Isolation and characterization of five novel disulfide-poor conopeptides from Conus marmoreus venom

Background: Conopeptides from cone snail venom have aroused great interest related to the discovery of novel bioactive candidates, due to their excellent prospects for the treatment of various health problems such as pain, addiction, psychosis and epilepsy. In order to explore novel biopeptides, we investigated the structure and function of five novel conopeptides isolated from the venom of Conus marmoreus from South China Sea. Methods: C. marmoreus crude venom was prepared, fractionated and purified by HPLC system. The primary sequences of the five novel disulfide-poor conopeptides Mr-1 to Mr-5 were identified by comprehensive analysis of de novo MALDI-TOF tandem mass spectrometry and Edman degradation data. In order to investigate their function, these five conopeptides were synthesized by Fmoc-SPPS chemistry, and their biological effects at several heterologous rat nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes (α1β1δε, α3β2, α3β4, α4β2) were determined by electrophysiological technique. Results: Five novel disulfide-poor conopeptides were identified and named as follows: Mr-1 (DWEYHAHPKPNSFWT), Mr-2 (YPTRAYPSNKFG), Mr-3 (NVIQAPAQSVAPP NTST), Mr-4 [KENVLNKLKSK(L/I)] and Mr-5 [NAVAAAN(L/I)PG(L/I)V]. None of them contains a disulfide bond. The sequences of conopeptides Mr-2 to Mr-5 do not belong to any category of the known disulfide-poor conopeptides. No significant activity against the above nAChR subtypes were observed for the five conopeptides at 100 µM. Conclusion: We purified and structurally characterized five novel disulfide-poor conopeptides from C. marmoreus crude venom and first investigated their nAChR inhibitory effects. This work expanded our knowledge on the structure and function of disulfide-poor conopeptides from this cone snail venom.(AU)

Fungicides alter the distribution and diversity of bacterial and fungal communities in ginseng fields.

The present study was focused on comparison of four typical fungicides in ginseng field to evaluate the impact of the different fungicides on the soil bacterial and fungal communities' composition and diversity by using high-throughput sequencing. Five treatments were designed comprising carbendazim (D), dimethyl disulfide (E), dazomet (M), calcium cyanamide (S), and control (C). The application of fungicide obviously altered the distribution of dominant fungal and bacterial communities and remarkably decreased the diversity (1099-763 and 6457-2245). The most abundant Proteobacteria obviously degenerate in fungicide-treated soil and minimum in E (0.09%) compared to control (25.72%). The relative abundance of Acidobacteria was reduced from 27.76 (C) to 7.14% after applying fungicide and minimum in E. The phylum Actinobacteria are both decomposers of organic matter and enemies of soil-borne pathogens, elevated from 11.62 to 51.54% and are high in E. The fungi community mainly distributed into Ascomycota that enriched from 66.09 to 88.21% and highin M and E (88.21 and 85.10%), and Basidiomycota reduced from 21.13 to 3.23% and low in M and E (5.27 and 3.23%). Overall, environmentally related fungicides decreased the diversity and altered the composition of bacterial and fungal communities, highest sensitivity present in dimethyl disulfide-treated soil.

Tomato tolerance and pest control following fumigation with different ratios of dimethyl disulfide and chloropicrin.

BACKGROUND: The phaseout of methyl bromide (MeBr) continues to stimulate research into the use of other soil fumigants for controlling soil-borne diseases and weeds. This research evaluated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) tolerance, weed emergence and the recovery of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici (FOL) inoculum following fumigation with various combination ratios of dimethyl disulfide plus chloropicrin (DMDS + Pic). RESULTS: On its own, DMDS did not effectively control purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) compared with DMDS + Pic. Control of C. rotundus and fusarium wilt increased with Pic based on weed emergence throughout the growing season and FOL inoculum recovery from soil. In all three growing seasons, 159 kg ha-1 DMDS + 379 kg ha-1 Pic provided season-long control of C. rotundus. CONCLUSION: This research confirms that formulating DMDS + Pic containing a high percentage of Pic offers an effective alternative to MeBr for tomato production. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Interactions of 1D- and 2D-layered inorganic nanoparticles with fibroblasts and human mesenchymal stem cells.

