Novel meriolin derivatives potently inhibit cell cycle progression and transcription in leukemia and lymphoma cells via inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).

A key feature of cancer is the disruption of cell cycle regulation, which is characterized by the selective and abnormal activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Consequently, targeting CDKs via meriolins represents an attractive therapeutic approach for cancer therapy. Meriolins represent a semisynthetic compound class derived from meridianins and variolins with a known CDK inhibitory potential. Here, we analyzed the two novel derivatives meriolin 16 and meriolin 36 in comparison to other potent CDK inhibitors and could show that they displayed a high cytotoxic potential in different lymphoma and leukemia cell lines as well as in primary patient-derived lymphoma and leukemia cells. In a kinome screen, we showed that meriolin 16 and 36 prevalently inhibited most of the CDKs (such as CDK1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20). In drug-to-target modeling studies, we predicted a common binding mode of meriolin 16 and 36 to the ATP-pocket of CDK2 and an additional flipped binding for meriolin 36. We could show that cell cycle progression and proliferation were blocked by abolishing phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (a major target of CDK2) at Ser612 and Thr82. Moreover, meriolin 16 prevented the CDK9-mediated phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II at Ser2 which is crucial for transcription initiation. This renders both meriolin derivatives as valuable anticancer drugs as they target three different Achilles' heels of the tumor: (1) inhibition of cell cycle progression and proliferation, (2) prevention of transcription, and (3) induction of cell death.

Novel meriolin derivatives activate the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in the presence of antiapoptotic Bcl-2.

Meriolin derivatives represent a new class of kinase inhibitors with a pronounced cytotoxic potential. Here, we investigated a newly synthesized meriolin derivative (termed meriolin 16) that displayed a strong apoptotic potential in Jurkat leukemia and Ramos lymphoma cells. Meriolin 16 induced apoptosis in rapid kinetics (within 2-3 h) and more potently (IC50: 50 nM) than the previously described derivatives meriolin 31 and 36 [1]. Exposure of Ramos cells to meriolin 16, 31, or 36 for 5 min was sufficient to trigger severe and irreversible cytotoxicity. Apoptosis induction by all three meriolin derivatives was independent of death receptor signaling but required caspase-9 and Apaf-1 as central mediators of the mitochondrial death pathway. Meriolin-induced mitochondrial toxicity was demonstrated by disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), mitochondrial release of proapoptotic Smac, processing of the dynamin-like GTPase OPA1, and subsequent fragmentation of mitochondria. Remarkably, all meriolin derivatives were able to activate the mitochondrial death pathway in Jurkat cells, even in the presence of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein. In addition, meriolins were capable of inducing cell death in imatinib-resistant K562 and KCL22 chronic myeloid leukemia cells as well as in cisplatin-resistant J82 urothelial carcinoma and 2102EP germ cell tumor cells. Given the frequent inactivation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by tumor cells, such as through overexpression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2, meriolin derivatives emerge as promising therapeutic agents for overcoming treatment resistance.

Novel meriolin derivatives as rapid apoptosis inducers.

3-(Hetero)aryl substituted 7-azaindoles possessing multikinase inhibitor activity are readily accessed in a one-pot Masuda borylation-Suzuki coupling sequence. Several promising derivatives were identified as apoptosis inducers and, emphasizing the multikinase inhibition potential, as sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitors. Our measurements provide additional insights into the structure-activity relationship of meriolin derivatives, suggesting derivatives bearing a pyridine moiety with amino groups in 2-position as most active anticancer compounds and thus as highly promising candidates for future in vivo studies.

Surface Functionalization of Oxide-Covered Zinc and Iron with Phosphonated Phenylethynyl Phenothiazine.

Phenothiazines are redox-active, fluorescent molecules with potential applications in molecular electronics. Phosphonated phenylethynyl phenothiazine can be easily obtained in a four-step synthesis, yielding a molecule with a headgroup permitting surface linkage. Upon modifying hydroxylated polycrystalline zinc and iron, both covered with their respective native oxides, ultrathin organic layers were formed and investigated by use of infrared (IR) reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), contact angle measurement, and ellipsometry. While stable monolayers with upright oriented organic molecules were formed on oxide-covered iron, multilayer formation is observed on oxide-covered zinc. ToF-SIMS measurements reveal a bridging bidentate bonding state of the organic compound on oxide-covered iron, whereas monodentate complexes were observed on oxide-covered zinc. Both organically modified and unmodified surfaces exhibit reactive wetting, but organic modification makes the surfaces initially more hydrophobic. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) indicates redox activity of the multilayers formed on oxide-covered zinc. On the other hand, the monolayers on oxide-covered iron desorb after electrochemical modifications in the state of the oxide, but are stable at open circuit conditions. Exploiting an electronic coupling of phenothiazines to oxides may thus assist in corrosion protection.

