scholarly journals Potential of phenothiazines to synergistically block calmodulin and reactivate PP2A in cancer cells

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunday Okutachi ◽  
Ganesh babu Manoharan ◽  
Daniel Abankwa
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Mapk Pathway ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Monoamine Neurotransmitter ◽  
Braf Mutations ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Phosphatase 2A ◽  
Bret Assay

Phenothiazines (PTZ) are well known as inhibitors of monoamine neurotransmitter receptors, notably dopamine receptors. Because of this activity they are used for decades as antipsychotic drugs. In addition, significant anti-cancer properties have been ascribed to them. Several attempts for their repurposing were made, however, their incompletely understood polypharmacology is challenging. Here we examined the potential of PTZ to synergistically act on two cancer associated targets, calmodulin (CaM) and the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). Both proteins are known to modulate the Ras-MAPK pathway activity. Consistently, combinations of a CaM inhibitor and a PP2A activator synergistically inhibited cancer cells with KRAS or BRAF mutations. We identified the covalently reactive PTZ derivative fluphenazine mustard as an inhibitor of Ras driven proliferation and Ras membrane organization. We confirmed its anti-CaM activity in vitro and through a cellular CaM target engagement bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) assay. Our results suggest that improved PTZ derivatives retaining their synergistic CaM inhibitory and PP2A activating properties, but without neurological side-effects, may be interesting to pursue further as anti-cancer agents.

Quantitative Ratiometric pH Imaging Using a 1,2-Dioxetane Chemiluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer Sensor

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas S. Ryan ◽  
Jeni Gerberich ◽  
Uroob Haris ◽  
ralph mason ◽  
Alexander Lippert
Keyword(s):  
Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Photon Flux ◽  
Ph Homeostasis ◽  
Ph Imaging ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Significant Difference

<p>Regulation of physiological pH is integral for proper whole-body and cellular function, and disruptions in pH homeostasis can be both a cause and effect of disease. In light of this, many methods have been developed to monitor pH in cells and animals. In this study, we report a chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) probe Ratio-pHCL-1, comprised of an acrylamide 1,2-dioxetane chemiluminescent scaffold with an appended pH-sensitive carbofluorescein fluorophore. The probe provides an accurate measurement of pH between 6.8-8.4, making it viable tool for measuring pH in biological systems. Further, its ratiometric output is independent of confounding variables. Quantification of pH can be accomplished both using common fluorimetry and advanced optical imaging methods. Using an IVIS Spectrum, pH can be quantified through tissue with Ratio-pHCL-1, which has been shown in vitro and precisely calibrated in sacrificed mouse models. Initial studies showed that intraperitoneal injections of Ratio-pHCL-1 into sacrificed mice produce a photon flux of more than 10^10 photons per second, and showed a significant difference in ratio of emission intensities between pH 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0.</p> <b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><br>

Programmable in vitro Co-Encapsidation of Guest Proteins Inside Protein Nanocages

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor H. Dashti ◽  
Rufika S. Abidin ◽  
Frank Sainsbury
Keyword(s):  
Self Assembly ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Super Resolution ◽  
Cell Engineering ◽  
Particle Analysis ◽  
Protein Cages

Bioinspired self-sorting and self-assembling systems using engineered versions of natural protein cages have been developed for biocatalysis and therapeutic delivery. The packaging and intracellular delivery of guest proteins is of particular interest for both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i> cell engineering. However, there is a lack of platforms in bionanotechnology that combine programmable guest protein encapsidation with efficient intracellular uptake. We report a minimal peptide anchor for <i>in vivo</i> self-sorting of cargo-linked capsomeres of the Murine polyomavirus (MPyV) major coat protein that enables controlled encapsidation of guest proteins by <i>in vitro</i> self-assembly. Using Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) we demonstrate the flexibility in this system to support co-encapsidation of multiple proteins. Complementing these ensemble measurements with single particle analysis by super-resolution microscopy shows that the stochastic nature of co-encapsidation is an overriding principle. This has implications for the design and deployment of both native and engineered self-sorting encapsulation systems and for the assembly of infectious virions. Taking advantage of the encoded affinity for sialic acids ubiquitously displayed on the surface of mammalian cells, we demonstrate the ability of self-assembled MPyV virus-like particles to mediate efficient delivery of guest proteins to the cytosol of primary human cells. This platform for programmable co-encapsidation and efficient cytosolic delivery of complementary biomolecules therefore has enormous potential in cell engineering.

scholarly journals Doxorubicin loaded magnetism nanoparticles based on cyclodextrin dendritic-graphene oxide inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-15
Author(s):  
Ainaz Mihanfar ◽  
Niloufar Targhazeh ◽  
Shirin Sadighparvar ◽  
Saber Ghazizadeh Darband ◽  
Maryam Majidinia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Graphene Oxide ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Breast Cancer Cells ◽  
Anticancer Drug Delivery ◽  
Release Studies ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Acidic Conditions ◽  
Mcf 7

