SF2312 is a natural phosphonate inhibitor of enolase.

Despite being crucial for energy generation in most forms of life, few if any microbial antibiotics specifically inhibit glycolysis. To develop a specific inhibitor of the glycolytic enzyme enolase 2 (ENO2) for the treatment of cancers with deletion of ENO1 (encoding enolase 1), we modeled the synthetic tool compound inhibitor phosphonoacetohydroxamate (PhAH) into the active site of human ENO2. A ring-stabilized analog of PhAH, in which the hydroxamic nitrogen is linked to Cα by an ethylene bridge, was predicted to increase binding affinity by stabilizing the inhibitor in a bound conformation. Unexpectedly, a structure-based search revealed that our hypothesized backbone-stabilized PhAH bears strong similarity to SF2312, a phosphonate antibiotic of unknown mode of action produced by the actinomycete Micromonospora, which is active under anaerobic conditions. Here, we present multiple lines of evidence, including a novel X-ray structure, that SF2312 is a highly potent, low-nanomolar inhibitor of enolase.

Design and Synthesis of an Inositol Phosphate Analog Based on Computational Docking Studies.

A virtual library of 54 inositol analog mimics of In(1,4,5)P3 has been docked, scored, and ranked within the binding site of human inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase A (IP3-3KA). Chemical synthesis of the best scoring structure that also met distance criteria for 3'-OH to -P in Phosphate has been attempted along with the synthesis of (1S,2R,3S,4S)-3-fluoro-2,4-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid as an inositol analog, useful for non-invasive visualization and quantitation of IP3-3KA enzymatic activity.

Degrasyn-like symmetrical compounds: possible therapeutic agents for multiple myeloma (MM-I).

A series of degrasyn-like symmetrical compounds have been designed, synthesized, and screened against B cell malignancy (multiple myeloma, mantle cell lymphoma) cell lines. The lead compounds T5165804 and CP2005 showed higher nanomolar potency against these tumor cells in comparison to degrasyn and inhibited Usp9x activity in vitro and in intact cells. These observations suggest that this new class of compounds holds promise as cancer therapeutic agents.

Imatinib analogs as potential agents for PET imaging of Bcr-Abl and c-KIT expression at a kinase level.

We synthesized two series of imatinib mesylate (STI-571) analogs to develop a Bcr-Abl and c-KIT receptor-specific labeling agent for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to measure Bcr-Abl and c-KIT expression levels in a mouse model. The methods of molecular modeling, synthesis of STI-571 and its analogs, in vitro kinase assays, and radiolabeling are described. Molecular modeling revealed that these analogs bind the same Bcr-Abl and c-KIT binding sites as those bound by STI-571. The analogs potently inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of Bcr-Abl and c-KIT, similarly to STI-571. [(18)F]-labeled STI-571 was prepared with high specific activity (75 GBq/µmol) by nucleophilic displacement and an average radiochemical yield of 12%. [(131)I]-labeled STI-571 was prepared with high purity (>95%) and an average radiochemical yield of 23%. The uptake rates of [(18)F]-STI-571 in K562 cells expressing Abl and in U87WT cells overexpressing c-KIT were significantly higher than those in the U87 cell and could be inhibited by STI-71 (confirming the specificity of uptake). PET scans of K562 and U87WT tumor-bearing mice with [(18)F]-STI-571 as a contrast agent showed visible tumor uptake and tumor-to-non-target contrast.

Improved synthesis of 17ß-hydroxy-16α-iodo-wortmannin, 17ß-hydroxy-16α-iodoPX866, and the [(131)I] analogue as useful PET tracers for PI3-kinase.

An improved method for the synthesis of 17ß-hydroxy-16α-iodo-wortmannin along with the first synthesis of 17ß-hydroxy-16α-iodoPX866 and [(131)I] radiolabeled 17ß-hydroxy-16α-[(131)I]iodo-wortmannin, as potential PET tracers for PI3K was also described. The differences between wortmannin and its iodo analogue were compared by covalently docking each structure to L833 in PI3K.

