Enhancement of RNA annealing and strand displacement found in archaeal ribonuclease P proteins is conserved in Escherichia coli protein C5 and yeast protein Rpr2.

We analyzed modes of action of ribonuclease P (RNase P) proteins, C5 in Escherichia coli and Rpr2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, using a pair of complementary fluorescence-labeled oligoribonucleotides. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based assays revealed that RNA annealing and strand displacement activities found in archaeal RNase P proteins are prevalent in eubacterial (C5) and eukaryotic (Rpr2) RNase P proteins.

In vitro and in vivo characterisation of ASP9521: a novel, selective, orally bioavailable inhibitor of 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17ßHSD5; AKR1C3).

BACKGROUND: Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 [AKR1C3;17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 (17ßHSD5)], plays a crucial role in persistent production of androgens despite castration, by catalysing conversion of the adrenal androgens dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione (AD) into androstenediol and testosterone (T). Hence, AKR1C3 is a promising therapeutic target in castration-resistant prostate cancer, as combination of an AKR1C3 inhibitor and a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue may lead to complete androgen blockade. This study describes the preclinical characterisation of the novel AKR1C3 inhibitor ASP9521. METHODS: The inhibitory effect of ASP9521 on AKR1C3-mediated conversion from AD into T was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo, using CWR22R xenografted mice. The effect of ASP9521 on PSA production and cell proliferation was tested using LNCaP cells stably expressing human AKR1C3 (LNCaP-AKR1C3). Pharmacokinetics of ASP9521 were studied in rats, dogs and cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: ASP9521 inhibited conversion of AD into T by recombinant human or cynomolgus monkey AKR1C3 in a concentration-dependent manner (IC50,human: 11 nmol/L; IC50,monkey: 49 nmol/L). ASP9521 showed >100-fold selectivity for AKR1C3 over the isoform AKR1C2. In LNCaP-AKR1C3 cells, ASP9521 suppressed AD-dependent PSA production and cell proliferation. In CWR22R xenografts, single oral administration of ASP9521 (3 mg/kg) inhibited AD-induced intratumoural T production and this inhibitory effect was maintained for 24 h. After oral administration, ASP9521 was rapidly eliminated from plasma, while its intratumoural concentration remained high. The bioavailability of ASP9521 after oral administration (1 mg/kg) was 35 %, 78 % and 58 % in rats, dogs and monkeys, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ASP9521 is a potent, selective, orally bioavailable AKR1C3 inhibitor.

The selective anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor ASP3026 induces tumor regression and prolongs survival in non-small cell lung cancer model mice.

Activation of anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase (ALK) is involved in the pathogenesis of several carcinomas, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein like 4 (EML4)-ALK, which is derived from the rearrangement of ALK and EML4 genes, has been validated as a therapeutic target in a subset of patients with NSCLC. Here, we investigated the effects of ASP3026, a novel small-molecule ALK inhibitor, against ALK-driven NSCLC. ASP3026 inhibited ALK activity in an ATP-competitive manner and had an inhibitory spectrum that differed from that of crizotinib, a dual ALK/MET inhibitor. In mice xenografted with NCI-H2228 cells expressing EML4-ALK, orally administered ASP3026 was well absorbed in tumor tissues, reaching concentrations >10-fold higher than those in plasma, and induced tumor regression with a wide therapeutic margin between efficacious and toxic doses. In the same mouse model, ASP3026 enhanced the antitumor activities of paclitaxel and pemetrexed without affecting body weight. ASP3026 also showed potent antitumor activities, including tumor shrinkage to a nondetectable level, in hEML4-ALK transgenic mice and prolonged survival in mice with intrapleural NCI-H2228 xenografts. In an intrahepatic xenograft model using NCI-H2228 cells, ASP3026 induced continuous tumor regression, whereas mice treated with crizotinib showed tumor relapse after an initial response. Finally, ASP3026 exhibited potent antitumor activity against cells expressing EML4-ALK with a mutation in the gatekeeper position (L1196M) that confers crizotinib resistance. Taken together, these findings indicate that ASP3026 has potential efficacy for NSCLC and is expected to improve the therapeutic outcomes of patients with cancer with ALK abnormality.

