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Ma Y, Josa-Prado F, Essif JN, Liu S, Li S, Lucena-Agell D, Chan PY, Goossens K, Hortigüela R, Matesanz R, Wang Y, Gago F, Wang H, Risinger A, Diaz JF, Fang WS. Modulation of taxane binding to tubulin curved and straight conformations by systematic 3'N modification provides for improved microtubule binding, persistent cytotoxicity and in vivo potency. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115668. [PMID: 37490800 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115668] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The taxane class of microtubule stabilizers are some of the most effective and widely used chemotherapeutics. The anticancer activity of taxanes arises from their ability to induce tubulin assembly by selectively recognizing the curved (c-) conformation in unassembled tubulin as compared to the straight (s-) conformation in assembled tubulin. We first designed and synthesized a series of 3'N-modified taxanes bearing covalent groups. Instead of discovering covalent taxanes, we found a series of non-covalent taxanes 2, in which the 3'N side chain was found to be essential for cytotoxicity due to its role in locking tubulin in the s-conformation. A representative compound bearing an acrylamide moiety (2h) exhibited increased binding affinity to the unassembled tubulin c-conformation and less cytotoxicity than paclitaxel. Further exploration of chemical space around 2h afforded a new series 3, in which derivatives such as 3l bind more tightly to both the s- and c-conformations of tubulin compared to paclitaxel, leading to more efficient promotion of tubulin polymerization and a greater persistence of in vitro efficacy against breast cancer cells after drug washout. Although 3l also had improved in vivo potency as compared to paclitaxel, it was also associated with increased systemic toxicity that required localized, intratumoral injection to observe potent and prolonged antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntao Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 2A Nan Wei Road, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Fernando Josa-Prado
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Jacob Nathaniel Essif
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States
| | - Shuqi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 2A Nan Wei Road, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Daniel Lucena-Agell
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Peter Yw Chan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States
| | - Kenneth Goossens
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Rafael Hortigüela
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Ruth Matesanz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - Federico Gago
- Área de Farmacología, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Unidad Asociada al Instituto de Química Médica del CSIC, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28805, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Hongbo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation (Yantai University), Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Drug Delivery System and Biotech Drugs in Universities of Shandong, Yantai University, Yantai, 264005, China
| | - April Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, United States
| | - J Fernando Diaz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, Madrid, 28040, Spain.
| | - Wei-Shuo Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines & Ministry of Health Key Laboratory of Biosynthesis of Natural Products, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 2A Nan Wei Road, Beijing, 100050, China.
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2
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Estévez-Gallego J, Álvarez-Bernad B, Pera B, Wullschleger C, Raes O, Menche D, Martínez JC, Lucena-Agell D, Prota AE, Bonato F, Bargsten K, Cornelus J, Giménez-Abián JF, Northcote P, Steinmetz MO, Kamimura S, Altmann KH, Paterson I, Gago F, Van der Eycken J, Díaz JF, Oliva MÁ. Chemical modulation of microtubule structure through the laulimalide/peloruside site. Structure 2023; 31:88-99.e5. [PMID: 36462501 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Taxanes are microtubule-stabilizing agents used in the treatment of many solid tumors, but they often involve side effects affecting the peripheral nervous system. It has been proposed that this could be related to structural modifications on the filament upon drug binding. Alternatively, laulimalide and peloruside bind to a different site also inducing stabilization, but they have not been exploited in clinics. Here, we use a combination of the parental natural compounds and derived analogs to unravel the stabilization mechanism through this site. These drugs settle lateral interactions without engaging the M loop, which is part of the key and lock involved in the inter-protofilament contacts. Importantly, these drugs can modulate the angle between protofilaments, producing microtubules of different diameters. Among the compounds studied, we have found some showing low cytotoxicity and able to induce stabilization without compromising microtubule native structure. This opens the window of new applications for microtubule-stabilizing agents beyond cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Estévez-Gallego
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Beatriz Álvarez-Bernad
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Benet Pera
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Christoph Wullschleger
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences - ETH Zurich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Raes
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Dirk Menche
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | | | - Daniel Lucena-Agell
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Andrea E Prota
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Bonato
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Katja Bargsten
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen 5232, Switzerland
| | - Jelle Cornelus
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - Juan Francisco Giménez-Abián
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Peter Northcote
- Ferrier Research Institute, University of Wellington, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand
| | - Michel O Steinmetz
- Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen 5232, Switzerland; University of Basel, Biozentrum, Basel 4056, Switzerland
| | - Shinji Kamimura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo 192-0393, Japan
| | - Karl-Heinz Altmann
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences - ETH Zurich, Zürich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Ian Paterson
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Federico Gago
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Associated Unit IQM-UAH, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares 28805, Spain
| | - Johan Van der Eycken
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Ghent University, Gent 9000, Belgium
| | - J Fernando Díaz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - María Ángela Oliva
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28040, Spain.