Designing and developing S100P inhibitor 5-methyl cromolyn for pancreatic cancer therapy.

We have previously shown that the antiallergic drug cromolyn blocks S100P interaction with its receptor receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) and improves gemcitabine effectiveness in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the concentration required to achieve its effectiveness was high (100 µmol/L). In this study, we designed and synthesized analogs of cromolyn and analyzed their effectiveness compared with the parent molecule. An ELISA was used to confirm the binding of S100P with RAGE and to test the effectiveness of the different analogs. Analog 5-methyl cromolyn (C5OH) blocked S100P binding as well as the increases in NF-κB activity, cell growth, and apoptosis normally caused by S100P. In vivo C5OH systemic delivery reduced NF-κB activity to a greater extent than cromolyn and at 10 times lesser dose (50 mg vs. 5 mg). Treatment of mice-bearing syngeneic PDAC tumors showed that C5OH treatment reduced both tumor growth and metastasis. C5OH treatment of nude mice bearing orthotopic highly aggressive pancreatic Mpanc96 cells increased the overall animal survival. Therefore, the cromolyn analog, C5OH, was found to be more efficient and potent than cromolyn as a therapeutic for PDAC.

Binding partners for curcumin in human schwannoma cells: biologic implications.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-tumorigenic agent that has shown preclinical activity in diverse cancers. Curcumin up-regulates heat shock protein 70 (hsp70) mRNA in several different cancer cell lines. Hsp70 contributes to an escape from the apoptotic effects of curcumin by several different mechanisms including prevention of the release of apoptosis inducing factor from the mitochondria and inhibition of caspases 3 and 9. Previously we showed that the combination of curcumin plus a heat shock protein inhibitor was synergistic in its down-regulation of the proliferation of a human schwannoma cell line (HEI-193) harboring an NF2 mutation, possibly because curcumin up-regulated hsp70, which also binds merlin, the NF2 gene product. In order to determine if curcumin also interacts directly with hsp70 and to discover other binding partners of curcumin, we synthesized biotinylated curcumin (bio-curcumin) and treated HEI-193 schwannoma cells. Cell lysates were prepared and incubated with avidin-coated beads. Peptides pulled down from this reaction were sequenced and it was determined that biotinylated curcumin bound hsp70, hsp90, 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase, and a ß-actin variant. These binding partners may serve to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms of curcumin's actions.

Synthesis of a Macrocycle Based on Linked Amino Acid Mimetics (LAAM).

We report the synthesis of a macrocycle utilizing a novel framework of standard amino acids in combination with subunits that we have named as Linked Amino Acid Mimetics (LAAM's). Macrocycles based on the LAAM concept provide both a peptide targeting region and two independently variable functional regions. In the prototype structure, the commonly known Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence was used for the targeting region. The functional regions contain a phenyl group, and the linkage was formed via a Ring-Closing Metathesis (RCM) reaction.

Combination treatment with MEK and AKT inhibitors is more effective than each drug alone in human non-small cell lung cancer in vitro and in vivo.

AZD6244 and MK2206 are targeted small-molecule drugs that inhibit MEK and AKT respectively. The efficacy of this combination in lung cancer is unknown. Our previous work showed the importance of activated AKT in mediating resistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to AZD6244. Thus we hypothesized that dual inhibition of both downstream MEK and AKT pathways would induce synergistic antitumor activity. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of AZD6244 and MK2206 individually on a large panel of lung cancer cell lines. Then, we treated 28 human lung cancer cell lines with a combination of AZD6244 and MK2206 at clinically applicable drug molar ratios. The AZD6244-MK2206 combination therapy resulted in a synergistic effect on inhibition of lung cancer cell growth compared to the results of single drug treatment alone. MK2206 enhanced AZD6244-induced Bim overexpression and apoptosis in A549 and H157 cells. When we tested the combination of AZD6244 and MK2206 at ratios of 8∶1, 4∶1, 2∶1, and 1∶8, we found that the synergistic effect of the combination therapy was ratio-dependent. At ratios of 8∶1, 4∶1, and 2∶1, the drug combination consistently demonstrated synergy, whereas decreasing the ratio to 1∶8 resulted in a loss of synergy and produced an additive or antagonistic effect in most cell lines. Furthermore, the AZD6244-MK2206 combination therapy showed synergy in the suppression of A549 and H157 xenograft tumor growth and increased mean animal survival time. The AZD6244-MK2206 combination therapy resulted in effective inhibition of both p-ERK and p-AKT expression in tumor tissue. In addition, a significant increase of apoptosis was detected in tumor tissue from mice treated with AZD6244-MK2206 compared with that from the single agent treated mice. Our study suggests that the combination of AZD6244 and MK2206 has a significant synergistic effect on tumor growth in vitro and in vivo and leads to increased survival rates in mice bearing highly aggressive human lung tumors.

