Design, in silico studies, synthesis and in vitro evaluation of oseltamivir derivatives as inhibitors of neuraminidase from influenza A virus H1N1.

Since the neuraminidase (NA) enzyme of the influenza A virus plays a key role in the process of release of new viral particles from a host cell, it is often a target for new drug design. The emergence of NA mutations, such as H275Y, has led to great resistance against neuraminidase inhibitors, including oseltamivir and zanamivir. Hence, we herein designed a set of derivatives by modifying the amine and/or carboxylic groups of oseltamivir. After being screened for their physicochemical (Lipinski's rule) and toxicological properties, the remaining compounds were submitted to molecular and theoretical studies. The docking simulations provided insights into NA recognition patterns, demonstrating that oseltamivir modified at the carboxylic moiety and coupled with anilines had higher affinity and a better binding pose for NA than the derivatives modified at the amine group. Based on these theoretical studies, the new oseltamivir derivatives may have higher affinity to mutant variants and possibly to other viral subtypes. Accordingly, two compounds were selected for synthesis, which together with their respective intermediates were evaluated for their cytotoxicity and antiviral activities. Their biological activity was then tested in cells infected with the A/Puerto Rico/916/34 (H1N1) influenza virus, and virus yield reduction assays were performed. Additionally, by measuring neuraminidase activity with the neuraminidase assay kit it was found that the compounds produced inhibitory activity on this enzyme. Finally, the infected cells were analysed with atomic force microscopy (AFM), observing morphological changes strongly suggesting that these compounds interfered with cellular release of viral particles.

Design of multi-target compounds as AChE, BACE1, and amyloid-ß(1-42) oligomerization inhibitors: in silico and in vitro studies.

Despite great efforts to develop new therapeutic strategies against Alzheimer's disease (AD), the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs): donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine, have been used only as a palliative therapeutic approach. However, the pathogenesis of AD includes several factors such as cholinergic hypothesis, amyloid-ß (Aß) aggregation, and oxidative stress. For this reason, the design of compounds that target the genesis and progression of AD could offer a therapeutic benefit. We have designed a set of compounds (M-1 to M-5) with pharmacophore moieties to inhibit the release, aggregation, or toxicity of Aß, act as AChEIs and have antioxidant properties. Once the compounds were designed, we analyzed their physicochemical parameters and performed docking studies to determine their affinity values for AChE, ß-site amyloid-protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and the Aß monomer. The best ligands, M-1 and M-4, were then synthesized, chemically characterized, and evaluated in vitro. The in vitro studies showed that these compounds inhibit AChE (M-1 Ki = 0.12 and M-4 Ki = 0.17 µM) and BACE1 (M-1 IC50 = 15.1 and M-4 IC50 = 15.4 nM). They also inhibit Aß oligomerization and exhibit antioxidant activity. In addition, these compounds showed low cytotoxicity in microglial cells. For these reasons, they are promising for future use as drugs in AD mice transgenic models.

Three amino acid derivatives of valproic acid: design, synthesis, theoretical and experimental evaluation as anticancer agents.

Valproic acid (VPA) is extensively used as an anticonvulsive agent and as a treatment for other neurological disorders. It has been shown that VPA exerts an anti-proliferative effect on several types of cancer cells by inhibiting the activity of histone deacetylases (HDACs), which are involved in replication and differentiation processes. However, VPA has some disadvantages, among which are poor water solubility and hepatotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to design and synthesize three derivatives of VPA to improve its physicochemical properties and anti-proliferative effects. For this purpose, the amino acids aspartic acid, glutamic acid and proline were added to the molecular structure of VPA. Docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to determine the mode of recognition of these three derivatives by different conformations of HDAC8. This receptor was used as the specific target because of its high affinity for this type of substrate. The results demonstrate that, compared to VPA, the test compounds bind to different sites on the enzyme and that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions play key roles in this difference. The IC50 values of the VPA derivatives, experimentally determined using HeLa cells, were in the mM range. This result indicates that the derivatives have greater antiproliferative effects than the parent compound. Hence, these results suggest that these amino acid derivatives may represent a good alternative for anticancer treatment.

Ethers and esters derived from apocynin avoid the interaction between p47phox and p22phox subunits of NADPH oxidase: evaluation in vitro and in silico.

