Synthèse d’inhibiteurs potentiels non phosphorylés de la désoxyxylulose phosphate réductoisomérase et étude de la voie de biosynthèse des unités isopréniques chez Acanthamoeba polyphaga. De nombreux microorganismes pathogènes utilisent la voie du méthylérythritol phosphate (MEP) pour la synthèse des unités isopréniques (IPP et DMAPP). Absente chez l’homme, cette voie constitue une cible de choix pour lutter contre ces microorganismes. La fosmidomycine est un des meilleurs inhibiteurs connus à ce jour de la désoxyxylulose phosphate réductoisomérase (DXR), deuxième enzyme de cette voie. Afin d’améliorer d’une part la biodisponibilité de ce type d’inhibiteur et d’autre part de lutter contre le phénomène de résistance à cet antibiotique, nous avons synthétisé des analogues de la fosmidomycine où le groupement phosphonate est remplacé par un groupement tétrazole ou par un groupement squaryle. Les molécules synthétisées ont été testées sur la DXR d’ Escherichia coli et n’ont pas révélé d’activité inhibitrice significative.Par ailleurs, nous avons montré, par des expériences d’incorporation de glucose marqué au 13C, que l’amibe Acanthamoeba polyphaga, utilise la voie du mévalonate pour synthétiser les unités isopréniques nécessaires à la synthèse de ses stérols / Synthesis of potential non-phosphonate inhibitors of the deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase and study of the biosynthetic pathway for isoprenoids units synthesis using by Acanthamoeba polyphagaMany pathogenic microorganisms synthesize their isoprenoid units (IPP and DMAPP) via the methylerythritol phosphate pathway (MEP pathway). Absent in man, all enzymes of this metabolic route are potential targets for the design of new antimicrobials. This pathway is present in pathogenic bacteria, but absent in mammals. Hence, the development of small-molecule inhibitors for the MEP enzymes constitutes a novel approach for the design of new antimicrobials. Fosmidomycin is the most efficient inhibitor of the the deoxyxylulose phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR), the second enzyme of the MEP pathway. In an attempt to improve the pharmacological properties and the bioavailability of this antibiotic, we synthesized analogues of the fosmidomycin by replacing the phosphonate group by tetrazole or squaryl moieties. These synthesized compounds were tested on the DXR isolated from Escherichia coli.Otherwise, we showed by achieving incorporation experiments with 13C labeled glucose that the amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga utilize the mevalonate pathway to synthesize its sterols.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma doença neurodegenerativa que causa perda progressiva e irreversível das funções cerebrais, atualmente não tem cura e não existe um tratamento específico eficaz. Uma estratégia para o tratamento paliativo é restaurar o neurotransmissor acetilcolina utilizando fármacos inibidores das enzimas colinesterase (ChEI), nesse contexto a tacrina foi o primeiro fármaco aprovado para o tratamento da DA. Há mais de uma década os análogos dímeros da tacrina, conhecidos como bis-tacrina, mostraram maior eficiência na inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) comparativamente ao fármaco tacrina e seus análogos, devido à ação simultânea em dois sítios da enzima, catalítico e periférico. Desde então, vários compostos dímeros e híbridos contendo o núcleo tacrina tem sido sintetizados e testados como ChEI. Neste trabalho realizou-se a síntese de dímeros quirais do tipo bis-tacrina, onde dois núcleos da tacrina com substituintes quirais estão conectados por uma cadeia espaçadora de carbonos metilênicos. A reação de condensação de Friedlander foi a estratégia adotada para a obtenção do núcleo