Journal Name:Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B
Journal ISSN:
IF:0
Journal Website:
Year of Origin:0
Publisher:
Number of Articles Per Year:0
Publishing Cycle:
OA or Not:Not
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2020-11-27 , DOI:
10.1039/D0CB00122H
The identification of modulators for proteins without assayable biochemical activity remains a challenge in chemical biology. The presented approach adapts a high-throughput fluorescence binding assay and functional chromatography, two protein-resin technologies, enabling the discovery and isolation of fluorescent natural product probes that target proteins independently of biochemical function. The resulting probes also suggest targetable pockets for lead discovery. Using human survivin as a model, we demonstrate this method with the discovery of members of the prodiginine family as fluorescent probes to the cancer target survivin.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2021-11-02 , DOI:
10.1039/D1CB00146A
Ruthenium complexes have emerged as a promising class of compounds for use as photosensitizers (PSs) in photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to their attractive photophysical properties and relative ease of chemical alteration. While promising, they generally are not inherently targeting to disease sites and may therefore be prone to side effects and require higher doses. Aptamers are short oligonucleotides that bind specific targets with high affinity. One such aptamer is AS1411 , a nucleolin targeting, G-quadruplex forming, DNA aptamer. Here we present the first example of direct conjugation of a Ru( II ) polypyridyl complex-based PS to an aptamer and an assessment of its in vitro cancer cell specific photosensitization including discussion of the challenges faced.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2023-05-25 , DOI:
10.1039/d3cb00051f
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most lethal brain cancer subtype, often advanced by the time of initial diagnosis. Existing treatment modalities including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation have been stymied by recurrence, metastasis, drug resistance and brain targetability. Here, we report a geometrically distinct Au(I) complex ligated by N^N-bidentate ligands and supported by a N-heterocyclic ligand that modulates mitochondrial morphology to inhibit GBM in vitro and in vivo. This work benefits from the facile preparation of anti-GBM Au(I)-NHC complexes.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2023-05-19 , DOI:
10.1039/d2cb00216g
There is an increasing interest to develop therapeutics that modulate challenging or undruggable target proteins via a mechanism that involves ternary complexes. In general, such compounds can be characterized by their direct affinities to a chaperone and a target protein and by their degree of cooperativity in the formation of the ternary complex. As a trend, smaller compounds have a greater dependency on intrinsic cooperativity to their thermodynamic stability relative to direct target (or chaperone) binding. This highlights the need to consider intrinsic cooperativity of ternary complex-forming compounds early in lead optimization, especially as they provide more control over target selectivity (especially for isoforms) and more insight into the relationship between target occupancy and target response via estimation of ternary complex concentrations. This motivates the need to quantify the natural constant of intrinsic cooperativity (α) which is generally defined as the gain (or loss) in affinity of a compound to its target in pre-bound vs. unbound state. Intrinsic cooperativities can be retrieved via a mathematical binding model from EC50 shifts of binary binding curves of the ternary complex-forming compound with either a target or chaperone relative to the same experiment but in the presence of the counter protein. In this manuscript, we present a mathematical modeling methodology that estimates the intrinsic cooperativity value from experimentally observed apparent cooperativities. This method requires only the two binary binding affinities and the protein concentrations of target and chaperone and is therefore suitable for use in early discovery therapeutic programs. This approach is then extended from biochemical assays to cellular assays (i.e., from a closed system to an open system) by accounting for differences in total ligand vs. free ligand concentrations in the calculations of ternary complex concentrations. Finally, this model is used to translate biochemical potency of ternary complex-forming compounds into expected cellular target occupancy, which could ultimately serve as a way for validation or de-validation of hypothesized biological mechanisms of action.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2023-02-27 , DOI:
10.1039/d2cb00247g
Ruthenium complexes are often investigated as potential replacements for platinum-based chemotherapeutics in hopes of identifying systems with improved tolerability in vivo and reduced susceptibility to cellular resistance mechanisms. Inspired by phenanthriplatin, a non-traditional platinum agent that contains only one labile ligand, monofunctional ruthenium polypyridyl agents have been developed, but until now, few demonstrated promising anticancer activity. Here we introduce a potent new scaffold, based on [Ru(tpy)(dip)Cl]Cl (tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine and dip = 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline) in pursuit of effective Ru(II)-based monofunctional agents. Notably, the extension of the terpyridine at the 4′ position with an aromatic ring resulted in a molecule that was cytotoxic in several cancer cell lines with sub-micromolar IC50 values, induced ribosome biogenesis stress, and exhibited minimal zebrafish embryo toxicity. This study demonstrates the successful design of a Ru(II) agent that mimics many of the biological effects and phenotypes seen with phenanthriplatin, despite numerous differences in both the ligands and metal center structure.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2021-08-25 , DOI:
