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Apoptotic Effects of Drug Targeting Conjugates Containing Different GnRH Analogs on Colon Carcinoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184421. [PMID: 31500399 PMCID: PMC6769516 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The wide range of cellular target reactions (e.g., antitumor) of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) variants provides the possibility to develop multifunctional GnRH conjugates. The aim of our work was to compare the cytotoxic/apoptotic activity of different GnRH-based, daunorubicin (Dau)-linked conjugates with or without butyrated Lys in position 4 (4Lys(Bu)) at a molecular level in a human colorectal carcinoma cell line. Cell viability was measured by impedimetry, cellular uptake and apoptosis were studied by flow cytometry, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The modification with 4Lys(Bu) resulted in an increased cytotoxic and apoptotic effects and cellular uptake of the GnRH-I and GnRH-III conjugates. Depending on the GnRH isoform and the presence of 4Lys(Bu), the conjugates could regulate the expression of several apoptosis-related genes, especially tumor necrosis factor (TNF), tumor protein p53 (TP53) and the members of growth-factor signaling. The stronger cytotoxicity of GnRH-I and GnRH-III conjugates containing 4Lys(Bu) was associated with a stronger inhibitory effect on the expression of growth-factor signaling elements in comparison with their 4Ser counterparts, in which the upregulation of TP53 and caspases (e.g., CASP9) seemed to play a more important role. We were able to provide further evidence that targeting the GnRH receptor could serve as a successful therapeutic approach in colon cancer, and GnRH-III-[4Lys(Bu),8Lys(Dau=Aoa)] proved to be the best candidate for this purpose.
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Overcharging Effect in Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectra of Daunomycin-Tuftsin Bioconjugates. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24162981. [PMID: 31426442 PMCID: PMC6720970 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24162981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide-based small molecule drug conjugates for targeted tumor therapy are currently in the focus of intensive research. Anthracyclines, like daunomycin, are commonly used anticancer drug molecules and are also often applied in peptide-drug conjugates. However, lability of the O-glycosidic bond during electrospray ionization mass spectrometric analysis hinders the analytical characterization of the constructs. “Overprotonation” can occur if daunomycin is linked to positively charged peptide carriers, like tuftsin derivatives. In these molecules, the high number of positive charges enhances the in-source fragmentation significantly, leading to complex mass spectra composed of mainly fragment ions. Therefore, we investigated different novel tuftsin-daunomycin conjugates to find an appropriate condition for mass spectrometric detection. Our results showed that shifting the charge states to lower charges helped to keep ions intact. In this way, a clear spectrum could be obtained containing intact protonated molecules only. Shifting of the protonation states to lower charges could be achieved with the use of appropriate neutral volatile buffers and with tuning the ion source parameters.
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Postu PA, Ion L, Drochioiu G, Petre BA, Glocker MO. Mass spectrometric characterization of the zein protein composition in maize flour extracts upon protein separation by SDS-PAGE and 2D gel electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2019; 40:2747-2758. [PMID: 31169923 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201900108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Highly homogenous α zein protein was isolated from maize kernels in an environment-friendly process using 95% ethanol as solvent. Due to the polyploidy and genetic polymorphism of the plant source, the application of high resolution separation methods in conjunction with precise analytical methods, such as MALDI-TOF-MS, is required to accurately estimate homogeneity of products that contain natural zein protein. The α zein protein product revealed two main bands in SDS-PAGE analysis, one at 25 kDa and other at 20 kDa apparent molecular mass. Yet, high resolution 2DE revealed approximately five protein spot groups in each row, the first at ca. 25 kDa and the second at ca. 20 kDa. Peptide mass fingerprinting data of the proteins in the two dominant SDS-PAGE bands matched to 30 amino acid sequence entries out of 102 non-redundant data base entries. MALDI-TOF-MS peptide mapping of the proteins from all spots indicated the presence of only α zein proteins. The most prominent ion signals in the MALDI mass spectra of the protein mixture of the 25 kDa SDS gel band after in-gel digestion were found at m/z 1272.6 and m/z 2009.1, and the most prominent ion signals of the protein mixture of the 20 kDa band after in-gel digestion were recorded at m/z 1083.5 and m/z 1691.8. These ion signals have been found typical for α zein proteins and may serve as marker ion signals which upon chymotryptic digestion reliably indicate the presence of α zein protein in two hybrid corn products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A Postu
- Department of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania.,Transcend Research Center - Regional Institute of Oncology, Iasi, Romania
| | - Laura Ion
- Department of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Gabi Drochioiu
- Department of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Brindusa A Petre
- Transcend Research Center - Regional Institute of Oncology, Iasi, Romania.,Department of Chemistry, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romania
| | - Michael O Glocker
- Proteome Center Rostock, Medical Faculty and Natural Science Faculty, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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Murányi J, Gyulavári P, Varga A, Bökönyi G, Tanai H, Vántus T, Pap D, Ludányi K, Mező G, Kéri G. Synthesis, characterization and systematic comparison of FITC-labelled GnRH-I, -II and -III analogues on various tumour cells. J Pept Sci 2017; 22:552-60. [PMID: 27443981 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Targeted tumour therapy is the focus of recent cancer research. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues are able to deliver anticancer agents selectively into tumour cells, which highly express GnRH receptors. However, the effectiveness of different analogues as targeting moiety in drug delivery systems is rarely compared, and the investigated types of cancer are also limited. Therefore, we prepared selectively labelled, fluorescent derivatives of GnRH-I, -II and -III analogues, which were successfully used for drug targeting. In this manuscript, we investigated these analogues' solubility, stability and passive membrane permeability and compared their cellular uptake by various cancer cells. We found that these labelled GnRH conjugates provide great detectability, without undesired cytotoxicity and passive membrane permeability. The introduced experiments with these conjugates proved their reliable tracking, quantification and comparison. Cellular uptake efficiency was studied on human breast, colon, pancreas and prostate cancer cells (MCF-7, HT-29, BxPC-3, LNCaP) and on dog kidney cells (Madin-Darby canine kidney). Each of the three conjugates was taken up by GnRH-I receptor-expressing cells, but the different cells preferred different analogues. Furthermore, we demonstrated for the first time the high cell surface expression of GnRH-I receptors and the effective cellular uptake of GnRH analogues on human pharynx tumour (Detroit-562) cells. In summary, our presented results detail that the introduced conjugates could be innovative tools for the examination of the GnRH-based drug delivery systems on various cells and offer novel information about these peptides. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- József Murányi
