Balanced polymorphisms and their divergence in a Heliconius butterfly

The evolution of mimicry in similarly defended prey is well described by the Müllerian mimicry theory, which predicts the convergence of warning patterns in order to gain the most protection from predators. However, despite this prediction, we can find great diversity of color patterns among Müllerian mimics such as Heliconius butterflies in the neotropics. Furthermore, some species have evolved the ability to maintain multiple distinct warning patterns in single populations, a phenomenon known as polymorphic mimicry. The adaptive benefit of these polymorphisms is questionable since variation from the most common warning patterns is expected to be disadvantageous as novel signals are punished by predators naive to them. In this study, we use artificial butterfly models throughout Central and South America to characterize the selective pressures maintaining polymorphic mimicry in Heliconius doris. Our results highlight the complexity of positive frequency‐dependent selection, the principal selective pressure driving convergence among Müllerian mimics, and its impacts on interspecific variation of mimetic warning coloration. We further show how this selection regime can both limit and facilitate the diversification of mimetic traits.     

Development of 5-hydroxypyrazole derivatives as reversible inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1

A series of reversible inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) with a 5-hydroxypyrazole scaffold have been developed from compound 7, which was identified from the patent literature. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and biochemical analysis showed it to be a reversible LSD1 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ value of 0.23 µM. Optimisation of this compound by rational design afforded compounds with K_d values of <10 nM. In human THP-1 cells, these compounds were found to upregulate the expression of the surrogate cellular biomarker CD86. Compound 11p was found to have moderate oral bioavailability in mice suggesting its potential for use as an in vivo tool compound.     

Development and evaluation of 4-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)benzonitrile derivatives as inhibitors of lysine specific demethylase 1

As part of our ongoing efforts to develop reversible inhibitors of LSD1, we identified a series of 4-(pyrrolidin-3-yl)benzonitrile derivatives that act as successful scaffold-hops of the literature inhibitor GSK-690. The most active compound, 21g, demonstrated a K_d value of 22 nM and a biochemical IC₅₀ of 57 nM. In addition, this compound displayed improved selectivity over the hERG ion channel compared to GSK-690, and no activity against the related enzymes MAO-A and B. In human THP-1 acute myeloid leukaemia cells, 21g was found to increase the expression of the surrogate cellular biomarker CD86. This work further demonstrates the versatility of scaffold-hopping as a method to develop structurally diverse, potent inhibitors of LSD1.     

Long-term platinum retention after treatment with cisplatin and oxaliplatin

Background  

The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term platinum retention in patients treated with cisplatin and oxaliplatin.     

Neutral 5-substituted 4-indazolylaminoquinazolines as potent, orally active inhibitors of erbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase

We have identified a new series of C-5 substituted indazolylaminoquinazolines as potent erbB2 kinase inhibitors. The lead compound 22 showed excellent in vitro potency, good physical properties, acceptable oral pharmacokinetics in rat and dog, and low human in vitro clearance. It showed at least equivalent activity dose for dose compared to lapatinib in various erbB2- or EGFR-driven xenograft models after chronic oral administration.     

A genetic variant in osteoprotegerin is associated with progression of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

Progression of joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is partly heritably; 45 to 58% of the variance in joint destruction is estimated to be explained by genetic factors. The binding of RANKL (Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor κ B Ligand) to RANK results in the activation of TRAF6 (tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor associated factor-6), and osteoclast formation ultimately leading to enhanced bone resorption. This bone resorption is inhibited by osteoprotegerin (OPG) which prevents RANKL-RANK interactions. The OPG/RANK/RANKL/TRAF6 pathway plays an important role in bone remodeling. Therefore, we investigated whether genetic variants in OPG, RANK, RANKL and TRAF6 are associated with the rate of joint destruction in RA.

Methods

1,418 patients with 4,885 X-rays of hands and feet derived from four independent data-sets were studied. In each data-set the relative increase of the progression rate per year in the presence of a genotype was assessed. First, explorative analyses were performed on 600 RA-patients from Leiden. 109 SNPs, tagging OPG, RANK, RANKL and TRAF6, were tested. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated in phase-1 were genotyped in data-sets from Groningen (Netherlands), Sheffield (United Kingdom) and Lund (Switzerland). Data were summarized in an inverse weighted variance meta-analysis. Bonferonni correction for multiple testing was applied.

Results

We found that 33 SNPs were significantly associated with the rate of joint destruction in phase-1. In phase-2, six SNPs in OPG and four SNPs in RANK were associated with progression of joint destruction with P-value <0.05. In the meta-analyses of all four data-sets, RA-patients with the minor allele of OPG-rs1485305 expressed higher rates of joint destruction compared to patients without these risk variants (P = 2.35x10⁻⁴). This variant was also significant after Bonferroni correction.

Conclusions

These results indicate that a genetic variant in OPG is associated with a more severe rate of joint destruction in RA.