tacrina, onde uma ciclocetona quiral de origem terpênica foi condensada com um ácido o-aminobenzóico na presença de POCl3, formando os intermediários do tipo 9-cloroacridinas quirais. As ciclocetonas quirais foram sintetizadas a partir da reação de retro-aldol do monoterpeno natural pulegona, comercialmente disponível nas formas (R)-(+)- e (S)-(-). A preparação dos homodímeros envolveu a reação de substituição nucleofílica aromática (SNAr) entre as 9-cloroacridinas e a 1,7-heptanodiamina, que contém a cadeia alquílica espaçadora. A síntese dos heterodímeros necessitou a preparação dos precursores 9-(1,7-diaminoeptil)-1,2,3,4-tetraidroacridina, contendo o núcleo tacrina e o grupo amino separados pela cadeia espaçadora, para posterior reação de SNAr com as 9-cloroacridinas. Os produtos obtidos neste trabalho foram purificados por cromatografia em coluna e caracterizados por espectroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) de 1H e 13C, no infravermelho (IV), atividade óptica e medidas de ponto de fusão. As análises de atividade óptica mostraram que a quiralidade foi mantida nos intermediários e nos produtos finais sintetizados. Foram realizados ensaios biológicos de inibição das enzimas AChE e BuChE com os compostos quirais disponíveis, e os dímeros da série (R) mostraram ser ativos como inibidores das enzimas. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which causes progressive and irreversible loss of brain functions and currently has no cure and no effective specific treatment. A strategy for palliative treatment of AD is the restoration of neurotransmitter acetylcholine using drugs cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and tacrine was the first drug approved for the treatment of AD. About fifteen years ago, bis(n)-tacrine analogues linked by an alkylene chain were prepared, and it was proved that these dimeric molecules of tacrine offered a much stronger potency and selectivity toward AChE. Bis(7)-tacrine simultaneously binds at both the CAS and the PAS sites and provides a higher selectivity towards AChE over BuChE.. Since then, several dimmers and hybrid compounds containing the nucleus tacrine, have been synthesized and tested as cholinesterase inhibitors. In this work were carried out the syntheses of chiral homodimers and heterodimers of bis-tacrine type, where two nucleus of tacrine with chiral substituents were connected by an alkyl chain as spacer. The Friedländer condensation reaction was performed to obtain the tacrine nucleus, the cycloketone from a chiral terpene source was condensed with an o-aminobenzoic acid in the presence of POCl3, forming 9-chloroacridine intermediates. The chiral cycloketone were obtained from natural monoterpene pulegone, commercially available in (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-) enantiomers. The preparation of homodimers involved the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction between 9-chloroacridines and 1,7-diaminoheptane, which contains the spacer alkyl chain. The synthesis of heterodimers required the preparation of precursor 9-(1,7-diaminoheptyl)-1,2,3,4-tetraydroacridine, containing tacrine nucleus and the amino group separated by spacer chain, for subsequent SNAr reaction with the 9-chloroacridines. The products obtained in this work were purified by column chromatography and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of 1H and 13C, infrared spectroscopy (IR), optical activity and melting point measurements. The analysis of optical activity showed that the chirality was maintained in the intermediate and final products synthesized. Biological assays of inhibition of AChE and BuChE enzymes were performed with chiral compounds. The dimers of (R)-series were active as cholinesterase inhibitors.

