Profiling of a suramin-derived compound library at recombinant human P2Y receptors identifies NF272 as a competitive but non-selective P2Y2 receptor antagonist.

Extracellular nucleotides mediate multiple physiological effects such as proliferation, differentiation, or induction of apoptosis through G protein-coupled P2Y receptors or P2X ion channels. Evaluation of the complete physiological role of nucleotides has long been hampered by a lack of potent and selective ligands for all P2 subtypes. Meanwhile, for most of the P2 receptors, selective ligands are available, but only a few potent and selective P2Y2 receptor antagonists are described. This limits the understanding of the role of P2Y2 receptors. The purpose of this study was to search for P2Y2 receptor antagonists by a combinatorial screening of a library of around 415 suramin-derived compounds. Calcium fluorescence measurements at P2Y2 receptors recombinantly expressed in human 1321N1 astrocytoma cells identified NF272 [8-(4-methyl-3-(3-phenoxycarbonylimino-benzamido)benzamido)-naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulfonic acid trisodium salt] as a competitive P2Y2 receptor antagonist with a Ki of 19 µM which is 14-fold more potent than suramin at this receptor subtype. The SCHILD analysis of competitive inhibition resulted in a pA2 value of 5.03 ± 0.22 (mean ± SEM) with a slope not significantly different from unity. Among uracil-nucleotide-preferring P2Y receptors, NF272 shows a moderate selectivity over P2Y4 (3.6-fold) and P2Y6 (5.7-fold). However, NF272 is equipotent at P2Y1, and even more potent at P2Y11 and P2Y12 receptors. Up to 250 µM, NF272 showed no cytotoxicity in MTT cell viability assays in 1321N1, HEK293, and OVCAR-3 cells. Further, NF272 was able to inhibit the ATP-induced calcium signal in OVCAR-3 cells demonstrated to express P2Y2 receptors. In conclusion, NF272 is a competitive but non-selective P2Y2 receptor antagonist with 14-fold higher potency than suramin lacking cytotoxic effects. Therefore, NF272 may serve as a lead structure for further development of P2Y2 receptor antagonists.

Adenosine enhances cisplatin sensitivity in human ovarian cancer cells.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecologic cancer due to lack of early effective diagnosis and development of resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. Several studies reported that adenosine concentrations are higher in tumor microenvironment than in non-tumor tissue. This finding inspired us to study the role of adenosine in ovarian cancer cells and to investigate if adenosine pathways offer new treatment options urgently needed to prevent or overcome chemoresistance. The ovarian cancer cell lines HEY, A2780, and its cisplatin-resistant subline A2780CisR were used in this study. Expression and functional activity of adenosine receptors were investigated by RT-PCR, Western blotting, and cAMP assay. A1 and A2B adenosine receptors were expressed and functionally active in all three cell lines. Adenosine showed moderate cytotoxicity (MTT-IC50 values were between 700 and 900 µM) and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner by increasing levels of sub-G1 and cleaved PARP. Apoptosis was diminished by QVD-OPh, confirming caspase-dependent induction of apoptosis. Forty-eight hours pre-incubation of adenosine prior to cisplatin significantly enhanced cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity in a synergistic manner and increased apoptosis. SLV320 or PSB603, selective A1 and A2B antagonists, was not able to inhibit adenosine-induced increase in cisplatin cytotoxicity or apoptosis whereas dipyridamole, a nucleoside transporter inhibitor, completely abrogated both effects. Mechanistically, adenosine increased pAMPK and reduced pS6K which was prevented by dipyridamole. In conclusion, application of adenosine prior to cisplatin could be a new therapeutic option to increase the potency of cisplatin in a synergistic manner and thus overcome platinum resistance in ovarian cancer.

Metabolites from the endophytic fungus Cylindrocarpon sp. isolated from tropical plant Sapium ellipticum.

Three new polyketides, cylindrocarpones A-C (1-3), two new pyridone alkaloids, cylindrocarpyridones A-B (5-6), a new pyrone cylindropyrone (7), together with seven know compounds were isolated from the endophytic fungus, Cylindrocarpon sp., obtained from the tropical plant Sapium ellipticum. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS). The absolute configuration of 19-O-methyl-pyrrocidine B (13) was confirmed by X-ray analysis. All isolated compounds were screened for their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities. Pyrrocidine A (12) exhibited potent cytotoxicity against the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 with an IC50 value of 1.7 µM. 19-O-Methyl-pyrrocidine B (13) showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC25923 and ATCC700699 with MIC values of 50 and 25 µM, respectively.

