1
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Zaręba P, Łątka K, Mazur G, Gryzło B, Pasieka A, Godyń J, Panek D, Skrzypczak-Wiercioch A, Höfner GC, Latacz G, Maj M, Espargaró A, Sabaté R, Jóźwiak K, Wanner KT, Sałat K, Malawska B, Kulig K, Bajda M. Discovery of novel multifunctional ligands targeting GABA transporters, butyrylcholinesterase, β-secretase, and amyloid β aggregation as potential treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 261:115832. [PMID: 37837674 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a global health problem in the medical sector that will increase over time. The limited treatment of AD leads to the search for a new clinical candidate. Considering the multifactorial nature of AD, a strategy targeting number of regulatory proteins involved in the development of the disease is an effective approach. Here, we present a discovery of new multi-target-directed ligands (MTDLs), purposely designed as GABA transporter (GAT) inhibitors, that successfully provide the inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), β-secretase (BACE1), amyloid β aggregation and calcium channel blockade activity. The selected GAT inhibitors, 19c and 22a - N-benzylamide derivatives of 4-aminobutyric acid, displayed the most prominent multifunctional profile. Compound 19c (mGAT1 IC50 = 10 μM, mGAT4 IC50 = 12 μM and BuChE IC50 = 559 nM) possessed the highest hBACE1 and Aβ40 aggregation inhibitory activity (IC50 = 1.57 μM and 99 % at 10 μM, respectively). Additionally, it showed a decrease in both the elongation and nucleation constants of the amyloid aggregation process. In contrast compound 22a represented the highest activity and a mixed-type of eqBuChE inhibition (IC50 = 173 nM) with hBACE1 (IC50 = 9.42 μM), Aβ aggregation (79 % at 10 μM) and mGATs (mGAT1 IC50 = 30 μM, mGAT4 IC50 = 25 μM) inhibitory activity. Performed molecular docking studies described the mode of interactions with GATs and enzymatic targets. In ADMET in vitro studies both compounds showed acceptable metabolic stability and low neurotoxicity. Successfully, compounds 19c and 22a at the dose of 30 mg/kg possessed statistically significant antiamnesic properties in a mouse model of amnesia caused by scopolamine and assessed in the novel object recognition (NOR) task or the passive avoidance (PA) task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Zaręba
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamil Łątka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Gabriela Mazur
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Beata Gryzło
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Pasieka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Godyń
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Skrzypczak-Wiercioch
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Preclinical Sciences, University Centre of Veterinary Medicine JU-UA, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Mickiewicz 24/28 St., 30-059, Kraków, Poland
| | - Georg C Höfner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstr., 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Maciej Maj
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, W. Chodzki 4a St., 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Krzysztof Jóźwiak
- Department of Biopharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, W. Chodzki 4a St., 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Klaus T Wanner
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München Butenandtstr., 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Kinga Sałat
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kulig
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9 St., 30-688, Kraków, Poland.
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2
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Czarnecka K, Girek M, Kręcisz P, Skibiński R, Łątka K, Jończyk J, Bajda M, Szymczyk P, Galita G, Kabziński J, Majsterek I, Espargaró A, Sabate R, Szymański P. New cyclopentaquinoline and 3,5-dichlorobenzoic acid hybrids with neuroprotection against oxidative stress for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:2158822. [PMID: 36629422 PMCID: PMC9848259 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2158822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative brain disease. Thus, drugs including donepezil, rivastigmine, and galantamine are not entirely effective in the treatment of this multifactorial disease. The present study evaluates eight derivatives (3a-3h) as candidates with stronger anti-AD potential but with less side effects. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays were used to assess oxidative stress which involve in the neurodegeneration. The neuroprotective properties of 3e against oxidative stress were done in three experiments using MTT test. The anti-AD potential was determined based on their anticholinesterase inhibition ability, determined using Ellman's method, Aβ aggregation potential according to thioflavin (Th) fluorescence assay, and their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Compound 3e exhibited moderate cholinesterase inhibition activity (AChE, IC50 = 0.131 µM; BuChE, IC50 = 0.116 µM; SI = 1.13), significant inhibition of Aβ(1-42) aggregation (55.7%, at 5 µM) and acceptable neuroprotective activity. Extensive analysis of in vitro and in vivo assays indicates that new cyclopentaquinoline derivatives offer promise as candidates for new anti-AD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila Czarnecka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland,CONTACT Kamila Czarnecka
| | - Małgorzata Girek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paweł Kręcisz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Robert Skibiński
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Kamil Łątka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jakub Jończyk
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Piotr Szymczyk
- Department of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany,Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Galita
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Jacek Kabziński
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paweł Szymański
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland,Department of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw, Poland,Paweł Szymański Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analyses and Radiopharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lodz, Muszyńskiego 1, Lodz90-151, Poland
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3
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Gade AC, Murahari M, Pavadai P, Kumar MS. Virtual Screening of a Marine Natural Product Database for In Silico Identification of a Potential Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1298. [PMID: 37374081 DOI: 10.3390/life13061298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is characterized by amyloid-beta aggregation and neurofibrillary tangles. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) hydrolyses acetylcholine and induces amyloid-beta aggregation. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI) inhibit this aggregation by binding to AChE, making it a potential target for the treatment of AD. In this study, we have focused on the identification of potent and safe AChEI from the Comprehensive Marine Natural Product Database (CMNPD) using computational tools. For the screening of CMNPD, a structure-based pharmacophore model was generated using a structure of AChE complexed with the co-crystallized ligand galantamine (PDB ID: 4EY6). The 330 molecules that passed through the pharmacophore filter were retrieved, their drug-likeness was determined, and they were then subjected to molecular docking studies. The top ten molecules were selected depending upon their docking score and were submitted for toxicity profiling. Based on these studies, molecule 64 (CMNPD8714) was found to be the safest and was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations and density functional theory calculations. This molecule showed stable hydrogen bonding and stacked interactions with TYR341, mediated through a water bridge. In silico results can be correlated with in vitro studies for checking its activity and safety in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manikanta Murahari
- Department of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram 522302, India
| | - Parasuraman Pavadai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru 560054, India
| | - Maushmi Shailesh Kumar
- Somaiya Institute of Research and Consultancy, Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai 400077, India
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4
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Pasieka A, Panek D, Zaręba P, Sługocka E, Gucwa N, Espargaró A, Latacz G, Khan N, Bucki A, Sabaté R, Więckowska A, Malawska B. Novel drug-like fluorenyl derivatives as selective butyrylcholinesterase and β-amyloid inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Bioorg Med Chem 2023; 88-89:117333. [PMID: 37236021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2023.117333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and amyloid β (Aβ) aggregation remain important biological target and mechanism in the search for effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Simultaneous inhibition thereof by the application of multifunctional agents may lead to improvement in terms of symptoms and causes of the disease. Here, we present the rational design, synthesis, biological evaluation and molecular modelling studies of novel series of fluorene-based BuChE and Aβ inhibitors with drug-like characteristics and advantageous Central Nervous System Multiparameter Optimization scores. Among 17 synthesized and tested compounds, we identified 22 as the most potent eqBuChE inhibitor with IC50 of 38 nM and 37.4% of Aβ aggregation inhibition at 10 μM. Based on molecular modelling studies, including molecular dynamics, we determined the binding mode of the compounds within BuChE and explained the differences in the activity of the two enantiomers of compound 22. A novel series of fluorenyl compounds meeting the drug-likeness criteria seems to be a promising starting point for further development as anti-Alzheimer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pasieka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Paula Zaręba
