scholarly journals Therapeutic Potential of Peptides Derived from Animal Venoms: Current Views and Emerging Drugs for Diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 117955142110060
Author(s):  
Aimee Coulter-Parkhill ◽  
Stephen McClean ◽  
Victor A Gault ◽  
Nigel Irwin
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Gila Monster ◽  
Future Drug ◽  
Treatment Of Diabetes ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Animal Venoms

The therapeutic potential of venom-derived drugs is evident today. Currently, several significant drugs are FDA approved for human use that descend directly from animal venom products, with others having undergone, or progressing through, clinical trials. In addition, there is growing awareness of the important cosmeceutical application of venom-derived products. The success of venom-derived compounds is linked to their increased bioactivity, specificity and stability when compared to synthetically engineered compounds. This review highlights advancements in venom-derived compounds for the treatment of diabetes and related disorders. Exendin-4, originating from the saliva of Gila monster lizard, represents proof-of-concept for this drug discovery pathway in diabetes. More recent evidence emphasises the potential of venom-derived compounds from bees, cone snails, sea anemones, scorpions, snakes and spiders to effectively manage glycaemic control. Such compounds could represent exciting exploitable scaffolds for future drug discovery in diabetes, as well as providing tools to allow for a better understanding of cell signalling pathways linked to insulin secretion and metabolism.

Exploring the Chemistry and Therapeutic Potential of Triazoles: A Comprehensive Literature Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (16) ◽  
pp. 1298-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ankit Jain ◽  
Poonam Piplani
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Structural Modification ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Triazole Derivatives ◽  
Comprehensive Literature Review ◽  
The Common

: Triazole is a valuable platform in medicinal chemistry, possessing assorted pharmacological properties, which could play a major role in the common mechanisms associated with various disorders like cancer, infections, inflammation, convulsions, oxidative stress and neurodegeneration. Structural modification of this scaffold could be helpful in the generation of new therapeutically useful agents. Although research endeavors are moving towards the growth of synthetic analogs of triazole, there is still a lot of scope to achieve drug discovery break-through in this area. Upcoming therapeutic prospective of this moiety has captured the attention of medicinal chemists to synthesize novel triazole derivatives. The authors amalgamated the chemistry, synthetic strategies and detailed pharmacological activities of the triazole nucleus in the present review. Information regarding the marketed triazole derivatives has also been incorporated. The objective of the review is to provide insights to designing and synthesizing novel triazole derivatives with advanced and unexplored pharmacological implications.

Animal Venoms have Potential to Treat Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (30) ◽  
pp. 2555-2566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhaswati Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Therapeutics ◽  
Sea Anemones ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Inhibition Of Proliferation ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Venomous Animals ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Cancerous Cells ◽  
Animal Venoms ◽  
Proteins And Peptides

The resistance to chemotherapeutics by the cancerous cells has made its treatment more complicated. Animal venoms have emerged as an alternative strategy for anti-cancer therapeutics. Animal venoms are cocktails of complex bioactive chemicals mainly disulfide-rich proteins and peptides with diverse pharmacological actions. The components of venoms are specific, stable, and potent and have the ability to modify their molecular targets thus making them good therapeutics candidates. The isolation of cancer-specific components from animal venoms is one of the exciting strategies in anti-cancer research. This review highlights the identified venom peptides and proteins from different venomous animals like snakes, scorpions, spiders, bees, wasps, snails, toads, frogs and sea anemones and their anticancer activities including inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells, their invasion, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and the identification of involved signaling pathways.

scholarly journals General synthetic strategy for regioselective ultrafast formation of disulfide bonds in peptides and proteins

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shay Laps ◽  
Fatima Atamleh ◽  
Guy Kamnesky ◽  
Hao Sun ◽  
Ashraf Brik
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Disulfide Bonds ◽  
Unsolved Problem ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Selective Activation ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Synthetic Strategy ◽  
The One ◽  
Game Changer

AbstractDespite six decades of efforts to synthesize peptides and proteins bearing multiple disulfide bonds, this synthetic challenge remains an unsolved problem in most targets (e.g., knotted mini proteins). Here we show a de novo general synthetic strategy for the ultrafast, high-yielding formation of two and three disulfide bonds in peptides and proteins. We develop an approach based on the combination of a small molecule, ultraviolet-light, and palladium for chemo- and regio-selective activation of cysteine, which enables the one-pot formation of multiple disulfide bonds in various peptides and proteins. We prepare bioactive targets of high therapeutic potential, including conotoxin, RANTES, EETI-II, and plectasin peptides and the linaclotide drug. We anticipate that this strategy will be a game-changer in preparing millions of inaccessible targets for drug discovery.

scholarly journals Structural-Based Optimizations of the Marine-Originated Meridianin C as Glucose Uptake Agents by Inhibiting GSK-3β

Marine Drugs ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Shuwen Han ◽  
Chunlin Zhuang ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
Fener Chen
Keyword(s):  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Molecular Target ◽  
Optimization Strategy ◽  
Lead Compounds ◽  
Significant Toxicity ◽  
Treatment Of Diabetes ◽  
Gsk 3Β ◽  
Positive Compound

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β) is a widely investigated molecular target for numerous diseases, and inhibition of GSK-3β activity has become an attractive approach for the treatment of diabetes. Meridianin C, an indole-based natural product isolated from marine Aplidium meridianum, has been reported as a potent GSK-3β inhibitor. In the present study, applying the structural-based optimization strategy, the pyrimidine group of meridianin C was modified by introducing different substituents based on the 2-aminopyrimidines-substituted pyrazolo pyridazine scaffold. Among them, compounds B29 and B30 showed a much higher glucose uptake than meridianin C (<5%) and the positive compound 4-benzyl-2-methyl-1,2,4-thiadiazolidine-3,5-dione (TDZD-8, 16%), with no significant toxicity against HepG2 cells at the same time. Furthermore, they displayed good GSK-3β inhibitory activities (IC50 = 5.85; 24.4 μM). These results suggest that these meridianin C analogues represent novel lead compounds with therapeutic potential for diabetes.

