The Effect of a Dietary Supplement Containing Rhamnan Sulfate from on Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque: A Case Series.

We report on 6 patients in our care who were harboring atherosclerotic plaque in the carotid arteries. This condition poses a risk of acute ischemic stroke and indicates potential atherosclerosis elsewhere in the vascular system. The plaque was revealed by routine ultrasound measurement of carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT) defined as the distance between the lumen-intima interface and the media-adventitia interface.

Rationally designed chimeric PI3K-BET bromodomain inhibitors elicit curative responses in MYC-driven lymphoma.

Targeted inhibitors of bromodomain and extraterminal (BET)-bromodomains and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) signaling demonstrate potent but self-limited antilymphoma activity as single agents in the context of cellular Myelocytomatosis () oncogene-dysregulation. However, combined PI3K and BET inhibition imparts synergistic anticancer activity with the potential for more sustained disease responses due to the mutual antagonism of compensatory epigenetic and signaling networks. Here, we describe the mechanistic and therapeutic validation of rationally designed dual PI3K/BET bromodomain inhibitors, built by linkage of established PI3K and BET inhibitor pharmacophores.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazin-4-ones analogues of TGX-221 as inhibitors of PI3Kβ.

A novel series of TGX-221 analogues was prepared that include isosteric replacement of the 4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-4-one with a 4H-benzo[e][1,3]oxazin-4-one scaffold. The compounds that included an CH(CH)NH type linker showed comparable activity to TGX-221 analogues with the isosterism supported by the comparative SAR analysis. The analogues containing an CH(CH)O linker were less active but still showed useful SAR including a favoured o-methyl substitution.

Disrupting the platelet internal membrane via PI3KC2α inhibition impairs thrombosis independently of canonical platelet activation.

Arterial thrombosis causes heart attacks and most strokes and is the most common cause of death in the world. Platelets are the cells that form arterial thrombi, and antiplatelet drugs are the mainstay of heart attack and stroke prevention. Yet, current drugs have limited efficacy, preventing fewer than 25% of lethal cardiovascular events without clinically relevant effects on bleeding.

Synthesis of linear and angular aryl-morpholino-naphth-oxazines, their DNA-PK, PI3K, PDE3A and antiplatelet activity.

To continue our study of 2-morpholino-benzoxazine based compounds, which show useful activity against PI3K family enzymes or antiplatelet activity, we designed and synthesized a series of linear 6.7-fused, 5,6-angular fused and 7,8-angular fused-aryl-morpholino-naphth-oxazines. The compounds were prepared from substituted 2-hydroxynaphthoic acid to give the corresponding thioxo analogues 8, 9, 15 and 19.

Development of single and mixed isoform selectivity PI3Kδ inhibitors by targeting Asn836 of PI3Kδ.

A series of PI3Kδ inhibitors derived from the pan-PI3K inhibitor ZSTK474 was prepared that target a non-conserved region of the catalytic site. Dependent upon the substituents present, these analogues show different levels of isoform selectivity and sensitivity to the mutation N836D in PI3Kδ. As a marker of 'on-target' activity and permeability, a selection of the most potent PI3Kδ inhibitors were shown to inhibit pAkt production in the Nawalma Burkitt lymphoma cell line.

Discovery and antiplatelet activity of a selective PI3Kβ inhibitor (MIPS-9922).

A series of amino-substituted triazines were developed and examined for PI3Kβ inhibition and anti-platelet function. Structural adaptations of a morpholine ring of the prototype pan-PI3K inhibitor ZSTK474 yielded PI3Kβ selective compounds, where the selectivity largely derives from an interaction with the non-conserved Asp862 residue, as shown by site directed mutagenesis. The most PI3Kβ selective inhibitor from the series was studied in detail through a series of in vitro and in vivo functional studies.

Synthesis, structure elucidation, DNA-PK and PI3K and anti-cancer activity of 8- and 6-aryl-substituted-1-3-benzoxazines.

The synthesis of 6-aryl, 8- aryl, and 8-aryl-6-chloro-2-morpholino-1,3-benzoxazines with potent activity against PI3K and DNA-PK is described. Synthesis of thirty one analogues was facilitated by an improved synthesis of 3-bromo-2-hydroxybenzoic acid 13 by de-sulphonation of 3-bromo-2-hydroxy-5-sulfobenzoic acid 12 en route to 2-methylthio-substituted-benzoxazine intermediates 17-19. From this series, compound 20k (LTURM34) (dibenzo[b,d]thiophen-4-yl) (IC50 = 0.