Discovery of 2-methyl-1-{1-[(5-methyl-1H-indol-2-yl)carbonyl]piperidin-4-yl}propan-2-ol: a novel, potent and selective type 5 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor.

Type 5 17ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17ß-HSD5), also known as aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), is a member of the aldo-keto reductase superfamily of enzymes and is expressed in the human prostate. One of the main functions of 17ß-HSD5 is to catalyze the conversion of the weak androgen, androstenedione, to the potent androgen, testosterone. The concentration of intraprostatic 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in patients following chemical or surgical castration has been reported to remain as high as 39% of that of healthy men, with 17ß-HSD5 shown to be involved in this androgen synthesis. Inhibition of 17ß-HSD5 therefore represents a promising target for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). To investigate this, we conducted high-throughput screening (HTS) and identified compound 2, which displayed a structure distinct from known 17ß-HSD5 inhibitors. To optimize the inhibitory activity of compound 2, we first introduced a primary alcohol group. We then converted the primary alcohol group to a tertiary alcohol, which further enhanced the inhibitory activity, improved metabolic stability, and led to the identification of compound 17. Oral administration of compound 17 to castrated nude mice bearing the CWR22R xenograft resulted in the suppression of androstenedione (AD)-induced intratumoral testosterone production. Compound 17 also demonstrated good isoform selectivity, minimal inhibitory activity against either CYP or hERG, and enhanced pharmacokinetic and physicochemical properties.

Current organic waste recycling and the potential for local recycling through urban agriculture in Metro Manila.

Using the solid waste management programmes of three barangays (the smallest unit of local government in the Philippines) in Quezon City, Metro Manila, as a case study, this research aimed to further the development of efficient organic waste recycling systems through the promotion of urban agricultural activities on green and vacant spaces. First, the quantity of organic waste and compost produced through ongoing barangay projects was measured. The amount of compost that could potentially be utilized on farmland and vacant land within the barangays was then identified to determine the possibility of a local recycling system. The results indicate that, at present, securing buyers for compost is difficult and, therefore, most compost is distributed to large neighbouring farm villages. However, the present analysis of potential compost use within the barangay demonstrates that a more local compost recycling system is indeed feasible.

Aberrant E2F activation by polyglutamine expansion of androgen receptor in SBMA neurotoxicity.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine repeat (polyQ) expansion within the human androgen receptor (AR). Unlike other neurodegenerative diseases caused by abnormal polyQ expansion, the onset of SBMA depends on androgen binding to mutant human polyQ-AR proteins. This is also observed in Drosophila eyes ectopically expressing the polyQ-AR mutants. We have genetically screened mediators of androgen-induced neurodegeneration caused by polyQ-AR mutants in Drosophila eyes. We identified Rbf (Retinoblastoma-family protein), the Drosophila homologue of human Rb (Retinoblastoma protein), as a neuroprotective factor. Androgen-dependent association of Rbf or Rb with AR was remarkably potentiated by aberrant polyQ expansion. Such potentiated Rb association appeared to attenuate recruitment of histone deacetyltransferase 1 (HDAC1), a corepressor of E2F function. Either overexpression of Rbf or E2F deficiency in fly eyes reduced the neurotoxicity of the polyQ-AR mutants. Induction of E2F function by polyQ-AR-bound androgen was suppressed by Rb in human neuroblastoma cells. We conclude that abnormal expansion of polyQ may potentiate innate androgen-dependent association of AR with Rb. This appears to lead to androgen-dependent onset of SBMA through aberrant E2F transactivation caused by suppressed histone deacetylation.

RNA-binding protein hoip accelerates polyQ-induced neurodegeneration in Drosophila.

