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Summary SMIP004-7 is a small molecule inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration with selective in vivo anti-cancer activity through an as-yet unknown molecular target. We demonstrate here that SMIP004-7 targets drug-resistant cancer cells with stem-like features by inhibiting mitochondrial respiration complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase, complex I [CI]). Instead of affecting the quinone-binding site targeted by most CI inhibitors, SMIP004-7 and its cytochrome P450-dependent activated metabolite(s) have an uncompetitive mechanism of inhibition involving a distinct N-terminal region of catalytic subunit NDUFS2 that leads to rapid disassembly of CI. SMIP004-7 and an improved chemical analog selectively engage NDUFS2 in vivo to inhibit the growth of triple-negative breast cancer transplants, a response mediated at least in part by boosting CD4+ and CD8+ T cell-mediated immune surveillance. Thus, SMIP004-7 defines an emerging class of ubiquinone uncompetitive CI inhibitors for cell autonomous and microenvironmental metabolic targeting of mitochondrial respiration in cancer.

A novel series of malonamide-type dual VEGFR2/c-Met inhibitors in which one of the amide bonds was replaced by an amide isostere-a trifluoroethylamine unit, was designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their enzymatic and cellular inhibition of VEGFR2 and c-Met enzymes. Optimization of these molecular entities resulted in identification of potent and selective inhibitors of VEGFR2 enzyme.

Potent SAH analogues with constrained homocysteine units have been designed and synthesized as inhibitors of human DNMT enzymes. The five membered (2S,4S)-4-mercaptopyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid, in 1a, was a good replacement for homocysteine, while the corresponding six-member counterpart was less active. Further optimization of 1a, changed the selectivity profile of these inhibitors. A Chloro substituent at the 2-position of 1a, compound 1d, retained potency against DNMT1, while N(6) alkylation, compound 7a, conserved DNMT3b2 activity. The concomitant substitutions of 1a at both 2- and N(6) positions reduced activity against both enzymes.

The inhibitory activity of base-modified SAH analogues and the specificity of inhibiting human DNMT1 and DNMT3b2 enzymes was explored. The 6-amino group was essential while the 7-N of the adenine ring of SAH could be replaced by CH- without loss of activity against both enzymes. The introduction of small groups at the 2-position of the adenine moiety favors DNMT1 over DNMT3b2 inhibition whereas alkylation of the N(6)-amino moiety favors the inhibition of DNMT3b2 enzyme.

Analogues of the clinical compound MGCD0103 (A) were designed and synthesized. These compounds inhibit recombinant human HDAC1 with IC(50) values in the sub-micromolar range. In human cancer cells growing in culture these compounds induce hyperacetylation of histones, cause expression of the tumor suppressor protein p21(WAF1/CIP1), and inhibit cellular proliferation. Lead molecule of the series, compound 25 is metabolically stable, possesses favorable pharmacokinetic characteristics and is orally active in vivo in different mouse tumor xenograft models.

A series of thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-based inhibitors of c-Met and VEGFR2 tyrosine kinases is described. The compounds demonstrated potency with IC50 values in the low nanomolar range in vitro while the lead compound also showed in vivo activity against various human tumor xenograft models in mice. Further exploration of this class of compounds is underway.

The synthesis and biological evaluation of a variety of 4-(heteroarylaminomethyl)-N-(2-aminophenyl)-benzamides and their analogs is described. Some of these compounds were shown to inhibit HDAC1 with IC(50) values below the micromolar range, induce hyperacetylation of histones, upregulate expression of the tumor suppressor p21(WAF1/Cip1), and inhibit proliferation of human cancer cells. In addition, certain compounds of this class were active in several human tumor xenograft models in vivo.

A variety of N-(2-amino-phenyl)-4-(heteroarylmethyl)-benzamides were designed and synthesized. These compounds were shown to inhibit recombinant human HDAC1 with IC(50) values in the sub-micromolar range. In human cancer cells growing in culture these compounds induced hyperacetylation of histones, induced the expression of the tumor suppressor protein p21(WAF1/Cip1), and inhibited cellular proliferation. Certain compounds of this class also showed in vivo activity in various human tumor xenograft models in mice.

Significant effort is being made to understand the role of HDAC isotypes in human cancer and to develop antitumor agents with better therapeutic windows. A part of this endeavor was the exploration of the 14 A internal cavity adjacent to the enzyme catalytic site, which led to the design and synthesis of compound 4 with the unusual bis(aryl)-type pharmacophore. SAR studies around this lead resulted in optimization to potent, selective, nonhydroxamic acid HDAC inhibitors.

Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is emerging as a new strategy in human cancer therapy. Novel 2-aminophenyl benzamides and acrylamides, that can inhibit human HDAC enzymes and induce hyperacetylation of histones in human cancer cells, have been designed and synthesized. These compounds selectively inhibit proliferation and cause cell cycle arrest in various human cancer cells but not in normal cells. The growth inhibition of 2-aminophenyl benzamides and acrylamides against human cancer cells in vitro is reversible and is dependent on the induction of histone acetylation. Compounds of this class can significantly reduce tumor growth in human tumor xenograft models.

This article analyses the theories of the process of the specialists' occupational socialization: dispositional androle theories, microsociological approaches (phenomenological and etnometodological). Teaching, psychologicaland sociological approaches have been analysed. On the basis of this analysis, the author has developed anintegrated model of the specialists' occupational socialization, in which: the interpretation of the occupationalsocialization concept has been given, the basic elements, stages, levels, patterns and factors affecting this processhave been spelt out. The main features of the specialists' occupational socialization have been also considered instages.

A variety of ω-substituted alkanoic acid (2-amino-phenyl)-amides were designed and synthesized. These compounds were shown to inhibit recombinant human histone deacetylases (HDACs) with IC50 values in the low micromolar range and induce hyperacetylation of histones in whole cells. They induced expression of p21WAF1/Cip1 and caused cell-cycle arrest in human cancer cells. Compounds in this class showed efficacy in human tumor xenograft models.

A series of new, structurally simple trichostatin A (TSA)-like straight chain hydroxamates were prepared and evaluated for their ability to inhibit partially purified human histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC-1). Some of these compounds such as 8m, 8n, 12, and 15b exhibited potent HDAC inhibitory activity with low nanomolar IC(50) values, comparable to natural TSA. These compounds induce hyperacetylation of histones in T24 human cancer cells and significantly inhibit proliferation in various human cancer cells. They also induce expression of p21 and cause cell cycle blocks in human cancer cells. In this paper, we describe the synthesis of these new compounds as well as structure-activity relationship results from enzyme inhibition and alterations in cellular function.

In contrast to hitherto published data, phenanthro[1,10,9,8,o,p,q,r,a]perylene-7,14-dione, the fundamental chromophoric system of hypericin type compounds, exhibits an absorption with a long wavelength band at 423 nm in aprotic solvents like dimethylsulfoxide (e≈7000). Its fluorescence in these solvents is below the detection limit. In protic solvents like methanol, the long wavelength absorption is bathochromically shifted to 546 nm, and a fluorescence at 565 nm is observed. This behavior was interpreted from the reversal ofn − π* and π − π* transitions. The data have not been recorded yet due to the very low solubility of this compound. Its monoprotonation in ground and excited states is characterized bypKa andpK* a values of −6 and 2; diprotonation occurs at apKa=−7.

The reaction of 2-(10-diazo-10H-anthracen-9-ylidene)-malonodinitrile (1) with the cryptohydride system formic acid - triethylamine was studied. The reaction product turned out to be anthracen-9-yl-acetonitrile (2a) instead of the expected 10-dicyanomethyl-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-9-yl formate. Compounds related to1 yielded in this reaction the corresponding 10-substituted anthracen-9-yl-acetonitriles. A mechanism of this reaction is proposed. The product of the formic acid promoted decomposition of1, compound3b, as well as its tautomer4b were also obtained.

A method for the preparation ofbis-ω-appended hypericin derivatives bearingn-octyl,n-hexadecyl, and 2-(2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethoxy)-ethoxymethyl substituents was developed. The key step — the synthesis of appropriately ω-substituted emodin derivatives — was achieved by solvolyzing 3-bromomethyl-1,6,8-triacetyloxy-anthracene-9,10-dione (ω-bromo triacetylemodin) in an appropriate alcohol in the presence of silver perchlorate. The correspondingbis-ω-substituted hypericins were then prepared conventionally by dimerizing the ω-substituted emodin anthrones. The latter were prepared by reduction of the ω-appended emodins.

