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Prion diseases are caused by the propagation of PrPSc, the pathological conformation of the PrPC prion protein. The molecular mechanisms underlying PrPSc propagation are still unsolved and no therapeutic solution is currently available. We thus sought to identify new anti-prion molecules and found that flunarizine inhibited PrPSc propagation in cell culture and significantly prolonged survival of prion-infected mice. Using an in silico therapeutic repositioning approach based on similarities with flunarizine chemical structure, we tested azelastine, duloxetine, ebastine, loperamide and metixene and showed that they all have an anti-prion activity. Like flunarizine, these marketed drugs reduced PrPSc propagation in cell culture and in mouse cerebellum organotypic slice culture, and inhibited the protein folding activity of the ribosome (PFAR). Strikingly, some of these drugs were also able to alleviate phenotypes due to PABPN1 nuclear aggregation in cell and Drosophila models of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). These data emphasize the therapeutic potential of anti-PFAR drugs for neurodegenerative and neuromuscular proteinopathies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A simple synthesis of biologically active 6-aminophenanthridines was achieved by a Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction. Condensation of 2-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3-dioxaborolan-2-yl)aniline with 2-chlorobenzonitriles afforded 6-aminophenanthridines useful as prions inhibitors in a mild one-step procedure. The intermediate 2-amino-2′cyanobiphenyls could not be isolated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mastitis is a major issue for the dairy industry. Despite multiple attempts, the efficacy of available mastitis vaccines is limited and this has been attributed to their incapacity to trigger robust cell-mediated immunity. Yeasts have recently been identified as promising antigen vectors capable of inducing T-cell responses, surpassing the antibody-biased mechanisms elicited by conventional adjuvanted vaccines. In this study, we combine in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo approaches to evaluate the potential of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a platform for novel vaccines against bovine mastitis. We demonstrate that S. cerevisiae is safe for intramuscular and intramammary immunisation in dairy cows. Vaccination resulted in a significant increase of IFNγ and IL-17 responses against the yeast platform but not against the vaccine antigen. These observations highlight that strategies to counterbalance the immunodominance of S. cerevisiae antigens are necessary for the development of successful vaccine candidates. • Mastitis is a major issue for dairy industry • Efficient mastitis vaccines are needed • Yeasts are promising antigen vectors • Saccharomyces cerevisiae is safe for immunisations in bovine • Strategies to counterbalance S. cerevisiae antigens are necessary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biologically active 6-aminophenanthridines were prepared in a single step procedure: Metal amides in liquid ammonia promoted the condensation of anilines with 2-chloro-benzonitriles. 6-Aminophenanthridines were isolated in moderate yield. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The oncogenic Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) evades the immune system through limiting the expression of its highly antigenic and essential genome maintenance protein, EBNA1, to the minimal level to ensure viral genome replication, thereby also minimizing the production of EBNA1-derived antigenic peptides. This regulation is based on inhibition of translation of the virally-encoded EBNA1 mRNA, and involves the interaction of host protein nucleolin (NCL) with G-quadruplex (G4) structures that form in the glycine–alanine repeat (GAr)-encoding sequence of the EBNA1 mRNA. Ligands that bind to these G4-RNA can prevent their interaction with NCL, leading to disinhibition of EBNA1 expression and antigen presentation, thereby interfering with the immune evasion of EBNA1 and therefore of EBV (M.J. Lista et al., Nature Commun., 2017 , 8 , 16043). In this work, we synthesized and studied a series of 20 cationic bis(acylhydrazone) derivatives designed as G4 ligands. The in vitro evaluation showed that most derivatives based on central pyridine (Py), naphthyridine (Naph) or phenanthroline (Phen) units were efficient G4 binders, in contrast to their pyrimidine (Pym) counterparts, which were poor G4 binders due to a significantly different molecular geometry. The influence of lateral heterocyclic units (N -substituted pyridinium or quinolinium residues) on G4-binding properties was also investigated. Two novel compounds, namely PyDH2 and PhenDH2 , used at a 5 μM concentration, were able to significantly enhance EBNA1 expression in H1299 cells in a GAr-dependent manner, while being significantly less toxic than the prototype drug PhenDC3 (GI 50 > 50 μM). Antigen presentation, RNA pull-down and proximity ligation assays confirmed that the effect of both drugs was related to the disruption of NCL–EBNA1 mRNA interaction and the subsequent promotion of GAr-restricted antigen presentation. Our work provides a novel modular scaffold for the development of G-quadruplex-targeting drugs acting through interference with G4–protein interaction. Image 1 • Interaction of NCL with G4 of EBNA1 mRNA is involved into immune evasion of EBNA1 and EBV. • Cationic bis(acylhydrazones) were developed as novel ligands binding to G4 of EBNA1 mRNA. • SAR of novel ligands with respect to in vitro binding to G4 of EBNA1 mRNA is discussed. • Two novel ligands enhance the expression of EBNA1 and antigen presentation. • Novel ligands disrupt the NCL–EBNA1 mRNA interaction in cellulo as shown by PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Series of 6-aminophenanthridines and related heterocyclic compounds such as benzonaphtyridines were prepared. Reduction of one of the three aromatic rings was also performed. The compounds were first tested for their antiprion activity in a previously described yeast-based colourimetric prion assay. The most potent derivatives were then assayed ex vivo against the mammalian prion PrPSc in a cell-based assay. Several of the new