Zhang Yongwen. / "February 2003." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 174-188). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infectocontagiosa causada principalmente pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). A TB era uma doença considerada em vias de extinção, porém sua incidência voltou a aumentar devido a diversos fatores, como o fluxo migratório dos chamados \"Países Reservatórios\" e a pandemia da AIDS. Em 2013, a OMS estimou 9 milhões de novos casos de TB e 1,5 milhões de mortes. A multirresistência aos quimioterápicos disponíveis justifica a procura por novos tuberculostáticos. Face ao exposto, o trabalho objetivou a síntese de potenciais inibidores da maltosiltransferase (GlgE), um novo e promissor alvo contra o Mtb, utilizando Planejamento com base na Estrutura do Alvo Molecular -- Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD). A comparação das simulações de dinâmica molecular do sistema apo da GlgE e em complexo com a maltose-1-fosfato (M1P) mostrou as mudanças estruturais, em nível atômico, decorrentes da ligação com seu substrato. Levando em consideração estes dados, as simulações de docking dos potenciais inibidores revelaram que análogos glicosídicos e maltosídicos triazólicos ligados a grupos aromáticos substituídos possuem melhores perfis de interação com o sítio ativo da GlgE e, por essa razão, foram escolhidos para síntese. Assim, sintetizaram-se análogos glicosídicos e maltosídicos através da click chemistry, obtendo-se rendimentos variados. Posteriormente, realizaram-se ensaios enzimáticos e microbiológicos no Institute for Tuberculosis Research (ITR), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Apesar de os ensaios enzimáticos estarem em andamento, os compostos ensaiados apresentaram atividades que variaram de moderada a fraca, frente à cepa H37Rv. Dois compostos glicosídicos exibiram valores de Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) inferiores a 60 µM, sem efeito citotóxico em células VERO em concentrações superiores a 250 µM. Tais resultados indicam que o análogo glicosídico triazólico aromático, como o NDS 112, pode ser utilizado como protótipo interessante para o planejamento de novas séries de compostos capazes de atuar como tuberculostáticos / Tuberculosis (TB) is an contagious infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). TB was a disease considered in extinction, but its incidence has risen again due to several factors, such as the migration from \"Reservatoir Countries\" and AIDS pandemic. In 2013, WHO estimated 9 million new TB cases and 1.5 million deaths. Multidrug resistance to drugs available in chemotherapy validates the search for new TB drugs. In this context, this work aimed to the design and synthesis of potential inhibitors of maltosyltransferase (GlgE), a new and promissor target against Mtb using Structure-Based Drug Design. Comparison between molecular dynamic simulations of GlgE apo system and in complex with maltose-1-phosphate (M1P) showed important structural changes at molecular level due to substrate binding. Considering these data, docking simulations of potential inhibitors revealed that glucoside and maltoside triazoles analogues bound to substituted aromatic groups have better interaction profiles with the GlgE active site and for this reason they were chosen for synthesis. Thus, glucoside and maltoside triazole analogues were synthetized through click chemistry with different yields. Then, enzymatic and microbiological assays were performed at Institute for Tuberculosis Research (ITR), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Although the enzymatic assays are ongoing, componds were tested against H37Rv strains and they have shown activity ranging from moderate to weak. Two compounds presented Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values below 60 µM, without cytotoxic effect in VERO cells in concentrations higher than 250 µM. These results indicate that glucosidic aromatic triazoles analogues, such as NDS 112, can be used as a prototype for design new series of compounds capable of acting as antituberculosis agents