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Emilia Sługocka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; Doctoral School of Medical and Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 16 Łazarza St., 31-530 Kraków, Poland
| | - Natalia Gucwa
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Nadia Khan
- Department of Technology and Biotechnology of Drugs, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland; Departement of Pathophysiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 18 Czysta St., 31-121 Kraków, Poland
| | - Adam Bucki
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 9 Medyczna St., 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna St. 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
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5
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Gandini A, Gonçalves AE, Strocchi S, Albertini C, Janočková J, Tramarin A, Grifoni D, Poeta E, Soukup O, Muñoz-Torrero D, Monti B, Sabaté R, Bartolini M, Legname G, Bolognesi ML. Discovery of Dual Aβ/Tau Inhibitors and Evaluation of Their Therapeutic Effect on a Drosophila Model of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:3314-3329. [PMID: 36445009 PMCID: PMC9732823 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of dementia, currently represents an extremely challenging and unmet medical need worldwide. Amyloid-β (Aβ) and Tau proteins are prototypical AD hallmarks, as well as validated drug targets. Accumulating evidence now suggests that they synergistically contribute to disease pathogenesis. This could not only help explain negative results from anti-Aβ clinical trials but also indicate that therapies solely directed at one of them may have to be reconsidered. Based on this, herein, we describe the development of a focused library of 2,4-thiazolidinedione (TZD)-based bivalent derivatives as dual Aβ and Tau aggregation inhibitors. The aggregating activity of the 24 synthesized derivatives was tested in intact Escherichia coli cells overexpressing Aβ42 and Tau proteins. We then evaluated their neuronal toxicity and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), together with the in vitro interaction with the two isolated proteins. Finally, the most promising (most active, nontoxic, and BBB-permeable) compounds 22 and 23 were tested in vivo, in a Drosophila melanogaster model of AD. The carbazole derivative 22 (20 μM) showed extremely encouraging results, being able to improve both the lifespan and the climbing abilities of Aβ42 expressing flies and generating a better outcome than doxycycline (50 μM). Moreover, 22 proved to be able to decrease Aβ42 aggregates in the brains of the flies. We conclude that bivalent small molecules based on 22 deserve further attention as hits for dual Aβ/Tau aggregation inhibition in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annachiara Gandini
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy,Department
of Neuroscience, Laboratory of Prion Biology, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, I-34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Ana Elisa Gonçalves
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy,Pharmaceutical
Sciences Postgraduate Program, Center of Health Sciences, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Rua Uruguai 458, 88302-202Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Silvia Strocchi
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudia Albertini
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy
| | - Jana Janočková
- Biomedical
Research Center, University Hospital Hradec
Kralove, 500 00Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Tramarin
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Grifoni
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy,Department
of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, Via Vetoio, Coppito II, 67100L’Aquila, Italy
| | - Eleonora Poeta
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy
| | - Ondrej Soukup
- Biomedical
Research Center, University Hospital Hradec
Kralove, 500 00Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory
of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy
and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Monti
- Pharmaceutical
Sciences Postgraduate Program, Center of Health Sciences, Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, Rua Uruguai 458, 88302-202Itajaí, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry,
Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University
of Barcelona, Av Joan
XXIII 27-31, E-08028Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Department
of Neuroscience, Laboratory of Prion Biology, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, I-34136Trieste, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department
of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater
Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126Bologna, Italy,. Tel: +39 0512099718
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6
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Wichur T, Pasieka A, Godyń J, Panek D, Góral I, Latacz G, Honkisz-Orzechowska E, Bucki A, Siwek A, Głuch-Lutwin M, Knez D, Brazzolotto X, Gobec S, Kołaczkowski M, Sabate R, Malawska B, Więckowska A. Discovery of 1-(phenylsulfonyl)-1H-indole-based multifunctional ligands targeting cholinesterases and 5-HT 6 receptor with anti-aggregation properties against amyloid-beta and tau. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113783. [PMID: 34461507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Multifunctional ligands as an essential variant of polypharmacology are promising candidates for the treatment of multi-factorial diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Based on clinical evidence and following the paradigm of multifunctional ligands we have rationally designed and synthesized a series of compounds targeting processes involved in the development of the disease. The biological evaluation led to the discovery of two compounds with favorable pharmacological characteristics and ADMET profile. Compounds 17 and 35 are 5-HT6R antagonists (Ki = 13 nM and Ki = 15 nM respectively) and cholinesterase inhibitors with distinct mechanisms of enzyme inhibition. Compound 17, a tacrine derivative is a reversible inhibitor of acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 8 nM and IC50 = 24 nM respectively), while compound 35 with rivastigmine-derived phenyl N-ethyl-N-methylcarbamate fragment is a selective, pseudo-irreversible inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 455 nM). Both compounds inhibit aggregation of amyloid β in vitro (75% for compound 17 and 68% for 35 at 10 μM) moreover, compound 35 is a potent tau aggregation inhibitor in cellulo (79%). In ADMET in vitro studies both compounds showed acceptable metabolic stability on mouse liver microsomes (28% and 60% for compound 17 and 35 respectively), no or little effect on CYP3A4 and 2D6 up to a concentration of 10 μM and lack of toxicity on HepG2 cell line (IC50 values of 80 and 21 μM, for 17 and 35 respectively). Based on the pharmacological characteristics and favorable pharmacokinetic properties, we propose compounds 17 and 35 as an excellent starting point for further optimization and in-depth biological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Wichur
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Pasieka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Godyń
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Izabella Góral
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Gniewomir Latacz
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Adam Bucki
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Siwek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Monika Głuch-Lutwin
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Damijan Knez
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Xavier Brazzolotto
- Département de Toxicologie et Risques Chimiques, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées, 91223 Brétigny sur Orge, France
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marcin Kołaczkowski
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Kraków, Poland.
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7
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From virtual screening hits targeting a cryptic pocket in BACE-1 to a nontoxic brain permeable multitarget anti-Alzheimer lead with disease-modifying and cognition-enhancing effects. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 225:113779. [PMID: 34418785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Starting from six potential hits identified in a virtual screening campaign directed to a cryptic pocket of BACE-1, at the edge of the catalytic cleft, we have synthesized and evaluated six hybrid compounds, designed to simultaneously reach BACE-1 secondary and catalytic sites and to exert additional activities of interest for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We have identified a lead compound with potent in vitro activity towards human BACE-1 and cholinesterases, moderate Aβ42 and tau antiaggregating activity, and brain permeability, which is nontoxic in neuronal cells and zebrafish embryos at concentrations above those required for the in vitro activities. This compound completely restored short- and long-term memory in a mouse model of AD (SAMP8) relative to healthy control strain SAMR1, shifted APP processing towards the non-amyloidogenic pathway, reduced tau phosphorylation, and increased the levels of synaptic proteins PSD95 and synaptophysin, thereby emerging as a promising disease-modifying, cognition-enhancing anti-AD lead.
