5-Hydroxypyrroloindoline Affords Tryptathionine and 2,2'-bis-Indole Peptide Staples: Application to Melanotan-II

With peptides increasingly favored as drugs, natural product motifs, namely the tryptathionine staple, found in amatoxins and phallotoxins, and the 2,2'-bis-indole found in staurosporine represent unexplored staples for unnatural peptide macrocycles. We disclose the efficient condensation of a 5-hydroxypyrroloindoline with either a cysteine-thiol or a tryptophan-indole to form a tryptathionine or 2-2'-bis-indole staple. Judicious use of protecting groups provides for chemoselective stapling using α-MSH, which provides a basis for investigating both chemoselectivity and affinity. Both classes of stapled peptides show nanomolar Ki's, with one showing a sub-nanomolar Ki value.

Toward tryptathionine-stapled one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) libraries: solid phase synthesis of a bioactive octretoate analog

New somatostatin analogs are highly desirable for diagnosing and treating neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Here we describe the solid-phase synthesis of a new octreotate (TATE) analog where the disulfide bond is replaced with a tryptathionine (Ttn) staple as part of an effort to prototyping a one-bead-one-compound (OBOC) library of Ttn-stapled peptides. Library design provides the potential for on- and off-bead screening. To validate our method, we labelled Ttn-TATE with a fluorescent dye to demonstrate binding to soluble somatostatin receptor subtype-2 and staining of Ar42J rat prostate cancer cells. By exploring this staple in the context of a ligand of known affinity, this method paves the way for an OBOC library construction of bioactive octreotate analogs and, more broadly speaking, tryptathionine-staped peptide macrocycles.

Behavioral correlates of cortical semantic representations modeled by word vectors

The quantitative modeling of semantic representations in the brain plays a key role in understanding the neural basis of semantic processing. Previous studies have demonstrated that word vectors, which were originally developed for use in the field of natural language processing, provide a powerful tool for such quantitative modeling. However, whether semantic representations in the brain revealed by the word vector-based models actually capture our perception of semantic information remains unclear, as there has been no study explicitly examining the behavioral correlates of the modeled brain semantic representations. To address this issue, we compared the semantic structure of nouns and adjectives in the brain estimated from word vector-based brain models with that evaluated from human behavior. The brain models were constructed using voxelwise modeling to predict the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to natural movies from semantic contents in each movie scene through a word vector space. The semantic dissimilarity of brain word representations was then evaluated using the brain models. Meanwhile, data on human behavior reflecting the perception of semantic dissimilarity between words were collected in psychological experiments. We found a significant correlation between brain model- and behavior-derived semantic dissimilarities of words. This finding suggests that semantic representations in the brain modeled via word vectors appropriately capture our perception of word meanings.

Measurements of Fission Products Yields with the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer at ILL

The CEA in collaboration with ILL and LPSC has developed a measurement program on symmetric and heavy mass fission product distributions. The combination of measurements with ionisation chamber and Ge detectors is necessary to describe precisely the heavy fission product region in mass and charge. Recently, new measurements of fission yields and kinetic energy distributions, for different fissioning systems (233,235 U(nth, f),241 Am(2nth, f) and 239,241 Pu(nth, f), were performed with recoil spectrometer LOHENGRIN. The focus has been done on the self-normalization of the data to provide new absolute measurements, independently of any libraries along with the experimental covariance matrix. To reach precise measurements, a new experimental procedure was developed along with a new analysis method.

Solid-phase synthesis of a novel phalloidin analog with on-bead and off-bead actin-binding activity

Specific effectors of actin polymerization have found use as dynamic probes of cellular morphology that may be used to gauge cellular response to stimuli and drugs. Of various natural products that target actin, phalloidin is one of the most potent and selective inhibitors of actin depolymerization. Phalloidin and related members of the phallotoxin family are macrocyclic heptapeptides bearing a characteristic and rigidifying transannular tryptathionine bridge. Here we describe a solid-phase synthesis of a new phalloidin analog as a prototype for library development with the potential for on- and off-bead screening. To validate our method, we labelled the phalloidin derivative with a fluorescent dye which stained actin in CHO cells. Furthermore, a bioassay was developed allowing actin polymerization on beads carrying a phalloidin derivative.

