Combining 1,3‐Ditriazolylbenzene and Quinoline to Discover a New G‐Quadruplex‐Interactive Small Molecule Active against Cancer Stem‐Like Cells

Quadruplex nucleic acids are promising targets for cancer therapy. In this study we used a fragment‐based approach to create new flexible G‐quadruplex (G4) DNA‐interactive small molecules with good calculated oral drug‐like properties, based on quinoline and triazole heterocycles. G4 melting Read more ›

Terpenoids from Euphorbia pedroi as Multidrug-Resistance Reversers

The phytochemical study of Euphorbia pedroi led to the isolation of a new tetracyclic triterpenoid with an unusual spiro scaffold, spiropedroxodiol (1), along with seven known terpenoids (2–8). Aiming at obtaining compounds with improved multidrug-resistance (MDR) reversal activity, compound 8, Read more ›

Optimizing the flavanone core toward new selective nitrogen-containing modulators of ABC transporters

Aim: Naringenin (1), isolated in large amount from the aerial parts of Euphorbia pedroi, was chemically derivatized to yield 18 imine derivatives (2–19) and three alkylated derivatives through a Mannich-type reaction (20–22) that were tested as multidrug resistance (MDR) reversers Read more ›

Discovery of a small-molecule protein kinase Cδ-selective activator with promising application in colon cancer therapy

Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes play major roles in human diseases, including cancer. Yet, the poor understanding of isozymes-specific functions and the limited availability of selective pharmacological modulators of PKC isozymes have limited the clinical translation of PKC-targeting agents. Here, Read more ›

Structure-function relationships in ABCG2: insights from molecular dynamics simulations and molecular docking studies

Efflux pumps of the ATP-binding cassette transporters superfamily (ABC transporters) are frequently involved in the multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenomenon in cancer cells. Herein, we describe a new atomistic model for the MDR-related ABCG2 efflux pump, also named breast cancer resistance protein Read more ›

About P-glycoprotein: a new drugable domain is emerging from structural data

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been considered an important molecular target in the reversal of multidrug resistance (MDR). As such, the development of P-gp modulators able to restore drug sensitivity in resistant cells is still considered one of the most promising strategies Read more ›

Probing the Azaaurone Scaffold against the Hepatic and Erythrocytic Stages of Malaria Parasites

The potential of azaaurones as dual-stage antimalarial agents was investigated by assessing the effect of a small library of azaaurones on the inhibition of liver and intraerythrocytic lifecycle stages of the malaria parasite. The whole series was screened against the Read more ›

Optimizing the macrocyclic diterpenic core toward the reversal of multidrug resistance in cancer

Background: From a dataset obtained by chemical derivatization of a macrocyclic diterpenic scaffold, in silico approaches identified which structural features correlate with experimental modulation of P-gp activity. Results/methodology: Ninety-two percent of the strongest MDR modulators were positively identified within the Read more ›

Do Drugs Have Access to the P-Glycoprotein Drug-Binding Pocket through Gates?

The P-glycoprotein efflux mechanism is being studied since its identification as a leading protagonist in multidrug resistance. Recently, it was suggested that drugs enter the drug-binding pocket (DBP) through gates located between the transmembrane domains. For both a substrate and Read more ›

Do adsorbed drugs onto P-glycoprotein influence its efflux capability?

The membrane biophysical aspects by which multidrug resistance (MDR) relate to the ABC transporter function still remain largely unknown. Notwithstanding the central role that efflux pumps like P-glycoprotein have in MDR onset, experimental studies classified additionally the lipid micro-environment where Read more ›

Molecular Dynamics Study of the Gold/Ionic Liquids Interface

The results of a systematic molecular dynamics study of the interfacial structure between the gold (100) surface and two room-temperature ionic liquids, namely, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([BMIm][PF6]) and 1-butyl-3-methylimadazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([BMIm][NTf2]), are herein reported. It is found that near an uncharged Read more ›

P-glycoprotein and membrane roles in multidrug resistance

Multidrug-resistance (MDR) phenomena are a worldwide health concern. ATP-binding cassette efflux pumps as P-glycoprotein have been thoroughly studied in a frantic run to develop new efflux modulators capable to reverse MDR phenotypes. The study of efflux pumps has provided some Read more ›

Effect of replacing [NTf2] by [PF6] anion on the [BMIm][NTf2] ionic liquid confined by gold

The effect of replacing bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide ([NTf2]) by hexafluorophosphate ([PF6]) in room temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide ([BMIm][NTf2]) confined between two gold interfaces is herein reported through molecular dynamics simulations using all-atom non-polarisable force-fields. Five systems were studied ranging from Read more ›

Indolo[3,2-c]quinoline G-Quadruplex Stabilizers: a Structural Analysis of Binding to the Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex

A library of 5-methylindolo[3,2-c]quinolones (IQc) with various substitution patterns of alkyldiamine side chains were evaluated for G-quadruplex (G4) binding mode and efficiency. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting assays showed that IQcs with a positive charge in the heteroaromatic nucleus and Read more ›