Florence Popowycz

N-&-N, a new class of cell death-inducing kinase inhibitors derived from the purine roscovitine

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their regulators show frequent abnormalities in tumors. Ten low molecular weight pharmacologic inhibitors of CDKs are currently in clinical trials against various cancers, including the 2,6,9-trisubstituted purine (R)-roscovitine (CYC202/Seliciclib). We here report the characterization of N-&-N1, a bioisoster of roscovitine displaying improved antitumoral properties. N-&-N1 shows exquisite selectivity for CDKs, with 2- to 3-fold enhanced potency compared with (R)-roscovitine. Inhibition of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation and RNA polymerase II Ser2 phosphorylation in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells exposed to N-&-N1 indicates that N-&-N1 is able to inhibit CDKs in a cellular context. N-&-N1 also down-regulates the expression of RNA polymerase. Cocrystal structures of N-&-N1 and (R)-roscovitine in complex with CDK2/cyclin A reveal that both inhibitors adopt similar binding modes. A competitive assay shows that, compared with (R)-roscovitine, N-&-N1 has reduced affinity for Erk2 and pyridoxal kinase. N-&-N1 triggers cell death in a panel of diverse cell lines. Cell death is accompanied by events characteristic of apoptosis: cytochrome c release, activation of effector caspases, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. Induction of p53 and p21CIP1 and down-regulation of the Mcl-1 antiapoptotic factor were also observed. Studies in mice show that N-&-N1 has pharmacokinetics properties similar to those of (R)-roscovitine. Altogether, these results show that analogues of (R)-roscovitine can be designed with improved antitumor potential. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(9):2713–24]

Reduction of aromatic and aliphatic nitro groups to anilines and amines with hypophosphites associated with Pd/C

The reduction of aromatic and aliphatic nitro groups to anilines and amines is performed with good yield and selectivity in short reaction times. A mixture of sodium hypophosphite and phosphinic acid is used in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst 2.5 mol% of Pd/C (5%) in a biphasic water/2-MeTHF system.

Structure-Activity Relationship and Multidrug Resistance Study of New S-Trityl-L-Cysteine Derivatives as Inhibitors of Eg5.

The mitotic spindle is a validated target for cancer chemotherapy. Drugs such as taxanes and vinca alkaloids specifically target microtubules and cause the mitotic spindle to collapse. However, toxicity and resistance are problems associated with these drugs. Thus, alternative approaches to inhibiting the mitotic spindle are being pursued. These include targeting Eg5, a human kinesin involved in the formation of the bipolar spindle. We previously identified S-trityl-L-cysteine (STLC) as a potent allosteric inhibitor of Eg5. Here, we report the synthesis of a new series of STLC-like compounds with in vitro inhibition in the low nanomolar range. We also performed a multidrug resistance study in cell lines overexpressing P-glycoprotein and showed that some of these inhibitors may have the potential to overcome susceptibility to this efflux pump. Finally, we performed molecular docking of the compounds and determined the structures of two Eg5-inhibitor complexes to explain the structure-activity relationship of these compounds.

Synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine myoseverin derivatives.

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine myoseverin derivatives 1a-c were prepared from 4-(N-methyl-N-phenylamino)-2-methylsulfanylpyrazolo[1,5-a]-1,3,5-triazine 2. Their cytotoxic activity, inhibition of tubulin polymerization, and cell cycle effects were evaluated. Compounds 1a and 1c are potent tubulin inhibitors and displayed specific antiproliferative activity in colorectal cancer cell lines at micromolar concentrations.

Solvent-free Michael addition to non-protected 3-(2-nitrovinyl)indole by ultrasound activation.

A variety of nucleophiles provided by activated methylenes have been added on 3-(2-nitrovinyl)-1H-indole in very good to excellent yields, under sonication and solvent-free conditions, using solid potassium carbonate or sodium acetate as a base. Direct synthesis avoiding preliminary NH protection is reported and exemplified to 15 molecules.

Inhibitors of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase: design, synthesis, kinetics, biomineralization and cellular tests.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with numerous metabolic and endocrine disturbances, including abnormalities of calcium and phosphate metabolism and an inflammatory syndrome. The latter occurs early in the course of CKD and contributes to the development and progression of vascular calcification. A few therapeutic strategies are today contemplated to target vascular calcification in patients with CKD: vitamin K2, calcimimetics and phosphate binders. However, none has provided complete prevention of vascular calcification and there is an urgent need for alternate efficient treatments. Recent findings indicate that tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) may represent a very promising drug target due to its participation in mineralization by vascular smooth muscle cells. We report the synthesis of four levamisole derivatives having better inhibition property on TNAP than levamisole. Their IC50, Ki and water solubility have been determined. We found that the four inhibitors bind to TNAP in an uncompetitive manner and are selective to TNAP. Indeed, they do not inhibit intestinal and placental alkaline phosphatases. Survival MTT tests on human MG-63 and Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells have been performed in the presence of inhibitors. All the inhibitors are not toxic at concentrations that block TNAP activity. Moreover, they are able to significantly reduce mineralization in MG63 and Saos-2 osteoblast-like cells, indicating that they are promising molecules to prevent vascular calcification.

