TCH-1030 targeting on topoisomerase I induces S-phase arrest, DNA fragmentation, and cell death of breast cancer cells.

Camptothecin (CPT) and its derivatives are powerful anticancer agents, but these compounds are chemically unstable due to their α-hydroxy lactone six-membered E-ring structure, which is essential for trapping topoisomerase I (topo I)-DNA cleavage complexes. Moreover, the reversibility of trapping the topo I-DNA cleavage complex and the tight binding of CPTs to human serum albumin limit the levels of available active drug. CPT analogs are the only clinically available drugs that target topo I. Owing to the clinical importance of CPT analogs, the development of new anticancer agents which inhibit topo I is urgently needed. In the present study, we report the synthesis, biologic evaluation, and molecular mechanism of a series of substituted indeno[1,2-c]quinoline derivatives against the growth of several human cancer cell lines. We found that 9-methoxy-6-(piperazin-1-yl)-11H-indeno[1,2-c]quinoline-11-one O-3-(dimethylamino)propyl oxime (TCH-1030) intercalated into DNA and preferentially inhibited DNA topo I relaxation. Flow cytometric analysis and BrdU incorporation assays indicate that TCH-1030 alters cell cycle progression, induces S-phase arrest, and causes DNA polyploidy (>4 N) that is distinct from the typical G2-M arrest reported with known topoisomerase toxins. Our data indicate that TCH-1030 induces caspase 3 activation, PARP cleavage, γ-H2AX phosphorylation, and, consequently, DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. We also demonstrated that treatment with TCH-1030 significantly inhibits tumor growth in a BT483-xenograft nude mouse model. Taken together, we conclude that the primary mechanism of action of TCH-1030-induced cell cycle retardation and apoptosis-mediated DNA damage involves DNA binding and intercalation as well as topo I inhibition.

Mechanism by which ma-xing-shi-gan-tang inhibits the entry of influenza virus.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ma-xing-shi-gan-tang (MXSGT, aka maxing shigan powder), a Chinese herbal decoction, has been used for the treatment of the common cold, fever, and influenza virus infections. However, the underlying mechanisms of its activity against the influenza virus are not fully understood. In this study, we examined the antiviral effects of MXSGT in influenza-virus-infected MDCK cells and their underlying mechanisms, including the damage of the viral surface ultrastructure and the consequent inhibition of viral entry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antiviral activity of nontoxic concentrations of MXSGT against influenza virus A/WSN/33 was examined by assaying (neutralization assay) its inhibition of the virus-induced cytopathic effects. The mode of MXSGT action was first examined with a time-of-addition assay of synchronized infections, followed by viral attachment and penetration assays. Viral endocytosis was evaluated with attachment and penetration assays. We also performed assays related to the inhibition of viral entry, such as neuraminidase activity, hemagglutinin activity, and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT phosphorylation assays. The inhibition of viral replication was demonstrated by quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The surface ultrastructure of the MXSGT-treated virus was revealed by atomic force microscopy. RESULTS: MXSGT exhibited an EC(50) of 0.83±0.41mg/ml against influenza virus A/WSN/33 (H1N1), with broad-spectrum inhibitory activity against different strains of human influenza A viruses, including clinical oseltamivir-resistant isolates and an H1N1pdm strain. The synthesis of both viral RNA and protein was profoundly inhibited when the cells were treated with MXSGT. The time-of-addition assay demonstrated that MXSGT blocks the virus entry phase. This was confirmed with attachment and penetration assays, in which MXSGT showed similar inhibitory potencies (IC(50) of 0.58±0.07 and 0.47±0.08mg/ml). High-resolution images and quantitative measurements made with atomic force microscopy confirmed that the viral surface structure was disrupted by MXSGT. We also established that viral entry, regulated by the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, was abolished by MXSGT. CONCLUSIONS: Our results give scientific support to the use of MXSGT in the treatment of influenza virus infections. MXSGT has potential utility in the management of seasonal pandemics of influenza virus infections, like other clinically available drugs.

Prediction of the binding mode between GSK3ß and a peptide derived from GSKIP using molecular dynamics simulation.

GSK3ß plays an important role in many physiological functions; dysregulated GSK3ß is involved in human diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. This study uses MD simulations to determine the interaction between GSK3ß and a peptide derived from GSKIP, a novel GSK3ß interacting protein. Results show that GSKIPtide is inlaid in a binding pocket consisting of an α-helix and an extended loop near the carboxy-terminal end. This binding pocket is hydrophobic, and is responsible for the protein-protein interaction of two other GSK3ß interacting proteins: FRAT and Axin. The GSKIPtide binding mode is closer to that of AxinGID (in the Axin-GSK3-interacting domain). The single-point mutations of V267G and Y288F in GSK3ß differentiate the binding modes between GSK3 and GSKIPtide, AxinGID, and FRATide. The V2677G mutation of GSK3ß reduces the GSKIPtide binding affinity by 70% and abolishes the binding affinity with AxinGID, but has no effect on FRATide. However, GSK3ß Y288F completely abolishes the FRATide binding without affecting GSKIPtide or AxinGID binding. An analysis of the GSK3ß-GSKIPtide complex structure and the X-ray crystal structures of GSK3ß-FRATide and GSK3ß-AxinGID complexes suggests that the hydroxyl group of Y288 is crucial to maintaining a hydrogen bond network in GSK3ß-FRATide. The hydrophobic side chain of V267 maintains the integrity of helix-helix ridge-groove hydrophobic interaction for GSK3ß-GSKIPtide and GSK3ß-AxinGID. This study simulates these two mutant systems to provide atomic-level evidence of the aforementioned experimental results and validate the wild-type complex structure prediction.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of 8-hydroxyquinoline-derived Mannich bases as anticancer agents.

To continue our early study on the structural modifications of clioquinol, more 8-hydroxyquinoline-derived Mannich bases were synthesized and examined for growth-inhibitory effect. Taken Mannich base 1 as our lead compound, upon replacement of either sulfonyl group with methylene group or piperazine ring with ethylenediamine group resulted in an appreciable increase in potency. On the other hand, as 8-hydroxyquinoline was replaced with phenol, 3-hydroxypyridine and 1-naphthol, a dramatic decrease in activity was observed, indicating that 8-hydroxyquinoline is a crucial scaffold for activity. Further 3D-QSAR analysis on HeLa cells revealed that both steric and electronic effects contributed equally to growth inhibition. Taken together, the structure-activity relationships obtained from both in vitro data and CoMFA model warrant a valuable reference for further study.