Class II but Not Second Class-Prospects for the Development of Class II PI3K Inhibitors.

The Class II PI3 kinases are emerging from the shadows of their Class I cousins. The data emerging from PIK3C2 genetic modification studies and from siRNA knockdown suggest important roles in physiology and pathology. With some well-studied Class I isoform inhibitors showing strong Class II activity and a wealth of crystallographic information available, the structural similarity of these isoforms to Class I provides both the opportunity and the challenge in design of selective pharmacological inhibitors.

Identification of potent phosphodiesterase inhibitors that demonstrate cyclic nucleotide-dependent functions in apicomplexan parasites.

Apicomplexan parasites, including Plasmodium falciparum and Toxoplasma gondii, the causative agents of severe malaria and toxoplasmosis, respectively, undergo several critical developmental transitions during their lifecycle. Most important for human pathogenesis is the asexual cycle, in which parasites undergo rounds of host cell invasion, replication, and egress (exit), destroying host cell tissue in the process. Previous work has identified important roles for Protein Kinase G (PKG) and Protein Kinase A (PKA) in parasite egress and invasion, yet little is understood about the regulation of cyclic nucleotides, cGMP and cAMP, that activate these enzymes.

Structural basis of nSH2 regulation and lipid binding in PI3Kα.

We report two crystal structures of the wild-type phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α (PI3Kα) heterodimer refined to 2.9 Å and 3.4 Å resolution: the first as the free enzyme, the second in complex with the lipid substrate, diC4-PIP₂, respectively.

L-Aminoacyl-triazine derivatives are isoform-selective PI3Kβ inhibitors that target non-conserved Asp862 of PI3Kβ.

A series of aminoacyl-triazine derivatives based upon the pan-PI3K inhibitor ZSTK474 were identified as potent and isoform selective inhibitors of PI3Kβ. The compounds showed selectivity based upon stereochemistry with L-amino acyl derivatives preferring PI3Kβ while their D-congeners favoured PI3Kδ. The mechanistic basis of this inhibition was studied using site-directed mutants.

Potent inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3) kinase that have antiproliferative activity only when delivered as prodrug forms.

Prodrugs for PI3K: A series of substituted analogues of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 were prepared and found to potently inhibit the isolated enzyme but not MCF7 cell proliferation. Two tetrazolyl-substituted analogues were further derivatized as prodrugs resulting in restoration of cell-based activity. These data provide a conceptual model for development of tumor-targeting prodrug forms of cell-impermeable PI3K inhibitors.

Mechanisms of PI3Kβ-selective inhibition revealed by reciprocal mutagenesis.

The p110β isoform of PI3 kinase (PI3Kβ) has been implicated in pathological disorders such as thrombosis and cancer and a number of PI3Kβ-selective inhibitors have recently progressed into clinical studies. Although crystallography studies identify a binding site conformation favored by the inhibitors, no specific interaction explains the observed selectivity. Using site-directed mutagenesis we have identified a specific tyrosine residue of the binding site Y778 that dictates the ability of the PI3Kβ isoform to bind these inhibitors.

Regioselective synthesis of 5- and 6-methoxybenzimidazole-1,3,5-triazines as inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) hold significant therapeutic potential as novel targets for the treatment of cancer. ZSTK474 (4a) is a potent, pan-PI3K inhibitor currently under clinical evaluation for the treatment of cancer. Structural studies have shown that derivatisation at the 5- or 6-position of the benzimidazole ring may influence potency and isoform selectivity.

Definition of the binding mode of a new class of phosphoinositide 3-kinase α-selective inhibitors using in vitro mutagenesis of non-conserved amino acids and kinetic analysis.

The binding mechanism of a new class of lipid-competitive, ATP non-competitive, p110α isoform-selective PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitors has been elucidated. Using the novel technique of isoform reciprocal mutagenesis of non-conserved amino acids in the p110α and p110β isoforms, we have identified three unique binding mechanisms for the p110α-selective inhibitors PIK-75, A-66S and J-32. Each of the inhibitor's p110α-isoform-selective binding was found to be due to interactions with different amino acids within p110.

Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of 4-Iminothiazolidinones for Inhibition of PI3 Kinase.

