Kegg Pathway: Biosynthesis of ansamycins

J Control Release. 2008 Jul 14; 129(2): 93-9
Tewes F, Brillault J, Couet W, Olivier JC

Lung administration of antibiotics by nebulization is promising for improving treatment efficiency for pulmonary infections, as it increases drug concentration at sites of infection while minimizing systemic side effects. For poorly soluble molecules like rifampicin, cyclodextrins (CD) may improve lung delivery by permitting higher dosing. For this purpose, we investigated rifampicin-CD complexes in terms of rifampicin apparent solubility enhancement, effect on in vitro permeability on Calu-3 broncho-alveolar cells, effect on in vitro antibacterial activity against Acinetobacter baumannii and nebulization characteristics measured by NGI cascade impactor. Complexation efficiency between rifampicin and methylated beta-cyclodextrin (RAMEB) or hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPbetaCD) was pH-dependent, involving the piperazin group. Rifampicin phase solubility diagrams constructed at pH 9 showed an A(L)-type curve for RAMEB and a B(S)-type for HPbetaCD. Stability constants calculated for a 1:1 molar ratio of CD/rifampicin were 73.4 +/- 8.2 M(-1) for RAMEB and 68.5 +/- 5.2 M(-1) for HPbetaCD. Complexes with RAMEB or HPbetaCD increased 22 times and 7.6 times respectively the apparent solubility of rifampicin and were found to be satisfactorily stable for 2 days when diluted in a solution at physiological pH. The nebulization of the complex solution created droplets in size range compatible with pulmonary deposition. Furthermore, the presence of HPbetaCD decreased the MMAD of the aerosolized droplets. Activity of RAMEB and HPbetaCD complexes measured by the total rifampicin MIC against A. baumannii was similar or lower to free rifampicin MIC respectively. Complexation did not alter the rifampicin permeability in the timescale of 1h as evaluated with a Calu-3 epithelial cell model, but acted as a reservoir for rifampicin. In conclusion, this work reports that CDs can be used as vectors for pulmonary nebulization to increase the amount of active rifampicin and optimize its lung pharmacokinetic profile.

Biochemistry. 2008 Jun 3; 47(22): 6016-24
Meng F, Marek P, Potter KJ, Verchere CB, Raleigh DP

Amyloid formation has been implicated in more than 20 different human diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes. The development of inhibitors of amyloid is a topic of considerable interest, both because of their potential therapeutic applications and because they are useful mechanistic probes. Recent studies have highlighted the potential use of rifampicin as an inhibitor of amyloid formation by a variety of polypeptides; however, there are conflicting reports on its ability to inhibit amyloid formation by islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). IAPP is the cause of islet amyloid in type 2 diabetes. We show that rifampicin does not prevent amyloid formation by IAPP and does not disaggregate preformed IAPP amyloid fibrils;, instead, it interferes with standard fluorescence-based assays of amyloid formation. Rifampicin is unstable in aqueous solution and is readily oxidized. However, the effects of oxidized and reduced rifampicin are similar, in that neither prevents amyloid formation by IAPP. Furthermore, use of a novel p-cyanoPhe analogue of IAPP shows that rifampicin does not significantly affect the kinetics of IAPP amyloid formation. The implications for the development of amyloid inhibitors are discussed as are the implications for studies of the toxicity of islet amyloid. The work also demonstrates the utility of p-cyanoPhe IAPP for the screening of inhibitors. The data indicate that rifampicin cannot be used to test the relative toxicity of IAPP fibrils and prefibril aggregates of IAPP.

Biochem Pharmacol. 2008 Jun 1; 75(11): 2183-91
Crèvecoeur J, Merville MP, Piette J, Gloire G

