Bioactive Analogues Research Articles

Biosynthetic origin of the carbon skeleton of a novel anti-tumor compound, haloroquinone, from a marine-derived fungus, Halorosellinia sp.

The biosynthetic pathway of a new antitumor compound, haloroquinone, is elucidated to facilitate metabolic regulation for product accumulation and modification to produce new bioactive structural analogues of the compound. The biosynthetic origin of a novel promising protein kinase B inhibitor and anti-tumor compound, haloroquinone, from a marine-derived fungus, Halorosellinia sp. was clarified. The origin of carbon skeleton of haloroquinone was elucidated by feeding experiments with [2-(13)C]malonate and [1,2,3-(13)C(3)]malonate followed by (13)C-NMR analysis of the isolated compounds: 15 carbon atoms were derived from malonate, of which eight were from the methylene group and seven from the carboxyl group. The remaining one is probably obtained by O-methylation. Haloroquinone is thus synthesized via a polyketide pathway using malonyl-CoA as both the starter unit and the extender unit.

A bioactive peptide analogue for myxoma virus protein with a targeted cytotoxicity for human skin cancer in vitro

BackgroundCancer is an international health problem, and the search for effective treatments is still in progress. Peptide therapy is focused on the development of short peptides with strong tumoricidal activity and low toxicity. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a myxoma virus peptide analogue (RRM-MV) as a candidate for skin cancer therapy. RRM-MV was designed using the Resonant Recognition Model (RRM) and its effect was examined on human skin cancer and normal human skin cells in vitro.MethodsCell cultures were treated with various concentrations of the peptides at different incubation intervals. Cellular morphological changes (apoptosis and necrosis) were evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cytotoxic effects of RRM-MV on human skin cancer and normal human skin cells were quantitatively determined by cytotoxicity and cell viability assays. The effect on human erythrocytes was also determined using quantitative hemolysis assay. DNA fragmentation assay was performed to detect early apoptotic events in treated cancer cells. Furthermore, to investigate the possible cell signalling pathway targeted by the peptides treatment, the levels of p-Akt expression in skin cancer and normal cells were detected by immunoblotting.ResultsOur results indicate that RRM-MV has a dose-dependent toxic effect on cancer cells only up to 18 h. The immunoblotting results indicated that the RRM-MV slightly increased p-Akt expression in melanoma and carcinoma cells, but did not seem to affect p-Akt expression in normal skin cells.ConclusionsRRM-MV targets and lethally harms cancer cells and leaves normal cells unharmed. It is able to reduce the cancer cell viability, disrupting the LDH activity in cancer cells and can significantly affect cancer progression. Further investigation into other cell signalling pathways is needed in the process leading to the in vivo testing of this peptide to prove its safety as a possible effective treatment for skin cancer.

A Novel Approach to the Pyridoacridine Ring System: Synthesis of the Topoisomerase Inhibitor 13‐Deazaascididemin

A novel approach to the pyridoacridine ring system of the ascididemin-type marine alkaloids is presented. This approach allows for the introduction of the ring A of the alkaloids by using a simple aromatic aldehyde building block. The viability of this approach is demonstrated with the synthesis of AK37, a bioactive deaza analogue of the alkaloid ascididemin. Starting from 3-cyano-4-methylquinoline, a sequence of regioselective homolytic benzoylation, annulation of a bromopyridine ring, and radical cyclization leads to the pentacyclic ring system.

ChemInform Abstract: Rapid Access to Polycyclic Indolines Related to the Stephacidin Alkaloids Using a Radical Cascade.

AbstractThis radical cascade reaction initiated from sulfur‐substituted diketopiperazine (I) affords indolines as key stepping stones to avrainvillamide, stephacidin B, and their bioactive analogues.

