Discovery of hybrid Glypromate conjugates with neuroprotective activity against paraquat-induced toxicity.

Neurodegenerative disorders comprise a series of heterogeneous conditions that affect millions of people worldwide, representing a significant health burden in both developed and developing countries. Without disease-modifying treatments currently available, the development of effective neurotherapeutics is a health priority. In this work, a new series of peptide-conjugates of the Glypromate neuropeptide is reported to determine the interplay of annular constriction and neuroprotective activity.

Stapling Amantadine to Melanostatin Neuropeptide: Discovery of Potent Positive Allosteric Modulators of the D Receptors.

This work describes the synthesis and pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of melanostatin (MIF-1) bioconjugates with amantadine (Am) via a peptide linkage. The data from the functional assays at human dopamine D receptors (DR) showed that bioconjugates (EC = 26.39 ± 3.

Synchrotron-based FTIR evaluation of biochemical changes in cancer and noncancer cells induced by brominated marine coelenteramine.

The mode of action toward gastric cancer cells of brominated Coelenteramine, an analogue of a metabolic product of a marine bioluminescent reaction, was investigated by synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transform Infrared spectrocopy (FTIR). This method revealed that the anticancer activity of brominated Coelenteramine is closely connected with cellular lipids, by affecting their organization and composition. More specifically, there is an increasing extent of oxidative stress, which results in changes in membrane polarity, lipid chain packing and lipid composition.

Concise Overview of Glypromate Neuropeptide Research: From Chemistry to Pharmacological Applications in Neurosciences.

Neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) pose a serious health concern worldwide, with a particular incidence in developed countries as a result of life expectancy increase and the absence of restorative treatments. Presently, treatments for these neurological conditions are focused on managing the symptoms and/or slowing down their progression. As so, the research on novel neuroprotective drugs is of high interest.

Discovery of the Anticancer Activity for Lung and Gastric Cancer of a Brominated Coelenteramine Analog.

Cancer is still a challenging disease to treat, both in terms of harmful side effects and therapeutic efficiency of the available treatments. Herein, to develop new therapeutic molecules, we have investigated the anticancer activity of halogenated derivatives of different components of the bioluminescent system of marine Coelenterazine: Coelenterazine () itself, Coelenteramide (), and Coelenteramine (). We have found that derivatives possess variable anticancer activity toward gastric and lung cancer.

Target-Oriented Synthesis of Marine Coelenterazine Derivatives with Anticancer Activity by Applying the Heavy-Atom Effect.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an anticancer therapeutic modality with remarkable advantages over more conventional approaches. However, PDT is greatly limited by its dependence on external light sources. Given this, PDT would benefit from new systems capable of a light-free and intracellular photodynamic effect.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Hybrid Glypromate Analogues Using 2-Azanorbornane as a Prolyl and Pipecolyl Surrogate.

Neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system are a class of heterogeneous pathologies affecting millions of people worldwide and represent a global health burden in developed and developing countries. Without restorative treatments currently available, research on neuroprotective drugs is considered a health priority. In this study, new analogues of the glycyl-l-prolyl-l-glutamic acid (Glypromate) neuropeptide were designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated using (1,3,4)-2-azanorbornane-3-carboxylic acid as a hybrid construct of l-proline and l-pipecolic acid.

Discovery of New Potent Positive Allosteric Modulators of Dopamine D Receptors: Insights into the Bioisosteric Replacement of Proline to 3-Furoic Acid in the Melanostatin Neuropeptide.

The control of Parkinson's disease (PD) is challenged by the motor and non-motor fluctuations as well as dyskinesias associated with levodopa long-term therapy. As such, pharmacological alternatives to reduce the reliance on this drug are needed. Melanostatin (MIF-1), a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of D receptors (DR), is being explored as a novel pharmacological approach focused on DR potentiation.

Synthesis, Pharmacological, and Biological Evaluation of 2-Furoyl-Based MIF-1 Peptidomimetics and the Development of a General-Purpose Model for Allosteric Modulators (ALLOPTML).