Os ensaios celulares têm ganhado relevância na gênese planejada de fármacos, devido a sua utilização nas diversas etapas envolvidas neste processo. Estes ensaios envolvem a caracterização da atividade farmacológica, propriedades farmacocinéticas e atividade tóxica para compreender a atividade biológica das moléculas de interesse. Neste trabalho, os ensaios celulares foram usados para identificar a atividade anticancerígena e a atividade tóxica de moléculas, uma vez que a morte celular é o parâmetro avaliado em ambos os casos. No presente estudo foram avaliados 34 compostos, sendo dezessete moléculas do grupo NEQUIMED, determinando-se sua atividade citotóxica na célula neoplásica de fígado (HepG2) e na célula de fibroblasto (V79-4). A determinação da atividade citotóxica dos compostos bioativos foi realizada por o método colorimétrico de triagem envolvendo o MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio), que é metabolizado pela mitocôndria da célula viva, com confirmação da atividade biológica realizada por citometria de fluxo para a linhagem de fibroblasto. As triagens iniciais foram estabelecidas para determinar a atividade biológica, sendo que as moléculas Neq256, Neq385 e Neq388 apresentaram atividade citotóxica frente à célula HepG2 (caracterizando assim a atividade anticancerígena), enquanto que Neq385 apresentou seletividade em relação a atividade nas células de fibroblasto. Dentre as moléculas de referência, YM-155 apresentou os melhores resultados de atividade citotóxica com IC50 (HepG2) de 0,094 µmol L-1 e IC50 (V79-4) > 100 µmol L-1, sendo muito seletiva para a linhagem cancerígena. Os resultados demonstraram que as moléculas Neq265, Neq385 e Neq388 são promissoras e serão usadas para o planejamento de modificações estruturais que visa obter moléculas com maior potência e seletividade frente às células cancerígenas. Outra vertente do trabalho envolve o planejamento de inibidores da survivina, que apresentam grande potencial para a descoberta e desenvolvimento de estratégias quimioterápicas seletivas. / Cell-based assays are gaining relevance in the drug discovery and development area, being in use almost throughout the whole process. These assays are applied to characterize the pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxic activities of new molecules. In this work, cell-based assays were performed to identify anticancer and toxic activities of novel compounds, once the cell death process is the parameter that was evaluated in both cases. In this work, 34 compounds were evaluated (17 of them from the NEQUIMED database) in which the cytotoxic activity in liver cancer cells (HepG2) and hamster fibroblast cells (V79-4) were determined by means of the MTT colorimetric screening. The biological activity in fibroblast cells was further confirmed by using flow cytometry. Out of the whole set, molecules Neq256, Neq385 e Neq388 were cytotoxic to HepG2 (having anticancer activity). Neq385 was selective towards the liver hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with the fibroblasts. Among the reference compounds, YM-155 was the most selective and potent anticancer molecule: IC50 (HepG2) 0.094 µmol L-1 and IC50 (V79-4) > 100 µmol L-1. Taken together, these results provide promissing new molecules (Neq265, Neq385 e Neq388) for further optimization of the potency and selectivity using drug design. Another important outcome for further exploration is the design of survivin inhibitors bearing a huge potential for novel selective chemotherapeutic approaches.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2016-10-13T18:50:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Vitor Sueth Santiago.pdf: 10611307 bytes, checksum: 28bcb538332e756e608d3f04694b22b6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-13T18:50:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015 - Vitor Sueth Santiago.pdf: 10611307 bytes, checksum: 28bcb538332e756e608d3f04694b22b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-16 / CAPES / FAPERJ / CAPES-PROCAD / This work aimed to characterize the trypanocidal activity of curcumin, as well as synthesise a set of structurally-related compounds to investigate the relationships between chemical structure and biological activity (SAR). The isolation of natural curcumin was carried along with two other natural curcuminoides, which together with a third (cyclocurcumin) formed the very first set of derivatives subjected to a screening against epimastigotes forms of T. cruzi (Dm28c strain). This screening pointed out the 1,3-diketone moiety as well as the methoxyl- group in the position 3 of the aromatic ring as potencial pharmacophores. Then, a set of synthetic analogues were prepared based on rational changes on the three structural subunits present in curcumin. These synthetic derivatives were subjected to the same screening, and three of them showed superior trypanocidal activity compared to the natural product. Then, taking the informations obtained from this first screening, the synthesis of constrained analogues were performed which showed an interesting result based on the ring-size of the derivatives. In parallel, a series of 1,3-pyrimidine derivatives were prepared, based on potential bioisosteric relationships between the 1,3-diketone moiety and the 1,3-pyrimidine heterocycle. All the derivatives obtained were tested against T. cruzi, and those shown trypanocidal activity were submited to a cell viability assay, where three of the synthetic derivatives demonstrated selective toxicity against the parasite: (E) ? 