University of Texas System

Research Development Foundation

Other

Zymogenetics, Inc.

Osteoscreen, Inc.

Ctrc Research Foundation

Ctrc Research Foundation Board of Regents

Sean Michael Kerwin

Laurence H Hurley

Miguel Salazar

Gregory R Mundy

Shih-Fong Chen

Bradford E Windle

Terace M Fletcher

Ira Maine

Oleg Y Fedoroff

Makoto Wajima

Wendi M David

Blain Mamiya

Mark W Orme

Nand Baindur

Charles R Petrie

Kirk G Robbins

Miquel Salazar

Bob M Moore, Ii

Scott M Harris

Maria Kontoyianni

Qingping Zeng

Yan Kwok

Mark R DeLuca

Jon Robertus

Xinjian Yan

Jongsik Gam

Dalip Kumar

Jon D Robertus

The present invention includes a number of structural analogues of UK-1. A comparision of the anticancer activity of the UK-1 analogues with their ability to inhibit the growth of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistantdemonstrates that a structurally simplified analogue of UK-1 retains the natural product's selective activity against cancer cells. Structurally conservative changes to UK-1 that diminish Mg-binding ability may result in a dramatic decrease in cancer cell cytotoxicity. The results may establish a minimum structural pharmacophore as well as a functional role for Mg-binding in the selective cytotoxicity of UK-1.

UK-1 analogues: methods of preparation and use

A chemical composition and method of use of the composition is described. The chemical composition includes an aza-enediynes, aza-enyne allenes, or an aza-diallenes. These compound are preferably non-hydrolyzable, cationic compounds that bind to nucleic acids. In addition it is believed that these compounds may undergo chemical reactions in the presence of a nucleic acid to generate reactive intermediates that cleave nucleic acids.

DNA-cleaving antitumor agents

The present invention relates to methods for stimulating osteoblast proliferation and methods for selecting pharmacologically active compounds useful for stimulating osteoblast proliferation.

Methods and compositions for stimulating osteoblast proliferation or treating malignant cell proliferation and methods for selecting osteoblast proliferation stimulants

Certain non-nucleoside compounds that will selectively inhibit telomerase by targeting the nucleic add structures, such as G-quadruplexes, that may be associated with human telomeres or telomerase have been identified. Inhibition of human telomerase by two perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimides and a carbocyanine has been demonstrated. H-NMR studies have evidenced the stabilization of a G-quadruplex by the perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimide compounds and provided evidence that these and structurally related compounds inhibit the telomerase enzyme by a mechanism consistent with interaction with G-quadruplex structures.

Inhibition of human telomerase by a G-quadruplex-interaction compound

A chemical composition and method of use of the composition is described. The chemical composition includes an aza-enediyne, aza-enyne allene, or an aza-diallene. These compound are preferably non-hydrolyzable, cationic compounds that bind to nucleic acids. In addition it is believed that these compounds may undergo chemical reactions in the presence of a nucleic acid to generate reactive intermediates that cleave nucleic acids.

Compounds containing two aromatic systems covalently linked through a linker containing one or more atoms, or &ldquo;linker&rdquo; defined as including a covalent bond per se so as to space the aromatic systems at a distance 1.5-15 &angst;, are effective in treating conditions associated with bone deficits. The compounds can be administered to vertebrate subjects alone or in combination with additional agents that promote bone growth or that inhibit bone resorption. They can be screened for activity prior to administration by assessing their ability to effect the transcription of a reporter gene coupled to a promoter associated with a bone morphogenetic protein and/or their ability to stimulate calvarial growth in model animal systems.

Compositions and methods for treating bone deficit conditions

It was found that normal human stem cells produce a regulated non-processive telomerase activity, while cancer cells produce a processive telomerase activity. Nucleotide analogs, such as 7-deaza-2&prime;-deoxyquanosine-5&prime;-triphosphate (7-deaza-dGTP) were found to be substrates for processive telomerase and incorporated into telomeric sequence. The incorporation of this nucleotide subsequently affected the processivity of telomerase, converting processive telomerase to non-processive telomerase. The incorporation of this nucleotide analogs was also found to inhibit formation of G-quartets by telomeric sequence. Other methods for converting cancer processive telomerase to the more benign non-processive telomerase include partially cleaving the telomerase RNA. The nucleoside analogs were found to be capable of a variety of activities including mediating allosteric-like inhibition of telomerase, premature termination and shortening of telomeric DNA, destabilization of telomeric structure and function and eventually cell death. Understanding the mechanisms of telomerase modulation by the 7-deaza-nucleotides has allowed the design of new telomerase inhibitors, modulators and agents for affecting telomere structure and function. These discoveries have application in the treatment of cancer.

