No description available.

Multimeric ligands have the potential to be developed as targeted imaging agents and therapeutics for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Multimeric ligands consist of multiple binding residues tethered together by a linker and are capable of simultaneous binding to multiple receptors. This dissertation details the proof-of-principle experiments that establish that multimeric ligands bind with an increased affinity and cooperativity compared to their monomeric counterparts. We have chosen to evaluate combinations of ligands for the human melanocortin 4 receptor (hMC4R), human delta-opioid receptor (hdOR), cholecystokinin-B receptor (CCK-BR), and oxytocin receptor (OTR).Multivalent ligands can be homomeric, meaning that all ligands bind to the same receptor type, or they may be heteromeric, meaning that they bind to different types of receptors. We have evaluated homodimer and homotrimer binding to hMC4Rs, and heterodimer binding to hMC4Rs and hdORs. Ligands for the receptors were tethered together using backbones constructed of polyethylene glycol (PEG) units or different combinations of amino acid repeats. The effects of linker length and rigidity on the binding of multivalent ligands have been evaluated. Additionally, this dissertation details the development of a new lanthanide based binding method used to monitor receptor-ligand interactions. This assay makes use of lanthanide labels attached to a peptide that binds specifically to the receptor of interest. The amount of bound ligand is detected using time-resolved fluorescence (TRF). This assay produces results which are highly reproducible, require less setup time and reagents and do not require special waste disposal, all advantages over the traditional radioligand binding assays. This lanthanide based binding assay has been adapted to evaluate ligand binding to the hMC4R and hdOR.

This thesis describes the synthesis of a novel multimeric peptide ligand targeted to the human melanocortin 4 receptor. The synthesis of the peptide was attempted both by solid phase peptide synthesis and by solution phase peptide synthesis, leading to the conclusion that the necessary C- and N- terminal substituents were much easier to install via the solution phase route. The bifunctional peptide was purified and then multimerized in both protected and active amino acid forms using the copper(I)-catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. The multimers were characterized using MS and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that a large portion of the monomer cyclized under CuAAC conditions, though sufficient multimerization took place to form up to nonamers, as determined by mass spectrometry.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-222).

No description available.

Les benzoxaboroles (qui sont les dérivés cycliques des acides boroniques) s’imposent comme une nouvelle classe de molécules intéressantes, pour la formulation de nouveaux agents thérapeutiques (notamment avec la commercialisation de l’AN2690, dérivé fluoré du benzoxaborole, en tant qu’antifongique), tout comme la formation de matériaux fonctionnels. A ce jour, il n’y a pas eu de mise au point de synthèse systématique de petites molécules benzoxaboroles multivalentes, limitant ainsi leur utilisation. Dans le cadre de cette thèse, différentes approches de synthèse ont été développées et ont permis l’obtention de 12 nouveaux composés bi- ou tri-valents. La principale réactivité de ces composés est leur capacité à complexer les cis-diols. Étant donné que la force de l’interaction est dépendante de la nature du substrat, il est important de pouvoir l’analyser en détail. La complexation entre les benzoxaboroles avec les diols est généralement réalisée par la méthode spectrofluorimétrique qui est controversée, particulièrement dans le cas des molécules organoborées multivalentes. Pour analyser en détail la stœchiométrie de ces complexations, une méthode RMN multinucléaire en solution a ici été développée. Les composés bi- ou tri-valents ont ensuite été testés en tant qu’agent thérapeutique. En effet, récemment, l’activité d’inhibition contre l’anhydrase carbonique de motifs benzoxaboroles monovalents a été discutée dans la littérature. La multivalence nos molécules pouvant être un avantage, leur constante d’inhibition contre l’anhydrase carbonique ont été mesurées. Enfin, dans un tout autre domaine, la réactivité avec les diols et la multivalence de nos composés ont été mises en avant par la formation de nouveaux complexes moléculaires. / Benzoxaboroles (which are cyclic derivates of boronic acids) are emerging as an interesting class of molecules for the design of news therapeutic agents (in particular with the commercialization of AN2690, which is a fluorinated derivative of benzoxaborole, as an antifungal agent), as well as for the formation of functional materials. However, to date, only few syntheses of small molecules of multivalent benzoxaborole have been described in the literature. In this thesis, different approaches were explored to isolate 12 new bi- or tri-valent benzoxaboroles. The main reactivity of these compounds is their ability to bind to cis-diols. Given that the strength of interaction between an organoboron molecule and a diol depends on the nature of the interacting counterparts, it is important to be able to measure it in detail. The complexation between benzoxaboroles and cis-diols is usually studied by a spectrofluorimetric method, which is controversial, especially in the case of multivalent benzoxaboroles. To analyse in detail the stoichiometry of these complexation, a multinuclear NMR method in solution was developed in this thesis. The di- or tri-valent benzoxaboroles were then tested as therapeutic agents. Indeed, recently, the activity of monovalent benzoxaborole against carbonic anhydrases was discussed in the literature. Since the multivalence of our molecules could be a benefit, the measurement of their inhibition constants against carbonic anhydrases was performed. Finally, in a completely different type of application, their reactivity toward cis-diols and their multivalence was put forward to create new complexes.