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8
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Pasieka A, Panek D, Szałaj N, Espargaró A, Więckowska A, Malawska B, Sabaté R, Bajda M. Dual Inhibitors of Amyloid-β and Tau Aggregation with Amyloid-β Disaggregating Properties: Extended In Cellulo, In Silico, and Kinetic Studies of Multifunctional Anti-Alzheimer's Agents. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:2057-2068. [PMID: 34019757 PMCID: PMC8291496 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
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In Alzheimer’s
disease, neurons slowly degenerate due to
the accumulation of misfolded amyloid β and tau proteins. In
our research, we performed extended studies directed at amyloid β
and tau aggregation inhibition using in cellulo (Escherichia coli model of protein aggregation), in silico, and in vitro kinetic studies.
We tested our library of 1-benzylamino-2-hydroxyalkyl multifunctional
anti-Alzheimer’s agents and identified very potent dual aggregation
inhibitors. Among the tested derivatives, we selected compound 18, which exhibited a unique profile of biological activity.
This compound was the most potent and balanced dual aggregation inhibitor
(Aβ42 inhibition (inh.) 80.0%, tau inh. 68.3% in
10 μM), with previously reported in vitro inhibitory
activity against hBuChE, hBACE1,
and Aβ (hBuChE IC50 = 5.74 μM; hBACE1 IC50 = 41.6 μM; Aβ aggregation
(aggr.) inh. IC50 = 3.09 μM). In docking studies
for both proteins, we tried to explain the different structural requirements
for the inhibition of Aβ vs tau. Moreover, docking and kinetic
studies showed that compound 18 could inhibit the amyloid
aggregation process at several steps and also displayed disaggregating
properties. These results may help to design the next generations
of dual or selective aggregation inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pasieka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Natalia Szałaj
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marek Bajda
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688 Krakow, Poland
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9
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Szałaj N, Godyń J, Jończyk J, Pasieka A, Panek D, Wichur T, Więckowski K, Zaręba P, Bajda M, Pislar A, Malawska B, Sabate R, Więckowska A. Multidirectional in vitro and in cellulo studies as a tool for identification of multi-target-directed ligands aiming at symptoms and causes of Alzheimer's disease. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 35:1944-1952. [PMID: 33092411 PMCID: PMC7594877 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1835882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires treatment with a combination of drugs that modulate various pathomechanisms contributing to the disease. In our research, we have focused on the development of multi-target-directed ligands - 5-HT6 receptor antagonists and cholinesterase inhibitors - with disease-modifying properties. We have performed extended in vitro (FRET assay) and in cellulo (Escherichia coli model of protein aggregation) studies on their β-secretase, tau, and amyloid β aggregation inhibitory activity. Within these multifunctional ligands, we have identified compound 17 with inhibitory potency against tau and amyloid β aggregation in in cellulo assay of 59% and 56% at 10 µM, respectively, hBACE IC50=4 µM, h5TH6 K i=94 nM, hAChE IC50=26 nM, and eqBuChE IC50=5 nM. This study led to the development of multifunctional ligands with a broad range of biological activities crucial not only for the symptomatic but also for the disease-modifying treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Szałaj
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Godyń
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jakub Jończyk
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Pasieka
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Dawid Panek
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wichur
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Więckowski
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Paula Zaręba
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Marek Bajda
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anja Pislar
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Department of Physicochemical Drug Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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10
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Purgatorio R, Gambacorta N, Catto M, de Candia M, Pisani L, Espargaró A, Sabaté R, Cellamare S, Nicolotti O, Altomare CD. Pharmacophore Modeling and 3D-QSAR Study of Indole and Isatin Derivatives as Antiamyloidogenic Agents Targeting Alzheimer's Disease. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235773. [PMID: 33297547 PMCID: PMC7731220 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-six novel indole-containing compounds, mainly 3-(2-phenylhydrazono) isatins and structurally related 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde derivatives, were synthesized and assayed as inhibitors of beta amyloid (Aβ) aggregation, a hallmark of pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. The newly synthesized molecules spanned their IC50 values from sub- to two-digit micromolar range, bearing further information into structure-activity relationships. Some of the new compounds showed interesting multitarget activity, by inhibiting monoamine oxidases A and B. A cell-based assay in tau overexpressing bacterial cells disclosed a promising additional activity of some derivatives against tau aggregation. The accumulated data of either about ninety published and thirty-six newly synthesized molecules were used to generate a pharmacophore hypothesis of antiamyloidogenic activity exerted in a wide range of potencies, satisfactorily discriminating the ‘active’ compounds from the ‘inactive’ (poorly active) ones. An atom-based 3D-QSAR model was also derived for about 80% of ‘active’ compounds, i.e., those achieving finite IC50 values lower than 100 μM. The 3D-QSAR model (encompassing 4 PLS factors), featuring acceptable predictive statistics either in the training set (n = 45, q2 = 0.596) and in the external test set (n = 14, r2ext = 0.695), usefully complemented the pharmacophore model by identifying the physicochemical features mainly correlated with the Aβ anti-aggregating potency of the indole and isatin derivatives studied herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Purgatorio
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Nicola Gambacorta
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Marco Catto
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-080-544-2780
| | - Modesto de Candia
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Leonardo Pisani
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.E.); (R.S.)
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain; (A.E.); (R.S.)
| | - Saverio Cellamare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
| | - Cosimo D. Altomare
- Department of Pharmacy-Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; (R.P.); (N.G.); (M.d.C.); (L.P.); (S.C.); (O.N.); (C.D.A.)
