TGFß4 alleviates the phenotype of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A.

The duplication of the peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene causes a demyelinating type of neuropathy, commonly known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A). Development of effective drugs for CMT1A still remains as an unmet medical need. In the present study, we assessed the role of the transforming growth factor beta 4 (TGFß4)/Nodal axis in the pathogenesis of CMT1A. First, we identified PMP22 overexpression-induced Nodal expression in Schwann cells, which might be one of the downstream effectors in CMT1A. Administration of Nodal protein at the developmental stage of peripheral nerves induced the demyelinating phenotype in vivo. Second, we further isolated TGFß4 as an antagonist that could abolish Nodal-induced demyelination. Finally, we developed a recombinant TGFß4-fragment crystallizable (Fc) fusion protein, CX201, and demonstrated that its application had promyelinating efficacy in Schwann cells. CX201 administration improved the demyelinating phenotypes of CMT1A mouse models at both pre-symptomatic and post-symptomatic stages. These results suggest that the TGFß4/Nodal axis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of CMT1A and might be a potential therapeutic target for CMT1A.

Substitution of Heavy Complementarity Determining Region 3 (CDR-H3) Residues Can Synergistically Enhance Functional Activity of Antibody and Its Binding Affinity to HER2 Antigen.

To generate a biobetter that has improved therapeutic activity, we constructed scFv libraries via random mutagenesis of several residues of CDR-H3 and -L3 of hu4D5. The scFv clones were isolated from the phage display libraries by stringent panning, and their anti-proliferative activity against HER2-positive cancer cells was evaluated as a primary selection criterion. Consequently, we selected AH06 as a biobetter antibody that had a 7.2-fold increase in anti-proliferative activity (IC50: 0.81 nM) against the gastric cancer cell line NCI-N87 and a 7.4-fold increase in binding affinity (KD: 60 pM) to HER2 compared to hu4D5. The binding energy calculation and molecular modeling suggest that the substitution of residues of CDR-H3 to W98, F100c, A101 and L102 could stabilize binding of the antibody to HER2 and there could be direct hydrophobic interactions between the aromatic ring of W98 and the aliphatic group of I613 within HER2 domain IV as well as the heavy and light chain hydrophobic interactions by residues F100c, A101 and L102 of CDR-H3. Therefore, we speculate that two such interactions were exerted by the residues W98 and F100c. A101 and L102 may have a synergistic effect on the increase in the binding affinity to HER2. AH06 specifically binds to domain IV of HER2, and it decreased the phosphorylation level of HER2 and AKT. Above all, it highly increased the overall level of p27 compared to hu4D5 in the gastric cancer cell line NCI-N82, suggesting that AH06 could potentially be a more efficient therapeutic agent than hu4D5.

Structure-based virtual screening of novel tubulin inhibitors and their characterization as anti-mitotic agents.

Microtubule cytoskeletons are involved in many essential functions throughout the life cycle of cells, including transport of materials into cells, cell movement, and proper progression of cell division. Small compounds that can bind at the colchicine site of tubulin have drawn great attention because these agents can suppress or inhibit microtubule dynamics and tubulin polymerization. To find novel tubulin polymerization inhibitors as anti-mitotic agents, we performed a virtual screening study of the colchicine binding site on tubulin. Novel tubulin inhibitors were identified and characterized by their inhibitory activities on tubulin polymerization in vitro. The structural basis for the interaction of novel inhibitors with tubulin was investigated by molecular modeling, and we have proposed binding models for these hit compounds with tubulin. The proposed docking models were very similar to the binding pattern of colchicine or podophyllotoxin with tubulin. These new hit compound derivatives exerted growth inhibitory effects on the HL60 cell lines tested and exhibited strong cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Furthermore, these compounds induced apoptosis after cell cycle arrest. In this study, we show that the validated derivatives of compound 11 could serve as potent lead compounds for designing novel anti-cancer agents that target microtubules.

Discovery of a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor: synthesis and evaluation of water-soluble prodrugs of benzophenone analog.

Prodrugs have proven to be very useful in enhancing aqueous solubility of sparingly water-soluble drugs, thereby increasing in vivo efficacy without a need of special excipients. In vitro and in vivo evaluations of a number of amino acid prodrugs of 1, a previously identified potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor and cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines led to the discovery of 3·HCl (l-valine attached) which is highly efficacious in mouse xenografts bearing human cancer. Pharmacokinetic analysis in rats revealed that compound 1 was released immediately upon administration of 3·HCl intravenously, with rapid clearance of 3·HCl indicating the effective cleavage of prodrug. Compound 3·HCl (CKD-516) has now been progressed to phase 1 clinical trial.

Identification of CKD-516: a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor with marked antitumor activity against murine and human solid tumors.