AIM: This study investigates the effects of tungsten disulfide nanotubes (WSNTs) and molybdenum disulfide nanoplatelets (MSNPs) on fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to determine safe dosages for potential biomedical applications. MATERIALS & METHODS: Cytotoxicity of MSNPs and WSNTs (5-300 µg/ml) on NIH-3T3 and MSCs was assessed at 6, 12 or 24 h. MSC differentiation to adipocytes and osteoblasts was assessed following treatment for 24 h. RESULTS: Only NIH-3T3 cells treated with MSNPs showed dose or time dependent increase in cytotoxicity. Differentiation markers of MSCs in treated groups were unaffected compared with untreated controls. CONCLUSION: MSNPs and WSNTs at concentrations less than 50 µg/ml are potentially safe for treatment of fibroblasts or MSCs for up to 24 h.

DADS suppresses human esophageal xenograft tumors through RAF/MEK/ERK and mitochondria-dependent pathways.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) is a natural organosulfur compound isolated from garlic. DADS has various biological properties, including anticancer, antiangiogenic, and antioxidant effects. However, the anticancer mechanisms of DADS in human esophageal carcinoma have not been elucidated, especially in vivo. In this study, MTT assay showed that DADS significantly reduced cell viability in human esophageal carcinoma ECA109 cells, but was relatively less toxic in normal liver cells. The pro-apoptotic effect of DADS on ECA109 cells was detected by Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI) staining. Flow cytometry analysis showed that DADS promoted apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and the apoptosis rate could be decreased by caspase-3 inhibitor Ac-DEVD-CHO. Xenograft study in nude mice showed that DADS treatment inhibited the growth of ECA109 tumor in both 20 and 40 mg/kg DADS groups without obvious side effects. DADS inhibited ECA109 tumor proliferation by down-regulating proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). DADS induced apoptosis by activating a mitochondria-dependent pathway with the executor of caspase-3, increasing p53 level and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and downregulating the RAF/MEK/ERK pathway in ECA109 xenograft tumosr. Based on studies in cell culture and animal models, the findings here indicate that DADS is an effective and safe anti-cancer agent for esophageal carcinoma.

Chk1, but not Chk2, is responsible for G2/M phase arrest induced by diallyl disulfide in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells.

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) has been shown to cause G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in several human cancers. Here we demonstrate a mechanism by which DADS induces G2/M phase arrest in BGC823 human gastric cancer cells via Chk1. From cell cycle gene array results, we next confirmed that cyclin B1 expression was decreased by DADS, while the expression of p21, GADD45α and p53 were increased. Despite the lack of change in Chk1 gene expression in response to DADS according to the array analysis, intriguingly overexpression of Chk1, but not Chk2, exhibited increased accumulation in G2/M phase. Moreover, overexpression of Chk1 promoted the effect of DADS-induced G2/M arrest. Augmented phosphorylation of Chk1 by DADS was observed in Chk1-transfected cells, followed by downregulation of Cdc25C and cyclin B1 proteins. In contrast, phosphorylated Chk2 showed no obvious change in Chk2-transfected cells after DADS treatment. Furthermore, knockdown of Chk1 by siRNA partially abrogated DADS-induced downregulation of Cdc25C and cyclin B1 proteins and G2/M arrest. In contrast, knockdown of Chk2 did not show these effects. Therefore, these data indicate that DADS may specifically modulate Chk1 phosphorylation, and DADS-induced G2/M phase arrest in BGC823 cells could result in part from Chk1-mediated inhibition of the Cdc25C/cyclin B1 pathway.

Drug delivery with PEGylated MoS2 nano-sheets for combined photothermal and chemotherapy of cancer.

MoS2 nanosheets functionalized with poly-ethylene glycol are for the first time used as a multifunctional drug delivery system with high drug loading capacities. Using doxorubicin as the model drug and taking advantages of the strong near-infrared absorbance of MoS2, combined photothermal and chemotherapy of cancer is realized in animal experiments, achieving excellent synergistic anti-tumor effect upon systemic administration.

A phase IB trial of 24-hour intravenous PX-12, a thioredoxin-1 inhibitor, in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers.

