Synthesis and biological evaluation of 4-[(3-methyl-3H-imidazol-4-yl)-(2-phenylethynyl-benzyloxy)-methyl]-benzonitrile as novel farnesyltransferase inhibitor

Addition of benzyl ethers to alkynes: a metal-free synthesis of 1H-isochromenes

Bromotrimethylsilane (TMSBr)-promoted intramolecular cyclization of (o-arylethynyl)benzyl ethers to form 1H-isochromenes at room temperature is reported. Further studies indicated that vinyl carbocations are the reaction intermediates which are stabilized by the conjugated aryl groups. Thus, O-addition of benzyl ethers/tetrahydropyrans to alkynes was achieved under metal-free, acidic conditions. These reaction conditions were compatible with an alkynyl Prins reaction; therefore, 1H-isochromenes were produced directly from alkynyl benzaldehydes and alkynyl alcohols using a one-pot procedure.

BAI, a novel Cdk inhibitor, enhances farnesyltransferase inhibitor LB42708-mediated apoptosis in renal carcinoma cells through the downregulation of Bcl-2 and c-FLIP (L)

Previously, we reported the potential of a novel Cdk inhibitor, 2-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-yl-N-[5-(1,1-dioxo-1λ6-isothiazolidin-2-yl)-1H-indazol-3-yl]acetamide (BAI) as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent. In this study, we investigated mechanisms by which BAI modulates FTI-mediated apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells. BAI synergizes with FTI to activate DEVDase, cleavage of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), and degradation of various anti-apoptotic proteins in Caki cells. BAI plus LB42708-induced apoptosis was inhibited by pretreatment with pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, but not by overexpression of CrmA. The ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) did not reduce BAI plus LB4270-induced apoptosis. Co-treatment of BAI and LB42708 reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, ∆Ψm) in a time-dependent manner, and induced release of AIF and cytochrome c from mitochondria in Caki cells. Furthermore, BAL plus LB42708 induced downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins [c-FLIP (L), c-FLIP (s), Bcl-2, XIAP, and Mcl-1 (L)]. Especially, we found that BAI plus LB42708-induced apoptosis was significantly attenuated by overexpression of Bcl-2 and partially blocked by overexpression of c-FLIP (L). Taken together, our results show that the activity of BAI plus LB42708 modulate multiple components in apoptotic response of human renal Caki cells, and indicate a potential as combinational therapeutic agents for preventing cancer such as renal carcinoma.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-benzyl-5-(3-biphenyl-2-yl-propyl)-1H-imidazole as novel farnesyltransferase inhibitor

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) have emerged as a novel class of anti-cancer agents. Analogs of the potent FTI, 1-benzyl-5-(3-biphenyl-2-yl-propyl)-1H-imidazole, were synthesized and tested in vitro for their inhibitory activities. The most promising compound identified from this series is analog 29 that possesses potent enzymatic and cellular activities.