Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Cyclin Dependent Kinase regulation is often manipulated by cancer cells to promote unlimited proliferation. P27 is an important regulator of Cyclin E/CDK 2, which has been found in low amounts in many types of malignant cancers. Lovastatin has been shown to cause cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle by increasing the P27 protein. There has been some question, however, if lovastatin regulates P27 at the transcriptional or translational level. Although it has been claimed that P27 expression regulation is due to an IRES located in its 5’UTR, other studies suggested that P27 expression is regulated at the level of transcription. To further investigate the regulation mechanism of P27 expression, the 5’-UTR of P27 and its deletion mutants were examined using a luciferase reporter gene in HeLa cells following exposure to lovastatin. It was found that lovastatin stimulated a significant 1.4 fold increase in its promoter activity of the full length 5’UTR (575). Deletion of 35 nucleotides from the 5’ end of the UTR eliminated the lovastatin-induced increase in promoter activity. Further mapping analyses of the first 35 bases showed that two regions, M1 (575-559) and M3 (543-527), were less sensitive to lovastatin than the other mutated constructs. Since M1 and M3 still showed some activity, a construct was created with deletions in both the M1 and M3 regions. This showed no increase in luciferase activity when exposed to lovastatin. Looking at RNA levels, there was a 1.5 fold increase in RNA when the full length 5’UTR was inserted into HeLa cells and exposed to 81 µM of lovastatin. In contrast, there was no increase in RNA when M1/M3 (575-559; 543-527) was inserted into HeLa cells and exposed to 81 µM of lovastatin. In addition, there was a 1.6 fold increase in endogenous P27 RNA levels after HeLa cells were exposed to 81 µM of lovastatin. In all of these experiments, there seems to be two promoters that work cooperatively: M1 (575-559) and M3 (543-527).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Several cell cycle events require specific forms of the cyclin-CDK complexes. It has been known for some time that cyclins not only contribute by activating the CDK but also by choosing substrates and/or specifying the location of the CDK holoenzyme. There are several examples of B-type cyclins identifying certain peptide motifs in their specific substrates through a conserved region in their structure. Such interactions were not known for the G1 class of cyclins, which are instrumental in helping the cell decide whether or not to commit to a new cell cycle, a function that is non-redundant with B-type cylins in budding yeast. In this dissertation, I have presented evidence that some G1 cyclins in budding yeast, Cln1/2, specifically identify substrates by interacting with a leucine-proline rich sequence different from the ones used by B-type cyclins. These “LP” type docking motifs determine cyclin specificity, promote phosphorylation of suboptimal CDK sites and multi-site phosphorylation of substrates both in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, we have discovered the substrate-binding region in Cln2 and further showed that this region is highly conserved amongst a variety of fungal G1 cyclins from budding yeasts to molds and mushrooms, thus suggesting a conserved function across fungal evolution. Interestingly, this region is close to but not same as the one implicated in B-type cyclins to binding substrates. We discovered that the main effect of obliterating this interaction is to delay cell cycle entry in budding yeast, such that cells begin DNA replication and budding only at a larger than normal cell size, possibly resulting from incomplete multi-site phosphorylation of several key substrates. The docking-deficient Cln2 was also defective in promoting polarized bud morphogenesis. Quite interestingly, we found that a CDK inhibitor, Far1, could regulate the Cln2-CDK1 activity partly by inhibiting the Cln2-substrate interaction, thus demonstrating that docking interactions can be targets of regulation. Finally, by studying many fungal cyclins exogenously expressed in budding yeast, we discovered that some have the ability to make the CDK hyper-potent, which suggests that these cyclins confer special properties to the CDK. My work provides mechanistic clues for cyclinspecific events during the cell cycle, demonstrates the usefulness of synthetic strategies in problem solving and also possibly resolves long-standing uncertainties regarding functions of some cell cycle proteins.

