A New Series of Succinimido-ferrociphenols and Related Heterocyclic Species Induce Strong Antiproliferative Effects, Especially against Ovarian Cancer Cells Resistant to Cisplatin.

Ferrociphenols are known to display anticancer properties by original mechanisms dependent on redox properties and generation of active metabolites such as quinone methides. Recent studies have highlighted the positive impact of oxidative stress on chemosensitivity and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Ovarian adenocarcinomas are shown to be an excellent model for defining the impact of selected ferrociphenols as new therapeutic drugs for such cancers.

Enzyme Activation with a Synthetic Catalytic Co-enzyme Intermediate: Nucleotide Methylation by Flavoenzymes.

To facilitate production of functional enzymes and to study their mechanisms, especially in the complex cases of coenzyme-dependent systems, activation of an inactive apoenzyme preparation with a catalytically competent coenzyme intermediate is an attractive strategy. This is illustrated with the simple chemical synthesis of a flavin-methylene iminium compound previously proposed as a key intermediate in the catalytic cycle of several important flavoenzymes involved in nucleic acid metabolism. Reconstitution of both flavin-dependent RNA methyltransferase and thymidylate synthase apoproteins with this synthetic compound led to active enzymes for the C5-uracil methylation within their respective transfer RNA and dUMP substrate.

Synthesis of a Tiacumicin B Protected Aglycone.

Tiacumicin B is an antibiotic endowed with the remarkable ability to interact with a new biological target, giving it an inestimable potential in the context of the ever-growing and worrisome appearance of resistances of bacteria and mycobacteria to antibiotics. The synthesis of an aglycone of tiacumicin B ready for glycosylation is reported. The key steps of this approach are a [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, a Pd/Cu-catalyzed allene-alkyne cross-coupling, a E-selective cross-metathesis, and a final ring-size selective macrolactonization.

Structure-activity relationship studies on thiaplidiaquinones A and B as novel inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum and farnesyltransferase.

Marine meroterpenoids, thiaplidiaquinones A and B and their respective non-natural dioxothiazine regioisomers have been shown to inhibit mammalian and protozoal farnesyltransferase (FTase) with the regioisomers exhibiting activity in the nanomolar range. In order to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of this class of marine natural products, analogues of thiaplidiaquinones A and B and their regioisomers were synthesised, with variation in the number of isoprene units present in their side chains to afford prenyl and farnesyl analogues. The previously reported geranyl series of compounds were found to be the most potent FTase inhibitors closely followed by the novel farnesyl series.

Synthesis of 6-hydroxyaurone analogues and evaluation of their α-glucosidase inhibitory and glucose consumption-promoting activity: Development of highly active 5,6-disubstituted derivatives.

A series of 6-hydroxyaurones and their analogues have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory and glucose consumption-promoting activity. These compounds exhibited varying degrees of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, 11 of them showing higher potency than that of the control standard acarbose (IC=50.30μM).

The UbiK protein is an accessory factor necessary for bacterial ubiquinone (UQ) biosynthesis and forms a complex with the UQ biogenesis factor UbiJ.

Ubiquinone (UQ), also referred to as coenzyme Q, is a widespread lipophilic molecule in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes in which it primarily acts as an electron carrier. Eleven proteins are known to participate in UQ biosynthesis in , and we recently demonstrated that UQ biosynthesis requires additional, nonenzymatic factors, some of which are still unknown. Here, we report on the identification of a bacterial gene, , which is required for efficient UQ biosynthesis, and which we have renamed Using several methods, we demonstrated that the UbiK protein forms a complex with the C-terminal part of UbiJ, another UQ biogenesis factor we previously identified.

A direct label-free MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry based assay for the characterization of inhibitors of protein lysine methyltransferases.

Histone lysine methylation is associated with essential biological functions like transcription activation or repression, depending on the position and the degree of methylation. This post-translational modification is introduced by protein lysine methyltransferases (KMTs) which catalyze the transfer of one to three methyl groups from the methyl donor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet) to the amino group on the side chain of lysines. The regulation of protein lysine methylation plays a primary role not only in the basic functioning of normal cells but also in various pathologies and KMT deregulation is associated with diseases including cancer.

FMNL formins boost lamellipodial force generation.

Migration frequently involves Rac-mediated protrusion of lamellipodia, formed by Arp2/3 complex-dependent branching thought to be crucial for force generation and stability of these networks. The formins FMNL2 and FMNL3 are Cdc42 effectors targeting to the lamellipodium tip and shown here to nucleate and elongate actin filaments with complementary activities in vitro. In migrating B16-F1 melanoma cells, both formins contribute to the velocity of lamellipodium protrusion.

