Improved Synthesis of N-Methylcadaverine.

Alkaloids compose a large class of natural products, and mono-methylated polyamines are a common intermediate in their biosynthesis. In order to evaluate the role of selectively methylated natural products, synthetic strategies are needed to prepare them. Here, N-methylcadaverine is prepared in 37.3% yield in three steps. The alternative literature two-step strategy resulted in reductive deamination to give N-methylpiperidine as determined by the single crystal structure. A straightforward strategy to obtain the mono-alkylated aliphatic diamine, cadaverine, which avoids potential side-reactions, is demonstrated.

Conjugation of chitosan nanoparticles with biogenic and synthetic polyamines: A delivery tool for antitumor polyamine analogues.

We report the conjugation of chitosan nanoparticles with biogenic polyamines spermine (spm), spermidine (spmd) and synthetic polyamines 3,7,11,15-tetrazaheptadecane.4HCl (BE-333) in aqueous solution. Multiple spectroscopic methods, thermodynamic parameters and molecular modeling were used to analyse polyamine bindings to chitosan nanoparticles. Thermodynamic parameters ΔS, ΔH and ΔG showed that polyamines bind protein through H-bonding and hydrophobic contacts with biogenic polyamines form more stable conjugates than synthetic polyamines. As polymer size increases the stability of polyamine-chitosan conjugate increases. The loading efficacy was 40-50% for polyamine-chitosan conjugates. Modeling showed that polyamine-protein interaction is spontaneous and chitosan nanoparticles can be used for delivery of antitumor polyamine analogues.

Cytotoxicity and cell death mechanisms induced by a novel bisnaphthalimidopropyl derivative against the NCI-H460 non-small lung cancer cell line.

Some polyamine derivatives, namely the bisnaphthalimidopropyl polyamines (BNIPPs) may have potential as anticancer drugs. Indeed, previous work from some of us had shown that the ability of these molecules to bind to DNA may contribute to their cytotoxicity. However, their precise mode of action has not been fully understood. In the present work, we report for the first time the effect of the previously synthesised compounds, BNIPDaCHM and NPA, together with a new BNIP derivative (BNIP-3,4-DaDPM) in the in vitro growth of a non-small cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H460). In addition, for the most potent compound (BNIPDaCHM), its activity as sirtuin inhibitor was investigated in vitro and further confirmed in silico. Results in the NCI-H460 cells showed that, from the compounds tested, BNIPDaCHM was the most potent (GI50 of 1.3 µM). In addition, a concentration-dependent alteration in the normal NCI-H460 cell cycle profile was observed following treatment with BNIPDaCHM as well as an increase in the sub-G1 peak (suggestive of apoptotis). This effect was further supported by Annexin V/PI staining and by analysing the expression of proteins related to apoptosis (cleaved PARP and Caspase-3) by Western blot. It was also observed that BNIPDaCHM inhibited the activity of SIRT2 in vitro, but not of SIRT1. Accordingly, this compound also caused a small increase in tubulin acetylation in NCI-H460 cells. To determine the binding potential of BNIPDaCHM on hSIRT2 and to further validate its inhibitory action, in silico docking studies were carried out, which revealed that BNIPDaCHM is composed of an entirely new SIRT2- inhibiting structural scaffold. In conclusion, this study indicates that BNIP derivatives with a novel structural backbone, such as BNIPDaCHM, may have potential as building blocks for novel antitumour agents which might selectively bind to hSIRT-2.

Delivery of siRNA to the mouse lung via a functionalized lipopolyamine.

We have designed a series of versatile lipopolyamines which are amenable to chemical modification for in vivo delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). This report focuses on one such lipopolyamine (Staramine), its functionalized derivatives and the lipid nanocomplexes it forms with siRNA. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of Staramine/siRNA nanocomplexes modified with methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) provides safe and effective delivery of siRNA and significant target gene knockdown in the lungs of normal mice, with much lower knockdown in liver, spleen, and kidney. Although siRNA delivered via Staramine is initially distributed across all these organs, the observed clearance rate from the lung tissue is considerably slower than in other tissues resulting in prolonged siRNA accumulation on the timescale of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated transcript depletion. Complete blood count (CBC) analysis, serum chemistry analysis, and histopathology results are all consistent with minimal toxicity. An in vivo screen of mPEG modified Staramine nanocomplexes-containing siRNAs targeting lung cell-specific marker proteins reveal exclusive transfection of endothelial cells. Safe and effective delivery of siRNA to the lung with chemically versatile lipopolyamine systems provides opportunities for investigation of pulmonary cell function in vivo as well as potential treatments of pulmonary disease with RNAi-based therapeutics.

Binding of biogenic and synthetic polyamines to ß-lactoglobulin.