This work describes the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of 2-furoyl-based Melanostatin (MIF-1) peptidomimetics as dopamine D modulating agents. Eight novel peptidomimetics were tested for their ability to enhance the maximal effect of tritiated -propylapomorphine ([H]-NPA) at D receptors (DR). In this series, 2-furoyl-l-leucylglycinamide () produced a statistically significant increase in the maximal [H]-NPA response at 10 pM (11 ± 1%), comparable to the effect of MIF-1 (18 ± 9%) at the same concentration.

Single-molecule chemiluminescent photosensitizer for a self-activating and tumor-selective photodynamic therapy of cancer.

While photodynamic therapy is known for significant advantages over conventional cancer therapies, its dependence on light has limited it to treating tumors on or just under the skin or on the outer lining of organs/cavities. Herein, we have developed a single-molecule photosensitizer capable of intracellular self-activation and with potential tumor-selectivity due to a chemiluminescent reaction involving only a cancer marker. Thus, the photosensitizer is directly chemiexcited to a triplet excited state capable of generating singlet oxygen, without requiring either a light source or any catalyst/co-factor.

Study of the Combination of Self-Activating Photodynamic Therapy and Chemotherapy for Cancer Treatment.

Cancer is a very challenging disease to treat, both in terms of treatment efficiency and side-effects. To overcome these problems, there have been extensive studies regarding the possibility of improving treatment by employing combination therapy, and by exploring therapeutic modalities with reduced side-effects (such as photodynamic therapy (PDT)). Herein, this work has two aims: (i) to develop self-activating photosensitizers for use in light-free photodynamic therapy, which would eliminate light-related restrictions that this therapy currently possesses; (ii) to assess their co-treatment potential when combined with reference chemotherapeutic agents (Tamoxifen and Metformin).

Synthesis, Pharmacological, and Biological Evaluation of MIF-1 Picolinoyl Peptidomimetics as Positive Allosteric Modulators of DR.

This work describes the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of picolinoyl-based peptidomimetics of melanocyte stimulating hormone release inhibiting factor 1 (MIF-1) as dopamine modulating agents. Eight novel peptidomimetics were tested for their ability to enhance the maximal effect of tritiated -propylapomorphine ([H]-NPA) at dopamine D receptors (DR). Methyl picolinoyl-l-valyl-l-alaninate (compound ) produced a statistically significant increase in the maximal [H]-NPA response at 0.

Highly efficient one-pot assembly of peptides by double chemoselective coupling.

This study describes a methodological advancement in solution-phase peptide synthesis via the development of a convenient and operational protocol to synthesize oligopeptides in a one-pot three-step cascade method, in which two peptide bonds are introduced chemoselectively. Tri- to hexapeptides were obtained in high global yields (80-95%) with virtually no epimerization as determined via HPLC. The methodology described herein represents a faster, easier and milder approach to the synthesis of peptides, and it operates at equimolar amounts.

Novel l-prolyl-l-leucylglycinamide (PLG) tripeptidomimetics based on a 2-azanorbornane scaffold as positive allosteric modulators of the DR.

An efficient and straightforward orthogonal methodology was successfully developed to achieve constrained l-prolyl-l-leucylglycinamide (PLG) analogues starting from two proline mimetics based on a 2-azanorbornane scaffold. A preliminary dopamine D receptor radiolabeled binding assay with [H]-N-propylnorapomorphine shows that enantiopurity of PLG peptidomimetics based on 2-azanorbornane is a requirement to achieve statistically significant positive modulators of the D receptor. This is the first documented active peptidomimetic of PLG whose bioactivity is not correlated with the C-terminal carboxamide pharmacophore and which cannot adopt the hypothesized type II β-turn conformation.

A Convenient Synthesis of Hydroxytyrosol Monosulfate Metabolites.

The growing interest in the bioactivity of natural polyphenols and of their metabolites requires metabolites to be used in bioassays and as standards in research protocols. We report here on the synthesis of several hydroxytyrosol metabolite monosulfates achieved using a simplified protocol with improved yields. A synthetic solution based on avoidance of high temperature conditions during the synthesis and of low pressure conditions during purification has been established.