Viability-reducing activity of Coryllus avellana L. extracts against human cancer cell lines.

The increasing rate of cancer incidence has encouraged the search for novel natural sources of anticancer compounds. The presence of small quantities of taxol and taxanes in Corylus avellana L. has impelled new potential applications for this plant in the field of biomedicine.

Methylene versus carbonyl bridge in the structure of new tubulin polymerization inhibitors with tricyclic A-rings.

The phenothiazine group has been identified as a suitable A ring in the structure of tubulin polymerization inhibitors. In our search to identify more potent inhibitors, a study of different isosteric tricyclic groups as new potential A rings was first realized and permitted to identify 1-azaphenothiazine and iminodibenzyl as favorable modulations providing compounds with improved activity against tubulin. An investigation of the methylene group as the connector between the A and B rings revealed that the "CH" bridge was tolerated, improving the biological potency when the A unit was of phenothiazine, 1-azaphenothiazine or iminodibenzyl type.

Ultrasound irradiation effect on morphology and size of two new potassium coordination supramolecule compounds.

Two new potassium coordination supramolecular compounds (2D and 1D), [K(HL)(HL)(HO)]·HO (1) and [K(HL')(HL')(HO)]·HO (2), (L=1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid, L'=2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), have been synthesized under different experimental conditions. Micrometric crystals (bulk) or nano-sized materials have been obtained depending on using the branch tube method or sonochemical irradiation. All materials have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses.

Survey of temperature, reaction time and ultrasound irradiation power on sonochemical synthesis of two new nanostructured lead(II) coordination supramolecule compounds.

Nanoparticles of two new 0D, lead(II) coordination supramolecular compounds, [Pb(L)(I)] (1) and [Pb(L)(L)(HO)]·3HO (2), (L=1,10-phenanthroline monohydrate, L=2,6-pyridinedicarboxlic acid), have been synthesized by a sonochemical process and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The single crystal X-ray data of compounds show that the Pb ion is six coordinated in both 1 and 2. The thermal stability of compound 1 and 2 has been studied by thermal gravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analyses (DTA).

Original Vinca Derivatives: From P-Glycoprotein Substrates to P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors.

The first example of vinca derivatives 16-18 able to modulate P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux activity is reported. They were elaborated in two steps from vinorelbine 3 (VLN) by a modification of the velbenamine moiety. These compounds were able to decrease efficiently Pgp mediated influx and efflux of rhodamine-123 (Rho) and to restore the cytotoxicity of vinorelbine 3 (VLN) and doxorubicin (Dox) on K562R (dox-resistant) cell lines.

Further investigation of Paprotrain: Towards the conception of selective and multi-targeted CNS kinase inhibitors.

Starting from a known compound, identified as the first inhibitor of the kinesin MKLP-2 and named Paprotrain, we have investigated its reactivity to produce through photochemistry a potent nanomolar inhibitor of the kinase DYRK1A. Using similar and different chemical pathways, we have designed several families of compounds that have been screened on a panel of five protein kinases: CK1δ/ε, CDK5/p25, GSK3α/β, DYRK1A and CLK1, all involved in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. We have identified a first group of multi-targeted compounds, a second group of dual inhibitors of DYRK1A & CLK1 and a last group of selective inhibitors of CLK1.

Nrf2-dependent persistent oxidative stress results in stress-induced vulnerability to depression.

Stressful life events produce a state of vulnerability to depression in some individuals. The mechanisms that contribute to vulnerability to depression remain poorly understood. A rat model of intense stress (social defeat (SD), first hit) produced vulnerability to depression in 40% of animals.

Chronic consumption of Annona muricata juice triggers and aggravates cerebral tau phosphorylation in wild-type and MAPT transgenic mice.

In the pathogenesis of tauopathies, genetic and environmental factors have been identified. While familial clustering led to the identification of mutations in MAPT encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau, the high incidence of a sporadic tauopathy endemic in Guadeloupe was linked to the plant-derived mitochondrial complex I inhibitor annonacin. The interaction of both factors was studied in the present work in a realistic paradigm over a period of 12 months.

A chemical chaperone induces inhomogeneous conformational changes in flexible proteins.

