A Doença de Chagas atualmente atinge a vida de aproximadamente 18 milhões de portadores do parasita. Assim, este trabalho, parte de um estudo mais amplo, teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade biológica de compostos nitro-heterocíclicos com estrutura análoga à nifuroxazida, 5-nitro-2-furfurilideno 4-hidroxibenzidrazida, frente à cepa Y de Trypanosoma cruzi antes e após a sua microencapsulação por coacervação complexa de gelatina e goma-arábica, que, em geral, se mostram pouco solúveis nos meios e concentração empregados em testes farmacológicos, indicando a necessidade do desenvolvimento de um sistema vetorial que poderá melhorar o perfil farmacológico destes compostos. Assim, padronizou-se técnica de microencapsulação, a partir de resultados de ensaios preliminares e dados da literatura, e empregou-se dois métodos de secagem das microcápsulas, a saber: álcoois e atomização. Exame microscópico dos produtos secos confirmou a formação das microcápsulas possibilitando visualizar a diferença entre os produtos obtidos pelos dois métodos de secagem, para os quais, obteve-se rendimento de microcápsulas de 76±3,6 % e 61±5, 1 % e porcentagem de microencapsulação de 66±12,0 e 24,5±5,3 respectivamente. Obteve-se curva de absorção e de calibração dos compostos analisados, em DMSO, observando-se que não há interferência do complexo gelatina-goma arábica sobre a absorção UV dos compostos possibilitando determinação confiável da concentração destes nas microcápsulas. Ensaios in vitro demonstraram a não interferência do material de encapsulação e do solvente utilizado (DMSO 5%) sobre o desenvolvimento parasitário. Os compostos puros (50 µg/mL) se mostraram bastante ativos eliminando 100% das formas parasitárias em 48 horas, enquanto que, com benznidazol (100 µg/ml) no 12º dia de experimento ainda haviam formas evolutivas viáveis. Os produtos secos por atomização tiveram um comportamento antichagásico semelhante aos compostos puros reduzindo a população parasitária em 63±10% em 24 horas (64±13% compostos puros) não sendo um método adequado para liberação prolongada. Os produtos secos por álcoois permitiram este tipo de liberação devido à integridade das microcápsulas, observada ao microscópio, e em 24 horas houve redução de apenas 20±9% da população, necessitando de 96 horas para eliminação total dos parasitas. Assim, a microencapsulação e a secagem por álcoois utilizados resultaram em liberação lenta dos nitro compostos indicando a possibilidade de utilização deste sistema vetor em estudos mais aprofundados com vistas a melhorar a eficácia antichagásica desses compostos. / Chagas\' Disease reaches whole Latin America exposing 100 million people to infection risk, harming seriously 18 million patients\' life. Thus, the aim of this work was evaluate biological activity of nitro-heterocyclics compounds with similar structure of nifuroxazide, 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde p-hydroxy-benzoylhydrazone, against Trypanosoma cruzi, strain Y, before and after microencapsulation by complex coacervation of gelatin and gum arabic. These compounds, in general, are poorly soluble in concentration used in pharmacological tests, thus the development of a vectorial system will improve pharmacological profile of them. Microencapsulation method was defined based on literature data and preliminary assays and it was used two drying methods: isopropanol-ethanol addition, or spray-drying. Microscopic examination of dried products shown morphological difference between alcohols and spray-dried microcapsules. Microencapsulation percentage average yields were 66.0±12.0% and 24.5±5.3% and coacervate yields were 76.0±3.6% and 61.0±5.1% respectively. After determination of λMAX and standard curves, with DMSO, it was observed no interference of gelatin-acacia complex in UV absorption, making possible reliable dosage of nitro-compounds in microcapsules. ln vitro studies have not shown interference of unloaded microcapsules or DMSO 5% on parasites growth. Solutions used of free nitro-heterocyclics (50 µg/mL) were plenty active against T. cruzi, have shown population reduction of 100% in 48 hours, however, benznidazol (100 &#181g/mL) in 12th day experiment there were still viable parasitic forms. Dried products by spray-drying had antichagasic behavior similar to pure compounds, with parasitic population reduction of 63±10% in 24 hours (64±13% pure compounds) not being appropriate method for extended release. Dried products by alcohols allowed this liberation type due to integrity of microcapsules, observed by microscope, and in 24 hours there was reduction of only 20±9% of the population, needing 96 hours for total parasites\' elimination. Thus, microencapsulation and drying method useing alcohols resulted in slow liberation rates of nitro compounds indicating the possibility of use this vectorial system in studies with views to improve the antichagasic effect of those compounds.

