Myc oncogenes encode transcription factors that bind to E-box sequences in DNA, driving the expression of a large number of target genes and are deregulated in approximately 70% of human cancers. Deregulated Myc expression cause enhanced proliferation (which is counteracted by apoptosis), angiogenesis and cancer. Though Myc’s importance in induction of S phase has been established, less is known about its functions in the G2 and M phases of the cell cycle. Paper I addresses the targeting of the Myc targets Aurora kinase A and B that have roles in G2/M transition and provide evidence that pharmaceutical Aurora kinase inhibition causes cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a Myc-selective manner and is useful in treating Myc-induced lymphomas in vivo. The assumption that the important target genes responsible for the biological effects of Myc overexpression were those encoding components of the cell cycle machinery lead to little interest in other potentially important groups of target genes. However, recent work challenged this view by indicating that Myc target genes encoding metabolic enzymes may be critical for Myc-induced tumorigenesis. Importantly, the targeting of Myc target genes encoding metabolic enzymes has the potential of providing a new treatment strategy of Myc-induced cancers. Paper II covers the pharmaceutical targeting of the Myc-induced spermidine synthase (Srm) that shows promise as a tool for chemoprevention by affecting proliferation, but not for the treatment of established tumors. Paper III focuses on the negligible effect an Ldha mutation has on Myc- induced lymphomagenesis. Ldha has long been known to be a Myc target gene and in vitro experiments have recently indicated it to be important for transformation. It seems the negligible effect of the Ldh mutation can be explained by the high frequency of loss of either Arf or p53 in this mouse model, since enforced Ras-Myc oncogenic cooperation in soft agar assays of Ldh mutant MEFs effectively inhibits colony formation, and λ-Myc;Ldh mutant bone marrow infected with oncogenic Ras does not give rise to tumors when transplanted into wild-type mice. A role for Ldh in the ability of tumors to evade the immune system was also indicated in this study. The combined experiences and very different outcome of the three studies included in this thesis draw attention to the value of in vivo assessment of Myc downstream targets in Myc-induced lymphomagenesis.

The amine oxidase family of enzymes has been the center of numerous mechanistic studies because of the medical relevance of the reactions they catalyze. This study describes transient and steady-state kinetic analyses of two flavin amine oxidases, mouse polyamine oxidase (PAO) and human lysine specific demethylase (LSD1), to determine the mechanisms of amine oxidation. PAO is a flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of N1-acetylated polyamines. The pH-dependence of the kcat/Kamine indicates that the monoprotonated form of the substrate is required for catalysis, with the N4 nitrogen next to the site of CH bond cleavage being unprotonated. Stopped-flow spectroscopy shows that the pH-dependence of the rate constant for flavin reduction, kred, displays a pKa of 7.3 with a decrease in activity at acidic pH. This is consistent with an uncharged nitrogen being required for catalysis. Mutating Lys315 to methionine has no effect on the kcat/Kamine-pH profile with the substrate spermine, and the kred value only shows a 1.5-fold decrease with respect to wild-type PAO. The mutation results in a 30- fold decrease in kcat/KO2. Solvent isotope effects and proton inventories are consistent with Lys315 accepting a proton from a water molecule hydrogen-bonded to the flavin N5 during flavin oxidation. Steady-state and transient kinetic studies of para-substituted N,N'-dibenzyl-1,4- diaminobutanes as substrates for PAO show that the kred values for each correlate with the van der Waals volume (VW) and the value. The coefficient for VW is the same at pH 8.6 and 6.6, whereas the p value increases from -0.59 at pH 8.6 to -0.09 at pH 6.6. These results are most consistent with a hydride transfer mechanism. The kinetics of oxidation of a peptide substrate by human lysine specific demethylase (LSD1) were also studied. The kcat/KM pH-profile is bell-shaped, indicating the need for one unprotonated nitrogen next to the site of CH bond cleavage and another protonated nitrogen. The kcat and kred values are equal, and identical isotope effects are observed on kred, kcat, and kcat/KM, indicating that CH bond cleavage is rate-limiting with this substrate.

