1
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Lin S, Liang Y, Cheng J, Pan F, Wang Y. Novel diaryl-2H-azirines: Antitumor hybrids for dual-targeting tubulin and DNA. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 214:113256. [PMID: 33581556 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Multiple-target drugs may achieve better therapeutic effect via different pathways than single-target ones, especially for complex diseases. Tubulin and DNA are well-characterized molecular targets for anti-cancer drug development. A novel class of diaryl substituted 2H-azirines were designed based on combination of pharmacophores from Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) and aziridine-type alkylating agents, which are known tubulin polymerization inhibitor and DNA damaging agents, respectively. The antitumor activities of these compounds were evaluated in vitro and 6h showed the most potent activities against four cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 0.16 to 1.40 μM. Further mechanistic studies revealed that 6h worked as a bifunctional agent targeting both tubulin and DNA. In the nude mice xenograft model, 6h significantly inhibited the tumor growth with low toxicity, demonstrating the promising potential for further developing novel cancer therapy with a unique mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shibo Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yuru Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiayi Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Feng Pan
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yang Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Engineering of Chiral Drugs, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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2
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Montagner D, Tolan D, Andriollo E, Gandin V, Marzano C. A Pt(IV) Prodrug Combining Chlorambucil and Cisplatin: a Dual-Acting Weapon for Targeting DNA in Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19123775. [PMID: 30486477 PMCID: PMC6321036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19123775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, two DNA-targeting agents, cisplatin and chlorambucil, were combined in a Pt(IV) prodrug, 1, which was thoroughly characterized by means of spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Tested towards a panel of various human tumor cell lines, this compound showed superior in vitro antitumor potential than the reference drug cisplatin. In addition, an antitumor potential of 1 was found, which is comparable to that of oxaliplatin in 3D spheroid models of colon cancer cells. Mechanistic studies performed in colon cancer cells confirmed that the conjugation of chlorambucil to Pt(IV) cisplatin-based scaffold tunes the lipophilicity of the prodrug, consequently improving the ability of the compound to accumulate into cancer cells and to target DNA, ultimately leading to apoptotic cancer cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Montagner
- Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University, Maynooth zip code, Ireland.
| | - Dina Tolan
- School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway zip code, Ireland.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, El-Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32511, Egypt.
| | - Emma Andriollo
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
| | - Valentina Gandin
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
| | - Cristina Marzano
- Dipartimento di Scienze del Farmaco, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova 35131, Italy.
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3
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Conjugation of platinum(IV) complexes with chlorambucil to overcome cisplatin resistance via a "joint action" mode toward DNA. Eur J Med Chem 2017; 137:167-175. [PMID: 28586717 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.05.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Two platinum(IV) complexes were designed and prepared by conjugation of cisplatin and oxaliplatin units with a DNA-damaging agent, chlorambucil, respectively. By taking a joint action to enhance the damage of DNA, the conjugates displayed potent antitumor activity against all the tested cancer cell lines comparable to cisplatin and oxaliplatin, and notably could overcome cisplatin resistance at certain degree. Complex 4, a hybrid of cisplatin and chlorambucil, arrested the cell cycle at the S and G2 phases, distinctive from those of cisplatin and oxaliplatin. Apoptosis studies revealed that complex 4 could induce cell apoptosis significantly in both SGC7901 and SGC7901/CDDP cells. Moreover, further investigation indicated that complex 4 suppressed the drug resistance by the improvement of the platinum uptake and the inhibition of PRAP-1 protein. These results show that the "joint action" on DNA is an effective strategy to overcome cisplatin resistance.
