No description available.

Castration and testosterone replacement therapy served as a model to assess anabolic activity in the rat. The present study was undertaken to examine more closely whether changes in cellular anabolic activity are reflected in subsequent alterations of urinary N1 -acetylspermidine excretion. A sensitive fluorometric assay was employed which utilized the dansylation reaction . The dansylated derivatives were quantitated by normal phase high pressure liquid chromatography. This assay system exhibited a range of linearity from 0.1 to 10 nanomoles which encompassed the physiological variability observed during analysis of urinary N1-acetyl spermidine. The normal level of N1-acetylspermidine excreted in rat urine was found to be 803.1 ± 208.9 nanomoles per day (mean ± 1 S.D.). In addition both N8-acetylspermidine and acetyl putrescine were detected, but not quantitated. Due to the high variability of the polyamine excretion, no statistically significant difference could be detected between castrated animals, castrated animals receiving testosterone, and sham operated animals. Still some trends were noted which were in agreement with the hypothesis that urinary excretion of polyamines may reflect the anabolic state of the animal. Further studies will be required to determine whether or not a correlation between anabolic activity and urinary excretion of acetylated polyamines exists.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

In Escherichia coli, the speC gene encodes biosynthetic ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), an enzyme that catalyzes the decarboxylation of ornithine to produce putrescine. The two polyamines, putrescine and spermidine, and the cyclic AMP (CAMP) - cAMP receptor protein (CRP) are known to inhibit the expression of ODC via undefined mechanisms. A single copy of the speC’-lacZ fusion plasmid pOL-1, containing an 843 base pair fragment including the spec promoter, was transferred to the E. coli CB806 chromosome to create E. coli λCBOL. In cell-free extracts prepared from E. coli λCBOL supplemented with cAMP, putrescine, or spermidine, the B-galactosidase activity encoded by the speC’-lacZ fusion was compared to the ODC activity encoded by spec. Only cyclic AMP and putrescine repressed the speC’-lacZ fusion. Cyclic AMP, putrescine, and spermidine all repressed the spec gene. A 444 bp AluI restriction fragment, containing a putative CRP binding site and a downstream open reading frame (ORF2) present on the strand complementary to speC, was fused to lacZ to create a transcriptional fusion, pCC2L. Analysis of E. coli CB806/pCC2L revealed that there was no detectable β8- galactosidase activity from the ORF2-lacZ fusion. However, promoter activity was detected in the opposite direction (3’ to 5’) of ORF2 as alkaline phosphatase activity, encoded on the same plasmid, increased in the presence of CAMP. A 678 bp DraI-AatII fragment, containing the CRP binding site and an adjacent open reading frame (ORF3) present on the speC coding strand, was subcloned into plasmid pBR322 to create pBCR. In the presence of 10 mM cAMP, E. coli CB806/pBCR exhibited an 18% inhibition in ODC activity encoded by spec. It is proposed that ORF3 encodes a protein that represses speC in the presence of CAMP. / Master of Science

La synthèse et la vectorisation d’agents anticancéreux constituent des axes de recherche majeurs du LCSN. De nombreux composés naturels possèdent des propriétés anticancéreuses, mais ils sont abandonnés en raison de leur manque de sélectivité vis-à-vis des cellules cancéreuses ou de leur faible biodisponibilité. Ainsi, un grand intérêt est actuellement porté sur le développement de médicaments spécifiquement vectorisés vers les cellules cancéreuses. Les vecteurs utilisés dans ce travail sont des dérivés de polyamines et des nano objets de type β-cyclodextrines / nanocristaux de cellulose (β-CD/CNCx). Les polyamines vont permettre un ciblage actif des cellules cancéreuses grâce au système de transport de polyamine (PTS) surexprimé dans ces cellules. Les nano objets vont cibler spécifiquement les tumeurs via un ciblage passif dû à l’effet EPR. Les principes actifs employés dans cette étude sont des flavonoïdes, et plus particulièrement des chalcones. En effet, les flavonoïdes, qui constituent une large famille de composés phénoliques