Luotonin A. A naturally occurring human DNA topoisomerase I poison

Luotonin A is a pyrroloquinazolinoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Chinese herbal medicinal plant Peganum nigellastrum. Although previously shown to exhibit cytotoxicity against the murine leukemia P-388 cell line, the mechanism of action of luotonin A is unknown. Presently, we demonstrate that luotonin A stabilizes the human DNA topoisomerase I-DNA covalent binary complex, affording the same pattern of cleavage as the structurally related topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin. Luotonin A also mediated topoisomerase I-dependent cytotoxicity toward Saccharyomyces cerevisiae lacking yeast topoisomerase I, but harboring a plasmid having the human topoisomerase I gene under the control of a galactose promoter. This finding identifies a putative biochemical locus for the cytotoxic action of luotonin A and has important implications for the mechanism of action of camptothecin and the design of camptothecin analogues.     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 9-methyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin

A novel camptothecin analogue, 9-methyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin （4）, was unexpectedly synthesized from 10-hydroxycamptothecin in two steps. The key step included an efficient Mannich-type reaction. The overall yield was 47.2%. An ether analogue of 4, 9-methyl-10-benzylaminomethoxycamptothecin （5）, was also prepared. These new camptothecin analogues were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines, and exhibited more potent antitumor activities than contrals camptothecin and topotecan against several cancer cells.     

14-azacamptothecin: a potent water-soluble topoisomerase I poison

On the basis of an analysis of luotonin A and its D-ring deaza analogue as topoisomerase I poisons and topoisomerase I-dependent cytotoxic agents, a novel analogue of the structurally related antitumor antibiotic camptothecin (CPT) was prepared. 14-Azacamptothecin was found to have much greater aqueous solubility than CPT, to inhibit topoisomerase I-mediated DNA relaxation more efficiently than CPT, and to stabilize the covalent binary complex to almost the same extent. 14-Aza CPT was found to be slightly less active than CPT in mediating cytotoxicity toward yeast expressing human topoisomerase I, possibly as a consequence of its greater off-rate from the CPT-topoisomerase I-DNA ternary complex.     

Comparative studies on the camptothecin content from Nothapodytes foetida and Ophiorrhiza species

Camptothecin is an anticancer quinoline alkaloid effective against colon cancer. It acts by inhibition of the enzyme DNA topoisomerase I. A comparative study of camptothecin from the indigenous plants namely Nothapodytes foetida, Ophiorrhiza mungos and Ophiorrhiza rugosa indicated highest yields of camptothecin and 9-methoxy camptothecin in N. foetida. The other two plants O. mungos and O. rugosa contained low levels of alkaloids.     

Synthesis of new cytotoxic E-ring modified camptothecins

In an effort to decrease the toxicity and improve the stability of the E-ring of camptothecin, new analogues with an ‘inverted’ lactone ring were designed and synthesised. The compounds retained a good cytotoxic activity on human non-small lung cancer cells H-460.     

Analogues of vaccinia virus DNA topoisomerase I modified at the active site tyrosine

The mechanism of type IB topoisomerase-mediated DNA relaxation was studied by modification of vaccinia topoisomerase I at the active site tyrosine (position 274) with several tyrosine analogues. These analogues had varied steric, electronic, and stereochemical features to permit assessment of those structural elements required to support topoisomerase function. Eleven tyrosine analogues were successfully incorporated into the active site of vaccinia topoisomerase I. It was found that only tyrosine analogues having the phenolic -OH group in the normal position relative to the protein backbone were active. Modifications that replaced the nucleophilic tyrosine OH (pKa approximately 10.0) group with NH2 (pKa 4.6), SH (pKa approximately 7.0), or I groups or that changed the orientation of the nucleophilic OH group essentially eliminated topoisomerase I function. For the active analogues, the electronic effects and H-bonding characteristics of substituents in the meta-position of the aromatic ring may be important in modulating topoisomerase I function. The pH profile for the functional analogues revealed a small shift toward lower pH when compared with wild-type topoisomerase I.     

Total synthesis of the topopyrones: a new class of topoisomerase I poisons

The topopyrones represent a new class of highly cytotoxic topoisomerase I poisons. Efficient total syntheses of all four naturally occurring members of this class have been accomplished. Key elements of the syntheses include Diels-Alder reactions employing two novel dienes and a titanium-mediated ortho-directed Friedel-Crafts acylation. Additionally, the syntheses of two chlorinated analogues accessible from an advanced intermediate are described.     

A facile two synthon approach to the camptothecin skeleton

A synthesis of deethyldesoxycamptothecin via the reaction of two readily accessible synthons is described. One of the synthons constitutes the ABC ring system of camptothecin, while the second provides all the C atoms of the rings D and E. The synthetic approach is suited for the total synthesis of camptothecin analogues.     