Cancer is lacking early detection methods and treatment specificity. In order to increase the sensitivity and specificity towards cancer cells, we propose the use of multivalent interactions targeting specific receptor combinations at the cancer cell surface. In this thesis, we explored the design of multimers, which could provide such interactions. The design was investigated and revisited based on specific parameters, essential for the creation of multivalent interactions such as thermodynamics. The synthesis was designed so that libraries of homo- and hetero-multimers of different valencies can be obtained efficiently with good yields. The established synthetic scheme is empowered by its modularity, necessary to investigate different essential factors. Trimers composed of micromolar affinity MSH(4) targeting the MC1-R, overexpressed in melanoma, were investigated on a model cell line and resulted in the creation of nanomolar affinity constructs with up to 350 fold increase in affinity. Different multimers such as hexavalent and nonavalent dendrimers were synthesized and studied for their properties. All constructs had nanomolar affinity and showed to be non-toxic up to micromolar concentrations and imaging studies also confirmed their internalization, which overall demonstrate the potential for these compounds to be used as markers for cancer cells and as delivery agents. Trimers targeting the CCK2-R were similarly investigated for their potential as pancreatic cancer markers. However, those constructs did not seem to result in the expected enhancements in affinity, but the affinity of the initial monovalent agonist was in the 10-50 nanomolar range. As we were unable to design micromolar affinity agonist we investigated the use of antagonists. This study, revealed the importance of thermodynamics in the creation of multivalent interaction. Heterotrivalent ligands (CCK and MSH) were investigated for their potential in cross-linking different receptors and the study demonstrated the subtility to detect cross-linking. Finally, the different attempts toward the efficient synthesis of a tetra-orthogonal scaffold, a key feature needed to generate multimers that could target up to 3 different receptors was investigated and showed promising results. It is our hypothesis that such an approach will ultimately lead to specific markers of tumor cells, which could be used as diagnosis agents when modified with an imaging moiety and as a therapeutic agent when modified with a drug.