2 - (4 ? hydroxy - 3-methoxybenzylidene) ? 6 - ((E) ? 3 - (4 ? hydroxy ? 3 - methoxyphenyl) acryloyl) cyclohexanone; (2E,6E) - 2,6 ? bis (4 ? hydroxy ? 3 -methoxybenzylidene) cyclohexanone and 4,4 '- ((1E,1'E) - (2 ? chloropyrimidine - 4,6 - diyl) bis (ethene - 2,1 - diyl)) bis (2 -methoxyphenol). These derivatives were tested in an assay of infected macrophages, and they prove to be toxic for both parasite forms (trypomastigote and amastigote). The investigation of the probable mechanism of action started with a scanning/transmission electronic microscopy of the curcumin-treated parasites in a sublethal dose. The analysis of ultraestructural changes in parasite treated cells suggested the enzyme CYP51 as well as tubulin as possible targets for curcumin. The HPLC analysis of the membrane lipids of treated parasites showed no difference when compared to non treated control. The flow cytometry analysis showed a characteristic profile similar to those compounds who binds to tubulin and disrupts microtubules. To improve this hypothesis, the T. cruzi tubulin was modelled by homology and the curcuminoids were docked at the literature known curcumin site. The results obtained showed a good correlation between the best-scored poses obtained from the docking study and the experimental IC50 values obtained from the assays of the natural derivatives against parasite cells. / Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo a caracteriza??o da atividade tripanocida da curcumina, bem como a s?ntese diversos derivados estruturalmente an?logos a fim de investigar rela??es entre a estrutura qu?mica e a atividade biol?gica. O isolamento da curcumina da matriz natural foi realizado juntamente com outros dois curcuminoides, que em conjunto com um terceiro (ciclocurcumina) formou o primeiro conjunto de compostos submetido a uma triagem biol?gica sobre formas epimastigotas de T. cruzi (cepa Dm28c). Nesta triagem foi detectado como farmac?foro a subunidade 1,3-dicetona e o grupamento metoxila na posi??o 3 do anel arom?tico. Em seguida, foi sintetizada uma cole??o de derivados com modifica??es em tr?s subunidades estruturais da curcumina, os quais foram submetidos a uma triagem frente ao parasito. Tr?s dos an?logos sint?ticos apresentaram atividade t?xica frente ao parasito de maneira superior ao produto natural. Em seguida, usando informa??es da primeira triagem, procedeu-se para a s?ntese de an?logos estruturalmente restritos, os quais apresentaram um importante resultado acerca dos aspectos conformacionais associados ao tamanho do anel utilizado para a restri??o. Em paralelo foi sintetizada uma s?rie de derivados estruturalmente originais explorando a potencial rela??o bioisost?rica entre a subunidade 1,3-dicetona e o anel pirimid?nico. Ap?s triagem de todos os derivados frente a formas epimastigotas de T. cruzi, foi realizado um ensaio de viabilidade celular onde tr?s derivados sint?ticos demonstraram toxicidade seletiva frente ao parasito nas concentra??es testadas: (E) -2- (4-hidr?xi-3-metoxibenzilideno) ? 6 - ((E) ? 3 - (4 - hidr?xi- 3- -metoxifenil) acriloil) cicloexanona, (2E,6E) -2,6-bis (4 ? hidr?xi ? 3 - metoxibenzilideno) cicloexanona e 2-cloro-4,4'- ((1E,1'E) ? pirimidina - 4,6 - diilbis (eteno - 2,1-diil)) bis (2-metoxifenol). Estes derivados foram utilizados em um modelo de macr?fagos infectados, onde provaram ser t?xicos tanto para formas tripomastigotas quanto para formas amastigotas do parasito. Na investiga??o do prov?vel mecanimo de a??o desta classe de compostos, os parasitos tratados com curcumina foram submetidos ? microscopia eletr?nica, onde foram observadas altera??es ultraestruturais no parasito que sugerem como alvos a CYP51 e a tubulina. O ensaio de quantifica??o dos lip?dios n?o-saponific?veis da membrana celular de T. cruzi sugere que n?o houve inibi??o de CYP51, ao passo que a citometria de fluxo das culturas tratadas mostrou um perfil caracter?stico de subst?ncias que atuam sobre os microt?bulos das c?lulas, se ligando ? tubulina. Foi ent?o constru?da por modelagem molecular um modelo de tubulina de T. cruzi onde os curcuminoides naturais ativos foram ancorados, e as pontua??es do ancoramento foram coerentes com os valores de CI50 encontrados.