6 Abstract Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical Botany and Ecology Candidate: Jana Marková Supervisor: doc. Ing. Lucie Cahlíková, Ph.D. Title of Diploma thesis: Synthesis of haemanthamine derivatives Based on previous studies, the haemanthamine alkaloid showing remarkable antitumorous activity was chosen as the subject of this thesis. The purpose of the thesis was preparation of its more active derivatives, namely esters. Preparation concerns the following derivatives: 11- O- butanoylhaemanthamine, 11-O-(3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)-haemanthamine, 11-O-(4- trifluoromethoxybenzoyl)-haemanthamine, 11-O-isobutanoyhaemanthamine. These were created by the reaction of haemanthamine and the relevant acilating agent (acylchloride, anhydride) in the environment of anhydrous pyridine or tetrahydrofuran with adding dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst. Most of the products were obtained in the form of colourless oil, one of the substances crystallized into white amorphous crystals. However, during an attempt of dioxolane ring opening, the preparation of 3-demethylhaemanthamine derivative proved unsuccessful. Prepared derivatives were mostly identified by EI-MS and NMR. All the substances were gained in sufficient outcomes in the scale of 43 - 81 %. All the compounds were...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest volume chemicals produced worldwide and, as a result, is universally found in environmental and human matrixes. Bisphenol A is a known endocrine disruptor that acts as an estrogen agonist and an androgen antagonist. Due to health concerns, BPA is being phased out and replaced by other bisphenol analogues structurally similar to BPA. To date, there have been little to no studies showing the effects of BP analogues on the reproductive organ development of male mice. Thus, this study aimed to compare the effects of BPA and selected analogues (including BPB, BPE, and BPS) on the reproductive organ development in male mice, and determine preliminary toxicity threshold levels, such as the lowest-observed-effect-dose (LOED) and no-observed-effect-dose (NOED). Exposure to BPA, BPB and BPE via subcutaneous injection at a dose of 10 μg/g body weight (bw)/day each significantly caused a decrease in anogenital distance and glans penis length in male mice. Testis weight was also significantly reduced by BPA and BPE. Although BPS did not cause an effect on the glans penis length, anogenital distance or testis weight, histology work indicated that the spines on the glans penis were at a different developmental stage than the control. A similar result was seen with BPA on the glans penis spines. The LOED and NOED of BPA affecting anogenital distance, penis length, or testis weight were determined to be 10 and 5 μg/g bw/day, respectively. These LOED and NOED values are preliminary for BPA, because only five dose levels are used. Further research is needed to estimate more accurate threshold levels for the studied endpoints for BPA as well as other bisphenol analogues. The results indicated that some bisphenol analogues (BPB and BPE) showed comparable effects to BPA on the reproductive organ development of male mice, including anogenital distance and penis length. This could be indicative of more severe reproductive issues later in life and raised a concern on the safety of using these analogues to replace BPA in consumer products. More research is needed to investigate the mechanisms of the observed effects on genetic or molecular levels, determine what the long-term adverse effects of bisphenol analogues are to the reproductive system of male mice, and determine whether similar effects will be seen at dose levels comparable to human exposure rates.

A doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma doença neurodegenerativa que causa perda progressiva e irreversível das funções cerebrais, atualmente não tem cura e não existe um tratamento específico eficaz. Uma estratégia para o tratamento paliativo é restaurar o neurotransmissor acetilcolina utilizando fármacos inibidores das enzimas colinesterase (ChEI), nesse contexto a tacrina foi o primeiro fármaco aprovado para o tratamento da DA. Há mais de uma década os análogos dímeros da tacrina, conhecidos como bis-tacrina, mostraram maior eficiência na inibição da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) comparativamente ao fármaco tacrina e seus análogos, devido à ação simultânea em dois sítios da enzima, catalítico e periférico. Desde então, vários compostos dímeros e híbridos contendo o núcleo tacrina tem sido sintetizados e testados como ChEI. Neste trabalho realizou-se a síntese de dímeros quirais do tipo bis-tacrina, onde dois núcleos da tacrina com substituintes