The thiazolidinedione, compound , has previously shown pan-inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) class I isoforms. We hypothesized the derivatization of the thiazolidinedione core of compound could introduce isoform selectivity. We report the synthesis, characterization, and inhibitory activity of a novel series of 4-iminothiazolidin-2-ones for inhibition of the class I PI3K isoforms.

Thiophene inhibitors of PDE4: crystal structures show a second binding mode at the catalytic domain of PDE4D2.

PDE4 inhibitors have been identified as therapeutic targets for a variety of conditions, particularly inflammatory diseases. We have serendipitously identified a novel class of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor during a study to discover antagonists of the parathyroid hormone receptor. X-ray crystallographic studies of PDE4D2 complexed to four potent inhibitors reveal the atomic details of how they inhibit the enzyme and a notable contrast to another recently reported thiophene-based inhibitor.

Isoform-selective inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase: identification of a new region of nonconserved amino acids critical for p110α inhibition.

The combination of molecular modeling and X-ray crystallography has failed to yield a consensus model of the mechanism for selective binding of inhibitors to the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) p110 α-isoform. Here we have used kinetic analysis to determine that the p110α-selective inhibitor 2-methyl-5-nitro-2-[(6-bromoimidazo[1,2-α]pyridin-3-yl)methylene]-1-methylhydrazide-benzenesulfonic acid (PIK-75) is a competitive inhibitor with respect to a substrate, phosphatidylinositol (PI) in contrast to most other PI3K inhibitors, which bind at or near the ATP site. Using sequence analysis and the existing crystal structures of inhibitor complexes with the p110γ and -δ isoforms, we have identified a new region of nonconserved amino acids (region 2) that was postulated to be involved in PIK-75 p110α selectivity.

Thiazolidinedione-based PI3Kα inhibitors: an analysis of biochemical and virtual screening methods.

A series of synthesized and commercially available compounds were assessed against PI3Kα for in vitro inhibitory activity and the results compared to binding calculated in silico. Using published crystal structures of PI3Kγ and PI3Kδ co-crystallized with inhibitors as a template, docking was able to identify the majority of potent inhibitors from a decoy set of 1000 compounds. On the other hand, PI3Kα in the apo-form, modeled by induced fit docking, or built as a homology model gave only poor results.

Inflammatory twins from PI3K gang brought to justice?

PI3 kinase inhibitors are hot property. In this issue of Chemistry & Biology, Williams et al. add a dual PI3Kdelta/gamma inhibitor to the collection and show that its anti-inflammatory profile in vitro is quite different from pan-PI3K inhibitors, but bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the glucocorticoid drugs.

Dissecting isoform selectivity of PI3K inhibitors: the role of non-conserved residues in the catalytic pocket.

The last few years have seen the identification of numerous small molecules that selectively inhibit specific class I isoforms of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), yet little has been revealed about the molecular basis for the observed selectivities. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we have investigated one of the areas postulated as being critical to the observed selectivity. The residues Thr(886) and Lys(890) of the PI3Kgamma isoform project towards the ATP-binding pocket at the entrance to the catalytic site, but are not conserved.

Src kinase activates endothelial nitric-oxide synthase by phosphorylating Tyr-83.

The endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) is regulated in part by serine/threonine phosphorylation, but eNOS tyrosine phosphorylation is less well understood. In the present study we have examined the tyrosine phosphorylation of eNOS in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) exposed to oxidant stress. Hydrogen peroxide and pervanadate (PV) treatment stimulates eNOS tyrosine phosphorylation in BAECs.

AMPK beta subunit targets metabolic stress sensing to glycogen.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a multisubstrate enzyme activated by increases in AMP during metabolic stress caused by exercise, hypoxia, lack of cell nutrients, as well as hormones, including adiponectin and leptin. Furthermore, metformin and rosiglitazone, frontline drugs used for the treatment of type II diabetes, activate AMPK. Mammalian AMPK is an alphabetagamma heterotrimer with multiple isoforms of each subunit comprising alpha1, alpha2, beta1, beta2, gamma1, gamma2, and gamma3, which have varying tissue and subcellular expression.

Structural characterization of the N-terminal autoregulatory sequence of phenylalanine hydroxylase.

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is activated by its substrate phenylalanine, and through phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase at Ser16 in the N-terminal autoregulatory sequence of the enzyme. The crystal structures of phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms of the enzyme showed that, in the absence of phenylalanine, in both cases the N-terminal 18 residues including the phosphorylation site contained no interpretable electron density. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to characterize this N-terminal region of the molecule in different stages of the regulatory pathway.