naturels, sont connus pour leurs nombreux effets biologiques comme les activités antioxydantes, anti-inflammatoires et anti-prolifératives.L’intérêt du LCSN à la fois pour les chalcones et les agents anticancéreux nous a conduits à concevoir de nouveaux composés antiprolifératifs vectorisés. Ce travail présente dans un premier temps la synthèse de chalcones et l’obtention de dérivés couplés aux différents vecteurs décrits précédemment (motifs polyaminés,β-CD/CNCx) ; un travail sur la synthèse d’une bis-chalcone via le couplage de Suzuki est également exposé.L’ensemble des molécules obtenues est caractérisé par des analyses RMN 1H, 13C et HRMS. Dans une seconde partie, nous présentons l’ensemble des évaluations biologiques des composés précédemment obtenus. Ces évaluations sont réalisées par un test de viabilité cellulaire (test MTT) sur quatre lignées cancéreuses : deux colorectales (HT-29 et HCT-116) et deux prostatiques (PC-3 et DU-145). / Synthesis and vectorization of anticancer agents are major research themes of LCSN. Many natural compoundspossess anti-cancer properties, but they are dropped because of their lack of selectivity to cancer cells or theirlow bioavailability. Thus, great interest is currently focused on the development of drugs specifically vectorizedto cancer cells. The vectors used in this work are polyamine derivatives and nano-objects type β-cyclodextrin /cellulose nanocrystals (β-CD/CNCx). Polyamines allow active targeting of cancer cells through the polyaminetransport system (PTS) overexpressed in these cells. Nano-objects specifically target tumors using a passivetargeting due to the EPR effect. Drugs used in this study are flavonoids, especially chalcones. Indeed,flavonoids, which constitute a large family of natural phenolic compounds, are known for their numerousbiological effects such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. The interest of LCSNfor both chalcones and anticancer agents led us to design new vectorized anti-proliferative compounds. Firstly,this work shows the synthesis of chalcones and their derivatives coupled to various above-described vectors(polyamines units, β-CD/CNCx); a work on the synthesis of a bis-chalcone through the Suzuki coupling reactionis also exposed. All molecules obtained are characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and HRMS analysis. In thesecond part of this work, we present all biological evaluations of compounds previously obtained. Theseassessments are performed through a cell viability test (MTT test) on four cancer cell lines: two colorectal (HT-29 and HCT-116) and two prostate (PC-3 and DU-145) cell lines.

There is evidence that while polyamines facilitate seizures by positively modulating N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAr), selective antagonists of the NR2B-subunit decrease seizures. However, it remains undetermined whether traxoprodil (CP-101,606), an ifenprodil analog that acts as a selective antagonist of the NR2B subunit of the NMDAr, decreases seizure activity. In the current study we investigated whether traxoprodil alters PTZ-induced seizures in adult male Wistar rats by behavioral and electroencephalographical methods. Spermidine (SPD) (2 nmol/site; i.c.v.) facilitated behavioral and electroencephalographical seizures induced by a normally subeffective dose of PTZ (35 mg/kg; i.p.), but did not alter seizure activity induced by convulsant dose of PTZ (70 mg/kg; i.p). Traxoprodil (20 nmol i.c.v.) increased the latency to generalized tonic clonic seizures induced by PTZ (70 mg/kg; i.p). The oral administration of traxoprodil (60 mg/kg) increased the latency to clonic and tonic-clonic seizures, and decreased total time spent in seizures. These data constitute pharmacological evidence supporting a role for NR2B subunit in PTZ-induced seizures. While more studies are necessary to determine whether traxoprodil is a useful anticonvulsant in clinical settings, NR2B subunits may represent new targets of drug development for convulsive disorders. / Há evidências de que as poliaminas facilitam convulsões por modular positivamente os receptores N-metil-D-aspartato (NMDAr), e que os antagonistas seletivos a subunidade NR2B do NMDAr têm atividade anticonvulsivante. Entretanto, permanece indeterminado se o traxoprodil (CP-101,606), um análogo do ifenprodil que age como antagonista seletivo