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Bailly C. A systematic review of spirostanol saponins and anticancer natural products isolated from Tacca plantaginea (Hance) Drenth. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 228:114252. [PMID: 39173698 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
The plant genus Tacca comprises twenty species including Tacca plantaginea, essentially distributed in the Indo-China region. Medicinal preparations from the rhizomes are used traditionally to treat gastrointestinal ailments, stomach aches and inflammatory disorders. A variety of bioactive molecules have been isolated from T. plantaginea, including potent anticancer steroids such as the taccanolides which interfere with microtubules dynamic. Other efficient anticancer natural products have been isolated from the plant, in particular a series of diosgenin/yamogenin-type sapogenins including taccaoside (monodesmosidic) and taccaoside A (bidesmosidic). Taccaoside A displays marked anticancer properties through two complementary mechanisms: a direct action on cancer stem cells via HRas and Pi3K/Akt signaling and an indirect immunomodulatory action via activation of cytotoxic T cells. A similar mechanism of action has been invoked with a total saponin extract from Schizocapsa plantaginea Hance (synonym to T. plantaginea) and the saponin SSPH 1. This saponin reduced tumor growth in mice through stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Other bioactive products have been isolated from T. plantaginea, including withanolide-type steroids (plantagiolides, chantriolides), diarylheptanoids (plantagineosides) and different saponins (diosbulbisides, lieguonins). The discussion centers around the mechanism of action of spirostanol saponins, with the objective to promote their study as immuno-active anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bailly
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - UMR1277 - Canther - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, 59000, Lille, France; University of Lille, Faculty of Pharmacy, Institut de Chimie Pharmaceutique Albert Lespagnol (ICPAL), 3 rue du Professeur Laguesse, 59000, Lille, France; OncoWitan, Consulting Scientific Office, Lille, (Wasquehal), 59290, France.
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Drugs That Changed Society: Microtubule-Targeting Agents Belonging to Taxanoids, Macrolides and Non-Ribosomal Peptides. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27175648. [PMID: 36080414 PMCID: PMC9457747 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27175648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During a screening performed by the National Cancer Institute in the 1960s, the terpenoid paclitaxel was discovered. Paclitaxel expanded the treatment options for breast, lung, prostate and ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel is only present in minute amounts in the bark of Taxia brevifolia. A sustainable supply was ensured with a culture developed from Taxus chinensis, or with semi-synthesis from other taxanes. Paclitaxel is marketed under the name Taxol. An intermediate from the semi-synthesis docetaxel is also used as a drug and marketed as Taxotere. O-Methylated docetaxel is used for treatment of some paclitaxel-resistant cancer forms as cabazitaxel. The solubility problems of paclitaxel have been overcome by formulation of a nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (NAB-paclitaxel, Abraxane). The mechanism of action is affinity towards microtubules, which prevents proliferation and consequently the drug would be expected primarily to be active towards cancer cells proliferating faster than benign cells. The activity against slowly growing tumors such as solid tumors suggests that other effects such as oncogenic signaling or cellular trafficking are involved. In addition to terpenoids, recently discovered microtubule-targeting polyketide macrolides and non-ribosomal peptides have been discovered and marketed as drugs. The revolutionary improvements for treatment of cancer diseases targeting microtubules have led to an intensive search for other compounds with the same target. Several polyketide macrolides, terpenoids and non-ribosomal peptides have been investigated and a few marketed.