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4
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Ngen EJ, Bar-Shir A, Jablonska A, Liu G, Song X, Ansari R, Bulte JWM, Janowski M, Pearl M, Walczak P, Gilad AA. Imaging the DNA Alkylator Melphalan by CEST MRI: An Advanced Approach to Theranostics. Mol Pharm 2016; 13:3043-53. [PMID: 27398883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.6b00130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors are among the most lethal types of tumors. Therapeutic response variability and failure in patients have been attributed to several factors, including inadequate drug delivery to tumors due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Consequently, drug delivery strategies are being developed for the local and targeted delivery of drugs to brain tumors. These drug delivery strategies could benefit from new approaches to monitor the delivery of drugs to tumors. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of imaging 4-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]-l-phenylalanine (melphalan), a clinically used DNA alkylating agent, using chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST MRI), for theranostic applications. We evaluated the physicochemical parameters that affect melphalan's CEST contrast and demonstrated the feasibility of imaging the unmodified drug by saturating its exchangeable amine protons. Melphalan generated a CEST signal despite its reactivity in an aqueous milieu. The maximum CEST signal was observed at pH 6.2. This CEST contrast trend was then used to monitor therapeutic responses to melphalan in vitro. Upon cell death, the decrease in cellular pH from ∼7.4 to ∼6.4 caused an amplification of the melphalan CEST signal. This is contrary to what has been reported for other CEST contrast agents used for imaging cell death, where a decrease in the cellular pH following cell death results in a decrease in the CEST signal. Ultimately, this method could be used to noninvasively monitor melphalan delivery to brain tumors and also to validate therapeutic responses to melphalan clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethel J Ngen
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Amnon Bar-Shir
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Anna Jablonska
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Guanshu Liu
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Xiaolei Song
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | | | - Jeff W M Bulte
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Miroslaw Janowski
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, PAS , 02106 Warsaw, Poland.,Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, PAS , 02106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monica Pearl
- Division of Interventional Neuroradiology, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Department of Radiology, Children's National Medical Center , Washington, D.C. 20010, United States
| | - Piotr Walczak
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury , Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States.,F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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5
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Zuravka I, Roesmann R, Sosic A, Wende W, Pingoud A, Gatto B, Göttlich R. Synthesis and DNA cleavage activity of Bis-3-chloropiperidines as alkylating agents. ChemMedChem 2014; 9:2178-85. [PMID: 24616300 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201400034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Nitrogen mustards are an important class of bifunctional alkylating agents routinely used in chemotherapy. They react with DNA as electrophiles through the formation of highly reactive aziridinium ion intermediates. The antibiotic 593A, with potential antitumor activity, can be considered a naturally occurring piperidine mustard containing a unique 3-chloropiperidine ring. However, the total synthesis of this antibiotic proved to be rather challenging. With the aim of designing simplified analogues of this natural product, we developed an efficient bidirectional synthetic route to bis-3-chloropiperidines joined by flexible, conformationally restricted, or rigid diamine linkers. The key step involves an iodide-catalyzed double cyclization of unsaturated bis-N-chloroamines to simultaneously generate both piperidine rings. Herein we describe the synthesis and subsequent evaluation of a series of novel nitrogen-bridged bis-3-chloropiperidines, enabling the study of the impact of the linker structure on DNA alkylation properties. Our studies reveal that the synthesized compounds possess DNA alkylating abilities and induce strand cleavage, with a strong preference for guanine residues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivonne Zuravka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, 35392 Giessen (Germany); Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Francesco Marzolo 5, 35131 Padova (Italy)
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6
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Krasnov VP, Korolyova MA, Vodovozova EL. Nano-sized melphalan and sarcolysine drug delivery systems: synthesis and prospects of application. RUSSIAN CHEMICAL REVIEWS 2013. [DOI: 10.1070/rc2013v082n08abeh004358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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7
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Zheng YB, Shang BY, Li Y, Zhen YS. An NGR-integrated and enediyne-energized apoprotein shows CD13-targeting antitumor activity. Biomed Pharmacother 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2012.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
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8
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YU HUI, ZHAO XI, FENG XIANLI, CHEN XUECHENG, BOROWIAK-PALEN EWA, HUANG XURI. MOLECULAR SIMULATIONS OF NEOCARZINOSTATIN CHROMOPHORE RELEASE MECHANISM. JOURNAL OF THEORETICAL & COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY 2012. [DOI: 10.1142/s0219633612500927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is an antitumor chromophore carrier protein with many applications in clinical use such as drug delivery system; however, so far its chromophore-releasing mechanism remains unclear. In this contribution the process and pathway of the chromophore releasing from holoprotein are revealed by conventional molecular dynamics simulations and essential dynamics (ED) sampling method. The results are consistent with the model for ligand release proposed in [D. H. Chin et al., J Biol Chem281:16025, 2006]. The further analysis suggests that the conformational changes of loop 99–104 and motions of side-chain of residue Phe78 are important factors for chromophore release; the opening state of loop 99–104 is a precondition for the release of ligand.