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11
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Pérez-Areales FJ, Garrido M, Aso E, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Espargaró A, Ginex T, Sabate R, Pérez B, Andrisano V, Puigoriol-Illamola D, Pallàs M, Luque FJ, Loza MI, Brea J, Ferrer I, Ciruela F, Messeguer A, Muñoz-Torrero D. Centrally Active Multitarget Anti-Alzheimer Agents Derived from the Antioxidant Lead CR-6. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9360-9390. [PMID: 32706255 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor in Alzheimer's disease, but it should not be tackled alone rather together with other key targets to derive effective treatments. The combination of the scaffold of the polar antioxidant lead 7-methoxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-6-ol (CR-6) with that of the lipophilic cholinesterase inhibitor 6-chlorotacrine results in compounds with favorable brain permeability and multiple activities in vitro (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE-1), and Aβ42 and tau aggregation inhibition). In in vivo studies on wild-type and APP/presenilin 1 (PS1) mice, two selected compounds were well tolerated and led to positive trends, albeit statistically nonsignificant in some cases, on memory performance, amyloid pathology (reduced amyloid burden and potentiated non-amyloidogenic APP processing), and oxidative stress (reduced cortical oxidized proteins and increased antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), and heme oxygenase 1 (Hmox1) and transcription factor nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)). These compounds emerge as interesting brain-permeable multitarget compounds, with a potential as anti-Alzheimer agents beyond that of the original lead CR-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Garrido
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Aso
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, IBUB, and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, I-47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Dolors Puigoriol-Illamola
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercè Pallàs
- Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Neuroscience (NeuroUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Gastronomy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, IBUB, and Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry (IQTC), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08921 Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - María Isabel Loza
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - José Brea
- BioFarma Research Group, Centro Singular de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Av. de Barcelona s/n, E-15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,CIBERNED, E-28031 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Ciruela
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Neurosciences Institute, University of Barcelona (UB) and Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, E-08908 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Angel Messeguer
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona (UB), E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Wichur T, Więckowska A, Więckowski K, Godyń J, Jończyk J, Valdivieso ÁDR, Panek D, Pasieka A, Sabaté R, Knez D, Gobec S, Malawska B. 1-Benzylpyrrolidine-3-amine-based BuChE inhibitors with anti-aggregating, antioxidant and metal-chelating properties as multifunctional agents against Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 187:111916. [PMID: 31812794 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Complex pathomechanism of Alzheimer's disease (AD) prompts researchers to develop multifunctional molecules in order to find effective therapy against AD. We designed and synthesized novel multifunctional ligands for which we assessed their activities towards butyrylcholinesterase, beta secretase, amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau protein aggregation as well as antioxidant and metal-chelating properties. All compounds showed dual anti-aggregating properties towards Aβ and tau protein in the in cellulo assay in Escherichia coli. Of particular interest are compounds 24b and 25b, which efficiently inhibit aggregation of Aβ and tau protein at 10 μM (24b: 45% for Aβ, 53% for tau; 25b: 49% for Aβ, 54% for tau). They display free radical scavenging capacity and antioxidant activity in ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively, and selectively chelate copper ions. Compounds 24b and 25b are also the most potent inhibitors of BuChE with IC50 of 2.39 μM and 1.94 μM, respectively. Promising in vitro activities of the presented multifunctional ligands as well as their original scaffold are a very interesting starting point for further research towards effective anti-AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Wichur
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Więckowska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Więckowski
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Justyna Godyń
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jakub Jończyk
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Dawid Panek
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Pasieka
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Av Joan XXIII, S/N, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Damijan Knez
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Pharmacy, Aškerčeva 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Barbara Malawska
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Medyczna 9, 30-688, Kraków, Poland.
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13
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Siano G, Caiazza MC, Ollà I, Varisco M, Madaro G, Quercioli V, Calvello M, Cattaneo A, Di Primio C. Identification of an ERK Inhibitor as a Therapeutic Drug Against Tau Aggregation in a New Cell-Based Assay. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:386. [PMID: 31496937 PMCID: PMC6712076 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of Tau aggregates is a common pathological feature of tauopathies and their accumulation directly correlates with cytotoxicity and neuronal degeneration. Great efforts have been made to understand Tau aggregation and to find therapeutics halting or reversing the process, however, progress has been slowed due to the lack of a suitable method for monitoring Tau aggregation. We developed a cell-based assay allowing to detect and quantify Tau aggregation in living cells. The system is based on the FRET biosensor CST able to monitor the molecular dynamic of Tau aggregation in different cellular conditions. We probed candidate compounds that could block Tau hyperphosphorylation. In particular, to foster the drug discovery process, we tested kinase inhibitors approved for the treatment of other diseases. We identified the ERK inhibitor PD-901 as a promising therapeutic molecule since it reduces and prevents Tau aggregation. This evidence establishes the CST cell-based aggregation assay as a reliable tool for drug discovery and suggests that PD-901 might be a promising compound to be tested for further preclinical studies on AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Siano
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Ivana Ollà
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Martina Varisco
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Madaro
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.,Neurotrophins and Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Rita Levi-Montalcini European Brain Research Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Di Primio
- Laboratorio di Biologia (BIO@SNS), Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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14
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Caballero AB, Espargaró A, Pont C, Busquets MA, Estelrich J, Muñoz-Torrero D, Gamez P, Sabate R. Bacterial Inclusion Bodies for Anti-Amyloid Drug Discovery: Current and Future Screening Methods. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2019; 20:563-576. [PMID: 30924417 DOI: 10.2174/1389203720666190329120007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 03/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation is linked to an increasing number of human disorders from nonneurological pathologies such as type-2 diabetes to neurodegenerative ones such as Alzheimer or Parkinson's diseases. Thirty-six human proteins have shown the capacity to aggregate into pathological amyloid structures. To date, it is widely accepted that amyloid folding/aggregation is a universal process present in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. In the last decade, several studies have unequivocally demonstrated that bacterial inclusion bodies - insoluble protein aggregates usually formed during heterologous protein overexpression in bacteria - are mainly composed of overexpressed proteins in amyloid conformation. This fact shows that amyloid-prone proteins display a similar aggregation propensity in humans and bacteria, opening the possibility to use bacteria as simple models to study amyloid aggregation process and the potential effect of both anti-amyloid drugs and pro-aggregative compounds. Under these considerations, several in vitro and in cellulo methods, which exploit the amyloid properties of bacterial inclusion bodies, have been proposed in the last few years. Since these new methods are fast, simple, inexpensive, highly reproducible, and tunable, they have aroused great interest as preliminary screening tools in the search for anti-amyloid (beta-blocker) drugs for conformational diseases. The aim of this mini-review is to compile recently developed methods aimed at tracking amyloid aggregation in bacteria, discussing their advantages and limitations, and the future potential applications of inclusion bodies in anti-amyloid drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Caballero
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Antònia Busquets
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Estelrich
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrick Gamez
- Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Pérez-Areales FJ, Turcu AL, Barniol-Xicota M, Pont C, Pivetta D, Espargaró A, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Andrisano V, Pérez B, Sabate R, Sureda FX, Vázquez S, Muñoz-Torrero D. A novel class of multitarget anti-Alzheimer benzohomoadamantane‒chlorotacrine hybrids modulating cholinesterases and glutamate NMDA receptors. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 180:613-626. [PMID: 31351393 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The development of multitarget compounds against multifactorial diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, is an area of very intensive research, due to the expected superior therapeutic efficacy that should arise from the simultaneous modulation of several key targets of the complex pathological network. Here we describe the synthesis and multitarget biological profiling of a new class of compounds designed by molecular hybridization of an NMDA receptor antagonist fluorobenzohomoadamantanamine with the potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor 6-chlorotacrine, using two different linker lengths and linkage positions, to preserve or not the memantine-like polycyclic unsubstituted primary amine. The best hybrids exhibit greater potencies than parent compounds against AChE (IC50 0.33 nM in the best case, 44-fold increased potency over 6-chlorotacrine), butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 21 nM in the best case, 24-fold increased potency over 6-chlorotacrine), and NMDA receptors (IC50 0.89 μM in the best case, 2-fold increased potency over the parent benzohomoadamantanamine and memantine), which suggests an additive effect of both pharmacophoric moieties in the interaction with the primary targets. Moreover, most of these compounds have been predicted to be brain permeable. This set of biological properties makes them promising leads for further anti-Alzheimer drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Javier Pérez-Areales