Spectroscopic and electrochemical evaluation of salt effects on electron-transfer equilibria between donor/acceptor and ion-radical pairs in organic solvents.

Addition of "inert" tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (Bu(4)NPF(6)) to a solution of TMDO/DDQ in dichloromethane (where TMDO=2,2,6,6-tetramethylbenzo[1,2-d;4,5-d]bis[1,3]-dioxole, donor, and DDQ=diclorodicyano-p-benzoquinone, acceptor) is accompanied by drastic changes in the electronic spectrum, which are related to the appearance of the DDQ(-.) and TMDO(+.) ion radicals and a decrease in the concentration of the neutral molecules and the charge-transfer complex [TMDO,DDQ]. These changes point to a considerable rise (of about three orders of magnitude) in the apparent electron-transfer equilibrium constant (K(ET)) for this donor/acceptor pair upon increasing the electrolyte concentration from 0 to 0.5 M. Accordingly, the ion-radical fractions and K(ET) values are higher in dichloromethane, at high electrolyte concentrations, than in acetonitrile (where the effect of Bu(4)NPF(6) is less pronounced). Similar trends of the apparent equilibrium constants are observed for the tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine/tetracyanoethylene pair. Electron-transfer equilibrium constants for both donor/acceptor dyads obtained from spectral measurements are related to those derived from the redox potentials of the reactants. The effects of media variations on the electron-transfer equilibria are discussed within the ion-pairing and ionic-activity frameworks.

Reversible interchange of charge-transfer versus electron-transfer states in organic electron transfer via cross-exchanges between diamagnetic (donor/acceptor) dyads.

The choice of appropriate electron donors (D) and acceptors (A) allows for the first time the simultaneous observation of Mulliken charge-transfer states, [D,A], that can coexist in reversible equilibrium with electron-transfer states, {D+*,A-*}, for various diamagnetic organic redox dyads. The theoretical analysis based on the (two-state) Mulliken-Hush analysis of the intervalence optical transition, together with the spectral identification of the transient ion-radical pairs of D+* and A-*, leads to the construction of the unusual potential-energy surface consisting of a single minimum without any reorganizational barrier for electron-transfer cross-exchanges with driving forces close to the isergonic limit. The mechanistic implications of this direct demonstration of the facile charge-transfer/electron-transfer interchange are discussed.

Very fast electron migrations within p-doped aromatic cofacial arrays leading to three-dimensional (toroidal) pi-delocalization.

The charge-resonance phenomenon originally identified by Badger and Brocklehurst lies at the core of the basic understanding of electron movement and delocalization that is possible within p-doped aromatic (face-to-face) arrays. To this end, we now utilize a series of different aryl-donor groups (Ar) around a central platform to precisely evaluate the intramolecular electron movement among these tethered redox centers. As such, the unique charge-resonance (intervalence) absorption bands observed upon the one-electron oxidation or p-doping of various hexaarylbenzenoid arrays (Ar6C6) provide quantitative measures of the reorganization energy (lambda) and the electronic coupling element (H(ab)) that are required for the evaluation of the activation barrier (deltaG(ET)) for electron-transfer self-exchange according to Marcus-Hush theory. The extensive search for viable redox centers is considerably aided by the application of a voltammetric criterion that has led in this study to Ar = N,N-dialkyl-p-anilinyl, in which exceptionally low barriers are shown to lie in the range deltaG(ET) = 0.3-0.7 kcal mol(-1) for very fast electron hopping or peregrination around the hexagonal circuit among six equivalent Ar sites. Therefore, at transition temperatures T(t) > 0.5/R or roughly -20 degrees C, the electron-transfer dynamics become essentially barrierless since the whizzing occurs beyond the continuum of states and effectively achieves complete pi-delocalization.

