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Pyruvate is a glycolytic metabolite used for energy production and macromolecule biosynthesis. However, little is known about its functions in tumorigenesis. Here, we report that exogenous pyruvate inhibits the proliferation of different types of cancer cells. This inhibitory effect of pyruvate on cell growth is primarily attributed to its function as a signal molecule to repress histone gene expression, which leads to less compact chromatin and misregulation of genome-wide gene expression. Pyruvate represses histone gene expression by inducing the expression of NAD+ biosynthesis enzyme, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) via myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), which then increases NAD+ levels and activates the histone deacetylase activity of SIRT1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicates that pyruvate enhances SIRT1 binding at histone gene promoters where it reduces histone acetylation. Although pyruvate delays cell entry into S phase, pyruvate represses histone gene expression independent of cell cycle progression. Moreover, we find that administration of pyruvate reduces histone expression and retards tumor growth in xenograft mice without significant side effects. Using tissues from cervical and lung cancer patients, we find intracellular pyruvate concentrations inversely correlate with histone protein levels. Together, we uncover a previously unknown function of pyruvate in regulating histone gene expression and cancer cell proliferation.

Label distribution learning is an extend multi-label learning paradigm, especially it can preserve the significance of the labels and the related information among the labels. Many studies have shown that label distribution learning has important applications in label ambiguity. However, some classification information in the labels is not effectively utilized. In this paper, we use the classification information in the labels, and combine with the geometric mean metric learning to learn a new metric in the feature space. Under the new metric, the similar samples of the label space are as close as possible, and dissimilar samples are as far as possible. Finally, the GMML-kLDL model is proposed by combining the classification information in the labels and the neighbor information in the features. The experimental results show that the model is effective in label distribution learning and can effectively improve the prediction performance.

// Xilan Yu 1, * , Wuxiang Mao 1, * , Yansheng Zhai 1 , Chong Tong 1 , Min Liu 1 , Lixin Ma 1 , Xiaolan Yu 1 , Shanshan Li 1 1 Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, Hubei, China * These authors have equally contributed to this work Correspondence to: Xiaolan Yu, email: yxiaolan@163.com Shanshan Li, email: shl@hubu.edu.cn Keywords: metformin, therapeutic targets, metabolism, epigenetic modifications Received: September 22, 2016 Accepted: November 03, 2016 Published: November 26, 2016 ABSTRACT Metformin has been used to treat type 2 diabetes for over 50 years. Epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies suggest that metformin treatment reduces cancer incidence in diabetes patients. Due to its potential as an anti-cancer agent and its low cost, metformin has gained intense research interest. Its traditional anti-cancer mechanisms involve both indirect and direct insulin-dependent pathways. Here, we discussed the anti-tumor mechanism of metformin from the aspects of cell metabolism and epigenetic modifications. The effects of metformin on anti-cancer immunity and apoptosis were also described. Understanding these mechanisms will shed lights on application of metformin in clinical trials and development of anti-cancer therapy.

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to meet their demands for survival and proliferation. The metabolic plasticity of tumor cells help them adjust to changes in the availability and utilization of nutrients in the microenvironment. Recent studies revealed that many metabolites and metabolic enzymes have non-metabolic functions contributing to tumorigenesis. One major function is regulating epigenetic modifications to facilitate appropriate responses to environmental cues. Accumulating evidence showed that epigenetic modifications could in turn alter metabolism in tumors. Although a comprehensive understanding of the reciprocal connection between metabolic and epigenetic rewiring in cancer is lacking, some conceptual advances have been made. Understanding the link between metabolism and epigenetic modifications in cancer cells will shed lights on the development of more effective cancer therapies.

Two new series of monoamine triple reuptake inhibitors (TRIs) have been discovered through scaffold homologation of our recently reported series of 3,3-disubstituted pyrrolidine TRIs. The regioisomeric 2- and 3-ketopyrrolidines demonstrated high levels of potency against all three monoamine transporters as well as good human in vitro stability, low drug–drug interaction potential and a decreased propensity for hERG channel binding. Representative compounds from these series displayed good in vivo pharmacokinetics and high monoamine receptor occupancies which are indicators of good brain penetration.

