained submicromolar potency and had calculated physical properties consistent with blood-brain barrier and cell membrane penetration. Exposure of organotypic slices prepared from JNPL3 transgenic mice (which express human tau harboring the aggregation prone P301L tauopathy mutation) to compound 11 for one week revealed a biphasic dose response relationship. Low nanomolar concentrations decreased insoluble tau aggregates to half those observed in slices treated with vehicle alone. In contrast, high concentrations (≥300 nM) augmented tau aggregation and produced abnormalities in tissue tubulin levels. These data suggest that certain symmetrical carbocyanine dyes can modulate tau aggregation in the slice biological model at concentrations well below those associated with toxicity. PMID:19432420

Antifungal activity of oligochitosans (short chain chitosans) against some Candida species and clinical isolates of Candida albicans: molecular weight-activity relationship.

PubMed

Kulikov, Sergey N; Lisovskaya, Svetlana A; Zelenikhin, Pavel V; Bezrodnykh, Evgeniya A; Shakirova, Diana R; Blagodatskikh, Inesa V; Tikhonov, Vladimir E

2014-03-03

A series of oligochitosans (short chain chitosans) prepared by acidic hydrolysis of chitosan and characterized by their molecular weight, polydispersity and degree of deacetylation were used to determine their anticandidal activities. This study has demonstrated that oligochitosans show a high fungistatic activity (MIC 8-512 μg/ml) against Candida species and clinical isolates of Candida albicans, which are resistant to a series of classic antibiotics. Flow cytometry analysis showed that oligochitosan possessed a high fungicidal activity as well. For the first time it was shown that even sub-MIC oligochitosan concentration suppressed the formation of C. albicans hyphal structures, cause severe cell wall alterations, and altered internal cell structure. These results indicate that oligochitosan should be considered as a possible alternative/additive to known anti-yeast agents in pharmaceutical compositions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Anti-inflammatory steroidal glycosides from the berries of Solanum nigrum L. (European black nightshade).

PubMed

Xiang, Limin; Wang, Yihai; Yi, Xiaomin; He, Xiangjiu

2018-04-01

Seven previously undescribed steroidal glycosides, along with three known congeners were isolated from the unripe berries of Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae). Their structures were elucidated on basis of 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic data and GC analysis after acid hydrolysis. The potential inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 cell line and the anti-proliferative activities against five cancer cell lines (HL-60, U-937, Jurkat, K562 and HepG2) were evaluated. Seven compounds exhibited inhibition activities on NO production with IC 50 values ranging from 11.33 to 49.35 μM. Structure-activity relationships of the isolated compounds were also discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eugenol and its structural analogs inhibit monoamine oxidase A and exhibit antidepressant-like activity.

PubMed

Tao, Guoxin; Irie, Yoshifumi; Li, Dian-Jun; Keung, Wing Ming

2005-08-01

Eugenol (1) is an active principle of Rhizoma acori graminei, a medicinal herb used in Asia for the treatment of symptoms reminiscent of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It has been shown to protect neuronal cells from the cytotoxic effect of amyloid beta peptides (Abetas) in cell cultures and exhibit antidepressant-like activity in mice. Results from this study show that eugenol inhibits monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) preferentially with a K(i)=26 microM. It also inhibits MAOB but at much higher concentrations (K(i)=211 microM). In both cases, inhibition is competitive with respect to the monoamine substrate. Survey of compounds structurally related to eugenol has identified a few that inhibit MAOs more potently. Structure activity relationship reveals structural features important for MAOA and MAOB inhibition. Molecular docking experiments were performed to help explain the SAR outcomes. Four of these compounds, two (1, 24) inhibiting MAOA selectively and the other two (19, 21) inhibiting neither MAOA nor MAOB, were tested for antidepressant-like activity using the forced swim test in mice. Results suggest a potential link between the antidepressant activity of eugenol and its MAOA inhibitory activity.

Chemical Library Screening and Structure-Function Relationship Studies Identify Bisacodyl as a Potent and Selective Cytotoxic Agent Towards Quiescent Human Glioblastoma Tumor Stem-Like Cells

PubMed Central

Mameri, Samir; Dong, Jihu; Salomé, Christophe; Chen, Wanyin; El-Habr, Elias A.; Bousson, Fanny; Sy, Mohamadou; Obszynski, Julie; Boh, Alexandre; Villa, Pascal; Assad Kahn, Suzana; Didier, Bruno; Bagnard, Dominique; Junier, Marie-Pierre; Chneiweiss, Hervé; Haiech, Jacques; Hibert, Marcel; Kilhoffer, Marie-Claude

2015-01-01

Cancer stem-like cells reside in hypoxic and slightly acidic tumor niches. Such microenvironments favor more aggressive undifferentiated phenotypes and a slow growing "quiescent state" which preserves them from chemotherapeutic agents that essentially target proliferating cells. Our objective was to identify compounds active on glioblastoma stem-like cells, including under conditions that mimick those found in vivo within this most severe and incurable form of brain malignancy. We screened the Prestwick Library to identify cytotoxic compounds towards glioblastoma stem-like cells, either in a proliferating state or in more slow-growing "quiescent" phenotype resulting from non-renewal of the culture medium in vitro. Compound effects were assessed by ATP-level determination using a cell-based assay. Twenty active molecules belonging to different pharmacological classes have thus been identified. Among those, the stimulant laxative drug bisacodyl was the sole to inhibit in a potent and specific manner the survival of quiescent glioblastoma stem-like cells. Subsequent structure-function relationship studies led to identification of 4,4'-dihydroxydiphenyl-2-pyridyl-methane (DDPM), the deacetylated form of bisacodyl, as the pharmacophore. To our knowledge, bisacodyl is currently the only known compound targeting glioblastoma cancer stem-like cells in their quiescent, more resistant state. Due to its known non-toxicity in humans, bisacodyl appears as a new potential anti-tumor agent that may, in association with classical chemotherapeutic compounds, participate in tumor eradication. PMID:26270679

In Vitro Phytotoxicity and Antioxidant Activity of Selected Flavonoids

PubMed Central

De Martino, Laura; Mencherini, Teresa; Mancini, Emilia; Aquino, Rita Patrizia; De Almeida, Luiz Fernando Rolim; De Feo, Vincenzo

2012-01-01

The knowledge of flavonoids involved in plant-plant interactions and their mechanisms of action are poor and, moreover, the structural characteristics required for these biological activities are scarcely known. The objective of this work was to study the possible in vitro phytotoxic effects of 27 flavonoids on the germination and early radical growth of Raphanus sativus L. and Lepidium sativum L., with the aim to evaluate the possible structure/activity relationship. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the same compounds was also evaluated. Generally, in response to various tested flavonoids, germination was only slightly affected, whereas significant differences were observed in the activity of the various tested flavonoids against radical elongation. DPPH test confirms the antioxidant activity of luteolin, quercetin, catechol, morin, and catechin. The biological activity recorded is discussed in relation to the structure of compounds and their capability to interact with cell structures and physiology. No correlation was found between phytotoxic and antioxidant activities. PMID:22754304

Engineering an Antibiotic to Fight Cancer: Optimization of the Novobiocin Scaffold to Produce Anti-Proliferative Agents

PubMed Central

Zhao, Huiping; Donnelly, Alison C.; Kusuma, Bhaskar R.; Brandt, Gary E. L.; Brown, Douglas; Rajewski, Roger A.; Vielhauer, George; Holzbeierlein, Jeffrey; Cohen, Mark S.; Blagg, Brian S. J.

2011-01-01

Development of the DNA gyrase inhibitor, novobiocin, into a selective Hsp90 inhibitor was accomplished through structural modifications to the amide side chain, coumarin ring, and sugar moiety. These species exhibit ~700-fold improved anti-proliferative activity versus the natural product as evaluated by cellular efficacies against breast, colon, prostate, lung, and other cancer cell lines. Utilization of structure–activity relationships established for three novobiocin synthons produced optimized scaffolds, which manifest mid-nanomolar activity against a panel of cancer cell lines and serve as lead compounds that manifest their activities through Hsp90 inhibition. PMID:21553822

Studies of the antitumor mechanism of action of dermaseptin B2, a multifunctional cationic antimicrobial peptide, reveal a partial implication of cell surface glycosaminoglycans.

PubMed

Dos Santos, Célia; Hamadat, Sabah; Le Saux, Karen; Newton, Clara; Mazouni, Meriem; Zargarian, Loussiné; Miro-Padovani, Mickael; Zadigue, Patricia; Delbé, Jean; Hamma-Kourbali, Yamina; Amiche, Mohamed

2017-01-01

Dermaseptin-B2 (DRS-B2) is a multifunctional cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP) isolated from frog skin secretion. We previously reported that DRS-B2 possesses anticancer and antiangiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of DRS-B2 on numerous tumor cell lines, its cell internalization and studies of its molecular partners as well as their influences on its structure. Confocal microscopy using ([Alexa594]-(Cys0)-DRS-B2) shows that in sensitive human tumor cells (PC3), DRS-B2 seems to accumulate rapidly at the cytoplasmic membranes and enters the cytoplasm and the nucleus, while in less sensitive tumor cells (U87MG), DRS-B2 is found packed in vesicles at the cell membrane. Furthermore FACS analysis shows that PC3 cells viability decreases after DRS-B2 treatment while U87 MG seems to be unaffected. However, "pull down" experiments performed with total protein pools from PC3 or U87MG cells and the comparison between the antiproliferative effect of DRS-B2 and its synthetic analog containing all D-amino acids suggest the absence of a stereo-selective protein receptor. Pretreatment of PC3 cells with sodium chlorate, decreases the antiproliferative activity of DRS-B2. This activity is partially restored after addition of exogenous chondroitin sulfate C (CS-C). Moreover, we demonstrate that at nanomolar concentrations CS-C potentiates the antiproliferative effect of DRS-B2. These results highlight the partial implication of glycosaminoglycans in the mechanism of antiproliferative action of DRS-B2. Structural analysis of DRS-B2 by circular dichroism in the presence of increasing concentration of CS-C shows that DRS-B2 adopts an α-helical structure. Finally, structure-activity-relationship studies suggest a key role of the W residue in position 3 of the DRS-B2 sequence for its antiproliferative activity.

Studies of the antitumor mechanism of action of dermaseptin B2, a multifunctional cationic antimicrobial peptide, reveal a partial implication of cell surface glycosaminoglycans

PubMed Central

Dos Santos, Célia; Hamadat, Sabah; Le Saux, Karen; Newton, Clara; Mazouni, Meriem; Zargarian, Loussiné; Miro-Padovani, Mickael; Zadigue, Patricia; Delbé, Jean; Hamma-Kourbali, Yamina

2017-01-01

Dermaseptin-B2 (DRS-B2) is a multifunctional cationic antimicrobial peptide (CAP) isolated from frog skin secretion. We previously reported that DRS-B2 possesses anticancer and antiangiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative activity of DRS-B2 on numerous tumor cell lines, its cell internalization and studies of its molecular partners as well as their influences on its structure. Confocal microscopy using ([Alexa594]-(Cys0)-DRS-B2) shows that in sensitive human tumor cells (PC3), DRS-B2 seems to accumulate rapidly at the cytoplasmic membranes and enters the cytoplasm and the nucleus, while in less sensitive tumor cells (U87MG), DRS-B2 is found packed in vesicles at the cell membrane. Furthermore FACS analysis shows that PC3 cells viability decreases after DRS-B2 treatment while U87 MG seems to be unaffected. However, "pull down" experiments performed with total protein pools from PC3 or U87MG cells and the comparison between the antiproliferative effect of DRS-B2 and its synthetic analog containing all D-amino acids suggest the absence of a stereo-selective protein receptor. Pretreatment of PC3 cells with sodium chlorate, decreases the antiproliferative activity of DRS-B2. This activity is partially restored after addition of exogenous chondroitin sulfate C (CS-C). Moreover, we demonstrate that at nanomolar concentrations CS-C potentiates the antiproliferative effect of DRS-B2. These results highlight the partial implication of glycosaminoglycans in the mechanism of antiproliferative action of DRS-B2. Structural analysis of DRS-B2 by circular dichroism in the presence of increasing concentration of CS-C shows that DRS-B2 adopts an α-helical structure. Finally, structure-activity-relationship studies suggest a key role of the W residue in position 3 of the DRS-B2 sequence for its antiproliferative activity. PMID:28797092

Three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship studies on c-Src inhibitors based on different docking methods.

PubMed

Bairy, Santhosh Kumar; Suneel Kumar, B V S; Bhalla, Joseph Uday Tej; Pramod, A B; Ravikumar, Muttineni

2009-04-01

c-Src kinase play an important role in cell growth and differentiation and its inhibitors can be useful for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, osteoporosis, and metastatic bone disease. Three dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) studies were carried out on quinazolin derivatives inhibiting c-Src kinase. Molecular field analysis (MFA) models with four different alignment techniques, namely, GLIDE, GOLD, LIGANDFIT and Least squares based methods were developed. glide based MFA model showed better results (Leave one out cross validation correlation coefficient r(2)(cv) = 0.923 and non-cross validation correlation coefficient r(2)= 0.958) when compared with other models. These results help us to understand the nature of descriptors required for activity of these compounds and thereby provide guidelines to design novel and potent c-Src kinase inhibitors.

Crystal structures of inhibitor complexes of human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV-1) protease

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Satoh, Tadashi; Li, Mi; Nguyen, Jeffrey-Tri

2010-09-28

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus associated with several serious diseases, such as adult T-cell leukemia and tropical spastic paraparesis/myelopathy. For a number of years, the protease (PR) encoded by HTLV-1 has been a target for designing antiviral drugs, but that effort was hampered by limited available structural information. We report a high-resolution crystal structure of HTLV-1 PR complexed with a statine-containing inhibitor, a significant improvement over the previously available moderate-resolution structure. We also report crystal structures of the complexes of HTLV-1 PR with five different inhibitors that are more compact and more potent. A detailedmore » study of structure-activity relationships was performed to interpret in detail the influence of the polar and hydrophobic interactions between the inhibitors and the protease.« less

Crystal Structures of Inhibitir Complexes of Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus (HTLV-1) Protease

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Satoh, Tadashi; Li, Mi; Nguyen, Jeffrey-Tri

2010-09-17

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus associated with several serious diseases, such as adult T-cell leukemia and tropical spastic paraparesis/myelopathy. For a number of years, the protease (PR) encoded by HTLV-1 has been a target for designing antiviral drugs, but that effort was hampered by limited available structural information. We report a high-resolution crystal structure of HTLV-1 PR complexed with a statine-containing inhibitor, a significant improvement over the previously available moderate-resolution structure. We also report crystal structures of the complexes of HTLV-1 PR with five different inhibitors that are more compact and more potent. A detailedmore » study of structure-activity relationships was performed to interpret in detail the influence of the polar and hydrophobic interactions between the inhibitors and the protease.« less

Crystal Structures of Phd-Doc, HigA, and YeeU Establish Multiple Evolutionary Links between Microbial Growth-Regulating Toxin-Antitoxin Systems

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arbing, Mark A.; Handelman, Samuel K.; Kuzin, Alexandre P.

2010-09-27

Bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems serve a variety of physiological functions including regulation of cell growth and maintenance of foreign genetic elements. Sequence analyses suggest that TA families are linked by complex evolutionary relationships reflecting likely swapping of functional domains between different TA families. Our crystal structures of Phd-Doc from bacteriophage P1, the HigA antitoxin from Escherichia coli CFT073, and YeeU of the YeeUWV systems from E. coli K12 and Shigella flexneri confirm this inference and reveal additional, unanticipated structural relationships. The growth-regulating Doc toxin exhibits structural similarity to secreted virulence factors that are toxic for eukaryotic target cells. The Phdmore » antitoxin possesses the same fold as both the YefM and NE2111 antitoxins that inhibit structurally unrelated toxins. YeeU, which has an antitoxin-like activity that represses toxin expression, is structurally similar to the ribosome-interacting toxins YoeB and RelE. These observations suggest extensive functional exchanges have occurred between TA systems during bacterial evolution.« less

Novel Mechanism of Fatty Acid Sensing in Enteroendocrine Cells: Specific Structures in Oxo-Fatty Acids Produced by Gut Bacteria are Responsible for CCK Secretion in STC-1 Cells via GPR40.

PubMed

Hira, Tohru; Ogasawara, Shono; Yahagi, Asuka; Kamachi, Minami; Li, Jiaxin; Nishimura, Saki; Sakaino, Masayoshi; Yamashita, Takatoshi; Kishino, Shigenobu; Ogawa, Jun; Hara, Hiroshi

2018-06-25

The secretion of gut hormones, such as cholecystokinin (CCK) is stimulated by fatty acids. Although a chain length-dependent mechanism has been proposed, other structural relationships to releasing activity remain unclear. We aimed to elucidate specific structures in fatty acids that are responsible for their CCK-releasing activity, and related sensing mechanisms in enteroendocrine cells. We examined CCK secretory activities in a murine CCK-producing cell line STC-1 by exposing the cells to various modified fatty acids produced by gut lactic acid bacteria. The effects of fatty acids on gastric emptying rate as a CCK-mediated function were examined using acetaminophen- and phenol red-methods in rats. Out of more than thirty octadecanoic (C18)-derived fatty acids tested, five oxo-fatty acids potently stimulated CCK secretion without cytotoxic effects in STC-1 cells. Three fatty acids had a distinct specific structure containing one double-bond, whereas the other two had two double-bonds, nearby an oxo residue. CCK secretion induced by representative fatty acids (10-oxo-trans-11-18:1 and 13-oxo-cis-9,cis-15-18:2) was attenuated by a fatty acid-receptor GPR40 antagonist. Oral administration of 13-oxo-cis-9,cis-15-18:2 lowered the gastric emptying rate in rats in a dose- and structure-dependent manner. These results revealed a novel fatty acid-sensing mechanism in enteroendocrine cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[Balance between cardiovascular pharmacological and hemolytic effects of saponins of Panax notogenseng].

PubMed

Han, Shu-Xian; You, Yun

2016-03-01

PNS (total saponins of Panax notognseng, PNS) has a clear effect and wide application prospect for cardiovascular diseases. At the same time, saponins have hemolytic properties, which are related to its molecular structure type and dosage. On one hand, this article summarizes the research progress of PNS in heart cerebrovascular pharmacology pharmacological in recent five years, a number of studies both in vitro and in vivo for overall body, organs, cells and molecules, show that PNS could improve myocardial and cerebral ischemia injury, and it has effects in resisting thrombosis, inflammation, oxidation, atherosclerosis, and modulating vascular endothelial cells function and improving the cerebral ischemia injury etc. On the other hand, the hemolysis effect of PNS is closely related to its molecular structure type and administrating dosage. Different structures bring about different hemolysis activities. Structure-activity relationship suggests that the length of sugar side chains attached to C-20 and the disaccharide connection mode on C-3 may influence the hemolysis activity of PNS. Within the dose range from 2.5 to 250 mg•L⁻¹, PNS has no hemolysis activity. However, PNS exhibits hemolytic properties at high concentrations(≥500 mg•L⁻¹). Based on the hemolytic or anti-hemolysis characteristics of saponins, and dose-response relationship, the rational clinical application of PNS can be guaranteed by controlling the ratio of hemolytic monosaponins in PNS and improving the hemolytic test method. Copyright© by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.

Antitumor activity of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene derivatives and quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jukić, Marijana; Rastija, Vesna; Opačak-Bernardi, Teuta; Stolić, Ivana; Krstulović, Luka; Bajić, Miroslav; Glavaš-Obrovac, Ljubica

2017-04-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate nine newly synthesized amidine derivatives of 3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene (3,4-EDOT) for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines and to perform a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis for the antitumor activity of a total of 27 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene derivatives. Induction of apoptosis was investigated on the selected compounds, along with delivery options for the optimization of activity. The best obtained QSAR models include the following group of descriptors: BCUT, WHIM, 2D autocorrelations, 3D-MoRSE, GETAWAY descriptors, 2D frequency fingerprint and information indices. Obtained QSAR models should be relieved in elucidation of important physicochemical and structural requirements for this biological activity. Highly potent molecules have a symmetrical arrangement of substituents along the x axis, high frequency of distance between N and O atoms at topological distance 9, as well as between C and N atoms at topological distance 10, and more C atoms located at topological distances 6 and 3. Based on the conclusion given in the QSAR analysis, a new compound with possible great activity was proposed.

Novel coumarins and related copper complexes with biological activity: DNA binding, molecular docking and in vitro antiproliferative activity.

PubMed

Pivetta, Tiziana; Valletta, Elisa; Ferino, Giulio; Isaia, Francesco; Pani, Alessandra; Vascellari, Sarah; Castellano, Carlo; Demartin, Francesco; Cabiddu, Maria Grazia; Cadoni, Enzo

2017-12-01

Coumarins show biological activity and are widely exploited for their therapeutic effects. Although a great number of coumarins substituted by heterocyclic moieties have been prepared, few studies have been carried out on coumarins containing pyridine heterocycle, which is known to modulate their physiological activities. We prepared and characterized three novel 3-(pyridin-2-yl)coumarins and their corresponding copper(II) complexes. We extended our investigations also to three known similar coumarins, since no data about their biochemical activity was previously been reported. The antiproliferative activity of the studied compounds was tested against human derived tumor cell lines and one human normal cell line. The DNA binding constants were determined and docking studies with DNA carried out. Selected Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) descriptors were calculated in order to relate a set of structural and topological descriptors of the studied compounds to their DNA interaction and cytotoxic activity. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, in-vitro cytotoxicity of 1H-benzo[f]chromene derivatives and structure-activity relationships of the 1-aryl group and 9-position.

PubMed

Mohamed, Hany M; Fouda, Ahmed M; Khattab, Essam S A E H; Agrody, Ahmed M El-; Afifi, Tarek H

2017-05-01

A series of 1H-benzo[f]chromene-2-carbonitriles was synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against MCF-7, HCT-116, and HepG-2 cancer cells. The SAR studies reported that the substitution in the phenyl ring at 1-position of 1H-benzo[f]chromene nucleus with the specific group, H atom, or methoxy group at 9-position increases the ability of the molecule against the different cell lines.

Structure-Activity and Lipophilicity Relationships of Selected Antibacterial Natural Flavones and Flavanones of Chilean Flora.

PubMed

Echeverría, Javier; Opazo, Julia; Mendoza, Leonora; Urzúa, Alejandro; Wilkens, Marcela

2017-04-10

In this study, we tested eight naturally-occurring flavonoids-three flavanones and five flavones-for their possible antibacterial properties against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. Flavonoids are known for their antimicrobial properties, and due their structural diversity; these plant-derived compounds are a good model to study potential novel antibacterial mechanisms. The lipophilicity and the interaction of antibacterial compounds with the cell membrane define the success or failure to access its target. Therefore, through the determination of partition coefficients in a non-polar/aqueous phase, lipophilicity estimation and the quantification of the antibacterial activity of different flavonoids, flavanones, and flavones, a relationship between these parameters was assessed. Active flavonoids presented diffusion coefficients between 9.4 × 10 -10 and 12.3 × 10 -10 m²/s and lipophilicity range between 2.0 to 3.3. Active flavonoids against Gram-negative bacteria showed a narrower range of lipophilicity values, compared to active flavonoids against Gram-positive bacteria, which showed a wide range of lipophilicity and cell lysis. Galangin was the most active flavonoid, whose structural features are the presence of two hydroxyl groups located strategically on ring A and the absence of polar groups on ring B. Methylation of one hydroxyl group decreases the activity in 3- O -methylgalangin, and methylation of both hydroxyl groups caused inactivation, as shown for 3,7- O -dimethylgalangin. In conclusion, the amphipathic features of flavonoids play a crucial role in the antibacterial activity. In these compounds, hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties must be present and could be predicted by lipophilicity analysis.

Synthesis, activity and pharmacophore development for isatin-β-thiosemicarbazones with selective activity towards multidrug resistant cellsa

PubMed Central

Hall, Matthew D.; Salam, Noeris K.; Hellawell, Jennifer L.; Fales, Henry M.; Kensler, Caroline B.; Ludwig, Joseph A.; Szakacs, Gergely; Hibbs, David E.; Gottesman, Michael M.

2009-01-01

We have recently identified a new class of compounds that selectively kill cells that express P-glycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1), the ATPase efflux pump that confers multidrug resistance on cancer cells. Several isatin-β-thiosemicarbazones from our initial study have been validated, and a range of analogs synthesized and tested. A number demonstrated improved MDR1-selective activity over the lead, NSC73306 (1). Pharmacophores for cytotoxicity and MDR1-selectivity were generated to delineate the structural features required for activity. The MDR1-selective pharmacophore highlights the importance of aromatic/hydrophobic features at the N4 position of the thiosemicarbazone, and the reliance on the isatin moiety as key bioisosteric contributors. Additionally, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model that yielded a cross-validated correlation coefficient of 0.85 effectively predicts the cytotoxicty of untested thiosemicarbazones. Together, the models serve as effective approaches for predicting structures with MDR1-selective activity, and aid in directing the search for the mechanism of action of 1. PMID:19397322

Synthesis of 1-Substituted Carbazolyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- and Carbazolyl-3,4-dihydro-β-carboline Analogs as Potential Antitumor Agents

PubMed Central

Shen, Ya-Ching; Chang, Yao-To; Lin, Chun-Ling; Liaw, Chia-Ching; Kuo, Yao Haur; Tu, Lan-Chun; Yeh, Sheau Farn; Chern, Ji-Wang

2011-01-01

A series of 1-substituted carbazolyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro- and carbazolyl-3,4-dihydro-β-carboline analogs have been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against human tumor cells including KB, DLD, NCI-H661, Hepa, and HepG2/A2 cell lines. Among these, compounds 2, 6, 7, and 9 exhibited the most potent and selective activity against the tested tumor cells. As for inhibition of topoisomerase II, compounds 1–14 and 18 showed better activity than etoposide. Among them, compounds 3, 4, 7, 9, and 10 exhibited potent activity. The structure and activity relationship (SAR) study revealed correlation between carbon numbers of the side chain and biological activities. The molecular complex with DNA for compound 2 was proposed. PMID:21566798

Savinin, a lignan from Pterocarpus santalinus inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha production and T cell proliferation.

PubMed

Cho, J Y; Park, J; Kim, P S; Yoo, E S; Baik, K U; Park, M H

2001-02-01

Two lignans were isolated from the heartwood of Pterocarpus santalinus by activity-guided fractionation and investigated for their biological properties and molecular mechanism of action. On the basis of their spectroscopic data, these compounds were identified as savinin (1) and calocedrin (2), dibenzyl butyrolactone-type lignan compounds having an alpha-arylidene gamma-lactone structure. These lignans significantly inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, and T cell proliferation elicited by concanavalin (Con A), without displaying cytotoxicity. The molecular inhibitory mechanism of compound 1 was confirmed to be mediated by the non-polar butyrolactone ring, according to a structure-relationship study with structurally related and unrelated compounds, such as arctigenin (a dibenzyl butyrolactone type lignan), eudesmin (a furofuran type lignan), isolariciresinol (a dibenzylbutane type lignan), and cynaropicrin (a sesquiterpene lactone). The results suggest that savinin may act as an active principle in the reported biological activities of P. santalinus, such as antiinflammatory effect, by mediation of the butyrolactone ring as a valuable pharmacophore.

Novel Insights into the Relationship between Diabetes and Osteoporosis

PubMed Central

de Paula, Francisco J. A.; Horowitz, Mark C.; Rosen, Clifford J.

2012-01-01

Only three decades ago adipose tissue was considered inert with little relationship to insulin resistance. Similarly bone has long been thought purely in its structural context. In the last decade, emerging evidence has revealed important endocrine roles for both bone and adipose tissue. The interaction between these two tissues is remarkable. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells give rise to both osteoblasts and adipocytes. Leptin and adiponectin, two adipokines secreted by fat tissue, control energy homeostasis, but also have complex actions on the skeleton. In turn, the activities of bone cells are not limited to their bone remodeling activities, but also to modulation of adipose sensitivity and insulin secretion. This review will discuss these new insights linking bone remodeling to the control of fat metabolism and the association between diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis. PMID:20938995

Relationship between structure and P-glycoprotein inhibitory activity of dimeric peptides related to the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore.

PubMed

Ambo, Akihiro; Ohkatsu, Hiromichi; Minamizawa, Motoko; Watanabe, Hideko; Sugawara, Shigeki; Nitta, Kazuo; Tsuda, Yuko; Okada, Yoshio; Sasaki, Yusuke

2012-03-15

To develop novel inhibitors of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), dimeric peptides related to an opioid peptide containing the Dmt-Tic pharmacophore were synthesized and their P-gp inhibitory activities were analyzed. Of the 30 analogs synthesized, N(α),N(ε)-[(CH(3))(2)Mle-Tic](2)Lys-NH(2) and its D-Lys analog were found to exhibit potent P-gp inhibitory activity, twice that of verapamil, in doxorubicin-resistant K562 cells. Structure-activity studies indicated that the correct hydrophobicity and spacer length between two aromatic rings are important structural elements in this series of analogs for inhibition of P-gp. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure-activity relationships for xenobiotic transport substrates and inhibitory ligands of P-glycoprotein.

PubMed Central

Bain, L J; McLachlan, J B; LeBlanc, G A

1997-01-01

The multixenobiotic resistance phenotype is characterized by the reduced accumulation of xenobiotics by cells or organisms due to increased efflux of the compounds by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) or related transporters. An extensive xenobiotic database, consisting primarily of pesticides, was utilized in this study to identify molecular characteristics that render a xenobiotic susceptible to transport by or inhibition of P-gp. Transport substrates were differentiated by several molecular size/shape parameters, lipophilicity, and hydrogen bonding potential. Electrostatic features differentiated inhibitory ligands from compounds not catagorized as transport substrates and that did no interact with P-gp. A two-tiered system was developed using the derived structure-activity relationships to identify P-gp transport substrates and inhibitory ligands. Prediction accuracy of the approach was 82%. We then validated the system using six additional pesticides of which tow were predicted to be P-gp inhibitors and four were predicted to be noninteractors, based upon the structure-activity analyses. Experimental determinations using cells transfected with the human MDR1 gene demonstrated that five of the six pesticides were properly catagorized by the structure-activity analyses (83% accuracy). Finally, structure-activity analyses revealed that among P-gp inhibitors, relative inhibitory potency can be predicted based upon the surface area or volume of the compound. These results demonstrate that P-gp transport substrates and inhibitory ligands can be distinguished using molecular characteristics. Molecular characteristics of transport substrates suggest that P-gp may function in the elimination of hydroxylated metabolites of xenobiotics. Images Figure 1. A Figure 1. B Figure 1. C Figure 1. D Figure 1. E Figure 1. F Figure 1. G Figure 1. H Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 2. Figure 3. A Figure 3. B PMID:9347896

Chalcone dimethylallyltransferase from Morus nigra cell cultures. Substrate specificity studies.

PubMed

Vitali, Alberto; Giardina, Bruno; Delle Monache, Giuliano; Rocca, Filippo; Silvestrini, Andrea; Tafi, Andrea; Botta, Bruno

2004-01-16

A new prenyltransferase (PT) enzyme derived from the microsomal fractions of cell cultures of Morus nigra was shown to be able to prenylate exclusively chalcones with a 2',4'-dihydroxy substitution and the isoflavone genistein. Computational studies were performed to shed some light on the relationship between the structure of the substrate and the enzymatic activity. PT requires divalent cations, particularly Mg(2+), to be effective. The apparent K(m) values for gamma,gamma-dimethylallyldiphosphate and 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone were 63 and 142 microM, respectively. The maximum activity of the enzyme was expressed during the first 10 days of cell growth.

Structure-activity relationship studies of the lipophilic tail region of sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitors.

PubMed

Congdon, Molly D; Childress, Elizabeth S; Patwardhan, Neeraj N; Gumkowski, James; Morris, Emily A; Kharel, Yugesh; Lynch, Kevin R; Santos, Webster L

2015-11-01

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a ubiquitous, endogenous small molecule that is synthesized by two isoforms of sphingosine kinase (SphK1 and 2). Intervention of the S1P signaling pathway has attracted significant attention because alteration of S1P levels is linked to several disease states including cancer, fibrosis, and sickle cell disease. While intense investigations have focused on developing SphK1 inhibitors, only a limited number of SphK2-selective agents have been reported. Herein, we report our investigations on the structure-activity relationship studies of the lipophilic tail region of SLR080811, a SphK2-selective inhibitor. Our studies demonstrate that the internal phenyl ring is a key structural feature that is essential in the SLR080811 scaffold. Further, we show the dependence of SphK2 activity and selectivity on alkyl tail length, suggesting a larger lipid binding pocket in SphK2 compared to SphK1. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Modifications of the chemical structure of phenolics differentially affect physiological activities in pulvinar cells of Mimosa pudica L. II. Influence of various molecular properties in relation to membrane transport.

PubMed

Rocher, Françoise; Roblin, Gabriel; Chollet, Jean-François

2017-03-01

Early prediction of compound absorption by cells is of considerable importance in the building of an integrated scheme describing the impact of a compound on intracellular biological processes. In this scope, we study the structure-activity relationships of several benzoic acid-related phenolics which are involved in many plant biological phenomena (growth, flowering, allelopathy, defense processes). Using the partial least squares (PLS) regression method, the impact of molecular descriptors that have been shown to play an important role concerning the uptake of pharmacologically active compounds by animal cells was analyzed in terms of the modification of membrane potential, variations in proton flux, and inhibition of the osmocontractile reaction of pulvinar cells of Mimosa pudica leaves. The hydrogen bond donors (HBD) and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA), polar surface area (PSA), halogen ratio (Hal ratio), number of rotatable bonds (FRB), molar volume (MV), molecular weight (MW), and molar refractivity (MR) were considered in addition to two physicochemical properties (logD and the amount of non-dissociated form in relation to pKa). HBD + HBA and PSA predominantly impacted the three biological processes compared to the other descriptors. The coefficient of determination in the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models indicated that a major part of the observed seismonasty inhibition and proton flux modification can be explained by the impact of these descriptors, whereas this was not the case for membrane potential variations. These results indicate that the transmembrane transport of the compounds is a predominant component. An increasing number of implicated descriptors as the biological processes become more complex may reflect their impacts on an increasing number of sites in the cell. The determination of the most efficient effectors may lead to a practical use to improve drugs in the control of microbial attacks on plants.

Antioxidant and biological properties of bioactive phenolic compounds from Quercus suber L.

PubMed

Fernandes, Ana; Fernandes, Iva; Cruz, Luís; Mateus, Nuno; Cabral, Miguel; de Freitas, Victor

2009-12-09

Phenolic compounds, namely, hydrolyzable tannins and low molecular weight phenolic compounds, were isolated and purified from Portuguese cork from Quercus suber L. Some of these compounds were studied to evaluate their antioxidant activity, including free-radical scavenging capacity (DPPH method) and reducing capacity (FRAP method). All compounds tested showed significant antioxidant activity, namely, antiradical and reducing properties. The antiradical capacity seemed to increase with the presence of galloyl groups. Regarding the reducing capacity, this structure-activity relationship was not so clear. These compounds were also studied to evaluate the growth inhibitory effect on the estrogen responsive human breast cancer cell line (ER+) MCF-7 and two other colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29). Generally, all the compounds tested exhibited, after a continuous exposure during a 48 h period, a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect. Relative inhibitory activity was primarily related to the number of phenolic hydroxyl groups (galloyl and HHDP moieties) found in the active structures, with more groups generally conferring increased effects, except for HHDP-di-galloyl-glucose. Mongolicain B showed a greater potential to inhibit the growth of the three cell lines tested, identical to the effect observed with castalagin. Since these compounds are structurally related with each other, this activity might be based within the C-glycosidic ellagitannin moiety.

Structure-biocompatibility and transfection activity relationships of cationic polyaspartamides with (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups.

PubMed

Salakhieva, Diana; Shevchenko, Vesta; Németh, Csaba; Gyarmati, Benjámin; Szilágyi, András; Abdullin, Timur

2017-01-30

A series of 14 cationic derivatives of poly(aspartic acid) i.e. cationic polyaspartamides with different (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups was synthesized by nucleophilic addition on polysuccinimide. The resulting polyaspartamides have moderate amphiphilic properties. Relationships between the structure and ratio of side groups and in vitro properties of polyaspartamides, including their cytotoxic and membrane-damaging activity towards human cell lines, primary skin fibroblasts and erythrocytes, were established and discussed. Cationic polyaspartamides vary in their DNA-binding, condensing and nuclease-protecting characteristics depending on the concentration ratio of (dialkylamino)alkyl and alkyl or hydroxyalkyl side groups. Effective cell transfection was achieved upon polyaspartamide-mediated plasmid DNA delivery in serum-free medium in the presence of chloroquine. Effect of serum proteins adsorption onto polyaspartamide based polyplexes, and the role of concentration of polyplexes in culture medium in their colloidal stability and transfection process were demonstrated. Synthesized polyaspartamides are biocompatible and long-acting gene carriers, which are applied to cells after dilution and without washing, thus providing transfection level comparable to that of commercial transfection reagent. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trithiocarbonates: exploration of a new head group for HDAC inhibitors.

PubMed

Dehmel, Florian; Ciossek, Thomas; Maier, Thomas; Weinbrenner, Steffen; Schmidt, Beate; Zoche, Martin; Beckers, Thomas

2007-09-01

Inhibition of histone deacetylases class I/II enzymes is a new, promising approach for cancer therapy. In the present study, we disclose a new structural class of HDAC inhibitors with the trithiocarbonate motif. A clear structure-activity-relationship was obtained for the cap-linker motif and the putative Zn(2+) complexing head group. Selected analogs display potent inhibition of HDAC enzymatic activity and a cellular potency comparable to that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), recently approved for treatment of patients with advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

In vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activities of echinoside A and ds-echinoside A from Pearsonothuria graeffei.

PubMed

Zhao, Qin; Xue, Yong; Wang, Jing-feng; Li, Hui; Long, Teng-teng; Li, Zhaojie; Wang, Yu-ming; Dong, Ping; Xue, Chang-hu

2012-03-15

Echinoside A (EA) and ds-echinoside A (DSEA) are triterpene glycosides isolated from the sea cucumber Pearsonothuria graeffei. DSEA, the desulfurisation product of EA, has the following structure: β-D-xylopyranosyl-holost-8(9),11(12)-diene-3β,17α-diol. In the present study, we examined the anti-tumour activities-in particular, the structure-activity relationships-of EA and DSEA in vitro and in vivo. Both EA and DSEA exhibited an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, along with apoptosis-inducing activity, in HepG2 cells. Moreover, they significantly arrested the cell cycle in the G₀/G₁ phase. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that EA and DSEA significantly increased the expression of the cell-cycle-related genes, namely, p16, p21 and c-myc, and decreased that of cyclin D₁. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that they down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, and enhanced mitochondria cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activation, and poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase, cleavage. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) expression was significantly decreased by DSEA, but was unaffected by EA. EA and DSEA (2.5 mg kg⁻¹) treatment of mice bearing H22 hepatocarcinoma tumours reduced the tumour weight by 49.8% and 55.0%, respectively. EA and DSEA exhibit marked anti-cancer activity in HepG2 cells, by blocking cell-cycle progression and inducing apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. DSEA-induced apoptosis was more potent than EA-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, the two triterpene glycosides derived from P. graeffei may induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells in an NF-κB-dependent or NF-κB-independent manner, depending on their structure. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Structure-activity relationships of an antimicrobial peptide plantaricin s from two-peptide class IIb bacteriocins.

PubMed

Soliman, Wael; Wang, Liru; Bhattacharjee, Subir; Kaur, Kamaljit

2011-04-14

Class IIb bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial peptides comprising two different peptides synergistically acting in equal amounts for optimal potency. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time potent (nanomolar) antimicrobial activity of a representative class IIb bacteriocin, plantaricin S (Pls), against four pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes. The structure-activity relationships for Pls were studied using activity assays, circular dichroism (CD), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The two Pls peptides and five Pls derived fragments were synthesized. The CD spectra of the Pls and selected fragments revealed helical conformations in aqueous 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. The MD simulations showed that when the two Pls peptides are in antiparallel orientation, the helical regions interact and align, mediated by strong attraction between conserved GxxxG/AxxxA motifs. The results strongly correlate with the antimicrobial activity suggesting that helix-helix alignment of the two Pls peptides and interaction between the conserved motifs are crucial for interaction with the target cell membrane.

Identifying Novel Molecular Structures for Advanced Melanoma by Ligand-Based Virtual Screening

PubMed Central

Wang, Zhao; Lu, Yan; Seibel, William; Miller, Duane D.; Li, Wei

2009-01-01

We recently discovered a new class of thiazole analogs that are highly potent against melanoma cells. To expand the structure-activity relationship study and to explore potential new molecular scaffolds, we performed extensive ligand-based virtual screening against a compound library containing 342,910 small molecules. Two different approaches of virtual screening were carried out using the structure of our lead molecule: 1) connectivity-based search using Scitegic Pipeline Pilot from Accelerys and 2) molecular shape similarity search using Schrodinger software. Using a testing compound library, both approaches can rank similar compounds very high and rank dissimilar compounds very low, thus validating our screening methods. Structures identified from these searches were analyzed, and selected compounds were tested in vitro to assess their activity against melanoma cancer cell lines. Several molecules showed good anticancer activity. While none of the identified compounds showed better activity than our lead compound, they provided important insight into structural modifications for our lead compound and also provided novel platforms on which we can optimize new classes of anticancer compounds. One of the newly synthesized analogs based on this virtual screening has improved potency and selectivity against melanoma. PMID:19445498

Assessing the role of spatial structure on cell-specific activity and interactions within uncultured methane-oxidizing syntrophic consortia (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orphan, V. J.; McGlynn, S.; Chadwick, G.; Dekas, A.; Green-Saxena, A.

2013-12-01

Sulfate-coupled anaerobic oxidation of methane is catalysed through symbiotic associations between archaea and sulphate-reducing bacteria and represents the dominant sink for methane in the oceans. These methane-oxidizing symbiotic consortia form well-structured multi-celled aggregations in marine methane seeps, where close spatial proximity is believed to be essential for efficient exchange of substrates between syntrophic partners. The nature of this interspecies metabolic relationship is still unknown however there are a number of hypotheses regarding the electron carrying intermediate and ecophysiology of the partners, each of which should be affected by, and influence, the spatial arrangement of archaeal and bacterial cells within aggregates. To advance our understanding of the role of spatial structure within naturally occurring environmental consortia, we are using spatial statistical methods combined with fluorescence in situ hybridization and high-resolution nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (FISH-nanoSIMS) to quantify the effect of spatial organization and intra- and inter-species interactions on cell-specific microbial activity within these diverse archaeal-bacterial partnerships.

RNA Polymerase Activity and Specific RNA Structure Are Required for Efficient HCV Replication in Cultured Cells

PubMed Central

Date, Tomoko; Akazawa, Daisuke; Tian, Xiao; Suzuki, Tetsuro; Kato, Takanobu; Tanaka, Yasuhito; Mizokami, Masashi; Wakita, Takaji; Toyoda, Tetsuya

2010-01-01

We have previously reported that the NS3 helicase (N3H) and NS5B-to-3′X (N5BX) regions are important for the efficient replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) strain JFH-1 and viral production in HuH-7 cells. In the current study, we investigated the relationships between HCV genome replication, virus production, and the structure of N5BX. We found that the Q377R, A450S, S455N, R517K, and Y561F mutations in the NS5B region resulted in up-regulation of J6CF NS5B polymerase activity in vitro. However, the activation effects of these mutations on viral RNA replication and virus production with JFH-1 N3H appeared to differ. In the presence of the N3H region and 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of JFH-1, A450S, R517K, and Y561F together were sufficient to confer HCV genome replication activity and virus production ability to J6CF in cultured cells. Y561F was also involved in the kissing-loop interaction between SL3.2 in the NS5B region and SL2 in the 3′X region. We next analyzed the 3′ structure of HCV genome RNA. The shorter polyU/UC tracts of JFH-1 resulted in more efficient RNA replication than J6CF. Furthermore, 9458G in the JFH-1 variable region (VR) was responsible for RNA replication activity because of its RNA structures. In conclusion, N3H, high polymerase activity, enhanced kissing-loop interactions, and optimal viral RNA structure in the 3′UTR were required for J6CF replication in cultured cells. PMID:20442786

Structural dynamics and activity of nanocatalysts inside fuel cells by in operando atomic pair distribution studies.

PubMed

Petkov, Valeri; Prasai, Binay; Shan, Shiyao; Ren, Yang; Wu, Jinfang; Cronk, Hannah; Luo, Jin; Zhong, Chuan-Jian

2016-05-19

Here we present the results from a study aimed at clarifying the relationship between the atomic structure and activity of nanocatalysts for chemical reactions driving fuel cells, such as the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In particular, using in operando high-energy X-ray diffraction (HE-XRD) we tracked the evolution of the atomic structure and activity of noble metal-transition metal (NM-TM) nanocatalysts for ORR as they function at the cathode of a fully operational proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Experimental HE-XRD data were analysed in terms of atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) and compared to the current output of the PEMFC, which was also recorded during the experiments. The comparison revealed that under actual operating conditions, NM-TM nanocatalysts can undergo structural changes that differ significantly in both length-scale and dynamics and so can suffer losses in their ORR activity that differ significantly in both character and magnitude. Therefore we argue that strategies for reducing ORR activity losses should implement steps for achieving control not only over the length but also over the time-scale of the structural changes of NM-TM NPs that indeed occur during PEMFC operation. Moreover, we demonstrate how such a control can be achieved and thereby the performance of PEMFCs improved considerably. Last but not least, we argue that the unique capabilities of in operando HE-XRD coupled to atomic PDF analysis to characterize active nanocatalysts inside operating fuel cells both in a time-resolved manner and with atomic level resolution, i.e. in 4D, can serve well the ongoing search for nanocatalysts that deliver more with less platinum.

Relationship between structure and antiproliferative activity of 1-azaflavanones.

PubMed

Kawaii, Satoru; Endo, Kotaro; Tokiwano, Tetsuo; Yoshizawa, Yuko

2012-07-01

The synthesis of 19 derivatives of 2-phenyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-one, as aza analogs of flavanones, was carried out and these compounds were further screened for their antiproliferative activity toward HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. In comparison with flavanone the replacement of C-ring ether oxygen atom with a nitrogen atom potentiated activity by more than 100-fold. It was suggested that the aromaticity of the B-ring contributes greatly to the activity of 1-azaflavanones.

Evaluation of the first cytostatically active 1-aza-9-oxafluorenes as novel selective CDK1 inhibitors with P-glycoprotein modulating properties.

PubMed

Brachwitz, Kristin; Voigt, Burkhardt; Meijer, Laurent; Lozach, Olivier; Schächtele, Christoph; Molnár, Josef; Hilgeroth, Andreas

2003-02-27

The first series of synthetic 1-aza-9-oxafluorenes with cytostatic activities in the micromolar range was evaluated as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK1) inhibitors. Activity was found to be selective in comparison to the inhibition of other kinases within the CDK family. Compounds were shown to inhibit the membrane-efflux pump P-glycoprotein responsible for multidrug resistance in cancer cells. First structure-activity relationships are discussed.

STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP STUIDES AND THEIR ROLE IN PREDICTING AND INVESTIGATING CHEMICAL TOXICITY

EPA Science Inventory

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies and their Role in Predicting and Investigating Chemical Toxicity

Structure-activity relationships (SAR) represent attempts to generalize chemical information relative to biological activity for the twin purposes of generating insigh...

Coordinated regulation by two VPS9 domain-containing guanine nucleotide exchange factors in small GTPase Rab5 signaling pathways in fission yeast

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tsukamoto, Yuta; Kagiwada, Satoshi; Shimazu, Sayuri

The small GTPase Rab5 is reported to regulate various cellular functions, such as vesicular transport and endocytosis. VPS9 domain-containing proteins are thought to activate Rab5(s) by their guanine-nucleotide exchange activities. Numerous VPS9 proteins have been identified and are structurally conserved from yeast to mammalian cells. However, the functional relationships among VPS9 proteins in cells remain unclear. Only one Rab5 and two VPS9 proteins were identified in the Schizosaccharomyces pombe genome. Here, we examined the cellular function of two VPS9 proteins and the relationship between these proteins in cellular functions. Vps901-GFP and Vps902-GFP exhibited dotted signals in vegetative and differentiated cells.more » vps901 deletion mutant (Δvps901) cells exhibited a phenotype deficient in the mating process and responses to high concentrations of ions, such as calcium and metals, and Δvps901Δvps902 double mutant cells exhibited round cell shapes similar to ypt5-909 (Rab5 mutant allele) cells. Deletion of both vps901 and vps902 genes completely abolished the mating process and responses to various stresses. A lack of vacuole formation and aberrant inner cell membrane structures were also observed in Δvps901Δvps902 cells by electron microscopy. These data strongly suggest that Vps901 and Vps902 are cooperatively involved in the regulation of cellular functions, such as cell morphology, sexual development, response to ion stresses, and vacuole formation, via Rab5 signaling pathways in fission yeast cells. - Highlights: • Roles of Rab5 activator VPS9 proteins in cellular functions. • Cooperation between VPS9 proteins in Rab5 signaling pathway. • Roles of each VPS9 protein in Rab5 signaling pathway are discussed.« less

In vitro-in vivo activity relationship of substituted benzimidazole cell division inhibitors with activity against Mycobacteria tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Knudson, Susan E.; Kumar, Kunal; Awasthi, Divya; Ojima, Iwao; Slayden, Richard A.

2014-01-01

Structure based drug design was used to develop a compound library of novel 2,5,6- and 2,5,7-trisubstituted benzimidazoles. Three structural analogs, SB-P1G10, SB-P8B2 and SB-P3G2 were selected from this library based on previous studies for advanced study. In vitro studies revealed that SB-P8B2 and SB-P3G2 had sigmoidal kill-curves while in contrast SB-P1G10 showed a narrow zonal susceptibility. The in vitro studies also demonstrated that exposure to SB-P8B2 or SB-P3G2 was bactericidal, while SB-P1G10 treatment never resulted in complete killing. The dose curves for the three compounds against clinical isolates were comparable to their respective dose curves in the laboratory strain of M. tuberculosis. SB-P8B2 and SB-P3G2 exhibited antibacterial activity against non-replicating bacilli under low oxygen conditions. SB-P3G2 and SB-P1G10 were assessed in acute short-term animal models of tuberculosis, which showed that SB-P3G2 treatment demonstrated activity against M. tuberculosis. Together, these studies reveal an in vitro- in vivo relationship of the 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles that serves as a criterion for advancing this class of cell division inhibitors into more resource intensive in vivo efficacy models such as the long-term murine model of tuberculosis and Pre-IND PK/PD studies. Specifically, these studies are the first demonstration of efficacy and an in vitro–in vivo activity relationship for 2,5,6-trisubstituted benzimidazoles. The in vivo activity presented in this manuscript substantiates this class of cell division inhibitors as having potency and efficacy against M. tuberculosis. PMID:24746463

CONSIDERATION OF REACTION INTERMEDIATES IN STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS: A KEY TO UNDERSTANDING AND PREDICTION

EPA Science Inventory

Consideration of Reaction Intermediates in Structure- Activity Relationships: A Key to Understanding and Prediction

A structure-activity relationship (SAR) represents an empirical means for generalizing chemical information relative to biological activity, and is frequent...

Synthesis of Five Known Brassinosteroid Analogs from Hyodeoxycholic Acid and Their Activities as Plant-Growth Regulators.

PubMed

Duran, María Isabel; González, Cesar; Acosta, Alison; Olea, Andrés F; Díaz, Katy; Espinoza, Luis

2017-03-08

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that promote growth in different plant organs and tissues. The structural requirements that these compounds should possess to exhibit this biological activity have been studied. In this work, a series of known BR analogs 5 - 15 , were synthesized starting from hyodeoxycholic acid 4 , and maintaining the alkyl side chain as cholic acid or its methyl ester. The growth-promoting effects of brassinolide ( 1 ) and synthesized analogs were evaluated by using the rice lamina inclination assay at concentrations ranging from 1 × 10 -8 -1 × 10 -6 M. Our results indicate that in this concentration range the induced bending angle of rice seedlings increases with increasing concentration of BRs. Analysis of the activities, determined at the lowest tested concentration, in terms of BR structures shows that the 2α,3α-dihydroxy-7-oxa-6-ketone moiety existing in brassinolide is required for the plant growing activity of these compounds, as it has been proposed by some structure-activity relationship studies. The effect of compound 8 on cell elongation was assessed by microscopy analysis, and the results indicate that the growth-promoting effect of analog 8 is mainly due to cell elongation of the adaxial sides, instead of an increase on cell number.

Synthesis of Five Known Brassinosteroid Analogs from Hyodeoxycholic Acid and Their Activities as Plant-Growth Regulators

PubMed Central

Duran, María Isabel; González, Cesar; Acosta, Alison; Olea, Andrés F.; Díaz, Katy; Espinoza, Luis

2017-01-01

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are plant hormones that promote growth in different plant organs and tissues. The structural requirements that these compounds should possess to exhibit this biological activity have been studied. In this work, a series of known BR analogs 5–15, were synthesized starting from hyodeoxycholic acid 4, and maintaining the alkyl side chain as cholic acid or its methyl ester. The growth-promoting effects of brassinolide (1) and synthesized analogs were evaluated by using the rice lamina inclination assay at concentrations ranging from 1 × 10−8–1 × 10−6 M. Our results indicate that in this concentration range the induced bending angle of rice seedlings increases with increasing concentration of BRs. Analysis of the activities, determined at the lowest tested concentration, in terms of BR structures shows that the 2α,3α-dihydroxy-7-oxa-6-ketone moiety existing in brassinolide is required for the plant growing activity of these compounds, as it has been proposed by some structure-activity relationship studies. The effect of compound 8 on cell elongation was assessed by microscopy analysis, and the results indicate that the growth-promoting effect of analog 8 is mainly due to cell elongation of the adaxial sides, instead of an increase on cell number. PMID:28282853

Molecular Structures and Functional Relationships in Clostridial Neurotoxins

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Swaminathan S.

2011-12-01

The seven serotypes of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (A-G) are the deadliest poison known to humans. They share significant sequence homology and hence possess similar structure-function relationships. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) act via a four-step mechanism, viz., binding and internalization to neuronal cells, translocation of the catalytic domain into the cytosol and finally cleavage of one of the three soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE) causing blockage of neurotransmitter release leading to flaccid paralysis. Crystal structures of three holotoxins, BoNT/A, B and E, are available to date. Although the individual domains are remarkably similar, their domain organization is different. These structuresmore » have helped in correlating the structural and functional domains. This has led to the determination of structures of individual domains and combinations of them. Crystal structures of catalytic domains of all serotypes and several binding domains are now available. The catalytic domains are zinc endopeptidases and share significant sequence and structural homology. The active site architecture and the catalytic mechanism are similar although the binding mode of individual substrates may be different, dictating substrate specificity and peptide cleavage selectivity. Crystal structures of catalytic domains with substrate peptides provide clues to specificity and selectivity unique to BoNTs. Crystal structures of the receptor domain in complex with ganglioside or the protein receptor have provided information about the binding of botulinum neurotoxin to the neuronal cell. An overview of the structure-function relationship correlating the 3D structures with biochemical and biophysical data and how they can be used for structure-based drug discovery is presented here.« less

Synthesis and Larvicidal Activity of Novel Thenoylhydrazide Derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Gao-Peng; Hu, De-Kun; Tian, Hao; Li, Ya-Sheng; Cao, Yun-Shen; Jin, Hong-Wei; Cui, Zi-Ning

2016-03-01

A pair of chemical isomeric structures of novel N-tert-butylphenyl thenoylhydrazide compounds I and II were designed and synthesized. Their structures were characterized by MS, IR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis and X-ray single crystal diffraction. The regioselectivity of the Meerwein arylation reaction and the electrophilic substitution reaction of N-tert-butyl hydrazine were studied by density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical method. The larvicidal tests revealed that some compounds I had excellent larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens pallens. As the candidates of insect growth regulators (IGRs), the larval growth inhibition and regulation against Culex pipiens pallens were examined for some compounds, especially I1 and I7. Compounds I1 and I7 were further indicated as an ecdysteroid agonist by reporter gene assay on the Spodoptera frugiperda cell line (Sf9 cells). Finally, a molecular docking study of compound I7 was conducted, which was not only beneficial to understand the structure-activity relationship, but also useful for development of new IGRs for the control of mosquitos.

Design and synthesis of novel C14-urea-tetrandrine derivatives with potent anti-cancer activity.

PubMed

Lan, Junjie; Huang, Lan; Lou, Huayong; Chen, Chao; Liu, Tangjingjun; Hu, Shengcao; Yao, Yao; Song, Junrong; Luo, Jun; Liu, Yazhou; Xia, Bin; Xia, Lei; Zeng, Xueyi; Ben-David, Yaacov; Pan, Weidong

2018-01-01

Tetrandrine is a dibenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, isolated from traditional Chinese medicinal plant Stephania tetrandra, with anti-tumor activity. Our previous study identified several derivatives of tetrandrine showing better activities than parental compound against human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. To increase diversity and cytotoxic activities of the original compound, a series of novel 14-urea-tetrandrine derivatives were synthesized through structural modification of tetrandrine. These derivaties demonstrated a moderate to strong anti-proliferative activities against human cell lines HEL and K562 (Leukemia), prostate (PC3), breast (MDA-MB-231) and melanoma (WM9). Compound 4g showed strongest cytotoxic effect against PC3 cells with IC 50 value of 0.64 μM, which was 12-fold, 31-fold and 26-fold lower than the parental tetrandrine, 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, respectively. Preliminary structure-activity relationship study indicated that urea subsititution was the key pharmacophore for the enhancement of their antitumor activities. Induction of apoprosis by 4g was associated with the activation of pro-apoptotic protein BAX and inhibition of antiapoptosis proteins survivin as well as Bcl-2. Moreover, activation of caspases led to increase cleavage of PARP, which further accelerates apoptotic cell death. These results reveal that the compound 4g may be used as a potential anticancer drug candidate. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Ecological Structure Activity Relationships

EPA Science Inventory

Ecological Structure Activity Relationships, v1.00a, February 2009
ECOSAR (Ecological Structure Activity Relationships) is a personal computer software program that is used to estimate the toxicity of chemicals used in industry and discharged into water. The program predicts...

Characterization of SNPs in the dopamine-β-hydroxylase gene providing new insights into its structure-function relationship.

PubMed

Punchaichira, Toyanji Joseph; Dey, Sanjay Kumar; Mukhopadhyay, Anirban; Kundu, Suman; Thelma, B K

2017-07-01

Dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DBH, EC 1.14.17.1), an oxido-reductase that catalyses the conversion of dopamine to norepinephrine, is largely expressed in sympathetic neurons and adrenal medulla. Several regulatory and structural variants in DBH associated with various neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular diseases and a few that may determine enzyme activity have also been identified. Due to paucity of studies on functional characterization of DBH variants, its structure-function relationship is poorly understood. The purpose of the study was to characterize five non-synonymous (ns) variants that were prioritized either based on previous association studies or Sorting Tolerant From Intolerant (SIFT) algorithm. The DBH ORF with wild type (WT) and site-directed mutagenized variants were transfected into HEK293 cells to generate transient and stable lines expressing these variant enzymes. Activity was determined by UPLC-PDA and corresponding quantity by MRM HR on a TripleTOF 5600 MS respectively of spent media from stable cell lines. Homospecific activity computed for the WT and variant proteins showed a marginal decrease in A318S, W544S and R549C variants. In transient cell lines, differential secretion was observed in the case of L317P, W544S and R549C. Secretory defect in L317P was confirmed by localization in ER. R549C exhibited both decreased homospecific activity and differential secretion. Of note, all the variants were seen to be destabilizing based on in silico folding analysis and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, lending support to our experimental observations. These novel genotype-phenotype correlations in this gene of considerable pharmacological relevance have implications for dopamine-related disorders.

Effect of citrus flavonoids on HL-60 cell differentiation.

PubMed

Kawaii, S; Tomono, Y; Katase, E; Ogawa, K; Yano, M

1999-01-01

Twenty-seven Citrus flavonoids were examined for their activity of induction of terminal differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reducing, nonspecific esterase, specific esterase, and phagocytic activities. 10 flavonoids were judged to be active (percentage of NBT reducing cells was more than 40% at a concentration of 40 microM), and the rank order of potency was natsudaidain, luteolin, tangeretin, quercetin, apigenin, 3, 3, '4, '5, 6, 7, 8-heptamethoxyflavone, nobiletin, acacetin, eriodictyol, and taxifolin. These flavonoids exerted their activity in a dose-dependent manner. HL-60 cells treated with these flavonoids differentiated into mature monocyte/macrophage. The structure-activity relationship established from comparison between flavones and flavanones revealed that ortho-catechol moiety in ring B and C2-C3 double bond had an important role for induction of differentiation of HL-60. In polymethoxylated flavones, hydroxyl group at C3 and methoxyl group at C8 enhanced the differentiation-inducing activity.

Synthesis, Crystal Study, and Anti-Proliferative Activity of Some 2-Benzimidazolylthioacetophenones towards Triple-Negative Breast Cancer MDA-MB-468 Cells as Apoptosis-Inducing Agents.