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andreea L Turcu
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Barniol-Xicota
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Deborah Pivetta
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, I-47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Corso D'Augusto 237, I-47921, Rimini, Italy
| | - Belén Pérez
- Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics, and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc X Sureda
- Pharmacology Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/St. Llorenç 21, E-43201, Reus, Spain
| | - Santiago Vázquez
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
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16
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Espargaró A, Pont C, Gamez P, Muñoz-Torrero D, Sabate R. Amyloid Pan-inhibitors: One Family of Compounds To Cope with All Conformational Diseases. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:1311-1317. [PMID: 30380841 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloids are ubiquitous protein aggregates sharing common internal structural features; they are present in all organisms, from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, where they play physiological or pathological roles. Importantly, amyloids, which are generated by aggregation of a range of distinct proteins, could be a key factor in a number of major human disorders, the so-called conformational diseases. Because all amyloids exhibit similar cross-β motifs, one may envisage that molecules capable of blocking the formation of β-sheet structures could abolish aggregation of all amyloid proteins, albeit with different efficacies. Herein, two different β-sheet blockers were tested against a selection of amyloidogenic proteins, encompassing all the major types of amyloid-based disorders. Analysis of their blocking efficiency, using a simple but contrasted cell-based screening procedure, unequivocally confirms that they indeed behave as aggregation pan-inhibitors. The significant inhibitory effects observed for these compounds against all tested amyloidogenic proteins could spur a broader biological evaluation of other known and new amyloid aggregation inhibitors to further determine the potential use of this class of compounds for the universal treatment of conformational diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Caterina Pont
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patrick Gamez
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), E-08010 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Muralidharan A, Josyula VR, Hariharapura RC. Exploring the potential of marine microbes in clinical management of Alzheimer's disease: A road map for bioprospecting and identifying promising isolates. Life Sci 2018; 208:149-160. [PMID: 30031811 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2018.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Pervasiveness of Alzheimer's disease (AD) across the globe is on rise, devitalizing the essential brain functions of the afflicted individual. Multiple neurological pathways viz., cholinergic, amyloidogenic and tau protein pathways underlying the disease and interdependence make it more complex to develop effective treatment strategies. Existing drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease majorly belong to the class of cholinergic inhibitors which improve the behavioral symptoms. But there are no drugs that could arrest the disease progression. Inhibition of beta secretase enzyme could prevent the deposition of amyloid plaques in the neurons, thereby arresting the disease progression. Search for novel drugs to treat the underlying pathogenesis of the disease is pivotal in this day and age. The source of most active lead molecules discovered recently is from the nature. Marine ecosystem provides a plethora of pharmacologically lead molecules from various living organisms inhabiting the sea. Among all, marine microbes are the most under-explored and indispensable source of many bioactive metabolites. Studies have been reported on potent metabolites from marine microbes which could inhibit the key enzymes involved in the AD pathogenesis. The advancement in microbial bioprospecting and molecular biology techniques have eased the process of cultivation and identification of microbes, isolation of novel bioactive metabolites of clinical use. Exploring such marine natural resources for pharmacological lead molecules could give a breakthrough in the drug discovery domain for treating AD such debilitating diseases. In this review, a comprehensive account of bioprospecting methods and reports of marine microbial isolates are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuraag Muralidharan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Udupi, Karnataka, India
| | - Venkata Rao Josyula
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Udupi, Karnataka, India.
| | - Raghu Chandrashekhar Hariharapura
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104 Udupi, Karnataka, India
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18
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Kaur G, Kapoor S, Thakur KG. Bacillus subtilis HelD, an RNA Polymerase Interacting Helicase, Forms Amyloid-Like Fibrils. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1934. [PMID: 30186259 PMCID: PMC6111841 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
HelD, an RNA polymerase binding protein from Bacillus subtilis, stimulates transcription and helps in timely adaptation of cells under diverse environmental conditions. At present, no structural information is available for HelD. In the current study, we performed size exclusion chromatography coupled to small angle X-ray scattering (SEC-SAXS) which suggests that HelD is predominantly monomeric and globular in solution. Using combination of size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation, we also show that HelD has a tendency to form higher order oligomers in solution. CD experiments suggest that HelD has both α-helical (∼35%) and β sheet (∼26%) secondary structural elements. Thermal melting experiments suggest that even at 90°C, there is only about 30% loss in secondary structural contents with Tm of 44°C. However, with the increase in temperature, there was a gain in the β-sheet content and significant irreversible loss of α-helical content. Using a combination of X-ray fiber diffraction analysis, and dye based assays including Thioflavin-T based fluorescence and Congo red binding assays, we discovered that HelD forms amyloid-like fibrils at physiologically relevant conditions in vitro. Using confocal imaging, we further show that HelD forms amyloid inclusions in Escherichia coli. Bioinformatics-based sequence analysis performed using three independent web-based servers suggests that HelD has more than 20 hot-spots spread across the sequence that may aid the formation of amyloid-like fibrils. This discovery adds one more member to the growing list of amyloid or amyloid-like fibril forming cytosolic proteins in bacteria. Future studies aimed at resolving the function of amyloid-like fibrils or amyloid inclusions may help better understand their role, if any, in the bacterial physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gundeep Kaur
- Structural Biology Laboratory, G. N. Ramachandran Protein Centre, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Srajan Kapoor
- Structural Biology Laboratory, G. N. Ramachandran Protein Centre, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Krishan G Thakur
- Structural Biology Laboratory, G. N. Ramachandran Protein Centre, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
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19
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis CarD, an essential global transcriptional regulator forms amyloid-like fibrils. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10124. [PMID: 29973616 PMCID: PMC6031611 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28290-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
CarD is an essential global transcription regulator from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) that binds RNA polymerase and activates transcription by stabilizing the transcription initiation complex. Available crystal structures have captured two distinct, monomeric and domain-swapped homodimeric, oligomeric states of CarD. However, the actual oligomeric state of CarD in solution and its biological relevance has remained unclear. Here, we confirm the presence of the homodimeric state of CarD in solution by using synchrotron-based small-angle X-ray scattering. Furthermore, by using biochemical and biophysical experiments, in addition to mass-spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal imaging, we show that CarD is the first soluble cytosolic protein in Mtb which displays the tendency to form amyloid-like fibrils both in vitro as well as in vivo. We demonstrate that the deletion of the fourteen N-terminal residues involved in domain-swapping hampers amyloid formation, thus, suggesting that domain-swapping is crucial in amyloidogenesis. The discovery of the amyloidogenic property of an essential cytosolic global transcription regulator, CarD, in a pathogenic bacteria will further open up new frontiers in research.
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20
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Advances toward multifunctional cholinesterase and β-amyloid aggregation inhibitors. Future Med Chem 2017; 9:1835-1854. [PMID: 28925729 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of a multitarget design approach in the development of new potential anti-Alzheimer's disease agents has resulted in the discovery of many multifunctional compounds focusing on various targets. Among them the largest group comprises inhibitors of both cholinesterases, with additional anti-β-amyloid aggregation activity. This review describes recent advances in this research area and presents the most interesting compounds reported over a 2-year span (2015-2016). The majority of hybrids possess heterodimeric structures obtained by linking structurally active fragments interacting with different targets. Multipotent cholinesterase inhibitors with β-amyloid antiaggregating activity may additionally possess antioxidative, neuroprotective or metal-chelating properties or less common features such as anti-β-secretase or τ-antiaggregation activity.
