Jean-Pierre Vigneron

Telomerase inhibitors based on quadruplex ligands selected by a fluorescence assay

The reactivation of telomerase activity in most cancer cells supports the concept that telomerase is a relevant target in oncology, and telomerase inhibitors have been proposed as new potential anticancer agents. The telomeric G-rich single-stranded DNA can adopt in vitro an intramolecular quadruplex structure, which has been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. We used a fluorescence assay to identify molecules that stabilize G-quadruplexes. Intramolecular folding of an oligonucleotide with four repeats of the human telomeric sequence into a G-quadruplex structure led to fluorescence excitation energy transfer between a donor (fluorescein) and an acceptor (tetramethylrhodamine) covalently attached to the 5′ and 3′ ends of the oligonucleotide, respectively. The melting of the G-quadruplex was monitored in the presence of putative G-quadruplex-binding molecules by measuring the fluorescence emission of the donor. A series of compounds (pentacyclic crescent-shaped dibenzophenanthroline derivatives) was shown to increase the melting temperature of the G-quadruplex by 2–20°C at 1 μM dye concentration. This increase in Tm value was well correlated with an increase in the efficiency of telomerase inhibition in vitro. The best telomerase inhibitor showed an IC50 value of 28 nM in a standard telomerase repeat amplification protocol assay. Fluorescence energy transfer can thus be used to reveal the formation of four-stranded DNA structures, and its stabilization by quadruplex-binding agents, in an effort to discover new potent telomerase inhibitors.

Binding of acetylcholine and other quaternary ammonium cations by sulfonated calixarenes. Crystal structure of a [choline-tetrasulfonated calix[4]arene] complex

Abstract The water-soluble tetra- and hexasulfonated calix[4] and calix[6]arenes bind very strongly the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and other quaternary ammonium cations with association constants Ks up to 4×105 M−1 for NEt4 +. The high affinities for choline and acetylcholine (Ks=5×104 to 8×104 M−1) are comparable to those of the biological recognition sites. The crystal structure of the [choline-tetrasulfonated calix[4]arene] complex was determined. Two complexes A and B were observed in the asymmetric unit. In each one, the choline inserts its N-terminal inside the cavity of the receptor. The calix[4]arene adopts a single cone conformation but the choline substrate is in an extended conformation in complex A and adopts two other folded conformations in complex B (75 % –25 %). The very high association constants and the crystal structure provide important information about the nature of the binding in this biologically most relevant complex.

Self-assembled lamellar complexes of siRNA with lipidic aminoglycoside derivatives promote efficient siRNA delivery and interference

RNA interference requires efficient delivery of small double-stranded RNA molecules into the target cells and their subsequent incorporation into RNA-induced silencing complexes. Although current cationic lipids commonly used for DNA transfection have also been used for siRNA transfection, a clear need still exists for better siRNA delivery to improve the gene silencing efficiency. We synthesized a series of cationic lipids characterized by head groups bearing various aminoglycosides for specific interaction with RNA. siRNA complexation with such lipidic aminoglycoside derivatives exhibited three lipid/siRNA ratio-dependent domains of colloidal stability. Fluorescence and dynamic light-scattering experiments showed that cationic lipid/siRNA complexes were formed at lower charge ratios, exhibited a reduced zone of colloidal instability, and had smaller mean diameters compared with our previously described guanidinium-based cationic lipids. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy and x-ray-scattering experiments showed that, although the final in toto morphology of the lipid/siRNA complexes depended on the aminoglycoside type, there was a general supramolecular arrangement consisting of ordered lamellar domains with an even spacing of 67 Å. The most active cationic lipid/siRNA complexes for gene silencing were obtained with 4,5-disubstituted 2-deoxystreptamine aminoglycoside derivatives and were characterized by the siRNA being entrapped in small particles exhibiting lamellar microdomains corresponding to siRNA molecules sandwiched between the lipid bilayers. These results clearly show that lipidic aminoglycoside derivatives constitute a versatile class of siRNA nanocarriers allowing efficient gene silencing.