Abstract Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of various types of cancer. However, its poor solubility, undesirable side effects, and short half-life have remained a challenge. We used a formulation based on graphene oxide as an anticancer drug delivery system for DOX in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, to address these issues. In vitro release studies confirmed that the synthesized formulation has an improved release profile in acidic conditions (similar to the tumor microenvironment). Further in vitro studies, including MTT, uptake, and apoptosis assays were performed. The toxic effects of the nanocarrier on the kidney, heart and liver of healthy rats were also evaluated. We observed that the DOX-loaded carrier improved the cytotoxic effect of DOX on the breast cell line compared to free DOX. In summary, our results introduce the DOX-loaded carrier as a potential platform for in vitro targeting of cancer cells and suggest further studies are necessary to investigate its in vivo anti-cancer potential.

scholarly journals Resolvin D1 reduces cancer growth stimulating a protective neutrophil-dependent recruitment of anti-tumor monocytes

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Mattoscio ◽  
Elisa Isopi ◽  
Alessia Lamolinara ◽  
Sara Patruno ◽  
Alessandro Medda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Growth Curve ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cancer Growth ◽  
Resolvin D1 ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Classical Monocytes ◽  
Human And Mouse

Abstract Background Innovative therapies to target tumor-associated neutrophils (PMN) are of clinical interest, since these cells are centrally involved in cancer inflammation and tumor progression. Resolvin D1 (RvD1) is a lipid autacoid that promotes resolution of inflammation by regulating the activity of distinct immune and non-immune cells. Here, using human papilloma virus (HPV) tumorigenesis as a model, we investigated whether RvD1 modulates PMN to reduce tumor progression. Methods Growth-curve assays with multiple cell lines and in vivo grafting of two distinct HPV-positive cells in syngeneic mice were used to determine if RvD1 reduced cancer growth. To investigate if and how RvD1 modulates PMN activities, RNA sequencing and multiplex cytokine ELISA of human PMN in co-culture with HPV-positive cells, coupled with pharmacological depletion of PMN in vivo, were performed. The mouse intratumoral immune cell composition was evaluated through FACS analysis. Growth-curve assays and in vivo pharmacological depletion were used to evaluate anti-tumor activities of human and mouse monocytes, respectively. Bioinformatic analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was exploited to validate experimental findings in patients. Results RvD1 decreased in vitro and in vivo proliferation of human and mouse HPV-positive cancer cells through stimulation of PMN anti-tumor activities. In addition, RvD1 stimulated a PMN-dependent recruitment of classical monocytes as key determinant to reduce tumor growth in vivo. In human in vitro systems, exposure of PMN to RvD1 increased the production of the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and enhanced transmigration of classical monocytes, with potent anti-tumor actions, toward HPV-positive cancer cells. Consistently, mining of immune cells infiltration levels in cervical cancer patients from the TCGA database evidenced an enhanced immune reaction and better clinical outcomes in patients with higher intratumoral monocytes as compared to patients with higher PMN infiltration. Conclusions RvD1 reduces cancer growth by activating PMN anti-cancer activities and encouraging a protective PMN-dependent recruitment of anti-tumor monocytes. These findings demonstrate efficacy of RvD1 as an innovative therapeutic able to stimulate PMN reprogramming to an anti-cancer phenotype that restrains tumor growth.

scholarly journals Biological nanoscale fluorescent probes: From structure and performance to bioimaging

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 209-221
Author(s):  
Jiafeng Wan ◽  
Xiaoyuan Zhang ◽  
Kai Zhang ◽  
Zhiqiang Su
Keyword(s):  
Fluorescent Probes ◽  
Organic Dyes ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Biological Imaging ◽  
Fluorescent Materials ◽  
And Performance

Abstract In recent years, nanomaterials have attracted lots of attention from researchers due to their unique properties. Nanometer fluorescent materials, such as organic dyes, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), metal nano-clusters (MNCs), carbon dots (CDs), etc., are widely used in biological imaging due to their high sensitivity, short response time, and excellent accuracy. Nanometer fluorescent probes can not only perform in vitro imaging of organisms but also achieve in vivo imaging. This provides medical staff with great convenience in cancer treatment. Combined with contemporary medical methods, faster and more effective treatment of cancer is achievable. This article explains the response mechanism of three-nanometer fluorescent probes: the principle of induced electron transfer (PET), the principle of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), and the principle of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), showing the semiconductor QDs, precious MNCs, and CDs. The excellent performance of the three kinds of nano fluorescent materials in biological imaging is highlighted, and the application of these three kinds of nano fluorescent probes in targeted biological imaging is also introduced. Nanometer fluorescent materials will show their significance in the field of biomedicine.