Methods for modulation and inhibition of telomerase

Ricin A-chain is an N-glycosidase that attacks ribosomal RNA at a highly conserved adenine residue. Crystallographic studies show that not only adenine and formycin, but also pterin-based rings can bind in the ricin active site. For a better understanding of the recognition mode between ricin, and adenine-like rings, the interaction energies and geometries were calculated for a number of complexes. Shiga toxin, a compound essentially identical to the protein originally isolated from , has an active protein chain that is a homologue of the ricin active chain, and catalyzes the same depurination reaction. The present invention is drawn to identifying inhibitors of ricin and Shiga toxin, using methods molecular mechanics and ab initio methods and using the identified inhibitors as antidotes to ricin or Shiga toxin, or to facilitate immunotoxin treatment by controlling non-specific cytotoxicity.

Ricin inhibitors and methods for use thereof

The present invention discloses a novel quinobenzoxazine self-assembly complex on DNA and on the topoisomerase II-DNA complex. The related model is used to design a new series of quinobenzoxazines, pyridobenzophenoxazines, pyrridonaphthophenoxazines, and other related compounds that may exhibit anticancer or antibiotic activity. The anticancer activity of these compounds is thought to operate via stabilization of the topoisomerase II-DNA complex and/or interaction with G-quadruplexes, while the antibiotic activity of these compounds derives from their ability to inhibit gyrase, the bacterial type II topoisomerase.

Synthesis of quinobenzoxazine analogues with topoisomerase II and quadruplex interactions for use as antineoplastic agents

Ricin A-chain is an N-glycosidase that attacks ribosomal RNA at a highly conserved adenine residue. Crystallographic studies show that not only adenine and formycin, but also pterin-based rings can bind in the ricin active site. For a better understanding of the recognition mode between ricin, and adenine-like rings, the interaction energies and geometries were calculated for a number of complexes. Shiga toxin, a compound essentially identical to the protein originally isolated from,has an active protein chain that is a homologue of the ricin active chain, and catalyzes the same depurination reaction. The present invention is drawn to identifying inhibitors of ricin and Shiga toxin, using methods molecular mechanics and ab initio methods and using the identified inhibitors as antidotes to ricin or Shiga toxin, or to facilitate immunotoxin treatment by controlling non-specific cytotoxicity.

Certain non-nucleoside compounds that will selectively inhibit telomerase by targeting the nucleic add structures, such as G-quadruplexes, that may be associated with human telomeres or telomerase have been identified. Inhibition of human telomerase by two perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimides and a carbocyanine has been demonstrated. .sup.1 H-NMR studies have evidenced the stabilization of a G-quadruplex by the perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimide compounds and provided evidence that these and structurally related compounds inhibit the telomerase enzyme by a mechanism consistent with interaction with G-quadruplex structures.

Inhibition of human telomerase by a g-quadruplex-interaction compound

It was found that normal human stem cells produce a regulated non-processive telomerase activity, while cancer cells produce a processive telomerase activity. Nucleotide analogs, such as 7-deaza-2'-deoxyquanosine-5'-triphosphate (7-deaza-dGTP) were found to be substrates for processive telomerase and incorporated into telomeric sequence. The incorporation of this nucleotide subsequently affected the processivity of telomerase, converting processive telomerase to non-processive telomerase. The incorporation of this nucleotide analogs was also found to inhibit formation of G-quartets by telomeric sequence. Other methods for converting cancer processive telomerase to the more benign non-processive telomerase include partially cleaving the telomerase RNA. The nucleoside analogs were found to be capable of a variety of activities including mediating allosteric-like inhibition of telomerase, premature termination and shortening of telomeric DNA, destabilization of telomeric structure and function and eventually cell death. Understanding the mechanisms of telomerase modulation by the 7-deaza-nucleotides has allowed the design of new telomerase inhibitors, modulators and agents for affecting telomere structure and function. These discoveries have application in the treatment of cancer.

Methods and compositions for modulation and inhibition of telomerase in

It was found that normal human stem cells produce a regulated non-processive telomerase activity, while cancer cells produce a processive telomerase activity. Nucleotide analogs, such as 7-deaza-2'-deoxyquanosine-5'-triphosphate (7-deaza-dGTP) were found to be substrates for processive telomerase and incorporated into telomeric sequence. The incorporation of this nucleotide subsequently affected the processivity of telomerase, converting processive telomerase to non-processive telomerase. The incorporation of this nucleotide analogs was also found to inhibit formation of G-quartets by telomeric sequence. Other methods for converting cancer processive telomerase to the more benign non-processive telomerase include partially cleaving the telomerase RNA. The nucleoside analogs were found to be capable of a variety of activities including mediating allosteric-like inhibition of telomerase, premature termination and shortening of telomeric DNA, destabilization of telomeric structure and function and eventually cell death. Understanding the mechanisms of telomerase modulation by the 7-deazanucleotides has allowed the design of new telomerase inhibitors, modulators and agents for affecting telomere structure and function. These discoveries have application in the treatment of cancer.

Growing community of inventors

Round Rock, TX, United States of America

Sean Michael Kerwin