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21
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Jouanne M, Rault S, Voisin-Chiret AS. Tau protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease: An attractive target for the development of novel therapeutic agents. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 139:153-167. [PMID: 28800454 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.07.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder in which many biological dysfunctions are involved. Among them, two main types of lesions were discovered and widely studied: the amyloid plaques and the neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). These two lesions are caused by the dysfunction and the accumulation of two proteins which are, respectively, the beta-amyloid peptide and the tau protein. The process that leads these two proteins to aggregate is complex and is the subject of current studies. After a brief description of the aggregation mechanisms, we will provide an overview of new therapeutic agents targeting the different dysfunctions and toxic species found during aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Jouanne
- Université Caen Normandie, France; UNICAEN, CERMN - EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, SF 4206 ICORE, bd Becquerel, F-14032 Caen, France
| | - Sylvain Rault
- Université Caen Normandie, France; UNICAEN, CERMN - EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, SF 4206 ICORE, bd Becquerel, F-14032 Caen, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Voisin-Chiret
- Université Caen Normandie, France; UNICAEN, CERMN - EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, SF 4206 ICORE, bd Becquerel, F-14032 Caen, France.
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22
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Simoni E, Serafini MM, Caporaso R, Marchetti C, Racchi M, Minarini A, Bartolini M, Lanni C, Rosini M. Targeting the Nrf2/Amyloid-Beta Liaison in Alzheimer's Disease: A Rational Approach. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:1618-1627. [PMID: 28421738 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyloid is a prominent feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Yet, a linear linkage between amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) and the disease onset and progression has recently been questioned. In this context, the crucial partnership between Aβ and Nrf2 pathways is acquiring paramount importance, offering prospects for deciphering the Aβ-centered disease network. Here, we report on a new class of antiaggregating agents rationally designed to simultaneously activate transcription-based antioxidant responses, whose lead 1 showed interesting properties in a preliminary investigation. Relying on the requirements of Aβ recognition, we identified the catechol derivative 12. In SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, 12 combined remarkable free radical scavenger properties to the ability to trigger the Nrf2 pathway and induce the Nrf2-dependent defensive gene NQO1 by means of electrophilic activation of the transcriptional response. Moreover, 12 prevented the formation of cytotoxic stable oligomeric intermediates, being significantly more effective, and per se less toxic, than prototype 1. More importantly, as different chemical features were exploited to regulate Nrf2 and Aβ activities, the two pathways could be tuned independently. These findings point to compound 12 and its derivatives as promising tools for investigating the therapeutic potential of the Nrf2/Aβ cellular network, laying foundation for generating new drug leads to confront AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Simoni
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Melania M. Serafini
- Department of Drug Sciences (Pharmacology
Section), University of Pavia, V.le Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
- Scuola Universitaria Superiore IUSS Pavia, P.zza Vittoria, 15, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Roberta Caporaso
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Marchetti
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Racchi
- Department of Drug Sciences (Pharmacology
Section), University of Pavia, V.le Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Anna Minarini
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristina Lanni
- Department of Drug Sciences (Pharmacology
Section), University of Pavia, V.le Taramelli 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Michela Rosini
- Department of Pharmacy
and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro
6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Design, synthesis and multitarget biological profiling of second-generation anti-Alzheimer rhein-huprine hybrids. Future Med Chem 2017. [PMID: 28632395 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Simultaneous modulation of several key targets of the pathological network of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is being increasingly pursued as a promising option to fill the critical gap of efficacious drugs against this condition. MATERIALS & METHODS A short series of compounds purported to hit multiple targets of relevance in AD has been designed, on the basis of their distinct basicities estimated from high-level quantum mechanical computations, synthesized, and subjected to assays of inhibition of cholinesterases, BACE-1, and Aβ42 and tau aggregation, of antioxidant activity, and of brain permeation. RESULTS Using, as a template, a lead rhein-huprine hybrid with an interesting multitarget profile, we have developed second-generation compounds, designed by the modification of the huprine aromatic ring. Replacement by [1,8]-naphthyridine or thieno[3,2-e]pyridine systems resulted in decreased, although still potent, acetylcholinesterase or BACE-1 inhibitory activities, which are more balanced relative to their Aβ42 and tau antiaggregating and antioxidant activities. CONCLUSION Second-generation naphthyridine- and thienopyridine-based rhein-huprine hybrids emerge as interesting brain permeable compounds that hit several crucial pathogenic factors of AD.
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Espargaró A, Ginex T, Vadell MDM, Busquets MA, Estelrich J, Muñoz-Torrero D, Luque FJ, Sabate R. Combined in Vitro Cell-Based/in Silico Screening of Naturally Occurring Flavonoids and Phenolic Compounds as Potential Anti-Alzheimer Drugs. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2017; 80:278-289. [PMID: 28128562 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.6b00643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in people over 65 years. One of the major culprits in AD is the self-aggregation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), which has stimulated the search for small molecules able to inhibit Aβ aggregation. In this context, we recently reported a simple, but effective in vitro cell-based assay to evaluate the potential antiaggregation activity of putative Aβ aggregation inhibitors. In this work this assay was used together with docking and molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the anti-Aβ aggregation activity of several naturally occurring flavonoids and phenolic compounds. The results showed that rosmarinic acid, melatonin, and o-vanillin displayed zero or low inhibitory capacity, curcumin was found to have an intermediate inhibitory potency, and apigenin and quercetin showed potent antiaggregation activity. Finally, the suitability of the combined in vitro cell-based/in silico approach to distinguish between active and inactive compounds was further assessed for an additional set of flavonols and dihydroflavonols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Espargaró
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tiziana Ginex
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences, and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona , Prat de la Riba 171, E-08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Maria Del Mar Vadell
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria A Busquets
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Estelrich
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (CSIC Associated Unit), School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Biomedicine (IBUB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Javier Luque
- Department of Nutrition, Food Sciences, and Gastronomy, School of Pharmacy and Institute of Biomedicine, Campus Torribera, University of Barcelona , Prat de la Riba 171, E-08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabate
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical-Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (IN2UB), University of Barcelona , E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Xu L, Zheng J, Margittai M, Nussinov R, Ma B. How Does Hyperphopsphorylation Promote Tau Aggregation and Modulate Filament Structure and Stability? ACS Chem Neurosci 2016; 7:565-75. [PMID: 26854860 PMCID: PMC7831686 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.5b00294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tau proteins are hyperphosphorylated at common sites in their N- and C-terminal domains in at least three neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson, dementia with Lewy bodies, and Alzheimer's, suggesting specific pathology but general mechanism. Full-length human tau filament comprises a rigid core and a two-layered fuzzy coat. Tau is categorized into two groups of isoforms, with either four repeats (R1-R4) or three repeats (R1, R3, and R4); their truncated constructs are respectively called K18 and K19. Using multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, we explored the conformational consequences of hyperhposphorylation on tau's repeats. Our lower conformational energy filament models suggest a rigid filament core with a radius of ∼30 to 40 Å and an outer layer with a thickness of ∼140 Å consisting of a double-layered polyelectrolyte. The presence of the phosphorylated terminal domains alters the relative stabilities in the K18 ensemble, thus shifting the populations of the full-length filaments. However, the structure with the straight repeats in the core region is still the most stable, similar to the truncated K18 peptide species without the N- and C-terminus. Our simulations across different scales of resolution consistently reveal that hyperphosphorylation of the two terminal domains decreases the attractive interactions among the N- and C-terminus and repeat domain. To date, the relationship on the conformational level between phosphorylation and aggregation has not been understood. Our results suggest that the exposure of the repeat domain upon hyperphosphorylation could enhance tau filament aggregation. Thus, we discovered that even though these neurodegenerative diseases vary and their associated tau filaments are phosphorylated to different extents, remarkably, the three pathologies appear to share a common tau aggregation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xu
- School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio 44325, United States
| | - Martin Margittai
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208, United States
| | - Ruth Nussinov
- Sackler Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Basic Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Buyong Ma
- Basic Research Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Cancer and Inflammation Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, NCI, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
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26
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Natural Xanthones from Garcinia mangostana with Multifunctional Activities for the Therapy of Alzheimer’s Disease. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:1806-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1896-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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27
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Ultra rapid in vivo screening for anti-Alzheimer anti-amyloid drugs. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23349. [PMID: 27000658 PMCID: PMC4802339 DOI: 10.1038/srep23349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 46 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. A
large number of potential treatments have been proposed; among these, the inhibition
of the aggregation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ), considered one
of the main culprits in Alzheimer’s disease. Limitations in monitoring
the aggregation of Aβ in cells and tissues restrict the screening of
anti-amyloid drugs to in vitro studies in most cases. We have developed a
simple but powerful method to track Aβ aggregation in vivo in
real-time, using bacteria as in vivo amyloid reservoir. We use the specific
amyloid dye Thioflavin-S (Th-S) to stain bacterial inclusion bodies (IBs), in this
case mainly formed of Aβ in amyloid conformation. Th-S binding to
amyloids leads to an increment of fluorescence that can be monitored. The
quantification of the Th-S fluorescence along the time allows tracking
Aβ aggregation and the effect of potential anti-aggregating agents.