The role of meat consumption in the development of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC), has been subject of much investigation in recent years. The observation of geographical variation in CRC incidence and increased CRC risks in populations consuming high levels of meat prompted researchers to hypothesise a link between meat and CRC. An area of particular interest in CRC pathogenesis is the meat-derived compounds such are heterocyclic amines (HCAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and meatderived mutagenic activity. Australia is among the countries with high incidence of CRC and also high levels of per capita meat consumption. Hence, clarifying the possible link between meat consumption and the risk of CRC in order that this can be translated into preventive dietary recommendations for the public is important. The objective of this thesis was to examine whether meat consumption is related to risk of CRC in an Australian population. The term meat consumption in this thesis means meaures of consumption of red and white meat that incorporate frequency and cooking method. The following hypotheses were investigated: 1. Increasing intake of meat prepared by methods that involve higher cooking temperature and time is positively associated with the risk of CRC; 2. Increasing exposure to meat-derived heterocyclic amines (HCAs) is positively associated with the risk of CRC; 3. Higher levels of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from meat consumption is a risk factor for CRC; 4. Exposure to meat-derived mutagens increases the risk of CRC.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Uppsala Universitet, 2008. / This website links to the complete document in PDF format. Title from title screen (viewed on November 22, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Adenosine is a nucleoside that plays an important role in the regulation of contractility in the heart. Adenosine receptors are G-protein coupled and those implicated in regulation of contractility are presumed to act via modulating the activity of adenylyl cyclase and cAMP content of cardiomyocytes. Adenosine A1 receptors (A1R) reduce the contractile response of the myocardium to β-adrenergic stimulation. This is known as anti adrenergic action. The A2A adenosine receptor (A2AR) has the opposite effect of increasing contractile responsiveness of the myocardium. The A2AR also appears to attenuate the effects of A1R. The effects of these receptors have been primarily studied in the rat heart and with the utilization of cardiomyocyte preparations. With the increasing use of receptor knockout murine models and murine models of various pathological states, it is of importance to comprehensively study the effects of adenosine receptors on regulation of contractility in the murine heart. The following studies examine the adenosinergic regulation of myocardial contractility in isolated murine hearts. In addition, adenosinergic control of contractility is examined in hearts isolated from A2AR knockout animals. Responses to adenosinergic stimulation in murine isolated hearts are found to be comparable to those observed in the rat, with A1R exhibiting an anti adrenergic action and A2AR conversely enhancing contractility. A significant part of the A2AR effect was found to occur via inhibition of the A1R antiadrenergic action. A part of the anti adrenergic action of A1R has previously been shown to be the result of protein phosphatase 2A activation and localization to membranes. Additional experiments in the present study examine the effect of adenosinergic signaling on PP2A in myocardial extracts from wild type and A2AR knockout hearts. A2AR activation was found to decrease the activity of PP2A and enhance localization of the active enzyme to the cytosol; away from its presumed sites of action. In the A2AR knockout the response to A1R activation was enhanced compared with the wild type and basal PP2A activity was reduced. It is concluded that A2AR modulation of PP2A activity may account for the attenuation of the A1R effect by A2AR observed in the contractile studies.

