Gold(III) Salen complex-catalyzed synthesis of propargylamines via a three-component coupling reaction

[reaction: see text] Propargylamines have been synthesized by a gold(III) salen complex-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction of aldehydes, amines, and alkynes in water in excellent yields at 40 degrees C. With chiral prolinol derivatives as the amine component, excellent diastereoselectivities (up to 99:1) have been attained. This coupling reaction has been applied to the synthesis of propargylamine-modified artemisinin derivatives with the delicate endoperoxide moieties remaining intact. Cytotoxicities with IC(50) values up to 1.1 microM against a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) were exhibited by these artemisinin derivatives.     

Co-activation of Gi and Gq proteins exerts synergistic effect on human platelet aggregation through activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ signalling pathways

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of integrin antagonists containing trans- and cis-2,5-disubstituted THF rings

The synthesis of a series of RGD mimetics is described. All compounds consist of a central 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofuran core, a variable linker to a guanidino group, and a beta-amino alanine unit to mimic the carboxylic acid. Three types of linkers were investigated: a simple four-atom methylene chain (type A, compounds 14, 15, 16, and 17), a four-atom methylene chain with an additional chiral center, and a nitrogen substituent (type B, compounds 38, 39, and 40), and an amide linker of different length with an additional chiral center (type C, compounds 59, 60, 61, and 62). A variety of compounds were tested as potential integrin antagonists in a receptor binding assay (alphaIIbbeta3, alphavbeta3, and alphavbeta5). The relative and absolute configuration of the chiral centers at the THF ring had a pronounced effect on the binding activity and selectivity. Compound 14 proved to be a selective inhibitor of alphaIIbbeta3 (IC50=20nM), whereas compound 40 exhibited high activity for binding of alphaIIbbeta3 (IC50=67nM) and alphavbeta3 (IC50=52nM).     

Stimuli-responsive polyguanidino-oxanorbornene membrane transporters as multicomponent sensors in complex matrices

We introduce guanidinium-containing synthetic polymers based on polyguanidino-oxanorbornenes (PGONs) as anion transporters in lipid bilayers that can be activated and inactivated by chemical stimulation. According to fluorogenic anion export experiments with vesicles, PGON transporters are most active in neutral bilayers near their phase transition, with EC50's in the nanomolar range. Six times higher effective transporter concentrations were measured with aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonate than with 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein, demonstrating the importance of anion binding for transport and excluding nonspecific efflux. Negative surface potentials efficiently annihilate transport activity, while inside-negative membrane potentials slightly increase it. These trends demonstrate the functional importance of counterions to hinder the binding of hydrophilic counterions and to minimize the global positive charge of the transporter-counterion complexes. Strong, nonlinear increases in activity with polymer length reveal a significant polymer effect. Overall, the characteristics of PGONs do not match those of similar systems (for example, polyarginine) and hint toward an interesting mode of action, clearly different from nonspecific leakage caused by detergents. The activity of PGONs increases in the presence of amphiphilic anions such as pyrenebutyrate (EC50 = 70 microM), while several other amphiphilic anions tested were inactive. PGONs are efficiently inactivated by numerous hydrophilic anions including ATP (IC 50 = 150 microM), ADP (IC50 = 460 microM), heparin (IC50 = 1.0 microM), phytate (IC50 = 0.4 microM), and CB hydrazide (IC50 = 26 microM). The compatibility of this broad responsiveness with multicomponent sensing in complex matrices is discussed and illustrated with lactate sensing in sour milk. The PGON lactate sensor operates together with lactate oxidase as a specific signal generator and CB hydrazide as an amplifier for covalent capture of the pyruvate product as CB hydrazone (IC50 = 1.5 microM).     

Structure activity relationships of new inhibitors of mammalian 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase designed from isoquinoline derivatives

We have designed more potent inhibitors from the previously reported LF 05-0038, a 6-isoquinolinol based inhibitor of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (IC50: 1.1 microM). Replacement of the 3-OH group by various 3-substituted amino groups, and modification of the alkyl chain borne by the endocyclic nitrogen led to inhibitors with IC50 in the range of 0.15 to 1 microM. In a second step, opening of the bicyclic ring system afforded the corresponding aminoalkylpiperidines which were slightly more potent. Finally, introduction of suitable aromatic containing moieties on the piperidine nitrogen yielded very potent inhibitors such as 20x (IC50 = 18 nM) easy to synthesize and achiral. The recent availability of the crystal structure of squalene-hopene cyclase allowed us to construct a three-dimensional (3D) model of the related 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase (OSC) which was tentatively used to describe the possible mode of binding of our compounds and which can be useful for designing new inhibitors.     