Anticancer activity of undecapeptide analogues derived from antimicrobial peptide, Brevinin-1EMa

In spite of great advances in cancer therapy, cancer remains the major cause of death throughout the world. The increasing resistance of cancer cells towards current anticancer drugs requires development of anticancer agents with a new mode of action. Some antimicrobial peptides have become therapeutic candidates as new anticancer agents. As part of an effort to develop new antimicrobial and/or anticancer agents from natural peptides with low molecular weights, we have investigated the shortest bioactive analogues, which were derived from a 24-residue antimicrobial peptide, Brevinin-1EMa. Recently, we found four bioactive undecapeptides derived from a cationic, amphipathic α-helical, 11-residue peptide (named herein GA-W2: FLGWLFKWASK-NH(2)) (Won et al., 2011). In order to identify the potential of these peptides as anticancer agents, we investigated the anticancer activity of four undecapeptides against seven tumor cell lines such as A498 (kidney), A549 (lung), HCT116 (colon), MKN45 (stomach), PC-3 (prostate), SK-MEL-2 (skin) and SK-OV-3 (ovary). GA-K4 (FLKWLFKWAKK-NH(2)), which had the most potent antimicrobial activity of the four undecapeptides, also exhibited the most potent anticancer activity and synergistic effect in combination with doxorubicin. Therefore, GA-K4 peptide may be a potentially useful candidate as an anticancer peptide agent.

Semi-synthesis of bioactive fluorescent analogues of the cytotoxic marine alkaloid discorhabdin C

Semi-synthetic N-13 alkylated analogues of the cytotoxic marine alkaloid discorhabdin C have been found to exhibit cytotoxicity towards tumour cell lines at comparable levels to that of the natural product. Incorporation of an ethylenediamine linker facilitated the synthesis of a variety of fluorophore-labelled probes, of which dansyl analogue 20 exhibited biological activity, providing a tool for mechanism of action and cellular localization studies. An alternative probe design was also exemplified, whereby a bioactive alkyne-terminated analogue (24) was found to undergo Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition ‘click’ reactions with fluorescent azides, enabling studies directed towards activity-based protein profiling.

Binding hot-spots in an antibody–ssDNA interface: a molecular dynamics study

Simulating antigen-antibody interactions is essential for elucidating antigen-antibody mechanics. Proteins interactions are vital for elucidating antibody-ssDNA associations in immunology. Therefore, this study investigated the dissociation of the human systemic lupus erythematosus antibody-ssDNA complex structure. Dissociation (i.e. the distance between the center of mass of the ssDNA and the antibody) is also studied using the potential of mean force calculations based on molecular dynamics and the explicit water model. The MM-PBSA method is also used to prove our dissociation simulations. With 605 nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations, the results indicate that the 8 residues (i.e. Gly44 (HCDR2), Asn54 (HCDR2), Arg98 (HCDR3), Tyr100 (HCDR3), Asp101 (HCDR3), Tyr32 (LCDR1), Tyr49 (LCDR2) and Asn50 (LCDR2)), and the five inter-protein molecular hydrogen bonds may profoundly impact the antibody-ssDNA interaction, a finding which may be useful for protein engineering of this antibody-ssDNA structure. Experimental binding affinity of this antibody-ssDNA complex equals 7.00 kcal mol(-1). Our dissociation binding affinity is 7.96 ± 0.33 kcal mol(-1) and MM-PBSA binding affinity is 9.12 ± 1.65 kcal mol(-1), which is close to the experimental value. Additionally, the 8 residues Gly44 (HCDR2), Asn54 (HCDR2), Arg98 (HCDR3), Tyr100 (HCDR3), Asp101 (HCDR3), Tyr32 (LCDR1), Tyr49 (LCDR2) and Asn50 (LCDR2) may play a more significant role in developing bioactive antibody analogues.