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3
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Li Y, Du YF, Gao F, Xu JB, Zheng LL, Liu G, Lei Y. Taccalonolides: Structure, semi-synthesis, and biological activity. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:968061. [PMID: 36034793 PMCID: PMC9407980 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.968061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are the fundamental part of the cell cytoskeleton intimately involving in cell proliferation and are superb targets in clinical cancer therapy today. Microtubule stabilizers have become one of the effectively main agents in the last decades for the treatment of diverse cancers. Taccalonolides, the highly oxygenated pentacyclic steroids isolated from the genus of Tacca, are considered a class of novel microtubule-stabilizing agents. Taccalonolides not only possess a similar microtubule-stabilizing activity as the famous drug paclitaxel but also reverse the multi-drug resistance of paclitaxel and epothilone in cellular and animal models. Taccalonolides have captured numerous attention in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their variety of structures, unique mechanism of action, and low toxicity. This review focuses on the structural diversity, semi-synthesis, modification, and pharmacological activities of taccalonolides, providing bright thoughts for the discovery of microtubule-stabilizing drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afflicted Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu-Feng Du
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Gao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jin-Bu Xu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling-Li Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afflicted Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling-Li Zheng, ; Gang Liu, ; Yu Lei,
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afflicted Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling-Li Zheng, ; Gang Liu, ; Yu Lei,
| | - Yu Lei
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Afflicted Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Ling-Li Zheng, ; Gang Liu, ; Yu Lei,
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In Vivo Evaluation of (-)-Zampanolide Demonstrates Potent and Persistent Antitumor Efficacy When Targeted to the Tumor Site. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134244. [PMID: 35807495 PMCID: PMC9268097 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-stabilizing agents (MSAs) are a class of compounds used in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype of breast cancer where chemotherapy remains the standard-of-care for patients. Taxanes like paclitaxel and docetaxel have demonstrated efficacy against TNBC in the clinic, however new classes of MSAs need to be identified due to the rise of taxane resistance in patients. (−)-Zampanolide is a covalent microtubule stabilizer that can circumvent taxane resistance in vitro but has not been evaluated for in vivo antitumor efficacy. Here, we determine that (−)-zampanolide has similar potency and efficacy to paclitaxel in TNBC cell lines, but is significantly more persistent due to its covalent binding. We also provide the first reported in vivo antitumor evaluation of (−)-zampanolide where we determine that it has potent and persistent antitumor efficacy when delivered intratumorally. Future work on zampanolide to further evaluate its pharmacophore and determine ways to improve its systemic therapeutic window would make this compound a potential candidate for clinical development through its ability to circumvent taxane-resistance mechanisms.