Probing sponge-derived terpenoids for human 15-lipoxygenase inhibitors

A human 15-lipoxygenase (15-HLO) assay has been employed to discover new marine-sponge-derived bioactive compounds. Extracts from two different sponges, Jaspis splendens (order Choristida, family Jaspidae) and Suberea sp. (order Verongida, family Aplysinellidae), exhibited potent IC(50) values of 0.4 and 0.1 microg/mL, respectively. Both are sources of terpenoids, and the former is a known source of (+)-jasplakinolide (7), which is inactive as a 15-HLO inhibitor. The terpenoids included (+)-(5S,6S)-subersin (1, IC(50) > 100 microM), (-)-(5R,10R)-subersic acid (2, IC(50) = 15 microM), jaspaquinol (3, IC(50) = 0.3 microM), and (-)-jaspic acid (4, IC(50) = 1.4 microM). Structure elucidations and lipoxygenase activity studies of these compounds are reported.     

Imidazolate bridged Cu(II)-Cu(II) and Cu(II)-Zn(II) complexes of a terpyridinophane azamacrocycle: a solution and solid state study

The dinuclear Cu2+ and Zn2+ as well as the mixed Cu2+-Zn2+ complexes of a 5,5'-pentaazaterpyridinophane ligand (L) are able to incorporate imidazolate (Im-) as a bridging ligand. The crystal structure of [Cu(2)L(Im)(Br)(H2O)](CF(3)SO(3))(2).3H2O (1) shows one copper coordinated by the three pyridine nitrogens of the terpyridine unit, one nitrogen of the imidazolate bridge (Im-) and one bromide anion occupying the axial position of a distorted square pyramid. The second copper atom is coordinated by the remaining imidazolate nitrogen, the three secondary nitrogens at the centre of the polyamine bridge and one water molecule that occupies the axial position. Magnetic measurements have been performed in the 2.0-300.0 K temperature range. Experimental data could be satisfactorily reproduced by using an isotropic exchange model H = -JS(1)S(2) with J = -52.3 cm(-1) and g = 2.09. Potentiometric studies have provided details of the speciation and stability constants for the mixed Cu2+-L-HIm, Zn2+-L-HIm (HIm = imidazole) and Cu2+-Zn2+-L-HIm systems. The apparent stability constant obtained at pH = 9 for the addition of imidazole to the dinuclear Cu2+ complexes is one of the highest so far reported (log K = 7.5). UV-Vis spectroscopy and paramagnetic NMR data show that imidazole coordinates to the Cu2+ ions as a bridging imidazolate ligand from pH 5 to 10. Electrochemical reduction of the Cu2+-Zn2+-L complex occurs in two successive one-electron per copper ion quasi-reversible steps. The formal potential of the Cu2+-Zn2+-L/Cu+-Zn2+-L couple is close to that of SOD. The IC50 values measured at pH 7.8 by means of the nitro blue tetrazolium method show significant SOD activity for the dinuclear Cu2+ complexes (IC50 = 2.5 microM) and moderate activity for the Cu2+-Zn2+ mixed systems (IC50 = 30 microM).     

An important role of intramolecular free radical reactions in antimalarial activity of artemisinin and its analogs

The kinetic schemes of intramolecular reactions of five analogs of artemisinin were built. The method of intersecting parabolas was used for the calculation of activation energies and rate constants of each elementary step of these schemes. The competition between monomolecular and bimolecular free radicals was taken into account. It was evidenced that the intramolecular oxidation of these compounds proceeds as a cascade of consecutive free radical reactions with the formation of hydroperoxide groups. The latter decompose via reactions with the Fe(II) complexes generating free radicals. Among the radicals formed, the hydroxyl radical was proved to play the key role. A correlation between the yield of hydroxyl radicals n(OH) and antimalarial activity of compounds (IC(50)) was observed. The dependence of index IC(50) on n(OH) is linear in the logarithmic coordinates: ln[IC(50)(Artemisinin)/IC(50)(Compound)] = -14.10 + 3.85 ×n(OH). The proposed scheme explains and demonstrates a strong dependence of the antimalarial effectiveness of a drug on the chemical structure.     