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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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Tong L, Sun W, Wu S, Han Y. Characterization of Caerulomycin A as a dual-targeting anticancer agent. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 922:174914. [PMID: 35337812 PMCID: PMC9077901 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Caerulomycin A (CaeA), isolated from actinomycetes, has a featured 2,2'-bipyridine core structure. Based on the results of in silico drug-protein docking analysis, CaeA shows potential ligands for interacting with both tubulin and DNA topoisomerase I (Topo-1). The result was confirmed by cell-free tubulin polymerization assay and Topo-1 activity assay. In vitro assays also demonstrated that CaeA increases the polymerization of tubulin and increases cell size. In addition, CaeA inhibits cell viability and growth of various cancer cells, yet exhibits low cytotoxicity. CaeA also affects paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells and synergizes the effect with paclitaxel in reducing cancer cell colony formation rate. In vivo experiments confirm the effect of CaeA on reducing tumor size and weight in nude mouse inoculated with tumor cells with no noticeable side effects. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CaeA is a potential potent agent for cancer treatment through tubulin and Topo-1 dual-targeting with little side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingying Tong
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Weichao Sun
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Shiyong Wu
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Yong Han
- Edison Biotechnology Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA.
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Yee SS, Risinger AL. Efficacy of a Covalent Microtubule Stabilizer in Taxane-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Models. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26134077. [PMID: 34279417 PMCID: PMC8271594 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26134077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer often has a poor clinical prognosis because of late detection, frequently after metastatic progression, as well as acquired resistance to taxane-based therapy. Herein, we evaluate a novel class of covalent microtubule stabilizers, the C-22,23-epoxytaccalonolides, for their efficacy against taxane-resistant ovarian cancer models in vitro and in vivo. Taccalonolide AF, which covalently binds β-tubulin through its C-22,23-epoxide moiety, demonstrates efficacy against taxane-resistant models and shows superior persistence in clonogenic assays after drug washout due to irreversible target engagement. In vivo, intraperitoneal administration of taccalonolide AF demonstrated efficacy against the taxane-resistant NCI/ADR-RES ovarian cancer model both as a flank xenograft, as well as in a disseminated orthotopic disease model representing localized metastasis. Taccalonolide-treated animals had a significant decrease in micrometastasis of NCI/ADR-RES cells to the spleen, as detected by quantitative RT-PCR, without any evidence of systemic toxicity. Together, these findings demonstrate that taccalonolide AF retains efficacy in taxane-resistant ovarian cancer models in vitro and in vivo and that its irreversible mechanism of microtubule stabilization has the unique potential for intraperitoneal treatment of locally disseminated taxane-resistant disease, which represents a significant unmet clinical need in the treatment of ovarian cancer patients.
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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, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
- Mays Cancer Center, 7979 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - April L. Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA;
- Mays Cancer Center, 7979 Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-210-567-6267
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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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Tian H, He Z. Anti-hepatoma effect of taccalonolide A through suppression of sonic hedgehog pathway. ARTIFICIAL CELLS NANOMEDICINE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 48:939-947. [PMID: 32496832 DOI: 10.1080/21691401.2020.1773484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Taccalonolide A has been reported to have anti-tumour efficiency. However, the underlying mechanism for taccalonolides A therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still obscure. Cell viability was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Protein expression of B cell lymphoma (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X (Bax), sonic hedgehog (Shh), Smoothened (Smo) and Gli family zinc finger 1 (Gli1) was analyzed by western blot. The expression of Shh, Smo and Gli1 mRNA was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results showed that taccalonolide A inhibited cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase, and improved the cytotoxicity of sorafenib in HCC cells. The expressions of Shh, Smo, Gli1 mRNA and protein were decreased after taccalonolide A treatment. More importantly, activation of the Shh pathway attenuated taccalonolide A-induced inhibition on cell viability and promotion on apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HCC. Also, activation of the Shh pathway neutralized the effect of taccalonolide A on sorafenib cytotoxicity in HCC. We clarified that taccalonolide A suppressed cell viability facilitated apoptosis, and improved the cytotoxicity of sorafenib in HCC by inhibition of the activation of the Shh pathway, providing alternative treatments for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Tian
- Department of Infectious Disease, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
| | - Zhenkun He