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Affiliation(s)
- HUI YU
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, P. R. China
| | - XI ZHAO
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, P. R. China
| | - XIAN-LI FENG
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, P. R. China
| | - XUECHENG CHEN
- Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecinul. Pulaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland
| | - EWA BOROWIAK-PALEN
- Institute of Chemical and Environment Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecinul. Pulaskiego 10, 70-322 Szczecin, Poland
| | - XU-RI HUANG
- State Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Institute of Theoretical Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130023, P. R. China
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9
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Spencer J, Amin J, Coxhead P, McGeehan J, Richards CJ, Tizzard GJ, Coles SJ, Bingham JP, Hartley JA, Feng L, Meggers E, Guille M. Size Does Matter. Sterically Demanding Metallocene-Substituted 3-Methylidene-Oxindoles Exhibit Poor Kinase Inhibitory Action. Organometallics 2011. [DOI: 10.1021/om200278j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John Spencer
- School of Science, University of Greenwich at Medway, University of Greenwich, Chatham, ME4 4TB, U.K
| | - Jahangir Amin
- School of Science, University of Greenwich at Medway, University of Greenwich, Chatham, ME4 4TB, U.K
| | - Peter Coxhead
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, U.K
| | - John McGeehan
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, U.K
| | | | - Graham J. Tizzard
- UK National Crystallography Service, School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO171BJ, U.K
| | - Simon J. Coles
- UK National Crystallography Service, School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO171BJ, U.K
| | - John P. Bingham
- CRUK Drug-DNA Interactions Research Group, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DD, U.K
| | - John A. Hartley
- CRUK Drug-DNA Interactions Research Group, UCL Cancer Institute, Paul O'Gorman Building, 72 Huntley Street, London, WC1E 6DD, U.K
| | - Li Feng
- Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Strasse, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Eric Meggers
- Fachbereich Chemie, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Hans-Meerwein Strasse, D-35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthew Guille
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, U.K
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10
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Zhao H, Meng X, Yuan H, Lan M. Novel melphalan and chlorambucil derivatives of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy radicals: synthesis, characterization, and biological evaluation in vitro. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2010; 58:332-5. [PMID: 20190437 DOI: 10.1248/cpb.58.332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A series of spin-labeled melphalan and chlorambucil derivatives, coupling the alkylating agents with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) radicals, were synthesized, characterized, and their biological properties in vitro were evaluated. These compounds showed much higher cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell line K562 in vitro than their parent compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongli Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials, and Research Center of Analysis and Test, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, P. R.China
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11
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Wang B, Merz Jr. KM. Importance of loop dynamics in the neocarzinostatin chromophore binding and release mechanisms. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2010; 12:3443-9. [DOI: 10.1039/b924951f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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12
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Liang ZX. Complexity and simplicity in the biosynthesis of enediyne natural products. Nat Prod Rep 2010; 27:499-528. [DOI: 10.1039/b908165h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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13
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Cooke HA, Guenther EL, Luo Y, Shen B, Bruner SD. Molecular basis of substrate promiscuity for the SAM-dependent O-methyltransferase NcsB1, involved in the biosynthesis of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin. Biochemistry 2009; 48:9590-8. [PMID: 19702337 DOI: 10.1021/bi901257q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The small molecule component of chromoprotein enediyne antitumor antibiotics is biosynthesized through a convergent route, incorporating amino acid, polyketide, and carbohydrate building blocks around a central enediyne hydrocarbon core. The naphthoic acid moiety of the enediyne neocarzinostatin plays key roles in the biological activity of the natural product by interacting with both the carrier protein and duplex DNA at the site of action. We have previously described the in vitro characterization of an S-adenosylmethionine-dependent O-methyltransferase (NcsB1) in the neocarzinostatin biosynthetic pathway [Luo, Y., Lin, S., Zhang, J., Cooke, H. A., Bruner, S. D., and Shen, B. (2008) J. Biol. Chem. 283, 14694-14702]. Here we provide a structural basis for NcsB1 activity, illustrating that the enzyme shares an overall architecture with a large family of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent proteins. In addition, NcsB1 represents the first enzyme to be structurally characterized in the biosynthetic pathway of neocarzinostatin. By cocrystallizing the enzyme with various combinations of the cofactor and substrate analogues, details of the active site structure have been established. Changes in subdomain orientation were observed via comparison of structures in the presence and absence of substrate, suggesting that reorientation of the enzyme is involved in binding of the substrate. In addition, residues important for substrate discrimination were predicted and probed through site-directed mutagenesis and in vitro biochemical characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Cooke