10.1039/D1CB00099C
Triphenylphosphonium (TPP + ) moieties are commonly conjugated to drug molecules to confer mitochondrial selectivity due to their positive charge and high lipophilicity. Although optimisation of lipophilicity can be achieved by modifying the length of the alkyl linkers between the TPP + moiety and the drug molecule, it is not always possible. While methylation of the TPP + moiety is a viable alternative to increase lipophilicity and mitochondrial accumulation, there are no studies comparing these two separate modular approaches. Thus, we have systematically designed, synthesised and tested a range of TPP + molecules with varying alkyl chain lengths and degree of aryl methylation to compare the two modular methodologies for modulating lipophilicity. The ability of aryl/alkyl modified TPP + to deliver cargo to the mitochondria was also evaluated by confocal imaging with a TPP + -conjugated fluorescein-based fluorophore. Furthermore, we have employed molecular dynamics simulations to understand the translocation of these molecules through biological membrane model systems. These results provide further insights into the thermodynamics of this process and the effect of alkyl and aryl modular modifications.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2020-12-08 , DOI:
10.1039/D0CB00055H
Recent efforts in genome-wide sequencing and proteomics have revealed the fundamental roles that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play in the life cycle and function of coding and non-coding RNAs. While these methodologies provide a systems-level view of the networking of RNA and proteins, approaches to enable the cellular validation of discovered interactions are lacking. Leveraging the power of bioorthogonal chemistry- and split-luciferase-based assay technologies, we have devised a conceptually new assay for the live-cell detection of RNA–protein interactions (RPIs), RNA interaction with Protein-mediated Complementation Assay, or RiPCA. As proof-of-concept, we utilized the interaction of the pre-microRNA, pre-let-7, with its binding partner, Lin28. Using this system, we have demonstrated the selective detection of the pre-let-7-Lin28 RPI in both the cytoplasm and nucleus. Furthermore, we determined that this technology can be used to discern relative affinities for specific sequences as well as of individual RNA binding domains. Thus, RiPCA has the potential to serve as a useful tool in supporting the investigation of cellular RPIs.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2020-10-16 , DOI:
10.1039/D0CB00113A
Biocatalytic imine reduction has been a topic of intense research by the artificial metalloenzyme community in recent years. Artificial constructs, together with natural enzymes, have been engineered to produce chiral amines with high enantioselectivity. This review examines the design of the main classes of artificial imine reductases reported thus far and summarises approaches to enhancing their catalytic performance using complementary methods. Examples of utilising these biocatalysts in vivo or in multi-enzyme cascades have demonstrated the potential that artIREDs can offer, however, at this time their use in biocatalysis remains limited. This review explores the current scope of artIREDs and the strategies used for catalyst improvement, and examines the potential for artIREDs in the future.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2021-03-04 , DOI:
10.1039/D1CB00007A
Antibody-recruiting molecules (ARMs) are one of the most promising tools to redirect the immune response towards cancer cells. In this review, we aim to highlight the recent advances in the field. We will illustrate the advantages of different ARM approaches and emphasize the importance of a multivalent presentation of the binding units.
Zeitschrift für Naturforschung B ( IF 0 ) Pub Date: 2020-07-16 , DOI:
10.1039/D0CB00060D
The bacterial processivity factor, or sliding clamp (SC), is a target of choice for new antibacterial drugs development. We have previously developed peptides that target Escherichia coli SC and block its interaction with DNA polymerases in vitro . Here, one such SC binding peptide was fused to a Proline-rich AntiMicrobial Peptide (PrAMP) to allow its internalization into E. coli cells. Co-immunoprecipitation assays with a N-terminally modified bifunctional peptide that still enters the bacteria but fails to interact with the bacterial ribosome, the major target of PrAMPs, demonstrate that it actually interacts with the bacterial SC. Moreover, when compared to SC non-binding controls, this peptide induces a ten-fold higher antibacterial activity against E. coli , showing that the observed antimicrobial activity is linked to SC binding. Finally, an unmodified bifunctional compound significantly increases the survival of Drosophila melanogaster flies challenged by an E. coli infection. Our study demonstrates the potential of PrAMPs to transport antibiotics into the bacterial cytoplasm and validates the development of drugs targeting the bacterial processivity factor of Gram-negative bacteria as a promising new class of antibiotics.
Supplementary Information
| Self Citation Rate | H-index | SCI Inclusion Status | PubMed Central (PML) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Not |