N-Nitrosodimethylamine (commonly known as NDMA) is a probable human carcinogen that has been recognized as an emerging drinking water contaminant in recent years. Previous studies have shown that certain N-containing organic compounds may form NDMA in reaction with chlorine or monochloramine and the NDMA yield is affected by the structure of the organic-N compounds, water conditions and treatment parameters. Many amine-based water treatment polymers contain organic-N functional groups and thus have been suspected as potential NDMA precursors in water treatment systems. The purpose of this research was to systematically assess the potential NDMA formation from different structural types of water treatment polymers in reactions with various oxidants and probe the possible factors that influence the NDMA formation. Robust analytical methods for detection of NDMA and the well-known NDMA precursor dimethylamine (DMA) in the reaction samples were established. The cationic polyacrylamide (cationic PAMS), aminomethylated polyacrylamide (Mannich), poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) and polyamine polymers were evaluated in reactions with nitrite, free chlorine, monochloramine or chlorine dioxide in aqueous solutions at circumneutral pH and room temperature conditions. This study employed high dosages of polymer and oxidant and long reaction time in order to assess the maximum potential to form NDMA. A range of operational parameters that may affect the above reactions were also evaluated.

Dysregulation of cellular metabolism is associated with multiple diseases including cancer. Polyamines are organic cations shown to control gene expression at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and translational level. The activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first enzyme in polyamine synthesis, is associated with normal and neoplastic growth. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2302615, SNP +316 nucleotides 3' of the transcriptional start site) in the ODC1 gene has been found to be both functional and prognostic for risk of colorectal carcinogenesis. A comprehensive investigation of genetic variability in ODC1 gene was performed. We confirmed frequencies of 12 SNPs occurring in participants of a clinical cancer prevention trial. We identified haplotypes accounting for over 90% of the genetic diversity in the ODC1 gene. Mechanistically, we addressed two of them, which account for more than half of the participants in the clinical trial. Two ODC1 intron 1 SNPs, rs2302616 (SNP +263 nucleotides 3' of the transcriptional start site) and rs2302615, were found to be associated with disease processes. Both of them predicted metachronous adenoma and response to agents targeting the polyamine pathway in participants of the clinical trial. The rs2302616 functionally modulate a DNA G-quadruplex structure and predicted the ODC1 rate-limiting product putrescine by genotype. Both SNPs cooperate to modulate ODC1 transcriptional activity involving both a G-quadruplex structure and Sp1 binding site at rs2302616, and rs2302615 flanked MYC-binding E-boxes. Haplotype analysis, using both these SNPs, might provide better discrimination of both disease prognosis and treatment prediction in cancer chemoprevention clinical trials.

Techn. Hochsch., Diss., 2002--Aachen.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.