quirais estão conectados por uma cadeia espaçadora de carbonos metilênicos. A reação de condensação de Friedlander foi a estratégia adotada para a obtenção do núcleo tacrina, onde uma ciclocetona quiral de origem terpênica foi condensada com um ácido o-aminobenzóico na presença de POCl3, formando os intermediários do tipo 9-cloroacridinas quirais. As ciclocetonas quirais foram sintetizadas a partir da reação de retro-aldol do monoterpeno natural pulegona, comercialmente disponível nas formas (R)-(+)- e (S)-(-). A preparação dos homodímeros envolveu a reação de substituição nucleofílica aromática (SNAr) entre as 9-cloroacridinas e a 1,7-heptanodiamina, que contém a cadeia alquílica espaçadora. A síntese dos heterodímeros necessitou a preparação dos precursores 9-(1,7-diaminoeptil)-1,2,3,4-tetraidroacridina, contendo o núcleo tacrina e o grupo amino separados pela cadeia espaçadora, para posterior reação de SNAr com as 9-cloroacridinas. Os produtos obtidos neste trabalho foram purificados por cromatografia em coluna e caracterizados por espectroscopia de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) de 1H e 13C, no infravermelho (IV), atividade óptica e medidas de ponto de fusão. As análises de atividade óptica mostraram que a quiralidade foi mantida nos intermediários e nos produtos finais sintetizados. Foram realizados ensaios biológicos de inibição das enzimas AChE e BuChE com os compostos quirais disponíveis, e os dímeros da série (R) mostraram ser ativos como inibidores das enzimas. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder which causes progressive and irreversible loss of brain functions and currently has no cure and no effective specific treatment. A strategy for palliative treatment of AD is the restoration of neurotransmitter acetylcholine using drugs cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEI) and tacrine was the first drug approved for the treatment of AD. About fifteen years ago, bis(n)-tacrine analogues linked by an alkylene chain were prepared, and it was proved that these dimeric molecules of tacrine offered a much stronger potency and selectivity toward AChE. Bis(7)-tacrine simultaneously binds at both the CAS and the PAS sites and provides a higher selectivity towards AChE over BuChE.. Since then, several dimmers and hybrid compounds containing the nucleus tacrine, have been synthesized and tested as cholinesterase inhibitors. In this work were carried out the syntheses of chiral homodimers and heterodimers of bis-tacrine type, where two nucleus of tacrine with chiral substituents were connected by an alkyl chain as spacer. The Friedländer condensation reaction was performed to obtain the tacrine nucleus, the cycloketone from a chiral terpene source was condensed with an o-aminobenzoic acid in the presence of POCl3, forming 9-chloroacridine intermediates. The chiral cycloketone were obtained from natural monoterpene pulegone, commercially available in (R)-(+)- and (S)-(-) enantiomers. The preparation of homodimers involved the nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction between 9-chloroacridines and 1,7-diaminoheptane, which contains the spacer alkyl chain. The synthesis of heterodimers required the preparation of precursor 9-(1,7-diaminoheptyl)-1,2,3,4-tetraydroacridine, containing tacrine nucleus and the amino group separated by spacer chain, for subsequent SNAr reaction with the 9-chloroacridines. The products obtained in this work were purified by column chromatography and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of 1H and 13C, infrared spectroscopy (IR), optical activity and melting point measurements. The analysis of optical activity showed that the chirality was maintained in the intermediate and final products synthesized. Biological assays of inhibition of AChE and BuChE enzymes were performed with chiral compounds. The dimers of (R)-series were active as cholinesterase inhibitors.

De nombreux agents chimiothérapeutiques sont gonadotoxiques et peuvent donc induire une insuffisance ovarienne précoce chez les jeunes patientes traitées. La protection pharmacologique de l'ovaire pendant la chimiothérapie à l'aide d'analogues de la Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRHa) est une option intéressante de préservation de la fertilité de par son caractère non-invasif et la possibilité d’une récupération spontanée de la fonction ovarienne. Ces molécules sont des inhibiteurs bien connus de l'axe hypothalamo-hypophyso-gonadique, mais leur efficacité dans cette indication est, cependant, controversée et leurs mécanismes d'action sont mal compris. Par conséquent, nous avons investigué les mécanismes potentiels de protection ovarienne des GnRHa pendant la chimiothérapie sur modèle murin. Nous avons montré que le