Dual Inhibition of PDK1 and Aurora Kinase A: An Effective Strategy to Induce Differentiation and Apoptosis of Human Glioblastoma Multiforme Stem Cells.

The poor prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is mainly attributed to drug resistance mechanisms and to the existence of a subpopulation of glioma stem cells (GSCs). Multitarget compounds able to both affect different deregulated pathways and the GSC subpopulation could escape tumor resistance and, most importantly, eradicate the stem cell reservoir. In this respect, the simultaneous inhibition of phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) and aurora kinase A (AurA), each one playing a pivotal role in cellular survival/migration/differentiation, could represent an innovative strategy to overcome GBM resistance and recurrence.

Switchable Protecting Strategy for Solid Phase Synthesis of DNA and RNA Interacting Nucleopeptides.

Nucleopeptides are promising nucleic acid mimetics in which the peptide backbone bears nucleobases. They can recognize DNA and RNA targets modulating their biological functions. To date, the lack of an effective strategy for the synthesis of nucleopeptides prevents their evaluation for biological and biomedical applications.

Nutraceuticals in hypercholesterolaemia: an overview.

Unlabelled: Growing attention is now being given to the possible preventive/alternative ways to avoid illness onset. Changes in lifestyle and food habits are taking over from the conventional pharmaceutical-based approach, especially for chronic pathologies. Nutraceuticals have been proposed as key tools for the prevention and cure of some pathological conditions.

Nutraceuticals: A paradigm of proactive medicine.

Nutraceuticals define a new category which shades the frontier between drugs and food. As per its definition, a nutraceutical is "a food or part of a food that provides benefits health in addition to its nutritional content". Active substances either way extracted from plants (phytocomplexes) or of animal origin, when extracted, concentrated and administered in a suitable pharmaceutical form, can create a very promising toolbox useful to prevent and/or support the therapy of some pathologic conditions given their proven clinical efficacy.

A Successful Replacement of Phenols with Isocyanides in the Bargellini Reaction: Synthesis of 3-Carboxamido-Isobutyric Acids.

Old multicomponent reactions are still a source of inspiration for discovering novel combinations of three or more reactants. A simple idea is to replace one of the educts of a known multicomponent reaction with another functional group and still be able to mimic the same reactivity. Following this line of thought, we report a three-component reaction in which isocyanides are able to open the epoxide intermediate of the Bargellini reaction affording 3-carboxamido-isobutyric acids in yields of 47-95%.

Hemopressin Peptides as Modulators of the Endocannabinoid System and their Potential Applications as Therapeutic Tools.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is activated when natural arachidonic acid derivatives (endogenous cannabinoids or endocannabinoids) bind as lipophilic messengers to cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The ECS comprises many hydrolytic enzymes responsible for the endocannabinoids cleavage. These hydrolases, such as fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglyceride lipase (MAGL), are possible therapeutic targets for the development of new drugs as indirect cannabinoid agonists.

Identification of novel microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) lead inhibitors from Fragment Virtual Screening.

Identification of new microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) inhibitors is currently sought for the treatment of cancer and inflammation. Here we show the results of a Fragment Virtual Screening campaign using the X-ray crystal structure of human mPGES-1 (PDB code: 4AL0). Among the fragments selected and biologically tested, 6 (9H-indeno [1,2-b] [1,2,5]oxadiazolo [3,4-e]pyrazin-9-one) showed the most promising mPGES-1 inhibitory activity (∼30% inhibition at 10 μM).

Design and Synthesis of New Cell Penetrating Peptides: Diffusion and Distribution Inside the Cornea.

The role of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) has been challenged in recent years for drug delivery to ocular tissues for the targeting of both anterior and posterior segments. The enhancement of trans-corneal transport for anterior segment targeting is a very important issue possibly leading to important outcomes on efficacy and to the opportunity of topical administration of molecules with unfavorable penetration properties. The aim of the present work was the design and synthesis of new CPPs, deriving from the structure of PEP-1 peptide.