NOX (NADPH oxidase) plays an important role during several pathologies because it produces the superoxide anion (O2•-), which reacts with NO (nitric oxide), diminishing its vasodilator effect. Although different isoforms of NOX are expressed in ECs (endothelial cells) of blood vessels, the NOX2 isoform has been considered the principal therapeutic target for vascular diseases because it can be up-regulated by inhibiting the interaction between its p47phox (cytosolic protein) and p22phox (transmembrane protein) subunits. In this research, two ethers, 4-(4-acetyl-2-methoxy-phenoxy)-acetic acid (1) and 4-(4-acetyl-2-methoxy-phenoxy)-butyric acid (2) and two esters, pentanedioic acid mono-(4-acetyl-2-methoxy-phenyl) ester (3) and heptanedioic acid mono-(4-acetyl-2-methoxy-phenyl) ester (4), which are apocynin derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as NOX inhibitors by quantifying O2•- production using EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) measurements. In addition, the antioxidant activity of apocynin and its derivatives were determined. A docking study was used to identify the interactions between the NOX2's p47phox subunit and apocynin or its derivatives. The results showed that all of the compounds exhibit inhibitory activity on NOX, being 4 the best derivative. However, neither apocynin nor its derivatives were free radical scavengers. On the other hand, the in silico studies demonstrated that the apocynin and its derivatives were recognized by the polybasic SH3A and SH3B domains, which are regions of p47phox that interact with p22phox. Therefore this experimental and theoretical study suggests that compound 4 could prevent the formation of the complex between p47phox and p22phox without needing to be activated by MPO (myeloperoxidase), this being an advantage over apocynin.

o-Alkylselenenylated benzoic acid accesses several sites in serum albumin according to fluorescence studies, Raman spectroscopy and theoretical simulations.

In the circulatory system, serum albumin (SA) is an important transporter of the majority of molecules with biological activity. We focused the current study on the anti-inflammatory compound, o-alkylselenenylated benzoic acid (ALKSEBEA), to determine its ability to access SA. Herein, we employed experimental procedures (fluorescence studies, Raman spectroscopy) and docking study on SA obtained from the Protein Data Bank and key conformers obtained from molecular dynamics simulations. The results show that ALKSEBEA accesses SA using a cooperative behavior according to fluorescence studies. In addition, the Raman results indicate that the ligand binding affects the backbone constituents. These results were confirmed by docking simulations tested on several SA conformers, which showed that ALKSEBEA bound on several sites on SA via π-π or π-cation interactions and that the ligand reaches other binding sites, where aromatic and basic residues as well as the backbone residues are involved.

Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of unsymmetrical selenides.

The alkylation reaction of 2,2'-diseleno and 4,4'-diseleno-bis(benzoic acid) derivatives in the presence of sodium borohydride and alkyl halides allowed the synthesis of various new o- and p-alkylselenenylated benzoic acid derivatives in good yields. The anti-inflammatory activity of selected selenide derivatives on granuloma induced by subcutaneous implantation of cotton pellets in Wistar rats was examined. Selenium derivatives 2a, 2c and 2e showed anti-inflammatory activity although to a lesser extent as compared to indomethacin, however they were found less toxic than the latter.

Crystal structure of 2-Se-(2-methyl-2-propenyl)-1-benzoic acid.

C11H12O2Se is triclinic, P1. Unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 5.8450(10), b = 8.1490(10), c = 11.4620(10)A, alpha = 97.050(10), beta = 90.140(10), gamma = 90.120(10) degrees, V = 541.81(12)A3, Dx = 1.564 g/cm3, and Z = 2. The R value is 0.047 for 1388 observed reflections. The dihedral angle between the phenyl ring and the isobutenyl group is 72.3(2) degrees. There is an intermolecular hydrogen bond between two symmetry-related carbonyl groups with an O1...O2 distance of 2.669(6)A. The molecules in the crystal are packed at normal van der Waals distances.

Crystal structure of dibenzoyl diselenide.

C14H10O2Se2 is monoclinic, P2(1)/c. The unit-cell dimensions at 293 K are a = 12.795(2), b = 12.126(2), c = 9.0179(13)A, beta = 107.074(6)degrees, V = 1337.5(3)A3, and Z = 4. The R value is 0.048 for 2319 observed reflections. The dihedral angle between the plane C4-C7(O2)-Se1 and C9-C8(O1)-Se2 is 85.6(2)degrees, keeping the Se atom unshared electron pairs in a more stable configuration with the rest of the molecule. The packing in the crystal is entirely due to van der Waals forces.