GPE and GPE Analogues as Promising Neuroprotective Agents

The tripeptide glycine-proline-glutamate (GPE) is the naturally cleaved N-terminal tripeptide of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in brain tissues by an acid protease. Although GPE does not bind to IGF-1 receptors and its mode of action is not clear, in vitro studies have demonstrated its ability to stimulate acetylcholine and dopamine release, as well as to protect neurones from diverse induced brain injures. More importantly, GPE has been shown to have potent neuroprotective effects in numerous animal models of hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases. As a consequence, GPE was suggested to be a potential target for the rational design of neuroprotective agents. Unfortunately, the use of GPE as a therapeutic agent is limited because of its unfavorable biochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. This review will focus on structural modifications performed on the GPE molecule in order to obtain bioactive analogues with increased pharmacokinetic profile useful for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) injures and neurodegenerative disorders.

Construction of functionalized 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxazines via [5 + 1] annulations of 2-halo-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with imines

A series of functionalized 2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzoxazines were obtained in moderate to excellent yields via domino [5 + 1] annulations of 2-halo-1,3-dicarbonyl compounds 2 with imines 1 under mild conditions and the application of this method in the synthesis of bioactive analogues, such as functionalized tetracyclic-1,4-benzoxazines which contain two new heterocyclic rings and one quaternary carbon center has also been developed.

Antiviral and antifungal activity of some dermaseptin S4 analogues

Dermaseptins are peptides found in skin secretions of Phyllomedusinae frogs. These peptides exert lytic action on various microorganisms, and do not have a considerable haemolytic effect apart from dermaseptin S4 (DS-S4) that presents a potent cytotoxic effect. This investigation was an attempt to synthesize several biochemically modified, shorter bioactive analogues of DRS-S4, and to improve its biological profile with respect to that of the parent peptide. Peptides were synthesized and then tested on fungi ( Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus fumigatus ) and viruses (HSV-1). Our results show that the N-terminus is necessary for the antifungal activity of peptide, but antiviral effect is determined by C-terminal domain and/or entire peptide sequence. Key words: Antimicrobial peptides, dermaseptin, structure-activity relationship, peptide synthesis.

The role of the liver and kidneys in the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneously administered teriparatide acetate in rats

Teriparatide acetate, a synthetic polypeptide fragment consisting of human parathyroid hormone residues 1-34 [hPTH(1-34)], is a bone anabolic agent used to treat osteoporosis.The present study was conducted to characterise the pharmacokinetics of teriparatide acetate in rats after subcutaneous administration.Teriparatide was rapidly absorbed into the circulation and eliminated immediately. No intact teriparatide was detected in the urine. To elucidate the mechanism of teriparatide metabolism, we performed in vivo and in vitro studies using the radiolabelled bioactive analogue, [125I]-[Nle8,18,Tyr34]-hPTH(1-34). After subcutaneous administration, the concentration of analogue metabolites increased in the plasma time-dependently. The concentration in the kidneys was more than 3-fold the concentration in the liver. In vitro analyses suggested that kidney radioactivity was associated with degraded bioactive analogue. In model rats, renal failure, but not hepatic failure, affected the pharmacokinetics of teriparatide acetate, which accounted for the decrease in the clearance of teriparatide.In conclusion, our results suggest that after subcutaneous administration of teriparatide acetate, teriparatide is rapidly absorbed and distributed to the liver or kidneys, where it is immediately degraded. The kidneys play a particularly important role in the distribution and metabolism of teriparatide, but not its excretion.

Biological Effects of a De Novo Designed Myxoma Virus Peptide Analogue: Evaluation of Cytotoxicity on Tumor Cells

