Phosphorus-containing chiral molecule for fullerene recognition based on concave/convex interaction.

A C3-symmetric chiral concave molecule having a phosphorus atom at the center was synthesized, and its enantiomers were resolved. The chiral concave shape and absolute structure of the concave molecules were revealed by X-ray analysis. The concave molecule exhibited intense chiroptical properties with a large anisotropy, which was derived from molecular orbitals delocalized to the side chains.

Repeated oral dosing of TAS-102 confers high trifluridine incorporation into DNA and sustained antitumor activity in mouse models.

TAS-102 is a novel oral nucleoside antitumor agent containing trifluridine (FTD) and tipiracil hydrochloride (TPI). The compound improves overall survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who are insensitive to standard chemotherapies. FTD possesses direct antitumor activity since it inhibits thymidylate synthase (TS) and is itself incorporated into DNA.

Human small intestinal epithelial cells differentiated from adult intestinal stem cells as a novel system for predicting oral drug absorption in humans.

Adult intestinal stem cells (ISCs) possess both a long-term proliferation ability and differentiation capability into enterocytes. As a novel in vitro system for the evaluation of drug absorption, we characterized a human small intestinal epithelial cell (HIEC) monolayer that differentiated from adult ISCs. Continuous proliferation/differentiation from ISCs consistently conferred the capability of maturation of enterocytes to HIECs over 25 passages.

3'-ethynylcytidine, an RNA polymerase inhibitor, combined with cisplatin exhibits a potent synergistic growth-inhibitory effect via Vaults dysfunction.

Background: We previously reported that 3'-ethynylcytidine (ECyd, TAS-106), an RNA polymerases inhibitor, enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of platinum in several tumor types in both in vitro and in vivo tumor models. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the ECyd-induced enhancement remain elusive.

Methods: Cisplatin (CDDP)-resistant head and neck cancer KB cells were established by stepwise dose escalation with CDDP.

Self-assembled conjugated polymer spheres as fluorescent microresonators.

Confinement of light inside an active medium cavity can amplify emission. Whispering gallery mode (WGM) is one of mechanisms that amplifies light effectively by confining it inside high-refractive-index microstructures, where light propagates along the circumference of a sphere via total internal reflection. Here we show that isolated single microspheres of 2-10 μm diameter, formed from self-assembly of π-conjugated alternating copolymers, display WGM photoemission induced by laser pumping.

Selective and potent Akt inhibition triggers anti-myeloma activities and enhances fatal endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by proteasome inhibition.

The PI3K/Akt pathway plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM) in the bone marrow (BM) milieu. However, efficacy of selective and potent Akt inhibition has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we, therefore, examined the biologic impact of selective and potent Akt inhibition by a novel allosteric inhibitor TAS-117.

Fluorometric assessment of acetaminophen-induced toxicity in rat hepatocyte spheroids seeded on micro-space cell culture plates.

Hepatotoxicity induced by the metabolic activation of drugs is a major concern in drug discovery and development. Three-dimensional (3-D) cultures of hepatocyte spheroids may be superior to monolayer cultures for evaluating drug metabolism and toxicity because hepatocytes in spheroids maintain the expression of various metabolizing enzymes and transporters, such as cytochrome P450 (CYP). In this study, we examined the hepatotoxicity due to metabolic activation of acetaminophen (APAP) using fluorescent indicators of cell viability and intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH) in rat hepatocyte spheroids grown on micro-space cell culture plates.

Triple inhibition of EGFR, Met, and VEGF suppresses regrowth of HGF-triggered, erlotinib-resistant lung cancer harboring an EGFR mutation.

Introduction: Met activation by gene amplification and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), imparts resistance to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in EGFR-mutant lung cancer. We recently reported that Met activation by HGF stimulates the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and facilitates angiogenesis, which indicates that HGF induces EGFR-TKI resistance and angiogenesis. This study aimed to determine the effect of triple inhibition of EGFR, Met, and angiogenesis on HGF-triggered EGFR-TKI resistance in EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

Red/near-infrared luminescence tuning of group-14 element complexes of dipyrrins based on a central atom.

