A tryptophanol-derived oxazolopiperidone lactam is cytotoxic against tumors via inhibition of p53 interaction with murine double minute proteins

Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor protein by interaction with murine double minute (MDM) proteins, MDM2 and MDMX, is a common event in human tumors expressing wild-type p53. In these tumors, the simultaneous inhibition of these interactions with MDMs, for Read more ›

Reversing cancer multidrug resistance: insights into the efflux by ABC transports from in silico studies

One of the greatest threats to cancer treatment is the development, by some tumors, of resistance to the pharmacological action of several structurally unrelated cytotoxic agents—multidrug resistance (MDR). As P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is one of the most studied ATP-dependent efflux pumps Read more ›

Oxazoloisoindolinones with in vitro antitumor activity selectively activate a p53-pathway through potential inhibition of the p53–MDM2 interaction

One of the most appealing targets for anticancer treatment is the p53 tumor suppressor protein. In half of human cancers, this protein is inactivated due to endogenous negative regulators such as MDM2. Actually, restoring the p53 activity, particularly through the Read more ›

Probing the aurone scaffold against Plasmodium falciparum: Design, synthesis and antimalarial activity

A library comprising 44 diversely substituted aurones derivatives was synthesized by straightforward aldol condensation reactions of benzofuranones and the appropriately substituted benzaldehydes. Microwave enhanced synthesis using palladium catalyzed protocols was introduced as a powerful strategy for extending the chemical space Read more ›

Flavones as isosteres of 4(1H)-quinolones: Discovery of ligand efficient and dual stage antimalarial lead compounds

Malaria is responsible for nearly one million deaths annually, and the increasing prevalence of multi-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum poses a great challenge to controlling the disease. A diverse set of flavones, isosteric to 4(1H)-quinolones, were prepared and profiled for Read more ›

Synthesis, G-Quadruplex Stabilisation, Docking Studies, and Effect on Cancer Cells of Indolo[3,2-b]quinolines with One, Two, or Three Basic Side Chains

G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures in telomeres and oncogenic promoter regions are potential targets for cancer therapy, and G4 ligands have been shown to modulate telomerase activity and oncogene transcription. Herein we report the synthesis and G4 thermal stabilisation effects, determined Read more ›

Molecular Docking Characterizes Substrate-Binding Sites and Efflux Modulation Mechanisms within P-Glycoprotein

P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) is one of the best characterized ABC transporters, often involved in the multidrug-resistance phenotype overexpressed by several cancer cell lines. Experimental studies contributed to important knowledge concerning substrate polyspecificity, efflux mechanism, and drug-binding sites. This information is, however, Read more ›

Exploring the Molecular Basis of Qo bc1 Complex Inhibitors Activity to Find Novel Antimalarials Hits

Cytochrome bc1 complex is a crucial element in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, being indispensable for the survival of several species of Plasmodia that cause malaria and, Qo bc1 Complex Inhibitorstherefore, it is a promising target for antimalarial drug development. We Read more ›

Assessing the Stabilization of P-Glycoprotein’s Nucleotide- Binding Domains by the Linker, Using Molecular Dynamics

This paper focuses on the importance of the intermediate linker sequence for the stabilization of the cytoplasmic portion of murine P-glycoprotein, an ABC transporter involved in Multidrug Resistance (MDR) in cancer. Three putative protein-protein interaction areas were predicted to exist, Read more ›

Enhancing Macrocyclic Diterpenes as Multidrug-Resistance Reversers: Structure–Activity Studies on Jolkinol D Derivatives

The phytochemical study of Euphorbia piscatoria yielded jolkinol D (1) in a large amount, whose derivatization gave rise to 12 ester derivatives (2–13) and hydrolysis to compound 14. The in vitro modulation of P-gp of compounds 1–14 was evaluated through Read more ›

Insights on P-Glycoprotein’s Efflux Mechanism Obtained by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

P-Glycoprotein (P-gp) is often involved in multidrug resistance (MDR) to the pharmacological action of a wide number of anticancer agents. In this article, a series of molecular dynamics simulations of murine’s P-gp were developed, elucidating the importance of the lipid Read more ›

Colon Adenocarcinoma Multidrug Resistance Reverted by Euphorbia Diterpenes: Structure-Activity Relationships and Pharmacophore Modeling

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a limiting step on the success of cancer chemotherapy. The drug efflux mediated by P-gp (P- glycoprotein) is one of the best studied mechanisms of MDR. This paper focuses on the inhibitory P-gp efflux activity, pharmacophore Read more ›

Identification of new antimalarial leads by use of virtual screening against cytochrome bc1

Cytochrome bc1 is a validated drug target in malaria parasites. The spread of Plasmodium falciparum strains resistant to multiple antimalarials emphasizes the urgent need for new Identification of new antimalarial leads by use of virtual screening against cytochrome bc1drugs. We Read more ›

Toward a Better Pharmacophore Description of P-Glycoprotein Modulators, Based on Macrocyclic Diterpenes from Euphorbia Species

Multidrug resistance related to the increased expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) by cancer cells is the major contributor for the failure of chemotherapeutic treatments. Starting from pharmacophores and data already published and in macrocyclic diterpenes isolated from Euphorbia species, a comprehensive Read more ›

Properties and behaviour of tetracyclic allopsoralen derivatives inside a DPPC lipid bilayer model

Allopsoralens are angular psoralen derivatives presenting advantages over the parent compound because of monofunctional DNA-photobinding and consequent lower toxicity. Allopsoralen molecules with three different substituents and different protonation states were studied using the molecular dynamics technique. The location of these Read more ›