Induction of new metabolites from the endophytic fungus Bionectria sp. through bacterial co-culture.

A new alkaloid, 1,2-dihydrophenopyrrozin (1), along with five known compounds (2-6) was isolated from an axenic culture of the endophytic fungus, Bionectria sp., obtained from seeds of the tropical plant Raphia taedigera. Co-cultivation of this fungus either with Bacillus subtilis or with Streptomyces lividans resulted in the production of two new o-aminobenzoic acid derivatives, bionectriamines A and B (7 and 8) as well as of two additional known compounds (9 and 10). None of the latter compounds (7-10) were detected in axenic cultures of the fungus or of the bacteria indicating activation of silent biogenetic gene clusters through co-cultivation with bacteria. The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously determined based on detailed NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis and by comparison with the literature. The crystal structure of agathic acid (6) is reported here for the first time. Penicolinate A (4) exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780 with an IC50 value of 4.1µM.

Cyclic Cystine-Bridged Peptides from the Marine Sponge Clathria basilana Induce Apoptosis in Tumor Cells and Depolarize the Bacterial Cytoplasmic Membrane.

Investigation of the sponge Clathria basilana collected in Indonesia afforded five new peptides, including microcionamides C (1) and D (2), gombamides B (4), C (5), and D (6), and an unusual amide, (E)-2-amino-3-methyl-N-styrylbutanamide (7), along with 11 known compounds, among them microcionamide A (3). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy as well as by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configurations of the constituent amino acid residues in 1-7 were determined by Marfey's analysis. Microcionamides A, C, and D (1-3) showed in vitro cytotoxicity against lymphoma (Ramos) and leukemia cell lines (HL-60, Nomo-1, Jurkat J16), as well as against a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (A2780) with IC50 values ranging from 0.45 to 28 µM. Mechanistic studies showed that compounds 1-3 rapidly induce apoptotic cell death in Jurkat J16 and Ramos cells and that 1 and 2 potently block autophagy upon starvation conditions, thereby impairing pro-survival signaling of cancer cells. In addition, microcionamides C and A (1 and 3) inhibited bacterial growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium with minimal inhibitory concentrations between 6.2 and 12 µM. Mechanistic studies indicate dissipation of the bacterial membrane potential.

OSMAC approach leads to new fusarielin metabolites from Fusarium tricinctum.

Using the OSMAC (One Strain MAny Compounds) approach, the fungal endophyte Fusarium tricinctum was cultivated on fruit and vegetable juice-supplemented solid rice media. This led to an up to 80-fold increase in the accumulation of the new natural product fusarielin J (1), as well as to the induction of two new natural products fusarielin K (2) and fusarielin L (3) and the known derivatives fusarielins A (4) and B (5). Compounds 2-5 were not detected when the fungus was grown on rice media lacking either fruit or vegetable juice. The highest increase in the accumulation of compound 1 was observed in the presence of apple and carrot juice, whereas the stimulating effect was weaker for banana juice. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxicity against the human ovarian cancer cell line A2780, with an IC50 value of 12.5 µM.

Design and Synthesis of Novel Anti-Plasmodial Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Containing an Alkoxyamide Connecting Unit.

Despite recent declines in mortality, malaria remains an important global health problem. New therapies are needed, including new drugs with novel modes of action compared to existing agents. Among new potential therapeutic targets for malaria, inhibition of parasitic histone deacetylases (HDACs) is a promising approach. Homology modeling of PfHDAC1, a known target of some anti-plasmodial HDAC inhibitors, revealed a unique threonine residue at the rim of the active site in close proximity to the location of the cap group of vorinostat-type HDAC inhibitors. Aiming to obtain HDAC inhibitors with potent and preferential anti-plasmodial activity, we synthesized a mini-library of alkoxyamide-based HDAC inhibitors containing hydrogen bond acceptors in the cap group. Using a 5-step synthetic route, 12 new inhibitors were synthesized and assayed against Plasmodium falciparum asexual blood stage parasites (clones 3D7 and Dd2) and human cells (HepG2). The most active compound 6h (Pf3D7 IC50 : 0.07 µM; PfDd2 IC50 : 0.07 µM) was 25-fold more toxic against the parasite versus human HepG2 cells. Selected compounds were shown to cause hyperacetylation of P. falciparum histone H4, indicating inhibition of one or more PfHDACs.