A dipyrrin complex has been one of the most utilized fluorescent dyes, and a variety of dipyrrin complexes show intriguing functions based on the various coordination structures of the central element. We now report the synthesis, structure, and photophysical properties of germanium and stannane complexes of the N2O2-type tetradentate dipyrrin, L·Ge and L·Sn, which are heavier analogues of the previously reported dipyrrin silicon complex, L·Si. The central group-14 atoms of the monomeric complexes have geometries close to trigonal bipyramidal (TBP), in which the contribution of the square-pyramidal (SP) character becomes higher as the central atom is heavier.

The novel VEGF receptor/MET-targeted kinase inhibitor TAS-115 has marked in vivo antitumor properties and a favorable tolerability profile.

VEGF receptor (VEGFR) signaling plays a key role in tumor angiogenesis. Although some VEGFR signal-targeted drugs have been approved for clinical use, their utility is limited by associated toxicities or resistance to such therapy. To overcome these limitations, we developed TAS-115, a novel VEGFR and hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET)-targeted kinase inhibitor with an improved safety profile.

Utility of cryopreserved hepatocytes suspended in serum to predict hepatic clearance in dogs and monkeys.

An in vitro-in vivo correlation analysis between observed and predicted metabolic clearance in multiple preclinical species including dogs and monkeys constitutes an integral part of prediction for the pharmacokinetics in humans by using liver-derived in vitro preparations. Empirical values of the scaling factor for the extrapolation of metabolic (intrinsic) clearance in the in vitro preparation to that for whole liver were calculated for each preparation of 8 and 5 cryopreserved dog and monkey hepatocytes, respectively, by optimizing the objective function of average fold error between predicted and observed metabolic (intrinsic) clearance for eight and 11 standard compounds for dogs and monkeys, respectively. Thus obtained values of the scaling factor ranged from 5.

Hydrogen-bonding linkage of thymidine derivatives with carboxylic acid and pyridyl groups in a crystalline state.

Thymidine derivatives with carboxylic acid and pyridyl groups were synthesized for constructing one-dimensional network structure based on hydrogen bonding in crystalline state. The solid sate structures and hydrogen bonding networks of the thymidine derivatives were characterized by single X-ray diffraction analysis. The thymidine derivatives formed a zwitterion structure with a pyridinium proton and a carboxylate moiety in a crystalline state due to transfer of a proton from the carboxylic acid to the pyridyl moiety.

Synthesis of π-conjugated polymer consisting of pyrrole and fluorene units by Ru-catalyzed site-selective direct arylation polycondensation.

Polycondensation of 1-(2-pyrimidinyl)pyrrole with 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene via Ru-catalyzed direct arylation gives the corresponding conjugated polymer with a molecular weight of 19 800 in 86% yield. The introduction of directing group, 2-pyrimidinyl substituent, into the pyrrole monomer induces ortho-metalation and provides the site-selective direct arylation polycondensation at the α-position of pyrrole unit without the protection of β-position. The removal of 2-pyrimidinyl substituent on the pyrrole unit proceeds efficiently and results in the enhancement of coplanarity along the main chain of the polymer.

Ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry analysis for the site of aromatic hydroxylation.

Hydroxylated metabolites often retain the pharmacological activity of parent compound, and the position of hydroxylation determines the formation of chemically reactive intermediates, such as quinones and analogs, from para- and/or ortho-hydroxylation of phenols or arylamines. Therefore, the identification of exact position of hydroxylation is often required at the early development stage of new drug candidates. In many cases, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provides identical MS/MS spectra among isomeric hydroxylated metabolites, and therefore, it alone cannot unequivocally identify the exact position(s) of hydroxylation.

Evaluation of animal models for intestinal first-pass metabolism of drug candidates to be metabolized by CYP3A enzymes via in vivo and in vitro oxidation of midazolam and triazolam.

1. To search an appropriate evaluation methodology for the intestinal first-pass metabolism of new drug candidates, grapefruit juice (GFJ)- and vehicle (tap water)-pretreated mice or rats were orally administered midazolam (MDZ) or triazolam (TRZ), and blood levels of the parent compounds and their metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography/MS/MS. A significant effect of GFJ to elevate the blood levels was observed only for TRZ in mice.

