Francis Müller

Predicting plasma protein binding of drugs: a new approach

In spite of the large amount of plasma protein binding data for drugs, it is not obvious and there is no clear consensus among different disciplines how to deal with this parameter in multidimensional lead optimization strategies. In this work, we have made a comprehensive study on the importance of plasma protein binding and the influencing factors in order to get new insights for this molecular property. Our analysis of the distribution of percentage plasma protein binding among therapeutic drugs showed that no general rules for protein binding can be derived, except for the class of chemotherapeutics, where a clear trend towards lower binding could be observed. For the majority of indication areas, however, empirical rules are missing. We present here an extensive list of multiply determined primary association constants for binding to human serum albumin (HSA) for 138 compounds from the literature. Correlating these binding constants with the percentage fraction of protein bound showed that the percentage data above 90%, corresponding to a binding constant below 6 microM, are of insufficient accuracy. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that the lipophilicity of drugs, traditionally felt to dominate binding to HSA, is not the only relevant descriptor. Here, we report a generic model for the prediction of drug association constants to HSA, which uses a pharmacophoric similarity concept and partial least square analysis (PLS) to construct a quantitative structure-activity relationship. It is able to single out the submicromolar to nanomolar binders, i.e. to differentiate between 99.0 and 99.99% plasma protein binding. Depending on the system, this can be important in medicinal chemistry programs and may together with other computed physicochemical and ADME properties assist in the prioritization of synthetic strategies.

Physical properties of new liquid-crystal mixtures and electrooptical performance in twisted nematic displays

Complete sets of measurements are reported of the elastic, dielectric, optical, and viscous properties of new liquid-crystal mixtures for twisted nematic displays. Their optical and capacitive threshold voltages were shown to be identical and were used to determine the twist elastic constants k22. The splay (k11) and bend (k33) elastic constants were measured using a novel phase sensitive capacitance bridge, The new mixtures consist of nematic and isotropic components belonging to different chemical classes. Large mesomorphic temperature ranges (Tc> 100° C), fast electrooptical response, 1.5-V operation, and 3-V 1:3 multiplexability could be achieved with different eutectic mixtures. Good agreement was found between material properties of physically and chemically different mixtures and their static and dynamic electrooptical performance in twisted nematic displays.

Crystal Engineering Yields Crystals of Cyclophilin D Diffracting to 1.7 A Resolution

In the pharmaceutical industry, knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of a specific target facilitates the drug-discovery process. Despite possessing favoured analytical properties such as high purity and monodispersion in light scattering, some proteins are not capable of forming crystals suitable for X-ray analysis. Cyclophilin D, an isoform of cyclophilin that is expressed in the mitochondria, was selected as a drug target for the treatment of cardiac disorders. As the wild-type enzyme defied all attempts at crystallization, protein engineering on the enzyme surface was performed. The K133I mutant gave crystals that diffracted to 1.7 A resolution using in-house X-ray facilities and were suitable for soaking experiments. The crystals were very robust and diffraction was maintained after soaking in 25% DMSO solution: excellent conditions for the rapid analysis of complex structures including crystallographic fragment screening.

Structure-assisted discovery of an aminothiazole derivative as a lead molecule for inhibition of bacterial fatty-acid synthesis

β-Ketoacyl-ACP synthase is a key target for the treatment of infectious diseases. A structure-based biophysical screening approach identified for the first time a synthetic small molecule, 2-phenylamino-4-methyl-5-acetylthiazole, that binds to the active site of the enzyme. Implications for the use of this information in drug discovery are discussed.

Exploiting Molecular Biology by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Imaging

Many contemporary biological investigations rely on highly sensitive in vitro assays for the analysis of specific molecules in biological specimens, and the main part of these assays depends on high-sensitivity fluorescence detection techniques for the final readout. The analyzed molecules and molecular interactions in the specimen need to be detected in the presence of other highly abundant biomolecules, while the analyzed molecules themselves are only present at nano-, pico-, or even femtomolar concentration.A short scientific rationale of fluorescence is presented. It emphasizes the use of fluorescent labels for sensitive assays in life sciences and specifies the main properties of an ideal fluorophore. With fluorescence lifetimes in the microsecond range and fluorescence quantum yield of 0.4 some water soluble complexes of Ruthenium like modified Ru(sulfobathophenanthroline) complexes fulfill these properties. They are outstanding fluorescent labels for ultrasensitive assays as illustrated in two examples, in drug discovery and in point of care testing.We discuss the fundamentals and the state-of-the-art of the most sensitive time-gated fluorescence assays. We reflect on how the imaging devices currently employed for readout of these assays might evolve in the future. Many contemporary biological investigations rely on highly sensitive in vitro assays for the analysis of specific molecules in biological specimens, and the main part of these assays depends on high-sensitivity fluorescence detection techniques for the final readout. The analyzed molecules and molecular interactions in the specimen need to be detected in the presence of other highly abundant biomolecules, while the analyzed molecules themselves are only present at nano-, pico-, or even femtomolar concentration.A short scientific rationale of fluorescence is presented. It emphasizes the use of fluorescent labels for sensitive assays in life sciences and specifies the main properties of an ideal fluorophore. With fluorescence lifetimes in the microsecond range and fluorescence quantum yield of 0.4 some water soluble complexes of Ruthenium like modified Ru(sulfobathophenanthroline) complexes fulfil these properties. They are outstanding fluorescent labels for ultrasensitive assays as illustrated in two examples, in drug discovery and in point of care testing.We discuss the fundamentals and the state-of-the-art of the most sensitive time-gated fluorescence assays. We reflect on how the imaging devices currently employed for readout of these assays might evolve in the future.