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Pál Gyulavári
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Varga
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Györgyi Bökönyi
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Henriette Tanai
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tibor Vántus
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Domonkos Pap
- 1st Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Bókay János St. 53-54, H1083, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Ludányi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Semmelweis University, Hőgyes Endre St. 7, H1092, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Mező
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Eötvös L. University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A, H1518, Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Kéri
- MTA-SE Pathobiochemistry Research Group, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó St. 37-47, H1094, Budapest, Hungary
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Aguilar-Rojas A, Pérez-Solis MA, Maya-Núñez G. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone system: Perspectives from reproduction to cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2016; 48:861-8. [PMID: 26783137 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, an increasing amount of evidence indicates that human gonadotropin-releasing hormone (hGnRH) and its receptor (hGnRHR) are important regulatory components not only to the reproduction process but also in the regulation of some cancer cell functions such as cell proliferation, in both hormone-dependent and -independent types of tumors. The hGnRHR is a naturally misfolded protein that is retained mostly in the endoplasmic reticulum; however, this mechanism can be overcome by treatment with several pharmacoperones, therefore, increasing the amount of receptors in the cell membrane. In addition, several reports indicate that the expression level of hGnRHR in tumor cells is even lower than in pituitary or gonadotrope cells. The signal transduction pathways activated by hGnRH in both gonadotrope and different cancer cell types are described in the present review. We also discuss how the rescue of misfolded receptors in tumor cells could be a promising strategy for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Aguilar-Rojas
- Research Unit in Reproductive Medicine, Health Research Council, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia 'Luis Castelazo Ayala', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico 01090, D.F., Mexico
| | - Marco Allan Pérez-Solis
- Research Unit in Reproductive Medicine, Health Research Council, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia 'Luis Castelazo Ayala', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico 01090, D.F., Mexico
| | - Guadalupe Maya-Núñez
- Research Unit in Reproductive Medicine, Health Research Council, Hospital de Gineco-Obstetricia 'Luis Castelazo Ayala', Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico 01090, D.F., Mexico
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Computational fishing of new DNA methyltransferase inhibitors from natural products. J Mol Graph Model 2015; 60:43-54. [PMID: 26099696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2015.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 03/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis) have become an alternative for cancer therapies. However, only two DNMTis have been approved as anticancer drugs, although with some restrictions. Natural products (NPs) are a promising source of drugs. In order to find NPs with novel chemotypes as DNMTis, 47 compounds with known activity against these enzymes were used to build a LDA-based QSAR model for active/inactive molecules (93% accuracy) based on molecular descriptors. This classifier was employed to identify potential DNMTis on 800 NPs from NatProd Collection. 447 selected compounds were docked on two human DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) structures (PDB codes: 3SWR and 2QRV) using AutoDock Vina and Surflex-Dock, prioritizing according to their score values, contact patterns at 4 Å and molecular diversity. Six consensus NPs were identified as virtual hits against DNMTs, including 9,10-dihydro-12-hydroxygambogic, phloridzin, 2',4'-dihydroxychalcone 4'-glucoside, daunorubicin, pyrromycin and centaurein. This method is an innovative computational strategy for identifying DNMTis, useful in the identification of potent and selective anticancer drugs.
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Advances in Development of New Treatment for Leishmaniasis. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:815023. [PMID: 26078965 PMCID: PMC4442256 DOI: 10.1155/2015/815023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis is a neglected infectious disease caused by several different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Current strategies to control this disease are mainly based on chemotherapy. Despite being available for the last 70 years, leishmanial chemotherapy has lack of efficiency, since its route of administration is difficult and it can cause serious side effects, which results in the emergence of resistant cases. The medical-scientific community is facing difficulties to overcome these problems with new suitable and efficient drugs, as well as the identification of new drug targets. The availability of the complete genome sequence of Leishmania has given the scientific community the possibility of large-scale analysis, which may lead to better understanding of parasite biology and consequent identification of novel drug targets. In this review we focus on how high-throughput analysis is helping us and other groups to identify novel targets for chemotherapeutic interventions. We further discuss recent data produced by our group regarding the use of the high-throughput techniques and how this helped us to identify and assess the potential of new identified targets.
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