Hsp90 is a protein chaperone regulating the stability and activity of many signalling molecules. The requirement of Hsp90 activity in the NF-kappaB pathway has been recently reported by several authors using the Hsp90 ATPase inhibitor geldanamycin (GA), an anti-tumor drug. Hsp90 inhibition blocks the synthesis and activation of the IKK complex, the major kinases complex responsible for IkappaBalpha phosphorylation on serine 32 and 36, a key step for its degradation and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. However, the effect of GA on other IkappaBalpha kinases, including tyrosine kinases, is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effect of GA on NF-kappaB activation induced by sodium pervanadate (PV), a tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor triggering c-Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha. We report for the first time that GA inhibits PV-induced IkappaBalpha tyrosine phosphorylation and degradation. Using an in vitro kinase assay, we demonstrated that GA inhibits the activity of c-Src as an IkappaBalpha tyrosine kinase, but not its cellular expression. As a result, GA blocked PV-induced NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity on an exogenous kappaB element and on the endogenous ikappabalpha promoter, thereby inhibiting ikappabalpha transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that, despite NF-kappaB inhibition, pre-treatment with GA does not potentiate PV-induced apoptosis. We conclude that c-Src requires Hsp90 for its tyrosine kinase activity, and its inhibition by GA blocks c-Src-dependent signalling pathways, such as NF-kappaB activation induced by sodium pervanadate. The effect of GA on PV-induced apoptosis is discussed in the light of recent publications in the literature.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 May 13; 105(19): 7058-63
Gaillard M, Pernet N, Vogne C, Hagenbüchle O, van der Meer JR

Genomic islands, large potentially mobile regions of bacterial chromosomes, are a major contributor to bacteria evolution. Here, we investigated the fitness cost and phenotypic differences between the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and a derivative carrying one integrated copy of the clc element, a 103-kb genomic island [and integrative and conjugative element (ICE)] originating in Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 and a close relative of genomic islands found in clinical and environmental isolates of P. aeruginosa. By using a combination of whole genome transcriptome profiling, phenotypic arrays, competition experiments, and biofilm formation studies, only few differences became apparent, such as reduced biofilm growth and fourfold stationary phase repression of genes involved in acetoin metabolism in PAO1 containing the clc element. In contrast, PAO1 carrying the clc element acquired the capacity to grow on 3-chlorobenzoate and 2-aminophenol as sole carbon and energy substrates. No fitness loss >1% was detectable in competition experiments between PAO1 and PAO1 carrying the clc element. The genes from the clc element were not silent in PAO1, and excision was observed, although transfer of clc from PAO1 to other recipient bacteria was reduced by two orders of magnitude. Our results indicate that newly acquired mobile DNA not necessarily invoke an important fitness cost on their host. Absence of immediate detriment to the host may have contributed to the wide distribution of genomic islands like clc in bacterial genomes.

J Am Chem Soc. 2008 May 21; 130(20): 6451-5
Lu SM, Alper H

The intramolecular cyclocarbonylation reaction with palladium-complexed dendrimers on silica is a very effective method for the regioselective synthesis of methylene 8-, 9-, and 10-membered rings. The heterogeneous dendritic catalysts are easily recovered by simple filtration and reused for up to 10 cycles with only a slight loss of activity. Asymmetric hydrogenation of the resulting unsaturated heterocycles affords optically active tricyclic lactams in excellent yields and in high enantiomeric excess. This process can tolerate a wide array of functional groups, including halide, ether, nitrile, ketone, and ester. Moreover, the variation of heteroatom on the rings does not have any influence on the efficiency and enantioselectivity of the reaction.

Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2008; 47(23): 4432-5
Barluenga S, Wang C, Fontaine JG, Aouadi K, Beebe K, Tsutsumi S, Neckers L, Winssinger N

Cancer Sci. 2008 Jun; 99(6): 1109-16
Chakraborty PK, Mustafi SB, Ganguly S, Chatterjee M, Raha S

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disease associated with a characteristic chromosomal translocation called the Philadelphia chromosome. This results in the expression of the Bcr-Abl fusion protein, a constitutively active protein tyrosine kinase. Although there are a few treatment options with Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitors, drug resistance is often encountered. One of the major obstacles in overcoming drug resistance in CML is the high endogenous levels of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70). Resveratrol is a phytoalexin produced by several plants. We studied the chemotherapeutic effects and mode of action of resveratrol on K562 (CML) cells. Resveratrol induced apoptosis in K562 cells in a time-dependent manner. This was established by increased annexin V binding, corroborated with an enhanced caspase-3 activity and a rise in the sub-G(0)/G(1) population. Resveratrol treatment also caused suppression of Hsp70 both in mRNA and protein levels. The downregulation of Hsp70 by resveratrol exposure was correlated with a diminished presence of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in the nucleus, and the downregulation of transcriptional activity of HSF1. High endogenous levels of Hsp70 have been found to be a deterrent for sensitivity to chemotherapy. We show here that resveratrol could considerably enhance the apoptosis induction in K562 cells by 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin, an anticancer agent that inhibits Hsp90 but augments Hsp70 levels. We conclude that resveratrol significantly downregulated Hsp70 levels through inhibition of HSF1 transcriptional activity and appreciably augmented the pro-apoptotic effects of 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin.