- Department of Infectious Disease, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China
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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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Clanton N, Hastings SD, Foultz GB, Contreras JA, Yee SS, Arman HD, Risinger AL, Frantz DE. Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of Electrophilic Steroids Inspired by the Taccalonolides. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:2534-2543. [PMID: 33335677 PMCID: PMC7734803 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.0c00534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products have served as inspirational scaffolds for the design and synthesis of novel antineoplastic agents. Here we present our preliminary efforts on the synthesis and biological evaluation of a new class of electrophilic steroids inspired by the naturally occurring taccalonolides. We demonstrate that these simplified analogs exhibit highly persistent antiproliferative properties similar to the taccalonolides and retain activity against resistant cancer cell lines that warrants further preclinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas
A. Clanton
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at
San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Shayne D. Hastings
- Department of Pharmacology and Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Griffin B. Foultz
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at
San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Julie A. Contreras
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at
San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - Samantha S. Yee
- Department of Pharmacology and Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Hadi D. Arman
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at
San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
| | - April L. Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology and Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Doug E. Frantz
- Department
of Chemistry, The University of Texas at
San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States
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Development of Taccalonolide AJ-Hydroxypropyl-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes for Treatment of Clear Cell Renal-Cell Carcinoma. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235586. [PMID: 33261151 PMCID: PMC7731059 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microtubule-targeted drugs are the most effective drugs for adult patients with certain solid tumors. Taccalonolide AJ (AJ) can stabilize tubulin polymerization by covalently binding to β-tubulin, which enables it to play a role in the treatment of tumors. However, its clinical applications are largely limited by low water solubility, chemical instability in water, and a narrow therapeutic window. Clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (cc RCC) accounts for approximately 70% of RCC cases and is prone to resistance to particularly targeted therapy drugs. METHODS we prepared a water-soluble cyclodextrin-based carrier to serve as an effective treatment for cc RCC. RESULTS Compared with AJ, taccalonolide AJ-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (AJ-HP-β-CD) exhibited superior selectivity and activity toward the cc RCC cell line 786-O vs. normal kidney cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibiting migration and invasion of tumor cells in vitro. According to acute toxicity testing, the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of AJ-HP-β-CD was 10.71 mg/kg, which was 20 times greater than that of AJ. Assessment of weight changes showed that mouse body weight recovered over 7-8 days, and the toxicity could be greatly reduced by adjusting the injections from once every three days to once per week. In addition, we inoculated 786-O cells to generate xenografted mice to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of AJ-HP-β-CD in vivo and found that AJ-HP-β-CD had a better tumor inhibitory effect than that of docetaxel and sunitinib in terms of tumor growth and endpoint tumor weight. These results indicated that cyclodextrin inclusion greatly increased the anti-tumor therapeutic window of AJ. CONCLUSIONS the AJ-HP-β-CD complex developed in this study may prove to be a novel tubulin stabilizer for the treatment of cc RCC. In addition, this drug delivery system may broaden the horizon in the translational study of other chemotherapeutic drugs.
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Zhang D, Kanakkanthara A. Beyond the Paclitaxel and Vinca Alkaloids: Next Generation of Plant-Derived Microtubule-Targeting Agents with Potential Anticancer Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12071721. [PMID: 32610496 PMCID: PMC7407961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are an important source of chemically diverse natural products that target microtubules, one of the most successful targets in cancer therapy. Colchicine, paclitaxel, and vinca alkaloids are the earliest plant-derived microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs), and paclitaxel and vinca alkaloids are currently important drugs used in the treatment of cancer. Several additional plant-derived compounds that act on microtubules with improved anticancer activity are at varying stages of development. Here, we move beyond the well-discussed paclitaxel and vinca alkaloids to present other promising plant-derived MTAs with potential for development as anticancer agents. Various biological and biochemical aspects are discussed. We hope that the review will provide guidance for further exploration and identification of more effective, novel MTAs derived from plant sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dangquan Zhang
- College of Forestry, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- Correspondence: (D.Z.); (A.K.)
| | - Arun Kanakkanthara
- Division of Oncology Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Correspondence: (D.Z.); (A.K.)