Molecular design of organic superbases, azacalix[3](2,6)pyridines: catalysts for 1,2- and 1,4-additions.

The molecular design, characteristics, and catalytic activity of macrocyclic amino compounds, azacalix[3](2,6)pyridine derivatives, were studied. The introduction of an electron-donating group on the pyridine moiety and bridging amino phenyl group enabled the enhancement of the basicity of azacalix[3](2,6)pyridine up to pK(BH(+)) = 29.5 in CD(3)CN.

Detailed optimization of polycondensation reaction via direct C-H arylation of ethylenedioxythiophene.

The polycondensation reaction of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene with 2,7-dibromo-9,9-dioctylfluorene via Pd-catalyzed direct arylation gives poly[(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2,5-diyl)-(9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl)]. The reaction conditions are optimized in terms of the Pd precatalysts, reaction time, and carboxylic acid additives. The combination of 1 mol% Pd(OAc)(2) and 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid as an additive is the optimized catalytic system, and it yields the corresponding polymer with a molecular weight of 39,400 in 89% yield.

Therapeutic potential of cholesteryl O-acyl α-glucoside found in Helicobacter pylori.

Steryl glycosides are derivatives of sterols where the 3β-hydroxy group is glycosylated. Some of them are further converted to steryl O-acyl glycosides. Steryl glycosides and their derivatives are widely distributed in plants, algae, and fungi, but are relatively rarely distributed in bacteria and animals.

Programmed self-assembly of large -conjugated molecules into electroactive one-dimensional nanostructures.

Electroactive one-dimensional (1D) nano-objects possess inherent unidirectional charge and energy transport capabilities along with anisotropic absorption and emission of light, which are of great advantage for the development of nanometer-scale electronics and optoelectronics. In particular, molecular nanowires formed by self-assembly of -conjugated molecules attract increasing attention for application in supramolecular electronics. This review introduces recent topics related to electroactive molecular nanowires.

A novel method for the determination of the site of glucuronidation by ion mobility spectrometry-mass spectrometry.

Glucuronidation not only plays a detoxifying role in living body, but it also can complicate pharmacological and toxicological profiles of new drug candidates by forming active and reactive conjugated metabolites. The opportunity to elucidate structure of conjugated metabolites has increased in drug metabolism studies at the early development stage. General methodologies for the structure elucidation of glucuronide conjugate(s) include liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and NMR spectroscopy.

Discovery of highly potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors based on the conformation restriction strategy.

Human deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) inhibition is a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitor based chemotherapy. In this study, we describe the discovery of a novel class of human dUTPase inhibitors based on the conformation restriction strategy. On the basis of the X-ray cocrystal structure of dUTPase and its inhibitor compound 7, we designed and synthesized two conformation restricted analogues, i.

Astellas' drug discovery strategy: focus on oncology.

Based on the goal of delivering innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products to cancer patients for whom no effective treatments exist, Astellas is focusing its efforts on a strategy of precision medicine in its drug discovery which is carried out at three research sites with diversity in their research platforms and research styles.

Photoisomerization locking of azobenzene by formation of a self-assembled macrocycle.

Reaction of an azobenzene-linked biscatecholate ligand with boron and titanium sources gave ring- and cage-shaped complexes in a self-assembly fashion, respectively. These complexes were inert to photoisomerization though the ligand itself was isomerized upon photoirradiation. The self-assembled macrocyclization caused inhibition of the photoisomerization.

Discovery of a novel class of potent human deoxyuridine triphosphatase inhibitors remarkably enhancing the antitumor activity of thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

Inhibition of human deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) has been identified as a promising approach to enhance the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based chemotherapy. This study describes the development of a novel class of dUTPase inhibitors based on the structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of uracil derivatives. Starting from the weak inhibitor 7 (IC(50) = 100 μM), we developed compound 26, which is the most potent human dUTPase inhibitor (IC(50) = 0.