Nanomolar CFTR inhibition by pore-occluding divalent polyethylene glycol-malonic acid hydrazides

Inhibitors of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel have potential application as antisecretory therapy in cholera. We synthesized mono- and divalent CFTR inhibitors consisting of a malonic acid hydrazide (MalH) coupled via a disulfonic stilbene linker to polyethylene glycols (PEGs; 0.2-100 kDa). IC50 values for CFTR inhibition were 10-15 microM for the monovalent MalH-PEGs, but substantially lower for divalent MalH-PEG-MalH compounds, decreasing from 1.5 to 0.3 microM with increasing PEG size and showing positive cooperativity. Whole-cell patch-clamp showed voltage-dependent CFTR block with inward rectification. Outside-out patch-clamp showed shortened single-channel openings, indicating CFTR pore block from the extracellular side. Luminally added MalH-PEG-MalH blocked by >90% cholera toxin-induced fluid secretion in mouse intestinal loops (IC50 approximately 10 pmol/loop), and greatly reduced mortality in a suckling mouse cholera model. These conjugates may provide safe, inexpensive antisecretory therapy.     

Two-photon microscopy study of the intracellular compartmentalisation of emissive terbium complexes and their oligo-arginine and oligo-guanidinium conjugates

An emissive terbium complex has been conjugated to a C12 chain, Lys-Arg7, Arg7, a tetraguanidinium cation and human serum albumin; two-photon excitation at 720 nm facilitated microscopy studies revealing cell localisation profiles with the oligo-guanidinium conjugate localising in mitochondria but causing apoptotic cell death (IC(50)12 microM), the C12-amide complex giving rise to necrotic cell death in skin fibroblasts (IC50 8 microM) and the peptide conjugates and the methyl ester generating punctuate cytosolic intracellular distributions.     

Hydantoin derivatives of L- and D-amino acids: synthesis and evaluation of their antiviral and antitumoral activity

3,5-Disubstituted hydantoin (1,3-imidazolidinedione) derivatives 5a-h were prepared by base induced cyclization of the corresponding N-(1-benzotriazolecarbonyl)-L- and D-amino acid amides 4a-h. Compounds 5a-h were evaluated for their cytostatic and antiviral activities. Among all the compounds evaluated, 3-benzhydryl-5-isopropyl hydantoin (5a) showed a weak but selective inhibitory effect against vaccinia virus (EC(50) = 16 microg/mL; selectivity index: 25). 3-Cyclohexyl-5-phenyl hydantoin (5g) showed inhibitory activity against cervical carcinoma (HeLa, IC(50) = 5.4 microM) and breast carcinoma (MCF-7, IC(50) = 2 microM), but also cytotoxic effects towards human normal fibroblasts (WI 38). On the contrary, the 3-benzhydryl-5-phenyl substituted hydantoin derivative 5h showed moderate inhibitory activity towards HeLa, MCF-7, pancreatic carcinoma (MiaPaCa-2), lung carcinoma (H 460) and colon carcinoma (SW 620) (IC(50) = 20-23 microM), but no effect on WI 38.     

Inhibition on HIV-1 integrase activity and nitric oxide production of compounds from Ficus glomerata

An ethanol Ficus glomerata wood extract and its purified components were investigated for their HIV-1 integrase (IN) and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. From bioassay-guided isolation, five compounds: beta-sitosterol-D-glucoside (1), aloe-emodin (2), genistein (3), 1,3,6-trihydroxy-8-methyl-anthraquinone (4) and 3-(1-C-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-2,6-dihydroxy-5-methoxybenzoic acid (5) were isolated. Among the tested samples, at concentrations of 100 microM; compound 2 showed 31.9% inhibition of HIV-1 IN, followed by 4 (19.5%), whereas other compounds were inactive. With regard to the inhibitory effect on NO production, 3 possessed the highest activity with an IC50 value of 27.5 microM, followed by 4 (IC50 = 34.7 microM) and 2 (IC50 = 41.8 microM), respectively. This is the first time that compounds 2-5 have been isolated from Ficus glomerata.     

