Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Andrew D Hamilton

Publications and source records attributed to Andrew D Hamilton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Pattern-based detection of different proteins using an array of fluorescent protein surface receptors.

A small library of porphyrin derivatives whose fluorescence emission changes on binding to protein surfaces has been developed as a protein "fingerprinting" array. When incubated with different proteins, the array yields a characteristic response, specific for every protein analyte. At the same time, this design allows for the rapid screening of the porphyrin library for the identification of high affinity protein surface ligands.

Fluorescence↗
PubMed2004

Design and synthesis of peptidomimetic protein farnesyltransferase inhibitors as anti-Trypanosoma brucei agents.

On the basis of the structure of the CVIM tetrapeptide substrate of mammalian protein farnesyltransferase, a series of imidazole-containing peptidomimetics was designed and synthesized, and their inhibition activity against Trypanosoma brucei protein farnesyltransferase (TbPFT) was evaluated. Peptidomimetics where the 5-position of the imidazole ring was linked to the hydrophobic scaffold showed over 70% inhibition activity at 50 nM in the enzyme assay, whereas the corresponding C-4 regioisomers were less potent. The ester prodrug 23 was found to be a potent inhibitor against cultured Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense cells with ED(50) values of 0.025 and 0.0026 microM, respectively. Furthermore, introducing a second imidazole group into 23 led to 31, which showed the highest inhibition activity against the parasite with an ED(50) of 0.0015 microM. The potency of the TbPFT inhibitors and the cytotoxicity of the corresponding esters to T. brucei cells were shown to be highly correlated. These studies validate TbPFT as a target for the development of novel therapeutics against African sleeping sickness.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
PubMed2004

Design of a synthetic foldamer that modifies the growth of calcite crystals.

An oligopyridine foldamer, whose structure is dictated by bifurcated hydrogen bonds, was designed to recognize the surface of calcite through three carboxylates, projected from one face of the molecule. At low concentrations of the trimer, elongated calcite crystals with angular, teeth-like growths, identified as {0l} faces, were exclusively formed. In the presence of a related monomer, only calcite rhombohedra are formed, indicating that it is the ordered array of carboxylates that causes the morphological changes, via a specific interaction between the foldamer and the newly expressed faces of the growing calcite crystals.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed2004

Protein recognition using synthetic surface-targeted agents.

The design of synthetic agents to disrupt protein-protein interactions has received relatively little attention in recent years. In this review we describe strategies for targeting different types of protein surfaces using mimetics of protein secondary or tertiary structure. In this way strong and selective binding to a protein surface has be achieved and disruption of clinically important protein-protein interactions has been demonstrated in models of human disease.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Novel peptidomimetic inhibitors of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 dimerization and biological activity.

The critical role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) in the growth and survival of human tumor cells identifies it as a promising target for cancer drug discovery. We previously identified a Stat3 SH2 domain-binding phosphopeptide, PY*LKTK, and its tripeptide derivatives, PY*L and AY*L (where Y* represents phosphotyrosine), which inhibit Stat3 biochemical activity and biological function. Here, we report novel peptidomimetic compounds based on PY*L (or AY*L) with substitution of the Y-1 residue by benzyl, pyridyl, or pyrazinyl derivatives that are selective and greater than 5-fold more potent in disrupting Stat3 activity in vitro than lead tripeptides. The biological activities of these derivatives mirror that originally observed for peptides. In this context, the representative peptidomimetic ISS 610 with 4-cyanobenzoate substitution inhibits constitutive Stat3 activity in Src-transformed mouse fibroblasts and human breast and lung carcinoma cells. This effect is not evident with the non-phosphorylated counterpart, ISS 610NP, consistent with interaction of peptidomimetics with the SH2 domain of Stat3. Moreover, ISS 610 induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis of Src-transformed fibroblasts that contain persistently active Stat3. We present the first report of a peptidomimetic approach to design of small-molecule inhibitors of Stat3 that are also among the first examples of disruptors of transcription factor dimerization with the potential for novel cancer therapy.

Agar↗
PubMed2003

Geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor GGTI-2154 induces breast carcinoma apoptosis and tumor regression in H-Ras transgenic mice.