Os ensaios celulares têm ganhado relevância na gênese planejada de fármacos, devido a sua utilização nas diversas etapas envolvidas neste processo. Estes ensaios envolvem a caracterização da atividade farmacológica, propriedades farmacocinéticas e atividade tóxica para compreender a atividade biológica das moléculas de interesse. Neste trabalho, os ensaios celulares foram usados para identificar a atividade anticancerígena e a atividade tóxica de moléculas, uma vez que a morte celular é o parâmetro avaliado em ambos os casos. No presente estudo foram avaliados 34 compostos, sendo dezessete moléculas do grupo NEQUIMED, determinando-se sua atividade citotóxica na célula neoplásica de fígado (HepG2) e na célula de fibroblasto (V79-4). A determinação da atividade citotóxica dos compostos bioativos foi realizada por o método colorimétrico de triagem envolvendo o MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio), que é metabolizado pela mitocôndria da célula viva, com confirmação da atividade biológica realizada por citometria de fluxo para a linhagem de fibroblasto. As triagens iniciais foram estabelecidas para determinar a atividade biológica, sendo que as moléculas Neq256, Neq385 e Neq388 apresentaram atividade citotóxica frente à célula HepG2 (caracterizando assim a atividade anticancerígena), enquanto que Neq385 apresentou seletividade em relação a atividade nas células de fibroblasto. Dentre as moléculas de referência, YM-155 apresentou os melhores resultados de atividade citotóxica com IC50 (HepG2) de 0,094 µmol L-1 e IC50 (V79-4) > 100 µmol L-1, sendo muito seletiva para a linhagem cancerígena. Os resultados demonstraram que as moléculas Neq265, Neq385 e Neq388 são promissoras e serão usadas para o planejamento de modificações estruturais que visa obter moléculas com maior potência e seletividade frente às células cancerígenas. Outra vertente do trabalho envolve o planejamento de inibidores da survivina, que apresentam grande potencial para a descoberta e desenvolvimento de estratégias quimioterápicas seletivas. / Cell-based assays are gaining relevance in the drug discovery and development area, being in use almost throughout the whole process. These assays are applied to characterize the pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxic activities of new molecules. In this work, cell-based assays were performed to identify anticancer and toxic activities of novel compounds, once the cell death process is the parameter that was evaluated in both cases. In this work, 34 compounds were evaluated (17 of them from the NEQUIMED database) in which the cytotoxic activity in liver cancer cells (HepG2) and hamster fibroblast cells (V79-4) were determined by means of the MTT colorimetric screening. The biological activity in fibroblast cells was further confirmed by using flow cytometry. Out of the whole set, molecules Neq256, Neq385 e Neq388 were cytotoxic to HepG2 (having anticancer activity). Neq385 was selective towards the liver hepatocellular carcinoma when compared with the fibroblasts. Among the reference compounds, YM-155 was the most selective and potent anticancer molecule: IC50 (HepG2) 0.094 µmol L-1 and IC50 (V79-4) > 100 µmol L-1. Taken together, these results provide promissing new molecules (Neq265, Neq385 e Neq388) for further optimization of the potency and selectivity using drug design. Another important outcome for further exploration is the design of survivin inhibitors bearing a huge potential for novel selective chemotherapeutic approaches.