Status of fission fragment observables measured with the LOHENGRIN spectrometer

Nuclear fission yields are key parameters to evaluate reactor physics observables, such as fuel inventory, decay heat, spent fuel radiotoxicity, criticality but also for understanding the fission process. Despite a significant effort allocated to measure fission yields during the last decades, the recent evaluated libraries still need improvements in particular in the description of the uncertainties with the associated correlations. Additional kinds of measurements provide complementary information in order to test the models used in the nuclear data evaluation. Moreover, some discrepancies between these libraries must be explained. A common effort by the CEA, the LPSC and the ILL aims at tackling these issues by providing precise measurement of isotopic and isobaric fission yields with the related variance-covariance matrices. Nevertheless, the experimental program represents itself a large range of observables requested by the evaluations: isotopic yields, nuclear charge polarization, odd-even effect, isomeric ratio and their dependency with fission fragment kinetic energy as a probe of the nuclear de-excitation path in the (E*, Jπ) representation. Measurements for thermal neutron induced fission of 241Pu have been carried out at the Institut Laue Langevin using the LOHENGRIN mass spectrometer. Experimental program, observables reachable, results and comparison to model calculations are shown.

Lifetime measurement in neutron-rich A~100 nuclei

Lifetimes of excited states of the 98;100;102Zr nuclei were measured by using the Generalized Centroid Difference Method. The nuclei of interest were populated via neutron-induced fission of 241Pu and 235U during the EXILL-FATIMA campaign. The obtained lifetimes were used to calculate the B(E2) transition strengths and β deformation parameters which were then compared with the recent theoretical predictions obtained with Monte Carlo Shell Model.

Excited States and Collectivity in 88Se

The γ decays of excited states in the very neutron-rich nucleus 88Se have been observed following the cold neutron-induced fission of 235U at the PF1B facility of the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL), Grenoble. The EXILL array was used to measure γ - γ - γ coincidences, which were then analysed to build a level scheme of 88Se. A low (2+1) energy hints at the onset of quadrupole deformation and the identification of possible members of a (2+2) band provide evidence for γ vibrations. Shell-model calculations using a 78Ni core reproduce the experimental decay scheme well, implying that interactions between particles in the π f5/2 p and vsd orbits are responsible for much of the collectivity present. The algebraic collective model has also been used to interpret the experimental data, showing that that the experimental spectrum is consistent with 88Se being a transitional nucleus, possessing weak static β deformation and γ instability.

Isotopic distribution and dependency to fission product kinetic energy for 241Pu thermal neutron-induced fission

Nuclear fission yields data measurements for thermal neutron induced fission of 241Pu have been carried out at the ILL in Grenoble, using the Lohengrin mass spectrometer. The relative isotopic yields for the masses 137 up to 141 have been derived with the associated experimental covariance matrices. Moreover, from preliminary results for the masses 92, 138 and 139, a clear evolution over fission product kinetic energy of the isotopic total count rate is observed.

The γ-γ fast-timing technique and the EXILL&FATIMA campaign

At the Institut Laue-Langevin in Grenoble, germanium-gated γ-γ fast-timing lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states in neutron-rich nuclei have been performed within a prompt γ-ray spectroscopy experimental campaign. We report on results obtained from the cold-neutron induced fission of 235U. The excited secondary fission products were stopped almost instantaneously within the thick target and the γ rays emitted were collected triggerlessly using the EXILL&FATIMA mixed array of HPGe and LaBr3(Ce) detectors. Precise lifetimes could be determined by analysing the γ-γ time difference spectra using the generalized centroid difference method. This picosecondsensitive method provides many advantages and is briefly explained. Still, the major source of systematic errors is related to the contribution of time-correlated Compton background. The EXILL&FATIMA results are discussed with respect to the typical energy-dependent timing behaviour of the background. According to the time response of the background, appropriate methods and a time correction for the sub-nanosecond regime are proposed.

(n,γ) reactions on rare Ca isotopes: Valence-hole - core excitation couplings in 47Ca

Recent results on the structure of 47Ca will be presented. The nucleus of interest was populated via the cold-neutron capture 46Ca(n,γ) reaction, on a rare 46Ca target, during the EXILL experimental campaign at the nuclear reactor of Institut Laue- Langevin in Grenoble. High-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy, performed with a composite array of HPGe detectors, enabled the identification of new transitions deexciting states between the neutron-capture level and the ground state. Experimental data will be compared with a novel microscopic theoretical model, currently under development, specifically designed to describe the low-lying structure of odd-mass nuclei with one valence particle/hole outside a spherical doubly-magic core, using the Skyrme effective interaction self-consistently.

Abstract P4-21-18: Pre-clinical antitumor activity, tumor localization, and pharmacokinetics of MP0274, an apoptosis inducing, biparatopic HER2-targeting DARPin®

Background: HER2 positivity is an important predictive factor for treatment with anti-HER2 agents in several cancers. However, currently available monoclonal antibody and tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs rarely achieve full disease control. We have developed a new HER2-targeting molecule with a unique pro-apoptotic mode of action that may provide additional benefit to patients. The DARPin® MP0274* binds to two distinct non-overlapping HER2 epitopes and to human serum albumin for half-life extension. As previously shown**, in vitro, MP0274 induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of cells expressing HER2 (IHC3+, IHC2+ and IHC1+) and potently inhibits HER2/HER3 downstream signaling. To support clinical development of MP0274, we tested the potency of MP0274 in several HER2 expressing patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and investigated tumor localization. In addition, pharmacokinetics (PK) analysis was performed in cynomolgus monkeys.