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts 02467, USA
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14
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Cai L, Chen H, Miao Q, Wu S, Shang Y, Zhen Y. Binding capability of the enediyne-associated apoprotein to human tumors and constitution of a ligand oligopeptide-integrated protein. J Biotechnol 2009; 144:142-50. [PMID: 19737585 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2009.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2009] [Revised: 08/16/2009] [Accepted: 09/01/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The molecule of lidamycin that belongs to the chromoprotein family of antitumor antibiotics is composed of an apoprotein (LDP) and an enediyne chromophore. The enediyne moiety of the molecule is responsible for the potent cytotoxicity; however, the biological function of the apoprotein moiety, particularly its interaction with cancer cells, remains unclear. In present study, the binding capability of LDP to human tumors was detected for the first time by tissue microarray. LDP bound to various human tumors with significant difference from the corresponding normal tissues. Positive correlation between binding activity and the overexpression of VEGF and EGFR was confirmed by lung carcinoma tissue microarray. A fusion protein LG-LDP that consists of LDP and a ligand oligopeptide to EGFR was constructed by DNA recombination. LG-LDP showed augmented binding to EGFR-overexpressing cancer cells. Furthermore, an energized fusion protein LG-LDP-AE was prepared by integrating the active enediyne (AE) into LG-LDP molecule. By MTT assay, LG-LDP-AE displayed extremely potent cytotoxicity to cancer cells with IC50 approximate to 0.01nM. The results indicate that LDP binds to various human tumors and it might serve as a delivery carrier by integration of ligand oligopeptide to manufacture motif-based, targeted fusion proteins for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Cai
- Department of Oncology, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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15
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Shanmuganathan A, Kumar TKS, Huang CM, Yu C, Chin DH. A superior drug carrier--aponeocarzinostatin in partially unfolded state fully protects the labile antitumor enediyne. J Biomed Sci 2009; 16:48. [PMID: 19463188 PMCID: PMC2694159 DOI: 10.1186/1423-0127-16-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2009] [Accepted: 05/23/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neocarzinostatin is a potent antitumor drug consisting of an enediyne chromophore and a protein carrier. Methods We characterized an intermediate in the equilibrium unfolding pathway of aponeocarzinostatin, using a variety of biophysical techniques including 1-anilino-8-napthalene sulfonate binding studies, size-exclusion fast protein liquid chromatography, intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, circular dichroism, and 1H-15N heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectroscopy. Results The partially unfolded protein is in molten globule-like state, in which ~60% and ~20% tertiary and secondary structure is disrupted respectively. Despite lacking a fully coordinated tertiary structure for assembling a functional binding cleft, the protein in molten globule-like state is still able to fully protect the labile chromophore. Titration of chromophore leads the partially denatured apoprotein to fold into its native state. Conclusion These findings bring insight into conserving mechanism of neocarzinostatin under harsh environment, where even the partially denatured apoprotein exhibits protective effect, confirming the superiority of the drug carrier.
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16
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Growth arrest of BCR-ABL positive cells with a sequence-specific polyamide-chlorambucil conjugate. PLoS One 2008; 3:e3593. [PMID: 18974832 PMCID: PMC2571993 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2008] [Accepted: 10/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the presence of a constitutively active Abl kinase, which is the product of a chimeric BCR-ABL gene, caused by the genetic translocation known as the Philadelphia chromosome. Imatinib, a selective inhibitor of the Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase, has significantly improved the clinical outcome of patients with CML. However, subsets of patients lose their response to treatment through the emergence of imatinib-resistant cells, and imatinib treatment is less durable for patients with late stage CML. Although alternative Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been developed to overcome drug resistance, a cocktail therapy of different kinase inhibitors and additional chemotherapeutics may be needed for complete remission of CML in some cases. Chlorambucil has been used for treatment of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin's and Hodgkin's disease. Here we report that a DNA sequence-specific pyrrole-imidazole polyamide-chlorambucil conjugate, 1R-Chl, causes growth arrest of cells harboring both unmutated BCR-ABL and three imatinib resistant strains. 1R-Chl also displays selective toxicities against activated lymphocytes and a high dose tolerance in a murine model.
