Design, Characterization and evaluation of reusable biosensors allowing the direct monitoring of MMP activities

International audienc

Crystal structure of 1-(3-ferrocenyl-2-methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-4-yl)piperazin-4-ium chloride

International audienceThe X-ray crystal structure of the antimalarial 1-(3-ferrocenyl-2-methylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-4-yl)piperazin-4-ium chloride has been established. It crystallizes in the tetragonal space group P-421c with cell parameters a = 24.6705(19)Å, b = 24.6705(19)Å, c = 7.4533(6)Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 90° V = 4536.3(8)Å3 and Z = 8. The crystal structure was refined to final values of R1 = 0.0354 and wR2 = 0.0837. An X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that each molecule features intermolecular N–H···Cl hydrogen bonds interactions between the ammonium group and the chloride anion to form tetramers

Supramolecular Peptide/Surface Assembly for Monitoring Proteinase Activity and Cancer Diagnosis

International audienceMatrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of proteolytic enzymes, the expression of which in a key step of tumor progression has recently been better defined. The overexpression of one or more MMPs is thus common among malignant tumors. It may characterize tumor progression and help predict its response to chemotherapy. Consequently, the development of a device for measuring MMP activities is an important challenge for diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we describe an innovative supramolecular peptide/surface assembly for screening MMP activities. This sensor was used to discriminate various MMP activities and to distinguish between invasive and noninvasive cancerous cell suspensions. Our results confirm the proof-of-concept of a powerful tool for the determination of the tumor aggressiveness and a technical building block for future development of MMP lab-on-chip devices

Interaction of Fluorescently Labeled Triethyleneglycol and Peptide Derivatives with β-Cyclodextrin

International audienceA triethyleneglycol (TEG) chain, a linear peptide, and a cyclic peptide labeled with 7-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (MC) and 7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DAC) were used to thoroughly study Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in inclusion complexes. 1H NMR evidence was given for the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and the fluorophore moieties of model compounds. The binding constant was 20 times higher for DAC than for MC derivatives. Molecular modeling provided additional information. The UV/Vis absorption and fluorescence properties were studied and the energy transfer process was quantified. Fluorescence quenching was particularly strong for the peptide derivatives. The presence of β-CDs reduced the FRET efficiency slightly. Dye-labeled peptide derivatives can thus be used to form inclusion complexes with β-CDs and retain most of their FRET properties. This paves the way for their subsequent use in analytical devices that are designed to measure the activity of matrix metalloproteinases

Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Anti-Leukemic Activity of (<i>E</i>)-Pyrrolo[1,2-<i>a</i>]quinoxalin-4-yl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one

(E)-Pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxalin-4-yl)-1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one was designed then synthesized using a multi-step pathway starting from commercially available 2-nitroaniline. Structure characterization of this original substituted pyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline compound was achieved by using FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, X-Ray and HRMS spectral analysis. This new pyrroloquinoxaline shows interesting cytotoxic potential against different human leukemia cell lines (MV4-11, K562, MOLM14 and Jurkat cells)

Synthesis and Antimalarial Evaluation of New 1,3,5-<i>tris</i>[(4-(Substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl)methyl]benzene Derivatives: A Novel Alternative Antiparasitic Scaffold

A series of new 1,3,5-tris[(4-(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl)methyl]benzene compounds were designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro against two parasites (Plasmodium falciparum and Leishmania donovani). The biological results showed antimalarial activity with IC50 values in the sub and μM range. The in vitro cytotoxicity of these new aza polyaromatic derivatives was also evaluated on human HepG2 cells. The 1,3,5-tris[(4-(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl)methyl]benzene 1m was found as one of the most potent and promising antimalarial candidates with a ratio of cytotoxic to antiprotozoal activities of 83.67 against the P. falciparum CQ-sensitive strain 3D7. In addition, derivative 1r was also identified as the most interesting antimalarial compound with a selectivity index (SI) of 17.28 on the W2 P. falciparum CQ-resistant strain. It was previously described that the telomeres of P. falciparum could be considered as potential targets of these kinds of aza heterocycles; thus, the ability of these new derivatives to stabilize the parasitic telomeric G-quadruplexes was measured through a FRET melting assay

New 2,4-bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl]phenylquinazoline and 2,4-bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl]phenylquinoline derivatives: synthesis and biological evaluation as novel anticancer agents by targeting G-quadruplex

International audienceThe syntheses of novel 2,4-bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl]phenylquinazolines 12 and 2,4-bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)phenyl]phenylquinolines 13 are reported here in six steps starting from various halogeno-quinazoline-2,4-(1H,3H)-diones or substituted anilines. The antiproliferative activities of the products were determined in vitro against a panel of breast (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), human adherent cervical (HeLa and SiHa), and ovarian (A2780) cell lines. Disubstituted 6- and 7-phenyl-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)aminomethylphenyl-quinazolines 12b, 12f, and 12i displayed the most interesting antiproliferative activities against six human cancer cell lines. In the series of quinoline derivatives, 6-phenyl-bis(3-dimethylaminopropyl)aminomethylphenylquinoline 13a proved to be the most active. G-quadruplexes (G4) stacked non-canonical nucleic acid structures found in specific G-rich DNA, or RNA sequences in the human genome are considered as potential targets for the development of anticancer agents. Then, as small aza-organic heterocyclic derivatives are well known to target and stabilize G4 structures, their ability to bind G4 structures have been determined through FRET melting, circular dichroism, and native mass spectrometry assays. Finally, telomerase inhibition ability has been also assessed using the MCF-7 cell line

Design, Synthesis, and Antiprotozoal Evaluation of New Promising 2,9-Bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)]-4,7-phenyl-1,10phenanthroline Derivatives, a Potential Alternative Scaffold to Drug Efflux

International audienceA series of novel 2,9-bis[(substituted-aminomethyl)]-4,7-phenyl-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated in vitro against three protozoan parasites (Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani and Trypanosoma brucei brucei). Pharmacological results showed antiprotozoal activity with IC50 values in the sub and μM range. In addition, the in vitro cytotoxicity of these original molecules was assessed with human HepG2 cells. The substituted diphenylphenanthroline 1l was identified as the most potent antimalarial derivative with a ratio of cytotoxic to antiparasitic activities of 505.7 against the P. falciparum CQ-resistant strain W2. Against the promastigote forms of L. donovani, the phenanthrolines 1h, 1j, 1n and 1o were the most active with IC50 from 2.52 to 4.50 μM. The phenanthroline derivative 1o was also identified as the most potent trypanosomal candidate with a selectivity index (SI) of 91 on T. brucei brucei strain. FRET melting and native mass spectrometry experiments evidenced that the nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives bind the telomeric G-quadruplexes of P. falciparum and Trypanosoma. Moreover, as the telomeres of the parasites P. falciparum and Trypanosoma could be considered to be possible targets of this kind of nitrogen heterocyclic derivatives, their potential ability to stabilize the parasitic telomeric G-quadruplexes have been determined through the FRET melting assay and by native mass spectrometry