Tyrosinase inhibitors from Rhododendron collettianum and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies

A new coumarinolignoid 8'-epi-cleomiscosin A (1) together with the new glycoside 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-6-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-1-benzopyrane-4-one (2) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Rhododendron collettianum and their structures determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidences. Tyrosinase inhibition study of these compounds and their structure-activity relationship (SAR) were also investigated. The compounds exhibited potent to mild inhibition activity against the enzyme. Especially, the compound 1 showed strong inhibition (IC50=1.33 microM) against the enzyme tyrosinase, as compared to the standard tyrosinase inhibitors kojic acid (IC50=16.67 microM) and L-mimosine (IC50=3.68 microM), indicating its potential used for the treatment of hyperpigmentation associated with the high production of melanocytes.     

Neoglycopeptide dendrimer libraries as a source of lectin binding ligands

[structure: see text] A 15 625-membered peptide dendrimer combinatorial library was acylated with an alpha-C-fucosyl residue at its four N-termini and screened for binding to fucose-specific lectins. Dendrimer FD2 (Fuc-alpha-CH2CO-Lys-Pro-Leu)4(Lys-Phe-Lys-Ile)2Lys-His-Ile-NH2 was identified as a potent ligand against Ulex europaeus lectin UEA-I (IC50 = 11 microM) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa lectin PA-IIL (IC50 = 0.14 microM).     

Synthesis of novel curcumin analogues and their evaluation as selective cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibitors

Curcumin, a major yellow pigment and active component of turmeric, has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Recent studies have indicated that cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) plays an important role in inflammation and carcinogenesis. In order to find more selective COX-1 inhibitors a series of novel curcumin derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for their ability to inhibit this enzyme using in vitro inhibition assays for COX-1 and COX-2 by measuring PGE(2) production. All curcumin analogues showed a higher rate of COX-1 inhibition. The most potent curcumin compounds were (1E,6E)-1,7-di-(2,3,4-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadien-3,5-dione (4) (COX-1: IC(50) = 0.06 microM, COX-2: IC(50) > 100 microM, selectivity index>1666) and (1E,6E)-methyl 4-[7-(4-methoxycarbonyl)phenyl]-3,5-dioxo-1,6-heptadienyl]benzoate (6) (COX-1: IC(50) = 0.05 microM, COX-2: IC(50) > 100 microM, selectivity index > 2000). Curcumin analogues therefore represent a novel class of highly selective COX-1 inhibitors and promising candidates for in vivo studies.     

Effective isolation of magnesium lithospermate B and its inhibition of aldose reductase and fibronectin on mesangial cell line

We developed an effective isolation method of magnesium lithospermate B from Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix and found for the first time that magnesium lithospermate B shows strong in vitro inhibition (IC50=0.04 microM) of aldose reductase (AR), 2.5 times than that of clinically used epalrestat (IC50=0.1 microM) and accumulation of fibronectin dose dependently.     

Inhibitory effects of 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl, the constituents of Cassia garrettiana on antigen-induced histamine release in vitro.

3,3',4,5'-Tetrahydroxystilbene (I) and 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl (II), isolated from the heartwood of Cassia garrettiana Craib (Leguminosae), showed inhibitory effects on antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro. The inhibitory effect of I (IC50 = 30.2 microM) was much stronger than that of II (greater than 100 microM). Compound II, as well as I (IC50 = 7.3 microM) reported previously, also inhibited the histamine release from human peripheral basophils induced by anti-immunoglobulin E (IgE) in vitro, and its IC50-value was 68.0 microM. These results suggest that the trans-olefin structure in the molecule may be necessary for I to have an inhibitory effect on histamine release. Considering that disodium cromoglycate did not show any significant inhibitory effect on anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils, the strong inhibitory effects of I in both tests are of considerable interest.     

Relationship of electrochemical oxidation of catechins on their antioxidant activity in microsomal lipid peroxidation.

The oxidation potentials of catechins were measured by employing flow-through column electrolysis. The oxidation potentials of catechins were shown to depend on their structures. At the same time, the antioxidant activity of catechins on NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes was evaluated. Catechins showed a 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the concentration range of 10-51 microM. Among those studied, galloylated catechins exhibited stronger antioxidant activities than those of nongalloylated catechins. A quantitative relationship has been obtained to describe the antioxidant activity of catechins: log IC50 (microM)= 1.56+2.49E1/2 (V)-0.29 logP (r=0.907), where IC50 represents the concentration for 50% inhibition of lipid peroxidation, E1/2 represents the half-wave potential of the first oxidation wave, and P represents the octanol/water partition coefficient. This relationship suggested two important characteristics determining catechin antioxidant activity, namely the ease of oxidation and the lipophilicity.