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17
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Kandaswamy J, Hariharan P, Kumar TKS, Yu C, Lu TJ, Chin DH. Is association of labile enediyne chromophore a mutually assured protection for carrier protein? Anal Biochem 2008; 381:18-26. [PMID: 18601891 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2008.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2008] [Revised: 05/31/2008] [Accepted: 06/04/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Most conjugate proteins undergo both conformational and stability changes on ligand removal. When architecture remains unchanged in the protein holo and apo forms, it is uncertain whether the protein stability also remains unaltered in both of the forms. Neocarzinostatin (NCS), a chromoprotein possessing a potent enediyne chromophore stands for such an instance. Protein-chromophore interaction has not been thoroughly explored previously due to a lack of strategies to independently and simultaneously monitor changes in the NCS conjugates. Here we report a method by which one can detect the signal exclusively from only one of the NCS conjugates without the spectral interference from the other. Stability of the NCS protein is significantly correlated to the protein-bound chromophore, irrespective of denaturation by heat, pH, urea, or ethanol. Despite the similarity in protein backbone conformation, protein stability of the NCS holo form diminishes and equalizes to that of the apo form when the chromophore is released and degraded. Although the enediyne chromophore is highly unstable, it intriguingly protects the protein by which it is protected. Significant mutual reliance between the carrier protein and its naturally associated ligand unveils important information on the NCS drug stability.
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18
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Luo Y, Lin S, Zhang J, Cooke HA, Bruner SD, Shen B. Regiospecific O-methylation of naphthoic acids catalyzed by NcsB1, an O-methyltransferase involved in the biosynthesis of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic neocarzinostatin. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:14694-702. [PMID: 18387946 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m802206200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neocarzinostatin, a clinical anticancer drug, is the archetypal member of the chromoprotein family of enediyne antitumor antibiotics that are composed of a nonprotein chromophore and an apoprotein. The neocarzinostatin chromophore consists of a nine-membered enediyne core, a deoxyaminosugar, and a naphthoic acid moiety. We have previously cloned and sequenced the neocarzinostatin biosynthetic gene cluster and proposed that the biosynthesis of the naphthoic acid moiety and its incorporation into the neocarzinostatin chromophore are catalyzed by five enzymes NcsB, NcsB1, NcsB2, NcsB3, and NcsB4. Here we report the biochemical characterization of NcsB1, unveiling that: (i) NcsB1 is an S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent O-methyltransferase; (ii) NcsB1 catalyzes regiospecific methylation at the 7-hydroxy group of its native substrate, 2,7-dihydroxy-5-methyl-1-naphthoic acid; (iii) NcsB1 also recognizes other dihydroxynaphthoic acids as substrates and catalyzes regiospecific O-methylation; and (iv) the carboxylate and its ortho-hydroxy groups of the substrate appear to be crucial for NcsB1 substrate recognition and binding, and O-methylation takes place only at the free hydroxy group of these dihydroxynaphthoic acids. These findings establish that NcsB1 catalyzes the third step in the biosynthesis of the naphthoic acid moiety of the neocarzinostatin chromophore and further support the early proposal for the biosynthesis of the naphthoic acid and its incorporation into the neocarzinostatin chromophore with free naphthoic acids serving as intermediates. NcsB1 represents another opportunity that can now be exploited to produce novel neocarzinostatin analogs by engineering neocarzinostatin biosynthesis or applying directed biosynthesis strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinggang Luo
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin National Cooperative Drug Discovery Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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Baker JR, Woolfson DN, Muskett FW, Stoneman RG, Urbaniak MD, Caddick S. Protein–Small Molecule Interactions in Neocarzinostatin, the Prototypical Enediyne Chromoprotein Antibiotic. Chembiochem 2007; 8:704-17. [PMID: 17451164 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.200600534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The enediyne chromoproteins are a class of potent antitumour antibiotics comprising a 1:1 complex of a protein and a noncovalently bound chromophore. The protein is required to protect and transport the highly labile chromophore, which acts as the cytotoxic component by reacting with DNA leading to strand cleavage. A derivative of the best-studied member of this class, neocarzinostatin (NCS), is currently in use as a chemotherapeutic in Japan. The application of the chromoproteins as therapeutics along with their unique mode of action has prompted widespread interest in this area. Notable developments include the discovery of non-natural ligands for the apoproteins and the observation that multiple binding modes are available for these ligands in the binding site. Mutation studies on the apoproteins have revealed much about their stability and variability, and the application of an in vitro evolution method has conferred new binding specificity for unrelated ligands. These investigations hold great promise for the application of the apoproteins for drug-delivery, transport and stabilisation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Baker