Abnormal polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the N-terminal domain of the human androgen receptor (hAR) is known to cause spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a hereditary human neurodegenerative disorder. To explore the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in SBMA, we genetically screened modulators of neurodegeneration in a Drosophila SBMA experimental model system. We identified hoip as an accelerator of polyQ-induced neurodegeneration. We found that hoip forms a complex with 18s rRNA together nop56 and nop5 proteins, whose human homologs are known to form a snoRNP complex involved in ribosomal RNA processing. Significantly, the levels of mutant polyQ-hAR were up-regulated in a mutant line overexpressing hoip. Consistently, severe neurodegeneration phenotype (rough eye) was also observed in both nop56 and nop5 overexpression mutant lines. These findings suggest that the process of neurodegeneration induced by abnormal polyQ expansion in the hAR may be regulated by the activity of snoRNP complex.

(+)-(2R,5S)-4-[4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2,5-dimethyl-N-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3- yl]piperazine-1-carboxamide (YM580) as an orally potent and peripherally selective nonsteroidal androgen receptor antagonist.

A novel series of trans-N-aryl-2,5-dimethylpiperazine-1-carboxamide derivatives was synthesized and their androgen receptor (AR) antagonist activities and in vivo antiandrogenic effects were evaluated. Pharmacological assays indicated that compound 33 was a potent AR antagonist, and subsequent optical resolution provided (+)-(2R,5S)-4-[4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2,5-dimethyl-N-[6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-3-yl]piperazine-1-carboxamide (33a, YM580) which exhibited the most potent antiandrogenic activity. Unlike bicalutamide, compound 33a decreased the weight of rat ventral prostate in a dose-dependent manner (ED(50) = 2.2 mg/kg/day), and induced the maximum antiandrogenic effect, comparable to that of surgical castration, without significantly affecting serum testosterone levels. Compound 33a is a promising clinical candidate for prostate cancer monotherapy.

A role of androgen receptor protein in cell growth of an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line.

Prostate cancer, which develops due to androgen and is initially responsive to androgen deprivation therapy, often comes to acquire androgen deprivation therapy resistance in short order. We investigated the role of androgen receptor (AR) protein in an androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line using AR ligands and AR siRNA. Although the androgen-independent cell line scarcely responded to AR ligands, their growth was attenuated by ablation of AR protein by siRNA.

Human expanded polyglutamine androgen receptor mutants in neurodegeneration as a novel ligand target.

Androgen receptor (AR) plays key roles in various biological events, including pathological processes such as prostate cancer, androgen-insensitive syndrome, and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). SBMA is caused by mutation of the expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretches in the AR gene. Recently, we established a Drosophila SBMA model that expresses the expanded polyQ hAR mutant in eyes, which monitors neurodegeneration as a rough eye phenotype. In addition, we showed that androgen binding to the mutant hAR causes structural alterations, leading to the onset of neurodegeneration in the fly eyes. In the present study, we examined whether the ligand-induced neurodegeneration via the hAR mutant is coupled with the known ligand-induced transactivation function of hAR. By testing several known AR antagonists and several of their structure-related compounds, we unexpectedly found that none of the AR ligands antagonized the hAR mutant neurodegeneration function, and surprisingly, compound 4-(4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxo-1-imidazolidinyl)-2-trifluoromethylbenzonitrile (RU56279) was more potent in inducing neurodegeneration. However, in vitro and in vivo mammalian assays showed that RU56279 exhibited the expected antagonistic activity with the same potency as those of the other compounds. Thus, these findings suggest the presence of a novel ligand-induced function of the polyQ hAR mutant in neurodegeneration that could not be prevented by known antagonists for the hAR transactivation function.

N-Arylpiperazine-1-carboxamide derivatives: a novel series of orally active nonsteroidal androgen receptor antagonists.

