Activity of 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazine derivatives against Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana.

A series of 1-aryl-4-(phthalimidoalkyl) piperazines and 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazines were retrieved from a proprietary library based on their high structural similarity to haloperidol, an antipsychotic with antiparasitic activity, and assessed as potential antileishmanial scaffolds. Selected compounds were tested for antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania mexicana in dose-response assays. Two of the 1-aryl-4-(naphthalimidoalkyl) piperazines (compounds 10 and 11) were active against promastigotes of both Leishmania species without being toxic to human fibroblasts. Their activity was found to correlate with the length of their alkyl chains. Further analyses showed that compound 11 was also active against intracellular amastigotes of both Leishmania species. In promastigotes of both Leishmania species, compound 11 induced collapse of the mitochondrial electrochemical potential and increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Therefore, it may serve as a promising lead compound for the development of novel antiparasitic drugs.

GABAA receptor agonist cinazepam and its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam act differently at the presynaptic site.

Cinazepam C19H14BrClN2O5, ("LevanaⓇ ІC") a partial GABAA receptor agonist, and its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam C15H10BrClN2O2 were comparatively assessed in vitro using nerve terminals isolated from rat cortex (synaptosomes). At the presynaptic site, cinazepam (100 and 200 µM) facilitated synaptosomal transporter-mediated [3H]GABA uptake by enhancing both the initial rate and accumulation, and decreased the ambient level and transporter-mediated release of [3H]GABA. Whereas, 3-hydroxyphenazepam decreased the uptake and did not change the ambient synaptosomal level and transporter-mediated release of [3H]GABA. To exclude GABA transporter influence, NO-711, the transporter blocker, was applied and it was found that exocytotic release of [3H]GABA decreased, whereas tonic release of [3H]GABA was not changed in the presence of both cinazepam or 3-hydroxyphenazepam after treatment of synaptosomes with NO-711. In fluorimetric studies using potential- and pH-sensitive dyes rhodamine 6G and acridine orange, respectively, it was found that cinazepam hyperpolarized the synaptosomal plasma membrane, and increased synaptic vesicle acidification, whereas, 3-hydroxyphenazepam demonstrated opposite effects on these parameters. Therefore, action of cinazepam and its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam on GABAergic neurotransmission was different. Therapeutic effects of cinazepam can be associated with its ability to hyperpolarize the plasma membrane, to increase synaptic vesicle acidification and capacity of its active metabolite 3-hydroxyphenazepam to inhibit GABA transporter functioning.

Interpretation of QSAR Models Based on Random Forest Methods.

A new algorithm for the interpretation of Random Forest models has been developed. It allows to calculate the contribution of each descriptor to the calculated property value. In case of the simplex representation of a molecular structure, contributions of individual atoms can be calculated, and thus it becomes possible to estimate the influence of separate molecular fragments on the investigated property. Such information can be used for the design of new compounds with a predefined property value. The proposed measure of descriptor contributions is not an alternative to the importance of Breiman's variable, but it characterizes the contribution of a particular explanatory variable to the calculated response value.

Synthesis and biological activity of 7H-benzo[4,5]indolo[2,3-b]-quinoxaline derivatives.

New 7-(2-aminoethyl)-7H-benzo[4,5]indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines (13-20) were synthesized with high yields starting from 3H-benzo[e]indole-1,2-dione. These compounds were screened for the cytotoxicity, anti-viral activity, interferon inducing ability and DNA affinity compared with the corresponding 6-(2-aminoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline derivatives (1-12). It was shown, that compounds 13-20 bind to DNA stronger (lg Кa=6.23-6.87) than compounds 1-12 (lg Кa=5.57-5.89). Anti-viral activity is significantly reduced with annulations of benzene ring in Indoloquinoxaline moiety 13-20.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, antiviral activity and interferon inducing ability of 6-(2-aminoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines.

New 6-(2-aminoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines were synthesized with high yields using bromoethylisatin and 6-(2-bromoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline as intermediates. These compounds were screened for the cytotoxicity, antiviral activity and interferon inducing ability. It was shown, that tested 6-(2-aminoethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalines are low toxic potent interferon inducers and antivirals. Morpholine and 4-methyl-piperidine derivatives appeared as the most active antivirals and the least cytotoxic in the investigated series.

Synthesis, structure and affinity of novel 3-alkoxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones for CNS central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors.

A series of novel 3-alkoxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones (7-15) was synthesized and their in vitro affinity for both the central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) and the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) of rat brain was studied. Racemic mixture of 7-bromo-3-(2-methoxy)ethoxy-5-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one (13) was separated into enantiomers 14, 15 by chiral HPLC. Absolute configuration of R-enantiomer 15 was determined by the method of X-ray diffraction analysis. The affinity of S-enantiomer 14 for CBR ( IC50)=245 nM) is 20-fold higher than the affinity of R-enantiomer 15 (IC50)=4,930 nM). A high selectivity for CBR versus PBR (IC50) (PBR)>10,000 nM) was shown by all reported compounds. Compound 12 was revealed as a potent (IC50)=9 nM) and selective CBR ligand among the synthesized 3-alkoxy-1,2-dihydro-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-ones.

Hierarchic system of QSAR models (1D-4D) on the base of simplex representation of molecular structure.

In this work, a hierarchic system of QSAR models from 1D to 4D is considered on the basis of the simplex representation of molecular structure (SiRMS). The essence of this system is that the QSAR problem is solved sequentially in a series of the improved models of the description of molecular structure. Thus, at each subsequent stage of a hierarchic system, the QSAR problem is not solved ab ovo, but rather the information obtained from the previous step is used. Actually, we deal with a system of solutions defined more exactly. In the SiRMS approach, a molecule is represented as a system of different simplex descriptors (tetratomic fragments with fixed composition, structure, chirality and symmetry). The level of simplex-descriptor detail increases consecutively from 1D to 4D representations of molecular structure. It enables us to determine the fragments of structure that promote or interfere with the given biological activity easily. Molecular design of compounds with a given level of activity is possible on the basis of SiRMS. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated for the example of the analysis of substituted piperazines affinity for the 5-HT1A receptor.