The discovery and SAR of indoline-3-carboxamides—A new series of 5-HT6 antagonists

Antagonists of the 5-HT₆ receptor have been shown to improve cognitive function in a wide range of animal models and as such may prove to be attractive agents for the symptomatic treatment of cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and schizophrenia. We report herein the identification and SAR around N-(2-aminoalkyl)-1-(arylsulfonyl)indoline-3-carboxamides—a novel chemotype of 5-HT₆ antagonists.     

Hypoglycemia induced changes in cholinergic receptor expression in the cerebellum of diabetic rats

Glucose homeostasis in humans is an important factor for the functioning of nervous system. Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia is found to be associated with central and peripheral nerve system dysfunction. Changes in acetylcholine receptors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of many major diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study we showed the effects of insulin induced hypoglycemia and streptozotocin induced diabetes on the cerebellar cholinergic receptors, GLUT3 and muscle cholinergic activity. Results showed enhanced binding parameters and gene expression of Muscarinic M1, M3 receptor subtypes in cerebellum of diabetic (D) and hypoglycemic group (D + IIH and C + IIH). α7nAchR gene expression showed a significant upregulation in diabetic group and showed further upregulated expression in both D + IIH and C + IIH group. AchE expression significantly upregulated in hypoglycemic and diabetic group. ChAT showed downregulation and GLUT3 expression showed a significant upregulation in D + IIH and C + IIH and diabetic group. AchE activity enhanced in the muscle of hypoglycemic and diabetic rats. Our studies demonstrated a functional disturbance in the neuronal glucose transporter GLUT3 in the cerebellum during insulin induced hypoglycemia in diabetic rats. Altered expression of muscarinic M1, M3 and α7nAchR and increased muscle AchE activity in hypoglycemic rats in cerebellum is suggested to cause cognitive and motor dysfunction. Hypoglycemia induced changes in ChAT and AchE gene expression is suggested to cause impaired acetycholine metabolism in the cerebellum. Cerebellar dysfunction is associated with seizure generation, motor deficits and memory impairment. The results shows that cerebellar cholinergic neurotransmission is impaired during hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia and the hypoglycemia is causing more prominent imbalance in cholinergic neurotransmission which is suggested to be a cause of cerebellar dysfunction associated with hypoglycemia.     

Trust, patents and public perceptions: the governance of controversial biotechnology research

The sustainability of many research endeavors, particularly in controversial areas, requires an understanding of public concerns. As such, governance strategies should be developed to sustain public trust.     

Comparative immunogenicity in rhesus monkeys of DNA plasmid,recombinant vaccinia virus,and replication-defective adenovirus vectors expressing a human immunodeficiency virus type 1 gag gene

Cellular immune responses, particularly those associated with CD3⁺ CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), play a primary role in controlling viral infection, including persistent infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Accordingly, recent HIV-1 vaccine research efforts have focused on establishing the optimal means of eliciting such antiviral CTL immune responses. We evaluated several DNA vaccine formulations, a modified vaccinia virus Ankara vector, and a replication-defective adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) vector, each expressing the same codon-optimized HIV-1 gag gene for immunogenicity in rhesus monkeys. The DNA vaccines were formulated with and without one of two chemical adjuvants (aluminum phosphate and CRL1005). The Ad5-gag vector was the most effective in eliciting anti-Gag CTL. The vaccine produced both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T-cell responses, with the latter consistently being the dominant component. To determine the effect of existing antiadenovirus immunity on Ad5-gag-induced immune responses, monkeys were exposed to adenovirus subtype 5 that did not encode antigen prior to immunization with Ad5-gag. The resulting anti-Gag T-cell responses were attenuated but not abolished. Regimens that involved priming with different DNA vaccine formulations followed by boosting with the adenovirus vector were also compared. Of the formulations tested, the DNA-CRL1005 vaccine primed T-cell responses most effectively and provided the best overall immune responses after boosting with Ad5-gag. These results are suggestive of an immunization strategy for humans that are centered on use of the adenovirus vector and in which existing adenovirus immunity may be overcome by combined immunization with adjuvanted DNA and adenovirus vector boosting.     

Mechanistic studies of the plasma membrane block to polyspermy in mouse eggs

The mechanisms responsible for the plasma membrane associated block to polyspermy in mouse eggs were studied. Reinsemination experiments using zona-free eggs indicated that, after fertilization, the egg plasma membrane is altered such that sperm binding to the egg plasma membrane is blocked, except in the region of the second polar body. Activation of the egg with either ethanol or strontium chloride did not result in a block to polyspermic penetration, as artificially activated eggs displayed identical penetration levels as to nonactivated control eggs. The penetrability of activated eggs was not altered by the presence or absence of the zona pellucida during activation. Lectin staining for egg cortical granule material indicated that activation did cause cortical granule exocytosis; however, activated eggs remained penetrable. These data support the following conclusions: (1) an alteration in the ability of the egg plasma membrane to allow sperm adherence accounts for the block to polyspermy; (2) establishment of the plasma membrane block to polyspermy is sperm dependent, since artificial egg activation does not result in a block response; (3) the contents of the egg's cortical granules do not play a role in the establishment of the plasmalemma block response. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Export of extracellular levansucrase by Bacillus subtilis: inhibition by cerulenin and quinacrine.

Bacillus subtilis B secretes an inducible, extracellular enzyme, levansucrase. Inhibition studies were undertaken to investigate the possible mechanism of release of this enzyme. The antibiotic cerulenin, at a concentration of 10 micrograms/ml, totally inhibited de novo lipid synthesis in B. subtilis B for at least 1 h, while only slightly reducing protein and RNA synthesis. At this concentration cerulenin, added concomitantly with the inducer sucrose, prevented the release of levansucrase for at least 150 min. This was not due to the prevention of inducer uptake by the cells. The release of the enzyme was also independent of cell division. In B. subtilis 1007 the induction of beta-galactosidase by 5 mM lactose was not prevented by cerulenin. Preliminary evidence indicated the association of a lipid moiety with the enzyme as it passes through the cytoplasmic membrane. Quinacrine (0.2 mM), which inhibits the penicillinase-releasing protease of Bacillus licheniformis, inhibited levansucrase release from B. subtilis B, but had no effect on lipid synthesis.     

Patenting human genetic material: refocusing the debate

The biotechnology industry has become firmly established over the past twenty years and gene patents have played an important part in this phenomenon. However, concerns have been raised over the patentability of human genetic material, through public protests and international statements, but to little effect. Here we discuss some of these concerns, the patent authorities' response to them, and ways in which to address these issues and to move the debate forward using current legal structures.