Synthesis and evaluation of thiophenyl derivatives as inhibitors of alkaline phosphatase

Pathological calcifications induced by deposition of basic phosphate crystals or hydroxyapatite (HA) on soft tissues are a large family of diseases comprising of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and vascular calcification. High activity of tissue non-specific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) is a hallmark of pathological calcifications induced by HA deposition. The use of TNAP inhibitor is a possible therapeutic option to address calcific diseases produced by HA deposition on soft tissues. We report the synthesis of a series of thiopheno-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole derivatives which were evaluated as potential inhibitors of TNAP displaying a large range of IC(50) at pH 10.4 (from 42±13 μM to more than 800 μM).

Development of an Ecofriendly Anticoagulant Rodenticide Based on the Stereochemistry of Difenacoum.

Difenacoum, an antivitamin K anticoagulant, has been widely used as rodenticide to manage populations of rodents. Difenacoum belongs to the second generation of anticoagulant, and, as all the molecules belonging to the second generation of anticoagulant, difenacoum is often involved in primary poisonings of domestic animals and secondary poisonings of wildlife by feeding contaminated rodents. To develop a new and ecofriendly difenacoum, we explored in this study the differences in properties between diastereomers of difenacoum. Indeed, the currently commercial difenacoum is a mixture of 57% of cis-isomers and 43% of trans-isomers. Cis- and trans-isomers were thus purified on a C18 column, and their respective pharmacokinetic properties and their efficiency to inhibit the coagulation of rodents were explored. Tissue persistence of trans-isomers was shown to be shorter than that of cis-isomers with a half-life fivefold shorter. Efficiency to inhibit the vitamin K epoxide reductase activity involved in the coagulation process was shown to be similar between cis- and trans-isomers. The use of trans-isomers of difenacoum allowed to drastically reduce difenacoum residues in liver and other tissues of rodents when the rodent is moribund. Therefore, secondary poisonings of wildlife should be decreased by the use of difenacoum largely enriched in trans-isomers.

Efficient C-3 reductive alkylation of 4-hydroxycoumarin by dehydrogenative oxidation of benzylic alcohols through ruthenium catalysis

A practical route to prepare 4-hydroxycoumarin derivatives functionalized at the C-3 position is described through a catalytic coupling reaction between 4-hydroxycoumarin and a series of substituted benzylic alcohols. The reaction is conducted in the presence of tris(triphenylphosphine)ruthenium(II) dichloride (5 mol%), KOH (0.2 eq.) in tertamyl alcohol under microwave irradiation at 140 °C for 2 hours.

A continuous spectrophotometric assay that distinguishes between phospholipase A1 and A2 activities

A new spectrophotometric assay was developed to measure, continuously and specifically, phospholipase A1 (PLA1) or phospholipase A2 (PLA2) activities using synthetic glycerophosphatidylcholines (PCs) containing α-eleostearic acid, either at the sn-1 position [1-α-eleostearoyl-2-octadecyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (EOPC)] or at the sn-2 position [1-octadecyl-2-α-eleostearoyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine (OEPC)]. The substrates were coated onto the wells of microtiter plates. A nonhydrolyzable ether bond, with a non-UV-absorbing alkyl chain, was introduced at the other sn position to prevent acyl chain migration during lipolysis. Upon enzyme action, α-eleostearic acid is liberated and then solubilized into the micellar phase. The PLA1 or PLA2 activity was measured by the increase in absorbance at 272 nm due to the transition of α-eleostearic acid from the adsorbed to the soluble state. EOPC and OEPC differentiate, with excellent accuracy, between PLA1 and PLA2 activity. Lecitase®, guinea pig pancreatic lipase-related protein 2 (known to be a PLA1 enzyme), bee venom PLA2, and porcine pancreatic PLA2 were all used to validate the assay. Compared with current assays used for continuously measuring PLA1 or PLA2 activities and/or their inhibitors, the development of this sensitive enzymatic method, using coated PC substrate analogs to natural lipids and based on the UV spectroscopic properties of α-eleostearic acid, is a significant improvement.