cyclophosphamide (Cy) induit une déplétion folliculaire aiguë et proportionnelle à la dose affectant à la fois les follicules quiescents et en croissance. Lorsqu'ils sont administrés seuls à différentes doses et sites, l'agoniste et l'antagoniste de la GnRH altèrent les cycles oestraux, mais ne bloquent ni la folliculogenèse ni la sécrétion de la Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) chez la souris. De plus, le Cy atteint les follicules primordiaux, que les souris aient été traitées avec les GnRHa ou non. Ces résultats suggèrent que les GnRHa n'inhibent pas l'axe hypophyso-gonadique aussi efficacement chez la souris que chez la femme. Par conséquent, nous avons développé de nouveaux modèles pour étudier les mécanismes potentiels de protection ovarienne des GnRHa. Afin de différencier les effets directs des GnRHa via leurs récepteurs ovariens ou indirects par inhibition de la sécrétion de gonadotrophines, l'effet de l'agent alkylant sur le développement folliculaire et la réserve ovarienne a été testé sur des follicules cultivés in vitro avec ou sans GnRHa et in vivo chez des souris déficientes en FSHb (Fshb-/-). Pour imiter la profonde inhibition de FSH observée chez la femme après traitement aux GnRHa, nous avons étudié la toxicité de la chimiothérapie chez les souris Fshb-/-. L’administration de gonadotrophines exogènes (pregnant mare serum gonadotropin, PMSG) induit une croissance folliculaire jusqu’au stade antral mais n’influence pas le nombre total de follicules au sein de l’ovaire. Le Cy induit une perte folliculaire significative dans le groupe contrôle et dans le groupe traité au PMSG. Aucune différence concernant la prolifération ni l'apoptose n'a été observée entre les groupes traités à la chimiothérapie. A ce jour, ce modèle murin représente le meilleur modèle pour étudier l'inhibition gonadotrope induite par les GnRHa observée chez la femme. Ces résultats suggèrent que la FSH n'est pas impliquée dans la protection ovarienne potentielle des GnRHa pendant la chimiothérapie. Afin d’évaluer les effets directs des GnRHa sur les follicules en croissance et quiescents, des follicules préantraux ou des ovaires de nouveau-nés (PND4) ont été cultivés avec ou sans GnRHa avant l'exposition au métabolite actif du Cy, le 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4HC). Nous avons d'abord montré que l'exposition in vitro aux GnRHa n'affectait ni la survie et le développement folliculaire, ni la maturation ovocytaire. Dans les follicules en croissance, le 4HC diminue significativement les taux de survie et de maturation; et retarde le développement folliculaire, indépendamment du traitement aux GnRHa. La chimiothérapie diminue le nombre de cellules de la granulosa par follicule tandis que la production d’adénosine monophosphate cyclique (AMPc) par million de cellules de la granulosa n'est pas modifiée, ni par le 4HC, ni par les GnRHa. La sécrétion d'oestradiol tend à être retardée dans le groupe traité à l’agoniste mais pas dans le groupe antagoniste. De même, dans les ovaires PND4, le 4HC induit une perte folliculaire importante et atteint directement les cellules de la granulosa des follicules ovariens. Aucune différence dans la distribution folliculaire, la prolifération ou l'apoptose n'a été observée entre les groupes traités avec le 4HC, peu importe la présence des GnRHa ou non. Pour conclure, en se basant sur des modèles murins robustes et originaux, notre travail remet en question l'efficacité des GnRHa pour préserver l'ovaire contre les dommages causés par la chimiothérapie que ce soit par une action directe sur l'ovaire, ou indirectement par l'absence de FSH. D'autres investigations seront nécessaires pour comprendre les mécanismes d'action potentiels des GnRHa sur l'ovaire et les voies impliquées. Des preuves expérimentales sont encore indispensables pour clore le débat sur cette option attrayante de préservation de la fertilité. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

The incidence of cancer worldwide has increased over the years, and gastrointestinal cancers (G.I.) are amongst the most common forms of cancer. Nevertheless, there is still no curative treatments for this group of tumors. Nucleoside analogues are widely used in cancer treatment. The prevailing compounds are Gemcitabine (used for pancreatic cancer and other carcinomas), 5-Fluorouracil (used in breast, colon, and other cancers), Cytarabine and Clofarabine (used in leukemias). Gemcitabine, the current standard of care for various forms of solid tumors, has a limited efficacy against pancreatic cancer. The objective of this project was the development of effective drugs against pancreatic cancer. We focused on a novel class of nucleoside analogues designed to bypass the most common cellular