- University College London, Department of Chemistry, Christopher Ingold Laboratories, 20 Gordon Street, London, WC1H 0AJ, UK
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Abstract
Antitumor antibiotic chromoproteins such as neocarzinostatin involve a labile toxin that is tightly bound by a protective protein with very high affinity but must also be freed to exert its function. Contrary to the prevalent concept of ligand release, we established that toxin release from neocarzinostatin requires no major backbone conformational changes. We report, herein, that subtle changes in the side chains of specific amino acid residues are adequate to gate the release of chromophore. A recombinant wild type aponeocarzinostatin and its variants mutated around the opening of the chromophore binding cleft are employed to identify specific side chains likely to affect chromophore release. Preliminary, biophysical characterization of mutant apoproteins by circular dichroism and thermal denaturation indicate that the fundamental structural characteristics of wild type protein are conserved in these mutants. The chromophore reconstitution studies further show that all mutants are able to bind chromophore efficiently with similar complex structures. NMR studies on 15N-labeled mutants also suggest the intactness of binding pocket structure. Kinetic studies of chromophore release monitored by time course fluorescence and quantitative high pressure liquid chromatography analyses show that the ligand release rate is significantly enhanced only in Phe78 mutants. The extent of DNA cleavage in vitro corresponds well to the rate of chromophore release. The results provide the first clear-cut indication of how toxin release can be controlled by a specific side chain of a carrier protein.
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Inoue M, Usuki T, Lee N, Hirama M, Tanaka T, Hosoi F, Ohie S, Otani T. Antitumor Enediyne Chromoprotein C-1027: Mechanistic Investigation of the Chromophore-Mediated Self-Decomposition Pathway. J Am Chem Soc 2006; 128:7896-903. [PMID: 16771503 DOI: 10.1021/ja060724w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
C-1027 is an extremely potent antitumor agent that causes double-stranded DNA cleavages. It is a unique small molecule-protein complex composed of a highly reactive enediyne chromophore, which upon binding reacts with its target molecule DNA through radical-mediated hydrogen abstraction and an apoprotein that encapsulates the chromophore serving as its carrier to reach DNA. Although C-1027 has favorable properties as an effective drug delivery system, it slowly self-decomposes due to the reactivity of the chromophore toward the apoprotein. Understanding how the C-1027 destroys itself may enable design of its analogues that overcome this limitation. In this paper, mechanistic insights into the self-reactivity of C-1027 that facilitates its own decomposition are described. We provide evidence that the formation of the Gly96 radical, which promotes the oxidative protein scission and the subsequent chromophore release, is the major pathway for the self-decomposition of C-1027. On the basis of the newly isolated products of the self-decomposition, we propose that the apoprotein effectively protects two different structural elements of the chromophore that are essential for its biological activity: the nine-membered enediyne moiety (necessary for DNA cleavage) and the benzoxazine moiety (necessary for DNA intercalation). Using an engineered apoprotein analogue kinetically more stable toward the chromophore radical, we show that enhanced overall properties can be achieved for the natural C-1027 with respect to stability and antitumor activities. The results present the first example of a rationally designed C-1027 analogue reported to display superior in vitro antitumor activity to the natural C-1027. Our findings may have implications for design of proteins that can stably encapsulate highly reactive small molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masayuki Inoue
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan.
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Sudhahar CG, Chin DH. Aponeocarzinostatin—A superior drug carrier exhibiting unusually high endurance against denaturants. Bioorg Med Chem 2006; 14:3543-52. [PMID: 16458518 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2006.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2005] [Revised: 01/06/2006] [Accepted: 01/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The enediyne antitumor antibiotic chromoproteins are very potent in causing DNA damages. During the drug delivery time course, the stability of the carrier protein becomes an important concern. To simulate conceivably offensive environment in biological contexts, such as cell membrane, we studied structural endurance of aponeocarzinostatin against several denaturants by circular dichroism and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. For comparison, we also examined proteins known to be stable and similar in size to aponeocarzinostatin. The results highlight the unusual structural stability of aponeocarzinostatin against chemical denaturants, suggesting the potential of aponeocarzinostatin as an inherently superior carrier in drug delivery systems.