A família Amaryllidaceae é reconhecida como fonte de compostos bioativos, sendo o isolamento e elucidação estrutural de seus alcaloides, aliado às avaliações farmacológicas, um tema importante. Estudos mostram que o mecanismo de ação da citotoxicidade desses alcaloides é seletivo e depende da linhagem celular. Trichomonas vaginalis é um protozoário parasita que causa a tricomonose, a doença sexualmente transmissível de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Além de ser considerado um importante organismo patogênico, suas características bioquímicas peculiares, como a ausência de mitocôndrias, torna o tricomonas um adequado modelo para estudos de vias metabólicas de morte celular. A atividade anti-T. vaginalis dos alcaloides de Amaryllidaceae licorina e candimina, assim como o potencial citotóxico de diaminas sintéticas, foram investigados. Estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina também foram desenvolvidos. Nossos resultados mostraram que a licorina e candimina induzem importantes alterações na ultraestrutura dos parasitos e nenhum marcador morfológico clássico de apoptose, como corpos apoptóticos, foi observado. Além disso, nem a fragmentação do DNA genômico nem a exposição de resíduos de fosfatidilserina foram detectadas. Por outro lado, ambos os alcaloides atrasaram o ciclo celular do parasito e inibiram a atividade das enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5`- nucleotidase, importantes na manutenção da relação parasito/hospedeiro. O alcaloide pró-apoptótico licorina e a candimina induziram morte celular no parasito amitocondriado T. vaginalis por um mecanismo de ação que não cumpre as características morfológicas de apoptose. Entretanto, similaridades com a morte celular denominada paraptose foram observadas: intensa vacuolização citoplasmática periférica aliada à integridade nuclear. Considerando que a citotoxicidade dos alcaloides pode ser considerada moderada (250 μM), derivados de poliaminas foram escolhidos para desenvolver estudos de semi-síntese com a licorina e aperfeiçoar a atividade do alcalóide. Poliaminas são moléculas catiônicas de estruturas simples, essenciais para a diferenciação celular e regulação do ciclo celular. Neste trabalho demonstrou-se a síntese e avaliação da atividade anti-T. vaginalis de uma série de derivados de diaminas, dos quais N-hexadecil-1,4-butanodiamina apresentou CIM igual a 2,5 μg/ml, duas vezes mais ativo em comparação ao metronidazol, utilizado como composto de referência. A hibridização molecular da licorina com as diaminas foi prejudicada pela instabilidade da licorina mesilada, intermediário chave para prosseguir a rota sintética. No entanto, seis derivados inéditos da licorina, todos ésteres, aromáticos ou alifáticos, foram sintetizados. / Amaryllidaceae family has proven to be plentiful sources for therapeutic agents. Hence, the isolation, biology and chemistry of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids make an important subject. Investigations on cytotoxic mechanisms of these alkaloids indicate a promising selective cell-type-dependent cytotoxicity. Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasite that causes trichomonosis, the number one non-viral sexually-transmitted disease in the world. However, whilst T. vaginalis is a prime pathogenic target, its lack of mitochondria makes it a suitable biochemical model to study cell death-related mechanisms. Anti-T. vaginalis activity of lycorine and candimine alkaloids were investigated, as well as the cytotoxic potential of diamine analogs. Finally, studies on lycorine semi-synthesis were developed. Our results showed that, after lycorine and candimine treatment, no hallmark suggestive of apoptosis were observed, such as apoptotic bodies, but instead several important ultrastructural alterations, assessed by electronic microscopy. Additionally, DNA fragmentation and membrane phosphatidylserine exposure were not detected. Analysis showed that lycorine and candimine arrested T. vaginalis cell cycle and inhibited the NTPDase and ecto-5`- nucleotidase activities, important enzymes on parasite/host relationship. The proapoptotic alkaloid, lycorine, and the lactone alkaloid, candimine, caused cell death in the amitochondriate T. vaginalis by a mechanism of action that fails to completely fulfill the criteria for apoptosis. However, some similarities were observed to paraptotic cell death, like intense cytoplasmic periferic vacuolization and nuclear integrity. Since the cytotoxic potential of the alkaloids was moderated (250 μM), the polyamines analogs were chosen to investigate the anti-T. vaginalis activity and to develop semi-synthesis studies with lycorine in order to improve the alkaloid cytotoxicity. Polyamines are simple structured aliphatic amines essential for cell proliferation and differentiation and it has been shown that interfering with their function or biosynthesis the cellular growth can be blocked. Our results showed the synthesis of a series of diamine derivatives, and N-hexadecil-1,4-butanediamine was found to be the most active compound in vitro against T. vaginalis with MIC of 2.5 μg/mL, twice more active in comparison to the reference drug metronidazole. The molecular hybridization of lycorine with diamines was impaired by the unsuccessful synthesis of the lycorine mesilate, a key intermediary on the synthetic route. However, six new lycorine ester derivatives were synthesized.

No description available.

No description available.