Methods: Antitumor activity of MP0274 was tested in breast and gastric HER2 expressing PDX mouse models and was compared to standard of care therapies. Tumor localization of MP0274 was studied using an Indium-111 labeled version of MP0274 in a human ovarian adenocarcinoma (SKOV-3) xenograft model by whole-body SPECT/CT imaging. The PK of MP0274 was studied in cynomolgus monkeys (MP0274 is cross-reactive with cynomolgus HER2).

Results: In breast and gastric cancer PDX models, MP0274 showed superior efficacy compared to trastuzumab and lapatinib and equivalent efficacy compared to trastuzumab plus pertuzumab as measured by relative tumor volume. The imaging study with SPECT/CT demonstrated that MP0274 localizes effectively to the HER2-expressing human tumor within 24 h. The PK study in cynomolgus monkeys showed a half-life of ≥5 days at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg while at the lowest dose tested (1 mg/kg) MP0274 had a terminal half-life of 0.4 days. The PK results are indicative of target-mediated clearance that becomes saturated at doses above 1 mg/kg.

Conclusions: MP0274, with its unique pro-apoptotic mode of action, demonstrates excellent activity in preclinical PDX models, fast localization to tumor and a long half-life in cynomolgus monkeys. MP0274 was well tolerated in all studies. These results suggest that MP0274 has the potential to provide additional clinical benefit to patients with HER2-expressing tumors. A GLP repeated dose toxicology study is ongoing and a phase I clinical trial is in preparation.

* DARPins are small repeat proteins, designed to bind targets with high affinity and specificity, which can be combined in a modular fashion to produce multi-functional agents.

** U. Fiedler et al. SABC 2013. Abstract# 1094 & Poster# P4-12-30.

Citation Format: Fiedler U, Metz C, Zitt C, Bessey R, Béhé M, Blanc A, Schibli R, Dolado I, Herbst J, Dawson KM, Kiemle-Kallee J. Pre-clinical antitumor activity, tumor localization, and pharmacokinetics of MP0274, an apoptosis inducing, biparatopic HER2-targeting DARPin® [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-21-18.

The usefulness of post-mortem CT angiography in injuries caused by falling from considerable heights: three fatal cases

OBJECTIVE

Post-mortem computed tomography is a diagnostic tool forming part of the arsenal available to forensic pathologists today. In addition to its usefulness in detecting bone lesions, which has long been recognized, this technique has nowadays been enhanced by the development of CT angiography. The role of multiphase post-mortem computed tomography angiography (multiphase PMCTA) is primordial, improving detection of solid organ lesions and permitting vascular lesions to be visualized directly.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our paper presents a series of three deaths by falling from a considerable height recorded since the beginning of 2012. We report the usefulness of PMCTA and the various mechanisms involved in the trauma.

RESULTS

Most of the lesions were diagnosed by both PMCTA and autopsy, including the rare lesions, but the peripheral bone lesions and the hemopneumatocele were diagnosed only by PMCTA, while dislocation of vertebrae and the testicular fractures were detected solely by autopsy.

CONCLUSION

PMCTA is a new, minimally-invasive technique which, combined with autopsy, provides better visualization and detection of certain lesions, particularly in the case of death by falling from a great height.

The serine-threonine kinase p90RSK is a new target of enzastaurin in follicular lymphoma cells

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Follicular lymphoma is the second most common non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and, despite the introduction of rituximab for its treatment, this disease is still considered incurable. Besides genetic alterations involving Bcl-2, Bcl-6 or c-Myc, follicular lymphoma cells often display altered B-cell receptor signalling pathways including overactive PKC and PI3K/Akt systems.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

The effect of enzastaurin, an inhibitor of PKC, was evaluated both in vitro on follicular lymphoma cell lines and in vivo on a xenograft murine model. Using pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA transfection, we determined the different signalling pathways after enzastaurin treatment.

KEY RESULTS

Enzastaurin inhibited the serine-threonine kinase p90RSK which has downstream effects on GSK3β. Bad and p70S6K. These signalling proteins control follicular lymphoma cell survival and apoptosis; which accounted for the inhibition by enzastaurin of cell survival and its induction of apoptosis of follicular lymphoma cell lines in vitro. Importantly, these results were replicated in vivo where enzastaurin inhibited the growth of follicular lymphoma xenografts in mice.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The targeting of p90RSK by enzastaurin represents a new therapeutic option for the treatment of follicular lymphoma.