na subunidade NR2B do NMDAr, tem efeito anticonvulsivante. Neste estudo investigamos se o traxoprodil altera as convulsões induzidas por pentilenotetrazol (PTZ) em ratos Wistar machos por meio de métodos comportamentais e eletroencéfalográficos (EEG). Espermidina (SPD) (2 nmol/sítio; i.c.v.) facilita as convulsões comportamentais e eletroencéfalográficas induzidas por doses subconvulsivantes de PTZ (35 mg/kg; i.p.), mas não altera a atividade convulsiva induzida por dose plenamente convulsivante de PTZ (70 mg/kg; i.p.). Traxoprodil (20 nmol i.c.v.) aumenta a latência para convulsão tônico-clônica generalizada induzida por PTZ (70 mg/kg; i.p.). A administração oral de traxoprodil (60 mg/kg) aumenta as latências para convulsão clônica e tônico-clônica generalizada e diminui a duração total das convulsões induzidas por PTZ (70 mg/kg; i.p.). Esses dados mostram que o traxoprodil diminui as convulsões induzidas por PTZ, um modelo animal com bom poder de predição de atividade convulsivante em humanos, e sugerem um papel para a subunidade NR2B nas convulsões induzidas por PTZ. Enquanto mais estudos são necessários para determinar se o traxoprodil tem, de fato, atividade anticonvulsivante na clínica, as subunidades NR2B podem representar um novo alvo para o desenvolvimento de drogas anticonvulsivantes.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Polyamines, such as spermidine and spermine, have been reported to improve memory retention through the activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAr). However whether polyamine agonists and antagonists alter extinction remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated whether spermidine and polyamine antagonists that selectively block the NR2B subunit at the NMDAr alter the extinction of contextual conditioned fear in male Wistar rats. While the bilateral intrahippocampal administration of exogenous spermidine (2 nmol/site) facilitated the extinction of fear conditioning, the injection of the antagonists arcaine (0.2 nmol/site), ifenprodil (20 nmol/site) and traxoprodil (0.2 nmol/site), disrupted fear extinction. NMDAr antagonists, at doses that had no effect per se, reversed the facilitatory effect of spermidine on fear extinction. These results suggest that exogenous and endogenous polyamines facilitate the extinction of contextual conditioned fear through activation of NR2B subunit-containing NMDAr in the hippocampus. Since extinction-based exposure therapy is widely used as treatment for a number of anxiety-related disorders, including phobias and post-traumatic stress, the currently reported facilitation of extinction by polyaminergic agents suggest these compounds as putative candidates for drug development. / As poliaminas, como espermidina e espermina, são aminas alifáticas que estão presentes no sistema nervoso central e que se ligam na subunidade NR2B do receptor N-metil-D-aspartato (rNMDA). Tem-se demonstrado que a administração sistêmica, intrahipocampal e intraamígdala de poliaminas melhoram a aquisição e retenção da memória em ratos. Entretanto, seu efeito sobre a extinção do medo condicionado não foi investigado. No presente estudo, investigamos se a administração intrahipocampal de espermidina e de antagonistas seletivos para a subunidade NR2B do rNMDA alteram a extinção do medo condicionado contextual em ratos Wistar machos. A administração intrahipocampal de espermidina (2 nmol/sítio) facilitou a extinção do medo condicionado, enquanto que a injeção dos antagonistas do rNMDA, arcaína (0,2 nmol/sítio), ifenprodil (20 nmol/sítio) e traxoprodil (0,2 nmol/sítio), bloquearam a extinção do medo condicionado contextual. Já a administração dos antagonistas do rNMDA, em doses sem efeito per se, reverteu a facilitação da extinção induzida por espermidina. Estes resultados sugerem que as poliaminas facilitam a extinção do medo condicionado contextual através da ativação da subunidade NR2B do rNMDA hipocampal. Tendo em vista que a terapia baseada em exposição é um método amplamente utilizado como tratamento para diversos tipos de distúrbios relacionados com ansiedade, incluindo fobias e estresse pós-traumático, a facilitação da extinção causada pela administração de espermidina coloca este composto com um possível candidato para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos para o tratamento destas patologias.