A novel series of N-arylpiperazine-1-carboxamide derivatives was synthesized and their androgen receptor (AR) antagonist activities and in vivo antiandrogenic properties were evaluated. Reporter assays indicated that trans-2,5-dimethylpiperazine derivatives are potent AR antagonists, and in this series trans-N-4-[4-cyano-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-2,5-dimethylpiperazine-1-carboxamide (18 g, YM-175735) exhibited the most potent antiandrogenic activity. Compared to bicalutamide, YM-175735 is an approximately 4-fold stronger AR antagonist and has slightly increased antiandrogenic activity, suggesting that YM-175735 may be useful in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel arylpiperazine derivatives as nonsteroidal androgen receptor antagonists.

The search for novel antiandrogens by high-throughput screening (HTS) of the Yamanouchi chemical library led to the discovery of the lead compound (5), which possesses an arylmorpholine moiety. Through the optimization of the lead compound (5), we have found a series of novel arylpiperazine derivatives. Among them, 4-[4-cyano-(3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-N-(4-fluorophenyl)piperazine-1-carboxamide (22; YM-92088) exhibited a potent AR antagonistic activity with an IC(50) value of 0.47 microM in the reporter assay, which is more potent than bicalutamide (4) which has an IC(50) value of 0.89 microM.

Wnt/beta-catenin and estrogen signaling converge in vivo.

Wnt and estrogen signaling represent important regulatory pathways, each controlling a wide range of biological processes. While an increasing number of observations suggest potential convergence between these pathways, no direct evidence of their functional interaction has been reported. Using human colon and breast cancer cells, we found that estrogen receptor (ER) alpha- and beta-catenin precipitated within the same immunocomplexes, reciprocally enhanced the transactivation of cognate reporter genes, and were reciprocally recruited to cognate response elements in the promoters of endogenous target genes. Using transgenic Drosophila that ectopically expressed human ERalpha alone or together with metabolically stable beta-catenin/Armadillo mutants, we demonstrated genetic interaction between these signal transducers in vivo. Thus, we present here the first direct evidence of cross-talk between Wnt and estrogen signaling pathways via functional interaction between beta-catenin and ERalpha.

Androgen-dependent neurodegeneration by polyglutamine-expanded human androgen receptor in Drosophila.

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked, adult-onset, neurodegenerative disorder affecting only males and is caused by expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) stretches in the N-terminal A/B domain of human androgen receptor (hAR). Although no overt phenotype was detected in adult fly eye photoreceptor neurons expressing mutant hAR (polyQ 52), ingestion of androgen or its known antagonists caused marked neurodegeneration with nuclear localization and structural alteration of the hAR mutant. Ligand-independent toxicity was detected with a truncated polyQ-expanded A/B domain alone, which was attenuated with cytosolic trapping by coexpression of the unliganded hAR E/F ligand binding domain. Thus, our findings suggest that the full binding of androgen to the polyQ-expanded hAR mutants leads to structural alteration with nuclear translocation that eventually results in the onset of SBMA in male patients.

Stabilization of androgen receptor protein is induced by agonist, not by antagonists.

The action of nuclear receptor ligands in target tissues is specified mainly by the expression levels of their cognate nuclear receptors. The expression levels of these receptors are controlled through transcriptional and post-transcriptional events. Among post-transcriptional events, the effect of ligand on nuclear receptor protein turnover still remains largely unknown. Therefore, we studied the effects of agonist and antagonists on the turnover of the human androgen receptor (hAR) protein in stably transformed Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing exogenous hAR. Western blot analysis showed that the most potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), stabilizes hAR with the induction of the transactivation function of hAR. However, this androgen-induced stabilization of hAR protein was abrogated by well-known androgen antagonists, hydroxyflutamide and bicalutamide (BIC), with inhibition of the transactivation function of hAR. Thus, the present study suggests that androgen antagonists exert their effects through, at least in part, abrogating the agonist-induced stabilization of hAR protein as well as blocking the ligand-induced transactivation function of hAR.