Synthesis and antibacterial activity of novel phosphonium salts on the basis of pyridoxine

A series of 13 phosphonium salts on the basis of pyridoxine derivatives were synthesized and their antibacterial activity against clinically relevant strains was tested in vitro. All compounds were almost inactive against gram-negative bacteria and exhibited structure-dependent activity against gram-positive bacteria. A crucial role of ketal protection group in phosphonium salts for their antibacterial properties was demonstrated. Among synthesized compounds 5,6-bis[triphenylphosphonio(methyl)]-2,2,8-trimethyl-4H-[1,3]dioxino[4,5-c]pyridine dichloride (compound 20) was found to be the most effective towards Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains (MIC 5 μg/ml). The mechanism of antibacterial activity of this compound probably involves cell penetration and interaction with genomic and plasmid DNA.     

Neonicotinic analogues: Selective antagonists for α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Nicotine is an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that has been extensively used as a template for the synthesis of α4β2-preferring nAChRs. Here, we used the N-methyl-pyrrolidine moiety of nicotine to design and synthesise novel α4β2-preferring neonicotinic ligands. We increased the distance between the basic nitrogen and aromatic group of nicotine by introducing an ester functionality that also mimics acetylcholine (Fig. 2). Additionally, we introduced a benzyloxy group linked to the benzoyl moiety. Although the neonicotinic compounds fully inhibited binding of both [α-¹²⁵I]bungarotoxin to human α7 nAChRs and [³H]cytisine to human α4β2 nAChRs, they were markedly more potent at displacing radioligand binding to human α4β2 nAChRs than to α7 nAChRs. Functional assays showed that the neonicotinic compounds behave as antagonists at α4β2 and α4β2α5 nAChRs. Substitutions on the aromatic ring of the compounds produced compounds that displayed marked selectivity for α4β2 or α4β2α5 nAChRs. Docking of the compounds on homology models of the agonist binding site at the α4/β2 subunit interfaces of α4β2 nAChRs suggested the compounds inhibit function of this nAChR type by binding the agonist binding site.     

Hydroxyquinoline-derived compounds and analoguing of selective Mcl-1 inhibitors using a functional biomarker

Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins are important oncology therapeutic targets. To date, BH3 mimetics that abrogate anti-apoptotic activity have largely been directed at Bcl-2 and/or Bcl-xL. One observed mechanism of resistance to these inhibitors is increased Mcl-1 levels in cells exposed to such therapeutics. For this reason, and because Mcl-1 is important in the onset of lymphoid, myeloid, and other cancers, it has become a target of great interest. However, small molecule inhibitors displaying potency and selectivity for Mcl-1 are lacking. Identifying such compounds has been challenging due to difficulties in translating the target selectivity observed at the biochemical level to the cellular level. Herein we report the results of an HTS strategy coupled with directed hit optimization. Compounds identified have selective Mcl-1 inhibitory activity with greater than 100-fold reduced affinity for Bcl-xL. The selectivity of these compounds at the cellular level was validated using BH3 profiling, a novel personalized diagnostic approach. This assay provides an important functional biomarker that allows for the characterization of cells based upon their dependencies on various anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. We demonstrate that cells dependent on Mcl-1 or Bcl-2/Bcl-xL for survival are commensurately responsive to compounds that genuinely target those proteins. The identification of compound 9 with uniquely validated and selective Mcl-1 inhibitory activity provides a valuable tool to those studying the intrinsic apoptosis pathway and highlights an important approach in the development of a first-in-class cancer therapeutic.     

Bioactive compounds from Stuhlmannia moavi from the Madagascar dry forest

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the leaf and root extracts of the antiproliferative Madagascar plant Stuhlmannia moavi afforded 6-acetyl-5,8-dihydroxy-2-methoxy-7-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (stuhlmoavin, 1) as the most active compound, with an IC₅₀ value of 8.1 μM against the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line, as well as the known homoisoflavonoid bonducellin (2) and the stilbenoids 3,4,5′-trihydroxy-3′-methoxy-trans-stilbene (3), piceatannol (4), resveratrol (5), rhapontigenin (6), and isorhapontigenin (7). The structure elucidation of all compounds was based on NMR and mass spectroscopic data, and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray analysis. Compounds 2?5 showed weak A2780 activities, with IC₅₀ values of 10.6, 54.0, 41.0, and 74.0 μM, respectively. Compounds 1?3 also showed weak antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 23, 26, and 27 μM, respectively.     

Lead optimization of 5-amino-6-(2,2-dimethyl-5-oxo-4-phenylpiperazin-1-yl)-4-hydroxyhexanamides to reduce a cardiac safety issue: Discovery of DS-8108b,an orally active renin inhibitor

With the aim to address an undesired cardiac issue observed with our related compound in the recently disclosed novel series of renin inhibitors, further chemical modifications of this series were performed. Extensive structure–activity relationships studies as well as in vivo cardiac studies using the electrophysiology rat model led to the discovery of clinical candidate trans-adamantan-1-ol analogue 56 (DS-8108b) as a potent renin inhibitor with reduced potential cardiac risk. Oral administration of single doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg of 56 in cynomolgus monkeys pre-treated with furosemide led to significant reduction of mean arterial blood pressure for more than 12 h.     