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Mammalian prion protein (PrP) forms conformationally different amyloid intracellular aggregates in bacteria. Microb Cell Fact 2015; 14:174. [PMID: 26536866 PMCID: PMC4634817 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-015-0361-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 10/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background An increasing number of proteins are being shown to assemble into amyloid structures that lead to pathological states. Among them, mammalian prions outstand due to their ability to transmit the pathogenic conformation, becoming thus infectious. The structural conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), into its misfolded pathogenic form (PrPSc) is the central event of prion-driven pathologies. The study of the structural properties of intracellular amyloid aggregates in general and of prion-like ones in particular is a challenging task. In this context, the evidence that the inclusion bodies formed by amyloid proteins in bacteria display amyloid-like structural and functional properties make them a privileged system to model intracellular amyloid aggregation. Results Here we provide the first demonstration that recombinant murine PrP and its C-terminal domain (90–231) attain amyloid conformations inside bacteria. Moreover, the inclusions formed by these two PrP proteins display conformational diversity, since they differ in fibril morphology, binding affinity to amyloid dyes, stability, resistance to proteinase K digestion and neurotoxicity. Conclusions Overall, our results suggest that modelling PrP amyloid formation in microbial cell factories might open an avenue for a better understanding of the structural features modulating the pathogenic impact of this intriguing protein. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-015-0361-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Navarro S, Carija A, Muñoz-Torrero D, Ventura S. A fast and specific method to screen for intracellular amyloid inhibitors using bacterial model systems. Eur J Med Chem 2015; 121:785-792. [PMID: 26608003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.10.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aggregation of a large variety of amyloidogenic proteins is linked to the onset of devastating human disorders. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective molecules able to modulate the aggregative properties of these polypeptides in their natural environment, in order to prevent, delay or halt the progression of such diseases. On the one hand, the complexity and cost of animal models make them inefficient at early stages of drug discovery, where large chemical libraries are usually screened. On the other hand, in vitro aggregation assays in aqueous solutions hardly reproduce (patho)physiological conditions. In this context, because the formation of insoluble aggregates in bacteria shares mechanistic and functional properties with amyloid self-assembly in higher organisms, they have emerged as a promising system to model aggregation in the cell. Here we show that bacteria provide a powerful and cost-effective system to screen for amyloid inhibitors using fluorescence spectroscopy and flow cytometry, thanks to the ability of the novel red fluorescent ProteoStat dye to detect specifically intracellular amyloid-like aggregates. We validated the approach using the Alzheimer's linked Aβ40 and Aβ42 peptides and tacrine- and huprine-based aggregation inhibitors. Overall, the present method bears the potential to replace classical in vitro anti-aggregation assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Navarro
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Anita Carija
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina and Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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Sola I, Aso E, Frattini D, López-González I, Espargaró A, Sabaté R, Di Pietro O, Luque FJ, Clos MV, Ferrer I, Muñoz-Torrero D. Novel Levetiracetam Derivatives That Are Effective against the Alzheimer-like Phenotype in Mice: Synthesis, in Vitro, ex Vivo, and in Vivo Efficacy Studies. J Med Chem 2015; 58:6018-32. [PMID: 26181606 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We have synthesized a series of heptamethylene-linked levetiracetam-huprine and levetiracetam-(6-chloro)tacrine hybrids to hit amyloid, tau, and cholinergic pathologies as well as β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced epileptiform activity, some of the mechanisms that eventually lead to cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease patients. These hybrids are potent inhibitors of human acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase in vitro and moderately potent Aβ42 and tau antiaggregating agents in a simple E. coli model of amyloid aggregation. Ex vivo determination of the brain acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of these compounds after intraperitoneal injection to C57BL6J mice has demonstrated their ability to enter the brain. The levetiracetam-huprine hybrid 10 significantly reduced the incidence of epileptic seizures, cortical amyloid burden, and neuroinflammation in APP/PS1 mice after a 4-week treatment with a 5 mg/kg dose. Moreover, the hybrid 10 rescued transgenic mice from cognitive deficits, thereby emerging as an interesting disease-modifying anti-Alzheimer drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Sola
- †Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Aso
- ‡Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.,§CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Carlos III, Spain
| | - Daniela Frattini
- †Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene López-González
- ‡Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.,§CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Carlos III, Spain
| | - Alba Espargaró
- ∥Departament de Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- ∥Departament de Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ornella Di Pietro
- †Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Javier Luque
- ⊥Departament de Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia (Campus Torribera), and IBUB, Universitat de Barcelona, Prat de la Riba 171, E-08921, Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain
| | - M Victòria Clos
- #Departament de Farmacologia, de Terapèutica, i de Toxicologia, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- ‡Institut de Neuropatologia, Servei d'Anatomia Patològica, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain.,§CIBERNED, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto Carlos III, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- †Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, and Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
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31
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Navarro S, Marinelli P, Diaz-Caballero M, Ventura S. The prion-like RNA-processing protein HNRPDL forms inherently toxic amyloid-like inclusion bodies in bacteria. Microb Cell Fact 2015; 14:102. [PMID: 26160665 PMCID: PMC4498515 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-015-0284-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The formation of protein inclusions is connected to the onset of many human diseases. Human RNA binding proteins containing intrinsically disordered regions with an amino acid composition resembling those of yeast prion domains, like TDP-43 or FUS, are being found to aggregate in different neurodegenerative disorders. The structure of the intracellular inclusions formed by these proteins is still unclear and whether these deposits have an amyloid nature or not is a matter of debate. Recently, the aggregation of TDP-43 has been modelled in bacteria, showing that TDP-43 inclusion bodies (IBs) are amorphous but intrinsically neurotoxic. This observation raises the question of whether it is indeed the lack of an ordered structure in these human prion-like protein aggregates the underlying cause of their toxicity in different pathological states. Results Here we characterize the IBs formed by the human prion-like RNA-processing protein HNRPDL. HNRPDL is linked to the development of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 1G and shares domain architecture with TDP-43. We show that HNRPDL IBs display characteristic amyloid hallmarks, since these aggregates bind to amyloid dyes in vitro and inside the cell, they are enriched in intermolecular β-sheet conformation and contain inner amyloid-like fibrillar structure. In addition, despite their ordered structure, HNRPDL IBs are highly neurotoxic. Conclusions Our results suggest that at least some of the disorders caused by the aggregation of human prion-like proteins would rely on the formation of classical amyloid assemblies rather than being caused by amorphous aggregates. They also illustrate the power of microbial cell factories to model amyloid aggregation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12934-015-0284-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Navarro
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Patrizia Marinelli
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Marta Diaz-Caballero
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Salvador Ventura
- Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Barcelona, Spain.