Confidentiel / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Cette thèse est composée de deux parties distinctes ayant comme thématique commune, la synthèse d’hétérocycles via la catalyse organométallique.Nous nous sommes intéressés, dans un premier temps, à une voie de synthèse permettant un accès rapide au squelette tétrahydrocyclopenta[c]acridine. Ces composés polyfonctionnalisés sont obtenus très efficacement en seulement trois étapes dans des conditions particulièrement douces. L’étape clé de cette synthèse est une réaction de Pauson-Khand intramoléculaire catalysée au cobalt. Certains composés issus de la famille des tétrahydrocyclopenta[c]acridines présentent une activité d’inhibition sélective envers les kinases dépendantes des cyclines (CDKs), et plus particulièrement la CDK2. Un composé chef de file est identifié, puis grâce aux données de co-Cristallisation avec CDK2 et de modélisation moléculaire, suivi de l’étude des relations structure-Activité, la conception rationnelle d’une deuxième génération de molécules est rendue possible. Le composé le plus avancé présente une CI50 de 300 nM envers CDK2/cyclin A et un excellent profil de stabilité métabolique.Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons étudié et développé une réaction tandem d’addition/cyclisation catalysée par l’argent, avec des nucléophiles carbonés sur des substrats ortho-Alcynylbenzaldéhydes. La stratégie de synthèse conduit à des dérivés 1H-Isochromènes par création de deux nouvelles liaisons (C-C et C-O). Une étude approfondie de la réaction tandem nous a permis d’obtenir une large gamme de dérivés d’isochromènes en mettant en évidence l’influence de différents substituants, portés par le groupement alcyne ou le substrat, ainsi que l’utilisation de différents nucléophiles carbonés (alcynes, aromatiques, hétéroaromatiques). Les limitations de la réaction tandem ont également pu être identifiées. / My thesis proJect is organized around two main topics having in common organometallic chemistry and the synthesis of heterocycles.Firstly, we were interested in a methodology for the synthesis of tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]acridines. These compounds are synthesized in three steps from various quinolines. The key step is a cobalt-Catalyzed intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction. Some compounds of this family exhibit selective Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs) inhibition, particulary against CDK2, in the submicromolar range. A hit compound has been identified, and then using data from co-Crystallization with CDK2 and molecular modeling, followed by the study of structure-Activity relationships, the rational design of a second generation of molecules has been investigated. The most advanced compound has an IC50 of 300 nM against CDK2/cyclin A with an excellent metabolic profile. In the second axis of research, we have studied and developed a new silver-Catalyzed tandem addition/cyclization reaction with carbon nucleophiles. The systems studied are (hetero)aromatics compounds having an aldehyde group and in ortho-Position an alkynyl group. The synthetic strategy leads to 1H-Isochromene derivatives by creating two new bonds. A thorough study of the tandem reaction allowed us to obtain a wide range of isochromene derivatives, highlighting the influence of different substituents carried by the alkyne group or on the (hetero)aromatic substrates; and also to investigate the use of different carbon nucleophiles (alkynes, aromatics and heteroaromatics). The limitations of the tandem reaction have also been identified.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Posttraumatic epilepsy, the development of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) following traumatic brain injury, accounts for 20% of symptomatic epilepsy. Reorganization of mossy fibers within the hippocampus is a common pathological finding of TLE. Normal mossy fibers project into the CA3 region of the hippocampus where they form synapses with pyramidal cells. During TLE, mossy fibers are observed to innervate the inner molecular layer where they synapse onto the dendrites of other dentate granule cells, leading to the formation of recurrent excitatory circuits. To date, the molecular mechanisms contributing to mossy fiber sprouting are relatively unknown. Recent focus has centered on the involvement of tropomycin-related kinase receptor B (TrkB), which culminates in glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) inactivation. As the neurite outgrowth promoting collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is rendered inactive by GSK3β phosphorylation, events leading to inactivation of GSK3β should therefore increase CRMP2 activity. To determine the involvement of CRMP2 in mossy fiber sprouting, I developed a novel tool ((S)-LCM) for selectively targeting the ability of CRMP2 to enhance tubulin polymerization. Using (S)-LCM, it was demonstrated that increased neurite outgrowth following GSK3β inactivation is CRMP2 dependent. Importantly, TBI led to a decrease in GSK3β-phosphorylated CRMP2 within 24 hours which was secondary to the inactivation of GSK3β. The loss of GSK3β-phosphorylated CRMP2 was maintained even at 4 weeks post-injury, despite the transience of GSK3β-inactivation. Based on previous work, it was hypothesized that activity-dependent mechanisms may be responsible for the sustained loss of CRMP2 phosphorylation. Activity-dependent regulation of GSK3β-phosphorylated CRMP2 levels was observed that was attributed to a loss of priming by cyclin dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), which is required for subsequent phosphorylation by GSK3β. It was confirmed that the loss of GSK3β-phosphorylated CRMP2 at 4 weeks post-injury was likely due to decreased phosphorylation by CDK5. As TBI resulted in a sustained increase in CRMP2 activity, I attempted to prevent mossy fiber sprouting by targeting CRMP2 in vivo following TBI. While (S)-LCM treatment dramatically reduced mossy fiber sprouting following TBI, it did not differ significantly from vehicle-treated animals. Therefore, the necessity of CRMP2 in mossy fiber sprouting following TBI remains unknown.

Despite significant progress in the development of anti-cancer drugs, there is still a need for novel therapeutic strategies that would improve the outcome of cancer patients. Using proteomic technologies and cell lines with different phenotype of p53 tumour suppressor, we monitored cancer cell response to anti-cancer treatment with focus on the development of drug resistance. The different levels of metabolic proteins were identified in our study which may help to explain different anti-cancer activity of drugs with only a subtle difference in structure. More importantly, proteins associated with the development of drug resistance were identified and such expression changes have become a focus of interest. Our findings demonstrate a higher protein level of serine hydroxymethyltransferase, serpin B5 and calretinin in cancer cells resistant to Aurora kinase inhibitors. Such proteins promote the tumour growth with no apparent impact of p53 phenotype whilst voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 2 contributes to the development of resistance only in cells with functional p53 which is accompanied by the decreased level of elongation factor 2. On the other hand, cancer cells with loss of p53 appear to amplify alternative mechanisms such as protection against oxidative stress. The results...