Compounds stimulating cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity with a combinational action mode

The screening of small synthetic compound libraries is a useful means of identifying molecules that modulate various cellular responses. We screened more than 10,000 different small compounds and identified three synthetic compounds that stimulate arachidonic acid (AA) release in a combinational manner in neutrophil-like differentiated HL60 cells. These three compounds were designated as AARIC-1, -2, and -3, representing AA release inducing compounds-1, -2, and -3. Although AA release was not induced by any single one of these compounds, it was dramatically stimulated by the three compounds in combination. Moreover, the effect of combined treatment by these compounds on AA release was completely abolished by MAFP and AACOCF(3), specific cytosolic phospholipase A(2) inhibitors. Furthermore, we found that AARIC-3 stimulates cytosolic calcium influx, while AARIC-1 induces ERK activation. Taken together, we demonstrate a useful approach to the study of complicated and nonlinear intracellular signaling networks using small synthetic compounds in combination.     

New small molecule inhibitors of hepatitis C virus

New small molecule inhibitors of HCV were discovered by screening a small library of indoline alkaloid-type compounds. An automated assay format was employed which allowed identification of dimerization inhibitors of core, the capsid protein of the virus. These compounds were subsequently shown to block production of infectious virus in hepatoma cells.     

冬虫夏草化学成分分析

本研究建立了冬虫夏草中7类主要化学成分的分析方法,包括采用高效液相色谱法分析冬虫夏草中的多糖、糖醇、氨基酸和核苷,采用气相色谱法分析冬虫夏草中的甾醇、脂肪酸和挥发性成分,所建立的分析方法均成功运用于冬虫夏草样本分析。从冬虫夏草样本中鉴定了61个小分子化合物（2个糖醇、16个氨基酸、9个核苷、7个甾醇、18个脂肪酸、9个挥发性成分）;在对其多糖分析中发现其分子量主要分布于3.3-1 300kDa范围内,由3个主要色谱峰组成。同时,还比较分析了培植冬虫夏草和野生冬虫夏草的化学成分,结果显示两者小分子化合物种类一致,多糖分子量分布一致。     

小分子化合物诱导干细胞向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究进展

干细胞是一类具有多向分化潜能的细胞群,如胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell,ESC)、诱导多潜能干细胞(induced pluripotent stem cell,i PSC)等,可在特定的条件下向包括视网膜感光细胞在内的多种细胞分化。小分子化合物是一类由组织细胞合成、分泌的小分子多肽类因子,特定的小分子化合物可作用于干细胞诱导其向视网膜感光细胞分化。目前,对干细胞体外培养,通过使用不同的诱导培养方案,探索干细胞向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究成为热点。早期,研究者们主要在共培养条件下采用小分子化合物诱导ESC向视网膜感光细胞分化,随着研究的进展,逐渐开始探索在无共培养条件下小分子化合物诱导ESC向视网膜感光细胞的分化以及小分子化合物诱导i PSC向视网膜感光细胞的分化。本文主要就小分子化合物促进ESC和i PSC向视网膜感光细胞分化的研究进展进行综述。     

Discovering novel chemical inhibitors of human cyclophilin A: virtual screening, synthesis, and bioassay

Cyclophilin A (CypA) is a member of cyclophilins, a family of the highly homologous peptidyl prolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases), which can bind to cyclosporin A (CsA). CypA plays critical roles in various biological processes, including protein folding, assembly, transportation, regulation of neuron growth, and HIV replication. The discovery of CypA inhibitor is now of a great special interest in the treatment of immunological disorders. In this study, a series of novel small molecular CypA inhibitors have been discovered by using structure-based virtual screening in conjunction with chemical synthesis and bioassay. The SPECS_1 database containing 85,000 small molecular compounds was searched by virtual screening against the crystal structure of human CypA. After SPR-based binding affinity assay, 15 compounds were found to show binding affinities to CypA at submicro-molar or micro-molar level (compounds 1-15). Seven compounds were selected as the starting point for the further structure modification in considering binding activity, synthesis difficulty, and structure similarity. We thus synthesized 40 new small molecular compounds (1-6, 15, 16a-q, 17a-d, and 18a-l), and four of which (compounds 16b, 16h, 16k, and 18g) showed high CypA PPIase inhibition activities with IC50s of 2.5-6.2 microM. Pharmacological assay indicated that these four compounds demonstrated somewhat inhibition activities against the proliferation of spleen cells.     