New insights into the interaction between pyrrolyl diketoacids and HIV-1 integrase active site and comparison with RNase H.

HIV-1 integrase (IN) inhibitors are one of the most recent innovations in the treatment of HIV infection. The selection of drug resistance viral strains is however a still open issue requiring constant efforts to identify new anti-HIV-1 drugs. Pyrrolyl diketo acid (DKA) derivatives inhibit HIV-1 replication by interacting with the Mg cofactors within the HIV-1 IN active site or within the HIV-1 reverse-transcriptase associated ribonuclease H (RNase H) active site.

Identification of an indol-based derivative as potent and selective varicella zoster virus (VZV) inhibitor.

We report the synthesis and antiviral activity of a new family of non-nucleoside antivirals, derived from the indole nucleus. Modifications of this template through Mannich and Friedel-Crafts reactions, coupled with nucleophilic displacement and reductive aminations led to 23 final derivatives, which were pharmacologically tested. Tryptamine derivative 17a was found to have a selective inhibitory activity against human varicella zoster virus (VZV) replication in vitro, being inactive against a variety of other DNA and RNA viruses.

Investigational drugs targeting cyclin-dependent kinases for the treatment of cancer: an update on recent findings (2013-2016).

Introduction: Cell cycle and gene transcription are under the control of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), whose activity depends on the binding with cyclins. Deregulated CDK activities have been reported in a majority of human cancers, representing potential therapeutic targets.

Areas Covered: This review provides preclinical and clinical (phase I/II) updates of promising therapeutic compounds targeting CDKs published between 2013 and 2016 EXPERT OPINION: First generation pan-CDK inhibitors showed marked toxicity in clinical trials and most compounds were discontinued.

Annurca (Malus pumila Miller cv. Annurca) apple as a functional food for the contribution to a healthy balance of plasma cholesterol levels: results of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Recent human studies have evaluated the effect of daily apple consumption on plasma cholesterol level, which is recognized as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, slightly significant effects have been generally registered although consuming more than two apples a day for several weeks.

Results: This study describes the influence of daily consumption of Annurca apples on the cholesterol levels of mildly hypercholesterolaemic healthy subjects.

Exploring the N-Terminal Region of C-X-C Motif Chemokine 12 (CXCL12): Identification of Plasma-Stable Cyclic Peptides As Novel, Potent C-X-C Chemokine Receptor Type 4 (CXCR4) Antagonists.

We previously reported the discovery of a CXCL12-mimetic cyclic peptide (2) as a selective CXCR4 antagonist showing promising in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity. However, further development of this peptide was hampered by its degradation in biological fluids as well as by its low micromolar affinity for the receptor. Herein, extensive chemical modifications led to the development of a new analogue (10) with enhanced potency, specificity, and plasma stability.

Benzodiazepine Scaffold as Drug-like Molecular Simplification of FR235222: A Chemical Tool for Exploring HDAC Inhibition.

Background: Synthesis, computational study and biological evaluation of peptidomimetic analogues of FR235222 (3), a natural immunosuppressant and HDAC inhibitor, have been reported. These new compounds, bearing α-hydroxyketone moiety, as more stable zinc binding group (ZBG), were evaluated in vitro as HDAC inhibitors against the human HDACs isoforms 1-9 and in cellular antiproliferative assays on U937 human leukemia cell line. The 1,4-benzodiazepin-2,5-dione (BDZ), capping group and the natural ZBG, (S,R)-2-amino-9-hydroxy-8-oxodecanoic acid (Ahoda), were evaluated in order to probe HDAC inhibition and/or paralogue selectivity.

Phenylpyrrole-based HDAC inhibitors: synthesis, molecular modeling and biological studies.

Aim: Histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate the expression and activity of numerous proteins involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. Currently, three hydroxamate-containing HDAC pan-inhibitors have been approved as antitumor agents.

Results: We herein present the development of a series of novel phenylpyrrole-based derivatives stemmed from combined computational and medicinal chemistry efforts to rationally modulate HDAC1/6 isoform selectivity.

