Towards a modern definition of vitamin E-evidence for a quinone hypothesis.

We report on the synthesis, biological and pharmacological activity of the tocoquinone natural product, α-tocopherol quinone (ATQ); an oxidative metabolite of α-tocopherol. ATQ is a potent cellular protectant against oxidative stress, whose biological activity is dependent upon its ability to undergo reversible two-electron redox cycling. ATQ is orally bioavailable, with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile and has demonstrated a beneficial clinical response in patients with Friedreich's ataxia. ATQ is a member of a broader class of vitamin E derived quinone metabolites which may be ascribable in whole or in part to the activity of vitamin E.

α-Tocotrienol quinone modulates oxidative stress response and the biochemistry of aging.

We report that α-tocotrienol quinone (ATQ3) is a metabolite of α-tocotrienol, and that ATQ3 is a potent cellular protectant against oxidative stress and aging. ATQ3 is orally bioavailable, crosses the blood-brain barrier, and has demonstrated clinical response in inherited mitochondrial disease in open label studies. ATQ3 activity is dependent upon reversible 2e-redox-cycling. ATQ3 may represent a broader class of unappreciated dietary-derived phytomolecular redox motifs that digitally encode biochemical data using redox state as a means to sense and transfer information essential for cellular function.

Correlation of F0F1-ATPase inhibition and antiproliferative activity of apoptolidin analogues.

[structure: see text] Apoptolidin (1) exhibits potent and highly selective apoptosis inducing activity against sensitive cancer cell lines and is hypothesized to act by inhibition of mitochondrial F(0)F(1)-ATP synthase. A series of apoptolidin derivatives, including a new intermolecular Diels-Alder adduct, were analyzed for antiproliferative activity in E1A-transformed rat fibroblasts. Potent F(0)F(1)-ATPase inhibition was not a sufficient determinant of antiproliferative activity for several analogues, suggesting the existence of a secondary biological target or more complex mode of action for apoptolidin.

Facile synthetic access to and biological evaluation of the macrocyclic core of apoptolidin.

Oxidative cleavage of the C-20/C-21 bond in apoptolidin (1) provides two fragments of similar complexity, facilitating a divide-and-diversify strategy for the determination of the structural basis for apoptolidin's biological activity, the remarkably selective induction of apoptosis in sensitive cell lines. The ability of compounds derived from this cleavage to inhibit mitochondrial F(0)F(1)-ATPase is reported. [structure: see text]

Toward a structure-activity relationship for apoptolidin: selective functionalization of the hydroxyl group array.

[reaction: see text] To investigate the structural basis for the exceptional selectivity and activity of apoptolidin (1), a strategy has been devised that allows for selective functionalization of seven of its eight hydroxyl groups based on progressive silyl protection, derivatization, and deprotection. The syntheses of these derivatives and their ability to inhibit F(0)F(1)-ATPase are reported.

Isoapoptolidin: structure and activity of the ring-expanded isomer of apoptolidin.

[formula: see text] Apoptolidin (1) is a novel oncolytic lead that induces apoptosis in transformed cell lines with exceptional selectivity. We report the isolation and characterization of a ring-expanded macrolide isomer of apoptolidin: isoapoptolidin (2). The solution conformation of isoapoptolidin is described. The rate of isomerization was measured under biologically relevant conditions and found to approach equilibrium within the time frame of most cell-based assays. Isoapoptolidin's ability to inhibit mitochondrial F0F1-ATPase is over 10-fold less than that of apoptolidin.