PubMed

Abdel-Aziz, Hatem A; Eldehna, Wagdy M; Ghabbour, Hazem; Al-Ansary, Ghada H; Assaf, Areej M; Al-Dhfyan, Abdullah

2016-07-29

On account of its poor prognosis and deficiency of therapeutic stratifications, triple negative breast cancer continues to form the causative platform of an incommensurate number of breast cancer deaths. Aiming at the development of potent anticancer agents as a continuum of our previous efforts, a novel series of 2-((benzimidazol-2-yl)thio)-1-arylethan-1-ones 5a-w was synthesized and evaluated for its anti-proliferative activity towards triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-468 cells. Compound 5k was the most active analog against MDA-MB-468 (IC50 = 19.90 ± 1.37 µM), with 2.1-fold increased activity compared to 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 41.26 ± 3.77 µM). Compound 5k was able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-468, as evidenced by the marked boosting in the percentage of florecsein isothiocyanate annexin V (Annexin V-FITC)-positive apoptotic cells (upper right (UR) + lower right (LR)) by 2.8-fold in comparison to control accompanied by significant increase in the proportion of cells at pre-G1 (the first gap phase) by 8.13-fold in the cell-cycle analysis. Moreover, a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model was established to investigate the structural requirements orchestrating the anti-proliferative activity. Finally, we established a theoretical kinetic study.

Chemical synthesis, structure-activity relationship, and properties of shepherin I: a fungicidal peptide enriched in glycine-glycine-histidine motifs.

PubMed

Remuzgo, César; Oewel, Thaís S; Daffre, Sirlei; Lopes, Thiago R S; Dyszy, Fabio H; Schreier, Shirley; Machado-Santelli, Gláucia M; Teresa Machini, M

2014-11-01

Although glycine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are found in animals and plants, very little has been reported on their chemistry, structure activity-relationship, and properties. We investigated those topics for Shepherin I (Shep I), a glycine-rich AMP with the unique amino acid sequence G(1)YGGHGGHGGHGGHGGHGGHGHGGGGHG(28). Shep I and analogues were synthesized by the solid-phase method at 60 °C using conventional heating. Purification followed by chemical characterization confirmed the products' identities and high purity. Amino acid analysis provided their peptide contents. All peptides were active against the clinically important Candida species, but ineffective against bacteria and mycelia fungi. Truncation of the N- or C-terminal portion reduced Shep I antifungal activity, the latter being more pronounced. Carboxyamidation of Shep I did not affect the activity against C. albicans or C. tropicalis, but increased activity against S. cerevisiae. Carboxyamidated analogues Shep I (3-28)a and Shep I (6-28)a were equipotent to Shep I and Shep Ia against Candida species. As with most cationic AMPs, all peptides had their activity significantly reduced in high-salt concentrations, a disadvantage that is defeated if 10 µM ZnCl2 is present. At 100 µM, the peptides were practically not hemolytic. Shep Ia also killed C. albicans MDM8 and ATCC 90028 cells. Fluo-Shep Ia, an analogue labeled with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, was rapidly internalized by C. albicans MDM8 cells, a salt-sensitive process dependent on metabolic energy and temperature. Altogether, such results shed light on the chemistry, structural requirements for activity, and other properties of candidacidal glycine-rich peptides. Furthermore, they show that Shep Ia may have strong potential for use in topical application.

Antimicrobial peptides: a review of how peptide structure impacts antimicrobial activity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soares, Jason W.; Mello, Charlene M.

2004-03-01

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been discovered in insects, mammals, reptiles, and plants to protect against microbial infection. Many of these peptides have been isolated and studied exhaustively to decipher the molecular mechanisms that impart protection against infectious bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms are still being debated within the scientific community but valuable clues have been obtained through structure/function relationship studies1. Biophysical studies have revealed that cecropins, isolated from insects and pigs, exhibit random structure in solution but undergo a conformational change to an amphipathic α-helix upon interaction with a membrane surface2. The lack of secondary structure in solution results in an extremely durable peptide able to survive exposure to high temperatures, organic solvents and incorporation into fibers and films without compromising antibacterial activity. Studies to better understand the antimicrobial action of cecropins and other AMPs have provided insight into the importance of peptide sequence and structure in antimicrobial activities. Therefore, enhancing our knowledge of how peptide structure imparts function may result in customized peptide sequences tailored for specific applications such as targeted cell delivery systems, novel antibiotics and food preservation additives. This review will summarize the current state of knowledge with respect to cell binding and antimicrobial activity of AMPs focusing primarily upon cecropins.

Toxic Hazards Research Unit Annual Report: 1987

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-01

Low Density Lipoproteins and in Model Membranes 14 Sep Is Cigarette Smoking Neurotoric? Mr. Steven Goden Dr. R. Kutzman 4> ’October 1986 through September 1987 2I ...based pharmcokinetic model phosphoniteo,o-diethylmethyl quantitative structure activity relationship respiratory epithelium Salmonella sensitization j...in Cultured Respiratory Epithelial Cells ----------------------- ------------ 73 6 PHARMACOKINETIC AND PHARMACODYNAMIC MODELING .------------------ 78

Structure/function relationships of calcitonin analogues as agonists, antagonists, or inverse agonists in a constitutively activated receptor cell system.

PubMed

Pozvek, G; Hilton, J M; Quiza, M; Houssami, S; Sexton, P M

1997-04-01

The structure/function relationship of salmon calcitonin (sCT) analogues was investigated in heterologous calcitonin receptor (CTR) expression systems. sCT analogues with progressive amino-terminal truncations intermediate of sCT-(1-32) to sCT-(8-32) were examined for their ability to act as agonists, antagonists, or inverse agonists. Two CTR cell clones, B8-H10 and G12-E12, which express approximately 5 million and 25,000 C1b receptors/cell, respectively, were used for this study. The B8-H10 clone has an approximately 80-fold increase in basal levels of intracellular cAMP due to constitutive activation of the overexpressed receptor. In whole-cell competition binding studies, sCT-(1-32) was more potent than any of its amino-terminally truncated analogues in competition for 125I-sCT binding. In cAMP accumulation studies, sCT-(1-32) and modified analogues sCT-(2-32) and sCT-(3-32) had agonist activities. SDZ-216-710, with an amino-terminal truncation of four amino acids, behaved as a partial agonist/antagonist, whereas amino-terminal truncations of six or seven amino acid residues produced a 16-fold reduction in basal cAMP levels and attenuated the response to the agonist sCT-(1-32) in the constitutively active CTR system. This inverse agonist effect was insensitive to pertussis toxin inhibition. In contrast, the inverse agonist activity of these peptides was not observed in the nonconstitutively active CTR system, in which sCT analogues with amino-terminal truncations of four or more amino acids behaved as neutral competitive antagonists. These results suggest that the inverse agonist activity is mediated by stabilization of the inactive state of the receptor, which does not couple to G protein, and attenuates basal signaling initiated by ligand-independent activation of the effector adenylyl cyclase.

A Green Synthesis of Chalcones As an Antioxidant and Anticancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Susanti VH, Elfi; Agustina Eko Setyowati, Widiastuti

2018-01-01

Three chalcones (4’-amino-4-methoxy chalcone, 4’-amino-3,4-dimethoxy chalcone and 4’-amino-3,4,5-trimethoxy chalcone) has been synthesized by a green chemistry approach using grinding technique. Antioxidant activity of the chalcones were assessed using 1,1-biphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. Cytotoxicity of chalcones sythesized was evaluated using a tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay against cervical cancer cell line, HeLa. The antioxidant activity test showed that 4’-amino-4-methoxy chalcone had a stronger activity than the 4’-amino-3,4-dimethoxy chalcone and 4’-amino-3,4,5-trimethoxy chalcone, respectively with IC50 58.85, 64.79 and 210.3 μg/mL. These results indicate that there is a relationship between the structure of chalcone with antioxidant activity, the more methoxy groups in the ring B of the chalcone, antioxidant activity is getting smaller. The chalcone synthesized showed cytotoxicity against HeLa cell line with IC50 value of 31.75, 36.65, 49.04 μg/mL, respectively. It was observed that the highest cytotoxic activity was found at 4’-amino-4-methoxy chalcone (IC50 31.75 μg/mL). Lower activity was showed by 4’-amino-3,4,5-trimethoxy chalcone with IC50 value of 49,04 μg/mL. There is a relationship cytotoxicity with chalcone structure, the more the number of methoxy groups in ring B chalcone, will decrease the activity of cytotoxicity.

Novel Carbonyl Analogues of Tamoxifen: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kasiotis, Konstantinos M.; Lambrinidis, George; Fokialakis, Nikolas; Tzanetou, Evangelia N.; Mikros, Emmanuel; Haroutounian, Serkos A.

2017-09-01

Aim of this work was to provide tamoxifen analogues with enhanced estrogen receptor binding affinity. Hence, several derivatives were prepared using an efficient triarylethylenes synthetic protocol. The novel compounds bioactivity was evaluated through the determination of their receptor binding affinity and their agonist/antagonist activity against breast cancer tissue using a MCF-7 cell-based assay. Phenyl esters 6a,b and 8a,b exhibited binding affinity to both ERα and ERβ higher than 4-hydroxytamoxifen while compounds 13 and 14 have shown cellular antiestrogenic activity similar to 4-hydroxytamoxifen and the known estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI182,780. Theoretical calculations and molecular modelling were applied to investigate, support and explain the biological profile of the new compounds. The relevant data indicated an agreement between calculations and demonstrated biological activity allowing to extract useful structure-activity relationships. Results herein underline that modifications of tamoxifen structure still provide molecules with substantial activity, as portrayed in the inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation.

Discovery of high-affinity BCL6-binding peptide and its structure-activity relationship

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sakamoto, Kotaro; Sogabe, Satoshi; Kamada, Yusuke

B cell lymphoma 6 (BCL6) is a transcriptional repressor that interacts with its corepressors BcoR and SMRT. Since this protein-protein interaction (PPI) induces activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, BCL6 has been an attractive drug target for potential autoimmune disease treatments. Here we report a novel BCL6 inhibitory peptide, F1324 (Ac-LWYTDIRMSWRVP-OH), which we discovered using phage display technology; we also discuss this peptide's structure-activity relationship (SAR). For BCL6(5-129) binding, K{sub D} and IC{sub 50} values of F1324 were 0.57 nM and 1 nM according to the results of an SPR analysis and cell-free ELISA assay, respectively. In contrast, BcoR(Arg498-514Pro) and SMRT(Leu1422-Arg1438) exhibitedmore » relatively weak micromole-order binding to BCL6. Furthermore, Fusion protein AcGFP-F1324 transiently expressed in HEK293T cells inhibited intracellular PPI in cell-based M2H assay. By examination of the truncation and fragmentation of F1324, the C-terminal sequence WRVP, which is similar to the BcoR(509-512) sequence WVVP, was identified as being critical for BCL6 binding. In addition, subsequent single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of F1324/BCL6(5-129) complex revealed that the high affinity of F1324 was caused by effective interaction of its side chains while its main chain structure was similar to that of BcoR(Arg498-514Pro). To our knowledge, F1324 is the strongest BCL6-binding peptide yet reported. - Highlights: • F1324 was discovered as 5000-times higher affinity peptide to BCL6 than that of BcoR(R498-P514). • X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed the binding mode. • To our knowledge, F1324 is the strongest BCL6-binding and -inhibition peptide so far.« less

Modeling of the relationship between dipeptide structure and dipeptide stability, permeability, and ACE inhibitory activity.

PubMed

Foltz, Martin; van Buren, Leo; Klaffke, Werner; Duchateau, Guus S M J E

2009-09-01

Selected di- and tripeptides exhibit angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in vitro. However, the efficacy in vivo is most likely limited for most peptides due to low bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to identify descriptors of intestinal stability, permeability, and ACE inhibitory activity of dipeptides. A total of 228 dipeptides were synthesized; intestinal stability was obtained by in vitro digestion, intestinal permeability using Caco-2 cells and ACE inhibitory activity by an in vitro assay. Databases were constructed to study the relationship between structure and activity, permeability, and stability. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling was performed based on computed models using partial least squares regression based on 400 molecular descriptors. QSAR modeling of dipeptide stability revealed high correlation coefficients (R > 0.65) for models based on Z and X scales. However, amino acid (AA) clustering showed the best results in describing stability of dipeptides. The N-terminal AA residues Asp, Gly, and Pro as well as the C-terminal residues Pro, Ser, Thr, and Asp stabilize dipeptides toward luminal enzymatic peptide hydrolysis. QSAR modeling did not reveal significant correlation models for intestinal permeability. 2D-fingerprint models were identified describing ACE inhibitory activity of dipeptides. The intestinal stability of 12 peptides was predicted. Peptides were synthesized and stability was confirmed in simulated digestion experiments. Based on the results, specific dipeptides can be designed to meet both stability and activity criteria. However, postabsorptive ACE inhibitory activities of dipeptides in vivo are most likely limited due to the very low intestinal permeability of dipeptides.

Cinnamides as selective small-molecule inhibitors of a cellular model of breast cancer stem cells.

PubMed

Germain, Andrew R; Carmody, Leigh C; Nag, Partha P; Morgan, Barbara; Verplank, Lynn; Fernandez, Cristina; Donckele, Etienne; Feng, Yuxiong; Perez, Jose R; Dandapani, Sivaraman; Palmer, Michelle; Lander, Eric S; Gupta, Piyush B; Schreiber, Stuart L; Munoz, Benito

2013-03-15

A high-throughput screen (HTS) was conducted against stably propagated cancer stem cell (CSC)-enriched populations using a library of 300,718 compounds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository (MLSMR). A cinnamide analog displayed greater than 20-fold selective inhibition of the breast CSC-like cell line (HMLE_sh_Ecad) over the isogenic control cell line (HMLE_sh_eGFP). Herein, we report structure-activity relationships of this class of cinnamides for selective lethality towards CSC-enriched populations. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant potential and neuro-protective effect from Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim.

PubMed

Qin, Rulan; Zhao, Ying; Zhao, Yudan; Zhou, Wanrong; Lv, Chongning; Lu, Jincai

2016-12-01

Three new phenolic compounds (1-3), along with five known compounds (4-8) were isolated from the rhizome of Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and HR-MS techniques. DPPH method and protective effect on PC12 cells against H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative damage model were carried to evaluate the antioxidant capability of these compounds. Compound 5 showed significant antioxidant activity with IC 50 values 9.33μM in DPPH assay and compound 2 displayed marked neuro-protective effect with 87.65% cell viability at the concentration of 10μM. Additionally, the possible structure-activity relationships of these phenolic compounds were tentatively discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and structure-activity relationships of novel substituted N-phenyl ureidobenzenesulfonate derivatives blocking cell cycle progression in S-phase and inducing DNA double-strand breaks.

PubMed

Turcotte, Vanessa; Fortin, Sébastien; Vevey, Florence; Coulombe, Yan; Lacroix, Jacques; Côté, Marie-France; Masson, Jean-Yves; C-Gaudreault, René

2012-07-12

Twenty-eight new substituted N-phenyl ureidobenzenesulfonate (PUB-SO) and 18 N-phenylureidobenzenesulfonamide (PUB-SA) derivatives were prepared. Several PUB-SOs exhibited antiproliferative activity at the micromolar level against the HT-29, M21, and MCF-7 cell lines and blocked cell cycle progression in S-phase similarly to cisplatin. In addition, PUB-SOs induced histone H2AX (γH2AX) phosphorylation, indicating that these molecules induce DNA double-strand breaks. In contrast, PUB-SAs were less active than PUB-SOs and did not block cell cycle progression in S-phase. Finally, PUB-SOs 4 and 46 exhibited potent antitumor activity in HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells grafted onto chick chorioallantoic membranes, which was similar to cisplatin and combretastatin A-4 and without significant toxicity toward chick embryos. These new compounds are members of a promising new class of anticancer agents.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) analogues chemosensitize multidrug-resistant cancer cells to clinical anticancer drugs.

PubMed

Liu, Junhua; Wang, Xu; Liu, Peng; Deng, Rongxin; Lei, Min; Chen, Wantao; Hu, Lihong

2013-07-15

Novel 20(S)-protopanoxadiol (PPD) analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for the chemosensitizing activity against a multidrug resistant (MDR) cell line (KBvcr) overexpressing P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that aromatic substituted aliphatic amine at the 24-positions (groups V) effectively and significantly sensitized P-gp overexpressing multidrug resistant (MDR) cells to anticancer drugs, such as docetaxel (DOC), vincristine (VCR), and adriamycin (ADM). PPD derivatives 12 and 18 showed 1.3-2.6 times more effective reversal ability than verapamil (VER) for DOC and VCR. Importantly, no cytotoxicity was observed by the active PPD analogues (5μM) against both non-MDR and MDR cells, suggesting that PPD analogues serve as novel lead compounds toward a potent and safe resistance modulator. Moreover, a preliminary mechanism study demonstrated that the chemosensitizing activity of PPD analogues results from inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpressed in MDR cancer cells. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Study of the Peripheral Nerve Fibers Myelin Structure Changes during Activation of Schwann Cell Acetylcholine Receptors

PubMed Central

Verdiyan, Ekaterina E.; Allakhverdiev, Elvin S.; Maksimov, Georgy V.

2016-01-01

In the present paper we consider a new type of mechanism by which neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) regulates the properties of peripheral nerve fibers myelin. Our data show the importance of the relationship between the changes in the number of Schwann cell (SC) acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) and the axon excitation (different intervals between action potentials (APs)). Using Raman spectroscopy, an effect of activation of SC AChRs on the myelin membrane fluidity was investigated. It was found, that ACh stimulates an increase in lipid ordering degree of the myelin lipids, thus providing evidence for specific role of the “axon-SC” interactions at the axon excitation. It was proposed, that during the axon excitation, the SC membrane K+- depolarization and the Ca2+—influx led to phospholipase activation or exocytosis of intracellular membrane vesicles and myelin structure reorganization. PMID:27455410

Relationship between auditory thresholds, central spontaneous activity and hair cell loss after acoustic trauma

PubMed Central

Mulders, W.H.A.M.; Ding, D.; Salvi, R.; Robertson, D.

2011-01-01

Acoustic trauma caused by exposure to a very loud sound increases spontaneous activity in central auditory structures such as the inferior colliculus. This hyperactivity has been suggested as a neural substrate for tinnitus, a phantom hearing sensation. In previous studies we have described a tentative link between the frequency region of hearing impairment and the corresponding tonotopic regions in the inferior colliculus showing hyperactivity. In this study we further investigated the relationship between cochlear compound action potential threshold loss, cochlear outer and inner hair cell loss and central hyperactivity in inferior colliculus of guinea pigs. Two weeks after a 10 kHz pure tone acoustic trauma, a tight relationship was demonstrated between the frequency region of compound action potential threshold loss and frequency regions in the inferior colliculus showing hyperactivity. Extending the duration of the acoustic trauma from 1 to 2 h did not result in significant increases in final cochlear threshold loss, but did result in a further increase of spontaneous firing rates in the inferior colliculus. Interestingly, hair cell loss was not present in the frequency regions where elevated cochlear thresholds and central hyperactivity were measured, suggesting that subtle changes in hair cell or primary afferent neural function are sufficient for central hyperactivity to be triggered and maintained. PMID:21491427

The recombinant expression and activity detection of MAF-1 fusion protein.

PubMed

Fu, Ping; Wu, Jianwei; Gao, Song; Guo, Guo; Zhang, Yong; Liu, Jian

2015-10-01

This study establishes the recombinant expression system of MAF-1 (Musca domestica antifungal peptide-1) and demonstrates the antifungal activity of the expression product and shows the relationship between biological activity and structure. The gene segments on mature peptide part of MAF-1 were cloned, based on the primers designed according to the cDNA sequence of MAF-1. We constructed the recombinant prokaryotic expression plasmid using prokaryotic expression vector (pET-28a(+)) and converted it to the competent cell of BL21(DE3) to gain recombinant MAF-1 fusion protein with His tag sequence through purifying affinity chromatographic column of Ni-NTA. To conduct the Western Blotting test, recombinant MAF-1 fusion protein was used to produce the polyclonal antibody of rat. The antifungal activity of the expression product was detected using Candida albicans (ATCC10231) as the indicator. The MAF-1 recombinant fusion protein was purified to exhibit obvious antifungal activity, which lays the foundation for the further study of MAF-1 biological activity, the relationship between structure and function, as well as control of gene expression.

Discovery, synthesis, and structure-activity relationships of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) derivatives as a novel class of AMPKα2β1γ1 activators.

PubMed

Liu, Junhua; Chen, Dakai; Liu, Peng; He, Mengna; Li, Jia; Li, Jingya; Hu, Lihong

2014-05-22

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been demonstrated as a promising drug target due to its regulatory function in glucose and lipid metabolism. 20(S)-protopanoxadiol (PPD) was firstly identified from high throughput screening as a small molecule activator of AMPK subtype α2β1γ1. In order to enhance its potency on AMPK, a series of PPD derivatives were synthesized and evaluated. Structure-activity relationship study showed that the amine derivatives at the 24-position (groups I-VI) can improve the potency (EC50: 0.7-2.3 μM) and efficacy (fold: 2.5-3.8). Among them, compounds 12 and 13 exhibited the best potency (EC50: 1.2 and 0.7 μM) and efficacy (fold: 3.7 and 3.8). Further study suggested the mechanism of AMPK activation may functioned at the allosteric position, resulting the inhibition of the lipid synthesis in HepG2 cell model. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Three classes of glucocerebrosidase inhibitors identified by quantitative high-throughput screening are chaperone leads for Gaucher disease

PubMed Central

Zheng, Wei; Padia, Janak; Urban, Daniel J.; Jadhav, Ajit; Goker-Alpan, Ozlem; Simeonov, Anton; Goldin, Ehud; Auld, Douglas; LaMarca, Mary E.; Inglese, James; Austin, Christopher P.; Sidransky, Ellen

2007-01-01

Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the glucocerebrosidase gene. Missense mutations result in reduced enzyme activity that may be due to misfolding, raising the possibility of small-molecule chaperone correction of the defect. Screening large compound libraries by quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) provides comprehensive information on the potency, efficacy, and structure–activity relationships (SAR) of active compounds directly from the primary screen, facilitating identification of leads for medicinal chemistry optimization. We used qHTS to rapidly identify three structural series of potent, selective, nonsugar glucocerebrosidase inhibitors. The three structural classes had excellent potencies and efficacies and, importantly, high selectivity against closely related hydrolases. Preliminary SAR data were used to select compounds with high activity in both enzyme and cell-based assays. Compounds from two of these structural series increased N370S mutant glucocerebrosidase activity by 40–90% in patient cell lines and enhanced lysosomal colocalization, indicating chaperone activity. These small molecules have potential as leads for chaperone therapy for Gaucher disease, and this paradigm promises to accelerate the development of leads for other rare genetic disorders. PMID:17670938

Cardiac Glycoside Constituents of Streblus asper with Potential Antineoplastic Activity.

PubMed

Ren, Yulin; Chen, Wei-Lun; Lantvit, Daniel D; Sass, Ellen J; Shriwas, Pratik; Ninh, Tran Ngoc; Chai, Hee-Byung; Zhang, Xiaoli; Soejarto, Djaja D; Chen, Xiaozhuo; Lucas, David M; Swanson, Steven M; Burdette, Joanna E; Kinghorn, A Douglas

2017-03-24

Three new (1-3) and two known (4 and 5) cytotoxic cardiac glycosides were isolated and characterized from a medicinal plant, Streblus asper Lour. (Moraceae), collected in Vietnam, with six new analogues and one known derivative (5a-g) synthesized from (+)-strebloside (5). A preliminary structure-activity relationship study indicated that the C-10 formyl and C-5 and C-14 hydroxy groups and C-3 sugar unit play important roles in the mediation of the cytotoxicity of (+)-strebloside (5) against HT-29 human colon cancer cells. When evaluated in NCr nu/nu mice implanted intraperitoneally with hollow fibers facilitated with either MDA-MB-231 human breast or OVCAR3 human ovarian cancer cells, (+)-strebloside (5) showed significant cell growth inhibitory activity in both cases, in the dose range 5-30 mg/kg.

Curcumin Based Drug Screening for Inhibitors of NF kappa B in a Cell Model of Prostate Cancer Progression

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-02-01

West Society of Toxicology in Breckenridge, CO in September 2007: “Identification of Curcumin Analogs Toxic against Prostate Cancer Cells Through...quantitative structure-activity relationship ( QSAR ) and ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) to explore the possibility of improving their efficacy...Student in my laboratory has presented part of this data at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Mountain West Society of Toxicology in Breckenridge, CO in

Structure-activity relationships of succinimidyl-Cys-C(O)-Glu derivatives with different near-infrared fluorophores as optical imaging probes for prostate-specific membrane antigen.

PubMed

Matsuoka, Daiko; Watanabe, Hiroyuki; Shimizu, Yoichi; Kimura, Hiroyuki; Yagi, Yusuke; Kawai, Ryoko; Ono, Masahiro; Saji, Hideo

2018-05-15

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), which is overexpressed in malignant prostate cancer (PCa), is an ideal target for imaging and therapy of PCa. We previously reported a PSMA imaging probe, 800CW-SCE, based on succinimidyl-Cys-C(O)-Glu (SCE) for optical imaging of PCa. In this study, we investigated the structure-activity relationships of novel SCE derivatives with five different near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores (IRDye 680LT, IRDye 750, Indocyanine Green, Cyanine 5.5, and Cyanine 7) as optical imaging probes targeting PSMA. An in vitro binding assay revealed that 800CW-SCE, 680LT-SCE, and 750-SCE exhibited higher binding affinity than 2-PMPA, which is known as a PSMA inhibitor. These three SCE derivatives were internalized into PSMA-positive cells (LNCaP cells) but not into PSMA-negative cells (PC-3 cells). In the in vivo imaging study, 800CW-SCE and 750-SCE were highly accumulated in LNCaP tumors but not in PC-3 tumors, and the ratio of LNCaP/PC-3 accumulation of 800CW-SCE was higher than that of 750-SCE. The present study may provide valuable molecular design information for the future development of new PSMA imaging probes based on the SCE scaffold. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of loop structure of bovine lactoferricin on apoptosis in Jurkat cells.

PubMed

Zhang, Tie-nan; Yang, Wei; Liu, Ning

2010-06-01

Bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) is a cationic peptide that selectively induces apoptosis in Jurkat cells. However less is known about the influence of this kind of apoptosis on the intra-cellular ceramide metabolism and the structure-function relationship between the loop structure of LfcinB and its action of inducing apoptosis in Jurkat cells. In the present study, the artificially synthesized LfcinB and LfcinB-derived peptide (Cys 19 residue in LfcinB was replaced by Ala) was added in Jurkat cells, the nucleolus shape was observed by fluorescent microscopy, the ceramide concentration in Jurkat cells was determined by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). The results of MTT assay showed that LfcinB inhibited proliferation of Jurkat cells, and the inhibition rate was approximately 18.90%. Moreover, the inhibition rate of LfcinB together with MAPP was upto approximately 59.89%. The RP-HPLC result showed that LfcinB improved the ceramide level in Jurkat cells. By using the DNA fragmentation assay and observing the nucleolus shape, the result displayed deficiency of the loop structure could cause LfcinB losing the biological activity of inducing apoptosis in Jurkat cells.

Synthesis, anti-proliferative activity, SAR study, and preliminary in vivo toxicity study of substituted N,N'-bis(arylmethyl)benzimidazolium salts against a panel of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines.

PubMed

Shelton, Kerri L; DeBord, Michael A; Wagers, Patrick O; Southerland, Marie R; Williams, Travis M; Robishaw, Nikki K; Shriver, Leah P; Tessier, Claire A; Panzner, Matthew J; Youngs, Wiley J

2017-01-01

A series of N,N'-bis(arylmethyl)benzimidazolium salts have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro anti-cancer activity against select non-small cell lung cancer cell lines to create a structure activity relationship profile. The results indicate that hydrophobic substituents on the salts increase the overall anti-proliferative activity. Our data confirms that naphthylmethyl substituents at the nitrogen atoms (N 1 (N 3 )) and highly lipophilic substituents at the carbon atoms (C 2 and C 5 (C 6 )) can generate benzimidazolium salts with anti-proliferative activity that is comparable to that of cisplatin. The National Cancer Institute's Developmental Therapeutics Program tested 1, 3-5, 10, 11, 13-18, 20-25, and 28-30 in their 60 human tumor cell line screen. Results were supportive of data observed in our lab. Compounds with hydrophobic substituents have higher anti-cancer activity than compounds with hydrophilic substituents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative structure-activity relationship of the curcumin-related compounds using various regression methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khazaei, Ardeshir; Sarmasti, Negin; Seyf, Jaber Yousefi

2016-03-01

Quantitative structure activity relationship were used to study a series of curcumin-related compounds with inhibitory effect on prostate cancer PC-3 cells, pancreas cancer Panc-1 cells, and colon cancer HT-29 cells. Sphere exclusion method was used to split data set in two categories of train and test set. Multiple linear regression, principal component regression and partial least squares were used as the regression methods. In other hand, to investigate the effect of feature selection methods, stepwise, Genetic algorithm, and simulated annealing were used. In two cases (PC-3 cells and Panc-1 cells), the best models were generated by a combination of multiple linear regression and stepwise (PC-3 cells: r2 = 0.86, q2 = 0.82, pred_r2 = 0.93, and r2m (test) = 0.43, Panc-1 cells: r2 = 0.85, q2 = 0.80, pred_r2 = 0.71, and r2m (test) = 0.68). For the HT-29 cells, principal component regression with stepwise (r2 = 0.69, q2 = 0.62, pred_r2 = 0.54, and r2m (test) = 0.41) is the best method. The QSAR study reveals descriptors which have crucial role in the inhibitory property of curcumin-like compounds. 6ChainCount, T_C_C_1, and T_O_O_7 are the most important descriptors that have the greatest effect. With a specific end goal to design and optimization of novel efficient curcumin-related compounds it is useful to introduce heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur atoms in the chemical structure (reduce the contribution of T_C_C_1 descriptor) and increase the contribution of 6ChainCount and T_O_O_7 descriptors. Models can be useful in the better design of some novel curcumin-related compounds that can be used in the treatment of prostate, pancreas, and colon cancers.

Structural and biological evaluation of a novel series of benzimidazole inhibitors of Francisella tularensis enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mehboob, Shahila; Song, Jinhua; Hevener, Kirk E.

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, presents a significant biological threat and is a Category A priority pathogen due to its potential for weaponization. In the bacterial FASII pathway we found it a viable target for the development of novel antibacterial agents treating Gram-negative infections. Here, we report the advancement of a promising series of benzimidazole FabI (enoyl-ACP reductase) inhibitors to a second-generation using a systematic, structure-guided lead optimization strategy, and the determination of several co-crystal structures that confirm the binding mode of designed inhibitors. Furthermore, these compounds display an improved low nanomolar enzymatic activity as well as promisingmore » low microgram/mL antibacterial activity against both F. tularensis and Staphylococcus aureus and its methicillin-resistant strain (MRSA). Finally, the improvements in activity accompanying structural modifications lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological activity that encompasses both enzymatic and whole-cell activity.« less

Structural and biological evaluation of a novel series of benzimidazole inhibitors of Francisella tularensis enoyl-ACP reductase (FabI)

DOE PAGES

Mehboob, Shahila; Song, Jinhua; Hevener, Kirk E.; ...

2015-01-29

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, presents a significant biological threat and is a Category A priority pathogen due to its potential for weaponization. In the bacterial FASII pathway we found it a viable target for the development of novel antibacterial agents treating Gram-negative infections. Here, we report the advancement of a promising series of benzimidazole FabI (enoyl-ACP reductase) inhibitors to a second-generation using a systematic, structure-guided lead optimization strategy, and the determination of several co-crystal structures that confirm the binding mode of designed inhibitors. Furthermore, these compounds display an improved low nanomolar enzymatic activity as well as promisingmore » low microgram/mL antibacterial activity against both F. tularensis and Staphylococcus aureus and its methicillin-resistant strain (MRSA). Finally, the improvements in activity accompanying structural modifications lead to a better understanding of the relationship between the chemical structure and biological activity that encompasses both enzymatic and whole-cell activity.« less

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel EF24 and EF31 analogs as potential IκB kinase β inhibitors for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Xie, Xuemeng; Tu, Jinfu; You, Heyi; Hu, Bingren

2017-01-01

Given the important role that inhibitory kappa B (IκB) kinase β (IKKβ) plays in pancreatic cancer (PC) development and progression, inhibitors targeting IKKβ are believed to be increasingly popular as novel anti-PC therapies. Two synthetic molecules, named EF24 and EF31 , exhibited favorable potential in terms of inhibition of both IKKβ activity and PC cell proliferation. Aiming to enhance their cellular efficacy and to analyze their structure-activity relationship, four series of EF24 and EF31 analogs were designed and synthesized. Through kinase activity and vitality screening of cancer cells, D6 displayed excellent inhibition of both IKKβ activity and PC cell proliferation. Additionally, multiple biological evaluations showed that D6 was directly bound to IKKβ and significantly suppressed the activation of the IKKβ/nuclear factor κB pathway induced by tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as effectively inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis indicated that the dominant force between D6 and IKKβ comprised hydrophobic interactions. In conclusion, D6 may be a promising therapeutic agent for PC treatment and it also provides a structural lead for the design of novel IKKβ inhibitors.

NOVEL POLYPHENOLS THAT INHIBIT COLON CANCER CELL GROWTH AFFECTING CANCER CELL METABOLISM.

PubMed

Gomez de Cedron, Marta; Vargas, Teodoro; Madrona, Andres; Jimenez, Aranza; Perez Perez, Maria Jesus; Quintela, Jose Carlos; Reglero, Guillermo; San-Felix, Ana Rosa; Ramirez de Molina, Ana

2018-06-05

New series of polyphenols with a hydrophilic galloyl based "head" and a hydrophobic N-acyl "tail", linked through a serinol moiety, have been synthesized and tested against colon cancer cell growth. Our structure activity relationship studies revealed that galloyl moieties are essential for growth inhibition. Moreover, the length of the N-acyl chain is crucial for the activity. Introduction of a (Z) double bond in the acyl chain increased the anti-cancer properties. Our findings demonstrate that 16, the most potent compound within this series, has inhibitory effects on colon cancer cell growth and metabolism (glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration) at the same time that activates AMPK and induces apoptotic cell death. Based on these results we propose that 16 might reprogram colon cancer cell metabolism through AMPK activation. This might lead to alterations on cancer cell bioenergy compromising cancer cell viability. Importantly, these anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects are selective for cancer cells. Accordingly, these results indicate that 16, with an unsaturated C18 chain, might be a useful prototype for the development of novel colon cancer cell growth inhibitors affecting cell metabolism. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics.

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies and Molecular Modeling of Naphthalene-Based Sphingosine Kinase 2 Inhibitors.

PubMed

Congdon, Molly D; Kharel, Yugesh; Brown, Anne M; Lewis, Stephanie N; Bevan, David R; Lynch, Kevin R; Santos, Webster L

2016-03-10

The two isoforms of sphingosine kinase (SphK1 and SphK2) are the only enzymes that phosphorylate sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which is a pleiotropic lipid mediator involved in a broad range of cellular processes including migration, proliferation, and inflammation. SphKs are targets for various diseases such as cancer, fibrosis, and Alzheimer's and sickle cell disease. Herein, we disclose the structure-activity profile of naphthalene-containing SphK inhibitors and molecular modeling studies that reveal a key molecular switch that controls SphK selectivity.

Synthesis and biological activities of turkesterone 11α-acyl derivatives

PubMed Central

Dinan, Laurence; Bourne, Pauline; Whiting, Pensri; Tsitsekli, Ada; Saatov, Ziyadilla; Dhadialla, Tarlochan S.; Hormann, Robert E.; Lafont, René; Coll, Josep

2003-01-01

Turkesterone is a phytoecdysteroid possessing an 11α-hydroxyl group. It is an analogue of the insect steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone. Previous ecdysteroid QSAR and molecular modelling studies predicted that the cavity of the ligand binding domain of the ecdysteroid receptor would possess space in the vicinity of C-11/C-12 of the ecdysteroid. We report the regioselective synthesis of a series of turkesterone 11α-acyl derivatives in order to explore this possibility. The structures of the analogues have been unambiguously determined by spectroscopic means (NMR and low-resolution mass spectrometry). Purity was verified by HPLC. Biological activities have been determined in Drosophila melanogaster BII cell-based bioassay for ecdysteroid agonists and in an in vitro radioligand-displacement assay using bacterially-expressed D. melanogaster EcR/USP receptor proteins. The 11α-acyl derivatives do retain a significant amount of biological activity relative to the parent ecdysteroid. Further, although activity initially drops with the extension of the acyl chain length (C2 to C4), it then increases (C6 to C10), before decreasing again (C14 and C20). The implications of these findings for the interaction of ecdysteroids with the ecdysteroid receptor and potential applications in the generation of affinity-labelled and fluorescently-tagged ecdysteroids are discussed. Abbreviation: CoMFA comparative molecular field analysis DCM dichloromethane DMF dimethylformamide DMP 2,2-dimethoxypropane 4D-QSAR 4-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship EcR ecdysteroid receptor EcRE ecdysteroid response element HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography LBD ligand-binding domain NMR nuclear magnetic resonance ponA ponasterone A QSAR quantitative structure-activity relationship RXR retinoid X receptor SAR structure-activity relationship SPE solid-phase extraction THF tetrahydrofuran TLC thin-layer chromatography p-TsOH para-toluenesulphonic acid USP ultraspiracle UV-VIS ultraviolet-visible PMID:15841223

Potential of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones against Leishmania (L.) infantum: biological activity and structure-activity relationships.

PubMed

Pinto, Erika G; Santos, Isabela O; Schmidt, Thomas J; Borborema, Samanta E T; Ferreira, Vitor F; Rocha, David R; Tempone, Andre G

2014-01-01

Naphtoquinones have been used as promising scaffolds for drug design studies against protozoan parasites. Considering the highly toxic and limited therapeutic arsenal, the global negligence with tropical diseases and the elevated prevalence of co-morbidities especially in developing countries, the parasitic diseases caused by various Leishmania species (leishmaniasis) became a significant public health threat in 98 countries. The aim of this work was the evaluation of antileishmanial in vitro potential of thirty-six 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones obtained by a three component reaction of lawsone, the appropriate aldehyde and thiols adequately substituted, exploiting the in situ generation of o-quinonemethides (o-QM) via the Knoevenagel condensation. The antileishmanial activity of the naphthoquinone derivatives was evaluated against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and their cytotoxicity was verified in mammalian cells. Among the thirty-six compounds, twenty-seven were effective against promastigotes, with IC50 values ranging from 8 to 189 µM; fourteen compounds eliminated the intracellular amastigotes, with IC50 values ranging from 12 to 65 µM. The compounds containing the phenyl groups at R1 and R2 and with the fluorine substituent at the phenyl ring at R2, rendered the most promising activity, demonstrating a selectivity index higher than 15 against amastigotes. A QSAR (quantitative structure activity relationship) analysis yielded insights into general structural requirements for activity of most compounds in the series. Considering the in vitro antileishmanial potential of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylsulfanylmethyl-[1,4]-naphthoquinones and their structure-activity relationships, novel lead candidates could be exploited in future drug design studies for leishmaniasis.

Identification of tyrosine 71 as a critical residue for the cytotoxic activity of Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin towards MDCK cells.

PubMed

Jiang, Zhigang; Chang, Jitao; Wang, Fang; Yu, Li

2015-02-01

Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin (Etx) is an extremely potent toxin, causing fatal enterotoxaemia in many animals. Several amino acids in domains I and II have been proposed to be critical for Etx to interact with MDCK cells. However, the critical amino acids in domain III remain undefined. Therefore, we assessed the effects of aromatic amino acids in domain III on Etx activity in this study. All of the results indicated that Y71 was critical for the cytotoxic activity of Etx towards MDCK cells, and this activity was dependent on the existence of an aromatic ring residue in position 71. Additionally, mutations in Y71 did not affect the binding of Etx to MDCK cells, indicating that Y71 is not a receptor binding site for Etx. In summary, we identified an amino acid in domain III that is important for the cytotoxic activity of Etx, thereby providing information on the structure-function relationship of Etx.

Inhibition of the cellular function of perforin by 1-amino-2,4-dicyanopyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles.

PubMed

Lyons, Dani M; Huttunen, Kristiina M; Browne, Kylie A; Ciccone, Annette; Trapani, Joseph A; Denny, William A; Spicer, Julie A

2011-07-01

A high throughput screen showed the ability of a 1-amino-2,4-dicyanopyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazole analogue to directly inhibit the lytic activity of the pore-forming protein perforin. A series of analogues were prepared to study structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the this activity, either directly added to cells or released in situ by KHYG-1 NK cells, at non-toxic concentrations. These studies showed that the pyridobenzimidazole moiety was required for effective activity, with strongly basic centres disfavoured. This class of compounds was relatively unaffected by the addition of serum, which was not the case for a previous class of direct inhibitors. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The hppA gene of Helicobacter pylori encodes the class C acid phosphatase precursor.

PubMed

Godlewska, Renata; Bujnicki, Janusz M; Ostrowski, Jerzy; Jagusztyn-Krynicka, Elzbieta K

2002-08-14

Screening of the Helicobacter pylori genomic library with sera from infected humans and from immunized rabbits resulted in identification of the 25 kDa protein cell envelope (HppA) which exhibits acid phosphatase activity. Enzyme activity was demonstrated by specific enzymatic assays with whole-cell protein preparations of H. pylori strain N6 and from Escherichia coli carrying the hppA gene (pUWM192). HppA showed optimum activity at pH 5.6 and was resistant to inhibition by EDTA. Bioinformatics analysis and site-directed mutagenesis of two putative active site residues (D73 and D192) provide further insight into the sequence-structure-function relationships of HppA as a member of the DDDD phosphohydrolase superfamily.

Predicting Cell Association of Surface-Modified Nanoparticles Using Protein Corona Structure - Activity Relationships (PCSAR).

PubMed

Kamath, Padmaja; Fernandez, Alberto; Giralt, Francesc; Rallo, Robert

2015-01-01

Nanoparticles are likely to interact in real-case application scenarios with mixtures of proteins and biomolecules that will absorb onto their surface forming the so-called protein corona. Information related to the composition of the protein corona and net cell association was collected from literature for a library of surface-modified gold and silver nanoparticles. For each protein in the corona, sequence information was extracted and used to calculate physicochemical properties and statistical descriptors. Data cleaning and preprocessing techniques including statistical analysis and feature selection methods were applied to remove highly correlated, redundant and non-significant features. A weighting technique was applied to construct specific signatures that represent the corona composition for each nanoparticle. Using this basic set of protein descriptors, a new Protein Corona Structure-Activity Relationship (PCSAR) that relates net cell association with the physicochemical descriptors of the proteins that form the corona was developed and validated. The features that resulted from the feature selection were in line with already published literature, and the computational model constructed on these features had a good accuracy (R(2)LOO=0.76 and R(2)LMO(25%)=0.72) and stability, with the advantage that the fingerprints based on physicochemical descriptors were independent of the specific proteins that form the corona.

Identification of small molecule inhibitors of ERCC1-XPF that inhibit DNA repair and potentiate cisplatin efficacy in cancer cells

PubMed Central

Arora, Sanjeevani; Heyza, Joshua; Zhang, Hao; Kalman-Maltese, Vivian; Tillison, Kristin; Floyd, Ashley M.; Chalfin, Elaine M.; Bepler, Gerold; Patrick, Steve M.

2016-01-01

ERCC1-XPF heterodimer is a 5′-3′ structure-specific endonuclease which is essential in multiple DNA repair pathways in mammalian cells. ERCC1-XPF (ERCC1-ERCC4) repairs cisplatin-DNA intrastrand adducts and interstrand crosslinks and its specific inhibition has been shown to enhance cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cells. In this study, we describe a high throughput screen (HTS) used to identify small molecules that inhibit the endonuclease activity of ERCC1-XPF. Primary screens identified two compounds that inhibit ERCC1-XPF activity in the nanomolar range. These compounds were validated in secondary screens against two other non-related endonucleases to ensure specificity. Results from these screens were validated using an in vitro gel-based nuclease assay. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) further show that these compounds do not inhibit the binding of purified ERCC1-XPF to DNA. Next, in lung cancer cells these compounds potentiated cisplatin cytotoxicity and inhibited DNA repair. Structure activity relationship (SAR) studies identified related compounds for one of the original Hits, which also potentiated cisplatin cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Excitingly, dosing with NSC16168 compound potentiated cisplatin antitumor activity in a lung cancer xenograft model. Further development of ERCC1-XPF DNA repair inhibitors is expected to sensitize cancer cells to DNA damage-based chemotherapy. PMID:27650543

Synthesis, antimalarial properties, and SAR studies of alkoxyurea-based HDAC inhibitors.

PubMed

Hansen, Finn K; Skinner-Adams, Tina S; Duffy, Sandra; Marek, Linda; Sumanadasa, Subathdrage D M; Kuna, Krystina; Held, Jana; Avery, Vicky M; Andrews, Katherine T; Kurz, Thomas

2014-03-01

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are an emerging class of potential antimalarial drugs. We investigated the antiplasmodial properties of 16 alkoxyurea-based HDAC inhibitors containing various cap and zinc binding groups (ZBGs). Ten compounds displayed sub-micromolar activity against the 3D7 line of Plasmodium falciparum. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that a hydroxamic acid ZBG is crucial for antiplasmodial activity, and that the introduction of bulky alkyl substituents to cap groups increases potency against asexual blood-stage parasites. We also demonstrate that selected compounds cause hyperacetylation of P. falciparum histone H4, indicating inhibition of one or more PfHDACs. To assess the selectivity of alkoxyurea-based HDAC inhibitors for parasite over normal mammalian cells, the cytotoxicity of representative compounds was evaluated against neonatal foreskin fibroblast (NFF) cells. The most active compound, 6-((3-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)ureido)oxy)-N-hydroxyhexanamide (1 e, Pf3D7 IC50 : 0.16 μM) was 31-fold more toxic against the asexual blood stages than towards normal mammalian cells. Moreover, a subset of four structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors revealed moderate activity against late-stage (IV-V) gametocytes. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Molecular structures and functional relationships in clostridial neurotoxins.

PubMed

Swaminathan, Subramanyam

2011-12-01

The seven serotypes of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (A-G) are the deadliest poison known to humans. They share significant sequence homology and hence possess similar structure-function relationships. Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) act via a four-step mechanism, viz., binding and internalization to neuronal cells, translocation of the catalytic domain into the cytosol and finally cleavage of one of the three soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNARE) causing blockage of neurotransmitter release leading to flaccid paralysis. Crystal structures of three holotoxins, BoNT/A, B and E, are available to date. Although the individual domains are remarkably similar, their domain organization is different. These structures have helped in correlating the structural and functional domains. This has led to the determination of structures of individual domains and combinations of them. Crystal structures of catalytic domains of all serotypes and several binding domains are now available. The catalytic domains are zinc endopeptidases and share significant sequence and structural homology. The active site architecture and the catalytic mechanism are similar although the binding mode of individual substrates may be different, dictating substrate specificity and peptide cleavage selectivity. Crystal structures of catalytic domains with substrate peptides provide clues to specificity and selectivity unique to BoNTs. Crystal structures of the receptor domain in complex with ganglioside or the protein receptor have provided information about the binding of botulinum neurotoxin to the neuronal cell. An overview of the structure-function relationship correlating the 3D structures with biochemical and biophysical data and how they can be used for structure-based drug discovery is presented here. Journal compilation © 2011 FEBS. No claim to original US government works.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-4-carboxamide derivatives for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Shahin, Mai I; Roy, Joyeeta; Hanafi, Maha; Wang, Dongyao; Luesakul, Urarika; Chai, Yifeng; Muangsin, Nongnuj; Lasheen, Deena S; Abou El Ella, Dalal A; Abouzid, Khaled A; Neamati, Nouri

2018-05-29

No new and effective treatments have been approved for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in the past decade. Cisplatin and 5-fluoruracil are the most commonly used drugs for this disease. In order to develop a new class of drugs effective in our ESCC phenotypic screens, we began a systematic approach to generate novel compounds based on the 2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinoline-4-carboxamide fragment. Herein, we report on the synthesis and initial assessment of 55 new analogues in two ESCC cell lines. Some of the active analogues with IC 50 values around 10 μM were tested in three additional cell lines. Our structure-activity relationships revealed remarkable alterations in the anti proliferative activities upon modest chemical modifications and autophagy modulation is a suggested mechanism of action. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Legume Lectins: Proteins with Diverse Applications

PubMed Central

Lagarda-Diaz, Irlanda; Guzman-Partida, Ana Maria; Vazquez-Moreno, Luz

2017-01-01

Lectins are a diverse class of proteins distributed extensively in nature. Among these proteins; legume lectins display a variety of interesting features including antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor activities. Because lectins recognize and bind to specific glycoconjugates present on the surface of cells and intracellular structures; they can serve as potential target molecules for developing practical applications in the fields of food; agriculture; health and pharmaceutical research. This review presents the current knowledge of the main structural characteristics of legume lectins and the relationship of structure to the exhibited specificities; provides an overview of their particular antimicrobial; insecticidal and antitumor biological activities and describes possible applications based on the pattern of recognized glyco-targets. PMID:28604616

Structure-function relationships between aldolase C/zebrin II expression and complex spike synchrony in the cerebellum.

PubMed

Tsutsumi, Shinichiro; Yamazaki, Maya; Miyazaki, Taisuke; Watanabe, Masahiko; Sakimura, Kenji; Kano, Masanobu; Kitamura, Kazuo

2015-01-14

Simple and regular anatomical structure is a hallmark of the cerebellar cortex. Parasagittally arrayed alternate expression of aldolase C/zebrin II in Purkinje cells (PCs) has been extensively studied, but surprisingly little is known about its functional significance. Here we found a precise structure-function relationship between aldolase C expression and synchrony of PC complex spike activities that reflect climbing fiber inputs to PCs. We performed two-photon calcium imaging in transgenic mice in which aldolase C compartments can be visualized in vivo, and identified highly synchronous complex spike activities among aldolase C-positive or aldolase C-negative PCs, but not across these populations. The boundary of aldolase C compartments corresponded to that of complex spike synchrony at single-cell resolution. Sensory stimulation evoked aldolase C compartment-specific complex spike responses and synchrony. This result further revealed the structure-function segregation. In awake animals, complex spike synchrony both within and between PC populations across the aldolase C boundary were enhanced in response to sensory stimuli, in a way that two functionally distinct PC ensembles are coactivated. These results suggest that PC populations characterized by aldolase C expression precisely represent distinct functional units of the cerebellar cortex, and these functional units can cooperate to process sensory information in awake animals. Copyright © 2015 the authors 0270-6474/15/350843-10$15.00/0.

Intact vinculin protein is required for control of cell shape, cell mechanics, and rac-dependent lamellipodia formation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Goldmann, Wolfgang H.; Ingber, Donald E.

2002-01-01

Studies were carried out using vinculin-deficient F9 embryonic carcinoma (gamma229) cells to analyze the relationship between structure and function within the focal adhesion protein vinculin, in the context of control of cell shape, cell mechanics, and movement. Atomic force microscopy studies revealed that transfection of the head (aa 1-821) or tail (aa 811-1066) domain of vinculin, alone or together, was unable to fully reverse the decrease in cell stiffness, spreading, and lamellipodia formation caused by vinculin deficiency. In contrast, replacement with intact vinculin completely restored normal cell mechanics and spreading regardless of whether its tyrosine phosphorylation site was deleted. Constitutively active rac also only induced extension of lamellipodia when microinjected into cells that expressed intact vinculin protein. These data indicate that vinculin's ability to physically couple integrins to the cytoskeleton, to mechanically stabilize cell shape, and to support rac-dependent lamellipodia formation all appear to depend on its intact three-dimensional structure.

Antimalarial activity of abietane ferruginol analogues possessing a phthalimide group.

PubMed

González, Miguel A; Clark, Julie; Connelly, Michele; Rivas, Fatima

2014-11-15

The abietane-type diterpenoid (+)-ferruginol, a bioactive compound isolated from New Zealand's Miro tree (Podocarpus ferruginea), displays relevant pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, cardioprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-plasmodial, leishmanicidal, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Herein, we demonstrate that ferruginol (1) and some phthalimide containing analogues 2-12 have potential antimalarial activity. The compounds were evaluated against malaria strains 3D7 and K1, and cytotoxicity was measured against a mammalian cell line panel. A promising lead, compound 3, showed potent activity with an EC50 = 86 nM (3D7 strain), 201 nM (K1 strain) and low cytotoxicity in mammalian cells (SI>290). Some structure-activity relationships have been identified for the antimalarial activity in these abietane analogues. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase: SARs about the N-[3-Methoxy-4-(5-oxazolyl)phenyl moiety.

PubMed

Iwanowicz, Edwin J; Watterson, Scott H; Guo, Junqing; Pitts, William J; Murali Dhar, T G; Shen, Zhongqi; Chen, Ping; Gu, Henry H; Fleener, Catherine A; Rouleau, Katherine A; Cheney, Daniel L; Townsend, Robert M; Hollenbaugh, Diane L

2003-06-16

The first reported structure-activity relationships (SARs) about the N-[3-methoxy-4-(5-oxazolyl)phenyl moiety for a series of recently disclosed inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) inhibitors are described. The syntheses and in vitro inhibitory values for IMPDH II, and T-cell proliferation (for select analogues) are given.

STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIP AMONG ORGANOTINS IN AN IN VITRO MODEL OF NEURONAL DIFFERENTIATION AND PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH.

EPA Science Inventory

The organotins are used as heat stabilizers in PVC pipes and as marine biocides. Human exposure to monomethyltin (MMT) and dimethyltin (DMT) can occur in the water supply as a result of leaching from PVC pipes. Developmental exposure of rats to MMT and the known neurotoxicant t...

A novel piperazine linked β-amino alcohols bearing a benzosuberone scaffolds as anti-proliferative agents.

PubMed

Vanguru, Sowmya; Jilla, Lavanya; Sajja, Yasodakrishna; Bantu, Rajashaker; Nagarapu, Lingaiah; Nanubolu, Jagadeesh Babu; Bhaskar, Bala; Jain, Nishant; Sivan, Sreekanth; Manga, Vijjulatha

2017-02-15

A new series of 1-((9-chloro-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dihydro-5H-benzo[7]annulen-8-yl)methoxy)-3-(4-phenylpiperzin-1-yl) propan-2-ols (6a-k) have been designed, synthesized and their structures were established by spectroscopic data (FT-IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, HRMS) and further confirmed by X-ray analysis. The newly synthesized compounds 6a-k were evaluated for their in vitro anti-proliferative activity against four cancer cell lines such as HeLa (cervical), MDA-MB-231 (breast), A549 (lung) and MIAPACA (pancreatic). Among the compounds tested, the compound 6e displayed most potent activity against four cancer cell lines with GI 50 values ranging from 0.010 to 0.097μM. The structure and anti-proliferative activity relationship was further supported by in silico molecular docking study of the active compounds against Colchicine binding site of β-tubulin. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of N-Dihydrocoptisine-8-ylidene Aromatic Amines and N-Dihydrocoptisine-8-ylidene Aliphatic Amides as Antiulcerative Colitis Agents Targeting XBP1.

PubMed

Xie, Meng; Zhang, Hai-Jing; Deng, An-Jun; Wu, Lian-Qiu; Zhang, Zhi-Hui; Li, Zhi-Hong; Wang, Wen-Jie; Qin, Hai-Lin

2016-04-22

In this study, natural quaternary coptisine was used as a lead compound to design and synthesize structurally stable and actively potent coptisine analogues. Of the synthesized library, 13 N-dihydrocoptisine-8-ylidene amines/amides were found not only to be noncytotoxic toward intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), but they were also able to activate the transcription of X-box-binding protein 1 (XBP1) targets to varying extents in vitro. Antiulcerative colitis (UC) activity levels were assessed at the in vitro molecular level as well as in vivo in animals using multiple biomarkers as indices. In an in vitro XBP1 transcriptional activity assay, four compounds demonstrated good dose-effect relationships with EC50 values of 0.0708-0.0132 μM. Moreover, two compounds were confirmed to be more potent in vivo than a positive control, demonstrating a curative effect for UC in experimental animals. Thus, the findings of this study suggest that these coptisine analogues are promising candidates for the development of anti-UC drugs.

Anti-inflammatory activities and glycerophospholipids metabolism in KLA-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by diarylheptanoids from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum.

PubMed

Zhang, Guogai; Zhao, Lifang; Zhu, Jiancheng; Feng, Yifan; Wu, Xia

2018-02-01

Alpinia officinarum is used for its anti-inflammatory activity historically in China. Diarylheptanoids isolated from A. officinarum play important biological roles in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders. Seven diarylheptanoids (1-7) were isolated from A. officinarum. The cell viabilities and anti-inflammatory activities of diarylheptanoids were evaluated by MTT assay and tumor necrosis factor-α production in Kdo2-lipid A-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. The relationships between their anti-inflammatories and structure-activities are discussed. The results indicated that compounds 1 and 3-7 had significant anti-inflammatory activities. The relationships between inflammation and phospholipids metabolism were elucidated by multivariate data analysis. Twenty-two potential biomarkers were identified in inflammatory group vs. blank group, and 11 potential biomarkers were identified for inflammatory group vs. drug-treatment groups. Ten common phospholipids were characterized. On the basis of a previous study in our laboratory, we found that phosphatidylethanolamine (18:0/18:1) might be the important glycerophospholipid biomarker in inflammation. In this study, we firstly combined anti-inflammatory activities and glycerophospholipids changes of traditional Chinese medicine. This work suggests that the anti-inflammatory activities of diarylheptanoids might be significantly related to glycerophospholipids and could provide a useful database for investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Small lytic peptides escape the inhibitory effect of heparan sulfate on the surface of cancer cells

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Several naturally occurring cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAPs), including bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB), display promising anticancer activities. These peptides are unaffected by multidrug resistance mechanisms and have been shown to induce a protective immune response against solid tumors, thus making them interesting candidates for developing novel lead structures for anticancer treatment. Recently, we showed that the anticancer activity by LfcinB was inhibited by the presence of heparan sulfate (HS) on the surface of tumor cells. Based on extensive structure-activity relationship studies performed on LfcinB, shorter and more potent peptides have been constructed. In the present study, we have investigated the anticancer activity of three chemically modified 9-mer peptides and the influence of HS and chondroitin sulfate (CS) on their cytotoxic activity. Methods Various cell lines and red blood cells were used to investigate the anticancer activity and selectivity of the peptides. The cytotoxic effect of the peptides against the different cell lines was measured by use of a colorimetric MTT viability assay. The influence of HS and CS on their cytotoxic activity was evaluated by using HS/CS expressing and HS/CS deficient cell lines. The ability of soluble HS and CS to inhibit the cytotoxic activity of the peptides and the peptides' affinity for HS and CS were also investigated. Results The 9-mer peptides displayed selective anticancer activity. Cells expressing HS/CS were equally or more susceptible to the peptides than cells not expressing HS/CS. The peptides displayed a higher affinity for HS compared to CS, and exogenously added HS inhibited the cytotoxic effect of the peptides. Conclusions In contrast to the previously reported inhibitory effect of HS on LfcinB, the present study shows that the cytotoxic activity of small lytic peptides was increased or not affected by cell surface HS. PMID:21453492

C1 domain-targeted isophthalates as protein kinase C modulators: structure-based design, structure-activity relationships and biological activities.

PubMed

Talman, Virpi; Provenzani, Riccardo; Boije af Gennäs, Gustav; Tuominen, Raimo K; Yli-Kauhaluoma, Jari

2014-12-01

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a serine/threonine kinase belonging to the AGC family. PKC isoenzymes are activated by phospholipid-derived second messengers, transmit their signal by phosphorylating specific substrates and play a pivotal role in the regulation of various cell functions, including metabolism, growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Therefore they represent an interesting molecular target for the treatment of several diseases, such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Adopting a structure-based approach on the crystal structure of the PKCδ C1B domain, our team has developed isophthalic acid derivatives that are able to modify PKC functions by binding to the C1 domain of the enzyme. Bis[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzyl] 5-(hydroxymethyl)isophthalate (HMI-1a3) and bis(1-ethylpentyl) 5-(hydroxymethyl)isophthalate (HMI-1b11) were selected from a set of compounds for further studies due to their high affinity for the C1 domains of PKCα and PKCδ. HMI-1a3 showed marked antiproliferative activity in HeLa cells whereas HMI-1b11 induced differentiation and supported neurite growth in SH-SY5Y cells. Our aim in the future is to improve the selectivity and potency of isophthalate derivatives, to clarify their mechanism of action in the cellular environment and to assess their efficacy in cell-based and in vivo disease models. HMI-1a3 has already been selected for a further project and redesigned to function as a probe immobilized on an affinity chromatography column. It will be used to identify cellular target proteins from cell lysates, providing new insights into the mechanism of action of HMI-1a3.

Linking structure and activity in nonlinear spiking networks

PubMed Central

Josić, Krešimir; Shea-Brown, Eric

2017-01-01

Recent experimental advances are producing an avalanche of data on both neural connectivity and neural activity. To take full advantage of these two emerging datasets we need a framework that links them, revealing how collective neural activity arises from the structure of neural connectivity and intrinsic neural dynamics. This problem of structure-driven activity has drawn major interest in computational neuroscience. Existing methods for relating activity and architecture in spiking networks rely on linearizing activity around a central operating point and thus fail to capture the nonlinear responses of individual neurons that are the hallmark of neural information processing. Here, we overcome this limitation and present a new relationship between connectivity and activity in networks of nonlinear spiking neurons by developing a diagrammatic fluctuation expansion based on statistical field theory. We explicitly show how recurrent network structure produces pairwise and higher-order correlated activity, and how nonlinearities impact the networks’ spiking activity. Our findings open new avenues to investigating how single-neuron nonlinearities—including those of different cell types—combine with connectivity to shape population activity and function. PMID:28644840

Lobophorins with antimycobacterial activity from a turrid mollusk-associated Streptomyces sp

PubMed Central

Lin, Zhenjian; Koch, Michael; Pond, Christopher D.; Mabeza, Gaiselle; Seronay, Romell A.; Concepcion, Gisela P.; Barrows, Louis R.; Olivera, Baldomero M.; Schmidt, Eric W.