Breast Cancer Res. 2008; 10(2): 105
Wicha MS

The cancer stem cell hypothesis proposes that tumors arise in stem or progenitor cells generating in tumors driven by a subcomponent that retains cancer stem cell properties. Recent evidence supports the hypothesis that the BRCA1 gene involved in hereditary breast cancer plays a role in breast stem cell function. Furthermore, studies using mouse BRCA1 knockout models provide evidence for the existence of heterogeneous cancer stem cell populations in tumors generated in these mice. Although these populations may arise from different stem/progenitor cells, they share the expression of a common set of stem cell regulatory genes and show similar characteristics in in vitro mammosphere assays and xenograft models. Furthermore, these 'cancer stem cells' display resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. These studies suggest that breast tumors may display intertumor stem cell heterogeneity. Despite this heterogeneity, cancer stem cells may share common characteristics that can be used for their identification and for therapeutic targeting.

J Infect Dis. 2008 Apr 1; 197(7): 1044-52
Freestone PP, Haigh RD, Lyte M

The increasing use of antibiotic-coated catheters, such as those containing rifampin or minocycline, has led to a decrease in catheter colonization by staphylococci but not to a decrease in the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (BSI). Because catheters are used for the administration of catecholamine inotropes to maintain cardiac function, we examined whether 2 commonly employed inotropes, dopamine and norepinephrine, could affect bacterial viability after exposure to rifampin and minocycline. Rifampin inhibition and minocycline inhibition of staphylococcal growth could be reversed by exposure to dopamine or norepinephrine as a result, in part, of catecholamine-mediated increased provision of host-sequestered iron. The simultaneous addition of inotropes with an antibiotic did not affect antibiotic susceptibility. Inotrope-induced growth in bacteria previously exposed to antibiotics was blocked by the inclusion in culture media of specific catecholamine-receptor antagonists. Considered collectively, these results provide a mechanistic basis for understanding how host-related factors, such as inotrope-based therapeutics, may influence the recovery of antibiotic-stressed bacteria in clinical settings.

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2008 May 1; 18(9): 3007-10
Venkata Ramana A, Watkinson M, Todd MH

N-Substituted cyclam-amino acid conjugates have been synthesised both in solution and on the solid phase. The DNA binding affinity of these species has been studied: the nature of the amino acid strongly influences the change in melting temperature suggesting that simple cyclam-peptide conjugates could interact with DNA in a highly selective manner.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2008 Jun; 52(6): 2138-48
Wilkins JJ, Savic RM, Karlsson MO, Langdon G, McIlleron H, Pillai G, Smith PJ, Simonsson US

This article describes the population pharmacokinetics of rifampin in South African pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Three datasets containing 2,913 rifampin plasma concentration-time data points, collected from 261 South African pulmonary tuberculosis patients aged 18 to 72 years and weighing 28.5 to 85.5 kg and receiving regular daily treatment that included administration of rifampin (450 to 600 mg) for at least 10 days, were pooled. A compartmental pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Variability in the shape of the absorption curve was described using a flexible transit compartment model, in which a delay in the onset of absorption and a gradually changing absorption rate were modeled as the passage of drug through a chain of hypothetical compartments, ultimately reaching the absorption compartment. A previously described implementation was extended to allow its application to multiple-dosing data. The typical population estimate of oral clearance was 19.2 liters x h(-1), while the volume of distribution was estimated to be 53.2 liters. Interindividual variability was estimated to be 52.8% for clearance and 43.4% for volume of distribution. Interoccasional variability was estimated for CL/F (22.5%) and mean transit time during absorption (67.9%). The use of single-drug formulations was found to increase both the mean transit time (by 104%) and clearance (by 23.6%) relative to fixed-dose-combination use. A strong correlation between clearance and volume of distribution suggested substantial variability in bioavailability, which could have clinical implications, given the dependence of treatment effectiveness on exposure. The final model successfully described rifampin pharmacokinetics in the population studied and is suitable for simulation in this context.