L'eldanolide, phéromone des glandes alaires de la pyrale de la canne à sucre, eldana saccharina (wlk.): structure et synthèse de ses deux énantiomères

Abstract The isolation and structure determination of eldanolide, the wing gland pheromone of the male African Sugar Cane Borer, Eldana saccharina (Wlk.) is described. The absolute configuration was determined as (3S, 4R) by comparison of the CD spectra of the natural pheromone with both synthetic enantiomers.

Molecular Recognition of Nucleotide Pairs by a Cyclo‐Bis‐Intercaland‐Type Receptor Molecule: A Spectrophotometric and Electrospray Mass Spectrometry Study

Bis-quinacridine cyclo-bis-intercaland receptors are shown to form 1:2 complexes with nucleoside monophosphates in water (see scheme). The preferential binding of guanosine derivatives, which might originate in specific base/base interactions inside the complex, has been confirmed by ESI-MS experiments.

Absolute configuration of eldanolide, the wing gland pheromone of the male African sugar cane borer, Eldana saccharina (Wlk.) syntheses of its (+) and (−) enantiomers.

Abstract Eldanolide 1 , a novel terpenoid lactone pheromone, was shown to have (3S,4R) configuration by synthesis of both enantiomers and comparison of their CD with the natural pheromone.

Sterically stabilized BGTC-based lipoplexes: structural features and gene transfection into the mouse airways in vivo.

Colloidal stability of lipid/DNA aggregates is a major requirement for cationic lipid‐mediated transfection which is particularly difficult to fulfil at the high DNA concentrations used for in vivo gene delivery. Thus, we have investigated the potential of poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) conjugates for steric stabilization of lipoplexes formed by bis(guanidinium)‐tren‐cholesterol/dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (BGTC/DOPE) liposomes, a class of cationic liposomes we have developed over the past few years.

Interaction of an Acridine Dimer with DNA Quadruplex Structures

Abstract The reactivation of telomerase activity in most cancer cells supports the concept that telomerase is a relevant target in oncology, and telomerase inhibitors have been proposed as new potential anticancer agents. The telomeric G-rich single-stranded DNA can adopt an intramolecular G-quadruplex structure in vitro, which has been shown to inhibit telomerase activity. The C-rich sequence can also adopt a quadruplex (intercalated) structure (i-DNA). Two acridine derivatives were shown to increase the melting temperature of the G-quadruplex and the C-quadruplex at 1 μM dye concentration. The increase in Tm value of the G- quadruplex was associated with telomerase inhibition in vitro. The most active compound, “BisA”. showed an IC50 value of 0.75 μM in a standard TRAP assay.

Preparation d'alkyl-4 γ-lactones optiquement actives

Abstract Highly pure enantiomers of 4-alkyl γ-lactones are synthesized from optically active propargylic carbinols obtained by asymmetric reduction of α-acetylenic ketones with the chiral complex [LiAlH 4 ,N-methylephedrine-3,5 dimethylphenol].

Progress in Gene Delivery by Cationic Lipids : Guanidinium-Cholesterol-Based Systems as an Example

Artificial self-assembling systems are currently widely investigated as an alternative approach to recombinant viruses for gene transfection in vitro and in vivo. Cationic lipids are particularly attractive, as a great variety of well-characterized reagents can be synthesized from there. Over the last few years, numerous cationic lipid systems have been developed and shown to be efficient for in vitro transfection. However, although some promising results have been reported in the in vivo setting (even in clinical gene therapy trials in man), the in vivo use of cationic lipid-based systems is still problematic, especially when considering the systemic route of administration. Herein, we summarize our own research on a particular class of cationic lipids, cholesterol derivatives characterized by polar headgroups with guanidinium functions, in order to illustrate the basic principles of and the positive results already obtained by cationic lipid-mediated gene delivery as well as the remaining problems that need to be urgently resolved, particularly as regards the systemic administration. In this forward-looking review, we also discuss the present efforts to develop modular systems for improved in vivo transfection. Indeed, lipid-based vectors offer the possibility to create sophisticated modular gene delivery systems capable of self-assembly via hydrophobic interaction between their components, the role of the different functional elements being to help in overcoming the distinct extracellular and cellular barriers to in vivo gene transfection into the various somatic target tissues.