2015-01-01

A novel lumun-lumun sampling methodology was used to obtain a large diversity of micromollusks, including the new species Lienardia totopotens. In turn, from L. totopotens we cultivated a Streptomyces sp. strain that contained new and known spirotetronate polyketides, lobophorins (1–5). The structures were elucidated using spectroscopy, and the compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity to human cells and activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. A structure-activity relationship was discerned, wherein the lack of digitoxose in 1 led to lack of both cytotoxic and antibacterial activity. For compounds 2–5 both activities were in the low μM to mid nM range. Although this likely precludes their direct application in tuberculosis therapy due to possible poor therapeutic index, very slight changes in structure led to widely varying antibacterial:cytotoxicity ratios, providing a possible basis to synthesize more selective derivatives. PMID:24220110

THE USE OF STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS IN INTEGRATING THE CHEMISTRY AND TOXICOLOGY OF ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS

EPA Science Inventory

Structure activity relationships (SARs) are based on the principle that structurally similar chemicals should have similar biological activity. SARs relate specifically-defined toxicological activity of chemicals to their molecular structure and physico-chemical properties. To de...

Triterpene glycosides with stimulatory activity on melanogenesis from the aerial parts of Weigela subsessilis.

PubMed

Won, Yu-Mi; Seong, Zuh-Kyung; Kim, Jae-Lim; Kim, Hui-Seong; Song, Hyuk-Hwan; Kim, Doo-Young; Kim, Jung-Hee; Oh, Sei-Ryang; Cho, Hyun-Woo; Cho, Jung-Hee; Lee, Hyeong-Kyu

2015-08-01

Three new triterpene glycosides (Lonicerosides K, L and M) and 11 known compounds were isolated from the aerial parts of Weigela subsessilis. Among the known isolated compounds, loniceroside A, sweroside, kaempferol-3-O-glucopyranoside 6″-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate), kaempferol-3-O-acetylglucoside and grandifloroside were reported for the first time in a Weigela genus plant. Their chemical structures were identified using extensive spectroscopic analysis including two-dimensional (2D)-NMR experiments, HR-ESI-QTOF-MS and comparison with reported data. Among these compounds, lonicerosides A and L had potent melanogenesis stimulatory activity in murine B16F0 melanoma cells. The structural relationship of active compounds was discussed.

Indomethacin derivatives as tubulin stabilizers to inhibit cancer cell proliferation.

PubMed

Chennamaneni, Snigdha; Gan, Chunfang; Lama, Rati; Zhong, Bo; Su, Bin

2016-01-15

Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor Indomethacin analogs exhibited more potent cancer cell growth inhibition and apoptosis inducing activities than the parental compound. The anti-proliferative mechanism investigation of the analogs revealed that they inhibited tubulin polymerization at high concentrations whereas enhanced polymerization at low concentrations. The two opposite activities might antagonize each other and impaired the anti-proliferative activity of the derivatives eventually. In this study, we further performed lead optimization based on the structure activity relationship (SAR) generated. One of the new Indomethacin derivatives compound 11 {2-(4-(benzyloxy)phenyl)-N-(1-(4-bromobenzoyl)-3-(2-((2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)amino)-2-oxoethyl)-2-methyl-1H-indol-5-yl)acetamide} inhibited the proliferation of a panel of cancer cell lines with IC50s at the sub-micromole levels. Further study revealed that the compound only enhanced tubulin polymerization and was a tubulin stabilizer. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Prediction of cancer cell sensitivity to natural products based on genomic and chemical properties.

PubMed

Yue, Zhenyu; Zhang, Wenna; Lu, Yongming; Yang, Qiaoyue; Ding, Qiuying; Xia, Junfeng; Chen, Yan

2015-01-01

Natural products play a significant role in cancer chemotherapy. They are likely to provide many lead structures, which can be used as templates for the construction of novel drugs with enhanced antitumor activity. Traditional research approaches studied structure-activity relationship of natural products and obtained key structural properties, such as chemical bond or group, with the purpose of ascertaining their effect on a single cell line or a single tissue type. Here, for the first time, we develop a machine learning method to comprehensively predict natural products responses against a panel of cancer cell lines based on both the gene expression and the chemical properties of natural products. The results on two datasets, training set and independent test set, show that this proposed method yields significantly better prediction accuracy. In addition, we also demonstrate the predictive power of our proposed method by modeling the cancer cell sensitivity to two natural products, Curcumin and Resveratrol, which indicate that our method can effectively predict the response of cancer cell lines to these two natural products. Taken together, the method will facilitate the identification of natural products as cancer therapies and the development of precision medicine by linking the features of patient genomes to natural product sensitivity.

Discovery and structure-activity relationships of (2-(arylthio)benzylideneamino)guanidines as a novel series of potent apoptosis inducers.

PubMed

Zhang, Han-Zhong; Crogan-Grundy, Candace; May, Chris; Drewe, John; Tseng, Ben; Cai, Sui Xiong

2009-04-01

1-(2-(2,5-Dimethoxyphenylthio)benzylidene)semicarbazide (2a) was discovered as a potent apoptosis inducer through our cell based HTS assay. SAR study led to the discovery of a more aqueous soluble analog (2-(2,5-dimethoxyphenylthio)-6-methoxybenzylideneamino)guanidine (5e) with EC(50) value of 60 nM in the caspase activation assay and GI(50) value of 62 nM in the growth inhibition assay in T47D cells. Compound 5e was found to be an inhibitor of tubulin polymerization and efficacious in a MX-1 breast tumor model.

Novel approaches to determine contractile function of the isolated adult zebrafish ventricular cardiac myocyte.

PubMed

Dvornikov, Alexey V; Dewan, Sukriti; Alekhina, Olga V; Pickett, F Bryan; de Tombe, Pieter P

2014-05-01

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been used extensively in cardiovascular biology, but mainly in the study of heart development. The relative ease of its genetic manipulation may indicate the suitability of this species as a cost-effective model system for the study of cardiac contractile biology. However, whether the zebrafish heart is an appropriate model system for investigations pertaining to mammalian cardiac contractile structure-function relationships remains to be resolved. Myocytes were isolated from adult zebrafish hearts by enzymatic digestion, attached to carbon rods, and twitch force and intracellular Ca(2+) were measured. We observed the modulation of twitch force, but not of intracellular Ca(2+), by both extracellular [Ca(2+)] and sarcomere length. In permeabilized cells/myofibrils, we found robust myofilament length-dependent activation. Moreover, modulation of myofilament activation-relaxation and force redevelopment kinetics by varied Ca(2+) activation levels resembled that found previously in mammalian myofilaments. We conclude that the zebrafish is a valid model system for the study of cardiac contractile structure-function relationships.

Structure-activity relationships of mononuclear metal-thiosemicarbazone complexes endowed with potent antiplasmodial and antiamoebic activities.

PubMed

Bahl, Deepa; Athar, Fareeda; Soares, Milena Botelho Pereira; de Sá, Matheus Santos; Moreira, Diogo Rodrigo Magalhães; Srivastava, Rajendra Mohan; Leite, Ana Cristina Lima; Azam, Amir

2010-09-15

A useful concept for the rational design of antiparasitic drug candidates is the complexation of bioactive ligands with transition metals. In view of this, an investigation was conducted into a new set of metal complexes as potential antiplasmodium and antiamoebic agents, in order to examine the importance of metallic atoms, as well as the kind of sphere of co-ordination, in these biological properties. Four functionalized furyl-thiosemicarbazones (NT1-4) treated with divalent metals (Cu, Co, Pt, and Pd) to form the mononuclear metallic complexes of formula [M(L)2Cl2] or [M(L)Cl2] were examined. The pharmacological characterization, including assays against Plasmodium falciparum and Entamoeba histolytica, cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, and interaction with pBR 322 plasmid DNA was performed. Structure-activity relationship data revealed that the metallic complexation plays an essential role in antiprotozoal activity, rather than the simple presence of the ligand or metal alone. Important steps towards identification of novel antiplasmodium (NT1Cu, IC50 of 4.6 microM) and antiamoebic (NT2Pd, IC50 of 0.6 microM) drug prototypes were achieved. Of particular relevance to this work, these prototypes were able to reduce the proliferation of these parasites at concentrations that are not cytotoxic to mammalian cells. Copyright (c) 2010. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Structure-activity relationship analysis of mitochondrial toxicity caused by antiviral ribonucleoside analogs.

PubMed

Jin, Zhinan; Kinkade, April; Behera, Ishani; Chaudhuri, Shuvam; Tucker, Kathryn; Dyatkina, Natalia; Rajwanshi, Vivek K; Wang, Guangyi; Jekle, Andreas; Smith, David B; Beigelman, Leo; Symons, Julian A; Deval, Jerome

2017-07-01

Recent cases of severe toxicity during clinical trials have been associated with antiviral ribonucleoside analogs (e.g. INX-08189 and balapiravir). Some have hypothesized that the active metabolites of toxic ribonucleoside analogs, the triphosphate forms, inadvertently target human mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT), thus inhibiting mitochondrial RNA transcription and protein synthesis. Others have proposed that the prodrug moiety released from the ribonucleoside analogs might instead cause toxicity. Here, we report the mitochondrial effects of several clinically relevant and structurally diverse ribonucleoside analogs including NITD-008, T-705 (favipiravir), R1479 (parent nucleoside of balapiravir), PSI-7851 (sofosbuvir), and INX-08189 (BMS-986094). We found that efficient substrates and chain terminators of POLRMT, such as the nucleoside triphosphate forms of R1479, NITD-008, and INX-08189, are likely to cause mitochondrial toxicity in cells, while weaker chain terminators and inhibitors of POLRMT such as T-705 ribonucleoside triphosphate do not elicit strong in vitro mitochondrial effects. Within a fixed 3'-deoxy or 2'-C-methyl ribose scaffold, changing the base moiety of nucleotides did not strongly affect their inhibition constant (K i ) against POLRMT. By swapping the nucleoside and prodrug moieties of PSI-7851 and INX-08189, we demonstrated that the cell-based toxicity of INX-08189 is mainly caused by the nucleoside component of the molecule. Taken together, these results show that diverse 2' or 4' mono-substituted ribonucleoside scaffolds cause mitochondrial toxicity. Given the unpredictable structure-activity relationship of this ribonucleoside liability, we propose a rapid and systematic in vitro screen combining cell-based and biochemical assays to identify the early potential for mitochondrial toxicity. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Protoapigenone, a natural derivative of apigenin, induces mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent apoptosis in human breast cancer cells associated with induction of oxidative stress and inhibition of glutathione S-transferase π.

PubMed

Chen, Wen-Ying; Hsieh, Yu-An; Tsai, Ching-I; Kang, Ya-Fei; Chang, Fang-Rong; Wu, Yang-Chang; Wu, Chin-Chung

2011-12-01

Protoapigenone, a natural derivative of the flavonoid apigenin, has been shown to exhibit potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo; the precise mechanism of action, however, is not fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated and compared the mechanisms by which protoapigenone and apigenin caused cell death in the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that protoapigenone induced apoptosis with 10-fold greater potency than apigenin. Cancer cells treated with protoapigenone resulted in persistent activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK, JNK, and p38, hyperphosphorylation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The MAPK inhibitors effectively prevented the loss of MMP and apoptosis induced by protoapigenone. Treatment of cells with protoapigenone led to increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased levels of intracellular glutathione. The thiol-antioxidant N-acetylcysteine abolished protoapigenone-induced MAPK activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis. These results suggest that the induction of oxidative stress preceding the activation of MAPK is required to initiate the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis induced by protoapigenone. Additionally, protoapigenone-induced JNK activation was linked to thiol modification of glutathione S-transferase π (GSTpi), which impeded GSTpi inhibition of JNK. In contrast to protoapigenone, apigenin-induced apoptosis was neither dependent on ROS nor on MAPK. Structure-activity relationship studies suggested that the thiol reacting effect of protoapigenone might be associated with an α, β-unsaturated ketone moiety in the structure of ring B.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-substituted-4-(4-methylthio phenyl)-1H-pyrrole derivatives as potential anticancer agents.

PubMed

Lan, Lan; Qin, Weixi; Zhan, Xiaoping; Liu, Zenglu; Mao, Zhenmin

2014-01-01

A novel series of 3-substituted-4-(4-methylthio phenyl)-1H-pyrrole derivatives were synthesized via Van Leusen pyrrole synthesis. The in vitro anticancer activity against a panel of 16 cancer cell lines and 2 normal cell lines was investigated by MTT assay. It was found that some of the pyrrole compounds showed similar antiproliferative activity against cancer cells compared with Paclitaxel, but little impact on normal cell lines, which indicated that the novel pyrrole derivatives could be used as potential anticancer candidates for possessing both selectivity and good therapeutic efficacy. Structure-activity relationship analysis found that 3-phenylacetyl-4- (4-methylthio phenyl)-1H-pyrrole derivatives displayed the most strong anticancer activity, among which [4-(4-methylthio phenyl)-1H-pyrrol- 3-yl] (4-methoxy phenyl) methanone (3j) was employed to investigate the effect of these pyrrole analogues on cell cycle by propidium iodide (PI) staining on cell flow cytometry. Cell necrotic effect of 10.0 µM 3j against MGC80-3 cells were also observed under fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscope by ultrathin sections observation.

Deciphering the molecular and functional basis of Dbl family proteins: a novel systematic approach toward classification of selective activation of the Rho family proteins.

PubMed

Jaiswal, Mamta; Dvorsky, Radovan; Ahmadian, Mohammad Reza

2013-02-08

The diffuse B-cell lymphoma (Dbl) family of the guanine nucleotide exchange factors is a direct activator of the Rho family proteins. The Rho family proteins are involved in almost every cellular process that ranges from fundamental (e.g. the establishment of cell polarity) to highly specialized processes (e.g. the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells). Abnormal activation of the Rho proteins is known to play a crucial role in cancer, infectious and cognitive disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the existence of 74 Dbl proteins and 25 Rho-related proteins in humans, which are largely uncharacterized, has led to increasing complexity in identifying specific upstream pathways. Thus, we comprehensively investigated sequence-structure-function-property relationships of 21 representatives of the Dbl protein family regarding their specificities and activities toward 12 Rho family proteins. The meta-analysis approach provides an unprecedented opportunity to broadly profile functional properties of Dbl family proteins, including catalytic efficiency, substrate selectivity, and signaling specificity. Our analysis has provided novel insights into the following: (i) understanding of the relative differences of various Rho protein members in nucleotide exchange; (ii) comparing and defining individual and overall guanine nucleotide exchange factor activities of a large representative set of the Dbl proteins toward 12 Rho proteins; (iii) grouping the Dbl family into functionally distinct categories based on both their catalytic efficiencies and their sequence-structural relationships; (iv) identifying conserved amino acids as fingerprints of the Dbl and Rho protein interaction; and (v) defining amino acid sequences conserved within, but not between, Dbl subfamilies. Therefore, the characteristics of such specificity-determining residues identified the regions or clusters conserved within the Dbl subfamilies.

Withanolides from Aeroponically Grown Physalis peruviana and Their Selective Cytotoxicity to Prostate Cancer and Renal Carcinoma Cells.

PubMed

Xu, Ya-Ming; Wijeratne, E M Kithsiri; Babyak, Ashley L; Marks, Hanna R; Brooks, Alan D; Tewary, Poonam; Xuan, Li-Jiang; Wang, Wen-Qiong; Sayers, Thomas J; Gunatilaka, A A Leslie

2017-07-28

Investigation of aeroponically grown Physalis peruviana resulted in the isolation of 11 new withanolides, including perulactones I-L (1-4), 17-deoxy-23β-hydroxywithanolide E (5), 23β-hydroxywithanolide E (6), 4-deoxyphyperunolide A (7), 7β-hydroxywithanolide F (8), 7β-hydroxy-17-epi-withanolide K (9), 24,25-dihydro-23β,28-dihydroxywithanolide G (10), and 24,25-dihydrowithanolide E (11), together with 14 known withanolides (12-25). The structures of 1-11 were elucidated by the analysis of their spectroscopic data, and 12-25 were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported. All withanolides were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against a panel of tumor cell lines including LNCaP (androgen-sensitive human prostate adenocarcinoma), 22Rv1 (androgen-resistant human prostate adenocarcinoma), ACHN (human renal adenocarcinoma), M14 (human melanoma), SK-MEL-28 (human melanoma), and normal human foreskin fibroblast cells. Of these, the 17β-hydroxywithanolides (17-BHWs) 6, 8, 9, 11-13, 15, and 19-22 showed selective cytotoxic activity against the two prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and 22Rv1, whereas 13 and 20 exhibited selective toxicity for the ACHN renal carcinoma cell line. These cytotoxicity data provide additional structure-activity relationship information for the 17-BHWs.

Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of novel coumarin derivatives containing isoxazole moieties on melanin synthesis in B16 cells and inhibition on bacteria.

PubMed

Pang, Guang Xian; Niu, Chao; Mamat, Nuramina; Aisa, Haji Akber

2017-06-15

A novel series of coumarin derivatives 6a-o, bearing isoxazole moieties were designed and synthesized. After that, they were evaluated for melanin synthesis in murine B16 cells and inhibitory effect on the growth of CA (Candida albicans), EC (Escherichia coli), SA (Staphylococcus aureus). It was found that eleven compounds (6b-f, 6j-o) showed a better activity on melanin synthesis than positive control (8-MOP). Among them, compounds 6d (242%) and 6f (390%), with nearly 1.6 and 2.6-fold potency compared with 8-MOP (149%) respectively, were recognized as the most promising candidate hits for further pharmacological study of anti-vitiligo. Seven halogen substituted compounds exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against CA. It is interesting that 6e-f and 6l-m, which had two halogens on the benzene showed a comparable activity with Amphotericin B against CA. The evaluation of melanin synthesis in B16 cells and inhibitory effect on bacteria of above structurally diverse derivatives had also led to an outline of structure-activity relationship. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Causal Neuro-immune Relationships at Patients with Chronic Pyelonephritis and Cholecystitis. Correlations between Parameters EEG, HRV and White Blood Cell Count.

PubMed

Kul'chyns'kyi, Andriy B; Kyjenko, Valeriy M; Zukow, Walery; Popovych, Igor L

2017-01-01

We aim to analyze in bounds KJ Tracey's immunological homunculus conception the relationships between parameters of electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV), on the one hand, and the parameters of bhite blood cell count, on the other hand. In basal conditions in 23 men, patients with chronic pyelonephritis and cholecystitis in remission, recorded EEG ("NeuroCom Standard", KhAI Medica, Ukraine) and HRV ("Cardiolab+VSR", KhAI Medica, Ukraine). In portion of blood counted up white blood cell count. Revealed that canonical correlation between constellation EEG and HRV parameters form with blood level of leukocytes 0.92 (p<10-5), with relative content in white blood cell count stubnuclear neutrophiles 0.93 (p<10-5), segmentonucleary neutrophiles 0.89 (p<10-3), eosinophiles 0.87 (p=0.003), lymphocytes 0.77 (p<10-3) and with monocytes 0.75 (p=0.003). Parameters of white blood cell count significantly modulated by electrical activity some structures of central and autonomic nervous systems.

Anthrax lethal factor inhibitors as potential countermeasure of the infection.

PubMed

Kumar, B V S Suneel; Malik, Siddharth; Grandhi, Pradeep; Dayam, Raveendra; Sarma, J A R P

2014-01-01

Anthrax Lethal Factor (LF) is a zinc-dependent metalloprotease, one of the virulence factor of anthrax infection. Three forms of the anthrax infection have been identified: cutaneous (through skin), gastrointestinal (through alimentary tract), and pulmonary (by inhalation of spores). Anthrax toxin is composed of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF), and edema factor (EF). Protective antigen mediates the entry of Lethal Factor/Edema Factor into the cytosol of host cells. Lethal factor (LF) inactivates mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inducing cell death, and EF is an adenylyl cyclase impairing host defenses. In the past few years, extensive studies are undertaken to design inhibitors targeting LF. The current review focuses on the small molecule inhibitors targeting LF activity and its structure activity relationships (SAR).

An azido-oxazolidinone antibiotic for live bacterial cell imaging and generation of antibiotic variants.

PubMed

Phetsang, Wanida; Blaskovich, Mark A T; Butler, Mark S; Huang, Johnny X; Zuegg, Johannes; Mamidyala, Sreeman K; Ramu, Soumya; Kavanagh, Angela M; Cooper, Matthew A

2014-08-15

An azide-functionalised analogue of the oxazolidinone antibiotic linezolid was synthesised and shown to retain antimicrobial activity. Using facile 'click' chemistry, this versatile intermediate can be further functionalised to explore antimicrobial structure-activity relationships or conjugated to fluorophores to generate fluorescent probes. Such probes can report bacteria and their location in a sample in real time. Modelling of the structures bound to the cognate 50S ribosome target demonstrates binding to the same site as linezolid is possible. The fluorescent probes were successfully used to image Gram-positive bacteria using confocal microscopy. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Growth-inhibitory effects of pigmented rice bran extracts and three red bran fractions against human cancer cells: Relationships to composition and antioxidative activities

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

We determined the phenolic, anthocyanin, and proanthocyanidin content of three brown, purple, and red rice brans isolated from different rice varieties using HPLC-PDA with the aid of 27 standards of known structure and by matching unknown peaks to a spectral library of known compounds. DPPH and ORA...

Structure-activity relationships of a-, ß1-, and d-Tomatines and Tomatidine Against Human Breast (MDA-MB-231), Gastric (KATO-III), and Prostate (PC3) Cancer Cells

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Partial acid hydrolysis of the tetrasaccharide (lycotetraose) side chain of the tomato glycoalkaloid a-tomatine resulted in the formation of four products with three (ß1-tomatine), two ('-tomatine), one (d-tomatine), and zero (tomatidine) sugar residues. These compounds were isolated by chromatogra...

Structural determinants of ubiquitin-CXC chemokine receptor 4 interaction.

PubMed

Saini, Vikas; Marchese, Adriano; Tang, Wei-Jen; Majetschak, Matthias

2011-12-23

Ubiquitin, a post-translational protein modifier inside the cell, functions as a CXC chemokine receptor (CXCR) 4 agonist outside the cell. However, the structural determinants of the interaction between extracellular ubiquitin and CXCR4 remain unknown. Utilizing C-terminal truncated ubiquitin and ubiquitin mutants, in which surface residues that are known to interact with ubiquitin binding domains in interacting proteins are mutated (Phe-4, Leu-8, Ile-44, Asp-58, Val-70), we provide evidence that the ubiquitin-CXCR4 interaction follows a two-site binding mechanism in which the hydrophobic surfaces surrounding Phe-4 and Val-70 are important for receptor binding, whereas the flexible C terminus facilitates receptor activation. Based on these findings and the available crystal structures, we then modeled the ubiquitin-CXCR4 interface with the RosettaDock software followed by small manual adjustments, which were guided by charge complementarity and anticipation of a conformational switch of CXCR4 upon activation. This model suggests three residues of CXCR4 (Phe-29, Phe-189, Lys-271) as potential interaction sites. Binding studies with HEK293 cells overexpressing wild type and CXCR4 after site-directed mutagenesis confirm that these residues are important for ubiquitin binding but that they do not contribute to the binding of stromal cell-derived factor 1α. Our findings suggest that the structural determinants of the CXCR4 agonist activity of ubiquitin mimic the typical structure-function relationship of chemokines. Furthermore, we provide evidence for separate and specific ligand binding sites on CXCR4. As exogenous ubiquitin has been shown to possess therapeutic potential, our findings are expected to facilitate the structure-based design of new compounds with ubiquitin-mimetic actions on CXCR4.

Structure-activity relationship studies on quinoxalin-2(1H)-one derivatives containing thiazol-2-amine against hepatitis C virus leading to the discovery of BH6870.

PubMed

Zhong, Qi-Fei; Liu, Rui; Liu, Gang

2015-11-01

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection represents a serious global public health problem, typically resulting in fibrosis, cirrhosis, and ultimately hepatocellular carcinoma. Based on our previous discovery of lead compound 2 (Liu et al. J Med Chem 54:5747-5768, 2011), 35 new quinoxalinone derivatives were explored in this study. Outline of the structure-activity relationships (SARs) revealed that compound BH6870 (36) showed high anti-HCV potency ([Formula: see text]) and a good cell safety index (SI [Formula: see text]). SARs analysis indicated that quinoxalin-2(1H)-one containing a 4-aryl-substituted thiazol-2-amine moiety was optimal for antiviral activity. Introducing a hydrogen-bond acceptor (such as ester or amide group) at the C-3 position of quinoxalin-2(1H)-one was beneficial for the antiviral potency, and especially, N,N-disubstituted amide was far superior to N-monosubstituted amide. Incorporation of more than one halogen (fluorine or chlorine atom) or a strong electron-withdrawing group on the benzene ring of the thiazole-phenyl moiety might reduce electron atmosphere density further and resulted in a dramatical loss of activity. The NH-group of the lactam moiety was clearly required for anti-HCV activity. Design and synthesis of quinoxalin-2(1H)-one derivatives as new non-nucleoside small-molecule HCV inhibitors. BH6870 (36), showing higher antiviral potency and a good cell safety index, was identified.

Inhibition of Mutated Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 in Cancer.

PubMed

Wu, Fangrui; Cheng, Gang; Yao, Yuan; Kogiso, Mari; Jiang, Hong; Li, Xiao-Nan; Song, Yongcheng

2018-05-23

R132H mutation of isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are found in ~75% of low-grade gliomas and secondary glioblastomas as well as in several other types of cancer. More chemotypes of inhibitors of IDH1(R132H) are therefore needed. To develop a new class of IDH1(R132H) inhibitors as potent antitumor agents. A biochemical assay was developed to find inhibitors of IDH1(R132H) mutant enzyme. Chemical synthesis and structure activity relationship studies were used to find compounds with improved potency. Antitumor activities of selected compounds were evaluated. A series of aromatic sulfonamide compounds were found to be novel, potent inhibitors of IDH1(R132H) with Ki values as low as 0.6 µM. Structure activity relationships of these compounds are discussed. Enzyme kinetics studies showed that one compound is a competitive inhibitor against the substrate α-KG and a non-competitive inhibitor against the cofactor NADPH. Several inhibitors were found to have no activity against wild-type IDH1, showing a high selectivity. Two potent inhibitors exhibited strong activity against proliferation of BT142 glioma cells with IDH1 R132H mutation, while these compounds did not significantly affect growth of glioma cells without IDH1 mutation. This novel series of IDH1(R132H) inhibitors have potential to be further developed for the treatment of glioma with IDH1 mutation. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Studies of the structure-antioxidant activity relationships and antioxidant activity mechanism of iridoid valepotriates and their degradation products

PubMed Central

Wang, Feifei; Zhang, Yumei; Wu, Shouhai; He, Yi; Dai, Zhong; Liu, Bin

2017-01-01

Oxidative stress has been associated with diverse diseases, including obesity, cancer and neurodegeneration. In fact, Valeriana jatamansi Jones (valerian) and its extracts possess strong antioxidant activities that extend their application in clinical practice to the treatment of these illnesses, even though the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Iridoid valepotriate, a characteristic iridoid ester in valerian with poor chemical stability, possesses considerable antioxidant components. The original compounds and their degradation products have been found to exhibit strong antioxidant activities. However, the relationship between their structure and antioxidant effects and the mechanism underlying their oxidation resistance remain unclear. A forced degradation study using three iridoid valepotriates (valtrate, acevaltrate and 1-β acevaltrate) was performed in this work, and the structures of their degradation products were estimated by TLC-MS and LC-MS. Comparison of the antioxidant activities of the iridoid valepotriates before and after forced degradation revealed that degradation reduced the activities of the iridoid valepotriates in free radical scavenging and cytotoxic and cell apoptosis tests. The results suggested that the oxirane nucleus is important for defining the antioxidant profile of iridoid valepotriate. We uncovered possible mechanisms that could explain the antioxidant activities, including the generation of two hydroxyl groups through intramolecular transfer of an H• from an oxirane ring and a reduction in ROS levels through interactions with GABAergic signalling pathways. PMID:29232391

α-Pyrone derivatives with cytotoxic activities, from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. YN02-P-3.

PubMed

Sang, Xia-Nan; Chen, Shao-Fei; Tang, Ming-Xu; Wang, Hai-Feng; An, Xiao; Lu, Xiao-Jie; Zhao, Dan; Wang, Yu-Bo; Bai, Jiao; Hua, Hui-Ming; Chen, Gang; Pei, Yue-Hu

2017-08-15

Four new α-pyrone derivatives phomones C-F (1-4) together with four known compounds (5-8) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Phoma sp. YN02-P-3. Compound 1 is the first example of 6-α,β-unsaturated ester-2-pyrone dimers via intermolecular symmetrical [2+2] cycloaddition. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined from spectroscopic data (1D/2D NMR, MS and IR). The acetylated product (9) of 1 along with compounds 1-8 were then tested for their cytotoxicity against HL-60, PC-3 and HCT-116 cell lines. Compounds 2, 3, 5 and 9 with acetyl groups showed significant inhibitory activities against the three cell lines with IC 50 values in the range 0.52-9.85μM. while compounds 1, 4 and 6-8 that possess no acetyl group showed no inhibitory activity (IC 50 >50μM), indicating that the acetyl group at 10- or 12- are essential for their cytotoxic activities. The structure-activity relationships of these phomones were also reported. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Autophagy Mechanism of 12N-Substituted Sophoridinamines as Novel Anticancer Agents.

PubMed

Bi, Chongwen; Zhang, Na; Yang, Peng; Ye, Cheng; Wang, Yanxiang; Fan, Tianyun; Shao, Rongguang; Deng, Hongbin; Song, Danqing

2017-02-09

A series of 12 N -substituted sophoridinamine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxic activities in human HepG2 hepatoma cells. Structure-activity relationship revealed that introduction of a suitable arylidene or arylethyl at the N '-end could greatly enhance antiproliferation potency. Among them, compound 6b possessing a N '-trimethoxyphenyl methylene exhibited potent antiproliferation effect against three human tumor cell lines including HepG2, leukemia (K562), and breast cancer (HMLE), with IC 50 between 0.55 and 1.7 μM. The underlying mechanism of 6b against tumor cells is to block autophagic flux, mainly through neutralizing lysosomal acidity. Our results indicated that compound 6b is a potent lysosomal deacidification agent and is accordingly able to block autophagic flux and inhibit tumor cell growth.

Synthesis-atomic structure-properties relationships in metallic nanoparticles by total scattering experiments and 3D computer simulations: case of Pt-Ru nanoalloy catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasai, Binay; Ren, Yang; Shan, Shiyao; Zhao, Yinguang; Cronk, Hannah; Luo, Jin; Zhong, Chuan-Jian; Petkov, Valeri

2015-04-01

An approach to determining the 3D atomic structure of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in fine detail and using the unique knowledge obtained for rationalizing their synthesis and properties targeted for optimization is described and exemplified on Pt-Ru alloy NPs of importance to the development of devices for clean energy conversion such as fuel cells. In particular, PtxRu100-x alloy NPs, where x = 31, 49 and 75, are synthesized by wet chemistry and activated catalytically by a post-synthesis treatment involving heating under controlled N2-H2 atmosphere. So-activated NPs are evaluated as catalysts for gas-phase CO oxidation and ethanol electro-oxidation reactions taking place in fuel cells. Both as-synthesized and activated NPs are characterized structurally by total scattering experiments involving high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction coupled to atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) analysis. 3D structure models both for as-synthesized and activated NPs are built by molecular dynamics simulations based on the archetypal for current theoretical modelling Sutton-Chen method. Models are refined against the experimental PDF data by reverse Monte Carlo simulations and analysed in terms of prime structural characteristics such as metal-to-metal bond lengths, bond angles and first coordination numbers for Pt and Ru atoms. Analysis indicates that, though of a similar type, the atomic structure of as-synthesized and respective activated NPs differ in several details of importance to NP catalytic properties. Structural characteristics of activated NPs and data for their catalytic activity are compared side by side and strong evidence found that electronic effects, indicated by significant changes in Pt-Pt and Ru-Ru metal bond lengths at NP surface, and practically unrecognized so far atomic ensemble effects, indicated by distinct stacking of atomic layers near NP surface and prevalence of particular configurations of Pt and Ru atoms in these layers, contribute to the observed enhancement of the catalytic activity of PtxRu100-x alloy NPs at x ~ 50. Implications of so-established relationships between the atomic structure and catalytic activity of Pt-Ru alloy NPs on efforts aimed at improving further the latter by tuning-up the former are discussed and the usefulness of detailed NP structure studies to advancing science and technology of metallic NPs - exemplified.An approach to determining the 3D atomic structure of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in fine detail and using the unique knowledge obtained for rationalizing their synthesis and properties targeted for optimization is described and exemplified on Pt-Ru alloy NPs of importance to the development of devices for clean energy conversion such as fuel cells. In particular, PtxRu100-x alloy NPs, where x = 31, 49 and 75, are synthesized by wet chemistry and activated catalytically by a post-synthesis treatment involving heating under controlled N2-H2 atmosphere. So-activated NPs are evaluated as catalysts for gas-phase CO oxidation and ethanol electro-oxidation reactions taking place in fuel cells. Both as-synthesized and activated NPs are characterized structurally by total scattering experiments involving high-energy synchrotron X-ray diffraction coupled to atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) analysis. 3D structure models both for as-synthesized and activated NPs are built by molecular dynamics simulations based on the archetypal for current theoretical modelling Sutton-Chen method. Models are refined against the experimental PDF data by reverse Monte Carlo simulations and analysed in terms of prime structural characteristics such as metal-to-metal bond lengths, bond angles and first coordination numbers for Pt and Ru atoms. Analysis indicates that, though of a similar type, the atomic structure of as-synthesized and respective activated NPs differ in several details of importance to NP catalytic properties. Structural characteristics of activated NPs and data for their catalytic activity are compared side by side and strong evidence found that electronic effects, indicated by significant changes in Pt-Pt and Ru-Ru metal bond lengths at NP surface, and practically unrecognized so far atomic ensemble effects, indicated by distinct stacking of atomic layers near NP surface and prevalence of particular configurations of Pt and Ru atoms in these layers, contribute to the observed enhancement of the catalytic activity of PtxRu100-x alloy NPs at x ~ 50. Implications of so-established relationships between the atomic structure and catalytic activity of Pt-Ru alloy NPs on efforts aimed at improving further the latter by tuning-up the former are discussed and the usefulness of detailed NP structure studies to advancing science and technology of metallic NPs - exemplified. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XRD patterns, TEM and 3D structure modelling methodology. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr00800j

Structure-activity relationship investigation for benzonaphthyridinone derivatives as novel potent Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) irreversible inhibitors.

PubMed

Wang, Beilei; Deng, Yuanxin; Chen, Yongfei; Yu, Kailin; Wang, Aoli; Liang, Qianmao; Wang, Wei; Chen, Cheng; Wu, Hong; Hu, Chen; Miao, Weili; Hur, Wooyoung; Wang, Wenchao; Hu, Zhenquan; Weisberg, Ellen L; Wang, Jinhua; Ren, Tao; Wang, Yinsheng; Gray, Nathanael S; Liu, Qingsong; Liu, Jing

2017-09-08

Through a structure-based drug design approach, a tricyclic benzonaphthyridinone pharmacophore was used as a starting point for carrying out detailed medicinal structure-activity relationhip (SAR) studies geared toward characterization of a panel of proposed BTK inhibitors, including 6 (QL-X-138), 7 (BMX-IN-1) and 8 (QL47). These studies led to the discovery of the novel potent irreversible BTK inhibitor, compound 18 (CHMFL-BTK-11). Kinetic analysis of compound 18 revealed an irreversible binding efficacy (k inact /K i ) of 0.01 μM -1 s -1 . Compound 18 potently inhibited BTK kinase Y223 auto-phosphorylation (EC 50  < 100 nM), arrested cell cycle in G0/G1 phase, and induced apoptosis in Ramos, MOLM13 and Pfeiffer cells. We believe these features would make 18 a good pharmacological tool for studying BTK-related pathologies. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Hit-to-lead evaluation of a novel class of sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase inhibitors.

PubMed

Dinges, Jurgen; Harris, Christopher M; Wallace, Grier A; Argiriadi, Maria A; Queeney, Kara L; Perron, Denise C; Dominguez, Eric; Kebede, Tegest; Desino, Kelly E; Patel, Hetal; Vasudevan, Anil

2016-05-01

Inhibition of sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase has recently been proposed as a potential treatment option for inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. In this report we describe our hit-to-lead evaluation of the isoxazolecarboxamide 6, a high-throughput screening hit (in vitro IC50=1.0 μM, cell IC50=1.8 μM), as a novel S1P lyase inhibitor. We were able to establish basic structure-activity relationships around 6 and succeeded in obtaining X-ray structural information which enabled structure-based design. With the discovery of 28, enzyme activity was quickly improved to IC50=120 nM and cell potency to IC50=230 nM. The main liability in the established isoxazolecarboxamide hit series was determined to be metabolic stability. In particular we identified that future lead-optimization efforts to overcome this problem should focus on blocking the N-dealkylation on the secondary amine. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pyridine-pyrimidine amides that prevent HGF-induced epithelial scattering by two distinct mechanisms.

PubMed

Siddiqui-Jain, Adam; Hoj, Jacob P; Hargiss, J Blade; Hoj, Taylor H; Payne, Carter J; Ritchie, Collin A; Herron, Steven R; Quinn, Colette; Schuler, Jeffrey T; Hansen, Marc D H

2017-09-01

Stimulation of cultured epithelial cells with scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) results in individual cells detaching and assuming a migratory and invasive phenotype. Epithelial scattering recapitulates cancer progression and studies have implicated HGF signaling as a driver of cancer metastasis. Inhibitors of HGF signaling have been proposed to act as anti-cancer agents. We previously screened a small molecule library for compounds that block HGF-induced epithelial scattering. Most hits identified in this screen exhibit anti-mitotic properties. Here we assess the biological mechanism of a compound that blocks HGF-induced scattering with limited anti-mitotic activity. Analogs of this compound have one of two distinct activities: inhibiting either cell migration or cell proliferation with cell cycle arrest in G2/M. Each activity bears unique structure-activity relationships. The mechanism of action of anti-mitotic compounds is by inhibition of microtubule polymerization; these compounds entropically and enthalpically bind tubulin in the colchicine binding site, generating a conformational change in the tubulin dimer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

THE PRACTICE OF STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS (SAR) IN TOXICOLOGY

EPA Science Inventory

Both qualitative and quantitative modeling methods relating chemical structure to biological activity, called structure-activity relationship analyses or SAR, are applied to the prediction and characterization of chemical toxicity. This minireview will discuss some generic issue...

Design, synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of wollamide B; a new potential anti TB agent

PubMed Central

Laqua, Katja; Walkowska, Anna Maria; Cunningham, Fraser; Martinez-Martinez, Maria Santos; Cuevas-Zurita, Juan Carlos; Ballell-Pages, Lluís; Imming, Peter

2017-01-01

Wollamide B is a cationic antimycobacterial cyclohexapeptide that exhibits activity against Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) (IC50 of 3.1 μM). Aiming to define its structural activity relationship (SAR), optimizing potency and pharmacokinetic properties, libraries of analogues were synthesized following a standard Fmoc-based solid phase peptide synthesis approach. The antimycobacterial activities of wollamide B and all the synthesized analogues were tested against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv. Parallely, in vitro drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (ADME) profiling was done for the synthesized compounds to evaluate their drug likeness. Among the 25 synthesized wollamides five of them showed potent activities with MICs ≤ 3.1 μM and found to be nontoxic against human HepG2 cells up to 100 μM. The results of the in vitro ADME profiling revealed the remarkable plasma stability and very good aqueous solubility of the class in general while the metabolic stability was found to be moderate to low. Of particular note, compounds 7c (MIC = 1.1 μM) and 13c (0.6 μM) that exhibited good balance of antimycobacterial activity vs. optimal pharmacokinetic properties could be used as a new lead for further development. PMID:28423019

TAP, a novel T cell-activating protein involved in the stimulation of MHC-restricted T lymphocytes

PubMed Central

1986-01-01

Five mAbs have been generated and used to characterize TAP (T cell activating protein) a novel, functional murine T cell membrane antigen. The TAP molecule is a 12-kD protein that is synthesized by T cells. By antibody crossblocking, it appears to be closely associated with a 16- kD protein on the T cell membrane also identified with a novel mAb. These molecules are clearly distinct from the major well-characterized murine T cell antigens previously described. Antibody binding to TAP can result in the activation of MHC-restricted, antigen-specific inducer T cell hybridomas that is equivalent in magnitude to maximal antigen or lectin stimulation. This is a direct effect of soluble antibody and does not require accessory cells or other factors. The activating anti-TAP mAbs are also mitogenic for normal heterogeneous T lymphocytes in the presence of accessory cells or IL-1. In addition, these antibodies are observed to modulate specific immune stimulation. Thus, the activating anti-TAP mAbs synergise with antigen-specific stimulation of T cells, while a nonactivating anti-TAP mAb inhibits antigen driven activation. These observations suggest that the TAP molecule may participate in physiologic T cell activation. The possible relationship of TAP to known physiologic triggering structures, the T3- T cell receptor complex, is considered. TAP is expressed on 70% of peripheral T cells and therefore defines a major T cell subset, making it perhaps the first example of a murine subset-specific activating protein. PMID:2418146

Antimicrobial Effects of 7,8-Dihydroxy-6-Methoxycoumarin and 7-Hydroxy-6-Methoxycoumarin Analogues against Foodborne Pathogens and the Antimicrobial Mechanisms Associated with Membrane Permeability.

PubMed

Yang, Ji-Yeon; Park, Jun-Hwan; Lee, Myung-Ji; Lee, Ji-Hoon; Lee, Hoi-Seon

2017-10-03

The antimicrobial effects of 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin and 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin isolated from Fraxinus rhynchophylla bark and of their structural analogues were determined in an attempt to develop natural antimicrobial agents against the foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and Listeria monocytogenes. To elucidate the relationship between structure and antimicrobial activity for the coumarin analogues, isolated constituents and their structural analogues were evaluated against foodborne pathogens. Based on the culture plate inhibition zones and MICs, 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin, 7,8-dihydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin, 7-hydroxy-6-methoxycoumarin, and 7-methoxycoumarin, containing a methoxy functional group on the coumarin skeleton, had the notable antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. However, 7-hydroxycoumarin and 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin, which contained a hydroxyl functional group on the coumarin skeleton, had no antimicrobial activity against these pathogens. An increase in cell membrane permeability was confirmed by electron microscopy observations, and release of extracellular ATP and cell constituents followed treatment with the ethyl acetate fraction of F. rhynchophylla extract. These findings indicate that F. rhynchophylla extract and coumarin analogues have potential for use as antimicrobial agents against foodborne pathogens and that the antimicrobial mechanisms are associated with the loss of cell membrane integrity.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship studies of furan-ring fused chalcones as antiproliferative agents.

PubMed

Saito, Yusuke; Kishimoto, Maho; Yoshizawa, Yuko; Kawaii, Satoru

2015-02-01

As part of our continuing investigation of flavonoid derivatives as potential anticancer substances, the synthesis of 25 cinnamoyl derivatives of benzofuran as furan-fused chalcones was carried-out and these compounds were further evaluated for their antiproliferative activity towards HL60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. In comparison with 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone, attachment of a furan moiety on the A-ring enhanced activity by more than twofold. Benzofurans may be useful in the design of biologically active flavonoids. Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Structural and functional studies of conserved nucleotide-binding protein LptB in lipopolysaccharide transport

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Zhongshan; College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065; Biomedical Sciences Research Complex, School of Chemistry, University of St Andrews, North Haugh, St Andrews KY16 9ST

2014-09-26

Highlights: • Determination of the structure of the wild-type LptB in complex with ATP and Mg{sup 2+}. • Demonstrated that ATP binding residues are essential for LptB’s ATPase activity and LPS transport. • Dimerization is required for the LptB’s function and LPS transport. • Revealed relationship between activity of the LptB and the vitality of E. coli cells. - Abstract: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is the main component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, which plays an essential role in protecting the bacteria from harsh conditions and antibiotics. LPS molecules are transported from the inner membrane to the outer membrane bymore » seven LPS transport proteins. LptB is vital in hydrolyzing ATP to provide energy for LPS transport, however this mechanism is not very clear. Here we report wild-type LptB crystal structure in complex with ATP and Mg{sup 2+}, which reveals that its structure is conserved with other nucleotide-binding proteins (NBD). Structural, functional and electron microscopic studies demonstrated that the ATP binding residues, including K42 and T43, are crucial for LptB’s ATPase activity, LPS transport and the vitality of Escherichia coli cells with the exceptions of H195A and Q85A; the H195A mutation does not lower its ATPase activity but impairs LPS transport, and Q85A does not alter ATPase activity but causes cell death. Our data also suggest that two protomers of LptB have to work together for ATP hydrolysis and LPS transport. These results have significant impacts in understanding the LPS transport mechanism and developing new antibiotics.« less

Structure-Activity Relationships of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Maturation Inhibitor PF-46396.

PubMed

Murgatroyd, Christopher; Pirrie, Lisa; Tran, Fanny; Smith, Terry K; Westwood, Nicholas J; Adamson, Catherine S

2016-09-15

HIV-1 maturation inhibitors are a novel class of antiretroviral compounds that consist of two structurally distinct chemical classes: betulinic acid derivatives and the pyridone-based compound PF-46396. It is currently believed that both classes act by similar modes of action to generate aberrant noninfectious particles via inhibition of CA-SP1 cleavage during Gag proteolytic processing. In this study, we utilized a series of novel analogues with decreasing similarity to PF-46396 to determine the chemical groups within PF-46396 that contribute to antiviral activity, Gag binding, and the relationship between these essential properties. A spectrum of antiviral activity (active, intermediate, and inactive) was observed across the analogue series with respect to CA-SP1 cleavage and HIV-1 (NL4-3) replication kinetics in Jurkat T cells. We demonstrate that selected inactive analogues are incorporated into wild-type (WT) immature particles and that one inactive analogue is capable of interfering with PF-46396 inhibition of CA-SP1 cleavage. Mutations that confer PF-46396 resistance can impose a defective phenotype on HIV-1 that can be rescued in a compound-dependent manner. Some inactive analogues retained the capacity to rescue PF-46396-dependent mutants (SP1-A3V, SP1-A3T, and CA-P157S), implying that they can also interact with mutant Gag. The structure-activity relationships observed in this study demonstrate that (i) the tert-butyl group is essential for antiviral activity but is not an absolute requirement for Gag binding, (ii) the trifluoromethyl group is optimal but not essential for antiviral activity, and (iii) the 2-aminoindan group is important for antiviral activity and Gag binding but is not essential, as its replacement is tolerated. Combinations of antiretroviral drugs successfully treat HIV/AIDS patients; however, drug resistance problems make the development of new mechanistic drug classes an ongoing priority. HIV-1 maturation inhibitors are novel as they target the Gag protein, specifically by inhibiting CA-SP1 proteolytic cleavage. The lack of high-resolution structural information of the CA-SP1 target in Gag has hindered our understanding of the inhibitor-binding pocket and maturation inhibitor mode of action. Therefore, we utilized analogues of the maturation inhibitor PF-46396 as chemical tools to determine the chemical components of PF-46396 that contribute to antiviral activity and Gag binding and the relationship between these essential properties. This is the first study to report structure-activity relationships of the maturation inhibitor PF-46396. PF-46396 is chemically distinct from betulinic acid-derived maturation inhibitors; therefore, our data provide a foundation of knowledge that will aid our understanding of how structurally distinct maturation inhibitors act by similar modes of action. Copyright © 2016 Murgatroyd et al.

Hybrid chemistry. Part 4: Discovery of etravirine-VRX-480773 hybrids as potent HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

PubMed

Wan, Zheng-Yong; Tao, Yuan; Wang, Ya-Feng; Mao, Tian-Qi; Yin, Hong; Chen, Fen-Er; Piao, Hu-Ri; De Clercq, Erik; Daelemans, Dirk; Pannecouque, Christophe

2015-08-01

A novel series of etravirine-VRX-480773 hybrids were designed using structure-guided molecular hybridization strategy and fusing the pharmacophore templates of etravirine and VRX-480773. The anti-HIV-1 activity and cytotoxicity was evaluated in MT-4 cell cultures. The most active hybrid compound in this series, N-(2-chlorophenyl)-2-((4-(4-cyano-2,6-dimethylphenoxy)pyrimidin-2-yl)thio)acetamide 3d (EC50=0.24 , SI>1225), was more potent than delavirdine (EC50=0.66 μM, SI>67) in the anti-HIV-1 in vitro cellular assay. Studies of structure-activity relationships established a correlation between anti-HIV activity and the substitution pattern of the acetanilide group. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design and synthesis of thienopyrimidine urea derivatives with potential cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity against breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

PubMed

Abdelhaleem, Eman F; Abdelhameid, Mohammed K; Kassab, Asmaa E; Kandeel, Manal M

2018-01-01

A series of novel tetrahydrobenzothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine urea derivatives was synthesized according to fragment-based design strategy. They were evaluated for their anticancer activity against MCF-7 cell line. Three compounds 9c, 9d and 11b showed 1.5-1.03 folds more potent anticancer activity than doxorubicin. In this study, a promising multi-sited enzyme small molecule inhibitor 9c, which showed the most potent anti-proliferative activity, was identified. The anti-proliferative activity of this compound appears to correlate well with its ability to inhibit topoisomerase II (IC 50  = 9.29 μM). Moreover, compound 9c showed excellent VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity, at the sub-micromolar level with IC 50 value 0.2 μM, which is 2.1 folds more potent than sorafenib. Moreover, activation of damage response pathway of the DNA leads to cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase, accumulation of cells in pre-G1 phase and annexin-V and propidium iodide staining, indicating that cell death proceeds through an apoptotic mechanism. Compound 9c showed potent pro-apoptotic effect through induction of the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. This mechanistic pathway was confirmed by a significant increase in the expression of the tumor suppressor gene p53, elevation in Bax/BCL-2 ratio and a significant increase in the level of active caspase-3. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies delivered equations of five 3D descriptors with R 2  = 0.814. This QSAR model provides an effective technique for understanding the observed antitumor properties and thus could be adopted for developing effective lead structures. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Synthesis facilitates an understanding of the structural basis for translation inhibition by the lissoclimides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Könst, Zef A.; Szklarski, Anne R.; Pellegrino, Simone; Michalak, Sharon E.; Meyer, Mélanie; Zanette, Camila; Cencic, Regina; Nam, Sangkil; Voora, Vamsee K.; Horne, David A.; Pelletier, Jerry; Mobley, David L.; Yusupova, Gulnara; Yusupov, Marat; Vanderwal, Christopher D.

2017-11-01

The lissoclimides are unusual succinimide-containing labdane diterpenoids that were reported to be potent cytotoxins. Our short semisynthesis and analogue-oriented synthesis approaches provide a series of lissoclimide natural products and analogues that expand the structure-activity relationships (SARs) in this family. The semisynthesis approach yielded significant quantities of chlorolissoclimide (CL) to permit an evaluation against the National Cancer Institute's 60-cell line panel and allowed us to obtain an X-ray co-crystal structure of the synthetic secondary metabolite with the eukaryotic 80S ribosome. Although it shares a binding site with other imide-based natural product translation inhibitors, CL engages in a particularly interesting and novel face-on halogen-π interaction between the ligand's alkyl chloride and a guanine residue. Our analogue-oriented synthesis provides many more lissoclimide compounds, which were tested against aggressive human cancer cell lines and for protein synthesis inhibitory activity. Finally, computational modelling was used to explain the SARs of certain key compounds and set the stage for the structure-guided design of better translation inhibitors.

Histone H4 hyperacetylation and rapid turnover of its acetyl groups in transcriptionally inactive rooster testis spermatids.

PubMed Central

Oliva, R; Mezquita, C

1982-01-01

In order to study the relationship between acetylation of histones, chromatin structure and gene activity, the distribution and turnover of acetyl groups among nucleosomal core histones and the extent of histone H4 acetylation were examined in rooster testis cell nuclei at different stages of spermatogenesis. Histone H4 was the predominant acetylated histone in mature testes. Hyperacetylation of H4 and rapid turnover of its acetyl groups are not univocally correlated with transcriptional activity since they were detected in both genetically active testicular cells and genetically inactive elongated spermatids. During the transition from nucleohistone to nucleoprotamine in elongated spermatids the chromatin undergoes dramatic structural changes with exposition of binding sites on DNA (1). Hyperacetylation of H4 and rapid turnover of its acetyl groups could be correlated with the particular conformation of chromatin in elongated spermatids and might represent a necessary condition for binding of chromosomal proteins to DNA. Images PMID:7162988

Synthesis, structure investigation and biological evaluation of 2-thiophene N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone and its three metal derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zilang; Wu, Yuanyuan; Fu, Yan; Li, Mingxue; Tai, Yanxue; Li, Yanke

2015-11-01

A 2-thiophene N(4)-phenylthiosemicarbazone (HL) ligand and its three metal derivatives [CuL2 ] (1), [NiL2] (2) and [PdL2] (3) are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra, mass spectra as well as the single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1-3 have the identical architectures in which the Schiff bases L- ions act as the bibasic chelating ligands with thiolate S and imine N atoms as the donor sites. Cytotoxic studies carried out in vitro against human liver hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and human normal hepatocyte QSG7701 cells show that 1 can be able to inhibit cell proliferation growth. Compound 1 promotes a dose-dependent apoptosis in HepG2 cells. The potential structure-activity relationships among HL and 1-3 are further investigated by Hirshfeld surface combining fingerprint plots.

Quantitative structure-antifungal activity relationships of some benzohydrazides against Botrytis cinerea.

PubMed

Reino, José L; Saiz-Urra, Liane; Hernandez-Galan, Rosario; Aran, Vicente J; Hitchcock, Peter B; Hanson, James R; Gonzalez, Maykel Perez; Collado, Isidro G

2007-06-27

Fourteen benzohydrazides have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. The best antifungal activity was observed for the N',N'-dibenzylbenzohydrazides 3b-d and for the N-aminoisoindoline-derived benzohydrazide 5. A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study has been developed using a topological substructural molecular design (TOPS-MODE) approach to interpret the antifungal activity of these synthetic compounds. The model described 98.3% of the experimental variance, with a standard deviation of 4.02. The influence of an ortho substituent on the conformation of the benzohydrazides was investigated by X-ray crystallography and supported by QSAR study. Several aspects of the structure-activity relationships are discussed in terms of the contribution of different bonds to the antifungal activity, thereby making the relationships between structure and biological activity more transparent.

Nucleocytoplasmic transport in cells with progerin-induced defective nuclear lamina.

PubMed

Ferri, Gianmarco; Storti, Barbara; Bizzarri, Ranieri

2017-10-01

Recent data indicate that nuclear lamina (NL) plays a relevant role in many fundamental cellular functions. The peculiar role of NL in cells is dramatically demonstrated by the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), an inherited laminopathy that causes premature, rapid aging shortly after birth. In HGPS, a mutant form of Lamin A (progeria) leads to a dysmorphic NL structure, but how this perturbation is transduced into cellular changes is still largely unknown. Owing to the close structural relationship between NL and the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC), in this work we test whether HGPS affects passive and active nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling of cargoes by means of an established model based of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. Our findings clearly demonstrate that dysmorphic NL is decoupled from the dynamic characteristics of passive and active transport towards and from the nucleus, as well as from the binding affinity of transport protein mediators. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Briaviolides K–N, New Briarane-Type Diterpenoids from Cultured Octocoral Briareum violaceum

PubMed Central

Xu, Jing-Hao; Lai, Kuei-Hung; Su, Yin-Di; Chang, Yu-Chia; Peng, Bo-Rong; Wen, Zhi-Hong

2018-01-01

Four new briarane diterpenoids, briaviolides K–N (1–4), have been obtained from the cultured-type octocoral Briareum violaceum. Using a spectroscopic approach, the structures of briaranes 1–4 were identified. This study employed an in vitro model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line, and found that among the four briaranes, briarane 2 possessed anti-inflammatory activity against inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expressions in cells. In addition, principal component analysis using the chemical global positioning system (ChemGPS) for natural products (ChemGPS-NP) was employed in order to analyze the structure-activity relationship (SAR), and the results indicated that the ring conformation of the compound has a leading role in suppressing the expressions of pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophages. PMID:29495481

Antioxidative and antiproliferative activities of novel pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles.

PubMed

Tireli, Martina; Starčević, Kristina; Martinović, Tamara; Pavelić, Sandra Kraljević; Karminski-Zamola, Grace; Hranjec, Marijana

2017-02-01

A series of pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles has been designed, and novel examples are synthesized and evaluated for their potential antiproliferative activity against four human tumour cell lines-cervical (HeLa), colorectal (SW620), breast (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2). In addition, their antioxidative potency has been evaluated by in vitro spectrophotometric assays. Preliminary structure-activity relationships among the synthesized compounds are discussed. Evaluation of their antioxidative capacity has shown that two compounds (25 and 26) possess promising reducing characteristics and free radical scavenging activity. Selective antiproliferative effect in the single-digit micromolar range was observed for compound 25 on MCF-7 [Formula: see text] and HeLa [Formula: see text] cell lines, comparable to the standards 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The combination of the radical scavenging activity and antiproliferative activity of compound 25 positions this compound as a potential lead candidate for further optimization.

The nature of inherent bactericidal activity: insights from the nanotopology of three species of dragonfly

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mainwaring, David E.; Nguyen, Song Ha; Webb, Hayden; Jakubov, Timur; Tobin, Mark; Lamb, Robert N.; Wu, Alex H.-F.; Marchant, Richard; Crawford, Russell J.; Ivanova, Elena P.

2016-03-01

While insect wings are widely recognised as multi-functional, recent work showed that this extends to extensive bactericidal activity brought about by cell deformation and lysis on the wing nanotopology. We now quantitatively show that subtle changes to this topography result in substantial changes in bactericidal activity that are able to span an order of magnitude. Notably, the chemical composition of the lipid nanopillars was seen by XPS and synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy to be similar across these activity differences. Modelling the interaction between bacterial cells and the wing surface lipids of 3 species of dragonflies, that inhabit similar environments, but with distinctly different behavioural repertoires, provided the relationship between surface structure and antibacterial functionality. In doing so, these principal behavioural patterns correlated with the demands for antimicrobial efficiency dictated by differences in their foraging strategies. This work now reveals a new feature in the design elegance of natural multi-functional surfaces as well providing insights into the bactericidal mechanism underlying inherently antimicrobial materials, while suggesting that nanotopology is related to the evolutionary development of a species through the demands of its behavioural repertoire. The underlying relationship between the processes of wetting, adhesion and capillarity of the lipid nanopillars and bactericidal efficiency suggests new prospects for purely mechano-responsive antibacterial surfaces.While insect wings are widely recognised as multi-functional, recent work showed that this extends to extensive bactericidal activity brought about by cell deformation and lysis on the wing nanotopology. We now quantitatively show that subtle changes to this topography result in substantial changes in bactericidal activity that are able to span an order of magnitude. Notably, the chemical composition of the lipid nanopillars was seen by XPS and synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy to be similar across these activity differences. Modelling the interaction between bacterial cells and the wing surface lipids of 3 species of dragonflies, that inhabit similar environments, but with distinctly different behavioural repertoires, provided the relationship between surface structure and antibacterial functionality. In doing so, these principal behavioural patterns correlated with the demands for antimicrobial efficiency dictated by differences in their foraging strategies. This work now reveals a new feature in the design elegance of natural multi-functional surfaces as well providing insights into the bactericidal mechanism underlying inherently antimicrobial materials, while suggesting that nanotopology is related to the evolutionary development of a species through the demands of its behavioural repertoire. The underlying relationship between the processes of wetting, adhesion and capillarity of the lipid nanopillars and bactericidal efficiency suggests new prospects for purely mechano-responsive antibacterial surfaces. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c5nr08542j

The role of the micro-pattern and nano-topography of hydroxyapatite bioceramics on stimulating osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

PubMed

Zhao, Cancan; Wang, Xiaoya; Gao, Long; Jing, Linguo; Zhou, Quan; Chang, Jiang

2018-06-01

The micro/nano hybrid structure is considered to be a biomaterial characteristic to stimulate osteogenesis by mimicking the three-dimensional structure of the bone matrix. However, the mechanism of the hybrid structure induced osteogenic differentiation of stem cells is still unknown. For elucidating the mechanisms, one of the challenge is to directly fabricate micro/nano hybrid structure on bioceramics because of its brittleness. In this study, hydroxyapatite (HA) bioceramics with the micro/nano hybrid structure were firstly fabricated via a hydrothermal treatment and template method, and the effect of the different surface structures on the expression of integrins, BMP2 signaling pathways and cell-cell communication was investigated. Interestingly, the results suggested that the osteogenic differentiation induced by micro/nano structures was modulated first through activating integrins and then further activating BMP2 signaling pathway and cell-cell communication, while activated BMP2 could in turn activate integrins and Cx43-related cell-cell communication. Furthermore, differences in activation of integrins, BMP2 signaling pathway, and gap junction-mediated cell-cell communication were observed, in which nanorod and micropattern structures activated different integrin subunits, BMP downstream receptors and Cx43. This finding may explain the synergistic effect of the micro/nano hybrid structure on the activation of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Based on our study, we concluded that the different activation mechanisms of micro- and nano-structures led to the synergistic stimulatory effect on integrin activation and osteogenesis, in which not only the direct contact of cells on micro/nano structure played an important role, but also other surface characteristics such as protein adsorption might contribute to the bioactive effect. The micro/nano hybrid structure has been found to have synergistic bioactivity on osteogenesis. However, it is still a challenge to fabricate the hybrid structure directly on the bioceramics, and the role of micro- and nano-structure, in particular the mechanism of the micro/nano-hybrid structure induced stem cell differentiation is still unknown. In this study, we firstly fabricated hydroxyapatite bioceramics with the micro/nano hybrid structure, and then investigated the effect of different surface structure on expression of integrins, BMP2 signaling pathways and cell-cell communication. Interestingly, we found that the osteogenic differentiation induced by structure was modulated first through activating integrins and then further activating BMP2 signaling pathway and cell-cell communication, and activated BMP2 could in turn activate some integrin subunits and Cx43-related cell-cell communication. Furthermore, differences in activation of integrins, BMP2 signaling pathway, and gap junction-mediated cell-cell communication were observed, in which nanorod and micropattern structures activated different integrin subunits, BMP downstream receptors and Cx43. This finding may explain the synergistic effect of the micro/nano hybrid structure on the activation of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Based on our study, we concluded that the different activation mechanisms of micro- and nano-structures led to the synergistic stimulatory effect on integrin activation and osteogenesis, in which not only the direct contact of cells on micro/nano structure played an important role, but also other surface characteristics such as protein adsorption might contribute to the bioactive effect. Copyright © 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Niclosamide suppresses acute myeloid leukemia cell proliferation through inhibition of CREB-dependent signaling pathways

PubMed Central

Chae, Hee-Don; Cox, Nick; Dahl, Gary V.; Lacayo, Norman J.; Davis, Kara L.; Capolicchio, Samanta; Smith, Mark; Sakamoto, Kathleen M.

