Shasi V. Kalivendi

Design, Synthesis, and Structure–Activity Correlations of Novel Dibenzo[b,d]furan, Dibenzo[b,d]thiophene, and N-Methylcarbazole Clubbed 1,2,3-Triazoles as Potent Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

A molecular hybridization approach is an emerging structural modification tool to design new molecules with improved pharmacophoric properties. In this study, 1,2,3-triazole-based Mycobacterium tuberculosis inhibitors and synthetic and natural product-based tricyclic (carbazole, dibenzo[b,d]furan, and dibenzo[b,d]thiophene) antimycobacterial agents were integrated in one molecular platform to prepare various novel clubbed 1,2,3-triazole hybrids using click chemistry. Structure-activity correlations and in vitro activity against M. tuberculosis strain H37Rv of new analogues revealed the order: dibenzo[b,d]thiophene > dibenzo[b,d]furan > 9-methyl-9H-carbazole series. Two of the most potent M. tuberculosis inhibitors 13h and 13q with MIC = 0.78 μg/mL (∼1.9 μM) displayed a low cytotoxicity and high selectivity index (50-255) against four different human cancer cell lines. These results together provided the potential importance of molecular hybridization and the development of triazole clubbed dibenzo[b,d]thiophene-based lead candidates to treat mycobacterial infections.

Design and Synthesis of Resveratrol-Based Nitrovinylstilbenes as Antimitotic Agents

A new series of resveratrol analogues was designed, synthesized, and demonstrated to be tubulin polymerization inhibitors. Most of these compounds exhibited antiproliferative activity and inhibited in vitro tubulin polymerization effectively at concentrations of 4.4-68.1 and 17-62 μM, respectively. Flow cytometry studies showed that compounds 7c, 7e, and 7g arrested cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Immunocytochemistry revealed loss of intact microtubule structure in cells treated with 7c and 7e. Docking of compounds 7c and 7e with tubulin suggested that the A-ring of the compounds occupies the colchicine binding site of tubulin, which coordinates with Cys241, Leu242, Ala250, Val318, Val328, and I378, and that the nitrovinyl side chain forms two hydrogen bonds with the main loop of the β-chain at Asn249 and Ala250.

Synthesis, structure–activity relationship of novel substituted 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates as potential anti-mycobacterial and anticancer agents

Series of 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylate derivatives 7a-7zb, 8a-8d and 9a-9d were synthesized and screened for their in vitro anti-mycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H(37)Rv (MTB) and cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines including A549, SK-N-SH and HeLa. The results indicate that six compounds are more potent and 7za is most effective anti-mycobacterial derivative compared to the standard drugs Ethambutol and Ciprofloxacin. However, 12 compounds exhibited cytotoxicity against human neuroblastoma cell line; amongst them the compound 7v is most effective compared to the standard drug Doxorubicin. This is the first report assigning in vitro anti-mycobacterial, anticancer and structure-activity relationship for this new class of 4H-chromen-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carboxylates.

2-Anilinonicotinyl linked 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives: Synthesis, antitumour activity and inhibition of tubulin polymerization

A series of 2-anilinonicotinyl linked 1,3,4-oxadiazoles was synthesized and evaluated for their antitumour activity against various cancer cell lines, inhibition of tubulin polymerization and cell cycle effects. Some of these compounds showed good antiproliferative activity with GI50 values ranging from 4.57 to 97.09 μM in the human cancer cell lines and one of the compounds 5m showed potent antitumour efficacy in all the cell lines tested. This compound also inhibited tubulin polymerization under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Analysis of tubulin by Western blot experiments demonstrated that 5m depolymerizes microtubules by causing disturbances in the ratio of soluble versus polymerized tubulin in cells, leading to the cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase of the cell cycle followed by activation of caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell death.

Synthesis of a new 4-aza-2,3-didehydropodophyllotoxin analogues as potent cytotoxic and antimitotic agents.

A series of novel conjugates of 4-aza-2,3-didehydropodophyllotoxins (11a-w) were synthesized by a straightforward one-step multicomponent synthesis that demonstrated cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (breast, oral, colon, lung and ovarian). All the twenty three compounds (11a-w) have been examined for the inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Among these compounds, 11a, 11k and 11p exhibited inhibition of polymerization tubulin comparable to podophyllotoxin apart from disruption of microtubule organization within the cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that these compounds (11a, 11k and 11p) arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M phase of cell cycle leading to caspase-3 dependent apoptotic cell death.