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Du L, Yee SS, Ramachandran K, Risinger AL. Elucidating target specificity of the taccalonolide covalent microtubule stabilizers employing a combinatorial chemical approach. Nat Commun 2020; 11:654. [PMID: 32005831 PMCID: PMC6994698 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The taccalonolide microtubule stabilizers covalently bind β-tubulin and overcome clinically relevant taxane resistance mechanisms. Evaluations of the target specificity and detailed drug-target interactions of taccalonolides, however, have been limited in part by their irreversible target engagement. In this study, we report the synthesis of fluorogenic taccalonolide probes that maintain the native biological properties of the potent taccalonolide, AJ. These carefully optimized, cell-permeable probes outperform commercial taxane-based probes and enable direct visualization of taccalonolides in both live and fixed cells with dramatic microtubule colocalization. The specificity of taccalonolide binding to β-tubulin is demonstrated by immunoblotting, which allows for determination of the relative contribution of key tubulin residues and taccalonolide moieties for drug-target interactions by activity-based protein profiling utilizing site-directed mutagenesis and computational modeling. This combinatorial approach provides a generally applicable strategy for investigating the binding specificity and molecular interactions of covalent binding drugs in a cellular environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
- Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA.
| | - Samantha S Yee
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Karthik Ramachandran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - April L Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- Mays Cancer Center, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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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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Sánchez-Murcia PA, Mills A, Cortés-Cabrera Á, Gago F. Unravelling the covalent binding of zampanolide and taccalonolide AJ to a minimalist representation of a human microtubule. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2019; 33:627-644. [DOI: 10.1007/s10822-019-00208-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Du L, Risinger AL, Yee SS, Ola ARB, Zammiello CL, Cichewicz RH, Mooberry SL. Identification of C-6 as a New Site for Linker Conjugation to the Taccalonolide Microtubule Stabilizers. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:583-588. [PMID: 30799622 PMCID: PMC6952213 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b01036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The taccalonolides are a class of microtubule stabilizers that circumvent clinically relevant forms of drug resistance due to their unique mechanism of microtubule stabilization imparted by the covalent binding of the C-22-C-23 epoxide moiety to tubulin. A taccalonolide (8) with a fluorescein group attached with a linker at C-6 was generated, and biochemical and cell-based assays showed that it bound directly to tubulin and stabilized microtubules. This pharmacological probe has allowed, for the first time, a direct visualization of a taccalonolide binding to microtubules, verifying their cellular binding site. This C-6-modified taccalonolide showed potency comparable to the untagged compound in biochemical experiments; however, its potency was lower in cellular assays, presumably due to decreased cellular permeability. These studies provide a valuable tool to facilitate the further understanding of taccalonolide pharmacology and demonstrate that C-6 is a promising site for a linker to be added to this novel class of microtubule stabilizers for targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
- Natural Products Discovery Group, and Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - April L. Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Samantha S. Yee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Antonius R. B. Ola
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Cynthia L Zammiello
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
| | - Robert H. Cichewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
- Natural Products Discovery Group, and Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Susan L. Mooberry
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
- Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229-3900, United States
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Ola ARB, Risinger AL, Du L, Zammiello CL, Peng J, Cichewicz RH, Mooberry SL. Taccalonolide Microtubule Stabilizers Generated Using Semisynthesis Define the Effects of Mono Acyloxy Moieties at C-7 or C-15 and Disubstitutions at C-7 and C-25. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 81:579-593. [PMID: 29360362 PMCID: PMC5866228 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.7b00967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The taccalonolides are a unique class of microtubule stabilizers isolated from Tacca spp. that have efficacy against drug-resistant tumors. Our previous studies have demonstrated that a C-15 acetoxy taccalonolide, AF, has superior in vivo antitumor efficacy compared to AJ, which bears a C-15 hydroxy group. With the goal of further improving the in vivo efficacy of this class of compounds, we semisynthesized and tested the biological activities of 28 new taccalonolides with monosubstitutions at C-7 or C-15 or disubstitutions at C-7 and C-25, covering a comprehensive range of substituents from formic acid to anthraquinone-2-carbonyl chloride. The resulting taccalonolide analogues with diverse C-7/C-15/C-25 modifications exhibited IC50 values from 2.4 nM to >20 μM, allowing for extensive in vitro structure-activity evaluations. This semisynthetic strategy was unable to provide a taccalonolide with improved therapeutic window due to hydrolysis of substituents at C-7 or C-15 regardless of size or steric bulk. However, two of the most potent new taccalonolides, bearing isovalerate modifications at C-7 or C-15, demonstrated potent and highly persistent antitumor activity in a drug-resistant xenograft model when administered intratumorally. This study demonstrates that targeted delivery of the taccalonolides to the tumor could be an effective, long-lasting approach to treat drug-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonius R. B. Ola