Chemical reactivity and biological activity of chalcones and other α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds.

Abstract 1. Chalcones are structural analogues of benzalacetophenone (BAP). Several derivatives have been identified in plants and anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory properties were attributed to the compounds, probably related to their direct antioxidant activity or stimulatory effects on the expression of endogenous defence enzymes like hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). HO-1 expression is triggered by the Nrf2-Keap1 signalling pathway, initiated by the addition of chalcones to thiol groups of Keap1 via Michael-type reaction. 2. The present study used a model system estimating the reactivity of different synthetic chalcones and other α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with thiols and compared the chemical reactivity with the biological activity, measured by HO-1 expression in human dermal fibroblasts. 3. Chemical reactivity with the thiol group of N-acetylcysteine was determined with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and followed chemical principles of structure-reactivity relationship. Most reactive were sulforaphane, dimethylfumarate, chalcone 3 ((2E)-1-phenyl-3-pyrimidin-2-ylprop-2-en-1-one) and chalcone 7 (1,3-diphenylprop-2-yn-1-one). This result demonstrates that α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl derivatives react with thiols differently. All compounds were also biologically active; however, expression of HO-1 was not only related to the chemical reactivity but also to the lipophilicity of the molecules which likely affected transmembrane uptake. Most efficient inducers of HO-1 expression were BAP, 4-hydroxynonenal and chalcone 1 (4-[(1E)-3-oxo-3-phenylprop-1-en-1-yl]benzonitrile), chalcone 5 ((2E)-1-phenyl-3-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]prop-2-en-1-one) and chalcone 7.

Rapid preparation of triazolyl substituted NH-heterocyclic kinase inhibitors via one-pot Sonogashira coupling-TMS-deprotection-CuAAC sequence.

The one-pot, three-component Sonogashira coupling-TMS-deprotection-CuAAC ("click") sequence is the key reaction for the rapid synthesis of triazolyl substituted N-Boc protected NH-heterocycles, such as indole, indazole, 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-azaindoles, 4,7-diazaindole, 7-deazapurines, pyrrole, pyrazole, and imidazole. Subsequently, the protective group was readily removed to give the corresponding triazolyl derivatives of these tremendously important NH-heterocycles. All compounds have been tested in a broad panel of kinase assays. Several compounds, 8f, 8h, 8k, and 8l, have been shown to inhibit the kinase PDK1, a target with high oncology relevance, and thus they are promising lead structures for the development of more active derivatives. The X-ray structure analysis of compound 8f in complex with PDK1 has revealed the detailed binding mode of the molecule in the kinase.

Unsaturated Mannich bases active against multidrug-resistant Trypanosoma brucei brucei strains.

A series of unsaturated Mannich bases possessing two electrophilic sites was recently identified as irreversible inhibitors of trypanothione reductase from Trypanosoma cruzi. New derivatives were synthesized by modifying the substitution pattern on the aromatic ring and by incorporating the melamine motif of melarsoprol. Their affinity to P2 transporter and their trypanocidal properties have been studied using three strains expressing various purine transporters. While the melamine derivatives showed some affinity to the P2 transporter, unsaturated Mannich bases without the melamine motif showed excellent potencies against pentamidine-resistant strains of T. brucei brucei suggesting alternative drug uptake routes. The Michael acceptor properties of the three most active compounds towards glutathione correlated with the observed trypanocidal activities.

Practical synthesis of iodo phenothiazines. A facile access to electrophore building blocks.

Bromine-lithium exchange of the mono- and dibromophenothiazines 1 and 3a regiospecifically furnishes upon electrophilic trapping with iodine the iodo- and diiodophenothiazines 2, 3b, and 3d in excellent yield. The 3-bromo-7-iodophenothiazine 3d can be submitted to regioselective and sequential Suzuki coupling reactions with phenothiazine mono- and bisboronates 4 and 5 and/or (hetero)aryl boronic acids to give the bromodiphenothiazine 6a, the dibromo terphenothiazine 7, and the (hetero)aryl-substituted phenothiazine dyads 6b-d in moderate to good yields.