Agnes Bombrun

Selecting protein tyrosine phosphatases as drug targets

Protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) have emerged as a new and promising class of signaling targets, since the discovery of PTP1B as a major drug target for diabetes and obesity. Blocking individual PTPs results in the activation of specific tyrosine phosphorylation events, but matching PTPs with such pathways and therapeutic indications is a complex undertaking. The history of PTP1B shows that its unusual knockout phenotype and observations with generic and antisense inhibitors in vivo, but not its classical molecular biology, triggered the rapid development of inhibitors that are today being developed for the clinic.

MAC inhibitors suppress mitochondrial apoptosis.

MAC (mitochondrial apoptosis-induced channel) forms in the mitochondrial outer membrane and unleashes cytochrome c to orchestrate the execution of the cell. MAC opening is the commitment step of intrinsic apoptosis. Hence closure of MAC may prevent apoptosis. Compounds that blocked the release of fluorescein from liposomes by recombinant Bax were tested for their ability to directly close MAC and suppress apoptosis in FL5.12 cells. Low doses of these compounds (IC50 values ranged from 19 to 966 nM) irreversibly closed MAC. These compounds also blocked cytochrome c release and halted the onset of apoptotic markers normally induced by IL-3 (interleukin-3) deprivation or staurosporine. Our results reveal the tight link among MAC activity, cytochrome c release and apoptotic death, and indicate this mitochondrial channel is a promising therapeutic target.

BAX channel activity mediates lysosomal disruption linked to Parkinson disease

Lysosomal disruption is increasingly regarded as a major pathogenic event in Parkinson disease (PD). A reduced number of intraneuronal lysosomes, decreased levels of lysosomal-associated proteins and accumulation of undegraded autophagosomes (AP) are observed in PD-derived samples, including fibroblasts, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons, and post-mortem brain tissue. Mechanistic studies in toxic and genetic rodent PD models attribute PD-related lysosomal breakdown to abnormal lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying PD-linked LMP and subsequent lysosomal defects remain virtually unknown, thereby precluding their potential therapeutic targeting. Here we show that the pro-apoptotic protein BAX (BCL2-associated X protein), which permeabilizes mitochondrial membranes in PD models and is activated in PD patients, translocates and internalizes into lysosomal membranes early following treatment with the parkinsonian neurotoxin MPTP, both in vitro and in vivo, within a time-frame correlating with LMP, lysosomal disruption, and autophagosome accumulation and preceding mitochondrial permeabilization and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Supporting a direct permeabilizing effect of BAX on lysosomal membranes, recombinant BAX is able to induce LMP in purified mouse brain lysosomes and the latter can be prevented by pharmacological blockade of BAX channel activity. Furthermore, pharmacological BAX channel inhibition is able to prevent LMP, restore lysosomal levels, reverse AP accumulation, and attenuate mitochondrial permeabilization and overall nigrostriatal degeneration caused by MPTP, both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our results reveal that PD-linked lysosomal impairment relies on BAX-induced LMP, and point to small molecules able to block BAX channel activity as potentially beneficial to attenuate both lysosomal defects and neurodegeneration occurring in PD.

PALLADIUM-CATALYZED CYCLIZATION OF 2-HETEROYL-1-METHYLENE-1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDROISOQUINOLINES. STUDIES ON 6-ENDO- VERSUS 5-EXO-TRIG CYCLIZATION.

Abstract In this paper we report our studies on 6-endo- versus 5-exo-trig cyclizations of 2-heteroyl-1-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines. This can be used for the construction of a variety of functionalized five- or six-membered heterocyclic rings.

XtalFluor-E, an efficient coupling reagent for amidation of carboxylic acids.

Amides were produced from carboxylic acids and amines by using XtalFluor-E as an activator. Even poorly reactive carboxylic acids can be transformed to amides. In addition, optically active amines and/or carboxylic acids were not epimerized/racemized during the process.

N-Alkylation of 1H-indoles and 9H-carbazoles with alcohols

Abstract A comparative study of N -alkylation of 1 H -indole and 9 H -carbazole derivatives with alcohol derivatives was performed using classic Mitsunobu reaction conditions, i.e. DEAD/PPh 3 , azodicarboxamide derivatives such as TMAD in the presence of PBu 3 , or using phosphorane derivatives such as CMMP.

Identification and optimization of an aminoalcohol-carbazole series with antimalarial properties

Recent observations on the emergence of artemisinin resistant parasites have highlighted the need for new antimalarial treatments. An HTS campaign led to the identification of the 1-(1-aminopropan-2-ol)carbazole analogues as potent hits against Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain. The SAR study and optimization of early ADME and physicochemical properties direct us to the selection of a late lead compound that shows good efficacy when orally administrated in the in vivo P. berghei mouse model.

Enantioselective Synthesis and Physicochemical Properties of Libraries of 3‐Amino‐ and 3‐Amidofluoropiperidines

The enantioselective syntheses of 3-amino-5-fluoropiperidines and 3-amino-5,5-difluoropiperidines were developed using the ring enlargement of prolinols to access libraries of 3-amino- and 3-amidofluoropiperidines. The study of the physicochemical properties revealed that fluorine atom(s) decrease(s) the pKa and modulate(s) the lipophilicity of 3-aminopiperidines. The relative stereochemistry of the fluorine atoms with the amino groups at C3 on the piperidine core has a small effect on the pKa due to conformationnal modifications induced by fluorine atom(s). In the protonated forms, the C-F bond is in an axial position due to a dipole-dipole interaction between the N-H(+) and C-F bonds. Predictions of the physicochemical properties using common software appeared to be limited to determine correct values of pKa and/or differences of pKa between cis- and trans-3-amino-5-fluoropiperidines.

Discovery of a novel series of CXCR3 antagonists

The discovery of a novel series of CXCR3 antagonists is described. Starting from an HTS positive, iterative optimization gave potent compounds (IC(50) 15 nM in a chemotaxis assay). The strategy employed to improve the metabolic stability of these derivatives is described.

Titanium mediated olefination of aldehydes with α-haloacetates: an exceptionally stereoselective and general approach to (Z)-α-haloacrylates

An exceptionally stereoselective and general synthesis of (Z)-α-haloacrylates, ready to undergo various synthetic transformations, has been demonstrated from α-haloacetates and aldehydes in a one-pot manner via the titanium-enolate based asymmetric aldol condensation. Besides being an expedient synthetic procedure, the ready availability of diverse α-haloacetates, exceptional stereoselectivity, and high yields make the process a versatile transformation in organic synthesis. The potential of this method in up-scaling operations has been illustrated.