2018-01-01

CREB (cAMP Response Element Binding protein) is a transcription factor that is overexpressed in primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells and associated with a decreased event-free survival and increased risk of relapse. We recently reported a small molecule inhibitor of CREB, XX-650-23, which inhibits CREB activity in AML cells. Structure-activity relationship analysis for chemical compounds with structures similar to XX-650-23 led to the identification of the anthelminthic drug niclosamide as a potent anti-leukemic agent that suppresses cell viability of AML cell lines and primary AML cells without a significant decrease in colony forming activity of normal bone marrow cells. Niclosamide significantly inhibited CREB function and CREB-mediated gene expression in cells, leading to apoptosis and G1/S cell cycle arrest with reduced phosphorylated CREB levels. CREB knockdown protected cells from niclosamide treatment-mediated cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, treatment with a combination of niclosamide and CREB inhibitor XX-650-23 showed an additive anti-proliferative effect, consistent with the hypothesis that niclosamide and XX-650-23 regulate the same targets or pathways to inhibit proliferation and survival of AML cells. Niclosamide significantly inhibited the progression of disease in AML patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mice, and prolonged survival of PDX mice. Niclosamide also showed synergistic effects with chemotherapy drugs to inhibit AML cell proliferation. While chemotherapy antagonized the cytotoxic potential of niclosamide, pretreatment with niclosamide sensitized cells to chemotherapeutic drugs, cytarabine, daunorubicin, and vincristine. Therefore, our results demonstrate niclosamide as a potential drug to treat AML by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through inhibition of CREB-dependent pathways in AML cells. PMID:29435104

Exosome production and its regulation of EGFR during wound healing in renal tubular cells.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiangjun; Zhang, Wei; Yao, Qisheng; Zhang, Hao; Dong, Guie; Zhang, Ming; Liu, Yutao; Chen, Jian-Kang; Dong, Zheng

2017-06-01

Kidney repair following injury involves the reconstitution of a structurally and functionally intact tubular epithelium. Growth factors and their receptors, such as EGFR, are important in the repair of renal tubules. Exosomes are cell-produced small (~100 nm in diameter) vesicles that contain and transfer proteins, lipids, RNAs, and DNAs between cells. In this study, we examined the relationship between exosome production and EGFR activation and the potential role of exosome in wound healing. EGFR activation occurred shortly after scratch wounding in renal tubular cells. Wound repair after scratching was significantly promoted by EGF and suppressed by EGFR inhibitor gefitinib. Interestingly, scratch wounding induced a significant increase of exosome production. The exosome production was decreased by EGF and increased by gefitinib, suggesting a suppressive role of EGFR signaling in exosome production. Conversely, inhibition of exosome release by GW4869 and manumycin A markedly increased EGFR activation and promoted wound healing. Moreover, exosomes derived from scratch-wounding cells could inhibit wound healing. Collectively, the results indicate that wound healing in renal tubular cells is associated with EGFR activation and exosome production. Although EGFR activation promotes wound healing, released exosomes may antagonize EGFR activation and wound healing. Copyright © 2017 the American Physiological Society.

Platinum and palladium nano-structured catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells and direct methanol fuel cells.

PubMed

Long, Nguyen Viet; Thi, Cao Minh; Yong, Yang; Nogami, Masayuki; Ohtaki, Michitaka

2013-07-01

In this review, we present the synthesis and characterization of Pt, Pd, Pt based bimetallic and multi-metallic nanoparticles with mixture, alloy and core-shell structure for nano-catalysis, energy conversion, and fuel cells. Here, Pt and Pd nanoparticles with modified nanostructures can be controllably synthesized via chemistry and physics for their uses as electro-catalysts. The cheap base metal catalysts can be studied in the relationship of crystal structure, size, morphology, shape, and composition for new catalysts with low cost. Thus, Pt based alloy and core-shell catalysts can be prepared with the thin Pt and Pt-Pd shell, which are proposed in low and high temperature proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), and direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). We also present the survey of the preparation of Pt and Pd based catalysts for the better catalytic activity, high durability, and stability. The structural transformations, quantum-size effects, and characterization of Pt and Pd based catalysts in the size ranges of 30 nm (1-30 nm) are presented in electro-catalysis. In the size range of 10 nm (1-10 nm), the pure Pt catalyst shows very large surface area for electro-catalysis. To achieve homogeneous size distribution, the shaped synthesis of the polyhedral Pt nanoparticles is presented. The new concept of shaping specific shapes and morphologies in the entire nano-scale from nano to micro, such as polyhedral, cube, octahedra, tetrahedra, bar, rod, and others of the nanoparticles is proposed, especially for noble and cheap metals. The uniform Pt based nanosystems of surface structure, internal structure, shape, and morphology in the nanosized ranges are very crucial to next fuel cells. Finally, the modifications of Pt and Pd based catalysts of alloy, core-shell, and mixture structures lead to find high catalytic activity, durability, and stability for nano-catalysis, energy conversion, fuel cells, especially the next large-scale commercialization of next PEMFCs, and DMFCs.

Phytochemicals prevent mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and protect SH-SY5Y cells against apoptosis induced by PK11195, a ligand for outer membrane translocator protein.

PubMed

Wu, Yuqiu; Shamoto-Nagai, Masayo; Maruyama, Wakako; Osawa, Toshihiko; Naoi, Makoto

2017-01-01

Epidemiological studies present the beneficial effects of dietary habits on prevention of aging-associated decline of brain function. Phytochemicals, the second metabolites of food, protect neuronal cells from cell death in cellular models of neurodegenerative disorders, and the neuroprotective activity has been ascribed to the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory functions. In this paper, the cellular mechanism of neuroprotection by phytochemicals was investigated, using the cellular model of mitochondrial apoptosis induced by PK11195, a ligand of outer membrane translocator protein, in SH-SY5Y cells. PK11195 induced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization with rapid transit production of superoxide (superoxide flashes) and calcium release from mitochondria, and activated apoptosis signal pathway. Study on the structure-activity relationship of astaxanthin, ferulic acid derivatives, and sesame lignans revealed that these phytochemicals inhibited mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and protected cells from apoptosis. Ferulic acid derivatives and sesame lignans inhibited or enhanced the mitochondrial pore formation and cell death by PK11195 according to their amphiphilic properties, not directly depending on the antioxidant activity. Regulation of pore formation at mitochondrial membrane is discussed as a novel mechanism behind neuroprotective activity of phytochemicals in aging and age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, and also behind dual functions of phytochemicals in neuronal and cancer cells.

pH-Dependent Solution Structure and Activity of a Reduced Form of the Host-Defense Peptide Myticin C (Myt C) from the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

PubMed Central

Martinez-Lopez, Alicia; Encinar, Jose Antonio; Medina-Gali, Regla Maria; Balseiro, Pablo; Garcia-Valtanen, Pablo; Figueras, Antonio; Novoa, Beatriz; Estepa, Amparo

2013-01-01

Myticin C (Myt C) is a highly variable host-defense peptide (HDP) associated to the immune response in the mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), which has shown to be active across species due to its strong antiviral activity against a fish rhabdovirus found in fish cells overexpressing this HDP. However, the potential antimicrobial properties of any synthetic analogue of Myt C has not yet been analysed. Thus, in this work we have synthesised the sequence of the mature peptide of Myt C variant c and analysed the structure activity relationships of its reduced (non-oxidized) form (red-MytCc). In contrast to results previously reported for oxidized isoforms of mussel myticins, red-MytCc was not active against bacteria at physiological pH and showed a moderate antiviral activity against the viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) rhabdovirus. However, its chemotactic properties remained active. Structure/function studies in neutral and acid environments by means of infrared spectroscopy indicated that the structure of red-MytCc is pH dependent, with acid media increasing its alpha-helical content. Furthermore, red-MytCc was able to efficiently aggregate artificial phospholipid membranes at low pH, as well as to inhibit the Escherichia coli growth, suggesting that this activity is attributable to its more structured form in an acidic environment. All together, these results highlight the dynamic and environmentally sensitive behavior of red-Myt C in solution, and provide important insights into Myt C structure/activity relationships and the requirements to exert its antimicrobial/immunomodulatory activities. On the other hand, the pH-dependent direct antimicrobial activity of Myt C suggests that this HDP may be a suitable template for the development of antimicrobial agents that would function selectively in specific pH environments, which are sorely needed in this “antibiotic-resistance era”. PMID:23880927

Synthesis and evaluation of 8,4'-dideshydroxy-leinamycin revealing new insights into the structure-activity relationship of the anticancer natural product leinamycin.

PubMed

Liu, Tao; Ma, Ming; Ge, Hui-Ming; Yang, Chunying; Cleveland, John; Shen, Ben

2015-11-01

Leinamycin (LNM, 1) is a novel antitumor antibiotic produced by Streptomyces atroolivaceus S-140 and features an unusual 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety that is spiro-fused to a thiazole-containing 18-membered lactam ring. The 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety of LNM is essential for its antitumor activity via an episulfonium ion-mediated DNA alkylation upon reductive activation in the presence of cellular thiols. We recently isolated leinamycin E1 (LNM E1, 2) from an engineered strain S. atroolivaceus SB3033, which lacks the 1,3-dioxo-1,2-dithiolane moiety. Here we report the chemical synthesis of 8,4'-dideshydroxy-LNM (5) from 2 and determination of the cytotoxicity of 5 against selected cancer cell lines in comparison with 1; 5 exhibits comparable activity as 1 with the EC50 values between 8.21 and 275 nM. This work reveals new insight into the structure-activity relationship of LNM and highlights the synergy between metabolic pathway engineering and medicinal chemistry for natural product drug discovery. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of active layer morphology in all-polymer photovoltaic cells

DOE PAGES

Mulderig, Andrew J.; Jin, Yan; Yu, Fei; ...

2017-08-18

This paper investigates the structure of films spin-coated from blends of the semiconducting polymers poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and poly{2,6-[4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene]-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzo­thiadiazole)} (PCPDTBT). Such blends are of potential use in all-polymer solar cells in which both the acceptor and the donor material generate excitons to contribute to the photocurrent. Prompted by threefold performance gains seen in polymer/fullerene and polymer blend solar cells upon addition of pristine graphene, devices are prepared from P3HT/PCPDTBT blends both with and without graphene. This report focuses on the morphology of the active layer since this is of critical importance in determining performance. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is utilized tomore » study this polymer blend with deuterated P3HT to provide contrast and permit the investigation of buried structure in neat and graphene-doped films. SANS reveals the presence of P3HT crystallites dispersed in an amorphous blend matrix of P3HT and PCPDTBT. The crystallites are approximately disc shaped and do not show any evidence of higher-order structure or aggregation. While the structure of the films does not change with the addition of graphene, there is a perceptible effect on the electronic properties and energy conversion efficiency in solar cells made from such films. Finally, determination of the active layer morphology yields crucial insight into structure–property relationships in organic photovoltaic devices.« less

Determination of active layer morphology in all-polymer photovoltaic cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mulderig, Andrew J.; Jin, Yan; Yu, Fei

This paper investigates the structure of films spin-coated from blends of the semiconducting polymers poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and poly{2,6-[4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b']dithiophene]-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzo­thiadiazole)} (PCPDTBT). Such blends are of potential use in all-polymer solar cells in which both the acceptor and the donor material generate excitons to contribute to the photocurrent. Prompted by threefold performance gains seen in polymer/fullerene and polymer blend solar cells upon addition of pristine graphene, devices are prepared from P3HT/PCPDTBT blends both with and without graphene. This report focuses on the morphology of the active layer since this is of critical importance in determining performance. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) is utilized tomore » study this polymer blend with deuterated P3HT to provide contrast and permit the investigation of buried structure in neat and graphene-doped films. SANS reveals the presence of P3HT crystallites dispersed in an amorphous blend matrix of P3HT and PCPDTBT. The crystallites are approximately disc shaped and do not show any evidence of higher-order structure or aggregation. While the structure of the films does not change with the addition of graphene, there is a perceptible effect on the electronic properties and energy conversion efficiency in solar cells made from such films. Finally, determination of the active layer morphology yields crucial insight into structure–property relationships in organic photovoltaic devices.« less

An in vivo quantitative structure-activity relationship for a congeneric series of pyropheophorbide derivatives as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy.

PubMed

Henderson, B W; Bellnier, D A; Greco, W R; Sharma, A; Pandey, R K; Vaughan, L A; Weishaupt, K R; Dougherty, T J

1997-09-15

An in vivo quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study was carried out on a congeneric series of pyropheophorbide photosensitizers to identify structural features critical for their antitumor activity in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The structural elements evaluated in this study include the length and shape (alkyl, alkenyl, cyclic, and secondary analogs) of the ether side chain. C3H mice, harboring the radiation-induced fibrosarcoma tumor model, were used to study three biological response endpoints: tumor growth delay, tumor cell lethality, and vascular perfusion. All three endpoints revealed highly similar QSAR patterns that constituted a function of the alkyl ether chain length and drug lipophilicity, which is defined as the log of the octanol:water partition coefficient (log P). When the illumination of tumor, tumor cells, or cutaneous vasculature occurred 24 h after sensitizer administration, activities were minimal with analogs of log P < or = 5, increased dramatically between log P of 5-6, and peaked between log P of 5.6-6.6. Activities declined gradually with higher log P. The lack of activity of the least-lipophilic analogs was explained in large part by their poor biodistribution characteristics, which yielded negligible tumor and plasma drug levels at the time of treatment with light. The progressively lower potencies of the most lipophilic analogs cannot be explained through the overall tumor and plasma pharmacokinetics of photosensitizer because tumor and plasma concentrations progressively increased with lipophilicity. When compensated for differences in tumor photosensitizer concentration, the 1-hexyl derivative (optimal lipophilicity) was 5-fold more potent than the 1-dodecyl derivative (more lipophilic) and 3-fold more potent than the 1-pentyl analog (less lipophilic), indicating that, in addition to the overall tumor pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamic factors may influence PDT activity. Drug lipophilicity was highly predictive for photodynamic activity. QSAR modeling revealed that direct antitumor effects and vascular PDT effects may be governed by common mechanisms, and that the mere association of high levels of photosensitizer in the tumor tissue is not sufficient for optimal PDT efficiency.

Inhibition of the pore-forming protein perforin by a series of aryl-substituted isobenzofuran-1(3H)-ones.

PubMed

Spicer, Julie A; Huttunen, Kristiina M; Miller, Christian K; Denny, William A; Ciccone, Annette; Browne, Kylie A; Trapani, Joseph A

2012-02-01

An aryl-substituted isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one lead compound was identified from a high throughput screen designed to find inhibitors of the lymphocyte pore-forming protein perforin. A series of analogs were then designed and prepared, exploring structure-activity relationships through variation of 2-thioxoimidazolidin-4-one and furan subunits on an isobenzofuranone core. The ability of the resulting compounds to inhibit the lytic activity of both isolated perforin protein and perforin delivered in situ by intact KHYG-1 natural killer effector cells was determined. Several compounds showed excellent activity at concentrations that were non-toxic to the killer cells. This series represents a significant improvement on previous classes of compounds, being substantially more potent and largely retaining activity in the presence of serum. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monoglycoconjugated phthalocyanines: effect of sugar and linkage on photodynamic activity.

PubMed

Lafont, Dominique; Zorlu, Yunus; Savoie, Huguette; Albrieux, Florian; Ahsen, Vefa; Boyle, Ross W; Dumoulin, Fabienne

2013-09-01

Click chemistry can be advantageously used to graft carbohydrates on phthalocyanines which are potent photosensitisers, but the effect of the presence of triazole moieties on photodynamic efficiency was not investigated systematically to date. The nature and linkage of the sugar were investigated in order to define structure-activity relationships. Two sets of monoglycoconjugated water-soluble phthalocyanines have been designed and their photodynamic activity and uptake investigated in HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. Carbohydrates: galactose, mannose or lactose were grafted onto Zn(II) phthalocyanines either by glycosylation or by click reaction. The triazole linkage formed by click conjugation lowered the biological efficiency for mannose and galactose, compared to classical glycosylation grafting. The mannose conjugate formed by glycosylation was the most photodynamically active, without correlation with the photosensitiser cell uptake. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human chimera-type galectin-3: defining the critical tail length for high-affinity glycoprotein/cell surface binding and functional competition with galectin-1 in neuroblastoma cell growth regulation.

PubMed

Kopitz, Jürgen; Vértesy, Sabine; André, Sabine; Fiedler, Sabine; Schnölzer, Martina; Gabius, Hans-Joachim

2014-09-01

Many human proteins have a modular design with receptor and structural domains. Using adhesion/growth-regulatory galectin-3 as model, we describe an interdisciplinary strategy to define the functional significance of its tail established by nine non-triple helical collagen-like repeats (I-IX) and the N-terminal peptide. Genetic engineering with sophisticated mass spectrometric product analysis provided the tools for biotesting, i.e. eight protein variants with different degrees of tail truncation. Evidently,various aspects of galectin-3 activity (cis binding and cell bridging) are affected by tail shortening in a different manner. Thus, this combined approach reveals an unsuspected complexity of structure-function relationship, encouraging further application beyond this chimera-type galectin. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Linear and non-linear quantitative structure-activity relationship models on indole substitution patterns as inhibitors of HIV-1 attachment.

PubMed

Nirouei, Mahyar; Ghasemi, Ghasem; Abdolmaleki, Parviz; Tavakoli, Abdolreza; Shariati, Shahab

2012-06-01

The antiviral drugs that inhibit human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry to the target cells are already in different phases of clinical trials. They prevent viral entry and have a highly specific mechanism of action with a low toxicity profile. Few QSAR studies have been performed on this group of inhibitors. This study was performed to develop a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model of the biological activity of indole glyoxamide derivatives as inhibitors of the interaction between HIV glycoprotein gp120 and host cell CD4 receptors. Forty different indole glyoxamide derivatives were selected as a sample set and geometrically optimized using Gaussian 98W. Different combinations of multiple linear regression (MLR), genetic algorithms (GA) and artificial neural networks (ANN) were then utilized to construct the QSAR models. These models were also utilized to select the most efficient subsets of descriptors in a cross-validation procedure for non-linear log (1/EC50) prediction. The results that were obtained using GA-ANN were compared with MLR-MLR and MLR-ANN models. A high predictive ability was observed for the MLR, MLR-ANN and GA-ANN models, with root mean sum square errors (RMSE) of 0.99, 0.91 and 0.67, respectively (N = 40). In summary, machine learning methods were highly effective in designing QSAR models when compared to statistical method.

The selective cytotoxicity of new triazene compounds to human melanoma cells.

PubMed

Sousa, Ana; Santos, Fábio; Gaspar, Maria Manuela; Calado, Susana; Pereira, João D; Mendes, Eduarda; Francisco, Ana Paula; Perry, Maria Jesus

2017-08-01

Metastatic melanoma still remains one the most difficult cancers to overcome. The aim of our research was the design of anti-tumour triazene compounds 3 for application to a melanoma-specific therapy. The strategy exploits the unique enzyme pathway of melanin biosynthesis for conversion of non-toxic prodrugs into toxic drugs in the melanoma cell. The compounds 3 were designed by coupling two active moieties, the alkylating triazenes and different tyrosinase substrates. All compounds 3 revealed to be chemically stable in isotonic phosphate buffer (PBS) at physiologic pH (t ½ ≥48h), and most of them showed to be slowly hydrolysed in human plasma (1.5≤t ½ (h)≤161). Compounds 3c-n revealed to be excellent tyrosinase substrates (0.74≤t ½ (min)≤6) with the best tyrosinase substrate 3l releasing MMT 45s after tyrosinase activation. Structure-activity relationship studies allowed the identification of the better structural features for enzyme affinity. Furthermore, the derivatives 3l and 3m showed cell selectivity with significant cytotoxic effects (IC 50 values of 46-65μM) against melanoma cell lines with tyrosinase overexpression MNT-1 and B16F10. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exo- and endocytotic trafficking of SCAMP2.

PubMed

Toyooka, Kiminori; Matsuoka, Ken

2009-12-01

Exo- and endocytotic membrane trafficking is an essential process for transport of secretory proteins, extracellular glycans, transporters and lipids in plant cells. Using secretory carrier membrane protein 2 (SCAMP2) as a marker for secretory vesicles and tobacco BY-2 cells as a model system, we recently demonstrated that SCAMP2 positive structures containing secretory materials are transported from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane (PM) and/or cell plate. This structure is consisted with clustered vesicles and was thus named the secretory vesicle cluster (SVC). Here, we have utilized the reversible photoswitching fluorescent protein Dronpa1 to trace the movement of SCAMP2 on the PM and cell plate. Activated SCAMP2-Dronpa fluorescence on the PM and cell plate moved into the BY-2 cells within several minutes, but did not spread around PM. This is consistent with recycling of SCAMP2 among endomembrane compartments such as the TGN, PM and cell plate. The relationship between SVC-mediated trafficking and exo- and endocytosis of plant cells is discussed taking into account this new data and knowledge provided by recent reports.

Toxicity of ionic liquids: database and prediction via quantitative structure-activity relationship method.

PubMed

Zhao, Yongsheng; Zhao, Jihong; Huang, Ying; Zhou, Qing; Zhang, Xiangping; Zhang, Suojiang

2014-08-15

A comprehensive database on toxicity of ionic liquids (ILs) is established. The database includes over 4000 pieces of data. Based on the database, the relationship between IL's structure and its toxicity has been analyzed qualitatively. Furthermore, Quantitative Structure-Activity relationships (QSAR) model is conducted to predict the toxicities (EC50 values) of various ILs toward the Leukemia rat cell line IPC-81. Four parameters selected by the heuristic method (HM) are used to perform the studies of multiple linear regression (MLR) and support vector machine (SVM). The squared correlation coefficient (R(2)) and the root mean square error (RMSE) of training sets by two QSAR models are 0.918 and 0.959, 0.258 and 0.179, respectively. The prediction R(2) and RMSE of QSAR test sets by MLR model are 0.892 and 0.329, by SVM model are 0.958 and 0.234, respectively. The nonlinear model developed by SVM algorithm is much outperformed MLR, which indicates that SVM model is more reliable in the prediction of toxicity of ILs. This study shows that increasing the relative number of O atoms of molecules leads to decrease in the toxicity of ILs. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Structure-activity relationships and mechanism of action of Eph-ephrin antagonists: interaction of cholanic acid with the EphA2 receptor

PubMed Central

Tognolini, Massimiliano; Incerti, Matteo; Mohamed, Iftiin Hassan; Giorgio, Carmine; Russo, Simonetta; Bruni, Renato; Lelli, Barbara; Bracci, Luisa; Noberini, Roberta; Pasquale, Elena B.; Barocelli, Elisabetta; Vicini, Paola; Mor, Marco

2012-01-01

The Eph–ephrin system, including the EphA2 receptor and the ephrin-A1 ligand, plays a critical role in tumor and vascular functions during carcinogenesis. We previously identified (3α,5β)-3-hydroxycholan-24-oic acid (lithocholic acid) as an Eph-ephrin antagonist able to inhibit EphA2 receptor activation and therefore potentially useful as a novel EphA2 receptor targeting agent. Here, we explore the structure-activity relationships of a focused set of lithocholic acid derivatives, based on molecular modelling investigation and displacement binding assays. Our exploration shows that while the 3-α-hydroxyl group of lithocholic acid has a negligible role in the recognition of the EphA2 receptor, its carboxylate group is critical for disrupting the binding of ephrin-A1 to the EphA2. As a result of our investigation, we identified (5β)-cholan-24-oic acid (cholanic acid) as a novel compound that competitively inhibits EphA2-ephrin-A1 interaction with higher potency than lithocholic acid. Surface plasmon resonance analysis indicates that cholanic acid binds specifically and reversibly to the ligand-binding domain of EphA2, with a steady-state dissociation constant (KD) in the low micromolar range. Furthermore, cholanic acid blocks the phosphorylation of EphA2 and cell retraction and rounding in PC3 prostate cancer cells, two effects that depend on EphA2 activation by the ephrin-A1 ligand. These findings suggest that cholanic acid can be used as a template structure to design effective EphA2 antagonists, with potential impact in the elucidation of the role played by this receptor in pathological conditions. PMID:22529030

Time-resolved rhodopsin activation currents in a unicellular expression system.

PubMed Central

Sullivan, J M; Shukla, P

1999-01-01

The early receptor current (ERC) is the charge redistribution occurring in plasma membrane rhodopsin during light activation of photoreceptors. Both the molecular mechanism of the ERC and its relationship to rhodopsin conformational activation are unknown. To investigate whether the ERC could be a time-resolved assay of rhodopsin structure-function relationships, the distinct sensitivity of modern electrophysiological tools was employed to test for flash-activated ERC signals in cells stably expressing normal human rod opsin after regeneration with 11-cis-retinal. ERCs are similar in waveform and kinetics to those found in photoreceptors. The action spectrum of the major R(2) charge motion is consistent with a rhodopsin photopigment. The R(1) phase is not kinetically resolvable and the R(2) phase, which overlaps metarhodopsin-II formation, has a rapid risetime and complex multiexponential decay. These experiments demonstrate, for the first time, kinetically resolved electrical state transitions during activation of expressed visual pigment in a unicellular environment (single or fused giant cells) containing only 6 x 10(6)-8 x 10(7) molecules of rhodopsin. This method improves measurement sensitivity 7 to 8 orders of magnitude compared to other time-resolved techniques applied to rhodopsin to study the role particular amino acids play in conformational activation and the forces that govern those transitions. PMID:10465746

Analysis and prediction of structure-reactive toxicity relationships of substituted aromatic compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Z.T.; Wang, L.S.; Chen, S.P.

1996-12-31

The fundamental differentiation of toxicity is between reactive and nonreactive toxicity. Reactive toxicity is associated with a specific mechanism for the reaction with an enzyme or inhibition of a metabolic pathway, and nonreactive toxicity is related directly to the quantity of toxicant acting upon the cell. The quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) have been successfully used in the nonreactive toxicity, such as prediction of the toxicity of nonreactive compounds based on their solubility in the lipids of organisms. The elements of molecular structure that are most closely related to nonreactive toxicity are those that describe the partitioning of the toxicant intomore » the organism, while QSARs for the reactive toxicity are less common in the environmental toxicology literature. With the recent increase in the use of synthetic substituted benzenes as industrial chemicals, the accurate analysis of the effect of reactive toxic chemicals has become recognized with QSAR. For this purpose, we selected the fish (Carassias auratus) as the test organism, measured the acute toxicity of 50% lethal concentration (LC{sub 50}) of the chemicals and the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content of the liver cells for the organism. These determined the relationships of the acute toxicity of some substituted benzenes with their physicochemical structural parameters. The effects on the ATP content was also compared to predict biological reactivities of the chemicals, so as to find some clues to explain the mode of mechanism of the toxicity. 17 refs., 1 tab.« less

Diversity of small, single-stranded DNA viruses of invertebrates and their chaotic evolutionary past.

PubMed

Tijssen, Peter; Pénzes, Judit J; Yu, Qian; Pham, Hanh T; Bergoin, Max

2016-10-01

A wide spectrum of invertebrates is susceptible to various single-stranded DNA viruses. Their relative simplicity of replication and dependence on actively dividing cells makes them highly pathogenic for many invertebrates (Hexapoda, Decapoda, etc.). We present their taxonomical classification and describe the evolutionary relationships between various groups of invertebrate-infecting viruses, their high degree of recombination, and their relationship to viruses infecting mammals or other vertebrates. They share characteristics of the viruses within the various families, including structure of the virus particle, genome properties, and gene expression strategy. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The relationship between cell phone use, physical and sedentary activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in a sample of U.S. college students

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Today’s cell phones increase opportunities for activities traditionally defined as sedentary behaviors (e.g., surfing the internet, playing video games). People who participate in large amounts of sedentary behaviors, relative to those who do not, tend to be less physically active, less physically fit, and at greater risk for health problems. However, cell phone use does not have to be a sedentary behavior as these devices are portable. It can occur while standing or during mild-to-moderate intensity physical activity. Thus, the relationship between cell phone use, physical and sedentary activity, and physical fitness is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate these relationships among a sample of healthy college students. Methods Participants were first interviewed about their physical activity behavior and cell phone use. Then body composition was assessed and the validated self-efficacy survey for exercise behaviors completed. This was followed by a progressive exercise test on a treadmill to exhaustion. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) during exercise was used to measure cardiorespiratory fitness. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the relationship between cell phone use and cardiorespiratory fitness after controlling for sex, self-efficacy, and percent body fat. Interview data was transcribed, coded, and Chi-square analysis was used to compare the responses of low and high frequency cell phone users. Results Cell phone use was significantly (p = 0.047) and negatively (β = −0.25) related to cardio respiratory fitness independent of sex, self-efficacy, and percent fat which were also significant predictors (p < 0.05). Interview data offered several possible explanations for this relationship. First, high frequency users were more likely than low frequency users to report forgoing opportunities for physical activity in order to use their cell phones for sedentary behaviors. Second, low frequency users were more likely to report being connected to active peer groups through their cell phones and to cite this as a motivation for physical activity. Third, high levels of cell phone use indicated a broader pattern of sedentary behaviors apart from cell phone use, such as watching television. Conclusion Cell phone use, like traditional sedentary behaviors, may disrupt physical activity and reduce cardiorespiratory fitness. PMID:23800133

The relationship between cell phone use, physical and sedentary activity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in a sample of U.S. college students.

PubMed

Lepp, Andrew; Barkley, Jacob E; Sanders, Gabriel J; Rebold, Michael; Gates, Peter

2013-06-21

Today's cell phones increase opportunities for activities traditionally defined as sedentary behaviors (e.g., surfing the internet, playing video games). People who participate in large amounts of sedentary behaviors, relative to those who do not, tend to be less physically active, less physically fit, and at greater risk for health problems. However, cell phone use does not have to be a sedentary behavior as these devices are portable. It can occur while standing or during mild-to-moderate intensity physical activity. Thus, the relationship between cell phone use, physical and sedentary activity, and physical fitness is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate these relationships among a sample of healthy college students. Participants were first interviewed about their physical activity behavior and cell phone use. Then body composition was assessed and the validated self-efficacy survey for exercise behaviors completed. This was followed by a progressive exercise test on a treadmill to exhaustion. Peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) during exercise was used to measure cardiorespiratory fitness. Hierarchical regression was used to assess the relationship between cell phone use and cardiorespiratory fitness after controlling for sex, self-efficacy, and percent body fat. Interview data was transcribed, coded, and Chi-square analysis was used to compare the responses of low and high frequency cell phone users. Cell phone use was significantly (p = 0.047) and negatively (β = -0.25) related to cardio respiratory fitness independent of sex, self-efficacy, and percent fat which were also significant predictors (p < 0.05). Interview data offered several possible explanations for this relationship. First, high frequency users were more likely than low frequency users to report forgoing opportunities for physical activity in order to use their cell phones for sedentary behaviors. Second, low frequency users were more likely to report being connected to active peer groups through their cell phones and to cite this as a motivation for physical activity. Third, high levels of cell phone use indicated a broader pattern of sedentary behaviors apart from cell phone use, such as watching television. Cell phone use, like traditional sedentary behaviors, may disrupt physical activity and reduce cardiorespiratory fitness.

Synthesis and mechanistic studies of curcumin analog-based oximes as potential anticancer agents.

PubMed

Qin, Hua-Li; Leng, Jing; Youssif, Bahaa G M; Amjad, Muhammad Wahab; Raja, Maria Abdul Ghafoor; Hussain, Muhammad Ajaz; Hussain, Zahid; Kazmi, Syeda Naveed; Bukhari, Syed Nasir Abbas

2017-09-01

The incidence of cancer can be decreased by chemoprevention using either natural or synthetic agents. Apart from synthetic compounds, numerous natural products have exhibited promising potential to inhibit carcinogenesis in vivo. In this study, α, β-unsaturated carbonyl-based anticancer compounds were used as starting materials to synthesize new oxime analogs. The findings from the antiproliferative assay using seven different human cancer cell lines provided a clear picture of structure-activity relationship. The oxime analogs namely 7a and 8a showed strong antiproliferative activity against the cell lines. The mechanistic effects of compounds on EGFR-TK kinases and tubulin polymerization and BRAF V 600E were investigated. In addition, the efficacy of compounds in reversing the efflux-mediated resistance developed by cancer cells was also studied. The compounds 5a and 6a displayed potent activity on various targets such as BRAF V 600E and EGFR-TK kinases and also exhibited strong antiproliferative activity against different cell lines hence showing potential of multifunctional anticancer agents. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

3D-quantitative structure-activity relationship study for the design of novel enterovirus A71 3C protease inhibitors.

PubMed

Nie, Quandeng; Xu, Xiaoyi; Zhang, Qi; Ma, Yuying; Yin, Zheng; Shang, Luqing

2018-06-07

A three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships model of enterovirus A71 3C protease inhibitors was constructed in this study. The protein-ligand interaction fingerprint was analyzed to generate a pharmacophore model. A predictive and reliable three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationships model was built based on the Flexible Alignment of AutoGPA. Moreover, three novel compounds (I-III) were designed and evaluated for their biochemical activity against 3C protease and anti-enterovirus A71 activity in vitro. III exhibited excellent inhibitory activity (IC 50 =0.031 ± 0.005 μM, EC 50 =0.036 ± 0.007 μM). Thus, this study provides a useful quantitative structure-activity relationships model to develop potent inhibitors for enterovirus A71 3C protease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A Cell-Cell Fusion Assay to Assess Arenavirus Envelope Glycoprotein Membrane-Fusion Activity.

PubMed

York, Joanne; Nunberg, Jack H

2018-01-01

For many viruses that enter their target cells through pH-dependent fusion of the viral and endosomal membranes, cell-cell fusion assays can provide an experimental platform for investigating the structure-function relationships that promote envelope glycoprotein membrane-fusion activity. Typically, these assays employ effector cells expressing the recombinant envelope glycoprotein on the cell surface and target cells engineered to quantitatively report fusion with the effector cell. In the protocol described here, Vero cells are transfected with a plasmid encoding the arenavirus envelope glycoprotein complex GPC and infected with the vTF7-3 vaccinia virus expressing the bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase. These effector cells are mixed with target cells infected with the vCB21R-lacZ vaccinia virus encoding a β-galactosidase reporter under the control of the T7 promoter. Cell-cell fusion is induced upon exposure to low-pH medium (pH 5.0), and the resultant expression of the β-galactosidase reporter is quantitated using a chemiluminescent substrate. We have utilized this robust microplate cell-cell fusion assay extensively to study arenavirus entry and its inhibition by small-molecule fusion inhibitors.

In vitro cell transformation assays for an integrated, alternative assessment of carcinogenicity: a data-based analysis.

PubMed

Benigni, Romualdo; Bossa, Cecilia; Tcheremenskaia, Olga

2013-01-01

The study of the chemical carcinogenesis mechanisms and the design of efficient prevention strategies and measures are of crucial importance to protect human health. The long-term carcinogenesis bioassays have played a central role in protecting human health, but for ethical and practical reasons their use is dramatically diminishing, and the genotoxicity short-term tests have taken the pivotal role in the pre-screening of carcinogenicity. However, there is evidence that this strategy is not sensitive enough to detect all genotoxic carcinogens and it cannot detect nongenotoxic carcinogens. In a previous article, we have shown that an integrated strategy consisting of the in vitro Ames and Syrian Hamster Embryo cells transformation assays, combined with structure-activity relationships, is a valid alternative to the present pre-screening strategies. Here, we expand the previous investigation by (i) including results of cell transformation assays on inorganics, together with an additional assay (Bhas 42), and (ii) considering new structural alerts for nongenotoxic carcinogenicity. We also present a new analysis on global relationships between toxicological endpoints. The new results confirm that the previously proposed integrated, alternative strategy is an efficient tool to identify both genotoxic and nongenotoxic carcinogens, with an estimated 90-95% sensitivity.

Antiplasmodial activities of gold(I) complexes involving functionalized N-heterocyclic carbenes.

PubMed

Hemmert, Catherine; Ramadani, Arba Pramundita; Boselli, Luca; Fernández Álvarez, Álvaro; Paloque, Lucie; Augereau, Jean-Michel; Gornitzka, Heinz; Benoit-Vical, Françoise

2016-07-01

A series of twenty five molecules, including imidazolium salts functionalized by N-, O- or S-containing groups and their corresponding cationic, neutral or anionic gold(I) complexes were evaluated on Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and then on Vero cells to determine their selectivity. Among them, eight new compounds were synthesized and fully characterized by spectroscopic methods. The X-ray structures of three gold(I) complexes are presented. Except one complex (18), all the cationic gold(I) complexes show potent antiplasmodial activity with IC50 in the micro- and submicromolar range, correlated with their lipophilicity. Structure-activity relationships enable to evidence a lead-complex (21) displaying a good activity (IC50=210nM) close to the value obtained with chloroquine (IC50=514nM) and a weak cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CA1 cell activity sequences emerge after reorganization of network correlation structure during associative learning

PubMed Central

Modi, Mehrab N; Dhawale, Ashesh K; Bhalla, Upinder S

2014-01-01

Animals can learn causal relationships between pairs of stimuli separated in time and this ability depends on the hippocampus. Such learning is believed to emerge from alterations in network connectivity, but large-scale connectivity is difficult to measure directly, especially during learning. Here, we show that area CA1 cells converge to time-locked firing sequences that bridge the two stimuli paired during training, and this phenomenon is coupled to a reorganization of network correlations. Using two-photon calcium imaging of mouse hippocampal neurons we find that co-time-tuned neurons exhibit enhanced spontaneous activity correlations that increase just prior to learning. While time-tuned cells are not spatially organized, spontaneously correlated cells do fall into distinct spatial clusters that change as a result of learning. We propose that the spatial re-organization of correlation clusters reflects global network connectivity changes that are responsible for the emergence of the sequentially-timed activity of cell-groups underlying the learned behavior. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01982.001 PMID:24668171

Synchronous firing patterns of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical neurons depend on the network structure consisting of excitatory and inhibitory neurons.

PubMed

Iida, Shoko; Shimba, Kenta; Sakai, Koji; Kotani, Kiyoshi; Jimbo, Yasuhiko

2018-06-18

The balance between glutamate-mediated excitation and GABA-mediated inhibition is critical to cortical functioning. However, the contribution of network structure consisting of the both neurons to cortical functioning has not been elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between the network structure and functional activity patterns in vitro. We used mouse induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to construct three types of neuronal populations; excitatory-rich (Exc), inhibitory-rich (Inh), and control (Cont). Then, we analyzed the activity patterns of these neuronal populations using microelectrode arrays (MEAs). Inhibitory synaptic densities differed between the three types of iPSC-derived neuronal populations, and the neurons showed spontaneously synchronized bursting activity with functional maturation for one month. Moreover, different firing patterns were observed between the three populations; Exc demonstrated the highest firing rates, including frequent, long, and dominant bursts. In contrast, Inh demonstrated the lowest firing rates and the least dominant bursts. Synchronized bursts were enhanced by disinhibition via GABA A receptor blockade. The present study, using iPSC-derived neurons and MEAs, for the first time show that synchronized bursting of cortical networks in vitro depends on the network structure consisting of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assembly and Function of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Yeast: Relationships between Cables and Patches

PubMed Central

Karpova, Tatiana S.; McNally, James G.; Moltz, Samuel L.; Cooper, John A.

1998-01-01

Actin in eukaryotic cells is found in different pools, with filaments being organized into a variety of supramolecular assemblies. To investigate the assembly and functional relationships between different parts of the actin cytoskeleton in one cell, we studied the morphology and dynamics of cables and patches in yeast. The fine structure of actin cables and the manner in which cables disassemble support a model in which cables are composed of a number of overlapping actin filaments. No evidence for intrinsic polarity of cables was found. To investigate to what extent different parts of the actin cytoskeleton depend on each other, we looked for relationships between cables and patches. Patches and cables were often associated, and their polarized distributions were highly correlated. Therefore, patches and cables do appear to depend on each other for assembly and function. Many cell types show rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton, which can occur via assembly or movement of actin filaments. In our studies, dramatic changes in actin polarization did not include changes in filamentous actin. In addition, the concentration of actin patches was relatively constant as cells grew. Therefore, cells do not have bursts of activity in which new parts of the actin cytoskeleton are created. PMID:9744880

Decreased level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and alteration of structural integrity in erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum in vitro.

PubMed

Dubey, M L; Hegde, Ramakrishna; Ganguly, N K; Mahajan, R C

2003-04-01

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), an intracellular metabolite of glycolytic pathway is known to affect the oxygen binding capacity of haemoglobin and mechanical properties of the red blood cells. 2,3-DPG levels have been reported to be elevated during anaemic conditions including visceral leishmaniasis. 2,3-DPG activity in P. falciparum infected red blood cells, particularly in cells infected with different stages of the parasite and its relationship with structural integrity of the cells is not known. Chloroquine sensitive and resistant strains of P. falciparum were cultured in vitro and synchronized cultures of ring, trophozoite and schizont stage rich cells along with the uninfected control erythrocytes were assayed for 2,3-DPG activity and osmotic fragility. It was observed that in both the strains, in infected erythrocytes the 2,3-DPG activity gradually decreased and osmotic fragility gradually increased as the parasite matured from ring to schizont stage. The decrease in 2,3-DPG may probably be due to increased pyruvate kinase activity of parasite origin, which has been shown in erythrocytes infected with several species of Plasmodium. The absence of compensatory increase in 2,3-DPG in P. falciparum infected erythrocytes may aggravate hypoxia due to anaemia in malaria and probably may contribute to hypoxia in cerebral malaria. As 2,3-DPG was not found to be increased in erythrocytes parasitized with P. falciparum, the increased osmotic fragility observed in these cells is not due to increased 2,3-DPG as has been suggested in visceral leishmaniasis.

Broad activity of diphenyleneiodonium analogues against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, malaria parasites and bacterial pathogens.

PubMed

Nguyen, Nghi; Wilson, Danny W; Nagalingam, Gayathri; Triccas, James A; Schneider, Elena K; Li, Jian; Velkov, Tony; Baell, Jonathan

2018-03-25

In this study, a structure-activity relationship (SAR) compound series based on the NDH-2 inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) was synthesised. Compounds were evaluated primarily for in vitro efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, commonly responsible for nosocomial and community acquired infections. In addition, we also assessed the activity of these compounds against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Tuberculosis) and Plasmodium spp. (Malaria). This led to the discovery of highly potent compounds active against bacterial pathogens and malaria parasites in the low nanomolar range, several of which were significantly less toxic to mammalian cells. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine.

PubMed

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A; Westover, Kenneth D

2017-01-06

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Structural and Biochemical Analyses Reveal the Mechanism of Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 Inhibition by the Anti-cancer Compound Piperlongumine*

PubMed Central

Harshbarger, Wayne; Gondi, Sudershan; Ficarro, Scott B.; Hunter, John; Udayakumar, Durga; Gurbani, Deepak; Singer, William D.; Liu, Yan; Li, Lianbo; Marto, Jarrod A.; Westover, Kenneth D.

2017-01-01

Glutathione S-transferase pi 1 (GSTP1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tumors and is a putative target of the plant compound piperlongumine (PL), which contains two reactive olefins and inhibits proliferation in cancer cells but not normal cells. PL exposure of cancer cells results in increased reactive oxygen species and decreased GSH. These data in tandem with other information led to the conclusion that PL inhibits GSTP1, which forms covalent bonds between GSH and various electrophilic compounds, through covalent adduct formation at the C7-C8 olefin of PL, whereas the C2-C3 olefin of PL was postulated to react with GSH. However, direct evidence for this mechanism has been lacking. To investigate, we solved the X-ray crystal structure of GSTP1 bound to PL and GSH at 1.1 Å resolution to rationalize previously reported structure activity relationship studies. Surprisingly, the structure showed that a hydrolysis product of PL (hPL) was conjugated to glutathione at the C7-C8 olefin, and this complex was bound to the active site of GSTP1; no covalent bond formation between hPL and GSTP1 was observed. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of the reactions between PL and GSTP1 confirmed that PL does not label GSTP1. Moreover, MS data also indicated that nucleophilic attack on PL at the C2-C3 olefin led to PL hydrolysis. Although hPL inhibits GSTP1 enzymatic activity in vitro, treatment of cells susceptible to PL with hPL did not have significant anti-proliferative effects, suggesting that hPL is not membrane-permeable. Altogether, our data suggest a model wherein PL is a prodrug whose intracellular hydrolysis initiates the formation of the hPL-GSH conjugate, which blocks the active site of and inhibits GSTP1 and thereby cancer cell proliferation. PMID:27872191

Advances in methods to characterize ligand-induced ionic lock and rotamer toggle molecular switch in G protein-coupled receptors.

PubMed

Xie, Xiang-Qun; Chowdhury, Ananda

2013-01-01

Structural biology of GPCRs has made significant progress upon recently developed technologies for GPCRs expression/purification and elucidation of GPCRs crystal structures. The crystal structures provide a snapshot of the receptor structural disposition of GPCRs itself or with cocrystallized ligands, and the results are congruent with biophysical and computer modeling studies reported about GPCRs conformational and dynamics flexibility, regulated activation, and the various stabilizing interactions, such as "molecular switches." The molecular switches generally constitute the most conserved domains within a particular GPCR superfamily. Often agonist-induced receptor activation proceeds by the disruption of majority of these interactions, while antagonist and inverse agonist act as blockers and structural stabilizers, respectively. Several elegant studies, particularly for the β2AR, have demonstrated the relationship between ligand structure, receptor conformational changes, and corresponding pharmacological outcomes. Thus, it is of great importance to understand GPCRs activation related to cell signaling pathways. Herein, we summarize the steps to produce functional GPCRs, generate suitably fluorescent labeled GPCRs and the procedure to use that to understand if ligand-induced activation can proceed by activation of the GPCRs via ionic lock switch and/or rotamer toggle switch mechanisms. Such understanding of ligand structure and mechanism of receptor activation will provide great insight toward uncovering newer pathways of GPCR activation and aid in structure-based drug design. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled human plasma fibronectin in extracellular matrix remodeling.

PubMed

Hoffmann, Celine; Leroy-Dudal, Johanne; Patel, Salima; Gallet, Olivier; Pauthe, Emmanuel

2008-01-01

Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) is a well-known probe for labeling biologically relevant proteins. However, the impact of the labeling procedure on protein structure and biological activities remains unclear. In this work, FITC-labeled human plasma fibronectin (Fn) was developed to gain insight into the dynamic relationship between cells and Fn. The similarities and differences concerning the structure and function between Fn-FITC and standard Fn were evaluated using biochemical as well as cellular approaches. By varying the FITC/Fn ratio, we demonstrated that overlabeling (>10 FITC molecules/Fn molecule) induces probe fluorescence quenching, protein aggregation, and cell growth modifications. A correct balance between reliable fluorescence for detection and no significant modifications to structure and biological function compared with standard Fn was obtained with a final ratio of 3 FITC molecules per Fn molecule (Fn-FITC3). Fn-FITC3, similar to standard Fn, is correctly recruited into the cell matrix network. Also, Fn-FITC3 is proposed to be a powerful molecular tool to investigate Fn organization and cellular behavior concomitantly.

Relationships between structure and activity of carbon as a multifunctional support for electrocatalysts.

PubMed

Stevanović, Sanja I; Panić, Vladimir V; Dekanski, Aleksandar B; Tripković, Amalija V; Jovanović, Vladislava M

2012-07-14

We report on new insights into the relationships between structure and activity of glassy carbon (GC), as a model material for electrocatalyst support, during its anodization in acid solution. Our investigation strongly confirms the role of CFGs in promotion of Pt activity by the "spill-over" effect related to CO(ads) for methanol electrooxidation (MEO) on a carbon-supported Pt catalyst. Combined analysis of voltammetric and impedance behaviour as well as changes in GC surface morphology induced by intensification of anodizing conditions reveal an intrinsic influence of the carbon functionalization and the structure of a graphene oxide (GO) layer on the electrical and electrocatalytic properties of activated GC. Although GO continuously grows during anodization, it structurally changes from being a graphite inter-layer within graphite ribbons toward a continuous GO surface layer that deteriorates the native structure of GC. As a consequence of the increased distance between GO-spaced graphite layers, the GC conductivity decreases until the case of profound GO exfoliation under drastic anodizing conditions. This exposes the native, yet abundantly functionalized, GC texture. While GC capacitance continuously increases with intensification of anodizing conditions, the surface nano-roughness and GO resistance reach the highest values at modest anodizing conditions, and then decrease upon drastic anodization due to the onset of GO exfoliation. We found for the first time that the activity of a GC-supported Pt catalyst in MEO, as one of the promising half-reactions in polymer electrolyte fuel cells, strictly follows the changes in GC nano-roughness and GO-induced GC resistance. The highest GC/Pt MEO activity is reached when optimal distance between graphite layers and optimal degree of GC functionalization bring the highest amount of CFGs into intimate contact with the Pt surface. This confirms the promoting role of CFGs in MEO catalysis.

Causal Neuro-immune Relationships at Patients with Chronic Pyelonephritis and Cholecystitis. Correlations between Parameters EEG, HRV and White Blood Cell Count

PubMed Central

Kul’chyns’kyi, Andriy B; Kyjenko, Valeriy M; Zukow, Walery; Popovych, Igor L

2017-01-01

Abstract We aim to analyze in bounds KJ Tracey’s immunological homunculus conception the relationships between parameters of electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV), on the one hand, and the parameters of bhite blood cell count, on the other hand. Methods In basal conditions in 23 men, patients with chronic pyelonephritis and cholecystitis in remission, recorded EEG (“NeuroCom Standard”, KhAI Medica, Ukraine) and HRV (“Cardiolab+VSR”, KhAI Medica, Ukraine). In portion of blood counted up white blood cell count. Results Revealed that canonical correlation between constellation EEG and HRV parameters form with blood level of leukocytes 0.92 (p<10-5), with relative content in white blood cell count stubnuclear neutrophiles 0.93 (p<10-5), segmentonucleary neutrophiles 0.89 (p<10-3), eosinophiles 0.87 (p=0.003), lymphocytes 0.77 (p<10-3) and with monocytes 0.75 (p=0.003). Conclusion Parameters of white blood cell count significantly modulated by electrical activity some structures of central and autonomic nervous systems. PMID:28730179

Alkynyl gold(I) phosphane complexes: Evaluation of structure-activity-relationships for the phosphane ligands, effects on key signaling proteins and preliminary in-vivo studies with a nanoformulated complex.

PubMed

Andermark, Vincent; Göke, Katrin; Kokoschka, Malte; Abu El Maaty, Mohamed A; Lum, Ching Tung; Zou, Taotao; Sun, Raymond Wai-Yin; Aguiló, Elisabet; Oehninger, Luciano; Rodríguez, Laura; Bunjes, Heike; Wölfl, Stefan; Che, Chi-Ming; Ott, Ingo

2016-07-01

Gold alkynyl complexes with phosphane ligands of the type (alkynyl)Au(I)(phosphane) represent a group of bioorganometallics, which has only recently been evaluated biologically in more detail. Structure-activity-relationship studies regarding the residues of the phosphane ligand (P(Ph)3, P(2-furyl)3, P(DAPTA)3, P(PTA)3, P(Et)3, P(Me)3) of complexes with an 4-ethynylanisole alkyne ligand revealed no strong differences concerning cytotoxicity. However, a relevant preference for the heteroatom free alkyl/aryl residues concerning inhibition of the target enzyme thioredoxin reductase was evident. Complex 1 with the triphenylphosphane ligand was selected for further studies, in which clear effects on cell morphology were monitored by time-lapse microscopy. Effects on cellular signaling were determined by ELISA microarrays and showed a significant induction of the phosphorylation of ERK1 (extracellular signal related kinase 1), ERK2 and HSP27 (heat shock protein 27) in HT-29 cells. Application of 1 in-vivo in a mouse xenograft model was found to be challenging due to the low solubility of the complex and required a formulation strategy based on a peanut oil nanoemulsion. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1,5-Disubstituted benzimidazoles that direct cardiomyocyte differentiation from mouse embryonic stem cells.

PubMed

Okolotowicz, Karl J; Bushway, Paul; Lanier, Marion; Gilley, Cynthia; Mercola, Mark; Cashman, John R

2015-09-01

Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite progress in medical treatments, heart transplantation is one of the only current options for those with infarcted heart muscle. Stem cell differentiation technology may afford cell-based therapeutics that may lead to the generation of new, healthy heart muscle cells from undifferentiated stem cells. Our approach is to use small molecules to stimulate stem cell differentiation. Herein, we describe a novel class of 1,5-disubstituted benzimidazoles that induce differentiation of stem cells into cardiac cells. We report on the evaluation in vitro for cardiomyocyte differentiation and describe structure-activity relationship results that led to molecules with drug-like properties. The results of this study show the promise of small molecules to direct stem cell lineage commitment, to probe signaling pathways and to develop compounds for the stimulation of stem cells to repair damaged heart tissue. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure-Activity Relationship and Pharmacokinetic Studies of 1,5-Diheteroarylpenta-1,4-dien-3-ones: A Class of Promising Curcumin-Based Anticancer Agents.

PubMed

Wang, Rubing; Chen, Chengsheng; Zhang, Xiaojie; Zhang, Changde; Zhong, Qiu; Chen, Guanglin; Zhang, Qiang; Zheng, Shilong; Wang, Guangdi; Chen, Qiao-Hong

2015-06-11

Forty-three 1,5-diheteroaryl-1,4-pentadien-3-ones were designed as potential curcumin mimics, structurally featuring a central five-carbon dienone linker and two identical nitrogen-containing aromatic rings. They were synthesized using a Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction as the critical step and evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activities toward both androgen-insensitive and androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cell lines and an aggressive cervical cancer cell line. Most of the synthesized compounds showed distinctly better in vitro potency than curcumin in the four cancer cell lines. The structure-activity data acquired from the study validated (1E,4E)-1,5-dihereroaryl-1,4-pentadien-3-ones as an excellent scaffold for in-depth development for clinical treatment of prostate and cervical cancers. 1-Alkyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl, ortho pyridyl, 1-alkyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl, 4-bromo-1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl, thiazol-2-yl, and 2-methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)thiazol-5-yl were identified as optimal heteroaromatic rings for the promising in vitro potency. (1E,4E)-1,5-Bis(2-methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)thiazol-5-yl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one, featuring thiazole rings and trifluoromethyl groups, was established as the optimal lead compound because of its good in vitro potency and attractive in vivo pharmacokinetic profiles.

Identification of a coumarin-based antihistamine-like small molecule as an anti-filoviral entry inhibitor.

PubMed

Cheng, Han; Schafer, Adam; Soloveva, Veronica; Gharaibeh, Dima; Kenny, Tara; Retterer, Cary; Zamani, Rouzbeh; Bavari, Sina; Peet, Norton P; Rong, Lijun

2017-09-01

Filoviruses, consisting of Ebola virus, Marburg virus and Cuevavirus, cause severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans with high mortality rates up to 90%. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or therapy available for the prevention and treatment of filovirus infection in humans. The recent 2013-2015 West African Ebola epidemic underscores the urgency to develop antiviral therapeutics against these infectious diseases. Our previous study showed that GPCR antagonists, particularly histamine receptor antagonists (antihistamines) inhibit Ebola and Marburg virus entry. In this study, we screened a library of 1220 small molecules with predicted antihistamine activity, identified multiple compounds with potent inhibitory activity against entry of both Ebola and Marburg viruses in human cancer cell lines, and confirmed their anti-Ebola activity in human primary cells. These small molecules target a late-stage of Ebola virus entry. Further structure-activity relationship studies around one compound (cp19) reveal the importance of the coumarin fused ring structure, especially the hydrophobic substituents at positions 3 and/or 4, for its antiviral activity, and this identified scaffold represents a favorable starting point for the rapid development of anti-filovirus therapeutic agents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and Biological Screening of Pyrano[3,2-c]quinoline Analogues as Anti-inflammatory and Anticancer Agents.

PubMed

Upadhyay, Kuldip D; Dodia, Narsinh M; Khunt, Rupesh C; Chaniara, Ravi S; Shah, Anamik K

2018-03-08

A series of pyrano[3,2- c ]quinoline based structural analogues was synthesized using one-pot multicomponent condensation between 2,4-dihydroxy-1-methylquinoline, malononitrile, and diverse un(substituted) aromatic aldehydes. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activity. Initially, all the compounds were evaluated for the percent inhibition of cytokine release, and cytotoxicity activity and 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC 50 ) were also determined. Based on the primary results, it was further studied for their ability to inhibit TNF-α production in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMC) assay. The screening results revealed that compound 4c , 4f , 4i , and 4j were found most active candidates of the series against both anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity. The structure-activity relationship is discussed and suggested that 3-substitution on the aryl ring at C4 position of the pyrano[3,2- c ]quinolone structural motif seems to be an important position for both TNF-α and IL-6 inhibition and anticancer activity as well. However, structural diversity with electron withdrawing, electron donating, sterically hindered, and heteroaryl substitution sincerely affected both the inflammation and anticancer activities.

Libraries of 2β-(N-substituted piperazino)-5α-androstane-3α, 17β-diols: chemical synthesis and cytotoxic effects on human leukemia HL-60 cells and on normal lymphocytes.

PubMed

Roy, Jenny; Maltais, René; Jegham, Hajer; Poirier, Donald

2011-05-01

Libraries of steroid derivatives with two levels of molecular diversity were prepared to optimize the antiproliferative activity on leukemia HL-60 cells by first varying the amino acid (AA) at R(1) (libraries A, B, C, and D: with 45, 45, 20, and 20 members, respectively) and, subsequently, the capping group at R(2) (library E: 168 members). The screening of these aminosteroids revealed interesting structure-activity relationships. In library A, the compounds bearing a tetrahydroisoquinolone residue as the first element of diversity showed potent cytotoxicity, principally when isovaleric or cyclohexyl acetic acid was used as a capping group (>40% of cell growth inhibition at 1 μM). In library B, the phenylalanine (Phe) derivatives bearing a cyano group induced a higher growth inhibition than the other Phe derivatives. The screening of library C indicated the increase of hydrophobicity of proline (Pro) seems to preserve the cytotoxic effect achieved by the lead compound. However, the synthesis of structural Pro variants (library D) clearly shows weaker activities when compared to L-Pro building blocks. Finally, by incorporating some of the most active AA of libraries A-D in library E, we observed that the amide coupling functionality gave stronger cytotoxic activity compared to the corresponding sulfonamides or benzylamines. Six of the most active amide derivatives (E-37P, E-41P, E-42P, E-46P, E-48F, and E-12T) were selected and IC(50) determined on HL-60 cells as well as on normal human lymphocytes. Among this series of new anticancer agents, good to high selectivity indices (SI = IC(50) (lymphocytes)/IC(50) (HL-60 cells) = 5 - 55) were obtained.

Activation of a camptothecin prodrug by specific carboxylesterases as predicted by quantitative structure-activity relationship and molecular docking studies.

PubMed

Yoon, Kyoung Jin P; Krull, Erik J; Morton, Christopher L; Bornmann, William G; Lee, Richard E; Potter, Philip M; Danks, Mary K

2003-11-01

7-Ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (irinotecan, CPT-11) is a camptothecin prodrug that is metabolized by carboxylesterases (CE) to the active metabolite 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), a topoisomerase I inhibitor. CPT-11 has shown encouraging antitumor activity against a broad spectrum of tumor types in early clinical trials, but hematopoietic and gastrointestinal toxicity limit its administration. To increase the therapeutic index of CPT-11 and to develop other prodrug analogues for enzyme/prodrug gene therapy applications, our laboratories propose to develop camptothecin prodrugs that will be activated by specific CEs. Specific analogues might then be predicted to be activated, for example, predominantly by human liver CE(hCE1), by human intestinal CE (hiCE), or in gene therapy approaches using a rabbit liver CE (rCE). This study describes a molecular modeling approach to relate the structure of rCE-activated camptothecin prodrugs with their biological activation. Comparative molecular field analysis, comparative molecular similarity index analysis, and docking studies were used to predict the biological activity of a 4-benzylpiperazine derivative of CPT-11 [7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-benzyl)-1-piperazino]carbonyloxycamptothecin (BP-CPT)] in U373MG glioma cell lines transfected with plasmids encoding rCE or hiCE. BP-CPT has been reported to be activated more efficiently than CPT-11 by a rat serum esterase activity; however, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship studies predicted that rCE would activate BP-CPT less efficiently than CPT-11. This was confirmed by both growth inhibition experiments and kinetic studies. The method is being used to design camptothecin prodrugs predicted to be activated by specific CEs.