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Caddick S, Muskett FW, Stoneman RG, Woolfson DN. Synthetic Ligands for Apo-Neocarzinostatin. J Am Chem Soc 2006; 128:4204-5. [PMID: 16568976 DOI: 10.1021/ja058419i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is a 1:1 complex of an enediyne chromophore (NCSChrom), non-covalently bound to an 11 kDa protein (apoNCS). We are exploring apoNCS as a generic protein system for sequestering small molecules for therapeutic applications. Here, we disclose a new flavone ligand 1 for apoNCS and present a high-resolution NMR structure of this ligand bound to apoNCS. This is the first high-resolution structure of a completely non-cognate ligand bound to the apoNCS protein. This work provides unambiguous evidence that a completely new class of ligand can bind specifically to apoNCS. Furthermore, the mode of binding is different than that of the naphthoate-based ligands, and for such a simple hydrophobic compound, the new ligand surprisingly binds specifically. This work indicates that apo-Neocarzinostatin has multiple selective and distinct binding modes for small-molecule cargo.
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Papageorgiou A, Koutsourea AI, Arsenou ES, Fousteris MA, Mourelatos D, Nikolaropoulos SS. Structure???anti-leukemic activity relationship study of B- and D-ring modified and non-modified steroidal esters of chlorambucil??s active metabolite. Anticancer Drugs 2005; 16:1075-82. [PMID: 16222149 DOI: 10.1097/00001813-200511000-00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We have studied the effect of modification of the B-steroidal ring to lactamic on the anti-leukemic potency of D-modified and D-non-modified steroidal esters of chlorambucil's active metabolite. The compounds synthesized were studied against leukemias P388 and L1210 after the subsequent estimation of their toxicity in vivo, and for their ability to induce sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and to inhibit cell proliferation in normal human lymphocytes in vitro. The in vitro results correlated well, on a molar basis, with the results obtained from the study of the anti-leukemic potency. In a comparative study, the B-lactamic steroidal derivatives proved less active than the 7-oxidized ones against both leukemias. The presence of the -NHCO- group in the B-steroidal ring did not have the same positive effect on the biological action of chlorambucil's active metabolite esters as in the D-lactamic ring. However, this new modification of the B-ring rendered the final esteric derivatives much more toxic, compared with to the corresponding esters with a simple B-ring. This loss of the anti-leukemic specificity, which occurs from the modification of the B-ring, is additional evidence for the role of the steroidal part on the mechanism of action of these promising compounds. This provides support for the notion that the steroidal part of these molecules is not just a simple biological carrier, as has been speculated for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Papageorgiou
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Greece
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Takashima H, Yoshida T, Ishino T, Hasuda K, Ohkubo T, Kobayashi Y. Solution NMR Structure Investigation for Releasing Mechanism of Neocarzinostatin Chromophore from the Holoprotein. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:11340-6. [PMID: 15640161 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m411579200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Holo-neocarzinostatin (holo-NCS) is a complex protein carrying the anti-tumor active enediyne ring chromophore by a scaffold consisting of an immunoglobulin-like seven-stranded anti-parallel beta-barrel. Because of the labile chromophore reflecting its extremely strong DNA cleavage activity and complete stabilization in the complex, holo-NCS has attracted much attention in clinical use as well as for drug delivery systems. Despite many structural analyses for holo-NCS, the chromophore-releasing mechanism to trigger prompt attacks on the target DNA is still unclear. We determined the three-dimensional structure of the protein and the internal motion by multinuclear NMR to investigate the releasing mechanism. The internal motion studied by 13C NMR methine relaxation experiments showed that the complex has a rigid structure for its loops as well as the beta-barrel in aqueous solution. This agrees with the refined NMR solution structure, which has good convergence in the loop regions. We also showed that the chromophore displayed a similar internal motion as the protein moiety. The structural comparison between the refined solution structure and x-ray crystal structure indicated characteristic differences. Based on the findings, we proposed the chromophore-releasing mechanism by a three-state equilibrium, which sufficiently describes both the strong binding and the prompt releasing of the chromophore. We demonstrated that we could bridge the dynamic properties and the static structure features with simple kinetic assumptions to solve the biochemical function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Takashima
- Informatics and Knowledge Management at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis, Ohkubo 8, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2611, Japan
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