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Risinger AL, Hastings SD, Du L. Taccalonolide C-6 Analogues, Including Paclitaxel Hybrids, Demonstrate Improved Microtubule Polymerizing Activities. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2021; 84:1799-1805. [PMID: 34110822 PMCID: PMC8656239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The C-22,23-epoxy taccalonolides are microtubule stabilizers that bind covalently to β-tubulin with a high degree of specificity. We semisynthesized and performed biochemical and cellular evaluations on 20 taccalonolide analogues designed to improve target engagement. Most notably, modification of C-6 on the taccalonolide backbone with the C-13 N-acyl-β-phenylisoserine side chain of paclitaxel provided compounds with 10-fold improved potency for biochemical tubulin polymerization as compared to that of the unmodified epoxy taccalonolide AJ. Covalent docking demonstrated that the C-13 paclitaxel side chain occupied a binding pocket adjacent to the core taccalonolide pocket near the M-loop of β-tubulin. Although paclitaxel-taccalonolide hybrids demonstrated improved in vitro biochemical potency, they retained features of the taccalonolide chemotype, including a lag in tubulin polymerization and high degree of cellular persistence after drug washout associated with covalent binding. Together, these data demonstrate that C-6 modifications can improve the target engagement of this covalent class of microtubule drugs without substantively changing their mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- April L. Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
- Mays Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Shayne D. Hastings
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Lin Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
- Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
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Taccalonolides: A Novel Class of Microtubule-Stabilizing Anticancer Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040920. [PMID: 33671665 PMCID: PMC7926778 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural products have continued to play an important role in new drug discovery with a considerable number of marketed drugs being derived from naturally occurring compounds, particularly in the area of cancer. Taccalonolides are a new class of microtube-stabilizing agents isolated from plants of the genus Tacca demonstrating effectiveness against drug-resistant tumors in cellular and animal models. This review article highlights the discovery history of taccalonolides and their microtubule-stabilizing activities, which summarizes the naturally derived and semi-synthesized structures that have been reported so far and the advances on the mechanism of action of taccalonolides. Abstract Microtubule stabilizing agents, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel have been among the most used chemotherapeutic agents in the last decades for the treatment of a wide range of cancers in the clinic. One of the concerns that limit their use in clinical practice is their intrinsic and acquired drug resistance, which is common to most anti-cancer chemotherapeutics. Taccalonolides are a new class of microtubule stabilizers isolated from the roots of a few species in the genus of Tacca. In early studies, taccalonolides demonstrated different effects on interphase and mitotic microtubules from those of paclitaxel and laulimalide suggesting a unique mechanism of action. This prompts the exploration of new taccalonolides with various functionalities through the identification of minor constituents of natural origin and semi-synthesis. The experiments on the new highly potent taccalonolides indicated that taccalonolides possessed a unique mechanism of covalently binding to the microtubule. An X-ray diffraction analysis of a crystal of taccalonolides AJ binding to tubulin indicated that the covalent binding site is at β-tubulin D226. Taccalonolides circumvent all three mechanisms of taxane drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. To improve the activity, the structure modification through semi-synthesis was conducted and the structure-activity relationships (SARs) was analyzed based on natural and semi-synthetical taccalonolides. The C22–C23 epoxide can significantly increase the antiproliferation potency of taccalonolides due to the covalent link of C22 and the carboxylic group of D226. Great progress has been seen in the last few years in the understanding of the mechanism of this class of microtube-stabilizing agents. This review summarizes the structure diversity, structure-activity relationships (SARs), mechanism of action, and in vivo activities of taccalonolides.
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Yee SS, Du L, Risinger AL. Taccalonolide Microtubule Stabilizers. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 112:183-206. [PMID: 33306174 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-52966-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Microtubule stabilizers are a mainstay in the treatment of many solid cancers and continue to find utility in combination therapy with molecularly targeted anticancer agents and immunotherapeutics. However, innate and acquired resistance to microtubule stabilizers can limit their clinical efficacy. The taccalonolides are a unique class of microtubule stabilizers isolated from plants of Tacca that circumvent clinically relevant mechanisms of drug resistance. Although initial reports suggested that the microtubule-stabilizing activity of the taccalonolides was independent of direct tubulin binding, additional studies have identified that potent C-22, C-23 epoxidized taccalonolides covalently bind the Aspartate 226 residue of β-tubulin and that this interaction is critical for their microtubule-stabilizing activity. The taccalonolides have distinct properties as compared to other microtubule stabilizers with regard to their biochemical effects on tubulin structure and dynamics that promote distinct cellular phenotypes. Some taccalonolides have demonstrated in vivo antitumor efficacy in drug-resistant tumor models with exquisite potency and long-lasting antitumor efficacy as a result of their irreversible target engagement. The recent identification of a site on the taccalonolide scaffold that is amenable to modification has provided evidence of the specificity of the taccalonolide-tubulin interaction. This also affords an opportunity to further optimize the targeted delivery of the taccalonolides to further improve their anticancer efficacy and potential for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha S Yee
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Floyd Curl Drive, 78229, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Lin Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, The University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, 73019, Norman, OK, USA
| | - April L Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Floyd Curl Drive, 78229, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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