Synthesis, anticancer activity and apoptosis inducing ability of bisindole linked pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine conjugates

A series of bisindole-pyrrolobenzodiazepine conjugates (5a-f) linked through different alkane spacers was prepared and evaluated for their anticancer activity. All compounds exhibited significant anticancer potency and the most potent compounds 5b and 5e were taken up for detailed studies on MCF-7 cell line. Cell cycle effects were examined apart from investigating the inhibition of tubulin polymerization for compounds 2a, 2b, 5b and 5e at 2μM. FACS analysis showed that at higher concentrations (4 and 8μM) there was an increase of sub-G1 phase cells and decrease of G2/M phase cells, thus indicating that compounds 5b and 5e are effective in causing apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. It was also observed that compounds 5b and 5e showed the down regulation of histone deacetylase protein levels such as HDAC1, 2, 3, 8 and increase in the levels of p21, followed by apoptotic cell death. The apoptotic nature of these compounds was further evidenced by increased expression of cleaved-PARP and active caspase-7 in MCF-7 cells.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4β-sulphonamido and 4β-[(4'-sulphonamido)benzamide]podophyllotoxins as DNA topoisomerase-IIα and apoptosis inducing agents

A series of new 4β-sulphonamido and 4β-[(4'-sulphonamido)benzamide] conjugates of podophyllotoxin (11a-j and 15a-g) were synthesized and evaluated for anticancer activity against six human cancer cell lines and found to be more potent than etoposide. Some of the compounds 11b, 11d and 11e that showed significant antiproliferative activity in Colo-205 cells, were superior to etoposide. The flow cytometric analysis indicates that these compounds (11b, 11d and 11e) showed G2/M cell cycle arrest and among them 11e is the most effective. It is observed that this compound (11e) caused both single-strand DNA breaks as observed by comet assay as well as double-strand DNA breaks as indicated by γ-H2AX. Further 11e showed inhibition of topo-IIα as observed from Western blot analysis and related studies. Compounds caused activation of ATM as well as Chk1 protein indicating that the compound caused effective DNA damage. Moreover activation of caspase-3, p21, p16, NF-kB and down regulation of Bcl-2 protein suggests that this compound (11e) has apoptotic cell death inducing ability, apart from acting as a topo-IIα inhibitor.     

Phosphodiesterase 8B gene variants are associated with serum TSH levels and thyroid function

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) controls thyroid growth and hormone secretion through binding to its G protein-coupled receptor (TSHR) and production of cyclic AMP (cAMP). Serum TSH is a sensitive indicator of thyroid function, and overt abnormalities in thyroid function lead to common endocrine disorders affecting approximately 10% of individuals over a life span. By genotyping 362,129 SNPs in 4,300 Sardinians, we identified a strong association (p = 1.3 x 10(-11)) between alleles of rs4704397 and circulating TSH levels; each additional copy of the minor A allele was associated with an increase of 0.13 muIU/ml in TSH. The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is located in intron 1 of PDE8B, encoding a high-affinity cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase. The association was replicated in 4,158 individuals, including additional Sardinians and two genetically distant cohorts from Tuscany and the Old Order Amish (overall p value = 1.9 x 10(-20)). In addition to association of TSH levels with SNPs in PDE8B, our genome scan provided evidence for association with PDE10A and several biologically interesting candidates in a focused analysis of 24 genes. In particular, we found evidence for association of TSH levels with SNPs in the THRB (rs1505287, p = 7.3 x 10(-5)), GNAQ (rs10512065, p = 2.0 x 10(-4)), TG (rs2252696, p = 2.2 x 10(-3)), POU1F1 (rs1976324, p = 3.9 x 10(-3)), PDE4D (rs27178, p = 8.3 x 10(-3)), and TSHR (rs4903957, p = 8.6 x 10(-3)) loci. Overall, the results suggest a primary effect of PDE8B variants on cAMP levels in the thyroid. This would affect production of T4 and T3 and feedback to alter TSH release by the pituitary. PDE8B may thus provide a candidate target for the treatment of thyroid dysfunction.     

Evaluation of Ssp I polymerase chain reaction assay in the detection of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in field-collected Culex quinquefasciatus and its application in the transmission studies of lymphatic filariasis

Abstract: Ssp I polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, developed for Wuchereria bancrofti, was evaluated for its sensitivity in detecting infection in the vector, Culex quinquefasciatus, in the field. The evaluation of the assay was carried out using pools of vector mosquitoes collected from areas under filariasis survey and control trial projects, in comparison with the standard dissection and microscopy technique. In the filariasis survey area the infection rate as determined by the dissection and microscopy technique was 0.89% whereas it was 1.7% by PCR assay. In the Bacillus sphaericus trial area the infection rates as assessed by the conventional technique were 6.6 and 4.5% in the treated and check areas, respectively, whereas those obtained by the PCR assay were 4.7 to 2.2%. Although the infection rates determined by the PCR assay are slightly higher or lower than the rates obtained by the conventional technique, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.451 for filariasis survey area, and P=0.203 and 0.161 for B. sphaericus trial area). When the pool size of Cx. quinquefasciatus was increased to 50 the sensitivity of the PCR was affected. The changes in infection rates as influenced by the antifilarial chemotherapy were similar when determined by PCR assay and the standard method. The major advantage of the PCR assay over the conventional technique is that thousands of mosquitoes can be processed within a short duration and this attribute has potential application in rapid assessment of disease prevalence and monitoring of the transmission dynamics.     

Aromatic-aromatic interactions: analysis of π-π interactions in interleukins and TNF proteins

Aromatic-aromatic hydrogen bonds are important in many areas of chemistry, biology and materials science. In this study we have analyzed the roles played by the π-π interactions in interleukins (ILs) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) proteins. Majority of π-π interacting residues are conserved in ILs and TNF proteins. The accessible surface area calculations in these proteins reveal that these interactions might be important in stabilizing the inner core regions of these proteins. In addition to π-π interactions, the aromatic residues also form π-networks in ILs and TNF proteins. The results obtained in the present study indicate that π-π interactions and π-π networks play important roles in the structural stability of ILs and TNF proteins.     

Chromatin Modification and Global Transcriptional Silencing in the Oocyte Mediated by the mRNA Decay Activator ZFP36L2

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3-Oxo-friedelan-20α-OIC acid from gymnosporia emarginata

3-Oxo-friedelan-20α-oic acid, named as maytenonic (polpunonic) acid, has been isolated along with β-amyrin and sitosterol from Gymnosporia emarginata. ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals have been assigned for the structure. X-ray analysis of the single crystal confirmed that the carboxylic acid is α-oriented at C-20 and the D/E rings of this D:A-friedo-oleanane are in chair-chair conformation. ¹³C NMR data of the present compound also enabled the assignment of the C-20α- and β-methyl carbons in friedelin.