Self-Assembled Polymeric Nanomicelles as Delivery Carriers for Antitumor Drug Camptothecin

Despite being highly recognized as an antitumor candidate due to its high potency in binding to DNA topoisomerase I and inhibiting of DNA relegation, full clinical application of camptothecin is unfortunately hampered by its poor solubility in aqueous medium and by the adverse effects caused by its hydrolyzed product under physiological conditions. In an attempt to increase its effective solubility, nanomicelles formed through self-assembly of copolymers by polymer-drug conjugate or by physical envelopment have recently been established to improve the efficacy of many drugs. This review provides the most up-to-date information available relating novel nanomicelles technology to the improvement and realization of the full potential of camptothecin. In particular, physicochemical and biological properties of camptothecin and its derivatives, the controlled factors of micelle formation, the techniques of drug encapsulation, and the structure-properties of nanomicelles are elucidated and discussed. Undoubtedly, polymer nanomicelle carriers can be selectively delivered to tumors via the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Moreover, micelles with smart functions such as stimulus-responsive and specific drug targeting may enhance the activity of potent bioactive compounds, facilitating their clinical applications.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 10,11-methylenedioxy-14-azacamptothecin

[reaction: see text] 10,11-Methylenedioxy-14-azacamptothecin, a potent analogue of the antitumor agent camptothecin (CPT), has been prepared via a key condensation between AB and DE ring precursors. The biological testing of this compound validated a strategy for modulation of the off-rate of camptothecin analogues from the topoisomerase-DNA-CPT ternary complex via structural modification.     

One-pot synthesis of luotonin A and its analogues

Starting with inexpensive reagents, a self-directed chemical process with the aid of a single metal triflate was readily achieved to concomitantly construct quinazoline and pyrroloquinoline cores to afford the synthesis of luotonin A and its analogues. Among all compounds prepared, 2c, 2d, and 3b exhibit more potent inhibitory activity than luotonin A against human topoisomerase I.     

Camptothecin and its analogues: a review on their chemotherapeutic potential

Topoisomerase I (Topo-I) is a major target for anticancer drug discovery and design. As a result, Topo-I inhibitors constitute an important class of the current anticancer drugs. To date, all of the Topo-I inhibitors that have been clinically evaluated are analogues of camptothecin (CPT), an extract of the Chinese tree Camptotheca acuminata. CPT has shown significant antitumor activity to lung, ovarian, breast, pancreas and stomach cancers. In this article the, phytochemical aspect, and various structural modifications are comprehensively reviewed as in rings A, B, C, D and E. Biological activity of camptothecin, other than anticancer, reported till the year 2003 has also been discussed.     

Actions of Camptothecin Derivatives on Larvae and Adults of the Arboviral Vector Aedes aegypti

Mosquito-borne viruses including dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya viruses, and parasites such as malaria and Onchocerca volvulus endanger health and economic security around the globe, and emerging mosquito-borne pathogens have pandemic potential. However, the rapid spread of insecticide resistance threatens our ability to control mosquito vectors. Larvae of Aedes aegypti were screened with the Medicines for Malaria Venture Pandemic Response Box, an open-source compound library, using INVAPP, an invertebrate automated phenotyping platform suited to high-throughput chemical screening of larval motility. We identified rubitecan (a synthetic derivative of camptothecin) as a hit compound that reduced A. aegypti larval motility. Both rubitecan and camptothecin displayed concentration dependent reduction in larval motility with estimated EC₅₀ of 25.5 ± 5.0 µM and 22.3 ± 5.4 µM, respectively. We extended our investigation to adult mosquitoes and found that camptothecin increased lethality when delivered in a blood meal to A. aegypti adults at 100 µM and 10 µM, and completely blocked egg laying when fed at 100 µM. Camptothecin and its derivatives are inhibitors of topoisomerase I, have known activity against several agricultural pests, and are also approved for the treatment of several cancers. Crucially, they can inhibit Zika virus replication in human cells, so there is potential for dual targeting of both the vector and an important arbovirus that it carries.     

The topopyrones poison human DNA topoisomerases I and II

The topopyrones are fungal natural products shown previously to act as poisons of human DNA topoisomerase I. Recent total syntheses of the four known naturally occurring members of this class of compounds have enabled more detailed biochemical characterization. Presently it is shown that in addition to topoisomerase I, topopyrones A-D also act as poisons of human DNA topoisomerase II. The topopyrones thus represent a rare example of molecules capable of interacting effectively with more than one DNA topoisomerase.     

A structure-based 3D-QSAR study of anthrapyrazole analogues of the anticancer agents losoxantrone and piroxantrone

A series of 13 anthrapyrazole compounds that are analogues of piroxantrone and losoxantrone were synthesized, and their cell growth inhibitory effects, DNA binding, topoisomerase IIalpha mediated (EC 5.99.1.3) cleavage of DNA, and inhibition of DNA topoisomerase IIalpha decatenation catalytic activities were determined. Cell growth inhibitory activity was well-correlated with DNA binding, suggesting that these compounds may act by targeting DNA. However, cell growth inhibition was not well-correlated with the inhibition of topoisomerase IIalpha catalytic activity, suggesting that these anthrapyrazoles did not act solely by inhibiting the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II. Most of the analogues were able to induce DNA cleavage, and thus, it was concluded that they acted, at least in part, as topoisomerase II poisons. Structure-based three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity analyses (3D-QSAR) were carried out on the aligned structures of the anthrapyrazoles docked into DNA using comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index (CoMSIA) analyses in order to determine the structural features responsible for their activity. Both CoMFA and CoMSIA yielded statistically significant models upon partial least-squares analyses. The 3D-QSAR analyses showed that hydrogen-bond donor interactions and electrostatic interactions with the protonated amino side chains of the anthrapyrazoles led to high cell growth inhibitory activity.     