New L-serine derivative ligands as cocatalysts for diels-alder reaction.

New L-serine derivative ligands were prepared and tested as cocatalyst in the Diels-Alder reactions between cyclopentadiene (CPD) and methyl acrylate, in the presence of several Lewis acids. The catalytic potential of the in situ formed complexes was evaluated based on the reaction yield. Bidentate serine ligands showed good ability to coordinate medium strength Lewis acids, thus boosting their catalytic activity.

Patents of bio-active compounds based on computer-aided drug discovery techniques.

In recent times, there has been an increased use of Computer-Aided Drug Discovery (CADD) techniques in Medicinal Chemistry as auxiliary tools in drug discovery. Whilst the ultimate goal of Medicinal Chemistry research is for the discovery of new drug candidates, a secondary yet important outcome that results is in the creation of new computational tools. This process is often accompanied by a lack of understanding of the legal aspects related to software and model use, that is, the copyright protection of new medicinal chemistry software and software-mediated discovered products.

Heat shock induces a massive but differential inactivation of SUMO-specific proteases.

Covalent conjugation of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) to proteins is a highly dynamic and reversible process. Cells maintain a fine-tuned balance between SUMO conjugation and deconjugation. In response to stress stimuli such as heat shock, this balance is altered resulting in a dramatic increase in the levels of SUMO conjugates.

Identification of ubiquitin-specific protease 9X (USP9X) as a deubiquitinase acting on ubiquitin-peroxin 5 (PEX5) thioester conjugate.

Peroxin 5 (PEX5), the peroxisomal protein shuttling receptor, binds newly synthesized peroxisomal matrix proteins in the cytosol and promotes their translocation across the organelle membrane. During the translocation step, PEX5 itself becomes inserted into the peroxisomal docking/translocation machinery. PEX5 is then monoubiquitinated at a conserved cysteine residue and extracted back into the cytosol in an ATP-dependent manner.

Review of synthesis, assay, and prediction of β and γ-secretase inhibitors.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterize with several pathologies this disease, amyloid plaques, composed of the β-amyloid peptide and β-amyloid peptide are hallmark neuropathological lesions in Alzheimer's disease brain. Indeed, a wealth of evidence suggests that β-amyloid is central to the pathophysiology of AD and is likely to play an early role in this intractable neurodegenerative disorder. AD is the most prevalent form of dementia, and current indications show that twenty-nine million people live with AD worldwide, a figure expected rise exponentially over the coming decades.

Review of synthesis, biological assay and QSAR studies of β-secretase inhibitors.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is highly complex. While several pathologies characterize this disease, amyloid plaques, composed of the β-amyloid peptide, are hallmark neuropathological lesions in Alzheimer's disease brain. Indeed, a wealth of evidence suggests that β-amyloid is central to the pathophysiology of AD and is likely to play an early role in this intractable neurodegenerative disorder.

The role of aromatic interactions in the structure and energetics of benzyl ketones.

A qualitative and quantitative energetic and structural study of dibenzyl ketone (DBK) and benzyl ethyl ketone (BEK) was carried out in order to obtain insights into the type and magnitude of aromatic interactions that these systems present in their different phases. The crystal structure of DBK was obtained by X-ray crystallography, and it shows that the conformation adopted in the crystalline state is governed by the intermolecular interactions. The standard (p(0) = 10(5) Pa) molar enthalpy of formation in the gaseous state at T = 298.

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of novel substituted 9-deazaxanthines as A2B receptor antagonists.

A new series of 9-deazaxanthine derivatives with various substituents at the heterocyclic system were synthesized and evaluated for their binding affinities for the four human recombinant adenosine receptors, A(1)-A(3) subtypes. A number of the 9-deazaxanthines derivatives 3a-m showed moderate-to-high affinity for hA(2B) receptors, with compound 3f showing a 32-fold selectivity for A(2B) over A(1) and a 2750-fold selectivity for A(2B) over A(2A).