Drug development in oncology assisted by noninvasive optical imaging.

Early and accurate detection of tumors, like the development of targeted treatments, is a major field of research in oncology. The generation of specific vectors, capable of transporting a drug or a contrast agent to the primary tumor site as well as to the remote (micro-) metastasis would be an asset for early diagnosis and cancer therapy. Our goal was to develop new treatments based on the use of tumor-targeted delivery of large biomolecules (DNA, siRNA, peptides, or nanoparticles), able to induce apoptosis while dodging the specific mechanisms developed by tumor cells to resist this programmed cell death. Nonetheless, the insufficient effectiveness of the vectorization systems is still a crucial issue. In this context, we generated new targeting vectors for drug and biomolecules delivery and developed several optical imaging systems for the follow-up and evaluation of these vectorization systems in live mice. Based on our recent work, we present a brief overview of how noninvasive optical imaging in small animals can accelerate the development of targeted therapeutics in oncology.

Aldehydic oligonucleotide: a key intermediate for the preparation of oligonucleotide conjugates through oxime bond formation.

Oligonucleotides functionalized with an aldehyde group are the key intermediates used for the preparation of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates through the formation of an oxime linkage. Herein, we describe a brief overview of various synthetic protocols developed in our laboratory for the preparation of aldehyde containing oligonucleotides and their subsequent conjugation with peptides.

Molecular imaging of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in experimental atherosclerotic plaques with radiolabelled B2702-p.

PURPOSE: VCAM-1 plays a major role in the chronic inflammatory processes present in vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. The residues 75-84 (B2702-p) and 84-75/75-84 (B2702-rp) of the major histocompatibility complex-1 (MHC-1) molecule B2702 were previously shown to bind specifically to VCAM-1. We hypothesised that radiolabelled B2702-p and B2702-rp might have potential for the molecular imaging of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: Preliminary biodistribution studies indicated that 125I-B2702-rp was unsuitable for in vivo imaging owing to extremely high lung uptake. 123I- or 99mTc-labelled B2702-p was injected intravenously to Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits (WHHL, n=6) and control animals (n=6). After 180 min, aortas were harvested for ex vivo autoradiographic imaging, gamma-well counting, VCAM-1 immunohistology and Sudan IV lipid staining. RESULTS: Robust VCAM-1 immunostaining was observed in Sudan IV-positive and to a lesser extent in Sudan IV-negative areas of WHHL animals, whereas no expression was detected in control animals. Significant 2.9-fold and 1.9-fold increases in 123I-B2702-p and 99mTc-B2702-p aortic-to-blood ratios, respectively, were observed between WHHL and control animals (p<0.05). Tracer uptake on ex vivo images co-localised with atherosclerotic plaques. Image quantification indicated a graded increase in 123I-B2702-p and 99mTc-B2702-p activities from control to Sudan IV-negative and to Sudan IV-positive areas, consistent with the observed pattern of VCAM-1 expression. Sudan IV-positive to control area tracer activity ratios were 17.0+/-9.0 and 5.9+/-1.8 for 123I-B2702-p and 99mTc-B2702-p, respectively. CONCLUSION: Radiolabelled B2702-p is a potentially useful radiotracer for the molecular imaging of VCAM-1 in atherosclerosis.

New acridone derivatives for the electrochemical DNA-hybridisation labelling.

In the field of DNA sensing, DNA hybridisation detection is generally performed by fluorescence microscopy. However, fluorescence instrumentation is difficult to miniaturise in order to produce fully integrated DNA chips. In this context, electrochemical detection of DNA hybridisation may avoid this limitation. Therefore, the use of DNA intercalators is particularly attractive due to their selectivity toward DNA double strand enabling DNA labelling without target chemical modification and, for most of them, to their electroactivity. We have synthesized a pyridoacridone derivative dedicated to DNA hybridisation electrochemical-sensing which presents good electrochemical reversibility, electroactivity at mild potentials and specificity toward DNA double strand. The electrochemical behaviour of this molecule has been assessed using cyclic voltammetry (CV). DNA/intercalator interactions were studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) before application to hybridisation detection onto DNA sensors based on polypyrrole modified electrodes.