Physalins V-IX, 16,24-cyclo-13,14-seco withanolides from Physalis angulata and their antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory activities.

PubMed

Sun, Cheng-Peng; Qiu, Chong-Yue; Zhao, Feng; Kang, Ning; Chen, Li-Xia; Qiu, Feng

2017-06-22

Five new physalins, including a novel 1,10-seco one, physalin V (1), a tricarboxylic acid cycle one, physalin VIII (5), a rare 11,15-cyclo one, physalin IX (6), and two new ones, physalins VI (2) and VII (4) were isolated from stems and leaves of Physalis angulata together with eleven known analogues (3 and 7-16). Their structures were established by MS, IR, UV, and NMR spectroscopic analysis, together with the X-ray diffraction analysis of neophysalin, physalin P (12), and the structure of physalin D 1 (3) has been revised here. These isolated compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against human cancer cells (C4-2B, 22Rv1, 786-O, A-498, ACHN, and A375-S2) and inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production. Compounds 9 and 10 showed antiproliferative activities against all tested human cancer cells with IC 50 values of 0.24-3.17 μM. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 16 exhibited inhibitory activities against NO production. The IC 50 values of compounds 9, 10, 13, and 16 were between 0.32 and 4.03 μM, while compounds 1, 3, 4, and 14 had IC 50 values of 12.83-34.19 μM. Herein, plausible biosynthetic pathways for rare structures 1 and 6 and structure-activity relationships on the inhibition of NO production for all isolated compounds are discussed.

Cytotoxicity and structure activity relationship studies of maplexins A-I, gallotannins from red maple (Acer rubrum).

PubMed

González-Sarrías, Antonio; Yuan, Tao; Seeram, Navindra P

2012-05-01

Maplexins A-I are a series of structurally related gallotannins recently isolated from the red maple (Acer rubrum) species. They differ in number and location of galloyl derivatives attached to 1,5-anhydro-glucitol. Here, maplexins A-I were evaluated for anticancer effects against human tumorigenic (colon, HCT-116; breast, MCF-7) and non-tumorigenic (colon, CCD-18Co) cell lines. The maplexins which contained two (maplexins C-D) or three (maplexins E-I) galloyl derivatives each, inhibited cancer cell growth while those with only one galloyl group (maplexins A-B) did not. Moreover, maplexins C-D showed greater antiproliferative effects than maplexins E-I (IC(50)=59.8-67.9 and 95.5-108.5 μM vs. 73.7-165.2 and 115.5-182.5 μM against HCT-116 and MCF-7 cells, respectively). Notably, the cancer cells were up to 2.5-fold more sensitive to the maplexins than the normal cells. In further mechanistic studies, maplexins C-D (at 75 μM concentrations) induced apoptosis and arrested cell cycle (in the S-phase) of the cancer cells. These results suggest that the number of galloyl groups attached to the 1,5-anhydro-glucitol moiety in these gallotannins are important for antiproliferative activity. Also, this is the first in vitro anticancer study of maplexins. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Discovery of Pyrazolo[4,3-c]quinolines Derivatives as Potential Anti-Inflammatory Agents through Inhibiting of NO Production.

PubMed

Tseng, Chih-Hua; Tung, Chun-Wei; Peng, Shin-I; Chen, Yeh-Long; Tzeng, Cherng-Chyi; Cheng, Chih-Mei

2018-04-28

The synthesis and anti-inflammatory effects of certain pyrazolo[4,3- c ]quinoline derivatives 2a ⁻ 2r are described. The anti-inflammatory activities of these derivatives were evaluated by means of inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, 3-amino-4-(4-hydroxyphenylamino)-1 H -pyrazolo[4,3- c ]-quinoline ( 2i ) and 4-(3-amino-1 H -pyrazolo[4,3- c ]quinolin-4-ylamino)benzoic acid ( 2m ) exhibited significant inhibition of LPS-stimulated NO production with a potency approximately equal to that of the positive control, 1400 W. Important structure features were analyzed by quantitative structure⁻activity relationship (QSAR) analysis to give better insights into the structure determinants for predicting the inhibitory effects on the accumulation of nitric oxide for RAW 264.7 cells in response to LPS. In addition, our results indicated that their anti-inflammatory effects involve the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) protein expression. Further studies on the structural optimization are ongoing.

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of novel symmetrical taspine derivatives as anticancer agents.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Yanmin; Pan, Xiaoyan; Wang, Sicen; He, Langchon

2011-07-01

It has been demonstrated that taspine derivatives act as anticancer agents, thus we designed and synthesized a novel class of symmetrical biphenyl derivatives. We evaluated the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of biphenyls against five human tumor and normal cell lines. The results indicated that the majority of the compounds exhibited anticancer activity equivalent to or greater than the positive control. Compounds (11) and (12) demonstrated the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values between 19.41 µM and 29.27 µM. The potent antiproliferative capabilities of these compounds against ECV304 human transformed endothelial cells indicated that these biphenyls could potentially serve as antiangiogenic agents. We also reviewed the relationship between structure and activity based on the experimental results. Our findings provide a good starting point for further development of symmetrical biphenyl derivatives as potential novel anticancer agents.

Design and synthesis of emodin derivatives as novel inhibitors of ATP-citrate lyase.

PubMed

Koerner, Steffi K; Hanai, Jun-Ichi; Bai, Sha; Jernigan, Finith E; Oki, Miwa; Komaba, Chieko; Shuto, Emi; Sukhatme, Vikas P; Sun, Lijun

2017-01-27

Aberrant cellular metabolism drives cancer proliferation and metastasis. ATP citrate lyase (ACL) plays a critical role in generating cytosolic acetyl CoA, a key building block for de novo fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. ACL is overexpressed in cancer cells, and siRNA knockdown of ACL limits cancer cell proliferation and reduces cancer stemness. We characterized a new class of ACL inhibitors bearing the key structural feature of the natural product emodin. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) study led to the identification of 1d as a potent lead that demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation and cancer stemness of the A549 lung cancer cell line. Computational modeling indicates this class of inhibitors occupies an allosteric binding site and blocks the entrance of the substrate citrate to its binding site. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Cytotoxic prenylated flavones from the stem and root bark of Daphne giraldii.

PubMed

Sun, Qian; Wang, Di; Li, Fei-Fei; Yao, Guo-Dong; Li, Xue; Li, Ling-Zhi; Huang, Xiao-Xiao; Song, Shao-Jiang

2016-08-15

Three new prenylated flavones (1-3), along with three known analogues (4-6), were isolated from the stem and root bark of Daphne giraldii. Their structures were determined by comprehensive NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of compounds 2 and 3 were assigned by optical rotation comparison, CD and [Rh2(OCOCF3)4]-induced CD spectral methods. The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments carried out involving five cancer cell lines (U251, A549, HepG2, MCF-7 and Bcap37) showed that 2 markedly inhibited the proliferation of all tested cells with IC50 values ranging from 4.26 to 20.82μM. The preliminary structure-activity relationships of these flavones are discussed. In addition, compound 2 was found to effectively induce apoptosis in HepG2 cells according to a flow cytometry analysis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure-reactivity relationships between fluorescent chromophores and antioxidant activity of grain and sweet sorghum seeds

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Polyphenolic structures, such as tannins, are the putative cause of a variety of seed functions including bird/insect resistance and antioxidant activity. Structure-reactivity relationships are necessary to understand the influence of polyphenolic chromophore structures on the tannin content and fr...

PREDICTING TOXICOLOGICAL ENDPOINTS OF CHEMICALS USING QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS (QSARS)

EPA Science Inventory

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) are being developed to predict the toxicological endpoints for untested chemicals similar in structure to chemicals that have known experimental toxicological data. Based on a very large number of predetermined descriptors, a...

Riccardin C derivatives as anti-MRSA agents: structure-activity relationship of a series of hydroxylated bis(bibenzyl)s.

PubMed

Sawada, Hiromi; Okazaki, Miki; Morita, Daichi; Kuroda, Teruo; Matsuno, Kenji; Hashimoto, Yuichi; Miyachi, Hiroyuki

2012-12-15

Members of a series of macrocyclic bis(bibenzyl) riccardin-class derivatives were found to exhibit antibacterial activity towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA activity). Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were conducted, focusing on the number and position of the hydroxyl groups. The minimum essential structure for anti-MRSA activity was also investigated. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationship between sugar chain structure and biological activity of recombinant human erythropoietin produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

PubMed Central

Takeuchi, M; Inoue, N; Strickland, T W; Kubota, M; Wada, M; Shimizu, R; Hoshi, S; Kozutsumi, H; Takasaki, S; Kobata, A

1989-01-01

Two forms of erythropoietin, EPO-bi and EPO-tetra, with different biological activities were isolated from the culture medium of a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cell line, B8-300, into which the human erythropoietin gene had been introduced. EPO-bi, an unusual form, showed only one-seventh the in vivo activity and 3 times higher in vitro activity of the previously described recombinant human EPO (standard EPO). In contrast, EPO-tetra showed both in vivo and in vitro activities comparable to those of the standard EPO. EPO-bi, EPO-tetra, and the standard EPO had the same amino acid composition and immunoreactivity. However, structural analyses of their N-linked sugar chains revealed that EPO-bi contains the biantennary complex type as the major sugar chain, while EPO-tetra and the standard EPO contain the tetraantennary complex type as the major sugar chain. From examination of various preparations of recombinant human EPO, we found a positive correlation between the in vivo activity of EPO and the ratio of tetraantennary to biantennary oligosaccharides. These results suggest that higher branching of the N-linked sugar chains is essential for effective expression of in vivo biological activity of EPO. PMID:2813359

Anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic ergosterols from Ganoderma lucidum

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Shaodan; Yong, Tianqiao; Zhang, Yifang; Su, Jiyan; Jiao, Chunwei; Xie, Yizhen

2017-10-01

This study was carried out to isolate chemical constituents from the lipid enriched fraction of Ganoderma lucidum extract and to evaluate their anti-proliferative effect on cancer cell lines and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Ergosterol derivatives (1-14) were isolated from the lipid enriched fraction of G. lucidum. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic analyses or by comparison of mass and NMR spectral data with those reported previously. Amongst, compound 1 was isolated and identified as a new compound. All the compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effect on tumor cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Compounds 9-13 displayed inhibitory activity against two tumor cell lines and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which indicated that these four compounds had both anti-tumor and anti-angiogenesis activities. Compound 2 had significant selective inhibition against two tumor cell lines, while 3 exhibited selective inhibition against human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The structure–activity relationships for inhibiting human HepG2 cells were revealed by 3D-QASR. Ergosterol content in different parts of the raw material and products of G. lucidum was quantified. This study provides a basis for further development and utilization of ergosterol derivatives as natural nutraceuticals and functional food ingredients, or as source of new potential antitumor or anti-angiogenesis chemotherapy agent.

Enhancement of nitrosourea cytotoxicity by misonidazole in vitro: correlation with carbamoylating potential.

PubMed Central

Mulcahy, R. T.; Dembs, N. L.; Ublacker, G. A.

1984-01-01

We have investigated the relationships between nitrosourea structure and physicochemical properties and the ability of misonidazole (MISO) to potentiate nitrosourea cytotoxicity in an in vitro model system. EMT-6/Ro tumour cells were exposed in suspension to each of 9 different nitrosourea anti-tumour drugs under hypoxic and aerobic culture conditions. Additional cultures were similarly treated with nitrosoureas in the presence of 1.0 mM MISO. Seven of the 9 nitrosoureas did not demonstrate any selective toxicity toward aerobic or hypoxic cells. In contrast, chlorozotocin (CHLZ) was slightly more toxic toward hypoxic cells while Bis-OH CyNU more effectively killed aerobic cells. The addition of MISO to the drug treatment enhanced the effectiveness of all the nitrosoureas under hypoxic conditions, with the exception of CHLZ which was uninfluenced by MISO. The magnitude of the MISO dose enhancement factor (DEF, defined as the ratio of drug doses required to reduce cell survival to S = 10(-3) in 4 hours in the absence and presence of 1.0 mM MISO) for each combination was examined as a function of the relative carbamoylating or alkylating activity of the nitrosourea included in that combination. Such an analysis revealed a significant (P less than 0.05) positive correlation between relative carbamoylating potency and DEF. No significant (P greater than 0.20) relationship could be established for DEF and alkylating activity. PMID:6704305

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine Mannich bases.

PubMed

Aeluri, Raghunath; Alla, Manjula; Polepalli, Sowjanya; Jain, Nishant

2015-07-15

A series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine Mannich bases were designed, synthesized in two phases. Mannich bases were obtained by one pot three component condensation of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine with secondary amine or piperazine and excess of formaldehyde solution in methanol. The synthesized Mannich bases were screened for in vitro growth inhibition against a panel of 3 different human cancer cell lines. Most of the synthesized compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity with GI50 values ranging from 0.01 to 79.4 μM. Compounds 5e, 6b and 7k were found to be effective inhibitors of growth of all cell lines, with GI50 values similar to that of standard drug. The structure and activity relationship has been disclosed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Structure-activity relationship of sulfated hetero/galactofucan polysaccharides on dopaminergic neuron.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Liu, Huaide; Jin, Weihua; Zhang, Hong; Zhang, Quanbin

2016-01-01

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and more-widespread neuronal changes that cause complex symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate the structure-activity relationship of sulfated hetero-polysaccharides (DF1) and sulfated galactofucan polysaccharides (DF2) on dopaminergic neuron in vivo and in vitro. Treatment with samples significantly ameliorated the depletion of both DA and TH-, Bcl-2- and Bax-positive neurons in MPTP-induced PD mice, DF1 showed the highest activity. The in vitro results found that DF1 and DF2 could reverse the decreased mitochondrial activity and the increased LDL release induced by MPP(+) (P<0.01 or P<0.001) which provides further evidence that DF1 and DF2 also exerts a direct protection against the neuronal injury caused by MPP(+). Furthermore, the administration of samples effectively decreased lipid peroxidation and increased the level/activities of GSH, GSH-PX, MDA and CAT in MPTP mice. Thus, the neuron protective effect may be mediated, in part, through antioxidant activity and the prevention of cell apoptosis. The chemical composition of DF1, DF2 and DF differed markedly, the DF1 fraction had the most complex chemical composition and showed the highest neuron protective activity. These results suggest that diverse monosaccharides and uronic acid might contribute to neuron protective activity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Differentiation- and apoptosis-inducing activities by pentacyclic triterpenes on a mouse melanoma cell line.

PubMed

Hata, Keishi; Hori, Kazuyuki; Takahashi, Saori

2002-05-01

In a study to investigate the relationship between the chemical structure and the differentiation-inducing activity of pentacyclic triterpenes, several lupane, oleanane, and ursane triterpenes were prepared and their effects on B16 2F2 melanoma cell differentiation and growth were examined. Eleven lupane triterpenes used in this study acted on the melanoma cells as a melanogen, but no induction of melanogenesis of B16 2F2 cells by oleanane and ursane was detected. The differences at C-17 of the lupane series and acetylation of the OH group at C-3 did not markedly influence their activities. However, the ED(50) value for up-regulation of melanin biosynthesis was markedly decreased by the oxidation of the OH group at C-3 of lupeol (1). Betulinic acid (11), its methyl ester (12), lup-28-al-20(29)-ene-3beta-ol (9), and lup-28-al-20(29)-en-3-one (10) inhibited B16 2F2 cell proliferation by induction of apoptosis. These findings suggested that the carbonyl group at C-17 might be essential for the apoptotic effects of these compounds on B16 2F2 cells.

Cinnamic Acid Analogs as Intervention Catalysts for Overcoming Antifungal Tolerance.

PubMed

Kim, Jong H; Chan, Kathleen L; Cheng, Luisa W

2017-10-21

Disruption of fungal cell wall should be an effective intervention strategy. However, the cell wall-disrupting echinocandin drugs, such as caspofungin (CAS), cannot exterminate filamentous fungal pathogens during treatment. For potency improvement of cell wall-disrupting agents (CAS, octyl gallate (OG)), antifungal efficacy of thirty-three cinnamic acid derivatives was investigated against Saccharomyces cerevisiae slt2 Δ, bck1 Δ, mutants of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and MAPK kinase kinase, respectively, in cell wall integrity system, and glr1 Δ, mutant of CAS-responsive glutathione reductase. Cell wall mutants were highly susceptible to four cinnamic acids (4-chloro-α-methyl-, 4-methoxy-, 4-methyl-, 3-methylcinnamic acids), where 4-chloro-α-methyl- and 4-methylcinnamic acids possessed the highest activity. Structure-activity relationship revealed that 4-methylcinnamic acid, the deoxygenated structure of 4-methoxycinnamic acid, overcame tolerance of glr1 Δ to 4-methoxycinnamic acid, indicating the significance of para substitution of methyl moiety for effective fungal control. The potential of compounds as chemosensitizers (intervention catalysts) to cell wall disruptants (viz., 4-chloro-α-methyl- or 4-methylcinnamic acids + CAS or OG) was assessed according to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute M38-A. Synergistic chemosensitization greatly lowers minimum inhibitory concentrations of the co-administered drug/agents. 4-Chloro-α-methylcinnamic acid further overcame fludioxonil tolerance of Aspergillus fumigatus antioxidant MAPK mutants ( sakA Δ, mpkC Δ). Collectively, 4-chloro-α-methyl- and 4-methylcinnamic acids possess chemosensitizing capability to augment antifungal efficacy of conventional drug/agents, thus could be developed as target-based (i.e., cell wall disruption) intervention catalysts.

Forecasting the Environmental Impacts of New Energetic Materials

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-30

Quantitative structure- activity relationships for chemical reductions of organic contaminants. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 22(8): 1733-1742. QSARs ...activity relationships [ QSARs ]) and the use of these properties to predict the chemical?s fate with multimedia assessment models. SERDP has recently...has several parts, including the prediction of chemical properties (e.g., with quantitative structure-activity relationships [ QSARs ]) and the use of

Discovery of a Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Interleukin 15: Pharmacophore-Based Virtual Screening and Hit Optimization.

PubMed

Quéméner, Agnès; Maillasson, Mike; Arzel, Laurence; Sicard, Benoit; Vomiandry, Romy; Mortier, Erwan; Dubreuil, Didier; Jacques, Yannick; Lebreton, Jacques; Mathé-Allainmat, Monique

2017-07-27

Interleukin (IL)-15 is a pleiotropic cytokine, which is structurally close to IL-2 and shares with it the IL-2 β and γ receptor (R) subunits. By promoting the activation and proliferation of NK, NK-T, and CD8+ T cells, IL-15 plays important roles in innate and adaptative immunity. Moreover, the association of high levels of IL-15 expression with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has led to the development of various antagonistic approaches targeting IL-15. This study is an original approach aimed at discovering small-molecule inhibitors impeding IL-15/IL-15R interaction. A pharmacophore and docking-based virtual screening of compound libraries led to the selection of 240 high-scoring compounds, 36 of which were found to bind IL-15, to inhibit the binding of IL-15 to the IL-2Rβ chain or the proliferation of IL-15-dependent cells or both. One of them was selected as a hit and optimized by a structure-activity relationship approach, leading to the first small-molecule IL-15 inhibitor with sub-micromolar activity.

Structural determinants of hydration, mechanics and fluid flow in freeze-dried collagen scaffolds.

PubMed

Offeddu, G S; Ashworth, J C; Cameron, R E; Oyen, M L

2016-09-01

Freeze-dried scaffolds provide regeneration templates for a wide range of tissues, due to their flexibility in physical and biological properties. Control of structure is crucial for tuning such properties, and therefore scaffold functionality. However, the common approach of modeling these scaffolds as open-cell foams does not fully account for their structural complexity. Here, the validity of the open-cell model is examined across a range of physical characteristics, rigorously linking morphology to hydration and mechanical properties. Collagen scaffolds with systematic changes in relative density were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-ray Micro-Computed Tomography and spherical indentation analyzed in a time-dependent poroelastic framework. Morphologically, all scaffolds were mid-way between the open- and closed-cell models, approaching the closed-cell model as relative density increased. Although pore size remained constant, transport pathway diameter decreased. Larger collagen fractions also produced greater volume swelling on hydration, although the change in pore diameter was constant, and relatively small at ∼6%. Mechanically, the dry and hydrated scaffold moduli varied quadratically with relative density, as expected of open-cell materials. However, the increasing pore wall closure was found to determine the time-dependent nature of the hydrated scaffold response, with a decrease in permeability producing increasingly elastic rather than viscoelastic behavior. These results demonstrate that characterizing the deviation from the open-cell model is vital to gain a full understanding of scaffold biophysical properties, and provide a template for structural studies of other freeze-dried biomaterials. Freeze-dried collagen sponges are three-dimensional microporous scaffolds that have been used for a number of exploratory tissue engineering applications. The characterization of the structure-properties relationships of these scaffolds is necessary to understand their biophysical behavior in vivo. In this work, the relationship between morphology and physical properties in the dry and hydrated states was investigated across a range of solid concentrations in the scaffolds. The quantitative results provided can aid the design of scaffolds with a target trade-off between mechanical properties and structural features important for their biological activity. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Proliferative activity and branching morphogenesis in the human prostate: a closer look at pre- and postnatal prostate growth.

PubMed

Xue, Y; Sonke, G; Schoots, C; Schalken, J; Verhofstad, A; de la Rosette, J; Smedts, F

2001-10-01

To gain further insight into the molecular cell biologic features of prostate development, we investigated the proliferative activity of prostate epithelial and stromal cells and their topographic relationship with neuroendocrine (NE) cell distribution and regional heterogeneity. Consecutive sections from 43 prostates taken during autopsy representing fetuses (12-38 weeks of gestation), infants, prepubertal males and adults were double stained for chromogranin A and MIB-1. MIB-1 labeling index (LI) was calculated in the budding tips, forming acini, major collecting ducts, adjacent and non-adjacent stromal compartments. Furthermore, the topographic relationship between proliferating cells and NE cells was evaluated. In the first half of gestation, cell proliferation as revealed by MIB-1 LI was significantly higher in epithelial structures and stroma than in older fetuses and other age groups. MIB-1 LI was higher in budding tips than in other epithelial regions. MIB-1 LI in stroma adjacent to budding tips was not higher than that adjacent to other epithelial branching segments. Co-expression of chromogranin A and MIB-1 staining was not observed. MIB-1 LI was lower in cells in the direct vicinity of chromogranin A positive NE cells than at a distance from NE cells. Prostate development in the first half of gestation is explosive. Thereafter, the prostate basically is a slow-growing organ. Budding tips are the major growth foci during early prostate development, while stromal growth is evenly distributed throughout the prostate, probably indicating that stromal-epithelial interactions do not manifest in enhanced proliferation at their interface. NE cells may have an inhibitory effect on proliferation of exocrine epithelial cells and are probably only associated with differentiation of prostate exocrine cells in the prostate. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Peptide Dendrimer/Lipid Hybrid Systems Are Efficient DNA Transfection Reagents: Structure–Activity Relationships Highlight the Role of Charge Distribution Across Dendrimer Generations

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Efficient DNA delivery into cells is the prerequisite of the genetic manipulation of organisms in molecular and cellular biology as well as, ultimately, in nonviral gene therapy. Current reagents, however, are relatively inefficient, and structure–activity relationships to guide their improvement are hard to come by. We now explore peptide dendrimers as a new type of transfection reagent and provide a quantitative framework for their evaluation. A collection of dendrimers with cationic and hydrophobic amino acid motifs (such as KK, KA, KH, KL, and LL) distributed across three dendrimer generations was synthesized by a solid-phase protocol that provides ready access to dendrimers in milligram quantities. In conjunction with a lipid component (DOTMA/DOPE), the best reagent, G1,2,3-KL ((LysLeu)8(LysLysLeu)4(LysLysLeu)2LysGlySerCys-NH2), improves transfection by 6–10-fold over commercial reagents under their respective optimal conditions. Emerging structure–activity relationships show that dendrimers with cationic and hydrophobic residues distributed in each generation are transfecting most efficiently. The trigenerational dendritic structure has an advantage over a linear analogue worth up to an order of magnitude. The success of placing the decisive cationic charge patterns in inner shells rather than previously on the surface of macromolecules suggests that this class of dendrimers significantly differs from existing transfection reagents. In the future, this platform may be tuned further and coupled to cell-targeting moieties to enhance transfection and cell specificity. PMID:23682947

Cell-mediated fibre recruitment drives extracellular matrix mechanosensing in engineered fibrillar microenvironments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Brendon M.; Trappmann, Britta; Wang, William Y.; Sakar, Mahmut S.; Kim, Iris L.; Shenoy, Vivek B.; Burdick, Jason A.; Chen, Christopher S.

2015-12-01

To investigate how cells sense stiffness in settings structurally similar to native extracellular matrices, we designed a synthetic fibrous material with tunable mechanics and user-defined architecture. In contrast to flat hydrogel surfaces, these fibrous materials recapitulated cell-matrix interactions observed with collagen matrices including stellate cell morphologies, cell-mediated realignment of fibres, and bulk contraction of the material. Increasing the stiffness of flat hydrogel surfaces induced mesenchymal stem cell spreading and proliferation; however, increasing fibre stiffness instead suppressed spreading and proliferation for certain network architectures. Lower fibre stiffness permitted active cellular forces to recruit nearby fibres, dynamically increasing ligand density at the cell surface and promoting the formation of focal adhesions and related signalling. These studies demonstrate a departure from the well-described relationship between material stiffness and spreading established with hydrogel surfaces, and introduce fibre recruitment as a previously undescribed mechanism by which cells probe and respond to mechanics in fibrillar matrices.

A short review on structure and role of cyclic-3',5'-adenosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase 4 as a treatment tool.

PubMed

Eskandari, Nahid; Mirmosayyeb, Omid; Bordbari, Gazaleh; Bastan, Reza; Yousefi, Zahra; Andalib, Alireza

2015-01-01

Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are known as a super-family of enzymes which catalyze the metabolism of the intracellular cyclic nucleotides, cyclic-3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and cyclic-3',5'-guanosine monophosphate that are expressed in a variety of cell types that can exert various functions based on their cells distribution. The PDE4 family has been the focus of vast research efforts over recent years because this family is considered as a prime target for therapeutic intervention in a number of inflammatory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, and it should be used and researched by pharmacists. This is because the major isoform of PDE that regulates inflammatory cell activity is the cAMP-specific PDE, PDE4. This review discusses the relationship between PDE4 and its inhibitor drugs based on structures, cells distribution, and pharmacological properties of PDE4 which can be informative for all pharmacy specialists.

A Tumor Cell-Selective Inhibitor of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatases Sensitizes Breast Cancer Cells to Lymphokine-Activated Killer Cell Activity

PubMed Central

Kaltenmeier, Christof T.; Vollmer, Laura L.; Vernetti, Lawrence A.; Caprio, Lindsay; Davis, Keanu; Korotchenko, Vasiliy N.; Day, Billy W.; Tsang, Michael; Hulkower, Keren I.; Lotze, Michael T.

2017-01-01

Dual specificity mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatases [dual specificity phosphatase/MAP kinase phosphatase (DUSP-MKP)] have been hypothesized to maintain cancer cell survival by buffering excessive MAPK signaling caused by upstream activating oncogenic products. A large and diverse body of literature suggests that genetic depletion of DUSP-MKPs can reduce tumorigenicity, suggesting that hyperactivating MAPK signaling by DUSP-MKP inhibitors could be a novel strategy to selectively affect the transformed phenotype. Through in vivo structure-activity relationship studies in transgenic zebrafish we recently identified a hyperactivator of fibroblast growth factor signaling [(E)-2-benzylidene-5-bromo-3-(cyclohexylamino)-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one (BCI-215)] that is devoid of developmental toxicity and restores defective MAPK activity caused by overexpression of DUSP1 and DUSP6 in mammalian cells. Here, we hypothesized that BCI-215 could selectively affect survival of transformed cells. In MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, BCI-215 inhibited cell motility, caused apoptosis but not primary necrosis, and sensitized cells to lymphokine-activated killer cell activity. Mechanistically, BCI-215 induced rapid and sustained phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in the absence of reactive oxygen species, and its toxicity was partially rescued by inhibition of p38 but not JNK or ERK. BCI-215 also hyperactivated MKK4/SEK1, suggesting activation of stress responses. Kinase phosphorylation profiling documented BCI-215 selectively activated MAPKs and their downstream substrates, but not receptor tyrosine kinases, SRC family kinases, AKT, mTOR, or DNA damage pathways. Our findings support the hypothesis that BCI-215 causes selective cancer cell cytotoxicity in part through non-redox-mediated activation of MAPK signaling, and the findings also identify an intersection with immune cell killing that is worthy of further exploration. PMID:28154014

Perspective on computational and structural aspects of kinase discovery from IPK2014.

PubMed

Martin, Eric; Knapp, Stefan; Engh, Richard A; Moebitz, Henrik; Varin, Thibault; Roux, Benoit; Meiler, Jens; Berdini, Valerio; Baumann, Alexander; Vieth, Michal

2015-10-01

Recent advances in understanding the activity and selectivity of kinase inhibitors and their relationships to protein structure are presented. Conformational selection in kinases is studied from empirical, data-driven and simulation approaches. Ligand binding and its affinity are, in many cases, determined by the predetermined active and inactive conformation of kinases. Binding affinity and selectivity predictions highlight the current state of the art and advances in computational chemistry as it applies to kinase inhibitor discovery. Kinome wide inhibitor profiling and cell panel profiling lead to a better understanding of selectivity and allow for target validation and patient tailoring hypotheses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Inhibitors of Protein Kinases. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heterocyclic cationic gemini surfactants: a comparative overview of their synthesis, self-assembling, physicochemical, and biological properties.

PubMed

Sharma, Vishnu Dutt; Ilies, Marc A

2014-01-01

Gemini surfactants (GS) are presently receiving substantial attention due to their special self-assembling properties and unique interfacial activity. This comprehensive review is focused on positively charged heterocyclic GS, presenting their major synthetic access routes and examining the impact of structural elements on physicochemical and aggregation properties of this class of amphiphiles. Interaction of geminis surfactants with cells and their biological properties as novel transfection agents are emphasized through a detailed structure-activity relationship analysis. Throughout the review we have also presented the properties of selected ammonium GS, simple surfactants and lipid congeners, in order to emphasize the advantages conferred by using heterocyclic polar heads in GS design. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Molecular design and structure--activity relationships leading to the potent, selective, and orally active thrombin active site inhibitor BMS-189664.

PubMed

Das, Jagabandhu; Kimball, S David; Hall, Steven E; Han, Wen Ching; Iwanowicz, Edwin; Lin, James; Moquin, Robert V; Reid, Joyce A; Sack, John S; Malley, Mary F; Chang, Chiehying Y; Chong, Saeho; Wang-Iverson, David B; Roberts, Daniel G M; Seiler, Steven M; Schumacher, William A; Ogletree, Martin L

2002-01-07

A series of structurally novel small molecule inhibitors of human alpha-thrombin was prepared to elucidate their structure-activity relationships (SARs), selectivity and activity in vivo. BMS-189664 (3) is identified as a potent, selective, and orally active reversible inhibitor of human alpha-thrombin which is efficacious in vivo in a mouse lethality model, and at inhibiting both arterial and venous thrombosis in cynomolgus monkey models.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Yong; Choi, Mihwa; Cavey, Greg

The orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) regulates the differentiation and function of endocrine glands. Although SF-1 is constitutively active in cell-based assays, it is not known whether this transcriptional activity is modulated by ligands. Here, we describe the 1.5 {angstrom} crystal structure of the SF-1 ligand binding domain in complex with an LXXLL motif from a coregulator protein. The structure reveals the presence of a phospholipid ligand in a surprisingly large pocket ({approx}1600 {angstrom}{sup 3}), with the receptor adopting the canonical active conformation. The bound phospholipid is readily exchanged and modulates SF-1 interactions with coactivators. Mutations designed tomore » reduce the size of the SF-1 pocket or to disrupt hydrogen bonds with the phospholipid abolish SF-1/coactivator interactions and significantly reduce SF-1 transcriptional activity. These findings provide evidence that SF-1 is regulated by endogenous ligands and suggest an unexpected relationship between phospholipids and endocrine development and function.« less

Structure-Function Relationships in Human Testis-determining Factor SRY

PubMed Central

Racca, Joseph D.; Chen, Yen-Shan; Maloy, James D.; Wickramasinghe, Nalinda; Phillips, Nelson B.; Weiss, Michael A.

2014-01-01

Human testis determination is initiated by SRY, a Y-encoded architectural transcription factor. Mutations in SRY cause 46 XY gonadal dysgenesis with female somatic phenotype (Swyer syndrome) and confer a high risk of malignancy (gonadoblastoma). Such mutations cluster in the SRY high mobility group (HMG) box, a conserved motif of specific DNA binding and bending. To explore structure-function relationships, we constructed all possible substitutions at a site of clinical mutation (W70L). Our studies thus focused on a core aromatic residue (position 15 of the consensus HMG box) that is invariant among SRY-related HMG box transcription factors (the SOX family) and conserved as aromatic (Phe or Tyr) among other sequence-specific boxes. In a yeast one-hybrid system sensitive to specific SRY-DNA binding, the variant domains exhibited reduced (Phe and Tyr) or absent activity (the remaining 17 substitutions). Representative nonpolar variants with partial or absent activity (Tyr, Phe, Leu, and Ala in order of decreasing side-chain volume) were chosen for study in vitro and in mammalian cell culture. The clinical mutation (Leu) was found to markedly impair multiple biochemical and cellular activities as respectively probed through the following: (i) in vitro assays of specific DNA binding and protein stability, and (ii) cell culture-based assays of proteosomal degradation, nuclear import, enhancer DNA occupancy, and SRY-dependent transcriptional activation. Surprisingly, however, DNA bending is robust to this or the related Ala substitution that profoundly impairs box stability. Together, our findings demonstrate that the folding, trafficking, and gene-regulatory function of SRY requires an invariant aromatic “buttress” beneath its specific DNA-bending surface. PMID:25258310

Studies on the Detection, Expression, Glycosylation, Dimerization, and Ligand Binding Properties of Mouse Siglec-E*

PubMed Central

Siddiqui, Shoib; Schwarz, Flavio; Springer, Stevan; Khedri, Zahra; Yu, Hai; Deng, Lingquan; Verhagen, Andrea; Naito-Matsui, Yuko; Jiang, Weiping; Kim, Daniel; Zhou, Jie; Ding, Beibei; Chen, Xi; Varki, Nissi; Varki, Ajit

2017-01-01

CD33-related Siglecs are a family of proteins widely expressed on innate immune cells. Binding of sialylated glycans or other ligands triggers signals that inhibit or activate inflammation. Immunomodulation by Siglecs has been extensively studied, but relationships between structure and functions are poorly explored. Here we present new data relating to the structure and function of Siglec-E, the major CD33-related Siglec expressed on mouse neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. We generated nine new rat monoclonal antibodies specific to mouse Siglec-E, with no cross-reactivity to Siglec-F. Although all antibodies detected Siglec-E on transfected human HEK-293T cells, only two reacted with mouse bone marrow neutrophils by flow cytometry and on spleen sections by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, whereas all antibodies recognized Siglec-E-Fc on immunoblots, binding was dependent on intact disulfide bonds and N-glycans, and only two antibodies recognized native Siglec-E within spleen lysates. Thus, we further investigated the impact of Siglec-E homodimerization. Homology-based structural modeling predicted a cysteine residue (Cys-298) in position to form a disulfide bridge between two Siglec-E polypeptides. Mutagenesis of Cys-298 confirmed its role in dimerization. In keeping with the high level of 9-O-acetylation found in mice, sialoglycan array studies indicate that this modification has complex effects on recognition by Siglec-E, in relationship to the underlying structures. However, we found no differences in phosphorylation or SHP-1 recruitment between dimeric and monomeric Siglec-E expressed on HEK293A cells. Phylogenomic analyses predicted that only some human and mouse Siglecs form disulfide-linked dimers. Notably, Siglec-9, the functionally equivalent human paralog of Siglec-E, occurs as a monomer. PMID:27920204

A Novel Approach for the Identification of Pharmacophores through Differential Toxicity Analysis of Estrogen Receptor Positive and Negative Cell Lines

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-07-01

TERMS Structure-activity relationship modeling, proteomics, drug discovery 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT 18. NUMBER...million Center of Biomedical Research Excellence ( COBRE ) grant from the National Center for Research Resources at the National Institutes of Health...three year COBRE -funded project in Molecular Targets. Conclusion My recruitment to the University of Louisville’s Brown Cancer Center and my

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of constrained heterocyclic analogues of combretastatin A4.

PubMed

Arthuis, Martin; Pontikis, Renée; Chabot, Guy G; Seguin, Johanne; Quentin, Lionel; Bourg, Stéphane; Morin-Allory, Luc; Florent, Jean-Claude

2011-09-05

A series of combretastatin A4 (CA4) analogues with a lactam or lactone ring fused to the trimethoxyphenyl or the B-phenyl moiety were synthesized in an efficient and stereoselective manner by using a domino Heck-Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. The vascular-disrupting potential of these conformationally restricted CA4 analogues was assessed by various in vitro assays: inhibition of tubulin polymerization, modification of endothelial cell morphology, and disruption of endothelial cell cords. Compounds were also evaluated for their growth inhibitory effects against murine and human tumor cells. B-ring-constrained derivatives that contain an oxindole ring (in contrast to compounds with a benzofuranone ring) as well as analogues bearing a six-membered lactone core fused to the trimethoxyphenyl ring are endowed with significant biological activity. The most potent compound of this series (oxindole 9 b) is of particular interest, as it combines chemical stability and a biological activity profile characteristic of a vascular-disrupting agent. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Exploring the anti-cancer activity of novel thiosemicarbazones generated through the combination of retro-fragments: dissection of critical structure-activity relationships.

PubMed

Serda, Maciej; Kalinowski, Danuta S; Rasko, Nathalie; Potůčková, Eliška; Mrozek-Wilczkiewicz, Anna; Musiol, Robert; Małecki, Jan G; Sajewicz, Mieczysław; Ratuszna, Alicja; Muchowicz, Angelika; Gołąb, Jakub; Simůnek, Tomáš; Richardson, Des R; Polanski, Jaroslaw

2014-01-01

Thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) are an interesting class of ligands that show a diverse range of biological activity, including anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-cancer effects. Our previous studies have demonstrated the potent in vivo anti-tumor activity of novel TSCs and their ability to overcome resistance to clinically used chemotherapeutics. In the current study, 35 novel TSCs of 6 different classes were designed using a combination of retro-fragments that appear in other TSCs. Additionally, di-substitution at the terminal N4 atom, which was previously identified to be critical for potent anti-cancer activity, was preserved through the incorporation of an N4-based piperazine or morpholine ring. The anti-proliferative activity of the novel TSCs were examined in a variety of cancer and normal cell-types. In particular, compounds 1d and 3c demonstrated the greatest promise as anti-cancer agents with potent and selective anti-proliferative activity. Structure-activity relationship studies revealed that the chelators that utilized "soft" donor atoms, such as nitrogen and sulfur, resulted in potent anti-cancer activity. Indeed, the N,N,S donor atom set was crucial for the formation of redox active iron complexes that were able to mediate the oxidation of ascorbate. This further highlights the important role of reactive oxygen species generation in mediating potent anti-cancer activity. Significantly, this study identified the potent and selective anti-cancer activity of 1d and 3c that warrants further examination.

DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS FOR ASSESSING ECOLOGICAL RISKS

EPA Science Inventory

In the field of environmental toxicology, structure activity relationships (SARs) have developed as scientifically-credible tools for predicting the effects of chemicals when little or no empirical data are available.

Expression, purification and functional characterization of human equilibrative nucleoside transporter subtype-1 (hENT1) protein from Sf9 insect cells.

PubMed

Rehan, Shahid; Jaakola, Veli-Pekka

2015-10-01

Human equilibrative nucleoside transporter-1 (hENT1) is the major plasma membrane transporter involved in transportation of natural nucleosides as well as nucleoside analog drugs, used in anti-cancer and anti-viral therapies. Despite extensive biochemical and pharmacological studies, little is known about the structure-function relationship of this protein. The major obstacles to purification include a low endogenous expression level, the lack of an efficient expression and purification protocol, and the hydrophobic nature of the protein. Here, we report protein expression, purification and functional characterization of hENT1 from Sf9 insect cells. hENT1 expressed by Sf9 cells is functionally active as demonstrated by saturation binding with a Kd of 1.2±0.2nM and Bmax of 110±5pmol/mg for [(3)H]nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside ([(3)H]NBMPR). We also demonstrate purification of hENT1 using FLAG antibody affinity resin in lauryl maltose neopentyl glycol detergent with a Kd of 4.3±0.7nM. The yield of hENT1 from Sf9 cells was ∼0.5mg active transporter per liter of culture. The purified protein is functionally active, stable, homogenous and appropriate for further biophysical and structural studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Immunomodulatory and cellular anti-oxidant activities of caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric phenolic acids: a structure-activity relationship study.

PubMed

Kilani-Jaziri, Soumaya; Mokdad-Bzeouich, Imen; Krifa, Mounira; Nasr, Nouha; Ghedira, Kamel; Chekir-Ghedira, Leila

2017-10-01

Many studies have been performed to assess the potential utility of natural products as immunomodulatory agents to enhance host responses and to reduce damage to the human body. To determine whether phenolic compounds (caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids) have immunomodulatory effects and clarify which types of immune effector cells are stimulated in vitro, we evaluated their effect on splenocyte proliferation and lysosomal enzyme activity. We also investigated the activity of natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In addition, induction of the cellular antioxidant activity in splenocytes, macrophages, and red blood cells was determined by measuring the fluorescence of the DCF product. The study first results indicated that caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids significantly promote LPS-stimulated splenocyte proliferation, suggesting a potential activation of B cells, and enhanced humoral immune response in hosts treated by the tested natural products. Phenolic acids significantly enhanced the killing activity of isolated NK and CTL cells but had negligible effects on mitogen-induced proliferation of splenic T cells. We showed that caffeic acid enhances lysosomal enzyme activity in murine peritoneal macrophages, suggesting a potential role in activating such cells. Immunomodulatory activity was concomitant with the cellular antioxidant effect in macrophages and splenocytes of caffeic and ferulic acids. We conclude from this study that caffeic, ferulic, and p-coumaric acids exhibited an immunomodulatory effect which could be ascribed, in part, to their cytoprotective effect via their antioxidant capacity. Furthermore, these results suggest that these natural products could be potentially used to modulate immune cell functions in physiological and pathological conditions.

Novel dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes as potent modulators of human P-glycoprotein dependent multidrug resistance.

PubMed

Torres-Romero, David; Muñoz-Martínez, Francisco; Jiménez, Ignacio A; Castanys, Santiago; Gamarro, Francisco; Bazzocchi, Isabel L

2009-12-21

P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) overexpression is one factor contributing to multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells and represents one drawback in the treatment of cancer. In an attempt to find more specific and less toxic anticancer MDR-reversal agents, we report herein the isolation, structure elucidation and biological activity of nine new (, and ) and seven known (, and ) dihydro-beta-agarofuran sesquiterpenes from the leaves of Celastrus vulcanicola. Their stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR techniques, CD studies and biogenetic means. All the compounds were assayed on human MDR1-transfected NIH-3T3 cells, in order to determine their ability to reverse the MDR phenotype due to Pgp overexpression. Six compounds from these series (, , , , and ) showed an effectiveness that was similar to (or higher than) the classical Pgp reversal agent verapamil for the reversal of resistance to daunomycin and vinblastine. The structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Synthesis and evaluation of coumermycin A1 analogues that inhibit the Hsp90 protein folding machinery.

PubMed

Burlison, Joseph A; Blagg, Brian S J

2006-10-12

[structure: see text] The coumarin antibiotics are not only potent inhibitors of DNA gyrase but also represent the most effective C-terminal inhibitors of 90 kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp90) reported thus far. In contrast to the N-terminal ATP-binding site, little is known about the Hsp90 C-terminus. In addition, very limited structure-activity relationships exist between this class of natural products and Hsp90. In this letter, the syntheses of dimeric coumarin analogues are presented along with their inhibitory values in breast cancer cell lines.

On the relationship between cell cycle analysis with ergodic principles and age-structured cell population models.

PubMed

Kuritz, K; Stöhr, D; Pollak, N; Allgöwer, F

2017-02-07

Cyclic processes, in particular the cell cycle, are of great importance in cell biology. Continued improvement in cell population analysis methods like fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, CyTOF or single-cell omics made mathematical methods based on ergodic principles a powerful tool in studying these processes. In this paper, we establish the relationship between cell cycle analysis with ergodic principles and age structured population models. To this end, we describe the progression of a single cell through the cell cycle by a stochastic differential equation on a one dimensional manifold in the high dimensional dataspace of cell cycle markers. Given the assumption that the cell population is in a steady state, we derive transformation rules which transform the number density on the manifold to the steady state number density of age structured population models. Our theory facilitates the study of cell cycle dependent processes including local molecular events, cell death and cell division from high dimensional "snapshot" data. Ergodic analysis can in general be applied to every process that exhibits a steady state distribution. By combining ergodic analysis with age structured population models we furthermore provide the theoretic basis for extensions of ergodic principles to distribution that deviate from their steady state. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dillapiole as antileishmanial agent: discovery, cytotoxic activity and preliminary SAR studies of dillapiole analogues.

PubMed

Parise-Filho, Roberto; Pasqualoto, Kerly Fernanda Mesquita; Magri, Fátima Maria Motter; Ferreira, Adilson Kleber; da Silva, Bárbara Athayde Vaz Galvão; Damião, Mariana Celestina Frojuello Costa Bernstorff; Tavares, Maurício Temotheo; Azevedo, Ricardo Alexandre; Auada, Aline Vivian Vatti; Polli, Michelle Carneiro; Brandt, Carlos Alberto

2012-12-01

In this paper, the isolation of dillapiole (1) from Piper aduncum was reported as well as the semi-synthesis of two phenylpropanoid derivatives [di-hydrodillapiole (2), isodillapiole (3)], via reduction and isomerization reactions. Also, the compounds' molecular properties (structural, electronic, hydrophobic, and steric) were calculated and investigated to establish some preliminary structure-activity relationships (SAR). Compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. Compound 1 presented inhibitory activity against Leishmania amazonensis (IC(50)  = 69.3 µM) and Leishmania brasiliensis (IC(50)  = 59.4 µM) and induced cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells mainly in high concentrations. Compounds 2 (IC(50)  = 99.9 µM for L. amazonensis and IC(50)  = 90.5 µM for L. braziliensis) and 3 (IC(50)  = 122.9 µM for L. amazonensis and IC(50)  = 109.8 µM for L. brasiliensis) were less active than dillapiole (1). Regarding the molecular properties, the conformational arrangement of the side chain, electronic features, and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance seem to be relevant for explaining the antileishmanial activity of dillapiole and its analogues. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Approach for targeting Ras with small molecules that activate SOS-mediated nucleotide exchange.

PubMed

Burns, Michael C; Sun, Qi; Daniels, R Nathan; Camper, DeMarco; Kennedy, J Phillip; Phan, Jason; Olejniczak, Edward T; Lee, Taekyu; Waterson, Alex G; Rossanese, Olivia W; Fesik, Stephen W

2014-03-04

Aberrant activation of the small GTPase Ras by oncogenic mutation or constitutively active upstream receptor tyrosine kinases results in the deregulation of cellular signals governing growth and survival in ∼30% of all human cancers. However, the discovery of potent inhibitors of Ras has been difficult to achieve. Here, we report the identification of small molecules that bind to a unique pocket on the Ras:Son of Sevenless (SOS):Ras complex, increase the rate of SOS-catalyzed nucleotide exchange in vitro, and modulate Ras signaling pathways in cells. X-ray crystallography of Ras:SOS:Ras in complex with these molecules reveals that the compounds bind in a hydrophobic pocket in the CDC25 domain of SOS adjacent to the Switch II region of Ras. The structure-activity relationships exhibited by these compounds can be rationalized on the basis of multiple X-ray cocrystal structures. Mutational analyses confirmed the functional relevance of this binding site and showed it to be essential for compound activity. These molecules increase Ras-GTP levels and disrupt MAPK and PI3K signaling in cells at low micromolar concentrations. These small molecules represent tools to study the acute activation of Ras and highlight a pocket on SOS that may be exploited to modulate Ras signaling.

Analyzing pERK Activation During Planarian Regeneration.

PubMed

Fraguas, Susanna; Umesono, Yoshihiko; Agata, Kiyokazu; Cebrià, Francesc

2017-01-01

Planarians are an ideal model in which to study stem cell-based regeneration. After amputation, planarian pluripotent stem cells surrounding the wound proliferate to produce the regenerative blastema, in which they differentiate into the missing tissues and structures. Recent independent studies in planarians have shown that Smed-egfr-3, a gene encoding a homologue of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors, and DjerkA, which encodes an extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), may control cell differentiation and blastema growth. However, because these studies were carried in two different planarian species, the relationship between these two genes remains unclear. We have optimized anti-pERK immunostaining in Schmidtea mediterranea using the original protocol developed in Dugesia japonica. Both protocols are reported here as most laboratories worldwide work with one of these two species. Using this protocol we have determined that Smed-egfr-3 appears to be necessary for pERK activation during planarian regeneration.

Pharmacological insight into the anti-inflammatory activity of sesquiterpene lactones from Neurolaena lobata (L.) R.Br. ex Cass.

PubMed

McKinnon, R; Binder, M; Zupkó, I; Afonyushkin, T; Lajter, I; Vasas, A; de Martin, R; Unger, C; Dolznig, H; Diaz, R; Frisch, R; Passreiter, C M; Krupitza, G; Hohmann, J; Kopp, B; Bochkov, V N

2014-10-15

Neurolaena lobata is a Caribbean medicinal plant used for the treatment of several conditions including inflammation. Recent data regarding potent anti-inflammatory activity of the plant and isolated sesquiterpene lactones raised our interest in further pharmacological studies. The present work aimed at providing a mechanistic insight into the anti-inflammatory activity of N. lobata and eight isolated sesquiterpene lactones, as well as a structure-activity relationship and in vivo anti-inflammatory data. The effect of the extract and its compounds on the generation of pro-inflammatory proteins was assessed in vitro in endothelial and monocytic cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Their potential to modulate the expression of inflammatory genes was further studied at the mRNA level. In vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the chemically characterized extract was evaluated using carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats. The compounds and extract inhibited LPS- and TNF-α-induced upregulation of the pro-inflammatory molecules E-selectin and interleukin-8 in HUVECtert and THP-1 cells. LPS-induced elevation of mRNA encoding for E-selectin and interleukin-8 was also suppressed. Furthermore, the extract inhibited the development of acute inflammation in rats. Sesquiterpene lactones from N. lobata interfered with the induction of inflammatory cell adhesion molecules and chemokines in cells stimulated with bacterial products and cytokines. Structure-activity analysis revealed the importance of the double bond at C-4-C-5 and C-2-C-3 and the acetyl group at C-9 for the anti-inflammatory activity. The effect was confirmed in vivo, which raises further interest in the therapeutic potential of the compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Noscapinoids with anti-cancer activity against human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CEM): a three dimensional chemical space pharmacophore modeling and electronic feature analysis.

PubMed

Naik, Pradeep K; Santoshi, Seneha; Joshi, Harish C

2012-01-01

We have identified a new class of microtubule-binding compounds-noscapinoids-that alter microtubule dynamics at stoichiometric concentrations without affecting tubulin polymer mass. Noscapinoids show great promise as chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of human cancers. To investigate the structural determinants of noscapinoids responsible for anti-cancer activity, we tested 36 structurally diverse noscapinoids in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (CEM). The IC(50) values of these noscapinoids vary from 1.2 to 56.0 μM. Pharmacophore models of anti-cancer activity were generated that identify two hydrogen bond acceptors, two aromatic rings, two hydrophobic groups, and one positively charged group as essential structural features. Additionally, an atom-based quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed that gave a statistically satisfying result (R(2) = 0.912, Q(2) = 0.908, Pearson R = 0.951) and effectively predicts the anti-cancer activity of training and test set compounds. The pharmacophore model presented here is well supported by electronic property analysis using density functional theory at B3LYP/3-21*G level. Molecular electrostatic potential, particularly localization of negative potential near oxygen atoms of the dimethoxy isobenzofuranone ring of active compounds, matched the hydrogen bond acceptor feature of the generated pharmacophore. Our results further reveal that all active compounds have smaller lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energies concentrated over the dimethoxy isobenzofuranone ring, azido group, and nitro group, which is indicative of the electron acceptor capacity of the compounds. Results obtained from this study will be useful in the efficient design and development of more active noscapinoids.

Chemical constituents with anti-allergic activity from the root of Edulis Superba, a horticultural cultivar of Paeonia lactiflora.

PubMed

Shi, Yan-Hong; Zhu, Shu; Tamura, Takayuki; Kadowaki, Makoto; Wang, Zhengtao; Yoshimatsu, Kayo; Komatsu, Katsuko

2016-04-01

The methanolic extract and its subfractions from the dried root of Edulis Superba, a horticultural cultivar of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, showed potent anti-allergic effect as inhibition of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated degranulation in rat basophil leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of 26 compounds, including a new norneolignan glycoside, paeonibenzofuran (1), together with 25 known ones (2-26). The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidences. Among the isolated compounds, mudanpioside E (5) with paeoniflorin-type skeleton and quercetin (16) showed potent inhibitory activity against a degranulation marker, β-hexosaminidase release with IC50 values of 40.34 and 25.05 μM, respectively. A primary structure-activity relationship of these components was discussed.

Function-Oriented Synthesis of Marine Phidianidine Derivatives as Potential PTP1B Inhibitors with Specific Selectivity.

PubMed

Liu, Jin; Chen, Yu; Li, Jing-Ya; Luo, Cheng; Li, Jia; Chen, Kai-Xian; Li, Xu-Wen; Guo, Yue-Wei

2018-03-20

Phidianidines A and B are two novel marine indole alkaloids bearing an uncommon 1,2,4-oxadiazole ring and exhibiting various biological activities. Our previous research showed that the synthesized phidianidine analogs had the potential to inhibit the activity of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B), a validated target for Type II diabetes, which indicates that these analogs are worth further structural modification. Therefore, in this paper, a series of phidianidine derivatives were designed and rapidly synthesized with a function-oriented synthesis (FOS) strategy. Their inhibitory effects on PTP1B and T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP) were evaluated, and several compounds displayed significant inhibitory potency and specific selectivity over PTP1B. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking analyses are also described.

Fused heterocycles bearing bridgehead nitrogen as potent HIV-1 NNRTIs. Part 4: design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines.

PubMed

Huang, Boshi; Liang, Xin; Li, Cuicui; Chen, Wenmin; Liu, Tao; Li, Xiao; Sun, Yueyue; Fu, Lu; Liu, Huiqing; De Clercq, Erik; Pannecouque, Christophe; Zhan, Peng; Liu, Xinyong

2015-03-26

Through a structure-guided core-refining approach, a series of novel imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazine derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Biological results of antiviral assay in MT-4 cell cultures showed that 12 target compounds displayed moderate activities against wild-type (wt) HIV-1 strain (IIIB) with EC50 values ranging from 0.26 μM to 19 μM. Among them, 4a and 5a were found to be the two most active analogues possessing EC50 values of 0.26 μM and 0.32 μM respectively, comparable to delavirdine (DLV, EC50 = 0.54 μM) and nevirapine (NVP, EC50 = 0.31 μM) in a cell-based assay. Additionally, 9 compounds showed RT inhibitory activity superior to that of NVP. Moreover, some predicted drug-like properties of representative compounds 4a and 5a, as well as the structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis were discussed in detail. The binding mode of compound 4a was investigated by molecular simulation studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Biological evaluation and 3D-QSAR studies of curcumin analogues as aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 inhibitors.

PubMed

Wang, Hui; Du, Zhiyun; Zhang, Changyuan; Tang, Zhikai; He, Yan; Zhang, Qiuyan; Zhao, Jun; Zheng, Xi

2014-05-16

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1) is reported as a biomarker for identifying some cancer stem cells, and down-regulation or inhibition of the enzyme can be effective in anti-drug resistance and a potent therapeutic for some tumours. In this paper, the inhibitory activity, mechanism mode, molecular docking and 3D-QSAR (three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship) of curcumin analogues (CAs) against ALDH1 were studied. Results demonstrated that curcumin and CAs possessed potent inhibitory activity against ALDH1, and the CAs compound with ortho di-hydroxyl groups showed the most potent inhibitory activity. This study indicates that CAs may represent a new class of ALDH1 inhibitor.

The Role of Caveolin 1 in HIV Infection and Pathogenesis.

PubMed

Mergia, Ayalew

2017-05-26

Caveolin 1 (Cav-1) is a major component of the caveolae structure and is expressed in a variety of cell types including macrophages, which are susceptible to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Caveolae structures are present in abundance in mechanically stressed cells such as endothelial cells and adipocytes. HIV infection induces dysfunction of these cells and promotes pathogenesis. Cav-1 and the caveolae structure are believed to be involved in multiple cellular processes that include signal transduction, lipid regulation, endocytosis, transcytosis, and mechanoprotection. Such a broad biological role of Cav-1/caveolae is bound to have functional cross relationships with several molecular pathways including HIV replication and viral-induced pathogenesis. The current review covers the relationship of Cav-1 and HIV in respect to viral replication, persistence, and the potential role in pathogenesis.

Peripheral neuropathy in the twitcher mouse: accumulation of extracellular matrix in the endoneurium and aberrant expression of ion channels.

PubMed

Kagitani-Shimono, Kuriko; Mohri, Ikuko; Yagi, Takashi; Taniike, Masako; Suzuki, Kinuko

2008-05-01

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD; Krabbe's disease), caused by a genetic galactosylceramidase deficiency, affects both the central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS). Allogenic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) has been beneficial for clinical improvement of this disease. However, recent reports by Siddiqi et al. suggested that none of their transplanted patients achieved complete normalization of their peripheral nerve function, despite the well-documented remyelination of the CNS and PNS in the treated patients. We hypothesized that the PNS dysfunction in GLD is due to altered Schwann cell-axon interactions, resulting in structural abnormalities of the node of Ranvier and aberrant expression of ion channels caused by demyelination and that the persistence of this altered interaction is responsible for the dysfunction of the PNS after HSCT. Since there has not been any investigation of the Schwann cell-axonal relationship in twitcher mice, an authentic model of GLD, we first investigated structural abnormalities, focusing on the node of Ranvier in untreated twitcher mice, and compared the results with those obtained after receiving bone marrow transplantation (BMT). As expected, we found numerous supernumerary Schwann cells that formed structurally abnormal nodes of Ranvier. Similar findings, though at somewhat variable extent, were detected in mice treated with BMT. Activated supernumerary Schwann cells expressed GFAP immunoreactivity and generated Alcian blue-positive extracellular matrix (ECM) in the endoneurial space. The processes of these supernumerary Schwann cells often covered and obliterated the nodal regions. Furthermore, the distribution of Na(+) channel immunoreactivity was diffuse without the concentration at the nodes of Ranvier as seen in wild-type mice. Neither K(+) channels nor Neurexin IV/ Caspr/ Paranoidin (NCP-1) were detected in the twi/twi sciatic nerve. The results of our study suggest the importance of normalization of the Schwann cell-axon relationship for the functional recovery of peripheral nerves, when one considers therapeutic strategies for PNS pathology in GLD.

QSAR Accelerated Discovery of Potent Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Briard, Jennie G.; Fernandez, Michael; de Luna, Phil; Woo, Tom. K.; Ben, Robert N.

2016-05-01

Ice recrystallization is the main contributor to cell damage and death during the cryopreservation of cells and tissues. Over the past five years, many small carbohydrate-based molecules were identified as ice recrystallization inhibitors and several were shown to reduce cryoinjury during the cryopreservation of red blood cells (RBCs) and hematopoietic stems cells (HSCs). Unfortunately, clear structure-activity relationships have not been identified impeding the rational design of future compounds possessing ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. A set of 124 previously synthesized compounds with known IRI activities were used to calibrate 3D-QSAR classification models using GRid INdependent Descriptors (GRIND) derived from DFT level quantum mechanical calculations. Partial least squares (PLS) model was calibrated with 70% of the data set which successfully identified 80% of the IRI active compounds with a precision of 0.8. This model exhibited good performance in screening the remaining 30% of the data set with 70% of active additives successfully recovered with a precision of ~0.7 and specificity of 0.8. The model was further applied to screen a new library of aryl-alditol molecules which were then experimentally synthesized and tested with a success rate of 82%. Presented is the first computer-aided high-throughput experimental screening for novel IRI active compounds.

QSAR Accelerated Discovery of Potent Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors

PubMed Central

Briard, Jennie G.; Fernandez, Michael; De Luna, Phil; Woo, Tom. K.; Ben, Robert N.