BackgroundThe Resonant Recognition Model (RRM) is a physico-mathematical model that interprets protein sequence linear information using digital signal processing methods. In this study the RRM concept was employed for structure-function analysis of myxoma virus (MV) proteins and the design of a short bioactive therapeutic peptide with MV-like antitumor/cytotoxic activity.Methodology/Principal FindingsThe analogue RRM-MV was designed by RRM as a linear 18 aa 2.3 kDa peptide. The biological activity of this computationally designed peptide analogue against cancer and normal cell lines was investigated. The cellular cytotoxicity effects were confirmed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, by measuring the levels of cytoplasmic lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and by Prestoblue cell viability assay for up to 72 hours in peptide treated and non-treated cell cultures. Our results revealed that RRM-MV induced a significant dose and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on murine and human cancer cell lines. Yet, when normal murine cell lines were similarly treated with RRM-MV, no cytotoxic effects were observed. Furthermore, the non-bioactive RRM designed peptide RRM-C produced negligible cytotoxic effects on these cancer and normal cell lines when used at similar concentrations. The presence/absence of phosphorylated Akt activity in B16F0 mouse melanoma cells was assessed to indicate the possible apoptosis signalling pathway that could be affected by the peptide treatment. So far, Akt activity did not seem to be significantly affected by RRM-MV as is the case for the original viral protein.Conclusions/SignificanceOur findings indicate the successful application of the RRM concept to design a bioactive peptide analogue (RRM-MV) with cytotoxic effects on tumor cells only. This 2.345 kDa peptide analogue to a 49 kDa viral protein may be suitable to be developed as a potential cancer therapeutic. These results also open a new direction to the rational design of therapeutic agents for future cancer treatment.

Novel Approaches to the Treatment of Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Bioactive Leptin-Related Synthetic Peptide Analogs

Leptin, the protein product of the ob gene, is primarily an adipocyte-secreted hormone, whose functional significance is rapidly expanding. Although early research efforts were focused on defining leptin's role in reversing obesity in rodents, there is now substantial evidence indicating that its influence extends to a number of hypothalamic-pituitaryendocrine axes, including adrenal, gonadal, growth hormone, pancreatic islets, and thyroid. The pleiotropic nature of leptin has been confirmed by demonstration of a role for leptin in hematopoiesis, angiogenesis, immune function, osteogenesis, reproduction, and wound healing. Unfortunately, the results of the majority of clinical trials with recombinant human leptin indicated that its effectiveness in restoring energy balance and correcting obesity-related endocrinopathies in genetically obese rodent models extended only to the management of those rare forms of human obesity caused by mutation in the ob gene. Failure of leptin in the clinic, and withdrawal of phentermine from Europe, and fenfluramine and sibutrimine from clinical use in the United States, have stimulated new approaches in the development of anti-obesity and anti-diabetes pharmacophores. These efforts are focused on utilizing leptin-related synthetic peptides as leptin receptor antagonists or leptin-related synthetic peptide analogs or mimetics. This review summarizes patents on leptin-related peptide analogs, antagonists and mimetics.

Advances in Methods for Therapeutic Peptide Discovery, Design and Development

Drug discovery and development are intense, lengthy and interdisciplinary processes. Traditionally, drugs were discovered by synthesizing compounds in time-consuming multi-step experimental investigations followed by in vitro and in vivo biological screening. Promising candidates were then further studied for their pharmacokinetic properties, metabolism and potential toxicity. Today, the process of drug discovery has been revolutionized due to the advances in genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Efficient technologies such as combinatorial chemistry, high throughput screening (HTS), virtual screening, de novo design and structure-based drug design contribute greatly to drug discovery. Peptides are emerging as a novel class of drugs for cancer therapy, and many efforts have been made to develop peptide-based pharmacologically active compounds. This paper presents a review of current advances and novel approaches in experimental and computational drug discovery and design. We also present a novel bioactive peptide analogue, designed using the Resonant Recognition Model (RRM), and discuss its potential use for cancer therapeutics.