Synthesis and biological activity of benzo-fused 7-deazaadenosine analogues. 5- and 6-substituted 4-amino- or 4-alkylpyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides

Two series of new 4-aminopyrimido[4,5-b]indole ribonucleosides bearing phenyl or hetaryl group at position 5 or 6 have been prepared by Suzuki or Stille cross-coupling reactions employing X-Phos ligand with (het)arylboronic acids or stannanes. A series of 4-substituted nucleosides has been also prepared by Pd-catalyzed cross-couplings or nucleophilic substitution. Some of these compounds displayed moderate antiviral activities against HCV and dengue viruses.     

Design and bio-evaluation of indole derivatives as potent Kv1.5 inhibitors

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the common arrhythmias that threaten human health. Kv1.5 potassium channel is reported as an efficacious and safe target for the treatment of AF. In this paper, we designed and synthesized three series of compounds through modifying the lead compound RH01617 that was screened out by the pharmacophore model we reported earlier. All of the compounds were evaluated by the whole-patch lamp technology and most of them possessed potent inhibitory activities against Kv1.5. Compounds IIIi and IIIl were evaluated for the target selectivity as well as the pharmacodynamic effects in an isolated rat model. Due to the promising pharmacological behavior, compound IIIl deserves further pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic evaluations.     

Analogs of iso-azepinomycin as potential transition-state analog inhibitors of guanase: Synthesis,biochemical screening,and structure–activity correlations of various selectively substituted imidazo[4,5-e][1,4]diazepines

Guanase is an important enzyme of the purine salvage pathway of nucleic acid metabolism and its inhibition has beneficial implications in viral, bacterial, and cancer therapy. The work described herein is based on a hypothesis that azepinomycin, a heterocyclic natural product and a purported transition state analog inhibitor of guanase, does not represent the true transition state of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction as closely as does iso-azepinomycin, wherein the 6-hydroxy group of azepinomycin has been translocated to the 5-position. Based on this hypothesis, and assuming that iso-azepinomycin would bind to guanase at the same active site as azepinomycin, several analogs of iso-azepinomycin were designed and successfully synthesized in order to gain a preliminary understanding of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic sites surrounding the guanase binding site of the ligand. Specifically, the analogs were designed to explore the hydrophobic pockets, if any, in the vicinity of N1, N3, and N4 nitrogen atoms as well as O⁵ oxygen atom of iso-azepinomycin. Biochemical inhibition studies of these analogs were performed using a mammalian guanase. Our results indicate that (1) increasing the hydrophobicity near O⁵ results in a negative effect, (2) translocating the hydrophobicity from N3 to N1 also results in decreased inhibition, (3) increasing the hydrophobicity near N3 or N4 produces significant enhancement of inhibition, (4) increasing the hydrophobicity at either N3 or N4 with a simultaneous increase in hydrophobicity at O⁵ considerably diminishes any gain in inhibition made by solely enhancing hydrophobicity at N3 or N4, and (5) finally, increasing the hydrophilic character near N3 has also a deleterious effect on inhibition. The most potent compound in the series has a K_i value of 8.0 ± 1.5 μM against rabbit liver guanase.     

黄粉虫抗菌肽在大肠杆菌中表达条件优化及活性分析

为了提高黄粉虫抗菌肽基因tmAMP1m在大肠杆菌中的表达量,研究了培养温度、诱导时间及IPTG浓度等不同条件对HIS-TmAMP1m融合蛋白表达量和活性的影响。通过Tricine-SDS-PAGE分析确定最佳表达条件,同时,通过琼脂孔穴扩散法检测其抑菌活性。结果表明,含有重组质粒的大肠杆菌在37℃,使用终浓度为0.1 mmol/L IPTG培养4 h时,融合蛋白表达量较高,可占细菌总蛋白40%以上,抗菌活性最好。用Ni2+亲和层析纯化获得较纯的融合蛋白,Western blotting分析表明其能与His单克隆抗体起特异性反应。诱导表达的融合蛋白对宿主菌生长产生一定程度抑制。融合蛋白经100℃煮沸10 h,在20℃反复冻融10次,与强酸强碱缓冲液、不同的有机溶剂和蛋白酶混合后都具有极强的稳定性,仍然表现出良好的抗菌活性。此外,最小抑菌浓度(MIC)测定结果表明,融合蛋白对5种菌具有良好的抗菌活性。研究结果为昆虫抗菌肽推广应用和进一步研究奠定了基础。     

外源NO对2+胁迫下小桐子幼苗抗氧化能力的影响

为探讨外源一氧化氮(NO)供体硝普钠(SNP)对铜(Cu2+)胁迫的缓解效应,该试验以小桐子幼苗为材料,先通过小桐子幼苗根茎生长指标的变化筛选出后续实验适宜的SNP(0.2mmol/L)和Cu2+浓度(90mmol/L),再进一步考察SNP预处理对Cu2+胁迫下幼苗脯氨酸(Pro)和丙二醛(MDA)的含量及抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果显示:(1)Cu2+处理能诱导小桐子幼苗叶片中Pro和MDA含量显著升高,且过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧物歧化酶(SOD)、愈创木酚过氧化物酶(POD)及抗坏血酸专一性过氧化物酶(APX)的活性增强。(2)用SNP预处理能显著提高Cu2+胁迫下幼苗叶片Pro的含量,进一步增强叶片中CAT、SOD、POD和APX活性,降低MDA的含量。研究表明,0.2mmol/L的SNP能够通过提高小桐子幼苗的抗氧化酶活性和游离脯氨酸含量来增强其抗氧化胁迫能力,从而显著缓解Cu2+胁迫对幼苗造成的氧化伤害,维持其正常生长发育。