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Wang R, Zhao J, Zhang J, Liu W, Zhao M, Li J, Lv J, Li Y. Effect of lysosomal and ubiquitin-proteasome system dysfunction on the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein in PC12 cells. Exp Ther Med 2015; 9:2088-2094. [PMID: 26136940 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2015.2432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lysosomal and ubiquitin-proteasome system dysfunction on the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein, and to analyze its role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). PC12 cells subjected to nerve growth factor-induced differentiation were used as the cell model to study the dopaminergic neurons, and the lysosomal and proteasomal inhibitors trans-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-(4-guanidino) butane (E64) and, respectively, were used exclusively and in combination to treat the PC12 cells. The viability and metabolic state of the cells was assessed using the MTT assay; flow cytometry was used to measure the rate of cell apoptosis; and the double immunofluorescence method was applied to observe the formation of thioflavin S- and α-synuclein protein-positive aggregates and inclusion bodies in the PC12 cells. In addition, the Hoechst 33258 staining method was used to observe the apoptosis of the α-synuclein protein and thioflavin-S double-labeled cells. Following the administration of the lysosomal and proteasomal pathway inhibitors, the cell viability decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and the cell apoptosis rate increased. The proportion of PC12 cells with α-synuclein protein-positive aggregates and inclusion bodies in the E64 group was 7.94%, compared with 20.33 and 36.77% in the lactacystin and combination treatment groups, respectively. Statistical analysis indicated that the number of inclusion body-positive cells in the treatment groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (3.78%) (P<0.05). Apoptosis was evident in the double-positive cells with α-synuclein protein-positive inclusion bodies (17.29±1.54%). In conclusion, lysosomal and proteasomal dysfunction may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD through the induction of abnormal α-synuclein protein aggregation in dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runqing Wang
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Jie Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Jiewen Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, P.R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Meiying Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Jiangtao Li
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Juan Lv
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
| | - Yanan Li
- Department of Neurology, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450007, P.R. China
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Lim S, Haque MM, Kim D, Kim DJ, Kim YK. Cell-based Models To Investigate Tau Aggregation. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2014; 12:7-13. [PMID: 25505502 PMCID: PMC4262059 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2014] [Revised: 09/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of abnormal tau aggregates in neuron is an important pathological signature in multiple neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Tau is a neuron specific microtubule-associated protein that regulates microtubule stability, which is critical for axonal outgrowth and synaptic plasticity. In a pathological condition, tau dissociates from microtubules and forms insoluble aggregates called neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The accumulation of NFTs in neuron directly correlates with microtubule dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. Due to the pathophysiological importance of tau, great efforts have been made to understand tau aggregation processes and find therapeutics to halt or reverse the processes. However, progress has been slow due to the lack of a suitable method for monitoring tau aggregation. In this mini-review, we will review the conventional methods for studying tau aggregation, and introduce recent cell-based sensor approaches that allow monitoring tau aggregation in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsu Lim
- Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Md Mamunul Haque
- Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea ; Biological Chemistry, University of Science and Technology, Daejon 305-333, Republic of Korea
| | - Dohee Kim
- Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea ; Department of Biotechnology, Translational Research Center for Protein Function Control, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 120-749, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Jin Kim
- Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Kim
- Center for Neuro-medicine, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 136-791, Republic of Korea
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34
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Pérez-Areales FJ, Di Pietro O, Espargaró A, Vallverdú-Queralt A, Galdeano C, Ragusa IM, Viayna E, Guillou C, Clos MV, Pérez B, Sabaté R, Lamuela-Raventós RM, Luque FJ, Muñoz-Torrero D. Shogaol–huprine hybrids: Dual antioxidant and anticholinesterase agents with β-amyloid and tau anti-aggregating properties. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 22:5298-307. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.07.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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35
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Di Pietro O, Pérez-Areales FJ, Juárez-Jiménez J, Espargaró A, Clos MV, Pérez B, Lavilla R, Sabaté R, Luque FJ, Muñoz-Torrero D. Tetrahydrobenzo[h][1,6]naphthyridine-6-chlorotacrine hybrids as a new family of anti-Alzheimer agents targeting β-amyloid, tau, and cholinesterase pathologies. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 84:107-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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36
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Viayna E, Sola I, Bartolini M, De Simone A, Tapia-Rojas C, Serrano FG, Sabaté R, Juárez-Jiménez J, Pérez B, Luque FJ, Andrisano V, Clos MV, Inestrosa NC, Muñoz-Torrero D. Synthesis and Multitarget Biological Profiling of a Novel Family of Rhein Derivatives As Disease-Modifying Anti-Alzheimer Agents. J Med Chem 2014; 57:2549-67. [DOI: 10.1021/jm401824w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabet Viayna
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat
Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina
(IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Sola
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat
Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina
(IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manuela Bartolini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela De Simone
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, I-47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Centro de Envejecimiento
y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular
y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, 8331150 Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe G. Serrano
- Centro de Envejecimiento
y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular
y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, 8331150 Santiago, Chile
| | - Raimon Sabaté
- Departament de Fisicoquímica,
Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Nanociència
i Nanotecnologia (IN2UB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Juárez-Jiménez
- Institut de Biomedicina
(IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Fisicoquímica,
Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén Pérez
- Departament de Farmacologia,
de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F. Javier Luque
- Institut de Biomedicina
(IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Fisicoquímica,
Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vincenza Andrisano
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Corso d’Augusto 237, I-47921 Rimini, Italy
| | - M. Victòria Clos
- Departament de Farmacologia,
de Terapèutica i de Toxicologia, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nibaldo C. Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento
y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular
y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Alameda 340, 8331150 Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Muñoz-Torrero
- Laboratori de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat
Associada al CSIC), Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII 27-31, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Biomedicina
(IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain
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