A novel pyrimidine tetrad contributing to stabilize tetramolecular G-quadruplex structures.

G-quadruplex structures formed by oligodeoxyribonucleotides TGGU(NH2)GGT (AM, U(NH2) = 5-amino-2'-deoxyuridine), TGGU(Br)GGT (BR, U(Br) = 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) and TGGTGGT (TH) have been investigated through circular dichroism, nuclear magnetic resonance, gel electrophoresis and molecular modeling techniques. Collected data indicate that all 7-mer oligonucleotides form tetramolecular parallel G-quadruplex structures with all residues adopting anti glycosidic bonds. In the case of AM, data suggest the occurrence of a novel U(NH2)-tetrad characterized by eight hydrogen bonds that stabilizes the G-quadruplex structure more efficiently than U(Br)- and T-tetrads.

Improved thrombin binding aptamer analogues containing inversion of polarity sites: structural effects of extra-residues at the ends.

In this paper, we report the investigations, based on NMR, molecular modelling, CD measurements and electrophoresis, of thrombin binding aptamer (TBA) analogues containing an extra-residue at the 3'-end or at both the ends of the original TBA sequence, linked through 3'-3' or 5'-5' phosphodiester bonds. The data indicate that most of the modified aptamers investigated adopt chair-like G-quadruplex structures very similar to that of the TBA and that stacking interactions occur between the 3'-3' or 5'-5' extra residues and the deoxyguanosines of the upper G-tetrad. A comparison of the thermodynamic data of TBA-A and TBA-T containing a 3'-3' extra residue and their canonical versions clearly indicates that the 3'-3' phosphodiester bond is fundamental in endowing the modified aptamers with remarkably higher thermal stabilities than the original TBA.

Molecular mechanism involved in the transport of a prodrug dopamine glycosyl conjugate.

We have previously demonstrated that dopamine conjugation to glucose allows it to induce therapeutic effects against Parkinson's disease after intravenous administration. In this paper we demonstrate that, unlike dopamine, the prodrug glu-dopamine is a transportable substrate of glucose transporters. Towards this, the effect of glucose-conjugation on the affinity and uptake of dopamine have been assessed in vitro, using human retinal pigment epithelium (HRPE) cells. Glucose transporter-mediated uptake was measured using [(3)H]3-O-methylglucose ([(3)H]3-O-MG) as the tracer. The uptake was found to be rapid and hyperbolically related to its concentrations (K(t)=7.8+/-1.2mM and V(max)=54+/-2 nmol/min mg protein). Inhibition experiments showed that dopamine was able to interact with glucose carriers only when conjugated to glucose (IC(50)=2.6+/-0.6mM). HPLC analysis of HRPE cell extracts showed that both dopamine and the prodrug permeate the cell, but only the uptake of the prodrug is inhibitable by glucose. This confirms that glucose transporters mediate the transport of the prodrug glu-dopamine, but not of dopamine. HRPE cells is therefore proposed as a promising model for in vitro studies involving the glucose transporter-mediated transport of drugs and their conjugates.

The 1,4 benzoquinone-featured 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor RF-Id induces apoptotic death through downregulation of IAPs in human glioblastoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Embelin is a potent dual inhibitor of 5-lipoxigenase (5-LOX) and microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES)-1 that suppresses proliferation of human glioma cells and induces apoptosis by inhibiting XIAP and NF-κB signaling pathway. Synthetic structural modification yielded the derivative 3-((decahydronaphthalen-6-yl)methyl)-2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (RF-Id), an embelin constrained analogue, with improved efficiency against 5-LOX in human neutrophils and anti-inflammatory activity in vivo. Taking into account that lipoxygenase (LOX) metabolites, from arachidonic acid and linoleic acid, have been implicated in tumor progression, here, we determined whether RF-Id was able to hinder glioblastoma (GBM) cancer cell growth and the related mechanisms. METHODS: U87MG and LN229 cells were plated in 96-wells and treated with increasing concentrations of RF-Id. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The effects of the compounds on cell cycle, apoptosis, oxidative stress and autophagy were assessed by flow cytometry (FACS). The mode of action was confirmed by Taqman apoptosis array and evaluating caspase cascade and NFκB pathway by western blotting technique. RESULTS: Here, we found that RF-Id induced a stronger inhibition of GBM cell growth than treatment with embelin. Flow cytometry analysis showed that RF-Id induced about 30 % apoptosis and a slight increase of autophagy after 72 h on U87-MG cells. Moreover, the compound induced an increase in the percentage of cells in G2 and S phase that was paralleled by an increase of p21 and p27 expression but no significant changes of the mitochondrial membrane potential; array analysis showed a significant upregulation of CASP8 and a downregulation of IAP family and NFκB genes in cells treated with RF-Id. RF-Id induced a significant cleavage of caspases 8, 9, 3 and 7, blocked c-IAP2/XIAP interaction by inducing XIAP degradation and inhibited NFκB pathway. CONCLUSIONS: RF-Id induced a caspase-dependent apoptosis in GBM cells by inhibiting IAP family proteins and NFκB pathway and represents a promising lead compound for designing a new class of anti-cancer drugs with multiple targets.