We investigated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of PX-12, a thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) inhibitor, administered as a 24-hour infusion every 7 or 14 days in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. PX-12 is the first Trx-1 inhibitor to undergo clinical development. The first Phase 1 study of PX-12 demonstrated promising clinical activity, but the 1 and 3 hour-infusion schedules investigated were associated with a strong and irritating odor due to exhalation of one of its metabolites, 2-butanethiol. In an effort to achieve tolerability and achieve a drug exposure level necessary for biological activity, the current study was undertaken. While the maximally tolerated dose was estimated to be 300 mg/m(2) /24 h once a week as the 2-butanethiol expirate was tolerable at that dose level, no evidence of clinical activity was observed. Pharmacokinetic studies of the parent compound PX-12 demonstrated rapid, irreversible binding to plasma components, resulting in low (ng/ml) peak plasma concentrations of non-bound PX-12 during infusion. DCE-MRI was performed pre-and post-infusion in three patients. There were no significant trends observed in changes in plasma Trx-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or beta fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) pre- or post-treatment. However, there was a trend for a decrease in circulating Trx-1 during the first four PX-12 treatment cycles in patients that had a Trx-1 baseline level >18 ng/mL. Aggregate clinical trial results suggest that further clinical development of PX-12, as an intravenous infusion, is not feasible. However, the Trx-1 pathway remains a target of interest in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.

A phase I trial of PX-12, a small-molecule inhibitor of thioredoxin-1, administered as a 72-hour infusion every 21 days in patients with advanced cancers refractory to standard therapy.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial assessed the safety, dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and pharmacodynamics of PX-12 in adult patients with advanced refractory cancers. METHODS: PX-12 was administered to sequential cohorts as a 72-h infusion utilizing a portable infusion pump on days 1, 2, and 3 of a 21-day cycle at a starting dose level of 300 mg/m(2)/day and escalating dose levels till DLT was observed. Plasma thioredoxin (Trx-1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and FGF-2 (fibroblast growth factor) levels were measured predose and during infusion of PX-12. RESULTS: Patients (n = 14) were enrolled to the following dose cohorts, 300 mg/m(2) (n = 3), 400 mg/m(2) (n = 10) and 500 mg/m(2) (n = 1). Common grade 1/2 toxicities included fatigue, taste alteration and odor caused by expired drug metabolite. DLTs were one episode each of grade 3 hypoxia at the 400 mg/m(2) and grade 3 reversible pneumonitis at the 500 mg/m(2) dose levels. Best response was stable disease in a patient with rectal cancer. Predose Trx-1 levels (n = 12) ranged from 5.1 to 30.0 ng/mL (median 12.6 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: PX-12 administered at 400 mg/m(2)/day by 72-hour infusion appears safe and tolerable. Inhibition of thioredoxin is a strategy worth evaluation with next generation of inhibitors.

A randomized phase II study of PX-12, an inhibitor of thioredoxin in patients with advanced cancer of the pancreas following progression after a gemcitabine-containing combination.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated PX-12, a novel small molecule inhibitor of the proto-oncogene (Trx-1), in patients with previously treated advanced pancreatic cancer (APC). METHODS: PX-12 (54 or 128 mg/m²) was administered by 3-hour IV infusion daily × 5 days every 21 days (n = 17). Patients were randomized to either 54 or 128 mg/m² and then stratified based on CA 19-9 level (≥ 1,000 vs. < 1,000 U/ml) and SUV values on PET scans (≥ 7.0 vs. <7.0). The primary endpoint was based on a progression-free survival (PFS) at 4 months in ≥ 40% of patients, and required 40 patients in each arm. An amendment required elevated Trx-1 levels (> 18 ng/ml) as an entry criteria after the first 17 patients were accrued. RESULTS: Plasma Trx-1 levels were elevated in 3/28 (11%) patients screened for study. The grade of the expired metabolite odor was higher in the 128 mg/m² arm. Therapy was well tolerated, and Grade ≥ 3 adverse events were uncommon. The best response was stable disease in 2 patients. There was no consistent decrease in SUV, Trx-1 levels or CA 19-9 levels with therapy. No patients had a PFS of >4 months. Median PFS and survival were 0.9 months (95% CI 0.5-1.2) and 3.2 months (95% CI 2.4-4.2), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the lack of significant antitumor activity and unexpectedly low baseline Trx-1 levels, the study was terminated early. PX-12 does not appear to be active in unselected patients with previously treated APC.

Novel poly(amido amine)s with bioreducible disulfide linkages in their diamino-units: structure effects and in vitro gene transfer properties.