Peptide receptor overexpression in diseased cells and tissues, including carcinomas provides an opportunity to develop therapeutics and imaging agents that selectively bind to such cells and tissues. This dissertation presents tools and processes that can be utilized to target melanocortin and cholecystokinin receptors through multivalent binding. In Chapter 2, improved synthesis and purification methods are described for the production of Eu-chelated probes that serve to evaluate the binding efficacy of multivalent molecules through competition binding assays. Specifically, a xylenol orange-based assay for quantification of unchelated metal ions was used to determine unbound metal ion contamination and the success of metal ion removal. The use of Empore™ chelating disks was determined to be the method of choice for the selective removal of unchelated Eu ions from several Eu-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid chelate-peptide conjugates. Applying new synthesis and purification strategies, the TRF probe Eu-DTPA-PEGO-CCK4 targeted to cholecystokinin receptors was synthesized (Chapter 2) and validated via saturation and competition binding assays (Chapter 4) using a HEK293 cell line overexpressing the human cholecystokinin 2 receptor. In Chapter 3, short and efficient syntheses of multivalent molecules targeted to melanocortin receptors based on three commercially available trigonal core scaffolds, phloroglucinol, tripropargylamine, and 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, are described. These constructs were designed to further test the 24 ±5 Å inter-ligand distance suggested in recent literature for multivalent binding to melanocortin receptors. The bioactivities of these compounds were evaluated using a competitive binding assay that employed HEK293 cells engineered to overexpress the human melanocortin 4 receptor. In the course of conducting these bioassays, novel in vitro binding assay protocols were established, which led to high repeatability and robustness of the bioassays compared to previous methods. The divalent molecules exhibited 10- to 30-fold higher levels of inhibition when compared to the corresponding monovalent molecules, consistent with divalent binding. The trivalent molecules were only statistically (~2-fold) better than the divalent molecules, still consistent with divalent binding but inconsistent with trivalent binding. Possible reasons for these behaviors and planned refinements of the multivalent constructs targeting melanocortin receptors based on these scaffolds are discussed in Chapters 3 and 6.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24233号 / 工博第5061号 / 新制||工||1790(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料化学専攻 / (主査)教授 三浦 清貴, 教授 田中 勝久, 教授 藤田 晃司 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

Les thérapies ciblées constituent une révolution médicale dans le traitement du cancer. Dans ce contexte, le pseudopeptide multivalent N6L, qui cible spécifiquement les cellules tumorales et induit leur mort, apparaît comme une molécule prometteuse. Le N6L cible en effet deux nucléoprotéines surexprimées à la surface des cellules cancéreuses qui sont la nucléoline et la nucléophosmine. L'étude du mécanisme d'action anti-métastatique du N6L, dans lequel l'implication du TIMP-3 a été soulignée, a permis d'identifier une nouvelle cible : les glycosaminoglycanes sulfatés (GAG).Dans le but de développer une approche multimodale pour le diagnostic et le traitement du cancer du sein, le N6L a été greffé à la surface de nanoparticules magnétiques (NPM-N6L). La propriété de ciblage tumorale des NPM-N6L a été démontrée in vitro et in vivo. Leur cible tumorale majeure fut les GAG.Par ailleurs, l'activité anti-tumorale du N6L dans le traitement du cancer de la prostate à différents stades de la maladie a été démontrée in vitro et in vivo. La cible tumorale mise en jeu fut la nucléophosmine. En outre, ce potentiel anti-tumoral implique une diminution de l'activité du récepteur aux androgènes et probablement une voie de signalisation impliquant une interaction entre la nucléophosmine phosphorylée et le récepteur aux androgènes. / Targeted therapies constitute a revolution in the medical treatment of cancer. In this context, the multivalent pseudopeptide N6L that specifically target tumor cells and induces their death seems a promising molecule. The N6L targets two nucleoproteins that are overexpressed on the surface of cancer cells: nucleolin and nucleophosmin. The study of the N6L anti-metastatic mechanism of action in which TIMP-3 was involved, has identified a new target: sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAG).In order to develop a multimodal approach for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, the N6L was grafted to the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (MNP-N6L). Tumor targeting properties of MNP-N6L was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. Their major tumor target was GAG.Furthermore, the N6L anti-tumor activity in the treatment of prostate cancer at different stages of the disease was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo. The target involved in this activity was nucleophosmin. Furthermore, this anti-tumor potential implies a decrease in the activity of the androgen receptor and probably a signaling pathway involving an interaction between phosphorylated nucleophosmin and the androgen receptor.