Structural insights into the interaction of antifungal peptides and ergosterol containing fungal membrane.

The treatment of invasive drug-resistant and potentially life-threatening fungal infections is limited to few therapeutic options that are usually associated with severe side effects. The development of new effective antimycotics with a more tolerable side effect profile is therefore of utmost clinical importance. Here, we used a combination of complementary in vitro assays and structural analytical methods to analyze the interaction of the de novo antimicrobial peptide VG16KRKP with the sterol moieties of biological cell membranes. We demonstrate that VG16KRKP disturbs the structural integrity of fungal membranes both invitro and in model membrane system containing ergosterol along with phosphatidylethanolamine lipid and exhibits broad-spectrum antifungal activity. As revealed by systematic structure-function analysis of mutated VG16KRKP analogs, a specific pattern of basic and hydrophobic amino acid side chains in the primary peptide sequence determines the selectivity of VG16KRKP for fungal specific membranes.

Alkaloid-rich fraction of Ervatamia coronaria sensitizes colorectal cancer through modulating AMPK and mTOR signalling pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ervatamia coronaria, a popular garden plant in India and some other parts of the world is known traditionally for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. The molecular bases of these functions remain poorly understood. AIM OF THE STUDY: Efficacies of the existing therapies for colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited by their life-threatening side effects and unaffordability. Therefore, identifying a safer, efficient, and affordable therapeutic is urgent. We studied the anti-CRC activity of an alkaloid-rich fraction of E. coronaria leaf extracts (AFE) and associated underlying mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Activity guided solvant fractionation was adopted to identify the activity in AFE. Different cell lines, and tumor grown in syngeneic mice were used to understand the anti-CRC effect. Methodologies such as LCMS, MTT, RT-qPCR, immunoblot, immunohistochemistry were employed to understand the molecular basis of its activity. RESULTS: We showed that AFE, which carries about six major compounds, is highly toxic to colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. AFE induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and p21 and p27 genes, while those of CDK2, CDK-4, cyclin-D, and cyclin-E genes were downregulated in HCT116 cells. It predominantly induced apoptosis in HCT116p53+/+ cells while the HCT116p53-/- cells under the same treatment condition died by autophagy. Notably, AFE induced upregulation of AMPK phosphorylation, and inhibition of both of the mTOR complexes as indicated by inhibition of phosphorylation of S6K1, 4EBP1, and AKT. Furthermore, AFE inhibited mTOR-driven conversion of cells from reversible cell cycle arrest to senescence (geroconversion) as well as ERK activity. AFE activity was independent of ROS produced, and did not primarily target the cellular DNA or cytoskeleton. AFE also efficiently regressed CT26-derived solid tumor in Balb/c mice acting alone or in synergy with 5FU through inducing autophagy as a major mechanism of action as indicated by upregulation of Beclin 1 and phospho-AMPK, and inhibition of phospho-S6K1 levels in the tumor tissue lysates. CONCLUSION: AFE induced CRC death through activation of both apoptotic and autophagy pathways without affecting the normal cells. This study provided a logical basis for consideration of AFE in future therapy regimen to overcome the limitations associated with existing anti-CRC chemotherapy.

Azadiradione ameliorates polyglutamine expansion disease in Drosophila by potentiating DNA binding activity of heat shock factor 1.

Aggregation of proteins with the expansion of polyglutamine tracts in the brain underlies progressive genetic neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Huntington's disease and spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). An insensitive cellular proteotoxic stress response to non-native protein oligomers is common in such conditions. Indeed, upregulation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) function and its target protein chaperone expression has shown promising results in animal models of NDs. Using an HSF1 sensitive cell based reporter screening, we have isolated azadiradione (AZD) from the methanolic extract of seeds of Azadirachta indica, a plant known for its multifarious medicinal properties. We show that AZD ameliorates toxicity due to protein aggregation in cell and fly models of polyglutamine expansion diseases to a great extent. All these effects are correlated with activation of HSF1 function and expression of its target protein chaperone genes. Notably, HSF1 activation by AZD is independent of cellular HSP90 or proteasome function. Furthermore, we show that AZD directly interacts with purified human HSF1 with high specificity, and facilitates binding of HSF1 to its recognition sequence with higher affinity. These unique findings qualify AZD as an ideal lead molecule for consideration for drug development against NDs that affect millions worldwide.

Mephebrindole, a synthetic indole analog coordinates the crosstalk between p38MAPK and eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP signalling pathways for induction of apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cells.

The efficacy of cancer chemotherapeutics is limited by side effects resulting from narrow therapeutic windows between the anticancer activity of a drug and its cytotoxicity. Thus identification of small molecules that can selectively target cancer cells has gained major interest. Cancer cells under stress utilize the Unfolded protein response (UPR) as an effective cell adaptation mechanism. The purpose of the UPR is to balance the ER folding environment and calcium homeostasis under stress. If ER stress is prolonged, tumor cells undergo apoptosis. In the present study we demonstrated an 3,3'-(Arylmethylene)-bis-1H-indole (AMBI) derivative 3,3'-[(4-Methoxyphenyl) methylene]-bis-(5-bromo-1H-indole), named as Mephebrindole (MPB) as an effective anti-cancer agent in breast cancer cells. MPB disrupted calcium homeostasis in MCF7 cells which triggered ER stress development. Detailed evaluations revealed that mephebrindole by activating p38MAPK also regulated GRP78 and eIF2α/ATF4 downstream to promote apoptosis. Studies extended to in vivo allograft mice models revalidated its anti-carcinogenic property thus highlighting the role of MPB as an improved chemotherapeutic option.

Phemindole, a Synthetic Di-indole Derivative Maneuvers the Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) to Induce Potent Anti-Carcinogenic Activity in Human Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is a specific subtype of epithelial breast tumors that are immuno-histochemically negative for the protein expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), the progesterone receptor (PR) and lack over expression/gene amplification of HER2. This subtype of breast cancers is highly metastatic, shows poor prognosis and hence represents an important clinical challenge to researchers worldwide. Thus alternative approaches of drug development for TNBC have gained utmost importance in the present times. Dietary indole and its derivatives have gained prominence as anti-cancer agents and new therapeutic approaches are being developed to target them against TNBC. But a major drawback with 3, 3'di Indolyl methane (DIM) is their poor bioavailability and high effective concentration against TNBC. However, the Aryl methyl ring substituted analogs of DIM display interesting anti-cancer activity in breast cancer cells. In the current study we report the synthesis of a novel synthetic aryl methyl ring substituted analog of DIM, named as Phemindole as an effective anti-tumor agent against TNBC cells. Furthermore, we enumerated that Phemindole caused reactive oxygen species mediated mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in MDAMB-231 cells. Furthermore, Phemindole mediated Store Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) retardation favored inactivation of STIM1 and henceforth activated ER stress to induce apoptosis in TNBC cells. Simultaneously, Phemindole was also found to restrict the in vitro cell migration through its anti mitotic property and pFAK regulation. Studies extended to ex ovo and in vivo mice models further validated the efficacy of Phemindole. Thus our results cumulatively propose Phemindole as a new chemotherapeutic regime which might be effective to target the deadly aspects of the TNBC.