2016-01-01

Ice recrystallization is the main contributor to cell damage and death during the cryopreservation of cells and tissues. Over the past five years, many small carbohydrate-based molecules were identified as ice recrystallization inhibitors and several were shown to reduce cryoinjury during the cryopreservation of red blood cells (RBCs) and hematopoietic stems cells (HSCs). Unfortunately, clear structure-activity relationships have not been identified impeding the rational design of future compounds possessing ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. A set of 124 previously synthesized compounds with known IRI activities were used to calibrate 3D-QSAR classification models using GRid INdependent Descriptors (GRIND) derived from DFT level quantum mechanical calculations. Partial least squares (PLS) model was calibrated with 70% of the data set which successfully identified 80% of the IRI active compounds with a precision of 0.8. This model exhibited good performance in screening the remaining 30% of the data set with 70% of active additives successfully recovered with a precision of ~0.7 and specificity of 0.8. The model was further applied to screen a new library of aryl-alditol molecules which were then experimentally synthesized and tested with a success rate of 82%. Presented is the first computer-aided high-throughput experimental screening for novel IRI active compounds. PMID:27216585

QSAR Accelerated Discovery of Potent Ice Recrystallization Inhibitors.

PubMed

Briard, Jennie G; Fernandez, Michael; De Luna, Phil; Woo, Tom K; Ben, Robert N

2016-05-24

Ice recrystallization is the main contributor to cell damage and death during the cryopreservation of cells and tissues. Over the past five years, many small carbohydrate-based molecules were identified as ice recrystallization inhibitors and several were shown to reduce cryoinjury during the cryopreservation of red blood cells (RBCs) and hematopoietic stems cells (HSCs). Unfortunately, clear structure-activity relationships have not been identified impeding the rational design of future compounds possessing ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. A set of 124 previously synthesized compounds with known IRI activities were used to calibrate 3D-QSAR classification models using GRid INdependent Descriptors (GRIND) derived from DFT level quantum mechanical calculations. Partial least squares (PLS) model was calibrated with 70% of the data set which successfully identified 80% of the IRI active compounds with a precision of 0.8. This model exhibited good performance in screening the remaining 30% of the data set with 70% of active additives successfully recovered with a precision of ~0.7 and specificity of 0.8. The model was further applied to screen a new library of aryl-alditol molecules which were then experimentally synthesized and tested with a success rate of 82%. Presented is the first computer-aided high-throughput experimental screening for novel IRI active compounds.

Temporally structured replay of neural activity in a model of entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and postsubiculum

PubMed Central

Hasselmo, Michael E.

2008-01-01

The spiking activity of hippocampal neurons during REM sleep exhibits temporally structured replay of spiking occurring during previously experienced trajectories (Louie and Wilson, 2001). Here, temporally structured replay of place cell activity during REM sleep is modeled in a large-scale network simulation of grid cells, place cells and head direction cells. During simulated waking behavior, the movement of the simulated rat drives activity of a population of head direction cells that updates the activity of a population of entorhinal grid cells. The population of grid cells drives the activity of place cells coding individual locations. Associations between location and movement direction are encoded by modification of excitatory synaptic connections from place cells to speed modulated head direction cells. During simulated REM sleep, the population of place cells coding an experienced location activates the head direction cells coding the associated movement direction. Spiking of head direction cells then causes frequency shifts within the population of entorhinal grid cells to update a phase representation of location. Spiking grid cells then activate new place cells that drive new head direction activity. In contrast to models that perform temporally compressed sequence retrieval similar to sharp wave activity, this model can simulate data on temporally structured replay of hippocampal place cell activity during REM sleep at time scales similar to those observed during waking. These mechanisms could be important for episodic memory of trajectories. PMID:18973557

A proline-hinge alters the characteristics of the amphipathic α-helical AMPs.

PubMed

Lee, Jong Kook; Gopal, Ramamourthy; Park, Seong-Cheol; Ko, Hyun Sook; Kim, Yangmee; Hahm, Kyung-Soo; Park, Yoonkyung

2013-01-01

HP (2-20) is a 19-aa, amphipathic, α-helical peptide with antimicrobial properties that was derived from the N-terminus of Helicobacter pylori ribosomal protein L1. We previously showed that increasing the net hydrophobicity of HP (2-20) by substituting Trp for Gln(17) and Asp(19) (Anal 3) increased the peptide's antimicrobial activity. In hydrophobic medium, Anal 3 forms an amphipathic structure consisting of an N-terminal random coil region (residues 2-5) and an extended helical region (residues 6-20). To investigate the structure-activity relationship of Anal 3, we substituted Pro for Glu(9) (Anal 3-Pro) and then examined the new peptide's three-dimensional structure, antimicrobial activity and mechanism of action. Anal 3-Pro had an α-helical structure in the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). NMR spectroscopic analysis of Anal 3-Pro's tertiary structure in SDS micelles confirmed that the kink potential introduced by Pro(10) was responsible for the helix distortion. We also found that Anal 3-Pro exhibited about 4 times greater antimicrobial activity than Anal 3. Fluorescence activated flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopy showed that incorporating a Pro-hinge into Anal 3 markedly reduced its membrane permeability so that it accumulated in the cytoplasm without remaining in the cell membrane. To investigate the translocation mechanism, we assessed its ability to release of FITC-dextran. The result showed Anal 3-Pro created a pore <1.8 nm in diameter, which is similar to buforin II. Notably, scanning electron microscopic observation of Candida albicans revealed that Anal 3-Pro and buforin II exert similar effects on cell membranes, whereas magainin 2 exerts a different, more damaging, effect. In addition, Anal 3-Pro assumed a helix-hinge-helix structure in the presence of biological membranes and formed micropores in both bacterial and fungal membranes, through which it entered the cytoplasm and tightly bound to DNA. These results indicate that the bending region of Anal 3- Pro peptide is prerequisite for effective antibiotic activity and may facilitate easy penetration of the lipid bilayers of the cell membrane.

Metabolic and Demographic Feedbacks Shape the Emergent Spatial Structure and Function of Microbial Communities

PubMed Central

Estrela, Sylvie; Brown, Sam P.

2013-01-01

Microbes are predominantly found in surface-attached and spatially structured polymicrobial communities. Within these communities, microbial cells excrete a wide range of metabolites, setting the stage for interspecific metabolic interactions. The links, however, between metabolic and ecological interactions (functional relationships), and species spatial organization (structural relationships) are still poorly understood. Here, we use an individual-based modelling framework to simulate the growth of a two-species surface-attached community where food (resource) is traded for detoxification (service) and investigate how metabolic constraints of individual species shape the emergent structural and functional relationships of the community. We show that strong metabolic interdependence drives the emergence of mutualism, robust interspecific mixing, and increased community productivity. Specifically, we observed a striking and highly stable emergent lineage branching pattern, generating a persistent lineage mixing that was absent when the metabolic exchange was removed. These emergent community properties are driven by demographic feedbacks, such that aid from neighbouring cells directly enhances focal cell growth, which in turn feeds back to neighbour fecundity. In contrast, weak metabolic interdependence drives conflict (exploitation or competition), and in turn greater interspecific segregation. Together, these results support the idea that species structural and functional relationships represent the net balance of metabolic interdependencies. PMID:24385891

Bm-TFF2, a toad trefoil factor, promotes cell migration, survival and wound healing

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Yong; Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; Yu, Guoyu

2010-07-30

Research highlights: {yields} Bm-TFF2 binds to epithelial cells and induces cell migration and wound healing. {yields} Bm-TFF2 suppresses cell apoptosis. {yields} Bm-TFF2 has no effect on cell proliferation. -- Abstract: Toad skin is naked and continually confronted by various injurious factors. Constant skin renewal and repairs occur frequently. However, the mechanisms of the renewal and repair have not clearly elucidated. In our previous work, a trefoil factor (TFF), Bm-TFF2, has been purified from the Bombina maxima skin and characterized as a platelet agonist. The mRNA of TFFs in toad skin was up-regulated greatly during the metamorphosis, indicating a pivotal rolemore » of TFFs in amphibian skin. Here, we presented the effects of Bm-TFF2 on the cell migration, apoptosis and proliferation. Bm-TFF2 bound to epithelial cells and showed strong cell motility activity. At the concentrations of 1-100 nM, Bm-TFF2-induced migration of human epithelial AGS and HT-29 cells, and rat intestinal epithelial IEC-6 cell lines. The in vitro wound healing assay also verified the activity of Bm-TFF2. Bm-TFF2 could also inhibit cell apoptosis induced by ceramide and sodium butyrate. The cell migration-promoting activity was abolished by MEK1 inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059, suggesting that ERK1/2 activation is crucial for Bm-TFF2 to stimulate cell migration. Taken together, Bm-TFF2 promoted wound healing by stimulating cell migration via MAPK pathway and preventing cell apoptosis. The potent biological activity of Bm-TFF2 makes it a useful molecular tool for further studies of structure-function relationship of the related human TFFs.« less

Clustering of 3D-Structure Similarity Based Network of Secondary Metabolites Reveals Their Relationships with Biological Activities.

PubMed

Ohtana, Yuki; Abdullah, Azian Azamimi; Altaf-Ul-Amin, Md; Huang, Ming; Ono, Naoaki; Sato, Tetsuo; Sugiura, Tadao; Horai, Hisayuki; Nakamura, Yukiko; Morita Hirai, Aki; Lange, Klaus W; Kibinge, Nelson K; Katsuragi, Tetsuo; Shirai, Tsuyoshi; Kanaya, Shigehiko

2014-12-01

Developing database systems connecting diverse species based on omics is the most important theme in big data biology. To attain this purpose, we have developed KNApSAcK Family Databases, which are utilized in a number of researches in metabolomics. In the present study, we have developed a network-based approach to analyze relationships between 3D structure and biological activity of metabolites consisting of four steps as follows: construction of a network of metabolites based on structural similarity (Step 1), classification of metabolites into structure groups (Step 2), assessment of statistically significant relations between structure groups and biological activities (Step 3), and 2-dimensional clustering of the constructed data matrix based on statistically significant relations between structure groups and biological activities (Step 4). Applying this method to a data set consisting of 2072 secondary metabolites and 140 biological activities reported in KNApSAcK Metabolite Activity DB, we obtained 983 statistically significant structure group-biological activity pairs. As a whole, we systematically analyzed the relationship between 3D-chemical structures of metabolites and biological activities. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Descriptors of Oxygen-Evolution Activity for Oxides: A Statistical Evaluation

DOE PAGES

Hong, Wesley T.; Welsch, Roy E.; Shao-Horn, Yang

2015-12-16

Catalysts for oxygen electrochemical processes are critical for the commercial viability of renewable energy storage and conversion devices such as fuel cells, artificial photosynthesis, and metal-air batteries. Transition metal oxides are an excellent system for developing scalable, non-noble-metal-based catalysts, especially for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Central to the rational design of novel catalysts is the development of quantitative structure-activity relation-ships, which correlate the desired catalytic behavior to structural and/or elemental descriptors of materials. The ultimate goal is to use these relationships to guide materials design. In this study, 101 intrinsic OER activities of 51 perovskites were compiled from fivemore » studies in literature and additional measurements made for this work. We explored the behavior and performance of 14 descriptors of the metal-oxygen bond strength using a number of statistical approaches, including factor analysis and linear regression models. We found that these descriptors can be classified into five descriptor families and identify electron occupancy and metal-oxygen covalency as the dominant influences on the OER activity. However, multiple descriptors still need to be considered in order to develop strong predictive relationships, largely outperforming the use of only one or two descriptors (as conventionally done in the field). Here, we confirmed that the number of d electrons, charge-transfer energy (covalency), and optimality of eg occupancy play the important roles, but found that structural factors such as M-O-M bond angle and tolerance factor are relevant as well. With these tools, we demonstrate how statistical learning can be used to draw novel physical insights and combined with data mining to rapidly screen OER electrocatalysts across a wide chemical space.« less

The regulation of transient receptor potential canonical 4 (TRPC4) channel by phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor via the cyclic guanosine 3'5'-monophosphate.

PubMed

Wie, Jinhong; Jeong, SeungJoo; Kwak, Misun; Myeong, Jongyun; Chae, MeeRee; Park, Jong Kwan; Lee, Sung Won; So, Insuk

2017-06-01

The transient receptor potential (TRP) protein superfamily consists of a diverse group of cation channels that bear structural similarities to the fruit fly Drosophila TRP. The TRP superfamily is distinct from other groups of ion channels in displaying a large diversity in ion selectivity, modes of activation, and physiological functions. Classical TRP (transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC)) channels are activated by stimulation of Gq-PLC-coupled receptors and modulated by phosphorylation. The cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-PKG pathway is involved in the regulation of TRPC3 and TRPC6 channels. Phosphodiesterase (PDE) 5 inhibitor induced muscle relaxation in corporal smooth muscle cells and was used to treat erectile dysfunction by inhibiting cGMP degradation. Here, we report the functional relationship between TRPC4 and cGMP. In human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressing TRPC4, cGMP selectively activated TRPC4 channels and increased cytosolic calcium level through TRPC4 channel. We investigated phosphorylation sites in TRPC4 channels and identified S688 as an important phosphorylation site for the cGMP-PKG pathway. Cyclic GMP also activated TRPC4-like current with doubly rectifying current-voltage relationship in prostate smooth muscle cell lines. Taken together, these results show that TRPC4 is phosphorylated by the cGMP-PKG pathway and might be an important target for modulating prostate function by PDE5 inhibitors.

Chemical Structure-Biological Activity Models for Pharmacophores’ 3D-Interactions

PubMed Central

Putz, Mihai V.; Duda-Seiman, Corina; Duda-Seiman, Daniel; Putz, Ana-Maria; Alexandrescu, Iulia; Mernea, Maria; Avram, Speranta

2016-01-01

Within medicinal chemistry nowadays, the so-called pharmaco-dynamics seeks for qualitative (for understanding) and quantitative (for predicting) mechanisms/models by which given chemical structure or series of congeners actively act on biological sites either by focused interaction/therapy or by diffuse/hazardous influence. To this aim, the present review exposes three of the fertile directions in approaching the biological activity by chemical structural causes: the special computing trace of the algebraic structure-activity relationship (SPECTRAL-SAR) offering the full analytical counterpart for multi-variate computational regression, the minimal topological difference (MTD) as the revived precursor for comparative molecular field analyses (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity indices analysis (CoMSIA); all of these methods and algorithms were presented, discussed and exemplified on relevant chemical medicinal systems as proton pump inhibitors belonging to the 4-indolyl,2-guanidinothiazole class of derivatives blocking the acid secretion from parietal cells in the stomach, the 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl]-6-(phenylthio)thymine congeners’ (HEPT ligands) antiviral activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus of first type (HIV-1) and new pharmacophores in treating severe genetic disorders (like depression and psychosis), respectively, all involving 3D pharmacophore interactions. PMID:27399692

N-O chemistry for antibiotics: discovery of N-alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine scaffolds as selective antibacterial agents using nitroso Diels-Alder and ene chemistry.

PubMed

Wencewicz, Timothy A; Yang, Baiyuan; Rudloff, James R; Oliver, Allen G; Miller, Marvin J

2011-10-13

The discovery, syntheses, and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a new family of heterocyclic antibacterial compounds based on N-alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine scaffolds are described. A structurally diverse library of ∼100 heterocyclic molecules generated from Lewis acid-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening reactions with nitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts and nitroso ene reactions with substituted alkenes was evaluated in whole cell antibacterial assays. Compounds containing the N-alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine structure demonstrated selective and potent antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240 (MIC(90) = 2.0 μM or 0.41 μg/mL) and moderate activity against other Gram-positive strains including antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). A new synthetic route to the active core was developed using palladium-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig amination reactions of N-alkyl-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)hydroxylamines with 2-halo-pyridines that facilitated SAR studies and revealed the simplest active structural fragment. This work shows the value of using a combination of diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) and parallel synthesis for identifying new antibacterial scaffolds.

N-O Chemistry for Antibiotics: Discovery of N-Alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine Scaffolds as Selective Antibacterial Agents Using Nitroso Diels-Alder and Ene Chemistry

PubMed Central

Wencewicz, Timothy A.; Yang, Baiyuan; Rudloff, James R.; Oliver, Allen G.; Miller, Marvin J.

2011-01-01

The discovery, syntheses, and structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a new family of heterocyclic antibacterial compounds based on N-alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine scaffolds are described. A structurally diverse library of ~100 heterocyclic molecules generated from Lewis acid-mediated nucleophilic ring opening reactions with nitroso Diels-Alder cycloadducts and nitroso ene reactions with substituted alkenes was evaluated in whole cell antibacterial assays. Compounds containing the N-alkyl-N-(pyridin-2-yl)hydroxylamine structure demonstrated selective and potent antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Micrococcus luteus ATCC 10240 (MIC90 = 2.0 μM or 0.41 μg/mL) and moderate activity against other Gram-positive strains including antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). A new synthetic route to the active core was developed using palladium-catalyzed Buchwald-Hartwig amination reactions of N-alkyl-O-(4-methoxybenzyl)hydroxylamines with 2-halo-pyridines that facilitated SAR studies and revealed the simplest active structural fragment. This work shows the value of using a combination of diversity-oriented synthesis (DOS) and parallel synthesis for identifying new antibacterial scaffolds. PMID:21859126

Growth-inhibitory effects of pigmented rice bran extracts and three red bran fractions against human cancer cells: relationships with composition and antioxidative activities.

PubMed

Chen, Ming-Hsuan; Choi, Suk Hyun; Kozukue, Nobuyuke; Kim, Hyun-Jeong; Friedman, Mendel

2012-09-12

We determined the phenolic, anthocyanin, and proanthocyanidin content of three brown, purple, and red rice brans isolated from different rice varieties using HPLC-PDA with the aid of 27 standards of known structure and matching unknown peaks to a spectral library of known compounds. Antioxidative capacities were determined by DPPH and ORAC and cell-inhibiting effects using an MTT assay. Based on the calculated IC(50) values, the light-brown bran had no effect, the purple bran exhibited a minor effect on leukemia and cervical cancer cells, and the red bran exhibited strong inhibitory effects on leukemia, cervical, and stomach cancer cells. High concentrations of protocatechuic acid and anthocyanins in purple bran and proanthocyanidins in red bran were identified. The red bran was further fractionated on a Sephadex column. Fraction 3 rich in proanthocyanidin oligomers and polymers had the greatest activity. Red bran has the potential to serve as a functional food supplement for human consumption.

Structure-activity relationship of uridine-based nucleoside phosphoramidate prodrugs for inhibition of dengue virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

PubMed

Wang, Gang; Lim, Siew Pheng; Chen, Yen-Liang; Hunziker, Jürg; Rao, Ranga; Gu, Feng; Seh, Cheah Chen; Ghafar, Nahdiyah Abdul; Xu, Haoying; Chan, Katherine; Lin, Xiaodong; Saunders, Oliver L; Fenaux, Martijn; Zhong, Weidong; Shi, Pei-Yong; Yokokawa, Fumiaki

2018-05-03

To identify a potent and selective nucleoside inhibitor of dengue virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, a series of 2'- and/or 4'-ribose sugar modified uridine nucleoside phosphoramidate prodrugs and their corresponding triphosphates were synthesized and evaluated. Replacement of 2'-OH with 2'-F led to be a poor substrate for both dengue virus and human mitochondrial RNA polymerases. Instead of 2'-fluorination, the introduction of fluorine at the ribose 4'-position was found not to affect the inhibition of the dengue virus polymerase with a reduction in uptake by mitochondrial RNA polymerase. 2'-C-ethynyl-4'-F-uridine phosphoramidate prodrug displayed potent anti-dengue virus activity in the primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cell-based assay with no significant cytotoxicity in human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell lines and no mitochondrial toxicity in the cell-based assay using human prostate cancer cell lines. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Discovery of Novel Inhibitors and Fluorescent Probe Targeting NAMPT.

PubMed

Wang, Xia; Xu, Tian-Ying; Liu, Xin-Zhu; Zhang, Sai-Long; Wang, Pei; Li, Zhi-Yong; Guan, Yun-Feng; Wang, Shu-Na; Dong, Guo-Qiang; Zhuo, Shu; Le, Ying-Ying; Sheng, Chun-Quan; Miao, Chao-Yu

2015-07-31

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a promising antitumor target. Novel NAMPT inhibitors with diverse chemotypes are highly desirable for development of antitumor agents. Using high throughput screening system targeting NAMPT on a chemical library of 30000 small-molecules, we found a non-fluorescent compound F671-0003 and a fluorescent compound M049-0244 with excellent in vitro activity (IC50: 85 nM and 170 nM respectively) and anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 cells. These two compounds significantly depleted cellular NAD levels. Exogenous NMN rescued their anti-proliferative activity against HepG2 cells. Structure-activity relationship study proposed a binding mode for NAMPT inhibitor F671-0003 and highlighted the importance of hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and π-π interactions in inhibitor binding. Imaging study provided the evidence that fluorescent compound M049-0244 (3 μM) significantly stained living HepG2 cells. Cellular fluorescence was further verified to be NAMPT dependent by using RNA interference and NAMPT over expression transgenic mice. Our findings provide novel antitumor lead compounds and a "first-in-class" fluorescent probe for imaging NAMPT.

Characterization of the unique function of a reduced amide bond in a cytolytic peptide that acts on phospholipid membranes.

PubMed Central

Oh, J E; Lee, K H

2000-01-01

The incorporation of a reduced amide bond, psi(CH(2)NH), into peptide results in an increase in the net positive charge and the perturbation of alpha-helical structure. By using this characteristic of the reduced amide bond, we designed and synthesized novel pseudopeptides containing reduced amide bonds, which had a great selectivity between bacterial and mammalian cells. A structure-activity relationship study on pseudopeptides indicated that the decrease in alpha-helicity and the increase in net positive charge in the backbone, caused by the incorporation of a reduced amide bond into the peptide, both contributed to an improvement in the selectivity between lipid membranes with various surface charges. However, activity results in vitro indicated that a perturbation of alpha-helical structure rather than an increase in net positive charge in the backbone is more important in the selectivity between bacterial and mammalian cells. The present result revealed that the backbone of membrane-active peptides were important not only in maintaining the secondary structure for the interactions with lipid membranes but also in direct interactions with lipid membranes. The present study showed the unique function of a reduced amide bond in cytolytic peptides and a direction for developing novel anti-bacterial agents from cytolytic peptides that act on the lipid membrane of micro-organisms. PMID:11104671

Crystal structures, in-silico study and anti-microbial potential of synthetic monocarbonyl curcuminoids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ud Din, Zia; Serrano, N. F. G.; Ademi, Kastriot; Sousa, C. P.; Deflon, Victor Marcelo; Maia, Pedro Ivo da Silva; Rodrigues-Filho, Edson

2017-09-01

In this work the screening of 20 unsymmetrical chalcone and curcuminoids analogues in regard of their antimicrobial properties was conducted. Electron donating groups in the aromatic rings in the chalcone and curcuminoid derivatives produced higher antimicrobial effect. Compounds 1, 9 and 15 exhibited good activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. These compounds were further evaluated against nine micro-organisms of pathological interest. Pharmmaper was used for target fishing of compounds against important bacterial targets. Molecular Docking helped to verify the results of these compounds against the selected bacterial target D-alanyl-D-alanine carboxypeptidase (PDB ID: 1PW1). The crystal structure of ligand and docked conformers in the active site of 1PW1 were analyzed. As a result structure-activity relationships are proposed. Structures of compounds 14 and 16 were obtained through single crystals X-ray diffraction studies. Compound 14 crystallizes in monoclinic space group P21/c with unit cell dimensions a = 13.1293(3) Å, b = 17.5364(4) Å, c = 15.1433(3) Å, β = 95.6440(10), V = 3469.70(13) Å3 and Z = 8. Compound 16 crystallizes in triclinic space group Pī with unit cell dimensions a = 6.8226(4) Å, b = 7.2256(4) Å, c = 18.1235(12) Å, β = 87.322(4), V = 850.57(9) Å3 and Z = 2.

Hierarchical Nanomorphologies Promote Exciton Dissociation in Polymer: Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Wei; Darling, Seth

2012-02-01

In the last fifteen years, research efforts have led to organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices with power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) up to ˜8%, but these values are still insufficient for the devices to become widely marketable. To further improve solar cell performance a thorough understanding of the complex structure-property relationships in the OPV devices is required. In this work, we demonstrated that the OPV active layer of PTB7:fullerene bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, which set a historic record of PCE (7.4%), involves hierarchical nanomorphologies ranging from several nanometers of crystallites to tens of nanometers of nanocrystallite aggregates in PTB7-rich and fullerene-rich domains, themselves hundreds of nanometers in size. These hierarchical nanomorphologies with optimum crystallinity and intermixing of PTB7 with fullerenes are coupled to significantly enhanced exciton dissociation, which consequently contribute to photocurrent, leading to the superior performance of PTB7:fullerene BHJ solar cells. New insights of performance-related structures afforded by the current study should aid in the rational design of even higher performance polymeric solar cells.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of new derivatives of 2-substituted-6-fluorobenzo[d]thiazoles as cholinesterase inhibitors.

PubMed

Imramovský, Aleš; Pejchal, Vladimír; Štěpánková, Šárka; Vorčáková, Katarína; Jampílek, Josef; Vančo, Ján; Šimůnek, Petr; Královec, Karel; Brůčková, Lenka; Mandíková, Jana; Trejtnar, František

2013-04-01

A series of novel cholinesterase inhibitors based on 2-substituted 6-fluorobenzo[d]thiazole were synthesised and characterised by IR, (1)H, (13)C and (19)F NMR spectroscopy and HRMS. Purity was checked by elemental analyses. The novel carbamates were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The toxicity of the most active compounds was investigated using a standard in vitro test with HepG2 cells, and the ratio between biological activity and toxicity was determined. In addition, the toxicity of the most active compounds was evaluated against MCF7 cells using the xCELLigence system. Structure-activity relationships reflecting the dependence of cholinesterase inhibitors on the lipophilicity of the compounds as well as on the Taft polar and steric substituent constants are discussed. The specific orientation of the inhibitors in the binding site of acetylcholinesterase was determined using molecular docking of the most active compound. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

4-aminoquinolone piperidine amides: noncovalent inhibitors of DprE1 with long residence time and potent antimycobacterial activity.

PubMed

Naik, Maruti; Humnabadkar, Vaishali; Tantry, Subramanyam J; Panda, Manoranjan; Narayan, Ashwini; Guptha, Supreeth; Panduga, Vijender; Manjrekar, Praveena; Jena, Lalit Kumar; Koushik, Krishna; Shanbhag, Gajanan; Jatheendranath, Sandesh; Manjunatha, M R; Gorai, Gopinath; Bathula, Chandramohan; Rudrapatna, Suresh; Achar, Vijayashree; Sharma, Sreevalli; Ambady, Anisha; Hegde, Naina; Mahadevaswamy, Jyothi; Kaur, Parvinder; Sambandamurthy, Vasan K; Awasthy, Disha; Narayan, Chandan; Ravishankar, Sudha; Madhavapeddi, Prashanti; Reddy, Jitendar; Prabhakar, Kr; Saralaya, Ramanatha; Chatterji, Monalisa; Whiteaker, James; McLaughlin, Bob; Chiarelli, Laurent R; Riccardi, Giovanna; Pasca, Maria Rosalia; Binda, Claudia; Neres, João; Dhar, Neeraj; Signorino-Gelo, François; McKinney, John D; Ramachandran, Vasanthi; Shandil, Radha; Tommasi, Ruben; Iyer, Pravin S; Narayanan, Shridhar; Hosagrahara, Vinayak; Kavanagh, Stefan; Dinesh, Neela; Ghorpade, Sandeep R

2014-06-26

4-Aminoquinolone piperidine amides (AQs) were identified as a novel scaffold starting from a whole cell screen, with potent cidality on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentrations, followed by whole genome sequencing of mutants raised against AQs, identified decaprenylphosphoryl-β-d-ribose 2'-epimerase (DprE1) as the primary target responsible for the antitubercular activity. Mass spectrometry and enzyme kinetic studies indicated that AQs are noncovalent, reversible inhibitors of DprE1 with slow on rates and long residence times of ∼100 min on the enzyme. In general, AQs have excellent leadlike properties and good in vitro secondary pharmacology profile. Although the scaffold started off as a single active compound with moderate potency from the whole cell screen, structure-activity relationship optimization of the scaffold led to compounds with potent DprE1 inhibition (IC50 < 10 nM) along with potent cellular activity (MIC = 60 nM) against Mtb.

Differential apoptotic effect of wogonin and nor-wogonin via stimulation of ROS production in human leukemia cells.

PubMed

Chow, Jyh-Ming; Huang, Guan-Cheng; Shen, Shing-Chuan; Wu, Chin-Yen; Lin, Cheng-Wei; Chen, Yen-Chou

2008-04-01

We investigate the roles of methoxyl (OCH(3)) and hydroxyl (OH) substitutions at C8 of flavonoids on their apoptosis-inducing activities. Wogonin (Wog) and nor-wogonin (N-Wog) are structurally related flavonoids, and respectively contain an OH and OCH(3) at C8. In leukemia HL-60 cells, N-Wog exhibited more-potent cytotoxicity than Wog according to the MTT and LDH release assays, and the IC(50) values of Wog and N-Wog in HL-60 cells were 67.5 +/- 2.1 and 21.7 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively. Apoptotic characteristics including DNA ladders, apoptotic bodies, and hypodiploid cells accompanied by the induction of caspase 3 protein processing appeared in Wog- and N-Wog-treated HL-60 cells. Interestingly, an increase in intracellular peroxide production was detected in N-Wog- but not Wog-treated HL-60 cells by the DCHF-DA assay, and the reduction of intracellular peroxide by catalase (CAT) induced by N-Wog significantly reduced the N-Wog- but not the Wog-induced cytotoxic effect according to the MTT assay in accordance with the blocking of DNA ladder formation and caspase 3 and PARP protein processing elicited by N-Wog. We further analyzed the effect of six structurally related compounds, including 5-OH, 7-OH, 5,7-diOH, 5,7-diOCH(3), 7,8-diOCH(3), and 7-OCH(3)-8-OH flavones, on apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells. Results suggested that OH at C5 and C7 is essential for both the apoptosis-inducing activity of flavonoids, and OH at C8 may contribute to apoptosis induction ability. Evidence to support a distinct structure-activity relationship in apoptosis induction of flavonoids is provided for the first time in this study. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines as tyrosine kinase RET inhibitors.

PubMed

Wang, Chengyan; Liu, Hongchun; Song, Zilan; Ji, Yinchun; Xing, Li; Peng, Xia; Wang, Xisheng; Ai, Jing; Geng, Meiyu; Zhang, Ao

2017-06-01

Three series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as RET kinase inhibitors. Compounds 23a and 23c were identified to show significant activity both in the biochemical and the BaF3/CCDC6-RET cell assays. Compound 23c was found to significantly inhibit RET phosphorylation and down-stream signaling in BaF3/CCDC6-RET cells, confirming its potent cellular RET-targeting profile. Different from other RET inhibitors with equal potency against KDR that associated with severe toxicity, 23c did not show significant KDR-inhibition even at the concentration of 1μM. These results demonstrated that 23c is a potent and selective RET inhibitor. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The oncolytic peptide LTX-315 induces cell death and DAMP release by mitochondria distortion in human melanoma cells

PubMed Central

Eike, Liv-Marie; Yang, Nannan; Rekdal, Øystein; Sveinbjørnsson, Baldur

2015-01-01

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are naturally occurring molecules found in most species, in which they play a significant role in the first line defense against intruding pathogens, and several HDPs have been shown to possess anticancer activity. Structure-activity relationship studies on the HDP bovine lactoferricin revealed a de novo design of a nonamer peptide LTX-315, with oncolytic properties. In the present study, we investigated the oncolytic activity of LTX-315 in human melanoma cells (A375). LTX-315 induced a rapid plasma membrane disruption and cell death within 2 hours. At a low concentration, fluorescence-labeled LTX-315 was internalized and accumulated in cytoplasmic vacuoles in close proximity to the mitochondria. The mitochondrial membrane potential was shown to depolarize as a consequence of LTX-315 treatment and at ultrastructural level, the mitochondria morphology was significantly altered. Release of danger signals (DAMPs) such as ATP, Cytochrome C and HMGB1 into the cell supernatant of cultured cells was evident minutes after peptide treatment. The oncolytic effect of LTX-315 involving perturbation of both the cell membrane and the mitochondria with subsequent release of DAMPs may highlight the ability of LTX-315 to induce complete regression and long-term protective immune responses as previously reported in experimental animal models. PMID:26472184

Synthesis of indolizidinone analogues of cytotoxic alkaloids: monocyclic precursors are also active.

PubMed

Boto, Alicia; Miguélez, Javier; Marín, Raquel; Díaz, Mario

2012-05-15

Readily available proline derivatives can be transformed in just two steps into analogues of cytotoxic phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids. The key step uses a sequential radical scission-oxidation-alkylation process, which yields 2-substituted pyrrolidine amides. A second process effects the cyclization to give the desired alkaloid analogues, which possess an indolizidine core. The major and minor isomers (dr 3:2 to 3:1) can be easily separated, allowing their use to study structure-activity relationships (SAR). The process is versatile and allows the introduction of aryl and heteroaryl groups (including biphenyl, halogenated phenyl, and pyrrole rings). Some of these alkaloid analogues displayed a selective cytotoxic activity against tumorogenic human neuronal and mammary cancer cells, and one derivative caused around 80% cell death in both tumor lines at micromolar doses. The cytotoxicity of some monocyclic precursors was also studied, being comparable or superior to the bicyclic derivatives. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Indole Alkaloids Inhibiting Neural Stem Cell from Uncaria rhynchophylla.

PubMed

Wei, Xin; Jiang, Li-Ping; Guo, Ying; Khan, Afsar; Liu, Ya-Ping; Yu, Hao-Fei; Wang, Bei; Ding, Cai-Feng; Zhu, Pei-Feng; Chen, Ying-Ying; Zhao, Yun-Li; Chen, Yong-Bing; Wang, Yi-Fen; Luo, Xiao-Dong

2017-10-01

Uncaria rhynchophylla is commonly recognized as a traditional treatment for dizziness, cerebrovascular diseases, and nervous disorders in China. Previously, the neuro-protective activities of the alkaloids from U. rhynchophylla were intensively reported. In current work, three new indole alkaloids (1-3), identified as geissoschizic acid (1), geissoschizic acid N 4 -oxide (2), and 3β-sitsirikine N 4 -oxide (3), as well as 26 known analogues were isolated from U. rhynchophylla. However, in the neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation assay for all isolated compounds, geissoschizic acid (1), geissoschizic acid N 4 -oxide (2), isocorynoxeine (6), isorhynchophylline (7), (4S)-akuammigine N-oxide (8), and (4S)-rhynchophylline N-oxide (10) showed unexpected inhibitory activities at 10 μM. Unlike previous neuro-protective reports, as a warning or caution, our finding showcased a clue for possible NSCs toxicity and the neural lesions risk of U. rhynchophylla, while the structure-activity relationships of the isolated compounds were discussed also.

Expression of human inducible nitric oxide synthase in a tetrahydrobiopterin (H4B)-deficient cell line: H4B promotes assembly of enzyme subunits into an active dimer.

PubMed Central

Tzeng, E; Billiar, T R; Robbins, P D; Loftus, M; Stuehr, D J

1995-01-01

Murine inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) is catalytically active only in dimeric form. Assembly of its purified subunits into a dimer requires H4B. To understand the structure-activity relationships of human iNOS, we constitutively expressed recombinant human iNOS in NIH 3T3 cells by using a retroviral vector. These cells are deficient in de novo H4B biosynthesis and the role of H4B in the expression and assembly of active iNOS in an intact cell system could be studied. In the absence of added H4B, NO synthesis by the cells was minimal, whereas cells grown with supplemental H4B or the H4B precursor sepiapterin generated NO (74.1 and 63.3 nmol of nitrite per 10(6) cells per 24 h, respectively). NO synthesis correlated with an increase in intracellular H4B but no increase in iNOS protein. Instead, an increased percentage of dimeric iNOS was observed, rising from 20% in cytosols from unsupplemented cells to 66% in H4B-supplemented cell cytosols. In all cases, only dimeric iNOS displayed catalytic activity. Cytosols prepared from H4B-deficient cells exhibited little iNOS activity but acquired activity during a 60- to 120-min incubation with H4B, reaching final activities of 60-72 pmol of citrulline per mg of protein per min. Reconstitution of cytosolic NO synthesis activity was associated with conversion of monomers into dimeric iNOS during the incubation. Thus, human iNOS subunits dimerize to form an active enzyme, and H4B plays a critical role in promoting dimerization in intact cells. This reveals a post-translational mechanism by which intracellular H4B can regulate iNOS expression. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 3 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 PMID:8524846

Synthesis, Antitumor Activity, and Mechanism of Action of 6-Acrylic Phenethyl Ester-2-pyranone Derivatives

PubMed Central

Fang, Sai; Chen, Lei; Yu, Miao; Cheng, Bao; Lin, Yongsheng; Morris-Natschke, Susan L.; Lee, Kuo-Hsiung; Gu, Qiong; Xu, Jun

2015-01-01

Based on the scaffolds of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as well as bioactive lactone-containing compounds, 6-acrylic phenethyl ester-2-pyranone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against five tumor cell lines (HeLa, C6, MCF-7, A549, and HSC-2). Most of the new derivatives exhibited moderate to potent cytotoxic activity. Moreover, HeLa cell lines showed higher sensitivity to these compounds. Particularly, compound 5o showed potent cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 0.50 – 3.45 μM) against the five cell lines. Further investigation on the mechanism of action showed that 5o induced apoptosis, arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phases in HeLa cells, and inhibited migration through disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, ADME properties were also calculated in silico, and compound 5o showed good ADMET properties with good absorption, low hepatotoxicity, and good solubility, and thus, could easily be bound to carrier proteins, without inhibition of CYP2D6. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis indicated that compounds with ortho-substitution on the benzene ring exhibited obviously increased cytotoxic potency. This study indicated that compound 5o is a promising compound as an antitumor agent. PMID:25800703

Structure-activity relationship of indoloquinoline analogs anti-MRSA.

PubMed

Zhao, Min; Kamada, Tomonori; Takeuchi, Aya; Nishioka, Hiromi; Kuroda, Teruo; Takeuchi, Yasuo

2015-12-01

Indolo[3,2-b]quinoline analogs (3a-3s), 4-(acridin-9-ylamino) phenol hydrochloride (4), benzofuro[3,2-b]quinoline (3t), indeno[1,2-b]quinolines (3u and 3v) have been synthesized. Those compounds were found to exhibit anti-bacterial activity towards Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA activity). Structure-activity relationship studies were conducted that indoloquinoline ring, benzofuroquinoline ring and 4-aminophenol group are essential structure for anti-MRSA activity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A peptidomimetic with a chiral switch is an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor heterodimerization

PubMed Central

Kanthala, Shanthi P.; Liu, Yong-Yu; Singh, Sitanshu; Sable, Rushikesh; Pallerla, Sandeep; Jois, Seetharama D.

2017-01-01

Among different types of EGFR dimers, EGFR-HER2 and HER2-HER3 are well known in different types of cancers. Targeting dimerization of EGFR will have a significant impact on cancer therapies. A symmetric peptidomimetic was designed to inhibit the protein-protein interaction of EGFR. The peptidomimetic (Cyclo(1,10)PpR (R) Anapa-FDDF-(R)-Anapa)R, compound 18) was shown to exhibit antiproliferative activity with an IC50 of 194 nM in HER2-expressing breast cancer cell lines and 18 nM in lung cancer cell lines. The peptidomimetic has a Pro-Pro sequence in the structure to stabilize the β-turn and a β-amino acid, amino napthyl propionic acid. To investigate the effect of the chirality of β-amino acid on the structure of the peptide and its antiproliferative activity, diastereoisomers of compound 18 were designed and synthesized. Structure-activity relationships of these compounds indicated that there is a chiral switch at β-amino acid in the designed compound. The peptidomimetic with R configuration at β-amino acid and with a L-Pro-D-Pro sequence was the most active compound (18). Using enzyme complement fragmentation assay and proximity ligation assay, we show that compound 18 inhibits HER2:HER3 and EGFR:HER2 dimerization. Surface plasmon resonance studies suggested that compound 18 binds to the HER2 extracellular domain and in particular to domain IV. The anticancer activity of compound 18 was evaluated using a xenograft model of breast cancer in mice; compound 18 suppressed the tumor growth in mice compared to control. Compound 18 was also shown to have a synergistic effect with erlotinib on EGFR mutated lung cancer cell lines. PMID:29088782

Characterizing microbiota-independent effects of oligosaccharides on intestinal epithelial cells: insight into the role of structure and size : Structure-activity relationships of non-digestible oligosaccharides.

PubMed

Akbari, Peyman; Fink-Gremmels, Johanna; Willems, Rianne H A M; Difilippo, Elisabetta; Schols, Henk A; Schoterman, Margriet H C; Garssen, Johan; Braber, Saskia

2017-08-01

The direct effects of galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), including Vivinal ® GOS syrup (VGOS) and purified Vivinal ® GOS (PGOS), on the epithelial integrity and corresponding interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8) release were examined in a Caco-2 cell model for intestinal barrier dysfunction. To investigate structure-activity relationships, the effects of individual DP fractions of VGOS were evaluated. Moreover, the obtained results with GOS were compared with Caco-2 monolayers incubated with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and inulin. Caco-2 monolayers were pretreated (24 h) with or without specific oligosaccharides or DP fractions of VGOS (DP2 to DP6) before being exposed for 12 or 24 h to the fungal toxin deoxynivalenol (DON). Transepithelial electrical resistance and lucifer yellow permeability were measured to investigate barrier integrity. A calcium switch assay was used to study the reassembly of tight junction proteins. Release of CXCL8, a typical marker for inflammation, was quantified by ELISA. In comparison with PGOS, FOS and inulin, VGOS showed the most pronounced protective effect on the DON-induced impairment of the monolayer integrity, acceleration of the tight junction reassembly and the subsequent CXCL8 release. DP2 and DP3 in concentrations occurring in VGOS prevented the DON-induced epithelial barrier disruption, which could be related to their high prevalence in VGOS. However, no effects of the separate DP GOS fractions were observed on CXCL8 release. This comparative study demonstrates the direct, microbiota-independent effects of oligosaccharides on the intestinal barrier function and shows the differences between individual galacto- and fructo-oligosaccharides. This microbiota-independent effect of oligosaccharides depends on the oligosaccharide structure, DP length and concentration.

The nitric oxide prodrug JS-K and its structural analogues as cancer therapeutic agents.

PubMed

Maciag, Anna E; Saavedra, Joseph E; Chakrapani, Harinath

2009-09-01

Nitric oxide (NO) prodrugs of the diazeniumdiolate class are routinely used as reliable sources of nitric oxide in chemical and biological laboratory settings. O(2)-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) diazeniumdiolates, which are derivatized forms of ionic diazeniumdiolates, have been found to show potent anti-proliferative activity in a variety of cancer cells, presumably through the effects of NO. One important member of this class of diazeniumdiolates, O(2)-(2,4-dinitrophenyl) 1-[(4-ethoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate (JS-K), has shown promise as a novel cancer therapeutic agent in a number of animal models. This review describes the developments in chemical and biochemical characterization and structure-activity relationship of JS-K and its analogues. In addition, some molecular mechanistic insights into the observed anti-proliferative activity of JS-K are discussed. Finally, a structural motif is presented for O(2)-(aryl) diazeniumdiolate nitric oxide prodrugs that show potency comparable with that of JS-K.

Study on component interface evolution of a solid oxide fuel cell stack after long term operation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Jiajun; Huang, Wei; Wang, Xiaochun; Li, Jun; Yan, Dong; Pu, Jian; Chi, Bo; Li, Jian

2018-05-01

A 5-cell solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack with external manifold structure is assembled and underwent a durability test with an output of 250 W for nearly 4400 h when current density and operating temperature are 355 mA/cm2 and 750 °C. Cells used in the stack are anode-supported cells (ASC) with yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolytes, Ni/YSZ hydrogen electrodes, and YSZ based composite cathode. The dimension of the cell is 150 × 150 mm (active area: 130 × 130 mm). Ceramic-glass sealant is used in the stack to keep the gas tightness between cells, interconnects and manifolds. Pure hydrogen and dry air are used as fuel and oxidant respectively. The stack has a maximum output of 340 W at 562 mA/cm2 current density at 750 °C. The stack shows a degradation of 1.5% per 1000 h during the test with 2 thermal cycles to room temperature. After the test, the stack was dissembled and examined. The relationship between microstructure changes of interfaces and degradation in the stack are discussed. The microstructure evolution of interfaces between electrode, contact material and current collector are unveiled and their relationship with the degradation is discussed.

Structure-Thermodynamics-Antioxidant Activity Relationships of Selected Natural Phenolic Acids and Derivatives: An Experimental and Theoretical Evaluation

PubMed Central

Zheng, Jie; Liang, Guizhao

2015-01-01

Phenolic acids and derivatives have potential biological functions, however, little is known about the structure-activity relationships and the underlying action mechanisms of these phenolic acids to date. Herein we investigate the structure-thermodynamics-antioxidant relationships of 20 natural phenolic acids and derivatives using DPPH• scavenging assay, density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling. Three main working mechanisms (HAT, SETPT and SPLET) are explored in four micro-environments (gas-phase, benzene, water and ethanol). Computed thermodynamics parameters (BDE, IP, PDE, PA and ETE) are compared with the experimental radical scavenging activities against DPPH•. Available theoretical and experimental investigations have demonstrated that the extended delocalization and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds are the two main contributions to the stability of the radicals. The C = O or C = C in COOH, COOR, C = CCOOH and C = CCOOR groups, and orthodiphenolic functionalities are shown to favorably stabilize the specific radical species to enhance the radical scavenging activities, while the presence of the single OH in the ortho position of the COOH group disfavors the activities. HAT is the thermodynamically preferred mechanism in the gas phase and benzene, whereas SPLET in water and ethanol. Furthermore, our QSAR models robustly represent the structure-activity relationships of these explored compounds in polar media. PMID:25803685

Structure-thermodynamics-antioxidant activity relationships of selected natural phenolic acids and derivatives: an experimental and theoretical evaluation.

PubMed

Chen, Yuzhen; Xiao, Huizhi; Zheng, Jie; Liang, Guizhao

2015-01-01

Phenolic acids and derivatives have potential biological functions, however, little is known about the structure-activity relationships and the underlying action mechanisms of these phenolic acids to date. Herein we investigate the structure-thermodynamics-antioxidant relationships of 20 natural phenolic acids and derivatives using DPPH• scavenging assay, density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) levels of theory, and quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling. Three main working mechanisms (HAT, SETPT and SPLET) are explored in four micro-environments (gas-phase, benzene, water and ethanol). Computed thermodynamics parameters (BDE, IP, PDE, PA and ETE) are compared with the experimental radical scavenging activities against DPPH•. Available theoretical and experimental investigations have demonstrated that the extended delocalization and intra-molecular hydrogen bonds are the two main contributions to the stability of the radicals. The C = O or C = C in COOH, COOR, C = CCOOH and C = CCOOR groups, and orthodiphenolic functionalities are shown to favorably stabilize the specific radical species to enhance the radical scavenging activities, while the presence of the single OH in the ortho position of the COOH group disfavors the activities. HAT is the thermodynamically preferred mechanism in the gas phase and benzene, whereas SPLET in water and ethanol. Furthermore, our QSAR models robustly represent the structure-activity relationships of these explored compounds in polar media.

Toxicity Evaluation of Engineered Nanomaterials: Risk Evaluation Tools (Phase 3 Studies)

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

report. The second modeling approach was on quantitative structure activity relationships ( QSARs ). A manuscript entitled “Connecting the dots: Towards...expands rapidly. We proposed two types of mechanisms of toxic action supported by the nano- QSAR model , which collectively govern the toxicity of the...interpretative nano- QSAR model describing toxicity of 18 nano-metal oxides to a HaCaT cell line as a model for dermal exposure. In result, by the comparison of

Functional redundancy of division specific penicillin-binding proteins in Bacillus subtilis.

PubMed

Sassine, Jad; Xu, Meizhu; Sidiq, Karzan R; Emmins, Robyn; Errington, Jeff; Daniel, Richard A

2017-10-01

Bacterial cell division involves the dynamic assembly of a diverse set of proteins that coordinate the invagination of the cell membrane and synthesis of cell wall material to create the new cell poles of the separated daughter cells. Penicillin-binding protein PBP 2B is a key cell division protein in Bacillus subtilis proposed to have a specific catalytic role in septal wall synthesis. Unexpectedly, we find that a catalytically inactive mutant of PBP 2B supports cell division, but in this background the normally dispensable PBP 3 becomes essential. Phenotypic analysis of pbpC mutants (encoding PBP 3) shows that PBP 2B has a crucial structural role in assembly of the division complex, independent of catalysis, and that its biochemical activity in septum formation can be provided by PBP 3. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a close sequence relationship between PBP 3 and Staphylococcus aureus PBP 2A, which is responsible for methicillin resistance. These findings suggest that mechanisms for rescuing cell division when the biochemical activity of PBP 2B is perturbed evolved prior to the clinical use of β-lactams. © 2017 The Authors. Molecular Microbiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

From Green to Blue: Site-Directed Mutagenesis of the Green Fluorescent Protein to Teach Protein Structure-Function Relationships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Giron, Maria D.; Salto, Rafael

2011-01-01

Structure-function relationship studies in proteins are essential in modern Cell Biology. Laboratory exercises that allow students to familiarize themselves with basic mutagenesis techniques are essential in all Genetic Engineering courses to teach the relevance of protein structure. We have implemented a laboratory course based on the…

Purity-activity relationships of natural products: the case of anti-TB active ursolic acid.

PubMed

Jaki, Birgit U; Franzblau, Scott G; Chadwick, Lucas R; Lankin, David C; Zhang, Fangqiu; Wang, Yuehong; Pauli, Guido F

2008-10-01

The present study explores the variability of biological responses from the perspective of sample purity and introduces the concept of purity-activity relationships (PARs) in natural product research. The abundant plant triterpene ursolic acid (1) was selected as an exemplary natural product due to the overwhelming number yet inconsistent nature of its approximate 120 reported biological activities, which include anti-TB potential. Nine different samples of ursolic acid with purity certifications were obtained, and their purity was independently assessed by means of quantitative 1H NMR (qHNMR). Biological evaluation consisted of determining MICs against two strains of virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis and IC50 values in Vero cells. Ab initio structure elucidation provided unequivocal structural confirmation and included an extensive 1H NMR spin system analysis, determination of nearly all J couplings and the complete NOE pattern, and led to the revision of earlier reports. As a net result, a sigmoid PAR profile of 1 was obtained, demonstrating the inverse correlation of purity and anti-TB bioactivity. The results imply that synergistic effects of 1 and its varying impurities are the likely cause of previously reported antimycobacterial potential. Generating PARs is a powerful extension of the routinely performed quantitative correlation of structure and activity ([Q]SAR). Advanced by the use of primary analytical methods such as qHNMR, PARs enable the elucidation of cases like 1 when increasing purity voids biological activity. This underlines the potential of PARs as a tool in drug discovery and synergy research and accentuates the need to routinely combine biological testing with purity assessment.

Structure-Activity Relationship Studies Using Natural and Synthetic Okadaic Acid/Dinophysistoxin Toxins.

PubMed

Twiner, Michael J; Doucette, Gregory J; Pang, Yucheng; Fang, Chao; Forsyth, Craig J; Miles, Christopher O

2016-11-04

Okadaic acid (OA) and the closely related dinophysistoxins (DTXs) are algal toxins that accumulate in shellfish and are known serine/threonine protein phosphatase (ser/thr PP) inhibitors. Phosphatases are important modulators of enzyme activity and cell signaling pathways. However, the interactions between the OA/DTX toxins and phosphatases are not fully understood. This study sought to identify phosphatase targets and characterize their structure-activity relationships (SAR) with these algal toxins using a combination of phosphatase activity and cytotoxicity assays. Preliminary screening of 21 human and yeast phosphatases indicated that only three ser/thr PPs (PP2a, PP1, PP5) were inhibited by physiologically saturating concentrations of DTX2 (200 nM). SAR studies employed naturally-isolated OA, DTX1, and DTX2, which vary in degree and/or position of methylation, in addition to synthetic 2- epi -DTX2. OA/DTX analogs induced cytotoxicity and inhibited PP activity with a relatively conserved order of potency: OA = DTX1 ≥ DTX2 > 2- epi -DTX. The PPs were also differentially inhibited with sensitivities of PP2a > PP5 > PP1. These findings demonstrate that small variations in OA/DTX toxin structures, particularly at the head region (i.e., C1/C2), result in significant changes in toxicological potency, whereas changes in methylation at C31 and C35 (tail region) only mildly affect potency. In addition to this being the first study to extensively test OA/DTX analogs' activities towards PP5, these data will be helpful for accurately determining toxic equivalence factors (TEFs), facilitating molecular modeling efforts, and developing highly selective phosphatase inhibitors.

Structure activity relationship of synaptic and junctional neurotransmission.

PubMed

Goyal, Raj K; Chaudhury, Arun

2013-06-01

Chemical neurotransmission may include transmission to local or remote sites. Locally, contact between 'bare' portions of the bulbous nerve terminal termed a varicosity and the effector cell may be in the form of either synapse or non-synaptic contact. Traditionally, all local transmissions between nerves and effector cells are considered synaptic in nature. This is particularly true for communication between neurons. However, communication between nerves and other effectors such as smooth muscles has been described as nonsynaptic or junctional in nature. Nonsynaptic neurotransmission is now also increasingly recognized in the CNS. This review focuses on the relationship between structure and function that orchestrate synaptic and junctional neurotransmissions. A synapse is a specialized focal contact between the presynaptic active zone capable of ultrafast release of soluble transmitters and the postsynaptic density that cluster ionotropic receptors. The presynaptic and the postsynaptic areas are separated by the 'closed' synaptic cavity. The physiological hallmark of the synapse is ultrafast postsynaptic potentials lasting milliseconds. In contrast, junctions are juxtapositions of nerve terminals and the effector cells without clear synaptic specializations and the junctional space is 'open' to the extracellular space. Based on the nature of the transmitters, postjunctional receptors and their separation from the release sites, the junctions can be divided into 'close' and 'wide' junctions. Functionally, the 'close' and the 'wide' junctions can be distinguished by postjunctional potentials lasting ~1s and tens of seconds, respectively. Both synaptic and junctional communications are common between neurons; however, junctional transmission is the rule at many neuro-non-neural effectors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Structure activity relationship of synaptic and junctional neurotransmission

PubMed Central

Goyal, Raj K; Chaudhury, Arun

2013-01-01

Chemical neurotransmission may include transmission to local or remote sites. Locally, contact between ‘bare’ portions of the bulbous nerve terminal termed a varicosity and the effector cell may be in the form of either synapse or non-synaptic contact. Traditionally, all local transmissions between nerves and effector cells are considered synaptic in nature. This is particularly true for communication between neurons. However, communication between nerves and other effectors such as smooth muscles has been described as nonsynaptic or junctional in nature. Nonsynaptic neurotransmission is now also increasing recognized in the CNS. This review focuses on the relationship between structure and function that orchestrate synaptic and junctional neurotransmissions. A synapse is a specialized focal contact between the presynaptic active zone capable for ultrafast release of soluble transmitters and the postsynaptic density that cluster ionotropic receptors. The presynaptic and the postsynaptic areas are separated by the ‘closed’ synaptic cavity. The physiological hallmark of the synapse is ultrafast postsynaptic potentials lasting in milliseconds. In contrast, junctions are juxtapositions of nerve terminals and the effector cells without clear synaptic specializations and the junctional space is ‘open’ to the extracellular space. Based on the nature of the transmitters, postjunctional receptors and their separation from the release sites, the junctions can be divided into ‘close’ and ‘wide’ junctions. Functionally, the ‘close’ and the ‘wide’ junctions can be distinguished by postjunctional potentials lasting ~1 second and 10s of seconds, respectively. Both synaptic and junctional communications are common between neurons; however, junctional transmission is the rule at many neuro-non-neural effectors. PMID:23535140

Alterations in histone acetylation following exposure to 60Co γ-rays and their relationship with chromosome damage in human lymphoblastoid cells.

PubMed

Tian, Xue-Lei; Lu, Xue; Feng, Jiang-Bin; Cai, Tian-Jing; Li, Shuang; Tian, Mei; Liu, Qing-Jie

2018-05-17

Chromosome damage is related to DNA damage and erroneous repair. It can cause cell dysfunction and ultimately induce carcinogenesis. Histone acetylation is crucial for regulating chromatin structure and DNA damage repair. Ionizing radiation (IR) can alter histone acetylation. However, variations in histone acetylation in response to IR exposure and the relationship between histone acetylation and IR-induced chromosome damage remains unclear. Hence, this study investigated the variation in the total acetylation levels of H3 and H4 in human lymphocytes exposed to 0-2 Gy 60 Co γ-rays. Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, was added to modify the histone acetylation state of irradiated cells. Then, the total acetylation level, enzyme activity, dicentric plus centric rings (dic + r) frequencies, and micronucleus (MN) frequencies of the treated cells were analyzed. Results indicated that the acetylation levels of H3 and H4 significantly decreased at 1 and 24 h, respectively, after radiation exposure. The acetylation levels of H3 and H4 in irradiated groups treated with SAHA were significantly higher than those in irradiated groups that were not treated with SAHA. SAHA treatment inhibited HDAC activity in cells exposed to 0-1 Gy 60 Co γ-rays. SAHA treatment significantly decreased dic + r/cell and MN/cell in cells exposed to 0.5 or 1.0 Gy 60 Co γ-rays relative to that in cells that did not receive SAHA treatment. In conclusion, histone acetylation is significantly affected by IR and is involved in chromosome damage induced by 60 Co γ-radiation.

Understanding Solvent Manipulation of Morphology in Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells.

PubMed

Chen, Yuxia; Zhan, Chuanlang; Yao, Jiannian

2016-10-06

Film morphology greatly influences the performance of bulk-heterojunction (BHJ)-structure-based solar cells. It is known that an interpenetrating bicontinuous network with nanoscale-separated donor and acceptor phases for charge transfer, an ordered molecular packing for exciton diffusion and charge transport, and a vertical compositionally graded structure for charge collection are prerequisites for achieving highly efficient BHJ organic solar cells (OSCs). Therefore, control of the morphology to obtain an ideal structure is a key problem. For this solution-processing BHJ system, the solvent participates fully in film processing. Its involvement is critical in modifying the nanostructure of BHJ films. In this review, we discuss the effects of solvent-related methods on the morphology of BHJ films, including selection of the casting solvent, solvent mixture, solvent vapor annealing, and solvent soaking. On the basis of a discussion on interaction strength and time between solvent and active materials, we believe that the solvent-morphology-performance relationship will be clearer and that solvent selection as a means to manipulate the morphology of BHJ films will be more rational. © 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Attraction Pheromone of The Benthic Diatom Seminavis robusta: Studies on Structure-Activity Relationships.

PubMed

Lembke, Christine; Stettin, Daniel; Speck, Franziska; Ueberschaar, Nico; De Decker, Sam; Vyverman, Wim; Pohnert, Georg

2018-04-01

Recently the first pheromone of a marine diatom was identified to be the diketopiperazine (S,S)-diproline. This compound facilitates attraction between mating partners in the benthic diatom Seminavis robusta. Interestingly, sexualized S. robusta cells are attracted to both the natural pheromone (S,S)-diproline as well as to its enantiomer (R,R)-diproline. Usually stereospecificity is a prerequisite for successful substrate-receptor interactions, and especially pheromone perception is often highly enantioselective. Here we introduce a structure-activity relationship study, to learn more about the principles of pheromone reception in diatoms. We analyzed the activity of nine different diketopiperazines in attraction and interference assays. The pheromone diproline itself, as well as a pipecolic acid derived diketopiperazine with two expanded aliphatic ring systems, showed the highest attractivity. Hydroxylatoin of the aliphatic rings abolished any bioactivity. Diketopiperazines derived from acyclic amino acids were not attrative as well. All stereoisomers of both the diproline and the pipecolic acid derived diketopiperazine were purified by enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography, and application in bioactivity tests confirmed that attraction pheromone perception in this diatom is indeed not stereospecific. However, the lack of activity of diketopiperazines derived from acyclic amino acids suggests a specificity that prevents misguidance to sources of other naturally occurring diketopiperazines.

In silico designing of power conversion efficient organic lead dyes for solar cells using todays innovative approaches to assure renewable energy for future

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kar, Supratik; Roy, Juganta K.; Leszczynski, Jerzy

2017-06-01

Advances in solar cell technology require designing of new organic dye sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells with high power conversion efficiency to circumvent the disadvantages of silicon-based solar cells. In silico studies including quantitative structure-property relationship analysis combined with quantum chemical analysis were employed to understand the primary electron transfer mechanism and photo-physical properties of 273 arylamine organic dyes from 11 diverse chemical families explicit to iodine electrolyte. The direct quantitative structure-property relationship models enable identification of the essential electronic and structural attributes necessary for quantifying the molecular prerequisites of 11 classes of arylamine organic dyes, responsible for high power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. Tetrahydroquinoline, N,N'-dialkylaniline and indoline have been least explored classes under arylamine organic dyes for dye-sensitized solar cells. Therefore, the identified properties from the corresponding quantitative structure-property relationship models of the mentioned classes were employed in designing of "lead dyes". Followed by, a series of electrochemical and photo-physical parameters were computed for designed dyes to check the required variables for electron flow of dye-sensitized solar cells. The combined computational techniques yielded seven promising lead dyes each for all three chemical classes considered. Significant (130, 183, and 46%) increment in predicted %power conversion efficiency was observed comparing with the existing dye with highest experimental %power conversion efficiency value for tetrahydroquinoline, N,N'-dialkylaniline and indoline, respectively maintaining required electrochemical parameters.