Migration of antimony from PET trays into food simulant and food: determination of Arrhenius parameters and comparison of predicted and measured migration data

Migration experiments with small sheets cut out from ovenable PET trays were performed in two-sided contact with 3% acetic acid as food simulant at various temperatures. The fraction of diffusible antimony (Sb) was estimated to be 62% in the PET sample under study. Apparent diffusion coefficients of Sb in PET trays were determined experimentally. Measurement of migration between 20 and 150°C yielded a linear Arrhenius plot over a wide temperature range from which the activation energy (E(a)) of 188 ± 36 kJ mol(-1) and the pre-exponential factor (D(0)) of 3.6 × 10(14) cm(2) s(-1) were determined for diffusing Sb species. E (a) was similar to previously reported values for PET bottles obtained with a different experimental approach. E (a) and D (0) were applied as model parameters in migration modelling software for predicting the Sb transfer in real food. Ready meals intended for preparation in a baking oven were heated in the PET trays under study and the actual Sb migration into the food phase was measured by isotope dilution ICP-MS. It was shown that the predictive modelling reproduces correctly experimental data.

Occurrence of uranium in Swiss drinking water

The results of a nationwide survey of uranium in Swiss drinking water are reported. Elevated concentrations of uranium in groundwater are found mainly in the alpine regions and can be traced back to the geology of the bedrock. Water sources were systematically surveyed and analysed for the presence of Li, B, Si, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Tl, Pb and U and the results were analysed to determine if any correlation with uranium concentration was apparent. No correlation was found. The results are interpreted in relation to the current WHO guideline and those of other countries with a view to determining which areas would be affected if a maximum value were to be adopted and which areas require further investigation. Uranium content varied considerably, from below the limit of detection to almost 100 μg L(-1). Of the 5548 data samples, 98% are below the 2004 WHO provisional guideline value of 15 μg L(-1) and 99.7% below the revised (2011) value of 30 μg L(-1).

Centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The centrality dependence of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV is presented. The charged-particle density normalized per participating nucleon pair increases by about a factor of 2 from peripheral (70%-80%) to central (0%-5%) collisions. The centrality dependence is found to be similar to that observed at lower collision energies. The data are compared with models based on different mechanisms for particle production in nuclear collisions.

Elliptic flow of charged particles in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

We report the first measurement of charged particle elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] =2.76 TeV with the ALICE detector at the CERN Large Hadron Collider. The measurement is performed in the central pseudorapidity region (|η|<0.8) and transverse momentum range 0.2<p t<5.0 GeV/c. The elliptic flow signal v₂, measured using the 4-particle correlation method, averaged over transverse momentum and pseudorapidity is 0.087 ± 0.002(stat) ± 0.003(syst) in the 40%-50% centrality class. The differential elliptic flow v₂ p t reaches a maximum of 0.2 near p t =3 GeV/c. Compared to RHIC Au-Au collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] 200 GeV, the elliptic flow increases by about 30%. Some hydrodynamic model predictions which include viscous corrections are in agreement with the observed increase.

Charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in central Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[S(NN)] = 2.76 TeV

The first measurement of the charged-particle multiplicity density at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair √ S NN = 2.76 TeV is presented. For an event sample corresponding to the most central 5% of the hadronic cross section, the pseudorapidity density of primary charged particles at midrapidity is 1584 ± 4(stat) ± 76(syst), which corresponds to 8.3 ± 0.4(syst) per participating nucleon pair. This represents an increase of about a factor 1.9 relative to pp collisions at similar collision energies, and about a factor 2.2 to central Au-Au collisions at √ S NN = 2.76 TeV. This measurement provides the first experimental constraint for models of nucleus-nucleus collisions at LHC energies.

Midrapidity antiproton-to-proton ratio in pp collisons at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV measured by the ALICE experiment

The ratio of the yields of antiprotons to protons in pp collisions has been measured by the ALICE experiment at sqrt[s]=0.9 and 7 TeV during the initial running periods of the Large Hadron Collider. The measurement covers the transverse momentum interval 0.45<p_{t}<1.05  GeV/c and rapidity |y|<0.5. The ratio is measured to be R_{|y|<0.5}=0.957±0.006(stat)±0.014(syst) at 0.9 TeV and R_{|y|<0.5}=0.991±0.005(stat)±0.014(syst) at 7 TeV and it is independent of both rapidity and transverse momentum. The results are consistent with the conventional model of baryon-number transport and set stringent limits on any additional contributions to baryon-number transfer over very large rapidity intervals in pp collisions.