compounds were found more potent than the parent lead 6-aminophenanthridine. The most promising compounds against yeast and mammalian prions were 8-azido-6-aminophenanthridine (3m), and 7,10-dihydrophenanthridin-6-amine (14). In the mammalian cell-based assay, the IC50 of these two compounds were around 5 μM and 1.8 μM, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Domain V of the 23S/25S/28S rRNA of the large ribosomal subunit constitutes the active center for the protein folding activity of the ribosome (PFAR). Using in vitro transcribed domain V rRNAs from Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the folding modulators and human carbonic anhydrase as a model protein, we demonstrate that PFAR is conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. It was shown previously that 6-aminophenanthridine (6AP), an antiprion compound, inhibits PFAR. Here, using UV cross-linking followed by primer extension, we show that the protein substrates and 6AP interact with a common set of nucleotides on domain V of 23S rRNA. Mutations at the interaction sites decreased PFAR and resulted in loss or change of the binding pattern for both the protein substrates and 6AP. Moreover, kinetic analysis of human carbonic anhydrase refolding showed that 6AP decreased the yield of the refolded protein but did not affect the rate of refolding. Thus, we conclude that 6AP competitively occludes the protein substrates from binding to rRNA and thereby inhibits PFAR. Finally, we propose a scheme clarifying the mechanism by which 6AP inhibits PFAR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In cystic fibrosis respiratory epithelial cells, the absence or dysfunction of the chloride channel CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator) results in reduced chloride ion transport. In contrast, Ca2+-stimulated Cl− secretion is intact in cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. One possible target for drug discovery aiming at treating cystic fibrosis is to correct the ionic imbalance through stimulation of alternative ionic pathways that may compensate the failure of epithelial Cl− conductance. Here, using a simple high-throughput screening assay to search for Cl− channels modulators in the cystic fibrosis nasal epithelial cell line JME-CF15, the compound guanabenz (Wytensin®), an α2-selective adrenergic agonist was found positive. Using iodide effluxes and electrophysiological recordings, we showed that guanabenz-activated (EC50 =831 nM) a DIDS (4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid) sensitive and Ca2+ dependent Cl− channel (CaCC). Guanabenz activated a linear Cl− channel with unitary single-channel conductance of 8 pS. Recording calcium signals in CF15 cells showed that guanabenz increased the intracellular Ca2+ concentration stimulating an influx of Ca2+. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, the guanabenz effects on Ca2+ influx and activation of CaCC were both abolished. These data demonstrate that guanabenz activates Ca2+-dependent Cl− channels via a Ca2+ influx in human cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Disulfiram, through its metabolite CuDDC, lowers intracellular H 2 S levels through inhibition of its biosynthesis, thus resulting in decrease or increase of cell viability in cancer and Down's syndrome fibroblasts, respectively. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is an endogenous mammalian gasotransmitter. Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST) are the principal enzymes responsible for its biogenesis. A recent yeast screen suggested that disulfiram (a well-known inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase and a clinically used drug in the treatment of alcoholism) may inhibit CBS in a cell-based environment. However, prior studies have not observed any direct inhibition of CBS by disulfiram. We investigated the potential role of bioconversion of disulfiram to bis(N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate)-copper(II) complex (CuDDC) in the inhibitory effect of disulfiram on H 2 S production and assessed its effect in two human cell types with high CBS expression: HCT116 colon cancer cells and Down syndrome (DS) fibroblasts. H 2 S production from recombinant human CBS, CSE and 3-MST was measured using the fluorescent H 2 S probe AzMC. Mouse liver homogenate (a rich source of CBS) was also employed to measure H 2 S biosynthesis. The interaction of copper with accessible protein cysteine residues was evaluated using the DTNB method. Cell proliferation and viability were measured using the BrdU and MTT methods. Cellular bioenergetics was evaluated by Extracellular Flux Analysis. While disulfiram did not exert any significant direct inhibitory effect on any of the H 2 S-producing enzymes, its metabolite, CuDDC was a potent inhibitor of CBS and CSE. The mode of its action is likely related to the complexed copper molecule. In cell-based systems, the effects of disulfiram were variable. In colon cancer cells, no significant effect of disulfiram was observed on H 2 S production or proliferation or viability. In contrast, in DS fibroblasts, disulfiram inhibited H 2 S production and improved proliferation and viability. Copper, on its own, failed to have any effects on either cell type, likely due to its low cell penetration. CuDDC inhibited H 2 S production in both cell types studied and exerted the functional effects that would be expected from a CBS inhibitor: inhibition of cell proliferation of cancer cells and a bell-shaped effect (stimulation of proliferation at low concentration and inhibition of these responses at higher concentration) in DS cells. Control experiments using a chemical H 2 S donor showed that, in addition to inhibiting CBS and CSE, part of the biological effects of CuDDC relates to a direct reaction with H 2 S, which occurs through its complexed copper. Disulfiram, via its metabolite CuDDC acts as an inhibitor of CBS and a scavenger of H 2 S, which, in turn, potently suppresses H 2 S levels in various cell types. Inhibition of H 2 S biosynthesis may explain some of the previously reported actions of disulfiram and CuDDC in vitro and in vivo. Disulfiram or CuDDC may be considered as potential agents for the experimental therapy of various pathophysiological conditions associated with H 2 S overproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]