12 research outputs found
A small temperature rise may contribute towards the apparent induction by microwaves of heatshock gene expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
We have previously reported that low-intensity microwave exposure (0.75-1.0 GHz CW at 0.5 W; SAR 4-40 mW kg-1) can induce an apparently non-thermal heat-shock response in Caenorhabditis elegans worms carrying hsp16-1::reporter genes. Using matched copper TEM cells for both sham and exposed groups, we can detect only modest reporter induction in the latter (15-20% after 2.5 h at 26°C, rising to ~50% after 20 h). Traceable calibration of our copper TEM cell by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) reveals significant power loss within the cell (8.5% at 1.0 GHz), accompanied by slight heating of exposed samples (~0.3°C at 1.0 W). Thus exposed samples are in fact slightly warmer (by ≤0.2°C at 0.5 W) than sham controls. Following NPL recommendations, our TEM cell design was modified with the
aim of reducing both power loss and consequent heating. In the modified silver-plated cell, power loss is
only 1.5% at 1.0 GHz, and sample warming is reduced to ~ 0.15°C at 1.0 W (i.e. ≤ 0.1°C at 0.5 W). Under sham:sham conditions, there is no difference in reporter expression between the modified silverplated TEM cell and an unmodified copper cell. However, worms exposed to microwaves (1.0 GHz and 0.5 W) in the silver-plated cell also show no detectable induction of reporter expression relative to sham controls in the copper cell. Thus the 20% “microwave induction” observed using two copper cells may be
caused by a small temperature difference between sham and exposed conditions. In worms incubated for 2.5 h at 26.0, 26.2 and 27.0°C (with no microwave field), there is a consistent and significant increase in reporter expression between 26.0 and 26.2°C (by ~20% in each of 6 independent runs), but paradoxically expression levels at 27.0°C are similar to those seen at 26.0°C. This surprising result is in line with other evidence pointing towards complex regulation of hsp16-1 gene expression across the sub-heat-shock range of 25-27.5°C in C. elegans. We conclude that our original interpretation of a non-thermal effect of microwaves cannot be sustained; at least part of the explanation appears to be thermal
Selective chemical probe inhibitor of Stat3, identified through structure-based virtual screening, induces antitumor activity
S31-201 (NSC 74859) is a chemical probe inhibitor of Stat3 activity, which was identified from the National Cancer Institute chemical libraries by using structure-based virtual screening with a computer model of the Stat3 SH2 domain bound to its Stat3 phosphotyrosine peptide derived from the x-ray crystal structure of the Stat3 beta homodimer. S31-201 inhibits Stat3-Stat3 complex formation and Stat3 DNA-binding and transcriptional activities. Furthermore, S31-201 inhibits growth and induces apoptosis preferentially in tumor cells that contain persistently activated Stat3. Constitutively climerized and active Stat3C and Stat3 SH2 domain rescue tumor cells from S31-201-induced apoptosis. Finally, S31-201 inhibits the expression of the Stat3-regulated genes encoding cyclin D1, BcI-xL, and survivin and inhibits the growth of human breast tumors in vivo. These findings strongly suggest that the antitumor activity of S31-201 is mediated in part through inhibition of aberrant Stat3 activation and provide the proof-of-concept for the potential clinical use of Stat3 inhibitors such as S31-201 in tumors harboring aberrant Stat3
The application of electrophilic fluorodesilylation to the preparation of fluoro-organic compounds
EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Small molecule inhibitors of STAT3 with anti-tumor activity
The present invention concerns compounds, compositions containing these compounds, and methods of using these compounds and compositions as inhibitors of Stat3 signaling, Stat3 dimerization, Stat3-DNA binding, Stat5-DNA binding, and/or aberrant cell growth in vitro or in vivo, e.g., as anti-cancer agents for treatment of cancer, such as breast cancer. The compounds of the invention include, but are not limited to, NSC 74859 (S3I-201), NSC 42067, NSC 59263, NSC 75912, NSC 11421, NSC 91529, NSC 263435, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and analogs of the foregoing. Other non-malignant diseases characterized by proliferation of cells that may be treated using the compounds of the invention, but are not limited to, cirrhosis of the liver; graft rejection; restenosis; and disorders characterized by a proliferation of T cells such as autoimmune diseases, e.g., type 1 diabetes, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The invention further includes an in-vitro screening test for the presence of malignant cells in a mammalian tissue; a method of identifying inhibitors of constitutive Stat3 activation, Stat3-DNA binding, Stat5-DNA binding, and/or Stat3 dimerization; and a method of identifying anti-cancer agents