Du fait de l'extrême acidité des milieux superacides, le comportement des composés organiques y est particulièrement singulier, et en particulier celui des composé azotés. Ces milieux permettent d'accéder par polyprotonation à des intermédiaires superélectrophiles polycationiques, capables d'être piégés par des nucléophiles faibles, comme les ions fluorures solvatés du milieu ou des aromatiques désactivés. L'activation superélectrophile permet en outre d'accéder à une régiosélectivité unique en rendant certains sites réactifs, insensibles dans les milieux acides plus classiques.Dans la première partie de ce travail est étudiée une réaction d'addition anti-Markovnikov sur des anilines N-allyliques dans le mélange HF/SbF5. Une étude mécanistique a été réalisée incluant la modélisation d'intermédiaires réactionnels, des expériences de RMN in situ ainsi que des réactions avec des substrats marqués. Grâce à cette étude, une nouvelle réaction de type Friedel-Crafts permettant d'accéder à des tétrahydroquinolines désactivées a été mise au point. De plus, en modifiant les conditions opératoires, la synthèse d'anilines β-fluorées a également pu être réalisée. Ces réactions ont ensuite été appliquées à la synthèse de nouveaux composés hétérocycliques.La deuxième partie est consacrée au développement d'une nouvelle réaction d'hydrofluoration dynamides dans l'acide fluorhydrique anhydre. Cette méthodologie permet d'accéder à des (E)-α-fluoroènamides orginales avec un excellente régio- et stéréo-sélectivité. Par analogie avec les fluorooléfines qui sont connues pour mimer les fonctions amides, ces composés sont potentiellement de nouveaux bioisostères rigides d'urées, avec des app / Thanks to the extrem acidity of superacid media, the behavior of organic compound in these conditions is especially original. These media provide access by polyprotonation to superelectrophilic polycationic intermediates able to be trapped by very weak nucleophiles such as solvated fluoride ions or deactivated aromatic. In addition, the superelectrophic activation allowed to access to a unique regioselectivity, making some classically unreactive sites very reacive in these conditions.In the first part of this work, an anti-Markovnikov addition of N-allyl anilines in the HF/SbF5 mixture is studied. A mechanistic study was performed including the modeling of reaction intermediates, in situ NMR experiments and reactions with labeled substrates. Through this study, a new Friedel-Crafts type reaction was perform and applied to deactivated tetrahydroquinoline synthesis. In addition, the synthesis of β-fluorinated anilines could also be performed. These reactions were then applied to the synthesis of new heterocyclic compounds.The second part deals with the developement of a new hydrofluorination reaction of yanmides using anhydrous fluorhydric acid. This methodology allowed the synthesis of original (E)-α-fluoroenamides with an excellent regio- and stereo-selectivity. By analogy with fluoroolefins which are known to be mimics of amides, these compounds are potentially new rigid bioisosters of ureas with further potent applications in medicinal chemistry.

Among heat shock proteins, Hsp90 is unusual because it is not required for the proper folding of most cellular proteins but rather is disproportionally linked to the activation of signal transduction proteins including over forty kinases and many steroid hormone receptors. Mutated forms of many Hsp90 clients are causative agents in cancer, making Hsp90 a promising pharmacological target. Many small molecular inhibitors have been identified that competitively bind to the ATP binding site of Hsp90, some of which are in clinical trials as anticancer agents. Although the activation of kinase and hormone receptor clients by Hsp90 and its co-chaperones has been extensively studied, the molecular mechanism of client protein activation is poorly understood. Hsp90 is a dimeric chaperone containing three domains: the N-terminal (N) and middle (M) domains contribute directly to ATP binding and hydrolysis and the C-terminal (C) domain mediates dimerization. At physiological concentration, Hsp90 predominantly forms dimers, but the possibility that full-length monomers might also function in cells has not been tested. In Chapter 3, we used a single-chain strategy to design a full-length Hsp90 monomer (NMCC). The resulting construct was predominantly monomeric at physiological concentration and did not function to support yeast viability as the sole Hsp90. NMCC Hsp90 was also defective at ATP hydrolysis and the activation of kinase and steroid hormone receptor clients in yeast cells. The ability to support yeast growth was rescued by the addition of a coiled-coil dimerization domain, indicating that the parental single-chain construct is functionally defective because it is monomeric. After finding that a full-length Hsp90 monomer containing only one ATPase site was unable to support yeast viability or activate Hsp90 clients, we set out to further explore the role of ATPase activity in client protein activation. Approximately 10 % of the yeast proteome binds to Hsp90 making it important to study Hsp90 function in the cellular environment where all binding partners are present. In Chapter 4, we observed that co-expression of different Hsp90 subunits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae caused unpredictable synthetic growth defects due to cross-dimerization. We engineered super-stabilized Hsp90 dimers that resisted cross-dimerization with endogenous Hsp90 and alleviated the synthetic growth defect. We utilized these super-stabilized dimers to analyze the ability of ATPase mutant homodimers to activate known Hsp90 client proteins in yeast cells. We found that ATP binding and hydrolysis by Hsp90 are both required for the efficient maturation of the glucocorticoid hormone receptor (GR) and v-src confirming the critical role of ATP hydrolysis in the maturation of steroid hormone receptors and kinases in vivo. In addition to its role in the activation of signal transduction client proteins, Hsp90 has been shown to suppress the in vitro aggregation of numerous hard-to-fold proteins. In Chapter 5, we examine the role of charge in Hsp90 anti-aggregation activity. The charge on Hsp90 is largely concentrated in two highly acidic regions. We found that deletion of both charge-rich regions dramatically impaired Hsp90 anti-aggregation activity. Addition of an acid-rich region with a distinct amino acid sequence to our double-deleted Hsp90 construct rescued the anti-aggregation activity of Hsp90 indicating that the net charge contributes to its anti-aggregation activity. The in vitro anti-aggregation activity of Hsp90 studied in Chapter 5 occurs in the absence of ATP. However, all of the biologically important functions of Hsp90 in cells identified to date, including the maturation of kinases and nuclear steroid hormone receptors, clearly require ATP hydrolysis. Why does Hsp90 robustly hinder the aggregation of hard-to-fold proteins without ATP in vitro, but in vivo uses ATP hydrolysis for all of its essential functions? By utilizing separation of function Hsp90 variants (that specifically lack in vitro anti-aggregation activity) we have begun to address this question. We find that anti-aggregation deficient Hsp90 is unable to support yeast growth under stressful conditions, potentially due to reduced cellular expression. Interestingly, the ATP-independent anti-aggregation activity of Hsp90 has no measureable impact on cellular function. Thus, hindering the aggregation of most hard-to- fold proteins by Hsp90 (independent of ATP hydrolysis) does not appear to be important for cell function. These results suggest a cellular model where the Hsp40/60/70 machinery is responsible for hindering the aggregation of most hard-to-fold proteins while Hsp90 assists in the maturation of a select set of clients in an ATP-dependent fashion, potentially aided by its inherent anti-aggregation properties.