Elucidation of the molecular mechanism and the efficacy in vivo of a novel 1,4-benzoquinone that inhibits 5-lipoxygenase.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 1,4-Benzoquinones are well-known inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX, the key enzyme in leukotriene biosynthesis), but the molecular mechanisms of 5-LOX inhibition are not completely understood. Here we investigated the molecular mode of action and the pharmacological profile of the novel 1,4-benzoquinone derivative 3-((decahydronaphthalen-6-yl)methyl)-2,5-dihydroxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (RF-Id) in vitro and its effectiveness in vivo. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Mechanistic investigations in cell-free assays using 5-LOX and other enzymes associated with eicosanoid biosynthesis were conducted, along with cell-based studies in human leukocytes and whole blood. Molecular docking of RF-Id into the 5-LOX structure was performed to illustrate molecular interference with 5-LOX. The effectiveness of RF-Id in vivo was also evaluated in two murine models of inflammation. KEY RESULTS: RF-Id consistently suppressed 5-LOX product synthesis in human leukocytes and human whole blood. RF-Id also blocked COX-2 activity but did not significantly inhibit COX-1, microsomal PGE2 synthase-1, cytosolic PLA2 or 12- and 15-LOX. Although RF-Id lacked radical scavenging activity, reducing conditions facilitated its inhibitory effect on 5-LOX whereas cell stress impaired its efficacy. The reduced hydroquinone form of RF-Id (RED-RF-Id) was a more potent inhibitor of 5-LOX as it had more bidirectional hydrogen bonds within the 5-LOX substrate binding site. Finally, RF-Id had marked anti-inflammatory effects in mice in vivo. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: RF-Id represents a novel anti-inflammatory 1,4-benzoquinone that potently suppresses LT biosynthesis by direct inhibition of 5-LOX with effectiveness in vivo. Mechanistically, RF-Id inhibits 5-LOX in a non-redox manner by forming discrete molecular interactions within the active site of 5-LOX.

Natural compounds in anti-leukaemic therapy: a review.

Human leukemia results from multiple mutations that lead to abnormalities in the expressions and functions of genes that maintain the delicate balance between proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Continued research on the molecular aspects of leukemia cells has resulted in the developments of several potentially useful therapeutic agents. Discovery of new cellular and/or molecular pathways enabling innate or acquired resistance of cancers to current chemotherapeutics to be overcome is therefore of crucial importance if one wants to efficiently combat those cancers associated with dismal prognoses. In this concern, natural compounds are regarded as new chemical entities for the development of drugs against various pharmacological targets, including cancer, and, above all, leukemia.

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of new ß-carboline derivatives.

On the basis of harmine and 1-methoxy-canthin-6-one chemical structures, a series of novel 1,4-disubstituted and 1,4,9-trisubstituted ß-carbolines and tetracyclic derivatives were designed and synthesized. Cytotoxic activities of these compounds in vitro were investigated in a human tumor cell line panel. Almost all compounds demonstrated interesting cytotoxic activities in particular against prostate cancer cells PC-3 with IC50 in the low micromolar range. Compound X was found to be the most potent one with IC50 value of 8.0 µM; this suggests further studies with models of prostate cancer.