Histone phosphorylation: its role during cell cycle and centromere identity in plants.

PubMed

Zhang, B; Dong, Q; Su, H; Birchler, J A; Han, F

2014-01-01

As the main protein components of chromatin, histones can alter the structural/functional capabilities of chromatin by undergoing extensive post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and so on. These PTMs are thought to transmit signals from the chromatin to the cell machinery to regulate various processes. Histone phosphorylation is associated with chromosome condensation/segregation, activation of transcription, and DNA damage repair. In this review, we focus on how different histone phosphorylations mark for chromatin change during the cell cycle, the relationship between histone phosphorylation and functional centromeres, and the candidate kinases that trigger and the phosphatase or kinase inhibitors that alter histone phosphorylation. Finally, we review the crosstalk between different PTMs. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The structure-activity relationship of inhibitors of serotonin uptake and receptor binding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hansch, Corwin; Caldwell, Jonathan

1991-10-01

An analysis of five different datasets of inhibitors of serotonin uptake has yielded quantitative structure/ activity relationships (QSARs) which delineate the role of steric and hydrophobic properties essential for inhibition by phenylethylamine-type analogues.

Essential Set of Molecular Descriptors for ADME Prediction in Drug and Environmental Chemical Space

EPA Science Inventory

Historically, the disciplines of pharmacology and toxicology have embraced quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) and quantitative structure-property relationships (QSPR) to predict ADME properties or biological activities of untested chemicals. The question arises ...

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel EF24 and EF31 analogs as potential IκB kinase β inhibitors for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

PubMed Central

Xie, Xuemeng; Tu, Jinfu; You, Heyi; Hu, Bingren

2017-01-01

Given the important role that inhibitory kappa B (IκB) kinase β (IKKβ) plays in pancreatic cancer (PC) development and progression, inhibitors targeting IKKβ are believed to be increasingly popular as novel anti-PC therapies. Two synthetic molecules, named EF24 and EF31, exhibited favorable potential in terms of inhibition of both IKKβ activity and PC cell proliferation. Aiming to enhance their cellular efficacy and to analyze their structure–activity relationship, four series of EF24 and EF31 analogs were designed and synthesized. Through kinase activity and vitality screening of cancer cells, D6 displayed excellent inhibition of both IKKβ activity and PC cell proliferation. Additionally, multiple biological evaluations showed that D6 was directly bound to IKKβ and significantly suppressed the activation of the IKKβ/nuclear factor κB pathway induced by tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as effectively inducing cancer cell apoptosis. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis indicated that the dominant force between D6 and IKKβ comprised hydrophobic interactions. In conclusion, D6 may be a promising therapeutic agent for PC treatment and it also provides a structural lead for the design of novel IKKβ inhibitors. PMID:28553074

Fluidic origami cellular structure -- combining the plant nastic movements with paper folding art

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Suyi; Wang, K. W.

2015-04-01

By combining the physical principles behind the nastic plant movements and the rich designs of paper folding art, we propose a new class of multi-functional adaptive structure called fluidic origami cellular structure. The basic elements of this structure are fluid filled origami "cells", made by connecting two compatible Miura-Ori stripes along their crease lines. These cells are assembled seamlessly into a three dimensional topology, and their internal fluid pressure or volume are strategically controlled just like in plants for nastic movements. Because of the unique geometry of the Miura-Ori, the relationships among origami folding, internal fluid properties, and the crease bending are intricate and highly nonlinear. Fluidic origami can exploit such relationships to provide multiple adaptive functions concurrently and effectively. For example, it can achieve actuation or morphing by actively changing the internal fluid volume, and stillness tuning by constraining the fluid volume. Fluidic origami can also be bistable because of the nonlinear correlation between folding and crease material bending, and such bistable character can be altered significantly by fluid pressurization. These functions are natural and essential companions with respect to each other, so that fluidic origami can holistically exhibit many attractive characteristics of plants and deliver rapid and efficient actuation/morphing while maintaining a high structural stillness. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the design and working principles of the fluidic origami, as well as to explore and demonstrate its performance potential.

Origin and Consequences of the Relationship between Protein Mean and Variance

PubMed Central

Vallania, Francesco Luigi Massimo; Sherman, Marc; Goodwin, Zane; Mogno, Ilaria; Cohen, Barak Alon; Mitra, Robi David

2014-01-01

Cell-to-cell variance in protein levels (noise) is a ubiquitous phenomenon that can increase fitness by generating phenotypic differences within clonal populations of cells. An important challenge is to identify the specific molecular events that control noise. This task is complicated by the strong dependence of a protein's cell-to-cell variance on its mean expression level through a power-law like relationship (σ2∝μ1.69). Here, we dissect the nature of this relationship using a stochastic model parameterized with experimentally measured values. This framework naturally recapitulates the power-law like relationship (σ2∝μ1.6) and accurately predicts protein variance across the yeast proteome (r2 = 0.935). Using this model we identified two distinct mechanisms by which protein variance can be increased. Variables that affect promoter activation, such as nucleosome positioning, increase protein variance by changing the exponent of the power-law relationship. In contrast, variables that affect processes downstream of promoter activation, such as mRNA and protein synthesis, increase protein variance in a mean-dependent manner following the power-law. We verified our findings experimentally using an inducible gene expression system in yeast. We conclude that the power-law-like relationship between noise and protein mean is due to the kinetics of promoter activation. Our results provide a framework for understanding how molecular processes shape stochastic variation across the genome. PMID:25062021

Studies on constituents with cytotoxic and cytostatic activity of two Turkish medicinal plants Phlomis armeniaca and Scutellaria salviifolia.

PubMed

Saracoglu, I; Inoue, M; Calis, I; Ogihara, Y

1995-10-01

Ten known glycosidic compounds, betulalbuside A (1), 8-hydroxylinaloyl,3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2) (monoterpen glycosides), ipolamide (3) (iridoid glycoside), acteoside (verbascoside) (4), leucosceptoside A (5), martynoside (6), forsythoside B (7), phlinoside B (8), phlinoside C (9), and teuerioside (10) (phenylpropanoid glycosides) were isolated from methanolic extracts of Phlomis armeniaca and Scutellaria salviifolia (Labiatae). Structure elucidations were carried out using 1H-, 13C-NMR and FAB-MS spectra, as well as chemical evidence. The cytotoxic and cytostatic activities of isolated compounds were investigated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Among the glycosides obtained here, caffeic acid-containing phenylpropanoid (or phenethyl alcohol, or phenylethanoid) glycosides were found to show activity against several kinds of cancer cells. However, they didn't affect the growth and viability of primary-cultured rat hepatocytes. Study of the structure-activity relationship indicated that ortho-dihydroxy aromatic systems of phenylpropanoid glycosides are necessary for their cytotoxic and cytostatic activities.

Monoterpene derivatives with anti-allergic activity from red peony root, the root of Paeonia lactiflora.

PubMed

Shi, Yan-Hong; Zhu, Shu; Ge, Yue-Wei; He, Yu-Min; Kazuma, Kohei; Wang, Zhengtao; Yoshimatsu, Kayo; Komatsu, Katsuko

2016-01-01

The methanolic extract and its subfractions from red peony root, the dried roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas showed potent antiallergic effects, as inhibition of immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated degranulation in rat basophil leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of 16 monoterpene derivatives, including 3 new compounds, paeoniflorol (1), 4'-hydroxypaeoniflorigenone (2) and 4-epi-albiflorin (3), together with 13 known ones (4-16). The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidences. Among the isolated monoterpene derivatives, nine compounds showed potent anti-allergic effects and compound 1 was the most effective. A primary structure-activity relationship of monoterpene derivatives was discussed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Activated CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the colonic mucosa of ulcerative colitis patients: their relationship to HLA-DR antigen expression on the colonic epithelium and serum soluble CD25 levels.

PubMed

Sasakawa, T; Takizawa, H; Bannai, H; Narisawa, R; Asakura, H

1995-01-01

This study was performed to clarify the relationship between activated (HLA-DR-expressing) CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the colonic lamina propria of ulcerative colitis and other immunological factors, i.e., epithelial DR expression, serum soluble CD25 levels, and colonic mucosal CD25+ cells. The frequency of epithelial DR expression was positively correlated with the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The percentages activated CD4+/CD4+ cells were higher in mucosae with DR- epithelium than in mucosae with DR+ epithelium. The serum soluble CD25 levels were increased in ulcerative colitis, and there was an inverse correlation between these levels and the relative number of activated CD4+ cells in untreated active disease. These results suggest that interactions among mucosal CD4+ cells, colonic epithelium, and serum soluble CD25 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.

Identification of three critical regions within mouse interleukin 2 by fine structural deletion analysis.

PubMed Central

Zurawski, S M; Zurawski, G

1988-01-01

We have analyzed structure--function relationships of the protein hormone murine interleukin 2 by fine structural deletion mapping. A total of 130 deletion mutant proteins, together with some substitution and insertion mutant proteins, was expressed in Escherichia coli and analyzed for their ability to sustain the proliferation of a cloned murine T cell line. This analysis has permitted a functional map of the protein to be drawn and classifies five segments of the protein, which together contain 48% of the sequence, as unessential to the biological activity of the protein. A further 26% of the protein is classified as important, but not crucial, for the activity. Three regions, consisting of amino acids 32-35, 66-77 and 119-141 contain the remaining 26% of the protein and are critical to the biological activity of the protein. The functional map is discussed in the context of the possible role of the identified critical regions in the structure of the hormone and its binding to the interleukin 2 receptor complex. Images PMID:3261239

Towards depersonalized abacavir therapy: chemical modification eliminates HLA-B*57 : 01-restricted CD8+ T-cell activation.

PubMed

Naisbitt, Dean J; Yang, Emma L; Alhaidari, Mohammad; Berry, Neil G; Lawrenson, Alexandre S; Farrell, John; Martin, Philip; Strebel, Klaus; Owen, Andrew; Pye, Matthew; French, Neil S; Clarke, Stephen E; O'Neill, Paul M; Park, B Kevin

2015-11-28

Exposure to abacavir is associated with T-cell-mediated hypersensitivity reactions in individuals carrying human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B57 : 01. To activate T cells, abacavir interacts directly with endogenous HLA-B57 : 01 and HLA-B57 : 01 expressed on the surface of antigen presenting cells. We have investigated whether chemical modification of abacavir can produce a molecule with antiviral activity that does not bind to HLA-B57 : 01 and activate T cells. An interdisciplinary laboratory study using samples from human donors expressing HLA-B57 : 01. Researchers were blinded to the analogue structures and modelling data. Sixteen 6-amino substituted abacavir analogues were synthesized. Computational docking studies were completed to predict capacity for analogue binding within HLA-B57 : 01. Abacavir-responsive CD8 clones were generated to study the association between HLA-B57 : 01 analogue binding and T-cell activation. Antiviral activity and the direct inhibitory effect of analogues on proliferation were assessed. Major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted CD8 clones proliferated and secreted IFNγ following abacavir binding to surface and endogenous HLA-B57 : 01. Several analogues retained antiviral activity and showed no overt inhibitory effect on proliferation, but displayed highly divergent antigen-driven T-cell responses. For example, abacavir and N-propyl abacavir were equally potent at activating clones, whereas the closely related analogues N-isopropyl and N-methyl isopropyl abacavir were devoid of T-cell activity. Docking abacavir analogues to HLA-B57 : 01 revealed a quantitative relationship between drug-protein binding and the T-cell response. These studies demonstrate that the unwanted T-cell activity of abacavir can be eliminated whilst maintaining the favourable antiviral profile. The in-silico model provides a tool to aid the design of safer antiviral agents that may not require a personalized medicines approach to therapy.

Second-harmonic generation scattering directionality predicts tumor cell motility in collagen gels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burke, Kathleen A.; Dawes, Ryan P.; Cheema, Mehar K.; Van Hove, Amy; Benoit, Danielle S. W.; Perry, Seth W.; Brown, Edward

2015-05-01

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) allows for the analysis of tumor collagen structural changes throughout metastatic progression. SHG directionality, measured through the ratio of the forward-propagating to backward-propagating signal (F/B ratio), is affected by collagen fibril diameter, spacing, and disorder of fibril packing within a fiber. As tumors progress, these parameters evolve, producing concurrent changes in F/B. It has been recently shown that the F/B of highly metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast tumors is significantly different from less metastatic tumors. This suggests a possible relationship between the microstructure of collagen, as measured by the F/B, and the ability of tumor cells to locomote through that collagen. Utilizing in vitro collagen gels of different F/B ratios, we explored the relationship between collagen microstructure and motility of tumor cells in a "clean" environment, free of the myriad cells, and signals found in in vivo. We found a significant relationship between F/B and the total distance traveled by the tumor cell, as well as both the average and maximum velocities of the cells. Consequently, one possible mechanism underlying the observed relationship between tumor F/B and metastatic output in IDC patient samples is a direct influence of collagen structure on tumor cell motility.

Roles of Bulk and Surface Chemistry in the Oxygen Exchange Kinetics and Related Properties of Mixed Conducting Perovskite Oxide Electrodes

PubMed Central

Perry, Nicola H.; Ishihara, Tatsumi

2016-01-01

Mixed conducting perovskite oxides and related structures serving as electrodes for electrochemical oxygen incorporation and evolution in solid oxide fuel and electrolysis cells, respectively, play a significant role in determining the cell efficiency and lifetime. Desired improvements in catalytic activity for rapid surface oxygen exchange, fast bulk transport (electronic and ionic), and thermo-chemo-mechanical stability of oxygen electrodes will require increased understanding of the impact of both bulk and surface chemistry on these properties. This review highlights selected work at the International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I2CNER), Kyushu University, set in the context of work in the broader community, aiming to characterize and understand relationships between bulk and surface composition and oxygen electrode performance. Insights into aspects of bulk point defect chemistry, electronic structure, crystal structure, and cation choice that impact carrier concentrations and mobilities, surface exchange kinetics, and chemical expansion coefficients are emerging. At the same time, an understanding of the relationship between bulk and surface chemistry is being developed that may assist design of electrodes with more robust surface chemistries, e.g., impurity tolerance or limited surface segregation. Ion scattering techniques (e.g., secondary ion mass spectrometry, SIMS, or low energy ion scattering spectroscopy, LEIS) with high surface sensitivity and increasing lateral resolution are proving useful for measuring surface exchange kinetics, diffusivity, and corresponding outer monolayer chemistry of electrodes exposed to typical operating conditions. Beyond consideration of chemical composition, the use of strain and/or a high density of active interfaces also show promise for enhancing performance. PMID:28773978

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new creatine fatty esters revealed dodecyl creatine ester as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of the creatine transporter deficiency.

PubMed

Trotier-Faurion, Alexandra; Dézard, Sophie; Taran, Frédéric; Valayannopoulos, Vassili; de Lonlay, Pascale; Mabondzo, Aloïse

2013-06-27

The creatine transporter deficiency is a neurological disease caused by impairment of the creatine transporter SLC6A8, resulting in mental retardation associated with a complete absence of creatine within the brain and cellular energy perturbation of neuronal cells. One of the therapeutic hypotheses was to administer lipophilic creatine derivatives which are (1) thought to have better permeability through the cell membrane and (2) would not rely on the activity of SLC6A8 to penetrate the brain. Here, we synthesized creatine fatty esters through original organic chemistry process. A screening on an in vitro rat primary cell-based blood-brain barrier model and on a rat primary neuronal cells model demonstrated interesting properties of these prodrugs to incorporate into endothelial, astroglial, and neuronal cells according to a structure-activity relationship. Dodecyl creatine ester showed then a 20-fold increase in creatine content in pathological human fibroblasts compared with the endogenous creatine content, stating that it could be a promising drug candidate.

Using Theoretical Descriptions in Structure Activity Relations. 3. Electronic Descriptors

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-08-01

Activity Relationships (QSAR) have been used successfully in the past to develop predictive equations for several biological and physical properties...Linear Free Energy Relationships (,FF.3) and is based on work by Hammet in which he derived electronic descriptors for the dissociation of substituted...structure of a compound and its activity in a system. Several different structural descriptors have been used in QSAR equations . These range from

Effects of unsaturated fatty acids on the kinetics of voltage‐gated proton channels heterologously expressed in cultured cells

PubMed Central

Kawanabe, Akira

2016-01-01

Key points Arachidonic acid (AA) greatly enhances the activity of the voltage‐gated proton (Hv) channel, although its mechanism of action and physiological function remain unclear.In the present study, we analysed the effects of AA on proton currents through Hv channels heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells.The dramatic increase in proton current amplitude elicited by AA was accompanied by accelerated activation kinetics and a leftward shift in the voltage‐dependence of activation.Mutagenesis studies suggest the two aforementioned effects of AA reflect two distinct structural mechanisms.Application of phospholipase A2, which liberates AA from phospholipids in the membrane, also enhances Hv channel activity, supporting the idea that AA modulates Hv channel activity within physiological contexts. Abstract Unsaturated fatty acids are key components of the biological membranes of all cells, and precursors of mediators for cell signalling. Arachidonic acid (AA) is an unsaturated fatty acid known to modulate the activities of various ion channels, including the voltage‐gated proton (Hv) channel, which supports the rapid production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in phagocytes through regulation of pH and membrane potential. However, the molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of the effects of AA on Hv channels remain unclear. In the present study, we report an electrophysiological analysis of the effects of AA on the mouse Hv channel (mHv1) heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells. Application of AA to excised inside‐out patch membranes rapidly induced a robust increase in the amplitude of the proton current through mHv1. The current increase was accompanied by accelerated activation kinetics and a small leftward shift of the current–voltage relationship. In monomeric channels lacking the coiled‐coil region of the channel protein, the shift in the current–voltage relationship was diminished but activation and deactivation remained accelerated. Studies with several AA derivatives showed that double bonds and hydrophilic head groups are essential for the effect of AA, although charge was not important. The application of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), which generates AA from cell membrane phospholipids, stimulated mHv1 activity to a similar extent as direct application of ∼20 μm AA, suggesting that endogenous AA may regulate Hv channel activity. PMID:26563684

Opposite temperature effect on transport activity of KCC2/KCC4 and N(K)CCs in HEK-293 cells.

PubMed

Hartmann, Anna-Maria; Nothwang, Hans Gerd

2011-12-09

Cation chloride cotransporters play essential roles in many physiological processes such as volume regulation, transepithelial salt transport and setting the intracellular chloride concentration in neurons. They consist mainly of the inward transporters NCC, NKCC1, and NKCC2, and the outward transporters KCC1 to KCC4. To gain insight into regulatory and structure-function relationships, precise determination of their activity is required. Frequently, these analyses are performed in HEK-293 cells. Recently the activity of the inward transporters NKCC1 and NCC was shown to increase with temperature in these cells. However, the temperature effect on KCCs remains largely unknown. Here, we determined the temperature effect on KCC2 and KCC4 transport activity in HEK-293 cells. Both transporters demonstrated significantly higher transport activity (2.5 fold for KCC2 and 3.3 fold for KCC4) after pre-incubation at room temperature compared to 37°C. These data identify a reciprocal temperature dependence of cation chloride inward and outward cotransporters in HEK-293 cells. Thus, lower temperature should be used for functional characterization of KCC2 and KCC4 and higher temperatures for N(K)CCs in heterologous mammalian expression systems. Furthermore, if this reciprocal effect also applies to neurons, the action of inhibitory neurotransmitters might be more affected by changes in temperature than previously thought.

Structure-activity relationships and colorimetric properties of specific probes for the putative cancer biomarker human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1.

PubMed

Egleton, James E; Thinnes, Cyrille C; Seden, Peter T; Laurieri, Nicola; Lee, Siu Po; Hadavizadeh, Kate S; Measures, Angelina R; Jones, Alan M; Thompson, Sam; Varney, Amy; Wynne, Graham M; Ryan, Ali; Sim, Edith; Russell, Angela J

2014-06-01

A naphthoquinone inhibitor of human arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 (hNAT1), a potential cancer biomarker and therapeutic target, has been reported which undergoes a distinctive concomitant color change from red to blue upon binding to the enzyme. Here we describe the use of in silico modeling alongside structure-activity relationship studies to advance the hit compound towards a potential probe to quantify hNAT1 levels in tissues. Derivatives with both a fifty-fold higher potency against hNAT1 and a two-fold greater absorption coefficient compared to the initial hit have been synthesized; these compounds retain specificity for hNAT1 and its murine homologue mNat2 over the isoenzyme hNAT2. A relationship between pKa, inhibitor potency and colorimetric properties has also been uncovered. The high potency of representative examples against hNAT1 in ZR-75-1 cell extracts also paves the way for the development of inhibitors with improved intrinsic sensitivity which could enable detection of hNAT1 in tissue samples and potentially act as tools for elucidating the unknown role hNAT1 plays in ER+ breast cancer; this could in turn lead to a therapeutic use for such inhibitors. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Structure-based design of novel quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acids and analogues as Pim-1 inhibitors.

PubMed

Oyallon, Bruno; Brachet-Botineau, Marie; Logé, Cédric; Bonnet, Pascal; Souab, Mohamed; Robert, Thomas; Ruchaud, Sandrine; Bach, Stéphane; Berthelot, Pascal; Gouilleux, Fabrice; Viaud-Massuard, Marie-Claude; Denevault-Sabourin, Caroline

2018-05-11

We identified a new series of quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid derivatives, targeting the human proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus-1 (HsPim-1) kinase. Seventeen analogues were synthesized providing useful insight into structure-activity relationships studied. Docking studies realized in the ATP pocket of HsPim-1 are consistent with an unclassical binding mode of these inhibitors. The lead compound 1 was able to block HsPim-1 enzymatic activity at nanomolar concentrations (IC 50 of 74 nM), with a good selectivity profile against a panel of mammalian protein kinases. In vitro studies on the human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line KU812 showed an antitumor activity at micromolar concentrations. As a result, compound 1 represents a promising lead for the design of novel anticancer targeted therapies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Repetitive elements dynamics in cell identity programming, maintenance and disease.

PubMed

Bodega, Beatrice; Orlando, Valerio

2014-12-01

The days of 'junk DNA' seem to be over. The rapid progress of genomics technologies has been unveiling unexpected mechanisms by which repetitive DNA and in particular transposable elements (TEs) have evolved, becoming key issues in understanding genome structure and function. Indeed, rather than 'parasites', recent findings strongly suggest that TEs may have a positive function by contributing to tissue specific transcriptional programs, in particular as enhancer-like elements and/or modules for regulation of higher order chromatin structure. Further, it appears that during development and aging genomes experience several waves of TEs activation, and this contributes to individual genome shaping during lifetime. Interestingly, TEs activity is major target of epigenomic regulation. These findings are shedding new light on the genome-phenotype relationship and set the premises to help to explain complex disease manifestation, as consequence of TEs activity deregulation. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Anticancer molecules targeting fibroblast growth factor receptors.

PubMed

Liang, Guang; Liu, Zhiguo; Wu, Jianzhang; Cai, Yuepiao; Li, Xiaokun

2012-10-01

The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) family includes four highly conserved receptor tyrosine kinases: FGFR1-4. Upon ligand binding, FGFRs activate an array of downstream signaling pathways, such as the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways. These FGFR cascades play crucial roles in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, and survival. The combination of knockdown studies and pharmaceutical inhibition in preclinical models demonstrates that FGFRs are attractive targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer. Multiple FGFR inhibitors with various structural skeletons have been designed, synthesized, and evaluated. Reviews on FGFRs have recently focused on FGFR signaling, pathophysiology, and functions in cancer or other diseases. In this article, we review recent advances in structure-activity relationships (SAR) of FGFR inhibitors, as well as the FGFR-targeting drug design strategies currently employed in targeting deregulated FGFRs by antibodies and small molecule inhibitors. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

MOLECULAR INTERACTION POTENTIALS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS

EPA Science Inventory

Abstract
One reasonable approach to the analysis of the relationships between molecular structure and toxic activity is through the investigation of the forces and intermolecular interactions responsible for chemical toxicity. The interaction between the xenobiotic and the bio...

ESTIMATION OF CHEMICAL SPECIFIC PARAMETERS WITHIN PHYSIOLOGICALLY BASED PHARMACOKINETIC/PHARMACODYNAMIC MODELS

EPA Science Inventory

While relationships between chemical structure and observed properties or activities (QSAR - quantitative structure activity relationship) can be used to predict the behavior of unknown chemicals, this method is semiempirical in nature relying on high quality experimental data to...

Potent and Selective Phosphopeptide Mimetic Prodrugs Targeted to the Src Homology 2 (SH2) Domain of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3

PubMed Central

Mandal, Pijus K.; Gao, Fengqin; Lu, Zhen; Ren, Zhiyong; Ramesh, Rajagopal; Birtwistle, J. Sanderson; Kaluarachchi, Kumaralal K.; Chen, Xiaomin; Bast, Robert C.; Liao, Warren S.; McMurray, John S.

2011-01-01

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), a target for anticancer drug design, is activated by recruitment to phosphotyrosine residues on growth factor and cytokine receptors via its SH2 domain. We report here structure-activity relationship studies on phosphopeptide mimics targeted to the SH2 domain of Stat3. Inclusion of a methyl group on the β-position of the pTyr mimic, 4-phosphocinfnamide, enhanced affinity 2–3 fold. Bis-pivaloyloxymethyl prodrugs containing β-methyl cinnamide, dipeptide scaffolds Haic and Nle-cis-3,4-methanoproline, and glutamine surrogates were highly potent, completely inhibiting phosphorylation of Stat3 Tyr705 at 0.5–1 µM in a variety of cancer cell lines. The inhibitors were selective for Stat3 over Stat1, Stat5, Src, and p85 of PI3K, indicating ability to discriminate individual SH2 domains in intact cells. At concentrations that completely inhibited Stat3 phosphorylation, the prodrugs were not cytotoxic to a panel of tumor cells, thereby showing clear distinction between cytotoxicity and effects downstream of activated Stat3. PMID:21486047

Structural characterization of the cell division cycle in Strigomonas culicis, an endosymbiont-bearing trypanosomatid.

PubMed

Brum, Felipe Lopes; Catta-Preta, Carolina Moura Costa; de Souza, Wanderley; Schenkman, Sergio; Elias, Maria Carolina; Motta, Maria Cristina Machado

2014-02-01

Strigomonas culicis (previously referred to as Blastocrithidia culicis) is a monoxenic trypanosomatid harboring a symbiotic bacterium, which maintains an obligatory relationship with the host protozoan. Investigations of the cell cycle in symbiont harboring trypanosomatids suggest that the bacterium divides in coordination with other host cell structures, particularly the nucleus. In this study we used light and electron microscopy followed by three-dimensional reconstruction to characterize the symbiont division during the cell cycle of S. culicis. We observed that during this process, the symbiotic bacterium presents different forms and is found at different positions in relationship to the host cell structures. At the G1/S phase of the protozoan cell cycle, the endosymbiont exhibits a constricted form that appears to elongate, resulting in the bacterium division, which occurs before kinetoplast and nucleus segregation. During cytokinesis, the symbionts are positioned close to each nucleus to ensure that each daughter cell will inherit a single copy of the bacterium. These observations indicated that the association of the bacterium with the protozoan nucleus coordinates the cell cycle in both organisms.

Relationships between structure, in vivo function and long-range axonal target of cortical pyramidal tract neurons.

PubMed

Rojas-Piloni, Gerardo; Guest, Jason M; Egger, Robert; Johnson, Andrew S; Sakmann, Bert; Oberlaender, Marcel

2017-10-11

Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of the neocortex. To investigate principles of how the results of cortical processing are broadcasted to different downstream targets thus requires experimental approaches, which provide access to the in vivo electrophysiology of PTs, whose subcortical target regions are identified. On the example of rat barrel cortex (vS1), we illustrate that retrograde tracer injections into multiple subcortical structures allow identifying the long-range axonal targets of individual in vivo recorded PTs. Here we report that soma depth and dendritic path lengths within each cortical layer of vS1, as well as spiking patterns during both periods of ongoing activity and during sensory stimulation, reflect the respective subcortical target regions of PTs. We show that these cellular properties result in a structure-function parameter space that allows predicting a PT's subcortical target region, without the need to inject multiple retrograde tracers.The major output cell type of the neocortex - pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) - send axonal projections to various subcortical areas. Here the authors combined in vivo recordings, retrograde tracings, and reconstructions of PTs in rat somatosensory cortex to show that PT structure and activity can predict specific subcortical targets.

Unambiguous Identification of β-Tubulin as the Direct Cellular Target Responsible for the Cytotoxicity of Chalcone by Photoaffinity Labeling.

PubMed

Zhou, Bo; Yu, Xingxin; Zhuang, Chunlin; Villalta, Peter; Lin, Yong; Lu, Junxuan; Xing, Chengguo

2016-07-05

Chalcone is a simple and potentially privileged structure in medicinal chemistry with a diverse repertoire of biological activities, among which cytotoxicity is of particular interest. The sharp structure-activity relationship (SAR) for chalcone's cytotoxicity suggests structure-specific target interactions. Despite the numerous putative targets proposed, evidence for direct target interactions in cells is unavailable. In this study, guided by the sharp cytotoxic SAR, we developed a cytotoxic chalcone-based photoaffinity labeling (PAL) probe, (E)-3-(3-azidophenyl)-1-[3,5-dimethoxy-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)phenyl]-2-methylprop-2-en-1-one (C95; IC50 : 0.38±0.01 μm), along with two structurally similar non-cytotoxic probes. These probes were used to search for the direct cellular target responsible for chalcone's cytotoxicity through intact cell-based PAL experiments, in which β-tubulin was identified to specifically interact with the cytotoxic probe (i.e., C95) but not the non-cytotoxic probes. A set of phenotypical and biochemical assays further reinforced β-tubulin as the cytotoxic target of chalcones. Peptide mass quantitation by mass spectrometric analysis revealed one peptide potentially labeled by C95, providing information on chalcone's binding site on β-tubulin. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Relationship between unit cell type and porosity and the fatigue behavior of selective laser melted meta-biomaterials.

PubMed

Amin Yavari, S; Ahmadi, S M; Wauthle, R; Pouran, B; Schrooten, J; Weinans, H; Zadpoor, A A

2015-03-01

Meta-materials are structures when their small-scale properties are considered, but behave as materials when their homogenized macroscopic properties are studied. There is an intimate relationship between the design of the small-scale structure and the homogenized properties of such materials. In this article, we studied that relationship for meta-biomaterials that are aimed for biomedical applications, otherwise known as meta-biomaterials. Selective laser melted porous titanium (Ti6Al4V ELI) structures were manufactured based on three different types of repeating unit cells, namely cube, diamond, and truncated cuboctahedron, and with different porosities. The morphological features, static mechanical properties, and fatigue behavior of the porous biomaterials were studied with a focus on their fatigue behavior. It was observed that, in addition to static mechanical properties, the fatigue properties of the porous biomaterials are highly dependent on the type of unit cell as well as on porosity. None of the porous structures based on the cube unit cell failed after 10(6) loading cycles even when the applied stress reached 80% of their yield strengths. For both other unit cells, higher porosities resulted in shorter fatigue lives for the same level of applied stress. When normalized with respect to their yield stresses, the S-N data points of structures with different porosities very well (R(2)>0.8) conformed to one single power law specific to the type of the unit cell. For the same level of normalized applied stress, the truncated cuboctahedron unit cell resulted in a longer fatigue life as compared to the diamond unit cell. In a similar comparison, the fatigue lives of the porous structures based on both truncated cuboctahedron and diamond unit cells were longer than that of the porous structures based on the rhombic dodecahedron unit cell (determined in a previous study). The data presented in this study could serve as a basis for design of porous biomaterials as well as for corroboration of relevant analytical and computational models. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Decipher the dynamic coordination between enzymatic activity and structural modulation at focal adhesions in living cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lu, Shaoying; Seong, Jihye; Wang, Yi; Chang, Shiou-Chi; Eichorst, John Paul; Ouyang, Mingxing; Li, Julie Y.-S.; Chien, Shu; Wang, Yingxiao

2014-07-01

Focal adhesions (FAs) are dynamic subcellular structures crucial for cell adhesion, migration and differentiation. It remains an enigma how enzymatic activities in these local complexes regulate their structural remodeling in live cells. Utilizing biosensors based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), we developed a correlative FRET imaging microscopy (CFIM) approach to quantitatively analyze the subcellular coordination between the enzymatic Src activation and the structural FA disassembly. CFIM reveals that the Src kinase activity only within the microdomain of lipid rafts at the plasma membrane is coupled with FA dynamics. FA disassembly at cell periphery was linearly dependent on this raft-localized Src activity, although cells displayed heterogeneous levels of response to stimulation. Within lipid rafts, the time delay between Src activation and FA disassembly was 1.2 min in cells seeded on low fibronectin concentration ([FN]) and 4.3 min in cells on high [FN]. CFIM further showed that the level of Src-FA coupling, as well as the time delay, was regulated by cell-matrix interactions, as a tight enzyme-structure coupling occurred in FA populations mediated by integrin αvβ3, but not in those by integrin α5β1. Therefore, different FA subpopulations have distinctive regulation mechanisms between their local kinase activity and structural FA dynamics.

Fine Structure and Host-Virus Relationship of a Marine Bacterium and Its Bacteriophage

PubMed Central

Valentine, Artrice F.; Chapman, George B.

1966-01-01

Valentine, Artrice F. (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.), and George B. Chapman. Fine structure and host-virus relationship of a marine bacterium and its bacteriophage. J. Bacteriol. 92:1535–1554. 1966.—The fine structure of a gram-negative marine bacterium, Cytophaga marinoflava sp. n., has been revealed by ultrathin sectioning and electron microscopy. Stages in the morphogenesis of the bacterial virus NCMB 385, which has been shown to be highly specific for this organism, were also demonstrated in bacterial cells fixed according to the Kellenberger technique. The bacterium possessed a cell wall, cytoplasmic membrane, and nuclear and cytoplasmic regions typical of bacterial cells. Both the cell wall and the cytoplasmic membrane showed a tripartite structure, i.e., each was composed of two dense layers separated by a low-density zone. Intracytoplasmic membrane systems were also observed, especially in dividing cells and in cells in which new viruses were being formed. As many as 18 hexagonally shaped, empty phage heads (membranes only) were observed in untreated, infected bacterial cells. Phage heads, intermediate in density to empty heads and fully condensed ones, possibly representing stages in the morphological development of the virus, were also seen. Images PMID:5924277

Discovery of Aminopiperidine Indoles That Activate the Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor SOS1 and Modulate RAS Signaling.

PubMed

Abbott, Jason R; Hodges, Timothy R; Daniels, R Nathan; Patel, Pratiq A; Kennedy, Jack Phillip; Howes, Jennifer E; Akan, Denis T; Burns, Michael C; Sai, Jiqing; Sobolik, Tammy; Beesetty, Yugandhar; Lee, Taekyu; Rossanese, Olivia W; Phan, Jason; Waterson, Alex G; Fesik, Stephen W

2018-06-01

Deregulated RAS activity, often the result of mutation, is implicated in approximately 30% of all human cancers. Despite this statistic, no clinically successful treatment for RAS-driven tumors has yet been developed. One approach for modulating RAS activity is to target and affect the activity of proteins that interact with RAS, such as the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) son of sevenless homologue 1 (SOS1). Here, we report on structure-activity relationships (SAR) in an indole series of compounds. Using structure-based design, we systematically explored substitution patterns on the indole nucleus, the pendant amino acid moiety, and the linker unit that connects these two fragments. Best-in-class compounds activate the nucleotide exchange process at sub-micromolar concentrations in vitro, increase levels of active RAS-GTP in HeLa cells, and elicit signaling changes in the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) pathway, resulting in a decrease in pERK1/2 T202/Y204 protein levels at higher compound concentrations.

Small Molecule Anticonvulsant Agents with Potent In Vitro Neuroprotection

PubMed Central

Smith, Garry R.; Zhang, Yan; Du, Yanming; Kondaveeti, Sandeep K.; Zdilla, Michael J.; Reitz, Allen B.

2012-01-01

Severe seizure activity is associated with recurring cycles of excitotoxicity and oxidative stress that result in progressive neuronal damage and death. Intervention to halt these pathological processes is a compelling disease-modifying strategy for the treatment of seizure disorders. In the present study, a core small molecule with anticonvulsant activity has been structurally optimized for neuroprotection. Phenotypic screening of rat hippocampal cultures with nutrient medium depleted of antioxidants was utilized as a disease model. Increased cell death and decreased neuronal viability produced by acute treatment with glutamate or hydrogen peroxide were prevented by our novel molecules. The neuroprotection associated with this chemical series has marked structure activity relationships that focus on modification of the benzylic position of a 2-phenyl-2-hydroxyethyl sulfamide core structure. Complete separation between anticonvulsant activity and neuroprotective action was dependent on substitution at the benzylic carbon. Chiral selectivity was evident in that the S-enantiomer of the benzylic hydroxy group had neither neuroprotective nor anticonvulsant activity, while the R-enantiomer of the lead compound had full neuroprotective action at ≤40 nM and antiseizure activity in three animal models. These studies indicate that potent, multifunctional neuroprotective anticonvulsants are feasible within a single molecular entity. PMID:22535312

Decursin and decursinol angelate inhibit estrogen-stimulated and estrogen-independent growth and survival of breast cancer cells.

PubMed

Jiang, Cheng; Guo, Junming; Wang, Zhe; Xiao, Bingxiu; Lee, Hyo-Jung; Lee, Eun-Ok; Kim, Sung-Hoon; Lu, Junxuan

2007-01-01

Estrogen and estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling are crucial for the etiology and progression of human breast cancer. Attenuating ER activities by natural products is a promising strategy to decrease breast cancer risk. We recently discovered that the pyranocoumarin compound decursin and its isomer decursinol angelate (DA) have potent novel antiandrogen receptor signaling activities. Because the ER and the androgen receptor belong to the steroid receptor superfamily, we examined whether these compounds affected ER expression and signaling in breast cancer cells. We treated estrogen-dependent MCF-7 and estrogen-independent MDA MB-231 human breast cancer cells with decursin and DA, and examined cell growth, apoptosis, and ERalpha and ERbeta expression in both cell lines - and, in particular, estrogen-stimulated signaling in the MCF-7 cells. We compared these compounds with decursinol to determine their structure-activity relationship. Decursin and DA exerted growth inhibitory effects on MCF-7 cells through G1 arrest and caspase-mediated apoptosis. These compounds decreased ERalpha in MCF-7 cells at both mRNA and protein levels, and suppressed estrogen-stimulated genes. Decursin and the pure antiestrogen Faslodex exerted an additive growth inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cells. In MDA MB-231 cells, these compounds induced cell-cycle arrests in the G1 and G2 phases as well as inducing apoptosis, accompanied by an increased expression of ERbeta. In contrast, decursinol, which lacks the side chain of decursin and DA, did not have these cellular and molecular activities at comparable concentrations. The side chain of decursin and DA is crucial for their anti-ER signaling and breast cancer growth inhibitory activities. These data provide mechanistic rationales for validating the chemopreventive and therapeutic efficacy of decursin and its derivatives in preclinical animal models of breast cancer.

Quantitative structure-property relationship modeling of Grätzel solar cell dyes.

PubMed

Venkatraman, Vishwesh; Åstrand, Per-Olof; Alsberg, Bjørn Kåre

2014-01-30

With fossil fuel reserves on the decline, there is increasing focus on the design and development of low-cost organic photovoltaic devices, in particular, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a DSSC is heavily influenced by the chemical structure of the dye. However, as far as we know, no predictive quantitative structure-property relationship models for DSSCs with PCE as one of the response variables have been reported. Thus, we report for the first time the successful application of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and vibrational frequency-based eigenvalue (EVA) descriptors to model molecular structure-photovoltaic performance relationships for a set of 40 coumarin derivatives. The results show that the models obtained provide statistically robust predictions of important photovoltaic parameters such as PCE, the open-circuit voltage (V(OC)), short-circuit current (J(SC)) and the peak absorption wavelength λ(max). Some of our findings based on the analysis of the models are in accordance with those reported in the literature. These structure-property relationships can be applied to the rational structural design and evaluation of new photovoltaic materials. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antiproliferative, DNA intercalation and redox cycling activities of dioxonaphtho[2,3-d]imidazolium analogs of YM155: A structure-activity relationship study.

PubMed

Ho, Si-Han Sherman; Sim, Mei-Yi; Yee, Wei-Loong Sherman; Yang, Tianming; Yuen, Shyi-Peng John; Go, Mei-Lin

2015-11-02

The anticancer agent YM155 is widely investigated as a specific survivin suppressant. More recently, YM155 was found to induce DNA damage and this has raised doubts as to whether survivin is its primary target. In an effort to assess the contribution of DNA damage to the anticancer activity of YM155, several analogs were prepared and evaluated for antiproliferative activity on malignant cells, participation in DNA intercalation and free radical generation by redox cycling. The intact positively charged scaffold was found to be essential for antiproliferative activity and intercalation but was less critical for redox cycling where the minimal requirement was a pared down bicyclic quinone. Side chain requirements at the N(1) and N(3) positions of the scaffold were more alike for redox cycling and intercalation than antiproliferative activity, underscoring yet again, the limited structural overlaps for these activities. Furthermore, antiproliferative activities were poorly correlated to DNA intercalation and redox cycling. Potent antiproliferative activity (IC50 9-23 nM), exceeding that of YM155, was found for a minimally substituted methyl analog AB7. Like YM155 and other dioxonaphthoimidazoliums, AB7 was a modest DNA intercalator but with weak redox cycling activity. Thus, the capacity of this scaffold to inflict direct DNA damage leading to cell death may not be significant and YM155 should not be routinely classified as a DNA damaging agent. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of chirality and lipophilicity in the functional activity of evodiamine and its analogues at TRPV1 channels.

PubMed

De Petrocellis, Luciano; Schiano Moriello, Aniello; Fontana, Gabriele; Sacchetti, Alessandro; Passarella, Daniele; Appendino, Giovanni; Di Marzo, Vincenzo

2014-05-01

Evodiamine, a racemic quinazolinocarboline alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Evodiae fructus, has been reported to act as an agonist of the transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1) cation channel both in vitro and in vivo. Evodiamine is structurally different from all known TRPV1 activators, and has significant clinical potential as a thermogenic agent. Nevertheless, the molecular bases for its actions are still poorly understood. To investigate the structure-activity relationships of evodiamine, the natural racemate was resolved, and a series of 23 synthetic analogues was prepared, using as the end point the intracellular Ca(2+) elevation in HEK-293 cells stably overexpressing either the human or the rat recombinant TRPV1. S-(+) evodiamine was more efficacious and potent than R-(-) evodiamine, and a new potent lead (Evo30) was identified, more potent than the reference TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin. In general, potency and efficacy correlated with the lipophilicity of the analogues. Like other TRPV1 agonists, several synthetic analogues could efficiently desensitize TRPV1 to activation by capsaicin. Evodiamine qualifies as structurally unique lead structure to develop new potent TRPV1 agonists/desensitizers. © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

Elucidation of the structure-property relationship of p-type organic semiconductors through rapid library construction via a one-pot, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction.

PubMed

Fuse, Shinichiro; Matsumura, Keisuke; Wakamiya, Atsushi; Masui, Hisashi; Tanaka, Hiroshi; Yoshikawa, Susumu; Takahashi, Takashi

2014-09-08

The elucidation of the structure-property relationship is an important issue in the development of organic electronics. Combinatorial synthesis and the evaluation of systematically modified compounds is a powerful tool in the work of elucidating structure-property relationships. In this manuscript, D-π-A structure, 32 p-type organic semiconductors were rapidly synthesized via a one-pot, Suzuki-Miyaura coupling with subsequent Knoevenagel condensation. Evaluation of the solubility and photovoltaic properties of the prepared compounds revealed that the measured solubility was strongly correlated with the solubility parameter (SP), as reported by Fedors. In addition, the SPs were correlated with the Jsc of thin-film organic solar cells prepared using synthesized compounds. Among the evaluated photovoltaic properties of the solar cells, Jsc and Voc had strong correlations with the photoconversion efficiency (PCE).

Are microglia minding us? Digging up the unconscious mind-brain relationship from a neuropsychoanalytic approach

PubMed Central

Kato, Takahiro A.; Kanba, Shigenobu

2013-01-01

The unconscious mind-brain relationship remains unresolved. From the perspective of neuroscience, neuronal networks including synapses have been dominantly believed to play crucial roles in human mental activities, while glial contribution to mental activities has long been ignored. Recently, it has been suggested that microglia, glial cells with immunological/inflammatory functions, play important roles in psychiatric disorders. Newly revealed microglial roles, such as constant direct contact with synapses even in the normal brain, have defied the common traditional belief that microglia do not contribute to neuronal networks. Recent human neuroeconomic investigations with healthy volunteers using minocycline, an antibiotic with inhibitory effects on microglial activation, suggest that microglia may unconsciously modulate human social behaviors as “noise.” We herein propose a novel unconscious mind structural system in the brain centering on microglia from a neuropsychoanalytic approach. At least to some extent, microglial activation in the brain may activate unconscious drives as “psychological immune memory/reaction” in the mind, and result in various emotions, traumatic reactions, psychiatric symptoms including suicidal behaviors, and (psychoanalytic) transference during interpersonal relationships. Microglia have the potential to bridge the huge gap between neuroscience, biological psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis as a key player to connect the conscious and the unconscious world. PMID:23443737

Anti-Cancer Efficacy of Silybin Derivatives - A Structure-Activity Relationship

PubMed Central

Agarwal, Chapla; Wadhwa, Ritambhara; Deep, Gagan; Biedermann, David; Gažák, Radek; Křen, Vladimír; Agarwal, Rajesh

2013-01-01

Silybin or silibinin, a flavonolignan isolated from Milk thistle seeds, is one of the popular dietary supplements and has been extensively studied for its antioxidant, hepatoprotective and anti-cancer properties. We have envisioned that potency of silybin could be further enhanced through suitable modification/s in its chemical structure. Accordingly, here, we synthesized and characterized a series of silybin derivatives namely 2,3-dehydrosilybin (DHS), 7-O-methylsilybin (7OM), 7-O-galloylsilybin (7OG), 7,23-disulphatesilybin (DSS), 7-O-palmitoylsilybin (7OP), and 23-O-palmitoylsilybin (23OP); and compared their anti-cancer efficacy using human bladder cancer HTB9, colon cancer HCT116 and prostate carcinoma PC3 cells. In all the 3 cell lines, DHS, 7OM and 7OG demonstrated better growth inhibitory effects and compared to silybin, while other silybin derivatives showed lesser or no efficacy. Next, we prepared the optical isomers (A and B) of silybin, DHS, 7OM and 7OG, and compared their anti-cancer efficacy. Isomers of these three silybin derivatives also showed better efficacy compared with respective silybin isomers, but in each, there was no clear cut silybin A versus B isomer activity preference. Further studies in HTB cells found that DHS, 7OM and 7OG exert better apoptotic activity than silibinin. Clonogenic assays in HTB9 cells further confirmed that both the racemic mixtures as well as pure optical isomers of DHS, 7OM and 7OG were more effective than silybin. Overall, these results clearly suggest that the anti-cancer efficacy of silybin could be significantly enhanced through structural modifications, and identify strong anti-cancer efficacy of silybin derivatives, namely DHS, 7OM, and 7OG, signifying that their efficacy and toxicity should be evaluated in relevant pre-clinical cancer models in rodents. PMID:23555889

Arylazolylthioacetanilide. Part 11: design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,2,4-triazole thioacetanilide derivatives as novel non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

PubMed

Li, Zhenyu; Cao, Yuan; Zhan, Peng; Pannecouque, Christophe; Balzarini, Jan; Clercq, Erik De; Shen, Yuemao; Liu, Xinyong

2013-11-01

A series of novel 1,2,4-triazole thioacetanilide derivatives has been designed, synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV activities in MT-4 cells. Half of these compounds showed moderate to potent activities against wild-type HIV-1 with an EC50 ranging from 38.0 μM to 4.08 µM. Among them, 2-(4-(2-fluorobenzyl)-5-isopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol- 3-ylthio)-N-(2-nitrophenyl)acetamide 7d was identified as the most promising compound (EC50 = 4.26 µM, SI = 49). However, no compound was active against HIV-2. The preliminary structure-activity relationships among the newly synthesized congeners are discussed.

Synthesis and antileishmanial activity of 6-mono-substituted and 3,6-di-substituted acridines obtained by acylation of proflavine.

PubMed

Di Giorgio, Carole; Shimi, Kamal; Boyer, Gérard; Delmas, Florence; Galy, Jean-Pierre

2007-10-01

Two new series of diaminoacridinic derivatives obtained from proflavine and N-(6-amino-3-acridinyl)acetamide were synthesised and assessed for their cytotoxic and antileishmanial activities. Two compounds, N-[6-(acetylamino)-3-acridinyl]acetamide and N-[6-(benzoylamino)-3-acridinyl]benzamide demonstrated highly specific antileishmanial properties against the intracellular amastigote form of the parasite. Structure-activity relationships established that the antiproliferative activity against human cells was greatly enhanced by the presence of a benzoylamino group in 6-mono-substituted acridines, while the presence of two acetylamino or benzoylamino groups in 3,6-di-substituted acridines strongly increased the specificity of the molecules for Leishmania parasite, suggesting that symmetric conformations could preferentially interfere with Leishmania metabolism.

Structure-Activity Relationships of Orotidine-5′-Monophosphate Decarboxylase Inhibitors as Anticancer Agents

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bello, A.; Konforte, D; Poduch, E

2009-01-01

A series of 6-substituted and 5-fluoro-6-substituted uridine derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their potential as anticancer agents. The designed molecules were synthesized from either fully protected uridine or the corresponding 5-fluorouridine derivatives. The mononucleotide derivatives were used for enzyme inhibition investigations against ODCase. Anticancer activities of all the synthesized derivatives were evaluated using the nucleoside forms of the inhibitors. 5-Fluoro-UMP was a very weak inhibitor of ODCase. 6-Azido-5-fluoro and 5-fluoro-6-iodo derivatives are covalent inhibitors of ODCase, and the active site Lys145 residue covalently binds to the ligand after the elimination of the 6-substitution. Among the synthesized nucleoside derivatives, 6-azido-5-fluoro,more » 6-amino-5-fluoro, and 6-carbaldehyde-5-fluoro derivatives showed potent anticancer activities in cell-based assays against various leukemia cell lines. On the basis of the overall profile, 6-azido-5-fluoro and 6-amino-5-fluoro uridine derivatives exhibited potential for further investigations.« less

Salicylic acid induces vanillin synthesis through the phospholipid signaling pathway in Capsicum chinense cell cultures

PubMed Central

Rodas-Junco, Beatriz A; Cab-Guillen, Yahaira; Muñoz-Sanchez, J Armando; Vázquez-Flota, Felipe; Monforte-Gonzalez, Miriam; Hérnandez-Sotomayor, S M Teresa

2013-01-01

Signal transduction via phospholipids is mediated by phospholipases such as phospholipase C (PLC) and D (PLD), which catalyze hydrolysis of plasma membrane structural phospholipids. Phospholipid signaling is also involved in plant responses to phytohormones such as salicylic acid (SA). The relationships between phospholipid signaling, SA, and secondary metabolism are not fully understood. Using a Capsicum chinense cell suspension as a model, we evaluated whether phospholipid signaling modulates SA-induced vanillin production through the activation of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway. Salicylic acid was found to elicit PAL activity and consequently vanillin production, which was diminished or reversed upon exposure to the phosphoinositide-phospholipase C (PI-PLC) signaling inhibitors neomycin and U73122. Exposure to the phosphatidic acid inhibitor 1-butanol altered PLD activity and prevented SA-induced vanillin production. Our results suggest that PLC and PLD-generated secondary messengers may be modulating SA-induced vanillin production through the activation of key biosynthetic pathway enzymes.

Structure-function relationships in tendons: a review

PubMed Central

Benjamin, M; Kaiser, E; Milz, S

2008-01-01

The purpose of the current review is to highlight the structure-function relationship of tendons and related structures to provide an overview for readers whose interest in tendons needs to be underpinned by anatomy. Because of the availability of several recent reviews on tendon development and entheses, the focus of the current work is primarily directed towards what can best be described as the ‘tendon proper’ or the ‘mid-substance’ of tendons. The review covers all levels of tendon structure from the molecular to the gross and deals both with the extracellular matrix and with tendon cells. The latter are often called ‘tenocytes’ and are increasingly recognized as a defined cell population that is functionally and phenotypically distinct from other fibroblast-like cells. This is illustrated by their response to different types of mechanical stress. However, it is not only tendon cells, but tendons as a whole that exhibit distinct structure-function relationships geared to the changing mechanical stresses to which they are subject. This aspect of tendon biology is considered in some detail. Attention is briefly directed to the blood and nerve supply of tendons, for this is an important issue that relates to the intrinsic healing capacity of tendons. Structures closely related to tendons (joint capsules, tendon sheaths, pulleys, retinacula, fat pads and bursae) are also covered and the concept of a ‘supertendon’ is introduced to describe a collection of tendons in which the function of the whole complex exceeds that of its individual members. Finally, attention is drawn to the important relationship between tendons and fascia, highlighted by Wood Jones in his concept of an ‘ectoskeleton’ over half a century ago – work that is often forgotten today. PMID:18304204

Length dependence of force generation exhibit similarities between rat cardiac myocytes and skeletal muscle fibres.

PubMed

Hanft, Laurin M; McDonald, Kerry S

2010-08-01

According to the Frank-Starling relationship, increased ventricular volume increases cardiac output, which helps match cardiac output to peripheral circulatory demand. The cellular basis for this relationship is in large part the myofilament length-tension relationship. Length-tension relationships in maximally calcium activated preparations are relatively shallow and similar between cardiac myocytes and skeletal muscle fibres. During twitch activations length-tension relationships become steeper in both cardiac and skeletal muscle; however, it remains unclear whether length dependence of tension differs between striated muscle cell types during submaximal activations. The purpose of this study was to compare sarcomere length-tension relationships and the sarcomere length dependence of force development between rat skinned left ventricular cardiac myocytes and fast-twitch and slow-twitch skeletal muscle fibres. Muscle cell preparations were calcium activated to yield 50% maximal force, after which isometric force and rate constants (k(tr)) of force development were measured over a range of sarcomere lengths. Myofilament length-tension relationships were considerably steeper in fast-twitch fibres compared to slow-twitch fibres. Interestingly, cardiac myocyte preparations exhibited two populations of length-tension relationships, one steeper than fast-twitch fibres and the other similar to slow-twitch fibres. Moreover, myocytes with shallow length-tension relationships were converted to steeper length-tension relationships by protein kinase A (PKA)-induced myofilament phosphorylation. Sarcomere length-k(tr) relationships were distinct between all three cell types and exhibited patterns markedly different from Ca(2+) activation-dependent k(tr) relationships. Overall, these findings indicate cardiac myocytes exhibit varied length-tension relationships and sarcomere length appears a dominant modulator of force development rates. Importantly, cardiac myocyte length-tension relationships appear able to switch between slow-twitch-like and fast-twitch-like by PKA-mediated myofibrillar phosphorylation, which implicates a novel means for controlling Frank-Starling relationships.

The Hydroxyl at Position C1 of Genipin Is the Active Inhibitory Group that Affects Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2 in Panc-1 Cells

PubMed Central

Hou, Jianwei; Ding, Yue; Zhang, Tong; Zhang, Yong; Wang, Jianying; Shi, Chenchen; Fu, Wenwei; Cai, Zhenzhen

2016-01-01

Genipin (GNP) effectively inhibits uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), which regulates the leakage of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. UCP2 inhibition may induce pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell death by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In this study, the hydroxyls at positions C10 (10-OH) and C1 (1-OH) of GNP were hypothesized to be the active groups that cause these inhibitory effects. Four GNP derivatives in which the hydroxyl at position C10 or C1 was replaced with other chemical groups were synthesized and isolated. Differences in the inhibitory effects of GNP and its four derivatives on pancreatic carcinoma cell (Panc-1) proliferation were assessed. The effects of GNP and its derivatives on apoptosis, UCP2 inhibition and ROS production were also studied to explore the relationship between GNP’s activity and its structure. The derivatives with 1-OH substitutions, geniposide (1-GNP1) and 1-ethyl-genipin (1-GNP2) lacked cytotoxic effects, while the other derivatives that retained 1-OH, 10-piv-genipin (10-GNP1) and 10-acetic acid-genipin (10-GNP2) exerted biological effects similar to those of GNP, even in the absence of 10-OH. Thus, 1-OH is the key functional group in the structure of GNP that is responsible for GNP’s apoptotic effects. These cytotoxic effects involve the induction of Panc-1 cell apoptosis through UCP2 inhibition and subsequent ROS production. PMID:26771380

The Hydroxyl at Position C1 of Genipin Is the Active Inhibitory Group that Affects Mitochondrial Uncoupling Protein 2 in Panc-1 Cells.

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Yang, Yifu; Hou, Jianwei; Ding, Yue; Zhang, Tong; Zhang, Yong; Wang, Jianying; Shi, Chenchen; Fu, Wenwei; Cai, Zhenzhen

2016-01-01

Genipin (GNP) effectively inhibits uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), which regulates the leakage of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. UCP2 inhibition may induce pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell death by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. In this study, the hydroxyls at positions C10 (10-OH) and C1 (1-OH) of GNP were hypothesized to be the active groups that cause these inhibitory effects. Four GNP derivatives in which the hydroxyl at position C10 or C1 was replaced with other chemical groups were synthesized and isolated. Differences in the inhibitory effects of GNP and its four derivatives on pancreatic carcinoma cell (Panc-1) proliferation were assessed. The effects of GNP and its derivatives on apoptosis, UCP2 inhibition and ROS production were also studied to explore the relationship between GNP's activity and its structure. The derivatives with 1-OH substitutions, geniposide (1-GNP1) and 1-ethyl-genipin (1-GNP2) lacked cytotoxic effects, while the other derivatives that retained 1-OH, 10-piv-genipin (10-GNP1) and 10-acetic acid-genipin (10-GNP2) exerted biological effects similar to those of GNP, even in the absence of 10-OH. Thus, 1-OH is the key functional group in the structure of GNP that is responsible for GNP's apoptotic effects. These cytotoxic effects involve the induction of Panc-1 cell apoptosis through UCP2 inhibition and subsequent ROS production.

Key structural features of nonsteroidal ligands for binding and activation of the androgen receptor.

PubMed

Yin, Donghua; He, Yali; Perera, Minoli A; Hong, Seoung Soo; Marhefka, Craig; Stourman, Nina; Kirkovsky, Leonid; Miller, Duane D; Dalton, James T

2003-01-01

The purposes of the present studies were to examine the androgen receptor (AR) binding ability and in vitro functional activity of multiple series of nonsteroidal compounds derived from known antiandrogen pharmacophores and to investigate the structure-activity relationships (SARs) of these nonsteroidal compounds. The AR binding properties of sixty-five nonsteroidal compounds were assessed by a radioligand competitive binding assay with the use of cytosolic AR prepared from rat prostates. The AR agonist and antagonist activities of high-affinity ligands were determined by the ability of the ligand to regulate AR-mediated transcriptional activation in cultured CV-1 cells, using a cotransfection assay. Nonsteroidal compounds with diverse structural features demonstrated a wide range of binding affinity for the AR. Ten compounds, mainly from the bicalutamide-related series, showed a binding affinity superior to the structural pharmacophore from which they were derived. Several SARs regarding nonsteroidal AR binding were revealed from the binding data, including stereoisomeric conformation, steric effect, and electronic effect. The functional activity of high-affinity ligands ranged from antagonist to full agonist for the AR. Several structural features were found to be determinative of agonist and antagonist activities. The nonsteroidal AR agonists identified from the present studies provided a pool of candidates for further development of selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) for androgen therapy. Also, these studies uncovered or confirmed numerous important SARs governing AR binding and functional properties by nonsteroidal molecules, which would be valuable in the future structural optimization of SARMs.

Prediction of Environmental Impact of High-Energy Materials with Atomistic Computer Simulations

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-11-01

from a training set of compounds. Other methods include Quantitative Struc- ture-Activity Relationship ( QSAR ) and Quantitative Structure-Property...26 28 the development of QSPR/ QSAR models, in contrast to boiling points and critical parameters derived from empirical correlations, to improve...Quadratic Configuration Interaction Singles Doubles QSAR Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship QSPR Quantitative Structure-Property

Physical structure changes of solid medium by steam explosion sterilization.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhi-Min; Wang, Lan; Chen, Hong-Zhang

2016-03-01

Physical structure changes of solid medium were investigated to reveal effects of steam explosion sterilization on solid-state fermentation (SSF). Results indicated that steam explosion changed the structure of solid medium at both molecular and three-dimensional structural levels, which exposed hydrophilic groups and enlarged pores and cavities. It was interesting to find that pores where capillary water located were the active sites for SSF, due to the close relationship among capillary water relaxation time, specific surface area and fermentation performance. Therefore, steam explosion sterilization increased the effective contact area for microbial cells on solid medium, which contributed to improving SSF performance. Combined with the previous research, mechanisms of SSF improvement by steam explosion sterilization contained both chemical and physical effects. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Development of a method to analyze single cell activity by using dielectrophoretic levitation.