The purinoceptor subtypes P2X(3) and P2X(2/3) have been shown to play a pivotal role in models of various pain conditions. Identification of a potent and selective dual P2X(3)/P2X(2/3) diaminopyrimidine antagonist RO-4 prompted subsequent optimization of the template. This paper describes the SAR and optimization of the diaminopyrimidine ring and particularly the substitution of the 2-amino group. The discovery of the highly potent and drug-like dual P2X(3)/P2X(2/3) antagonist RO-51 is presented.

A novel approach to 2′-O-alkylpyrimidine nucleosides involving a 3′- hydroxyl assisted intramolecular delivery of a divalent metal alkoxide leads to a regiospecific opening of the anhydropyrimidine linkage at the 2′-position. Thus, reaction of 5′-protected 2,2′-anhydrouridine with magnesium or calcium alkoxides in DMF affords exclusively the corresponding 2′-O-alkyluridines in reasonable yields.

The synthesis of 2′-amino-2′-deoxypyrimidine 5′-triphosphates is described. The 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate is obtained from uridine in four steps with 25% overall yield. The 2′-amino-2′-deoxycytidine 5′-triphosphate is obtained from uridine in seven steps with 13% overall yield.

A high yield process for the conversion of 2,2′-cyclouridine to 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine was developed. The procedure utilizes a lithium azide:TMEDA complex generated in situ from the reaction of lithium fluoride and azidotrimethylsilane in DMF with TMEDA added as a co-solvent.

The synthesis of 2′-amino-2′-deoxypyrimidine 5′-triphosphates is described. The 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine 5′-triphosphate is obtained from uridine in four steps with 25% overall yield. The 2′-amino-2′-deoxycytidine 5′-triphosphate is obtained from uridine in seven steps with 13% overall yield.

A novel approach to 2′-O-alkylpyrimidine nucleosides involving a 3′- hydroxyl assisted intramolecular delivery of a divalent metal alkoxide leads to a regiospecific opening of the anhydropyrimidine linkage at the 2′-position. Thus, reaction of 5′-protected 2,2′-anhydrouridine with magnesium or calcium alkoxides in DMF affords exclusively the corresponding 2′-O-alkyluridines in reasonable yields.

Despite the extensive literature describing the role of the ATP-gated P2X 3 receptors in a variety of physiological processes the potential of antagonists as therapeutic agents has been limited by the lack of drug-like selective molecules. In this paper we report the discovery and optimization of RO-85, a novel drug-like, potent and selective P2X 3 antagonist. High-throughput screening of the Roche compound collection identified a small hit series of heterocyclic amides from a large parallel synthesis library. Rapid optimization, facilitated by high-throughput synthesis, focusing on increasing potency and improving drug-likeness resulted in the discovery of RO-85.

P2X purinoceptors are ligand-gated ion channels whose endogenous ligand is ATP. Both the P2X(3) and P2X(2/3) receptor subtypes have been shown to play an important role in the regulation of sensory function and dual P2X(3)/P2X(2/3) antagonists offer significant potential for the treatment of pain. A high-throughput screen of the Roche compound collection resulted in the identification of a novel series of diaminopyrimidines; subsequent optimization resulted in the discovery of RO-4, a potent, selective and drug-like dual P2X(3)/P2X(2/3) antagonist.

A series of 3,3-disubstituted pyrrolidine monoamine triple reuptake inhibitors were discovered. Analogues with low nanomolar potency, good human in vitro microsomal stability and in vitro permeability, and low drug-drug interaction potential are described. One example showed in vivo anti-depressant-like effects in the mouse tail suspension assay with a minimum effective dose of 30 mg/kg i.p.

A high yield process for the conversion of 2,2′-cyclouridine to 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine was developed. The procedure utilizes a lithium azide:TMEDA complex generated in situ from the reaction of lithium fluoride and azidotrimethylsilane in DMF with TMEDA added as a co-solvent.