Chembiochem. 2008 May 5; 9(7): 1057-60
Taft F, Brünjes M, Floss HG, Czempinski N, Grond S, Sasse F, Kirschning A

Pharmazie. 2008 Feb; 63(2): 156-9
Zhaoxu L, Jingcheng T, Jinnan Z

Rifabutin exhibits remarkable autoinduction of its elimination, but the mechanism behind it was not fully known. Our work showed that rifabutin administration increased the metabolism of rifabutin itself in both in vivo studies and liver perfusion, and the half-life was decreased by 71.08% and 12.74%, respectively. Further results showed that rifabutin administration increased CYP3A, CYP2D and cholinesterase levels by 87.2%, 57.3% and 65.14%, respectively. The autoinduction phenomenon of rifabutin may, therefore, be attributed to induction of cholinesterase and CYP450 isoenzymes, such as

Drug Deliv. 2008 Mar-Apr; 15(3): 169-75
Takenaga M, Ohta Y, Tokura Y, Hamaguchi A, Igarashi R, Disratthakit A, Doi N

The study demonstrated that lipid microspheres (LM) containing rifampicin (LM-RFP) could deliver the drug to alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo, and that intranasal administration to animals could achieve preferential accumulation in the lungs with less effect on the liver. The LM-RFP particles had a mean diameter of 247.2 +/- 75.7 nm, and their size remained stable when stored at 4 degrees C or 25 degrees C for at least 4 weeks. In vitro uptake of [(3)H]LM-RFP by alveolar macrophages was over 4 times higher than that of unencapsulated [(3)H]RFP, whereas the in vivo uptake was 30 times higher. Flow cytometric analysis and confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that LM could deliver the encapsulated drug effectively to alveolar macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Intranasal administration of [(3)H]LM-RFP to normal mice resulted in preferential pulmonary uptake of the drug and lower levels in the blood and liver compared with administration of unencapsulated [(3)H]RFP. In conclusion, LM-RFP could be a promising preparation for delivery via the respiratory tract to tuberculosis (TB) and TB/HIV patients.

Mol Cancer Ther. 2008 Apr; 7(4): 737-9
Banerji U, Affolter A, Judson I, Marais R, Workman P

Oncogenic BRAF and NRAS mutations are frequent in malignant melanoma. BRAF that is activated by the common V600E and other mutations, as well as by upstream NRAS mutations, has been shown to require the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) for stabilization and is depleted by the HSP90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG)]. Here, we explore the possible relationship between tumor BRAF and NRAS mutations and clinical response to 17-AAG in six patients with metastatic malignant melanoma who received pharmacologically active doses of 17-AAG as part of a phase I clinical trial. One patient with disease stabilization for 49 months had a (G13D)NRAS mutation and (WT)BRAF. A second patient who had stable disease for 15 months had a (V600E)BRAF mutation and (WT)NRAS. These preliminary results suggest that BRAF and NRAS mutation status should be determined in prospective phase II studies of HSP90 inhibitors in melanoma.

Br J Haematol. 2008 May; 141(4): 483-93
Al Shaer L, Walsby E, Gilkes A, Tonks A, Walsh V, Mills K, Burnett A, Rowntree C

Activating mutations of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3) occur in approximately one-third of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and predict for a poor outcome. Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that is frequently used by cancer cells to stabilise mutant oncoproteins. Mutant FLT3 is chaperoned by Hsp90 in primary AML blasts whereas unmutated FLT3 is not, making Hsp90 inhibitors potentially useful therapeutically. The present study showed that inhibition of Hsp90 by 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) was cytotoxic to primary AML cells expressing mutant FLT3. Inhibition of Hsp90 results in altered downstream signalling effects in primary AML cells with disruption of Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3/AKT signalling pathways. Co-treatment of blasts with 17-AAG and cytarabine resulted in a synergistic or additive effect in approximately 50% of AML cases tested. Our results confirm that Hsp90 is a valid molecular target in the therapy of AML. Inhibition of Hsp90 in parallel with conventional AML therapies may have particular benefit in those patients with the poor prognostic FLT3 mutant disease.

Leukemia. 2008 Jun; 22(6): 1131-8
Futami M, Hatano T, Soda Y, Kobayashi S, Miyagishi M, Tojo A

The 190 kD (p190) and 210 kD (p210) Bcr-Abl proteins are responsible for the pathophysiology of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)(+) leukemia. We applied RNA interference (RNAi) to specific killing of p190(+) cells, and determined the optimal sequences for gene silencing in the BCR, junctional and ABL regions of p190, respectively. Then, p190(+) and p210(+) cells were infected with lentiviral vectors encoding these shRNAs, resulting in efficient killing of p190(+) cells, while p210(+) cells were only sensitive to shBCR and shABL. In p190-transformed Ba/F3 cells, silencing of p190 specifically inhibited tyrosine phospohorylation of Stat5 prior to their death, but did not affect phosphorylation of Jak2, Akt or MEK1/2. In contrast, downregulation of p190 by their treatment with 17-allylamino-17-demetoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) was associated with reduced protein levels of Jak2, Akt and MEK1/2. shRNA targeting p190 collaborated additively with imatinib and 17-AAG in growth inhibition of Ba/F3-p190wt and imatinib-resistant Ba/F3-p190Y253 H cells. Collectively, RNAi-mediated silencing of p190 is a promising option both for delineating signal transduction and for therapeutic application in 190(+) leukemia.