A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infectocontagiosa causada principalmente pelo Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). A TB era uma doença considerada em vias de extinção, porém sua incidência voltou a aumentar devido a diversos fatores, como o fluxo migratório dos chamados \"Países Reservatórios\" e a pandemia da AIDS. Em 2013, a OMS estimou 9 milhões de novos casos de TB e 1,5 milhões de mortes. A multirresistência aos quimioterápicos disponíveis justifica a procura por novos tuberculostáticos. Face ao exposto, o trabalho objetivou a síntese de potenciais inibidores da maltosiltransferase (GlgE), um novo e promissor alvo contra o Mtb, utilizando Planejamento com base na Estrutura do Alvo Molecular -- Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD). A comparação das simulações de dinâmica molecular do sistema apo da GlgE e em complexo com a maltose-1-fosfato (M1P) mostrou as mudanças estruturais, em nível atômico, decorrentes da ligação com seu substrato. Levando em consideração estes dados, as simulações de docking dos potenciais inibidores revelaram que análogos glicosídicos e maltosídicos triazólicos ligados a grupos aromáticos substituídos possuem melhores perfis de interação com o sítio ativo da GlgE e, por essa razão, foram escolhidos para síntese. Assim, sintetizaram-se análogos glicosídicos e maltosídicos através da click chemistry, obtendo-se rendimentos variados. Posteriormente, realizaram-se ensaios enzimáticos e microbiológicos no Institute for Tuberculosis Research (ITR), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Apesar de os ensaios enzimáticos estarem em andamento, os compostos ensaiados apresentaram atividades que variaram de moderada a fraca, frente à cepa H37Rv. Dois compostos glicosídicos exibiram valores de Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM) inferiores a 60 µM, sem efeito citotóxico em células VERO em concentrações superiores a 250 µM. Tais resultados indicam que o análogo glicosídico triazólico aromático, como o NDS 112, pode ser utilizado como protótipo interessante para o planejamento de novas séries de compostos capazes de atuar como tuberculostáticos / Tuberculosis (TB) is an contagious infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). TB was a disease considered in extinction, but its incidence has risen again due to several factors, such as the migration from \"Reservatoir Countries\" and AIDS pandemic. In 2013, WHO estimated 9 million new TB cases and 1.5 million deaths. Multidrug resistance to drugs available in chemotherapy validates the search for new TB drugs. In this context, this work aimed to the design and synthesis of potential inhibitors of maltosyltransferase (GlgE), a new and promissor target against Mtb using Structure-Based Drug Design. Comparison between molecular dynamic simulations of GlgE apo system and in complex with maltose-1-phosphate (M1P) showed important structural changes at molecular level due to substrate binding. Considering these data, docking simulations of potential inhibitors revealed that glucoside and maltoside triazoles analogues bound to substituted aromatic groups have better interaction profiles with the GlgE active site and for this reason they were chosen for synthesis. Thus, glucoside and maltoside triazole analogues were synthetized through click chemistry with different yields. Then, enzymatic and microbiological assays were performed at Institute for Tuberculosis Research (ITR), University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Although the enzymatic assays are ongoing, componds were tested against H37Rv strains and they have shown activity ranging from moderate to weak. Two compounds presented Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values below 60 µM, without cytotoxic effect in VERO cells in concentrations higher than 250 µM. These results indicate that glucosidic aromatic triazoles analogues, such as NDS 112, can be used as a prototype for design new series of compounds capable of acting as antituberculosis agents

