Motivation: Accurate sequence length profiling is essential in bioinformatics, particularly in genomics and proteomics. Existing tools like SeqKit and the Trinity toolkit provide basic sequence statistics but often fall short in offering comprehensive analytics and plotting options. For instance, SeqKit is a very complete and fast tool for sequence analysis, delivering useful metrics (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this work, we extend the concept of 5-fluorouracil/heme oxygenase 1 (5-FU/HO-1) inhibitor hybrid as an effective strategy for enhancing 5-FU-based anticancer therapies. For this purpose, we designed and synthesized new mutual prodrugs, named SI 1/20 and SI 1/22, in which the two active parent drugs (i. e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe overexpression of σ receptors (σRs) in various types of tumors has prompted a deep investigation of their role in cancer pathophysiology. Consequently, σR ligands have been widely studied in vitro and in vivo for their antiproliferative effects as a novel potential class of chemotherapeutic agents, both alone and in combination with other anticancer drugs. A growing body of evidence highlights that σR ligands can inhibit cancer cells' survival, migration, and proliferation, thanks to the modulation of a wide panel of tumorigenic pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of potent antitumor agents with a low toxicological profile against healthy cells is still one of the greatest challenges facing medicinal chemistry. In this context, the "mutual prodrug" approach has emerged as a potential tool to overcome undesirable physicochemical features and mitigate the side effects of approved drugs. Among broad-spectrum chemotherapeutics available for clinical use today, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most representative, also included in the World Health Organization model list of essential medicines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince their discovery as distinct receptor proteins, the specific physiopathological role of sigma receptors (σRs) has been deeply investigated. It has been reported that these proteins, classified into two subtypes indicated as σ and σ, might play a pivotal role in cancer growth, cell proliferation, and tumor aggressiveness. As a result, the development of selective σR ligands with potential antitumor properties attracted significant attention as an emerging theme in cancer research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFσ-1 receptors (σR) modulate nociceptive signaling, driving the search for selective antagonists to take advantage of this promising target to treat pain. In this study, a new series of benzylpiperazinyl derivatives has been designed, synthesized, and characterized for their affinities toward σR and selectivity over the σ-2 receptor (σR). Notably, 3-cyclohexyl-1-{4-[(4-methoxyphenyl)methyl]piperazin-1-yl}propan-1-one () showed the highest σR receptor affinity ( σ = 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResveratrol (RSV) is well known for its many beneficial activities, but its unfavorable physicochemical properties impair its effectiveness after systemic and topical administration; thus, several strategies have been investigated to improve RSV efficacy. With this aim, in this work, we synthesized a novel RSV triester with trolox, an analogue of vitamin E with strong antioxidant activity. The new RSV derivative (RSVTR) was assayed in vitro to evaluate its antioxidant and anti-glycation activity compared to RSV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe synthesis of seventeen new 1,3-diaryl-5-oxo-proline derivatives as endothelin receptor (ETR) ligands is described. The structural configuration of the new molecules was determined by analyzing selected signals in proton NMR spectra. In vitro binding assays of the human ET and ET receptors allowed us to identify compound as a selective ETR ligand.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present paper describes the synthesis and the binding properties for the serotonergic 5-HT and 5-HT receptors of three new series (A-C) of (benzo)thienopyrimidinone derivatives. All series exhibit a basic moiety at the 2-position of the heterocyclic scaffold such as N,N-dialkylaminoalkylthio chain in series A and phenylpiperazine, benzylpiperazine, or benzylpiperidine alkyl chain in series B and C. Compounds endowed with the best binding properties at 5-HTR belong to the B and C types.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, a great deal of attention has been paid to natural compounds due to their many biological effects. Polyphenols are a class of plant derivatives that have been widely investigated for preventing and treating many oxidative stress-related pathological conditions, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes mellitus and inflammation. Among these polyphenols, resveratrol (RSV) has attracted considerable interest owing to its high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new set of 5-chlorobenzoxazole- and 5-chlorobenzothiazole-based derivatives containing the azepane ring as a basic moiety was designed, synthesized and evaluated through binding assays to measure their affinity and selectivity towards σ and σ receptors. Compounds 19, 22 and 24, with a four units spacer between the bicyclic scaffold and the azepane ring, showed nanomolar affinity towards both receptor subtype and the best K values (K σ = 1.27, 2.
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