J Med Chem. 2008 May 8; 51(9): 2853-7
Martin CJ, Gaisser S, Challis IR, Carletti I, Wilkinson B, Gregory M, Prodromou C, Roe SM, Pearl LH, Boyd SM, Zhang MQ

Macbecin compares favorably to geldanamycin as an Hsp90 inhibitor, being more soluble, stable, more potently inhibiting ATPase activity (IC50 = 2 microM) and binding with higher affinity (Kd = 0.24 microM). Structural studies reveal significant differences in their Hsp90 binding characteristics, and macbecin-induced tumor cell growth inhibition is accompanied by characteristic degradation of Hsp90 client proteins. Macbecin significantly reduced tumor growth rates (minimum T/C: 32%) in a DU145 murine xenograft. Macbecin thus represents an attractive lead for further optimization.

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Mar 25; 105(12): 4886-91
Baysarowich J, Koteva K, Hughes DW, Ejim L, Griffiths E, Zhang K, Junop M, Wright GD

The rifamycin antibiotic rifampin is important for the treatment of tuberculosis and infections caused by multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Recent iterations of the rifampin core structure have resulted in new drugs and drug candidates for the treatment of a much broader range of infectious diseases. This expanded use of rifamycin antibiotics has the potential to select for increased resistance. One poorly characterized mechanism of resistance is through Arr enzymes that catalyze ADP-ribosylation of rifamycins. We find that genes encoding predicted Arr enzymes are widely distributed in the genomes of pathogenic and nonpathogenic bacteria. Biochemical analysis of three representative Arr enzymes from environmental and pathogenic bacterial sources shows that these have equally efficient drug resistance capacity in vitro and in vivo. The 3D structure of one of these orthologues from Mycobacterium smegmatis was determined and reveals structural homology with ADP-ribosyltransferases important in eukaryotic biology, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and bacterial toxins, despite no significant amino acid sequence homology with these proteins. This work highlights the extent of the rifamycin resistome in microbial genera with the potential to negatively impact the expanded use of this class of antibiotic.

Clin Cancer Res. 2008 Mar 15; 14(6): 1831-9
Cao X, Bloomston M, Zhang T, Frankel WL, Jia G, Wang B, Hall NC, Koch RM, Cheng H, Knopp MV, Sun D

PURPOSE: We sought to examine the synergistic antipancreatic cancer effect by simultaneously targeting hypoxic cancer cells with heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitor and blockade of energy production. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The anticancer effects of an HSP90 inhibitor (geldanamycin) in pancreatic cells were investigated in hypoxia and normoxia. A hexokinase II inhibitor, 3-broma-pyruvate (3BrPA), was evaluated for selective glycolysis inhibition in hypoxia as a sensitizer of HSP90 inhibitor against pancreatic cancer. The HSP90 client protein degradation was monitored by Western blot. The synergistic antitumor effect of geldanamycin and 3BrPA was evaluated in a xenograft pancreatic cancer model and monitored by a noninvasive dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Hypoxia enhanced HIF-1alpha expression by 11-fold in pancreatic cancer cells, and HSP90 inhibitor exhibited a seven- to eightfold higher anticancer effect in hypoxia compared with normoxia via HSP90 client protein degradation. 3BrPA selectively inhibited glycolysis and sensitized geldanamycin against pancreatic cancer cells by 17- to 400-fold through HSP90 client protein degradation. The synergistic anticancer effect of reduced doses of geldanamycin and 3-BrPA was confirmed in xenograft models in vivo by more than 75% tumor growth inhibition. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of HSP90 inhibitors and glycolysis inhibitors provides preferential inhibition of cancer cells in hypoxia through HSP90 client protein degradation and selective glycolysis inhibition. This may provide a new therapeutic regimen to battle chemotherapy-resistant pancreatic cancers, by enhancing the synergistic therapeutic efficacy and reducing dose-limiting toxicity.