Nisin‐inducible secretion of a biologically active single‐chain insulin analog by Lactococcus lactis NZ9000

Oral delivery of insulin to diabetic patients is highly desirable because it would be non-invasive and more closely mimic normal physiology, but this route of administration typically results in low bioavailability due to low pH and enzymatic degradation along the gastrointestinal tract. To explore an alternative approach that may mitigate these obstacles and also facilitate local synthesis of new therapeutic protein molecules in the small intestine, we engineered the food-grade bacterium Lactococcus lactis (NZ9000) for nisin-inducible expression and secretion of a bioactive single-chain insulin (SCI) analog, SCI-57. We show that the addition of nisin during early-log phase has a modest inhibitory effect on cell growth but induction during mid-log phase has a negligible impact on proliferation, suggesting a tradeoff between cell growth rate and duration of induction. We find that a signal peptide such as usp45 is necessary for secretion of SCI-57 into the medium; furthermore, we demonstrate that this secreted SCI-57 is biologically active, as assessed by the ability of conditioned L. lactis medium to stimulate Akt signaling in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Finally, we show that the biological activity of SCI-57 was enhanced by near-neutral or slightly alkaline pH during induction, which is comparable to the pH in the small intestine, and by removal of a C-terminal purification tag. This study demonstrates that food-grade bacteria can be engineered to secrete bioactive insulin analogs and opens up the possibility of oral insulin delivery using live microorganisms.

Use of the NEO strategy (Nucleophilic addition/Epoxide Opening) for the synthesis of a new C-galactoside ester analogue of KRN 7000

Our goal in the search for potentially bioactive analogues of KRN 7000 was to design an easy synthetic approach to a library of analogues using a strategy recently developed in our laboratory based on a Nucleophilic addition followed by an Epoxide Opening (the NEO strategy). Through the use of a common pivotal structure, a new C-galactoside ester analogue (23) was synthesized which showed an encouraging T(H)2 biased response during preliminary biological tests.

4β-Isocyanopodophyllotoxins: valuable precursors for the synthesis of new podophyllotoxin analogues

AbstractA new and efficient method for the synthesis of novel 4β-isocyanopodophyllotoxins as a valuable building block for the synthesis of versatile bioactive podophyllotoxin analogues under both classical and ultrasonic conditions was developed. In general, significant improvements in rates of reaction and yields of sonochemical reactions relative to the classical ones were observed.

Cytotoxic terpene quinones from marine sponges.

The 1,4-benzoquinone moiety is a common structural feature in a large number of compounds that have received considerable attention owing to their broad spectrum of biological activities. The cytotoxic and antiproliferative properties of many natural sesquiterpene quinones and hydroquinones from sponges of the order Dictyoceratida, such as avarol, avarone, illimaquinone, nakijiquinone and bolinaquinone, offer promising opportunities for the development of new antitumor agents. The present review summarizes the structure and cytotoxicity of natural terpenequinones/hydroquinones and their bioactive analogues and derivatives.

The Use of Natural Polymers in Tissue Engineering: A Focus on Electrospun Extracellular Matrix Analogues

Natural polymers such as collagens, elastin, and fibrinogen make up much of the body’s native extracellular matrix (ECM). This ECM provides structure and mechanical integrity to tissues, as well as communicating with the cellular components it supports to help facilitate and regulate daily cellular processes and wound healing. An ideal tissue engineering scaffold would not only replicate the structure of this ECM, but would also replicate the many functions that the ECM performs. In the past decade, the process of electrospinning has proven effective in creating non-woven ECM analogue scaffolds of micro to nanoscale diameter fibers from an array of synthetic and natural polymers. The ability of this fabrication technique to utilize the aforementioned natural polymers to create tissue engineering scaffolds has yielded promising results, both in vitro and in vivo, due in part to the enhanced bioactivity afforded by materials normally found within the human body. This review will present the process of electrospinning and describe the use of natural polymers in the creation of bioactive ECM analogues in tissue engineering.

Paclitaxel plants routes in bacteria

Massachusetts and Singapore researchers have engineered Escherichia coli to produce two paclitaxel intermediates at higher yields than had previously been attained in microorganisms. In addition to providing a shortcut to paclitaxel synthesis, the method could lead to new bioactive analogs of the intermediates.