OXIDANTS INDUCE ALTERNATIVE SPLICING OF α-SYNUCLEIN: IMPLICATIONS FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE

alpha-Synuclein (alpha-syn) is a presynaptic protein that is widely implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinsons disease (PD). Emerging evidence indicates a strong correlation between alpha-syn aggregation and proteasomal dysfunction as one of the major pathways responsible for destruction of the dopamine neurons. Using parkinsonism mimetics (MPP(+), rotenone) and related oxidants, we have identified an oxidant-induced alternative splicing of alpha-syn mRNA, generating a shorter isoform of alpha-syn with deleted exon-5 (112-syn). This spliced isoform has an altered localization and profoundly inhibits proteasomal function. The generation of 112-syn was suppressed by constitutively active MEK-1 and enhanced by inhibition of the Erk-MAP kinase pathway. Overexpression of 112-syn exacerbated cell death in a human dopaminergic cell line compared to full-length protein. Expression of 112-syn and proteasomal dysfunction were also evident in the substantia nigra and to a lesser extent in striatum, but not in the cortex of MPTP-treated mice. We conclude that oxidant-induced alternative splicing of alpha-syn plays a crucial role in the mechanism of dopamine neuron cell death and thus contributes to PD.

Two new cytotoxic labdane diterpenes from the rhizomes of Hedychium coronarium

The phytochemical investigation of the hexane extract of the Hedychium coronarium led to the isolation and identification of two new labdane diterpenes (1 and 2) along with 10 known metabolites (3-12). The structures of the new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis (1D and 2D NMR and MS). Cytotoxic activities of the isolates were studied against the A-549 (lung cancer), SK-N-SH (human neuroblastoma), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer) cell lines.

Fructose induces mitochondrial dysfunction and triggers apoptosis in skeletal muscle cells by provoking oxidative stress

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle has been implicated in the development of insulin resistance, a major characteristic of type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that oxidative stress results from the increased production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, tissue damage, insulin resistance, and other complications observed in type 2 diabetes. It has been suggested that intake of high fructose contributes to insulin resistance and other metabolic disturbances. However, there is limited information about the direct effect of fructose on the mitochondrial function of skeletal muscle, the major metabolic determinant of whole body insulin activity. Here, we assessed the effect of fructose exposure on mitochondria-mediated mechanisms in skeletal muscle cells. Exposure of L6 myotubes to high fructose stimulated the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide (NO), and the expression of inducible NO synthase. Fructose-induced oxidative stress was associated with increased translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 to the nucleus, decreases in mitochondrial DNA content and mitochondrial dysfunctions, as evidenced by decreased activities of citrate synthase and mitochondrial dehydrogenases, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased activity of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes, and impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism. Furthermore, positive Annexin–propidium iodide staining and altered expression of Bcl-2 family members and caspases in L6 myotubes indicated that the cells progressively became apoptotic upon fructose exposure. Taken together, these findings suggest that exposure of skeletal muscle cells to fructose induced oxidative stress that decreased mitochondrial DNA content and triggered mitochondrial dysfunction, which caused apoptosis.

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Oploxyne A, (−)-Oploxyne B, and Their C-10 Epimers and Structure Revision of Natural Oploxyne B

The first total synthesis of recently isolated diacetylene alcohols oploxyne A, oploxyne B, and their C-10 epimers was accomplished. The structure of natural oploxyne B has been revised. The key steps involved are base-induced double elimination of a carbohydrate-derived β-alkoxy chloride to generate the chiral acetylenic alcohol and Cadiot-Chodkiewicz cross-coupling reaction. The target compounds displayed potent cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma and prostate cancer cell lines.

Selective cancer targeting via aberrant behavior of cancer cell-associated glucocorticoid receptor.

Glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are ubiquitous, nuclear hormone receptors residing in cell types of both cancer and noncancerous origin. It is not known whether cancer cell-associated GR alone can be selectively manipulated for delivery of exogenous genes to its nucleus for eliciting anticancer effect. We find that GR ligand, dexamethasone (Dex) in association with cationic lipoplex (termed as targeted lipoplex) could selectively manipulate GR in cancer cells alone for the delivery of transgenes in the nucleus, a phenomenon that remained unobserved in normal cells. The targeted lipoplex (i) showed GR-targeted transfections in all cancer cells experimented (P < 0.01), (ii) significantly diminished transfection in cancer cells when GR is downregulated (P < 0.01), and (iii) elicited specific nuclear translocation of targeted lipoplex in cancer cells, followed by upregulated transactivation of glucocorticoid response element (GRE)- promoted gene. Using anticancer gene, targeted lipoplex induced significant tumor growth retardation in mice in comparison to different control groups (P < 0.05). Interestingly, cell surface-associated Hsp90 in cancer cells assisted the intracellular uptake of GR-targeted lipoplex. Moreover, selective inhibition of Hsp90 in noncancer cells resulted in cancer cell-like, aberrant, GR activation. The current study discovers a therapeutically important, unique property of cancer cell associated-GR that may be linked to a compromised role of Hsp90.Molecular Therapy (2009) 17 4, 623-631 doi:10.1038/mt.2009.4.