The bindings of biogenic polyamines spermine (spm), spermidine (spmd) and synthetic polyamines 3,7,11,15-tetrazaheptadecane·4HCl (BE-333) and 3,7,11,15,19-pentazahenicosane·5HCl (BE-3333) with ß-lactoglobulin (ß-LG) were determined in aqueous solution. FTIR, UV-vis, CD and fluorescence spectroscopic methods as well as molecular modeling were used to determine the polyamine binding sites and the effect of polyamine complexation on protein stability and secondary structure. Structural analysis showed that polyamines bind ß-LG via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic contacts. Stronger polyamine-protein complexes formed with synthetic polyamines than biogenic polyamines, with overall binding constants of K(spm-ß-LG)=3.2(±0.6)×10(4) M(-1), K(spmd-ß-LG)=1.8(±0.5)×10(4) M(-1), K(BE-333-ß-LG)=5.8(±0.3)×10(4) M(-1) and K(BE-3333-ß-LG)=6.2(±0.05)×10(4) M(-1). Molecular modeling showed the participation of several amino acids in the polyamine complexes with the following order of polyamine-protein binding affinity: BE-3333>BE-333>spermine>spermidine, which correlates with their positively charged amino group content. Alteration of protein conformation was observed with a reduction of ß-sheet from 57% (free protein) to 55-51%, and a major increase of turn structure from 13% (free protein) to ∼21% in the polyamine-ß-LG complexes, indicating a partial protein unfolding.

Biogenic and synthetic polyamines bind bovine serum albumin.

Biogenic polyamines are found to modulate protein synthesis at different levels, while polyamine analogues have shown major antitumor activity in multiple experimental models, including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with biogenic polyamines, spermine and spermidine, and polyamine analogues 3,7,11,15-tetrazaheptadecane x 4 HCl (BE-333) and 3,7,11,15,19-pentazahenicosane x 5 HCl (BE-3333) in aqueous solution at physiological conditions. FTIR, UV-visible, CD, and fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used to determine the polyamine binding mode and the effects of polyamine complexation on protein stability and secondary structure. Structural analysis showed that polyamines bind BSA via both hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. Stronger polyamine-protein complexes formed with biogenic than synthetic polyamines with overall binding constants of K(spm) = 3.56 (+/-0.5) x 10(5) M(-1), K(spmd) = 1.77 (+/-0.4) x 10(5) M(-1), K(BE-333) = 1.11 (+/-0.3) x 10(4) M(-1) and K(BE-3333) = 3.90 (+/-0.7) x 10(4) M(-1) that correlate with their positively charged amino group contents. Major alterations of protein conformation were observed with reduction of alpha-helix from 63% (free protein) to 55-33% and increase of turn 12% (free protein) to 28-16% and random coil from 6% (free protein) to 24-17% in the polyamine-BSA complexes, indicating a partial protein unfolding. These data suggest that serum albumins might act as polyamine carrier proteins in delivering polyamine analogues to target tissues.

[Regulation of polyamine and cancer].

This review describes my work in the field of polyamine research for the last 35 years. My research started with developing the improved synthesis of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and then moved to the purification of spermidine synthase from rat prostate. I also took considerable efforts to find the synthetic procedure for various polyamines with high yield in order to prepare (15)N-labeled polyamines. On the basis of these methodological work, I searched for the inhibitor of spermidine synthase and found trans-4-methylcyclohexylamine (MCHA), the most effective one at the present time. I also developed a new analytical method for polyamines using stable isotope and ionspray ionization mass spectrometry (IS-MS). Based on these studies I examined the role of polyamines in liver regeneration and found that oral administration of MCHA effectively changed the concentration of polyamines and inhibited the hepatic growth. I also found the close relationship between the concentration ratio of spermidine to spermine and the extent of liver regeneration. These results may shed new light on the control of cell growth by polyamine in vivo.

Structure-activity relationships in lipopolysaccharide neutralizers: design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a 540-membered amphipathic bisamide library.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS), also called "endotoxins", are outer-membrane constituents of Gram-negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharides play a key role in the pathogenesis of "septic shock", a major cause of mortality in the critically ill patient. We had earlier shown that small molecules bind and neutralize LPS if they contain (i) two protonatable cationic groups separated by a distance of approximately 14 A to facilitate interactions with the phosphate moieties on the lipid Angstrom component of LPS and (ii) a long-chain aliphatic hydrocarbon to promote hydrophobic interactions. In an effort to identify optimal scaffolds possessing the above structural requirements, we now present an evaluation of a rationally designed combinatorial library in which the elements of the scaffold are systematically varied to maximize sampling of chemical space. Leads obtained via molecular analyses of the screening results were resynthesized and evaluated in greater detail with regard to the affinity of the interaction with LPS, as well as neutralization of endotoxicity in in vitro assays. The examination of a moderately sized 6 x 6 x 15 (540-membered) focused library allowed the assessment of the structural contributions to binding by the long-chain aliphatic tails, distance between charged amino groups, and potential aromatic CH-pi or OH-pi interactions. These findings are of value in further iterations of design and development of specific and potent endotoxin sequestrants.

An efficient and versatile synthesis of acylpolyamine spider toxins.

An efficient and versatile synthesis of acylpolyamine spider toxins was developed based on the structural classification of the Nephila and Nephilengys spider toxins using the 2-nitrobenzenesulfonamide protecting group. The naturally occurring toxins 1-5 representing each structural type have been efficiently synthesized by this method in a high overall yield with few steps.

Synthesis of polyamine derivatives having non-hypotensive Ca2 +-permeable AMPA receptor antagonist activity.

In order to obtain non-hypotensive and Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptor antagonists, we have synthesized a series of 1,4-bis(4-piperidinylmethyl)diaminobutanes. Compounds 13b, c, f had desirable properties.