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - April L. Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
- UT Health Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Lin Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
- Natural Products Discovery Group, and Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Cynthia L Zammiello
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Jiangnan Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Robert H. Cichewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
- Natural Products Discovery Group, and Institute for Natural Products Applications and Research Technologies, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019-5251, United States
| | - Susan L. Mooberry
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
- UT Health Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
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Henkin JM, Ren Y, Soejarto DD, Kinghorn AD. The Search for Anticancer Agents from Tropical Plants. PROGRESS IN THE CHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC NATURAL PRODUCTS 2018; 107:1-94. [PMID: 30178270 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-93506-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Many of the clinically used anticancer agents in Western medicine are derived from secondary metabolites found in terrestrial microbes, marine organisms, and higher plants, with additional compounds of this type being currently in clinical trials. If plants are taken specifically, it is generally agreed that the prospects of encountering enhanced small organic-molecule chemical diversity are better if tropical rather than temperate species are investigated in drug discovery efforts. Plant collection in tropical source countries requires considerable preparation and organization to conduct in a responsible manner that abides by the provisions of the 1992 Rio Convention of Biological Diversity and the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. Correct taxonomic identifications and enhanced procedures for processing and documenting plant samples when collected in often difficult terrain are required. Phytochemical aspects of the work involve solvent fractionation, known compound dereplication, preliminary in vitro testing, and prioritization, leading to "activity-guided fractionation", compound structure determination, and analog development. Further evaluation of lead compounds requires solubility, formulation, preliminary pharmacokinetics, and in vivo testing in suitable models. Covering the work of the authors carried out in two sequential multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research projects, examples of very promising compounds discovered from plants acquired from Africa, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean region, and with potential anticancer activity will be mentioned. These include plant secondary metabolites of the diphyllin lignan, cyclopenta[b]benzofuran, triterpenoid, and tropane alkaloid types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Henkin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yulin Ren
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Djaja Djendoel Soejarto
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - A Douglas Kinghorn
- Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Danielsson J, Sun DX, Chen XY, Risinger AL, Mooberry SL, Sorensen EJ. A Stereocontrolled Annulation of the Taccalonolide Epoxy Lactone onto the Molecular Framework of trans-Androsterone. Org Lett 2017; 19:4892-4895. [PMID: 28849658 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b02349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A robust and scalable route to the taccalonolide skeleton starting from trans-androsterone is presented. The synthesis features a cyclic hydroboration carbonylation reaction, which effectively establishes the trans-hydrindane DE ring junction in a remarkable annulation reaction, as well as a Claisen rearrangement and a catalytic Ullmann-type cyclization. This work is part of a larger effort to uncover new clinical candidates from the taccalonolide class of anticancer agents through advances in chemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Danielsson
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Diana X Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - Xiao-Yang Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
| | - April L Risinger
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio , San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Susan L Mooberry
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio , San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Erik J Sorensen
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University , Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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