The acid promoted decomposition of 2-(10-diazo-10H-anthracen-9-ylidene)-malonodinitrile in the presence of water, methanol, ethanol, acetic and propionic acid, ethyl thioglycolate,p-thiocresole, and acetyl acetone yielding 9,10-disubstituted 9,10-dihydroanthracenes was investigated. Treatment of the reaction products with tri-ethyl amine followed by hydrochloric acid caused their tautomerization to the corresponding 9,10-disubstituted anthracenes. A mechanism for this reaction is proposed. The first example of an intermolecular C-C-bond formation during the protic acid promoted decomposition of a diazo compound in the presence of CH-acids was found. An improved procedure for the preparation of the starting diazo compound, which may serve as a convenient precursor of 9,10-disubstituted anthracenes, is described.

The chemical nature of 10-dicyanomethylene-9-anthrone hydrazone was examined. It was shown that this compound bearing the conjugated ylidenemalononitrile fragment and hydrazonic moiety did not undergo transformations characteristic of ylidenemalononitriles,e.g., reduction andMichael addition, but possesses properties typical for hydrazones. Thus it could be hydrolyzed, acetylated, oxidized to yield the diazo compound, and reacted with acetone to form the corresponding azine. These properties were interpreted using semiempirical (AM1) and force field calculations.

A novel series of N-(3-(6-substituted-aminopyridin-3-yloxy)phenyl)-2-oxo-3-phenylimidazolidine-1-carboxamides targeting TrkA receptor tyrosine kinase was identified. SAR study of the series allowed us to design and synthesize compounds possessing inhibitory activity of TrkA kinase enzyme in the low nanomolar range with low residual activity against c-Met and with no significant activity against VEGFR2.

This review is devoted to the latest achievements in the chemistry of vicinal heteroaromatic hydroxy, mercapto and hydroseleno aldimines. The synthesis, structure and reactivity of the above compounds are presented and discussed.

A novel reaction of 11,11,12,12-tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane — its transformation into 10-dicyanomethylene-anthrone hydrazone by reaction with hydrazine — is reported. This hydrazone seems to be a convenient starting material in the synthesis of anthracene derivatives and compounds incorporating anthracenic fragments, but is itself as a conjugated donor acceptor system a material with interesting physical properties.

In contrast to hitherto published data, phenanthro[1,10,9,8,o,p,q,r,a]perylene-7,14-dione, the fundamental chromophoric system of hypericin type compounds, exhibits an absorption with a long wavelength band at 423 nm in aprotic solvents like dimethylsulfoxide (e≈7000). Its fluorescence in these solvents is below the detection limit. In protic solvents like methanol, the long wavelength absorption is bathochromically shifted to 546 nm, and a fluorescence at 565 nm is observed. This behavior was interpreted from the reversal ofn − π* and π − π* transitions. The data have not been recorded yet due to the very low solubility of this compound. Its monoprotonation in ground and excited states is characterized bypKa andpK* a values of −6 and 2; diprotonation occurs at apKa=−7.

The reaction of 2-(10-diazo-10H-anthracen-9-ylidene)-malonodinitrile (1) with the cryptohydride system formic acid - triethylamine was studied. The reaction product turned out to be anthracen-9-yl-acetonitrile (2a) instead of the expected 10-dicyanomethyl-9,10-dihydro-anthracene-9-yl formate. Compounds related to1 yielded in this reaction the corresponding 10-substituted anthracen-9-yl-acetonitriles. A mechanism of this reaction is proposed. The product of the formic acid promoted decomposition of1, compound3b, as well as its tautomer4b were also obtained.

A novel series of N-(3-fluoro-4-(2-substituted-thieno[3,2-b]pyridin-7-yloxy)phenyl)-1-phenyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamides targeting RON receptor tyrosine kinase was designed and synthesized. SAR study of the series allowed us to identify compounds possessing either inhibitory activity of RON kinase enzyme in the low nanomolar range with low residual activity against the closely related c-Met or potent dual inhibitory activity against RON and c-Met, with no significant activity against VEGFR2 in both cases.

This review is devoted to the latest achievements in the chemistry of vicinal heteroaromatic hydroxy, mercapto and hydroseleno aldimines. The synthesis, structure and reactivity of the above compounds are presented and discussed.

The review is devoted to the modern state of the chemistry of o-substituted hydroxy, mercapto, and selenolo aldimines of the heteroaromatic series. Data on methods of synthesis and the reactivities of the aldimines are presented. Some problems involving the structure of these compounds are examined.