Organic osmolytes also known as chemical chaperones are major cellular compounds that favor, by an unclear mechanism, protein's compaction and stabilization of the native state. Here, we have examined the chaperone effect of the naturally occurring trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) osmolyte on a loosely packed protein (LPP), known to be a highly flexible form, using an apoprotein mutant of the flavin-dependent RNA methyltransferase as a model. Thermal and chemical denaturation experiments showed that TMAO stabilizes the structural integrity of the apoprotein dramatically.

The Response of the Root Proteome to the Synthetic Strigolactone GR24 in Arabidopsis.

Strigolactones are plant metabolites that act as phytohormones and rhizosphere signals. Whereas most research on unraveling the action mechanisms of strigolactones is focused on plant shoots, we investigated proteome adaptation during strigolactone signaling in the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. Through large-scale, time-resolved, and quantitative proteomics, the impact of the strigolactone analog rac-GR24 was elucidated on the root proteome of the wild type and the signaling mutant more axillary growth 2 (max2).

Semisynthetic and Natural Garcinoic Acid Isoforms as New mPGES-1 Inhibitors.

Over the last twenty years, tocotrienol analogues raised great interest because of their higher level and larger domain of biological activities when compared with tocopherols. Amongst the most promising therapeutic application, anti-inflammatory potency has been evaluated through the inhibition of various mediators of inflammation. Here, we worked on the isolation of two natural isoforms of garcinoic acid (i.

New indolizine-chalcones as potent inhibitors of human farnesyltransferase: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation.

A new family of indolizine-chalcones was designed, synthesized and screened for the inhibitory potential on human farnesyltransferase in vitro to identify potent antitumor agents. The most active compound was phenothiazine 2a, exhibiting an IC50 value in the low nanomolar range, similar to that of known FTI-276, highly potent farnesyltransferase inhibitor. The newly synthesized indolizine-chalcones 2a-d constitute the most efficient inhibitors of farnesyltransferase bearing a phenothiazine unit known to date.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Three-Component Tandem Process: An Assembly of Complex Trifluoromethylated Phthalans and Isoindolines.

A novel photoredox-mediated tandem three-component process afforded a wide variety of CF3-containing phthalans and isoindolines in respectable yields and with moderate to excellent diastereoselectivity.

Discovery and preliminary structure-activity relationship studies on tecomaquinone I and tectol as novel farnesyltransferase and plasmodial inhibitors.

Biological screening of a library of synthesized benzo[c]chromene-7,10-dione natural products against human farnesyltransferase (FTase) has identified tecomaquinone I (IC50 of 0.065±0.004μM) as being one of the more potent natural product inhibitors identified to date.

Studies on phenothiazines: New microtubule-interacting compounds with phenothiazine A-ring as potent antineoplastic agents.

New phenothiazine derivatives 6-20 have been designed, synthesized and evaluated in vitro for their ability to inhibit tubulin polymerization and antiproliferative activity against 60 cancer cell lines, including several multi-drug resistant (MDR) tumor cell lines. The phenothiazine unit may successfully replace the classical 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyle A ring of parent combretastatin A-4 or phenstatin, confirming previous studies. The most promising structural modulations have been realized on the B ring, the 2'-fluoro-4'-methoxy substitution in compound 6 and the 2'-trifluoromethyl-4'-methoxy substitution in compound 7 providing the best antitubulin and antitumor activity in the current study.

Cycloart-24-ene-26-ol-3-one, a New Cycloartane Isolated from Leaves of Aglaia exima Triggers Tumour Necrosis Factor-Receptor 1-Mediated Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in Colon Cancer Cell Line.

Plants in the Meliaceae family are known to possess interesting biological activities, such as antimalaral, antihypertensive and antitumour activities. Previously, our group reported the plant-derived compound cycloart-24-ene-26-ol-3-one isolated from the hexane extracts of Aglaia exima leaves, which shows cytotoxicity towards various cancer cell lines, in particular, colon cancer cell lines. In this report, we further demonstrate that cycloart-24-ene-26-ol-3-one, from here forth known as cycloartane, reduces the viability of the colon cancer cell lines HT-29 and CaCO-2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

New Caledonia: A Hot Spot for Valuable Chemodiversity Part 3: Santalales, Caryophyllales, and Asterids.

The flora of New Caledonia encompasses more than 3000 plant species and an endemism of almost 80%. New Caledonia is even considered as one of the 34 'hot spots' for biodiversity. Considering the current global loss of biodiversity and the fact that several drugs and pesticides become obsolete, there is an urgent need to increase sampling and research on new natural products.