Evaluating TNA stability under simulated physiological conditions.

Chemically modified oligonucleotides are routinely used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents due to their enhanced biological stability relative to natural DNA and RNA. Here, we examine the biological stability of α-l-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA), an artificial genetic polymer composed of repeating units of α-l-threofuranosyl sugars linked by 2',3'-phosphodiester bonds. We show that TNA remains undigested after 7days of incubation in the presence of either 50% human serum or human liver microsomes and is stable against snake venom phosphordiesterase (a highly active 3' exonuclease). We further show that TNA will protect internal DNA residues from nuclease digestion and shield complementary RNA strands from RNA degrading enzymes. Together, these results demonstrate that TNA is an RNA analogue with high biological stability.

Recognition of Artificial Nucleobases by E. coli Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase versus its Ser90Ala Mutant in the Synthesis of Base-Modified Nucleosides.

A wide range of natural purine analogues was used as probe to assess the mechanism of recognition by the wild-type (WT) E. coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) versus its Ser90Ala mutant. The results were analyzed from viewpoint of the role of the Ser90 residue and the structural features of the bases. It was found that the Ser90 residue of the PNP 1) plays an important role in the binding and activation of 8-aza-7-deazapurines in the synthesis of their nucleosides, 2) participates in the binding of α-D-pentofuranose-1-phosphates at the catalytic site of the PNP, and 3) catalyzes the dephosphorylation of intermediary formed 2-deoxy-α-D-ribofuranose-1-phosphate in the trans-2-deoxyribosylation reaction. 5-Aza-7-deazaguanine manifested excellent substrate activity for both enzymes, 8-amino-7-thiaguanine and 2-aminobenzothiazole showed no substrate activity for both enzymes. On the contrary, the 2-amino derivatives of benzimidazole and benzoxazole are substrates and are converted into the N1- and unusual N2-glycosides, respectively. 9-Deaza-5-iodoxanthine showed moderate inhibitory activity of the WT E. coli PNP, whereas 9-deazaxanthine and its 2'-deoxyriboside are weak inhibitors.

Mitotic arrest of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells by a halogenated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine.

Halogenated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines exhibit antiproliferative activity against a variety of cancer cell models, such as the mouse lymphocytic leukemia cell line L1210 in which they induce apoptosis independent of cell cycle arrest. Here we assessed these activities on MDA-MB-231 cells, a well-established model of aggressive, metastatic breast cancer. While 2,4-dichloro[3,2-d]pyrimidine was less toxic to MDA-MB-231 cells than previously observed in the L1210 model, flow cytometry analysis showed that MDA-MB-231 cell death involved arrest at the G2/M stage of the cell cycle. Conversely, the introduction of bromine at C7 of the 2,4-dichloro[3,2-d]pyrimidine eliminated cell type-dependent differences in cytotoxicity or cell cycle status. Together, these data indicate that a substituent at C7 can profoundly modify the cytotoxic mechanism of halogenated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines in a cell type-specific manner.

Antiproliferative activities of halogenated pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines.

In vitro evaluation of the halogenated pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines identified antiproliferative activities in compounds 1 and 2 against four different cancer cell lines. Upon screening of a series of pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrimidines, the 2,4-Cl compound 1 was found to exhibit antiproliferative activity at low micromolar concentrations. Introduction of iodine at C7 resulted in significant enhancement of potency by reducing the IC50 into sub-micromolar levels, thereby suggesting the importance of a halogen at C7. This finding was further supported by an increased antiproliferative effect for 4 as compared to 3. Cell-cycle and apoptosis studies conducted on the two potent compounds 1 and 2 showed differences in their cytotoxic mechanisms in triple negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, wherein compound 1 induced cells to accumulate at the G2/M stage with little evidence of apoptotic death. In contrast, compound 2 robustly induced apoptosis with concomitant G2/M cell cycle arrest in this cell model.

Antiproliferative activities of halogenated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines.

The in vitro evaluation of thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidines identified halogenated compounds 1 and 2 with antiproliferative activity against three different cancer cell lines. A structure activity relationship study indicated the necessity of the chlorine at the C4-position for biological activity. The two most active compounds 1 and 2 were found to induce apoptosis in the leukemia L1210 cell line. Additionally, the compounds were screened against a variety of other microbial targets and as a result, selective activity against several fungi was also observed. The synthesis and preliminary biological results are reported herein.