High-throughput ligand screening via preclustering and evolved neural networks

The pathway for novel lead drug discovery has many major deficiencies, the most significant of which is the immense size of small molecule diversity space. Methods that increase the search efficiency and/or reduce the size of the search space, increase the rate at which useful lead compounds are identified. Artificial neural networks optimized via evolutionary computation provide a cost and time-effective solution to this problem. Here, we present results that suggest preclustering of small molecules prior to neural network optimization is useful for generating models of quantitative structure-activity relationships for a set of HIV inhibitors. Using these methods, it is possible to prescreen compounds to separate active from inactive compounds or even actives and mildly active compounds from inactive compounds with high predictive accuracy while simultaneously reducing the feature space. It is also possible to identify "human interpretable" features from the best models that can be used for proposal and synthesis of new compounds in order to optimize potency and specificity.     

Liquid chromatography method for the analysis of adenosine compounds

A newly available chromatography column packing material that employs hybrid particle technology was used to improve the analysis of adenosine compounds. Using a TBAS buffer/acetonitrile gradient this material permits separation of etheno-adenosine compounds in less than 4 min with excellent resolution and sensitivity (50 fmol). Variability of compound quantification is small (coefficients of variation 0.23+/-0.14% for 50 pmol and 1.70+/-0.53% for 0.5 pmol). The new method is well suited for the analysis of adenosine compounds in small biological samples and permits a high sample throughput in autosampler setups with high precision and reproducibility.     

Analysis of low molecular weight compounds by MALDI-FTICR-MS

This review focuses on recent applications of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (MALDI-FTICR-MS) in qualitative and quantitative analysis of low molecular weight compounds. The scope of the work includes amino acids, small peptides, mono and oligosaccharides, lipids, metabolic compounds, small molecule phytochemicals from medicinal herbs and even the volatile organic compounds from tobacco. We discuss both direct analysis and analysis following derivatization. In addition we review sample preparation strategies to reduce interferences in the low m/z range and to improve sensitivities by derivatization with charge tags. We also present coupling of head space techniques with MALDI-FTICR-MS. Furthermore, omics analyses based on MALDI-FTICR-MS were also discussed, including proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics, as well as the relative MS imaging for bio-active low molecular weight compounds. Finally, we discussed the investigations on dissociation/rearrangement processes of low molecular weight compounds by MALDI-FTICR-MS.     

Optimal defense strategy against herbivory in plants: Conditions selecting for induced defense, constitutive defense, and no-defense

To examine the conditions selecting for induced defense, constitutive defense, and no-defense, we developed a model of plant defense strategy against herbivory. In the model, a plant consists of two modules between which signal inducing defense compounds can be translocated. We assume three strategies: plants produce defense compounds responding to herbivory (induced defense), they have the compounds beforehand (constitutive defense), and they never produce the compounds (no-defense). We found that no-defense is optimal if the amount of biomass lost due to herbivory is small because of the growth cost of having defense compounds. The constitutive defense is optimal if the amount of biomass lost is not so small and the probability of herbivory is high. If the biomass loss is not so small but the probability of herbivory is low, the induced defense or no-defense is optimal. When the induced defense is optimal, the probability of herbivory necessarily increases in plants once herbivory has occurred. If the probability stays the same, no-defense is optimal. Thus, the behavior of herbivores, i.e., whether they remain around a plant and attack it repeatedly, affects the evolution of the induced defense.     

Behavioral screening for neuroactive drugs in zebrafish

The larval zebrafish has emerged asa vertebrate model system amenable to small molecule screens for probing diverse biological pathways. Two large-scale small molecule screens examined the effects of thousands of drugs on larval zebrafish sleep/wake and photomotor response behaviors. Both screens identified hundreds of molecules that altered zebrafish behavior in distinct ways. The behavioral profiles induced by these small molecules enabled the clustering of compounds according to shared phenotypes. This approach identified regulators of sleep/wake behavior and revealed the biological targets for poorly characterized compounds. Behavioral screening for neuroactive small molecules in zebrafish is an attractive complement to in vitro screening efforts, because the complex interactions in the vertebrate brain can only be revealed in vivo.     

Mutagenicity of some derivatives of dipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazoles in Salmonella typhimurium with metabolic activation by rat liver and small intestine subcellular fractions

The mutagenic effect of 2-amino-dipyrido[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole (Glu-P-2) was compared with that of the 3-amino, 3-nitro, or 3-N-hydroxylated derivatives of the same base ring with methyl groups at positions 4 and 6 of the molecule. The compounds were tested in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 without metabolic activation and in the presence of different concentrations of subcellular fractions from livers or small intestines of rats pretreated with different P448/P450 inducers. The 4,6-dimethyl compounds are always more mutagenic than Glu-P-2. Pretreatment with Aroclor 1254 (ARO) is the most effective inducer in the activation of the 2- and 3-amino compounds by liver S9, whereas the same fraction decreases the mutagenicity of the 3-nitro derivative. S9 from small intestine increased the mutagenic effect of the 3-nitro and 3-N-hydroxylated compounds, but it was unable to activate the amino compounds.     