A doença de Chagas é uma das doenças tropicais negligenciadas prioritárias para a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Endêmica na América Latina, é considerada atualmente um problema de saúde mundial, afetando diversos países na América do Norte, Europa, Ásia e Oceania. Estima-se que 8-10 milhões de pessoas estejam infectadas com o protozoário Trypanosoma cruzi. O tratamento disponível é limitado a dois fármacos que apresentam baixa eficácia e sérios efeitos adversos, o que torna evidente a urgência por novas alternativas terapêuticas. Esta dissertação de mestrado tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de estudos das relações quantitativas entre a estrutura e atividade (QSAR, na sigla inglesa para quantitative structure-activity relationships) para duas séries de derivados do fenarimol com atividade anti-T. cruzi. Os compostos selecionados possuem considerável potência in vitro contra o parasita, além de atividade in vivo em modelos experimentais da doença, o que caracteriza o seu potencial para estudos em química medicinal. Neste contexto, estratégias de planejamento de fármacos foram utilizadas para a geração de modelos de QSAR preditivos. Foram utilizados os métodos holograma QSAR (HQSAR, na sigla inglesa para hologram QSAR); análise comparativa dos campos moleculares (CoMFA, na sigla inglesa para comparative molecular field analysis); e análise comparativa dos índices de similaridade estrutural (CoMSIA, na sigla inglesa para comparative molecular similarity indices). Os modelos gerados possuem alta capacidade de correlação interna e de predição externa, indicando também um conjunto de características estruturais responsáveis pela atividade anti-T. cruzi. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho são úteis no planejamento de novos derivados do fenarimol com propriedades antichagásicas. / Chagas\' disease is considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top neglected tropical diseases. Endemic in Latin America, it is currently a global public health problem, affecting several countries in North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. The disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, affects around 8-10 million people worldwide. The available treatment is limited to two drugs that present low efficacy and severe side effects, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic options. This masters dissertation focuses on the development of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) models for two series of fenarimol derivatives with activity against T. cruzi. The selected compounds exhibit substantial in vitro potency against the parasite, as well as in vivo activity in experimental models of the disease, which point out their potential for further studies in medicinal chemistry. In this context, drug design strategies were applied for the generation of predictive QSAR models. The methods employed were hologram QSAR (HQSAR); comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA); and comparative molecular similarity indices (CoMSIA). The models possess high internal and external consistency, also indicating a set of structural features related to their anti-T. cruzi activity. The results reported herein are useful for the design of new fenarimol derivatives as new antichagasic agents.

Transglutaminases are a family of enzymes expressed in various tissues of our body. Some are expressed ubiquitously while others are specific to a tissue. Their primary catalytic activity is to crosslink substrates via an isopeptidic bond. The work described in this thesis focuses on two of these transglutaminases; human tissue transglutaminase (hTG2) and human factor XIIIa (FXIIIa). Divided into two projects for each enzyme, the main objective of this thesis was directed towards the discovery of potent and selective covalent inhibitors for each isozyme, namely hTG2 and hFXIIIa. The first project was concentrated on the inhibition of hTG2 activity. Ubiquitously expressed in tissues, hTG2 is a multifunctional enzyme. Its primary activity is the formation of isopeptide bonds between glutamine and lysine residues found on the surface of proteins or substrates. In addition to its catalytic activity, hTG2 is also a G-protein, distinguishing it from other members of the transglutaminase family. Much evidence illustrates that hTG2’s multifunctional abilities are conformationally regulated between its “open” and “closed” forms. Overexpression and unregulated hTG2 activity has been associated with numerous human diseases; however, most evidence has been collected for its association with fibrosis and celiac sprue. More recently, elevated hTG2 expression has been linked to cancer stem cell survival and metastatic phenotype in certain cancer cells. These findings call for the development of suitable and potent inhibitors that selectivity inactivate human hTG2 as a potential therapeutic target. Starting with previously designed acrylamide based peptidomimetic irreversible inhibitors, a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study