Use of Integrated Computational Approaches in the Search for New Therapeutic Agents.

Computer-aided drug discovery plays a strategic role in the development of new potential therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, the modeling of biological systems still represents a challenge for computational chemists and at present a single computational method able to face such challenge is not available. This prompted us, as computational medicinal chemists, to develop in-house methodologies by mixing various bioinformatics and computational tools.

Development and Identification of a Novel Anti-HIV-1 Peptide Derived by Modification of the N-Terminal Domain of HIV-1 Integrase.

The viral enzyme integrase (IN) is essential for the replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and represents an important target for the development of new antiretroviral drugs. In this study, we focused on the N-terminal domain (NTD), which is mainly involved into protein oligomerization process, for the development and synthesis of a library of overlapping peptide sequences, with specific length and specific offset covering the entire native protein sequence NTD IN 1-50. The most potent fragment, VVAKEIVAH (peptide 18), which includes a His residue instead of the natural Ser at position 39, inhibits the HIV-1 IN activity with an IC50 value of 4.

Urotensin-II Receptor: A Double Identity Receptor Involved in Vasoconstriction and in the Development of Digestive Tract Cancers and other Tumors.

Urotensin II and Urotensin-II receptors are important molecular factors that regulate vasoconstriction and all the diseases that are linked to abnormalities in blood pressure regulation (i.e.: hypertension, kidney diseases, cirrhosis etc.

Identification of noncovalent proteasome inhibitors with high selectivity for chymotrypsin-like activity by a multistep structure-based virtual screening.

Noncovalent proteasome inhibitors introduce an alternative mechanism of inhibition to that of covalent inhibitors, e.g. carfilzomib, used in cancer therapy.

A Round Trip from Medicinal Chemistry to Predictive Toxicology.

Predictive toxicology is a new emerging multifaceted research field aimed at protecting human health and environment from risks posed by chemicals. Such issue is of extreme public relevance and requires a multidisciplinary approach where the experience in medicinal chemistry is of utmost importance. Herein, we will survey some basic recommendations to gather good data and then will review three recent case studies to show how strategies of ligand- and structure-based molecular design, widely applied in medicinal chemistry, can be adapted to meet the more restrictive scientific and regulatory goals of predictive toxicology.

4-amino-6-alkyloxy-2-alkylthiopyrimidine derivatives as novel non-nucleoside agonists for the adenosine A receptor.

Three 4-amino-6-alkyloxy-2-alkylthiopyrimidine derivatives (4-6) were investigated as potential non-nucleoside agonists at human adenosine receptors (ARs). When tested in competition binding experiments, these compounds exhibited low micromolar affinity (K values comprised between 1.2 and 1.

Monothiocarbamates Strongly Inhibit Carbonic Anhydrases in Vitro and Possess Intraocular Pressure Lowering Activity in an Animal Model of Glaucoma.

A series of monothiocarbamates (MTCs) were prepared from primary/secondary amines and COS as potential carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.

Toward the Development of Specific G-Quadruplex Binders: Synthesis, Biophysical, and Biological Studies of New Hydrazone Derivatives.

G-Quadruplex-binding compounds are currently perceived as possible anticancer therapeutics. Here, starting from a promising lead, a small series of novel hydrazone-based compounds were synthesized and evaluated as G-quadruplex binders. The in vitro G-quadruplex-binding properties of the synthesized compounds were investigated employing both human telomeric and oncogene promoter G-quadruplexes with different folding topologies as targets.

Molecular signaling involving intrinsically disordered proteins in prostate cancer.

Investigations on cellular protein interaction networks (PINs) reveal that proteins that constitute hubs in a PIN are notably enriched in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) compared to proteins that constitute edges, highlighting the role of IDPs in signaling pathways. Most IDPs rapidly undergo disorder-to-order transitions upon binding to their biological targets to perform their function. Conformational dynamics enables IDPs to be versatile and to interact with a broad range of interactors under normal physiological conditions where their expression is tightly modulated.