No description available.

Thrombin is the key protease that regulates hemostasis; the delicate balance between procoagulation and anticoagulation of blood. In clotting disorders, like deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, procoagulation is up-regulated, but propagation of clotting can be inhibited with drugs targeting the proteases involved, like thrombin. Such drugs however, have serious side effects (e.g., excessive bleeding) and some require monitoring during the course of treatment. The reason for these side effects is the mechanism by which the drugs’ act. The two major mechanisms are direct orthosteric and indirect allosteric inhibition, which will completely abolish the protease’s activity. Herein we sought an alternative mechanism called allosteric, partial inhibition, that has shown promise to truly regulate coagulation. Partial inhibition through allosteric mechanisms are well described for membrane-bound and oligomeric proteins. However proteases, specifically monomeric proteases (i.e., thrombin), have not shown this phenomenon until now. A small library of coumarin-based sulfated allosteric modulators (CSAMs) was synthesized to target a surface region called exosite 2; mainly composed of highly positively charged residues surrounded by hydrophobic patches. Studies revealed a non-competitive mechanism of binding with a range of IC50s between 0.2-58 µM combined with inhibitory efficacies (ΔY) between 22-73%; indicative of allosteric, partial inhibition. The KD was determined for the most potent compound (3g; IC50 = 0.2 µM, ΔY = 47%) at 0.15 µM. 3g was observed to bind at exosite 2 through unfractionated heparin competition and thrombin mutant studies. Additional computational studies were in agreement with the mutant and competition studies, showing the sulfate of 3g binding within a pocket containing R126 and R233. Fluorescence quenching and antithrombin inactivation rate studies described a conformational change to thrombin’s active site in the presence of 3g, supporting reduction of thrombin’s catalytic efficiency, without complete inhibition of thrombin’s proteolytic activities. Coupled enzyme assays and gel electrophoresis showed that in the presence of 3g, hydrolysis of fibrinogen (IC50 = 0.51 µM, ΔY = 94%) and protein C activation (IC50 = 1.7 µM, ΔY = 91%) is fully inhibited. Alternatively, FXIII activation was shown to be only partially inhibited by the presence of 3g, and FXI activation did not show any significant activation or inhibition. 3g was also shown to be active in human plasma and whole blood, but requiring much higher concentrations to induce an anticoagulant effect. Mice studies looking at the effects of 3g in vivo showed that even at high concentrations, showed no abnormal bleeding or any other irregularities. This work highlights a novel occurrence regarding thrombin’s allosteric functionality against multiple endogenous substrates. This library of compounds may be useful in the future development of allosteric inhibitors and probes that pose little to no risk of bleeding events by inducing partial inhibition.