Tubulin polymerization inhibitors had emerged as one of promising anticancer therapeutics because of their dual mechanism of action, i.e. apoptosis by cell-cycle arrest and VDA, vascular disrupting agent. VDAs are believed to be more efficient, less toxic, and several of them are currently undergoing clinical trials. To identify novel tubulin inhibitors that possess potent cytotoxicity and strong inhibition of tubulin polymerization as well as potent in vivo antitumor efficacy, we have utilized benzophenone scaffold. Complete SAR analysis of newly synthesized analogues that were prepared by incorporation of small heterocycles (C2, C4, and C5 position) into B-ring along with the evaluation of their in vitro cytotoxicity, tubulin polymerization inhibition, and in vivo antitumor activity allowed us to identify 22 (S516). Compound 22 was found to have potent cytotoxicity against several cancer cells including P-gp overexpressing MDR positive cell line (HCT15). It also induced cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M phase, which is associated with strong inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Its in vivo efficacy was improved by preparing its (l)-valine prodrug, 65 (CKD-516), which together with greatly improved aqueous solubility has shown marked antitumor efficacy against both murine tumors (CT26 and 3LL) and human xenogratfs (HCT116 and HCT15) in mice.

Discovery of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable PDE5 inhibitor: Methyl-4-(3-chloro-4-methoxybenzylamino)-8-(2-hydroxyethyl)-7-methoxyquinazolin-6-ylmethylcarbamate (CKD 533).

In a continuing effort to discover novel PDE5 inhibitors, we have successfully found quinazolines with 4-benzylamino substitution as potent and selective PDE5 inhibitors. Initial lead compound (1) was found to be easily metabolized when incubated with human liver microsomes mainly through C6 amide hydrolysis. Blocking of this metabolic hot spot led to discovery of 10 (CKD533) which is highly potent, selective and orally efficacious in conscious rabbit model for erectile dysfunction and now is undergoing preclinical toxicology study.

Quinazolines as potent and highly selective PDE5 inhibitors as potential therapeutics for male erectile dysfunction.

In an effort to minimize side effects associated with low selectivity against PDE isozymes, we have successfully identified a series of 6,7,8-substituted quinzaolines as potent inhibitors of PDE5 with high level of isozyme selectivity, especially against PDE6 and PDE11. PDE5 potency and isozyme selectivity of quinazolines were greatly improved with substitutions both at 6- and 8-position. The synthesis, structure-activity relationships and in vivo efficacy of this novel series of potent PDE5 inhibitors are described.

Synthesis of novel diaryl ethers and their evaluation as antimitotic agents.

A series of novel diaryl ethers possessing various functional groups were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity in human myeloid leukemia HL-60 cells. Among the compounds examined, compounds 10, 17, 20, 24, and 33 showed moderate to potent antiproliferative activity. These derivatives were further examined in terms of their abilities to inhibit tubulin polymerization; however, all of the tested compounds were relatively ineffective. The reference compound E7010 with an IC(50) of 0.34 microM exhibited potent antiproliferative activity and significantly inhibited tubulin polymerization in a dose-dependent manner.

Design and biological evaluation of novel tubulin inhibitors as antimitotic agents using a pharmacophore binding model with tubulin.

Although the structure has been elucidated for the binding of colchicine and podophyllotoxin as potent destabilizer for microtubule formation, very little is known about MDL-27048, a competitive inhibitor for colchicine and podophyllotoxin. The structural basis for the interaction of antimitotic agents with tubulin was investigated by molecular modeling, and we propose binding models for MDL-27048 against tubulin. The proposed model was not only consistent with previous competition experiment data between colchicine and MDL-27048, but further suggested an additional binding cavity on tubulin. Based on this finding from the proposed MDL-tubulin complex, we performed molecular design studies to identify new antimitotic agents. These new chalcone derivatives exerted growth inhibitory effects on all four human hepatoma and one renal epithelial cell lines tested and induced strong cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Furthermore, these compounds exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on tubulin polymerization in vitro. Therefore, we suggest that the validated MDL-27048 model would serve as a potent platform for designing new molecular entities for anticancer agents targeted to microtubules.

5-Demethoxyfumagillol, a potent angiogenesis inhibitor isolated from Aspergillus fumigatus.

A novel angiogenesis inhibitor, 5-demethoxyfumagillol (1), was obtained by isolation, purification and saponification of cultured broth of Aspergillus fumigatus. The structure was assigned as (3R,4R,6R)-4-[(2R,3R)-2-methyl-3-(3-methyl-but-2-enyl)-oxiranyl]-1-oxa-spiro[2,5]octan-6-ol (1) by spectroscopic analysis and confirmed by independent synthesis from fumagillol (3). In addition, 6-O-(chloroacetylcarbamoyl)-5-demethoxyfumagillol (7) showed a potential anti-angiogenic activity in CAPE cells in vitro.

Novel alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, CKD-711 and CKD-711a produced by Streptomyces sp. CK-4416. I. Taxonomy, fermentation and isolation.

New alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, CKD-711 and CKD-711a were produced from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. CK-4416 which was isolated from a forest soil of Jeju Island, South Korea. CKD-711 and CKD-711a were purified by Dowex 50W-2X and Sephadex G-10 column chromatography. In in vitro studies, CKD-711 showed a potent inhibitory activity against a-glucosidase from mammalian, but less inhibition against a-amylase from microorganism and mammalian. CKD-711a showed a lower inhibitory activity than CKD-711.