PubMed

Hakoda, M; Hachisu, T; Wakizaka, Y; Mii, S; Kitajima, N

2005-01-01

In cell fusion and genetic recombination, although the activity of single cells is extremely important, there is no method to analyze single cell activity. Development of a quick analyzing method for single cell activity is desired in various fields. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) refers to the force exerted on the induced dipole moment of an uncharged dielectric and/or conductive particle by a nonuniform electric field. By applying DEP, we obtained experimentally a relationship between the cell activity and the dielectric property, Re[K(omega)], and examined how to evaluate the single cell activity by measuring Re[K(omega)] of a single cell. A cone and plate electrode geometry was adapted in order to achieve the feedback-controlled DEP levitation. The single cell is exposed to a nonuniform field induced by the cone and plate electrode, and a more polarizable cell is moved to the direction of the cone electrode by the DEP force. The cell settles in the position where the DEP force and gravity are balanced by controlling applied voltage. This settled position, measured on the center axis of the cone electrode, depended on the dielectric constant of the cell. From these results, the relationship between the specific growth rates in cell growth phase and the dielectric properties Re[K(omega)] was obtained. Furthermore, the effect on the cell activity of various stresses, such as concentration of carbon dioxide, temperature, etc., was examined.

Quantitative Structure--Activity Relationship Modeling of Rat Acute Toxicity by Oral Exposure

EPA Science Inventory

Background: Few Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (QSAR) studies have successfully modeled large, diverse rodent toxicity endpoints. Objective: In this study, a combinatorial QSAR approach has been employed for the creation of robust and predictive models of acute toxi...

STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS (SARS) AMONG MUTAGENS AND CARCINOGENS: A REVIEW

EPA Science Inventory

The review is an introduction to methods for evaluating structure-activity relationships (SARs), and, in particular, to those methods that have been applied to study mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. A brief history and some background material on the earliest attempts to correla...

QUANTITATIVE STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS FOR CHEMICAL REDUCTIONS OF ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS

EPA Science Inventory

Sufficient kinetic data on abiotic reduction reactions involving organic contaminants are now available that quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) for these reactions can be developed. Over 50 QSARs have been reported, most in just the last few years, and they ar...

SRB-2: a promiscuous rainbow aptamer for live-cell RNA imaging.

PubMed

Sunbul, Murat; Jäschke, Andres

2018-06-21

The SRB-2 aptamer originally selected against sulforhodamine B is shown here to promiscuously bind to various dyes with different colors. Binding of SRB-2 to these dyes results in either fluorescence increase or decrease, making them attractive for fluorescence microscopy and biological assays. By systematically varying fluorophore structural elements and measuring dissociation constants, the principles of fluorophore recognition by SRB-2 were analyzed. The obtained structure-activity relationships allowed us to rationally design a novel, bright, orange fluorescent turn-on probe (TMR-DN) with low background fluorescence, enabling no-wash live-cell RNA imaging. This new probe improved the signal-to-background ratio of fluorescence images by one order of magnitude over best previously known probe for this aptamer. The utility of TMR-DN is demonstrated by imaging ribosomal and messenger RNAs, allowing the observation of distinct localization patterns in bacteria and mammalian cells. The SRB-2 / TMR-DN system is found to be orthogonal to the Spinach/DFHBI and MG/Malachite green aptamer/dye systems.

Conjugates of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid as Pin1 inhibitors displaying anti-prostate cancer ability.

PubMed

Li, Kun; Ma, Tianyi; Cai, Jingjing; Huang, Min; Guo, Hongye; Zhou, Di; Luan, Shenglin; Yang, Jinyu; Liu, Dan; Jing, Yongkui; Zhao, Linxiang

2017-10-15

Twenty-six conjugates of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives with 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid were designed and synthesized as Pin1 inhibitors. Most of these semi-synthetic compounds showed improved Pin1 inhibitory activity and anti-proliferative effects against prostate cancer cells as compared to 3-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)propanoic acid and GA. Compounds 10a and 12i were the most potent to inhibit growth of prostate cancer PC-3 with GI 50 values of 7.80μM and 3.52μM, respectively. The enzyme inhibition ratio of nine compounds at 10μM was over 90%. Structure-activity relationships indicated that both appropriate structure at ring C of GA and suitable length of linker between GA skeleton and benzimidazole moiety had significant impact on improving activity. Western blot assay revealed that 10a decreased the level of cell cycle regulating protein cyclin D1. Thus, these compounds might represent a novel anti-proliferative agent working through Pin1 inhibition. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Role of sinoatrial node architecture in maintaining a balanced source-sink relationship and synchronous cardiac pacemaking

PubMed Central

Unudurthi, Sathya D.; Wolf, Roseanne M.; Hund, Thomas J.

2014-01-01

Normal heart rhythm (sinus rhythm) depends on regular activity of the sinoatrial node (SAN), a heterogeneous collection of specialized myocytes in the right atrium. SAN cells, in general, possess a unique electrophysiological profile that promotes spontaneous electrical activity (automaticity). However, while automaticity is required for normal pacemaking, it is not necessarily sufficient. Less appreciated is the importance of the elaborate structure of the SAN complex for proper pacemaker function. Here, we review the important structural features of the SAN with a focus on how these elements help manage a precarious balance between electrical charge generated by the SAN (“source”) and the charge needed to excite the surrounding atrial tissue (“sink”). We also discuss how compromised “source-sink” balance due, for example to fibrosis, may promote SAN dysfunction, characterized by slow and/or asynchronous pacemaker activity and even failure, in the setting of cardiovascular disease (e.g., heart failure, atrial fibrillation). Finally, we discuss implications of the “source-sink” balance in the SAN complex for cell and gene therapies aimed at creating a biological pacemaker as replacement or bridge to conventional electronic pacemakers. PMID:25505419

Muramyl peptides in mammalian tissues and their effects at the cellular level.

PubMed

Karnovsky, M L

1986-10-01

Muramyl peptides (MPs), presumably breakdown products of bacterial cell walls, have been found in the brain, liver, and kidney of the rat. They exert multiple physiological effects on higher animals as immunoadjuvants, activators of macrophages, pyrogens, antitumor agents, inducers of contractility of smooth muscle, and promoters of slow-wave sleep, as well as nonspecific protectors of animals against infection. Structure-function relationships of these substances have been extensively studied, especially with respect to somnogenicity. In the role an intact muramyl ring is required, and the 1,6-anhydro form is active. The presence of free carboxyls or amides on the glutamyl and diaminopimelyl entities have important effects. The stereochemistry is crucial: the alanine adjacent to the N-acetylmuramyl entity must be L, and the glutamate must be D. Studies were carried out with murine macrophages to establish mechanisms of action of these glycopeptides. There are two populations of binding sites for MPs on those cells. When compounds of different structure are compared, binding ability correlates with pyrogenic and somnogenic activity. Serotonin competes with these agents for binding sites. Binding of that substance induces at least one macrophage response characteristic of the binding of MP.

Toward biophysical probes for the 5-HT3 receptor: structure-activity relationship study of granisetron derivatives.

PubMed

Vernekar, Sanjeev Kumar V; Hallaq, Hasan Y; Clarkson, Guy; Thompson, Andrew J; Silvestri, Linda; Lummis, Sarah C R; Lochner, Martin

2010-03-11

This report describes the synthesis and biological characterization of novel granisetron derivatives that are antagonists of the human serotonin (5-HT(3)A) receptor. Some of these substituted granisetron derivatives showed low nanomolar binding affinity and allowed the identification of positions on the granisetron core that might be used as attachment points for biophysical tags. A BODIPY fluorophore was appended to one such position and specifically bound to 5-HT(3)A receptors in mammalian cells.

Point process models for localization and interdependence of punctate cellular structures.

PubMed

Li, Ying; Majarian, Timothy D; Naik, Armaghan W; Johnson, Gregory R; Murphy, Robert F

2016-07-01

Accurate representations of cellular organization for multiple eukaryotic cell types are required for creating predictive models of dynamic cellular function. To this end, we have previously developed the CellOrganizer platform, an open source system for generative modeling of cellular components from microscopy images. CellOrganizer models capture the inherent heterogeneity in the spatial distribution, size, and quantity of different components among a cell population. Furthermore, CellOrganizer can generate quantitatively realistic synthetic images that reflect the underlying cell population. A current focus of the project is to model the complex, interdependent nature of organelle localization. We built upon previous work on developing multiple non-parametric models of organelles or structures that show punctate patterns. The previous models described the relationships between the subcellular localization of puncta and the positions of cell and nuclear membranes and microtubules. We extend these models to consider the relationship to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and to consider the relationship between the positions of different puncta of the same type. Our results do not suggest that the punctate patterns we examined are dependent on ER position or inter- and intra-class proximity. With these results, we built classifiers to update previous assignments of proteins to one of 11 patterns in three distinct cell lines. Our generative models demonstrate the ability to construct statistically accurate representations of puncta localization from simple cellular markers in distinct cell types, capturing the complex phenomena of cellular structure interaction with little human input. This protocol represents a novel approach to vesicular protein annotation, a field that is often neglected in high-throughput microscopy. These results suggest that spatial point process models provide useful insight with respect to the spatial dependence between cellular structures. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry. © 2016 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry.

Receptor-dependent mechanisms of glucocorticoid and dioxin-induced cleft palate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pratt, R.M.

1985-09-01

Glucocorticoids (triamcinolone) and dioxins (TCDD) are highly specific teratogens in the mouse, in that cleft palate is the major malformation observed. Glucocorticoids and TCDD both readily cross the yolk sac and placenta and appear in the developing secondary palate. Structure-activity relationships for glucocorticoid- and TCDD-induced cleft palate suggest a receptor involvement. Receptors for glucocorticoids and TCDD are present in the palate and their levels in various mouse strains are highly correlated with their sensitivity to cleft palate induction. Receptors for glucocorticoids appear to be more prevalent in the palatal mesenchymal cells whereas those for TCDD are probably located in themore » palatal epithelial cells. Glucocorticoids exert their teratogenic effect on the palate by inhibiting the growth of the palatal mesenchymal cells whereas TCDD alters the terminal cell differentiation of the media palatal epithelial cells. 71 references.« less

Synthetic Xylosides: Probing the Glycosaminoglycan Biosynthetic Machinery for Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Chua, Jie Shi; Kuberan, Balagurunathan

2017-11-21

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides ubiquitously found on cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix (ECM). They regulate numerous cellular signaling events involved in many developmental and pathophysiological processes. GAGs are composed of complex sequences of repeating disaccharide units, each of which can carry many different modifications. The tremendous structural variations account for their ability to bind many proteins and thus, for their numerous functions. Although the sequence of GAG biosynthetic events and the enzymes involved mostly were deduced a decade ago, the emergence of tissue or cell specific GAGs from a nontemplate driven process remains an enigma. Current knowledge favors the hypothesis that macromolecular assemblies of GAG biosynthetic enzymes termed "GAGOSOMEs" coordinate polymerization and fine structural modifications in the Golgi apparatus. Distinct GAG structures arise from the differential channeling of substrates through the Golgi apparatus to various GAGOSOMEs. As GAGs perform multiple regulatory roles, it is of great interest to develop molecular strategies to selectively interfere with GAG biosynthesis for therapeutic applications. In this Account, we assess our present knowledge on GAG biosynthesis, the manipulation of GAG biosynthesis using synthetic xylosides, and the unrealized potential of these xylosides in various biomedical applications. Synthetic xylosides are small molecules consisting of a xylose attached to an aglycone group, and they compete with endogenous proteins for precursors and biosynthetic enzymes to assemble GAGs. This competition reduces endogenous proteoglycan-bound GAGs while increasing xyloside-bound free GAGs, mostly chondroitin sulfate (CS) and less heparan sulfate (HS), resulting in a variety of biological consequences. To date, hundreds of xylosides have been published and the importance of the aglycone group in determining the structure of the primed GAG chains is well established. However, the structure-activity relationship has long been cryptic. Nonetheless, xylosides have been designed to increase HS priming, modified to inhibit endogenous GAG production without priming, and engineered to be more biologically relevant. Synthetic xylosides hold great promise in many biomedical applications and as therapeutics. They are small, orally bioavailable, easily excreted, and utilize the host cell biosynthetic machinery to assemble GAGs that are likely nonimmunogenic. Various xylosides have been shown, in different biological systems, to have anticoagulant effects, selectively kill tumor cells, abrogate angiogenic and metastatic pathways, promote angiogenesis and neuronal growth, and affect embryonic development. However, most of these studies utilized the commercially available one or two β-D-xylosides and focused on the impact of endogenous proteoglycan-bound GAG inhibition on biological activity. Nevertheless, the manipulation of cell behavior as a result of stabilizing growth factor signaling with xyloside-primed GAGs is also reckonable but underexplored. Recent advances in the use of molecular modeling and docking simulations to understand the structure-activity relationships of xylosides have opened up the possibility of a more rational aglycone design to achieve a desirable biological outcome through selective priming and inhibitory activities. We envision these advances will encourage more researchers to explore these fascinating xylosides, harness the GAG biosynthetic machinery for a wider range of biomedical applications, and accelerate the successful transition of xyloside-based therapeutics from bench to bedside.

Structure-Activity Relationship of α Mating Pheromone from the Fungal Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum.

PubMed

Vitale, Stefania; Partida-Hanon, Angélica; Serrano, Soraya; Martínez-Del-Pozo, Álvaro; Di Pietro, Antonio; Turrà, David; Bruix, Marta

2017-03-03

During sexual development ascomycete fungi produce two types of peptide pheromones termed a and α. The α pheromone from the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , a 13-residue peptide that elicits cell cycle arrest and chemotropic growth, has served as paradigm for the interaction of small peptides with their cognate G protein-coupled receptors. However, no structural information is currently available for α pheromones from filamentous ascomycetes, which are significantly shorter and share almost no sequence similarity with the S. cerevisiae homolog. High resolution structure of synthetic α-pheromone from the plant pathogenic ascomycete Fusarium oxysporum revealed the presence of a central β-turn resembling that of its yeast counterpart. Disruption of the-fold by d-alanine substitution of the conserved central Gly 6 -Gln 7 residues or by random sequence scrambling demonstrated a crucial role for this structural determinant in chemoattractant activity. Unexpectedly, the growth inhibitory effect of F. oxysporum α-pheromone was independent of the cognate G protein-coupled receptors Ste2 and of the central β-turn but instead required two conserved Trp 1 -Cys 2 residues at the N terminus. These results indicate that, despite their reduced size, fungal α-pheromones contain discrete functional regions with a defined secondary structure that regulate diverse biological processes such as polarity reorientation and cell division. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Cytotoxic diterpenoids from Jatropha curcas cv. nigroviensrugosus CY Yang Roots.

PubMed

Liu, JieQing; Yang, YuanFeng; Xia, JianJun; Li, XuYang; Li, ZhongRong; Zhou, Lin; Qiu, MingHua

2015-09-01

An investigation of phytochemicals from the roots of Jatropha curcas cv. nigroviensrugosus resulted in the isolation of twenty diterpenoids, including lathyranlactone, an unusual diterpenoid lactone possessing a 5/13/3 tricyclic skeleton, jatrocurcasenones A-E and jatrophodiones B-E, as well as 10 known analogues. All isolates were evaluated for cytotoxicity against the HL-60, SMMC-772, A-549, MCF-7 and SW480 human tumor cell lines using the MTS viability assay. Four of the known analogues showed cytotoxic activity in these cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 2.0 to 23.0 μM. Moreover, the assessment of their cytotoxic structure-activity relationships showed the epoxy ring between C-5 and C-6 and the hydroxyl group at C-2 were the key functionalities for cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Distal Regeneration Involves the Age Dependent Activity of Branchial Sac Stem Cells in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

PubMed

Jeffery, William R

2015-02-01

Tunicates have high capacities for regeneration but the underlying mechanisms and their relationship to life cycle progression are not well understood. Here we investigate the regeneration of distal structures in the ascidian tunicate Ciona intestinalis . Analysis of regenerative potential along the proximal-distal body axis indicated that distal organs, such as the siphons, their pigmented sensory organs, and the neural complex, could only be replaced from body fragments containing the branchial sac. Distal regeneration involves the formation of a blastema composed of cells that undergo cell proliferation prior to differentiation and cells that differentiate without cell proliferation. Both cell types originate in the branchial sac and appear in the blastema at different times after distal injury. Whereas the branchial sac stem cells are present in young animals, they are depleted in old animals that have lost their regeneration capacity. Thus Ciona adults contain a population of age-related stem cells located in the branchial sac that are a source of precursors for distal body regeneration.

Structural Relationships between Social Activities and Longitudinal Trajectories of Depression among Older Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hong, Song-Iee; Hasche, Leslie; Bowland, Sharon

2009-01-01

Purpose: This study examines the structural relationships between social activities and trajectories of late-life depression. Design and Methods: Latent class analysis was used with a nationally representative sample of older adults (N = 5,294) from the Longitudinal Study on Aging II to classify patterns of social activities. A latent growth curve…

Caveolae, caveolins, and cavins: complex control of cellular signalling and inflammation.

PubMed

Chidlow, John H; Sessa, William C

2010-05-01

Caveolae are specialized lipid rafts that form flask-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane. They are involved in cell signalling and transport and have been shown critically regulate vascular reactivity and blood pressure. The organization and functions of caveolae are mediated by coat proteins (caveolins) and support or adapter proteins (cavins). The caveolins, caveolin-1, -2, and -3, form the structural backbone of caveolae. These proteins are also highly integrated into caveolae function and have their own activity independent of caveolae. The cavins, cavins 1-4, are involved in regulation of caveolae and modulate the function of caveolins by promoting the membrane remodelling and trafficking of caveolin-derived structures. The relationships between these different proteins are complex and intersect with many aspects of cell function. Caveolae have also been implicated in chronic inflammatory conditions and other pathologies including atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, muscular dystrophy, and generalized dyslipidaemia. The pathogenic role of the caveolins is an emerging area, however, the roles of cavins in disease is just beginning to be explored. This review will examine the relationship between caveolins and cavins and explore the role of caveolae in inflammatory signalling mechanisms.

Structure-toxicity relationship study of para-halogenated styrene analogues in CYP2E1 transgenic cells

PubMed Central

Chung, Jou-Ku; Shen, Shuijie; Jiang, Zhiteng; Yuan, Wei; Zheng, Jiang

2012-01-01

Styrene is one of the most important industrial intermediates consumed in the world and is mainly used as a monomer for reinforced plastics and rubber. Styrene has been found to be hepatotoxic and pneumotoxic in humans and experimental animals. The toxicity of styrene is suggested to be metabolism-dependent. Styrene-7,8-oxide has been considered as the major metabolite responsible for styrene-induced cytotoxicity. The objective of the study was to investigate the correlation between cytotoxicity of styrene and chemical and biochemical properties of the vinyl group of styrene by development of structure activity relationships (SAR). 4-Fluorostyrene, 4-chlorostyrene and 4-bromostyrene were selected for the SAR study. Cytotoxicity of styrene and the halogenated styrene derivatives with an order of 4-bromostyrene > 4-chlorostyrene > 4-fluorostyrene ≈ styrene was observed in CYP2E1 transgenic cells. Similar orders in the efficiency of the metabolism of styrene and the halogenated styrene analogues to their oxides and in the electrophilicity of the corresponding oxides were observed. Additionally, the order of the potency of cellular glutathione depletion and the degree of protein adduction induced by styrene and the halogenated styrenes were consistent with that of their cytotoxicities. The wild-type cells were less susceptible to the toxicity of the corresponding model compounds than CYP2E1 cells. The present study provided insight into the roles of the biochemical and chemical properties of styrene in its cytotoxicity. PMID:22366341

Macrophage activation and muscle remodeling at myotendinous junctions after modifications in muscle loading.

PubMed Central

St Pierre, B. A.; Tidball, J. G.

1994-01-01

Modifications in muscle loading have been reported previously to result in increased numbers of mononucleated cells and changes in myofibril organization at myotendinous junctions (MTJs). The goals of this study were to determine the identity of those mononucleated cells and to examine the relationships between changes in their structure, location, and number with structural aspects of remodeling at MTJs experiencing modified loading. Soleus muscles from rats subjected to 10 days of hindlimb suspension were analyzed 0, 2, 4, and 7 days after return to weight bearing. Immunohistochemistry showed that ED1+, ED2+ and Ia+ macrophages were present at the MTJ and microtendon of control muscle. After reloading, ED2+ macrophages increased in number and size at MTJs and microtendons, indicating their activation. ED1+ cells showed no change in size or number whereas Ia+ cells were increased in size at day 7 of reloading. Electron microscopic observations showed that mononucleated cells near MTJs of control or suspended muscle were not highly active in protein synthesis or secretion. However, in reloaded muscle, mononucleated cells were found to be in close proximity to MTJs and to contain a high concentration of organelles associated with protein secretion. During these stages of reloading, extensive remodeling of myofibril-membrane associations occurred and nascent sarcomeres appeared in the MTJ regions of muscle fibers. Immunohistochemistry showed that during these stages of nascent sarcomere formation, there was renewed expression of developmental myosin heavy chain at MTJs, with this heavy chain appearing most prominently at the MTJ at day 7 of reloading. The activation and increased numbers of macrophages at MTJs and the close apposition of secretory cells to the MTJ membrane during remodeling lead us to propose that macrophage-derived factors may influence remodeling of MTJs in muscles experiencing modified loading. Images Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 PMID:7992849

Design of dual action antibiotics as an approach to search for new promising drugs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tevyashova, A. N.; Olsufyeva, E. N.; Preobrazhenskaya, M. N.

2015-01-01

The review is devoted to the latest achievements in the design of dual action antibiotics — heterodimeric (chimeric) structures based on antibacterial agents of different classes (fluoroquinolones, anthracyclines, oxazolidines, macrolides and so on). Covalent binding can make the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these molecules more predictable and improve the penetration of each component into the cell. Consequently, not only does the drug efficacy increase owing to inhibition of two targets but also the resistance to one or both antibiotics can be overcome. The theoretical grounds of elaboration, design principles and methods for the synthesis of dual action antibiotics are considered. The structures are classified according to the type of covalent spacer (cleavable or not) connecting the moieties of two agents. Dual action antibiotics with a spacer that can be cleaved in a living cell are considered as dual action prodrugs. Data on the biological action of heterodimeric compounds are presented and structure-activity relationships are analyzed. The bibliography includes 225 references.

Isolation, structural determination, and evaluation of the biological activity of 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3beta, 12beta, 20-triol [20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD], a novel natural product from Panax notoginseng.

PubMed

Zhao, Y; Wang, W; Han, L; Rayburn, E R; Hill, D L; Wang, H; Zhang, R

2007-01-01

Ginseng has been used extensively for medicinal purposes, with suggested utility for indications as diverse as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Herein we report the discovery and characterization of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD, a ginsenoside that inhibits growth and survival of cancer cells. The novel dammarane triterpene sapogenin (C31H56O4; molecular weight 492) was isolated from the total hydrolyzed saponins extracted from the leaves of Panax notoginseng using conventional and reverse-phase silica gel chromatography. Based on physicochemical characteristics and NMR data, the compound was identified as 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD. The biological activities of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD and its known analogs, 20(S)-PPD and Rg3, were evaluated in 12 human cancer cell lines. In all cell lines, the order of cytotoxicity of the test compounds was 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD > 20(S)-PPD > Rg3. 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and inhibited proliferation in breast cancer cell lines, demonstrating its potent biological effects. In regard to cytotoxicity, the IC50 values of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD for most cell lines were in the lower microM range, a 5-15-fold greater cytotoxicity relative to 20(S)-PPD and a 10-100-fold increase over Rg3. These findings suggest a structure-activity relationship among dammarane-type sapogenins. The data presented here may provide a basis for the future development of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD as a novel anti-cancer agent.

Cytotoxic constituents of Soymida febrifuga from Myanmar.

PubMed

Awale, Suresh; Miyamoto, Tatsuya; Linn, Thein Zaw; Li, Feng; Win, Nwet Nwet; Tezuka, Yasuhiro; Esumi, Hiroyasu; Kadota, Shigetoshi

2009-09-01

The 70% ethanol extract of Soymida febrifuga was found to kill PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells preferentially under nutrition-deprived conditions at a concentration of 10 microg/mL. Phytochemical investigation led to the isolation of 27 compounds including four new compounds [(3R)-6,4'-dihydroxy-8-methoxyhomoisoflavan (1), (2R)-7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-methylflavan (2), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)coumarin (3), and 6-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)coumarin (4)]. 2',4'-Dihydroxychalcone (8) displayed the most potent preferential cytotoxicity (PC(50) 19.0 microM) against PANC-1 cells. In addition, the cytotoxic activity against colon 26-L5 carcinoma (colon 26-L5), B16-BL6 melanoma (B16-BL6), lung A549 adenocarcinoma (A549), cervix HeLa adenocarcinoma (HeLa), and HT-1080 fibrosarcoma (HT-1080) cell lines and their structure-activity relationship are discussed. The cytotoxic activity of 4'-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxystilbene (6) against colon 26-L5 (IC(50) 2.96 microM) was found to be stronger than the positive control, doxorubicin, at IC(50) 3.12 microM.

Expression of the type VI intermediate filament proteins CP49 and filensin in the mouse lens epithelium.

PubMed

FitzGerald, Paul; Sun, Ning; Shibata, Brad; Hess, John F

2016-01-01

The differentiated lens fiber cell assembles a filamentous cytoskeletal structure referred to as the beaded filament (BF). The BF requires CP49 (bfsp2) and filensin (bfsp1) for assembly, both of which are highly divergent members of the large intermediate filament (IF) family of proteins. Thus far, these two proteins have been reported only in the differentiated lens fiber cell. For this reason, both proteins have been considered robust markers of fiber cell differentiation. We report here that both proteins are also expressed in the mouse lens epithelium, but only after 5 weeks of age. Localization of CP49 was achieved with immunocytochemical probing of wild-type, CP49 knockout, filensin knockout, and vimentin knockout mice, in sections and in the explanted lens epithelium, at the light microscope and electron microscope levels. The relationship between CP49 and other cytoskeletal elements was probed using fluorescent phalloidin, as well as with antibodies to vimentin, GFAP, and α-tubulin. The relationship between CP49 and the aggresome was probed with antibodies to γ-tubulin, ubiquitin, and HDAC6. CP49 and filensin were expressed in the mouse lens epithelium, but only after 5 weeks of age. At the light microscope level, these two proteins colocalize to a large tubular structure, approximately 7 × 1 μm, which was typically present at one to two copies per cell. This structure is found in the anterior and anterolateral lens epithelium, including the zone where mitosis occurs. The structure becomes smaller and largely undetectable closer to the equator where the cell exits the cell cycle and commits to fiber cell differentiation. This structure bears some resemblance to the aggresome and is reactive with antibodies to HDAC6, a marker for the aggresome. However, the structure does not colocalize with antibodies to γ-tubulin or ubiquitin, also markers for the aggresome. The structure also colocalizes with actin but appears to largely exclude vimentin and α-tubulin. In the CP49 and filensin knockouts, this structure is absent, confirming the identity of CP49 and filensin in this structure, and suggesting a requirement for the physiologic coassembly of CP49 and filensin. CP49 and filensin have been considered robust markers for mouse lens fiber cell differentiation. The data reported here, however, document both proteins in the mouse lens epithelium, but only after 5 weeks of age, when lens epithelial growth and mitotic activity have slowed. Because of this, CP49 and filensin must be considered markers of differentiation for both fiber cells and the lens epithelium in the mouse. In addition, to our knowledge, no other protein has been shown to emerge so late in the development of the mouse lens epithelium, suggesting that lens epithelial differentiation may continue well into post-natal life. If this structure is related to the aggresome, it is a rare, or perhaps unique example of a large, stable aggresome in wild-type tissue.

Synthesis and Anti-cancer Activity of 3-substituted Benzoyl-4-substituted Phenyl-1H-pyrrole Derivatives.

PubMed

Zhan, Xiaoping; Qin, Weixi; Wang, Shuai; Zhao, Kai; Xin, Yuxuan; Wang, Yaolin; Qi, Qi; Mao, Zhenmin

2017-01-01

Cancer is considered a major public health problem worldwide. The aim of this paper is to design and synthesis of novel anticancer agents with potent anticancer activity and minimum side effects. A series of pyrrole derivatives were synthesized, their anti-cancer activity against nine cancer cell lines and two non-cancer cell lines were evaluated by MTT assay, and their cell cycle progression were determined by flow cytometry analysis. The study of the structure-activity relationships revealed that the introduction of the electron-donation groups at the 4th position of the pyrrole ring increased the anti-cancer activity. Among the synthesized compounds, specially the compounds bearing 3,4-dimethoxy phenyl at the 4th position of the pyrrole ring showed potent anti-cancer activity, cpd 19 was the most potent against MGC 80-3, HCT-116 and CHO cell lines (IC50s = 1.0－1.7 μM), cpd 21 was the most potent against HepG2, DU145 and CT-26 cell lines (IC50s = 0.5－0.9 μM), and cpd 15 was the most potent against A549 (IC50 = 3.6 μM). Moreover, these potent compounds showed weak cytotoxicity against HUVEC and NIH/3T3. Thus, the cpds 15, 19 and 21 show potential anti-cancer for further investigation. Furthermore, the flow cytometry analysis revealed that cpd 21 arrested the CT-26 cells at S phase, and induced the cell apoptosis. Thus, these compounds with the potent anticancer activity and low toxicity have potential for the development of new anticancer chemotherapy agents. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Molecular structure and pronounced conformational flexibility of doxorubicin in free and conjugated state within a drug-peptide compound.

PubMed

Tsoneva, Yana; Jonker, Hendrik R A; Wagner, Manfred; Tadjer, Alia; Lelle, Marco; Peneva, Kalina; Ivanova, Anela

2015-02-19

The search for targeted drug delivery systems requires the design of drug-carrier complexes, which could both reach the malignant cells and preserve the therapeutic substance activity. A promising strategy aimed at enhancing the uptake and reducing the systemic toxicity is to bind covalently the drug to a cell-penetrating peptide. To understand the structure-activity relationship in such preparations, the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin was investigated by unrestrained molecular dynamics simulations, supported by NMR, which yielded its molecular geometry in aqueous environment. Furthermore, the structure and dynamics of a conjugate of the drug with a cell-penetrating peptide was obtained from molecular dynamics simulations in aqueous solution. The geometries of the unbound compounds were characterized at different temperatures, as well as the extent to which they change after covalent binding and whether/how they influence each other in the drug-peptide conjugate. The main structural fragments that affect the conformational ensemble of every molecule were found. The results show that the transitions between different substructures of the three compounds require a modest amount of energy. At increased temperature, either more conformations become populated as a result of the thermal fluctuations or the relative shares of the various conformers equalize at the nanosecond scale. These frequent structural interconversions suggest expressed conformational freedom of the molecules. Conjugation into the drug-peptide compound partially immobilizes the molecules of the parent compounds. Nevertheless, flexibility still exists, as well as an effective intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding that stabilizes the structures. We observe compact packing of the drug within the peptide that is also based on stacking interactions. All this outlines the drug-peptide conjugate as a prospective building block of a more complex drug-carrier system.

Ruthenium complexes with phenylterpyridine derivatives target cell membrane and trigger death receptors-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells.

PubMed

Deng, Zhiqin; Gao, Pan; Yu, Lianling; Ma, Bin; You, Yuanyuan; Chan, Leung; Mei, Chaoming; Chen, Tianfeng

2017-06-01

Elucidation of the communication between metal complexes and cell membrane may provide useful information for rational design of metal-based anticancer drugs. Herein we synthesized a novel class of ruthenium (Ru) complexes containing phtpy derivatives (phtpy = phenylterpyridine), analyzed their structure-activity relationship and revealed their action mechanisms. The result showed that, the increase in the planarity of hydrophobic Ru complexes significantly enhanced their lipophilicity and cellular uptake. Meanwhile, the introduction of nitro group effectively improved their anticancer efficacy. Further mechanism studies revealed that, complex (2c), firstly accumulated on cell membrane and interacted with death receptors to activate extrinsic apoptosis signaling pathway. The complex was then transported into cell cytoplasm through transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis. Most of the intracellular 2c accumulated in cell plasma, decreasing the level of cellular ROS, inducing the activation of caspase-9 and thus intensifying the apoptosis. At the same time, the residual 2c can translocate into cell nucleus to interact with DNA, induce DNA damage, activate p53 pathway and enhance apoptosis. Comparing with cisplatin, 2c possesses prolonged circulation time in blood, comparable antitumor ability and importantly, much lower toxicity in vivo. Taken together, this study uncovers the role of membrane receptors in the anticancer actions of Ru complexes, and provides fundamental information for rational design of membrane receptor targeting anticancer drugs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of in silico pharmacokinetic properties and in vitro cytotoxic activity of selected newly synthesized N-succinimide derivatives.

PubMed

Milosevic, Natasa P; Kojic, Vesna; Curcic, Jelena; Jakimov, Dimitar; Milic, Natasa; Banjac, Nebojsa; Uscumlic, Gordana; Kaliszan, Roman

2017-04-15

Design of a new drug entity is usually preceded by analysis of quantitative structure activity (properties) relationships, QSA(P)R. Six newly synthesized succinimide derivatives have been determined for (i) in silico physico-chemical descriptors, pharmacokinetic and toxicity predictors, (ii) in vitro biological activity on four different carcinoma cell lines and on normal fetal lung cells and (iii) lipophilicity on liquid chromatography. All compounds observed were predicted for good permeability and solubility, good oral absorption rate and moderate volume of distribution as well as for modest blood brain permeation, followed by acceptable observed toxicity. In silico determined lipophilicity, permeability through jejunum and aqueous solubility were correlated with experimentally obtained lipophilic constants (by use of high pressure liquid chromatography) and linear correlations were obtained. Absorption rate and volume of distribution were predicted by chromatographic lipophilicity measurements while permeation through blood bran barrier was predicted dominantly by molecular size defined with molecular weight. Five compounds have demonstrated antiproliferative activity toward cervix carcinoma HeLa cell lines; three were cytotoxic against breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells, while one inhibited proliferation of colon carcinoma HT-29 cell lines. Only one compound was cytotoxic toward normal cell lines, while other compounds were proven as safe. Antiproliferative potential against HeLa cells was described as exponential function of lipophilicity. Based on obtained results, lead compounds were selected. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Moderators, mediators, and bidirectional relationships in the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework: An empirical investigation using a longitudinal design and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

PubMed

Rouquette, Alexandra; Badley, Elizabeth M; Falissard, Bruno; Dub, Timothée; Leplege, Alain; Coste, Joël

2015-06-01

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) published in 2001 describes the consequences of health conditions with three components of impairments in body structures or functions, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Two of the new features of the conceptual model were the possibility of feedback effects between each ICF component and the introduction of contextual factors conceptualized as moderators of the relationship between the components. The aim of this longitudinal study is to provide empirical evidence of these two kinds of effect. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data from a French population-based cohort of 548 patients with knee osteoarthritis recruited between April 2007 and March 2009 and followed for three years. Indicators of the body structure and function, activity and participation components of the ICF were derived from self-administered standardized instruments. The measurement model revealed four separate factors for body structures impairments, body functions impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. The classic sequence from body impairments to participation restrictions through activity limitations was found at each assessment time. Longitudinal study of the ICF component relationships showed a feedback pathway indicating that the level of participation restrictions at baseline was predictive of activity limitations three years later. Finally, the moderating role of personal (age, sex, mental health, etc.) and environmental factors (family relationships, mobility device use, etc.) was investigated. Three contextual factors (sex, family relationships and walking stick use) were found to be moderators for the relationship between the body impairments and the activity limitations components. Mental health was found to be a mediating factor of the effect of activity limitations on participation restrictions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Monohalogenated maleimides as potential agents for the inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm.

PubMed

Carteau, David; Soum-Soutéra, Emmanuelle; Faÿ, Fabienne; Dufau, Chrystèle; Cérantola, Stéphane; Vallée-Réhel, Karine

2010-01-01

New monohalogenated maleimide derivatives (with bromine, chlorine or iodine) were synthesized to test the effect of halogen atoms in inhibiting the formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm. The evaluation of their biological activities clearly defines a structure-activity relationship. In this study, the bactericidal action of the three compounds was observed at the concentration range 0.3-5.0 mM on Luria-Bertani agar plates. The halogen atom of these molecules was critical in modulating the antibacterial activity, with a slightly higher effectiveness for chlorine. Confocal laser scanning microscopy was used to examine P. aeruginosa biofilms cultivated in flow cells. At concentration as low as 40 microM, the bromine and iodine compounds displayed a total inhibition towards the formation of bacterial biofilm. At this concentration, the bacterial attachment to glass surfaces was strongly affected by the presence of bromine and iodine whereas the chlorine derivative behaved as a bactericidal compound. A bioluminescent reporter strain was then used to detect the effect of the chemically synthesized maleimides on quorum sensing (QS) in P. aeruginosa. At the concentration range 10-100 microM, bioluminescence assays reveal that halogenated maleimides were able to interfere with the QS of the bacterium. Although the relationship between the weak inhibition of cell-to-cell communication (15-55% of the signal) and the high inhibition of biofilm formation has not been elucidated clearly, the results demonstrate that bromo- and iodo-N-substituted maleimides bromine and iodine may be used as new potent inhibitors that control bacterial biofilms.

Machine learning prioritizes synthesis of primaquine ureidoamides with high antimalarial activity and attenuated cytotoxicity.

PubMed

Levatić, Jurica; Pavić, Kristina; Perković, Ivana; Uzelac, Lidija; Ester, Katja; Kralj, Marijeta; Kaiser, Marcel; Rottmann, Matthias; Supek, Fran; Zorc, Branka

2018-02-25

Primaquine (PQ) is a commonly used drug that can prevent the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, however toxicity limits its use. We prepared five groups of PQ derivatives: amides 1a-k, ureas 2a-k, semicarbazides 3a,b, acylsemicarbazides 4a-k and bis-ureas 5a-v, and evaluated them for antimalarial activity in vitro against the erythrocytic stage of P. falciparum NF54. Particular substituents, such as trityl (in 2j and 5r) and methoxybenzhydryl (in 3b and 5v) were associated with a favorable cytotoxicity-to-activity ratio. To systematically link structural features of PQ derivatives to antiplasmodial activity, we performed a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study using the Support Vector Machines machine learning method. This yielded a highly accurate statistical model (R 2  = 0.776 in cross-validation), which was used to prioritize novel candidate compounds. Seven novel PQ-ureidoamides 10a-g were synthesized and evaluated for activity, highlighting the benzhydryl ureidoamides 10e and 10f derived from p-chlorophenylglycine. Further experiments on human cell lines revealed that 10e and 10f are an order of magnitude less toxic than PQ in vitro while having antimalarial activity indistinguishable from PQ. The toxicity profile of novel compounds 10 toward human cells was particularly favorable when the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) was inhibited, while toxicity of PQ was exacerbated by G6PD inhibition. Our work therefore highlights promising lead compounds for the development of effective antimalarial drugs that may also be safer for G6PD-deficient patients. In addition, we provide computational inferences of antimalarial activity and cytotoxicity for thousands of PQ-like molecular structures. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Insights into Antimicrobial Peptides from Spiders and Scorpions

PubMed Central

Wang, Xiuqing; Wang, Guangshun

2015-01-01

The venoms of spiders and scorpions contain a variety of chemical compounds. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from these organisms were first discovered in the 1990s. As of May 2015, there were 42 spider’s and 63 scorpion’s AMPs in the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (http://aps.unmc.edu/AP). These peptides have demonstrated broad or narrow-spectrum activities against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In addition, they can be toxic to cancer cells, insects and erythrocytes. To provide insight into such an activity spectrum, this article discusses the discovery, classification, structure and activity relationships, bioinformatics analysis, and potential applications of spider and scorpion AMPs. Our analysis reveals that, in the case of linear peptides, spiders use both glycine-rich and helical peptide models for defense, whereas scorpions use two distinct helical peptide models with different amino acid compositions to exert the observed antimicrobial activities and hemolytic toxicity. Our structural bioinformatics study improves the knowledge in the field and can be used to design more selective peptides to combat tumors, parasites, and viruses. PMID:27165405

Structure-activity relationships of fluorinated dendrimers in DNA and siRNA delivery.

PubMed

Wang, Mingming; Cheng, Yiyun

2016-12-01

Fluorinated dendrimers have shown great promise in gene delivery due to their high transfection efficacy and low cytotoxicity, however, the structure-activity relationships of these polymers still remain unknown. Herein, we synthesized a library of fluorinated dendrimers with different dendrimer generations and fluorination degrees and investigated their behaviors in both DNA and siRNA delivery. The results show that fluorination significantly improves the transfection efficacy of G4-G7 polyamidoamine dendrimers in DNA and siRNA delivery. Fluorination on generation 5 dendrimer yields the most efficient polymers in gene delivery, and the transfection efficacy of fluorinated dendrimers depends on fluorination degree. All the fluorinated dendrimers cause minimal toxicity on the transfected cells at their optimal transfection conditions. This study provides a general and facile strategy to prepare high efficient and low cytotoxic gene carriers based on fluorinated polymers. The structure-activity relationships of fluorinated dendrimers in gene delivery is still unknown and the behavior of fluorinated dendrimers in siRNA delivery has not yet been investigated. Herein, we synthesized a library of fluorinated PAMAM dendrimers with different dendrimer generations and fluorination degrees and investigated their behaviors in both DNA and siRNA delivery. The results clearly indicate that fluorination significantly improves the transfection efficacy of dendrimers in both DNA and siRNA delivery without causing additional toxicity. G5 PAMAM dendrimer is best scaffold to synthesize fluorinated dendrimers and the transfection efficacy of fluorinated dendrimers depends on fluorination degree. This systematic study provides a general and facile strategy to prepare high efficient and low cytotoxic gene carriers based on fluorinated polymers. Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of a family of steroids acutely controlling steroidogenesis.

PubMed

Midzak, Andrew; Rammouz, Georges; Papadopoulos, Vassilios

2012-11-01

Steroids metabolically derive from lipid cholesterol, and vertebrate steroids additionally derive from the steroid pregnenolone. Pregnenolone is derived from cholesterol by hydrolytic cleavage of the aliphatic tail by mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP11A1, located in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Delivery of cholesterol to CYP11A1 comprises the principal control step of steroidogenesis, and requires a series of proteins spanning the mitochondrial double membranes. A critical member of this cholesterol translocation machinery is the integral outer mitochondrial membrane translocator protein (18kDa, TSPO), a high-affinity drug- and cholesterol-binding protein. The cholesterol-binding site of TSPO consists of a phylogenetically conserved cholesterol recognition/interaction amino acid consensus (CRAC). Previous studies from our group identified 5-androsten-3β,17,19-triol (19-Atriol) as drug ligand for the TSPO CRAC motif inhibiting cholesterol binding to CRAC domain and steroidogenesis. To further understand 19-Atriol's mechanism of action as well as the molecular recognition by the TSPO CRAC motif, we undertook structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of the 19-Atriol molecule with a variety of substituted steroids oxygenated at positions around the steroid backbone. We found that in addition to steroids hydroxylated at carbon C19, hydroxylations at C4, C7, and C11 contributed to inhibition of cAMP-mediated steroidogenesis in a minimal steroidogenic cell model. However, only substituted steroids with C19 hydroxylations exhibited specificity to TSPO, its CRAC motif, and mitochondrial cholesterol transport, as the C4, C7, and C11 hydroxylated steroids inhibited the metabolic transformation of cholesterol by CYP11A1. We thus provide new insights into structure-activity relationships of steroids inhibiting mitochondrial cholesterol transport and steroidogenic cholesterol metabolic enzymes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Efficient Synthesis of Glaziovianin A Isoflavone Series from Dill and Parsley Extracts and Their in Vitro/in Vivo Antimitotic Activity.

PubMed

Semenov, Victor V; Tsyganov, Dmitry V; Semenova, Marina N; Chuprov-Netochin, Roman N; Raihstat, Mikhail M; Konyushkin, Leonid D; Volynchuk, Polina B; Marusich, Elena I; Nazarenko, Vera V; Leonov, Sergey V; Kiselyov, Alex S

2016-05-27

A concise six-step protocol for the synthesis of isoflavone glaziovianin A (GVA) and its alkoxyphenyl derivatives 9 starting with readily available plant metabolites from dill and parsley seeds was developed. The reaction sequence involved an efficient conversion of the key intermediate epoxides 7 into the respective β-ketoaldehydes 8 followed by their Cu(I)-mediated cyclization into the target series 9. The biological activity of GVA and its derivatives was evaluated using a panel of seven human cancer cell lines and an in vivo sea urchin embryo assay. Both screening platforms confirmed the antimitotic effect of the parent GVA (9cg) and its alkoxy derivatives. Structure-activity relationship studies suggested that compounds 9cd and 9cf substituted with trimethoxy- and dillapiol-derived B-rings, respectively, were less active than the parent 9cg. Of the evaluated human cancer cell lines, the A375 melanoma cell line was the most sensitive to the tested molecules. Notably, the target compounds were not cytotoxic against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells up to 10 μM concentration. Phenotypic readouts from the sea urchin assay unequivocally suggest a direct microtubule-destabilizing effect of isoflavones 9cg, 9cd, and 9cf.

Current data regarding the structure-toxicity relationship of boron-containing compounds.

PubMed

Farfán-García, E D; Castillo-Mendieta, N T; Ciprés-Flores, F J; Padilla-Martínez, I I; Trujillo-Ferrara, J G; Soriano-Ursúa, M A

2016-09-06

Boron is ubiquitous in nature, being an essential element of diverse cells. As a result, humans have had contact with boron containing compounds (BCCs) for a long time. During the 20th century, BCCs were developed as antiseptics, antibiotics, cosmetics and insecticides. Boric acid was freely used in the nosocomial environment as an antiseptic and sedative salt, leading to the death of patients and an important discovery about its critical toxicology for humans. Since then the many toxicological studies done in relation to BCCs have helped to establish the proper limits of their use. During the last 15 years, there has been a boom of research on the design and use of new, potent and efficient boron containing drugs, finding that the addition of boron to some known drugs increases their affinity and selectivity. This mini-review summarizes two aspects of BCCs: toxicological data found with experimental models, and the scarce but increasing data about the structure-activity relationship for toxicity and therapeutic use. As is the case with boron-free compounds, the biological activity of BCCs is related to their chemical structure. We discuss the use of new technology to discover potent and efficient BCCs for medicinal therapy by avoiding toxic effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The impact of hemodialysis on erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton proteins.

PubMed

Olszewska, Maria; Bober, Joanna; Wiatrow, Jerzy; Stępniewska, Joanna; Dołęgowska, Barbara; Chlubek, Dariusz

2015-02-03

Hemodialysis (HD) is one of the methods of renal replacement therapy, but it also contributes to an increase in oxidative stress. Hemodialysis leads to changes in the erythrocyte cytoskeleton structure, whilst the presence of glucose in the dialysis fluid which activates the pentose phosphate pathway contributes to the intensification of oxidative stress. Available literature lacks reports on the effect of glucose in the dialytic fluid on the composition of proteins of the cell membrane cytoskeleton. Red blood cells for this analysis were collected from patients with chronic renal failure treated with hemodialysis using both glucose-containing and glucose-free dialysis fluid. Following the preparation of membranes, the electrophoretic separation of proteins was performed in denaturing conditions according to Laemmli. The level of tryptophan in membranes was determined by spectrofluorimetry, whilst the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was determined by measuring the reduction of oxidated NADP. Hemodialysis in both groups of patients resulted in a statistically significant reduction of tryptophan as an oxidative stress indicator when compared to the control group. Moreover, the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in the group of patients was higher than in the control group, and following the HD procedure it decreased, which may have been caused by a reduced concentration of dialyzed glucose. The HD procedure affects the structure of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton, which is reflected in the concentration changes in individual proteins and in their mutual relationships corresponding to vertical and horizontal interactions stabilizing the structure of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton. These changes may contribute to the shortening of cell lifespan.

Total synthesis of (-)-doliculide, structure-activity relationship studies and its binding to F-actin.

PubMed

Matcha, Kiran; Madduri, Ashoka V R; Roy, Sayantani; Ziegler, Slava; Waldmann, Herbert; Hirsch, Anna K H; Minnaard, Adriaan J

2012-11-26

Actin, an abundant protein in most eukaryotic cells, is one of the targets in cancer research. Recently, a great deal of attention has been paid to the synthesis and function of actin-targeting compounds and their use as effective molecular probes in chemical biology. In this study, we have developed an efficient synthesis of (-)-doliculide, a very potent actin binder with a higher cell-membrane permeability than phalloidin. Actin polymerization assays with (-)-doliculide and two analogues on HeLa and BSC-1 cells, together with a prediction of their binding mode to F-actin by unbiased computational docking, show that doliculide stabilizes F-actin in a similar way to jasplakinolide and chondramide C. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Structure-to-property relationships in fuel cell catalyst supports: Correlation of surface chemistry and morphology with oxidation resistance of carbon blacks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Artyushkova, Kateryna; Pylypenko, Svitlana; Dowlapalli, Madhu; Atanassov, Plamen

2012-09-01

Linking durability of carbon blacks, expressed as their oxidation resistance, used in PEMFCs as catalyst supports, with their chemistry and morphology is an important task towards designing carbon blacks with desired properties. Structure-to-property relationship between surface chemistry determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), morphological structure determined by digital image processing of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, physical properties, and electrochemical corrosion behavior determined in an air-breathing gas-diffusion electrode is studied for several un-altered and several modified carbon blacks. We are showing that surface chemistry, graphitic content and certain physical characteristics such as Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore volume, determined by nitrogen adsorptions are not sufficient to explain high corrosion instability of types of carbon blacks. Inclusion of morphological characteristics, such as roughness, texture and shape parameters provide for more inclusive description and therefore more complete structure-to-property correlations of corrosion behavior of carbon blacks. This paper presents the first direct statistically-derived structure-to-property relationship, developed by multivariate analysis (MVA) that links chemical and physical structural properties of the carbon blacks to their critical properties as supports for PEMFC catalysts. We have found that balance between electrocatalytic activity and high resistance towards oxidation and corrosion is achieved by balance between amount of graphitic content and surface oxide coverage, smaller overall roughness and, finally, larger amount of big elongated and loose, and, hypothetically, more hydrophobic pores.

The synthesis, structure-toxicity relationship of cisplatin derivatives for the mechanism research of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

PubMed

Hu, Jing; Wu, Tian-Ming; Li, Hong-Ze; Zuo, Ze-Ping; Zhao, Ying-Lan; Yang, Li

2017-08-01

Cisplatin is a widely used antineoplastic drug, while its nephrotoxicity limits the clinical application. Although several mechanisms contributing to nephrotoxicity have been reported, the direct protein targets are unclear. Herein we reported the synthesis of 29 cisplatin derivatives and the structure-toxicity relationship (STR) of these compounds with MTT assay in human renal proximal tubule cells (HK-2) and pig kidney epithelial cells (LLC-PK1). To the best of our knowledge, this study represented the first report regarding the structure-toxicity relationship (STR) of cisplatin derivatives. The potency of biotin-pyridine conjugated derivative 3 met the requirement for target identification, and the preliminary chemical proteomics results suggested that it is a promising tool for further target identification of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Recent advances in MeCP2 structure and function1

PubMed Central

Hite, Kristopher C.; Adams, Valerie H.; Hansen, Jeffrey C.

2010-01-01

Mutations in methyl DNA binding protein 2 (MeCP2) cause the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). The mechanism(s) by which the native MeCP2 protein operates in the cell are not well understood. Historically, MeCP2 has been characterized as a proximal gene silencer with 2 functional domains: a methyl DNA binding domain and a transcription repression domain. However, several lines of new data indicate that MeCP2 structure and function relationships are more complex. In this review, we first discuss recent studies that have advanced understanding of the basic structural biochemistry of MeCP2. This is followed by an analysis of cell-based experiments suggesting MeCP2 is a regulator, rather than a strict silencer, of transcription. The new data establish MeCP2 as a multifunctional nuclear protein, with potentially important roles in chromatin architecture, regulation of RNA splicing, and active transcription. We conclude by discussing clinical correlations between domain-specific mutations and RTT pathology to stress that all structural domains of MeCP2 are required to properly mediate cellular function of the intact protein. PMID:19234536

The Relationship Between Human Nucleolar Organizer Regions and Nucleoli, Probed by 3D-ImmunoFISH.

PubMed

van Sluis, Marjolein; van Vuuren, Chelly; McStay, Brian

2016-01-01

3D-immunoFISH is a valuable technique to compare the localization of DNA sequences and proteins in cells where three-dimensional structure has been preserved. As nucleoli contain a multitude of protein factors dedicated to ribosome biogenesis and form around specific chromosomal loci, 3D-immunoFISH is a particularly relevant technique for their study. In human cells, nucleoli form around transcriptionally active ribosomal gene (rDNA) arrays termed nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) positioned on the p-arms of each of the acrocentric chromosomes. Here, we provide a protocol for fixing and permeabilizing human cells grown on microscope slides such that nucleolar proteins can be visualized using antibodies and NORs visualized by DNA FISH. Antibodies against UBF recognize transcriptionally active rDNA/NORs and NOP52 antibodies provide a convenient way of visualizing the nucleolar volume. We describe a probe designed to visualize rDNA and introduce a probe comprised of NOR distal sequences, which can be used to identify or count individual NORs.

Synthesis and evaluation of 1,7-diheteroarylhepta-1,4,6-trien-3-ones as curcumin-based anticancer agents.

PubMed

Wang, Rubing; Zhang, Xiaojie; Chen, Chengsheng; Chen, Guanglin; Zhong, Qiu; Zhang, Qiang; Zheng, Shilong; Wang, Guangdi; Chen, Qiao-Hong

2016-03-03

Thirty (1E,4E,6E)-1,7-diaryl-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-ones, featuring a central linear trienone linker and two identical nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic rings, were designed and synthesized as curcumin-based anticancer agents on the basis of their structural similarity to the enol-tautomer of curcumin, in addition to taking advantage of the possibly enhanced pharmacokinetic profiles contributed by the basic nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic rings. Their cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity were evaluated towards both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell lines, as well as HeLa human cervical cancer cells. Among them, the ten most potent analogues are 5- to 36-fold more potent than curcumin in inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. The acquired structure-activity relationship data indicate (i) that (1E,4E,6E)-1,7-diaryl-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-ones represent a potential scaffold for development of curcumin-based agents with substantially improved cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative effect; and (ii) 1-alkyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl and 1-alkyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl serve as optimal heteroaromatic rings for increased in vitro potency of this scaffold. Two of most potent compounds displayed no apparent cytotoxicity toward MCF-10A normal mammary epithelial cells at 1 μM concentration. Treatment of PC-3 prostate cancer cells with the most potent compound led to appreciable cell cycle arrest at a G1/G0 phase and cell apoptosis induction. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness, active energy produced by molecular motors, and nonlinear capacitance of the cochlear outer hair cell.

PubMed

Spector, Alexander A

2005-06-01

Cochlear outer hair cells are crucial for active hearing. These cells have a unique form of motility, named electromotility, whose main features are the cell's length changes, active force production, and nonlinear capacitance. The molecular motor, prestin, that drives outer hair cell electromotility has recently been identified. We reveal relationships between the active energy produced by the outer hair cell molecular motors, motor effectiveness, and the capacitive properties of the cell membrane. We quantitatively characterize these relationships by introducing three characteristics: effective capacitance, zero-strain capacitance, and zero-resultant capacitance. We show that zero-strain capacitance is smaller than zero-resultant capacitance, and that the effective capacitance is between the two. It was also found that the differences between the introduced capacitive characteristics can be expressed in terms of the active energy produced by the cell's molecular motors. The effectiveness of the cell and its molecular motors is introduced as the ratio of the motors'active energy to the energy of the externally applied electric field. It is shown that the effectiveness is proportional to the difference between zero-strain and zero-resultant capacitance. We analyze the cell and motor's effectiveness within a broad range of cellular parameters and estimate it to be within a range of 12%-30%.

An orally effective dihydropyrimidone (DHPM) analogue induces apoptosis-like cell death in clinical isolates of Leishmania donovani overexpressing pteridine reductase 1.

PubMed

Singh, Neeloo; Kaur, Jaspreet; Kumar, Pranav; Gupta, Swati; Singh, Nasib; Ghosal, Angana; Dutta, Avijit; Kumar, Ashutosh; Tripathi, Ramapati; Siddiqi, Mohammad Imran; Mandal, Chitra; Dube, Anuradha

2009-10-01

The protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani is the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. The enzyme pteridine reductase 1 (PTR1) of L. donovani acts as a metabolic bypass for drugs targeting dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR); therefore, for successful antifolate chemotherapy to be developed against Leishmania, it must target both enzyme activities. Leishmania cells overexpressing PTR1 tagged at the N-terminal with green fluorescent protein were established to screen for proprietary dihydropyrimidone (DHPM) derivatives of DHFR specificity synthesised in our laboratory. A cell-permeable molecule with impressive antileishmanial in vitro and in vivo oral activity was identified. Structure activity relationship based on homology model drawn on our recombinant enzyme established the highly selective inhibition of the enzyme by this analogue. It was seen that the leishmanicidal effect of this analogue is triggered by programmed cell death mediated by the loss of plasma membrane integrity as detected by binding of annexin V and propidium iodide (PI), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential culminating in cell cycle arrest at the sub-G0/G1 phase and oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. Hence, this DHPM analogue [(4-fluoro-phenyl)-6-methyl-2-thioxo-1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylic acid ethyl ester] is a potent antileishmanial agent that merits further pharmacological investigation.

Algicidal activity of thiazolidinedione derivatives against harmful algal blooming species.

PubMed

Kim, Yeon-Mi; Wu, Ying; Duong, Thi Uyen; Jung, Seul-Gi; Kim, Si Wouk; Cho, Hoon; Jin, Eonseon

2012-06-01

Thiazolidinedione (TD) derivatives exhibit algicidal activity against harmful algal blooming species such as Chattonella marina, Heterosigma akashiwo, and Cochlodinium polykrikoides, as reported previously. In this study, the efficacies and selectivities of TD derivatives were tested by analyzing the structure-activity relationships of various TD derivatives. To investigate structure-activity relationships for growth inhibition of harmful algae, we added a methylene group between the cyclohexyl ring and oxygen of 5-(3-chloro-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-TD, which decreased the inhibitory potency of compound 17. Interestingly, another addition of a methylene group significantly increased the inhibitory potency against C. polykrikoides. The addition of 1 μM compound 17 resulted in the cell rupture of harmful algae after less than 10 h incubation at 20 °C. Compound 17 was applied to both harmful and non-harmful algae and showed a drastic reduction in the efficiency of photosystem II, resulting in reduced photosynthetic oxygen evolution. Compound 17 at a 5 μM concentration destroyed all of the harmful algae, while algicidal activity against non-harmful algae did not exceed 30% of the control within the concentration range tested. In contrast, a herbicide, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, tested at a 5 μM concentration, exhibited 40-70% algicidal activity relative to that of the control against both harmful and non-harmful algae. Compound 17 is a promising lead compound for the development of algicides to control harmful algal blooming species.

Skeletal muscle membrane lipid composition is related to adiposity and insulin action.

PubMed Central

Pan, D A; Lillioja, S; Milner, M R; Kriketos, A D; Baur, L A; Bogardus, C; Storlien, L H

1995-01-01

The cellular basis of insulin resistance is still unknown; however, relationships have been demonstrated between insulin action in muscle and the fatty acid profile of the major membrane structural lipid (phospholipid). The present study aimed to further investigate the hypothesis that insulin action and adiposity are associated with changes in the structural lipid composition of the cell. In 52 adult male Pima Indians, insulin action (euglycemic clamp), percentage body fat (pFAT; underwater weighing), and muscle phospholipid fatty acid composition (percutaneous biopsy of vastus lateralis) were determined. Insulin action (high-dose clamp; MZ) correlated with composite measures of membrane unsaturation (% C20-22 polyunsaturated fatty acids [r= 0.463, P < 0.001], unsaturation index [r= -0.369, P < 0.01]), a number of individual fatty acids and with delta5 desaturase activity (r= 0.451, P < 0.001). pFAT (range 14-53%) correlated with a number of individual fatty acids and delta5 desaturase activity (r= -0.610, P < 0.0001). Indices of elongase activity (r= -0.467, P < 0.001), and delta9 desaturase activity (r= 0.332, P < 0.05) were also related to pFAT but not insulin action. The results demonstrate that delta5 desaturase activity is independently related to both insulin resistance and obesity. While determining the mechanisms underlying this relationship is important for future investigations, strategies aimed at restoring "normal" enzyme activities, and membrane unsaturation, may have therapeutic importance in the "syndromes of insulin resistance." PMID:8675650

Molecular Modeling on Berberine Derivatives toward BuChE: An Integrated Study with Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships Models, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

PubMed

Fang, Jiansong; Pang, Xiaocong; Wu, Ping; Yan, Rong; Gao, Li; Li, Chao; Lian, Wenwen; Wang, Qi; Liu, Ai-lin; Du, Guan-hua

2016-05-01

A dataset of 67 berberine derivatives for the inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) was studied based on the combination of quantitative structure-activity relationships models, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics methods. First, a series of berberine derivatives were reported, and their inhibitory activities toward butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were evaluated. By 2D- quantitative structure-activity relationships studies, the best model built by partial least-square had a conventional correlation coefficient of the training set (R(2)) of 0.883, a cross-validation correlation coefficient (Qcv2) of 0.777, and a conventional correlation coefficient of the test set (Rpred2) of 0.775. The model was also confirmed by Y-randomization examination. In addition, the molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were performed to better elucidate the inhibitory mechanism of three typical berberine derivatives (berberine, C2, and C55) toward BuChE. The predicted binding free energy results were consistent with the experimental data and showed that the van der Waals energy term (ΔEvdw) difference played the most important role in differentiating the activity among the three inhibitors (berberine, C2, and C55). The developed quantitative structure-activity relationships models provide details on the fine relationship linking structure and activity and offer clues for structural modifications, and the molecular simulation helps to understand the inhibitory mechanism of the three typical inhibitors. In conclusion, the results of this study provide useful clues for new drug design and discovery of BuChE inhibitors from berberine derivatives. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S.