A novel Golgi mannosidase inhibitor: Molecular design,synthesis, enzyme inhibition,and inhibition of spheroid formation

Effective chemotherapy for solid cancers is challenging due to a limitation in permeation that prevents anticancer drugs from reaching the center of the tumor, therefore unable to limit cancer cell growth. To circumvent this issue, we planned to apply the drugs directly at the center by first collapsing the outer structure. For this, we focused on cell–cell communication (CCC) between N-glycans and proteins at the tumor cell surface. Mature N-glycans establish CCC; however, CCC is hindered when numerous immature N-glycans are present at the cell surface. Inhibition of Golgi mannosidases (GMs) results in the transport of immature N-glycans to the cell surface. This can be employed to disrupt CCC. Here, we describe the molecular design and synthesis of an improved GM inhibitor with a non-sugar mimic scaffold that was screened from a compound library. The synthesized compounds were tested for enzyme inhibition ability and inhibition of spheroid formation using cell-based methods. Most of the compounds designed and synthesized exhibited GM inhibition at the cellular level. Of those, AR524 had higher inhibitory activity than a known GM inhibitor, kifunensine. Moreover, AR524 inhibited spheroid formation of human malignant cells at low concentration (10 µM), based on the disruption of CCC by GM inhibition.     

Discovery of isoquinolinone and naphthyridinone-based inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) as anticancer agents: Structure activity relationship and preclinical characterization

The exploitation of GLU988 and LYS903 residues in PARP1 as targets to design isoquinolinone (I & II) and naphthyridinone (III) analogues is described. Compounds of structure I have good biochemical and cellular potency but suffered from inferior PK. Constraining the linear propylene linker of structure I into a cyclopentene ring (II) offered improved PK parameters, while maintaining potency for PARP1. Finally, to avoid potential issues that may arise from the presence of an anilinic moiety, the nitrogen substituent on the isoquinolinone ring was incorporated as part of the bicyclic ring. This afforded a naphthyridinone scaffold, as shown in structure III. Further optimization of naphthyridinone series led to identification of a novel and highly potent PARP1 inhibitor 34, which was further characterized as preclinical candidate molecule. Compound 34 is orally bioavailable and displayed favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) properties. Compound 34 demonstrated remarkable antitumor efficacy both as a single-agent as well as in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in the BRCA1 mutant MDA-MB-436 breast cancer xenograft model. Additionally, compound 34 also potentiated the effect of agents such as temozolomide in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and Ewing’s sarcoma models.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of bitopic arylpiperazine-hexahydro-pyrazinoquinolines as preferential dopamine D3 receptor ligands

Three series of bitobic arylpiperazine-phenyl-hexahydropyrazinoquino- lines analogues were designed, synthesizedand evaluated as a novel class of selective ligands for the dopamine D3 receptor. Compounds 15a (K_i of 11.7 ± 1.8 and 373 nM at D3 and D2, respectively), 15c (K_i of 5.49 and 264 nM at D3 and D2, respectively), 15e (K_i of 14.9 and 325 nM at D3 and D2, respectively), 15i (K_i of 13.8 and 401 nM at D3 and D2, respectively) and 15l (K_i of 13.6 and 870 nM at D3 and D2, respectively) were found to demonstrate good binding affinity and selectivity, and especially compound 15c showeda similar binding affinity and selectivity compared with the contrast drug BP897.     

Electrogenic membrane transport in plants a review

This review treats some examples of electrogenic transport across the outer plasmamembrane (plasmalemma) of plant cells. The selection includes primary active uniport by membrane ATPases (e.g., the proton pump), secondary active transport of hexoses by proton-dependent cotransport, and passive uniport of amines. Primacy is given to the presentation of electrophysiological data and to the discussion of voltage-dependence of the transport mechanisms.Lecture from the Annual Meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Biophysik at Konstanz     

Allometric growth and adaptive value of exaggerated body parts in the larvae of Gratiana spadicea (Klug) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

1. Larvae of tortoise beetles present exaggerated body parts in association with an abdominal shield, which is made of faeces and exuviae that are deposited on the urogomphi throughout ontogeny. Growth trajectories and scaling relationships of these functional structures associated with the shield, if any, are unknown. 2. This study of Gratiana spadicea first tested, under field conditions, whether there is adaptive value associated with the shield regarding protection against predation and sunlight. Then, under laboratory conditions, the growth trajectory and allometric relationships among body parts were investigated, including scoli, individual and apparent furcae, and shield. The influence of food deprivation on the development of these structures was also determined. 3. Findings from previous studies were confirmed, suggesting that the adaptive value assigned to the shield is related to protection against predators. The present study demonstrated for the first time that the shield acts as a parasol in cassidines, decreasing the exposure of their larval body to sunlight. The scoli and apparent furca are exaggerated structures of G. spadicea, the development of which involves allometric growth and greater energetic investment (positive allometry) during ontogeny. There was proportionally less energetic investment for somatic construction of individual furca (negative allometry) due to the accumulation of the exuviae. 4. The possible consequences, in terms of developmental costs and survivorship benefits associated with the evolution of such exaggerated structures, are discussed.     

Complex patterns of grooming and sexual activity in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Grooming in primates is often considered a “currency” that can be exchanged for other “services” or “commodities” such as reciprocal grooming, coalitionary support, infant handling, tolerance around food sources, active food sharing, or mating opportunities. Previous studies on primate grooming‐for‐sex exchange viewed the males as the demanding class, with the females as suppliers of mating opportunities. In this study, we examine the broader context of grooming‐for‐mating exchange in Barbary macaques in Gibraltar. Our data show that Barbary macaque males groom females with whom they are mating more frequently and for longer periods than other females, and the relationship between grooming and mating remains significant in both sexual and nonsexual contexts. In addition, females groomed males with whom they were mating more frequently and for longer periods than other males. In both sexes, grooming was observed to be far more frequent and to occur for longer durations in sexual compared to nonsexual contexts. We did not find any difference in grooming behavior between presexual and postsexual contexts. Our data suggest that there is no simple model to describe Barbary macaque grooming patterns in sexual contexts. Although our results are partly consistent with male use of grooming as payment for mating, broadly assessed grooming‐mating patterns cannot be solely explained by a male‐driven grooming‐for‐mating exchange.     

Taylor's law and body size in exploited marine ecosystems

Taylor's law (TL), which states that variance in population density is related to mean density via a power law, and density‐mass allometry, which states that mean density is related to body mass via a power law, are two of the most widely observed patterns in ecology. Combining these two laws predicts that the variance in density is related to body mass via a power law (variance‐mass allometry). Marine size spectra are known to exhibit density‐mass allometry, but variance‐mass allometry has not been investigated. We show that variance and body mass in unexploited size spectrum models are related by a power law, and that this leads to TL with an exponent slightly <2. These simulated relationships are disrupted less by balanced harvesting, in which fishing effort is spread across a wide range of body sizes, than by size‐at‐entry fishing, in which only fish above a certain size may legally be caught.