En vue d’effectuer des préparations sélectives de composés hétérocycliques, une étude de la synthèse et de la réactivité de 7-oxanorborna-2,5-diènes portant des groupes électroattracteurs différents sur les positions 2 et 3 a été réalisée. Ces composés sont des formes masquées de composés acétyléniques dissymétriques.Dans un premier temps, nous avons optimisé une nouvelle méthode de synthèse sélective d’acétylènedicarboxylates dissymétriques par mono-transestérification d’acétylènedicarboxylates de dialkyle symétriques avec des alcools en présence de la lipase de Candida rugosa. Cette méthode nous a permis d’obtenir les diesters dissymétriques avec de bons rendements et une haute sélectivité a priori inattendue.Dans un second temps, nous avons développé des synthèses régiosélectives de dérivés de l’acide 7-oxanorborna-2,5-diène-2,3-dicarboxylique selon deux stratégies. Dans une première approche, une réaction de Diels-Alder intramoléculaire entre un furane et un composé acétylénique reliés par une agrafe siliciée a été réalisée, suivie d’une coupure des liaisons Si-C. Cette cycloaddition [4+2] s’effectue uniquement en présence de MeAlCl2 avec des rendements moyens. Dans certains cas, la coupure des liaisons Si-C conduit aux diesters désirés. Dans une deuxième approche, une mono-saponification d’oxanorbornadiène-2,3-dicarboxylates de dialkyle a permis d’accéder régiosélectivement à des monoacides et des réactions de couplage avec des amines ou des alcools ont conduit sélectivement à des dérivés présentant deux groupes électroattracteurs différents.Dans une dernière partie, nous avons effectué la préparation régiosélective de 3-pyrrolines par cycloaddition [2+3] d’un ylure d’azométhine suivie d’une réaction de rétro-Diels-Alder à partir des 7-oxanorbornadiènes comportant deux groupes électroattracteurs différents. La préparation aisée de 3-pyrrolines condensées non décrites dans la littérature a été obtenue par formation inattendue d’un motif succinimide dans le cas des amidoesters.En conclusion, il apparaît que la présence du groupe éthyle en tête de pont des 7-oxanorborna-2,5-diènes semble suffisante pour contrôler la régiosélectivité de ces cycloadditions. / In order to selectively prepare heterocyclic compounds, a study of the synthesis and reactivity of 7-oxanorborna-2,5-dienes with different electron-withdrawing groups on the 2 and 3 positions was performed. These compounds are masked forms of unsymmetrical acetylenic compounds. At first, we have optimized a new method for the selective synthesis of unsymmetrical diesters by transesterification of symmetrical dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates in the presence of Candida rugosa lipase. This unexpectedly highly selective method allowed us to obtain unsymmetrical acetylenedicarboxylates in good yields.In a second part, we have developed a regioselective synthesis of 7-oxanorborna-2,5-diene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid derivatives according to two strategies. In one approach, an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction between a furan and an acetylenic compound connected by silicon-containing tethers was performed, followed by a cleavage of the Si-C bonds. This [4+2] cycloaddition was carried in the presence of a Lewis acid, only MeAlCl2 gave the expected product and so in moderate yields. In most cases, the cleavage of Si-C bonds leads to the desired diesters. In a second approach, a mono-saponification of dialkyl oxanorbornadiene-2,3-dicarboxylates provided access regioselectively to mono-acids and coupling reactions with amines or alcohols selectively led to poly-functionalized products containing two different electron-withdrawing groups.In the last part, we have regioselectively prepared 3-pyrrolines by [2+3] cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide to 7-oxanorbornadienes bearing electroattracting groups followed by a retro-Diels-Alder reaction. An easy synthesis of previously unknown condensed 3-pyrrolines was obtained by formation of an unexpected succinimide pattern from amidoesters. In conclusion, it appears that the presence of an ethyl group on the bridgehead carbon atom of 7-oxanorborna-2,5-dienes seems sufficient to control the regioselectivity of these cycloadditions.

The dissertation describes a novel method for plant drug discovery based on mutation and selection of plant cells. Despite the industry focus on chemical synthesis, plants remain a source of potent and complex bioactive metabolites. Many of these have evolved as defensive compounds targeted on key proteins in the CNS of herbivorous insects, for example the insect dopamine transporter (DAT). Because of homology with the human DAT protein some of these metabolites have high abuse potential, but others may be valuable in treating drug dependence. This dissertation redirects the evolution of a native Lobelia species toward metabolites with greater activity at this therapeutic target, i.e. the human DAT. This was achieved by expressing the human DAT protein in transgenic plant cells and selecting gain-of-function mutants for survival on medium containing a neurotoxin that is accumulated by the human DAT. This created a sub-population of mutants with increased DAT inhibitory activity. Some of the active metabolites in these mutants are novel (i.e. not detectable in wild-type cells). Others are cytoprotective, and also protect DAergic neurons against the neurotoxin. This provides proof-of-concept for a novel plant drug discovery platform, which is applicable to many different therapeutic target proteins and plant species.