scholarly journals Arrayed CRISPR reveals genetic regulators of tau aggregation, autophagy and mitochondria in Alzheimer’s disease model

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lishu Duan ◽  
Mufeng Hu ◽  
Joseph A. Tamm ◽  
Yelena Y. Grinberg ◽  
Fang Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Individual Gene ◽  
Human Genes ◽  
Future Drug ◽  
Tau Aggregation

AbstractAlzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease with poor prognosis. New options for drug discovery targets are needed. We developed an imaging based arrayed CRISPR method to interrogate the human genome for modulation of in vitro correlates of AD features, and used this to assess 1525 human genes related to tau aggregation, autophagy and mitochondria. This work revealed (I) a network of tau aggregation modulators including the NF-κB pathway and inflammatory signaling, (II) a correlation between mitochondrial morphology, respiratory function and transcriptomics, (III) machine learning predicted novel roles of genes and pathways in autophagic processes and (IV) individual gene function inferences and interactions among biological processes via multi-feature clustering. These studies provide a platform to interrogate underexplored aspects of AD biology and offer several specific hypotheses for future drug discovery efforts.

scholarly journals A Nut for Every Bolt: Subunit-Selective Inhibitors of the Immunoproteasome and Their Therapeutic Potential

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1929
Author(s):  
Eva M. Huber ◽  
Michael Groll
Keyword(s):  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Cell Signalling ◽  
Selective Inhibition ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome System ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Chemical Structures ◽  
Phase Ii Clinical Trials ◽  
Ubiquitin Proteasome ◽  
Recent Trends

At the heart of the ubiquitin–proteasome system, the 20S proteasome core particle (CP) breaks down the majority of intracellular proteins tagged for destruction. Thereby, the CP controls many cellular processes including cell cycle progression and cell signalling. Inhibitors of the CP can suppress these essential biological pathways, resulting in cytotoxicity, an effect that is beneficial for the treatment of certain blood cancer patients. During the last decade, several preclinical studies demonstrated that selective inhibition of the immunoproteasome (iCP), one of several CP variants in mammals, suppresses autoimmune diseases without inducing toxic side effects. These promising findings led to the identification of natural and synthetic iCP inhibitors with distinct chemical structures, varying potency and subunit selectivity. This review presents the most prominent iCP inhibitors with respect to possible scientific and medicinal applications, and discloses recent trends towards pan-immunoproteasome reactive inhibitors that cumulated in phase II clinical trials of the lead compound KZR-616 for chronic inflammations.

scholarly journals Discovery and Optimization of Selective Inhibitors of Meprin α (Part II)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Wang ◽  
Juan Diez ◽  
Hajeung Park ◽  
Christoph Becker-Pauly ◽  
Gregg B. Fields ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Hydroxamic Acid ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Preceding Paper ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Specific Inhibition ◽  
Selective Inhibitors

Meprin &alpha; is a zinc metalloproteinase (metzincin) that has been implicated in multiple diseases, including fibrosis and cancers. It has proven difficult to find small molecules that are capable of selectively inhibiting meprin &alpha;, or its close relative meprin &beta;, over numerous other metzincins which, if inhibited, would elicit unwanted effects. We recently identified possible molecular starting points for meprin &alpha;-specific inhibition through an HTS effort (see part I, preceding paper). In part II we report the optimization of a potent and selective hydroxamic acid meprin &alpha; inhibitor probe which may help define the therapeutic potential for small molecule meprin &alpha; inhibition and spur further drug discovery efforts in the area of zinc metalloproteinase inhibition.

TB Drug Discovery from Target Identification to Proof of Concept Studies

2017 ◽  
pp. 143-163
Author(s):  
Thomas Dick ◽  
Véronique Dartois ◽  
Thomas H. Keller ◽  
Alex Matter
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Target Identification ◽  
Proof Of Concept

scholarly journals Snake Venoms in Drug Discovery: Valuable Therapeutic Tools for Life Saving

Toxins ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abd El-Aziz ◽  
Garcia Soares ◽  
Stockand
Keyword(s):  
Drug Discovery ◽  
Snake Venom ◽  
Defense Mechanisms ◽  
Membrane Receptors ◽  
Snake Venoms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Therapeutic Tools ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Pharmacologically Active ◽  
Animal Venoms

Animal venoms are used as defense mechanisms or to immobilize and digest prey. In fact, venoms are complex mixtures of enzymatic and non-enzymatic components with specific pathophysiological functions. Peptide toxins isolated from animal venoms target mainly ion channels, membrane receptors and components of the hemostatic system with high selectivity and affinity. The present review shows an up-to-date survey on the pharmacology of snake-venom bioactive components and evaluates their therapeutic perspectives against a wide range of pathophysiological conditions. Snake venoms have also been used as medical tools for thousands of years especially in tradition Chinese medicine. Consequently, snake venoms can be considered as mini-drug libraries in which each drug is pharmacologically active. However, less than 0.01% of these toxins have been identified and characterized. For instance, Captopril® (Enalapril), Integrilin® (Eptifibatide) and Aggrastat® (Tirofiban) are drugs based on snake venoms, which have been approved by the FDA. In addition to these approved drugs, many other snake venom components are now involved in preclinical or clinical trials for a variety of therapeutic applications. These examples show that snake venoms can be a valuable source of new principle components in drug discovery.

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