Photocrosslinking in ruthenium-labelled duplex oligonucleotides.

The formation of a photoadduct between a [Ru(1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene)(2)4,7-diphenylphenanthroline](2+) complex chemically attached to a synthetic oligonucleotide, and a guanine moiety in a complementary targeted single-stranded DNA molecule was studied for ten 17-mer duplexes by denaturing gel electrophoresis. This photoadduct formation leads to photocrosslinking of the two strands. The percentage quenching of luminescence of the complex by electron transfer was compared to the resulting yield of photocrosslinked product. This yield does not only depend on the ionisation potential of the guanine bases, which are electron donors, but also on other factors, such as the position of the guanine bases as compared to the site of attachment of the complex. The photocrosslinking yield is higher when the guanine moieties are towards the 3' end on the complementary strand as compared to the tethering site. Computer modelling results are in agreement with this preference for the 3' side for the photoreaction. Interestingly, the photocrosslink is not alkali labile. Moreover, a type III exonuclease enzyme is blocked at the position of photocrosslinking.

Highly efficient synthesis of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates: chemoselective oxime and thiazolidine formation.

A convergent strategy for the synthesis of peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates (POC) is presented. Chemoselective ligation of peptide to oligonucleotide was accomplished by oxime and thiazolidine formation. Oxime conjugation was performed by treating an oxyamine-containing peptide with an aldehyde-containing oligonucleotide or vice versa. Ligation by thiazolidine formation was achieved by coupling a peptide, acylated with a cysteine residue, to an oligonucleotide that was derivatised by an aldehyde function. For both approaches, the conjugates were obtained in good yield without the need for a protection strategy and under mild aqueous conditions. Moreover, the oxime ligation proved useful for directly conjugating duplex oligonucleotides. Combined with molecular biology tools, this methodology opens up new prospects for post-functionalisation of high-molecular-weight DNA structures.

N-(2-Acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranosyloxy)succinimide.

The crystal structure of the title compound, C18H24N2O11, a GalNAc mimic containing an alpha-glycosyloxysuccinimide linkage, has been determined. The pyranose ring geometry is an almost perfect (4)C(1) chair. The torsion angle of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group is shown to be gauche-trans with respect to O1 and C4, respectively.

Methyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-4-deoxy-4-methoxyamino-alpha-D-glucopyranoside.

The crystalline-state conformation of the title compound, C(29)H(29)NO(9), has been established unequivocally. The R absolute configuration is observed at the 4-methoxyamino moiety and the pyranose ring adopts essentially a perfect (4)C(1) chair. The torsion angle of the exocyclic hydroxymethyl group is shown to be gauche--gauche with respect to O1 and C4, respectively. The conformation along the methoxyamino bond is consistent with that observed for calicheamicin gamma(1)(I).

Pseudoprolines (psiPro) in drug design: direct insertion of psiPro systems into cyclosporin C.

The insertion of acetals that exhibit variable structural features into complex peptides such as cyclosporin C (CsC) results in oxazolidine derivatives (pseudoprolines, psiPro) of tailored physico-chemical and biological properties. N,O-Acetalation of the 2-threonine hydroxyl group and the preceding amide nitrogen of CsC is achieved by treating the molecule with a number of both arylated and non-arylated dimethyl acetals. The psiPro-containing CsC derivatives exhibit enhanced conformational backbone rigidity, as suggested by analytical HPLC, NMR spectroscopy and by kinetic measurements on binding with their receptor protein cyclophilin A (CypA) that were not time-dependent. IC50 values for calf-thymus CypA were obtained by kinetic evaluation of its cis-->trans isomerase activity. The choice of the para-substituted aryl dimethyl acetals allows the inhibitory properties of the corresponding derivatives to be modulated to either prodrugs or moderately strongly binding cyclosporin C derivatives.

Assembly of binding loops on aromatic templates as VCAM-1 mimetics.