scholarly journals Rational design of protein-specific folding modifiers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anirban Das ◽  
Anju Yadav ◽  
Mona Gupta ◽  
R Purushotham ◽  
Vishram L. Terse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Rational Design ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Force Measurements ◽  
Folding Nucleus ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
General Method

AbstractProtein folding can go wrong in vivo and in vitro, with significant consequences for the living cell and the pharmaceutical industry, respectively. Here we propose a general design principle for constructing small peptide-based protein-specific folding modifiers. We construct a ‘xenonucleus’, which is a pre-folded peptide that resembles the folding nucleus of a protein, and demonstrate its activity on the folding of ubiquitin. Using stopped-flow kinetics, NMR spectroscopy, Förster Resonance Energy transfer, single-molecule force measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations, we show that the ubiquitin xenonucleus can act as an effective decoy for the native folding nucleus. It can make the refolding faster by 33 ± 5% at 3 M GdnHCl. In principle, our approach provides a general method for constructing specific, genetically encodable, folding modifiers for any protein which has a well-defined contiguous folding nucleus.

scholarly journals Identifying SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Compounds by Screening for Small Molecule Inhibitors of Nsp12/7/8 RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustina P. Bertolin ◽  
Florian Weissmann ◽  
Jingkun Zeng ◽  
Viktor Posse ◽  
Jennifer C. Milligan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Etiologic Agent ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Rdrp Activity ◽  
Chemical Library ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase

SummaryThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has turned into the largest public health and economic crisis in recent history impacting virtually all sectors of society. There is a need for effective therapeutics to battle the ongoing pandemic. Repurposing existing drugs with known pharmacological safety profiles is a fast and cost-effective approach to identify novel treatments. The COVID-19 etiologic agent is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. Coronaviruses rely on the enzymatic activity of the replication-transcription complex (RTC) to multiply inside host cells. The RTC core catalytic component is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) holoenzyme. The RdRp is one of the key druggable targets for CoVs due to its essential role in viral replication, high degree of sequence and structural conservation and the lack of homologs in human cells. Here, we have expressed, purified and biochemically characterised active SARS-CoV-2 RdRp complexes. We developed a novel fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based strand displacement assay for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity suitable for a high-throughput format. As part of a larger research project to identify inhibitors for all the enzymatic activities encoded by SARS-CoV-2, we used this assay to screen a custom chemical library of over 5000 approved and investigational compounds for novel SARS-CoV-2 RdRp inhibitors. We identified 3 novel compounds (GSK-650394, C646 and BH3I-1) and confirmed suramin and suramin-like compounds as in vitro SARS-CoV-2 RdRp activity inhibitors. We also characterised the antiviral efficacy of these drugs in cell-based assays that we developed to monitor SARS-CoV-2 growth.

scholarly journals Selection and Characterization of Rupintrivir-Resistant Norwalk Virus Replicon Cells In Vitro

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsutaka Kitano ◽  
Myra Hosmillo ◽  
Edward Emmott ◽  
Jia Lu ◽  
Ian Goodfellow
Keyword(s):  
Reverse Genetics ◽  
Resonance Energy Transfer ◽  
Resonance Energy ◽  
Murine Norovirus ◽  
Norwalk Virus ◽  
Irreversible Inhibitor ◽  
Antiviral Compounds ◽  
A Cell ◽  
First Time

ABSTRACT Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a major cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, yet despite its impact on society, vaccines and antivirals are currently lacking. A HuNoV replicon system has been widely applied to the evaluation of antiviral compounds and has thus accelerated the process of drug discovery against HuNoV infection. Rupintrivir, an irreversible inhibitor of the human rhinovirus 3C protease, has been reported to inhibit the replication of the Norwalk virus replicon via the inhibition of the norovirus protease. Here we report, for the first time, the generation of rupintrivir-resistant human Norwalk virus replicon cells in vitro . Sequence analysis revealed that these replicon cells contained amino acid substitutions of alanine 105 to valine (A105V) and isoleucine 109 to valine (I109V) in the viral protease NS6. The application of a cell-based fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay for protease activity demonstrated that these substitutions were involved in the enhanced resistance to rupintrivir. Furthermore, we validated the effect of these mutations using reverse genetics in murine norovirus (MNV), demonstrating that a recombinant MNV strain with a single I109V substitution in the protease also showed reduced susceptibility to rupintrivir. In summary, using a combination of different approaches, we have demonstrated that, under the correct conditions, mutations in the norovirus protease that lead to the generation of resistant mutants can rapidly occur.

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