A series of novel water-soluble, bioreducible poly(amido amine)s containing disulfide linkages in their amino units (SS-PAAs) was synthesized by Michael addition polymerization of N,N'-dimethylcystamine (DMC) with various bisacrylamides. The synthetic route allows large structural variation in the bisacrylamide segments and is complementary to the earlier developed route to SS-PAAs in which the disulfide bond is incorporated in cystamine bisacrylamide units. The physicochemical and biomedical properties of the novel DMC-based polymers were evaluated for their application as non-viral gene delivery vectors and compared with analogs lacking the disulfide moieties. DMC-based SS-PAAs show high buffer capacities in the pH range pH 5.1-7.4, a property that may favorably contribute to the endosomal escape of the polyplexes. The polymers are capable to condense DNA into nanoscaled (<250 nm) and positively charged (>+20 mV) polyplexes which are relatively stable in medium mimicking physiological conditions but rapidly disintegrate in the presence of 2.5 mM DTT, mimicking the intracellular reductive environment. Polyplexes from DMC-based SS-PAAs are capable to transfect COS-7 cells in vitro with transfection efficiencies up to 4 times higher than those of pDMAEMA and PEI, with no or only very low cytotoxicity at the polymer/DNA ratios where the highest transfection is observed. The results show that DMC-based SS-PAAs have very promising properties for the development of potent and non-toxic polymeric gene carriers.

Reduced allergy rates in atopic eczema to contact allergens used in both skin products and foods: atopy and the 'hapten-atopy hypothesis'.

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is strongly associated with atopy. This retrospective study investigates whether atopic status affects responses to contact allergens also found in food. We compared incidences of atopic dermatitis/eczema (AD) in subjects who were patch-test positive (PT+) to diallyl disulfide from handling garlic and parabens used as a skin cream/ointment and food preservative with the incidence in those subjects who were PT+ to chemicals encountered at skin surfaces (lanolin and nickel). RESULTS: 36,658 patients with eczema/dermatitis were patch tested (1980-2006). 10,326 (28.2%) had AD. 13/83 (15.6%) PT+ subjects to diallyl disulfide/garlic had AD (AD/total population versus AD/diallyl disulfide PT+, P = 0.011). 54/239 parabens PT+ had AD (22.6%), while 181/608 lanolin PT+ had AD (29.8%) (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Contact allergy to haptens with oral and skin exposure is reduced in AD compared with non-AD, unlike food protein hypersensitivity. Lanolin frequency was not decreased. Possible explanations include (i) confounding factors, e.g. AD subjects handle garlic less than non-AD subjects, or (ii) AD patients tolerate haptens efficiently, secondary to their atopic status, or (iii) oral tolerance of haptens antagonizes tolerance of food proteins, contributing to development of atopy (hapten-atopy hypothesis). The recent upsurge of atopy took place when gut exposure to haptens in processed foods increased dramatically.

A Phase I pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of PX-12, a novel inhibitor of thioredoxin-1, in patients with advanced solid tumors.

PURPOSE: Thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) is a cellular redox protein that promotes tumor growth, inhibits apoptosis, and up-regulates hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor. Objectives of this study were to determine safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics of PX-12, a small-molecule inhibitor of Trx-1. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thirty-eight patients with advanced solid tumors received PX-12 at doses of 9 to 300 mg/m(2), as a 1- or 3-h i.v. infusion on days 1 to 5, repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: At the 300 mg/m(2) dose level, one patient experienced a reversible episode of pneumonitis during the first cycle, and a second patient developed pneumonitis after the second cycle. Doses up to 226 mg/m(2) were well tolerated, and grade 3/4 events were uncommon (<3% of patients). The limiting factor on this dosing schedule was pungent odor caused by expired drug metabolite, 2-butanethiol. The best response was stable disease in seven patients (126-332 days). Whereas PX-12 was not detectable following the infusion, the C(max) of its inactive metabolite, 2-mercaptoimidazole, increased linearly with dose. PX-12 treatment lowered plasma Trx-1 concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: PX-12, the first Trx-1 inhibitor to enter clinical trials, was tolerated up to a dose of 226 mg/m(2) by a 3-h infusion. Based on pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic data, a trial of prolonged infusion schedule of PX-12 has been initiated.

Drug evaluation: the thioredoxin inhibitor PX-12 in the treatment of cancer.

Biomira Inc, following its acquisition of ProlX Pharmaceutical Corp, is developing PX-12, an inhibitor of thioredoxin, for the potential treatment of cancer. PX-12 has completed phase I clinical trials.

Use of gloves in protection from diallyl disulphide allergy.

Contact dermatitis, particularly affecting the fingertips, is a recognized presentation of garlic allergy. There have been no recommendations in the literature with respect to the type of gloves that offer the best protection against diallyl disulphide, the major allergen in garlic and onion. In fact, we have found that diallyl disulphide penetrates most commercially available glove types. Silver laminate gloves offered only slightly better protection.