Improved cyclodextrin-based receptors for camptothecin by inverse virtual screening

We report the computer-aided optimization of a synthetic receptor for a given guest molecule, based on inverse virtual screening of receptor libraries. As an example, a virtual set of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) derivatives was generated as receptor candidates for the anticancer drug camptothecin. We applied the two docking tools AutoDock and GlamDock to generate camptothecin complexes of every candidate receptor. Scoring functions were used to rank all generated complexes. From the 10 % top-ranking candidates nine were selected for experimental validation. They were synthesized by reaction of heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-iodo]-beta-CD with a thiol compound to form the hepta-substituted beta-CDs. The stabilities of the camptothecin complexes obtained from solubility measurements of five of the nine CD derivatives were significantly higher than for any other CD derivative known from literature. The remaining four CD derivatives were insoluble in water. In addition, corresponding mono-substituted CD derivatives were synthesized that also showed improved binding constants. Among them the 9-H-purine derivative was the best, being comparable to the investigated hepta-substituted beta-CDs. Since the measured binding free energies correlated satisfactorily with the calculated scores, the applied scoring functions appeared to be appropriate for the selection of promising candidates for receptor synthesis.     

喜树碱类抗肿瘤药物作用模式的柔性分子对接研究

研究采用柔性分子对接技术，将15个喜树碱类化合物对接到拓扑异构酶I (Topo I)-DNA切割复合物中，从原子水平和分子力场角度阐明了喜树碱类抗肿瘤药 物与DNA，Topo I的相互作用机制。研究发现，喜树碱分子插入Topp I-DNA复合物 的切割位点，并与Asn722，Asp533，Lys532和Lys720形成氢键作用网络。定量构效 关系研究进一步表明喜树碱分子可以与Topo I-DNA切割复合物形成电荷迁移作用。 该对接模型系统解释了喜树碱类化合物的构效关系、定点突变等诸多实验事实，为 下一步设计、合成新型高效的喜树碱类衍生物打下了坚实基础。     

Synthesis and antitumor activity of novel salvicine analogues

Systematic structure modification of the side train of the lead compound saprothoquinone provides a series of salvicine analogues,fifteen of them were first reported.Some compounds were demonstrated potent cytotoxicity against tumor cells with the 50%inhibition concentration in the micromolar range.Furthermore some compounds showed potent topoisomeraseⅡinhibitory effects.The preliminary structure-activity relationship of saprorthoquinone analogues was discussed according to their cytotoxicity against thr...     

Novel synthetic 9-benzyloxyacridine analogue as both tyrosine kinase and topoisomerase I inhibitor

Multi-target agents against tyrosine kinases and topoisomerases are potentially useful for the effective treatment of cancers.Discovery of new multi-target scaffolds are important for developing such agents. A series of five novel acridine analogues,LXL 1-5,were synthesized and their antiproliferative activity against HepC-2 cell lines were evaluated,among which the 9-benzyloxyacridine analogue,LXL-5, showed inhibitory activity against tyrosine kinases,VEGFR-2 and Src.The results of UV-visible absorption spectra and fluorescence emission spectra,as well as DNA topoisomerase I inhibition assay, indicated topoisomerase I inhibitory activity.Our study suggested that acridine scaffold,previously shown to have no multi-target kinase and topoisomerase inhibitory activity,might be potentially developed as a multi-target inhibitor of tyrosine kinases and topoisomerase I.     

抗肿瘤药物研究新靶点：缺氧诱导因子-1α*

缺氧是包括肿瘤在内的许多疾病的重要特征,利用缺氧条件来选择性抑制肿瘤生长和演进是一个很有前途的研究方向。随着缺氧诱导因子-1（HIF-1）的发现,在过去15年里在分子和细胞水平上对缺氧有了更加深刻的认识,HIF-1是真核细胞在缺氧条件下进行代谢调控的关键因子,控制众多基因的表达,影响氧的转运、糖摄取、糖酵解和血管生成等。下调HIF-1水平可以作为肿瘤治疗手段。由于细胞内对HIF-1的调控主要通过其α亚基进行,HIF-1α抑制剂成为抗肿瘤药物的研究热点,已经发现的该类抑制剂包括喜树碱类、喹噁啉类、雷帕霉素类、一些甾体化合物、苯氧乙酰氨基苯甲酸类以及白藜芦醇和橙皮苷等天然物质。本文就HIF-1α的结构、功能和以其为靶点的抗肿瘤药物的研究进展做一综述。