The design and synthesis of cyclic mimetics of VCAM-1 protein that reproduce the integrin-binding domain are presented. The unprotected peptide precursor 37-43, Thr-Gln-Ile-Asp-Ser-Pro-Leu, was grafted onto functional templates of type naphthalene, biphenyl and benzyl through the chemoselective formation of C- and N-terminal oximes resulting in a mixture of four isomeric forms due to syn-anti isomerism of the oxime bonds. Some isomers could be monitored by HPLC and identified by NMR. The molecule containing a naphthalene-derived template was found to inhibit the VCAM-1/VLA-4 interaction more efficiently than previously reported for sulfur-bridged cyclic peptides containing similar sequences. The finding confirms the importance of incorporating conformational constraints between the terminal ends of the peptide loop 37-43 in the design of synthetic inhibitors of the VCAM-1/integrin interaction.

A highly convergent approach to O- and N-linked glycopeptide analogues.

Deprotected C-glycopyranosyl-ketones have been conjugated by a chemoselective approach to a peptide or an amino acid bearing an aminooxy group on the N-terminus or on the side-chain, respectively. The coupling reaction, performed in aqueous media, does not require protecting groups on the peptide or saccharide moieties, nor auxiliary coupling reagents.

Protein design: on the threshold of functional properties.

The ultimate goal in protein de novo design is the creation of novel macromolecules with tailor-made receptor, sensory, and catalytic functions. Despite considerable progress in understanding basic rules of secondary structure formation and protein stability, the well-known protein folding problem is still far from being solved and, in general, only a limited number of designed proteins are folded uniquely. In this article the state-of-the-art in protein design is demonstrated on some selected examples, indicating that the construction of protein-like macromolecules mimicking some essential features of natural proteins seems to be within reach. Thus, protein design and mimicry has become an interdisciplinary challenge with most intriguing perspectives.

Chemoselectively addressable HCan building blocks in peptide synthesis: L-homocanaline derivatives.

(S-2-amino-5-(aminooxy)pentanoic acid (L-homocanaline, HCan), a structural analogue of lysine, contains a reactive alkyloxyamine side chain and is therefore considered to react chemoselectively with carbonyl compounds by forming a kinetically stable oxime bond. The chemical synthesis of L-homocanaline starting from protected glutamic acid derivatives is described. Two orthogonally protected homocanaline derivatives were synthesized and their use in standard SPPS procedures was exemplified for the synthesis of a chemoselectively addressable cyclic peptide for use in TASP design. Moreover, the wide range of applications of this unique building block was demonstrated for the chemoselective ligation of an unprotected disaccharide to a HCan containing model peptide resulting in a chimeric glycopeptide structure.

Lysine as helix C-capping residue in a synthetic peptide.

The structure of the synthetic peptide CH3CO(Leu-Ser-Leu-Leu-Leu-Ser-Leu)3Lys-NH2 in trifluoroethanol/water 60/40 (volume ratio) was characterized by two-dimensional nmr spectroscopy. The peptide, closely related to the amphiphilic helix models designed by W. F. De-Grado and co-workers to mimic protein ion channels [(1988) Science, Vol. 240, p. 1177-1181], folds into a regular helix spanning residues 1-20. Evidence for a helix C-terminal capping conformation, involving the terminal lysine residue, was observed from Overhauser effects and checked for consistency by restrained molecular dynamics simulations. The side-chain amino group of Lys22 forms a hydrogen bond with the carbonyl of Leu18, and the distorted helical geometry of the terminal dipeptide allows the inclusion of a water bridge between the backbone NH of the Lys22 residue and the carbonyls of Leu19 and Ser20.

Solution structure of regioselectively addressable functionalized templates: an NMR and restrained molecular dynamics investigation.

Three cyclic peptides that are Regioselectively Addressable Functionalized Templates (RAFT) for use in protein de novo design have been investigated using a combination of nmr, restrained molecular dynamics, and CD spectroscopy. These peptides contain up to four selectively addressable sites (orthogonally protected lysine side chains) or have selectively addressable faces. The results show a common stable conformation for templates of this kind based on two type II beta-turns and an associated beta-sheet structure. A preferential orientation for the side chains is also demonstrated. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of applications of RAFT that rely on their conformational rigidity and ability to present functionalities in a defined spatial arrangement.