Donor-acceptor (electronic) coupling in the precursor complex to organic electron transfer: intermolecular and intramolecular self-exchange between phenothiazine redox centers.

Intermolecular electron transfer (ET) between the free phenothiazine donor (PH) and its cation radical (PH*+) proceeds via the [1:1] precursor complex (PH)(2)*+ which is transiently observed for the first time by its diagnostic (charge-resonance) absorption band in the near-IR region. Similar intervalence (optical) transitions are also observed in mixed-valence cation radicals with the generic representation: P(br)P*+, in which two phenothiazine redox centers are interlinked by p-phenylene, o-xylylene, and o-phenylene (br) bridges. Mulliken-Hush analysis of the intervalence (charge-resonance) bands afford reliable values of the electronic coupling element H(IV) based on the separation parameters for (P/P*+) centers estimated from some X-ray structures of the intermolecular (PH)(2)*+ and the intramolecular P(br)P*+ systems. The values of H(IV), together with the reorganization energies lambda derived from the intervalence transitions, yield activation barriers DeltaG(ET)() and first-order rate constants k(ET) for electron-transfer based on the Marcus-Hush (two-state) formalism. Such theoretically based values of the intrinsic barrier and ET rate constants agree with the experimental activation barrier (E(a)) and the self-exchange rate constant (k(SE)) independently determined by ESR line broadening measurements. This convergence validates the use of the two-state model to adequately evaluate the critical electronic coupling elements between (P/P*+) redox centers in both (a) intermolecular ET via the precursor complex and (b) intramolecular ET within bridged mixed-valence cation radicals. Important to intermolecular ET mechanism is the intervention of the strongly coupled precursor complex since it leads to electron-transfer rates of self-exchange that are 2 orders of magnitude faster (and activation barrier that is substantially lower) than otherwise predicted solely on the basis of Marcus reorganization energy.

X-ray structure analysis and the intervalent electron transfer in organic mixed-valence crystals with bridged aromatic cation radicals.

X-ray crystallography identifies the aromatic donor group D = 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl to be a suitable redox center for the construction of organic mixed-valence crystals owing to its large structural change attendant upon 1e oxidation to the cation-radical (D*(+)). The combination of cyclic voltammetry, dynamic ESR line broadening, and electronic (NIR) spectroscopy allows the intervalence electron transfer between the redox centers in the mixed-valence system D-br-D*(+) [where br can be an aliphatic trimethylene or an aromatic (poly)phenylene bridge] to be probed quantitatively. Independent measures of the electronic coupling matrix element (H) for D/D*(+) electron exchange via Mulliken-Hush theory accord with the X-ray crystallographic data-both sufficient to consistently identify the various D-br-D*(+) according to the Robin-Day classification. Thus, the directly coupled biaryl D-D*(+) is a completely delocalized cation in class III with the charge distributed equally over both redox centers. The trimethylene- and biphenylene-bridged cations D(CH(2))(3)D*(+) and D(ph)(2)D*(+) with highly localized charge distributions are prototypical class II systems involving moderately coupled redox centers with H approximately equal to 400 cm(-1). The borderline region between class II/III is occupied by the phenylene-bridged cation D(ph)D*(+); and the X-ray, CV, and NIR analyses yield ambivalent H values (which we believe to be) largely a result of an unusually asymmetric (20/80) charge distribution that is polarized between the D/D*(+) redox centers.