road blocks and resistance mechanisms. After an extensive screen for cell killing activity, two lead molecules were exclusively studied: LCB2151 and LCB2132. These two molecules showed high efficacy in killing human cancer cells from three different human G.I. cell lines: BxPC3 and Capan-2, two pancreatic cell lines representative of K-Ras positive and negative tumors, as well as the liver cell line HepG2. LCB2151 showed high efficacy in killing Gemcitabine-resistant cancer cells, and a low toxicity in normal cells. Interestingly, results show that these prodrugs can efficiently bypass key resistance mechanisms developed by cancer cells. The results obtained in this project are promising and could pave the way for a more effective treatment of pancreatic cancer.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Diabetes, a worldwide disease, is classified into two types, type 1 or insulin-dependent and type 2 or noninsulin-dependent. Based on reports published by the International Diabetes Federation, the total number of those suffering from diabetes is growing every year. Statistics predict that type 2 diabetes, currently affecting about 8% of the adult population, would spread at such a pace that by 2030, more than 40 million cases of diabetes would be found throughout the world. On the other hand, studies revealed that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a lower incidence of tumour development than healthy controls and that patients diagnosed with cancer have a lower risk of mortality when treated with metformin. However, the frequent use of metformin with low oral bioavailability ranging between 40-60% in the intestinal environment leads to large accumulation on the enterocytes. / 2024-02-24

The aim of the diploma thesis was to determine the influence of different kinds of fats on the content of aromatic active compounds and total flavour of processed cheese analogues. Samples of the cheese were produced by Tomas Bata University in Zlín from concentrated milk fat, butter, palm fat, coconut fat and sunflower oil. The aromatic compounds were isolated from samples of fats and processed cheese analogues via HS-SPME-GC method. A fibre with polar stationary phase CAR/PDMS was used for capturing of aromatic active compounds. In different contents, total of 32 aromatic compounds were determined. The cheese from concentrated milk fat and butter had the highest content and cheese from sunflower oil had the lowest. For determination of acceptability and flavour, the cheese analogues were sensory evaluated at the same time. Ordinal test, evaluation via scale and profile test were used. Cheese made from concentrated milk fat and coconut fat were always evaluated as the best, cheese made from sunflower oil were evaluated as the worst. Finally results between SPME-GC and sensory analysis were compared. It was stated that the kind of fat used for production of processed cheese analogues significantly influences the content of aromatic compounds and thus influences flavour of the cheese analogues.

The aim of this diploma work is to characterise processed cheeses and their analogues, to identify and quantify aroma active substances in the samples of cheese analogues, to evaluate their flavour using selected sensory methods and to compare the acquired results with the flavour of corresponding classic cheeses. The theoretical part is focused on general characteristic, classification, production technology of the processed cheeses and their analogues and on the list of aroma active substances occurring in cheeses. Furthermore, the summary of the methods suitable for sensory and analytic evaluation of cheese flavour and for the isolation of aroma active substances is given here. The samples of cheese analogues were made in Tomas Bata University in Zlín from coconut fat, butter, palm fat, milk fat and sunflower-seed oil. The classic processed cheeses were acquired commercially in the chain-store Billa. The aromatic substances were isolated and quantified using SPME-GC method, the fibre with the polar stationary phase CARTM/PDMS was used. Overall, 44 aroma substances were assessed: 9 aldehydes, 17 alcohols, 3 esters, 10 ketones and 5 acids. Classic processed cheeses contained the largest amount of aroma substances, Edam cheese, used for the production of cheese analogues, the smallest. Aroma compounds found in cheese analogues were then compared with raw materials used (Edam cheese and various fats), with the analogues produced last year and with classic processed cheeses. Finally, the results of the SPME-GC method and the sensory analysis were compared. It is possible to state that there are noticeable extensive differences between classic processed cheeses and cheese analogues, especially in taste.