A small temperature rise may contribute towards the apparent induction by microwaves of heat- shock gene expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Abstract: We have previously reported that low-intensity microwave exposure (0.75-1.0 GHz CW at 0.5 W; SAR 4-40 mW kg -1 ) can induce an apparently non-thermal heat-shock response in Caenorhabditis elegans worms carrying hsp16-1::reporter genes. Using matched copper TEM cells for both sham and exposed groups, we can detect only modest reporter induction in the latter (15-20% after 2.5 h at 26C, rising to ~50% after 20 h). Traceable calibration of our copper TEM cell by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) reveals significant power loss within the cell (8.5% at 1.0 GHz), accompanied by slight heating of exposed samples (~0.3C at 1.0 W). Thus exposed samples are in fact slightly warmer (by 0.2C at 0.5 W) than sham controls. Following NPL recommendations, our TEM cell design was modified with the aim of reducing both power loss and consequent heating. In the modified silver-plated cell, power loss is only 1.5% at 1.0 GHz, and sample warming is reduced to ~ 0.15C at 1.0 W (i.e. 0.1C at 0.5 W). Under sham:sham conditions, there is no difference in reporter expression between the modified silverplated TEM cell and an unmodified copper cell. However, worms exposed to microwaves (1.0 GHz and 0.5 W) in the silver-plated cell also show no detectable induction of reporter expression relative to sham controls in the copper cell. Thus the 20% "microwave induction" observed using two copper cells may be caused by a small temperature difference between sham and exposed conditions. In worms incubated for 2.5 h at 26.0, 26.2 and 27.0C (with no microwave field), there is a consistent and significant increase in reporter expression between 26.0 and 26.2C (by ~20% in each of 6 independent runs), but paradoxically expression levels at 27.0C are similar to those seen at 26.0C. This surprising result is in line with other evidence pointing towards complex regulation of hsp16-1 gene expression across the sub-heat-shock range of 25-27.5C in C. elegans. We conclude that our original interpretation of a non-thermal effect of microwaves cannot be sustained; at least part of the explanation appears to be thermal
Reversible, Allosteric Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Regulator of G Protein Signaling ProteinsS⃞
Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins are potent negative modulators of G
protein signaling and have been proposed as potential targets for small-molecule
inhibitor development. We report a high-throughput time-resolved fluorescence
resonance energy transfer screen to identify inhibitors of RGS4 and describe the
first reversible small-molecule inhibitors of an RGS protein. Two closely related
compounds, typified by CCG-63802
[((2E)-2-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-[9-methyl-2-(3-methylphenoxy)-4-oxo-4H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-3-yl]prop-2-enenitrile)],
inhibit the interaction between RGS4 and Gαo with an
IC50 value in the low micromolar range. They show selectivity among RGS
proteins with a potency order of RGS 4 > 19 = 16 > 8
≫ 7. The compounds inhibit the GTPase accelerating protein activity of
RGS4, and thermal stability studies demonstrate binding to the RGS but not to
Gαo. On RGS4, they depend on an interaction with one or
more cysteines in a pocket that has previously been identified as an allosteric site
for RGS regulation by acidic phospholipids. Unlike previous small-molecule RGS
inhibitors identified to date, these compounds retain substantial activity under
reducing conditions and are fully reversible on the 10-min time scale. CCG-63802 and
related analogs represent a useful step toward the development of chemical tools for
the study of RGS physiology
Orvinols with Mixed Kappa/Mu Opioid Receptor Agonist Activity
Dual-acting kappa opioid receptor
(KOR) agonist and mu opioid receptor
(MOR) partial agonist ligands have been put forward as potential treatment
agents for cocaine and other psychostimulant abuse. Members of the
orvinol series of ligands are known for their high binding affinity
to both KOR and MOR, but efficacy at the individual receptors has
not been thoroughly evaluated. In this study, it is shown that a predictive
model for efficacy at KOR can be derived, with efficacy being controlled
by the length of the group attached to C20 and by the introduction
of branching into the side chain. In vivo evaluation of two ligands
with the desired in vitro profile confirms both display KOR, and to
a lesser extent MOR, activity in an analgesic assay suggesting that,
in this series, in vitro measures of efficacy using the [<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS assay are predictive of the in vivo profile
Fumaroylamino-4,5-epoxymorphinans and Related Opioids with Irreversible μ Opioid Receptor Antagonist Effects
We have previously shown that cinnamoyl derivatives of
14β-amino-17-cyclopropylmethyl-7,8-dihydronormorphinone
and 7α-aminomethyl-6,14-endoethanonororipavine have pronounced
pseudoirreversible μ opioid receptor (MOR) antagonism. The present
communication describes the synthesis and evaluation of fumaroylamino
analogues of these cinnamoylamino derivatives together with some related
fumaroyl derivatives. The predominant activity of the new ligands
was MOR antagonism. The fumaroylamino analogues (<b>2a</b>, <b>5a</b>) of the pseudoirreversible antagonist cinnamoylamino morphinones
and oripavines (<b>2b</b>, <b>5b</b>) were themselves
irreversible antagonists in vivo. However the fumaroylamino derivatives
had significantly higher MOR efficacy than the cinnamoylamino derivatives
in mouse antinociceptive tests. Comparison of <b>2a</b> and <b>5a</b> with the prototypic fumaroylamino opioid β-FNA (<b>1a</b>) shows that they have similar MOR irreversible antagonist
actions but differ in the nature of their opioid receptor agonist
effects; <b>2a</b> is a predominant MOR agonist and <b>5a</b> shows no opioid receptor selectivity, whereas the agonist effect
of β-FNA is clearly κ opioid receptor (KOR) mediated