was conducted. In this work, >20 novel irreversible inhibitors were prepared and kinetically evaluated. Our lead inhibitors allosterically inhibited GTP binding by locking the enzyme in its open conformation, as demonstrated both in vitro and in cells. Furthermore, our most potent and efficient irreversible inhibitors revealed selectivity for hTG2 over other relevant members of the transglutaminase family (hTG1, hTG3, hTG6 and hFXIIIa), providing higher confidence towards our goal of developing an ideal drug candidate. The second project was concentrated on the inhibition of hFXIIIa activity. In the blood, coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) is a tetrameric protein consisting of two catalytic A subunits (FXIII-A2) and two carrier/inhibitory B (FXIII-B2) subunits. It is a zymogen, which is converted into active transglutaminase (FXIIIa) in the final phase of coagulation cascade by thrombin proteolytic activity and Ca2+ binding. hFXIII is essential for hemostasis and thus its deficiency results in severe bleeding conditions. Further, hFXIIIa mechanically stabilizes fibrin and protects it from fibrinolysis. Due to the enzyme’s involvement in the stability of blood clots, inhibition of hFXIIIa activity has been linked to thrombotic diseases. Furthermore, inhibitors of the enzyme have the therapeutic potential to be used as anticoagulant agents. The current number of selective and potent inhibitors of hFXIIIa are few, mainly due to the similarity between its catalytic pockets and hTG2. Inspired by a poorly reactive hTG2 inhibitor discovered in this work’s hTG2 SAR study, we synthesized a small library of covalent inhibitors for hFXIIIa. Our kinetic results from this pioneering SAR study will pave the way for future hFXIIIa inhibitor SAR studies.

Application of chemotherapeutic agents in current cancer treatment has been limited by adverse effects as poor selectivity results in systemic toxicity; most chemotherapy approaches also experience inherited or acquired drug resistance which lead to reduced treatment outcome. Research efforts have focused on the discovery of novel chemotherapies that overcome the limitations mentioned above. Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes with anti-cancer properties have been extensively studied as traditional cytotoxic agents and photodynamic therapy agents due to their photophysical and photochemical characteristics. Most research has focused on the design of Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes that have affinities to nucleic acids as inspired by the classic small molecule metal complex cisplatin. Though modifying the structures of ligands on the ruthenium metal center, the hydrophilicity, charge state and photochemical properties can be tuned, resulting to Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes that act through cellular targets other than DNA. Understanding the mechanism of action and identifying functional targets remain the challenging and complex research topic in the design and study of novel medication or candidates. With the development of semi-high throughput cytological profiling in a bacterial system, rapid investigation of the mechanism of action can be achieved to distinguish anti-cancer agents which possess different mechanisms of actions. Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes with different scaffolds have been studied and suggested to have anti-cancer properties through DNA damage response, and/or translational inhibition.

De nombreux composés naturels bioactifs incluent dans leur squelette complexe un motif spiroacétalique. Des spiroacétals modèles avec une activité antitumorale ont été décrits. La présence d'un atome d'azote peut amplifier cette activité, nous avons étudié la classe originale des spiroaminoacétals. Nous avons mis au point une synthèse énantiosélective de spirohétérocycles qui module : la taille des cycles et leur structure azotée ou oxygénée. Notre stratégie utilise une étape-clé d'alkylation itérative de l'acétone diméthylhydrazone "one-opt" par des synthons iodés polyfonctionnalisés, suivie d'une déprotection-spirocyclisation. Son efficacité a été illustrée par la synthèse des 1,7-dioxaspiro[5;5]undécane, 1.7dioxaspiro[5.5]undécane-3-ol, 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]décanes et aza-1-oxaspiro[5.5] undécane. Les séries 6-aza -1 - oxaspiro[4.5]décane et 7-aza-1-oxaspiro[5.4]décane ont été explorées. Les analyses structurales (RMN, modélisation moléculaire) ainsi que les premiers tests biologiques (cellules cancéreuses) sont présentés