Inhibitors of protein geranylgeranyltransferase I and Rab geranylgeranyltransferase identified from a library of allenoate-derived compounds

Protein geranylgeranylation is critical for the function of a number of proteins such as RhoA, Rac, and Rab. Protein geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase-I) and Rab geranylgeranyltransferase (RabGGTase) catalyze these modifications. In this work, we first describe the identification and characterization of small molecule inhibitors of GGTase-I (GGTI) with two novel scaffolds from a library consisting of allenoate-derived compounds. These compounds exhibit specific inhibition of GGTase-I and act by competing with a substrate protein. Derivatization of a carboxylic acid emanating from the core ring of one of the GGTI compounds dramatically improves their cellular activity. The improved GGTI compounds inhibit proliferation of a variety of human cancer cell lines and cause G(1) cell cycle arrest and induction of p21(CIP1/WAF1). We also report the identification of novel small molecule inhibitors of RabGGTase. These compounds were identified first by screening our GGTI compounds for those that also exhibited RabGGTase inhibition. This led to the discovery of a common structural feature for RabGGTase inhibitors: the presence of a characteristic six-atom aliphatic tail attached to the penta-substituted pyrrolidine core. Further screening led to the identification of compounds with preferential inhibition of RabGGTase. These compounds inhibit RabGGTase activity by competing with the substrate protein. These novel compounds may provide valuable reagents to study protein geranylgeranylation.     

Combined Rational Design and a High Throughput Screening Platform for Identifying Chemical Inhibitors of a Ras-activating Enzyme

The Ras family small GTPases regulate multiple cellular processes, including cell growth, survival, movement, and gene expression, and are intimately involved in cancer pathogenesis. Activation of these small GTPases is catalyzed by a special class of enzymes, termed guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs). Herein, we developed a small molecule screening platform for identifying lead hits targeting a Ras GEF enzyme, SOS1. We employed an ensemble structure-based virtual screening approach in combination with a multiple tier high throughput experimental screen utilizing two complementary fluorescent guanine nucleotide exchange assays to identify small molecule inhibitors of GEF catalytic activity toward Ras. From a library of 350,000 compounds, we selected a set of 418 candidate compounds predicted to disrupt the GEF-Ras interaction, of which dual wavelength GDP dissociation and GTP-loading experimental screening identified two chemically distinct small molecule inhibitors. Subsequent biochemical validations indicate that they are capable of dose-dependently inhibiting GEF catalytic activity, binding to SOS1 with micromolar affinity, and disrupting GEF-Ras interaction. Mutagenesis studies in conjunction with structure-activity relationship studies mapped both compounds to different sites in the catalytic pocket, and both inhibited Ras signaling in cells. The unique screening platform established here for targeting Ras GEF enzymes could be broadly useful for identifying lead inhibitors for a variety of small GTPase-activating GEF reactions.     

新古尼异虫草石油醚提取物的成分分析

【背景】新古尼异虫草具有多种药理作用,是一种具有开发潜力的新资源。但该虫草仍有很多活性物质值得探寻,目前对该虫草活性物质的研究多集中于大分子或极性物质,对小分子或弱极性物质的研究关注甚少。【目的】研究新古尼异虫草石油醚提取物中非极性/弱极性小分子化合物,以期完善该虫草中活性物质的化学指纹图谱库。【方法】利用石油醚对新古尼异虫草进行索氏提取,借助傅里叶变换红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,FTIR)和气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用技术鉴定分析石油醚萃取物中的物质组成。【结果】FTIR表明该虫草石油醚萃取物中含有C-H、C=O、C-O和C=C等官能团,经GC-MS进一步分析鉴定出109种化合物,主要包括烷烃、芳烃、烯烃、酸、酯、醇、胺等化合物,且首次检出甾类、芳烃类、烷烃类、酰胺类、烯烃类和酚类非极性/弱极性的小分子化合物,其中亚油酸及其同分异构体的相对含量最高(38.33%)。【结论】从新古尼异虫草中提取得到多种小分子活性成分,补充了该虫草中的物质组成,为其高附加值利用提供数据支撑。     

Design and synthesis of macrocyclic indoles targeting blood coagulation cascade Factor XIa

The synthesis of a series of novel macrocyclic compounds designed to target blood coagulation Factor XIa is described. The compounds were evaluated for their inhibition of a small set of serine proteases. Several compounds displayed modest activity and good selectivity for Factor XIa. Within the series, a promising lead structure for developing novel macrocyclic inhibitors of thrombin was identified.     