Treatment of H-Ras transgenic mice with the geranylgeranyltransferase I (GGTase I) inhibitor GGTI-2154 results not only in halting the growth of aggressive breast tumors but actually in inducing the regression (54 +/- 3%) of all 19 tumors analyzed. The farnesyltransferase (FTase) inhibitor FTI-2148 induced an average of 87 +/- 3% regression in the 13 tumors analyzed. GGTase I, but not FTase, is inhibited in breast tumors after treatment with GGTI-2154, whereas in tumors from mice treated with FTI-2148, only FTase is inhibited. The processing of the geranylgeranylated proteins RhoA, Rap1, and R-Ras, but not the farnesylated proteins H-Ras and HDJ-2, is inhibited in tumors obtained from mice treated with GGTI-2154. GGTI-2154 and FTI-2148 suppress constitutively activated phospho-Erk1/2 and phospho-Akt, induce apoptosis, and induce differentiation toward ductolobular breast epithelium. The data demonstrate that geranylgeranylated proteins are critical in H-Ras oncogenesis in vivo and give strong support for GGTase I as a target for anticancer drug discovery.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗
PubMed2003

An organic hydrogel as a matrix for the growth of calcite crystals.

The growth of calcite in an aqueous gel of was studied and the appearance of the crystals was found to change over time. Crystals removed from the gel at progressively longer times showed severely affected surfaces resulting from dissolution. If crystals were removed from the gel after 3.5 hours, at which point there were no etch pits, and then placed in either buffer or pure water, etch pits, similar to those observed on crystals that are left in the gel, were observed. Control calcite crystals exposed to similar conditions (water or buffer) show no significant dissolution after equivalent times. A probable cause of the altered dissolution is the non-specific occlusion of gelator aggregates at sites of imperfection. The gel appears to provide a microenvironment in which the molecules that form the matrix also participate in the crystallization. This system allows the study of the unique properties of a gel for influencing the nucleation and growth of inorganic crystals, some of which may be important for better understanding biomineralization.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Farnesyltransferase inhibitors are potent lung cancer chemopreventive agents in A/J mice with a dominant-negative p53 and/or heterozygous deletion of Ink4a/Arf.

Mutations in the Kras2 gene are seen in both human and mouse lung adenocarcinomas. The protein product (p21ras) encoded by the Kras2 gene must be post-translationally modified at a terminal CAAX motif in order to be biologically active. In this study, we systematically investigated the chemopreventive efficacy of two different farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs): one is a peptidomimetic (FTI-276) and the other is an imidazole (L778-123). Both FTIs are designed to inhibit the post-translational modification of p21ras proteins with a terminal CAAX motif. In a complete chemoprevention study, where the inhibitor was administered before carcinogen was given, and throughout the study, FTI-276 treatment significantly reduced both the tumor multiplicity by 41.7% (P<0.005), and the total tumor volume by 79.4% (P<0.0001). In the late treatment study, where mice were treated with an inhibitor 12 to 20 weeks after carcinogen administration, FTI-276 treatment resulted in a 60% reduction in tumor multiplicity and 58% reduction in tumor volume. Next, we examined the chemopreventive efficacy of a new FTI, L-778,123, on lung tumor development in A/J mice and transgenic mice with a dominant-negative p53 mutation and/or heterozygous deletion of Ink4a/Arf. Treatment of mice with L-778,123 for a period of 10 weeks from 20 weeks to 30 weeks post carcinogen initiation resulted in an approximately 50% decrease in tumor multiplicity in wild-type mice and mice with a dominant-negative p53 mutation and/or heterozygous deletion of the Ink4a/Arf tumor suppressor genes. Interestingly, tumor volume was decreased approximately 50% in wild-type mice and in mice with an Ink4a/Arf heterozygous deletion, while tumor volume was decreased approximately 75% in animals with a dominant-negative p53 and in mice with both a p53 mutation and heterozygous deletion of Ink4a/Arf. This result suggests that FTI exhibited a significantly (P<0.05) more efficacious chemopreventive effect in animals with alterations of p53 and Ink4a/Arf as contrasted with wild-type mice. Thus, FTIs are potent lung chemopreventive agents in both A/J mice and transgenic mice harboring a dominant-negative p53 and heterozygous deletion of Ink4a/Arf. In fact, L-778,123 is more effective in inhibiting primary lung progression in mice with a p53 mutation and/or an Ink4a/Arf deletion than in wild-type animals.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Rigid macrocyclic triamides as anion receptors: anion-dependent binding stoichiometries and 1H chemical shift changes.

The cyclic triamide of 3'-amino-3-biphenylcarboxlic acid is readily synthesized in a stepwise manner and represents a novel class of anion receptors with a large central cavity. This macrocycle binds more strongly to tetrahedral anions than spherical or planar anions in organic solvents. The binding stoichiometries for anions with symmetrical charge distribution depend on the solvent polarity, while tetrahedral p-tosylate binds to the macrocycle with 1:1 stoichiometry in all solvents studied. The (1)H NMR chemical shift changes of the protons lining the interior of the macrocycle's central cavity also depend on the geometry of the bound anion. The importance of the convergent array of hydrogen bond donors for anion binding by the macrocycle was confirmed by control studies with an acyclic triamide and a macrocycle with intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

Amides↗