Failure of prostacyclin, beta-carotene, atropine and cimetidine to produce gastric cyto- and general mucosal protection in surgically vagotomized rats

Different chemicals (such as ethanol, HCl, drugs) produce gastric mucosal injury. A special type of gastric mucosal defense, which differed from the inhibition of gastric acid secretion, was discovered in response to small doses of prostaglandins. This phenomenon was termed "gastric cytoprotection". Later, the existence of gastric cytoprotection was proved using different compounds, such as vitamin A and other carotenoids, prostacyclin, small doses of anticholinergic and H2-blocking agents. These compounds produce cyto-protection by different mechanisms. In this study we tested the role of vagus nerve on the development of these different types of gastric cytoprotection. These compounds prevent ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats with intact vagus nerve, but their cyto- and mucosal protective effects disappear in surgically vagotomized rats. These results indicate that the intact vagus nerve is basically necessary for the overproduction of HCl and pepsin secretion, and for the development of gastric cytoprotection, produced by different compounds (e.g. prostacyclin, beta-carotene, small doses of atropine and cimetidine) acting without the presence of inhibition of gastric acid secretion.     

Multimeric receptors, new targets for the pharmaceutical industry

Cytokines and growth factors are reported to play a pivotal role in many pathologic conditions. Some recombinant proteins have demonstrated powerful therapeutic activities for example in arthritis for anti-TNF (antibody and soluble receptor) or in cancer for interleukin2 and are now available for clinical use. However limitation in production, treatment condition for use and final high costs have encouraged pharmaceutical industry to develop research of small synthetic compounds which can replace or inhibit natural ligands. During the last 5 years a series of publication have demonstrated that small peptides (up to 20 amino-acids) and non-peptide synthetic compounds may replace in vitro as well as in vivo some cytokine and cell growth factors. Selection of these compounds have used new technique of screening including phage display and gene reporter assays. Currently selected compounds mainly act as agonist and stimulate transduction signals in the target cell as do natural ligands. These results have demonstrated that at least for some cytokine and cell growth factor protein biological action may be mimicked by small molecular weight synthetic compound. Next steps will deal with selection of drug candidates able to be studied at the clinical level.     

Gastrointestinal stability and bioavailability of (poly)phenolic compounds following ingestion of Concord grape juice by humans

The in vitro gastrointestinal stability of (poly)phenolic compounds in Concord grape juice was compared with recoveries in ileal fluid after the ingestion of the juice by ileostomists. Recoveries in ileal fluid indicated that 67% of hydroxycinnamate tartarate esters, and smaller percentages of the intake of other (poly)phenolic compounds, pass from the small intestine to the colon. The juice was also ingested by healthy subjects with an intact functioning colon. Peak plasma concentrations (C(max) ) ranged from 1.0 nmol/L for petunidin-3-O-glucoside to 355 nmol/L for dihydrocoumaric acid. Urinary excretion, as an indicator of bioavailability, varied from 0.26% for total anthocyanins to 24% for metabolites of hydroxycinnamate tartarate esters. The C(max) times of the anthocyanins indicated that their low level absorption occurred in the small intestine in contrast to hydroxycinnamate metabolites which were absorbed in both the small and the large intestine where the colonic microflora appeared responsible for hydrogenation of the hydroxycinnamate side chain. The bioavailability of the complex mixture of (poly)phenolic compounds in Concord grape juice, was very similar to that observed in previous studies when compounds were either fed individually or as major components in products containing a restricted spectrum of (poly)phenolic compounds.     

四氢蒽醌类化合物结构及其生物活性研究进展

四氢蒽醌类化合物是一类比较少见的天然结构,以微生物次生代谢产物居多,少量来源于植物,具有细胞毒活性、抗菌活性、抗疟原虫等生物活性。本文主要从四氢蒽醌类化合物及其衍生物的结构和生物活性两方面来对天然四氢蒽醌化合物进行综述,共综述了54个四氢蒽醌类化合物,45个来源于微生物,9个来源于植物南山花的根中,其中altersolanol A具有很好的抗肿瘤活性,是一个有很大吸引力的抗癌先导化合物。通过对四氢蒽醌类化合物的综述,为四氢蒽醌类化合物的进一步研究和开发提供依据。